Ballad of Seo Dong (2005)

This drama has left a big impact on me.
The storyline was well written and beautifuly interpreted. As it is based on an old Korean folk story, it started to interest me even more, beacause those kind of stories I love the most.

Actors were amazing; every one of them so alive in their roles. The three main actors did especially good job, because you could just immerse yourself in their acting, and enjoy the whole time.

Music was beautiful, and appropriate for the plot. I immediately downloaded the OST and am stuck with it, repeating it over and over again.
The funny thing is, when you watch a lot of historical dramas, you can hear that there are some melodies that repeat but are changed a bit, so you can reminiscence on other dramas too.

All in all, I give the Ballad of Seo Dong/Seo Dong Yo, a pure 10/10, because I will definitely watch it again some day, and enjoy in it like I am watching it for the first time.

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Emotional, Strategical, Historical, what else can be needed anymore?

The relationship between the two main roles is constructed so well although the basis on real historical personalities.

I liked to watch the representation of historical personalities and events in a drama and to see the particular entertainment aspects: suspense, romance, strategy, ...

The casting did a good job to deliver the emotions of the characters and making the story more captivating. The viewer is going to be curious on the development of the events and the individuals.

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Possibly the most uninteresting sageuk I have ever watched. What could have been a most poignant, emotionally stirring story of forbidden love between the prince and princess of two enemy kingdoms, turns into a horribly messed up, half-hearted attempt at making a great historical drama! The plot progresses at a snail's pace and right after it advances 5 steps, it takes 10 steps back and this keeps on going till the last episode. Casting is shoddy and the acting is either over-the-top exaggerated or too mellow. Jo Hyun Jae as Seo Dong/Prince Mookang possibly features in his worst role ever. He doesn't act, emote, mouths dialogues like a robot and he has no chemistry at all with Lee Bo Young.
Worst part is, right when you reach the happy resolution of all conflicts, they ruin the ending by trying to make it tragic and serious. Sheesh! I cannot believe the writer of this drama is the same person who wrote Queen Seon Deok, which is near flawless in every aspect.

The saving grace of this drama are Lee Bo Young as Princess Seonhwa, Ryu Jin as Giroo and Heo Young Ran as Princess Wooyoung (she, specially, shows astonishing character growth and integrity towards the end and does a fine job) who instill some vigour into a lifeless drama with their nuanced performances.

Otherwise this is simply a terrible drama. I hope the folksong 'Ballad of Seo Dong' is dramatized again by a better production house with more talented writers who shun mindless cliches and actors who can translate this extremely powerful story of forbidden love into a worthwhile onscreen adaptation.

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I have learned so much watching this drama, i think more than I even learn from school (lols).I think I learned enough to write a book out of it. I wished for a different ending ending but because of how good rest of the story I till give it a prefect 10.

It is brilliantly written,
I tells us about: love, greed, loyalty, betrayal, reasons, excuses, purpose, failures, success, discipleship, leadership, camaraderie , friendship, negotiation, submission, wisdom, foolishness, politics, life, death, struggles,rewards, etc etc etc.

I understood everything the writer was trying to show, of course with the help of the brilliant actors,everyone in the drama was consistent in their acting. Seeing Jo Hyun Jae's smile makes it even more worth watching.

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I was actually excited to watch this. After I started it, I felt that it was a bit slow but figured it would pick up and it did but only a little.

I actually liked the overall plot of the series. The acting was good as well, but I felt that it was just too long for a series that was this slow. Lastly, I’m a sucker for historical romance and this seemed to have that sweetness to it. But that was stretch as well.

For my romantics or happy ending lovers be warned. Some would say bitter sweet, but some would also call it said. After that many episodes I expected better but nope. It was terrible, but it’s definitely a filler series.

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Not quite there...

The drama had one of the worst introductions out there. You can never expect anyone to be interested after watching the first 4 episodes. As if they were purposefully made to push viewers away. Anyway, the drama had some brilliant and creative moments at times but all of that was overshadowed by the dominant hot garbage moments. You may expect something worse than Oblivion NPC's level of dialogue and directing. All of the three male leads sucked and disappointed. There was a big massive slump between episodes 35-45 that was rough to get through. Villains and ending were meh.

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Прочитав описание я и ожидала увидеть что-то полулегендарное, ан нет, оказался обычный сагык. Хотя потом увидела, что дораму писала сценаристка «Жемчужина дворца», «Королевы Сондок», «Дерева с глубокими корнями» и «Шести летящих драконов», и все вопросы отпали. Чувствуется ее рука, хотя конечно сыровато и до мастерписа «Королевы Сондок» еще 5 лет, но она их провела более чем плодотворно.
Еще я ожидала историю непростого царствования короля Му, а получила долгую и трудную дорогу к этому самому царствованию.
Но интересно было то, что в начале повествование было сосредоточено на мастеровых людях, не так часто встречается эта часть народа, любопытно было наблюдать за пытливыми умами и кто поистине двигает прогрессом, и почему он (прогресс) так медленно продвигается.
История же развивается во все еще относительном спокойном противостоянии Пэчке и Силла, они еще не враги, но уже и не друзья. Хотя именно на это время и выпал брак силланской принцессы и короля Пэкче. По некоторым летописям была такая принцесса, мать последнего короля Пэкче, Ыйчжи - сестра ли Сондок или не сестра - показания разнятся.
По хроникам царь Му правил лет 40 и многое сделал для своего народа, но процесс распада было уже не остановить и его сын оказался последним царем государства Пэкче. Но это уже совсем другая история.

По актерам, понравилась игра мужской половины: Чо Хён Чжэ смотрелся получше, чем в "Дочь короля, Су Бэк Хян", ну, наверное, ему было что играть. Рю Джин выдал сильную драму в "предательской" роли. Очень понравился Ли Чхан Хун в роли Мастера, жалко, что он сейчас редко играет. А вот с женским кастом повезло меньше: Ли Бо Ён была неудачна, может исторички это не ее. А остальные мелькали фоном. Хотя была и Солли в детском касте и даже Гу Хе Сон на третъестепенной роли (до Цветочков еще долгих 4 года).

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Storyline illogical and acting boring

I was finally able to watch this 50 episode drama. It was one of the most infuriating “historical” dramas I have seen. I do like some romantic dramas but this one was a bit ridiculous. The lead character,Jang, was very selfish and by many of his selfish, arrogant and ignorant actions, caused the deaths of many persons. He did not care of anyone but himself and a foolish woman. I did not see how special he was that everyone put their lives, love on the line for him and his love interest. His character in my opinion is as bad as the other villains in the series. All the hardship and agony many persons had to endure because of Jang’s plan is unforgivable even if it worked out in the end. The initial traumas and shock is in my opinion not worth it for his so called plans to put himself on the throne.

I find that the Main female lead’s character was very annoying. It is amazing how she went from being privileged and wanting to live a peasant life but still kept her ladies in waiting and he guard. Her whole persona and her actions (selfish) caused many to die but she never took responsibility for her actions and were even ignorant of her actions. I thought that she was a strong woman but when she groveled at the feet of Ki Ru - it was a pathetic scene. She had information to use against him but never used it - why?
No offense to the actress but her acting mannerisms were quite annoying and irking. After a while, her speech and mannerisms were like nails sliding across a chalk board. she spoke with this strange intonation and body movement that was so annoying. Normal persons do not speak and behave like that. The same goes for the male lead acting - he was very robotic and stiff.

I did not observe any chemistry between the ML and FL and it appears that the romantic emotions were one sided (female side).
It is sad that many of the characters wasted their lives loving persons that did not love them. All of the regrets is utterly sad.

There were so many illogical aspects of this storyline and all the mistakes that the film people made that stood out like a sore thumb. For example, who wears a ring whilst working in a quarry carrying big rocks and the ring (wood) stays on their finger and does not get damaged.

The dialogue involving the princess handmaiden and Ru Jin were like being in a fish market. It was annoying and I fast forwarded the scenes that they are involved in. I do not know where in the world that servants can speak back to their employers like these do - it is funny.

Overall, I wish they had less romance in this drama and showed more about the story of a peasant becoming a king. The story is always going forward and reverting 10 steps. Unfortunate!!

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