So many aspects of this drama are beautiful and poignant: cinematography, story, themes, characters, and acting. Unfortunately, what really brought Hwang Jin Yi down was the execution.

Hwang Jin Yi herself (excellently portrayed by Ha Ji Won) is a legend and a difficult character to center a drama around because she's so enigmatic. The show handles this by making her almost otherworldly, the epitome of beauty, grace, and intelligence whose passion for dance eclipses everything else in her life. However (or perhaps because of this), there was too much of a focus on the supporting characters - love interests especially - and how they were affected by Hwang Jin Yi, often putting her on the sidelines. As the series progressed and she became more guarded, the emotional weight of the story shifted to them as well. Instead of Hwang Jin Yi being the subject of the drama, she was the object.

Nonetheless, although the show had a tendency to be over-dramatic towards the end, it has great commentary on art (painting, music, and dance) and the life of gisaengs. If you are interested in these, then this is the perfect drama for you.

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Rebel, thematically, is unique and compelling. It tackles multiple social issues head on, such as the exploitation of the poor, the dangers of moral absolutism, and the ingrained culture of fear. It's as much a commentary on Joseon as it is on modern Korea. All of the actors turn in strong performances, particularly Hwang Seok Jung as the entertainer Wol Ha Mae, Lee Ha Nui as Jang Nok Su, and Kim Ji Suk as Yeon San gun (although there has been criticism of the unusually kind and sympathetic portrayal of the infamous tyrant, which I do agree with).

While the themes and performances are engaging, the actual execution and plot progression are lacking. It felt like there was an intended story arc from Point A to Point C, and key points to be made along the way. But they forgot they had to get to Point B, too. The result is, effectively, a long series of build ups interspersed with "info dumps" of specific scenarios and character insights that sometimes give the drama a very scripted or manufactured feel. The awkward pacing and tone made it difficult to get emotionally invested in and enjoy the show.

Rebel is definitely worth a look, especially for a saguek lover;  but for me, it was a miss.

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With all the hype surrounding this drama, I went into it with high expectations and the hope that it would be a great introduction to jdramas. But while it does have a lot of tropes and cliches that will segue into other jdramas, it is in the worst way possible - Hana Yori Dango remains to this day, without a doubt, the most terrible drama I have ever seen.

This drama is only 9 episodes long, but it took me weeks to finish because of its plodding, contrived plot and character 180s.

For a story centered around character growth, especially for the male lead, he undergoes very little actual growth and has even fewer redeeming qualities. His "sympathetic" backstory does little to excuse his controlling, arrogant, and childish personality. He consistently behaves immaturely and violently - [tw] he even sends goonies out to rape the female lead when she calls him out for bullying. He is never confronted about these incidents and does not show any remorse for them. His feelings for her and his frankly pathetic behavior towards her in response are examples of what not to look for in a partner.

The female lead, Makino, herself is a solid character, and none of the other F4 are as bad as their leader. But they are not enough to save this train wreck of a drama.

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