Lovers (2023)

This drama made me cry a lot. Over the course of these ten episodes, I have grown to love Gil Chae and Jang Hyeon and ship them. That's why episode ten broke my heart. I'm afraid that in the second part, the creators will not strive for a happy ending for Gil Chae and Jang Hyeon. I don't want the second part to end like Moon Lovers for me, because I still can't forget the sadness.

But despite the tears shed, I love the first part. There were also some funny scenes. This drama is interconnected sadness, pain, fear and happiness. The characters develop and have difficult decisions to make. I wonder how the rest of this story will unfold. I have a feeling the ending might not be a happy one, but I hope I'm wrong.

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A Beautiful Ryang Um Who's Like a Flower: Layers of His Character

I feel like Ryang Eum's character is interesting. He's complicated. He's definitely a more reliable friend than Eun Ae. But at least Eun Ae could understand the fl better. She even admitted that she understood her better than herself.

Meanwhile Ryang Eum seemed to have unseparable bond with the ml. It looked like there's no one who could understand him better than Ryang Eum but there was a time that Ryang Eum failed to understand. It's his heart. It felt like they didn't share the bro codes only in that particular thing.

"I don't belong to anywhere. I'm just here and there." When the ml said that what he actually meant was that he's longing for a place of his own. A place called home. And his reply with "Right. You don't belong to anywhere. But wherever you're, I belong to your side." It creeped me out.

I don't know what's his real deal was. Was it because of too much loyalty or he saw him more than friends? But I understand why he did what he did. Personally, I can relate to his character. That's why I can say that he's being childish at that moment. I thought he also realized his mistake but he just decided to cross the line.

And he really meant it when he said he didn't regret it. Moreover when he witnessed what happened to the man he looked up to at the end. If I were him, I would be glad if turned out I was wrong. But the look in his eyes, he was so mad that in his mind he's true about her after all.

I understand her decision and it seemed like there's another reason that will unfold in the next part. The writers seemed to have an intention to make it as if she didn't really meant it when she said "I don't love you enough to leave everything behind." Maybe they will provide a good and brutal excuse for us and we will buy it later. Something like "I love you too much that's why I was letting you go." But what makes it clear for me right now is, he gave everything for her, even his life. But she couldn't do the same. That's why to me what she said was quite literal, that 'he loves her more than she loves him' and I think Ryang Eum would be agree with me.

Was he okay when he saw Gil Chae sending him off just like that after what he's been through for her tho? Ryang Eum is not just another supporting character. And his bond with Lee Jong Hyun is too strong for him to let him go like that. Ryang Eum is smart and tactical and sometimes manipulative. Our main lead would have been died several times if it's not because of him. He has the ability to change the direction of the wind. If you know what I mean...

Based on the teasers, it seemed like something happened to the female lead. I wouldn't be surprised if Ryang Eum had anything to do to pull the trigger. Maybe he didn't need to take much effort. He just needed to sing, and it would be like a butterfly effect. When a small flap of its wings might cause a tornado at the mainland and the peninsula.

Or there's a twist of a character development and it's the other way around of what I've said about him. It would be interesting if later turned out I'm wrong. And I'm really anticipating of what they have in store in the next part.

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What Happened? Absolutely Riveting Love Story And More

Crikey!! What happened? Namkoong Min (Jang Hyun) really knows how to choose the most ideal script for himself and Ahn Eun Jin (Gil Chae), hot from The Good Bad Mother, both are absolutely meant to be in My Dearest.

A simple beginning in the first 2 episodes, of a man who is not interested in devoting himself to anything nor anyone, suddenly finds himself interested in a spoil brat of a lady who only has eyes on another man. Everything increases in momentum from Episode 3 as their King and Land is threatened by the Mongols, he suddenly finds himself volunteering to go outright to war, in order to not defend the King, but the woman he sets his heart on. How much more romantic can this get?

How about watching Jang Hyun as unfolds his ingenuity, intelligence and strength to overcome all obscurity and calamity around him to protect Gil Chae. And watching Gil Chae transform from a pampered and charming appearance, to a stronger and more mature demeanor during the war is mesmerizing to me. She is seen to be growing in depth to a woman and in this episode 8, her feelings for Jang Hyun is yet to be acknowledged.

The pace, the fighting scenes, the chase makes one await the next episode in great anticipation.

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Ep 1-4 Review: Overall a Recommendation Review

(First of all, I wasn't sure to put this in a Review or Discussion post)

I'm going to try and be as spoiler free as I can, although My Dearest has barely started airing (with only four episodes out).

My Dearest, like many have pointed out in the comment section on MDL, is very reminiscent of the movie Gone With the Wind. I actually watched Gone With the Wind for the first time upon hearing about the comparison to see what people were talking about.

Our FL Yoo Gilchae (played by the very talented Ahn Eunjin) is just like Scarlett in the sense that she is very cunning and confident of herself. But of course, she is sheltered and appears to be more spoiled. Though it is the looming threat of war that sets the tone of the show. And Gilchae has major character development in episode 4 because of the war.

The ML, Lee Janghyun on the other hand is Rhett, a man who appears to be selfish and only acts for himself. Though become enamored by the confident attitude of the FL. Personally I'd say that Namkoong Min has really added his own charm to the Rhett character. Of course we'd really have to thank the screenwriter for changing his character.

Namkoong Min, for those who are already aware of this actor- has insane charisma on screen and it seems that he just keeps on getting better and better though each project he takes on. His character Lee Janghyun has secrets that even the audience can't begin to guess. He's skilled with a sword and appears to have a lot of knowledge of military tactics. For someone who moves like a nomad, he has money, and connections to a lot of people. He's charming, smart, and is not one to fall for the trick of blind loyalty.

I feel like I'm hyping him up excessively but as someone who has seen a lot of Namkoong's other works, this one just seems next level.

Ashley and Melanie take the form of Nam Yeonjun and Kyung Eunae. Because My Dearest takes place in Joseon during the Qing invasion- There is the added plot of Yeonjun and Eunae having a promised engagement since they were young. Though Eunae very much loves Yeonjun.

In my opinion, and from what I've seen in the four episodes that have aired, this is where the similarities to Gone With the Wind end. Nobody got married before the men went off to fight and /thankfully/ Gilchae isn't as obsessed with Yeonjun as Scarlett was with Ashley.

But the writing, the acting, the directing have been excellent. I want to talk about a few stand out scenes that have happened in these four episodes.


- Firstly, I need to talk about Gilchae's dream sequence. From the first episode, we see a beach where Janghyun is located. It's at sunset or dusk and the sky is a beautiful shade of oranges and pinks. Gilchae's dream starts out with a red roll of yarn falling out of her hand and rolling like it has a mind of its own. Of course this is referencing 'the red string of fate'. The red yarn takes her out of her village, through the forest, all while the seasons are changing. She is running though fall, winter, summer, spring. And the string stops at the beach Janghyun is at. Overall, it's such a beautiful sequence and it has a lot of importance. I'm sure someone could even write an essay of its own about the foreshadowing this dream has. Her dream is also recurring- we see it again in episode four, and I'm sure we'll see this dream more in the future as well.

- Then, the scene of the grandparents 60th wedding anniversary party. If anyone has watched Rebel: Thief Who Stole the People- I think you'll know what I'm talking about when I say that this screenwriter (Hwang Jinyoung) is great at creating tension in something that should be peaceful. The grandparents are a couple that are very cute and their party is just overall really touching- but the joy that's being shared overlayed with clips of the barbarians making their way to Joseon makes the audience feel uneasy and full of anxiety of what's to come.

- Episode 4 is a masterpiece in its own. Continuing on from the situation that ep 3 ended on, we face the reality of war. This is brutal, and it won't get better. Some may say that the first three episodes were too silly or had too much comedy, although episode four wouldn't feel so real if it didn't have that normalcy in the beginning. I found myself sobbing for characters that only had at most 30 min of screentime. Namkoong Min shines as Janghyun. He's dependable and he's ready to fight for those he cares about. We realize that he didn't join the other men because if all the men go out to fight, who will protect the elderly, the women, and the children back home. Truly, his charisma will have you calling him husband like Gilchae did at the end of the episode.

Gilchae's character development is beautiful and moving. She went from deluding herself that Yeonjun is in love with her to helping a women give birth, protecting the small group she's with from barbarians, and just really showcasing how smart and brave she truly is. This is a scary situation, especially for a group of women- and even if Gilchae laughed off the idea of war and self defense in the beginning. With the help of Janghyun's warnings, advice, and dagger, she matures.


I am really looking forward to the future episodes and it's been really surprising how not many people are checking this show out. Honestly, I've been looking forward to this show since I saw that Hwang Jinyoung was writing it. (If you see her list of works, you'll know why). Truly, her two past works are in my top 5 sageuks.

Also, a lot of the hesitancy I've seen towards this drama is regarding the ending people think it's going to have. All I can say is that Rebel: Thief Who Stole the People (a show by Hwang Jinyoung), opened by showing the FL being tied up on a pole and being shot in the chest by the ML. And that show has a happy ending with everyone surviving. So, I wouldn't put off My Dearest because of the tone the first episode set about the ending.

It feels like it's been a long time since there has been a truly mature historical drama here in dramaland. I hope everyone who loves historical dramas will check this out ! Even if you don't usually enjoy historical dramas, please give this show a chance. At least watch until episode four.

Thank you for reading :)

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This drama has mastered how to pull out every one of your emotions

This show is painful to watch. It is so real and heartbreaking and makes me constantly recall how truly callous and inhumane humans truly are; be it then or even now. This show drags all the nasty parts out and shows them exactly as they are. Its realistic and heartbreaking and shows human emotions and human viciousness in a way that makes me ache. The director has mastered how to pull your emotions out of you as a viewer and I went through a slew of them as I watched this. Anger, disgust, annoyance, sympathy. This is the kind of show that you feel your way through and will leave a lasting impression.

For me, I can not say I found this enjoyable or entertaining to watch, it's depiction of real life struggles and brutality left me feeling raw and utterly devastated. But it is so heart achingly beautiful that I could not stop myself from watching it. The acting in this from every person is superb. I can not think of any flaw in the way that this show was written, executed, acted, or shot. There are several scenes that are stunningly beautiful. The characters are all thought out, flawed, and experience true character growth. Even the way the production showed the change in color from pastels in the beginning during happy times to the greys and browns during and after war just added to how expertly composed this show is.

-Gil Chae: for me she was truly an unlikable character for the majority of this season and I found myself so frustrated with her specifically in regards to her almost ridiculous adoration and chase of Yeon Jun. Her actions are spurted forward in her pursuit of the man she could not get. She is a spoiled nobleman's daughter that says and does whatever she wants because she is beautiful and noble. But then war breaks out and you start to see her change. She is still ridiculous in her chase of Yeon Jun but she proves herself to be a survivor and a protector. Her character development is the type I want to see in all shows. The kind that is gradual and realistic. She changes as her world around her changes and the circumstances she is put through changes her.

-Yeon Jun: I never at any point like this character. He is weak but believes he is strong. Is selfish but thinks he is honorable. But in how much I hate him, I also know how very real his portrayal is of the men of that time. He stubbornly sticks to his 'loyalty' and 'honor' for himself, never putting anyone or anything over his own agenda.

-Jang Hyun: he is mysterious and seemingly acts out of his own personal interest at every turn. He is a bit of a cad but loyal to those dearest to him with a soft heart and strong mind. A business man that is cunning enough to end up in important circles but chooses to use that power for the powerless. He does find an obstacle in Gil Chae and I think that is part of his interest in her, very like how she is so adamant about someone she can not get as well. But his actions speak far louder than any others in this drama. He is willing to sacrifice himself in exchange for her but will not go down easily.

In terms of the political progression of this story it does flow in a coherent way. You understand the movements, the predicaments, and some of the choices. I personally do not love a politically heavy drama but I was so drawn to Jang Hyun that I kept watching.

If you are looking for a drama that will make you feel something, not matter the emotion then you will find it here. Most o the time you will not enjoy what the characters are going through or the choices they make and you will feel frustrated. The point being that it will make you feel. Out of so many dramas that I have seen there are few that pull out this level of emotions from its viewers.

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Um Drama Completo

Sim! Eu confesso que só quis assistir esse drama por causa do Namkoong Min, MAS eu devo admitir que esse drama é muito mais do que um drama de um ator que eu gosto. My Dearest é um drama com conteúdo vamos dizer assim. Brincadeiras à parte, esse K-drama conquistou meu coração. Eu não conseguia parar de assistir, os episódios tem um magnetismo incrível, é um daqueles dramas que você precisa devorar logo.

O enredo é muito bem escrito, os protagonistas são ótimos e cada interação entre eles nos faz ficar vidrado na tela. Aqui você encontrará um pouco de tudo: um certo ar de comédia com uma protagonista doida e irreverente, situações bem dramáticas, cenas de ação e uma pitada de romance que paira no ar o tempo todo te contagiando com o desejo de vê-los juntos para sempre e ainda é um drama histórico. É realmente um drama completo.

Ainda bem que estamos próximos da segunda temporada.

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Empress Ki was my favorite until this EPIC story came along

For mature audiences who love to watch powerful romantic shows!
Number 1 The music alone would make me want to watch it again, That voice and the melody can really take you to a place of imagery, it was perfect for the show.

Number 2 The ML, had the most sexiest, deep, voice, his timing to respond was excellent. I’ve never seen this actor before, but now I’m going to be looking for everything he plays in. He has a look in his eyes as if what’s happening is true,. I’ve seen hundreds of shows like this one and other types of shows like Wolf, which was my favorite too until this movie!

Number 3 The plot was very well executed, the only thing is , it should have been longer than 20 episodes !

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A must for historical drama fans (and romance fans)

I have to begin this review with the fact that, in general, I do enjoy watching historical kdramas so I feel rather strongly about how much I loved this drama. I watched part 1 and 2 consecutively (in an effort to avoid writing my thesis paper lol) so this review will be based on both parts.

First and foremost, the acting in this drama is an absolute 10/10. Every character was portrayed so masterfully by their actors. I also think this goes hand in hand with the writing of the drama. The writing was well done, in my humble opinion, and all the character's actions felt true to their character. And each main character had a beautiful storyline and arc and this includes the characters that were not my faves, which I think speaks to the writing being done well. I particularly feel that the female lead's character development was done incredibly well. Also, I am a sucker for well done romantic dialogue and there were some lines that just pierced my heart so deeply. For the sake of not spoiling anything, I won't write any out. But the chemistry between the leads?! 10/10, no words.

The strong female characters were... chef's kiss. Their perseverance, resilience, and sisterhood was one of my favorite parts. Yes, this drama centers romance but it does such a good job in highlighting how amazing women are especially during such difficult times and harsh conditions. When it comes to the romance, there is a lot of push and pull and I can see how people might find this annoying or boring, but I actually didn't mind it in this story and actually felt it fitting. The other parts of the story, like the political turmoil and how it affected people, were also done well because it really makes you become invested in what is going on and how people are being affected.

There were some amazingly beautiful shots in this drama. I had to pause occasionally to take it all in. Hats off to the cinematographers. To wrap this up, if you enjoy historical dramas I think you should definitely give this a chance. If you enjoy romance that is felt so strongly through the screen because of great chemistry, give this a chance.

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Do you hear the sound of flowers?

First of all excuse my English. Second of all how do i put my love for this drama into words? It’s been months since I watched my dearest but I still can’t get over it. This drama left a void in me, no other drama could satisfy me as much (in terms of chemistry and love story) as this one.

Plot: Lee Jang-Hyun is a mysterious man who suddenly appears in neunggunri (a small village). There a woman named Yoo Gil-appears in front of him and he falls for her at first sight. Yoo Gil-Chae is the daughter of noble a family. She is a lovely woman, brimming with confidence. Jang Hyun tried to win gilchae over but she admired another man. As the Quing invasion begins, jang Hyun and gil chae are torn apart.
The first 3 episodes are more like a romcom but as the quing invasion begins it takes a dark turn. (Episode 4 was sooooo well executed like WOOOOWWWW. I believe ep4 was the best historical k drama episode.)

I fell in love with this drama right away. Besides that it was a bit political heavy in the end,I have absolutely no complains. I loved everything of it. Especially our main leads🥹🥹 there SOOOOO BEAUTIFULLY written idk how to put my love for these two into words. I dont think u could have done any better with their writing. Gil chae is one of the best female lead characters I’ve ever seen. She is not that typical FL you’d except but a very realistic and competent character who acts rational accordingly.
Oh hand janghyun, I absolutely LOVEEE him. He has skyrocket my standards.
Also this dramas cinematography was just chief kiss. This is a must watch. Please give it a try!

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Quando le aspettative non sono state appagate

Adoro gli storici, ma sinceramente questo non mi è piaciuto molto, è stato carino fino a un certo punto, poi mi ha annoiato. 21 episodi sono troppi per il nulla cosmico.La storia d'amore è finita per essere sdolcinata e ripetitiva. La trama della corte noiosa e confusa. Potevano risparmiare l'episodio 21, non ha aggiunto nulla in più, stesso cliché ( amnesia) del episodio precedente, la dinastia Quing liquidata frettolosamente, il rapporto con il padre-figlio buttato li senza un approfondimento, il prigioniero matto del primo episodio non si è capito come è capitato lì. Nota di merito, la ottima recitazione e le bellissime ost. Archiviato, non farei un rewatch.

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