Jumong (2006)

Jumong was my gateway drama. Someone might as well have handed me 81 packets of heroin and said “Go for it!”. Epic in all the best ways, it steals shamelessly from adventure stories ranging from the Odyssey to The Three Kingdoms to Robin Hood, traversing decades of time and miles of gorgeous mountain scenery as it crams in battles, family strife, romance, betrayal and the occasional heavenly portent. It has a sweeping, old-school Hollywood feel, but with modern touches that include a smart, independent heroine and a trans/non-binary character who actually gets to have an adorable romantic relationship with the most unlikely of partners.

The plot lines may hardly be original, but the complexity of the main characters gives the old stories a freshness and power they would otherwise lack. Song Il Guk does a fine job as the young prince destined to found an empire, but my favorite actors (and characters) were Hu Joon Ho as the grizzled veteran Haemosu and Jun Kwang Ryul as the tormented king Kumwa. Hu exudes presence every moment he’s onscreen, and Jun’s portrayal of the king’s increasingly conflicted and destructive loyalties is devastating. The show also uses its length to draw us so completely into its web of relationships that many of its most powerful scenes are not the giant battles but the quiet moments where a truth is revealed or a lie is told or a heart is broken.

Does everything work? No. The plot meanders in the final third, with wild goose chases down narrative lines that seem designed to kill time rather than actually deliver meaningful revelations. I could have lived without the saccharine pop ballad love songs on endless repeat and you could get rip-roaring drunk in no time if you took a shot whenever someone stages an ambush, falls off a cliff, discusses an evil plan around an ornate wooden table or survives getting shot by multiple arrows. However, if you’re looking for ridiculously immersive popular entertainment and don’t mind sleep deprivation, you’re in for a hell of a ride. Just be careful – this whole drama thing can get addictive . . . .

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This is an amazingly epic drama. I first watched this drama while it was on air and I loved it then but watching it again years later made me appreciate it more. Don't let 81 episodes discourage you from watching this wonderful saguek. I was thoroughly entertained by each and every one of those episodes. The story is fantastic, the writing, directing and acting is done so well. This drama really grabbed me from the first episode and then it took me along on a journey like I've ever experienced with any other drama. This is now my all time favourite drama.
I would highly recommend this drama to anyone who can appreciate a great story with action, romance, bromance and a great cause to fight for.

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WOW

What a journey, a long but good one i so enjoyed it. i actually had this on my list quite a while but i had to be mentally prepared before challenging all 81 episodes lol..... no skipping also (I HATE SKIPPING).
Jumong has managed to put all in one package: History, action, romance & drama it was all rounded for me. As for the Story it was every informative, i learnt tonnes of history from this show and helped me to connect the dots of the various tribes, states & kingdom along Korea`s time period. Oh Watch Kingdom of winds its a very good addition to Jumong and explains further about Goguryeo or Koguryo.
the last few episodes were very sad for me, it hurt to see some of my main charactors go( wont call any names) but i know nothing last forever. It pained me to see the Queen leave but i know it had to go that way for thats how Baekje came about, but i wonder how Silla fitted in all of this. i soon find out.

GOOD SHOW
?? ?

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81 Episodes felt like 1 episode. I'm lost for words, it's incredible. Listen, this is the best drama of all time (read this review and you'll know why). I was really touched.

STORY - Absolutely sensational! From the start he's a guy who is really immature but he goes on to be a huge hero! What can I say really? the writing is perfect, it keeps you on the edge of your seat, every episode is interesting. The character development is brilliant, well done to the writer. I'm just speechless.

ACTING/CAST - Great directing, great acting = Materpiece. everybody had character developments and did portray their own role really well, outstanding. Standing ovation to them, to the staff and to the director who managed to get the best out of the cast.

MUSIC - I liked it, it added a + to the touching scenes , very good.

OVERALL: I could write soooo many things but I'm currently speecless as I said. This is just the greatest drama of all time in K-drama land. Some of you need to stop wathing romance dramas and watch this drama that is acted by heart and passion. I'm crying !! Don't let the length of the episodes scare you. peace.

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At 81 episodes, this is a one time watch drama! 11 days later, I completed this and what was the longest historical based drama that I've seen to date. Jumong's story is every compelling! The writer does a wonderful job in conveying it, especially the fight and military training sequences were amazing! Portraying a master archer, every scene where Jumong picked up a bow was breathtaking! Every battle scene w so realistic, I had to wonder how many animals were hurt during the filming, it was so realistic! The love storiies were interesting but were not the main focus so if you are looking for a romantic drama, you might want to skip this one. All I can say, the portrayal of the two women that love Jumong was one you may never see again. Usually when two women love the me man, you get to see strife and bickering, they left that for Emperor Kumwa's Queen and Lady Yuhwa (Jumong's mother). I can remember each moment I cried because the moments were so sad: the death of Hae Mosu as Jumong watched, the slaughter of the Tamul Army's women, children and seniors at Mt Bonghe, death of Lady Yuhwa and Mugol. There were times where the story was just okay but those periods, thankfully were short! I found with the later episodes with the story of Yuri, Jumong's son to be the only period that I literally could not stop watching. This drama is truly for the historical drama lovers. If you are not completely into the nene, you might want to skip this because it is time consuming to watch.

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Amazingly Epic!!!!

My second time watching Jumong. I am falling in love with these characters all over again!

Song Gook is just so beautiful, strong, level-headed, and dedicated to his cost. Period dramas is his calling. These roles fit him like a custom-made suit. I am surprised he hasn’t been in any recent historical series—considering the amount that’s been coming out. As a fan, I am literally itching for him to get a new role soon.

(BEFORE HE LOST HIS WAY) King Geum Wa would have been among Historical best Kings. He was deeply loyal to Jumong and his mother… a devotion that stemmed from his love and friendship with General Hae Mo Su (Jumong father) Eventually, he came back to his senses.

I like Ye So Ya. She is modest and humble, and became Jumong wife because of circumstances… well, I am sure she loved him from the get-go. Don't even get me started on how much this woman endured, my Lord! She deserved that Queen title just as much as So Seo No. But Ye So Ya didn’t want the title anyways.


~~*~~


Second to Jumong, Oh Yi is my favourite! He's forever down for saving Ye So Ya. No hesitation.

Before they were assumed dead, I think, Oh Yi, believed Jumong didn't have any love for his wife because of his constant "lack of concern" look. However, when he witnessed Jumong suffering as he silently licked his own wound and pained for not saving his family, Oh Yi, who always looked saddened and surprised by Jumong's laid-back attitude regarding his wife and son... heart breaks as he now realise Ye So Ya was not merely another "woman" to Jumong, and his Commander and bother had lost what he most cherished.

After all those years, Oh Yi still remembered the way Ye So Ya looked. Just a mere glance and he knew. He saw Ye So Ya as his sister-in-law after she married Jumong.

What a wonderful man. Loyal friend and brother.



WHAT I HATED: The only think I dislike about this series is that Lady Ye So Ya didn't get more lines, especially when talking to Jumong. There were many times I wish they would allow her express herself more.

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I don’t think I can say much about JUMONG that has already been said and said so well that I would presume to improve on it.

Nabokov says that the real drama of any book isn’t between the characters but between author and reader(s). Reading KING LEAR is a good example of this notion. It’s a condemnation of perceptions arrived at by the easiest of routes which people tend to do by no fault of their own as their education is lacking and/or they are too naïve and trusting to take words at anything but at their face value.

I first saw Song Il-gook in BODYGUARD. Recognizing his face in JUMONG made me smile. I doubt the recognition was mutual, but I like to think it was. In any event, there were other actors and actresses who I recognized from their previous screen incarnations, and my general thought was “Hey, it’s you again.”

I suppose I could mention all their names paying each and every one my respects but I’m sure that would only exacerbate my exorbitant debt which is growing still and at an exponential rate. So I humbly submit my thanks or as Hamlet says “Beggar that I am, I am even poor in thanks, but I thank you.”

By the way, the drama is first rate as is the soundtrack.

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I had some expectations...

If you're looking for a historical drama about the foundation Goguryeo then this drama is NOT it. This drama was mostly about the in palace melodrama and conflict. Furthermore, it's important to know that this drama included a handful of fantasy elements sprinkled around all over it, so don't expect it to be grounded to reality. Han Hye Jin who played the female lead as Soh Seo No was a poor cast choice. Soh Seo No needed a more rigid and stubborn looking actress to better fit the character.

A weak incapable king, a greedy prince and an underdog illegitimate prince going aimlessly in circles. Wars, fights and action were surprisingly and disappointingly scarce for a never-ending 81 episodes historical drama about the founders of Goguryeo. Which is why we had little to no planning or strategy for these wars. That one big war at the end against another nation that we waited ages for, was condensed down to just 1 singular episode of utter disappointment. In fact, the entire last episode was extremely rushed and we were given a joke of a wrap up. They had all the time in the world and they couldn't make a decent send off. The last episode was absolutely stripped off genuine emotions. It robs you the wrong way after you had gone through 81 episodes. Speaking of which, they were trying too hard to reach the 81 mark with prolonged uncut full-scenes repeated flashbacks! You would lose your mind watching it serializing.

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