Drama Digest
The story depicts the fate of a Bossam-man, Ba-woo, during the Joseon Dynasty under Gwanghaegun. Bossam was a custom of that era, in which a bachelor who missed the marriageable age would kidnap a widow and then forcefully marry her. These ‘Bossam Men’ would secretly wrap up a widow in a blanket at night and brought them to their clients. Ba Woo was forced into hiding at a young age after being falsely accused of a crime he did not commit. Growing up in absolute poverty, Ba Woo did the best he could and evolved into a degenerate man who gambles, steals, fights, and conceals his true identity. While performing a Bossam, Ba Woo accidentally kidnaps a princess, this custom alters his fate. Will he return the princess back to her rightful place or will the princess change his life? Watch as he navigates through his mistakes and struggles to free himself from his past in this exhilarating drama.
The Feel-Good Part
The story’s plot is quite unique and exciting, which many people, particularly the international audience, are unaware of. The depiction of the Joseon Era’s conditions and people is very authentic and not exaggerated or dramatized. Whether joyous or melancholy, this drama has many warm poetic moments, in contrast to other period dramas that are full of tragedy and angst. The show is visually appealing and has a great cast and amazing OSTs from musicians such as Sunny from Girls Generation.
The Disappointing Factor
A disappointing factor of the story is how underdeveloped the romance element was. The drama was primarily concerned with the palace and court politics. For the better part of the show, there was a tense and serious vibe with a hint of melancholy. As a result, viewers expecting a heartwarming love story may be slightly disappointed by this series.
In-Depth Analysis
Overall, this is an excellent series to watch. Everything was done well, from the acting to the cinematography. There were no obvious good or bad sides to any of the characters. There were righteous antagonists, people in the middle who followed their own sense of justice and principles, and then there were the protagonists, who were not “Heroes of Justice” but ordinary people making difficult decisions and making mistakes.
Star Power
This series, directed by Kwon Seok-Jang, stars Jung Il-woo, Kwon Yu-ri, Shin Hyun-soo, and Kim Tae-woo. The assembled cast packs a powerful punch in terms of star power. These actors and actresses played their characters so well that it feels like these roles were made for them!
Overall Opinion
With their masterful audio-visual storytelling, you feel the series come to life. This series involves you as an audience and the suspense leaves you gripping the edge of your seat. If you want to watch something with a deep and meaningful story, then this is just the show for you!
