Drama Digest
Jirisan portrays the lives of the employees that work at the Jirisan National Park. Mount Jiri is a mountain located in South Korea, and the officials work as a team to protect Mount Jiri’s environment and the public that treks or lives nearby. When a few bizarre instances start to occur in the mountain, the already mysterious terrains of Mount Jiri become even more dangerous. Seo Yi-kang and Kang Hyun-joo, find themselves amid this mystery and need to find the person responsible for these events even at a personal cost.
The Feel-Good Part
The mystery of the plot keeps you guessing till the very end. A lot of the parts of the show that deal with the work of the park rangers or other officials like the police or firefighters are very realistic. Research for the drama, in general, seems to be extensive. The concept of the drama is very novel and a first to deal with Jirisan. The plot uses a few real-life historical events and folklore. It has amazing actors who keep you engaged with the story. With an ensemble cast, all the characters have distinct backgrounds and relationships to the mountain. The cinematography and soundtrack of the drama are exquisite as well.
The Disappointing Factor
The series had a mixed response as it is a highly united opinion of viewers that it was a wasted opportunity. The stellar cast led to higher expectations, which didn’t deliver. The continuous-time shuffles weren’t cohesive and may be tricky to follow. Some of the Computer graphics work at the beginning of the series is lackluster. However, it does get better with each episode.
In-Depth Analysis
Jun Ji-hyun plays Seo Yi-kang, an experienced park ranger and is an expert on the routes of the mountains. Ju Ji-hoon portrays Kang Hyun-joo, a new addition to the team who learns the ropes of the job under Yi-kang. In time, they work as partners that face hurdles together in their pursuit to keep all visitors safe. These visitors to the Jirisan have their personal stories. All kinds of people ranging from shamans, illegal herb-pickers, nearby residents to students visit Mount Jiri for many reasons. Conceptually, the drama tries to mesh fantasy, thriller, and supernatural elements in a piece of work. However, the execution of the concept is not up to the mark. The script feels draggy, and has a rushed ending.
It sheds light on the work park rangers, and other officials have to do while protecting the environment. In addition to this, the drama cleverly utilizes the lore of the mountain. In several instances, fantastical events occur, and the drama has an element of supernatural to it. The series is thought-invoking about the dependency of man on their environment, including the consequences of the effect of the greed of humankind.
Star Power
Jirisan has a star-studded cast who will be recognizable from other famous dramas. And is Jun Ji-hyun return to the small screen after quite some time. It is jam-packed with prominent actors and several supporting actors.
Overall Opinion
It is intriguing and covers the beauty of Jirisan. Informative and gives insights into the reality of the life of rangers.
