Joseon X-Files
Since I was curious (and am a longtime sf fan), I checked out the first episode of Secret Investigation Record (more popularly known as Joseon X-Files) yesterday. And after that, ended up binging on episodes 2-4 as well. I guess it's a good thing this is a currently airing drama and hasn't yet been fully subbed, since I could see myself marathoning the whole thing in a few days…
Joseon X-Files is a Korean sageuk (historical drama) that combines mystery and sf elements into it's story. In the pilot, the main character encounters mysterious flying objects on the course of his investigation to find out the truth about a case which has his mentor up for treason charges.
He comes across a conspiracy to hide anything to do with the mysterious lights and objects in the sky. In the end, he is scouted by an agency that investigates all kinds of mysterious occurrences.
Kim Hyung Do is honest to a fault, hot-headed, but also healthily sceptical about the cases. He is eager to learn more about the cases, but doesn't quite agree with the agency policy of hiding the truth from other people. He is very much drawn to mysterious Heo Yoon Yi who on occasion appears to know much more than she is telling anyone.
I have my suspicions about her, especially when she is claiming to not remember anything whenever she comes up with some scientific knowledge that is much too modern for the time of the drama. Still, I like the character. She is also a strong female character in a historical drama, playing an active role in the investigations.
The cinematography and the camera angles do a lot to add to the atmosphere of the drama. A lot of the time, there is this constant feeling of menace even though nothing is really shown on the screen. Even though the investigations usually fine some kind of a solution to the immediate problem (like radiation poisoning - easily recognizable to a modern viewer, but a curse-like mysterious affliction to the characters), a lot of the stuff is left open and never fully resolved.
I can't wait to see what they come up with in the rest of the episodes! This is a short drama by kdrama standards, since it's only 12 episodes at 45 minutes each (most kdramas range from 16 to 20 eps at 60 min each), but looks like they've spent their money on where it matters. Why aren't more people watching this?!
Joseon X-Files is a Korean sageuk (historical drama) that combines mystery and sf elements into it's story. In the pilot, the main character encounters mysterious flying objects on the course of his investigation to find out the truth about a case which has his mentor up for treason charges.
He comes across a conspiracy to hide anything to do with the mysterious lights and objects in the sky. In the end, he is scouted by an agency that investigates all kinds of mysterious occurrences.
Kim Hyung Do is honest to a fault, hot-headed, but also healthily sceptical about the cases. He is eager to learn more about the cases, but doesn't quite agree with the agency policy of hiding the truth from other people. He is very much drawn to mysterious Heo Yoon Yi who on occasion appears to know much more than she is telling anyone.
I have my suspicions about her, especially when she is claiming to not remember anything whenever she comes up with some scientific knowledge that is much too modern for the time of the drama. Still, I like the character. She is also a strong female character in a historical drama, playing an active role in the investigations.
The cinematography and the camera angles do a lot to add to the atmosphere of the drama. A lot of the time, there is this constant feeling of menace even though nothing is really shown on the screen. Even though the investigations usually fine some kind of a solution to the immediate problem (like radiation poisoning - easily recognizable to a modern viewer, but a curse-like mysterious affliction to the characters), a lot of the stuff is left open and never fully resolved.
I can't wait to see what they come up with in the rest of the episodes! This is a short drama by kdrama standards, since it's only 12 episodes at 45 minutes each (most kdramas range from 16 to 20 eps at 60 min each), but looks like they've spent their money on where it matters. Why aren't more people watching this?!