Hong Gil Dong - Korea's Answer to Robin Hood
I am in love with this series. Hong Gil Dong,. . . it’s turning into a little bit of everything - laugh out loud funny one moment, heartbreaking the next.
The writing is solid and the actors fit their roles perfectly. Several of them have really grown in just eight episodes. There’s also some wonderful chemistry between the actors, which is always a good thing. Something else I’ve noticed: all four leads have had very lonely lives, haven’t they?
If I may, I’d like to share my thoughts on some of the characters and relationships.
MAIN CHARACTERS:
Hong Gil Dong - At the start of the series, he’s someone that doesn’t care, but there’s goodness there. He’s humor and charm has clearly helped him along the way; But, there is a loneliest and sadness in his life. Despite all his fun and games, Gil Dong really does long for a family and a different life.
Gil Dong has really grown and developed over the last eight episodes, thanks largely in part to his new relationships and the betrayals of his brother and father. Kang Ji Hwan is doing a wonderful job at showing the many different sides of Gil Dong. Yes, he started out as a reluctant hero, but he’s always been a hero none the less.
Oh, and Kang Ji Hwan is awfully attractive in this drama.
Heo Yi Nok - I simply love this character! The Hong sisters have a way of writing female leads that are just wonderful. Yi Nok is beautiful in her innocence and her warmth. I love that from the very start, she’s believed in those around her and never questioned the people important to her. The girl has a lot of hidden strength, which makes her the kind of female character I can get behind.
Sung Yuri has really grown in her acting over the last eight episodes. I’ve always enjoyed her - she was fabulous in Snow Queen -but, I feel that she’s gotten really good here. I’ll admit that for the first couple of episodes, I was worried that s he was channeling Lee Da Hae‘s My Girl character, but then Sung Yuri pulled it together. The last scene in episode seven was simply heartbreaking.
At the start of the series, we saw a much more ‘mature’ Yi Nok, so I’m looking forward to watching her change.
Chang Whe - What can I say? He’s that dark and mysterious guy that all the ladies love. Okay, maybe not. But, there have to be lot of things hidden inside his heart. I believe poor Chang Whe has had to become cold and distant in order to stay alive, which is actually very sad. However, I do think Yi Nok is warming him up. It’s nice that Chang Whe may become more “human” due to Yi Nok and Gil Dong’s example. . . but, why do I keep thinking of Byun Hak-do from Delightful Girl?
As for the acting, I can’t tell if Jang Keun Suk is a great actor of wooden. Perhaps as the show goes on and Chang Whe changes, we’ll see his acting skills shine.
Seo Eun Hye - Out of her damn mind, naïve, selfish, creepy, beautiful, could go evil - all of these things come into my mind when I think of or see Eun Hye. She’s a girl that’s been very spoiled, but that’s also been ‘trapped’ by her place in society. Of course, she’s found ways to get out and walk amongst the people, but that hasn’t made her any less naïve. Out of the four leads, I find that her character has grown the least . . . but, that Eun Hye has also begun exploring her own feelings. She’s begun to think about a couple of things, and that’s good.
Kim Ri Na, who had only been in one film before this, is proving herself to be a decent actress. There’s room for growth, but she’s holding her own against more seasoned actors. I look forward to seeing where she takes the character. Will Eun Hye become the evil girl we all love to hate or the poor girl in pathetic love that can/will never be returned? Knowing the Hong sisters, it will probably be a bit of both.
ROMANTIC LOVE SQAURE:
Gil Dong and Yi Nok: Who doesn’t love these two together? (Even as just friends.) From the very start, they’ve had a wonderful chemistry and ease between them. It didn’t matter how they met or how Gil Dong teased Yi Nok, they were still always together. Yi Nok has never cared who Gil Dong is and she’s always cared for and believed in him. And, Gil Dong has always been rather kind to Yi Nok. Even when she annoyed him, he was still rather sweet toward her. (Even when he yelled at her, he forgave her a moment later.)
It’s rather interesting to think that Yi Nok is perhaps Gil Dong’s first real friend and vice versa. Something tells me that because of their life styles, neither has ever been really close to anyone before. I suppose that’s why their bond has become so powerful so quickly.
And, who doesn’t love the teasing way Gil Dong calls himself Yi Nok’s ‘husband’? Will he ever angrily shout it out?
Yi Nok and Chang Whe - Yi Nok makes Chang Whe more human.
Her warmth makes him into a better person. It’s interesting to think that had things worked out differently, these two would most likely be married by now. They may even have had a child or two. Yet, things didn’t go the way their parents wanted it to. Now, they’re meeting for the first time.
Yi Nok is sweet around Chang Whe, and has expressed happiness at the idea of him liking her. Meanwhile, Chang Whe has smiled around Yi Nok. I mean, he smiled easily. Hell, he just smiled. She makes him less serious, and that’s a good thing. I believe Yi Nok makes Chang Whe happy and at ease, even if he doesn’t realized it yet.
I think he’s slowly falling for her, which makes me sad in a way. I hope he doesn’t do something cruel to try and keep Yi Nok with him. Chang Whe has the potential to be a great leader to his people, regardless of the woman in his life.
Gil Dong and Eun Hye - Or as I call it “the one-sided love doom”. Why you ask? Let me explain my theory on these two. Eun Hye is spoiled, but she longs for ‘freedom’. However, she doesn’t belong (and wouldn’t do well) among people like Gil Dong. Still, she wants to be with Gil Dong because she feels something for him.
I don’t believe Eun Hye is in love with Gil Dong, far from it. She’s infatuated with him. He’s a mysterious, cool, handsome commoner, who treats her like a normal girl. Despite the fact that they’ve only met a hand full of times, Eun Hye is giddy (GIDDY!) over the idea of seeing him again. To me, the way Eun Hye acts around/feels about Gil Dong, is more like the way of eleven year old girl would act around/think about her crush.
As for Gil Dong, I do believe there was a physical attraction - at first. But, that the attraction has more or less faded away. It could come back, but for right now, Gil Dong seems to have no real feelings for Eun Hye, one way or the other.
So, I am wondering how this part of the love square will work out. Is Eun Hye keeping Gil Dong being alive from Yi Nok a secret because she selfishly wants Gil Dong to herself?
Does she believe that she ‘needs’ that secret meeting to get Gil Dong to warm up to her again? I could see Eun Hye finally seeing that Yi Nok is in love with Gil Dong (from the way she was asking everyone about him),and thinking: ‘If they met again, Gil Dong will be angry with me. And, the girl will tell him her feelings. Then, it will be too late for me.’ It’s a selfish and somewhat cruel act, but something I could see Eun Hye doing.
The writing is solid and the actors fit their roles perfectly. Several of them have really grown in just eight episodes. There’s also some wonderful chemistry between the actors, which is always a good thing. Something else I’ve noticed: all four leads have had very lonely lives, haven’t they?
If I may, I’d like to share my thoughts on some of the characters and relationships.
MAIN CHARACTERS:
Hong Gil Dong - At the start of the series, he’s someone that doesn’t care, but there’s goodness there. He’s humor and charm has clearly helped him along the way; But, there is a loneliest and sadness in his life. Despite all his fun and games, Gil Dong really does long for a family and a different life.
Gil Dong has really grown and developed over the last eight episodes, thanks largely in part to his new relationships and the betrayals of his brother and father. Kang Ji Hwan is doing a wonderful job at showing the many different sides of Gil Dong. Yes, he started out as a reluctant hero, but he’s always been a hero none the less.
Oh, and Kang Ji Hwan is awfully attractive in this drama.
Heo Yi Nok - I simply love this character! The Hong sisters have a way of writing female leads that are just wonderful. Yi Nok is beautiful in her innocence and her warmth. I love that from the very start, she’s believed in those around her and never questioned the people important to her. The girl has a lot of hidden strength, which makes her the kind of female character I can get behind.
Sung Yuri has really grown in her acting over the last eight episodes. I’ve always enjoyed her - she was fabulous in Snow Queen -but, I feel that she’s gotten really good here. I’ll admit that for the first couple of episodes, I was worried that s he was channeling Lee Da Hae‘s My Girl character, but then Sung Yuri pulled it together. The last scene in episode seven was simply heartbreaking.
At the start of the series, we saw a much more ‘mature’ Yi Nok, so I’m looking forward to watching her change.
Chang Whe - What can I say? He’s that dark and mysterious guy that all the ladies love. Okay, maybe not. But, there have to be lot of things hidden inside his heart. I believe poor Chang Whe has had to become cold and distant in order to stay alive, which is actually very sad. However, I do think Yi Nok is warming him up. It’s nice that Chang Whe may become more “human” due to Yi Nok and Gil Dong’s example. . . but, why do I keep thinking of Byun Hak-do from Delightful Girl?
As for the acting, I can’t tell if Jang Keun Suk is a great actor of wooden. Perhaps as the show goes on and Chang Whe changes, we’ll see his acting skills shine.
Seo Eun Hye - Out of her damn mind, naïve, selfish, creepy, beautiful, could go evil - all of these things come into my mind when I think of or see Eun Hye. She’s a girl that’s been very spoiled, but that’s also been ‘trapped’ by her place in society. Of course, she’s found ways to get out and walk amongst the people, but that hasn’t made her any less naïve. Out of the four leads, I find that her character has grown the least . . . but, that Eun Hye has also begun exploring her own feelings. She’s begun to think about a couple of things, and that’s good.
Kim Ri Na, who had only been in one film before this, is proving herself to be a decent actress. There’s room for growth, but she’s holding her own against more seasoned actors. I look forward to seeing where she takes the character. Will Eun Hye become the evil girl we all love to hate or the poor girl in pathetic love that can/will never be returned? Knowing the Hong sisters, it will probably be a bit of both.
ROMANTIC LOVE SQAURE:
Gil Dong and Yi Nok: Who doesn’t love these two together? (Even as just friends.) From the very start, they’ve had a wonderful chemistry and ease between them. It didn’t matter how they met or how Gil Dong teased Yi Nok, they were still always together. Yi Nok has never cared who Gil Dong is and she’s always cared for and believed in him. And, Gil Dong has always been rather kind to Yi Nok. Even when she annoyed him, he was still rather sweet toward her. (Even when he yelled at her, he forgave her a moment later.)
It’s rather interesting to think that Yi Nok is perhaps Gil Dong’s first real friend and vice versa. Something tells me that because of their life styles, neither has ever been really close to anyone before. I suppose that’s why their bond has become so powerful so quickly.
And, who doesn’t love the teasing way Gil Dong calls himself Yi Nok’s ‘husband’? Will he ever angrily shout it out?
Yi Nok and Chang Whe - Yi Nok makes Chang Whe more human.
Her warmth makes him into a better person. It’s interesting to think that had things worked out differently, these two would most likely be married by now. They may even have had a child or two. Yet, things didn’t go the way their parents wanted it to. Now, they’re meeting for the first time.
Yi Nok is sweet around Chang Whe, and has expressed happiness at the idea of him liking her. Meanwhile, Chang Whe has smiled around Yi Nok. I mean, he smiled easily. Hell, he just smiled. She makes him less serious, and that’s a good thing. I believe Yi Nok makes Chang Whe happy and at ease, even if he doesn’t realized it yet.
I think he’s slowly falling for her, which makes me sad in a way. I hope he doesn’t do something cruel to try and keep Yi Nok with him. Chang Whe has the potential to be a great leader to his people, regardless of the woman in his life.
Gil Dong and Eun Hye - Or as I call it “the one-sided love doom”. Why you ask? Let me explain my theory on these two. Eun Hye is spoiled, but she longs for ‘freedom’. However, she doesn’t belong (and wouldn’t do well) among people like Gil Dong. Still, she wants to be with Gil Dong because she feels something for him.
I don’t believe Eun Hye is in love with Gil Dong, far from it. She’s infatuated with him. He’s a mysterious, cool, handsome commoner, who treats her like a normal girl. Despite the fact that they’ve only met a hand full of times, Eun Hye is giddy (GIDDY!) over the idea of seeing him again. To me, the way Eun Hye acts around/feels about Gil Dong, is more like the way of eleven year old girl would act around/think about her crush.
As for Gil Dong, I do believe there was a physical attraction - at first. But, that the attraction has more or less faded away. It could come back, but for right now, Gil Dong seems to have no real feelings for Eun Hye, one way or the other.
So, I am wondering how this part of the love square will work out. Is Eun Hye keeping Gil Dong being alive from Yi Nok a secret because she selfishly wants Gil Dong to herself?
Does she believe that she ‘needs’ that secret meeting to get Gil Dong to warm up to her again? I could see Eun Hye finally seeing that Yi Nok is in love with Gil Dong (from the way she was asking everyone about him),and thinking: ‘If they met again, Gil Dong will be angry with me. And, the girl will tell him her feelings. Then, it will be too late for me.’ It’s a selfish and somewhat cruel act, but something I could see Eun Hye doing.