* It's my first time to watch a series that I have to skip parts of the leading lady, her acting annoyed the hell out of me, I ma not sure how big Go A-ra is in Korea as an actress but she didn't give justice to her character, or maybe I just didn't like her at all. Her acting was a mediocre even when she delivers her lines.
* The male leads are all handsome and justice was given to each characters that they are portraying, no doubt about Park Seo-joon and Park Hyung-sik. The guys looked elite and well deserved for each of their roles I should say. Luckily they were able to pull out the strings considering that their lead actress is failing in every aspects of character delivery.
* Background music is a mess, it's as if during the editing they just put background music on each scene just because. It is sometimes annoying that there is a background music where it is not necessary.
* Story plot, I'll say 75% rate, there are scenes unnecessary, scenes that are not deep enough to be understood why it was there and why it has to happen. I understand that in every man's success there is a woman behind however, it is not always necessary specially the female protagonists role doesn't look necessary at all. It could have been better if they made a different attack with the female protagonist and not look like a damsel in distress who became the reason why one man wants to become a king and the other one wants to live. I have nothing against it, it's just that the story line was not well thought of. I acknowledge the fact when Ji Dwi look unto her because it's the first time that he had someone who can see him as the King and be himself no matter what, his situation is unbearable. Same with Sun woo, she is part of the reason why he tried to live again and fight his way to justify the death of his friend. Since the story line was about the Hwarang's, my take was to focused more about them, they should've shown more of them and how they grown up as a person. I don't really know about the female lead part being part of the story when it doesn't look appeasing and necessary to be part of the story. (This is all my take personally though)
** The death of Han-seung (Kim Tae-hyung) for me is unnecessary though it made and impact and made his brother and grandfather to realize how they should've understood him and just let him live the life that he wants to live. Someone as gentle and caring as him made me cry when he died specially that he is just starting to have bonding with Sun woo looking up to him as an elder brother. It was such a short time for the both of them.
So, over all it's not that bad. Not much of what I expected though coz I am actually expecting too much if I am gonna base it with the reviews given in Viki site. 9.6 rating is high and it will make you expect a good run specially of you are more into story plot of series and good looking actors are added value. Well, everything written here is based on my own verdict, we have different opinions, what is yours?
