Dear Hongrang

Pretty sure y'all are fans of Jang Uk from alchemy of souls just like me and would have known Jo Bo Ah from Tale of nine tailed. "Dear Hongrang" explores the unspoken issues of the Joseon period, such as the disappearance of small children, the harsh realities faced by children born out of wedlock, adoption, and complex relationships. The female lead is a true embodiment of a damsel in distress; she prioritizes the well-being of others over her own and leads an honest life. The plot takes a wild turn when the male lead appears, claiming to be her lost little brother from twelve years ago.

My only complaint about this drama is that no one voices the plot twists clearly. It requires careful attention, especially if you're not Korean like me. The subplots can make it challenging to understand the main storyline. At times, the story feels like it's going in circles without a clear conclusion, as all the characters simply try to get through the day. The female lead, male lead, and the supporting male lead all had difficult childhoods, and leaning on each other became their only source of strength and support. Their lives are manipulated by malicious individuals behind the scenes.

Overall, the series has a gloomy tone, very serious with little humor. However, the original soundtrack (OST) was exceptional and added depth to the somber atmosphere they aimed to create. It's worth watching at least once if you're a fan of the cast mentioned above. Thank you for reading this, and I hope you have a great day!

This was a nice surprise from Netflix. From the very begining you jump right into action, no time is wasted on dragging scenes and no redundant dialogue. It' about a long lost son of a wealthy and powerful family and the people around him on how they manage to keep up with their lives after he was lost,what they did to look for him and what happens after they eventualy do find him. The series is packed with fast moving scenes,fights,mistery and strong leads. It's not the usual cringy K-drama love but more a hate-love dynamic all over.

I like that it's placed in Joseon and they wraped it all up in only 12 episodes. Great for binge watchig!

I bridged the drama over two days as I could not stop watching it. The cinematography and acting are amazing. I love the storyline and how slowly we are getting to the truth. Not a single episode was boring. The chemistry between the leads is awesome! I love the bond Jae I and Hong Rang had. Their eyes speak for themselves. The fighting scenes were great as well. It was a real surprise to see the real villain. I will not say more to avoid spoilers.

The OST is great, so fitting to the drama. It is not a typical drama; it is dark, and with each episode, there is more suffering, but it is a beautiful story of two people who try to protect each other. The last episode was very emotional.

I'll be honest, coming from someone who got ADHD and struggles binge watching any series, this is the 2nd series I watched in one sitting. 1st one was Karma. This series got elements to hook someone who's not into lovey dovey flowery storyline with cute faced ML and FL. I liked everything bout it - cinematography, the color choices of costume of ML (white cause he represents death ), the OSTs, acting, action everything. The only let down was Netflix cutting short a drama who had the potential to be a global phenomenon. The plot sometimes felt rushed , romance built up needed some more time to be more impactful. But those can be overlooked due to the brilliant acting of the leads AND the villains esp KJW.

Would I recommend? Only to those who got the eyes and guts to watch unconventional, eerie kdramas which aren't all flowers and butterflies with Happy ending.

Let's start with Hongrang himself. That man (ghost? Spirit? Tortured soul??) has no right being this mesmerizing. The way he moves, the way he speaks-every glance feels like it holds centuries of pain and longing. And the female lead: The raw desperation in her eyes, the way she teeters between hope and dread, wondering if this mysterious figure is really her lost brother or something far more sinister...

The atmosphere is everything. The fog-drenched forests, the eerie gut (shaman) rituals, the way the ghosts move-like whispers in the dark-it all feels so hauntingly real. And the soundtrack? Don't even get me started. There's this one song that plays during the most emotional scenes, and I swear, I get goosebumps every single time.

But what really got me was the emotional core of the story. It's not just about ghosts and mysteries-it's about grief, love, and the lengths we go to hold onto the people we've lost.