After Prison Playbook and Black, it is another K-Drama, A Korean Odyssey, which passes under our watchful eye. The phenomenon had greatly attracted us and interested us in its impossible romance. It is available on the Netflix platform for the most curious of you.
Adapted from a Chinese work dating from the late sixteenth century, A Korean Odyssey offers a fantastic dive between worlds. A trip that, despite some lengths, could well seduce you!
This review contains important elements from K-Drama and spoilers. Read at your own risk.
A Korean Odyssey
Original title: 화유기 – Hwayugi
Original work: 西游记 Dà Nào Tiān Gōng (The Journey to the West) written by Wu Cheng'en in the late sixteenth century
Episodes: 20
Genre: romance – fantasy – drama
Release period: December 23, 2017 to March 4, 2018
Channel: tvN
Streaming platform: Netflix
Synopsis
Mythical creature or not, sometimes it only takes a simple woman who sees supernatural beings to trap you and disrupt your egocentric quest for invincibility. (Source: Netflix)
Main cast
Lee Seung-Gi
O-Gong sound | Cha Seung-Won
Wu Hwi Cheol / Wu Ma Wang | Oh Yeon-Seo
Jin Seon-Mi/ Sam Jang | Lee Hong-Ki [F.T. Island]
P.K / Jo Pal Gye |
Jang Gwang
Yoon Dae Sik / Sa Oh Jeong | Lee El
Ma Ji-Young (Black) | Kim Sung-Oh
Lee Han-Joo | Lee Se-Young
Jyeong Se Ra/Bu Ja |
At the crossroads of worlds
A Korean Odyssey is one of the series that challenges us by making us travel to a world of magic and supernatural creatures. A universe that recalls the tales of our youth and plunges us back into the innocence of yesteryear, in the manner of the famous Once Upon a Time series.
The story follows Jin Seon-Mi, a child who never separates herself from her yellow umbrella with white polka dots, protecting her from creatures in the invisible. The girl will then meet two men who will seal her destiny and make her at the same time, live an eventful adventure. One fine day she finds herself in front of Ma Wang, a demon who saves her from an evil spirit. Alas, she is forced to retrieve an object for him, to obtain a powerful umbrella that will protect her. Following his orders, she comes across Son O-Gong, an imprisoned god, who offers to protect her if she frees him. Seon-Mi is caught in the crossfire but accepts. Vicious, he fled, leaving her alone to face his fears.
A few years later, the path of the three protagonists crosses again, with a completely different objective. The two men are looking for Sam Jang, a being whose power offers great power to the one who eats him. Unfortunately for Jin Seon-Mi who still has to coexist with the spirits around her and who still doesn't know Sam Jang!
A beautiful range of actors
On this concept for the least attractive, a real chessboard and a race against the clock are set up thanks to (or fault to) many characters. The actress who plays Jin Seon-Mi has this unique freshness, this innocent character and this vision of childhood that is felt on screen in a natural way. So through her physique and her acting, she makes her character endearing, sad and funny.
As for Son O-Gong, the challenge was daunting because this is his first role after returning from military service. However, he conquered us with a "monkey" both tedious, playful and in love, who does not hesitate to tease his partners. The chemistry with Sam Jang is not forced and the two actors have found a beautiful balance between romance and inevitable destiny!
However, Ma Wang stands out the most. The actor with a well-stocked career offers us in this drama a beautiful performance. He could have been content to play the "bad" and yet… It's impossible not to die of laughter during some epic scenes! We also salute Ma Ji-Young, his faithful "doggie" who is adorable and whose supporting role brings an additional comic duo.
Special mention also to the actor and idol playing Jo Pal Gye, who offers us a beautiful palette of emotions and a beautiful complementary trio with the characters of Bu Ja and Alice. We were pleasantly surprised by the performance of actress Bu Ja. Finally, Lee Han-Joo is surely the only human in the lot who is both close to his boss (Seon-Mi) and the world of O-Gong who somehow manages to enter this particular circle. However, his help is precious for our heroine in addition to amusing us in the face of her misunderstanding.
A legend revisited
The world brought to the screen by A Korean Odyssey is a reinterpretation of a famous Chinese novel. A title already repeated many times, in the form of drama or films. We remember in particular the J-drama version Saiyuuki (2006) or the trilogy of Chinese films, The Monkey King. The characters have been kept but for the rest, it is only the original with Korean sauce. Thus the series is aimed at a wide audience.
However, the story takes time to set up and may lose some spectators, impatient because of the length of the episodes (1h30 for some). The plot is not to be taken lightly, despite a very present romance, which will not take an excessive scale, rest assured. The stakes are set up in the course of history and become more and more disturbing, approaching melodrama.
The series is very interesting because of its endearing and numerous characters, as well as this hidden vision of good and evil. Indeed, unlike other stories of this type, A Korean Odysssey offers us a free will that does not necessarily allow us to choose sides. The natural scenery is sublime, as are the luxurious buildings where our demons live. The scenario remains constant, apart from a botched ending, which does not disappoint. The direction and special effects are most enjoyable and the OST bring a plus to the K-Drama.
A Korean Odyssey is a fantasy story that transports the viewer into a forced romance, eventually coming to fruition to the chagrin of some protagonists. An expected drama but not as gripping and mesmerizing as expected. To discover via the Netflix platform.
