A great story with an underwhelming finale!

The first 5-6 episodes are the strongest. We have a different set of actors and they’ve all done a splendid job. So much so, you have a hard time accepting the new cast as they go past their adolescence.

The love the young Yeon-woo pours into her dying letter is so much more believable than the “inert” chemistry we get to see later on. It’s hard to connect with those “sounds-silly-so-perhaps-it-is” responses from the grown up but immature Yeon-woo. In fact, you feel for the Queen’s unrequited love vying for our Crown-Prince-turned-King more until she’s driven mad with jealousy.

Same goes with Yeon-woo’s brother; a charming, prominent character reduced to an accessory. The young cast have done such a great job, it actually ruins the show. Ah, the irony! The Prince’s attendant, on the other hand, leaves a mark on the whole show. The subtle humor he brings is so peachy.

But, towards the end you realize this needed to be a 16 episode series. It loses steam with some pointless conversations and the climax is disappointing. When Ari-a said those words – something about the moonlight while she was strapped to a chair – it sounds promising that you’ll witness a befitting revenge but it doesn’t even come close.

[spoiler]Instead you witness so many characters dying for no good reason. So, the Head Shaman doesn’t die while practicing Witchcraft, doesn’t die while blocking black magic, but drops dead offering a peace prayer. Come on! And, don’t even get me started on Prince Yang-myung-u![/spoiler]

So, I’ve berated the show a lot but I wouldn’t say it’s unwatchable. The underlying story is really good and, so, I do recommend a watch. 7.5/8 Honestly :)

What even was that?! I would have rather gotten lost in a liminal space than watching this. The entire portion of the plot involving the kids was absurd and uncomfortable. They had no idea how to structure the narrative with the kids which led to a handful of subsequent problems that couldn't be fixed. About 80% of the drama was wasted on a single weak point of tension. The longer runtime made the tension even weaker. The following events didn't matter for how little investment the viewers have had in the first place. While the cast was mostly okay, Han Ga In didn't feel right in this drama.

> Saeguk that has inspired many in the last decade !

This has to be the first Saeguk you ever watch because it has all the troupes that are rinse-repeated in various seaguks that have been release in the last decade .

The plot is self-descriptive from the synopsis and you can predict the story ; despite that it still entertains and inspires with excellent child cast , bromance , sismance and the star-crossed lovers that depend on each other despite the amnesia troupe.

Special mention to Yeo Jin-goo and Kim You-Jung who has really setup a great start with their wonderful acting and we wished that childhood love never ended but alas it happened and the character Heo Yeon-woo has never been the same ; no offense to Han Ga-in as she might be limited in acting due to the amnesia troupe but always felt like laid back ; quiet different from her childhood [spoiler] only briefly when recovered memories she was again smart and aggressive. For my taste it felt like they dragged the amenisia too long as she never questioned if those memories are hers and not spiritual divination of king [/spoiler]

I did feel pity for the Queen and Princess but they would make same choices due to greed if not being manipulated by the rat-face father and dowager. In the end it does feel like they maintained their dignity and received right punishment for their sins.

[spoiler]The only sad thing about this drama was losing the loving brother of prince ; who for unexplained reason fell in love with an underage girl and wouldn't accept that she is better of with the king and sacrifices don't just protect people. But he did love and respect his brother to sacrifice in the end to prevent further bloodshed [/spoiler]

In nutshell it a drama about two suns and moon and other souls that are destroyed by greed and rebuilt back brick by brick with mending hearts.

I might watch it again considering it has happy ending contrast to most Saeguks released this year **cough[spoiler] Red sleeve [/spoiler] **cough and coincidentally finished airing today ; thanks for healing the heart; but there were not many moments i would want to re-watch unlike the other ones with sad endings.