I feel so conflicted about this show. While it featured an amazing cast and an interesting premise, it was riddled with plot holes and shallow world building. I adored the main cast. Lee Jae-wook, Jung So-min, and Shin Seung-ho provided some of the best performances as Jang Uk, Mu Deok-i, and Go Won. I loved all of their interaction as well as their general character arcs. Much of this first season is a blend of comedy and tragedy, which they effortlessly managed with skill and talent. The other actors were fine in their roles - not particularly memorable, but fine as an ensemble cast.
While I overall enjoyed the performances, the general mystery and worldbuilding left a lot to be desired. Despite it having an expansive and complex world of magic, I felt I barely understood any of it after twenty episodes. Considering this magic system is important to character development, it should have been easier to understand and articulate to the audience. Additionally, the murky worldbuilding put up road blocks between organic character development. It felt like the characters stagnated or had to wait to move in a certain direction in order for the plot to catch up. To give credit where credit is due, the special effects and overall cinematography were beautifully executed and well shot. This show obviously had money and backing behind the production. I don’t intend to watch the second season.
tl;dr An interesting premise and exceptional cast could not overcome the murky worldbuilding and confusing mythos.
Watch if you like: ❤️ Slow-burn romance | ✨ Magic & fantasy | 👥 Political intrigue
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