Queen Seon Deok

I usually stay away from sageuk (historical) dramas.  Haven't seen Jewel in the Palace, Jumong and Hwang Jini (I have DVD copies of these kdramas but still haven't seen a single episode of any of them).  Besides, jdorama has sort of spoiled me - imagine 11 episodes and everything wraps up.  Most sageuk dramas have 20 plus, even 50 plus episodes.  Queen Seon Deok has 62 episodes, so just thinking of starting this drama is an enormous decision to make.  It means investing on time, committing emotionally and preparing to fall in love or in hate. Well, I kinda cheated and skipped some episodes but I was able to finish the drama and here are the five characters that made me invest, commit and fall - in LOVE:

5.  Wolya (Joo Sang Wook):  It has to be the stance.  As the leader of the Gaya restoration movement, he's the head of a proud belligerent group but tends to stand behind Kim Yushin.  He plays the second fiddle to Yushin's character but there's something with his stance that somehow makes him stands out.  It's also the character's capacity to weed everything out and make a decision that affects his roots, race and reason.  

4.  Kim Chun Chu (Yoo Seung Ho):  He'll make a very good political scientist.  Among his traits - displaying shrewd political analysis of the events; cultivating an innocent image; and knowing the buttons to push to make the winds of history favor his desired directions.  It also helps that as a drama watcher - we know he'll end up as the successor.

3.  Alcheon (Lee Seung Hyo):   Knowing one's duty, giving everything to achieve that and still being ready to give some more.  Like Wolya, he tends to be Yushin's second fiddle but you get the feeling that he can be the main dish if the writers want to.  

2.  Kim Yoo Shin (Uhm Tae Woong): If you're a ruler, you have to have this general to win wars for you, colonize other countries and be your rock.  He's your chief of staff, the executive secretary, the CEO.  This character does everything - even love you.  But you can be comfortable in knowing that even if you don't return that love, he'll be able to move on because his love and loyalty for his country is greater than his love and loyalty for his queen.

1.  Bi Dam (Kim Nam Gil):  This one can annihilate a whole army - possessing fighting skills that can protect and destroy.  He's childish but also a murderer; calculating but can be very obtuse and simple but quite complicated.  He's the main reason why I watched the whole thing, cried buckets at the last episode and wished that I can have tons of patience in re-watching the whole thing.  Simply put,  I  Bidam!

Actually there's more - most of the Hwarang leaders, Bidam's master, Seol won, Jukbang, Santak and even Godo.  The costumes and production values are spectacular.  I still don't know why I was never fascinated with the female characters - Mishil,Princess Chun Myung and Duk Man, the Queen.  Must be because most of these characters love them.