The incredible Korean period Drama EMPEROR OF THE SEA TV series just released its first DVD volume, episodes 1-16. Now, Vol 2 is due out on May 31st, which will be episodes 17-34. I'm only 6 episodes in, but I'm totally hooked. This series is just incredible. I've already preordered V2.
V3 is due out in mid June sometime. Yikes, but that will complete the series.
$87.99 at YesAsia.com
EMPEROR OF THE SEA is a period drama tv series in Korea that is wildly popular (here's a short article stating that it gets about 30% audience). And apparently it's somehow nominated for an EMMY?! (link). It's also getting huge notice internationally and is a hot commodity (HanCinema link). So far, I've watched the first 6 episodes and I'm totally hooked. Hopefully this means that Korea will be developing more of these cool period pieces and maybe we'll actually get to see them Stateside.
Here the official site [link]
and here are .asfs of the episodes (non subbed, small)
And here's teh YesAsia link to the VOL 1 DVD set (eps 1-17)
EMPEROR OF THE SEA is a Korean period drama tv-series by KBS (Korean Broadcasting Systems) based on a novel by Choi In-Ho about Jang Bo Go, who was an actual historical figure. Jang Bo Go rises from a slave to a military commander of the sea. This 50-episode series chronicles his adventures. So far, only episodes 1-17 are available on DVD.
My initial reactions when I watched episode one were mixed. The production values were relatively poor compared to what I am used to in the US. The show is shot on video (rather than on film). Combined with the tv-level costumes, sets, and acting, and the show has a Daytime Soap Opera feel to it. Not being a fan of Soaps, I was immediately put off and almost turned it off, but the action started off quite quickly: period-dressed archers attacked a caravan in a ravine, distracting the warriors so that a second group could attack from the side. Then it went into a flashback, recounting the youth of our hero Jang Bo Go. In spite of myself, I was drawn into the story and ended up watching the first two episodes back-to-back.
Episode 1:
Jang Bo Go as a youth is a slave at a shipbuilding facility. His best friend Yong is also a slave and accompanies him everywhere and a third kid, Soon Jong, is the son of a government official and is a tag-along-type friend. Jang Bo Go and Yong decide to escape by stowing away on a ship. Soon Jong tags along, even though he has no reason to want to "escape." On the ship, they are discovered and sent back to the shipbuilders, where Jang Bo Go is punished by the evil Foreman's Son. He returns to his father who was suitably worried.
This first episode mostly sets up the scene. It establishes Jang Bo Go's refusal to accept being a slave and his efforts to escape to China, where he can be a freeman. His friends and enemies are established as well as the relationship among the adults. The adults, interestingly, generally are benevolent; even the foreman (father to the evil kid) is not particularly nasty. There is the Young Master, son to the governor, who uses Jang Bo Go as a fencing practice dummy. There is Young Master's sister, the stately beauty, who Jang Bo Go has fallen in love with and who also seems to have some measure of affection for him.
There's the mysterious ship that needs to be fixed and Jang Bo Go's father is the only one who is talented enough to do it. They claim to be merchants, but not all things add up. A young man from the ship befriends Jang Bo Go. In exchange to showing him around, the young man tutors Jang Bo Go in fencing.
As most pilot episodes or first episodes, this one is a bit slow, characters being introduced, relationships being established, plot elements being set up. But by the end of the one hour (a full hour on the dvd, so do they have commercials?) things have been well established and the plot is in full motion so that I was eager to see what was to come.
I'm looking forward to seeing what unfolds, as we know what Jang Bo Go becomes, but the journey is the interesting bit.
