INTRODUCTION –

Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth

Hwarang is a South Korean television series starring Park Seo-Joon, Go A-ra and Park Hyung-Sik. This classic drama draws motivation from the historical Silla hwarang, it commemorated the voyage of these young men brought up from different social denominations to create a new Silla. The story revolves around an elite group of juveniles who discover their passions, love, and friendship in the chaos of the Silla province (57 B.C. to 935 A.D.)

This drama marks Kim Taehyung’s acting debut, he appeared in the role of artistic prince ‘Suk Han-sung‘ which was one of the strongest supporting characters in the drama.V along with his BTS’ hyung ‘Kim Seokjin’ sang a beautiful soundtrack “It’s definitely You” for the show.

Hwarang melds many genres together such as action, romance, comedy and suspense, all within one historical Korean series. This drama is based on real incidents, though the characters and story are solely fictional.

HISTORY OF HWARANG –

Hwarang was energized by real chronological circumstances. Formed from the 6th century, the hwarang comprised of minor men “Only sons of the aristocracy were eligible to join, and the true purpose of the system, sponsored as it was by the state, was likely to enable the ruling class to select the most talented youths and earmark them for future positions within the state apparatus.”

“The precise organization of the hwarang is not known beyond that the leader of a single group of a few hundred youths held the title of kukson or ‘National Immortal.” He was selected from the True Bone or chingol class of the Silla kingdom’s rigid social hierarchy, the Bone Rank System.”

In Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth, this narrative is faithfully correlated in its overture, where onlookers are acquainted that the show is established during the supremacy of King Jinheung (540-576). During this period, Korea was divided into three nations: Silla, Baekje, and Goguryeo.

The occurrences of Hwarang took place in Silla, furthermore, the story tells us that few episodes deal with the tense associations between Silla and neighboring Baekje. Dog-Bird and his friend Mak Moon (Lee Kwang-soo) were carefree men who were living outside the capital, were best of a friend and their bond was unbreakable, Mak Moon was separated from his family when he was a kid and yearns to return to the Capital and his home again.

The show’s protagonist is an anonymous peasant who famous for the epithet Dog-Bird, this character was played by actor Park Seo-Joon.

Dog-Bird and his friend Mak Moon (Lee Kwang-soo) were carefree men who were living outside the capital, were best of a friend and their bond was unbreakable, Mak Moon was separated from his family when he was a kid and yearns to return to the Capital and his home again. He barely remembers anything about his past, aside from his blur memories and a detailed wooden neckpiece. Dog-Bird pledges to help reunite his buddy with his long-lost family, and together they wriggle into the walls of Silla. Seemingly at the same juncture, the “faceless mysterious king” discerned as Sam Maekjong, originally King Jinheung of the Silla, ( actor Park Hyung-Sik) returns to the Capital to encounter his mother, Queen Ji-so played by an actress (Kim Ji-Soo).

King’s mother had sent Jinheung to reside in camouflaging environment until she feels it’s safe to divulge his name and identity. However, King Jinheung is combated about his kingly rights to his throne.

Empress tried safeguarding Silla’s real King and seek help from Wi-wha and as an added inducement, she assures him that if he will get successful in tutoring the hwarangs, she’ll relinquish the throne, which many fellows of the aristocracy want, including the story’s main wrongdoer Master Young-shil.
The construction of hwarang is one of the crucial historical divergences in the show. 

A Tale of Two Kings

Sincerely, Hwarang has several different stories. Dog-Bird, aimlessly trapped himself into the weirdest situation, after mak Moon’s massacred Dog-bird accidentally end up becoming Seonu—the real identity of his friend Mak Moon.

Dog-Bird tries to save him and is grievously injured in the process. Fortunately,
Ahn-ji helps Dog-Bird stay breathing in the Capital by masking him as Mak Moon’s true identity; Seonu. Nonetheless, What’s fascinating is Dog-Bird’s real identity. More than a peasant or “half-breed” (half True Bone, half peasant), Dog-Bird is a “Sacred Bone” (of royal descent) like King Jinheung

Ah-ro and Seonu

Ah-ro was told that fake Seonu (Dog-bird) and she are siblings, AKA the siblings that aren’t real siblings.
This bizarre plotline of Hwarang created awkward amour between Ah-ro and Seonu. Ah-ro feels anxious and sinful that she got seduced to the person she believes to be her brother, and Dog-Bird strives hardest to accomplish in his unusual brotherly role to placate master Ahn-ji, which led to a weird rooting romance between the two, also situation became more intended with King Jinheung also fell madly in love with Ah-ro.

But Ah-ro and Dog-Bird sustain a powerful bond right up until the show’s finishing episode. and how the show never attempts to mislead the observers with “who will she end up with?”

The Prominent Members of Hwarang :

Hwarang shows off a terrific cast, though its show’s rage spiked due to the inclusion of Tae-Hyung from BTS. Many plots in the show gave us visual delights; characters like Kim Soo-ho played (Choi Min-ho of SHINee), Suk Han-sung played by (Kim Tae-Hyung of BTS), Park Ban-Ryu played by (Do Ji-han), and Kim Yeo-wool played by (Jo Yoon-woo).

As a fan of BTS, I was overjoyed after seeing him and his wonderful acting skills.

Kim Tae-Hyung (V) from BTS appeared in the role of Suk Han-sung. And his character has taken my heart away.
Aside from Min-Ho and Tae-Hyung, I have to applaud for performances from (Do Ji-han) as Ban-Ryu and Jo (Yoon-woo) as Kim Yeo-wool. Both personalities are hastily remarkable, They truly made these characters feel believable.

To be exclusively ethical, there were a total of zero vulnerable performances in Hwarang which is rare. When a serial brings a huge crew of stars, it’s susceptible for a few to withstand more “forgettable” than the rest. This isn’t the case in Hwarang. The entire team and each character feel vibrant and enthusiastic. Every story feels meaningful.

 

Final Verdict –

Hwarang hastily evolved as one of my favorite dramas. It accentuates an all-star cast and an arrangement of tremendous performances. It never feels aluggish, it never feels musty, and you can’t help but get thawed into the show’s engrossing world. I have experienced an ancient Korean life while watching Hwarang. I felt like a habitant of Silla while watching the evolution of Dog-Bird from peasant to Sacred Bone. I have groped like a member of hwarang while gawking a faction of dupes set aside their discrepancies and bond jointly as pals. If I had to pick, I’d say episode 7 is the best from a crucial stance.

That said, out of the 20 episodes that encompass Hwarang, all of them are extremely delightful. I will say that the pacing staggers towards the verge as the show scrambles to meet its unavoidable conclusion. King Jinheung takes the throne, Dog-Bird too lives happily always after with Ah-ro, and the hwarang continue to fight together.

What’s forfeiting is obvious justice for Master Young-shil and an epilogue for characters like Princess Sook-Myung and Suk Dan-se (who accidentally slaughtered his brother). Dan-se is indicated as a member of earshot fairly than a “disciple,” but it’s never deciphered how he acquired this stance or why. Of course, these are all small things that can easily be dominated. All in all, Hwarang is decent. It’s one of those shows that realizes like sitting down to a promising meal. Every part of the crock is delightful.