One of the most popular and well-received drama of 2012, Arang and the Magistrate is a 20-episode fantasy sageuk about a female ghost named Arang who appears in front of a government official to plea for help in revealing the truth behind the circumstances surrounding her death.
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| Image via MBC. |
THOUGHTS...
1) Arang and the Magistrate had a solid foundation and strong plot it tops all fusion and fantasy sageuks I have watched to date (not that I've watched too many). It was carefully thought of and has been consistent (almost) all through out. Its myth and mythology was well crafted, thus creating a world that's blended so well. It was spooky and dark but also evidently light hearted, becasuse no, we aren't watching Arang the horror story.
2) I love the cast and how they were able to showcase a delivery so convincing. Shin Min Ah's Arang totally blew me by storm. And of course, I love Jun Ki as Eun Oh too. I love how he does his stunts on his own, and how he fights oh-so-gracefully even with those hanboks on. Such charisma. 😍 And that chemistry! Min Ah and Jun Ki complement each other so well their chemistry transcends even to those child actors, making me only ever see Arang and the cheeky Eun-oh.
3) Arang and the Magistrate has the most satisfying and beautifully crafted ending I've seen in quite a while. In a world where gods already play an integral part and where life, death, birth and rebirth continues to be a central theme, reincarnation wasn't much of a last resort to a happy ending as it is a gratifying resolution. Though it didn't give that sort of a bang expected from such a well crafted drama, that ending still was truly well earned and well deserved.
4) Those last stills for episode 20 were absolutely priceless. I love that Eun Oh and Arang gets that second take at love, stripped of hardships and conflicts and supernatural rifts. They both missed their chances in that bittersweet past life they had so I'm just glad they found each other again, with memories intact (yes, I want to believe Eun-oh hasn't really lost his memories and was just faking it in exchange of all those kisses from Arang. Very cheeky, Magistrate!) and already in love from the get-go.
HOWEVER...
Arang started out spunky and brash, ballsy, feisty, witty and so full of gusto. It was fun to watch her run all around with those skirts hitched up, punching and kicking like she doesn't give a damn. Yet on the latter part of the show, she lost that kind of spark that defined her among everyone else. I get that she's become human and that Lee Seo Rim's personality is quite the opposite, but nevertheless, she's still Arang the ghost. She couldn't have changed so easily like that.
Still, Arang and the Magistrate is one hell of a drama that not only solidified my being a Jun Ki fan. It is a drama good enough to stay in my heart for a long long time.
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