Ah, The Fugitive of Joseon, what other superlatives I can hurl on you well in advance of even seeing one full scene from this drama. I guess the worst thing that could be said about the promotion of this upcoming gritty sageuk is how the English title doesn’t do its Korean title justice. How cool is Mandate of Heaven or Heaven’s Order or Fate of Heaven? How did that morph into a cheesy title like Fugitive of Joseon, which gets points for capturing the central conceit of this drama (a fugitive on the run during the Joseon era Korea) but loses all artistic flourishes with how clunky it sounds. But never fear, a bad title hasn’t tanked a good drama yet. The official poster was released last week and its an enthusiastic thumbs up from me. Great color scheme (borrowed from The Princess’s Man, yes, but with a much more desperate vibe) and Lee Dong Wook is selling his sad persecuted daddy act like no tomorrow. The drama sounds like it’ll be toggling between Palace intrigue involving the Queen and the Crown Prince, not to mention the royal physician department where Lee Dong Wook is a doctor and Song Ji Hyo is a nurse, but also move out of the Palace once Lee Dong Wook is on the run and being chased by dogged investigator Song Jong Ho. I’m pleasantly surprised that the most low-key sageuk of the Spring season is easily shaping up to be only real deal. Having seen both episodes of Gu Family Book (high risk for utter and complete mess but still clinging to my shred of Lee Seung Gi flavored hope) and Jang Ok Jung, Live in Love (loved both episodes but unsure if the adult cast can sustain the great narrative complexity), this sageuk looks and feels like a tense nail-biting thrill ride from beginning to end. The romance likely taking a backseat to the father-daughter dynamics, which continue to look so cute I’m getting cavities just by the glimpse in the teasers, which is fine by me since neither Song Ji Hyo nor Yoon Jin Yi tickle my fancy. Can’t wait to sink my teeth into this!
Second teaser for The Fugitive of Joseon:
I AM SO SOLD. I can’t wait for it to be released cause it really seems like it’s gonna be a good watch. It definitely feels like a mash of TPM+Chuno,except in this case perhaps it’ll be even better HEH.
Having pretty high hopes for this. And I love how relatively low-key the drama production team is. To be honest,I’m pretty sick of seeing a gazillion load of teasers,drama stills already so it’s refreshing to see a drama not try to pversell itself. MAD LOVE. Lee Dong Wook + Song Ji Hyo? SO ONBOARD.
This looks so good so I hope it’s just as good as the previews make it seem. I’ll give the main actors a chance in Gu Family book but I was so charmed and heartbroken by the parents part and I’m very skeptic about Suzy being able to carry a drama. Maybe they could bring back the parents in the end….please I just want them to have a happy end.
Me too, I can’t wait. Thirsty for some parental ambrosia.
Why don’t you give Cruel Palace: War of the Flowers a try? Its really good!!! And the real deal in my opinion.
Ditto on Cruel Palace. It makes Jang Ok Jung look like a dime story novel in comparison.
I know right?
I am looking forward to this! The other new dramas don’t appeal to me.
Mrs K – have you had the chance to see the first six episodes of Cruel Palace War of Flowers? I think this is shaping to be an excellent sageuk – looking at King Injo (who surrendered to the Manchus) and one of his concubines.
I AM SO SOLDDDDD.
Oh that little girl. So much love for her father.
The two teasers looks so interesting and it reminds me a lot of Chuno ^_^
Awwww… the father-daughter pair just kills me with the sweetness and tenderness. Love this teaser too and I am praying & praying that this turn out to be the killer drama of the season!
You’re right. The cute daughter wins over the other two actresses in terms of interest. I’ve seen her in other dramas and she’s very captivating. Do you think the director purposely chose a strong child actor with secondary female actors to focus on the daughter/father relationship rather than a romantic OTP?
Oh that’s a good point about strong child actor over the female actors – I actually like this format and it’s so refreshing too!
…so looking forward to this one as well.
Cool poster.
aahhhhhhh!! THIS is looking just great. We JUST know that this father-daughter duo will make us turn on the waterworks.
I was wondering if you were watching Cruel Palace Koala? The drama is amazing so far. Cable seems to be doing everything right lately.
And this saeguk looks like it’ll be a winner. Father-daughter cuteness :3 can’t wait!
This is looking really good & that has me genuinely excited – looking forward to this!! 😀
I think right.