tvN chose to bisect the airing of fantasy sageuk Arthdal Chronicles into technically three parts but aired in two segments. Part 1 and 2 aired together as 12-episodes, then came Hotel Del Luna, and now Part 3 aired as a final 6-episode chunk. But the story itself was Season 1 and boy did it sure feel like it. I don’t know if the entire 54 billion won was spent on filming season 1 already so only a portion was spent, but either way the production company has indeed decided it wants to film the planned Season 2 and Season 3. The entire Arthdal run so far has felt like one very long, muddy, and boring prologue. There is no catharsis at the end of Sunday’s episode 18, just another set up for more conflict and battle for the supremacy and livelihoods of the denizens of this ancient world. I don’t know if there is any reason other than curiosity to see if the disappointment gets better with the new season(s) but this experiment in making a multi-season Games of Throne type epic in K-dramas is an early fail. Continue reading →