Tree with Deep Roots

I would have given this a ten but it is a bit dry and long winded running at 24 episodes. Again Lee Soo Hyuk turns in an excellent performance (the only reason I watched it). He had not acted much before this, I think only Ipanema Boy, White Christmas and Vampire Idol? Maybe Vampire Idol came later.

In any event, in everything I have seen he turned in a bad performance only once and that was White Christmas (still manages 50 out of 10 on the hotness scale). He dies beautifully at the end of this drama which manages to tell the story of the development of the Korean alphabet where previously the Chinese alphabet was used? They make this part of an action drama with martial artsesque fight scenes and an entertaining story of kidnap and rivalry.

I really liked the story for Tree with Deep Roots. It is about the King of Joseon (Korea) who invented their alphabet as a simple way for his people to learn to read. Before that, they used the Chinese writing system so only the noble class could learn as there are thousands of letters and poor people never had the time. I have no idea if any of it is based on a true story...

The focus is that there are numerous groups who are trying to stop the king publishing the new letters and they will go to any length to achieve their goals. Hidden Root is a secret organization who make stopping the new letters their priority and the king has to defeat them to succeed in publishing his new writing system.

The star of the show is a slave whose parents were killed by the king when he was a small boy and he starts off trying to get his revenge by killing the king until he learns about the project to help the people.

It's slow to get going. You need to watch 4 episodes to get into it but after that, it's got plenty of action including great martial arts / fight scenes. It's only 24 episodes in total which is short compared to some of the other Korean historical dramas but it feels about right.

I recommend this for fans of historical dramas and Martians arts etc. I doubt there is much universal appeal here. If you don't like historical stuff and have no patience for subtitles, this isn't the show to change your mind (probably).

I watched it on drama fever and the translation is very poor. There are loads of obvious mistakes that stop their sentences from making sense on occasion. I wish they would improve their quality control or get a native English speaker to go through it before releasing it.

one of Koreean series who could be a seductive surprise. because it is different. because it use the romanticism in admirable way as part of a large web of fight for power, idealism, secrets, conspiracies and the truth as step by step hard way. a film noir and a subtle parable about profound chance dimensions of society. a story who gives not spectacular events or nice dramas but questions. who seems be just a historical crime film about the price of freedom and the manner to use the power. so, more a film, a great trip in the heart of history, using classic tools with great impact.

For some reason, I found this drama a bit long winded and hard going. I loved Six Flying Dragons, which in a way precedes this story, being about Sambong and the Secret Roots (or Hidden Roots in that drama), which is central to this story. Great cast, some overacting at times, I felt. The latter episodes were by far the best and very moving at times. If the overall pace had been a bit faster, I probably would have enjoyed this more. Pleased I watched it.

an admirable craft. first for the subject who use love,politic and crime in a wise manner. than - for performance. the romanticism is present but it becomes pillar for a seductive story about the use of power. the atmosphere, the script, the acting - all at high level. not a surprise - the Koreean cinema has precise science to give more than soap operas or basic series. but this case can be a splendid example of historical movie in film noir clothes. not for subject itself but for the powerful-delicate questions who defines it. for the art of characters nuances making. and, sure, for the ability to use the history in a special manner for seduce and for build large image about its bricks.a different revolution. a challenge. and a fight. that is all. but the essence is more subtle.