Song of the Bandits

Western genre is foreign concept to the Korean audience, we never had to pioneer any lands, or there is not vast enough land to begin with. However, I have forgotten all about Manchuria and Gando, and they are indeed the perfect background for Korean Western stories. Immigrants at that time were the explorers because they had to begin their livelihood from nothing and also amidst discrimination and persecution: very Western in spirit as well. Action sequences are one of the best! I can guarantee you. I like the fact that they are not repetitive; each one has a different style; each character has his or her speciality; each segment represents the story as well. Combat fight, sword, archery, gunfight, and fire.. Just dynamic and various as heck.

Pro:

• Beautiful cinematography, art and costume design
• Stylish action
• Fast paced plot, though ep 1 is a bit slow
• Acting is top notch, especially the male lead
• The female assassin is such a badass and scene stealer

Con:

• The finale is a bit rush and frustrating, they certainly was aiming for 2nd season
• As with typical korean drama, cliche love triangle and childhood love but without much chemistry between the leads
• Should have highlighted more on the relationship between male lead and the japanese army major

But the whole series is entertaining enough and recommended for those who loves kdrama.

The weak points from this series was the romance part. It was very boring, and had not really relate with the main plot. Nam hee shin's character build so flat, very bland, plus Seohyun's acting which so very emotionless. Everytime this character appear the story went so boring, not interested at all.

Overall this was a very good production, the bandits actor were so good. I really enjoy the Eon nyon character, I kept watch this series because of her. Very live character, badass, and so rude but inside had a childlike heart. Lee ho jung success build the character. Her acting was so perfect, very fun to watch, and so sassy. For me she was the reason for me to watch, even her storyline plot was very interesting.

I liked "Song of the Bandits" very much: good opening graphics, OST, writing, direction, action scenes, and fine actors who poured their hearts into their roles. I also learned about a part of Korean history and another group of freedom fighters I didn't know before. Weaknesses, however, in the awkward shooting of some scenes like embarrassingly fake horseback riding and some over-the-top, wide-eyed arguing most of which contrasted awkwardly with the usually stylish direction. Otherwise, this series was enjoyable: I cared very much about the characters, and admired the writing, actors' intensity, and directors's decisions. Recommended.

Song of the Bandits" was an interesting watch, albeit not a TV series that left a lasting impression. While it had its moments, I found it somewhat challenging to grasp the show's essence initially. Perhaps my wandering mind contributed to this confusion, but I believe the responsibility also lies with the director and the cast to truly immerse the audience in the storyline. Regrettably, this connection was somewhat lacking, preventing the show from reaching its full potential.

Although "Song of the Bandits" held my attention to a certain extent, I can't wholeheartedly label it as a must-watch. The actors' performances were mediocre, failing to leave a significant impact. While the show had its intriguing elements, it didn't fully succeed in creating a compelling narrative or engaging character portrayals that would have elevated it to a higher standard.

In summary, "Song of the Bandits" is a TV series that falls somewhere in the middle ground. It had its moments of interest, but the overall execution, including the direction and the actors' performances, left much to be desired. While it may be worth a watch for some, it doesn't stand out as a top-tier recommendation, particularly due to the lackluster portrayal by the cast.