Drama Review: A Korean Odyssey (2017)

Have you heard of or seen through movies or series, the popular Journey to the West? Wukong? Monkey Magic? Monkey King? Any of that ring the bell? Well, if you have heard of it or by any chance a fan of the series, A Korean Odyssey might be something you can add to your list if you haven't seen it.

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A Korean Odyssey is a modern take of Journey to the West and also based on modern world. What I meant by 'modern take', it's a whole new concept/story line and so you won't see half human half animal characters here. When you watch the drama, their characteristics are shown through the portrayed personalities which I believe was very clear and well acted.

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So what is A Korean Odyssey about? It's a fantasy series about a girl named Seon Mi (played by Oh Yeon Seo) who was cursed when she was young. The curse to her meant that she could see spirits. The curse has caused her to isolate herself from everyone. Her grandmother had left her a yellow umbrella which has been blessed by a Buddhist Monk which repels the spirits and ghosts she sees. One day, Woo Ma Wang (bull demon played by Cha Seong Won) found her being followed by a ghost and saved Seon Mi by exorcising the ghost. In return, he asks her for a favour which was to enter a house and to bring him a fan (I assume its the iron fan). Seon Mi entered the house and found Son Oh Gong (Monkey King played by Lee Seung Gi)) being held imprisoned there by the Heavens. Son Oh Gong negotiates with Seon Mi to free him and offers in return to protect her every time she calls his name. When Son Oh Gong makes a promise or a deal with anyone, he cannot break the promise and will abide by it. Believing him, she does as he asks and being the mischief monkey, he steals the memory of his name from her and runs away leaving her stranded.

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From there onward, the story unfolds in the present time when the adult Seon Mi who is successful and works in the real estate industry and deals with properties with spirits and ghosts. She meets Son Oh Gong again as well as Ma Wang and the rest of the characters, eventually regaining the memory Son Oh Gong took from her. She learns that she is Sam Jang. Being Sam Jang, she is meant to save the world and it also meant that any one who ate her will become immortal. Due to this, most the time she is avoiding being eaten by evil spirits and the ones around her making promises to protect her and not eat her as well.

Another part of the story is heavily based on the geumganggo. What's that? It's this golden bracelet around Son Oh Gong's wrist.

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The old version is worn on the head but the new version is for the wrist. It will ensure the obedience of a person by the power of love. Oh yes, here is where the romance buds in. Ma Wang purchased it, Seon Mi put it on Son Oh Gong and it was activated through a kiss by Seon Mi and Son Oh Gong. The romance grows between the two and so does Son Oh Gong's worries that one day when Seon Mi removes the geumganggo, he will no longer love her and instead want to eat her. He is obedient and listens to everything Seon Mi asks only because of the geumganggo. If he refuses and goes against her words, the geumganggo will punish him by bringing him a lot of pain.

This drama is pretty heavy with a lot of sub plots/ side stories. There are also the stories about P.K (the pig played by Lee Hong Gi) and Bong Soon (zombie played by Lee Se Young) which was very touching and the background story of Ma Wang (the bull) and Na Chal Nyeo (Princess Iron Fan). There is also the history of Son Oh Gong and Ma Wang not getting along in the early stages of their life however they try to get along, do good deeds to earn brownie points with the Heavens so they can become deities.

To watch this drama, it will require a bit of concentration and preparation as I've mentioned, a lot of side stories, twists and turns which leads to the grand finale. I really hope there is a season 2! This is definitely one for those who enjoy fantasy-romance stories.

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• Movie URL: https://www.themoviedb.org/tv/75123?language=en-US
• Critic: AAA

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