I am no ‘fan’ of Lee Jun Ki – Iljimae was the first time I know of this actor. So I watched the show not because I am a ‘silly’ fan. However I have to say his acting is definitely acceptable to me. The drama was good to me. I cried lots in this show.

I like Hong Gil Dong but maybe Iljimae even more. There shouldn’t be a comparison of the two in the first place. Why the comparison? Based on? Hong Gil Dong is about idealism, the fight for democracy, hopes. Iljimae is about the story of a man thrown into a world he’d rather not be in but who needs to fight on in secrecy. It is more about feelings. I cried bucket loads in this one.

The cloak shouldn’t be the reason you abandoned the show – all TV dramas are not ‘realistic’. If you want realistic you’ll need to watch the actors go to the loo every day and watch a closed cubicle for 10 minutes. When they sleep it’ll take 8 hours before they open their eyes. Did you dismissed any super hero shows when you see they could fly? I personally don’t find many ‘unrealistic’ portions in this show – it’s as ‘unrealistic’ as HGD I guess. What’s important is the story-telling, plot, acting and how the show engages the viewer.

My favourite parts are the very subtle feelings of the lead casts. They were in love but not supposed to. Yet their love brings them to the yard with the tree that they met when they were still little. Very sorrowful, very quietly sad, very wistful. It is a very good Korean period drama and it’s unfortunate that some missed it because of your ‘review’.

Granted, there is a huge disappointing element in this show. Everything’s good and well until somewhere near the ending when it gets a little choppy largely I believe due to editing. That portion was hurried and haphazardly done. Otherwise I still remember the drama much better than many.

omfg. OK, maybe in episode 1, but it’s just the opening scene.

I hope you watched the remaining 19 episodes and ate your words :O lee junki becomes an extremely respectable character.

I started off quite sceptical, after seeing iljimae’s quite over the top costume, but after the finishing the show i have to say i enjoyed it very much. The show as a whole wasn’t very realistic, as hardly any dramas are, but i still really liked lee junki’s overacting, in a way. and this show has me convinced that he is an amaazing actor, not to mention martial artist!
and i looove how all the relationships are built so well throughout!

Thanks for reviewing

>>In the last episode IT TURNED OUT THAT THE VERY FIRST SCENE IN THE DRAMA (the same scene that was in the end of the drama) WAS ACTUALLY PART OF A LEGEND TOLD BY THE OLD MAN AND THE KID,4 YEARS LATER,MAN !!!That’s how the story was told,to make it more interesting for the clients (those that were listening at that table)!<<

That's the way I took it, it was part of the "legend" or story the people were telling. You know how stories always grow as they are told. It's the same as the begining scene for Hong Gil Dong, it was being shown as part of the legend.

Though I don't agree xP
I personally thought iljimae was an amazing series and worth watching
Few holes here and there, granted
but it was still massively entertaining non the less

This type of series cleary isn't ment for people of your taste
And lee jun ki i felt did an amazing job, comparable to a comical anime hero =D
awesome awesome sh*t

His acting not to over the top for me
plus his crying scenes were insane….-_- !! they were dammm real!
No fake beautifully camera worked 1 tear drops….Im talking "my father just died! i got snot running down my nose! i wanna throw a tantrum" REAL! xD

But its saddens me that many people that will read your review and choose not to watch it based on your biased opinions. Ugh that sucks xP

And you can argue that its just your opinion and a review …..but some may not understand that…and clearly…
Majority of the top comments are choosing not to watch this cause of your breakdown of the first episode…that's just horrible -_-

PLEASE DON'T BASE YOUR DECISION TO WATCH THIS SERIES SOLELY ON JAVABEANS REVIEW. WATCH A COUPLE EPISODES AND YOU DECIDE!
YOU WONT BE DISAPPOINTED!!

- JuNki3