I continue to watch this drama not for the great acting or the riveting plot, but for what it motivates me to do: learn more about the Korean War. I’ve checked the wiki article on the Korean War (now the image that I see in my mind when I think about the 6-2-5 War is the picture of the young lady with her younger brother on her back standing in front of a tank) and also bought a book about it and found my lust for learning satiated by reading about the situations surrounding the Forgotten War. My parents grew up during that time and I now better understand why my parents think the way they do. I’ve even talked to my Kun Imo and asked her to tell me some stories about the hardships she and her sisters endured during that tragic time.

Based on the plot, I give this drama a 3.5/5, but due to the catalytic nature of this drama and it’s ability to motivate me to learn, I give it a 5/5.

I entirely agree with Historian Cephas, No. 37.
The background music, adapted from plaisir d’amour, is really beautiful.

The personalities and different characters capture the different regions of Korea. In the 2nd platoon you have characters from rival provinces, from North Korea itself, and points in between all bonding into a brotherhood through the crucibles of war.

The Korean War is a searing memory to many Koreans today. My father and grandparents are refugee survivors. This drama captures the emotion and culture of the Korean people. I’m sorry you poke fun. I been deeply moved by this series. It brought me to tears. If anything this series is comparable to Band of Brothers or Saving Private Ryan. This is a worthy tribute to all that fought in the Korean War. A war still a reality today.

I wonder when they find the girl then their soldier job is over , they will quit
their job or if the girl ask them to joint communist and they blindly will joint them
and kill their old comrades ?

KHN is acting weak in this drama , not sincere at all , her voice is so annoying as she is crying and
begging SJS not going to the army at the bridge . For first four episodes and flashback scenes of their love story are also annoying ,ruining this drama .

But the war story is not bad , acting and directing are excellent , two guy will change their mentality , their view regarding of war . SjS character as gifted soldier was appointed as leader in episode 8 . I still find this drama interesting touching as Comrades of war , private Brian , brotherhood of war , Immortal Admiral Yi .

It’s a brilliant idea to leap to Ep10. I read this after I finished my own recap/review of Ep1 for Thundie’s Prattle. (A post of shameless pimping here…)

http://thundie.wordpress.com/2010/07/28/road-number-one-recap-episode%C2%A01/

I think sampling ep10 is a fair way to check in on the series, and it looks like nothing much has changed, sigh.

Love your screen-caps! It’s a very screen-cappable drama, isn’t it. So well-shot, so beautiful, so *obvious*.

Having laboured over Ep1 (the only episode I’ve watched), I feel a strange affinity to this show. (Stockholm Syndrome? Morbid fascination?) It tries so hard, so very hard. It’s so well-meaning and earnest. And at the same time, it’s so mock-able, I felt at times that I was shooting fish in a barrel. Poor show!

Perhaps I should watch Ep2. That may cure me!