The carefree flower warriors of Hwarang
by girlfriday
Ummmmm… I don’t think so. This is not the image I was waiting half a year to see! When I hear “drama about beautiful Silla warriors,” I expect to see epic badassery, not poorly photoshopped puppies frolicking in the garden. Surely they can do better than this, right? Here’s the first poster for KBS’s upcoming youth sageuk Hwarang (which has dropped “The Beginning” from its title), the fully pre-produced drama that’s finally going to get its premiere in mid-December, after five months of delays.
The drama takes us 1,500 years in the past to the formation of Silla’s Hwarang warriors, military groups historically known for their beautiful knights. They’re the original flower boys, and the drama will tell the story of their bromance and coming-of-age. Park Seo-joon (She Was Pretty) leads the cast in his first sageuk, and I was actually looking forward to his mane of glory after the first peek at him in costume, but now I’m rethinking the whole thing. Is his stylist on this show an anti-fan? It’s really the only way to explain this poster.
Park Seo-joon stars as a young man who overcomes his low birth to become a legendary Hwarang warrior. He’s brave and dogged, and a carefree spirit who lives by the motto “you only live once.” Go Ara (You’re All Surrounded) plays the girl he starts out wanting to protect, which turns to love. She’s half-commoner, half-royal by birth, and she has a cheerful energy and a frank personality.
Park Hyung-shik (High Society) is King Jinheung, who ruled Silla from 540 to 576 A.D., and spent years as a faceless king because of multiple threats to his life. He’s a prickly, lonely young man who doesn’t trust anyone, but when he takes on a secret identity and becomes a member of the Hwarang warriors, he’ll transform into a strong leader. At least Park Hyung-shik looks pretty in the poster, though I don’t know if I like the way he and Park Seo-joon have their swords drawn at each other, since they’re due to become rivals in love.
The other flower boy warriors include Min-ho (Because It’s the First Time) as a hot-blooded aristocrat, thought to be a playboy by everyone when he’s actually very devoted in love. Do Ji-han (Basketball), who’s standing behind Park Hyung-shik in the poster, is the cold-blooded ambitious one with a mind for politics. Bringing up the rear are Jo Yoon-woo (I Order You), the mysterious one with a sharp tongue, and maknae V of Bangtan Boys (BTS) riding piggyback.
PD Yoon Sung-shik of Gaksital and King’s Face is at the helm, and writing is Park Eun-young of KBS drama specials Our Slightly Risqué Relationship and Young Deok Women’s Wrestling Team. Maybe I just need to adjust my expectations for something light and fun. I can do that for Silla F6, right?
Hwarang follows Monday-Tuesday drama The Man Living in Our House and premieres December 19.
Via Newsen
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Tags: Do Ji-han, Hwarang, Jo Yoon-woo, Min-ho, Park Hyung-shik, Park Seo-joon
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51 Gidget
November 1, 2016 at 9:26 AM
The only thing I ask of you show, is that you fully commit to being a youth drama. Go for the full monte. (Well, maybe not the best metaphor, but yunno what I mean.). Don't get bogged down with worries about historical accuracy. Don't turn pre produced into pre- produced, but-with-multiple-versions-and-lots-of-extra-footage-for-live-shoot-type-editing-that-turns-your-story-into-a-Frankensteinian-version-of-itself. Tell the story you want to tell.
We may laugh with you. We may laugh at you. But for the love of flower boys and tween dramas, don't second guess yourself and Scarlet Heart this show.
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Spi
November 1, 2016 at 12:47 PM
I'm laughing so hard at this: "Don't Scarlet Heart this show"
Oh the burn!!!
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52 Super Foxy
November 1, 2016 at 10:29 AM
Park Seo Joon can act though,even not for the best but his performance was pretty neat and believable in Witch Romance, and I haven't watch She Was Pretty yet, because the heroine was not really my cup of tea.
What makes me wonder the most is Choi Minho; he is one of the idol actor whom really is cannot act in my radar. I've seen some of his dramas, and his acting chops can be on par with his sunbaenim Changmin from TVXQ, well he does have a good looks but that's all that there is. Well I them good luck!
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53 mk
November 1, 2016 at 10:44 AM
The character posters were so nice,,what is this?
I read that the hwarang used to be run by women but one of the leaders murdered another and women were banned from joining after that. I'd watch the hell out of that drama.
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maryxiah
November 2, 2016 at 9:04 PM
Sounds badass, I'd totally watch that kind of storyline.
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54 wackycashew
November 1, 2016 at 10:53 AM
LOL This poster gave me a good chuckle. Nonetheless, I'm planning to watch the show and hoping to see lots of good bromance on top of the romance. I like the PD.
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55 Oldet lady that likes kdrama
November 1, 2016 at 11:02 AM
The promotion picture is yulk, big turn off for the ladies. Are these man, or are they women?
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Steph
November 2, 2016 at 2:03 AM
i like pretty boys :( not all women go for the macho look.
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56 oosiee
November 1, 2016 at 11:33 AM
Aww....TaeTae is riding the King! ♡♡
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nami2
November 1, 2016 at 11:43 AM
He's not riding the King since King Jinheung (Park Hyung Sik) is in the front of the poster...on the left ;)
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oosiee
November 2, 2016 at 11:53 AM
Yah! I realised that later. Actually i was just so happy seeing V have fun..I just didn't see anyone else. :-)
But he really looks like Hyunsik there though!
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purpleowl
November 3, 2016 at 11:53 AM
Hmmm. Jo Yoon Woo does look like Hyungsik. Birth secret anyone?
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57 Miky
November 1, 2016 at 12:09 PM
I'll take one BAD poster if the drama is good...Please let it be GOOD!
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58 purpleowl
November 1, 2016 at 1:34 PM
I'm having Moon Lovers stills feels.
They look amazing! Park Seo Joon, too long no see. Park Hyung-sik, I'll never get too much of you. Minho-ah, just yes! Jo Yoon Woo looks beautiful. And V slays as per usual.
I was really hoping all the youth sagueks would be light-hearted. I finished my first saguek this year... MDBC. Fusion sagueks was easier to get through. I'm not so much for blood, gore and fights. I'd love Silla F6 to keep frolicking. They can fight occasionally to be warriors. But I want them to live up to the beautiful flower boy concept much more, especially with 3 kpop guys around.
One might even win for my fave mane next year. It's between Min, Hyung-sik, Yoon Woo.
I'm loving Man Living but once the angst starts, I'll be looking forward to this drama even more than I have been all year. Been counting down for months.
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59 LS
November 1, 2016 at 3:32 PM
After Moon Lovers I'm a bit worried that younger generations of actors should stay far far far away from saeguk, especially ones that involve any sorts of manes of glory.
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Marie
November 5, 2016 at 5:15 AM
Moon Lovers was a mess. No doubt.
But let's not forget that Sungkyunkwan Scandal gave us Park Min-young, Yoo Ah-in and Song Joong-ki. And more recently we had Bogum, Yoojung, Jinyoung, Dongyeon and Soobin all slaying in Moonlight.
I want young actors to not confine themselves in cliche rom-coms and school dramas but to diversify their roles in different genres, including historical.
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60 moon.
November 1, 2016 at 5:46 PM
Hahaha. I legit cringed. LOL
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61 feignedreality
November 1, 2016 at 5:56 PM
I'm getting major BL vibes from this poster. :)
At first glance I thought PSJ & PHS were attempting to hold hands and the way they're looking at each other is quite erm loving(?).
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Steph
November 2, 2016 at 2:05 AM
i'm not into bl at all but it does kinda give off that vibe.
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62 LillyLee
November 1, 2016 at 8:43 PM
So flowery it looks like a shampoo ad.
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CrimeFighter
November 2, 2016 at 2:56 AM
haaha I like your comment :)
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63 annflln
November 1, 2016 at 9:42 PM
ehmarged.... I'm speechless on this poster.
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64 Bùi Quốc Khánh
November 1, 2016 at 10:11 PM
So much pre-produced dramas wasting too much money for a low-quailty drama. While some good drama have super low budget...
Stop making any sagueks more! All segueks next year just about love love, flowers boys,... Saimdang is the only light point.
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Steph
November 2, 2016 at 2:08 AM
i loooove historical dramas if they're good ones like bridal mask or chuno, but we've been getting a lot of subpar ones recently. haven't seen MDBC bc i'm not really one for gender benders, but i might check it out since it has good reviews.
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65 Zah
November 2, 2016 at 1:21 AM
Comment was deleted
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Steph
November 2, 2016 at 2:09 AM
gonna chime in with your chant.
V please do well. V please do well. V please do well. T-T
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66 Steph
November 2, 2016 at 1:59 AM
i happen to be into pretty boys and find a lot of male idols really attractive, but this is so.. cringey. the hair.. the flower field..
legit looks like some young fangirl with pirated photoshop made this for her favorite boyband and posted it on tumblr. what the hell is this and why am i getting horrible flashbacks of my early teenage years
trash talk aside, i'm still gonna watch it for V and go ara. posters don't determine how good a drama is going to be. moon lovers had some great posters, but look at how that drama turned out.
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67 CrimeFighter
November 2, 2016 at 2:55 AM
Is this the first time here whereby the negatives comments are so much that it goes to page 2 ??
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68 maiathebee
November 2, 2016 at 3:42 AM
Not that it matters too much, but I'm pretty sure V is using his full name, Kim Taehyung for this drama....
I'll def be watching but I don't have high hopes~~
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69 maryxiah
November 2, 2016 at 9:09 PM
Ever since Moonlight Drawn by Clouds, my interest alert shoots up every time I see youth sageuk genre. I really hope to see another that wows me as much as Moonlight did, so here's to hoping Hwarang will do well.
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70 Dramasaurus
November 4, 2016 at 9:27 PM
As much as I love Park Seo Joon, seems like sageuk look is not for him. He's more of a modern look guy.
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71 ševča
January 7, 2017 at 1:55 PM
Tell me about expectations. I hoped for something in the style of episodes 1-2 of Seondeok. With someone like Bidam (in his cool times, not with mustache) in the lead.
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