As always, I don't know where to start or how to start. First off, it took me a couple of tries to get into the first episode (I kept falling asleep) but once I did watch it, a few things came to mind. A) Kim Nam Gil is instantly better in this vs Island. I think in both shows he's supposed to be a kinda emotionally regretful and tortured character but here it's showcased better (in my opinion). B) Yet another character and/or filming style that seems John Wickian and I'm for that. Who doesn't like a badass hero/antihero fighting for a good cause (such as protecting or avenging others). C) Freedom/Independence Fighters are truly some of the bravest folks to exist (and I know that phrase can be a weird one cause it gets coopted but I don't know what phrase to use for the folks fighting against the Japanese occupation) which brings me to my next point D) This feels like it's gonna be bittersweet or sad considering this takes place in 1920 and the occupation ended 25 years later. I don't know if this show is adding fictional elements but that's something that came to mind; that I should expect losing some core characters.

The graphic violence definitely made this feel like a streaming show but I think it helps show the brutality of the world but of course there can be arguments that it isn't needed or is too excessive.

I'm writing this as I've only watched episode 1 and part of episode 2 but I wanted to get this out before I forgot things.

Before I mentioned heroes/antiheroes but I wonder if I should include antivillains. Would that be an accurate way to describe these characters?

Even though the actors are acting and just saying lines from a script, a part of me wondered if it was hard for them to say some of these things knowing their country's history. It was kinda hard for me to listen to (well, read the subtitles). Oh that imperial mindset. It's so hard for me to think about or watch things featuring it.

I knew about opium but I never once considered it to be used in Korea. (I really am so naive). I was wondering why the guy's hand were shaky and it never once occured to me withdrawl could be involved. I thought he had Parkinson's (or whatever it may have been called then). In the show, they often mention "Chinese land, Japanese money, Joseon People" and again, never knew or realized how interconnected things were back then.

I don't know if I should talk about specific scenes but I'm just sharing overall thoughts and feelings in general.

Episodes 7 & 8, all I can say is how Marvelesque haha
And I mean that in a good way (others may not). Personally I love badass team ups and seeing the characters fight opponents with similar skillsets was cool.

Yoon and Eon Nyeoni have such good chemistry haha. It's like they're siblings but they're also deadly rivals. The faces Yoon makes and the annoyance Eon Nyeoni has for him leading makes me chuckle.

And now about the final episode. I don't know what to say except that I was pleasantly surprised to be wrong about losing the core members.

I don't think I've ever seen a drama's episode count be 9 episodes long so again, is there supposed to be a part 2? Honestly, I *think* I'm fine without it. My imagination could definitely fill in the rest.

I almostfelt bad for the Major because betrayal is never easy but that almost was like 1% haha.

The fights and arguments about the bounties were chuckleworthy to me and all I could think was Eon Nyeoni is gonna be so offended when she sees the difference between hers and Yoon's bounties haha

The story was always gonna be tragic so that was predictable but still sad.

And once again I'm left wondering why do people have to treat each other the way they do?!

Finished the show, and I'm not sure how to feel about it... More like I didn't feel anything? I didn't buy the romance, didn't really sympathize with any of the characters, didn't feel the tension in the fights. I get the conflict in my head, but it seemed like the show tried to tug at the heartstrings without first having established any of the characters. And I swear there were a couple of times, for a split-second, I thought I was watching Island.

The action, though, was superb. So was the cinematography. The comedy drew a few batmns. Of course, Kim Nam Gil delivered, as usual (but don't take my word for it, I'm biased).

***MAJOR SPOILER!!!***
Uh... Is there supposed to be a part 2? Did the show just do an Arthdal except there's no news of a season 2?

It was an entertaining drama.

I really liked the fighting scenes, each character had his/her favourite weapon and it was fun to watch.

The characters were not full-developped, it was quite superficial. But they were fun to watch and I liked their bond.

The romance was useless and badly written. I wanted the badass assassin and the ML, it would have been way more fun. And they shared more than a waltz. I had the same issue with IRIS...

I was happy to see Kim Nam-Gil in this role. He was far better than in Island. This kind of action suits him too.

This show had a lot of great ingredients but wasn't cohesive enough to bring it all together. The (very good) fight scenes were a bit drawn out imo, and there wasn't enough focus on the characters. I would have liked to see more of Yoon and Hee Shin's backstories and how they came into their positions.

The writing was strongest when it weighed in on the despair of those suffering under colonization. I wish it had touched more on the experience of former slaves (something that was missing in Mr. Sunshine) but overall it was a decent watch with moving moments. The ending was extremely abrupt though.

Can't escape the suppressor/silencer trope even in 1920. Gosh darn it.

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There's a lot wrong with this show, a lot.

CONS:

☠ The first two episodes are probably the weakest of the show so I do not blame anyone if they just gave up at that point.

It's extremely derivative in places. This is not helped by the fact that it doesn't balance its action screentime well, often wearing out the viewer with continuous action sets, and that it constantly exhibits an indecisiveness about what kind of tone, of action and violence it wants to use in its genre and as a narrative device –

It struggles to find its footing as a story till about episode 3, where it finally seems to settle on an action romp with a more serious background tone fitting of the historical time period... which I don’t mind, per se.

But it cannot decide if the violence and action is to be truly fitting of this decision, more dark and gritty and brutal and desperate; or a more campy, almost comedic (and therefore for me, distasteful) approach to the gore; or the action instead derivative amalgamation of multiple movies and shows gone before it, large and dramatic set pieces and impossible 1 v 30 shoot outs, with fun and madcap badass characters.

Additionally, the emotional beats of the show are more implied than complexly explored, (again, not necessarily a bad thing always), but therefore it never quite nails the balance in using the violence, the action, its setting and also the emotion to execute its chosen story well.
In other words, its fight scene, historical, and thematic authenticity, or secondary belief as I like to call it, is all over the place.

That being said, I was most entertained by episodes 3 through 6 (and the start of 7 and parts of 8), where it definitely was the most cohesive, and the story was the most engaging.
It was the most watchable during these episodes too, which is really all I wanted.

☠ There are also plenty of loose ends and minor plot holes, and the injury authenticity is non-existent, and someone pulls out an arrow twice 🙄

It seems there will be a second season, but I'm okey if there is not.
I can't say this series is boring, I have watched it in three days, so to certain exteint it was easy to watch.
The first two episodes are the worst, I almost dropped it but I didn't do it because of Kim Nam Gil. The best episodes are 5 to 8.
The script is quite mediocre, but the action scenes, cinematography and production are good.

I couldn't care less about the love story. I felt nothing. And I mean nothing. Maybe because we don't know the characters enough, or because there is no chemistry... but something is missing in that couple.

The secondary characters didn't work for me either, with the exception of Eon Nyeon Yi and Cho Raeng Yi, They both stole most of the scenes.

Half way through Ep5 , the officer freaks out and wants to kill everyone…

“let’s have them randomly shooting people during a blinding sandstorm” . 🤡 Yeah ! Cool !
Who writes this ❓😟😖😵‍💫 Aigoo ❗️
Whoever wrote this scene should be banned from the entertainment industry.

Oh, earlier, they actually had a circular firing squad of soldiers.🙄

Turns out, according to an interview with the actors, this drama was shot as a 20 episode one with lots of character context. They are openly stating that they are very disappointed with what Netflix have done with it and hope it can be shown in full elsewhere. This makes sense in view of the truncated shoot out that it has ended up as.
https://www.dexerto.com/tv-movies/song-of-bandits-stars-kim-nam-gil-lee-hyun-wook-were-disappointed-in-the-k-drama-2314156/

I am here for Eon-nyeoni! So cool

Also just completed the show. Was hoping for Season 2 when i read an entertainment news that this show was originally schedulled as a 20 ep show but reduced to 9 by Neflix.. 😭

https://www.dexerto.com/tv-movies/song-of-bandits-stars-kim-nam-gil-lee-hyun-wook-were-disappointed-in-the-k-drama-2314156/

I took a break from kdramas and this was my comeback drama haha. How I miss kdramas! It just felt like home, iykyk from a long time kdrama watcher. I enjoyed watching this drama by looking at it as a long korean movie. The only thing I didn't enjoy was the english songs. I prefer them to be korean songs. I understand they probably used english cuz it's on Netflix but I think a Korean song would have been better.