[Drama Review] Bridal Mask (각시탈)

KBS' Bridal Mask (각시탈)
Joo Won, Jin Se Yeon, Park Ki Woong, Han Chae Ah

After watching Missing You, I wanted something to counteract all that... Melo. So I researched a bit and found Bridal Mask (각시탈) and I have to say

WIN.

I usually choose light-hearted kdramas 'cause when you watch something in a language you don't quite understand you'd rather laugh about it. But I thought I'd give Bridal Mask a try since it had such rave reviews and I really wanted to get Missing You out of my system.

Once the thought of having a 'superhero' at this dark period would fade from the viewers minds, it's actually a very good show. Set in the 1930's where the Japanese colonized the Koreans, a mask-wearing hero armed with an iron slingshot fights for the emancipation of its' motherland.

The first few minutes of the pilot episode, BAM! dude in a white mask and white robes comes crashing through a funeral procession in complete and utter baddassery knocking them Japanese soldiers with just an iron flute and a sense of freedom, followed by the signature 'GAKSITAAAAAAAL!' battle cry.

If that doesn't get you, I don't know what will.

The first few episodes are the get-to-know stages, so it'd be a bit boring for some but soon picks up at episode 6 where the first Gaksital is revealed. Definitely not a show for the faint of heart where each episode promises at least two action scenes, torture, a lot of blood and whole load of guns.

The actors/actresses portrayed their characters very well. Lee Kang To (played by Joo Won), the misguided protagonist, torn between his loyalty to the Japanese Empire being an Imperial officer or to fight against it and staying true to what he is - a Joseon. Undoubtedly my favorite character, I doubt anyone could have played Lee Kang To better than Joo Won did.

Episode 1

Initially seen as the cold-hearted Imperial officer, Joo Won played the part so well to the point where I harbored actual feelings of hatred for the Japanese. Then the frustration of wanting to catch Gaksital only to find out it was his (not really) idiot hyung (older brother) and killing him in the process. Every emotion he portrayed, I believed.

But every show has it's flaws. I found it rather laughable at how easy it was to break into the police station and infiltrate their armory, plus it happened more than one time, to add insult to injury they were nabbed by a number of 2 unarmed people and Gaksital versus a full police station. Seriously? Seriously.

RANT

And I must say this, O Mok Dan (played by Jin Se Yeon) I found you completely unnecessary. Ugh. Does every show need a dramatic past love? Does it really? I found that her character dragged the show longer than what it was supposed to be. More than a quarter of the show she was being yelled at, thrown into jail, tortured and kidnapped. The parts that especially annoyed me was when she found out that Lee Kang To was the young master she was waiting for, which had her raging and yelling at how she could love a traitor. THEN she found out that Lee Kang To was actually Gaksital, it had her launching in his arms saying 'I'll never let you travel this road alone...'. Guuuurrrrlll...

But that aside, the episode 28, the finale was just too beautiful. It wasn't a happy ending, rather it didn't actually end, instead left viewers to their imaginations. The final (unfinished) battle, where the Joseon citizens, men, women and children, clad in all white and wearing the bridal mask whilst carrying the Korean flag chanting "Manse!" the Korean equivalent to the Japanese "Banzai!", marching towards the police station would have left anyone in tears.

Despite being a fictional take of the Japanese colonization, you can't help but feel the emotions that had actually transpired during these dark ages of Korea. For those who think that kdrama's are just cute-sy, lovelovelove shows, this would change your outlook and give a little 101 on a bit of Korean history, it may not be the actual truth, but you can't doubt that it didn't happen.

Mama rates this (9/10)!

Would I: watch this again? Take out O Mok Dan, then we'll talk.