There is often an opinion that the popularity of romance dramas and the dedication of their fans are the only things keeping the Korean industry afloat. However, many people believe this based on a single perspective sincemany more diverse K-dramasare just as successful, if not more so, than romantic dramas. Although not as in-depth asGame of Thrones, one such apparent example isArthdal Chronicles, which similarly deals with politics and prophecy.
Arthdal Chronicles, released in three parts in 2019:Part 1: The Children of Prophecy,Part 2: The Sky Turning Inside Out, Rising Land, andPart 3: The Prelude to All Legends, tells the story of Eun Seom, a mixed-race Igutu with the ability to dream. Due to his prophecy of destroying Arthdal, Eun Seom and his mother endured extreme hardships until she sacrificed herself by handing him over to the Wahan tribe. Years later, however, when Ta Gon, the ruler of Arthdal, enslaves the tribe, his journey to prophecy begins.
Despite its increasing popularity in recent years and the fact that it has been seen by many fans of Korean dramas, it often goes unrecognized as many people miss the substance of the drama due to their focus on the action and the cast rather than the complex storyline. So, here are a few reasons why everyone should watchArthdal Chronicles.
An Outstanding Dual Performance by Song Joong-ki
It’s not surprising that we believeSong Joong-ki can play two different rolesin a single drama because he’s one of the most versatile actors in the Korean drama industry. Regardless of the role he’s given, he goes above and beyond the fans' expectations. Many fans recognized him from the popular filmA Werewolf Boy, which likely boosted his image among worldwide audiences. Still, the actor gives something unique with each drama, andArthdal Chroniclesis no exception.
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In the drama, Eun Seom is a survivor who grew up in a tribe and later had to go through all kinds of torture, from slavery to discrimination for being an Igutu, whereas Saya is Eun Seom’s twin brother who grew up in Ta Gon’s care since childhood and became a strategist who cannot be distinguished as good or bad. Both of these roles are virtually opposites in character, but Song Joong-ki was able to portray them both so convincingly that it’s clear why he was cast in them.
A Story About Political Intrigue
Arthdal Chroniclesmight not seem political at first glance, but it contains a hint of politics very early on when humans exterminate the Neanderthals. However, as we go deeper into the story of Ta Gon, who resolves to become Arthdal’s ruler no matter what, politics emerge among them.
Most Korean historical dramas take place during the Joseon period and, as such, featurea decent amount of political intrigue, but whatArthdal Chroniclesshowed is beyond the scope of any drama. The characters evolve momentarily in front of our eyes, from nobody to influential figures in just a few episodes, and the drama displays that meticulously.
In one episode, we witness Ta Gon scheming an unbelievable situation to ascend to the throne, but you quickly find that those you don’t expect are also plotting their survival. Even without the political intrigue, the drama may have been one ofthe best historical action dramas, but the addition made it tenfold better and possibly the best ancient story we’ve seen from Korea in a long time.
A Battle Between the Prophesied Child and the Self-Proclaimed God
Arthdal Chroniclesis adrama with various compelling characters, but so far, only two have stood out: Ta Gon and Eun Seom. While Saya, as Eun Seom’s twin brother, is equally important to the story, he’s on Ta Gon’s side and only appears as a supporting character for the moment, so we can leave him out of the equation for the time being, at least until the drama concludes.
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While Ta Gon is a tragic figure who grew up without his father’s approval and turned ruthless in order to become King of Arthdal, Eun Seom was raised in a small tribe and knew nothing else. One committed every horrible crime imaginable, from murdering several innocents to oppressing desperate tribes, while the other desired nothing more than to free his tribe from Ta Gon’s clutches.
When you think about it, fans liked Ta Gon almost every time he showed some brains and brawn until Eun Seom experienced hardships and united the tribes. Ta Gon deceived the entire Arthdal by claiming to be Aramun Haesulla, while Eun Seom, unaware, became the Inaishingi as the prophesied child. It is an epic drama of two people struggling for their existence, but each has their own ambitions, whether selfish or selfless.
Thesecond season ofArthdal Chroniclesis set to premiere on Netflix in September 2023, and hopefully, we’ll see an epic end to this masterpiece once and for all.
