The Duo (2011)

Friendship/Bromance Sageuk went wrong

I have nothing against sageuk / period dramas, whether classic or fusion sageuk, there are some which were really great, and there were some which just so so for my taste, but this one was really poorly done. Let alone the cheesy premise, the plot and story development were really awful. There were tv-dramas with cheesy premise but still manage to charm you, but this was not one of them. It actually started out decent, until they hit the 15th episode or so.. Too many side stories and those side stories got more screentime than the main story. Unimportant supporting characters also got more screentime than most of the main characters. It's like the writer himself realized, the main plot was not that interesting, so let's just cover it up by playing more with trivial side stories. *bigfacepalm*

Cheesy premise + weak story/character development + too many unimportant scenes + too many plot holes + average actings = disaster! The only likeable thing from this drama is the character Kwi-dong, and he (plus his bromance with Chun Doong) was the only reason I finished this.

The best thing of this drama was the friendship/bromance between the main lead. They should stated Chun Jung Myun and Lee Sang Yoon as the lead actors (not Chun Jung Myung and Han Ji Hye, as her role turned out to be really not that important to the story!).

Overall, I can only recommend this to Lee Sang Yoon & Chun Jung Myung fangirls. On the other hand, I suspect Han Ji Hye's fanboys would be dissapointed by how little her role turned to be.
If you are a fan of sageuk dramas, and expect an epic sageuk, fat chance you'll get disapointed.

Rewatch value is only nice if you go for selected scenes.

Objective value: 6.5
Subjective value: 5.5

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There isn't really a whole lot to this story but it still somehow managed to keep my attention and I marathoned it pretty quickly. (If you're looking for romance, then pass this one by, it's hardly noticeable except for the very few scenes they talk). I liked the bromance between Chun Doong and Gwi Dong, loved how it started as kids and how it ended. There were a few scenes towards the end where I was unsure of Gwi Dongs true intentions. The story ran smoothly, but I think it ended too abruptly, not enough closure for me. The title "the duo" just means they were 'partners' in life as best brotherly friends <not really any other meaning... They both have different careers.

My favorite character was Chun Doong (Chun Jung Myung) his character was filled with so much warmth and compassion - I couldn't not fall for him <3 I have since labeled him *mr. warm eyes* ^_^ I started the drama however for Lee Sang Yoon as Gwi Dong, but his character didn't impress me too much, so he was just brushed off as a good friend/partner of Chun Doong's. Even as a fan of Han Ji Hye, I couldn't like her character in this drama at all as Dong Nyeo - she was so prideful, arrogant and snobby. Looking down on the people below her in status - completely different than her childhood character. Dal Yi (Seo Hyun Jin) was a strong girl with a heart of gold, who also had strong beliefs in trying to right the ways of the world. I loved her as a child and as an adult. I skipped most of the scenes involving the many side characters as they were uninteresting to me. I hated the 'wet nurse' *Gwi Dong's real mother* <her actions to me were unforgivable - she could have been more redeemable if she had looked after Chun Doong with love - but instead she completely ignored his existence and treated him like Frankenstein during their brief meetings. and the man that followed her around all his life was very pathetic in my eyes.

My ships: *when they were kids* Gwi Dong and Dal Yi, Chun Doong and Dong Nyeo - *as adults* Gwi Dong and Dong Nyeo (although I must say I never cared for this couple's romance at all) and Chun Doong with Dal Yi <3

I think there are quite a lot of plot holes, but for me it was easy enough to overlook...

Music: I only paid attention to the ending song, it was a pansori song that I believe is sung by pansori singer Song So Hee - but I have been unable to find it :'( (if anyone does find it, please link me).

I won't re-watch this one, in my opinion, it's good for a 1-time watch but not for a re-watch.

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