Arthdal Chronicles Part 2: The Sky Turning Inside Out, Rising Land (2019)

This was way and far better than the first part. The anticipation and thrill is way too REAL!!
The casts 100% relayed their emotions, i could totally feel each and every one of their emotions. I fell in love with every one of them LOL. Let's quickly give a shout out to son joong ki especially.
About eun seom, it was kind of annoying the way he admitted defeat and lost all hope and didn't even try to fight back.
I also feel like the writers did not really give a strong enough reason for why he suddenly jut gained back all the hope he lost. However, the scene of eun seom and others in the pit was really moving at the last episode. How they all starved together and accepted each other as brothers. I loved that they said their names and tribes with pride and without discrimination.
The Music was perfect and on point!!
Don't even get me started at when tanya found the star bell!!! That was the ultimate trump card in this second part. I LOVED IT!! Y'all deserve several accolades.
I CAN'T WAIT TO WATCH THE THIRD PART!!!!!!!

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The Story:
The story in the second part flows a bit better and is more engaging than the first part. I am excited to see how everything concludes in part 3.

The Cast
The title of the second part of this series should be called: Arthdal Chronicles: Song Joong Ki steals the show. He is fantastic at playing both Eunsum and Saya. Though I wish Eunsum had more to do in the second part, Saya definitely was a very intriguing character.

Kim Ji Won is another standout. I haven't always been a fan of hers, but she is proving to be a talented actress as well.

Overall, the second part is very well crafted.

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Greater Character Storylines and World building continue

Continues right where it left off and gets better with storyline and character development. You won't be disappointed.


What a watch. I am hyped for the next half and love where it paused. This honestly does seem like the spot where you would stop and have a Season 2.

The plot thickens, the stories widen and its fun to see some characters return and some new ones show. I love how Saya is focused on, and we get more of his story than Eunseom. Although, I'd say it does make one forget he exists at times, but thats sort of the point for the characters and us as viewers too.

There's still unfinished thoughts but let's hope Part 3 sheds light on them!

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In my review i will talk about the whole drama including the first season. But since this one was the latest i'm writing it under its title.
To say it simply, Arthdal Chronicles is all about surviving and power with adds of fantasy and romance. No wonder they call it the Korean Game Of Thrones (although as a huge GOT fan i have to say it does have that vibe but it's definitely not plagiarism, it has its own unique story and charm.) It has been amazing since the very beginning. The story, the acting, the cinematography, music, everything is just on another level. The focus of the drama is not just one topic, it's so many things at once with so many well written characters. Characters are not evil or pure, they were all written very thoroughly, their actions are not limited to those characteristic to a villain or to those characteristic to a hero which we often see in dramas. They're all fighting their own battles, fighting for what they believe in but in a way characteristic to them and their personalities. In the beginning of the drama we get introduced to people called ''Saram'' and to those called ''Neanthals''. The difference between the two is that Neanthals are like superhumans, much stronger and prettier and have blue blood meanwhile Saram are just regular humans. Saram eventually killed off Neanthals in a brutal way, and for me that was such a good example of how people think of themselves as better than any other beings and how they usually treat everyone who's ''different'' and seems like a threat to them. This drama is pretty good in delivering messages and making you think. Anyway, that was a reason enough for me to hate Saram and choose the Neanthals' side. I hated on Saram's war hero Tagon for being such a cruel warrior and for being a person who is responsible for destroying Neanthals. However, as the show continued, Tagon and those Sarams i hated started growing on me. Of course, there are characters i still despise but some of those i really do love now. I started to understand Tagon's actions and his mindset. I started to understand he is just an ambitious person trying to survive in circumstances given to him. Same goes for Taealha, also one of the main characters who happens to be Tagon's girlfriend. In the beginning i disliked her as well, but then she also grew on me and eventually became one of my favorite characters. She has grown to be strong and powerful and that's what keeps you alive in Arthdal. The point of these examples was to show you what this drama does to you, you literally start to empathize with those who aren't really your ideal heroes and you actually enjoy them and eagerly wait for their next moves.
The 2nd season kept that same energy, Tagon's warriors brutally destroyed the Wahan Tribe who were living a quiet and peaceful life outside Arthdal and didn't cause anyone harm. They enslaved them and some ended up dead too. I hated Arthdal people once again for treating others ''different'' from them as trash and as tools useful for their ruling. But thanks to that brutal event we got some of the best and smartest characters coming to Arthdal and actually fullfilling their potentials, Tanya – the yet to become Wahan clan's Mother and Eunseom – an Igutu born of mother who came from Arthdal. It also led to getting to know Saya, Eunseom's twin, the Igutu kid Tagon saved while hunting down Neanthals. To explain, Igutu is a name for people who are a mix between Saram and Neanthal. Igutus are strongly despised in Arthdal, same as Neanthals were. For this reason Saya has been locked up and hidden all his life. This season focused a lot on Saya since we haven't seen him at all in the first season which was focused on Eunseom. Saya is personally my favorite character, not just because of his beauty lol but because his personality reflects the way he was growing up and that makes him so interesting to watch. It was also fun to watch how Tanya, the one who was so devastated and hopeless when her tribe got destroyed, is slowly craving for power too, although with pure ideals, it's still the result of her being put into that chaos. This drama is not only focusing on those games and making you feel excited all the time, but it's also portraying humans from a psychological perspective and how much their behaviour can be affected by the society they live in. I strongly recommend it, it's honestly one of the best dramas i've seen, it's a new and fresh type of show in the world of kdramas. 10/10 from me. The new season is coming in September so be sure to catch up till then!!!

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WHY YOU MUST WATCH ARTHDAL CHRONICLES!!

I cannot express in words the level at which I absolutely ADORE this show, but I will try regardless, because I have been evangelizing for this show all over every single kdrama related social media platform and have compiled a lot of good reasons to watch it so here they are.

1) WORLDBUILDING: The plot and worldbuilding are absolutely incredible. As an avid reader, I rarely see worldbuilding in shows or movies that compare to a good fantasy novel, but this show has worldbuilding comparable to a Brandon Sanderson book (and that is saying something). It is most definitely a plot driven story and the plot NEVER drags. Some have said it's slow, but frankly it is quite the opposite, the tensions that arise from all the complexity going on is intense.

2) PREMISE AND PLOT: AC is is a historical/ fantasy drama set in the bronze age in an ancient kingdom called Arthdal. It begins by discussing a world where there are 2 dominant species, humans and neanthals who are in all senses more beautiful and stronger than humans are. This is such a unique premise for a kdrama because I've never seen a drama set in this time period nor have I seen a true high-fantasy kdrama yet and here swoops in Arthdal Chronicles into a realm never explored and does it soooo beautifully.

3) THE PILOT EPISODE IS GOOOOLDEN: Arthdal Chronicles probably has THE BEST pilot episode i have ever seen! I loved it so much that I legitimately thought the show could not possibly get any better after so I dropped it for 6 months and that is the BIGGEST REGRET OF MY LIFE, because it GET's ALOT BETTER!!! If you like the premise I definitely recommend you watch the first episode and decide based on that if you want to continue the show. But I've also heard some people say that they didn't like the first episode since there is so much worldbuilding in it, and I'd just say don't worry about memorizing all the tribes and stuff and hang in there for a couple more episodes and you should see everything pick up.

4) CAST: This should probably be higher up in the list, but whatever. THE CAST IS INCREDIBLE! Song Joong Ki was brilliant in this for sooo many reasons that I can't say cause it would be a major spoiler but I legitimately think this is probably his best work (next to a Werewolf Boy cause that was a masterpiece). Kim Ji Won played her role perfectly and I adored how strong and intelligent she was. I was introduced to Jang Dong Gun and Kim Ok Bin through this drama, but they seriously stole the spotlight. Tagon (played by Jang Dong Gun) was so charismatic that it was almost impossible for me to hate him despite how many terrible things he did, and Tae Al-ha (played by Ok Bin) was the most bada*s women I have encountered in a drama, I hated her guts and adored her all at once and caught myself saying "Slay Queen" a little too much (especially after she actually slays some people). The rest of the cast was also so incredible but I really don't have the time to go over all of them so I'll leave it at that.

5) VINCENZO: If you're trying to get over your post-Vincenzo depression (and right into a new one lol) this IS PERFECT FOR YOU. I watched around the time that episode 3 of Vincenzo was out and I loved Song Joong Ki in it so I checked out his other dramas. A good friend of mine had recommended it a while back but I never finished it so I came back and OMG SONG JOONG KI WHY DO I KEEP FALLING IN LOVE WITH YOU!!! I really don't want to say it, but AC might....just might...be better than Vincenzo??

6) DEEPER MEANING: It addresses such relevant and deep issues in humanity and civilization like human greed, the root of corrupt political institutions and tribalism, and the inevitability of capitalist institutions as a stage of the development of civilization (which is just a really complicated way for me to say that the show can be really deep if you pay enough attention to the details, it's still good if you don't though).

Overall, The cast is top notch, the setting is beautiful and the OST (Poem of Destiny by Ailee) is literally the most beautifully intense and unique drama OST out there and everything about this drama is perfect sooo ya... go watch it cause I 1000000/10 RECCOMEND!!

Also...WHERE IS MY SEASON 2!!!!!!!! The emotional trauma I am enduring waiting for this is not acceptable!!

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I almost dropped this show because of such a disappointing first series, but I am glad I gave it a second chance.

I feel guilty using the word epic as I am not of the generation that use the word casually but that is just what these last 6 episodes are! I have to admit that it started slow but picked up speed especially the last 3 episodes. In fact it was so fast it left me breathless and pretty much at the edge of my seat all the time. The betrayal twist back and forth caused me legit whiplash.

The writer couldn’t have done a better cliffhanger ending, it was a beautiful culmination of the pieces from the first few episodes! I feel that the stage is set and the all the players are ready for the next move.... in September, lol! Not to worry though as they provided just enough sneak peek to calm those with withdrawal sickness, lol!

Acting was great, Kim Ok-Bin is a very convincing Taealha. Song Joong-Ki and Kim Ji Won delivered as expected, phenomenal! The supporting cast deserve a standing ovation as well. Can’t wait for next episode.

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This is the second season of Arthdal Chronicles.
If the first season was like an Introduction, this season is where everything starts to move and we learn a lot and get lots of answers. We were introduced to the world now we get some more information about it and its beginning. So i guess the third will be like conclusion.

I wrote in my review to the first season the mythology behind this drama. Well in second season everything starts to be more clear. And we see now a lot of confrontation between Sarams (literally means human in Korean). The smart political game where everyone is thinking what the other will do and tries to make a step ahead. In this game our characters are also included. Especially Tanya who didn't do much in the first season, now she and her newfound partner (introduced at the very end of the first season) are the highlight of this season.

What I like:
- We get a lot of answers
- already being used to their names, this is much easier to watch
-everything starts to move.
-Tanya is cool (i just love the answer she came up with after devastating news)
-Saya is cool (so cold, so scary, so smart and all of that is a reflection of how he grew up)
-Mubeak! (lol if in the first season he was like a soldier killing and all but was actually thinking much much more than others, in this season we get more of him and he is cool)
-Taeahlla and Tagon (well these two characters are so complex, i think they are out of the definition good or bad they are more like victims of the era, of their childhood, of their origin)
-all characters are very complex, really outside of black and white, good and bad.
-the smart political games or everyone trying to gain power!
-again learning more and more about the world, and about Wahan tribe's origins, and about all the stuff Tanya learned, and about Nhaenathals!

What i didn't like:
- the seasons again.... why did they have to separate it into seasons i just don't get it lol. Now I have to wait till the new drama(which im looking forward to) ends, so that 3rd season starts haha. the cliffhanger is hard to bear.
-If in the first season one character (Tanya) was doing almost nothing but being taken away, this time was another main character's turn lol. But based on the preview we will get lots of action from him :) haha

p.s. i usually don't rewatch dramas so my rewatch value is always 1, but this one was kinda complicated, i even rewatched the first season's first episode to understand it more. That's why the rewatch value is 10. i bet much more will be clear after a rewatch.

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The first part (episode 1-6) I reviewed only 7/10, then I struggled to get past the first two episodes of Part 2, BUT since episode three everything became exciting, its like the drama suddenly got life.
It has a lot of twist and turns, and is difficult to know who is right or wrong at this point.

Mostly I like to watch the parts of Eun Som more than psycho Saya, but overall the story line got much better. At this point I have no idea how the plot can turn out and that is what is makes a good drama for me.
I give this Part 2 of this drama 9/10 for being unpredictable.

My low rate on re-watch isn't because of this drama, just in general I don't like re-watching any drams or movies.

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The best part of the series in my opinion :)

Two tribes live in a mythical land called Arth; the red-blooded humans who can't dream and the blue-blooded humanoids who can dream, and who are also faster and stronger than humans. A war for resources breaks out between the two and the humans end up winning the war through some trickery. Years later, the struggles and greed of power continues...

This drama is unique, it brings you to the bronze age. There's a lot of knowledge on anthropology, evolutionary biology, politics, civilization stages, farming, domestication, religion/mysticism. More than just entertainment, they kept me occupied intellectually. I appreciate them to realize this daring concept into a drama. The story itself is using the common fantasy trope; like a prophecy, a mysterious barrier between two tribes, and it's very plot-driven.

The characters are a lot of fun, especially Tagon, the human leader, he's morally ambiguous and dignified, at the same time he hides a dark secret which is a real high stake. I have to say his younger self gave me chills more than the adult version, he had a very cool charisma; great job Moon Woojin, I always admire you, also in It's Okay to Not be Okay, The Devil Judge, yeah). This is also my only favorite Song Jong Ki drama so far, he's magical in his dual twin roles, together with the irreplaceable Kim Ji Won. There's a lot to enjoy within their relationships and dynamics.

Overall, I think it's a really darn good fantasy. I wanted to know more, the characters surprisingly got stuck with me personally, like I think about them when i'm not watching. The first season is laying a wonderful groundwork for the 2nd season.

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Arthdal Chronicles Part 2: The Sky Turning Inside Out, Rising Land was better compared to the first part, as it was expected.

The first part presented the characters and the world of Arthdal. So, this one focused more on the story and there was some progress as well.

I loved the addition of a new character. He was interesting and intriguing and he had a nice chemistry with the leading lady.

However, the political part of it was a bit boring, as it could have been more intense.

The performances, finally, were really good and the setting and costumes were nicely created.

So, seven out of ten.

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