I was sorry to find out that this drama has not had high ratings in Korea and has not been viewed by many viewers outside Korea either. Although I can understand the basic reason of not wanting to watch people suffering I can say that it is a real pity not to appreciate all the effort that obviously went into the production, filming and acting of this drama. I think this is the best acting I have seen of So Ji Sub so far (and I have seen most of his well-known dramas) and especially in the last episodes he gave a performance that would have been higly worth an Oscar award if he had been in the US. But I also have to mention the other two main actors and in particular Yoon Kye Sang who played an incredible character who was strong and very generous.
So to summarize this drama focuses mostly on what friendship, comradeship and patriotism are all about but it also describes a very intense love story. I highly recommend the viewers to have a strong stomach and go through all the hardships that these poor soldiers went through and in the end...you will feel higly rewarded like I did!
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This review may contain spoilers
Romance & Bromance at its best in (still warlike) post World War II years on once Joseon´s soil
"Road No. 1" is an intriguing KDrama that takes a close look at the (still warlike) post-war years in Korea after 1945. On impulse we might think of the Korean War of 1950-53, but for the Korean people the struggle between North and South began much earlier (see below if you like).There are definitely plenty of tragic fates and stories to tell from that time. "Road No. 1" is one of them, splendidly captured within 20 episodes full of human struggle for life and love. Here you will find romance and bromance at its best. Emotively staged against a backdrop of uniforms, guns, grenades, explosions, barbed wire, the 38th parallel and Road No. 1.
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Side Note: ---- HISTORIC BACKGROUND ----
The 'No. 1' is the road that connects Seoul and Pyongyang - after the end of World War II in 1945, these were the two largest cities in Korea, having been annexed by Japan since 1910 as the Chōsen province. After the surrender of Japan, the province of Chōsen was (like Japan itself) occupied by the Allies. The Soviet Union and the USA, as trustee administrators, had divided the country along the 38th parallel into two occupation zones. In fact, the Korean people weren't too keen on (again) not being given state sovereignty.
With the departure of the Japanese, the struggle for the future of the country began - a struggle between different visions and perspectives. The allies favored the political positions they liked - e.g. Joseph Stalin and Mao Zedong with Kim Il-sung a communist state in which only one politically active party should exist; the USA a Western-style constitution for the South with a Christian-capitalist orientation. However, there actually was also a nationalist, anti-foreign grouping within the country that (by tradition) particularly opposed the American occupation and its Western values. They engaged in a guerrilla war that began as early as 1946. That is, where "Road No. 1" has its roots and starts off. And that's a good thing, because this aspect is sometimes lost in the historical representation of the western hemisphere...
This resistance struggle´s position was much closer to communist ideas than to the western value system, which still seemed rather foreign up to that point. Just because the former colonial ruler Japan was one of the losers of war, the former Joseon doesn't have to be happy to make a 100° about-face towards Western democracy... What the country or its people wanted was actually not seriously considered. The promised election did not come about. It simply fell underneath the wheels of the Cold War. For the Soviet Union and the USA, Korean policy was based on post-war events and global political muscle flexing. However, for the Korean people, who had never been never tired of resisting oppression under colonial rule, things just kind of went on. From the rain in the eaves...
--- People's Republic of Korea - a non-starter ---
In fact, it completely escaped my historical knowledge that BEFORE the division into a communist North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) dominated by the Soviet Union and China plus a South Korea occupied by the USA (Republic of Korea), there had also been a KOREAN vision for the future of the peninsula. After Japan's capitulation, the 'People's Republic of Korea' (NOT EQUAL to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea alias North Korea) was proclaimed as a provisional government on September 12, 1945 for BOTH zones of occupation. Initially, the basis of the new constitution and government was supposed to be created from a network of people's committees. The program was radically social. The aim was to establish Korea's complete independence and a democratically governed public life for a free people.
In the north, the People's Republic was taken 'seriously' by the communist occupiers (effortlessly, so to speak, due to the similar attitude). In the south, however, the military controlled political events were based on a rigorous anti-communist attitude. Of course, the USA did not like this communist-affine new political perspectives towards the peninsula at all. In 'their' southern provinces, they even went so far as to ban the ´People's Republic´ (purely because of its communist ideas). This fueled resentment... and there it was again: resistance.
--- National Uprising ---
In 1946, the so-called Autumn Harvest Uprising marked the beginning of public, sometimes massive, resistance, which took on further forms in 1947 and finally culminated in a national uprising in 1948. The USA had to react quickly and so they sponsored the lesser evil: the elections for the first 'Republic of Korea' in August 1948: the autocratic Rhee Syng-man. Although he was not in principle friendly to the USA, nor was he an enthusiastic democrat or even an advocate of human rights, he was opportunistic enough to also cooperate in the interests of the USA. He was also anti-Japanese and anti-communist. South Korea was given a Western-style constitution, and from then on it had to be guided by Christian and capitalist values. Of course, after the South voted, the North had to follow suit (with the formation of the DPRK).
The Korean people were thus separated - politically, geographically, economically and socially - and had been incited against each other by propaganda and degraded to the pawn of global political muscle flexing. Industry, resources and energy supply were concentrated in the north, while two-thirds of the 30 million Koreans were living in the south. And they initially fought against the paternalism of the American military. Between 1948 and 1950, guerrilla fights against the South Korean Republic's military and police cost the lives of around 7,500 official security forces and around 34,000 civilians - even before the actual Korean War even began. The people strived for unity. But politically there was only an either-or (communism vs. ultra-nationalism).
--- Korean War with international participation ---
In 1950, Kim Il-sung made use of the situation in the south as well as of his military and material superiority. He wanted unite the country in his interests (and under his constitution). Rhee Syng-man had his military resist as best they could until international intervention by the UN led by the USA actually pushed back the North Korean army. However, in view of the new situation and the global dimension, China rushed to North Korea´s aid. There was fierce fighting, on land and at sea. At the end, the armistice, which is still in force today, includes the concession against the background of the Cold War that there will still be the Republic of Korea in the south and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in the north.
After ca. 2 million civilians, around 1 million Korean and Chinese soldiers, as well as ca. 40,000 UN soldiers having given their lives to this war, everything remained just as it had been before. In sum: A divided country that had been cheated of its autonomous sovereignty. Patronized Koreans. A people with split identity. Separated families.
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Story 10
You can read the Synophis :), I'm just a sucker at unreachable love stories and this is one of them.
Acting/Cast 10
I found the cast very suiting and especially So Ji Sub and Yoon Kye Sang stood out the most. Everyone's favourite is I'm sorry I love you with So Ji Sub but mine is Road Number One, his acting was superb fear, laughter, love, joy, cold, warm, friendly, hostile even insane and crazy he had too act all of these emotions in this drama and he did it in perfection!
Music 10
The music in the drama is touching when it needs to, gripping when it needs to, romantic when it needs to and so much more. The soundtrack of this drama shows its a 5 star drama, I occasionally rewatch parts of the drama back from time to time just to listen to the soundtrack (because part of the soundtrack is untraceable at youtube :()
Rewatch Value 6
I wouldn't re watch the whole drama again just because of the fact that its too gripping and emotional. People die or loose parts of their body's. I would re watching it with someone else so I wouldn't look weak because I cried like a baby the first time :)
Overall 10
Really watch this drama if you're like a good love story, or a drama about brotherhood, the cruelness of a war that never ended in Korea. This drama really shows why should never have wars and it was stated as one of the most warm wars before the cold war.
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Road Number One is so much more than war. It's about love, brotherhood, hate, and betrayal. The love I'm talking about does not only focus on the main characters but also all the other characters whether it's the love for their wife, friend or family. The brotherhood shown is simply beautiful, the brotherhood between the main army unit focus in this drama. You can feel their close knit bond and the quote "no man gets left behind" really applies in this case. Not only does the it focuses on the main characters but I love how the writers don't ignore the supporting characters and add in their stories and that's what makes this drama so damn beautiful.
This drama was flawlessly cast and I have nothing more to say.
The music made me so emotional. Even though I don't know understand a word they're singing I can just the emotion in their voices to understand it and the flawless fit to the scene in the drama. My personal favourite is IU's Because I'm A Woman.
I would definitely re-watch this again because well that's just me and my love of war.
Overall, avid drama watcher or not, war lover or not, even if you're not a fan of these actor/actresses I recommend this drama. I totally fell in love with this drama and it's definitely underrated. REGARDLESS, of your drama preferences just give this drama a chance and it will be one of the best drama you've have ever watched. I guarantee it.
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Story: About the first year of the Korean War, when it breaks out and everything during that year (with fictional stories ingrained into it). A man who has been in love with one woman all his life goes off to war and news is sent back of his death, so his woman gets engaged to another man, then her love returns unharmed from war and her fiancé feels betrayed, they show the two men go off to war again together and we see them go head to head several times as rivals in love who soon become brothers together in war. It's a beautiful story ?
Cast: Lee Jang Woo (So Ji Sub) (have you ever watched the movie 'The Princess Bride'? remember the theme song? - well that song kept ringing in my ears whenever I'd think about Jang Woo's love for Su Yeon - she was his everything - literally.) He was a true lover and a great and true soldier, he protected his men and did his best in everything to survive - his purpose? He HAD to stay alive for the woman he loved. Yes he was my favorite character ? Shin Tae Ho (Yoon Kye Sang) the second man for Su Yeon but cast aside by her love for Jang Woo, he challenges Jang Woo at every chance he gets but gradually we see him "fall" for Jang Woo's leadership, and they cherish each other like brothers. I liked the bromance much more than the romance (both played a big part in this drama). All the other soldiers did an amazing job playing their parts and I'd grow fond of them and cry for them. There are a couple people you'll hate at first and then like later on lol
Music: The OST was so beautiful, I loved each and every song!
Re-watch Value: I'll get around to re-watching this drama again someday :)
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Now the story is more than just about the war. It is love, camaraderie, hate and anguish. I'm not squeamish and I like a good action show that is based in fiction. It is hard to get past the blood/gore, and the pain that war obviously brings to all involved. WARNING: There is a lot of death in this drama and it isn't pleasant. It took me a while to get through all 20 episodes because I had to stop for days and then come back to it, because it is emotionally draining. It has a love story between the male lead and female lead, but I think that the love between the men that were in action together was a far better love story. I won't tell you how it ends. I will just state that I understand that the writers were trying to remind the current and future generations of what occurred during the Korean War. However, they could have found a better way to do it. It drove me crazy. Plus, once again the last two episodes had tons of filler like the audience is too stupid to understand what the characters were thinking about at that time. Whatever.
On to the acting...So Ji Sub as Lee Jang Woo and Yoon Kye Sang as Shin Tae Ho were outstanding!!! Their happiness, pain, laughter, and tears are easily felt. I was fully invested in their characters and that is why I made it through 20 episodes of this heart-wrenching drama. I just couldn't leave their stories behind. Kim Ha Neul also played her part well. However, the writers made a doctor into an idiot so she really didn't have much to work with. I had a hard time feeling sorry for her character even through the emotions of the male leads. Mostly I just wanted to slap her. ALL of the men that played the parts of the Second Company were great. I loved everything about their friendships. It was beautiful. If I could have just seen that part and not the war, then I would have liked this drama a lot more.
The music is appropriate.
Thank whatever deity you prefer that I never have to watch this again. If I need a heavy dose of So Ji Sub, then I have plenty of other projects of his from which to pick.
Honestly, the only reason why I watched this was for So Ji Sub. If you are a fan, then you won't be disappointed in his acting for sure. If you like war movies, then this is definitely one for you. Just realize that the directors make it REAL.
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If you like films like Platoon, dramas like Piece of Cake (English war drama). Then I think you should watch this drama.
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Blew it up!
The more I watch war themed dramas the more I'm convinced that this genre is best fit in a movie format instead of a drama. It's still a decent drama but consistency is rarer than winning the lottery especially with how they decided to end it. That time-skip ending was objectively and undeniably bad! What's even worse was how they tried to justify the time skip. Even if the writer was suborn and wanted to force a time skip ending, there were definitely many other ways to better layout the necessary elements to execute it in a meaningful and impactful way instead of creating a mockery.Was this review helpful to you?
