and historians would say they were good friends...
oh well one them is a historian!Can we truly understand someone who is willing to sacrifice their own history for the sake of a crown? The writing captures this internal struggle but I think there should be more to it.
But hey the chemistry between the Crown Prince and the young officer is electric. This dynamic could have been further amplified with a more than that storyline that allowed their relationship to evolve even more organically. Or should I say a different drama with these two.
While this is tragic , it has emotional depth and strong performances, there’s an undeniable potential for an even richer experience with more storytelling that fully exploits the chemistry between its leads. and I can only hope for future projects that allow these actors to shine even brighter. And no to historical negationism.
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Is it a must to watch?
The plot is simple and had some psychological elements, the cinematography and acting were the best cons.Time flew very quick watching it despite having many dialogues with ancient terminologies that might confuse some or requires double checking.
It was a good watch overall but wouldn't consider as a must to watch. if you like historical male-centered plots definitely give it a shot, but if you're looking for something very wholesome it probably isn't.
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Well acted
From what was said in the subtitles this is based on a true story (I think) These dramas are a challenge in that they only have an hour to tell a story. I thought that I hadn't seen these two young actors before but I had. Both have quite an impressive resume.The story is a little dry. I think in modern times it might be hard to understand how a young man would be prepared to give his life for some passages in a historical record. At the same time, truth is important.
The MLs played their parts well. The regent crown prince was the perfect mix of arrogance as well as feeling for his childhood companion, but in the end he still felt he had the right to rewrite history no matter what.
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Friendzoned by "History"
"Come to my quarters at midnight tomorrow, don't breathe a word to anyone" (16:12)This line was ripe with BL/gay subtext. The secrecy, the lingering glances, the closeness, the unspoken tension between the two men that pulled them ever closer teased at something more than "just friendship." Yet, the societal expectations of the past and the present snuffed out the possibility of a blazing love affair
To the people scoffing at the reimagination of these historical figures or their relationships as gay based on the supposed lack of historical "evidence," I have a sobering truth: a crown prince or medieval male warrior could've very well engaged in a love affair with another man without a trace of it being preserved. Such a revelation would've been buried by the bloody gloves of the aristocratic elite to maintain appearances of propriety. No record would dare speak of it, and hints of gay love would be replaced with "friendly platitudes"
History is written and rewritten by the victors—or in this case, by the straight-washing, homophobic society. For every story preserved, countless others are lost to the tides of time and cultural norms. One can only wonder at the secrets held in the buried pages deemed unfit for the public eye
The BL/GL/gay interpretations of history aren't an inaccurate retelling or rewriting of a history that's already been rewritten by those in power. We're filling in the gaps and exploring the possibilities that might've been erased from historical records
If the use of real historical names feels inappropriate to you, we could rename the characters to create a story that draws from history, but isn't beholden to it. I'd enjoy a story that prioritizes emotional resonance over rigid adherence to historical records
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It's not a bromance, it's a friendship!
I don't think it's absolutely right for this movie to be thought of as a bromance. Because as someone who watches a lot of kdrama/kmovie about Yi San and does research about his life, gossiping about such a bromance is an insult to historical research and Yi San's great love. In fact, the moment I heard about the history of crown prince Sado, Yi San's father, I did a lot of research and felt sorry for him the most in Korean history. I will say the parts I don't like in my movie, but other than that, it might have been possible to use the phrase it would have been a good movie. The actors are not really suitable for the historical genre for me, or they didn't play their roles very well for me. Some issues could have been mentioned in more detail in the film, but there were none. Overall, the story was good.Was this review helpful to you?
Rewrite history and historical truth
The trick of rewriting history and leaving what is not appropriate in the landfill is old: the United States lost the war in Vietnam, but years later it had its 'Rambo', capable of single-handedly winning another vengeful invasion and thus giving comfort to the nostalgic.Another example of rewriting history was pouring rivers of ink in the American newspapers of the time to blame Cuba and Spain for the blowing up of the North American battleship Maine, on February 15, 1898, with the aim of suing and pressuring the North American government to that he decided to intervene militarily in Cuba and rob the Cubans of their independence and sovereignty.
In fact, the Maine had arrived at the Havana port on January 25 of that year, with the excuse of making a "friendly visit", although, given the tension that existed between the United States and Spain, it was evident that the presence of the ship It was nothing more than one more in the chain of pressures that the North American government had been exerting on the Spanish government in what clearly constituted preparation for intervention, with annexationist and expansionist objectives, in the war that the Cubans were waging against the regime Hispanic colonial.
Let us also not forget how Western historians, especially German, British and American, began to rewrite history to detract from the Red Army and the Soviet Union in the defeat of fascism, and overvalue the intervention of the Western allies, which, although important, was not transcendental for the final victory against Hitler's Germany.
In truth, this war was won from fascism thanks, mostly, to the military and human effort of the U.S.S.R. and its people, who put twenty-eight million victims in the balance of death. However, this objective data is based, among many other reasons, on the fact that more than 70% of Nazi losses occurred on the Eastern Front and that it was the Soviet army that brought the German machine to its knees.
When the Allies landed in Normandy, back in June 1944, the Soviets were already advancing unstoppably towards the heart of the German Reich after defeating the Germans in the Battles of Moscow, Stalingrad and the Kursk Arch, decisive in ensuring a radical turn in the evolution of World War II. Even without Western intervention, Berlin would have fallen anyway and the Soviets would have even liberated Paris or Rome.
In the effort to manipulate history, Western historians forget that Winston Churchill himself, who at that time was the Prime Minister of Great Britain, wrote that "it was precisely the Russian Red Army that took the guts out of the war machine." Hitlerian", or the statement of Dwight Eisenhower, Commander in Chief of North American troops in Europe and future President of the United States, who was forced to publicly declare that "the great deeds of the Soviet Army during the war against Germany They aroused the admiration of the whole world.
I think about the above while watching 'Special: Drama Special Season 15: The Officer Discusses', written by Sudocrean Im Eui Jung ('Love According to Law', 2022).
Based on real events, this excellent work of the historical, dramatic and family genre, tells us, in terms of a relationship of friendship, murders and palace intrigues, how the Crown Prince Yi San (Nam Da Reum), summons the historians of Joseon to eliminate from the annals collected in the "Diary of the Royal Secretariat" the events related to the death of his father, Crown Prince Sado, who was murdered by his own father, King Yeongjo (played by actor Jo Han Chul), who was the twenty-first king of the Korean Joseon Dynasty (reigned October 16, 1724 – April 22, 1776), and by Lady Hyegyeong.
Aware that history can be manipulated if one has the means and capabilities to do so and, above all, if one who writes it in a real and objective manner is silenced, in order to ascend to the throne and consolidate his reign, Yi San, who reigned with the name of Jeongjo of Joseon (October 28, 1752 - August 18, 1800), and was the twenty-second ruler of the Joseon dynasty of Korea (1776-1800), he did not hesitate to assassinate anyone who opposed him in his efforts to try to clear the name of his father, who was considered incapable and weak.
History remembers that on the day Jeongjo finally assumed the throne, after the death of his grandfather, he looked at everyone present in the royal hall and said: "I am the son of the late Crown Prince Sado...". These words were considered a warning to those complicit in his father's death.
During the stage prior to his coronation, characterized by the chaos generated by the murder of his father on the orders of his own grandfather, King Yeongjo, who made the decision influenced by politicians opposed to the crown prince, Yi San demanded that the kingdom's historians Comply with your order.
However, Nam Yeo Gang (Tang Jun Sang), a young historian who in his childhood was sent to the Palace to keep the future king company, and with whom he develops a strong friendship since childhood, refuses to obey him and will seek to prevent the crown prince carry out his unhistorical plans.
When Yi San assures that by eliminating what happened from the annals he intends to refound the nation so that a new State can emerge, the historian Nam responds: "By erasing History, in what way will your Joseon be new?" This is the work of historians: in short, to study, describe, analyze, capture the past in writing, and protect the historical truth.
I would like to finally highlight the performances of the children Lee Chun Moo as Crown Prince Yi San [Young] and Choi Ye Chan as Nam Yeo Gang [Young].
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