The Bride of Habaek lives from interpersonal relationship dynamics and its dialogue/narration/symbolism - an outstanding work in the genre, and not only because the drama lacked budget. It was said in an interview that the scenes from the other world were kept as cinematic parts like in a movie purposefully to difference it from the scenes in the modern world (the movie scenes being very few and short in comparison). (When asked about differences between the drama and the source material, which is a popular Korean manhwa of the same title, the director responded, “It was hard to portray the water world. We took only the essentials from the narrative of the source material to create a spin-off. The water world is a significant part of the source material’s story so it does appear in the drama a little bit; however, we ask for your understanding. We will leave the portrayal of the water world to methods like film or animation, which are better suited for that.”)

While I'm at it, the opening (the music too!!!) and the first minutes of the drama are absolutely stunning. I love the nature imagery. The celestial underworld (the water world) was insane. The drama, overall, is stunning - including the costumes and sets. The cinematography is very colorful and has a lot of charm. I also love the manhwa-style drawing they made at the beginning of the episodes. About the special effects, there weren't a lot but they were good. And like I said, some of it is crazy work. There is no way some people actually used this aspect for criticism... Haters are something lol. They clearly did their best with what they had.

As it is stated, the drama is a spin-off and was marketed as such. It is not a direct adaptation, and the title is also indirect, which is why they added "2017." The concept of a bride was changed into a servant-god dynamic but "bride" still works since this is a romance and she becomes his bride at the end. There were also many changes made in the script because of Goblin.

While the comedy in the first episodes is absolutely hilarious and silly at times, it's not a drama that stops there. It's a great mix of humor and depth, along with a traditional (yet new) Korean fantasy setting. One thing I really loved, I remember, is when So Ah mentioned her knowledge about Habaek (since he really exists in the Korean mythology, there are informations on the Internet), and he told her that these informations were all made-up. Talk about witty writing!

The portrayal of the Gods is unique and humorous. Instead of embodying the omnipotent and infallible beings we often imagine, they are depicted as being much like us—flawed, living in their own world, and grappling with immaturity. To the point where they just appear to be humans with superpowers. This approach not only adds depth to their characters but also allows us to witness their growth and transformation over time. As we uncover their stories, we see them evolve into better versions of themselves. Their interactions in the human world are particularly amusing, showcasing their struggles and quirks in a relatable and entertaining way. Who said Gods should be boring? ;)

Admittedly, I wasn't a fan of Goblin, so I dropped it. Habaek, on the other hand, turned out to be not only a very refreshing watch, but an amazing one as well. I understand how it might not be a good drama to many, however, it is completely different as long as one becomes truly invested. I also tried to read the original but...I didn't like it at all. I wanted to try despite not liking the drawings and the historical setting, but I just couldn't, and the story was painful but not in a good way (I don't mean to disrespect the manhwa, it's just subjective). It's very different from the drama, anyway. The drama is like a completely different story with new narratives and characters since it has a different setting.

I almost forgot but the people who complained about logic, really now? This is a fantasy. Get over it. Habaek wasn't meant to be a conventional one at that. I prefer it like this because it really feels spiritual and it makes it more epic and beautiful. They are really pushing on the hate. I myself didn't care about this at all, so it came off as a surprise while reading critics. But that's the thing, the drama is a hit or miss and yet, it was such a hit (not only in Korea but worldwide) that even got a dvd. (A dvd needs a lot of popularity and investment (in money by the fans) to come out.)

Besides, I do love the worldview. You may wonder what the relationship is between the human world and the divine realm, but it is said that the human world is not devastated because the managing gods of the three states come to the human world and take care of the nature of the human world.

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Acting/Cast

Of course, with Nam Joo Hyuk and Shin Se Kyung, plus Gong Myung and Krystal, I was sure to love it, especially since I am an easy viewer who can pretty much appreciate everything as long as I got enough hype for it. I'll add here that Shin Se Kyung fought her phobia of water, and coincidentally, Nam Joo Hyuk confronted his fear of heights. Although I love Habaek, So Ah was my favorite character and the real highlight of the drama. Of course, the two other gods were very entertaining and interesting. Hoo Ye was the darkest character of the drama, and while I have to admit that I quite didn't like him because he got on my nerves, he was pitiful. I also don't really like the actor. No hate though, just personal preferences.

It is sad to see the usual haters of Shin Se Kyung. It's really annoying to see so much hate just because they don't like her acting style or the character. Or even the drama because for some reason the haters will put all the blame on her. She's very appreciated in Korea for her acting, personality and intelligence. She's a very talented and kind person who loves acting and is herself a cinephile. She doesn't have to cater to everyone's taste, same for her choices. She's my favorite actress forever and I always love her dramas and characters. Her acting is appreciated for being natural, sensible and sophisticated in its own way. The haters know nothing about subtle expressions and gestures, they are too blind for that. Shin Se Kyung is also attracted to female characters who aren't typical. She doesn't have to take on a role that doesn't suit her or that she doesn't want to do. Since I've read many interviews, I know she's very realistic and serious about acting. The fact that she fought her phobia of water for this role is enough of a proof. Besides, her roles are always different. But the haters will say that she's always the same. I could say the same about their favorites, it really makes no sense. For them, it seems like you have to take on an action/revenge/thriller role to prove that you're a good actor (oh well but she did take an action/fantasy role and a revenge one recently). Does she have some of the greatest acting? I wouldn't go this far. Yes, her range feels limited, even to me. But there are so many different actors in the world and she is still a really good one that stands out. Even if she can't do everything (who can, after all? and we need actors like her. same for art in all forms, no matter how limited the audience is), she always does really well in all of her projects. Koreans even call her the Sageuk queen because of how good her voice acting is and how well she speaks ancient Korean.

Now, about Nam Joo Hyuk, it too makes no sense to hate on this role. He was great as Habaek. In fact this role must have been challenging too in a way, aside from confronting his fear of heights. If the fact that the character is "stoic" is all they can see and they think this is bad acting, then they are helpless because it is so obviously wrong while watching. He also became much more emotional as the narrative developped. I always love the trope of the male lead being lost in the human world and using an ancient language. Oh and... Nam Joo Hyuk as a Water God is beyond perfection. I mean, all of the main cast is insane work, to be honest. They all had so much aura and I loved their vibe. Biryeom (Wind God), Mura (Water Goddess), Soah, Habaek, Hooye <3 (I wouldn't include Hoo Ye normally but I don't want to be mean so...)

https://x.com/namjoohyukpic/status/1877649727832871109 - 2025, Joo Hyuk still didn't move on from Habaek apparently 👀 (he's hotter than ever now that he finished his military service)

(The director also talked about the reasoning behind the casting of his actors for the drama. Director Kim explained, “When I was casting, I first went about looking for actors and actresses who had otherworldly beauty and who gave off a god-like vibe…I also wanted to work with actors who are still growing over actors who have a fixed image, as that could lead to prejudice and lack of believability.”)

I always respect such reasoning. :)

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The character development is where The Bride of Habaek becomes even more amazing, which is why the plot is used as a device for that. "Yoon So Ah is a pragmatic neuropsychiatrist who carries a tremendous financial burden to run her own practice." - So Ah is a flawed character, but she is much better than some people who only care about money because she is sincere and actually wants to do well inside of her. She just appears to be somewhat... "dislikeable." Very lightly though. I didn't dislike her for a bit and people hating on her must be insane. It is beautiful to see her character development as a human being and as a neuropsychiatrist along with Habaek. It is a drama with so many beautiful quotes (a lot about mental health obviously) that make it memorable. I remember her speech to Hoo Ye near the end, and both me and my friend wanted to give her an award for basically being the best neuropsychiatrist ever. Learning about the backstory, understanding the character in depth... That is part of the experience, too. So Ah is the most complex here.

"Yoon Soa (Psychiatrist)

She is a psychiatrist.

Due to her father, who prioritized humanity over family, she endured a troubled childhood. Despite her mother's desperate pleas not to leave, her father went to Africa to join relief efforts for refugees and never returned.

What was left behind was an enormous debt that her father, who was more like a freeloader, had accumulated. To repay that debt, she decided to specialize in psychiatry, which was known to be a lucrative field. As soon as she became a specialist, she worked tirelessly to pay off the debt.

Her father’s idealistic mindset, which prioritized humanity above all, left a lasting impression on her. However, in contrast to her father’s ways, she chose to approach the world with practicality. She coldly dismissed any sentimentality, and her mechanical, soul-less treatment methods often alienated her patients.

Even though she had buried her desires, a faint glimmer of hope and a small, modest dream still remained within her. That hope and dream led her to the happiest nation in the world, a utopia ranked as the number one country in happiness: a fairy-tale island called Banatu in the South Pacific.

It was there that a man, who referred to her as a goddess, appeared before her."

I just remembered now! When So Ah was hearing other people's thoughts. It was very short but it's another of my favorite tropes. Also loved that the drama was realistic in that she didn't believe him easily at all, especially given her job. Her job was such a genius move.

It was foreshadowed at the beginning that Habaek's journey was about learning to (truly) care in the human world. Remember his conversation with the old man. He only got his powers back to save So Ah for a reason. Some people didn't get the ending so let me tell you: he got his powers back completely. It is not hard for him to make himself age along with So Ah and actually live as a human until she dies. But, that's where the ending has a bittersweet meaning, too. Also, the paiting of Habaek that we see at the beginning is supposed to fill in with time as he changes for the better - until he truly deserves his future title. Isn't it the same for So Ah? After all, you need to get it together with yourself for such a job. Of course, you have to separate your private life to your professional life, however, actually healing yourself is one thing. At least it was for So Ah. But it's okay, because we're all human after all. She wanted to understand her father's mentality and couldn't because she resented him. It led to his own loss and his family's suffering. As a child, it was the worst for her. Also, it was revealed that her family has been cursed for generations, with every father destined to vanish. This is one of several elements that reveal whether the viewer has closely followed the narrative. Ultimately, it comes down to personal taste and how engaged you are with the story. However, it's evident that many people today watch with a lack of interest and immersion.

The scene with the red dress and the rose, foreshadowed at the beginning, always struck me as more of a metaphor than an actual suicide. It felt like it symbolized something deeper, perhaps a 'what if' scenario, exploring how close she was to that edge and what might have pushed her there if she ended up alone or things turned out differently (?). However, since I’m writing this review two years later, my memory is a bit hazy, and I don’t remember all the nuances I noticed back then. I absolutely plan to rewatch it to analyze the meanings of the metaphor more clearly, especially as it was tied to her father I think.

And the fact that So Ah has a phobia of water just like Se Kyung!!! I love this so much. Didn’t So Ah develop the phobia after trying to drown herself as a student? The imagined parallel makes even more sense when I think about it now. Anyway, stunning scene and beautifully layered storytelling.

I'm sure there are many details I didn't catch or forgotten about (but since the review is too long I'll refrain from writing further) and I was really surprised to see how much insightful discussion there was on Soompi forums, so many people seemed to have loved it to the point of so much in-depth analysis! Of course, I barely read anything because it's more fun to rewatch and do that by myself, and there was way too much to read lol. Anyway, shows how great of a drama it is.

Thanks for reading! And please don't forget to check the comment I posted under the review~

P.S: How I wish I had the dvd... Reading the screenwriter's thoughts would have been so interesting. The exclusive BTS, deleted scenes, cast/crew interviews... But anyway, it's never translated (people don't have the right to share the videos online too) and it's overpriced.