Summary: Queen Ji So of Silla Kingdom founds Hwarang in order to protect her son, the young King Jin Heung. Hwarang is a group of beautiful, young men train to be warriors. But the king joins the group incognito and meets Sun Woo, a strong and determined warrior and leader who jumped from his peasant to a half-breed status. Both fall in love with Ah Ro, a storyteller and a doctor.
Genre: Period, Romance, Kings & Princes, Flower Boys
Episodes: 20
Stars: Park Seo Joon as Moo Myung / Sun Woo
Go Ah Ra as Ah Ro
Park Hyung Shik as Sam Maek Jong (later King Jinheung of Silla)
Choi Min Ho as Su Ho
Do Ji Han as Ban Ryu
Jo Yoon Woo as Yeo Wool
Kim Tae Hyung (V) as Han Sung
Kim Hyun Joon as Dan Se
Likes: Lots and lots of pretty boys in one drama, omo omo! Why do I love Hwarang, I dare enumerate…
- pretty, flawless faces!
- their gorgeous, well-groomed long hairs and eyebrows!
- beautiful bodies!
- fantastic outfits!
- oozing with nobility!
- swordsmanship and horsemanship!
- and last but not the least… loyalty and bromance!
My favorite Hwarangs…
Sun Woo – the leader! this guy is tough and strong, pretty determined to learn and blend despite adversity, naturally a great leader, honest and faithful to his love and his calling.
Sam Maek Jong – the king incognito! he appeared mysteriously confident in the beginning, has a very pretty face, educated, great with sword and archery but kind of lost to shine when he kept on to conceal his identity.
Su Ho – the playboy! His face speaks the desire to please women :). He even tried his charm on the Queen. He talks a lot, he confronts a lot but actually very friendly.
Ban Ryu – the snob! Very particular with his status and ambition but lost his desire to be evil when he chose to be with his lady love.
Yeo Wool & Han Sung – the cutest and the prettiest (hands down)!
My favorite side characters…
Master Ui Hwa – chief of Hwarang for his lecture full of ancient wisdom, for his humour and for his rice cakes (makes me want to try them too)!
Prince of Baekje – for his arrogance and his sexy accent :)!
Pa Oh – for his unconditional loyalty to the king!
The Silla World is pretty cool as what was portrayed in this drama. Though in the later episodes, the drama was set mainly inside the Hwarang’s house, the introduction didn’t fail to show the bars, the restaurants, the busy alleys, the soccer stadium, the shops – just like in the modern world. Very vibrant!
Ah Ro vs Princess Sook Myung – I like Ah Ro, she was a good storyteller but her beauty was just off. I’m not saying she isn’t pretty but her beauty just didn’t suit Silla time well. Princess Mook Myung on the other hand was every inch like a princess, the way she presented herself and the way she spoke.
Ah Ro – Sun Woo & Ban Ryu – Soo Yun’s KISS – Poor Ah Ro and Sun Woo, very little chemistry. Them being fake siblings didn’t help either. Ban Ryu and Soo Yun’s kiss is the winner! These 2 should have a spin-off!
The ending had some epic scenes…
- I love Sun Woo’s confrontation with Jin Heung in front of the throne.
- Hwarang declaring their loyalty to King Jin Heung. Mansae, mansae man mansae!
- King Jin Heung’s coronation. (Look at the ravishing king with those golden crown and accesories!!!)
- Queen Ji So’s last moment. (With the love of her life!)
- The never-ending display of bromance sealed with a final horseride! Just beautiful!
Dislikes: I have to mourn Han Sung’s death :(. I just have to think, he probably went for a concert tour :).
This drama made it to the Top 15 Kdrama in 2017. Watch video…
