As we did for ‘Love Rain’ and ‘Beautiful Man’, we decided to share eels’ thoughts on the blog again. There are many fan blogs do the similar things, but ours is not intended to recap the episode. Literally sharing each eel’s thoughts and feeling after seeing the episode. Some may write it like lyrics. Others may write it like your diary. The first author is Nancy. She’s joined the previous writing projects. She said she didn’t write long this time not to spoil many as this is the first episode. Rather, she wanted to give “readers” a chance to get interested enough to watch on their own without giving a blow by blow…
Then, enjoy! 😀
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WARNING: If you haven’t watched this episode, please be aware of spoiler from reading this article. If you do not want to see, please do not click the link “Read rest of this entry”. We welcome all the comments and please share your thoughts too about ‘Daebak’. Thanks.
Author: Nancy McDonnell from ECI
Photo credits: SBS
Historical drama and political intrigue, I confess, is not my usual Korean drama fare. But quite frankly, Daebak had me the minute Jang Keun Suk signed on the dotted line. So, Eels and Jang Keun Suk will “take a gamble” on Daebak (Jackpot).
The drama starts with a suspenseful chess match between Baek Dae-gil (played by Jang Keun Suk) and Yi In Jwa, and a dramatic sword fight in the snow. The cinematography is beautiful and of course the acting is top notch! The two seem to have had a teacher & student relationship in the past… but no longer see eye to eye. The writer sets up the story very well and we want to know how these 2 characters have come to this impasse.
Moments later our back story begins… the tale of how Baek Dae-gil came to be.
I’m not the type of person who likes “head games”… so from the very start it’s hard for me to be interested in Yi In Jwa, who is intent on manipulating everyone… even the King, for his own desires.
It seems like every character we encounter is out for their own interests… and even among the King’s closest companions is one who Yi In Jwa controls.
Meanwhile, poor hardworking Bok Soon, any nest egg of money she earns is immediately stolen and gambled away by her addicted husband, even as she tells him she longs for a child.
Disappointed for the last time, she agrees to join sides with Yi In Jwa who is intent on teaching her how to seduce the king.
Baek Man Geum, Bok Soon’s husband, agrees to some high stakes gambling in Hong Mae’s dark and dingy gambling den. And when he’s lost everything to the rich merchant (who is the King in disguise)… he bets his wife. And thus it’s pretty clear that Bok Soon is to become a pawn in a game of chess with all of Joseon as the prize. [END]
beautiful ,yes in real life are so many games addicted ,they sell for money everything ,only to go and play ,I felt sadness for the woman but the way witch she`s chosing is not very easy to be the concubine of the kING ….WELL BEAUTIFUL AND INTERESTING STORY .
episode 1 for this new series seems like a gamble in itself — what to expect, what will be the reception, etc. —
so agree with Sis Nancy, the cinematography and acting are daebak 😀 I personally liked the intensity, enough intensity to jump start the story.
the four main characters in the first episode (plus Hong Mae) pull off varying emotions for the viewers. Looking forward to the story’s progress 😀 Thumbs up!!
Thanks for sharing ..hopefully will b able to catch up d episodes really soon..
Daebak Fighting! I love you JKS!
Thanks Nancy McDonell.
Agree…the cinematography and acting is superb!!!!! …from the prestine white snow with suppressed emotions and swordsmanship…to the stinky dingy gamble dungeons and holes where men are at their lowest most carnal …It’s very well done..
But the music!!!!!!!!! the music is wonderful..taking over your heartbeat and breathing taking you into yet a higher level…
Without subs was good…but understanding what’s really being said makes the drama evenmore dramatic..
Thanks Nancy
sis Nan, thank you for sharing your takes and thoughts on 1st EP so quickly!!!!!
Me too, Historical and political dramas are NOT my cup-of-tea. The only other Korean historical drama I watched was Hong Gil Dong…..kkkk…mostly just watched Prince ChangWee scenes.
Of course, I would watch any JKS’ DRAMAS, MOVIES..pretty much anythings of JKS….kkkk. The end of the day, I am still an EEL, so I will always watch my STAR.
Honestly, I didn’t know what to expect out of this drama. After I watched the 1st EP….I was “WOOWWW” blow away by the INTENSITY and CINEMATOGRAPHY of this drama. The pictures are so sharp clear and FAST phase. I super love the SNOW setting and scene, so beautiful.
To my opinion, even the setting period of the story is not my type, but Just to be able to watch such beautiful cinematography, it’s worthy to watch. Daebak!!!!
Just watching ONE EP only, I can see that this is one WELL PRODUCED DRAMAS!!
So Fighting Daebak Team!! Keep doing your BEST!!! If you put your all-in and do your very best, people will see and praise your team at the end. Good production will always be good production!!!
P.S. I will buy the DVDs for the whole sets when on sale, for keepsake…kkkk!!!! 🙂
Yeah. Cinematography is perfect. Its my first time watching suk’s drama when its on air. Very very happy to share my thoughts with all these fantastic eels. The snow scene was superb. JKS was amazing in his part. Words can’t describe his skills. Love u my dear. Every actor is best in his act. The king’s acting was superb. I liked dae gil’s mother very much. This type of gambling really happens. So the drama looks realistic and is not at all boring. Direction and script are very good.Everything is just DAEBAK. Just curious why our prince was abandoned. Lots of hope for the drama ahead. Thanku eels all over the world whose support make our PRINCE always right in chosing the best character and best drama. <3<3
Good job Sukkie! Well done – and that’s only the first episode. Looking forward to succeeding ones/
This is one drama that is risky to be shown. The script is just so different from the ‘highly predictable’ drama scripts. This one is really different – and this is not for general patronage.
I admire the script writer, the PD and SBS for adapting this drama. Most of all, I am glad they chose Sukkie to take on the leading role.
I enjoyed watching the first episode so much and I cannot wait to see the next ones. This is my first time to watch a drama one episode at a time.I just started watching Korean dramas July 2015. After seeing You’re Beautiful and Mary Stayed Out All Night, I wanted to see more of JKS’s drama/movies. “Daebak” is very interesting and I think they chose the right actors. All of them are really good. I am starting to get to know more Korean actors because of Jang Keun Suk.
Thanks again for all your help, Tenshi. 🙂
Excited that the English subbed version was available for Episode 1 so quickly and Episode 2 is now also subbed and available. JKS was amazing, underneath Dae-gil’s seemingly cool and composed exterior you could sense his intensity, and definitely his scene set up the mood for the drama perfectly! What intrigue and mysteries await us as this story unfolds I can only imagine and eagerly anticipate.
I love the way you wrote your summary, Nancy! I tend to watch the cute romantic dramas because I don’t have to think too much about where the story line is going – the historical dramas are more of a challenge for me to follow. Daebak’s plot, however, is very clear, and there are plot twists and turns that keep surprising me – which is a lot of fun! I would have watched this no matter what because JKS is in it, but this story is so engrossing and the actors are so completely believable that I’d watch it even without JKS. I think his instincts were very good when he chose to do this story. And, as everyone is commenting, the cinematography is particularly stunning. The thought that’s been put into the colors and settings are obvious in the many, many simply beautiful visual details.
I know eels almost always gush about everything JKS does, but I honestly believe that this is going to be recognized as one of the top-notch offerings in his career.
Thanks Sis Nancy for sharing your thoughts. Love your writing and description so much about the drama that I ending up watching it again because the visual and cinematography is so stunningly splendid. Even JKS scene only last a few minutes I really love his intense scene. He makes a right choice for his comeback drama.