Latest news with #TwentyFiveTwentyOne
Indian Express
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Dear Hongrang ending explained: 7 burning questions answered in Lee Jae Wook and Jo Bo Ah story finale
Lee Jae Wook and Jo Bo Ah's Dear Hongrang, despite its lukewarm ratings, has stirred up enough noise on Netflix to pull viewers into its historical-fantasy story of Hong Rang and Jae Yi, while leaving a trail of chaos and questions behind. Was it a happy ending? Who died? Are they siblings or lovers? And what about Mu Jin? Sure, the makers didn't keep us hanging by dropping all 11 episodes in one go, but there are still loose ends that need to be answered, especially since the series wrapped on a bittersweet note (or downright tragic). The story kicks off with the disappearance of the only son from Joseon's wealthiest merchant family, and what follows is his half-sister risking it all to bring him back, only to clash with a stranger claiming to be Hong Rang. She's not buying it, but somehow, the family is. The series throws in a time jump, a romantic arc, and long, beautifully chaotic battle scenes. So here we are, breaking it down for you. Spoilers ahead—this is your last chance to look away if you're not caught up. Jae Yi is on a mission to find her long-lost half-brother, who disappeared at the age of 12. By episode three, it's clear that Lee Jae Wook, who bears the same scars and habits as Hong Rang, isn't her brother, but a soul reaper planted in the wealthy merchant family to take the Min family down. But Jae Wook isn't just a pawn. His backstory is brutal. Once a lowly slave to a powerful family, he was captured by Prince Han Pyeong and turned into a living 'talisman.' After escaping, he was caught by Kkot Nim, leader of Geomgyedan, who gave him a new identity and trained him to replace Hong Rang. She wanted to avenge the death of her unborn child, killed by the Min family. Also read: Dear Hongrang Review: K-trauma hits again as Jo Bo Ah–Lee Jae Wook follow Netflix's heartbreak streak post Twenty Five Twenty One After capturing In Hoe, Han Pyeong also kidnaps Jae Yi to lure Soul Reaper, aka Hong Rang, into his trap. On the other hand, Hong Rang, who promised Jae Yi to free Hoe In and not let the prince succeed in his evil intention, gets startled and filled with rage. He attacks the palace even in his unhealthy state, but fails to save his close friend. However, Jae Yi gets saved, along with the other kids captured by the prince. Now, coming to the next question, who is Snow Man? He was often sighted on crime spots, whether a kidnapping or taking the body back. The identity of white-bearded, pale-looking man of towering height remained a mystery till the end in episode 10 when Hong Rang kills him, but it is clear that he was mortal. On the other hand, Painter is none other than the evil prince himself, whom Jae Yi's father kept supporting with money. Based on the 2021 novel Tangeum: Swallowing Gold by Jang Da Hye, the story introduces this character as someone who used toxic substances to hurt kids, and Hong Rang was one of the victims. No, Hong Rang is dead. In the initial episode, it was made clear that a maid witnessed Hong Rang's disappearance, and the Soul Reaper who falls for Jae Yi couldn't lie to her anymore, so he reveals the place where Hong Rang's body was buried, and Jae Yi gets closure. However, the maid later describes what she saw years ago — during Jae Yi's mother's funeral, her stepmother tried black magic on her and contacted a shaman. However, Hong Rang, who saw it all, later slipped from the roof while trying to stop the ritual. The shaman, in turn, asked the servant to throw the boy's still-breathing body. Later, it was discovered that the shaman Gwigokja was also seeking revenge from Hong Rang's mother, who, years before, had got her mother killed. Also read: Dear Hongrang star Jo Bo Ah reveals nickname she gave to Lee Jae Wook, shares why she keeps distance from male co-stars There are battle scenes with Hong Rang and Jae Yi against the world, the duo has clearly fallen for each other. The last scene is open for interpretation, but on the surface, we cannot say they end up together. When Hong Rang was captured by the prince in his childhood, Jae Yi's father, Sim Yeol Guk, applied toxic chemicals on his body, alum and arsenic. Years later, after succeeding in his mission, there is no happy ending for the Soul Reaper, whose organs begin to shut down because of the reaction from those chemicals. His health worsens, and though he promised to return to Jae Yi after killing the prince, he only returns to die in her arms. The show takes a 2-year time jump, showing Jae Yi as the Min family head. She still takes care of her stepmother and is clearly lonely and suffering from the loss of her loved ones. In the final moment, she hears a whisper, Soul Reaper's voice, and says, 'There you are,' while smiling, giving us the impression that they may have met in the afterlife or imagination. Many were rooting for Mu Jin, played by Jung Ga Ram, to end up with the female lead if Soul Reaper succumbed to injury, given that he always yearned for her despite Jae Yi clearly drawing a sibling boundary. But in the end, Mu Jin, the adopted son of the Min family, trained to replace Hong Rang, sacrifices himself for his love, trying to shield her from the final blow of the crown prince's men. Hong Rang kills Crown Prince Han Pyeong, starting with chopping off his arms, the same arms that caused so much pain to his victims. The prince tries to trap Hong Rang again after realising he is his 7th living talisman who escaped from his trap, and that sacrificing him in his adult form would make him holy. 'My search for greatness is not driven by selfish aspirations or avarice,' he said in the penultimate episode. 'Rather, it is my fervent zeal for all people. I must become a deity. Only then will this country and the entire world achieve serenity.' But in the finale, Hong Rang kills him, calling him an 'idiot.' 'You were simply a grotesque madman. A mere nobody, bound by a vain delusion in hopes of becoming someone.'
Indian Express
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Dear Hongrang Review: K-trauma hits again as Jo Bo Ah–Lee Jae Wook follow Netflix's heartbreak streak post Twenty Five Twenty One
Dear Hongrang premiered on May 17 on Netflix. But if you're still not over Na Hee Do and Baek Yi Jin (Twenty Five Twenty One), proceed with caution. Lee Jae Wook and Jo Bo Ah's historical rom-com sold itself on a genre-blending mix of mystery, fantasy, and period drama but, after ploughing through 11 episodes in one night—because never expected the mystery to crawl under my skin like that—I guess, they missed branding it as an emotional demolition job disguised as a rom-com. The show bet big on costume design, set pieces, and cinematography, and it paid off. The story of Hong Rang, Jae Yi, and Mu Jin has a solid mystery plotline, a money-hungry father, a powerful merchant guild, betrayals, and whiplash flashbacks between past and present instantly pique interest. Though there's still a whiff of awkwardness that's already rubbing some viewers the wrong way. Also Read | Weak Hero class 2 review: A manhwa misfire, but Park Ji Hoon and Ryeo Un outweigh the flaws of Netflix's rushed adaptation Fans of Alchemy of Soul are going to watch it anyway, because who is going to miss watching Lee Jae Wook in another Hanbok look, wielding swords, as Joseon's Soul Reaper? Dear Hongrang kicks off with the son of Joseon's most powerful guild vanishing. It's a lot to unpack at first, but once you settle in, the slow burn magically plays out with an intense, gripping ride through obsession, grief, a web of deceit and violent yearning. All of it wrapped in the soft glow of candlelight, a stunning setting, heavy jewellery, and visuals that set it apart from other historical K-dramas. 12 years have passed, but Hong Rang is still missing. Women on the street still whisper while staring at his poster, the successor to Joseon's biggest merchant association, who disappeared at age 8, leaving his mother, Min Yeon-ui (Uhm Ji-won) spiralling into addiction, still hoping for his return. The rumour is that Hong Rang's stepsister, Jae Yi (Jo Bo Ah), is cursed, accused of taking her little brother's life after allegedly killing her mother. But that doesn't stop Jae Yi from desperately searching for him, even if it means risking her life. Meanwhile, the Sim family adopts Mu Jin (Jung Ga Ram), raised and trained to inherit the business. The only person he bonds with emotionally is Jae Yi, who returns the respect, just not the feelings he quietly harbours for her. Things shift when a stranger shows up at Min's doorstep claiming to be the long-lost Hong Rang. Everyone buys it, except Jae Yi, who's skeptical from the jump. One standout scene I can't skip: the way identity was verified using an ancient DNA-matching method, dropping blood into a liquid-filled vessel and observing the reaction. The way it's executed on screen, pure cinematic gold. Also read: Dear Hongrang: 3 key points to look out for before watching Netflix's new historical romance, starring Lee Jae Wook and Jo Bo Ah Jae Yi clearly can't stand this new Hong Rang, or the imposter she's convinced he is, but can't help second-guessing herself when she notices familiar scars and old habits. Their bond starts with mutual irritation, turns into an inexplicable pull, and eventually drags them both into emotional storm. Meanwhile, Mu Jin mastered the art of giving a second lead syndrome. The tension between Hong Rang and Jae Yi constantly blurs lines, so much so, it'll have you questioning your own moral compass. Jo Bo Ah shoulders the weight of responsibility and lost love while juggling her feelings for the man claiming to be her brother. Lee Jae Wook walks around like someone who doesn't believe he deserves to be loved or remembered. Director Kim Hong Sun (Money Heist: Korea – Joint Economic Area) wasn't kidding when he said they went all in on visuals and production design. You can't overlook the intricacies, and the costumes do half the storytelling. Hong Rang wears white in almost every episode. The colour usually tied to death. It's like he's walking around in a shroud. Jae Yi sticks to pale tones, too, like someone who's lost all colour and purpose after losing her brother. Now let's talk about that BGM, 4BOUT orchestra. It hits like a shot of adrenaline when needed, then melts into Kwon Jin Ah's vocals to set the romantic arc. On a scene-stealing note: Kim Jae Wook as the villain outdid himself, no notes. But here's the problem, and it's been there from the very start. Something about the show left a sour taste. The trio was introduced as siblings, and by the end, we're knee-deep in a love triangle. I had to keep pausing just to process. The angst between Hong Rang and Jae Yi is intense, sometimes almost too much. The drama never really tries to clear the air—something it desperately needed if it wanted us to root for Hong Rang as he held Jae Yi's hand while battling enemies in that peak romantic fantasy moment. That lack of clarity leaves viewers stuck in a moral fog. (The penultimate episode has the answers, but let's not be that person dropping spoilers.)
Forbes
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Fighting Bullies Is On The Curriculum In ‘Weak Hero Class 2'
Park Ji-hoon and Choi Min-young stand up to bullies in 'Weak Hero Class 2.' The high school featured in the k-drama Weak Hero Class 2 is not a place where students can study quietly. Teachers make themselves scarce and bullies abuse their classmates without sanctions. In the first season of Weak Hero Class (2022), Si-eun, played by Park Ji-hoon, saw his friends at another school suffer because they stood up to bullies. The second season finds Si-eun in a new school, which also has plenty of bullies. Only now, he's even more reluctant to fight or to make new friends. He's consumed with guilt about what happened to classmates at his previous school, which he reasons was his fault. It's easy to feel sorry for Si-eun, but also to admire his resolve. Park ( At A Distance Spring is Green, Flower Crew: Joseon Marriage Agency) portrays a character crippled by his memories. Si-eun must fight through a fog of self-recrimination. Its a very physical portrayal of depression, but Park said it did not require much thought. He just instinctively understood the character's sadness. 'I don't think I actually had to make preparations to seem depressed and show the depressed side of him,' said Park. 'Because when I think of this character I feel like he's so lonely. He's so alone. I thought of my own school days and I also didn't have that many friends. So I could really relate to Si-eun to some extent, and I could really immerse myself into this character. I could understand his chain of thought and I think I do share some common ground with him. So I was quite quick to immerse myself into the character.' Despite deciding not to interact with his classmates Si-eun winds up talking to Jun-tae, played by Choi Min-young (XO, Kitty, Twenty Five Twenty One). Jun-tae has been bullied for years, which means his school life is miserable. That short conversation results in Jun-tae deciding he no longer wants to be a victim. He stands up to his bullies and it's the most intense character transformation in the series. Ryeo Un plays Baku in 'Weak Hero Class 2.' 'Si-eun made Jun-tae face his past and that is really important for Jun-tae,' said Choi. "He was always feeling afraid and yet fearful to face the fact that he was a coward. He was just living his life and compromising himself, thinking that he had no other choice, but he actually did. He didn't want to face that part, but Si-eun made him face it." Eventually Si-eun acquires two more allies, Baku, played by Ryeo Un (Twinkling Watermelon, Death's Game) and Go-tak played by Lee Min-jae (Crash Course in Romance, Hide). Strong and athletic, they are not the kind of students that bullies usually mess with. Their alliance with Si-eun leads to lots of fight scenes with bullies at the school and with the members of a multi-school network of thugs named The Union. Every episode boasts at least two fight scenes, which required the cast to attend regular fight scene training. 'Together with the stunt actors, we would have rehearsals,' said Lee. 'We would have a lot of training and we had it weekly. We had weekly sessions during the shoot and before the shoot, like a month and a half or two months prior to the shoot we would have a very thorough preparation and rehearsals for the action scenes that we have to be in. And also, one other thing is that we ate a lot to make sure we had the stamina and we tried our best to stay safe.' In one memorable fight scene Ryeo Un uses a basketball to slam dunk a rival. He practiced the scene with wires and a trampoline 'When I was at the action school prepping for the scene, we used both wires and a trampoline," said Ryeo. 'But in the actual scene when we were shooting, we used a trampoline and for safety reasons, we also had mats. So it was shot very safely and we used a trampoline and also used a bit of CGI to finish the scene.' Park's character Si-eun would rather not fight, but his new school is full of bullies, such as ... More Seong-jae, played by Lee Jun-young. Perhaps the sequel's best scene is the rumble that happens toward the series' end, in which two sides approach each other holding umbrellas and then fight in the rain and mud. It took days to film. 'There were times when there was actual rain,' said Ryeo. 'But because we shot that scene for such a long time, there were days when it wasn't raining, so there would be the water truck pouring fake rain on us. So, sometimes it was really raining, sometimes it wasn't.' Either way there was a lot of mud. What Lee liked best about playing Go-tak, a seemingly tough guy with a kind heart, was bonding with his fellow actors. 'I was able to band together with these guys and go over all these obstacles together.' There are a few times in the script where the characters call each other 'lunatics' and they mean it as a compliment. "My character Jun-tae actually says this once too,' said Choi. 'But I think why the word lunatic is a compliment in this series is because not only does it bond us together, because we all think we're lunatics, but it also embodies the feeling of being very bold, being courageous, and being able to take action instead of just saying words.' Si-eun's quiet defiance moves his classmates and their loyalty in turn emboldens him. Park sees Weak Hero Class as primarily a coming of age story. 'When I think back to my school days, there are always some friends who become kind of role models to the other ones,' said Park. 'One might be really fun and popular and that person also has good grades and is also kind of a good fighter. Or maybe there is some friend who has a really strong moral compass and people look up to him. I think this show is basically a coming of age story of the four of us plus Suho (Choi Hyun-wook) and my other friends from season one, and they're still kids, but they really work their best. They work really hard to fight their way through their very difficult teenage years. So, I think that's the message that this show is trying to convey.' Weak Hero Class 2 is based on the webtoon of the same name by Seo Pae-seu and Kim Jin-seok. The story was adapted and directed by Yoo Soo-min, who also directed Weak Hero 1. The drama airs on Netflix.
