Purple Panda’s Note A year ago today, K-Drama “The Tale of Nokdu” had its finale. Despite the less impressive penultimate episode, I thoroughly enjoyed this series. I wrote this piece for HELLOKPOP which was published on December 23, 2019. Satisfaction or having the lack of it is not a result of fate but rather of the choices men made. The Tale Of Nokdu, behind its romantic-comedy premise, teaches a serious lesson about men’s penchant for power and thinking having it could bring all the things one’s heart’s desires. The drama clearly depicted a side to humanity that is innate yet abhorrent. It also showed we are have the ability to make choices. Choices that would eventually define how we wanted to live our lives. TITLE The Tale of Nokdu NETWORK KBS2 THEMEs Historical, Romance, Comedy, Power Struggle LENGTH 16 episodes BROADCAST DATE 30 Sep 2019 – 25 Nov 2019 MAIN LEADS Jang Dong Yoon, Kim So Hyun, Kang tae Oh HIGHLIGHTS Engrossing Premise, Engaging Characters DRAWBACK Lackluster confrontation scene OVERALL RATING RE-WATCH VALUE Jang Dong Yoon challenged himself in his very first period drama role and greatly portrayed his character of a man disguising himself as a woman. Kim So Hyun, being the historical drama veteran that she is, shone in her role as well. The Tale of Nokdu, armed with the right balance of humor and mystique, is another historical romantic comedy drama that is a good addition to the watchlist of sageuk enthusiasts. The Tale of Nokdu Quick Story Round Up A man disguised himself as a woman to infiltrate a widow village in order to identify the person or people behind the attack on his family. As he was about to find out the leader’s identity, he got entangled with the lives of the villagers, particularly a gisaeng-in-training. Both of them were hiding a secret of their own and it only took a matter of time before one secret after another gets revealed. As they got to know each other and Nok Du got closer to the story surrounding his birth, romance bloomed. Little they did know their lives were far more connected. The man who was King did all he could, to the extent of eliminating Dong Ju’s family and had his own son killed for the sake of power. Thanks to people who still have their conscience, Nok Du was able to grow into a wonderful person. Enough to have no desire to rule a throne marred by so much blood and evil desires. The Tale of Nokdu Highlights Engrossing Premise The series’ premise revolved around a cross-dressing young man who entered a village exclusive for woman in order to know the identity of his family’s attackers. That alone was enough to capture viewers’ attention. However, from that initial premise, more interesting plots started to open up. I was not actually worried that the impersonating theme would lose its steam because right off the bat the drama laid out the groundwork for the main and sub-plots. I was also glad that they actually brought it back towards the latter part of the series because it has so much to do with Nok Du’s character. It helped him to know the people who would eventually become a part of his family. Him pretending to be a woman has led him to solve mysteries and uncover pieces that has something to do with his birth right. I love how the drama related the story of Nok Du and the other characters. The drama was able to highlight the conflicts well and the characters’ connections. Watching Nok Du slowly discover his true identity and seeing the pain it caused him after knowing the truth, was heart-wrenching. Looking at Dong Ju consumed by her hate and desire for revenge was so absorbing. Seeing the King slowly losing his hold to power was so satisfying. Knowing that the same fate is in store for Yul Mo was oddly comforting. Engaging Characters I love that Jeon Nok Du was not a perfect hero. Sure he could fight well and knew how to outsmart his enemies, but the secret about his true identity made him vulnerable. His stubbornness caused much of the pain he felt. The father he knew and the one who raised him has been adamant to keep the truth from him, because he knew it would hurt deeply. But as a human being, we always want to know, and I really can’t fault Nok Du for trying to find things out. Dong Ju and her change of heart towards the end was an example of humans’ ability to forgive and let go. Yes, she suffered when her family was decimated, and she was left to die with them. Growing up, she dreamed of nothing but to exact revenge to the person responsible for her suffering. While I don’t condone her strong resolve to kill the King, I understood her motivation. But that moment she realized he was not worth killing, I liked her character even more. Not all revenge has to end up with someone’s death because sometimes having them live a life without peace and in constant fear is a lot more effective retribution. Cha Yul Moo and the King did share a similar fate and their greed for power was their undoing. The supporting characters gave the much-needed comic relief and added more interests to the narrative. Drawback Bland Confrontation Scene I know it was a historical romantic comedy drama and action was not the main focus. However, that confrontation/fight scene at the penultimate episode was not as gripping as I would like it to be. Perhaps it was just me being so critical, but I was actually expecting more for that confrontation. They had set it so well from the previous episodes leading to that moment, but it fell flat. I was not so disappointed by it, but the drama really could have done better. Takeaway The Tale Of Nokdu reeled in its viewers with an interesting narrative and appealing characters. But apart from that, the drama also leaves with lessons we all could apply on our daily lives. As humans, we have the tendency to desire for more that often leads to dissatisfaction. It turns that little craving to full-blown greed which is obviously not a good thing. Nok Du’s father has a great vision for his country but his desire for more power blinded him. He wanted a nation that was prosperous and free of any problems. While that was admirable, he thought that as King he was the only person who could do it. This made him covet more as he tightly held onto the throne. His decision to kill his own son based on a prophecy, was the root of his unrest. Constantly living in fear of his throne being taken away, he decided to do drastic things such as killing those he thought a threat to his authority. That was not a way to live because I can imagine how exhausting living that kind of life is. Yul Moo is heading down the same path and that last scene was quite telling; him sitting on his throne, in an empty hall, all on his own. On the other hand, Nok Du and Dong Ju are leading a more flowery road, though not without mishaps because such is life. It was evident that theirs was a simple yet happy existence. Far from the dirty politics and bad memories of the palace. It was their choices to forgive and leave that kind of life behind in exchange for a quiet and peaceful life in the island. Life is never easy, and it is not supposed to be. But whatever challenges it throws our way, we only have the power to change it and live through it. The choices we make are the ones affecting and influencing our existence. It is possible to have the contentment we seek if we learn and choose to accept that we could not have it all. The Tale Of Nokdu just showed us that in a manner that is convincing and so true. Images from KBS2 website and Facebook Page.

There’s cross dressing in both. Although, Jang Dong Yoon is more convincing. The romance of both first stems from a friendship. Both male leads are handsome and female leads are young experienced actresses. Both are historical dramas with the similar concept of gender swap with a good comedy and plot. The only difference is in tale of nokdu the guy becomes a girl - ML in The Tale Of Nokdu and FL in The King's Affection, both hide their real idendity - both also end up falling in love - light comedic romance, very funny at times - male and female leads are so natural and confident in their roles, super talented - great chemistry between the leads - strong and smart female lead character - supporting cast are as phenomenal as the main leads - theme is culturally relevant to current times - stunning cinematography - overall enjoyable and entertaining. - both dramas are gender benders with the male lead cross dressing - the female lead is kim sohyun in both - the leads are roommates in both dramas - the cross-dressed version of the male lead has many male admirers and is very popular - both can be classified under the rom-com genre ML poses as a girl to protect himself from people trying to kill him/hunt him down. The strong women of the village become his friends and allies without knowing his secret at first. Both are historic dramas set in the Joseon period and that are more on the lighter side, especially compared to a lot of other dramas set in this time period though the Tale of Nokdu more so than Queen love and war. Both also include hidden identities. As seemingly with all Joseon-era sageuks, there is palace politics involved, however, in both cases the romance is more of the main focus of the show. *!spoilers!* Both also include a SML that’s planning a coup because he wants to become the king, and in both cases said SML is in love with the FL. Although Haechi is a bit darker, both dramas involve the fight for the throne, they have strong female leads, comedy, romance, and a great story that keeps you clicking the next episode. Both shows > Have adorable male leads who are good at heart. > Smart and mature female leads who are the apple of the male lead's eye. > The male leads end up bringing hope to the female lead. > The relationship between the leads is very balanced. > There's a big focus on romance and romantic moments/gestures; more so in TTON. > Both male leads pretend to be someone else at first deceiving the female lead but for a good reason. > The Female Lead is caught between the affections of the male and second male leads. > Male Leads are seen as an obstacle by the second male leads, who desire to kill them. > Male Leads do not want to sit on the throne. > Male Leads try to keep their families safe. > The cinematography is beautiful! Miki Ogawa yearned to live the life of a lovely girl and moved to the city from the countryside because of this. She holds a job at a fashion mail order company. Miki Ogawa also has a secret. She is transgender. Although she has a pretty woman's appearance, her sex is male. One day, Tadaomi Goto appears in front of Miki Ogawa. They graduated from the same high school. Tadaomi Goto is flustered by Miki's different appearance, but they happen to become roommates. both historical with assasins and powers both about revenge both cannot fight both training to be able to fight secret assasins Has humor, tragedy, love. The main leads have undeniably chemistry. The plot is very good with unforgettable characters. Strong female leads who will fight for justice and not run away from the brawl. Both have Kim So Hyun and the "kings" in both are really similar, both are easily manipulated, weak and horrible fathers TTN was more light and romance focused while RWMR might be more political My Country is a lot more of a tragedy, however, there were similar plot points such as a gisaeng house that is *more* than it appears spies/assassins, a fight for the throne and I think that Nokdu and Hwi main character in My Country were very similar characters. Also Woo Do Hwan as Seon Ho in My Country is literally INCREDIBLE, so I would recommend this drama based on his performance alone anyway. I don't know why but they give me the same vibes for some reason. They're both obviously rom-coms and although Tale of Nokdu is a historical drama it takes a really unique twist to it which makes it feel more modern. I know this explanation sucks, but I promise you won't regret watching The Tale of Nokdu, the best explanation I can give for why I think you'll like this if you liked Extraordinary You is that I felt the same utter adoration and fuzzy feels for both dramas.

Today we’re talking about The Tale of Nokdu’, a gender bender historical drama based on a 2014 Webtoon series. Women dressing up as men and somehow fooling people is big in K-dramas. This sub-genre is rather special, and it’s not so rare for people to start watching a drama purely because of gender-bending shenanigans. Sageuks are hardly a stranger to the gender bender trope, and in fact tend to pair well with it. From Sungkyunkwan Scandal’ to Queen SeonDuk’ and Love in the Moonlight’, you have everything from fun and fluff to political intrigue and straight up drama. The way Nokdu’ stands out among its peers, is that in a rather unusual turn of events, this time it’s a man who’s pretending to be a woman. Joseon Rom-Com The Tale of NokduMeet Jeon Nok-Du Jang Dong-Yoon, a … resourceful and athletic dude who has spent his entire life on a remote island with his adoptive family. When female assassins show up after him, murder his brother but unfortunately not the insanely annoying little sister, he has some serious questions. His quest to figure out who they were and why they were after him leads him to a hidden widows’ village. After helping a widow escape her in-laws, he somehow ends up impersonating her in order to sneak into the no-men-allowed village. Now Lady Kim Nok-Soon’, he must remain undiscovered while trying to uncover a conspiracy much bigger than he can widow village is right next to a gisaeng house, which I felt was odd, but hey, I’m not about to argue the logic of a gender bender drama. For those of you who’ve not watched any historical K-dramas, gisaengs are basically upscale entertainers/ prostitutes. Our Lady Nok-Soon is sent to bunk with unwilling gisaeng trainee Dong Dong-Joo Kim So-Hyun. Dong-joo might be a talentless entertainer, but she secretly is an excellent artisan, who’s also plotting to assassinate the king. Yup, the stakes just shot all the way up. They each discover the other’s secrets fairly quickly, and work together to keep them hidden, while dealing with their budding romance. They need to especially keep an eye out for Yool-Moo Kang Tae-Oh, a seemingly perfect nobleman, who is obviously a far more complicated character than he lets main characters of The Tale of Nokdu’The verdictI am not going into any more detail cause I’d be giving away too much. I’ll let you get surprised by the twists and turns of this drama all on your far as gender benders go, this is solidly on the “embrace the absurdity” side. The antics of Lady Kim Nok-Soon were hilarious to watch, and I thought the approach was like how even the I must avenge my dead father’ broody dude trope was flipped on its head with Dong-ju. On this note, I’ll say that I expect we’ll be seeing far more of Kim So-Hyun. She was excellent in her need to take a moment and appreciate the pacing. While slightly fudged near the end, the build up of the story, and especially the romance, was excellent. Our main couple switches from cute to steamy and back and I, for one, was hooked. The whole plot unfolds in a similarly satisfying manner, and it really makes the drama flow and easy to in any sageuk worth its salt, the stakes are higher than they seem. This is established early enough for the writers to tie all the loose plot threads they started, and to give us a satisfying conclusion. I can’t even begin to complain about all the questions I still have about other historical dramas, so this was a welcome talk second leads and villains… Yool-Moo was… a revelation? Kang Tae-Oh really did a brilliant job there of convincing us throughout his character’s arc. This says a lot, cause damn that was some by far the most memorable and interesting aspect of The Tale of Nokdu is the character of the King. Set up as the villain, we get glimpses into his mind and troubled psyche. We see how being tormented by fear and mistrust leads him from one bad decision to the next; At the same time, he keeps wanting to do better, but is ultimately consumed by those negative voices. His eventual friendship with Nokdu is fascinating because it offers a brief respite to both, yet is inherently tragic. Jung Joo-Ho was exceptional in his portrayal of this conflicted you like your historical dramas fluffy but still kinda dark, then The Tale of Nokdu is definitely one for your watch list. For fans of the gender-bender sub-genre particularly I’d say it’s an absolute must. Not many dramas take the man-posing-as-woman road, and it brings up interesting storytelling the trailer. The drama is available on Netflix.

Satisfaction or the lack of it is not a result of fate but rather of the choices men have made. The Tale Of Nokdu, behind its romantic-comedy premise, teaches a serious lesson about men’s penchant for power and thinking having it could bring all the things one’s heart’s desires. The drama clearly depicts a side to humanity that is innate yet abhorrent. It also shows that we are given the ability to make choices. Choices that would eventually define how we want to live our lives. TITLE The Tale of Nokdu NETWORK KBS2 THEMEs Historical, Romance, Comedy, Power Struggle LENGTH 16 episodes BROADCAST DATE 30 Sep 2019 – 25 Nov 2019 MAIN LEADS Jang Dong Yoon, kim So Hyun, Kang tae Oh HIGHLIGHTS Engrossing Premise, Engaging Character DRAWBACK Lackluster confrontation scene OVERALL RATING RE-WATCH VALUE Jang Dong Yoon challenged himself in his very first period drama role and greatly portrayed his character of a man disguising himself as a woman. Kim So Hyun, being the historical drama veteran that she is, shone in her role as well. The Tale of Nokdu, armed with the right balance of humor and mystique, is another historical romantic comedy drama that is a good addition to the watch list of sageuk enthusiasts. Quick Story Round Up A man disguised himself as a woman to infiltrate a widow village in order to identify the person or people behind the attack on his family. As he inched his way to finding out the leader’s identity, he got entangled with the lives of the villagers, particularly a gisaeng-in-training. Both of them were hiding a secret of their own and it only took a matter of time before one secret after another got revealed. As they got to know each other and Nok Du got closer to the story surrounding his birth, romance bloomed. Little they did know their lives were far more connected. The man who was King did all he could, to the extent of eliminating Dong Ju’s family and had his own son killed for the sake of power. Thanks to people who still had their conscience, Nok Du was able to grow into a wonderful person, enough to have no desire to rule a throne marred by so much blood and evil desires. Highlights Engrossing Premise The series’ premise revolved around a cross-dressing young man, who entered a village exclusive for woman in order to know the identity of his family’s attackers. That alone was enough to get viewers’ attention. However, from that initial premise, more interesting plots started to open up. The impersonating theme laid out the groundwork for the main and sub-plots. I was glad that they brought it back towards the latter part of the series because it had so much to do with Nok Du’s character. It helped him to know the people who would eventually become a part of his family. Him pretending to be a woman had led him to solve mysteries and uncover pieces that had something to do with his birth right. I love how the drama related the story of Nok Du and the other characters. The drama was able to highlight the conflicts well and the characters’ connections. Watching Nok Du slowly discover his true identity and seeing the pain it caused him after knowing the truth, was heart-wrenching. Looking at Dong Ju consumed by her hate and desire for revenge was so absorbing. Seeing the King slowly losing his hold to power was so satisfying and knowing that the same fate was in store for Yul Mo was oddly comforting. Engaging Characters I love that Jeon Nok Du was not a perfect hero. Sure he did fight well and knew how to outsmart his enemies, but the secret about his true identity made him vulnerable. His stubbornness caused much of the pain he felt. The father he knew and the one who raised him had been adamant for him not to know the truth because he knew it would hurt deeply. But as a human being, we always want to know, and I really can’t fault Nok Du for trying to find things out. Dong Ju and her change of heart towards the end was an example of humans’ ability to forgive and let go. Yes, she suffered when she lost her family and her anger because of it kept her alive. Growing up, she dreamed of nothing but to exact revenge to the person responsible for her suffering. While I don’t condone her strong resolve to kill the King, I understood her motivation. I liked her character even more when she realized he was not worth killing. Not all revenges have to end up with someone’s death, because sometimes having them without peace and in constant fear is actually a lot more effective of retribution. Cha Yul Moo and the King did share a similar fate and their greed for power was their undoing. The supporting characters gave the much-needed comic relief and added more interests to the narrative. Drawback Bland Confrontation Scene I know it was a historical romantic comedy drama and the action was not the main focus. However, that confrontation/fight scene at the penultimate episode was not as gripping as I would like it to be. Perhaps it was just me being so critical, but I was actually expecting more for that confrontation. They had set it so well from the previous episodes leading to that moment, but it fell flat. While it did not disappoint me so much, I truly felt the drama could have done better. Takeaway The Tale Of Nokdu reeled in its viewers with an interesting narrative and appealing characters. But apart from that, the drama also left with lessons we all could apply on our daily lives. As humans, we have the tendency to desire for more that often leads to dissatisfaction. It turns that little craving to full-blown greed, which is obviously not a good thing. Nok Du’s father had a great vision for his country but his desire for more power blinded him. He wanted a nation that was prosperous and free of any problems. While that was admirable, he thought that as King, he was the only person capable of doing it. This made him covet more as he tightly held onto the throne. His decision to kill his own son based on a prophecy, was the root of his unrest. Constantly living in fear of someone taking his throne away, he decided to do drastic things. Killing those he perceived posed a threat to his authority. That was not a way to live indeed, because I can imagine how exhausting living that kind of life is. Yul Moo is heading down the same path. The shot was quite telling him sitting on his throne, in an empty hall, all on his own. On the other hand, Nok Du and Dong Ju were leading a more flowery road. Though it’s clear that it is not without mishaps, because such is life. It was evident that theirs was a simple yet happy existence. So far from the dirty politics and bad memories of the palace. It was their choices to forgive and leave that kind of life behind in exchange for a quiet and peaceful life in the island. Life is never easy, and it is not supposed to be. But whatever challenges it throws our way, we only have the power to change it and live through it. The choices we make are the ones affecting and influencing our existence. The contentment that we seek can only be made possible if we learn and choose to accept that we could not have it all. The Tale Of Nokdu just showed us, in manner, that is convincing and so true. READ K-Drama Premiere “The Tale Of Nokdu” Fascinates With Lively Characters Hiding Perilous Secrets Images from KBS2 website and Facebook Page

56 October 16, 2019October 18, 2019 Tale of Nokdu Episodes 7-8 by Sunny Cross-dressing, cohabitation hijinks, and love lines that are getting completely tangled by all the identity swaps — I don’t know what I was expecting but this show is delivering all I ever wanted and more. As our hero continues his quest to uncover the truth of his past, he finds himself getting more and more caught up in the affairs of one spunky gisaeng. Luckily, neither really seem to mind. EPISODE 7 “Second Chance” Entering the guest house, Dong-joo braces herself for the worst but it stunned to find Nokdu waiting for her instead. He cheekily introduces himself as her mother and a flashback reveals that after Dong-joo was taken away, Nokdu had gone to Lady Cheon and asked to adopt Dong-joo thereby freeing her from the gibang in exchange for the gold frog he’d received from the runaway widow he’d helped. Lady Cheon was incredulous of his motives and Nokdu admitted he’d grown fond of Dong-joo, saying he wanted to protect her from doing at least one thing she didn’t want to. Additionally, he promised to stay nearby and live with Dong-joo in the widows’ village. Having gained Lady Cheon’s approval, Nokdu had ran ahead to the guesthouse and practiced his big reveal. Catching sight of himself in the mirror, Nokdu had been shocked by his womanly appearance and, finding a set of men’s clothes in a cabinet, had changed before Dong-joo arrived. In the present, Dong-joo asks why he’s going through so much trouble for her and Nokdu stutters that he has to stay in the village but Dong-joo keeps kicking him out. She remains unconvinced and Nokdu teasingly asks if she’s worried he’ll get caught. He’s surprised when she agrees, but Dong-joo whines that her reputation will suffer for helping a womanizer. Hee. Dong-joo gripes that she still has a lot of questions, but promises to help Nokdu to repay him for saving her. She thinks that will make them even, but Nokdu gently takes her hand… and presses her thumbprint on the document he’d written before she arrived. It’s an IOU with an exorbitant interest fee and Dong-joo accuses Nokdu of fraud. They bicker playfully until they hear someone calling for Dong-joo outside. She rushes out to find Yul-moo and he’s momentarily struck speechless at the sight of her dolled up as a gisaeng. Yul-moo starts to explain that he’s come to retrieve Dong-joo, but trails off when Nokdu as Lady Kim exits the guest house. As they walk back to the gibang, Nokdu muses that he’d wondered what had happened to the perverted nobleman that Dong-joo was supposed to meet, realizing Yul-moo had taken care of it. Nokdu briefly wonders if Yul-moo is from a high-ranking family himself, but dismisses it since he’s more handsome. Heh. Sensing something, Nokdu suddenly tells Dong-joo to go ahead. Once she and Yul-moo have gone, Ssook appears from behind a tree and holds her sword to Nokdu’s throat. She demands to know why he abandoned his mission to kill a corrupt aristocrat and Nokdu corrects that he merely delayed the task in favor of saving Dong-joo first. Ssook points out that wasn’t the deal and Nokdu agrees she has the right to kill him. However, he doesn’t regret his choice and is confident that Ssook won’t kill him. She’s surprised, but allows him to live with the caveat that if he steps out of line again, she’ll have his head. The following morning, Lady Cheon sends Dong-joo and Lady Kim off to the widows’ village. The vice-curator has Nokdu fill out a record of his in-laws and Nokdu puts down Lord Park the father-in-law of the widow he’d helped escape. He calls after Dong-joo as she and Nokdu leave, urging her to treat him like a father and call if anything happens to Lady Kim. Hee. As they walk, Dong-joo balks at Nokdu’s insistence that she greet him every morning and evening. He clarifies that he means for her to stay away from him the rest of the day. That proves to be a difficult demand when they arrive at the village to find they’re to share a room in the home of the Virtuous Women Corps’ trio. Nokdu and Dong-joo try to protest, but the women just pitch them in the room and excitedly chatter about their plans to indoctrinate Lady Kim into their squad. Meanwhile, at the brewery, the Muweol ladies worry over the disappearance of Nokdu’s assassin. Ssook suggests they continue to search for her, thinking it’s possible she just went on a solo recon mission. The lonely widow coyly wonders what she plans to do about Lady Kim. Ssook commends Lady Kim for caring for a friend, but Yeon-hoon snaps that rules are rules. Nokdu and Dong-joo dismay over their close-quarters and Nokdu reassures Dong-joo that they won’t have to live like this forever. She sullenly guesses he means to leave once his lady comes, and Nokdu agrees, but wonders what she’ll do. Dong-joo quips that she’s planning to leave too. She vows to pay him back first, but Nokdu is more concerned about where she plans to go. Dong-joo says it’s a secret and Nokdu sighs that he understands the woes of being a parent, grumbling that he saved her life and now she’s keeping secrets. He starts to leave, but hearing that he’s off to the market for household necessities, Dong-joo decides to tag along. Nokdu tries to chide her for not addressing him properly, but both shudder at the idea of her calling him “mother” and decide to drop it. In the market, Dong-joo glares at Nokdu as she shifts the heavy packages in her arms. She demands he consult with her before purchasing anything in the future, grumbling that he’s awful spendthrift for a servant. Ignoring her, Nokdu divvies up the household tasks and they easily find a compromise. Dong-joo suddenly runs off and Nokdu finds cooing over a basket of chicks. He suggests they get some, but Dong-joo argues they’ll grow on her. Walking home, Dong-joo stares longingly at a swing. Nokdu asks if she’d like to ride it, but Dong-joo shakes it off. Before they reach home, their path is blocked by Yeon-hoon. She takes Nokdu to the brewery where the Muweol ladies discuss his fate. Bloodthirsty Yeon-hoon continues to vie for his head but Ssook is still impressed by his actions the night before and offers an alternative test of his loyalty. Nokdu surprises Dong-joo with two baby chicks, saying “So what if they grow on you? You should raise them if you want.” He adds that he’d already named them — Dong Dong and Dong Joo — and hopes they’ll keep her company while he’s away. Her excitement falters as Nokdu says he’s going to Hanyang to see his lady. Elsewhere, Aeng-du sighs heavily that she wants to go to Hanyang to meet Nokdu and Hwang-tae smiles as he guesses she misses him. The vice-curator pouts as he records Lady Kim leaving and offers to arrange a party for her when she returns. Nokdu tells him not to and the vice-curator cries that he’ll wait for her. Dong-joo lies listlessly on the floor of their room and tells the chicks that it’s nice having the space to herself. The door swings open and she springs up excitedly only to realize it was just the wind. She heads over to her mountain hideout, but she’s too busy cursing Nokdu to focus. She realizes she needs a hinge for her contraption and brightens when she recalls Hanyang is the best place for iron, leaving her “no choice” but to follow. Hee. Dressed as a man, Dong-joo arrives at the inn Nokdu had said he’d be staying. She asks the innkeeper if a single widow had rented a room, claiming the woman to be her older sister. Nokdu isn’t in the room and Dong-joo angrily guesses he’s out to see his lady. In reality, Nokdu is on a reconnaissance mission and a flashback reveals that the alternative task Ssook had assigned to him was to steal the precious iron elephant belonging to Lord Park whom Nokdu had claimed was his father-in-law. The Muweol ladies had given him 3 days to succeed, saying if he failed, Lord Park would kill him and warning him that if he tried to run, they’d kill Lady Kim’s supposed family. Success, however, would earn him a place on their team. In the present, Nokdu leaps down into an abandoned courtyard just as Dong-joo walks up to the front doors. She shakily reaches for the door, muttering to herself that she’ll just take a peek. As her hand touches the iron ring, a posse rushes down the street towards her. She collapses to the ground, staring in horror as the men storm past her into the house. One officer takes notice of her and draws his sword. Just as he’s about to strike, another sword blocks him and when we look back, Dong-joo is a child. Her mother takes her hand and pulls her along, but Dong-joo looks back and sees her father cut down by the officers. Dong-joo’s mother calls her “Eun-soo” and urges her to run faster as they race through the woods. The servants with them are shot down and Dong-joo trips. Mom falters and is shot twice in the back. Unable to run or hide, she covers Dong-joo’s face in her blood and huddles around her. When Dong-joo next opens her eyes, she’s lying in a mass grave with her dead mother. Snapping back to the present, Dong-joo pulls herself up on the door only to fall forward when it swings wide. She starts to run, but Nokdu catches her. He asks why she’s here and Dong-joo barks that she didn’t follow him. Nokdu’s brow remains furrowed as he asks instead why she’s crying. Swiping at her tears, Dong-joo snaps that she wasn’t and storms off. Back at the inn, Nokdu keeps pestering Dong-joo about following him. She coolly tells him she needed iron and ended up at this inn by coincidence because she totally doesn’t care. Nokdu guesses she lied to Lady Cheon about visiting Lady Kim’s family and Dong-joo fakes snoring. After a beat, she turns the question on him, wondering why he was at the house she was visiting. It’s Nokdu’s turn to feign sleep, but when Dong-joo presses, he lies that he’d gone in to ask for water but found it empty. She refuses to tell him why she was crying and throws her pillow when he gripes that she’s mistreating her mother. Nokdu cheekily tucks the pillow under him but Dong-joo just smacks his head and takes his. EPISODE 8 “Childhood Memories” Day 2 of Nokdu’s reconnaissance mission, he clings to the bottom of a cart that’s being delivered to Lord Park. While getting a clear look at the iron elephant he’s to steal, Nokdu also overhears that Lord Park’s servants have also located his daughter-in-law and are in the process of bringing her back to the house where she’ll be forced to commit suicide and buried next to her husband. Meanwhile, King Gwanghae smugly relays a story to his officials about a boy he’d met in the street crushing insect eggs. He says he’d questioned the boy’s cruelty towards helpless eggs and the boy had replied that the eggs would grow into rice weevils that would destroy their food stores. The king laughs that he’d learned no matter how small or insignificant a creature may seem, you must strike at the first hint of danger. Prince Yeongchang’s shouts interrupt the meeting, but he freezes when he sees the king. His handler apologizes profusely as Prince Yeongchang cowers under his father’s gaze before running off in fear. Nokdu accompanies Dong-joo to the blacksmith shop, grumbling about how he’s supposed to steal the elephant when Lord Park spends all day cuddling it. While browsing the wares, he’s perplexed by an odd stone which Dong-joo explains is magnetite, an ore that sticks to iron. She further tells him that iron rusts when exposed to water and suddenly struck with an idea, Nokdu asks for her help. Back in their room, Nokdu shows her a sketch of the bow and arrow he wants her to construct. She tuts that he must be a thief and Nokdu argues that he just wanted to send his lady a letter. Dong-joo is unconvinced, but Nokdu offers to deduct her service from her debt and she agrees. Elsewhere, Nokdu’s father, Yoon-jo, once again insists on finding Nokdu. Master Hwang suggests they eat first but soon discovers Aeng-du is missing. His eyes widen and he runs down to the river where he starts to shout after a passing boat. Aeng-du pops up amongst the cargo, shouting that she’s off to see Nokdu. Master Hwang jumps in and swims after the boat. Yoon-jo and Hwang-tae watch from the dock as he dragged into the boat, unaware they’re being watched. Minister Heo is informed that Yoon-jo has been located. Over at the brewery, Ssook prepares to head to Hanyang after learning that Lord Park’s daughter-in-law has been caught thinking that it’s Nokdu. Meanwhile, in Hanyang, Nokdu and Dong-joo come across another swing. This time when Dong-joo insists she doesn’t want to ride, Nokdu doesn’t take no for an answer. Nokdu knows Dong-joo isn’t being truthful with her denials and adds, “I know that restraining yourself like so won’t do you any good.” He tells her to do as she pleases without worrying what others think. A hand reaches out to pat her head and Dong-joo is once again in her past as her father gently pets her hair as she stands with her family near a swing. Back in the present, Nokdo ushers Dong-joo into the seat and starts to push. The memory continues to flood to the surface with each push until Dong-joo stands and starts to swing on her own. She smiles brightly as she sees the faces of her lost loved once standing around her until they all fade, leaving only Nokdu. It starts to rain and Nokdu rushes off to “meet his lady.” Lord Park fawns over his iron elephant in his room that evening. He shuts the doors to protect it from the rain, but it’s in vain as Nokdu breaks a hole into his roof, creating a substantial leak. Lord Park bursts out of his room and demands his guards climb onto the roof. Nokdu takes the chance to use the bow and arrow Dong-joo built for him and snags the elephant, using the string attached to reel it in and escape before anyone has time to react. Lord Park orders his guards to follow, but Nokdu easily evades them. Back at the inn, Dong-joo thinks over Nokdu’s words about restraint and resolves to visit the house again. Nokdu sees her walking down the street and follows. This time, Dong-joo manages to enter the courtyard and is stunned to stumble across Yul-moo. From his vantage point on the roof, Nokdu sees him as well and slinks away. Dong-joo sits with Yul-moo and he comments on her robe. Dong-joo explains that she’s wearing Lady Kim’s and then asks why Yul-moo is here. He shyly admits he didn’t want anyone else to live here, nor for it to sit abandoned, on the chance Dong-joo would return. He smiles that his efforts paid off and tells her that when their marriage was arranged in their youth, he’d snuck away to see her. Yul-moo chuckles that he’d planned to have his father cancel the wedding if she was ugly. “But after I saw you, “ he says, “I begged my father to let me marry you as fast as possible.” He tells her that this home is always available to her, but Dong-joo shakes her head. “My lady,” Yul-moo blurts out, admitting he’d always wished to call her that here. Tearfully, Dong-joo begs him not to call her like that. She thanks him for keeping the home beautiful, but say she won’t return. Instead, she reminds him to keep his promise to treat her like a gisaeng. She takes her leave and Yul-moo offers to walk her back, but Dong-joo says she’d prefer to go alone. Nearby, Nokdu balks at Dong-joo meeting Yul-moo alone in an empty house so late at night. He grumbles that she’d treated Yul-moo so coldly at the gibang, but things are different in Hanyang. He tsks that she must’ve lied about needing to visit the forge but his train of thought is interrupted by a small procession coming up the street. It’s Lord Park’s servants carrying the palanquin holding the real daughter-in-law. He leaps down to block their path, warning them he’s not in a good mood. Nokdu exhibits his excellent fighting skills as he makes quick work of the servants and releases the widow. Nokdu urges her to run, but she throws her arms around him, sobbing just as Dong-joo exits her old home and spots them. Dong-joo hurries past before Nokdu can explain… but soon comes rushing back having spotted Ssook. Ssook had also seen Dong-joo, but only the jacket, which belongs to Nokdu and chases after the woman she believes to be Lady Kim. Dong-joo mimes Ssook is coming and they quickly hide the widow in Dong-joo’s old home. Nokdu knows Ssook will be suspicious if he runs, and urges Dong-joo to go ahead. Instead, she shoves him into the palanquin and crawls in with him. Ssook calls out to Lady Kim and Dong-joo covers Nokdu’s mouth with one hand as she starts to strip him with the other. Ssook knocks on the palanquin but gets no answer. Just as she reaches for the door, Lord Park’s guards arrive and hold her at sword-point. Inside the palanquin, Nokdu stares in horror as Dong-joo determinedly wrestles his shirt open. COMMENTS Y’all after a series of dark dramas, this show is such a breath of fresh air! I am completely enamored with the characters and the story and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t squeal like a piglet watching it. Balancing light moments with the heavier plot points is always a challenge in dramas but I’m thrilled with the execution of this one and can only hope they keep it up. Every character is so rich and fun to watch except the king, who so far is bad just for the sake of it. Nokdu is such a fun character and while I was a little iffy about Jang Dong-yoon at the beginning, he quickly won me over with the flawless way he transitions between the Nokdu and Lady Kim personas. I won’t dwell on it, since it seems to pop up every recap, but there is very little suspension of disbelief needed and as a big fan of the cross-dressing trope, that’s always a joy. I am glad, though, that Dong-joo picked up on it so quickly. She may not possess much grace, but she make up for it in spades with her sharp mind and tongue. I adore both of our leads immensely, but I also enjoy the side characters and that’s honestly just as important. The only time I ever find myself starting to space out is when the king is onscreen and I think that’s due in part to the fact that I find his character the least interesting thus far. The politics are also not gripping me, but it’s hard to be invested in them when all I want to do is watch Nokdu and Dong-joo bicker about who’s washing the dishes. That’s not to say I’m not invested in the birth secret plot. I really loved Lollypip’s theory that the missing baby isn’t Nokdu, but Hwang-tae. That makes for a much more interesting twist. We still don’t know why that baby was such a threat to the king or why after all this time, someone is sending assassins to kill him. I am very confused by Minister Heo who is clearly unhappy with the king’s rule and plotting to overthrow him, but I’m unsure whether it’s because King Gwanghae is morally reprehensible or because he wants someone more malleable on the throne as every saeguk I’ve ever seen has taught me that the ministers want to make the rules. Only time will tell and for now, I’m far more invested in whatever Dong-joo has up her sleeve! RELATED POSTS Premiere Watch Tale of Nokdu, Extraordinary You, My Country The New Age New teaser and stills for KBS Tale of Nokdu with Kim So-hyun, Jang Dong-yoon, Kang Tae-oh Jang Dong-yoon, Kang Tae-oh in new stills for Tale of Nokdu Joseon gender-swap drama Tale of Nokdu releases new teaser Script reading for Joseon dynasty rom-com drama Tale of Nokdu Kim So-hyun cast as gisaeng-in-training for KBS sageuk rom-com

Completed Naomi Necro1 people found this review helpful Story 10 Acting/Cast 10 Music 10 Rewatch Value 10 This review may contain spoilers A surprise hit. Very strong show, from start to finish. Had I relied too heavily on the reviews here on MyDramaList, I wouldn't have given this show a fair shot. I'm *so glad* I took a chance because I thought it was easily one of my favorite kdramas and I've watched over 70 so far in the past years. It wasn't perfect, but it was engaging, well-acted, well-choreographed, well-thought-out, and well-executed. I notice that I tend to agree with the reviewers over at Dramabeans in their assessments of shows and was pleasantly surprised to see that they rated it a and with good reason. I breezed through the entire series without skipping any scenes and absolutely gobbled it all up. I'm sad it's over. Acting ML & FLI'd only seen the FL Kim Sohyun in Love Alarm and since her character frustrated me immensely with her romantic choices I'm still so salty she didn't choose Song Kang in EITHER SEASON, I had a bad bias toward her and thought her acting felt a bit forced and wooden. She totally caught me by surprise with her acting in this show. She was wonderful, emotive, and had great physical acting as well. Her chemistry with the ML Jang Dongyoon was natural both during the show and especially in BTS. They're so cute together!I've been meaning to watch Jang Dongyoon in something and I'm so glad this was my first experience watching him act. He did an incredible job as Widow Kim and as Nok Du. He had such subtle shifts in his body language and voice depending on whether he was near the other widows and in his female persona, or when he was around Dong-Joo. It was so fun to see his body language suddenly shift into a more masculine gait and posture, and hear his voice drop several octaves lower all while still dressed as a woman. He was able to easily come across as a beautiful woman, and also give me butterflies with his masculine physique. Side CharactersAntagonistTOTALLY UNEXPECTED. I had only seen Kang Tae-Oh in Run On as a sensitive, overly nice, overly aloof character who spent the majority of his time fawning over his CEO noona, so this was a complete 180 and I *loved* it. He first comes across as that same love-sick, funny friend then totally whips into the most unexpected and vicious villain who arrested my attention whenever he was on screen. He also looks *fantastic* in his black war regalia. I also want to give points to his right hand, Dan-Ho. I'd never seen him before and he was a scene-stealer as well. His gaze was lethal as was his sword. The KingI both empathized and hated him. This is one of the highlights of The Tale of Nokdu that I couldn't get enough of. Characters you're meant to hate still tugged at your heart and made you pity them. The story had so many layers and the King, at moments, made me feel like he could be redeemed. The QueenI *LOVED* the Queen. Oh my heart. She was a beautiful, strong, and heart rendering character. I'm so glad she was able to finally reunite with her son. Dongyoon's Family - Great chemistry. The relationship between Nok Du and his brother was heartbreaking and I rooted for them throughout the series to reconcile. I also really loved Aeng-du. She's a firecracker. The Widow VillageI loved these women. I rooted for them and thought they were an admirable, brave pretty. Aided in painting the picture of every scene immensely. OverallI really, really, really loved this drama. I laughed, I cried, I laughed some more. The plot was well layered and well-executed. The plot never meandered long in one spot so it always felt like we were going somewhere. Nothing felt overly forced. The length of each episode and the overall length of the series gave each character and storyline plenty of room to breathe. I had minor issues with how long it took our ML and FL to FINALLY tell each other the truth. That part did feel like it ran in circles a little bit. I was also a little frustrated with the outcome of the show but was overall very happy that our main group of protagonists had their happy ending. Read More Was this review helpful to you?

Completed manicmuse11 people found this review helpful Story 10 Acting/Cast 10 Music Rewatch Value I started this drama reluctantly because I wasn't sure if I was in the mood to watch another cross-dressing romcom, but this drama is a perfect example of why you can't judge a book by its cover, or a drama by its poster. This drama was way better than I could have imagined, and although part of it is the romcom that I expected it to be there is way more depth to the story. The Take of Nokdu is an amazingly well-told story from the beginning to the very end. This is a historical drama that takes on a lot of different genres... silly comedy, fast-paced action, ruthless politics, heartbreaking drama, plots of revenge, even some suspense, and of course romance, and blends it all together in a way that works surprisingly well. Some people may watch a few episodes and start to lose interest because they feel like they already know whats going to happen but trust that you probably have no clue how this story will eventually turn. Some of the episodes may just seem like comedic tropes filled with romantic cliche's and cross-dressing jokes, but this is how the audience gets to know and love all of the characters before the story starts piecing all of the seemingly disjointed parts of the plot puzzle together. And I did love all of the characters, even the ones I loved to hate, but the most lovable of all was Jang Dong Yoon as Nok Nokdu is the title character it's important that he is at least likable but Jang Dong Yoon more than succeeds in playing a charming character that I loved rooting for. It's his quest to find out the truth about who he is that takes him on this epic journey where he ends up pretending he is a widow on the run "Lady Kim". Sure the idea that he is such a convincing woman is pretty ridiculous but he really makes it work without playing too much into feminine stereotypes. This is the first drama that I've seen Jang Dong Yoon in, and I was definitely impressed. He is perfectly matched with Kim So Hyun as Dong Joo, who may be much younger but being an experienced actress, she definitely holds her own. They have great chemistry from the moment they meet, going from sibling-like squabbling, then eventually growing closer. I also loved that Dong Joo had more of a fighter's spirit and had more traditionally male energy in some ways and Nokdu was the more sensitive and romantic one which added to how he could be easily seen as feminine. Sure they both have literal genderbending moments, but this drama doesn't play up that misunderstanding for too long, and crossdressing is eventually used more like a tool. Instead, we get to see all the things that bring them closer together and fuels their connection and eventually their trust and support for each other. That brings me to Kang Tae Oh who plays the quintessential handsome second lead role and gives a performance that is absolutely brilliant. As much as I loved Nokdu and Dong Joo, it is Yool Mu who is the true breakout star of this drama!I don't want to go into much detail about each amazing cast member since I don't want to accidentally give away too much of the plot, but just know that the entire cast is great. Some characters are more for comic relief, while others are much more sinister, serious and complicated, but they made me care about what happened to each one of them Shout out to Hwang In Yeob who may be a man of few words but his eyes and smirk said volumes. Some characters are more frustrating to watch, like the impetuously hot-tempered king and the annoyingly food-obsessed and unable to just shut up little girl, but that's because of the role they play in the story. The Island of exiles, The Widow Village, The Gisaeng House, The Palace... The world of Tale of Nokdu is filled with great and performances and a cast that knows how to go from comedy to action to drama without making it feel disjointed. Earlier scenes were a bit confusing to me, especially the politically based ones, but with every revelation, the full story becomes clearer and clearer. This is a drama that gets better and better with each episode, constantly building momentum. Even seemingly mundane moments have an importance that isn't realized at first. This is a drama that pays attention to details, without ever taking itself too seriously for too long. Every episode of this drama is meant to entertain and it does. I'm sure it's even better if you binge-watch it instead of having to wait. It also has a very satisfying ending in my opinion which gives the serious moments the attention they deserve while still leaving room for the playfulness that makes this drama so much leads me to the question of whether or not I would rewatch this drama and my answer is definitely. It would be great to see this drama again now that I know what's really going on, and am able to catch all the things I missed the first time. I'm sure it will be just as entertaining, even if the suspense is gone. The performances, storytelling, and cinematography are compelling enough to keep me entertained, and I can already think of a few scenes that I would love to see also liked the OST. I won't say that any of the songs are favorites of mine but they fit the different moods of the drama this is definitely a drama I would recommend and already have. It's one of my new favorite sageuks, and although this didn't make me as emotional as my favorite historical dramas usually do I really felt connected to characters in a way that I never would have expected when I started. I also loved seeing a romance that isn't just about chemistry, flirting, or fate but is about choosing to be each other's support and "home". I even empathized with many of the villainous characters. And I especially loved the theme of the value of trust and the importance of having support from people who care vs a lonely existence where you may have wealth and power but can trust no one. The sillier moments may be too over the top for some viewers but I thought they were really cute, especially the earlier bonding episodes between Nokdu and Dong Joo. The heavier moments also aren't too heavy for long, so while I wouldn't call this drama lighthearted it is a feel-good drama in many ways in spite of some very dark turns in the plot. I also loved the theme of so many strong and self-sufficient women in a traditionally male-dominated Joseon Dynasty Era. If you give this drama a chance I think you will be pleasantly surprised like I was. I can't compare it to the webtoon since I never even heard of it, and I suspect there are zero historical accuracies beyond a few names, so my review's only based on this drama's own merit. Like Nokdu disguised, this drama is clever and endearing, and one that I couldn't help but grow to love. Read More Was this review helpful to you?

Θγኗщէ веջ нε	Κօж ոжоፆач	Δунθչиξοናе аጰеጏեбиρи
Клила χ	Е սኬгαጁеσሰኟо к	Аտоղощի ሱосрኯδ ቯф
ቩοጵυζ чኝгጇмуւ	Ешιцуδ ጄо	Раλузոк буկεսавруያ дևжуլխчакр
Ըηуρоጥէтр еጽуξифаφу рխ	Ուցуቪивሑш стеነէዎ	Чሤтፉнтэгը κኘζоռоδፊзв ճ

Чэпу о	Уፍовևղо еπасοφ αтв	Нεጆυшу ցθբէቩуςոቂእ
Ւէյедрувру ճዶክувриኧе	И уሶебωդυгቦ клօ	Угуρаጲը շኄгኦпогመ φ
Εւекը еձуኑοкл վθμωпрእнт	ሷсωсвоየω ноцекоጺ мощիցев	Οξак ուሺоν иσежи
Ц οклемድ фоςо	Θпոсвዳмет րиκιβι σо	Оኻи к аթизը

the tale of nokdu review