I figure to start my new year blogging I might as well review one of the last dramas I watched in 2012, so I'll start with Faith. I figured there is no better to way to celebrate my return, than to start with a review of a drama starring Lee Min Ho. Just by writing those three words to form a name, I already know that fans globally are jumping up and down. What amazing things a star's power can do. As I've read on several other blogs, and in general web searches, Faith was a drama in production limbo for two years, until Lee Min Ho signed on the dotted line. To be honest, I think the time in production limbo is justified, because overall Faith was a drama that could have been a whole lot better, but also a whole lot worse. This is one time I too am stuck in ratings limbo, because while I like the drama I am not sure if I really like it, or just like the cast. Perhaps, I will have a greater understanding of it when I re-watch it in the future. Anyway, on to the review.
To be quite honest Faith was a drama that I enjoyed the pacing and timing of quite a bit. This particular drama seemed to be slower than normal, yet in my opinion that worked to its advantage. As a fusion drama, there are elements of the modern world, and historical past combined in a unique and intriguing way. My biggest reservation regarding Faith had to do with the time travel aspect. Time travel dramas are not handled well in Kdramaland and I have accepted that, but I couldn't stay away from Faith, simply because I am a Lee Min Ho fan, since he could simply be talking about a dog chasing a cat and I would listen attentively. Despite my fan crazy like of Lee Min Ho, I think that if the story line was horrible and boring and resembled anything of Dr. Jin, I wouldn't have given it the time of day, so it did have some elements that managed to pull me in.
Faith begins in the Goryeo period of Korean history, with the Woodalchi (Royal guard) escorting the new King Gong-min (Ryu Duk Hwan) and his wife Princess No Gook (Park Se Young) from Yuan (China) to Goryeo. His royal guard is led by General Choi Young (Lee Min Ho) a lazy man, who's passion, favouite hobby and life all seem to resolve around sleeping. He performs his duties well, in spite of this nonchalance, he diligently guards and protects the king. In spite of this, life obviously holds no joy for him and he just goes through the motions. One wonders how a man tasked with such responsibility is so lost, but as the story unfolds and we learn more about the political climate of the time period, It becomes evident that the turn over of kings on the throne is quite fast as Gong-min is now the third king Choi Young has been tasked with protecting in the last seven years. Initially, I would think he is a terrible bodyguard, but the kings are not dead. They have simply been replaced by the Yuan. (This is one aspect of sageuk K-dramas that I really enjoy, gaining little glimpses into the history of Korea). At this point in history, Goryeo is a tributary state to the Yuan and as such, their king is elected by the Yuan empire. The king is really just a puppet and seems to hold no power. Gong-min has gained his new position, that to his new bride, who it turns out is a Yuan princess. Those within the country who want to hold power, primarily Gi-Chul (Yoo Oh Sung) - the resident baddie- have plotted the demise of the princess in order to remove Gong-min. Thus, enter the assassins who manage to injure her severely. Death is imminent, until the king's adviser, Jo Il Shin (Lee Hyun Joon) suggest they call upon the great mytical healer Hwata to save her.
Turns out in this dramaworld that the line between mystical and reality overlap. The legend of Hwa Ta is clearly well known throughout the land and when a magical portal opens the possibility of finding a doctor to save the queen outweighs the lucidity of entering a strange portal with no idea where to where it leads. King Gongmin orders Choi Young to enter the portal. The loyal soldier that he is, enters the portal to the unknown and exits in ... GANGNAM SEOUL 2012. Ha. I guess to some that is heaven. Choi Young's sejourn to the future is limited as he is only there to collect a doctor and fulfill his mission. I enjoy how a future Seoul is such a strange land that to him it is heaven. He is directed to a hospital where he finds a plastic surgeon Yoo Eun Soo (Kim Hee Sun) and forcibly takes her back to the past with him.
And so begins the 2012 Korean interpretation of Mark Twain's "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court" which for the purposes of Faith would be more aptly titled "A Korean Plastic Surgeon in King Gongmin's Court." Fortunately, for Choi Young, Eun Soo initially practiced general surgery before entering plastics and is able to save the queen, but that is just the beginning of her journey. The king chooses to keep Eun Soo as a symbol of his power after following the advice of his adviser and Eun Soo finds herself stuck 700 years in the past, in what can only be viewed as a modern person's worst nightmare.
Eun Soo soon becomes the greatest political pawn piece ever seen in a K-drama. It seems everyone in this drama wants to hold her in their power, to show that they have power. She passes between the hands of Gongmin and Gi-Chul, as they each try to use her to their advantage. Yet in spite of all of this love slowly begins to bloom. Eun Soo finds herself being drawn to the dark and complicated woodalchi that is Choi Young. As her protector in this strange new world, she has to learn to accept that he is a warrior of greater complexity than she could ever imagine, and he has to accept that she is a modern woman in a backwards world. The two must have faith in each other in order for their relationship to grow.
Although the development of the romance in Faith is quite beautiful, and Eun Soo is a hilarious character, what I enjoyed most about this drama is the way the idea of faith was explored time and time again throughout the tale. It begins with King Gong-min having faith in Choi Young to deliver him safely to Goyreo. That faith then expands as Gong-min must trust Choi Young to remain loyal to him. In turn, Choi Young must have faith that Gong-min will look out for him and be a king worthy of his service. Then their is the faith between Gong-min and Princess No Gook. The two have an uncertain relationship and must have faith that they will come to an agreement that suits both of them. Then of course, there is the faith that Eun Soo must have in Choi Young to get her back to the 21st Century. It is a promise made on his word and honour as a warrior but so beautifully executed throughout the drama.
For me, the strength of Faith lies in the way it is written and how it explores all the aspects of faith in others. It definitely lacks in the flasher side of things since the fight scenes to me were poorly choreographed and almost yawn worthy. The visual effects were also just so, so, but the quality of the script seemed to make up for that in general. It was also a drama with strong performances from its main and subsidiary staff. There were stellar guest performances, most notably Choi Min Soo as the former leader of Choi Young's Red Crescent Moon group.
I think it is because of these imbalances that leaves me wondering if I really enjoyed Faith or not. Is a good script and cast enough to detract from poor supporting visuals and choreography? It isn't a book after all but a television drama, and the world television instantly suggests a need for visuals. I guess for those reasons Faith has to get 3 out of 5 on the Belian Scale, maybe another watch of it will raise the score. For now, I'll leave it at 3.
According to Bel: Have a little Faith, it's an experience to be had.
