Vagabond, Genre Defining K-Drama
Vagabond the title itself attracted the interest of the audience right when the trailer came out. The sole reason for that was an all-star cast. The trailer hinted at an action-packed drama that was not something new or unique per se. Almost everyone was speculating on social media that it would be your typical action/romance following the norm, but boy, oh boy, we couldn’t be further from reality!
Vagabond started with a bang, blowing the audience’s minds right in the first episode. It continued to do the same with each new episode giving the audience pure thrill, enjoyment, and entertainment. From the beginning to the end, it felt like a roller-coaster ride.
Plot Overview
Vagabond tells the story of a stuntman Cha Dal-Geon (played by Lee Seung-Gi), whose life is turned upside down when he loses his nephew, his only family, in a plane crash. He flies to Morocco along with the family members of other crash victims. There he encounters someone and something that raises his suspicion and eventually confirms that the crash was no accident but rather a well-planned terror attack.
So begins his search for the truth. Trying to uncover the mystery, he teams up with Go Hae-Ri (played by Bae Suzy), a beautiful NIS agent. They work together with the help of some others and slowly start to piece the puzzle one by one. Sometimes, the task seems impossible because everything is entangled, like a spider web. All those challenging obstacles in their path render the drama even more thrilling to watch.
Detailed Analysis Of Vagabond
Making of Vagabond has been quite a challenging task for the cast and crew members. The shooting locations are in two entirely different countries. Only this one detail is enough to increase the whole project’s budget. Also, the difficulties faced by the people involved cannot be expressed by us outsiders. However, this talented team pulled it off and gifted us with a marvellous masterpiece.
First of all, let me talk about the acting. Seung-Gi and Suzy are considered A-list actors in the Korean Entertainment Industry. A lot of expectations were on them as a result. Both of them delivered masterfully on those expectations. Lee gave a stellar performance playing the character of Dal-Geon. His portrayal made us believe in the real-life hero concept. Every expression, every dialogue, and every stunt was performed brilliantly.
Apart from portrayal, the character itself has some flaws. Cha is righteous, honest, and hard-working but, on the other hand, is egocentric, stubborn, and susceptible. But these flaws make the character more humane, I guess. Hae-Ri is an out-of-place persona, it seemed. Her cute and bubbly personality doesn’t match with secret agent-type traits. Well, you have to bear with it since the overall performance is quite an eye-candy.
They are top of the line if I want to talk about direction and cinematography. The way all the action and suspenseful scenes are displayed on the screen is bound to keep you at the edge of your seats. Camera angles and frames are set in such ingenious ways that viewers will feel the thrill at the peak. The accompanying music and soundtracks complement the story progression with utmost delight. That’s all you will get out of me. Watch it if you want to experience the complete marvel that is Vagabond.
Similar yet Unique
It is the first time I have seen a Kdrama with such intense action sequences. No less than any Hollywood movie. There is significant involvement of spy/secret agent-type content, but they are not similar to typical James Bond or Ethan Hunt antiques at all; instead, they seem like real-life situations. And that’s what is appealing. There are very few hints of comedy and romance throughout the show, which is not typical of Kdramas, and that is why this one feels new and unique.
My Recommendation
Vagabond is a very well-made drama. The blend of action, mystery, and thrill is ingenious. The portrayal of each and every character by the actors is marvelous. Just the first episode will turn you into a fan and make you watch till the end. Those who have watched it already have experienced a breathtaking ride. Those who still haven’t are missing out on something amazing. So, watch it as soon as possible, if you haven’t yet!
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