Black Knight: The Man Who Guards Me

Finished Airing: December 2017

Episodes: 20, 1 Hour Each

After 20 hours of time investment into this show (albeit, some heavy skipping occurring in the latter episodes), I’m finished. Let's jump into into the rankings, and then the meat of this drama pie. For more info on my personal ranking system, see my first blog post.

Character Development: 2.5

Costume and Set Design: 3

Time Investment: 2

Storyline: 2.5

Yep, that's a whopping 10 out of 20 potential dramafox points. In one line, my review is: if you have nothing else to watch, this might be the show for you.

Review - Warning: Spoilers Ahead

This had a solid kick-off and some strong star power leading the front line with Kim Rae-won as Moon Soo-ho / Lee Myung-so (Black Knight) and Shin Se-kyung as Jung Hae-ra / Boon-yi. The story traces their previous life romance, struggles, and tragic death to their modern childhood-into-adulthood romance.

Soo-ho is an overseas doctor turned land prospector, and all around rich guy due to his extraordinary luck. His current dream is to invigorate the neighborhood, where he and Hae-ra spent their childhood, and to stop the threat of it being redeveloped into a suite of generic shopping malls, parking lots, and apartment towers by greedy building corporations. Hae-ra is an orphaned, down on her luck travel agent. The two meet in Europe and hit it off. Although Hae-ra is suspicious of his intentions, and she herself isn't in a great place after being unceremoniously dumped by her boyfriend. Soo-ho pursues Hae-Ra back to Korea where it's revealed that she is his childhood love from whom he was separated, due to his orphan status.

Enter two other characters, Sharon Tailor (who is an actual tailor, by-the-way) and Becky. Two immortals who are directly tied to Soo-ho and Hae-Ra's previous life. Becky, having lived several hundred years, was involved in the original tragedy and arson that took our protagonists' lives. The fire that killed them was purposely started by none other than Choi Seo-rin (played by Seo Ji-hye), Soo-ho's previous wife and current day Sharon Tailor. This act of murder was driven from her serious jealousy and obsession with our hero. The jealousy and obsession doesn't end until almost the last minute of the show, with Sharon attempting to thwart the romance between our lovebirds. This includes, but not limited to slap fights, a scissors-to-the face encounter with Hae-Ra, straight up blackmail, and to top it off, killing her love again by stabbing Soo-ho to death. Whereas Becky is the older of the two and is rooting for the couple to succeed. She continuously warns Sharon to leave the two alone, but they are basically empty threats.

In the background is the sub-plot of discovery and cause of both Hae-Ra's and Soo-ho's father's deaths. Turns out, Park Chul-min, the greedy and self-serving paperboy turned realty mogul (whose greed was sparked out of his obsession and 1980s encounter with the beautiful but deadly Sharon Tailor), and the second antagonist in the plot, killed both dads. Didn't see it coming. Oh wait, you do from his continual lying and maniacal bad guy laughter. The sub-plot is a blatant show of his thuggishness and the repeated, outright challenges to Soo-ho for the neighborhood. This only fueled by one desire: to increase his personal wealth. He is found out and eventually incarcerated.

The kicker to the series happens in the last few episodes. Remember when I mentioned that Sharon stabs Soo-ho? It kills him. What I didn't mention is this is a magical knife that has been imbued with the wishes of Hae-ra (another minor story line involving a ring that Soo-ho gave to her in their previous life; it's a long story on how it gets Sharon's hands). This ultimately resurrects him into an immortal with super strength and ability to turn of lights with his mind. I can do the same with a light switch. At the same time, this is what triggers the end of Sharon's curse, and she begins to age until she just disappears. From here, we see Hae-ra give up her dream in lieu of a boring life with Soo-ho and eventually also dies from old age. This leaves Soo-ho alone as he walks into the European sunset (literally) where they first met in their adult life.

Character Development

Overall, I gave this a 2.5. There were some adorable moments between the couple, a.k.a. the bread scenes where they are hiding their romance and develop a code to flirt unbeknownst and in front of their co-workers (red bean bun = I love you). They use this in future episodes as well, cute touch. Overall, for a love story that is supposed to last over 400 years, it sure fizzled. the main characters aren't believable, and the sub-characters aren't memorable. With the exception of Sharon's flamboyant, floral-wearing, frolicking assistant. He is definitely memorable.

For the main characters, Hae-ra's woe-is-me attitude isn't likeable or identifiable. . Her attitude in the workforce is part of the problem. Granted from this is written from an American point of view, and I'm sensing this might be the norm. Oh yeah, and the boyfriend advice of "just let your boss win this round" is terrible advice. Anywhoo, she takes unfair criticism lying down, doesn't protest when her boss steals credit for her work, and despite her talent, she seems to be okay with minor tasks and resting on what mamma gave her. What frustrated me the most thoug is her reaction to Soo-ho. At arguably what should be the most romantic parts of the series, when he proposes or even the end when she is frustrated with her own aging when it's compared to her perfect, immortal husband, was similar to mine when I'm forced to eat eggplant. I don't hate, I don't love it, but I will eat it. Painfully, while not showing my moderate disgust.

Moving on to Soo-ho. I don't get his obsession with Hae-ra aside from their first love and childhood connection. Which brings me to the crux of why there is such a low score in this area, there doesn't seem to be any growth or development in their relationship. Even in the story line to avenge their fathers, everything with Soo-ho is said and acted with the same stoneface approach. Pretty sure he encountered another mythical, immortal creature: Medusa. His expressions and movements are similar to a statue. Even though there are multiple protestations of how he'll protect Hae-ra, he fails to live up to the promise whenever Sharon enters the picture. At one point, Sharon ends up living (that's right, living) with them. For all of you guys out there, if you are reading this, if your girl tells you it's okay and "you have do things you don't like in business" such as cave into blackmail and let another woman live two bedrooms away, it's a definitely a lie...and a trap. Don't fall for it.

I will say the saving grace for the characters is Sharon. Although it gets old after the about the 12th episode, Sharon does a good crazy; this with a capital "C" on the crazy. In her previous life, she burns Hae-ra's face just for trying on her wedding dress. After she gets married to Soo-ho, she can't get pregnant. Then, Hae-ra (or Boon-yi in the first life) swoops in as a concubine who steals her husband's affection. I'll give her some slack; I think I might carry a grudge as well. But again, it's not like she takes any effort to really get to know the new Soo-ho. She is also fearless when it comes to her curse. Random tattoos burning and appearing on her body? No problem, she can work it. I'd say her character is the most interesting and best acted in the bunch, but still couldn't save it.

Costume and Set Design

I gave this a middle of the road score, because it's middle of the road costume design. Nothing sticks out in terms of good or bad--unless we're talking about those floral suits. They were if nothing else, indelible. Sharon and Becky had exquisite taste, and their styling was impeccable. Becky's jewelry which was visually catching, and I wouldn't mind having some in my collection. Sets were usually relegated to Sharon's shop, the offices of our central characters, Soo-ho's house, and a single Joseon period home. The sets and locations are exactly what you'd expect for this drama.

Time Investment

I'll keep it short - with over 20 hours, with mostly jealous montages from Sharon and yawn-worthy romance from the mains, this was too long. Not worth it.

Story Line:

I'm always looking for hidden drama gems, and based on the synopsis I read prior, I thought I might've found one. This is what was most disappointing with this series, it had so much potential. With very few subbed fantasy K-dramas, I was intrigued from episode one. The nicely woven story from their previous life, and how it connects the three main characters, had such a nice start. Especially with the immediate flashbacks that kept you guessing where the modern day story was headed. What surprised me is how fast it went downhill. It was missing chemistry between the two main characters, and what should've been a melodramatic and heart-wrenching departure, the lead up to Hae-ra's death, was done in less than twenty minutes. The almost laughable effects of her aging (I freaking hope I look that good when I'm in my seventies+) and Soo-ho's mediocre reaction to all of it makes you question why they stuck together. Or really, why you stuck it out.

If you are looking for recommendations on some better fantasy K-dramas, check out Guardian, The Lonely and Great God or The Legend of Blue Sea.

Like this review? Is there another you'd like me to post about? Leave a comment or contact me at dramafoxblog@gmail.com