Happy New Year!!!! I wish you all a great year, full of happy moments, health, success and great series!! I’ve decided to maintain the Monday posts for now, as I’ve resolved to review some old dramas as well. But, for now, enjoy my take on Jirisan!!
Title: Jirisan, Mountain Jiri
Episodes: 16
Genre: Drama, Tragedy, Action, Mystery, Crime, Fantasy, Thriller, Slice of Life, Friendship
Story: 8 out of 10
Characters: 8 out of 10
Cinematography: 8 out of 10
Korean Drama Jirisan is surprisingly an intense drama
Story
On his very first day, rookie forest ranger Hyun Jo joins experienced and multiskilled Yi Kang to save a student who has been lost in the mountain. From then on, they form a strong bond, until an event that cost Yi Kang her legs and left Hyun Jo in a coma. Now, Yi Kang is back to solve a mystery that happens on the premises of the national park.
Korean Drama Jirisan takes place in the national park of Jirisan and follows the forest rangers as they strive to save not only the natural treasure, but also the lives of those in need.
The drama does a great job blending smoothly the past with the present, jumping easily from the events that occurred back in 2018 and even further back, and then coming back to 2020 and combining all the small clues of the past in the present case.
The mystery, moreover, is quite intriguing and well crafted, spread evenly into the various cases the forest rangers had to overtake throughout the year. The addition of the main character’s past was another nice touch that offered more material to work with to connect with her.
But also the supernatural element, though strange at first, was mixed well with the rest of the story, while having the mystery as the common axis of the plot.
And while the bond between the forest rangers made them more like a family, the drama didn’t hesitate to eliminate key characters and make the tragedy element ever more interesting.
However, the last episode was disappointing, and not when it came to the main crime case. Rather, it was too cheesy for what the drama had offered till that point.
Characters
Yi Kang is a talented forest ranger who loves the mountain and knows its secrets. She has a strong personality and she is very loyal.
Jun Ji Hyun comeback after so many years proves once again why is she one of the top actresses in the industry.
Hyun Jo is an ex-military lieutenant who has joined the forest rangers. He keeps seeing visions of key clues of accidents and deaths that keep occurring on the mountain and he wants to solve the mystery of them at any cost.
Joo Ji Hoon gave an intense performance and he was especially enjoyable in his emotional scenes.
Watch Joo Ji Hoon in his other drama KDrama Hyena
Dae Jin is in charge of the Jirisan forest rangers department. He cares about his team, but he also makes the difficult decisions when he must.
Song Dong Il never disappoints.
Watch Song Dong Il other works KDrama Hospital Playlist 2, KDrama Hospital Playlist, K Drama Reply 1988 , KDrama Reply 1994, Korean Drama Reply 1997 , KDrama Scarlet Heart, Kdrama It’s okay that’s love, and KDrama Sisyphus: The Myth
Goo Young is a forest ranger. He is a helpless romantic who works hard to pass his exam and gain a promotion.
Oh Jung Se gave a comedy relief to the story.
Watch Oh Jung Se in his other dramas KDrama It’s Okay to not be Okay, KDrama My Roommate is a Gumiho, KDrama When the Camellia Blooms, KDrama Flower Crew: Joseon Marriage Agency and K Drama Touch Your Heart
Cinematography
The drama had a slow pace, but did great with the flashbacks. Plus, the setting and the soundtrack were perfect for the story.
Overall
My overall rating for the Korean Drama Jirisan is 8.5 out of 10. The drama had a slow start, but the story kept being more and more intriguing.
K&J Reviews 
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