Love Music for Phantasm: Episode 1 (First Impressions)
by missvictrix
Campy, watchable, and considerably everywhere, I’d say webtoon adaptation Love Music for Phantasm has two main issues going for it proper now: Park Ji-hoon (x2) and a few actually enjoyable cinematography. If it will possibly play these playing cards effectively, it would be capable to rein itself in and lean into its strengths.
Editor’s be aware: That is an Episode 1 assessment solely. For a spot to speak about the complete drama, go to the Drama Hangout.
EPISODE 1
The primary episode of Love Music for Phantasm strikes on the velocity of sunshine, so it’s laborious to get bored. It’s additionally fairly and has some gravity-defying martial arts and dance sequences which can be enjoyable to look at. However the drama additionally has an underlying campy tone that I can solely describe as “made for TV” — it’s not unhealthy, per se, nevertheless it’s just like the drama needs to go all the way in which to 100%, however one thing’s retaining it within the 70% vary. Now, I like campy, not-fully-baked productions simply as a lot as the following lady, so this can both develop into the drama’s allure, or its downfall.
We open the story with our hero SAJO HYUN (later performed by Park Ji-hoon) who simply needs to sit down in his room and peacefully paint hanbok designs. His father SAJO SEUNG (Kim Tae-woo) of the Sajo faction received’t have any of that, although. After a bloody beating, he drags this younger and valuable boy to witness mass carnage and orders an underling to really maintain the boy’s head so he’s pressured to witness the slaughter of the complete Yeon faction. , as one often does with their ten-year-old heirs.
This Yeon household slaughter successfully makes Sajo Seung into the “king,” and his rule begins forthwith. He laughs that after witnessing all this, Sajo Hyun “will develop into a person at present,” however what really occurs is sort of completely different. First, the little lady of the Yeon household – about his age — manages to flee, because of her mother and father’ sacrifice and Sajo Hyun’s assist. She’s YEON WOL (later performed by Hong Ye-ji), and if this doesn’t arrange a future vengeance scheme, nothing will.
The second final result of the slaughter, although, is that Sajo Hyun is eerily pursued by some creepy black smoke. I’m studying into the scene right here, however I’d say that eerie essence of evil is what penetrates him and causes him to develop a cut up persona dysfunction. Subsequent, we soar ten years into the longer term.
It doesn’t take lengthy for our heroes to cross paths once more after this time soar. Yeon Wol has develop into GYERA: a phenomenal and extremely skilled murderer who’s a part of a dance troupe. The dancers go into essential places for leisure, distracting lustful watchers with their lovely strikes and outfits, after which Gyera completes her varied missions.
This entire dance troupe factor is definitely one of many strengths of the drama as a result of the dances are shot so fantastically. Anachronistic? Properly, sure, nevertheless it was enjoyable to look at Gyera dancing after which leaping everywhere in the room like a ninja, making an attempt to flee her pursuers. The outfits that the dancers put on are splendidly designed and dyed, and that’s what leads Gyera to Sajo Hyun.
The younger boy that enjoyed to color garments is now doing Prime Secret Work at a neighborhood material, designing and creating attractive fashions (very like one other rebellious hanbok designer at the moment on air). The 2 meet in a little bit of a trope reversal: Gyera sneaks in by the use of the roof, lands on high of Sajo Hyun, and proceeds to flutter his coronary heart on repeat. Is it the comfy method she touches him, guesses his household’s disapproval of his stitching, or sees into his coronary heart? Perhaps it’s all three; both method, there’s romance within the air.
In the meantime, Sajo Hyun’s life at house is disagreeable to say the least. His father has develop into much more of a despot, and as for Sajo Hyun, he’s a crown prince that lives below fixed derision and mockery. He’s not manly sufficient (i.e., why don’t you need to kill and carouse?) — however he’s additionally acquired this pesky “insanity” factor occurring. You see, he generally switches right into a counterpart often known as AK-HEE (additionally Park Ji-hoon), who has an impish grin and the boldness and allure that the quiet Sajo Hyun lacks.
As of but, the swap between the personalities is generally unexplained and many of the palace charades — which play into it – are a bit laborious to comply with. The drama strikes so shortly working to determine the stress throughout the palace that the precise emotional core — and the time to get invested in these politics – is lacking. Nonetheless, I care about Sajo Hyun as a result of Park Ji-hoon sells him to me. And I just like the dynamic that’s being constructed round Ak-hee as a persona compensation of types, so I’m sufficient to see how his two sides impression him and his relationships.
With no time to waste (plot on the transfer!), Gyera and her troupe head to the king’s chambers the place she’s relying on him “selecting her” as his night time’s companion after the dance, since she’s acknowledged because the prettiest dancer. Nevertheless, he winds up selecting a special lady. WHOMP WHOMP.
Issues transfer very quick and we don’t see the switcharoo occur, however positive sufficient, Gyera finds a option to get within the steamy bathtub as an alternative of the opposite dancer. She’s prepared with dagger in hand, nevertheless it’s Sajo Hyun that turns up within the chamber as an alternative. Oh, and there’s some type of drug within the air that causes Gyera to move out. And lose all her recollections. As a result of when Gyera wakes up 4 days later, she’s instructed she’s now CONSORT HYO. She doesn’t have a second to course of what’s simply occurred when Sajo Hyun busts in with this entourage and embraces her because the episode closes: “Lastly, you’re my lady.”
Too quick, Present, too quick! I perceive the drama has floor to cowl, however with our heroine already reworked from dancing murderer to amnesiac concubine, I’m left reeling and feeling disconnected. Additionally, whereas I need to really feel the stress of Sajo Hyun saving her from his father (as a result of GROSS!), the 2 characters haven’t interacted sufficient — or I haven’t spent sufficient time with them but — for me to actually really feel something.
In sum, issues really feel a bit flat by the point we attain the ending of the episode. Nonetheless, it’s not so flat for me to declare it an absolute loss. Park Ji-hoon is enjoyable right here and he embodies the world fairly effectively; the issue is that mentioned world just isn’t very effectively established. As a consequence, I don’t know what the foundations of the story are, or what to anticipate by way of tone. It’s nearly prefer it needs to be swoony, thrilling, raunchy, and epic all on the identical time, however can’t resolve the right way to steadiness all these issues. Let’s hope Episode 2 tightens up, as a result of there’s potential for a campilicious trip right here.
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