The first episode marked 3.5 percent nationwide and 3.8 percent in the Seoul metropolitan area (based on Nielsen Korea and fee-based households), signaling a good start.
Since her first appearance, Kim has portrayed a tough yet self-reliant female character that was hard to see in historical dramas, close to perfection. She showed Han Hee-Jae's charisma, not succumbing to the wrong reality and not hesitating to believe that she is right.
She has also completed this character with a sense of justice, including attaching a wall book to criticize the wrong adjustment in the drama. The figure representing the public's position in a corrupted Goryeo administration made a strong impression by showing self-reliance in deciding not only her fate but also the process of overcoming the crisis.
She expressed her warm feelings of understanding and comforting Seo Hwi, a character played by Yang Se-jong, who is trapped in his status and cannot do anything, and Nam Sun-ho, played by Woo Do-Hwa, who is hurt by his family. The stories of the characters who had their own pain were intertwined during the turbulent times, and they created a story that was purely bold. Director Kim Jin-won's signature sophisticated production and writer Chae Seung-Dae's dense script swirled with intense synergy from the first episode.
The actors' performances were also overwhelming. Yang Se-jong's outstanding variations, which include a side of Seo Hwi, who is very realistic, and the masculine charm and pain, led to the dramatic dynamics. Woo Do-hwan, who challenged this role to be his first historical drama, successfully painted the cool side of Nam Sun-ho, who is warm but kept the wounds as trauma to his father, and showed an impressive performance transformation.
Han Hee-Jae, an enterprising woman who makes her voice heard in front of anyone, gained a lively sense of charm with Kim's strong performance. The performances of veteran masters such as Jang Hyuk, Kim Young-chul, Ahn Nae-sang, Jang Young-Nam, and Ji Seung-Hyun, who added weight to the historical drama, were simply in vain.
The next episodes of "My Country" will air on JTBC at 10:50 pm every Fridays and Saturdays.
