Starring Yoon Kyun Sang in the main role, Rebel: Thief Who Stole the People
tells the story of Hong Gil Dong – his family, love, and journey in
becoming Joseon’s first revolutionary activist. Cinematography-wise, the
classic setting is impressively displayed, but not to the extent that
it can go neck and neck with other sageuks that I have watched
previously. However, the drama’s rich storyline and the actors’
effective portrayals superimpose this superficial flaw. A drama that can
sincerely touch you deep inside is a rare find, and I have to say that Rebel: Thief Who Stole the People is one of those gems.
The
drama embarks with a melting and tragic backstory of Gil Dong’s family
and his childhood. Gil Dong is born into a servant family but his
father, Ah Mo Gae (Kim Sang Joong),
has been laboring himself to the ground with a grander goal in mind –
to release his whole family from their slave status. However, after he
substantiates that his son could be the rumored Mighty Child due to Gil
Dong’s bizarre strength, he grew weary. The rumor is that if born from a
family of peasants, the Mighty Child will end up being killed. Mo Gae
becomes increasingly concerned after witnessing Gil Dong’s
uncontrollable behavior in oppressive situations. As a result, he asks
Gil Dong to hide his power and withhold his anger as much as possible,
or it could bring danger to the entire family.
Mo
Gae soon befriended a group of robbers and, due to his good sense and
intelligence, starts bringing home a great deal of fortune in
collaborating with the gang. Everything seems to go in Mo Gae’s way for a
while, until his greedy masters begin suspecting his wealth and
eventually scheme against him. This is when all hell breaks loose – his
masters confiscate the properties he’s been saving for his children’s
future and his wife dies in this stressful process.
But
Mo Gae is not the type to accept defeat after all the injustices his
loved ones have faced. This provokes him to overturn the biased dominion
using his wit. He then decides to start anew with his children in a new
nation named Ikhwari. There, he continues to pursue his bandit feats
and becomes immensely influential. Meanwhile, Gil Dong grows up as a
mere peddler but another grave tragedy concerning his family moves Gil
Dong to inherit Mo Gae’s legacy. He takes over as the leader of the
group, with the objective of protecting and fighting for the poor who
have no power in society, even if it meant going against the tyrant
King. And so, we now have the complete backdrop for more adventures,
romance, and drama to come.
f I have to choose only one thing highly commendable about Rebel: Thief Who Stole the People,
that would be its intensity. No, it’s never consistent; it amplifies
through each and every episode! It’s simply amazing not to see the plot
watering down over the course of this 30-episode narrative. Typically,
lengthy series like this often contain unnecessary fillers, endless
flashback scenes to move the episodes along. Surprisingly enough, Rebel: Thief Who Stole the People
does not fall into that trap. The storyline is very delicate and has
been depicted with extensive detail. The drama is clearly encapsulated
in the concept of revenge, and the characters’ motivations have been
reasonably conveyed to fit the agitating pace of the story perfectly.
Aside from serving as an eye-opener to the viewers about the slanted justice system prevailing in the Joseon era, Rebel: Thief Who Stole the People
also enlightens me on the role of kisaengs from a different
perspective. I’d have never imagined the drama portraying them to play a
more dignified part in the state than stereotyping them as mere
courtesans. To that point, it’s indeed a good move that the production
team casted Lee Ha Nui
(Honey Lee) who is actually a Korean classical musician by profession
to play the role of the King’s faithful consort Jang Nok Su. Through her
professionalism, the drama does a great job in exhibiting the value of
music and arts in the Korean history, making the drama extra
entertaining and informative.
Rebel: Thief Who Stole the People
truly has the power to impinge you emotionally and holds your interest
until you crave for more. All thanks to the convincing acting of the
entire cast, especially of our leads Yoon Kyun Sang and Chae Soo Bin.
Their chemistry wows me a lot, much to what I have expected. Every
scene involving Gil Dong and his love interest Song Ga Ryung are some of
the most genuine ones in the series. It’s as if there is an actual
connection between them that runs deeper, making their romance
remarkable even if it isn’t the biggest focus in the story.
Furthermore,
who will ever forget the heartfelt brotherhood of the Hong family and
their revolutionary advocacy? Of course I will not forget to mention
veteran actor Kim Sang Joong for forging the role of Mo Gae in the
series. If not for his heightened acting skills at the beginning, the
whole drama will be deemed unsettling even before Yoon Kyun Sang has a
chance to emerge in the picture. For me, Mo Gae is the pillar that
significantly anchors the drama to ultimately put it in a steady
current.
Sad to say, I believe this drama merits more attention than it had. Rebel: Thief Who Stole the People
is a heartrending odyssey that exceptionally winded up into one great
satisfying ending. Finales are almost always disappointing, but this
drama brilliantly consummated into the way our rebel
heroes deserve. You will find yourself enlightened on the importance of
societal values and fill yourself with life lessons to contemplate on.
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