No, that is no overstatement, because 81 episodes (over a full hour each) allows for characters to be given heaping amounts of development that makes them multi-dimensional (even fallen comrades from the earlier episodes are never forgotten). It's difficult for movies and television series to establish even a few memorable characters. In addition, these conflicts help to accentuate an emotional resonance due to the large number of episodes dedicated to properly develop each obstacle and their climactic conclusions. Fantastic stuff! The obstacles are also very practical and interesting: discovering a sufficient salt supply, creating steel weaponry, obtaining national independence from hostile, more powerful kingdoms, etc. The dialogue is great, crafting a number of exciting, clever exchanges between the players. There's a high emphasis on political coersion, unorthodox alliances, and subtle shifts in power from key events. I personally find these exchanges exhilarating because they rely on intelligence and unorthodox (outside the box) thinking. Each character has his/her close confidants and meets with them regularly to discuss specific tactics to gain an advantage against their rivals, which makes for a seemingly non-stop display of cloak-and-dagger scheming. One of the most enjoyable aspects of this series are the strategy meetings that saturate each and every episode. There are multiple interests at play (royal family members, merchants, sorceresses, other kingdoms, tribes, etc.), and it's interesting to see them strategize and plot against one another. The scriptwriting is no less than phenomenal. I kid you not, I feel hopelessly melancholy, because 'Jumong' is an exceptional television series that has burrowed its way into my heart. At this very moment I feel as if I've just completed a long journey with my closest friends, but now must say goodbye and move on. Yes, 'Dae Jang Geum' (aka 'A Jewel In the Palace') (2003) was magnificent, but 'Jumong' (2006) is so overwhelmingly awesome on every possible level that it actually exceeds 'Dae Jang Geum' in a number of ways. At no point in my lifetime have I felt so sentimental after viewing a television series.

Jumong korean movie