My Country: The New Age – A Story Showed, Not Told

My Country: The New Age is a JTBC drama starring Yang Sejong, Woo Dohwan, Kim Seolhyun and Jang Hyuk. It is a historical drama set in the 1390s, during the transitional period of Korea’s Goryeo Dynasty to the Joseon Dynasty. The Joseon Era, which lasted for 500 years, began in 1392 after Military commander Lee Seonggye overhauled the ruling kingdom, taking the throne for himself and his heirs. Kim Yeongcheol takes a pivotal role in the drama as King Yi Seonggye.

Synopsis

My Country: The New Age follows the story of two friends Seo Hwi (Yang Sejong) and Nam Sunho (Woo Dohwan). Hwi is the son of legendary Goryeo soldier Seo Geom (Yu Ohseong). His father is disgracefully killed after being framed for a crime, leaving him and his sister Seo Yeon (Cho Yihyun) in a desolate situation.

Sunho is the illegitimate son of Nam Jeon (Ahn Naesang), an influential man within the newly founded Joseon Kingdom. Sunho however has a tumultuous relationship with his father who constantly looks down on him for being illegitimate.  Sunho and Hwi grow up as best friends, but eventually fall out when they find themselves in opposing sides in the newly founded kingdom.

With King Seonggye on the throne, conflict arises among his eight sons on who among them should inherit the crown. Unwilling to relinquish the crown so soon after attaining it, Seonggye chooses his youngest son as the Crown Prince. This angers his fifth son, Yi Bangwon (Jang Hyuk), who is eager to become the next king. Bangwon is ready to do everything possible to take the throne from his father and build the country he has always dreamt of.

Nam Jeon adds to the conflict with his ambition of having a country ruled by the subjects. He hopes to influence the young crowned prince and become the power behind the crown. Unable to confront his own son, King Seonggye uses Nam Jeon to ward off Bangwon. Sunho inserts himself in the situation hoping to gain the king’s favor, while Yi Bangwon seeks out Hwi to help stage a coup in order to take the crown. Hwi and Sunho hence find themselves fighting against each other, bringing forth a situation that will test their friendship.

Review

“Show, don’t tell,” this is the golden rule to good storytelling and My Country: The New Age stays true to this by giving us a story that makes us search beyond the surface of scripted words to decipher the real intentions of its characters. The drama offers viewers a chance to decode the situation and decipher the meaning behind the words, which is one of the dramas's winning aspects. Stabbing someone with a sword may not be intended to harm, but to save someone. Some harsh words may be said, not to hurt someone, but to protect them. The drama is engaging in the sense that things are not always as they appear.

My Country: The New Age is not the typical historical K-Drama. Even though the central storyline is still about the fight for the throne, the drama finds a unique approach by having Hwi and Sunho, people not part of the royal family as the main focus. Their friendship is the backbone of the story and the drama does a superb job in establishing their strong bond during the first few episodes. This helps us identify with and relate to the tragedy of their falling out.

Through Sunho and Hwi, we are also able to see who really stands to suffer in the incessant fight for power. The people at the top will use everyone around them to get what they want but they are not the ones who stand to suffer the consequences. King Seonggye is unable to confront his son for trying to take the crown from him and instead punishes those who lend him a hand. Hwi, Sunho and the people around them are all caught up in the fight against father and son.

Jang Hyuk as Yi Bangwon is another pivotal character to the story. He is a powerful presence and manages to play his character with a captivating charm. He is relentless in seeking the throne and is the major source of conflict in the drama, but he makes himself an endearing character. His affection for his father affords him some reluctance in going against him, which shows his humanity.  We also get to see this through his fondness for Hwi, although he shows it in an unconventional way.

My Country: The New Age is an exceptional story about true friendship. It teaches us the values of friendship and to always look for a deeper meaning behind the actions of those we care about, even when they seem heartless to us.