The Cursed Child
In a dramatic swordfight on top of a bridge, two men wrestle for power. Eventually, they fall into the water below and fight to the death.
The fight before us is dwarfed by the creatures that watch as one of the men floats lifelessly downstream. At the center of this is the last monster, a creature known simply as Bulgasal. He’s been searching for the one person who can help break the curse and allow him to die, given he’s immortal. That person happens to be a chosen one, someone whom this guy has been searching for for 600 years.
The villagers are sacrificing their children to the monsters in order to protect themselves from them. The monsters are eating the villagers, so the villagers are sacrificing their children in order to protect themselves from the monsters.
The woman is convinced that her child is cursed, and believes that Bulgasal, the demon of death, is coming for her. Unfortunately, while everyone else is asleep she hangs herself. The baby is born first, and should have died with her mother - according to the shaman among them.
Ten years ago, a baby was shunned by the whole tribe because they were poor. But now, the tribe is living in poverty and there’s been no attack in the past year. Pal-Bong is among those attending, but he goes missing one afternoon and is never seen again. Gu-Bong was there this time to witness it.
The village is in danger. A strange man with a red robe has killed all of their family and they believe he is the culprit. They need to take drastic measures before everyone in the village dies.
The tribe launches a witch-hunt to find and kill the boy. They catch up to him as he steps out onto the ice, but it gives way and he plunges into the icy water below. This poor boy; the child that no one loved or cared about is left to die… or is he? ..
The boy wakes up in a cave. However, before the tribe can kill him, a strange woman steps out from the woods and covers him, taking the killing blow from these maniacal men. Just before things escalate further, a soldier trots out from the shadows and questions just what they’re doing.
General offers name to boy, deciding it’s a good one. tribe watches in shock as the general takes him with him. The shaman warns that this will be a bad omen and the only way to break that will be to kill the boy. He takes no notice and rides off.
Joseon is a time of great change. Hwal is a vital part of the army and his skills with a blade have made him one of the most feared officials in the land. Despite this, he’s still viewed suspiciously by other high-ranking officials. This comes from their fear of him.
The General is the only one who doesn’t fear him. Unfortunately, he’s been struggling to have any children, with his wife’s recent attempt ending prematurely. It’s heartbreaking to see, and Hwal is the one to bury the body and honour the babe’s memory.
Hwal also has a son of his own, A-Chan, but he happens to be blind with visible blood stains against his bandages. Hwal sees this, remembers the shaman’s words and immediately realizes the curse of Bulgasal is real. In order to stop this and free them of this plague, Hwal decides to leave and hunt for Bulgasal himself. He’s also going to take A-Chan with him.
Hwal is determined to track down the evil spirit that killed his wife and A-Chan. However, Bulgasal comes to him that night and it’s a bloodbath. Even worse, Hwal’s wife is dead and he’s left to drown in his own grief.
As he lays with his son, a red-robed woman appears behind him and plunges a sword into his back. Hwal’s eyes immediately begin glowing as it appears that Bulgasal has possessed him.
The Episode Review
The story is well-told and the characters are well-developed. The action is exciting and the plot is compelling. I really enjoyed this episode and can’t wait to see what happens next.
The opening minutes of this fantasy novel are perfect for introducing the reader to the author and the story. The narrator, Hwal, tells the story of his life and how he came to be in this place. He talks about his family, his friends, and how he came to be a part of this community.
This weekend’s tvN weekend drama is sure to be exciting with the return of Jirisan and Bulgasal. With these two new actors, it is sure to have epic vibes. Will Bulgasal be able to recapture those epic vibes for the latest tvN weekend drama?
Based on this showing and with Disney+ faffing around with their streaming times for Snowdrop (which appears to be the international market’s direct competition with this), it looks like Bulgasal has taken an early lead. Whether it will stay that way however, remains to be seen. One thing’s for sure though, this is one epic Korean drama! ..
