The Return of Iljimae
The Return of Iljimae is a 2009 South Korean historical action television series, starring Jung Il-woo in the title role of Iljimae, Yoon Jin-seo, Kim Min-jong and Jung Hye-young. It aired on MBC from January 21 to April 9, 2009 on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 21:55 for 24 episodes. The series is based on comic strip Iljimae, published between 1975 and 1977, by Ko Woo-yung which was based on a Chinese folklore from the Ming dynasty about a masked Robin Hood-esque character during the Joseon era. MBC bought the rights to the comic strip for their adaptation, which was to star Lee Seung-gi in the title role of Iljimae. However he pulled out and was replaced by Jung, which makes him the third Korean actor to play the hero following Jang Dong-gun and Lee Joon-gi for Iljimae.
Seasons
1. Episode 1
Iljimae confronts the evil Bulgasari for his crimes against the citizens of Hanyang. Two people, Cha Dol and Bae Sun-dal, work to create a written account of Iljimae's unique stories.
2. Episode 2
Iljimae learns the truth about his early life from Wang Hengbo. In the company of Wang Hengbo, Iljimae goes back to Joseon after discovering what his real mother said when he left her.
3. Episode 3
Danger follows Iljimae’s journey but he arrives to find there is a funeral in progress. Both Wang Hengbo and Iljimae are taken into custody by the authorities for different offenses.
4. Episode 4
Breaking out of prison, Iljimae and Wang Hengbo chose different paths. While Iljimae takes refuge in a cave, Wang Hengbo flees back to his previous home as Koo Ja Myung follows.
5. Episode 5
While tracking down Iljimae for his crimes, Koo Ja Myung finds two other runaways from justice. Dal and her father are put to death as an overwhelmed Iljimae watches the entire event.
6. Episode 6
Iljimae changes his life and lets go of negative feelings with Monk Yeolgong's help. The newly optimistic Iljimae makes the choice to live with Geol Chi in a small community.
7. Episode 7
While being stranded in Japan with a ninja family, Iljimae saves a life. Issues between two warring organizations cause problems for the town of Hanyang as Iljimae is no longer there to keep the peace.
8. Episode 8
Koo Ja-myung comes back to Hanyang with a goal of calming the trouble between two rival groups. Upon Iljimae's arrival, he locates Wol-hee and requests that she put something away for safe keeping.
9. Episode 9
Wang Hengbo engages in a brutal fight with Iljimae but he receives a surprise that causes him to flee. Unseen forces inside their organization stop the Haedongs.
10. Episode 10
Koo Ja-myung receives aid in his quest to bring the final criminals in the area to justice. Retribution finally reaches Nobleman Yoon for his evil deeds concerning the less fortunate.
11. Episode 11
Iljimae becomes a wanted man by taking money from the rich and giving it to the poor. The idea of a wedding to Wol-hee causes Iljimae to realize that he still has strong feelings for a former love.
12. Episode 12
After coming to the aid of a upper class woman, Iljimae brings her to stay with Wol Hee and it causes problems as she focuses her intentions on her rescuer. A man that came under the scrutiny for his business dealings forcefully takes Cha Dol.
13. Episode 13
Freeing a girl from her kidnapper, Iljimae goes over memories of his lost love who was put to death. Wol Hee is deeply hurt by the way Iljimae starts treating her after he looks into his own life and behavior.
14. Episode 14
Iljimae takes matters into his own hands to set Wol Hee free when she is taken into custody by the authorities. Baek Mae arrives to see Koo Ja Myung but leaves after getting assurances from him concerning Iljimae.
15. Episode 15
An impostor pretending to be Iljimae causes problems for the authorities and criminals escape from the jail. Iljimae goes on a journey to find the impostor and causes Wol Hee more sadness.
16. Episode 16
Iljimae is following Wang Hengbo as he faces men that want to take his life. Wang Hengbo must create another plan when Iljimae stops the current plan before it is complete.
17. Episode 17
After attempting suicide, Wol Hee is found alive but Iljimae remains under the impression that she is dead. Iljimae takes the life of two men and a group hunts him down for the crime.
18. Episode 18
Monk Yeolgong helps Wol Hee as Iljimae comes to the temple after being shot. Wol Hee takes care of Iljimae’s wounds as Monk Dokbo leaks information about Iljimae's current location to the authorities.
19. Episode 19
Iljimae frees Wol Hee from Kim Ja Jeom and convinces the group hunting him to end their pursuit. Yang Po presents a mutually beneficial idea to Wang Hengbo and reveals hidden information.
20. Episode 20
The Dohwiso Weapons Center employs Wol Hee as a cook while Iljimae keeps the center safe from those who want to attack. After an explosion caused by Kim Ja Jeom, Yang Po and Wang Hengbo come to the center with a goal of capturing Iljimae.
21. Episode 21
Sung Kae loses his life after a dramatic confrontation with Iljimae causes an accident. Kim Ja Jeom receives some disturbing news concerning the status of Iljimae from Park Bi Su.
22. Episode 22
Cha Doljimae tries to help Wol Hee after she fails to get away. A gift from Miyamoto saves the life of Iljimae during a fast paced fight with Park Bi Su.
23. Episode 23
An anxious Iljimae successfully reaches Baek Mae in time but he is too late to prevent her death. Lord Choi makes a special request of Iljimae concerning relocation to China.
24. Episode 24
Iljimae recovers enough from his injuries to hear about the ongoing battle. The intriguing visions of Iljimae's dream transition into the present day landscape of Korea and a man dressed in black that resembles him.
Cast
Jung Il-woo
Iljimae
Yoon Jin-seo
Dal-yi / Wol-hee
Kim Min-jong
Koo Ja-myung
Jeong Hye-young
Baek-mae
Cheon Ho-jin
Hong Taiji
Lee Hyun-woo
Cha Dol-yi
Oh Young-soo
Yeol-gong
Lee Yoon-jeong
[Han family's daughter]
More Like This
Iljimae
Set during the Joseon Dynasty, Ryung acts as a useless gangster in the marketplace by day but at night he is a chivalrous robber who robs corrupt government officials to give to the poor. After each robbery he leaves behind a wooden branch from a plum tree at the site of the robbery to take responsibility for the robbery. The poor citizens only know him as Iljimae. Bong Soon is a hilarious girl with good martial art skills and lives as a swindler. She only loves Ryung and sacrifices her whole life for him. Eun Chae is a government official's daughter and is good in nature and usually helps miserable people. She meets Iljimae once by chance, and their sweet love story begins. However, her love puts Iljimae in a dangerous situation because an Imperial Guard also loves her.
The Fugitive of Joseon
Set during the reign of King Injong, the protagonist is a royal physician desperate to cure his ailing daughter. He becomes a fugitive when he gets entangled in an assassination plot to poison the crown prince, and fights to save both his daughter's life and his own.
Death Note
Light Yagami is an ace student with great prospects—and he’s bored out of his mind. But all that changes when he finds the Death Note, a notebook dropped by a rogue Shinigami death god. Any human whose name is written in the notebook dies, and Light has vowed to use the power of the Death Note to rid the world of evil. But will Light succeed in his noble goal, or will the Death Note turn him into the very thing he fights against?
The Looney Tunes Show
Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and the rest of the “Looney Tunes” characters are back with more adventures for a new generation of viewers. The animated series features roommates Bugs and Daffy moving out of the woods and into the suburbs, interacting with their neighbors, who happen to be other "Looney Tunes" favorites -- including Sylvester, Tweety, Porky Pig and Foghorn Leghorn.
Descendants of the Sun
After a chance meeting in a hospital, an ardent soldier falls for a gifted surgeon. Opposing philosophies tear them apart, but fate has other plans.
Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth
An elite group of young warriors trained in morals and martial arts finds love and friendship in Silla during Korea’s ancient Three Kingdoms period.
Stranger Things
When a young boy vanishes, a small town uncovers a mystery involving secret experiments, terrifying supernatural forces, and one strange little girl.
Real Girl
Tsutsui Hikari (a.k.a "Tsuttsun") is a high school student who is content with his virtual life of anime and video games. One day, he gets stuck cleaning the pool with Iroha, a real live girl who is stylish, sassy and known to be easy with boys ... and she aggressively approaches him! Tsuttsun, who has few friends and lives in his own world, finds himself smitten by the confident and wild Iroha ... and his whole world is turned upside down!! It's the awkward and pure love story of a boy who experiences relationship for the first time.
High School of the Dead
The lockers are splattered with blood, the student bodies are piling up and that's not mystery meat they're eating in the cafeteria… it's the faculty! And that's just the start of the worst day of school ever when a nightmarish virus is unleashed, turning humans into flesh eating zombies and converting Fujimi High School into a literal hell on Earth. Now it's a crash course in survival, and the only test or skill that matters is the ability to keep moving, breathing and fighting. Because if nerds, jocks and the surviving staff can't find a way to work together to escape this carnal house of education, they're all going to end up on the menu. And that's assuming there's anyplace safe left to escape to.
Dragon Ball Z
Now happily married and with a son, martial arts champion Goku must defend Earth from a series of extraterrestrial invaders bent on destruction.
Another
When Kouichi arrives at his new school, he immediately senses something frightening in the atmosphere of his new class, something that no student wants to talk about and that seems to be related to a mysterious and silent girl.
She Was Pretty
After a complete reversal of fortune and looks, childhood sweethearts reunite for the first time in 15 years as employees at a fashion magazine.
Hensuki: Are You Willing to Fall in Love With a Pervert, As Long As She's a Cutie?
A high school student whose years of not having a girlfriend is his age, Keiki Kiryuu, suddenly receives a love letter. He is happy he can finally have a girlfriend, but is also surprised because not only is there no sender name but also included is white underwear…??? The cute girls who gather around him are all weird and with reasons!? Who is the Cinderella who sent the underwear?
The Rising of the Shield Hero
Iwatani Naofumi, a run-of-the-mill otaku, finds a book in the library that summons him to another world. He is tasked with joining the sword, spear, and bow as one of the Four Cardinal Heroes and fighting the Waves of Catastrophe as the Shield Hero. Excited by the prospect of a grand adventure, Naofumi sets off with his party. However, merely a few days later, he is betrayed and loses all his money, dignity, and respect. Unable to trust anyone anymore, he employs a slave named Raphtalia and takes on the Waves and the world. But will he really find a way to overturn this desperate situation?
Sweet Home
As humans turn into savage monsters and the world plunges into terror, a handful of survivors fight for their lives — and to hold on to their humanity.
Your Lie in April
Kousei Arima was a genius pianist until his mother's sudden death took away his ability to play. Each day was dull for Kousei. But, then he meets a violinist named Kaori Miyazono who has an eccentric playing style. Can the heartfelt sounds of the girl's violin lead the boy to play the piano again?
BOYS OVER FLOWERS
Set at a famous high school for the super-wealthy, this is a puppy love story centered on Tsukushi Makino, a poor girl, and the F4 gang of rich kids headed by the rough and fearless Prince Charming, Tsukasa Domyoji.
Domestic Girlfriend
Natsuo is a high school boy who is experiencing the crushing despair of unrequited love. To make matters worse, the person he is in love with is his teacher, Hina. In an attempt to lift his spirits, he attends a mixer where he meets a girl named Rui. The two sleep together, expecting never to see one another again, but fate has other plans. His life suddenly becomes more complicated when his father comes home and announces he has remarried a woman with two daughters whom Natsuo has met before: Hina and Rui!
The Heirs
After a chance encounter in LA, two teens from different social backgrounds reunite at an exclusive high school attended by Korea's über rich.
W: Two Worlds Apart
After being pulled into the webtoon world created by her father, a surgical resident gets entangled in a murder mystery involving the story's hero.
Reviews
ParkMin
Watching a drama with so much narration was kind of weird. It didn't help it case when the leads were whispering all the time with this monotone voice, almost like they were just reading lines off a script. Moreover, both of their performance was quite poor in general, I know they have the talent but not in this drama. The story itself felt like it was dragging its feet endlessly. The ending was a weak attempt at redemption. It rushed major sections with too many skips to rush progression and conclusion but ended up creating even more problems, leaving major gaps to what could have been a very simple wrap up. Releasing another version of Iljimae within 1 year turned out to be a poor decision when they have had learned nothing from the previous one.
You've reached the end.