Hey, everyone! How’s it going? Today I’m here to review the drama My Dearest, which has become one of Netflix’s most critically acclaimed and emotionally devastating historical K-dramas of recent years. This sweeping epic takes viewers on an unforgettable journey through love, war, and sacrifice set against the backdrop of one of Korea’s most turbulent historical periods.
My Dearest originally aired on MBC from August 4 to November 18, 2023, featuring 21 episodes with an average runtime of about 80 minutes each, divided into two parts. The series was divided into two parts: Part 1 aired from August 4 to September 2, 2023, for ten episodes, while Part 2 aired from October 13 to November 18, 2023. Directed by Kim Sung-yong and written by Hwang Jin-young, who drew inspiration from Gone with the Wind, this series is set during the 1636 Qing invasion of Joseon. The show became available on Netflix in October 2024, allowing international audiences to experience this masterpiece of historical storytelling.
The story follows the tumultuous romance between Lee Jang-hyun, a mysterious man with a dark past, and Yoo Gil-chae, a spirited noblewoman, as their love unfolds against the chaos of war. What sets My Dearest apart from other historical dramas is its unflinching portrayal of how war destroys not just kingdoms but individual lives, dreams, and relationships. The series doesn’t romanticize the past but instead presents a raw, emotionally honest depiction of survival, sacrifice, and the enduring power of love in the darkest of times.
Love in the Time of War: A Romance Born from Chaos
The premise begins in a peaceful Joseon village where social hierarchies and romantic entanglements seem like the biggest concerns. However, My Dearest quickly transforms into something much more profound when the Qing invasion shatters this tranquil world. The series masterfully uses the historical backdrop not just as scenery but as a character that shapes every relationship and decision.
Amid chaos as the Qing invade their kingdom of Joseon, a man with a mysterious past falls for a noblewoman who’s already in love with another man. The invasion becomes the catalyst that strips away social pretenses and forces characters to confront their true feelings and priorities. My Dearest excels in showing how extreme circumstances can both destroy and create the deepest human connections.
Lee Jang-hyun (Namgoong Min): The Enigmatic Protector
Namgoong Min delivers what many consider his career-best performance as Lee Jang-hyun, a man whose cheerful exterior masks profound trauma and secrets. His character serves as both romantic lead and tragic hero, someone whose mysterious past becomes the key to understanding his unwavering devotion to Gil-chae. Throughout My Dearest, we watch Jang-hyun evolve from a seemingly carefree wanderer to a man whose love becomes his salvation and his curse.
What makes Namgoong Min’s portrayal so compelling is his ability to convey the weight of unspoken history through subtle expressions and gestures. His chemistry with Ahn Eun-jin creates some of the most heart-wrenching romantic moments in K-drama history, particularly as the war forces them apart repeatedly. The performance showcases Namgoong Min’s range as he navigates comedy, romance, action, and devastating tragedy with equal skill.
Yoo Gil-chae (Ahn Eun-jin): The Woman Who Chooses Love
Ahn Eun-jin brings depth and complexity to Gil-chae, transforming what could have been a typical noble lady into a fully realized woman who grows stronger through unimaginable hardships. Her character arc represents one of the most compelling female journeys in recent historical dramas, as she evolves from a privileged young woman concerned with social status to someone who learns the true meaning of love and sacrifice.
Ahn Eun-jin as Yoo Gil-chae: the daughter of a noble family who gets entangled with Jang-hyun. Ahn Eun-jin’s performance captures Gil-chae’s transformation with remarkable authenticity, showing how war can strip away everything except what truly matters. Her chemistry with both Namgoong Min and Lee Hak-joo creates a love triangle that feels genuinely heartbreaking rather than contrived, as viewers can understand her feelings for both men.
When Everything Falls Apart: The Devastating Impact of War
My Dearest reaches its most powerful moments when it shows the true cost of war on ordinary people. The series doesn’t shy away from depicting the brutality, displacement, and moral compromises that survival demands. These sequences are where the show transcends typical historical drama territory and becomes a profound meditation on human resilience and the prices we pay for the things we value most.
The war sequences aren’t glorified but instead focus on the personal toll: families torn apart, lovers separated by circumstances beyond their control, and individuals forced to make impossible choices. My Dearest excels in showing how historical events affect real people, making the Qing invasion feel immediate and personal rather than distant history.
A Rich Tapestry of Human Stories
The supporting cast, including Lee Hak-joo as Nam Yeon-joon, Lee Da-in as Eun-ae, and the ensemble of villagers, nobles, and soldiers, each contributes to the series’ rich emotional landscape. Lee Hak-joo as Nam Yeon-joon: a promising Confucian student at Sungkyunkwan. Lee Da-in as Kyung Eun-ae: Yeon-joon’s fiancée and Gil-chae’s closest friend.
Every supporting character serves a purpose in exploring different aspects of love, duty, and survival during wartime. The series particularly excels in showing how ordinary people respond to extraordinary circumstances, creating a comprehensive portrait of a society under siege that feels both historically authentic and emotionally resonant.
Success on Netflix: Critical Acclaim and Emotional Impact
My Dearest has achieved an impressive 8.9/10 rating on IMDb, with critics and viewers alike praising its epic scope and emotional depth. The historical drama increased the number of viewers watching substantially, and by the end the ratings had topped 12% nationally, making it one of the most successful Korean dramas of 2023. The series’ format of 21 extended episodes allows for deep character development and epic storytelling that rivals the greatest historical epics. My Dearest has been recognized as a masterpiece of the sageuk genre, showcasing the potential for historical dramas to achieve both critical acclaim and popular success.
An Epic Love Story That Transcends Time
If you love sweeping historical romances that combine epic storytelling with intimate character drama, My Dearest is the perfect series to experience on Netflix. This isn’t just entertainment, it’s an emotional journey that will leave you thinking about love, sacrifice, and the resilience of the human spirit long after the final episode.
Why This Masterpiece Demands Your Attention
My Dearest succeeds because it understands that the greatest historical dramas aren’t really about history, they’re about timeless human emotions set against the backdrop of extraordinary events. The series creates characters so real and relationships so authentic that viewers become completely invested in their fates. It’s a drama that reminds us why love stories have the power to move us across centuries and cultures.
Series Details
Number of Episodes: 21 (Complete Series in 2 Parts)
Platform: Netflix (Originally aired on MBC)
Release Year: 2023 (Netflix release: October 2024)
Current IMDb Rating: 8.9/10
Genre: Historical Romance, War Drama, Sageuk
Status: Complete Series
Main Protagonists: Namgoong Min (Lee Jang-hyun), Ahn Eun-jin (Yoo Gil-chae)
Antagonist: The Qing invasion and the circumstances of war