Title: 조선 여형사 다모 | Joseon Yeohyeongsa Damo | Female Detective Damo in the Joseon Dynasty | Damo: The Legendary Police WomanDamo
Genre: Drama | Historical
Episodes: 14
Broadcast Network: MBC
Broadcast Period: July 28 to September 9, 2003

Synopsis:

It is a story about a little girl whose family got torn apart. Her father was accused as a traitor and killed, her mother lived in difficulty and, eventually, died. She also got separated from her only brother in the process. Jang Jae-Hui became Jang Chae-Ok to escape death and became a lowly servant of Commander Hwangbo Yoon, a boy who save her and grew up with. Hwangbo Yoon is the son of a woman who’s the mistress of a rich man but was shunned and ridiculed by the society. While growing up, Jang Chae-Ok and Commander Hwangbo Yoon were trained in fighting skills by a master and monk in the mountains where both hid from society. When Hwangbo Yoon became the Commander of the police force, he brought with him Jang Chae-Ok, who became Da-Mo, a low level police woman during Cho-Sun Dynasty. One day, Jang Chae-Ok and Commander Hwangbo Yoon while trying to solve the counterfeit case learned about a syndicate headed by a rebel, Jang Sung-Baek. When Jang Sung-Baek and Jang Chae-Ok finally met, for some reason Jang Chae-Ok felt certain affinity with the criminal and even felt love for this man. Jang Chae-Ok wrestled with her feelings with Commander Hwangbo Yoon, Jang Sung-Baek and her principles to do what is right which will define their final fate and affect their lives forever.

Characters:

• Ha Ji-Won as Jang Jae-Hui | Jang Chae-Ok
• Lee Seo-Jin as Commander Hwangbo Yoon
• Kim Min-Joon as Jang Jae-Mo | Jang Sung-Baek
• Jung Min-Ah as Younger Jae-Hui | Chae-Ok
• Baek Sung-Hyun as Younger Yoon
• Lee Moon-Sik as Ma Chook-Ji
• Noh Hyun-Hee as Ta Bak-Nyeo
• Park Yeong-Gyu as Jo Se-Wook
• Lee Han-Wi as Baek Joo-Wan
• Kwon Oh-Joong as Lee Won-Hae
• Yoon Moon-Sik as Ahn Nok-Sa
• Kwon Yong-Woon as Noh Gak-Chul
• Ahn Kye-Beom as Kato Masayuki
• Kim Min-Kyung as Soo-Myung
• Shin Seung-Hwan as Ahn Byung-Taek
• Jung Wook as Jung Pil-Joon
• Jung Ho-Keun as Choi Dal-Pyung
• Chae Young-In as Jo Nan-Hee
• Hyun Seok as Jung Hong-Doo
• Sunwoo Jae-Duk as the King
• Jeon In-Taek
• Seo Beom-Shik
• Byun Hee-Bong
• Cho Jae-Hyun in Cameo Role

My Review:

I watched this K-Drama more than 13 years ago. It was during those times when dying of cancer seems to be a popular venue to string the hearts of viewers to be engaged in a drama. Although, this K-Drama is not an exception to the rule of such tragic stories that seems so popular on those days, at least this one really depicts life at its most difficult times. While watching it again to do this review, I can’t help but think I’m so lucky I was born in this century. However, it seems even today, human frailties and cruelty still exist, it is just in a different era and form but nonetheless the same. We just use some thing else to destroy each other like social media and chemical weapons to manipulate and achieve power.

So, What do I Like About this K-Drama?

(1) It’s truly done with great backdrop and special effects especially since it was done in 2003. It has a touch of Chinese style in the fighting scenes.

(2) The actors are first grade especially Ha Ji-Won. She emanates a strong woman who can almost endure anything with a big capacity to love and care for others.

(3) This K-Drama depicts both the good and bad of the human race. It shows encompassing love in various forms which strings my heart.

(4) Watching it again is a bit hard because the story is quite heavy in dramatic scenes. And, even if there’s some comic relief delivered by the supporting characters, it is not a K-Drama that’s feel good and will make you feel warm and cozy afterwards. It is a sad and real depiction of the world. Having said that, this K-Drama efficiently done it with not much wasted and unnecessary scenes. It is also quite consistent with its story and not afraid to push the envelope and let the chips fall where they may.

What I do Not Like About this K-Drama?

Although, it is a good drama and considered as one of Ha Ji-Won’s best classic K-Drama, it is not perfectly done. Actually, far from it. The tragic events maybe realistic but there are a lot unrealistic scenes except probably for the ending. You sometimes wonder what the K-Drama is trying to achieve in terms of being real or reel. There are a lot of impossible scenarios especially on the power of humans to fight, physically heal and survive such horrendous circumstances. Let me name a few, on episode 6, it is like the bullets are not hitting anyone, or on Episode 7, Ha Ji-Won’s character can run as fast as the horse and flying or on Episode 8, the girl who got stab still survived at an age when medicine is still the alternative practice and, so much more unbelievable stuff. They have quite a lot of super human powers that can’t simply be explained except to take the logic out of the equation and accept it with a grain of salt. However, it indeed marred the realistic depiction of the story.

Would I recommend this K-Drama? Yes.

My Rating to this Drama
( See My Rating System: ) 4/5 Stars

OST:
01. Fate – 김상민–
02. A Grove Of Japanese Apricot Blossom – Various Artist
03. A Song Of Sorrow – 김범수
04. Pipe Solo | Manos Vafeiadis – Various Artist
05. A Song Of Devotion – 페이지(이가은)
06. 다모 (Oboe Solo) – Various Artist
07. Destiny (Ballad) – 김상민
08. Adagio (Instrumental) – Various Artist
09. The Last Haven – 조관우
10. Fate (Rock | Instrumental) – 정기송(On Guitar)
11. A Song Of Sorrow (Instrumental) – 표건수,The Strings
12. A Song Of Devotion (Instrumental) – 표건수(On Guitar)
13. The Last Haven (Instrumental) – Various Artist

For Lyrics in English, Romanization and Hangul, CLICK HERE