The start of Bridal Mask lives up to the hype. It feels like a movie, more than a drama, which isn't unusual for high-budget historical dramas. Rather than one more Joseon-era drama, it's set in the 1930's, during the Japanese invasion. The cars, guns and fashions on display reinforce just how high-budget this series will be.
The relative recentness of events makes the injustices and corruption seem more real and offensive. Happening only 80 years go, it's harder to brush off an injust death sentence or needless death as just "the way things were".
The first episode does a lovely job making you care about the characters. Already, I have strong feelings about many of them; although, I'm sure some of my feelings will become confused as people fall into their respective hero and villain roles. Currently, some of these good/bad assignments are in limbo.
Summary:
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The series begins with the funeral procession for a "patriot" who in reality had been a corrupt judge who had sold out his Korean countrymen at any opportunity. The funeral is interrupted by the title character and vigilante, Bridal Mask. We are also introduced to a few key characters--the girl who assists Bridal Mask, Boon Yi/Esther; and two officers who are trying to capture Bridal Mask: mean-spirited officer, Kimura Kenji and the main character (who so far is certainly not acting the part of a hero), Lee Kang To.
The story then jumps back in time to when Lee Kang To was promoted to his current rank. They make a big deal about how he's Korean-born but still getting promoted. We then jump to his mother and his mentally challenged older brother in the town marketplace, being harassed because Kang To had sold out to be a "dog of the Japanese". Kang To arrives, tries to give his mother money, gets berrated by his mother, packs his bags and leaves. We see a flashback to when Kang To was younger and learn that his brother had once been strong of body and mind, but had been tortured, leading to his current state.
We then jump to a school building, where a kindly Kimura Shunji is teaching his young class. Lee Kang To stops by after the class and the two spar with wooden swords. The crazy-complicated web of relationships begin to build as we learn that: kind-hearted school teacher Shunji and mean-spirited officer Kenji are brothers; Shunji and Kang To appear to have a strong friendshpi, and Shunji previously had a close (master-and-servant? friends?) relationship with the acrobatic vigilante-girl Boon Yi/Esther.
A little later, at the courthouse, Dam Sa Ri, an independence fighter, is on trial and sentenced to death along with his four compatriots. Kang To, as the arresting officer, is at the trial. Boon Yi/Esther bursts in on the trial and beats up the majority of the officers because apparently Dam Sa Ri is her father. When she's in trouble, Bridal Mask shows up and Boon Yi/Esther is able to escape with her father. Chaos and wonderfully choreographed fight scenes ensue and ultimately the judge is killed by Bridal Mask.
With this, we jump forward again to the corrupt judge's funeral and the aftermath where various higher-ups are throwing around the blame. Kenji is taken off of the hunt for Bridal Mask, instead it's assigned to Kang To.
We learn that the judge was part of a shady underground organization that's controlling the police and other positions of power. Bridal Mask is targeting their members, but the organization also feels threatened by Kang To. Kimura Kenji is a member and he arranges for Kang To to be killed in a way they would never be suspected for. While Kang To is taking some paperwork out to his car, Bridal Mask shows up and points a gun at his head.
Scenes of Note:
Fighting with his mom about being a dog of the Japanese.
The fight scene in the courtroom, mid-episode.
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