Kim Nam gil Returns in Island
I would never forget Kim Nam gil. I first saw him in the highly-acclaimed historical production, Queen Seon deok [2009], as the unquenchable Bidam. It was a marvelous performance amidst the backdrop of creative liberties employed to make the show the glorious Kdrama that it was. The scenes leading up to his demise are still etched in my mind to this day, considering the count of years that has passed. I remember the soundtrack; I remember the way he murmured Deokman’s name as Yushin thrusted his sword to his badly beaten frame; I remember Seondeok collapsing from her mighty stand, quietly grieving the death of her beloved.
I would never forget Kim Nam gil, and, although I sometimes wondered where he went or what projects he took part in, in the years that passed, I never really got to consulting Google about him. Life just happened to me, too, I guess. So, seeing the early posters of TVING’s Island sparked my old curiosity for the actor. It looked like he lived a good life, being an all-rounder in the industry. Like an old friend, I caught on to the early episodes of the show and watched how he developed mastery of his craft.
And man, I quickly understood the clamour in social media about Nam gil’s scenes. It was neat, unassuming and perfect! He appeared out of nowhere, putting death in the eyes of a newly-revived monster in episode 1. I kept getting flashbacks from how he flew in the air, trying to outpower Silla’s army and the senior Hwarangs as he counted his steps aimed at Deokman, who was standing at the back of the line. It got me goosebumps. His expressions were familiar, and, from then on, I understood full well that I have fallen into the charms of his new character.
I often comment at how night scenes tend to be really dark in productions back at home, but Island, in its case, did not disappoint. True to its name, plenty of the scenes were filmed outdoors, in mountainous terrains, at the bleak of the night — yet, the scenes came out crisp and vivid, enough to peer at individual nuances in each character’s movements: the shaking sword, the pissed expressions, the horror and a lot more.
The visual effects and computer-generated imagery were also plausible. I must say that it can contend well with the touted best fantasy series of 2022: Alchemy of Souls. Coincidentally, Cha Eun woo, who looked a lot like Hwang Min hyeon (Seo Yul of Alchemy of Souls) also headlined the show, sporting his blue-lit sword-like weapon. As it is in the early episodes, however, I can say that Island didn’t shy away from frequent fight scenes, the way that Alchemy of Souls did. Island spoiled viewers with fantastically-executed fight scenes that turned staple of each episode and I doubt anyone can even ask for more.
The story also proved to be a gem, on its own. The fate of intertwined souls that were meant to meet but not stay together was the greatest irony of the plot — at least, as the early episodes suggested. The test of time will tell us whether the writers can hold the plot afloat amid the mysteries and ironies in the lore.
The series shines with every episode and I couldn’t help but look forward to the following weeks’. So much in store for the characters to unravel as we inched mid-point of the broadcast. How are you liking it so far?
