The Legend on GMA-7
The Legend is a South Korean TV series created by Kimjonghak Production. GMA-7 was able to obtain the copyright property of the said TV series and they are airing The Legend on GMA-7 right after Babangon Ako't Dudurugin Kita. The theme song of The Legend was I can go the Distance originally sung by Michael Bolton and revived by Ariel Rivera.
The story of The Legend is loosely based on the legend of Dangun and Gwanggaeto the Great of Goguryeo. The story also adds mythical elements of the Four Symbols depicted in fantasy form as the four guardians who serve the king of Jyushin. The addition of fantasy to a Korean historical drama makes this series unique and distinguishes itself from its predecessors in Korean television series.
Characters :
Damdeok : The prince of Goguryeo, and also the reincarnation of son of the God Hwanwung.
Hogae : The rival of Damdeok.
Hyeongo : The leader of the Geomul village and the master of Hyeonmu.
Kiha : The mistress of the Dark Phoenix.
Plot :
A long time ago, a tribe that respected the tiger and controlled fire called the Ho-jok (Tiger Tribe), ruled the world. They eliminated and assimilated all tribes except the tribe that respected the bear, called the Ung-jok (Bear Tribe). The Tiger Tribe and the Bear Tribe fought, and Hwanung could not bear to see so many people getting killed. He brought the three gods of nature; Baek-Ho (??, the White Tiger), Cheong-Ryong (??, the Blue Dragon), and Hyeon-Mu (??, the Black Turtle-Snake). He removed the power of fire from the leader of the Tiger Tribe, Gajin, sealed the power into an artifact called the Heart of Ju-Jak (??, the Red Phoenix), and gave it to the woman he loved; Se-o. However, Gajin was mortally wounded while attacking another tribe, and she seemed to die until Hwanung healed her. This thoroughly convinced Gajin to not make a grudge against Hwanung.
When her tribe were derived to take back the power of fire, they didn't listen to Gajin and decided to attack the Bear Tribe. Gajin then slays her tribe's council with her own blade, and escapes from her own tribe and headed towards the Bear Tribe, deciding to become Hwanung's woman. However, the god's son had Seoh in mind and declared his love for her. Unfortunately, Gajin was watching them secretly when this took place. Gajin was infuriated by this and began regaining the Tiger Tribe and attacked the Bear Tribe. Unfortunately, this was the time when Se-o was pregnant, and when she had given birth, the baby was kidnapped by Gajin and she offered Seo a deal for trading her baby and the power of fire.
When Se-o confronts Gajin, Gajin revenges by dropping Se-o's baby from a cliff, leading to Se-o going out of control and releasing the Heuk-Jujak (Dark Phoenix), even though Hwanung had saved the baby. (Note: Jujak is roughly the equivalent of Phoenix.) Hwanung's subordinates, the White Tiger, the Blue Dragon and the Black Turtle-Snake fought the Dark Phoenix, but were no match for it. Left with no choice, Hwanung used his Heavenly Bow to kill Se-o, the source of the power of the Dark Phoenix, and managed to seal it once again in the heart of Red Phoenix.
Kajin committed suicide because she "had no reason to live in this world any more" by falling from the cliff. Hwanung sealed the powers of the 'Four Gods' (The Red Phoenix, White Tiger, Blue Dragon, and the Black Turtle-Snake) in certain artifacts and left them in the cares of certain people, telling them that they will wake when the King of Jushin is born.
Many centuries later, the reincarnation of Hwanung, Damdeok, was born. Along with him, the artifacts of the guardians of the King were born. Damdeok met difficulties in becoming the king of Goguryeo, mainly because of Yeon Hogae who mistook Damdeok for the murderer of his mother, and his father who turned the king's parliament against him.
Major Casts of The Legend:
* Bae Yong Jun as Damdeok / Hwanung
* Lee Ji-ah as Sujini / Se-o
* Moon So-rias Seo Giha / Gajin
* Oh Kwang-rok as Hyeon-go
* Choi Min-soo as Daejangro(Leader) of Hwacheon Clan
* Yoon Tae-young as Yeon Hogae
* Park Sang-won as Yeon Garyo
Minor casts of The Legend
* Park Sang-Min as Saryang
* Philip Lee as Cheoro
* Park Sung-Woong as Jumuchi
* Lee Da-Hee as Gakdan
* Yoo Seung-Ho as young Damdeok
* Park Eun-Bin as young Giha
* Oh Seung-Yoon as young Hyeon-go
* Shim Eun-Kyung as young Sujini
* Kim Ho-Young as young Hogae
For the trailer of The Legend, click here.