What Are You Watching? - [2017/05/24]

모래시계 Sandglass By Written By** Song Ji-na (Healer) Broadcast: Jan.-Feb. 1995 (21 Ep. 45 Min each)

A love triangle that takes place over a period of time during the 70's and 80's and is one of the highest rated Kdramas' ever broadcast. I suspect it will not make many must-watch lists because it was broadcast so long ago but the subject matter is still relevant today, if not more so. I sought this series out because of the Writer Song Ji-na who also wrote Healer which I thought was excellent. If you are interested in the recent history of the how and why of what has shaped Korea as it exists today this series should be on your list. You won't be disappointed. For quality think on par with Healer. The acting is superb, the plot movement excellent and the dialog will entertain and move you as well as any current Kdrama I think. This series may be more poignant today given what happened recently during the demonstrations that brought down Park Geun-hye.

There is a similarity between Healer and Sandglass in that the plot focus of both centers on the two males and one female but with Sandglass there is a love triangle and with Healer there is not. The principals are impacted by the backdrop of intense social and political upheaval over twenty years. You can read more in the link if you are interested. I'll add that while I watched each episode I couldn't help but think that Sandglass was similar to the epic Godfather series. Even down to the type of background music and so I can understand why it is one of the highest rated series of all time in Korea.

I was aware of what was going on in Korea at this point in time (70's and 80's) but I was not aware of the level of details that this series reveals. The brutality used to suppress the students and demonstrators during martial law I was not aware of and it shocked me. Also, I couldn't help but think - Could this happen in the USA today?

Warning Don't be put off by the different aspect ratio of the episodes. It was broadcast in '94 and the signal then was not as demanding as it is today. Also, it is not letterboxed. There are some parts that may not “look” as well as today's broadcast. For those that do decide to try it you will not notice any of this after the first episode because the quality of the series will make you forget all of these things as you watch.

/r/KDRAMA Thread