The Slave Hunters (2010) User Reviews (13)

Worth watching historical kdrama...

[fprefect-685-281084 · 10/10 · 18 June 2013]

Sweeping drama that weaves timeless issues throughout – friendship, love, loyalty, human dignity, good versus evil, during a time where slaves were crucial to life but considered the lowest rung of society. Slaves ran away from cruel conditions and Slave Hunters were employed to bring them back.

The pivotal role of Slave Hunter Lee Dae-gil is played to perfection by Jang Hyuk. His comrades, General Choi (Han Jung-soo) and Wang-son (Kim Ji-seok), acting as muscle and maid respectively, form a family.

Dae-gil is haunted by his first love,former slave, Un-nyun (Lee Da- hae), who escaped with her brother 10 years ago when Dae-gil's family home was burned to the ground, to which Dae-gil was the lone survivor.

Song Tae-ha (Oh Ji-ho) crosses paths with Dae-gil multiple times during the series and is a key to Dae-gil's first love, Un-nyun, story. Tae-ha is a military general for the royal court and a driver for the political storyline.

The slaves have their own storyline, driven by marksman Eop Bok (Gong Hyung Jin) and savvy Cho Bok (Kim Min Joo). These parallel stories of slave hunting and political intrigue of the King's court, push all the characters towards an intersection of fate and their choices for their individual life's purpose.

This show is beautiful, each actor is lovingly shot to the best angles and lighting not matter how many days they've been without bathing. The fights are choreographed so that each character's has a different style and no two fights are the same – difficult to achieve with as many fights scenes in the series!

What I loved about this drama: 1) Dae-gil is the lynchpin for the emotional punch of the series. I loved the character of Dae-gil – great fighter, fiercely loyal, savvy in what motivates people, the kind of guy you'd want to hang with. Dae-gil's story interweaves with all the key characters. The actor Jang Hyuk brought this crucial hard-edged character to life. 2) The political storyline was interesting. Yes there are lots of characters and it takes a while to sort it out, but the selfish power-hungry politicians play chess with all the characters you love (and hate). 3) Great villains - Hwang Chul-Woong (Lee Jong Hyuk) driven to hard core assassin by chess master Minister Lee (Kim Eung Soo). 4) Cutest kid ever, Crown Prince Seok-Kyeon (Kim Jin Woo). 5) Eop Bok's final stand was very satisfying.

What I did not love: 1) Mid-way the series took a dark turn that was recoverable, but the shock was significant. 2) Tough to keep the political story characters straight and politicians are never nice people. 3) Who lives and who dies? Even though I'd might have made some changes, the retribution and redemption choices the writers made, rang true for the characters. 4) More of an epilog on the final episode to wrap the series up with a bow, much is left to your imagination.

A Korean Masterpiece

[onelovek · 10/10 · 13 September 2019]

This tv show is the antithesis of Hollywood's nonchalant and lack luster production of cinematography of the 21st century. This tv show defines a true nature of grit and the gripping emotions of containing its audience in 'awe' that kept us asking for more. This highly underrated film is a treasure and one of the best tv shows out there. Thank you for making a great story on the big screens.

Great performances by the actors

[irobot-06735 · 10/10 · 11 December 2020]

I'm really impressed with Jang Hyuk's performance. I applaud the intensity that he brings to the character Lee Dae-gil. One really feels his pain and anguish. I was shipping him and Kim Hye-won more so than the other male lead. It's a very emotional and entertaining drama. I highly recommend it.

Amazing

[bunnytman · 10/10 · 30 June 2019]

This show was above fantastic. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time and gave up sleep just to watch one more episode. The cast was perfection!!

A classic series

[forgod-39352 · 10/10 · 14 February 2019]

This drama is full of many thing. Is very entertaining for a man like me that like to watch action martial arts and it has something for woman too. It pretty good to watch.

Best Korean drama

[maryamtavala · 10/10 · 31 October 2021]

Slave Hunter(Chuno) is the best Korean drama I've ever seen.

Everything... the story line, editing, directing, movie theme, music, soundtracks, scenario and the acting were superb.

Jang Hyuk and Oh Ji-Ho acting were shine and I truly loved all the cast members except Lee Da Hee.

She had a weak character and frustrating I cried for Dae-Gil and for sad and painful ending.

Finally , i just want to say i loved, i adored each and every scene of this drama.

And I wish all dramas could be as exciting as Chuno.

Another fine Korean drama

[martin-fennell · 9/10 · 15 October 2017]

Korean drama series. Favourite characters Min Cho Bok Yi, Seol Hwa. Best performance by Ha Si-Eun as Lee Sun Young, the woman with cerebral palsy. Yes, an obvious choice to make. But i think it was an extraordinary performance. Two questions. (1) what happened to Eop Bok. (2) when the guards or whatever had Hye Won's picture in front of them. Even if she had some kind of disease, it was plain that it was her. It would have been better if she had worn something to hide her face.

Good Chuno Drama

[lmerana · 8/10 · 4 July 2019]

The action and the plot is really interesting, especially if it's your first time to watch about the story of slave hunters of Korea. I was just hoping jang hyuk and da hae will wnd up together but Oh Ji ho is not bad either. So many emotions on this drama and you need to pay close attention to their dialogues to understand the story better.

Respectable Drama

[infiniticodner · 8/10 · 26 March 2021]

I'm going to preface my review with that I'm watching this right after Empress Ki (of which I hold to a gold standard), so my rating may be a bit skewed.

Chuno is good, and the fighting for a TV series is respectably good. My only issue with it (as a Westerner) is that there are 4-5 separate stories happening at once- so it makes watching this a bit disjointed. Its not to bash the premise because when the stories do eventually come together (or affect each other in some way), it does become fun to watch. Also, the first few episodes require some background knowledge of the history of Korea- and while the blurb in the first episode intro does try to do that, its still a challenge to follow. Even as the series progressed, I think I only grasped about 60% of what the show/politics in it was actually about.

For me, I almost gave up watching this, until things started to pick up and come together around the 6th episode.

Another small gripe I have is the ending. It seems rather rushed and unfinished, with a lot of unanswered questions- and unresolved issues. As a series, 10-12 more episodes could have been easily added so the ending could be more clear.

But other than those pet-peeves, Chuno is great, and the OST music is quite good (almost movie like). The twists in this show also does make it compelling too-and organic, not manufactured (good job to the writers).

There's not as much waterworks here, as in Empress Ki, but its still amazing to watch how these actors can cry at the drop of a hat.

Stunning cinematography and good lead actors

[phd_travel · 8/10 · 12 May 2020]

Firstly the cinematography is high quality like a big budget movie. Beautiful countryside and settings. The chase parts are exciting and the main love triangle is actually quite involving unlike some older melodramas. But the quiet moments and the subplot and some secondary characters are boring. You can fast forward through them. 16 episodes would have been better than 24. Some chasing around is repetitive. The cast is right for their roles. Jang Hyuk and Oh Ji Ho are convincing. The men look and behave like men and the women look like women. Lee Da Hae is sweet and believable and her character isn't annoying. Their story is quite passionate. Unlike the recent costume dramas where often the men are too androgynous looking, the cast here looks convincing. As far as big epic Joseon dramas are concerned this is a change from the usual ones that are stuck in the palace with the court intrigue and concubines and eunuchs. Worth watching.

Best korean drama

[lucyym · 10/10 · 31 October 2019]

This my favorite korean drama.Is an amazing and Jang Hyuk with action he does he's so good.I like the story.

Try again!

[Park_Min · 3/10 · 4 October 2023]

Practically, this drama is just a shirtless men expedition. It featured one of the most deplorable writing efforts and attempts to be edgy and hip with the times (2010). The drama had absolutely nothing to offer other than Jang Hyuk presence. They made Jang Hyuk as an edgy cringey whiny kid full of stupid one-liners and little to no real characterization put into him. This is a prime example for how to NOT write a broken and traumatized character. The drama had no real fights, just a handful of flashy dances in slow-mo with little to no weight to their strikes coupled with unfitting soundtrack for the fight or the moment. To reach the 24 episodes mark they had to stretch it thin, literally, with a lot of repeated scenes, extremely elongated stares and gazes, irrelevant dialogue and random slow-mo shots which all resulted in a poor utilization of the cinematography.

Superb

[memodabs · 10/10 · 31 March 2024]

I am.so completely blown away by episode 10. The moment l.was waiting for. Finally. They hugged and kissed. How romantic. I haven't watched all of it yet but this series has stolen my heart. I am.keeping my fingers crossed the two love birds will continue captivating us with their growing love. What l loved was that both didn't even realize that they were in love. This series will keep you on the edge of your seat. It's worth watching. The whole series takes a different approach which keeps one hooked. The acting is on point and l just love the scenery. Beautiful, views that are presented. The costumes are on point. Well done.