Numerous folktales have been transformed into contemporary fairytales by K-dramas. The nine-tailed fox, Goblin, Habaek, and Gumiho are all well-known, with Gumiho being the most well-known. Bulgasal, a new legendary entity, was introduced to K-drama fans in Bulgasal: Immortal Souls. Bulgasari, a piece of Korean folklore, served as the inspiration for this more thrilling than romantic narrative.
Bulgasal: Immortal Souls Plot Summary
The people consider a child born of a deceased mother to be unlucky since he carries Bulgasal’s curse and is abandoned by his father. The Goryeo general adopts the young child and gives him the name Hwal. He develops into a monster-killing warrior as an adult. Except for Bulgasal, who is still unknown as to whether he is a myth or real, he has killed every monster. The creature is genuine, and when she does appear, she murders every member of Hwal’s family, including his father, wife, and kid. Even worse, the monster transforms Hwal into a Bulgasal rather than putting him to death. The Bulgasal takes Hwal’s soul and transforms into a human.
Since that time, Hwal has spent 600 years trying to find the Bulgasal in order to recover his soul, but every time she does, other monsters who have assumed human form and slain her. After a protracted search, Hwal discovers twin Bulgasal, but Sang Yeon, one of them, is murdered by a monster, and Sang Un, the other, flees with Si Ho, her younger sister. After a while, Hwal runs into her once more, and both Hwal and Sang Un’s lives begin to experience a string of extraordinary occurrences. Sang Un believed she had slain her family, and Hwal believed he was the only Bulgasal that had existed. However, another Bulgasal suddenly appears and dramatically alters their lives.
Everyone from Hwal’s prior life starts to appear as the mystery deepens. They are all linked by Karma, and they have finally completed the circle. Every time a new mystery is solved, alliances are made and shattered. All of the participants in the conflict between the three antiheroes and their karmic links will suffer as a result of their actions.
A Humane Side Of The Story Of Antiheroes
According to Korean tradition, a woman’s blood gave birth to the monster Bulgasari and also caused it to die. Instead of feasting on iron like the mythical monster did, Bulgasal here consumes human blood like a vampire. Although the story has been updated for the present age, it nevertheless makes nods to the original folktale. It is impossible for a killer to be a hero. No one has a hero status in Bulgasal. The narrative has several facets. Someone is not automatically a hero just because they were formerly good. Be it Hwal, Sang Un, or Eul Tae, they have hurt more people in their many lifetimes.
The show begins with scary and gory images before shifting to lighter tones later on. The three antiheroes that serve as the major characters all have varying degrees of darkness. Hwal, the former human who turned Bulgasal, does not murder people only to keep a vow. When he assumes his real form, he becomes vicious and frightening. Sang Un appears to be an innocent human, but she was formerly a Bulgasal. As a result of this, she is very defensive and has grown up having to deal with monsters. She resembles a self-destructive time bomb. Eul Tae is ruthless and strong. He thrives on human blood and oozes poison just by being there. He has the most complex personality of all of them. He occasionally exhibits typical human behaviours, such as playing video games and acting down about life. Despite being a monster, he develops emotional attachments to certain people. He can’t be trusted.
The second half of the series, where the emotional aspect of the non-human characters is examined, grows from the first half, which is all about monsters, deaths, vengeance, and escape. Their history has entered their present thanks to karma. Monsters who have been living a heartless existence must confront their feelings. Hwal runs into his former family and vows to help them this time because he failed to do it before. Despite his reputation for brutality, Eul Tae always leaves his deceased father alone and has a friend who he later betrays but does not kill.
If it has to be put into a single statement, it starts off cruel and ends up being incredibly moving. The historical era’s cinematography feels fantastic and is appropriate for a fantasy film. Each performer did a good job of portraying their roles naturally. On the other hand, Lee Joon’s portrayal of Ok Eul Tae is incredibly strong and deserving of praise. Unquestionably one of the best fantasy/fiction kdramas, Bulgasal is a delight to watch for fans of the genre.
See More: Bulgasal: Immortal Souls Season 1: Ending, Explained What Was Hwal & Sang-un s Past?
