Set in the period between the Goryeo and Joseon dynasties, My Country: The New Age is the story of two young men caught up in the nation’s power struggle. Yang Se-jong (Doona) stars as Seo Hwi, son of the famous swordsman, Seo Geom, a man wrongfully accused of treason. Seo Hwi’s best friend, Nam Seon-ho, played by Woo Do-hwan (The King: Eternal Monarch), is the illegitimate son of high-ranking official Nam Jeon (Ahn Nae-sang).
Friendship, loyalty, and devotion to country are tested as the two are called upon to use their considerable fighting skills in the power struggle for the throne. This includes Prince Yi Bang-won (Jang Hyuk), the person responsible for setting his father on the throne and who is restless for his own chance to rule.
Featuring breathtaking scenes, beautiful costumes and a commanding score, the series is filled with action, political intrigue, heartbreak, and tragedy.
- Series Title: My Country: The New Age (Korean: 나의 나라)
- Starring: Yang Se-jong, Woo Do-hwan, Ahn Nae-sang, Jang Hyuk
- Written by: Chae Seung-dae
- Directed by: Kim Jin-won
- Network: JTBC
- Where to watch in the US: Netflix
- Premier Date: October 4, 2019
- # of episodes: 16
- KafeNook Rating: 4.4 sips
My Country: The New Age — !! Spoilers Ahead!!
I love a good bromance. My first introduction to the bromance came in the Star Trek Original Series episode, The Empath. Spock, Kirk, and McCoy (Leonard Nimoy, William Shatner and DeForest Kelley respectively) are held captive by an unknown species who perform experiments on them. Their only companion during this trial is an empath (Katheryn Hays). Throughout the episode, each of the Star Fleet officers tries to save the other by sacrificing themselves. (Spoiler: Dr. McCoy wins the sacrifice game, removing both of his friends from the board using his sly medical skills.) I love how this shows the sacrifice these friends are willing to make for each other.
The 1970’s show Starsky and Hutch (Paul Michael Glaser and David Soul), featuring two detectives who will do anything for each other, is another favorite bromance of mine. After all these years, I still remember the episode, The Fix, where Hutch is forced by a drug kingpin to become addicted to heroin. When Starsky finds his partner and friend, he takes on the difficult and heart wrenching task of detoxifying Hutch.
A more recent screen bromance that takes it to a whole new level is the show Supernatural. Winchester brothers, Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles) fight demons and other supernatural creatures. In the process, they literally die multiple times to save each other throughout the series. My favorite all time Supernatural episode, In My Time of Dying, is one of the best examples of a Winchester who is willing to sacrifice himself for the other. (Not to mention that the acting, writing, directing and music for the episode is phenomenal.)
My Country: The New Age is a bromance at its core. Yes, it contains actions and intrigue. It also features light-hearted moments and a little (tiny bit) of romance. But the focus is on the friendship of main characters Seo Hwi and Nam Seon-ho and the bond between them.
Best Friends Hwi and Seon-ho
At the beginning of My Country: The New Age, Seo Hwi and Nam Seon-ho are best friends despite their differences in station. Their friendship began as children when Hwi’s father was branded a traitor and executed. Hwi desperately sought help to bury his father and Seon-ho was the only one who would help him. They grow up training together and teasing Hwi’s younger sister, Seo Yeon (Cho Yi-hyun), who has a crush on Seon-ho. Their affection for each other is evident in their friendly rivalry. The first test of their friendship comes when the beautiful and intelligent Han Hee-jae (Kim Seol-hyun) enters their lives and the two friends fall for her. This turns out to be a minor test compared to what is waiting for them.
Hwi and Seon-ho are set to compete for a single spot in the King’s army. The subsequent bouts of the competition display stellar choreography and showcase the athleticism of these actors. (Yang Se-jong and Wo Do-hwan are amazing in action – horseback riding, archery, sword fighting. Do they teach classes in this stuff?) Naturally, Hwi and Seon-ho face off in the final match. Hwi, who rivals his father’s sword-fighting skills, appears to win – until the judge indicates that Seon-ho is the victor. Nam Jeon, Seon-ho’s sly father has paid off the judge to ensure his son’s success. Even though Seon-ho is illegitimate, Nam Jeon would rather see his son take a command in the King’s army than Hwi, the son of a traitor.
Seon-ho is given a choice by his father: Hwi will either be killed or conscripted into the army. Wanting to save his friend’s life, Seon-ho chooses the later but is unable to tell Hwi of this choice. To make matters worse, Hwi’s sister hits her head during his arrest. Thinking her dead, Hwi blames Seon-ho and his father for her death, as well as his own fate. Seon-ho breaks down crying (Woo Do-hwan is a crying master!) as he watches this unfold from the sidelines.
The Many Sacrifices of Hwi and Seon-ho
Sent off to a no-win battle, Hwi not only survives but gains a victory. Unfortunately, the King would rather wash the entire battle away. He orders Nam Jeon to kill any survivors. Nam Jeon selects his own son, Seon-ho to lead the hit squad. A reluctant Seon-ho hopes that Hwi is already dead. The last thing he wants to do is kill his friend. As his group raids the survivors camp, Seon-ho and Hwi cross swords. At the moment one of the King’s soldiers is about to spear Hwi, Seon-ho steps in and takes the thrust of the blade himself. (Not keeping score or anything but so far in the drama, Seon-ho has saved Hwi like three times.) Hwi and a handful of men who have become loyal to him escape, taking the wounded Seon-ho with them.
I lost count of how many times Hwi and Seon-ho save each other throughout the drama, but it’s a lot. Seon-ho miraculously recovers from the sword thrust in his side. He receives more wounds life-threatening wounds as the story continues as does Hwi who even survives being poisoned. Those young men have some super survival genes!
Bad Guy Nam Jeon
The initial bad guy in My Country: The New Age is Seon-ho’s father, Nam Jeon. Seon-ho is the son Nam Jeon is stuck with when his legitimate son dies. He never treats Seon-ho with any love or affection. Since Seon-ho is his only surviving son, however, he will do anything to see him succeed. For his part, Seon-ho only wants his father’s love and approval, even though nothing he does seems to earn it.
Seon-ho’s one rebellion against his father occurs when he takes in Hwi’s injured sister who has lost her memory. Over time, he comes to love her like his own sister. Though Nam Jeon appears to care for Hwi’s sister, he has no qualms using her as a lure for Hwi. In one heartbreaking sequence, Seon-ho fights off a legion of men to give Hwi time to flee with his sister, only for Yeon to be killed in front of Hwi. A heavily injured Seon-ho arrives too late to even say goodbye to her.
Prince Yi Bang-won
Prince Yi Bang-won, played by the charismatic actor, Jang Hyuk, sees potential in Hwi. He recruits Hwi to his cause putting Hwi and Seon-ho, who fights for the King, on the opposite sides again. Hwi admires Bang-won, a man proven to keep his word, and believes they share the same vision for a better country. Prince Bang-won has a complicated relationship with his father, in part because he killed his best friend’s father to help his own father become king. Because of this, he takes away Hwi’s chance to kill Nam Jeon. He wants to spare Hwi the weight of killing his best friend’s father.
My Country: The New Age Ending
With the death of Seon-ho’s father, Nam Jeon, the series loses a bit of steam. Nam Jeon drove Seon-ho’s character who spent his life until this point seeking acceptance from his father. After his father’s death, Seon-ho’s only goal is to hunt down Hwi. Nam Jeon also drove Hwi’s character who sought revenge. His chance at revenge taken from him, Hwi no longer wants to fight for Bang-won. After a six-year gap in the story, Bang-won triumphs over his father, the King, only to become the new bad guy who views Hwi as a threat. Because Bang-won is a character with a lot of charm and intensity, it’s hard to see him turn on Hwi.
By the end of My Country: The New Age, Hwi realizes the only way to a better future for the country he loves is to turn himself in. Having reconnected with Seon-ho, the two fight their way into the palace. Too late, Seon-ho has realized that with Hwi and Hwi’s sister, Yeon, he had all the acceptance and love he ever needed. He stays outside to fight off the guards (and in true Boromir fashion becomes a human pin cushion). Hwi negotiates with Bong-won – his life for that of a better future for the people. Once Bang-won agrees, Hwi returns outside where he kneels beside brother-in-all-but-name Seon-ho. Then he smiles up at Han Hee-jae as the palace gates close. (Looks like I need another box of tissues.)
Sad as the ending is, it’s satisfying to see this tiny band of brothers, Hwi and Seon-ho, together in the end – each dying for something or someone they care about.
My Country: The New Age Soundtrack
The My Country: The New Age soundtrack sounds like it’s written for a movie, with larger-than-life compositions by Choi Chul-ho and Oh Hye-ju that support the action and gravity of the drama. It’s not something that I would listen to by itself but fits the show well. I find the song, The Warrior is especially moving.
