Damo, Director's Cut (HDTV-Series)
Long time ago in Korea, during the time of Cho-Sun Dynasty, there was a group of women called Damo (Da-Mo). 'Da-Mo' is the name of the job meaning the police woman. 'Da-Mo' was regarded as the low class but they had the privilege to investigate lady's private room and interview the ladies of the high society where no man could approach. Da-Mo's who are working in the Palace were even exposed to the undergoing political intrigue. But Da-Mo, being the low class and women, they were treated no better than the humble servants in the society. They were not free from the suffocating society full of prejudice on class and sex. This drama depicts the life of Da- Mo named Chae-Ok. She was of noble birth, but was downgraded to be a slave due the downfall of her family when she was seven. Her father committed suicide due to the persecution of the court, and she was separated from her brother and mother when they were trying to escape the imperial guards. She was captured and assigned to serve in the Hwang-bo residence as a servant., and specifically to look after the young master Hwang-bo Yoon. They were put under the tutelage of a highly skilled master.
She is undefeatable when it comes to using the sword. She is straight honest, courageous and upright. She possesses the advanced idea for living that coud not be accepted by the conventions of the society. She finds herself trapped by the injustice of the world and the prejustice of the society, which makes life unbearable for her. Her only motivation in her life is to assist her young master to achieve his ambitions. She shares a complex relationship with Yoon, who is also the superior of the police team that she works under. Yoon is her closest kin since she was separated from her family.
Yoon’s mother was the concubine of a honorable man and this has been his scar since he was small. He adores his people like his own brother but would not outwardly express his feelings. He yearns to achieve more than what society has assigned him. He is in love with Chae-ok. But they are from two different classes, and his father had instructed Yoon at his deathbed never to choose Chae-ok as his partner as she is the daughter of a disgraced family.
While working undercover on a counterfeit case, Chae-ok finds herself drawn to Jang Sung-baek, the charismatic and mysterious leader of a gang of bandits she has infiltrated. Sung-baek is also an excellent master of sword fighting. He takes care of his people but he also has a ruthless side that would never forgive anyone who does not share his thoughts. He feels himself falling for Chae-ok and tries to convince her to join him. Chae-ok cannot betray her loyalty to Yoon and turn against the law for Sung-baek, yet she is not able to arrest Sung-baek during the crucial moment of the police attack.This eventually leads to dire consequences as the rebels, in their plot to topple the Emperor’s rule, using Chae-ok as a pawn to double-cross Yoon and his team during their investigation of the counterfeit ring.
Chae-ok and Yoon eventually realise that Sung-baek is not a common bandit, but the leader of a guerilla army trains to overthrow the Emperor. Sung-baek’s gang is protesting against the prejustice brought about by the caste system, which is suffocating the people.
Sung-baek decides to forget Chae-ok as he knows that loving her will ruin his big dream of destroying the old world order and set up a new justice to the world. Chae-ok also resolves to arrest Sung-baek to redeem herself for her betrayal to Yoon. Yoon on the other hand, seeing Chae-ok slipping away from him because of Sung-baek, unleashes his feelings to her with heart-breaking consequences as well. How will it all end for Yoon, Chae-ok and Sung-baek who are entangled together by love, loyalty and betrayal?
I think ‘Damo’ has the potential to go down in the filming history as one of the best series ever made around the world. In recent years I have never seen a movie or a serial with those outstanding actors and a heart-tearing story which hurts with every episode more and more.
Review: M. Lindenmeyer
22.12.2005