Ruler of Your Own World, aka: As You Wish (MBC TV Series) (US Version) DVD Region All

They're called "Mania" Dramas: TV Series that fail to capture the masses, but manage to slowly build a faithful audience that supports the show until the end. Ruler of Your Own World might be one of the best examples yet. This is a different show, far away from the diabolical convolutions and contrivances of the prototypical TV melodrama.

There are no major stars here, but everyone down to the smallest supporting actor does an excellent job. Yang Dong-geun's portrayal of Ko Bok-su is fantastic. He swings between the character's innocent naivete and guilt for his past with ease. Yang shows impressive range here, and seems the perfect leading man for the series' ever-changing mood. The other surprise is relative newcomer Lee Na-young. If you're tired of super-pretty plastic beauties overacting at every chance they get, here's someone who can finally convey different emotions without making a fool of herself. Kyung's charming personality comes across impressively thanks to Lee. When she smiles, she does it with her whole face and it feels sincere, as much as the opposite emotion evokes the same reaction. As the series begins, the viewer will likely have a hard time connecting with her. Little by little though, as she begins her relationship with Bok-su, you'll start to relate to her, and understand her personality.

It would be criminal leaving Kong Hyo-jin out of the picture. Her portrayal of Mi-rae is interesting, because it mixes a lot of elements from her previous supporting roles (lots of cutesy and quirky moments) with a more 'grown up' personality. This is the best performance of her young career, and it gives a new spin to the 'bad girl' character you often find in series like this. The supporting cast is equally good. Jung Doo-hung impresses in a role that mimics his real life occupation (action director). He's a tough, no-BS man on the outside, but he reveals himself to be one of Bok-su's best friends. Jung seems a natural for this kind of role.

Then there's the writing. Fans of TV Dramas often put up more bad writing than the average Korean entertainment fan. But, Ruler of Your Own World features some of the best writing seen on a TV drama. Characters seem stereotypical at first, but emerge as multidimensional and realistic. There is never the feeling that things are rushing to a mega-convoluted cliffhanger, or that a mysterious sickness or death will come out of nowhere to further the plot. Whatever happens here does so for a reason. I never got the sense of urgency felt on other melodramas. This series shows a good mix of lighthearted, even silly moments with more serious and touching ones. More important, it's successful in hitting the right notes. There's some manipulation, but it's the kind that you might see in a film by Lee Jung-hyang or Hur Jin-ho: you can happily live with it, because you care about the characters.

Ruler of Your Own World has a fantastic ending and plenty to discuss afterwards, but it also does something I haven't seen in many Korean TV series. It takes the most overused plot device (a fatal disease) and actually uses it to convey something. It's not just a device to bring tears to your eyes. Up to the last episode, the atmosphere never goes the usual way; there's no tragedy here. Bok-su builds a beautiful life out of his last days on Earth. He tries to make life better for him and the people he knows. He makes new friends, makes his parents' life meaningful again, and he lets people who love him enter his life. The only flaw of Ruler of Your Own World is that, sadly, it eventually has to end. The best TV drama of 2002.

By V. "X" Naldi - koreanfilm.org