A small word of warning to potential watchers, especially the ones that love the fluffy dramas: This is the type of kdrama that delights in twisting the knife after it stabs you in the gut to prove a point. The Bridal Mask may not break you, but it sure as heck will try. There isn't a ton of comedic relief, unless you prescribe to action peppered with dark humor, and the plot tension is almost constant from the start. Fortunately for me, I'm the kind of disturbing person that likes all of that stuff, especially when it's paired with beautiful visuals and a solid OST to boot. Story: At its heart, The Bridal Mask pits conflicting concepts against each other in poignant ways. Themes such as the importance of identity, fate vs. choice, devotion to a cause vs. personal desires, and the need for revolution dominate the storyline. Each and every character suffers for what they believe; the story demands that they prove their loyalties time and time again, no matter what side they're on. There are occasional imperfections and the story sometimes becomes obvious, but my enjoyment didn't lessen. As much as I love my romance stories, the true strength of The Bridal Mask is the star-crossed relationship between our antihero lead, Lee Kang To, and his childhood friend, Kimura Shunji. Their layers are explored with every major plot point, and their symbiotic link powers so many feels. It's about more than just two best friends. Their internal priorities matter. Their family ties and conflicting heritages matter. Their decisions matter. There isn't a straight-up vanilla hero in this drama. At the beginning of the story, Lee Kang To voluntarily works for a government who oppresses his neighbors and family. He stops at nothing to get what he wants, even if it means torturing an innocent person (this includes women, y'all) for information. Japanese and Koreans alike demean him and (in some cases) torture him for his choices, and the chip on his shoulder feeds into the man he is. Even placing Kang To aside, the other leads have inner demons and misconceptions, some of them more apparent than others, and the show doesn't let these characters spiral into wasted opportunity. It absolutely brings them out to play to enhance the themes of the story. This is MY JAM. Acting/Cast: I had no expectations of the cast, having never met them before in other dramas, and I remember the moment it happened - the moment I knew it was true love. I lay in bed at nearly two in the morning, tears streaming down my face because of a side character - A SIDE CHARACTER - over his seemingly insignificant yet incredibly moving part in the story. And that's the kind of drama The Bridal Mask is. The crew spare no expense in acting talent when it comes to the cast. Joo Won, Park Ki Woong, and Han Chae Ah especially shine in their parts, and the stress they must have endured is evident. Some of the scenes they pull off are incredibly difficult and draining. The supporting cast also provide the perfect setup and delivery for the plot and main cast. I would rate this section a full 10/10 if one principal actor - Jin Se Yeon - fulfilled her role completely as a lead actress. She begins with fire and conviction, immediately catching my attention, but she doesn't quite reach the talent level the others have. This isn't her worst performance in a drama (by far), but the other cast carry her in a few scenes as we reach the climax of the story. Ueno Rie (played by Han Chae Ah) is, by far, the better of the two female leads, both in character complexity and acting talent. If you're looking for a lady badass, she'll be the one to watch for. Music: The Bridal Mask has an excellent soundtrack and score. My love for it could be blurred by nostalgia, but I enjoy its blend of eastern and western flavor, which carries through in the drama itself. It’s exactly the type of soundtrack and score that I look for in a drama, and the instrumentals especially are my favorite. Rewatch Value: I don't normally rate high-tension and emotional dramas "well" in the rewatch value category, if it can be called that. I think a drama can be better for having a low rewatch value if the message and takeaway value are long-lasting. The Bridal Mask is an exception for me, though. When I'm in the mood for angst and antiheroes, which is often, it's one of my first stops.