I was thrilled when I first heard about “Scholar Who Walks the Night.” Who wouldn’t be? It features vampires set in the Joseon era. For those unfamiliar, the Kingdom of Joseon was a Korean dynasty founded by Yi Seonggye, lasting from July 1392 to October 1897. It was Korea’s last and longest-ruling Confucian dynasty. “Scholar Who Walks the Night” seemed like the perfect blend of “Arang” and “Sungkyunkwan Scandal.” Not only does it feature vampires, but it also includes a girl who disguises herself as a boy to earn a living and support her family. Perhaps there’s even a hint of homosexuality in the story? I wonder.
“Scholar Who Walks the Night” tells the story of Kim Sung Yeol (Lee Joon Gi), a scholar who supports his friend, the king, against the ancient vampire Gwi (Lee Soo Hyuk), who has been threatening the throne. The king aims to defeat Gwi but loses his life in the process, and Sung Yeol is turned into a vampire. His mission becomes finding a journal containing a secret plan to avenge his friend and destroy the evil presence for good. 120 years later, he encounters Jo Yang Sun (Lee Yoo Bi), a bookseller who can locate thousands of titles. Unknown to everyone but her family, she disguises herself as a boy to make a living. When Sung Yeol discovers her secret, he understands why he is drawn to her.

What I liked about Scholar Who Walks the Night
What I appreciated about “Scholar Who Walks the Night” were the strong performances from all the key characters. Lee Joon-Gi, in the lead role, did not disappoint. His powerful performance made us truly feel the pain his character was enduring. Lee Soo Hyuk also impressed me; he made the character of Gwi fascinating and compelling, transforming a potentially cheesy villain into a believable and intriguing figure. Shim Chang-Min’s portrayal of Yoon was surprisingly good. Despite Yoon’s character being quite frustrating, Shim Chang-Min pulled it off and made him captivating. Lee Yoo Bi’s portrayal of the clumsy Yang Sun was both adorable and likable. Lastly, I thoroughly enjoyed Kim So Eun’s performance as Hye Ryung, making her character sweet and endearing.
All the ladies will love Lee Joon-Gi and Lee Soo Hyukâthey are quite the eye candy. If you’re a man, you’ll enjoy the action, the biting, and the bloody scenes, but the ladies will get a kick out of these handsome actors showcasing their cool, smirky, and sardonic sides.

What I don’t liked about Scholar Who Walks the Night
“Scholar Who Walks the Night” felt overly dramatic and intense for my taste. I was expecting a blend of two dramas I love, “Arang” and “Sungkyunkwan Scandal,” so I anticipated a lighter, more fun tone. Instead, the show is filled with intense drama and tragic agony throughout.
The balance between romance and the storyline is questionable. The drama starts as a romance between Sung Yeol and Yang Sun but spends most of its time on the quest for Crown Prince Jung Hyun’s journal, which supposedly contains a plan to kill Gwi. The frustrating part is that the quest for the journal rarely progresses. Even some of the romance scenes feel out of place and lack genuine romantic chemistry.
The overall pacing of the drama feels too long. As mentioned, the majority of the show focuses on the quest for the secret journal, which has an extremely complicated history. It’s frustrating that the drama spends many episodes circling around this search, making it feel repetitive and boring.

In the Nutshell
Overall, this drama has its flaws and can be frustrating at times, but if you’re a fan of Lee Joon-Gi, historical dramas, and vampires, it might be worth giving it a try.
This was the first drama that I ever watched! I am bias because after watching this drama I was hooked and well you know that happened after that…! I was a bit confused when I watched this drama and the ending left me even more confused. Happy ending? I might rewatch the drama someday now that I have a lot more experience in my drama watching. Overall, I really liked this drama even if I am not the blood and gore type. Great acting!!!