# Arthdal Chronicles (2019)

> In a mythical land of Arth, rival tribes and a hidden-identity heir scramble for power as a new society takes shape.

Canonical page: https://ember.film/tv/75093

## Facts

- Seasons: 2
- Episodes: 30
- Episode runtime: 60 min
- Status: Ended
- Genres: fantasy, action, drama
- Created by: Kim Won-suk, Sang-yeon Park, Kim Young-hyun
- Network: tvN
- Cast: Song Joong-ki, Lee Joon-gi, Shin Sae-kyeong, Kim Ji-won, Jang Dong-gun, Kim Ok-vin, Cho Seong-ha, Park Hae-joon
- TMDB rating: 8.3/10
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8750956/

## Ember's analysis

- Pacing: brisk
- Intensity: strong
- Complexity: dense
- Violence: moderate
- Tone: epic, melancholic, sweeping, romantic

## What critics say

Audiences broadly rated the series acclaimed for its ambitious fantasy world-building, large-scale production and strong performances, though it is a niche pick with a small rating pool.

## Synopsis

Arthdal Chronicles (2019-2023) is a South Korean fantasy drama series created by Kim Won-suk, Sang-yeon Park, and Kim Young-hyun for tvN. Set in the mythical land of Arth, the story follows rival tribes competing to build the ancient city of Arthdal into a new society. Song Joong-ki and Lee Joon-gi play Eunseom and Saya, a character whose identity is concealed and whose destiny pulls against the ambitions of those around him, while Kim Ji-won and Shin Sae-kyeong play Tanya, a figure whose choices reshape the fragile balance of power. Jang Dong-gun appears as Tagon and Kim Ok-vin as Taealha, both central to the shifting alliances and rivalries that drive the narrative. Across two seasons and thirty episodes, the engine of the series is a struggle for control over land, people, and legitimacy, where slavery, curses, and shamanic rites turn every alliance into a gamble. Each episode advances political maneuvering alongside romance and personal loyalty, forming one continuing epic. The tone is sweeping and melancholic, with moments of romance and quiet tenderness framed by large-scale battles and mythic spectacle. Its production scale and prestige fantasy ambition place it in the tradition of a tvN k-drama, and fans of Game of Thrones and Vikings will find resonance in its blend of dynastic intrigue and tribal warfare.

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