Memories of the Alhambra explained

Native Name:
Hangul:알함브라 궁전의 추억
Rr:Alhambeura Gungjeon-ui Chueok
Genre:Science fantasy
Action
Thriller
Romance
Director:Ahn Gil-ho
Composer:Jeong Se-rin
Country:South Korea
Language:Korean
Num Episodes:16
Camera:Single camera
Budget:20 billion[1]
Network:tvN

Memories of the Alhambra[2] is a 2018 South Korean television series, starring Hyun Bin and Park Shin-hye.[3] Primarily set in Spain (and in South Korea in later episodes), the series centers on a company CEO and a hostel owner who get entangled in a series of mysterious incidents surrounding a new and intricate augmented reality game inspired by the stories of the Alhambra Palace.[4] It aired on cable network tvN from December 1, 2018, to January 20, 2019, every Saturday and Sunday at 21:00 (KST).[5] [6] [7] [8] It is also available for online streaming on Netflix.[9]

The drama is one of the highest-rated Korean dramas in cable television history, and was praised for its creative plot and its unexpected twists.[10] Its title also alludes to Francisco Tárrega's eponymous classical guitar piece Recuerdos de la Alhambra, which is also a part of the series' soundtrack.

Synopsis

After receiving an email regarding a groundbreaking AR game about medieval battles in the Alhambra, Yoo Jin-woo (Hyun Bin), CEO of an investment company that specializes in optical devices, travels to Granada, Spain to meet the creator of the game, Jung Se-joo (Park Chan-yeol). However, Se-joo has gone missing and there, Jin-woo meets Se-joo's older sister, Jung Hee-joo (Park Shin-hye), who is the owner of the hostel he stays in and a former guitarist. Both get entangled in mysterious incidents, as the border between the real world and the AR world built by Se-joo begins to blur.[11]

Cast

Main

CEO of investment company called J One Holdings and a Doctor of Engineering, who is talented at developing games. He is fearless, adventurous and cynical. His AR game ID is "zinu" and he is the highest-level player in the game.

Jung Hee-joo: Owner of Hostal Bonita. A former classic guitarist who came to Spain for further studies, but took on several jobs there to sustain livelihood following the death of her parents. She has artistic sensibility but zero financial sense.

Emma: An NPC character in the AR game created by Se-joo based on Hee-joo.[15]

Supporting

People around Jung Hee-joo

Hee-joo's younger brother. A genius reclusive programmer who develops an intricate augmented reality game. It is later revealed that, after killing Marco, he is forced into hiding in the Instance Dungeon until Jin-woo freed him. His AR game ID is "master".

Hee-joo's caring grandmother.

Hee-joo's younger sister. She dreams of becoming a girl group member.

A classic guitarist and an international student in Spain. He is close to Hee-joo and cares for her, but often oversteps his boundaries.

People around Yoo Jin-woo

The CEO of IT company Neword and a Doctor of Engineering. Jin-woo's college friend and co-founder of J One Holdings, who later betrayed him and became his biggest rival. His AR game ID is "Mr. Cha".

The Business Strategy Director and co-founder of J One Holdings, who is Jin-woo's college senior. He is later promoted to CEO of J One Holdings.

Jin-woo's loyal secretary. He was killed by NPCs created by the bug due to being Jin-woo's ally. His AR game ID is "City Hunter" .

The Head of R&D Center Research Team of J One Holdings. He creates special game weapons for Jin-woo to help him defeat NPCs created by the bug, and survive.

Jin-woo's first ex-wife; Hyung-seok's current wife who is pregnant. A pediatrician.

The selfish and greedy Professor of Business Administration at a university in Seoul, who is also Hyung-seok's father. He is later killed by NPCs created by the bug in his attempt to indirectly cause Jin-woo's death by restarting the game.

Soo-jin's younger sister, who is a florist.

Others

Jin-woo's second ex-wife, who is an extremely vain and impulsive celebrity with a drinking habit.

A programmer and hacker who is affiliated with Se-joo. He was accidentally killed by Se-joo due to a bug caused by their physical contact while duelling. His AR game ID is "marco".

Yoo-ra's manager and ex-boyfriend.

Special appearances

Production

The series is helmed by director Ahn Gil-ho, who directed Stranger and writer Song Jae-jeong whose previous works include W and Queen and I.[30]

Touted as Korea's first augmented reality-gaming drama, Memories of the Alhambra was revealed to be inspired by tech mogul Elon Musk and the Pokémon Go game.[31] [32] [33]

The first script reading took place in May 2018.[34] [35] [36]

Overseas filming took place in several cities in Andalucía and Catalonia, such as Granada (Andalucía), and Barcelona and Girona (some interiors and exteriors) and Terrassa (exteriors and film studios) in Catalonia from late May to June.[37] [38] [39] [40] In early August, the cast started filming in Budapest, Hungary and Slovenia.[41] [42] The script for the last episode was completed on December 19, 2018 and filming wrapped up on December 29, 2018 in South Korea.[43] [44]

A preview screening event was held at CGV theaters on November 28, 2018 prior to the airing of the first episode.[45] [46]

Original soundtrack

Memories of the Alhambra OST
Type:Soundtrack
Artist:Various artists
Recorded:2018
Genre:Soundtrack
Length:125:45

Part 6

Reception

Memories of the Alhambra was a commercial success, consistently topping the cable television viewership ratings in its timeslot. Its 14th episode recorded a 10.025% nationwide audience share according to Nielsen paid platform, making it as one of the highest rated in Korean cable television history.[47] [48]

The drama has attracted attention for its unique theme of augmented reality; and earned praise for its high-end computer graphics, cinematography and fast-paced storytelling. Critic Jeong Seok-hee praised the drama for its mysterious and captivating plot that held viewers' attention until the very end, and that it "has the potential to become one of the very best TV dramas we have seen in years".[8] [49] [50] However, later on it received criticism for its confusing development and slow development of plot,[51] and its excessive product placement.[52]

According to the Korean Foundation for International Cultural Exchange, the series is receiving favorable reviews and popularity in China for its actors' performance, cinematography and fresh story.[53] [54] [55]

Viewership

+ Average TV viewership ratings
Original broadcast dateAverage audience share
(Nielsen Korea)[56]
Nationwide
1December 1, 20187.507% 9.188%
2December 2, 20187.363% 9.179%
3December 8, 20186.950% 8.788%
4December 9, 20188.154% 11.180%
5December 15, 2018
6December 16, 20187.863% 10.206%
7December 22, 20187.442% 9.921%
8December 23, 20188.504% 11.200%
9December 29, 20187.563% 9.797%
10December 30, 20189.207% 11.776%
11January 5, 20199.431% 12.440%
12January 6, 20199.851%
13January 12, 20199.316% 11.841%
14January 13, 2019 12.996%
15January 19, 20199.004% 11.450%
16January 20, 20199.933% 12.383%
Average
Special[57] December 21, 20183.341%4.319%

Awards and nominations

! Year! Award! Category! Recipient! Result! Ref.
201955th Baeksang Arts AwardsBest DirectorAhn Gil-ho[58]
Best ActorHyun Bin
Best New ActorPark Hoon
Technical AwardPark Sung-jin (Special effects)
12th Korea Drama AwardsTop Excellence Award, ActressPark Shin-hye[59]

International broadcast

Notes and References

  1. Web site: http://www.topstarnews.net/news/articleView.html?idxno=544106. ko:알함브라 궁전의 추억’, 제작비만 200억…최고시청률 경신에 ‘원작여부 관심↑. December 12, 2018. Top Star News. ko.
  2. News: 'Memories of the Alhambra' unveils 2 different posters. November 1, 2018. Kpop Herald.
  3. Web site: Hyun Bin, Park Shin-hye Team up for 1st Time in New TV Series. November 29, 2018. The Chosun Ilbo.
  4. Web site: 'Memories of the Alhambra' promises CG magic. November 25, 2018. Kpop Herald.
  5. Web site: 'Memories of the Alhambra' promises sword-wielding Hyun Bin, AR game, Spanish scenery. November 28, 2018. The Korea Herald.
  6. Web site: Genre-spanning romance, 'Memories of the Alhambra,' ready to lure local, global TV audiences. November 28, 2018. Yonhap News Agency.
  7. Web site: 'Alhambra' pushes TV boundaries with AR. November 29, 2018. Korea JoongAng Daily.
  8. Web site: 'Memories of the Alhambra' is AR-gaming fantasy romance. December 3, 2018. The Korea Times.
  9. Web site: Netflix Adds Korean Drama Series 'Memories of the Alhambra'. November 14, 2018. Variety.
  10. Web site: Achievements of 'Memories of the Alhambra' after 8 weeks of broadcast. January 22, 2019. Vlive. Osen. January 22, 2019. April 3, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190403162401/https://channels.vlive.tv/C7A6F1/vtoday/0.9868119. dead.
  11. Web site: Memories of the Alhambra Netflix release date, cast, trailer, plot. November 26, 2018. Express.
  12. Web site: Hyun Bin is making a return to TV. April 4, 2018. Korea JoongAng Daily.
  13. Web site: Hyun Bin to Star in 1st TV Series in 3 Years. April 10, 2018. The Chosun Ilbo.
  14. Web site: Park Shin-hye to show 'Memories of Alhambra'. May 8, 2018. Kpop Herald.
  15. Web site: Park Shin-hye becomes 'Elsa' Emma. December 24, 2018. Kpop Herald.
  16. Web site: http://www.newsen.com/news_view.php?uid=201805121723408010. ko:'알함브라' 측 "엑소 찬열 출연 확정, 박신혜 동생 역"(공식). May 12, 2018. Newsen. ko.
  17. Web site: Chanyeol of EXO shares thoughts ahead of new TV series' premiere. December 2, 2018. Kpop Herald.
  18. Web site: http://www.kyeonggi.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=2011348. ko:'알함브라 궁전의 추억' 인물관계도, 현빈-박신혜-박훈을 중심으로. December 3, 2018. Keyonggi. ko.
  19. Web site: 이레, tvN '알함브라 궁전의 추억' 출연 확정…박신혜 동생役(공식). July 6, 2018. Herald Corporation. ko.
  20. Web site: http://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=112&aid=0003031213. ko:이학주 '알함브라 궁전의 추억' 출연확정…박신혜 남사친役(공식). May 17, 2018. Herald Corporation. ko.
  21. Web site: http://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=404&aid=0000212607. ko:박훈, '알함브라 궁전의 추억' 출연 확정..현빈 라이벌役. May 16, 2018. enews24. ko.
  22. Web site: Lee Seung-joon to join "Memories of the Alhambra". June 27, 2018. HanCinema. TV Daily.
  23. Web site: Min Jin-woong Joins tvN's "Memories of the Alhambra". June 11, 2018. HanCinema. TV Report.
  24. Web site: http://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=421&aid=0003512773. ko:[공식입장] 조현철, '알함브라 궁전의 추억' 합류…현빈·박신혜와 호흡. August 1, 2018. News1. ko.
  25. Web site: "Memories of the Alhambra" Lee Si-won to Be Hyun Bin's Wife. July 1, 2018. HanCinema. Nate.
  26. Web site: [단독] 김의성, 'W' 송재정 작가와 재회…'알함브라 궁전' 합류]. May 16, 2018. TV Report. ko.
  27. Web site: Han Bo-reum to Become Hyun Bin's Wife in "Memories of the Alhambra". May 14, 2018. HanCinema. Star News.
  28. Web site: http://pop.heraldcorp.com/view.php?ud=201807100846596153433_1. ko:신예 이재욱, '알함브라 궁전의 추억' 출연…엑소 찬열과 호흡(공식). July 10, 2018. Herald Corporation. ko.
  29. Web site: '알함브라 궁전의 추억' 현빈X박신혜, 마법 같은 증강현실에 '시간순삭'. December 2, 2018. MK News. ko.
  30. Web site: Writer Song Jae-jeong and Director Ahn Gil-ho to Pair Up for tvN's "Memories of the Alhambra". December 13, 2017. HanCinema. Sports Chosun.
  31. Web site: Writer tells of AR-game influence on drama. January 16, 2019. The Korea Times.
  32. Web site: Scriptwriter reveals that "Memories of the Alhambra" is inspired by Pokemon Go. January 16, 2019. Vlive. My Daily.
  33. Web site: When inspiration comes in the form of a game: Famed screenwriter Song Jae-jung finds stories all around her. January 22, 2019. Korea JoongAng Daily.
  34. Web site: https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=076&aid=0003320920. ko:'알함브라 궁전의 추억' 현빈-박신혜, 몰입도 최강 '서스펜스' . September 27, 2018. Sports Chosun. ko.
  35. Web site: https://entertain.naver.com/now/read?oid=311&aid=0000902795. ko:'알함브라 궁전의 추억' 현빈-박신혜의 뜨거운 대본리딩 현장. Xports News. ko. September 27, 2018.
  36. Web site: Hyun Bin & Park Shin Hye's First Read-through for Their New Drama!. September 28, 2018. SBS News.
  37. Web site: NETFLIX LAUNCHES ITS NEW SERIES 'RECUERDOS DE LA ALHAMBRA' IN GRANADA. https://web.archive.org/web/20180604210014/http://iberianpost.com/spain/andalusia/2018/06/01/netflix-launches-its-new-series-recuerdos-de-la-alhambra-in-granada/. dead. June 4, 2018. June 1, 2018. Iberian Post.
  38. Web site: TV Series Shooting in Granada. May 29, 2018. The Seaside Gazette.
  39. Web site: El Parc Audiovisual de Catalunya acull el rodatge d'una sèrie coreana per Netflix. June 12, 2018. Aldia. ca.
  40. Web site: Girona acollirà el rodatge d'una sèrie de Netflix. June 1, 2018. Diari De Girona. ca.
  41. Web site: http://www.travelnbike.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=64909. ko:11월 방영 앞둔 ‘알함브라 궁전의 추억’ 스페인과 헝가리 넘나드는 박신혜. September 24, 2018. TravelnBike. ko.
  42. Web site: https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=047&aid=0002210758. ko:'알함브라' 현빈 옆에 적힌 이름... 모든 의문이 풀렸다. December 3, 2018. OhmyNews. ko.
  43. Web site: https://entertain.naver.com/ranking/read?oid=109&aid=0003923403&rankingType=default&rankingDate=20181219. ko:[단독] '알함브라 궁전' 결말 나왔다..최종회 탈고·12월 말 촬영 종료. December 19, 2018. Osen. ko.
  44. Web site: [V Report] Park Shin-hye wraps up shooting for 'Memories of Alhambra']. December 30, 2018. Kpop Herald.
  45. Web site: 현빈x박신혜 '알함브라 궁전의 추억' 시사회, "마치 영화 한 편". November 29, 2018. Sports Donga. ko.
  46. Web site: Park Shin-hye urges fans to watch "Memories of the Alhambra". December 3, 2018. Asia Today.
  47. Web site: [Ratings] "Memories of the Alhambra" Breaks 10% as It Nears Its End]. January 13, 2019. HanCinema.
  48. Web site: tvN series 'Memories of the Alhambra' tops weekly TV chart in its closing week. January 23, 2019. Yonhap News Agency.
  49. Web site: Augmented Reality TV Soap Off to a Great Start. December 4, 2018. The Chosun Ilbo.
  50. Web site: Two new star-studded series on tvN sweep weekly TV chart. December 5, 2018. Yonhap News Agency.
  51. Web site: 고구마 답답이 '알함브라' 의리로 보기도 지친다[TV와치]]. January 14, 2019. Newsen. ko.
  52. Web site: '알함브라궁전의 추억' 현빈 박신혜 PPL하려 연인됐나 [TV와치]]. January 7, 2019. Newsen. ko.
  53. Web site: https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=382&aid=0000697349. ko:‘알함브라 궁전의 추억’, 中 시청자 시선에 들었나. December 22, 2018. Sports Donga. ko.
  54. Web site: https://m.entertain.naver.com/read?oid=213&aid=0001080541. ko:[리폿@이슈] 2019 中 한류는 설렌다, '남자친구' '알함브라' 덕분에. January 6, 2019. TV Report. ko.
  55. Web site: Memories of the Alhambra: why the Netflix show is an instant Korean drama classic. January 22, 2019. South China Morning Post.
  56. Web site: Nielsen Korea. AGB Nielsen Media Research. ko. August 25, 2020.
  57. Web site: 현빈X박신혜 '알함브라 궁전의 추억', 오늘(21일) 특별편성. December 21, 2018. Star News. ko.
  58. Web site: 김서형·염정아·김혜자 등 '백상예술대상' TV부문 최종 후보 공개. entertain.naver.com. ko. 2019-04-04.
  59. Web site: '2019코리아드라마어워즈(KDA)' 연기대상 후보..김해숙·최수종·염정아·조정석 등. September 27, 2019. Sedaily. ko.
  60. Web site: MEMORIES OF THE ALHAMBRA LAUNCHES WORLDWIDE FROM DECEMBER 1ST. Netflix Media Center. en. November 21, 2018.