Song of the Bandits sees the Wild West transplanted to an area of China where Korean refugees have fled the Japanese annexation of their country. A tale of bandits who become involved with the resistance movement in Korea trying to defy the cruel Japanese. This TV series should have a notice that no Japanese were harmed in the making. Japan did violently annex Korea but this isn’t 100% true history.

Instead it is a well produced tale of heroes fighting against overwhelming odds, with fine set pieces that would suit the best Westerns. A lot of gunplay and also archery too. There’s a stagecoach robbery or something like it, slimy behaviour by the murderous Japanese, a heroine giving her all for the Korean cause etc.

There are some oddities. The last episode leaves a lot unresolved and unfinished. The main female lead Seohyun is less dominant than the supporting actress Lee Ho-Jung. Seohyun’s role is largely that of a traditional passive female. Netflix cut back the original plan for the TV series (apparently losing back stories for a lot of the characters). Seohyun also gained her fame as a K-pop group idol rather than as an actress. Lee Ho-Jung carries her very meaty role like a star.