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Disney+ hits hard with its first original sageuk, entitled The Murky Stream (The Troubled Course), which will plunge viewers into a lawless Joseon, gangrened by corruption. The platform has just unveiled powerful individual posters and a breathless teaser, promising a dark yet vibrant historical fresco.
When a clear river becomes a murky one
The story takes place at a time when the once-clear Gyeong River has turned into a muddy torrenta symbol of a society plagued by injustice.
Si Yool (Rowoon) is a man with a mysterious past, who became a vagabond to survive in this gangrenous world. Choi Eun (Shin Ye-eun) plays the brilliant, determined youngest daughter of a wealthy merchant, who refuses to bow to corrupt business practices. Jeong Cheon (Park Seo-ham), an idealist, dreams of embodying integrity by becoming an incorruptible civil servant, despite a system where rot permeates everywhere.
Posters that speak for themselves
The posters capture the essence of the characters:
- Rowoon, with a dark look in his eyes, asks the burning question: "Who can we still believe in to survive?"
- Shin Ye-eun brandishes a torch, proclaiming, "Joseon is too narrow and suffocating."
- Park Seo-ham, sword in hand, notes with despair: "Corruption is spreading everywhere, no place is spared."
Alongside them, other figures are already making their mark: Mu Deok (Park Ji-hwan), with his chilling sarcasm; Yi Dol-gae (Choi Gwi-hwa), a corrupt civil servant; and Wang Hae (Kim Dong-won), an enigmatic character whose shadow hangs over the Gyeong River.
A teaser revealing a world in decline
The promotional video heightens the tension. We discover Si Yool's buried past and his transformation into the vagabond of Mapo Naru; Choi Eun, upright and courageous, confronting oppressive commercial forces; Jeong Cheon, a helpless witness to decadence as a dock supervisor.
The teaser also reveals Mu Deok's attempt to lure Si Yool to his side, and the chaotic energy of a colorful band of misfits: Wal Wal, Gae Chun, Jung Bok and Mal Bok, which add a dose of unpredictability to this dark tale.
An eventful launch
With 9 episodes in total, The Murky Stream will make its debut on September 26, 2025, with 3 episodes broadcast at once, followed by a weekly release of 2 episodes on Disney+.
