Moon Embracing the Sun

The storylines on most of these KDramas are usually about the same thing. A woman, whether it is the mother of a Princess, the Princess herself, her friend, or the maidservant, always tries to kill the love interest of the King, Crown Prince, Prince, or other. I'm getting exhausted from these storylines, other than that the rest of the storyline was ok. I never blame the actors/actresses in these KDramas, because they did give it their all. Kim Soo Hyun who played Lee Hwon was extremely good and so did the rest of the cast. Much Respect! I am glad that it had a happy ending, it's the in-between that was just a little bit too much for me.

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In this modern times, for the audience to still watch a historical drama like this one is already something, how much more if the audience would appreciate and love the drama. Does it make sense? For me, it is expected that historical dramas will really give you a different taste...something interesting and fascinating...more so, educational. I would say that these 3 are present in The Moon that Embraces the Sun but what more attracts the audience, I would say, is because it has sense of humor at the same time a love story...can you imagine that? A drama that is educational, romantic and with humor. What more can you ask for? Really...this one you shouldn't miss. Two thumbs up for the casts and everyone involved in making this drama.

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I love this drama because of KSH, his brilliant acting and handsome face; he was already fascinating in Dream High, so I am glad he got this huge here which gain him several awards which are well deserved. But If not for KSH, I would have not liked this much or maybe not even finish it after watching few episodes. Maybe because I cant help but compare it with another Sageuk i like;"Ballad of Seo Dong" which I have just also rewatched. Moon Embracing the sun was not as brilliant and polishedas BOS ; there were inconsistencies with the characters and the issues raised and and how the scripts were not at all impressive. And one big factor also is the lack of chemistry between KSH and the lead actress, If it was a different lead actress my review might be totally different I might have just loved it and didn't care about other aspects. I just wished the actress was different. (Sigh) but still KSH was lovable all throughout. I also enjoyed howKSH  sarcastically treats the Queen, and KSH  Relationship with his Eunich. Still giving this 8.5/10 for KSH presence in the drama; and 10/10 for brilliant acting of KSH and the rest of the casts. I will definitely rewatch this but only KSH scenes :)

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Mediocre

I started watching this drama because it received such high praise and I don't understand why.

FL was incredibly boring and one dimensional. She had no spark or personality and only had one pained expression in every scene. The males were intense, angsty, and spent a lot of time pressuring FL and yelling at her.

What I found annoying was the constant rotation of men around FL. In many scenes, after Lee Hwon left, Yang Myung immediately appeared out of nowhere to beg FL to love him, and it was happening in the most random locations. The writers did not put a lot of thought into creating a believable organic story. They just wrote random scenes forcing FL and the two competing love interests to interact with each other. And, Yang Myung was one of the most pointless characters in the story. He had a lot of scenes being chased by some people without any explanation why. He was just there to create an artificial love triangle and nothing else.

The romance also did not feel believable. I could understand why Lee Hwon was in love with her, because they were engaged at some point, had meaningful scenes, and spent time together. With Yang Myung, it was completely arbitrary. He barely knew her, did not spent much time with her, but kept pining after her for eight years.

Overall, if you like angsty men yelling at women and forcing them to do things, this may be it for you. For be it was a hard pass.

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Like Moon Eclipsing the Sun, Kids Eclipse Adults

Story: IT syndrome strikes again as the drama loses its luster once the tween and teen cast is replaced with adults. I stopped watching after episode 8 for neither the older cast nor the story after the time jump worked for me.

Acting: all stars go to young cast who are phenomenal (Ep 1 - 5.5). That's one constant with K dramas - child actors always deliver. Adults didn't measure up so I docked 2 stars. Why couldn't they tell the story without the time jump? It would have spared this drama the convoluted identity mystery that totally ruined otherwise strong set up.

Music: don't remember.

Rewatch value: This is a tricky one. Like IT, the first part with kids/teens is fantastic and rewatchable. But the second part with adult versions drops the ball. So re-watch while characters are young and then pretend the story ended with them.

Overall: I was meaning to watch the new show Moon Rising from the River but thought that it was called Moon Rising from the Sun. So wrong key words led me to this show. It really should've been only about those tweens and teens. I'm yet to see a show or movie where child versions don't eclipse adults and had a better story too. IT, Slumdog Millionaire, this drama are just some examples. Writers should trust kids. Look at Harry Potter. They made Harry Potter universe movies with adults (Fantastic Beasts) and it didn't work.

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A love story destined by the heavens, marked by power, betrayal, and hope.

Moon Embracing the Sun is not just another historical drama — it’s a deeply emotional journey that etches itself into your soul. Starring Kim Soo-hyun in one of his most iconic roles, the drama plunges us into a world of palace secrets, conspiracies, and a love so strong even death cannot erase it.

Kim Soo-hyun shines as young King Lee Hwon, a charismatic yet deeply wounded ruler. His performance is heart-wrenching and subtle, delivering emotions through every glance and a voice that carries both strength and sorrow.

The chemistry between the leads is magical, and the story perfectly balances fantasy, politics, and romance. The reunion scenes, the emotional tension, and the ever-present sense of destiny make this drama a truly unforgettable gem.

Highlights:
The emotional journey and growth of Hwon.
Visually poetic cinematography.
A soundtrack that turns every scene into poetry.

Moon Embracing the Sun is a tale of true love, justice, and fate — and a perfect example of why Kim Soo-hyun is one of the finest actors of his generation.

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OMG! I've watched one Japanese drama and this was my first Korean Drama and I fell in love with it on the first episode. It was different than anything I've watched and I found myself screaming at the screen or laughing. Most of the time just crying because this story, this love story with the twist of fate was so beautiful. It made my heart bleed. I'm so tempted to watch it again just for the heck of it and I wish there was fan fiction written about this drama, because it's amazingly good. The characters; especially the younger ones, were completely talented. Everything was spot on and it made me believe that that I was watching something real life take place before my eyes. I wish I could find another drama like it. Or any other drama just as good, so if anyone has a recommendation! let me know!

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