This review may contain spoilers
I freely admit that I watched this Kdrama for Cha Eunwoo, first and foremost. I’m a fan, sue me. But it was also a very good drama. It started as a funny rom-com but soon it became so much more. It told the story of how Christianity first came to Korea, of vaccination and female emancipation… Very intriguing themes that you rarely see in historical Kdramas.The relationship that I loved best was the romance between Prince Yi Rim and the female historian Goo Hae Ryung. He was 20, she was 26. He was romantic, she was realistic, even cynical. They both wanted to be free but where for her it meant being able to work and having a career, not just marrying and having kids, for him it meant literally getting out of the palace where he’s been held almost a prisoner his whole life long. It was so interesting!
And the second relationship that pushed all my buttons was the one between Prince Yi Rim and the Crown Prince, Yi Jin. Yi Jin was the closest family Yi Rim had. And for Yi Jin, his little brother was the only person in the whole world that he could really trust. He adored Yi Rim. I would go as far as saying that Yi Rim was the only person Yi Jin actually loved. And because of that, the twist with Yi Rim’s true identity hit Yi Jin so hard…
This is a really great drama that’s mainly about the meaning of family, how far you’re willing to go to protect your loved ones and how much you’re willing to sacrifice for your ambition. Both thumbs up from me!
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Rookie Historian really has it all: gorgeous costumes, sweeping romance, laugh-out-loud moments as well as cry-your-eyes-out ones, and - most importantly to me - complex female characters who actively engage with the plot and confront social issues that are just as relevant today as they were in the Late Joseon Era.You may have your issues with Shin Sekyung, or you may have heard Cha Eunwoo is a bad actor, but neither of those things matter here. The former crafts the best performance of her career with a career so vibrant that it seems to have been designed for her, and the latter rises to the occasion and improves HIS craft as the story delves deeper into his character and explores his personal growth. I personally loved their chemistry and the pacing of their romance, and I find their resolution to be entirely fitting.
As for the rest of the cast? Top-notch acting and well-fleshed out characters all around. There are various arcs, both on the political and personal front, which bring a great deal of satisfaction without resorting to a bunch of extra beta ships that go nowhere. Park Kiwoong as the Crown Prince, Lee Jihoon as Officer Min, and the three other female historians played by Park Jihyun, Lee Yerim, and Jang Yubin are all noteworthy. The last group are especially great because we get to see a strong female friendship play out throughout the show, but Rim (Eunwoo) also gets his own set of friends who are equally adorable to watch.
There are times when the introduction of Catholicism can seem a bit heavy-handed, but overall the theme of a changing world and the impact of globalization is really well-executed and very unique compared to any saeguk (or even modern drama) I've seen. It's obvious the writer and her team did their research, and the story is engaging even if there are one or two over-indulgent episodes.
Was this review helpful to you?
This show was so lighthearted compared to other historical dramas
I remember watching the trailer for this show on YouTube about a week before it came out and getting really excited because I honestly love historical dramas.When I first started watching the show, it was a little slow in the first place however I never judge a show by the first episode because it takes time to introduce characters and the setting and ended up getting excited for a new episode every week as I fell in love with this show.
-Story-
I loved how this show took its time laying out the story episode by episode. I truly enjoyed how everything came together and how the characters ended up in the end as it seemed very natural and not forced upon. Whenever there was a flashback, puzzle pieces were connecting in my brain and I found myself following along in hopes of guessing the ending before they revealed it haha.
-Acting-
Loved both the FL and the ML in this show and especially loved their chemistry. However, as many pointed out, the ML's acting wasn't top notch as some drama lovers expected. Nonetheless, I felt the ML's acting improved throughout the show and really portrayed his character well. Not only did the male lead portray his character well, but I'd like to shed some light on the actors of the fellow historians who I would like to thank for depicting and channeling their characters so well, that I constantly found myself laughing whenever they were all together, always finding something to get worked up about.
There are so many other things I could write about for this show and how lighthearted it was compared to other dramas but these were the main points that really hooked me into coming back each week for a new episode
Was this review helpful to you?
1This review may contain spoilers
Historical and/or political drama are not necessarily my cup of tea, so I usually avoid these genres. I started watching this drama solely because of its popularity, a recent show, a romcom genre, and the ending. I surprised myself I binge-watched it in 3 days!Like:
- Eye-catching front cover (see my comment on costume below)
- Straigth-forward story line, no plot twist, no shocking surprises, no betrayal. Secrets here and there revealed little by little like pieces of puzzles.
- Not dragging, no filler scenes or conversation.
- Perfect casting, every actor/actress fit their roles well.
- Great chemistry between ML and FL
- Some reviews/commentsI read about actress Shin Se Kyung, that she was bland or stiff in her role as FL. IMO she nailed it perfectly. Hae Ryung role is non-chalant and no-nonsense, which distinguished her with from most women in the drama Joseon Era. We can see her character intro in the beginning when she prefers to read a thriller novel to a group of women who prefer to hear romance instead.
- Some reviews/comments I read about actor Cha Eun Woo's bad acting skills especially in the beginning of the drama. IMO Prince Rim is supposed to be socially inept being confined all his life and only communicates with his subordinates whom have been with him for a long time. There should be a character growth for Prince Rim once he is introduced to outside world thru Hau Ryung, other historians, the French guy, the epidemic area, and Seoraewoon. and how the plot develops. Cha Eun Woo did an outstanding job acting the character transition. I actually cried when Prince Rim broke his heart due to the King's banning him writing romance novels and confiscated his writing tools.
- No love triangle (although there are potentials), so no Second Lead Syndrome
- Amazing friendship and family relationships, and loyalty.
- Happy ending for OTP and most other roles. No death.
- At some point of the drama, some roles become ambiguous , you will be uncertain if they are protagonist or antagonist. The ambiguity adds the spice.
- Beautiful cinematography
- Brilliant costume: I like they chose pastel colored costume for the OTP, symbolizes their delicate and sweet romance. Even the light blue color for the female historian uniform is distinguished from the male historian uniform.
- The OST is easy on the ear. Some notable songs are "My Dream" sung by Yoon Mi Rae, the queen of OST; "Come Here" sung by Lee Seok Hoon, and "Please Remember" sung by the ML Cha Eun Woo.
Dislike:
- I have not found any
Note:
- Probably should add a tag of noona romance, as ML is 20 and FL is 26. It does not seem a big deal in the story since their age gap is never opposed in the drama, and one arranged marriage candidate for ML is older than him (Sa Hee).
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Good chemistry, one loud Eunuch! (Not much of a spoiler inside;))
To sum this up, it's a tale about contradictions between parents & their children, the innocents lost in an attempt to pursue progression and the love found in the process.Hae Ryung!!! I love this girl!! I'm right there with her, *sigh* village spinster/maiden for life with books all around <3 but we can't have that, now can we? And the prince, Jin Yi Rim, is just too beautiful & cute not to stare at! haha and fall in love with. Yi Rim is like Cinderella and is so sweetly innocent, pure hearted, it saddens me when the only person he knows as his father shows him little regard and strips him of his joys.
Now an interlude, why's she's interested in the prince... "She needed someone she could throw at the tiger so she could runaway..." XD
This is soo fun & funny!! Love it, sound effects and all XD <3 Definitely worth watching
Was this review helpful to you?
Best couple pairing award
A little late to the party for this review, but since I have rewatched this before Cha Eun woo's next Kdrama series True beauty starts, I figured adding a review/notefor one of my favorite drama pairings is the least that I could doThis pairing is up there for me along side the likes of deng lun and yang zi in ashes of love, xu kai and bai lu in the legends, yang yang and zheng shuang in love o2o.
Been taking note of Cha Eun woo since ID gangnam beauty, but in this series for this pairing it really caught my attention. Thou Shin Se-kyung does look older than Cha Eun woo, but its also what makes it work as she is assertive, bold, matured and direct in her approach.
Storyline and plot moves along fine and I have watched it more than once, the visuals are really captivating to me, and the OST are great too.
Was this review helpful to you?
Was this review helpful to you?
That being said, this drama is also strong in the character and plot departments. While there were a couple of minor characters that were annoying or felt flat here and there, overall the broad host of characters were well-developed and engaging, sometimes providing some fun comic relief. A couple of the episodes felt like an interesting side adventure that was deviating from the main story, but it all ties together in the end.
Though the first couple episodes really focus on the love story in a satisfying but pretty typical way, there are twists and challenges coming later on, and takes routes you might not expect. And while this is one of the main threads of the drama, there are also significant themes of political intrigue, the struggle for equality, the importance of history, and the power of knowledge, so don't skip over it thinking it's just a romance!
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
No exaggeration. This is the best historical drama that I have ever watched. To be honest, I am not a fan of historical dramas though I love history but sometimes it really makes me bored. The last historical drama that I have watched that I only liked was Queen Seondeok. So, I will slice the review in all aspects.Casting 10/10
Yes, I will give a high rating for the casts since everyone was an effective actors. I really felt all kind of emotions while watching this and that was because of the actors. They surely gave all their best in this drama. From Goo Hae Ryung to Sam-Bo to Min Ik-Pyeong. From the protagonists to antagonists to the supporting roles, they all mattered. Also, they're all perfect the roles and the chemistry, do I need to say more? 10/10
Story line 10/10
YES. I LOVE THE PLOT. I love the fact that they made Goo Hae-Ryung a brave woman who doesn't fear anyone even the king - not because she lacks respect but because she knows what she needs to fight for. I love how the story is fast paced but they made sure that the viewers will still follow. I love how the characters did not let the villain step on their dignity. It wasn't boring in fact the comedy part really made me laugh a lot. The drama was captivating. I must say that for me, the romance was just a bonus. I loved Cha Eun Woo with Shin Se-Kyung but I was really more focused with the political and all that kind of drama. But, the chemistry of these two, I must say they really made me smile! Salute to the writers of this drama!
Music 10/10
Even the songs in this drama contributed to my emotions. It also moved me and it really compliments the storyline.
Favorite Part (spoilers alert)
My favorite part was from the last episode, the banquet part. It really got exciting when Goo Jae-Kyung, Hae-Ryung's "brother" started to fight for justice by doing what he needs to do. When the historians fought for their rights (don't really wanna spoil how or what they did.) I also love the fact that the Crown Prince also fought for justice. Slowly, each officials pleaded the King as well, THAT REALLY MADE ME CRY. This banquet scene really is the best, all of the actors really showed their emotions and it also moved me.
I am so happy with the ending. I really love this drama and I must say that after Queen SeonDeok, no drama can change my mind. Rookie Historian Goo Hae-Ryung, aja! ♥
Was this review helpful to you?
This is the best South Korean Drama series that I have watched so far. I am still a new at watching South Korean series, and learning few words here a there, but I just love the story, the costumes of that era, the intensity of the story and the length of the series is just perfect.(⌒▽⌒)
Overall, outstanding story, cast, music, length of story.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
"modern" historical drama with semi-realistic scenes and non-cloying romance
I binged this over the weekend, wishing all the while that I should've watched this back when it came out in 2019.I absolutely adore this drama for its subtle, non-cloying and unforced romance. The relationship unfolds naturally, with no contrived angst between the leads and even though there was a six-year age gap between the characters, it was mentioned only in passing in the drama and the female lead being older was never an issue. Their affection doesn’t need constant physical reinforcement. The moments they share feel measured and meaningful, and several episodes had me in tears, bawling like a child.
If you’re hoping for passionate make-out scenes and heavy physical contact, you might want to look elsewhere, perhaps a Hollywood series where the leads end up in bed after two episodes. This drama isn’t built that way, and that’s exactly why I love it.
The heroine, Goo Hae Ryung, is the heart of the story. She’s witty, direct, unafraid to take the lead, and astonishingly ahead of her time in her knowledge of history, astronomy, and science. If she had truly lived, I’ve no doubt she would have made significant contributions to humanity. Opposite her is Prince Dowon Yi Rim, introduced as the younger son of the king, though later revealed to be the rightful heir as the only son of the previous monarch. He falls for Hae Ryung at first sight, but bristles when she dismisses his work as a "trashy" romance novelist.
Shin Se Kyung was luminous as Hae Ryung. I’ll admit, I’ve tried watching several of her earlier dramas but often abandoned them due to weak plots. Still, I was always drawn to her, hoping to find the right project, and I’m so glad this was it. Sometimes it isn’t the actor at fault but the roles they’re given. Here, the part fit her perfectly. She brought charm, intelligence, and humour to Hae Ryung, making her irresistible to both the prince and the audience. Some of her quirky moments—like gawking at men at the waterfall while making finger hearts, or collapsing on the floor in a starfish pose on her day off—were simply unforgettable. She’s beautiful, clever, and captivating, and it’s little wonder Yi Rim fell so quickly and so deeply.
As for Cha Eun Woo, this was my first time seeing him act. Like many idols-turned-actors, his early work understandably lacked polish, especially next to someone as seasoned as Se Kyung, who has been performing since childhood. But in this drama, he was well cast. As Yi Rim, a prince barred from politics and history, his only outlet being literature, he embodied innocence, sincerity, and youthful ardour. He delivered beautifully in the heavier emotional moments, particularly when conveying his desperate love for Hae Ryung. He may not yet be a veteran, but he showed promise and heart. Yi Rim is gentle, idealistic, and unapologetically romantic, yet more often than not it is Hae Ryung who steals kisses from him.
That said, I couldn’t quite buy into the premise that historians documented every detail of palace life, down to private disputes. Nor did it seem consistent that princes were supposedly shadowed by historians at all times, only for us to see them alone during the day on several occasions. Clearly, the script took liberties for the sake of drama. What felt especially exaggerated was the sheer power historians were granted over the throne. Strikes, petitions, and even public challenges at royal banquets stretched believability. The constant disruptions at the king’s birthday celebrations reminded me of Nirvana in Fire. At this point, I almost expect useless monarchs to have their parties spoiled, since it seems to be the easiest way to make yourself heard, or executed.
Beyond the leads, the supporting cast was a delight. From the prince’s loyal caretaker Eunuch Heo to the Crown Prince himself, and even the Crown Princess. I genuinely hoped the Crown Prince and Crown Princess could reconcile, but they didn’t. What a waste of over a decade of the Crown Princess’s life; she didn’t deserve that ending. Meanwhile, the historians’ office was predictably filled with sexist men resistant to women entering their ranks. Watching the female historians fight tooth and nail to prove their worth was frustrating, not least because such struggles are still painfully relevant today.
Again, in my opinion, the romance was perfectly balanced. One of the most moving scenes was when the prince was ambushed on his journey to his father’s tomb. Arrows rained down as he fell from his horse, and Hae Ryung, in a moment of reckless devotion, grabbed a stool for a shield and rushed to his side. She saved him, only for him to be wounded while protecting her instead.
Another moment I adored was when Yi Rim was under house arrest, facing possible assassination. Hae Ryung braved danger to free him, leading him by the hand as they escaped the palace together. Later, when they spent the night together, it was the prince who lovingly sent her off to work the next morning. These little reversals of expectation made their relationship feel fresh without ever straying into caricature.
For viewers like me, this drama is a treasure: heartfelt, balanced, and brimming with charm. For those looking for torrid passion and constant physicality, it will no doubt disappoint. But for me, it was exactly right.
Was this review helpful to you?
I've been a fan of Korean historical drama. This show did not disappoint me. I enjoyed the romance part, and the character development of each. It wasn't forced, and entertaining to watch.
I'd probably re-watch it after a year. Also the cast were quite good and delivered well.
Congratulations to the CAST & CREW of this series! Thank you for the wonderful production!
Been a fan of Jumong, Empress Ki, Jewel in the Palace, Six Flying Dragons, Queen Seon Dok, Dong yi, Sungkyunwan Scandal (I prolly mistyped some of the titles) and more!
In this particular one, I loved the lighter story, and pacing was fine. Enjoyed the romantic part as well ;-)
Enjoy to those who are planning to watch this. For those who have similar likes of mine, please message me some recommendations of Korean Historical Drama I should watch!
Next in my list to watch is Tree with Deep Roots, and Arthdal Chronicles.
Was this review helpful to you?
