I have to praise Se-kyung for getting so much better in acting, seriously she has improved a lot. Eunwoo wasn't as good but I think that's okay considering he's a rookie actor. The rest of the cast was incredible as well and they all seem to have lots of experience.
Plot was good, but there were some chapters where I got bored and then got lost and didn't understand what was happening. I think the story could have been shortened a bit, but still it was enjoyable.
Definitely this is the best historical drama I've seen to date (I haven't seen many, though. But the few I checked out kinda sucked..), so I'm excited to keep diving into this sub-genre.
7.5/10
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A Beautiful Drama That Isn't Just About the Romance
The first thing I will say about this drama is that I found it very beautiful. Literally. The costumes and sets were all very pretty. The lighting was used to appropriately set the mood in different scenes. I loved watching this drama just to see all of the beautiful historical costumes and hairstyles.Second, Cha Eun-woo actually really surprised me in this drama. I had previously only seen him in My ID is Gangnam Beauty and True Beauty. His character in both of those dramas was pretty serious and what I would even describe as stoic, but I saw a different side of his acting in Rookie Historian Goo Hae Ryung. His character was pretty funny and made me laugh many times. His crying scenes are also very realistic and beautifully acted. I feel like this character highlighted his wide range of acting abilities better than the other 2 dramas I have seen him in. Although I loved True Beauty, I feel that this was my favorite role of his thus far.
Third, this is actually the only drama I have watched where I actually noticed and enjoyed the music. Most of the time the music does not even impact me at all and I mostly don't even notice what kind of music is in the drama. However, the score for this drama was a great combination of bright and lively pieces as well as dark and somber pieces. The music always complimented the tone and ambience of the scene in my opinion.
I originally watched this drama because of the romantic storyline that I expected to be in it (because 95% of dramas have some kind of romantic storyline). However, this drama offered so much more that I actually became more interested in. While I did enjoy the romance between Hae Ryung and Li Rim, I found myself putting that story on the backburner in favor of the political intrigue that took the forefront in the second half of the drama. I really was invested in the outcome of the kingdom and the royal family. Also, I found that I really cared about supporting characters. I wanted all of the female historians to be accepted as official historians, I wanted U-min to be rid of his father's shadow, I wanted the remnants of the medical school to succeed. I really enjoy dramas that invest in supporting characters and make me care about them.
I took off half of a star because I did feel like the drama was very long. On Netflix, it is presented as twenty, hour-long episodes, so it is bit of a commitment. The rewatch value diminished because of that for me, but overall I still loved this drama and I would consider it to be one of my top 10 dramas.
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This review may contain spoilers
I took quite a bit of time to finish watching this drama but I'm glad that I finally did. This is a sweet and beautiful drama, thanks to Shin Sekyung and Cha Eunwoo and lighthearted enough to be enjoyed while also having some serious bits of plot here and there and at the end. But mind you, as much as the drama was about historians doing their jobs, the setting itself was quite fictional; as in there weren't any such king that have been dethroned in the way depicted in this drama and no female historian were ever established. And while some of the key scenes like the arrival of Christianity to Joseon, the beginning of the vaccination practices of treating small poxes as well as groups taking interest in science were based on real life events, the events didn't actually happen as it's portrayed in the drama. So as long as you're aware of that, you should be able to enjoy this drama as it is. So far to date, there weren’t any other dramas that actually focused on historians in the time period and the kind of work they do. I mean, you do see them in some other stories but they rarely became the central role. Because of that, it was interesting to see how such profession could have functioned during the Joseon period. And I have to say that it was interesting to see how the early methods to vaccination to treat a disease first started or how the process of compiling daily records of the palace were compiled into annals.
That aside, the drama also had some romcom elements like the romance between Prince Dowon and the rookie historian Goo Haeryung, which also had some kinda triangle with a senior historian Min Uwon. There were also a few other pairs like the relationship between the Crown Prince with fellow rookie historian Song Sahui, amongst a few others. And it was fun to see how the characters juggle between doing their job and romance as well as deciding where should their loyalties stand as the historians fought in making sure that history was written and recorded accurately.
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Not your usual Palace drama and it was MOST entertaining :)
Palace dramas usually focus on the king and his beloved so it was so refreshing that this storyline was between one of the princes and a court historian.The FL was pretty and witty and paired well with the boyishly charming ML. Theirs was a romance that was sweet and funny and made me feel good.
Learning about how historians played an important role in the palace was eye opening and this focus made the whole drama more appealing to me as it was something I had not known about before.
Do watch this if you need something lighthearted and romantic.
You will find yourself smiling at the end of the drama :)
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I fell for Hae Ryun when she runs away from her wedding (it's not a spoiler)
RHGHR has easily become my favourite sageuk. The show has a fun and cute start and it's so much more than a mere rom com. It focuses on so many things, like the beginning of Christianity in Joseon, women's participation in the administration etc etc. There were only two reasons I started the show for:1. Both the leads love books and writing (I love literature so obviously I was drawn to it)
2. Cha Eun Woo.
I swear Cha Eun Woo in traditional clothing looked like an actual DOLL. I couldn't take my eyes off him. Such a cutie.
But I fell for someone else; the leading actress. She's so good. Her portrayal of Goo Hye Ryun is such a good one.
Goo Hae Ryun is such a baddie. She's such a boss. She is so empowered and she makes a point of it and I LIVE FOR IT.
I've seen countless dramas where the leading girl is smart but she gets all dumb when it comes to simple things. This is a trope writers use a lot in Kdramas and I'm sure most of you have noticed. The female lead is smart asf and the second lead or first lead is giving ALL the signs that he likes her but SHE JUST WOULDN'T UNDERSTAND. It gets extremely boring and exhuasting. But Goo Hae Ryun was the first character who wasn't like that. That's not the only reason why I like her. There are many. I loved the scene where she refuses to become something and refuses Cha Eun Woo's offer(I won't say it here) because that will stop her from following her dreams and that scene was so good.
It was at that moment that I knew, I didn't like Goo Hae Ryun, I have fallen head over heels for her.
She says that she has worked so hard to achieve her dream so she won't give it up, even if that means that she has to lose Eun Woo's character. And IT WAS BOLD. Not to mention that I also loved what Eun Woo said afterwards.
Nonetheless, this drama is a true gem and you all will love it.
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one of the most beautiful korean historical drama ever!
this drama is so great, prince yirim has to be the cutest prince in the whole Joseon dynasty he is so adorable.Goo Hae Ryung is so beautiful and strong, I love me some strong and hardworking women drama.
the casting is so so beautiful, no unnecessary blood or killing just very cute and light-hearted.
*Story
I loved how this show took its time laying out the story episode by episode. I so enjoyed how everything came together and how the characters ended up in the end as it seemed very natural and not forced upon.
* 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.
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More than just a rom-com
I watched this as it was recommended as similar to "The Red Palace" by June Hur, a book I loved. Rookie Historian Goo Hae-ryung may not have stolen my heart but it was a fun watch.We follow our titular character in her journey to find something more than marriage as a purpose. This leads her to take the civil examination for Female Historians. As result she is entangled with other court officials, politics, corrupt, decades long mystery, and the elusive Prince Dowon.
The romance in the drama seems polarizing. People either love or hate it. I wasn't a fan of the couple, but I did appreciate some of their interactions and moments. It was refreshing to see a green flag, innocent, and sheltered prince, who was a romantic at heart.
What did steal my heart, was all the side characters. The dynamics between them, their workplace shenanigans,their camaraderie, as well as their integrity towards their title as historians. Honestly, if there was a drama just about the cast of historians, I would watch it without a second thought.
I would like to thank the writers for not including unnecessary Jealousy between the female historians.
Plot wise, the drama also included small sub plots which included: discussions about western influence, manipulation of history, variolation/vaccination, spread of Catholicism in the Joseon period. It also depicted the power that historians carried through their presence, even if they themselves may not wield power.
However, the drama had 20 episodes in total. Occasionally it felt as if things dragged or did not contribute to the whole picture. If is was atleast 4 episodes less, the plot could have been more tighter.
Nevertheless, I would still recommend this drama to those looking for a romcoms, a sageuk, or even a palate cleanser.
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Cute feminist drama that I'm probably gonna rewatch when I finish writing this review
I really loved this drama. It's Cha Eun Woo's best one in my opinion, and I say this as someone who really enjoyed My ID is gangnam beauty and True Beauty.Cha Eun woo's character is really cute and bubbly, whereas shin se kyeong's is a bit more serious which I love so much because I'm a sucker for relationships where the girl is more dominant.
The love story is cute and I love how prince Yi Rim completely respects her need to work and to be a historian who makes an impact and who tries to stop the corruption. Their chemistry definitely helps as well.
The ending is great too, I feel like I wouldn't have wanted it to end any other way :))
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A lush, delicious retreat amidst a sprawling desert
I held off on watching this drama for a loooooonnnngggggg time because of the title and its synopsis. I thought it'd be some trope-y fluffy shiz with a stereotypical "strong," forced female lead that I'd drop a few episodes in.Boy, was I wrong.
I am still reeling from this drama and just needed to share these thoughts somewhere because I don't know what to do with myself after the last episode.
There are so, so, many good things about this drama. After a long dry spell, when I couldn't find a single satisfying drama that didn't have toxic dynamics or lackluster storytelling or flat/stereotypical/trope-y characters, this came out of nowhere like an oasis, quenching my thirst in ways I didn't know I needed, and upended every non-expectation that I had in the best way possible.
First, the writing is sublime. I rarely watch an entire drama through without skipping scenes (of secondary/side characters), but I watched every minute of this show and found myself constantly rewinding to watch certain bits again and again because of the acting. And all parts of the story actually wove into one another - no glaring ends left hanging or weird plot devices. It worked and the palace politics were all interesting to me because I somehow found myself caring about all of the people. The themes of the show are so beautifully interwoven into multiple layers throughout the show and in ways that don't bash you over the head but are subtle and moving.
Second, every character is so fully human. And I believe that's because the writer chooses to show us their humanity, the hard choices that (like us) they have to make, and their individual stories and motivations. Even the antagonist, at the very end, gets shown some of this - he's not just a bad guy for the heck of it, but the writers shows a bit of his underlying story and, as flawed as he may be, we still feel some resonance with him because we see his motivation and the humanness of it. And, ultimately, it's such a beautiful tie-in with my main takeaway from the show - that, regardless of gender, race, age, social status, good or bad, etc., we all share the same humanity. We are all simply human at the end of the day and should treat one another as such.
I can't stress how much I love the female and male leads. What a refreshing breath of fresh air to have these characters in Kdrama land. They are characters that I'd genuinely love as humans. I root for them in every scene and their character growth is so satisfying that I swell with pride for them.
With so many dramas, I always find myself wondering, Why are the leads together? In most cases, it's not apparent to me why they would be together other than simply "because the writer said so." The interactions typically consist of finding the other attractive in a moment of trope-y skinship with no real conversation or personality compatibility. But this show gave us two really amazing leads - each with their own distinct personalities, motivations, and goals - and it gave us the honor of watching a beautiful relationship unfold. They talk about things that matter to them, share their vulnerabilities, communicate honestly and openly, and support each other when they can. You can see the respect and love and care growing between them episode by episode. They genuinely have fun together and their affection is born from something organic and natural. The mutual understanding. The communication. Them being on the same page without words. Their shared values and a foundation of genuine friendship. They help one another be better people and stand by one another. They are so real and so awesome that I root for them individually and also when they choose to do something together.
I didn't know that a show could have so much heart. Truly. There were so many scenes where, there wasn't necessarily anything dramatic happening, but I would have a lump in my throat because I saw real humans who cared about one another and were showing it in ways that were true to themselves and the situation. It was so human that I got lost sometimes in the moment; I wasn't watching a drama anymore, I was just watching these people's lives unfolding.
I am already missing this drama, its incredible, tangible world and its characters. Because the show did such a spectacular job at showing us each one of their hearts and humanity (including so many of the side characters), all of the characters feel like real live people. In my heart and mind, it's as if, after the last episode, I have no doubt that the characters are still out there continuing to live their lives as fully fleshed human beings, trying to make the world a better place and grappling with real-life themes, hardships, and decisions of what that entails, but nonetheless caring for and supporting one another through it all. What an incredible honor it was to get to see a slice of their lives. And I feel like I'm a better person for it.
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Outstanding performance by the actors.
"Rookie Historian Goo Hae Ryung" is a Korean historical drama centered on the lives of historians during that time. Their primary role was to listen and record events without expressing opinions or engaging in discussions. The female protagonist is one of these historians, and throughout her journey, many secrets are revealed. She attempts to speak out against injustice but is told to remain silent, as her duty is merely to observe and document. She becomes the historian of the male protagonist, Prince Dowon. Their relationship starts with misunderstandings but gradually blossoms into love. Prince Dowon, however, is treated as insignificant by the king. Why? There is a hidden truth involving a dethroned king and the female protagonist's father, which is unveiled by the end of the drama.I must commend the acting of all the actors, from the supporting roles to the leads. I was particularly impressed by the male protagonist's acting and his ability to switch expressions so seamlessly. His performance was outstanding. The actor who portrayed the role of Eunuch also delivered an excellent performance. While the drama may not have had a power-packed storyline, the powerful performances of the cast kept it engaging and far from dull.
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This review may contain spoilers
This was very nice, cute, interesting, funny and smooth drama With solid story and strong plot
BUT.....
AS USUAL .... THE END
the most weak point in Korean Dramas
For the first time I saw a drama needed 1 or 2 more episodes
The end was too rush
And there were no need for this stupid loooooong time jump
I had too many questions that I needed answers for them
Like what happened for the old king
And why they said he was fooled by his minister
Although they put this plan together
And why after all what the minister did they didn't show us what happened to him
Although I know he was executed but I really want to see him get punished
And the relation between the other historian and the king wasn't clear did they loved eachother
And did she confess about her betrayal to the king???
Why she left her work
Were open relationships at joseon age existed like this??
And was it normal ???!!!!!!
What happened to the ML
3 years were too long to say what happend to them all in 10 min.
Come on, you are really kidding
the director acts as if he waked up one morning and said:
ok guys we should end this drama today that's enough 😏😏😏
Really annoying end
And for the first time I saw shin se kyung face expression wasn't fit to her role
Except these points you are going to enjoy this drama a lot ❤️❤️
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✒Sassy Joseon Journalist Takes A Page From Sappy Royal Romantic °7.5°
📜This show documents the beginning of sharp-witted Goo Hae Ryung's career as a historian at the Royal Joseon Court. Historians had exclusively been male. When women are permitted to take the post, the usual hazing, intimidation, and other bullying by the species accustomed to power (in this case men) takes place.📖We'll turn the page from her rocky start. The next chapter finds Goo Hae Ryung assigned to Prince Gowan for record keeping. The prince is housed in the most remote portion of the palace grounds. Most people have actually forgotten all about him. Why he is austerely isolated he's been marking his time secretly reading and writing °fiction° (scandalous!).
📚As the word count multiplies and the story takes shape, Goo Hae Ryung finds herself bound in palace intrigues, a mystery from the past, a literary - strike that - a *literal hunt for a lost manuscript, and her first personal romamce story. The tone of the show is mostly lite, though there are some serious moments in the mix.
🏰The inner palace intriguers are 24-hr false-news reporters. The machinations of the court as a whole are excellent. Here's the broad-strokes flow chart: The king is at the top, then the ministers, next are officials - level-1 all the way down to the 9th level editions - further down are the lowly but strangely powerful clerks, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera. Know thy place.
🤼♀️The rivalries between the territorial, often corrupt, and always bureaucratic agencies is Pulitzer worthy. They even penned a moment that is reminiscent of Ron Burgandy's Anchorman. I kid you not. That scene is a bestseller. Goo Hae Ryung's boss seems like a thoroughly non-serious person, but at times he enscribes a line that he won't permit anyone to brush away. Those moments are downright inspiring.
🤚🏽Though a very pleasant series, RH is not without blots. Some plot points, what characters say or fail to say, or their actions seem like misprints due to the lack of cohesion. The epilogue style ending doesn't augment RH either. (Here's another Kdrama that suffers from MSS, or Mandatory Separation Syndrome). While it was easy to predict the ending, at least in part, it is like an unfinished tome: It's not fully resolved. They weren't going for a serious historical drama, but one could almost pen a thesis on the way the show wrapped up compared to historical accuracy, ironically. Prince Gowan is not a roundly developed character. He definitely didn't get out of his mini compound enough, so he's almost child-like at times. Goo Hae Ryung is a little too independent to imagine in a give-and-take relationship. In fact, actress Shin Se-kyung is a force of perfect timing & snappy on-the-spot jibes. Her presence is strong to the point that she embodies the mother/lover type, not only in RH, but also in other productions like Run On. One has to wonder if the couple's diverse interests will be a strain that leads to reorganization later on. Even the life they are living at the series' end, which appears carefree, isn't true to their characters.
🍻It's up to the individual to decide if this lexicon of detractions mar the finished work. I easily edited it all out and was able to enjoy the show. Some of these unintelligible scribbles do affect the overall quality a tad. Perhaps they were hung over when they did the final editing.
📰Before I send this to the presses, I would like to post a petition of my own: If you like this show, you will love My Sassy Girl. (I know, the name is strange. For now, overlook its IMDB rating as not many people have weighed in on it yet). My Sassy Girl precedes this show by two years. It was a big hit in South Korea and opened the door for dramas like RH and 💯 Days My Prince. RH borrows heavily from MSG - it's inspiration, not plagiarism. MSG, is every bit as good as this show; don't let its outrageous opening sway you. In my book it's even better (it comes down to the male protagonists), not that we have to compare everything - they're both worthy of watching once-twice-even-thrice.
📁This will conclude the record of Prince Gowan and Goo Hae Ryung.
Signing off,
🔚
〰IMHO✏
🎬8 📝7 🎭8 🤔7 ⚡6 💓7 🦋5
Suggested Age 12& up.
Originally 〰️🖊3/2022
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