Princess Hours

This will not be a review. It will not discuss the quality of the acting or the filmography or the writing or the inventiveness of the story concept, and it will Definitely not help you decide to watch this drama. But it will probably help you decide NOT to watch it.

This...will be a Rant.

I hate this drama. It's been years since I watched it, and I still feel the same fiery passion of hatred for it as I did then. I was a new drama viewer in those days, and I didn't believe in quitting dramas. Every drama I started, I had to finish, even if I didn't like it. What if it got better? What if I missed something important? What if, what if, what if?! That is truthfully the only reason I finished Goong. I kept thinking it would get better.

The drama does get off to a good start, with tropes at their most enjoyable and crackling character chemistry and great story antics and so much potential. There is very much a reason why it was hugely popular when it came out, and why it still has a following today. But it quickly turned into hours of literal torture (this drama would make a supremely effective torture device) with a mean, selfish, practically impossible to like male lead, a conniving, malicious second female lead, Royalty rules designed to break the female leads spirit, the female lead losing all of her spark and determination, and angst so heavy you could cut it with a piece of paper. And I'll say it again, there is a reason it was so popular when it aired and why it still has a following today. Some people just enjoyed being tortured, apparently.

In my estimation, Goong is 100% the thing an inexperienced and naive teen girl would think is romantic. Which is why I'm glad I watched this after I was already an adult, because I could already see through all the nonsense. Totally upfront here, I am an unabashed fan of female characters who are feisty and spunky and upbeat and give the male lead a big ol' kick in the tooshy and are adorable while doing it. These kinds of female leads are considered passe now, offensive, relegated to the dark ages, but I love them and always will. So I loved the female lead at the start of this drama. She's got all of that plus that naive awkwardness that comes with being a teenager. And while the male lead is absolutely a turd, the purpose of these sorts of stories is for him to grow and change as a consequence of meeting the female lead. And I'm equally as big of a fan of that sort of story as I am this sort of female lead. Call me deluded if you want, but I believe in the power of redemption, especially as a consequence of love, and I enjoy watching it play out on my screen.

But (a massive turd-sized BUT), we never see this change in the male lead. We never see him grow, never see him acknowledge his behavior, never see him attempt to change. It's not even until the final hour that he actually admits to having feelings for the female lead, by which time, she wants to start having her own life. Which, of course, the drama conveniently finds a way to keep from happening because we can't have That. Clearly, the writers didn't know how to convey the scared, distrustful aspects of the male lead. He's supposed to be this closed off, insecure young man who doesn't know how to express himself and is afraid of being close to anyone but also desperately wants to be loved, hence why he's constantly pushing the female lead away and then pulling her back. If the writers had more of an attempt to convey that to the audience, I might not have such intensely negative feelings about this drama.

Ironically enough, I have been attempting to track down the original manwha this drama is based on, as despite how much I can't stand this drama...the overall story still pulls me in, and I want to see if it's improved in book form or not. Books are able to do something film can't, and that's let the reader in to the characters inner worlds so that we can understand them better, and something tells me this story would Greatly benefit from a peak into the male lead's inner world. I'm also just all in for characters who struggle in their relationships and with overcoming their own hang-ups. Fingers crossed reading the manwha is a better experience.

To anyone who loves this drama, more power to you. I'll just be over here sending Goong death glares.

Original Review:
No.

(I hate this drama so much I would rate it a zero if I could.)

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"Princess Hours" created a lot of hype when it first dropped on to the radar back in 2006, and that even lead to a spin-off. As you all know, in Kdramaland, it isn't very easy to get sequels, so that's what drew my attention to Goong. It had to be good, right?
And yet, I had my reservations about this. I just didn't find the synopsis or plot interesting enough to make me want to watch it. It wasn't until after I watched "Boys Before Flowers" (and found every second of Koo Hye Sun's screen time annoying) that I figured nothing could live up to THAT particular disappointment.
Story: What girl doesn't fantasize about becoming a princess? The money, the attentions, the pretty dresses? And of course, the insanely hot prince charming who seals the deal? At the beginning, Chae-Kyung wasn't interested in that life. She loves her family too much to leave them and can't imagine herself as a princess. You're shown from the start that she will do anything for the people she lives- even if it means marrying some jerk-face and moving into the palace. Of course, once she enters this life she is swept up in the material parts of it, but later on she realizes that money or wealth isn't enough for her to trade what she wants the most- freedom.
Yeah, I got lost there too. The whole "I feel like a trapped bird" arc came out of flipping NOWHERE, but it wasn't unfounded. I just wished that there was more background to that conflict so it made more sense.
Of course, the romance arc was predictable. Shin was a jerk every step of the way and Yul was sweet, but we all know which one the girl always chooses. *Bangs head against wall*
Acting: The acting wasn't anything special in my opinion. Everyone seemed new to the business, so I couldn't exactly judge them on it. Still, everyone was believable in their roles and managed to more or less bring their characters to life.
Music: Music was nicely used in this drama, emphasizing the more dramatic parts of it. I wouldn't go back to listen to the OST all over again (not exactly my type of music), but it was nice.
Rewatch Value: "Princess Hours" has a few sweet moments and a scattering of funny moments that are worth rewatching. The romantic-square was tragic and very dramatic, and I go back to watch those scenes every now and then.
Overall: I think the only reason I'll remember "Princess Hours" is because of how popular it was back when it aired and how big of a following it had. If it weren't for that, I would probably just force "Princess Hours" into a box and shove that into some dark corner of my mind to gather dust. It's not wholly forgettable, but it's not amazing either.

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Pretty much the whole plot is Eun Hye's character is a regular school girl who all of a sudden is set to marry the Crown Prince of S.Korea because of her grandfather. Ji Hoon, who has a relationship of his own, but doesn't really go against the will and the two end up marrying. So really most of the episodes are of them two leads slowly starting to get along. But of course in the way are Ji Hyo & Jeong Hoon's characters, creating the fan favorite love square.

My only problem with this drama was the length. Though I did like it a lot, this drama probably could've been 20 episodes and would have still been good. A few issues and misunderstandings were dragged out longer than should have but that's what you get with Korean dramas.

I loved the whole cast. I felt that Eun Hye's acting at time was a little..much but it was necessary for Ji Hoon's character, so i couldn't really be annoyed. I think my favorite actor was Kim Hye Ja (Queen). She was so adorable! Her sweet attitude and voice was perfect for such a role. Supporting cast was great too. I thought everyone was casted perfectly.

Music was fine, Perhaps Love and the instrumentals were nice to listen to ~

I still do rewatch this drama from time to time (since I have the DVD) but I don't think I could sit through episode 1-24 without skipping parts. One full time was enough for me. But I feel this is one of those "classic" dramas most drama watchers come across at some point, so at least give it a try!

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Didn't live up to the hype

Watching this drama felt like being a donkey chasing a carrot stick. The whole setup was promising, but boy, did it fizzle out in the end. You know what really grinds my gears in romance dramas? The scarcity of actual, meaningful romance. And guess what? This one was no exception. The main characters hardly spent enough time on screen to even convince a goldfish that they could be a couple. And quality time? Ha! That's like spotting a unicorn at a shopping mall.

Let's talk about these two lovebirds. Flawed is their middle name. Sure, they've got their good sides, but did I see them bonding like peanut butter and jelly? Nope. Chae-kyung was basically Yul's personal confidante, even when it was about as appropriate as wearing a swimsuit in a snowstorm. And Shin? He's like a clam that swallowed a porcupine. Closed off, prickly, and full of inner turmoil. He pulled some pretty questionable stunts, but Chae-kyung waltzed into his life and started demanding love and attention like it's a drive-thru service.

What I had my hopes up for was a slow, delightful transformation—like watching two caterpillars turn into butterflies together. Shin, at least, became a smidge more bearable by the time the curtain fell, but Chae-kyung? Not so much. I mean, how in the world did she magically level up in maturity overnight? She started off as a total mess and stayed that way most of the show. Her kindness and quirks were drowned out by her tantrums and me-first attitude.

And their baggage? Oh boy, it's like they tried fitting an elephant into a carry-on bag. All those hurtful things, hardly talked about or resolved. Just slapping an "I love you" sticker on it doesn't fix a thing.

I won't lie, there were some gems in there. The early episodes had me hooked like a cat with a laser pointer. But did it leave me satisfied? Not even close.

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The story is really good. The main characters are interesting and well acted. The villains are horrible (so obviously they are well acted as well). I have always been a fan of the arranged marriage plot. To me it's the most interesting way for a couple to get to know each other because generally they see all the other person's flaws first and then start to see their charms. The story behind the second male lead is unique from other plots I've seen and that added and adds a fun twist to the story.

The headline for this review refers to the Female lead of this show. She cries ALL THE TIME. Seriously...she could fill a bathtub with all her tears. That's probably the only thing that bugged me about this show. SO MUCH CRYING. It's not that she doesn't have just cause at times, but sometimes it just seems a bit overboard.

I still really like the drama though and I recommend it.

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i know this is old show but it just hurt and i feel irritated .this is a good drama if you can tolerate the draggy plot between 2nd male lead and his interactions with main lead actress .the relationship between them which is i guess the main thing in whole 24 episodes .The actress just get tangled with him and now its a story between two of them there is more screen time to them instead of male lead .the main lead actress is dumb as you can think , its clearly in front of her that 2nd male lead is just selfish and using her but nooo, he is friend and family and ignore all the hint male lead gave to her in whole 23 episodes ,i guess they drag the plot to much for 24 episodes it could be done in 16 and just cut that horrible scenes between the 2nd male and main lead actress .and they ended it like flash she is pregnant ,wait wth he just came to meet her and ask her to marry him again and wow there was no scene of them together and wolah it the end ,roll the credits .

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REWATCHED FOR MORE THAN 10 TIMES ALREADY

I really want to say big thanks to all the people behind this masterpiece, the producer, directors, costume designer, screenwriter. They really really did great.

Thank you so much for creating this drama it's so good I can rewatch it million times without finding any dull moment

And also to Joo Ji Hoon and Yoon Eun Hye
the drama is already 19 years ago but you both are still in my heart

I still rewatch this drama from times to times and I still get the tingling feeling in my heart whenever watching the chemistry between both of them
I cried when chaegyung cried, felt pain when shin hurt, got nervous when they were in such comedic but romantic moments

Not to mention the costumes! sooo so so pretty and well designed
I personally think the costumes/dresses that ChaeGyung wore in the drama back then in 2006 will still be nice to be worn in 2025, because the designs are modern and unique it's not dull at all !!!

Thanks to all of them because without them this masterpiece wouldn't be here
big bow !!!

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Legendary

THIS... this was the drama that got me into K-dramas and (eventually) K-pop, haha. I remember being obsessed with this that I couldn't stop rewatching it for a month before discovering more Korean dramas and forgot about it. Years later, I came back to watch it, only to realize that the whole plot was cliche and the acting was sometimes cringy, especially the female lead a.k.a Yoon Eunhye. Or maybe that's just her character. Ju Jihoon though... he was SO hot, and still is.
Anyway, like I said, the plot is cliche. To put it simply: it potrays the not-so-exciting life of an average girl who has to marry a handsome yet cold-hearted prince because her grandpa was besties with a king and they want them to marry. The girl has no choice but to obey since she wants to help her poor family and... tada, they fall in love in the end. Of course, the drama won't complete without the appearance of a second male lead, who's really kind to the girl but she just has to fall for the main lead. Be careful, you might suffer from a second lead syndrome in this one. Also there's the second female lead, and she was kinda annoying but not the kind of annoying that makes you want to murder her. She's Song Hyekyo... of course, it'll be hard to hate her, HAHA.
The pace was slow. I think it was a little boring, so I skipped lots of scenes. It was nice to see the main leads' relationship development, though. It happened naturally. ;; I feel like they focused on it too much that we didn't get to see many romantic scenes between Eunhye and Jihoon, most only happened in the last few episodes. The kissing scenes, though... hands down, one of the best kisses I've ever seen in all K-dramas. That kiss that happened in episode 23, when Eunhye asked Jihoon if he wanted to stay with her and he said yes (correct me if I'm wrong)... it was deep and hot and just... GAH. You can feel the emotion of them longing for each other. Pure love and sincere. It was kinda long, too. It felt like their lips were made to kiss each other. *heart-eyes* I wonder if the crews fainted while watching them kiss, coz baby I only watched it through my computer screen and I YELLED. I swear to God, everybody in the K-drama world needs to kiss like THAT.
Another thing that I love from this drama is the OSTs. They're... *chef's kiss* LEGENDARY. Perhaps Love is still my favorite tune until this day, and I've listened to it since 2010. It ages like a fine wine; it just gets better the more you listen to it.

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One of my favorite dramas!

This was a drama I started watching, because I thought it would be cool, and it ended up becoming one of my favorites!

I think the story is very good, I love the idea that in 2006 there will still be a monarchy, since history would not exist without that fact LOL.
I think the performances are very good, with an emphasis on Eun hye, because I love her haha.The OST is very good, and whenever I listen I keep reminiscing about the scene in my head.
But now we go to the drama "problem" for many people. It is a very long/slow drama, which is common because it is an "old" drama, another fact that people may not like today is the character Shin, because I would say he is a little cold and heartless, the protagonist is also a little too naive haha
However, this is still one of my favorite dramas, I love to see how since the 2000s so much has changed!
I'm sorry for my bad English,I'm workin in this right now.I hope in the next time i'm doing this more better!

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After hearing my sister rave over and over about this drama while we frantically took photos of Gyeongbokgung Palace, I finally watched it! This was a so-so drama for me. Plot was unique which I liked, however, the story could have been told in 16 or 18 episodes instead of 24. Too many crying and brooding scenes. Too many family scenes that did not contribute to the story at all, forward button please. I really disliked how the male lead’s lack of emotional and verbal communication was really the only source of conflict between him and the female lead, and it lingered forever! They could have (1) highlighted the reason why, (2) showed the process of how hard it is for him to show/say his deepest feelings and then (3) featured how he overcame his struggle in 6 episodes. They could have given the viewers more of the lovey dovey part instead. Oh well, I digress.

The second lead crying scenes were on the cringey side, ack, it pains me to see how awkward he looked. Otherwise the rest acting chops were on the good side. Unfortunately this Drama has no rewatch value for me and no I will not recommend this to my friends.

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