King the Land

Definite must watch

I loved it. I smiled. I laughed. I loved how they displayed emphasis on the service industry and how hard these people have to work to keep a job in addition the little politics at play. It was a good balance of everything. I enjoyed the relationship between the leads. They had really great chemistry and the acting of the grandma was so amazing. No excessive drama. No psycho people. No stupid love triangle’s. No ridiculous break ups.

The cast did an amazing job. I honestly liked them all. Of course there was an antagonist but you’ll get a clear idea why. Yes there was a little plotting but I can finally say in this series that the little traps, mishaps passed like wind.

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Accept it's a fluffy rom-com, not RL, and it'll be a fun watch

Aug 2023
A great big squishy ball of fluff, in the traditionally wonderful vain of many successful rom-com K-dramas.

You get the flashy backdrop of a wealthy family run conglomerate; the main story centres around the successful 5 Star hotel, while also featured are the company's Airline and a high end clothing branch, where each of the FL's 2 besties work.

Within these settings are power struggles, prejudices over education, divorce and social standing, with a smattering of greasy palms, connections and the usual jealousy, spite, bitching and abuse of the have nots/underlings. Some characters are wonderfully nasty and underhand... I was having a right go at the TV on many occasions! ;-D

Then, of course, there is the most important, most focussed on, romance between our drop dead gorgeous ML and effervescently can-do, pretty FL, who when at work speaks in the same way UK announcers did in the 50s ;-D and smiles through 99% of everything that a busy day as Hotel Concierge can throw at her.

Due to a childhood trauma, our ML hates what he sees as the false smiles automatically plastered on the faces of a large percentage of the hotel's staff and refuses to either conform, or acknowledge them.

With our FL gaining success with her attitude and having more and more dealings with our ML, it's very much an enemies to tolerated colleagues, to friends, to lovers.

There is almost every cliché in the book, from one falling into/onto the other, a bike ride, fairground visit and sudden overnight stay, to money getting offered to get rid of people.

There are also the trials and tribulations of the FL's 2 best friends sewn into the story and plenty of light moments with the ML and his dork of an assistant.

This fit absolutely perfectly with what I wanted to watch. There are imperfections (I never really understood why someone who disappeared, did) and realism is often overlooked to make things and people beautiful, and the story work... but the drama is a rom-com and from the very amusing first arrival of our ML, does not set itself up to be anything remotely true to life, so no disappointment in that respect, for me.

There was one scene near the end, with the FL's grandmother (played by a favourite senior actress, Kim Young-ok) that was so touching, I needed tissues.

The music I did find exceedingly odd at times, especially when a group of them visited Thailand... it was almost hilarious, with what sounded like bangra, and Ska!!! I've heard traditional and modern Thai music and it didn't sound like that!

It's no more than a bit of fun, and a great feel-good drama. I quickly ate up every second of it!

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the couple oozes chemistry, I loved it

Watching the Kdrama “The King Land,” my experience was simply captivating in every aspect. Every meticulously crafted scene kept me hooked from the very first episode. The gripping plot, coupled with exceptionally well-chosen actors, elevated this drama to a new level of excellence.

In particular, I must highlight the phenomenal acting of Lee Junho and Lim Yoona. Their impeccable talents brought depth and authenticity to the characters they played. The way they portrayed their emotions, challenges, and growth throughout the story was simply impressive. Every scene they shared on screen was brimming with chemistry and skill, adding rich layers to the narrative.

Lee Junho once again proved himself to be a versatile and charismatic actor, masterfully capturing the essence of his character. His ability to immerse himself in the emotions of the role is undeniable, and he truly embodied the spirit of the character, making him memorable and endearing.

Lim Yoona likewise delivered a remarkable performance, displaying talent beyond her years. Her captivating and genuine performance brought a unique vitality to the character she portrayed. Her presence on screen was magnetic, and she excelled in every moment she shared with the cast.

In addition to the performances, the direction and cinematography deserve applause. Every frame was carefully composed, taking advantage of stunning settings and visually appealing aesthetics. The soundtrack also perfectly complemented the tone and pace of the drama, adding an emotional atmosphere to the more intense scenes.

I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a thrilling journey and full immersion in a world rich with emotion and meaning.

Congratulations to the production team, cast, and everyone involved in creating this incredible Kdrama.

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Not Just Another Chaebol

Are you shocked? I'm a bit shocked at how high I've rated this drama!

I put off watching this drama for so long because I was expecting just another rich guy/poor girl dynamic with the classic sub plots and a bit of a thriller element (why do they so often add a thriller element to a romcom?). But I was genuinely happily surprised with this show.

It's been a while since I've been able to watch a show from start to finish without really skipping through parts that dragged on. You might be wondering, what is so special about this show compared to others in the same genre?

It's honestly the writing. Not only did they do a fantastic job in writing the plot but also they wrote the most attractive man in kdrama history, in my opinion.

One of the biggest critiques I've had recently with dramas is that they keep trying to be something they're not or add elements for dramatic effect that just don't make sense or aren't thought out properly. I didn't feel like this drama had that at all. I love that the writers focused on one plot and built on that over the 16 episodes and didn't add anything that they couldn't tie off at the end. The writers went back to the roots and I love them for it.

Now on to Gu Won. I need this kind of a man as the lead in more shows. He may have been cold at the start but it's not a surprise when he started to soften. We see the soft side of him already in the 'prologue' when he hires Mr. No and stands up to the toxic management. I saw another review that said that Won's feelings came out of nowhere for Sa-Rang but I strongly disagree. He was obviously traumatised from people smiling around him in his darkest times and so hated to see people smiling but you actually see the moment when he starts to appreciate a smile with Sa-Rang. And the love this man has for her, as a viewer, gives you butterflies. He is the peak male archetype. When they share their first kiss after he cooks her dinner, you can actually see how hard he's breathing and the NEED in this man's eyes. I just think overall, this man was perfect in every way. And the way he responded when he was about to propose but then she said she wanted to quit and go find her dream. WOW. Just WOW. What a man.

I will be watching every drama with this man in it going forward.

If you want a drama with twists and turns and all that crazy stuff, this is not for you. But if you're like me and can appreciate a well written man and a genuine plot that stays true to itself, please give this a go.

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Fun story fun characters fun show

TLDR: Popcorn fun with cute moments and great chemistry

Disclaimer: Average for me is a 5 so everything above that is pretty good to perfect and everything below that is pretty bad to horrendous. I know nothing about film making so couldn't tell you anything about how well the technical aspects of the show were executed, but I can give my opinion on how much I enjoyed it relative to other things I've watched.

Overall: If I could describe this show in one word it would be refreshing. Simple story with enjoyable characters trying to be their best selves. Everything adds up to be one of the most fun shows I've watched recently

Story: I liked the story a lot more than a summary would suggest. Its not super complex, there isn't a masterfully crafted plot that will keep you glued to your seat, but I think that is what made it so enjoyable for me. The main focus of the story is the romance, friendships and the politics/inheritance. The romance had its ups and downs but overall it was a fantastic watch. I will I admit I almost dropped this at episode 5/6 when the obligatory major accident happens that forces a lead to realize their feelings, but thankfully that was the only instance of eye rolling cliche that really got to me. The rest of it was a fun ride watching the leads get together and just enjoy life. Maybe this comes down to preference but I am a huge fan of just letting things happen organically. If there is no reason for a couple to break up then forcing it for the extra drama only detracts from the show. If two grown ass adults know they both have feelings for each other it makes no sense to complicate things unless there is a legitimate reason outside of "we needed to fill 2 more episodes". The show even pokes fun at this trope in the latter half of the show. This drama creates a great balance of having outside pressures in the relationship, but also realizing that talking to your partner and open communication can in fact solve many problems. Can't tell you how much of a breath of fresh air it is to not see a couple who supposedly love each other break up at the drop of a hat all while pining for each other. Like no, you can be together, you are in fact 30 years old, be an adult.

The politics were ok. There wasn't a whole lot of drama and the outcome was pretty clear from the outset even without knowing all the tropes, but I thought it served the show well. Sometimes there don't need to be all these unnecessary obstacles just for the sake of artificial drama and this show understood that. The office drama I thought was handled very well. Sometimes it was a bit over the top but relative to what some other dramas bring to the table this was downright tame. I often get annoyed when the villains/antagonists/bullies in a show are super aggressive and openly antagonistic because I feel that realistic bullying looks much more subtle. The off hand remarks, office gossip, and tensions between co workers were subtle enough while also showing how oppressive the tiny things can be. The way the characters handle these things is also well done and had a mature flair to it that isn't often seen. The multiple perspectives from the friend group also allowed them to explore how different people can successfully navigate these situations while still being an adult. Whether it is the snarkiness/sarcasm of the department store worker or the kill them with kindness attitude of the lead, there are different ways to handle this without exploding. (Not that one way is better than the other, and sometimes a good explosive scene is just what the doctor ordered, but in dramas it has become the norm and hence much less enjoyable to watch)

I'll give the show credit for balancing the multiple story threads well. I was invested in all three of the friend group's lives and wanted them all to succeed. Sometimes this idea can be hard to do well because certain parts of individual stories are going to be more interesting than others which makes it very easy for me to dislike a character just because they aren't part of the more interesting plotline. But as I was watching their lives play out I was genuinely interested in every characters life. Nobody overstayed their welcome or made me wish I was watching a different character. I think Kang Da Eul's story was the only one I was sort of mixed on. Her home situation wasn't meant to be taken as seriously as the others given the shows portrayal but I kind of wish they did. Instead of the uno reverse they did which I think was supposed to be funny I wish there were some scenes where she gave some serious thought about what she wanted and the pros/cons of staying or leaving.

Characters/acting: I loved the leads but the FL was always going to be the standout from episode 1. It was great to see a FL that was competent and independent without needing the ML to simply exist. She was consistent throughout the show and stuck to her guns even when things didn't go her way. She had a direction and goal in life and just happened to meet someone that she wanted to share that with rather than being directionless before running into her other half. The performance was excellent, though I don't think the role demanded too much from the actress, she did a fantastic job with what she needed to do. The ML was good as well. I think the story failed his character early on, the whole petty act during episode 5 was the only real point where he acted out of character but everything else was good. If he had stayed a 30 something year old adult throughout the show I would've put him squarely in great but for those 2 episodes he turns into a middle schooler who is afraid to admit he has a crush. Spoiler but in an alternate universe not too different from the show the FL dies because the ML was petty which is something that was kind of hard for me to get over but I eventually did. That aside the performance was good with some great chemistry between the leads. I liked that the ML stayed out of the way of the FL and didn't start to dominate her life in the way that is all too common in the office romance shows. I loved their cute vibe and wish I could've seen more of it.

The second leads were also good. My personal favorite was Kang Da Eul. The performance was fantastic and I loved the sarcastic energy she brought to the table. Sort of mixed feelings on her story but I thought the character added a lot of fun to the group that would've otherwise been missing. Her relationship was kind of played for laughs with some mini revenge/comeuppance which was kind of sad to see as I wish she did find someone better for her but can't complain too much. Oh Pyeung Hwa was also good. I thought her storyline was a bit more basic than the other two on both the office and romantic side but I think she served as the baseline which isn't necessarily a bad thing. I still enjoyed her character and her relationship but don't think the chemistry was as strong as some of the others in the show. The standout though was always going to be how the 3 bounced off of each other because they were the definition of the sum is greater than the parts. Their friendship felt real and I enjoyed all their scenes together. The dialogue felt smooth and real while also showing how the personalities of the characters mix together.

For the side characters No Sang Sik is the MVP. He was over the top and goofy in a way that the show desperately needed and he never felt overbearing. When he slid those glasses down in the airport I was like, yes. I'm glad they didn't give him too much of a romantic side story because his character really shined in not taking him super seriously. The actress for Lee Ye Jeo was also amazing and I loved the performance despite the little screen time. The rest of the side characters were good in their roles but nothing too amazing for me to comment on.

Music: Not much to say, I watch in 1.5x speed and didn't really go back for any of the songs but they weren't bad either.

Rewatch: Rewatch value is the most subjective category for me because there are some fantastic shows that I know I will never rewatch while some objectively worse dramas I'll watch 5 times over. The story is good but not great, the leads are fun but not my favorite, and none of the side characters would crack my top ten list, but gun to my head this is the first drama I'd watch again if I had to choose one. Maybe everything just combined well together to create the perfect version of popcorn fun or maybe this just fits my guilty pleasure but I already know I'm going to be watching this one again regardless.

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Way Better Than Expected

I feel like I’d only ever heard bad things about King the Land, but I’m really glad I decided to give it a chance! If you are looking for a really fluffy romcom, this is a perfect choice.

I had only ever seen Jun Ho is Just Between Lovers, which is a show with a drastically different tone, so I knew he was an amazing actor. He took a character who could have been just irritating and made him really endearing and charming. The leads had great chemistry and a sweet romance. It felt like their romance developed really naturally.

There have been so many CEO and poor girl romances done already, but King the Land did stick out. It was an unexpected surprise that they spent a lot of time focusing on workers rights, unions, class inequality, and a lot of things that other CEO dramas would never touch on. While the female lead does have to point out a lot of his ignorance and incorrect assumptions at the beginning, it felt refreshing that he took a lot of initiative to fix those things and educate himself instead of expecting her to. He was also very charmingly down to earth and especially the scenes of him interacting with her grandma and friends were very sweet.

The friendships were a huge strength of the show. The core three female friends had a really fun and realistic friendship, and they were all great characters. It was also a lot of fun that they all formed one big friend group, which isn’t something that is often seen. The second romance was also great and the second male lead was so sweet that I wanted him to have more screen time! The only person whose storyline was really disappointing was the married friend. Her husband was such a loser who was so disrespectful to her, and she should have had a much better and empowering ending. His behavior also felt like it was played way too much for laughs when it was actually really upsetting what he was doing.

There were some other small disappointments, like not as much resolution or explanation of the male lead’s family as was needed. I think I would have rated this series very high if it had been 12 episodes, maybe even 14. For a fluffy romcom with minimal conflict 16 full length episodes just feels way too long. It got a little boring towards the end because they’d run out of story. I still think this drama is worth the watch and I can see it being a good comfort rewatch. The couple has such a healthy and sweet relationship. There are lots of swoonworthy moments and a lot of the best tropes.

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Very cute and models mature, good relationship

Please note I am for the sake of this review ignoring the controversy around the portrayal of the Arab prince. I don't disagree with the idea that it was a mistake, but it didn't spoil the show for me.

I just want to note that both the leads (and supporting cast) did an amazing job. The leads' relationship and chemistry was so good. Mr. Lee and Ms. Im pulled off what could have been too cheesy to watch, but they nailed it and made it fun. Yoona is, of course, beautiful, but also able to play cute so very well. My wife and I smiled and laughed a lot.

The ML, despite being rich and kind of damaged, modeled a very mature, calm, and loving relationship. When the FL made decisions that could have been viewed as hurting the ML he did not get made or throw a tantrum. he did his best to understand and support her.

Also, the trauma level is low enough to not drag down the whole story.

Well worth a watch. Just fast forward past he Arab prince stuff :-)

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Better late than never, it was fine!

I dropped this series for a while or should I say out it on hold because when it was started it didn't get me excited to wait for the next episode. It gives me laugh and all but the hype for me wasn't there. Don't get me wrong because we have our own preferences.

But I have this drive it me to finish the unfinished businesses. I have a lot of unfinished dramas and tagging it here in MDL as on hold made me wonder why I was afraid to pursue them once again. Slowly I will try starting with this one.

I continued watching it because when I continue where I left I laugh so hard in the episode. I don't know if I was just sad that time but I really laugh a lot. It was fine actually. Not that bad. It gave what it was intended to give.m - the laugh and cuteness.

I like how they did not complicate much the love story just like how intense drama always did. This kind of relaxing drama was needed from time to time. Better late than never!

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Guilty Pleasure with No Depth of Plot

This show is nothing but a guilty pleasure. We all expect cheesy mainstream tropes when we watch a Korean rom-coms, but this show takes it to another level. They made almost EVERY scene to be as cheesy as possible, to the point that is cringe. Everything is just cheesy scenes that even it looks like there isn't any main plot, it lacks the depth. With this issue 12 episodes is already quite painful, and yet they made it 16. The idea of this show is very mainstream, a boss falls for his employee, but the execution isn't even a good job. Why do they name it King The Land when most of the events don't even occur in the hotel?

Character development in this show is a bit questionable. While Gu Won is becoming better person, it's questionable what Cheon Sa Rang is doing. All the time Won has been pulling cringey and pervert-ish moves when he tries to attract Sa Rang, even when they haven't been close enough such as him offering an umbrella under the rain and taking her home, as well as taking her into multiple dinners. I don't understand how could Sa Rang falls over those acts, when there is nothing really impactful happening for a change of feeling. This show also features multiple problems caused by uneccessary misunderstandings.

The writers focused too much on the cheesy things that they really ignore all the small details. Things are missing out here and there. I still don't understand Sa Rang's dream of working in King Hotel that she got after she visited it during childhood. She describes herself has to live from paycheck to paycheck, so how come she got to visit "the most luxurious hotel in Korea"? Won is very sensitive while talking about his mother. However No Sang Sik who has been living with him for seven years doesn't know this. The mountain rescue is the peak makjang. Won says that Sa Rang is missing and he's unable to track her phone, yet he's calling her all the time until the dusk. Judging by the height of the cliff, it's impossible for someone to survive it without any broken bones. Yet Sa Rang only gets minimal bruises and Won is able to jump over it casually, so two people survive that damn cliff. And if you look more thoroughly, Sa Rang's make up is still on point after being left for a day under the cliff, not even any dust up there.

There are only two good things in this show. First is YoonA, thanks to her performance for bringing smiles and other expression into this show. Second is the consistency of (slapstick-ish) comedy throughout the show, which mostly comes from the character of No Sang Sik. Without these two elements, this show would be straight going to the drop list of most audience. Jun Ho has a really stiff face expressions, but since it fits his character I couldn't complain more.

This show is recommended for someone who needs a guilty pleasure. It's really lightweight, since the storyline really lacks the depth. But I personally wouldn't recommend it.

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