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It is worth watching just for the main character
(Sorry if my English is bad)I almost dropped it first 2 episodes because it was kinda cringey, but after that I really loved it.
Jo Jung Suk is carrying this show hard. His character was the most interesting one and he was the best actor without a doubt.
This show did something I was always waiting to see - killing your enemy before they kill you, unappologetically and brutally. And the prince who killed being this warm-hearted, righteous man was so refreshing to see as people are not perfect nor perfection can get you far in real life.
Another person I would like to mention is Court Lady Dong. Love her acting, love her story and would like it if we knew a bit more about her.
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Some different aspects for a Sageuk drama
December 2024Overall, I loved this. It's a classic sageuk drama. However, it is never OTT and all the characters are really good. I didn't find any annoying, although many were absolute barstewards, with others being too easily deceived, and/or misguided.
It does have a gentle pace, but whilst it lacks the action of many other dramas of this type, the plot is clever and aspects were extremely refreshing. There is plenty of intrigue, and intelligent plotting, with those trying to control the King and that position, mistakenly underestimating the person on the throne.
The love side of things is very subtle, but integral to the story, and I found it very romantic at times. The kisses were not at all steamy though, ever. The final one especially, really should have had far more passion. Kang Hee-soo was like a board! Is that the actress, or the director? One really needs a pinch for that :/
It was also very moving on occasion, especially early on, when Jin-han returned from Qing.
There is understated humour from many recognisable supporting character actors, as well as from the King and his guard, Joo Sang-hwa. Two of my favourite characters.
I loved Jo Jung-suk in the lead role; his expressions and habit of slowly closing his eyes when things started to press in on, or anger him, was so good. I really love his acting and find him easy to watch. He rarely fails to draw me in and I've liked a lot of the dramas he's appeared in. Two Cops is still a big favourite.
I don't dislike watching Shin Se-kyung, but I do find her acting quite bland at times. She rarely expresses emotion well and displayed too little passion, which this role was really all about (not just romantic passion, butcthatcof a cause too).
The most annoying character for me was Kim Myung-ha (Lee Shin-young), whose behaviour at one point, coupled with that of his father, made his reasons for hating the King and seeking revenge, somewhat hypocritical. Such a pious character, when he had little reason to behave that way.
I also felt that later into the drama, Mong-woo (Hee-Soo) should have had more faith in the King... but then, these suspicions are needed for tension and added angst, I suppose.
I must say that the Gidaeryeong was much, much too feminine to be taken as a man, so that might marr viewing, a fair bit, for some. I could overlook it, but at the same time I thought the role should have been acted with at least a glimmer of masculinity. There are many pretty men, but their gender is still recogniseable and in this drama that was needed.
The ending had a number of gaps, but was acceptable, and the latter part of the final episode did feel rushed, in comparison to others.
However, I would still recommend this for sageuk drama lovers; overall, it does not disappoint and there are a few things different to the norm, which gave it that bit more.
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A series not to be missed
I was completely captivated by every moment of the "Captivating the King" series. The story is a fascinating journey through the realm of political intrigue and the royal court, and the king himself has become one of my favorite characters.Every time the king enters the scene, you can't help but admire his calmness and intelligence. The way he approaches every challenge with wisdom and determination makes him an outstanding leader. The actor playing him adds tremendous depth and authenticity to such a complex character.
The series leads us through a maze of political alliances and power shifts, giving us a deep look into the society and politics of the time. Each episode brings with it new twists and moments of tension that kept me glued to the screen.
If you are fond of Korean historical dramas, "Captivating the King" is an experience you should not miss. It will transport you to a fascinating world full of mystery and nobility, where you will be caught in a story that will fascinate you from the first moment.
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It's a captivating drama, boasting stunning costumes, cinematography, and a stellar cast.
Great dramatic series. All the actors are superb, and the 💛 King Jo Jung-Suk...OMG, his performance is powerful, captivating, emotional, and intense as well as sensitive. I don't know what the top actors award is in S. Korea--Jo Jung Suk-- gives an Oscar-worthy performance🏆🏆🏆I think I have a crush ❤️ Shin Se-Kyung, is beautiful as well as, moving in her role. I have seen her in many k-dramas and enjoy her acting. Honestly hate to see the series come to and end! Well done! I keep replaying previous series and scenes!It's a captivating drama, boasting stunning costumes, cinematography, and a stellar cast.
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Will keep you interested til the end
There is so much to like about this drama. First their dialogues very well written and beautiful. our leads chemistry is so subtle, strong, beautiful most of the time their eyes talked. you can literally see the love in king lee eyes. King lee our main lead is an amazing king who you will root for til the end. Storyline is really good politics doesnt get boring. it will keep you captivated til the end. Each episode you will have something to look forward too. Also ignore the negative comments watch it then make the decision whether you like it or notWas this review helpful to you?
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A Captivating King…
As other viewers I felt ending was short. Waited for so much more. Although they gave us a happy ending (at least) it needed more substance. The kiss was awful! At least if it was as their first kiss it was good but that kiss? Why after all the trouble they can’t give a better ending, at least I would have been thrilled with a good kiss.Jo Jung Suk saved this drama. If it wasn’t for him probably I would have dropped it. As many others comments he CARRIED this drama. Deserves an Oscar! Don’t know if his acting diminished Shin Sae Kyeong or if she acted poorly next to him or the script. I will go with his acting was too much for her. All the emotions that he could convey in seconds were superb and those eyes said so much. Wow! I hope to see him soon in more dramas similar so I can see more of this potential. I have seen other of his dramas but here I felted he was intense.
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A Captivating Tale Between A King & His Favorite Baduk Player
Dynasty politics isn’t something new when it comes to Korean historicals. We always have a group of power hungry officials, who are either related to the Queen or the Queen Dowager, trying to force their opinions on the King. Corruption becomes the main subplot in these storylines; as such “Captivating the King” was no different. King Lee In/Grand Prince Jin Han ascends the throne when his elder brother (the former King) is poisoned. The only catch, King Lee Sun names his only son as the heir to the throne. Unbeknownst to others, Lee In masks this royal decree and ascends to the throne himself. While his power hungry mother and uncle barter for dominance, Lee In plays mind games with them to protect the young Prince (his nephew). Starring Jo Jung Suk & Shin Sae Kyeong in the lead roles, the show uses the backdrop of the baduk game as an intelligent ploy for the plot and the schemes, that the King devises to fool his corrupt opponents. Both main leads give exceptional performances, heralding the narrative in an intriguing direction. Let’s sit down to talk about their distinct portrayals!Read the complete article here-
https://kcdramamusings.wordpress.com/2024/03/05/captivating-the-king-series-review/
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Under satisfying end to an across-the-board amazing drama
This drama had all the factors going for it, an interesting plot, a believable reason for revenge and a consistent amazing acting quality from its cast. However, the way that my interest in the storyline declined in the final episode was astonishing. A lot of plots and reunions were missed in the drama, that I felt would've made the ending more impactful and added a lot of clarity to the reasonings behind people's actions. In fact, the reunion that they did explore at the end was extremely under satisfying as a watcher who was very engaged in their relationship. However, despite my nit-picking, this drama was across the board amazing. I loved watching it, and I would probably watch it again.Was this review helpful to you?
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Not bad, but not what I hoped
I agree with what most others are saying.The ML was the best character and I found myself excited whenever he showed up on screen. It's hard to put this in words, but he is the most "king" character I have ever seen. He felt truly terrifying at times when people got on his bad side, but truly kind at heart. This dynamic made him really compelling. It's also one of the few times I've seen the power dynamic in these historical dramas to really play out. Most of the time, I felt like the FL was far too afraid of him. He gave her good reason to be, but I never felt like we really got over that well enough. At least on her part. I was fully "captivated" by him way sooner than she was, but I'm not the FL.
All in all, if you like political games, this drama has plenty of it to keep you interested, but if you want romance, there is very little of it. The king waists no time in letting the audience know how much he cares for her, and we feel it whenever he looks in her direction, or even just at the sky, but she seems really passe about the whole thing. She didn't even want to tell him that she returned from Qing and was going to leave quietly?! WOULDN'T YOU WANT TO SEE THE MAN YOU LOVE?! That was pretty disappointing.
The rest of the characters are fine. I have a soft spot for Lee Shin Young (Myungha) and Yang Kyung Won (Yoo Hyunbo), as they are my boys from Crash Landing on You, but especially Yang Kyung Won. I will watch him in anything, he's a great actor.
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I, for one, was captivated LOL
Writing-wise, this is one of the best sageuks I've ever seen (and at this point, I've watched a whole lot of them).I don't know how else to describe it beside it being smartly written. The characters were interesting and flawed, with multiple layers and complex emotions. Their actions were always motivated by solid reasons, and even the villains were clever in the way they plotted their evil deeds (which is not actually the norm in base of my observations so far). I was hooked throughout, and actually found myself being surprised by some of the twists and turns the story took.
The show was like a baduk game in and of itself, with the two opponents constantly trying to outsmart and outmaneuver each other, both when it was the King and his Gidaeryeong, and the King and those seeking to control him, which I really loved given how prominently the game was featured. There was a constant struggle for power going on, with the knowledge that any move had to be carefully considered because a wrong step could lead to catastrophic results (much as it was shown during the very first episode).
Also, there were a lot of different instances were it was mentioned how the characters were blinded because of how they were "captivated" by a certain emotion. Be it a thirst for revenge, or an overwhelming love, or anything in between. Which again, I liked the tie in to the show's name and theme.
Of course, it was visually stunning, like all sageuks usually are, and the OST matched the show well, even if it was not very memorable. The acting was top notch all across, with Cho Jung Seok shining especially bright in his range from tyrannical King to lovesick man, he really excelled in portraying a deeply complex character. Shin Se Kyung's character reminded me a lot of who she'd played in Rookie Historian Goo Hae-Ryung (also a marvelous sageuk fyi), a smart woman, confident in her abilities but somewhat limited by her circumstances.
The only reason I'm not giving Captivating the King the full 10/10 rating is because the romantic spark between the leads was sadly missing. I loved how mature, deep and settled their relationship felt, but the heat that comes with good chemistry was sadly missing. I bought they cared about each other, but didn't feel the attraction. When they kissed, nothing happened.
Either way, it was an amazing show and I had a great time watching it.
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