Captivating the King

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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APESAR DAS CRÍTICAS...

A maioria das pessoas não gostaram desse drama, mas eu particularmente amei! Me prendeu desde o primeiro episódio apesar da história não ser muito inovadora, mas a atuação do Jo Jung-suk é muito maravilhosa e ele é um ótimo ator. As pessoas costumam falar muito da atuação da Shin Sae-kyeong mas eu não acho que nesse drama ela deixou muito a desejar. A química entre os protagonistas é muito boa e para mim esse é um dos melhores desse ano até agora. Algumas coisas que deixaram a desejar na minha opinião, foi as poucas cenas de romance dos protagonistas e principalmente o final. O final poderia ter entregado muito mais do que realmente entregou, mas fico feliz pois teve um happy ending pelo menos. Mesmo com esses poucos defeitos, eu realmente gostei e não entendo porque as pessoas massacram tanto essa série.

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Captivating the King -A drama full of sadness , romance, hatred and plot

I love this Historical drama and with the great main actor and actress and also others who casts in this drama. Though it has not ended and watch until 13 episodes, the King is not a bad man, he wanted to build a better antion and create peace in his country as the son from his brother the ex King is too young to rule. However he cared for him and his sister but bad rumours about him made many suspicious of him and the killing of the traitor and given exile to those people whom they reported as traitors and one of them his valuble baduk player ( Shin Se Kyeong ) and was in misery when he heard that she died, and became acholholic and womanizer because of that. Deep inside him he listened to his mother and that wicked uncle of his. I have the feeling it will be agood ending for this drama and I enjoyed the story line

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the FL ruins it

I liked :
the ML, Jo Jung Suk is great in this show, probably his best performance !
The story is fine
The supporting characters are good, the villains are bad (very good actors), I enjoyed the queen dowager (actress was so good in the crowned clown) , the first king Choi Dae Hoon, Yang Kyung Won (who was also good in Vincenzo and Crash landing on you)

I dislike :
The Female Lead ! The actress is so bad ! She was bad in rookie historian, she didn't change !
Someone can tell her that to keep your mouth open during all the series is NOT an acting skill !
She spent less than 5 minutes with a closed mouth ! She has no facial expression, she just rolls her eyes lol
Zero chemistry with the ML, always the same face.
The character is not better, at the end why did she leave ???
It s a bit long, especially the last 3 episodes.

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Held My Interest From Start To Finish

The headline says it…this story kept me hooked from beginning to end, and not all stories do….I’ve dropped my share of stories an episode or two in due to the story not keeping my interest, poor acting by many, or a story line that makes little sense and/or is difficult to follow. For me, the acting in this series was excellent, with the actors portraying Grand Prince Jinhan/Yi In, the uncle,Park Jong-Jean, Court Lady Dong, and the young Grand Prince giving specially outstanding performances. I truly hated the uncle, which means he did a great job as an actor (guess the writers/director gets some credit there too)…
I don't tend to nitpick stories…they either hold my interest or they don’t. I only have two slightly negative comments. They didn’t try to make the female lead’s character Kang Moowoo look LESS pretty when portraying a man. You can’t do much to hide a slim build and narrow shoulders, but why were her lips obviously rouged/glossed even when dressed as a man? And although there was a happy ending of sorts, I would have liked to know more.; I still felt like I was left hanging just a bit.

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will rewatch anytime

Captivating the King gave us a complex, emotionally layered portrayal of power, love, and identity, and Jo Jung-suk and Shin Se-kyung brought such intensity to their roles. The chemistry, the tension, the longing—it’s the kind of drama that leaves you wanting more. “Captivating the King” left me emotionally wrecked—in the best way. Jo Jung-suk’s portrayal of King Lee In was magnetic, and Shin Se-kyung’s duality as Hee-soo/Mong-woo added layers of intrigue and heartbreak. I’m still thinking about that final baduk scene under the tree. I’d love to see a Season 2 that explores their journey now that the masks are off and the throne is secure. There’s so much more story to tell, and I’m not ready to say goodbye.” Captivating the King wrecked me—in the most beautiful way. Jo Jung-suk and Shin Se-kyung gave us a love story wrapped in secrets, strategy, and soul. That final baduk scene? I’m still not over it.

We need Season 2. Not just for closure, but to see how King Lee In and Hee-soo navigate love and power now that the masks are off. Their story isn’t finished—it’s just beginning.

📣 To the writers, producers, and tvN: the fans are ready. Let’s continue this masterpiece. #CaptivatingTheKing #Season2Please #JoJungSuk #ShinSeKyung #KdramaLove

I’ve found a few stunning visuals that would work beautifully with your post. These include:

Jo Jung-suk in regal attire, radiating quiet strength

Shin Se-kyung in disguise, eyes full of secrets

Their emotional reunion under the tree in the final episode

Teaser posters with dramatic lighting and palace intrigue vibes
Captivating the King” was more than a drama—it was a poetic storm of love, betrayal, and redemption. Jo Jung-suk and Shin Se-kyung gave us a story that deserves more chapters.

We need Season 2. Let’s see King Lee In and Hee-soo face the future together, not just the past.

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Captivating the King: Onde o Amor e a Tragédia Dançam no Trono

Poucas vezes terminei um drama histórico com o peito tão apertado e, ao mesmo tempo, tão preenchido. Captivating the King não é só um Sageuk — é uma poesia visual embebida em dor, poder, amor e escolhas impossíveis. E eu não estava pronta para o turbilhão emocional que ele me entregaria.

A história gira em torno do Rei Yi In, um homem marcado pela solidão do poder e pela perda, e Kang Hee-Soo, uma mulher que carrega uma missão secreta, mas que se vê dividida entre o dever e os sentimentos que começam a brotar de forma inesperada. E é nessa tensão entre o amor e a lealdade que o drama brilha — ou melhor, machuca.

Desde o início, fui completamente capturada pela atmosfera melancólica e pela intensidade dos diálogos. A escrita é refinada, cheia de camadas políticas e emocionais. Nenhum personagem é totalmente bom ou mau — todos estão presos às suas circunstâncias, lutando contra as correntes do destino. E isso torna tudo ainda mais dolorosamente humano.

A química entre Jo Jung Suk e Shin Se Kyung é avassaladora. Ele, como rei, carrega um olhar que diz mais do que qualquer decreto real. Ela, com sua dualidade entre a espiã e a mulher apaixonada, é simplesmente fascinante. Cada cena entre eles tem uma tensão quase sufocante — como se o tempo estivesse prestes a parar.

A produção também é um espetáculo à parte. Figurinos deslumbrantes, palácios envoltos em sombras, trilha sonora que toca fundo... Tudo foi feito com um cuidado estético que eleva a narrativa. Mas o que mais me marcou foi a delicadeza com que o drama trata o amor impossível. Não há exageros nem promessas vazias — apenas a crueza do que significa amar alguém em silêncio, sabendo que o fim pode ser inevitável.

Captivating the King não é para quem busca finais simples ou respostas fáceis. É um drama para quem aprecia histórias que machucam, mas que também transformam. Para quem entende que, às vezes, amar é também saber perder.

Com lágrimas nos olhos e o coração apertado, só posso dizer: esse drama me cativou — completamente.

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Brilliant & Indeed Captivating

I'm kind of shocked by some of these poorly added reviews, I found this series to be just brilliant in every way. The first three episodes it was kind of up in the air as to the direction the major characters would be going, but once episode four played out with the major events that transpired, the drama took off with full steam.
Jung Suk was fantastic as always. I was expecting him to be great in this role and he definitely did not disappoint. Sae Kyeong was equally as brilliant, as was Shin Young with his role as Myeong Ha. I must admit, I had a strong disliking to that character early on, but he turned out to be a great asset to the series as well as to the King. The supporting cast was very strong with talent, giving us several evil characters you counted the minutes for them to get their retribution, which they all eventually did!!
I guess the only negative I had a difficult time with was everyone not recognizing Mong U as a woman simply because she was dressed like a man ... but you simply have to get past that or else the series does not work for you.
All in all a great and extremely enjoyable series!!!!

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A Solid Drama with Strong Performances, But Lacking Chemistry and Believability

As someone who's been deep into K-dramas for nearly a year, I can say I've definitely caught the bug. Captivating the King wasn't one I fell for immediately, though. I found myself starting, abandoning, and returning to it multiple times before finally getting hooked by about the third episode. It wasn't the easiest journey, but by the end, I found myself enjoying it far more than I expected. It isn’t an epic, must-watch drama, but it certainly isn't terrible either. I'd describe it as a solid middle-ground series.

The story had potential, though I can't say it fully delivered on it. The plot, while engaging at times, lacked some depth and had its fair share of holes that made it difficult to fully suspend disbelief. I’m no expert on Korean history, so I won’t nitpick its historical accuracy, but I did find the period setting interesting, even if it wasn’t flawless. The world-building was definitely one of the stronger points.

Now, let’s talk about the characters. They were, for the most part, well-developed, which helped carry the show. The villain stood out, with a performance that was good enough to utterly dislike him, though I would have preferred if he hadn’t taken up so much screen time, especially in his overly dramatised final moments. It almost felt like the show was trying too hard to make him this larger-than-life figure when it was already clear he was a significant threat.

The real standout was Joe Jung Suk, who played the king. I first discovered him through Hospital Playlist and absolutely loved his performance there. In Captivating the King, he doesn't disappoint. In fact, I’d say he almost single-handedly carried the drama, effortlessly drawing you into his character's struggles and emotions. He truly made the series watchable for me, especially when the storyline itself faltered.

Unfortunately, the female lead, played by Shin Se Kyung, was a bit of a letdown. While she’s undeniably stunning, her performance felt wooden, and her emotional range didn’t quite match the gravity of the scenes. Her chemistry with the king felt lukewarm at best, and I couldn’t quite grasp her character’s feelings for him. A lot of the time, it seemed like she was out of her depth, particularly in her interactions with him. The biggest flaw for me was her disguise, which was, frankly, laughable. The idea that she could pass off as a man was hard to buy, and every time she appeared in that disguise, it pulled me out of the story. I’m sure Shin Se Kyung has done well in other roles, but for this one, I feel a different pairing could have elevated the drama significantly.

In conclusion, while Captivating the King didn’t make it to "epic" status for me, it was still an enjoyable ride. The solid performances from the supporting cast, particularly Joe Jung Suk, helped compensate for the weaker aspects, like the female lead’s performance and some of the less believable elements. It’s not perfect, but it’s certainly not a disaster either—just a decent, if flawed, historical drama.

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Very common drama with Jung Suk in a state of grace.

There are actors and then there are actors, but without a doubt, Jung Suk is at the top shelf. I believe that in the awards season, he and the leads of "A BLOOD LUCKY DAY" will be vying for the Best Actor award for drama. Returning to Jung Suk, he began the drama portraying himself as a sweet and simple prince, but upon ascending the throne, he transformed into a paranoid and suspicious king. However, as the episodes progressed, this image softened. Although I still believe that the crimes he committed three years ago have not been fully justified, I understand that if the characters affected by it have come to terms and moved on, I won't dwell on it.

It's incredible how Shin Sae Kyeong's acting falls short, it's uniquely hammy. The female highlights in terms of acting, for me, are the veterans Park Ye Young (Lady Dong) and Jang Young Man (Queen Park).

My favorite character without any reservations was Kim Myung Ha, who was dismissed by the protagonist early on in the drama and moved on without trying to create a love triangle (thanks to the scriptwriters for that). Many times, he brought Hee Soo back to reality. Usually, secondary protagonists are persistent, but Myung Ha was different; he immediately stepped aside and even helped the couple get together in the end. Yes, I still find the lead couple extremely toxic, but that's a discussion for another topic.

It was an interesting drama that delved well into palace intrigues, and Jung Suk was the maestro behind it all.

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