Amazing Realistic historical drama
I am glad that I stopped making decisions based on ratings or comments, as this drama is great! I watched *Before Sunrise* first, and I think it helped me understand the characters better.I was hooked from the first episode, and it maintained the same pace until the end. I was also on the edge of my seat the whole time.
It starts as a beautiful story of a couple in love and their journey to create a Joseon and a monarch who would serve the people, not power. I wish they had made the drama longer so we could see the full story of their journey. Sometimes I did not realize there was a time jump and got confused.
It was heartbreaking to see how he treated her, despite still loving her. She helped him become king so he could fulfill his dream of a Joseon. Also, because of his actions and queen's support, he could prepare the foundation for a greater king. The last episode made me tearful. Towards the end, you understand why he eliminated so many people, as it is hard to start anew if there is still corruption and others desire power. It shows the true life behind the golden gate. Once you are in, you cannot get out alive. Despite all the killing he is famous for, he was a good king who did so much for the people; shame they could not include it all in the drama.
The acting was amazing, especially Joo Young and Hyun Woon; they slayed their roles. Also the production is great.
Overall, it is a great realistic historical drama that will not disappoint you. I could not give it high rating as it did not leave the same impact as My Dearest, Under the Queens umbrella, The tale of lady Ok.
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This review may contain spoilers
"The Queen Who Crowns" is a version of Lee Bang Won's story in which Won Kyung is the protagonist, showing how she was essential in making him king.Lady Min, later Queen Won Kyung is a strong, independent and inspiring woman, she could have been anything she wanted in this life, but her biggest problem was falling in love with Lee Bang Won and being used by him, since that's what happened after all. Without the power of her family and all of Won Kyung's support and strategies, Bang Won would never have succeeded, she was the one who basically gave him the throne and when they finally are in power, Bang Won realizes how inferior he is compared to her and begins to do everything he can to destroy Won Kyung's family and take away the power they had.
Since the drama is inspired by a true story, I think that in this version they could have changed what happens, followed a bolder development and there were some moments I even thought they would do that, with Won Kyung deciding to take power and remove her husband from the throne like in "Queen Woo" or even something similar to "Ruyi's Royal Love In The Palace", where she decided to leave and no longer endure all this humiliation and torture. How much can someone endure? Just because she wanted to help her husband become king, Won Kyung basically lost her entire family... This was all because she failed to understand Bang Won's intentions from the beginning, he would never share power with her. Everything he managed to achieve was with her help, so I would have liked to have seen how he reigned alone, without anyone by his side, which was exactly what he wanted so much.
Lee Hyun Wook's acting is very good, mainly because he managed to show us a side of Lee Bang Won that I hadn't seen before: being a coward, someone who is afraid of his own wife and what she can achieve without him. Everything Bang Won did was out of fear, instead of trusting his wife, he preferred to destroy her. Instead of ruling with her, Bang Won turns her into a subordinate.
But I have to say that the last scene is breathtaking, it's hard to find words to describe it. Won Kyung's expression as she watches her son dance for her, completely at peace, and Bang Won's sad look in the palace, as if he had understood that she would not return. The drama had its mistakes, yes, but with this scene alone, it managed to win me over again at the last second, simply spectacular.
This is a crueler version of the story and perhaps more realistic than the others, but I still like "The King of Tears, Lee Bang Won" better.
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Good story
"The Queen Who Crowns" is a story about a girl who is kind and benevolent. A boy falls in love with her and pursues her. She agrees to be with him because she thinks he is a kind person and, above all, loves her. Her family and she help him become king, but slowly, he begins to think that she has her own greed in making him king. Her family members also hold powerful positions in his reign, and he needs them to secure the throne.To become king, he kills his stepbrother, which makes his father angry and turns them into enemies—something he never wanted. He also starts believing that the girl is the reason for their feud. The girl, now his wife and crown queen, becomes the target of his resentment. These thoughts make him bitter, and he starts taking many concubines, forming relationships with them to disgrace the queen and make her realize that he has changed.
His changing attitude begins to disturb her. However, there is still something that continues to bind them together.
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A Lion Out of Chains: A Review of The Queen Who Crown
1.OThe Queen Who Crown is an ambitious drama that dives deep into themes of power, freedom, and the complex dynamics between a King and Queen. While it aims to showcase strong characters, particularly the Queen, its portrayal raises questions about how strength and power are depicted, especially in women.
The Queen is undeniably a force to be reckoned with, but her strength is portrayed through a lens of relentless control and ruthless ambition. Having tasted power, she clings to it with an almost manic determination, willing to go to any lengths to retain it—even if it means betrayal, manipulation, or worse. While this makes for a dramatic and compelling narrative, it risks perpetuating a troubling message: that power corrupts women more destructively than men.
The King, on the other hand, is shown as a character rediscovering his agency. Once a passive, seemingly submissive figure overshadowed by his controlling wife, he emerges as a lion unchained when he ascends the throne. His transformation feels empowering, a reclamation of identity and freedom. However, his rise contrasts sharply with the Queen’s descent, which leans heavily into the trope of a “power-hungry woman.”
The drama’s intention to showcase a strong woman is clear, but its execution falters. A truly strong woman doesn’t have to be depicted as heartless or consumed by power at the expense of others. The Queen’s actions, from betrayal to outright scheming against her King, paint a picture of a character more concerned with domination than leadership. While this may serve the narrative tension, it inadvertently suggests that women in power are inherently prone to corruption and cruelty—a troubling implication.
In contrast, the King’s character arc suggests that freedom and strength are inherently virtuous when reclaimed by a man. This dichotomy may leave viewers questioning the fairness of the drama’s messaging. Does it challenge the status quo, or does it reinforce outdated stereotypes?
Ultimately, The Queen Who Crown is a captivating tale of power and transformation, but it walks a fine line. While its portrayal of the Queen adds layers of intrigue, it risks overshadowing the nuance of what a strong, empowered woman can truly be. Strength doesn’t have to equate to ruthlessness, and power doesn’t have to corrupt. The drama might have done well to balance its depiction of ambition and morality, especially in its female lead.
2.O
The Queen Who Crown offers a gripping exploration of power dynamics, desires, and the shifting sands of authority within a royal marriage. The character development of the King is particularly striking, as his transformation is nothing short of a revelation.
Before ascending to the throne, the King was portrayed as a subdued, almost docile partner—more his wife's pet than her equal. The Queen, accustomed to control, treated him as a submissive weakling, and he played the part well. But as the crown settled on his head, so did a newfound freedom and ferocity, one that reveals the depth of what he had repressed.
His evolution is both exhilarating and unsettling. The King’s untamed side begins to surface, a lion unshackled from chains, roaring with the power he now wields. The narrative brilliantly peels back the layers of his character, showing the desires and ambitions he had hidden beneath a quiet exterior. It’s fascinating to see how much he had bottled up, waiting for the right moment to emerge.
Meanwhile, the Queen’s journey takes a different turn. She is left grappling with the loss of control she once took for granted. Her attempts to reclaim power are as desperate as they are calculated, painting a vivid picture of a ruler who underestimated her counterpart. Her habits of domination, once effortless, now seem futile against the King’s burgeoning autonomy.
The dynamic between the two is electrifying—a dance of dominance and defiance, love and resentment. The storytelling captures the raw emotion and tension that come with shifting power. The King’s transformation feels liberating, while the Queen’s struggle to adapt to her diminishing influence makes for compelling drama.
The Queen Who Crown is an enthralling tale of identity, freedom, and the complexities of power. The King’s journey from submissive to sovereign is as captivating as the Queen’s realization that the reins are slipping from her grasp. It’s a must-read for anyone who enjoys stories of transformation and the unpredictable nature of relationships at the highest stakes.
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This review may contain spoilers
I kept wondering how a woman could unwaveringly support a man who continuously kept demeaning her and ruthlessly massacred her siblings?“The Queen Who Crowns” depicts the delicate balance between a husband and wife who are at the pinnacle of success. Historically, the show doesn’t offer much information about Yi Bang Won’s (Prince Jeong An) rebellion with him usurping the throne and becoming King Tae Jong, the founder of the Joseon dynasty. The show starts with discord, goes through major turbulence and ends in upheaval. The show focuses on Queen Won Gyeong (born Min Je), a brave, smart and sharp tongued noblewoman born in a prestigious family of high-ranking officials. Her intellect is incomparable, and she proves her worth when she is married to Yi Bang Won, the fourth son of King Tae Jo. Things get sour when King Tae Jo names his second son, Yi Bang Gwa, as crown prince instead of Yi Bang Won. Min Je and Yi Bang Won lead a rebellion which ends in the Crown Prince’s death and Yi Bang Won ascends the throne. What follows is a series of ego clashes between the once peaceful couple, as they grapple between court politics and family dynamics. Because of his rampant insecurities, King Tae Jong spends a lot of time outmaneuvering his brilliant wife who would definitely make a better monarch than him, if she was born a man. To consolidate his power and hurt her, he forms alliances and randomly takes concubines, forces her brothers into exile followed by ordering their execution. Throughout his angry tirades and outbursts, Queen Won Gyeong maintains her demeanor as an outright monarch who cares more about her people than anything else.
Read the complete article here-
https://kcdramamusings.wordpress.com/2025/02/12/the-queen-who-crowns-series-review/#more-1556
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This review may contain spoilers
Drama político da melhor qualidade
Uma obra-prima em estado bruto, sem polimento para agradar românticos de plantão – aqui o que impera é política, estratégia e poder, e o drama foi impecável nesse aspecto. A ambientação, o texto afiado, a direção precisa e o roteiro coeso se alinharam de forma rara, criando uma narrativa que honra a história sem abrir concessões. Um mérito inegável é a fidelidade aos acontecimentos reais: a Rainha Wongyeong faleceu em 1420, seu marido seguiu em 1422, e ambos deixaram o trono para Sejong – interpretado de forma magnânima e emocional por Lee Jun Young no episódio final. E que decisão acertada da rainha, porque Sejong não foi apenas um bom rei, mas um dos maiores monarcas da história coreana. No fim das contas, ela sabia exatamente o que estava fazendo.Was this review helpful to you?
