Perfect Crown

Is the Glass half empty or half full?

Why are we so against fun as a society? i mean If we take Perfect Crown at face value, it’s a nice, fluffy rom-com filled with typical K-drama cliches, decent writing, predictable storylines, and okay acting.

But if we dissect it piece by piece and dive into the deeper meanings like some viewers do, it can also be seen as a drama that subtly normalizes classism and entitlement, disguising it through romance, attractive leads, and visually pleasing aesthetics.

I’ve noticed two main reactions to this drama.

1. Overzealous fans who label everything about it a masterpiece and give it excessive praise simply because they like the actors.

2. Overly critical viewers who challenge that mindset by pointing out the hypocrisy and problematic themes hidden beneath its fluffy surface.

But there’s also a third approach, the one I lean toward, which is the average viewer who just wants to be entertained. I encourage this third approach because it allows you to enjoy the show while still being aware of its flaws without going to either extreme.

I’m not here to say either side is completely right or wrong. Both have valid points. The first group tends to overhype even the most mundane aspects, while the second sometimes positions itself as intellectually superior, dismissing those who simply enjoy lighthearted romance without analyzing its deeper themes.

For me, Perfect Crown is an okay show. It was fun and easy to watch. Not everything needs to be deeply analyzed for us to enjoy it, we can appreciate something simply for the entertainment it provides. At the same time, it is also important to acknowledge the subtle messages media can convey beneath the surface.

The shows entire premesis is supposed to be basically a modern day Cinderella story,but i didn't actually think it was one bit. I know it's in a reimagined society where money cannot buy your rank and nobility in this world but I can't take a supposed Cinderella seriously when she's decked out in Louboutins and designer clothes and bags every episode. What about her except her status or illigitimate birth gives Cinderella vibes? Would have made much more sense to actually made her poor if we are supposed to feel bad when people are bullying her or talking down to her. Even the fake marriage trope was really for her side only because the prince was obviously charmed with her from their school days. What's fake about a marriage where the guy wouldn't leave you if he had a gun to his head?

Overall, I found the show to be average. They didn't take any risk and deviate from any norms in the drama world. This show is just a large compilation of every cliche ever done, sweet but basic.The plot was predictable, with obvious twists, but it was still heartwarming and engaging. It’s not something I’ll think about every day of my life, but I’ll remember it fondly.

There are only a handful of dramas with this kind of premise, so from the moment it was announced my interest was already peaked. The royal setting and power dynamics gave it a strong foundation, and it definitely had the potential to stand out more.

However, I don’t think that potential was fully explored. Some conflicts felt like they were introduced with a lot of weight but then resolved too quickly or too conveniently. Certain plot points seemed like they would have long-term consequences, but they didn’t always follow through in a meaningful way.

I also felt like the pacing was slightly uneven. Some scenes were stretched out longer than necessary, while more important developments felt rushed. Because of that, a few emotional moments didn’t land as strongly as they could have.

One of my biggest issues in the show was the fake marriage genre which wasn't even explored in the least. They took about 70 percent of the show to get there and when they did the couple was in love with each other so it's not really a fake marriage. While the couple can care about each other before they get married they shouldn't be passionately and crazily in love just removes any aspect of fake in that marriage. They weren't even married for 1 single episode before divorce came up. How is that a fake marriage?

That being said, the storyline was still enjoyable. I won’t lie, some scenes had me kicking my feet in the air because they were genuinely cute and fun to watch. Those lighter moments are really where the drama shines, and they make it easy to stay engaged. However all twists and turns were so boring and literally predictable? they didn't even let you guess multiple people who were doing the bad things they just left it out in the open.

The main characters, however, felt quite shallow. There wasn’t much more depth to them as it was supposedly presented, their emotions were always very clear, but not in a way that added layers.I mean the show positions them as 2 complex human beings who are both so much more than they appear on the surface and have great internal tormoil but i didn't feel anything more that i couldn't see about their personalities in the 1st episode going on in the show. I would have liked to see more internal conflict or growth outside of their relationship.

Their chemistry was decent and worked for the tone of the show, but it didn’t feel particularly strong or memorable. It felt more like visual compatibility than a deep raw emotional connection, which made the romance enjoyable in the moment but not very lasting. It's like you gather 2 popular kids to date, of course everyone is gonna love them together because they are them but what more?

The side characters and villains, on the other hand, were more interesting. I liked that they weren’t overly aggressive in a typical “I hate you” to your face kind of way. They had more nuance, especially the Queen, who stood out and added a level of tension that the main storyline sometimes lacked. Her character left a very deep impression on me and I could never tell what was on her mind, what she wanted, or her end goal which made me feel excited for her every appearance on screen. She was so much more complicated than what she seems, her backstory and motivation going forth made for a thrilling watch. Her Father was also a really good character his scenes were scantily but still very notable.These aren't your typical villians who divulge in ur presence how much of a nuisance u are but take a step back and make u feel the hate slowly as they go. What a legendary performance.

The side characters were a fun mixed bag. The brother and sister-in-law added humor and warmth, and I appreciated that they broke away from the usual “evil half-sibling” trope, No matter how much he complained or teased her you could always tell he loved her deep down, for that i love the turn it took even his wife and his relationship where some of my favourite parts in the show ,they portrayed a marriage built on love and not political or financial gain among prominent people very unheard of in K dramas. The young King was also entertaining and brought a lot of charm and emotion to his scenes. I was torn between the complexity his simple charcter brought, is it okay to force roles upon people at birth because of traditions? His father and him couldnt live the lives they wanted because they were born into a fixed system the couldnt escape.

Her father's charcter was a mixed reaction I absolutely hated him 90 percent of the time but in some little moments he always showed up. In conclusion i still dislike him.

The Assistants romance was sweet and fun nothing to go crazy about but okay filler for episodes when needed. I much preferred the brothers and sister in laws romance,cute and sweet light and fun hearted they had really good chemistry with one another. I found their chemistry even better compared to our main couples.

As for the Prime Minister, I’m a bit conflicted. While it’s a common K-drama trope for the second male lead to be in love with the female lead, it does feel a bit overused. I think it would have been more interesting if he had a stronger identity outside of that dynamic. There is not much we can do in a world where our fl is adored by every handsome man who graces our screen. I feel myself slowly getting tired of all men are in love with this random girl for literally no reason? Why couldn't u have brought the feelings to her attention before she got into a relationship? His jealousy literary made me gag he had no right to be acting that way.

The plot was predictable every toss and turn it led to I could guess right before it happened, I clocked about 80 percent of what was happening before it even landed. Everyone went with the same format programmed in our brains no out of place behavior. But it's a very typical direct story fake marriage it's a very common format so I can't say I'm entirely mad of how they handled the storyline. These typical chliches are a major reason I fell in love with the k drama world so i would be a hypocrite to say it's all bad.


By the end, I felt satisfied but not particularly impressed. The show was consistently enjoyable and disappointing all together, but it didn’t quite reach a level that made it stand out as something extremely special.

So like I said, it’s good, just not what I would call great. It was funny, swoon-worthy, and easy to watch, and sometimes that’s enough.

At the same time, not everything needs to be extraordinary to be enjoyable. People experience media differently. Some might rate it very highly, while others may not enjoy it at all. I don’t fully agree with either ratings, but I can understand both perspectives.

Which brings me back to the question.
Is the glass half empty or half full?

How should we judge this drama at it's face value?
Do we enjoy it for what it is while acknowledging its flaws, or do we focus too much on what it could have been?

I still believe in a middle ground. We don’t need blind praise or unnecessary criticism.

Sometimes, it’s enough to simply enjoy something for what it is, entertainment.

I know this review is a bit different because it focuses not only on the show itself, but also on how people react to it. There has been a big trend on uncessary hate or love on this platform that led me to make this review. I hope everyone can take a second to acknowledge the perspective of the other person.

P.S pls be nice to me do not send me death threats or long paragraphs on how I'm wrong. I literally say everyone can and should rate it differently because we are all different people with different mindsets.

Read More

No magic in This Fairytale

I can't lie, I had really high hopes for this, but those hopes are quickly dissipating faster than a lake under the heat of the scorching sun. As someone that prides themselves on being genuine and true to my morals, the female lead has absolutely nothing redeeming about her apart from her beauty, and as we all know-beauty doesn't last forever. I usually only write reviews when i'm done with the drama, but with every episode I watch, I pause and wonder, "who's enjoying this?"

I really can't get over how shallow and self-centered the FL is. As beautiful as she is, there is no real value in what she's doing, and apparently has no real-world knowledge on how to be a genuine person. Everyone is a pawn to her, to be subjugated as she sees fit, and she'll do whatever is necessary to keep the wool over their eyes. To call her a genius would be to overestimate her strategic abilities; maybe i could say she has a knack for taking lucky jumpshots and landing them, which usually works in her favor, though not every shot lands through the hoop. Makes me wonder how she became such a success with her business.

It's one thing to build a business and be successful on your own merit, its another thing to infiltrate a Kingdom when you're already viewed as a commoner, then expect sympathy when your "well thought out plan" starts unraveling. At this point, even I would make a better Royal, cause watching a car crash would be more promising than this. Seong Huiju has money, influence, and power, but because she doesn't have status, that somehow makes her less favorable in the eyes of others, so she enlists the help of the Grand Prince to magically change that. I'm gonna be honest, no matter how this plays out(I'm on episode 9), she doesn't deserve to be a Royal. I may not be a Royal, but I do know that its no f*cking walk in the park, and the FL is in over her head in a massive way. The Grand Prince didn't think this through, and is so eager for a way out, he's risking the Crown and his own reputation in one fell swoop. The Prime Minster knows that, and yes, maybe he has his own motivations, but his first duty is to the Crown, and everyone needs to realize that. Maybe their union eventually could become something that possibly resembles something that does not bring absolute ruin to the Crown, but considering the contract being leaked, pushback was inevitable.

I am invested in this drama, and the plot is very compelling, and this isn't something I would ever consider rewatching. I will not be writing another review once i finish this drama, so I'm just getting this out of the way now. Whoever's rating this drama 9\10 is very easily impressed.

Read More

Visually Stunning, Narratively Hollow — A Missed Crown (ongoing review, updated through Ep. 8)

Main Points:
Shallow female lead lacks depth, stringent story line or some kind of relatability, lacks story/character building especially in the beginning (high school years). Also the story with the king, the royal prince, and the "bad" king's mom is stereotypical — potential not used, makes it very hard to keep going. Often also very unrealistic plot lines — like wtf was that car episode… Artificial creation of suspense → non-authentic. However, episodes 7 & 8 show genuine improvement — read full summary for the full picture.

Summary:
I've never felt the need to rate a series that early on, but this one is taking on my nerves… and sadly not in a good way.
So what do I have to criticize or highlight in a positive way:
Let's start with the good things: Visuals and OST. This drama is visually really pleasing and the costumes are great. I love how embedded the older Joseon dynasty style was woven into the modern 21st century business-casual style, and all of the cast (main + supporting) are looking fantastic.
The soundtrack is very subtle and fits the story line very well (coming from somebody who also watches a lot of C-Dramas, where the same songs are played 24/7, making it an annoying stretch in some scenes and utterly disturbing). I had to laugh for a sec with the K-Pop reference of EXID's UP&DOWN — that was hilarious (props to the secretary of the prince, he is such a good actor, loved him in his other dramas as well :))
Now to the not so nice things about this drama:
Let's begin with what initially actually caught my attention and till today makes me hang into it: Matching Joseon monarchy into the 21st century, having influential families of royal descent and on the other hand "normal" people or "just" businessmen. I loved the start with the high school scenes, the drama evolving there and the hierarchies, but that was like what? 5 minutes in total. It totally lacked in depth and threw out a lot of potential for this series.
This was also the main reason I felt this drama was very rushed in the first episode — switching between timelines, making up new dramatic plots, but lacking the most important thing: authentic storytelling and building up interesting characters that I, as a viewer, can either resonate with or despise in a good way, where a villain or unlikable character is also multi-layered.
However, in this case the female character is just utterly bizarre in her acting, non-relatable and honestly — should I be empathetic for someone just striving for a title, but coming from riches as well? Her younger self was rebellious in a "good" way, making it interesting to wait for more… but the more never came, as the story was too rushed. It all, and especially the interactions with the prince, felt so unnatural (not like it was intended), but also when they had 1-on-1 time without the official press beside them. Those scenes where I expected true feelings and honest reactions were mere disappointment. IU is a great actor — she perfectly nails the annoying FL — but that depth and acting to provide some insights into her "history" for the viewer just aren't portrayed very well, and those flashbacks also can't make up for that.
The same way I also feel for the prince. While he conveys his feelings to the viewer more (I still can't believe how the FL doesn't catch on to that, but nevermind), he has so few lines and it feels like a blur sometimes watching him… This is not to criticize the actors in any way or to incite hatred, I am just disappointed in how badly written the drama is.
The story jumps from one "happening" to another to create artificial suspense, whereas the main thing I am missing is depth and sometimes just a "rest". I am currently on episode 5, after that weird car episode which honestly just made me cringe, and this episode with less story and more genuine interaction felt like a relief after so much nonsense drama. I still dislike how the writers take on the same stereotypical villains as in the OG historical dramas. Also the idea of a "stronger" female lead is just not well-written. I get it — she wants to be independent and from a young age has to fight for herself, but making her a puppet of the media and a striver for a sheer title ruins it completely at that point. Like, that is not the strong female lead we preach for — it is a portrait of a FL with too great of an ego and at the same time so pitiable with her lack of a sense of belonging or greater achievements.

Update after Episode 7:
Heck yes — this drama is finally moving in the right direction. We're getting more genuine interactions and deep feelings, which aren't overshadowed by overdramatic acting or that disconnect where what a person says and does doesn't reflect their personality. Especially with the background stories getting more attention and, most importantly, more time to fully develop, it gives — especially — the female lead more character layers, and for the first time I felt like I could actually connect with her. Some dialogues still seem odd and my critique on most of the points named above still holds true, but there is IMPROVEMENT. Hoping we will see more of that in the next episodes and that the drama will fully thrive in the end. :)
Update after Episode 8:
The rising suspense and conflict are doing the drama and its figures a real service — we're now seeing how far these characters will go for what they love or desire, and their intertwined, opposing goals make for a nice guess-who-the-culprit-is dynamic. The female lead and her odd acting in some scenes bother me again — by odd I mean selfish and unbothered by how her actions affect others and influence their feelings. But props to the scene where she finally shed some tears — finally some genuine emotion from a character who is mostly a wall of stone. It might be a little too much happening a little too fast and out of "nowhere" at times, but in general a good episode that sucks you in and finally keeps up the tension so you actually want to watch the next one.

I think this critique might come off as very harsh at times — I am sorry if my words do not resonate with you, I just had to express how I am thinking about it and what I am truly missing. I am still disappointed by the earlier episodes but cautiously hopeful. Since I am not one to abandon a series, I will continue watching and keep updating this review as the story progresses. Current rating: 6.5/10 — and with any luck, that number will keep climbing.

Read More

Sad that looks trumps acting skills

Dropped. Couldn't get off into it. I tried and watched up to 3 episodes. Just not for me. The problem with this MDL site, people vote higher if it's their favorites and based on looks. Even if my favorite actor is in a badly written drama, I will not rate it high, and I will drop it. So many dramas, especially thrillers, get the lowest ratings, but silly romcoms get the highest. I just find this site hypocritical and voting and reviewing fairly is something that doesn't exist here. I don't know if some people are lonely and they latch on to romcoms so they can live in a fantasy or what. It's weird. I like some romcoms, but this one isn't good. My opinion, not anyone else's

Read More

Looks Gorgeous But Lacks Soul

This is one of those dramas where I kept sitting there thinking “this should be hitting harder than this.” Because it IS visually stunning. The cast ,on paper, should work perfectly. A modern monarchy setting is also right up my alley. AND YET somehow there’s this weird emptiness to the show that I just can't quite understand.

That being said, it’s still pretty decent and I am enjoying it overall but it's mainly due to it's airing schedule, the glamour of the royal settings and the very very pretty leads. I just wish I felt more excitement for it.

On a positive note though, I’m obsessed with the Queen Mother, Gong Seung Yeon. She's the definition of a scene stealer for me. Her acting is incredible and she feels like one of the only characters in the show that truly feels fully alive and multifaceted. The actress brings so much weight and nuance to even the smallest moments that I genuinely believe her station and her background. Incredible. Same goes for her father honestly. He’s one of those actors where the second he appears on screen you already know you’re about to get a solid performance and always have this sense of impending doom, bc boy does he play evil characters well

Actually, the supporting cast in general is carrying this show on their backs a little bit. They’re all such familiar faces and everyone is doing a genuinely wonderful job. Aid Hyeon’s actor Yoo Soo Bin continues to be one of my all time favorites because he NEVER misses for me. Secretary Do was also insanely charismatic. And I-an’s residence staff were true icons. Especially Butler Kim. He was such fun person that I'm actually a bit dissapointed that we haven't seen much of him past the halfway mark of the drama.

Mr. Prime Minister...Noh Sang Hyun, now HE is definitely on my nice list, because he's done a very good job here. I can feel his charisma and he carries himself so well. Incredible casting. The Queen Mother and him are the saving grace of this drama for me tbh.

My only issue with his character is probably the love triangle. It just felt very bland and unnecessary.

Now for the leads themselves;

I’ve seen people absolutely tearing Byeon Woo-seok apart online because of his acting here and honestly… I don’t FULLY agree. However, I do think that there are scenes where he could’ve done better, because I do feel a sort of emotional disconnect with I-an as a character. But I also think people are ignoring the type of character he’s playing. His cold demeanour can actually serve a purpose. Now I don't know if this was an intentional choice or pure serendipity, but I personally couldn't care less. It worked for me.

I-an is literally a grand prince raised under constant scrutiny since birth. A man who has probably never had the luxury of expressing himself freely for a moment. So of course he’s restrained. Of course his default expression is going to be more muted. This is someone raised in an environment where every facial expression could be judged, analyzed, weaponized. So while I do think there are moments that lacked impact, I can also understand why the performance is more controlled. I also think that his crying scenes were pretty well done. All that said, there is room for improvemet but this was definitely not BWS's best work.

My REAL enemy in this drama is his wardrobe. Why are they dressing this man like a royal bathrobe salesman?? Those horrific robe like lapels haunt me. It’s always the SAME suit in slightly different variations and I genuinely don’t understand why the styling team refused to have fun with the royal concept. They could have done SO much. I don't even want to talk about the banquet look because why are we suddenly in....western.... military....attire...why...

Now for IU. I'm afraid she has the same frozen face as BWS during most scenes, HOWEVER, I’ve always liked her acting style that leans slightly comedic and this role feels very comfortable for her. I also thought her delivery during emotional scenes were pretty solid. The comedic moments especially remind me a lot of Jang Man Wol from Hotel del Luna, which I personally love because that’s still one of my favorite performances from her. Again, it could have been better but it's not bad enough to make me mad, i just don't really feel any strong emotions.

I’m also enjoying Heeju as a character so far. I like her emotional progression and I WAS super seated her to absolutely turn the palace upside down and yet................nothing. We've spent so much unnecessary time on plotlines that had so little impact. The first half of the show is honestly a much better drama and Heejo as a character feels much more alive there. She could have been such a force.

I’m also really curious about her relationship with her father because I can already see the setup for the inevitable “he secretly cared all along” reveal. But I’m sorry… I genuinely do not care. You cannot emotionally terrorize your child for years and expect me to clap because you loved her secretly deep down inside. How you treat someone to their face matters. The emotional damage is already done my dude. BYE.

Now that I’m nearing the later episodes, I think my biggest issue is that the drama struggles with impact.

Major moments that should feel monumental just… don’t.

I-an's big move should have had me stressed. The reactions from everyone around him should have carried more weight and yet, a moment that is perhaps one of the most monumental events in the show fell extremely flat. I FELT NOTHING. Even the emotional progression between him and Heeju, especially when they finally take that final step toward each other, felt strangely muted. And I genuinely can’t tell if this is a directing issue, an editing issue, an acting issue or something missing from the script itself, but the emotional payoff just isn’t landing the way it should.

Episode 10’s ending is probably the clearest example of this. That moment should have either been laced with more tension beforehand or it should have totally come out of left field. And yet..all I felt was boredom because it was just SO predictable.

And that’s honestly my overall issue with the show.

It looks beautiful but somewhere underneath all the gorgeous cinematography and expensive looking sets, it feels like the drama is missing it's soul.

Read More

proof that fans are ...

Every movie or series with a top tier good looking to be even called human cast that gets hyped from the start usually suffers from terrible storytelling. In this case, what makes it even more painful to watch is the acting if you can even call these 'fanservice' slow-motion poses acting. The story is absolute garbage; we have a rich CEO from an even richer family clan (how nice that chaebols still exist in an 'alternative' timeline) who wants to marry the second in line for the throne.
The plot is the same tired formula from 30 years ago. Someone is against the marriage, and the second prince probably caused all the drama himself just by giving everyone that 'Zoolander' look. What’s even the point of an alternative monarchy if it’s just for the cosplay suits and sneaky ads for modern day franchises?
The excuses I’ve read on social media make me wonder, are people really that mentally numb for looks? Does only aesthetic count? To be honest, you might as well watch it with the sound off and the subtitles set to Martian. The story is trash just you’re only here to drool over the main leads and stop pretending this writing is worth praising."

Read More

Great cast, weak story

It became popular mainly because of its cast and heavy promotions. The actors are attractive and have good visuals, which helps keep viewers interested. However, the storyline feels quite shallow and predictable. Most scenes revolve around only two settings—the company and the palace—so the drama can feel repetitive after a while.
There isn’t much depth in the plot, and it’s usually easy to guess what will happen next. Since it’s a romantic comedy, viewers may not expect something too serious, but even rom-coms can still have creative twists and stronger character development.
The biggest strength of the drama is definitely the cast and visuals, but if you’re looking for a rich story with suspense or emotional depth, it may feel disappointing. It’s more of a light, easy watch than a memorable masterpiece.

Read More

Classic Rom-Com that Reminds You of the Good Old Days [Review of Episodes 1-8]

Firstly, if you want to watch a drama with deep plot, heavy palace politics and angst, I’m afraid to say that you are watching the wrong drama. Perfect Crown is silly, cute and fluffy – it’s a rom-com, it’s supposed to be like that. Perfect Crown does not promise an intricate plot and complex characters, what it promises is a fluttering romance and lots of giggles and laughter which it delivers to a perfection.

Seong Huiju is a stubborn, strong-willed and driven character who demands every opportunity that her rivals enjoy. She is not fighting for social equality, but for what she deems as her right. She is kind in her own way, as well as selfish in her own way. Her character is not written to be relatable or even liked, but to be enjoyed.

Prince I-An on the other hand is the epitome of perfection. Unlike Huiju, he is supposed to be liked - both by the viewers and the other characters within the drama. It’s quite literally in his job description. He is pretty, regal, sassy and a hopeless romantic, what else do we need? But he also has hidden ambitions. I-An has always been forced to dim his shine so as to not overshadow others, and his want for power is something I really hope to see properly explored in the remaining episodes.

The overall plot is pretty straightforward, it’s neither novel nor unpredictable. It does not force you to think deeply but allows one to simply enjoy the ride. The romance is fluttering, the comedy actually delivers and there's just enough suspense and plot to keep the story moving. It takes tropes that we have already seen many times before and does it so well that you can’t help but appreciate it and bathe in the nostalgia of the old rom-coms that we used to love so much.

The drama does not bank on natural acting and realism but rather relies on exaggerated scenarios, expressions and dialogues to create drama and comedy. Again, that’s the genre, it does not translate to bad acting. IU and Byun Wooseok are both talented actors and they balanced the dramatic and exaggerated expressions, as well as sincere and heartfelt moments really well. The other cast members also did a wonderful job here to make it a fun and interesting watch.

Perfect Crown is visually pleasing with beautiful cinematography, stunning costumes and pretty styling. I especially loved I-An’s outfits with the fusion of traditional and modern style. The OSTs are also really good and matched the tone of this drama really well.

Honestly, I understand the people who wanted Perfect Crown to be more than a silly rom-com. This drama has an interesting premise with modern day Joseon dynasty and constitutional monarchy, social hierarchies among nobles and commoners, and characters with dubious intentions. Was there a huge potential for a complex plot to be explored? Absolutely yes! In a different genre, it would make a really gripping story. But do we need it to be explored here? Not really. This drama is, by all rights about the romance between Huiju and I-An, anything and everything else is subsidiary and simply not the point.

If you love plot-driven dramas with depth, there are hundreds of dramas out there for you to enjoy but you cannot expect a drama to be something it never promised. And as far as rom-coms go, Perfect Crown is one of the best dramas made as of late.

Read More

Missed Potential of a Perfect Crown

Perfect Crown is a cliché story about a prince and a commoner. The premise is set in Korea’s 21st century constitutional monarchy. It follows the story of rich businesswoman, Hui Ju, who has everything in the world but lacks one thing.. a noble status. She then enters into a contract marriage with Grand Prince, Yi An. Then, they fell in love.

This has potential to be the cute, lightwatch, chick flick drama that can swoon! However, as the drama progresses, I don’t find any depth to Yi An’s character. Byeon Woo Seok does great in the acting but suffers from bad script. I feel like he’s just an ornament for visuals. Yi An’s love for Hui Ju also lacks backstory. I don’t get what makes him in love with her. The chemistry feels so staged. On the contrary, Jeong Woo’s chemistry with Hui Ju is way more memorable.

Hui Ju’s life has more backstory and depth though. IU delivered that to the upmost detail. I love how complex her character and backstory is. Empress Dowager, Yi Rang was one character that left a lasting impression me. Gong Seung Yeon really delivered her role. The commanding aura is hard to miss.

I’m contemplating whether to continue or drop this drama because I feel like they’re just love bombing without giving depth to the story.

Read More

Watching for the Royal Glamour, Hoping for a Better Story ?✨

This is my first time writing a review for an ongoing K-drama because, honestly, I’m not a big K-drama fan. First of all, I want to say that this is actually quite a nice drama. If you watch it without thinking too deeply and are ready to enjoy it like a fairy tale 🏰✨, then this drama might be perfect for you.

Usually, I’m very careful when rating a drama. When I really look into this one, I can’t say it has anything truly outstanding overall, but I do see some very top-notch elements. That’s the best way to describe my feelings — not fully satisfied, yet still impressed in certain areas.

About the acting and chemistry — honestly, I’m not very satisfied 😅. I don’t feel strong chemistry between the main couple, even though I expected it. In the first two episodes, I thought it was acceptable because the story was just beginning. But now that we’ve reached halfway through the drama, I still don’t feel the chemistry I hoped to see. Since the drama was announced, I had very high expectations because of the modern royalty theme 👑 and the A-grade actors cast as the leads. I also saw many people praising their past performances, so my expectations were naturally high. However, in this drama, both the acting impact and the chemistry feel weaker than I expected.

That said, I really enjoy the second female lead’s acting. Even though she is playing a darker or villain-type character 🖤, her performance feels convincing and engaging. She brings life to her role in a way that keeps my attention.

Now, about the plot — this is another area I care a lot about. I personally love complex stories filled with twists and layered conflicts 🔍. Yes, I know this is considered an idol-style drama, but I still expected more substance. Right now, if someone asks me what happened in the first six episodes, my summary would be very simple: a grand prince who suffered under royal responsibilities since childhood, now acting as regent for his nephew, enters into an arranged marriage with a smart but illegitimate daughter of a wealthy businessman who dreams of becoming noble. Their arranged marriage slowly turns into love, while political conspiracies unfold in the background. That’s basically it so far. I really hope the story becomes deeper and more eventful in the upcoming episodes.

About the music 🎼 — usually, I don’t pay much attention to OSTs, but I do have a good feeling about this drama’s soundtrack. Some pieces already feel memorable, and I think they match the luxurious atmosphere very well.

Now, the biggest reasons why I’m still watching this drama are the truly top-notch production elements. First — costumes and accessories 👗💎. A huge shout-out to the costume designers! They selected very high-end, luxurious brands, especially for IU. Honestly, this is one of the biggest reasons I continue watching. Seeing IU in those gorgeous dresses and accessories is such a visual treat — she perfectly matches the elegant royal image.
I also really appreciate BWS’s imperial costumes, especially his entry costume in Episode 1 and the imperial and military-style dress uniform in Episode 6, which looked particularly striking and regal.

Another major highlight is the architecture and interior design 🏛️✨. The palace settings and the Grand Prince’s private residence look stunning. They truly give off a sense of real royalty and pride. The world feels rich and carefully built, which makes the drama visually enjoyable even when the story feels slow.

The cinematography 📸 is also worth praising. There are many beautiful visuals throughout the drama. I still can’t stop thinking about the fireworks scene in the first episode — it was truly wow-worthy and left a strong first impression.

One of the main reasons I had such high anticipation for this drama was the royal theme itself 👑. A grand prince paired with a billionaire young woman feels like a perfect match — wealth meeting nobility. It’s refreshing because this isn’t the usual domineering CEO and poor girl cliché. Here, the female lead is neither poor nor foolish — she is intelligent and capable, which I really appreciate.

Another reason I chose to watch this drama is that it clearly feels like a true S+ production 💰✨. Everything — the sets, costumes, locations, and overall visuals — looks extremely luxurious. While watching, you can literally see the money on screen. 💸👀

Overall, even though I have my disappointments with the acting, chemistry and the pacing of the story, the visual richness and royal fantasy atmosphere keep me watching. I truly hope the drama improves in the second half and delivers stronger storytelling and emotional depth in the episodes ahead. 🤞

Read More

The most disappointing drama in a long time

I’ve been looking forward to this drama ever since it was in the talks, since IU is my favourite leading lady and Byeon Woo-Seok is my favourite leading man. The two did everything they could with the terribly written script, but even they couldn’t save it. I think a lot of people are mistaking bad writing for bad acting - there’s only so much the actors can do when the material they’re given is garbage.

I wanted to see an alternate universe Korean monarchy plot done well ever since The King: Eternal Monarch flopped, but the ball has unfortunately been dropped again. Maybe it’s just not meant to be.

Read More

The visuals blinded me.

I have been watching this drama week by week and haven't really given it much thought, until today I realized I was clicking on episode 9 not 5 and thought to myself, "wait a minute, I've watched 8 episodes of this thing?!! what? when? how?! I really can't comprehend because I was convinced that I was enjoying it, that it was good and that the plot was going somewhere, but not really when it's this forgettable, I guess I was just looking at the pretty visuals, the stunning cast and interesting world building. Honestly other than the ugly fake nails, I liked how beautiful everything looked.

At first I enjoyed the cunning female lead, the fantasy element, it was pretty interesting to me, but now I realized how shallow it really is. There's a lot of nonsense that has happened that I had ignored because, it's fantasy, you have to suspend disbelief to really enjoy but, I guess I suspended my whole brain because I can't really tell you much about what has happened so far other than the marriage contract that turned into really love, the evil queen, the marriage contract eventually being found out, an so on and that's something that someone who hasn't even watched an episode could tell.

So I don't kno w if I want to keep watching or drop it all together. I am sure I don't want to go back and watch the episodes again, I lost interest in watching this week, so maybe I'll wait for the last 2 episodes to air and maybe pick it back up then.

Read More