This review may contain spoilers
Spoilers ahead and just my own thoughts
Ok, I had so much high expectations for this. Like the casting, amazing, the actors are also amazing. For someone of IU’s calibre, I always expect so much from her shows.However, I think from the very beginning, the story is so cliched that you can already tell what’s going on. Who had something for who in the past, who’s going to be the villain, what’s being hidden. Like all there remained was there to be an actual confirmation of all your suspicions from the very beginning.
Around this time (time of release), a recent cdrama Pursuit of Jade has caught many people’s attention, is in general the audience also want a more fleshed out plot like that and were expecting that from this show. So while Perfecr Crown, at any other time, may perhaps have been quite good for a kdrama standard, it has fallen short of the current standard that we want after POJ.
IU’s character is already high up there, rich, beautiful, etc., and so is Byeon Woo Seok’s character, so it just feels like you’re seeing two of the same kind of people. There really isn’t anything for them to achieve. IU is already immensely good at what she does and has everything except a status, which honestly only affects her right if succession for the company and nothing else. There is nothing that she has to learn along the way or even a bridge she has to gap. Byeon Woo Seok is the same. His character already has everything and the court is basically in his hands, he just needs to make his moves, which he’d practically been planning to do anyway. So there doesn’t seem to be a growth in the characters unless it’s about their growing love.
Maybe my expectations were extremely high, especially after POJ and When Life Gives You Tangerines. Especially for how well known it is that IU picks amazing shows to work on, this seems like a miss.
The looks are there, the chemistry is there, even the comedy is clearly there, but again, the story is too predictable and most people were already able to tell major plot points as soon as it begun because it was that obvious.
Those were the reasons I dropped it. I don’t think I would pick this up again unless I was giving this a second chance or it turns out the ending was insane and it entices me to keep going.
Happy watching! 🥰
Was this review helpful to you?
Fun to watch in the moment but easily forgettable!
"Perfect Crown" certainly hooks you with its intriguing premise, a delightful royal setting, and absolutely stunning visuals that make every frame feel like a painting. It’s like a modern fairy tale brought to life, brimming with glamour and charm. However, despite its captivating moments, it unfortunately lacks the lasting impact, fading from memory rather quickly after the credits roll, even though I enjoyed it while watching.The narrative centers on Song Huiju, a successful businesswoman of commoner status with aspirations to ascend the social ladder, leading her to propose a marriage to the Grand Prince. The drama unfolds in a 21st-century constitutional monarchy of Joseon, where gleaming skyscrapers coexist with age-old traditions, and royal glamour and titles are very much a part of daily life.
What truly shone in "Perfect Crown" was the female lead, Song Huiju. She’s portrayed as intelligent, ambitious, witty, and funny, yet with a vulnerability that makes her incredibly relatable. IU's comic timing is impeccable, and her character felt multi-dimensional, possessing a strong personality that you can't help but root for. Equally compelling was the second female lead, the widowed queen mother, brought to life by Gong Seongyun. As the antagonist determined to keep her young son on the throne, her performance was spot-on. She exuded a domineering aura and truly owned her role, making her a convincing and formidable presence. The opulent royal setting, the sheer glamour, and the exquisite aesthetics also deserve a special mention; the show is a feast for the eyes. The comedy, while not overdone, landed its punches effectively, and the supporting characters added a wonderful layer of humor. The chemistry between the leads, while not groundbreaking, felt compatible both in terms of personality and visuals, which successfully sold the romance. And let's not forget the OSTs – "Behind the Shine" by Riize was a particular standout.
Where "Perfect Crown" faltered for me was in its story development. There were stretches where it felt like the plot was meandering, to the point where one could skip several episodes and still easily catch up. This was especially true for the first six episodes, and while the climax was engaging, it felt somewhat out of place, making even those moments feel a bit skippable. The male lead, played by Byeon Woseok, is undeniably good at portraying lovelorn characters and possesses significant screen presence. However, his character, Ian, felt rather bland and predictable – the typical tragic prince. While he had moments to shine later on, I felt he could have been given a bit more personality to truly make the character memorable.
Overall it is watchable, fun and cute, great first half and lacking second half, if you want something cute to enjoy in the moment then I'd recommend.
Was this review helpful to you?
Stale Potatoes //Reply 2016
How can a production team put together a great cast but not spend a minute on a good story and screenplay.What is the point of all the hype when the delivery is underwhelming, nothing new to show, no fresh paths to pave, no deep conversations to be had? These early episodes have a weak foundation script-wise. Even if one were to just replay the same old love trope borrowed from a thousand other k-dramas, the best one could have done is attempt to make it tantalising enough to give some butterflies. Alas, it doesn't! Don't sell us poorly regurgitated 2016 in 2026.
Was this review helpful to you?
Clássico e clichês nem sempre são ruins.
Estamos no episódio 8 e Perfect Crown continua fazendo o clássico com muita competência. É um grande filme de princesa com 12 episódios.O maior mérito desse drama é que ele consegue entragar um roteiro consistente sem perder a qualidade em nenhum momento. Sempre começa o episódio no alto, no gancho do episódios anterior e segue na crescente para entregar um novo gancho mais alto.
As composições de cena estão belíssimas, só aqui já vale a pena o play.
IU e Byeon Wooseok estão impecáveis, o casal tem química, interpretam bem momentos e sentimentos complexos.
Com 70% do drama concluído, roubou completamente o coração dessa menina que cresceu vendo Cinderela, e conseguiu atualizar bem a história pros dias atuais.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
An overhyped script that leverages on actors' popularity for advertisements.
An unbelievably childish and old-school plots in this 21st century drama.Seems like the TV station is putting huge investments into paying the actors, costumes, the magnificent backdrop and scenery rather than giving the audience a well-directed story.
Even the PPLs are over the top - it's ridiculous to see that they forced scenes into the drama just to sell a sandwich chain, and i think we'll be seeing more PPLs as the drama progresses.
Many of the scenes don't really make sense and to me, it just seems like they are just leveragjng on the actors' popularity to drive the ratings and bringing in the advertisements. It's no wonder there are now so many negative criticisms from the Korean viewers themselves.
It's a also a pity that too much comedy is built into a magnificent monarchy story setting which I didnt find the comedy funny at all.
Even the main actors' acting leans in more on cheesy side which makes immersion hard.
Will only recommend to watch if you like looking at beautiful objects or if you are fans of the actors or have nothing else to watch.
Was this review helpful to you?
WELLLLL
it started out great and went flat hill. I heard a lot of bad reviews about this especially about the acting and the plot but I didn’t care because I don’t mind watching trashy acting especially when they’re fine and are my favs so I still tuned in cause I was curious about the plot and because of IU. it started out so good that made me wonder why people hated it, but it went downhill to the point that the last two episodes I was skipping the hell out of it. So much was going on and it was confusing I could not even tell who are the villain cause everything was just off😭. I really like IU that why I tuned in and she was perfect for this role and I love her performance and for byeo woo seok he was okay I guess was there for his face and nice body. tbh I don’t think this is bad just the ending lol could have been betterWas this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Why so American?
Felt more like a Disney adaptation of a Korean story than an original Korean story….. if I wanted an American story I would go for Hollywood…. Overall, I felt like I watched some dubbed version of a weak American PG13 Hallmark movie…. Someone else had posted in this section that the villains don’t have proper motive…. I agree. The villains were hollow. I like romance, don’t get me wrong. I always have. I liked the romance. If there was going to be politics, it should have been more logical. Arbitrarily placed rules that pop up without sequencing or logic.
Loophole: If I An was a reagent, wouldn’t that mean he was also part of the so called cabinet? Wouldn’t he be head of the so called royal council/family? But he was supposedly the most sought after person in the kingdom. There is no sense to this.
If the Grand Prince is the opposition to the royal council, then he should have close ties with the cabinet members even without the PM. At least, he should have had money. But he is dependent on the cabinet to approve his expenses. He is either the most powerful person or just a puppet. Can’t be both at the same time.
I could find many others if I gave enough time. This was clearly a romance genre meant for 13 year old girls produced by mentally teenage Americans. Sorry to have wasted 12 hours of my time on this. It banked too much on nostalgia.
Scene: IU in the same hospital room as Son Hyejin. Byeon Wooseok running in a similar fashion to Hyun Bin. Many of the actors were also part of the CLOY cast. It felt nostalgic, but did nothing to enhance the current story.
What happened to Huiju’s talented board members? They play no role in the plot. They could have been very useful. What exactly was the royal FIL wanting to achieve by killing a reagent? Democracy? His own sovereignty? Not clear. Why exactly did the king have to abolish monarchy? It already looked like a watered down monarchy with the king as a decoration rather than tool. So what purpose did that serve? Wouldn’t it have been better to punish all the wrongdoers?
Clearly, the political side of this drama is ********. I liked the romance, but it was not enough to cover for the very American plot. Someone dm me when the Kdrama scene becomes better. I’ll try not to watch any more till this ridiculous Americanisation persists🥲🥹😢😢😢
Was this review helpful to you?
not for me (personal opinion)
I don’t think I’m the target audience for this story.The leads didn’t have any chemistry or warmth in my eyes and their interactions seemed very much acted and not seemless.
I preferred watching the relationship of the fml to her stepbrother and sister in law and her cute relationship with the employees of the prince. I also prefer the relationship of the secretaries with each other and the relationship and bond of the prince to the young king. Honestly, those homey relationships were much better to watch than the actual romance. I also liked how the queen mothers growth and repentence were highlighted in the story. Her acting carried the show too.
Individually we could highlight how strong both fmc and mmc are. They are intelligent and driven people. That is a good highlight about them. But together, I just couldn’t feel them working.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
historical problems than romance
start - the plot everything was good, comedy characters I wanted to give it 10middle - good same as the start
romance - was slow in start then suddenly fast, random,forced I can't believe people rating it 10 ? this kdrama felt same as cdrama, ml clearly started liking her ,but FML wasn't interested in him at all ? they didn't show anywhere how she started liking him too ? she's suddenly mutual? from slow it felt fast and rushed - I don't mind because everything was good, the slow burn part should've been a little longer? they get together too fast and early I think ?
last - worst part from 7-8 I think ,when I saw the contract I did felt it will leak , it really did ? here comes a loop of problems where the couple just got together and they divorce already? or story focus completely on historical problems , so for 2 whole eps they were doing everything to slove this problem, I lost interest ,the drama was already short why create problems 😭? i really liked it in start , I just decided to drop because even the romance wasn't completely satisfying for me, they did deceive but why no one find how it leaked? and the FML friend is actually supporting the villian ? the sister in-law father tried to posion ml and that friend hides it seriously?
the issue here is only with writing it was a 10 from me before 6 after 6 I it dropped
Was this review helpful to you?
The Best Comedy, Romance, and Chemistry
After a long hiatus from K-dramas, I’ve returned to them because this drama is airing and it’s a huge hit—their chemistry is so natural, their height difference is funny, the style in the drama is great, and they both look amazing. Despite the controversy, I’m really enjoying this drama; it makes me smile, and the comedy is spot-on.The behind-the-scenes footage is so funny—they’re clearly having a blast filming this drama and aren’t holding back at all, even though they’ve only just reunited after 10 years. No matter what the haters say, you two are the best at supporting each other, right? Stay friends and see you again in 2035 hahaha. Hopefully, before 10 years pass, you can star in a drama together again or appear on a variety show together. Hope you both stay healthy, okay?
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
So Expensive, So Sloppy
This was a big budget Disney show with big stars but everything about it was half-assed and sloppy. I finished it which says something because I'll drop shows like a hot rock if I'm not enjoying them but it was something I had on in the background while I did other things. For the amount of money that was spent on this, the lackluster execution is unforgivable. It felt like a gourmet recipe made at a Michelin-starred restaurant where the chef somehow forgot the salt.--------------
To be nice, I'll start with what I liked:
Gong Seung Yeon absolutely ate. She was beautiful, icy, elegant, disdainful, remorseful, heartbroken, brave and then happy in the end. Not only did she deliver a star-making performance, she was also the best styled person in the drama. Her hanbok were beautiful, she rocked a gorgeous gown in the ball scene and wore what looked like a perfectly tailored Dior suit in the last episode. Oh and I have to bring up her beautiful voice, which was pitched low for maximum effect.
Steve Noh delivered a wonderfully nuanced performance as the prime minister. His micro expressions were so good and on point, bringing the subtlety the ML couldn't. He also looked fine as hell in his Clark Kent fit. And he had a fantastically husky voice that matched GSY's. Too bad the writing for his character was atrocious. He deserved better and I hope he gets more chances to shine.
Lee Yeon and Yoo Soo Bin were great as the secretaries and brought a lot of humor and heart to their roles. I also loved how they styled Lee Yeon in suits and other takes on menswear even though it made her look very not-straight. I was meh on their romance but they were cute together in a best friends kind of way.
Lee Jae Won and Chae Seo An were adorable scene stealers as the brother and sister-in-law
--------------
What I didn't like:
THE WRITING JESU CRISTO THIS WON A CONTEST? The screenwriter kept launching various plot threads but never resolving them. The unanswered questions include:
- Did I-An's brother choose to unalive himself by staying in the burning building on purpose?
- Who started the fire at the little king's birthday celebration?
- Who murdered I-An's mother?
- Who tampered with Hui Ju's brakes?
- Who killed the mechanic that tampered with Hui Ju's brakes?
- Who was the spy that Hui Ju's father placed in the palace?
- How did their marriage contract leak?
- What happened to the prime minister in the end?
- etc. etc.
The writing for the prime minister, the main villain, was atrocious. He was a career politician at the highest level yet we're supposed to believe that he was secretly in love with Hui Ju but never confessed (why?) and then turns into an attempted murderer just because she marries the prince.
The leads didn't have chemistry. Their scenes together felt like wet paper. Byeon Woo Seok had much more chemistry in his scenes with Gong Seung Yeon which made me see the lost opportunity to at least have an exciting lead couple in this drama.
The styling for IU was atrocious. She had obvious press-on nails in a color that can best be described as three day old corpse. And the fit on her clothes was completely off. More than once she had on a jacket that was too tight and pulled across the chest (on IU! She's tiny!). A commenter who sews pointed out that her knits looked like they were made from synthetic fibers and they were stretched out at the collar. Plus the colors and cuts were unsophisticated for a character who's supposed to be a fashionista influencer.
Byeon Woo Seok was terribly miscast in this. I really enjoyed him in Lovely Runner but he just can't pull off icy tsundere. At the end of the drama he morphs into a househusband who's a simp and suddenly his acting came alive. He needs to play to his strengths in the future.
Overall, this drama felt like a big cash grab where once they nailed down the concept and cast, they just didn't GAF about the execution. Do not recommend.
Was this review helpful to you?
Do you recall the story of how William and Kate got together?
I’m not disappointed in this drama but so far it’s difficult to rate it beyond an 8. We need more plot structure. Also their Chsracter arcs have yet to be developed. it’s a fairytale romance for sure and if the story is strong and the acting supports the story I will have watched a very satisfying drama.Constitutional Monarchies do still exist. But for Korea, this is just fun fiction. As I started watching it, for some reason I was reminded of Willuam and Kate’s real-life romance - starting with their college days. Just like in a good K-drama, they each have their own interesting backstory, especially Will. IMO, their’s has been nothing short of a fairytale - and 15 +/- years later, in spite of all the palace intrigue, they are still madly in love. With that in mind I look forward to watching Perfect Crown unfold.
Correction: this review was written after the first 2 episodes (not 12). the edit feature will not let me correct the number of episodes watched.
Was this review helpful to you?
