Sageuk Lover

I just saw an interesting comment in instagram about this drama. Remember the fact when Youngbok (Yunbok's foster brother) was imagining painting Yunbok wearing a gisaeng hanbok before she died? Why was she wearing gisaeng hanbok? Because that's what would have happened to her had not her foster father took her in! Imagining Yunbok as a gisaeng might not be right, but maybe had she been a gisaeng instead of being adopted as his foster sister Youngbok might have more chance with her. This drama is so brilliant!

Absolutely, Deok Im never wanted power and was just contented with her simple life as a court lady, why force her to become someone who she isn't. I'm someone who loves kdramas about women rising to power. But I'm glad we also have dramas like this, that even a woman van be strong willed even if she doesn't want to rise to the top.

I'm watching this drama for Lee Tae Ri (actor for Dried Squid Fairy)

I just noticed, since the 2000s, all his Joseon period drama are all related to the early Joseon kings (Lee Bang Won Lee Seong Gye, King Sejong, Grand Prince Suyang). He played Lee Bang Won and Lee Seong Gye twice and Grand Prince Suyang/King Sejo once.

I know River Where the Moon Rises isn't the best drama, but people should watch it for Sohyun! It's her most interesting adult role, where she played both a mother and daughter who are both warriors. I hope people can let go of their prejudice against sageuk and watch Sohyun in River.

I don't understand why people don't like sageuk. They're the essence of kdramas. The culture that Korea is proud of, you can only see them in sageuks (among all different dramas you watch).

Song Joong Ki and his ex wife were an extremely famous couple, what Binjin is now is what they were before the divorce. Naturally, there's a lot of rumors about them. I don't think it would be wise to believe any of them.

The actors (Song Joong ki and Kim Sung Cheol) have more interaction in Arthdal Chronicles, watch that, it's an underrated Song Joong Ki drama where he showed his best of his acting abilities.

I think you have to tell your friend at least some basics of Joseon society (not watch this drama with Western eyes). Like for example, a king has a queen but can have concubines (some concubines being their simply because the king wants them, others being there because the king needs to have an heir and his queen/wife is barren). Also explain a bit about court ladies, their main purpose is to serve the royal family, but they're also considered the king's women so they couldn't marry anyone.
Then explain the basic background of this king. His father was killed in a rice chest because people believed he was mentally ill, being his father's son, some people didn't want him to be king. Also his greatgrandmother was born a slave, something his king grandpa has been insecure about.
I think knowing the information above, your friend can easily watch this sageuk.

This drama lingers long to me I haven't continued on my drama watchlist yet. Wanna continue just watching this drama's videos until next week.

It's not a budget problem. The drama wants us to focus on San and Deok Im's love story. If the queen is there, it will be harder for usw to root for them together since we see her. The drama doesn't ignore her existence, it just chose to not focus on her.

It’s always the actresses, especially those with a non kpop background, that received criticisms.

Same! Ironic that both Lee Se Young and Han Ji Min (actresses who played Concubine Uibin Seong in Red Sleeve and Yi San 2007) are there

I noticed some people bothered by the fact that Yi San has a queen and concubines. I think we need to give him some slack. I know some kings with concubines truly admired many women but not Yi San. Deok Im is the only woman he ever loved. The drama doesn’t specifically state but Yi San and the Queen were married when they were children. And Yi San only have other concubines before Deok Im because it was arranged, it’s not like he chose them because he fancies them. And those other concubines were chosen during the time Deok Im was not accepting his proposal. He’s a king, he needs heirs. Plus the whole time Deok Im was a concubine, Yi San was never given nor did he chose another concubine. He only picked a concubine after she died.
I think the drama doesn’t put Queen HyoEui because drama creators intend for us to focus on Yi San and Deok Im love story. Because Queen Hyo Eui was very pitiful, she was married when she was a kid, yet she couldn’t bear children which was the queen’s main purpose.
In short, people were bound by the rules of their time. People have feelings and they love whoever they love, but marriage was different back then.

You have to waiy til the second half of the drama for that, the third female doesn’t show much in the earlier episodes

Yes, I might add them too. But as you can see this watchlist is so long and i haven't finished my priority list yet (and I also want to rewatch old shows I love). Thanks though. I heard about King's Daughter since Ha Ji Won's brother is there.

Cant wait for it. I love the instrumentals way more than the OST to be honest

I love my historical sageuks, based on real people. I learn about Korea from them (of course I do research to compare what’s real and what isn’t). I dont mind a historical drama not based on real people though, as long aa they are well made.

Yeah, I think MBS has the best costumes. I have mixed opinions for Moon Embracing the Sun for example, but for a time before, Kim So Hyun and Kim Yoo Jung’s picture together in hanbok from that drama was my profile picture here since their costumes and the colors in them are so gorgeous and beautiful

Don’t get the hype of the male lead in King’s Affection. Park Eun Bin carried that drama for me. Also I’m not into idols that much, but isn’t 2pm more veteran and popular than SF9? I think they were already a group even during the early 2010s (in comparison, during that time Rowoon’s band mate was only a child actor for Song Joong Ki in Innocent Man).