Brilliant Childhood, Disappointing Adulthood
The beginning of this drama was honestly the highlight for me. The child actors were incredibly charming, expressive, and carried the story with so much emotion and natural energy. Their version of the story felt engaging, well-paced, and genuinely captivating.
However, once the characters grew up, something shifted - and not for the better. The adult cast didn’t match the younger versions at all, and the transition felt jarring.
The king (formerly the crown prince) was adorable and full of personality as a child. As an adult, the only thing that vaguely connects him to his younger self are the eyes. The rest - expressions, face shape, even the general vibe - feels disconnected. I can understand that his harsh life might have changed him, but visually and emotionally it felt like a completely different character. The king’s brother also had a lot of charm as a child, but the adult version didn’t carry over any of that warmth or appeal.
Overall, most adult versions felt strangely mismatched, which made it harder for me to enjoy the second half of the drama.
The only character who exceeded my expectations was the girl who becomes queen. Her adult actress portrayed fear and vulnerability extremely well, and she felt believable within the story.
In general, I couldn’t shake the feeling that if they had filmed the adult part years later with the same child actors once they were grown, the story would have felt much more cohesive.
Childhood part: 8.5
Adult part: 6.5
Final average rating: 7
However, once the characters grew up, something shifted - and not for the better. The adult cast didn’t match the younger versions at all, and the transition felt jarring.
The king (formerly the crown prince) was adorable and full of personality as a child. As an adult, the only thing that vaguely connects him to his younger self are the eyes. The rest - expressions, face shape, even the general vibe - feels disconnected. I can understand that his harsh life might have changed him, but visually and emotionally it felt like a completely different character. The king’s brother also had a lot of charm as a child, but the adult version didn’t carry over any of that warmth or appeal.
Overall, most adult versions felt strangely mismatched, which made it harder for me to enjoy the second half of the drama.
The only character who exceeded my expectations was the girl who becomes queen. Her adult actress portrayed fear and vulnerability extremely well, and she felt believable within the story.
In general, I couldn’t shake the feeling that if they had filmed the adult part years later with the same child actors once they were grown, the story would have felt much more cohesive.
Childhood part: 8.5
Adult part: 6.5
Final average rating: 7
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