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This review may contain spoilers
Taecyeon and Seohyun's sizzling chemistry elevate a mediocre script
A heroine being pulled into the webtoon world is not new in the kdrama scene. However, the First Night with the Duke gives a unique spin by turning up the heat and adding spice which is a dream come true indeed for avid fanfiction readers.
Adapted from a webtoon, the story starts off with a university student who finds herself in the world of her favorite period romance web novel. As a minor character named Cha Seon Chaek, she tries to be a bystander and watch how the romance between Prince Gyeong Seong and Cho Eun Ae unfolds.
Everything went off the rails when when Seon Chaek had a passionate night with Prince Gyeong Seong. The next day the duke immediately asked for her hand in marriage and is seemingly determined to keep her by his side. Wanting to undo her actions, Seon Chaek tries to escape her fate of replacing the female lead of the story.
What I like about this show is how it keeps the storyline relatively simple and easy to follow. Initially,
the pacing of the story feels off and drawn out. Eventually, I grew accustomed to it and I have finally come to terms that this is a mediocre romance sageuk. Not that this is a bad thing but this is the perfect guilty pleasure and no-brainer watch.
Seohyun plays Cha Seon Chaek with a relatable and bubbly demeanor. Before she had an otherwordly journey in the webtoon, Seohyun is university student "K" and she is as cheerful as Seon Chaek until her friends outcasted her due to cheating allegations. She then leads a lonesome and secluded life. Seonhyun captures K's desire to start anew in the new world she now lives in. Her past mistakes initially holds her down but then she showed determination and ultimately follows her heart.
Meanwhile, Taecyeon is the dark, brooding hero of the webtoon. As the king's personal assassin, he is aloof, intimidating and constantly carries a sword with him scaring people and spreading false rumors about him. He slays people and so does his face card. Taecyeon is the epitome of young, fine, tall and handsome. With broad shoulders, strong build and jawline and high self-confidence, he undeniably suits the role of a leading man always ready to risk his life just to protect his leading lady.
The villains are so annoying and cunning. This is how you properly create a compelling villain, you set up their back story clearly to know how they ended up as evil. They have unique perspectives and strong motivations to do something bad. I'm glad Eun Ae and Prince Yi Gyung are not one dimensional villains unlike the king.
However, the fate of these antagonists doesn't sit right with me. Their resolutions are too neat for my liking. They hardly paid for their sins and got away with it easily. I understand that no one wants more blood to be shed but a proper ending for these villains would have been more satisfying.
I must say this is decent kdrama compared to other mediocre shows out there which either has poor writing or acting. Of course, it's not the most groundbreaking of shows. We have seen kdrama plots in the past where the female character is pulled into the webtoon world or travels back to Joseon period (W, Scarlet Heart and Extraordinary You), but what makes The First Night with the Duke memorable is how flirty and naughty our main leads are.
Pairing up Taecyeon with Seohyun is undeniably the best decision of this show. Seohyun's cheerful yet provocative nature complements Taecyeon's guarded and intense character. They are the ultimate sunshine-grumpy trope.
Overall, The First Night with the Duke is a guilty pleasure through and through. It's perfectly cliche and hits the right feels. I was looking for a watchable sizzling romance and I got one and sometimes that's all it takes to be entertained and glued to the screen.
Adapted from a webtoon, the story starts off with a university student who finds herself in the world of her favorite period romance web novel. As a minor character named Cha Seon Chaek, she tries to be a bystander and watch how the romance between Prince Gyeong Seong and Cho Eun Ae unfolds.
Everything went off the rails when when Seon Chaek had a passionate night with Prince Gyeong Seong. The next day the duke immediately asked for her hand in marriage and is seemingly determined to keep her by his side. Wanting to undo her actions, Seon Chaek tries to escape her fate of replacing the female lead of the story.
What I like about this show is how it keeps the storyline relatively simple and easy to follow. Initially,
the pacing of the story feels off and drawn out. Eventually, I grew accustomed to it and I have finally come to terms that this is a mediocre romance sageuk. Not that this is a bad thing but this is the perfect guilty pleasure and no-brainer watch.
Seohyun plays Cha Seon Chaek with a relatable and bubbly demeanor. Before she had an otherwordly journey in the webtoon, Seohyun is university student "K" and she is as cheerful as Seon Chaek until her friends outcasted her due to cheating allegations. She then leads a lonesome and secluded life. Seonhyun captures K's desire to start anew in the new world she now lives in. Her past mistakes initially holds her down but then she showed determination and ultimately follows her heart.
Meanwhile, Taecyeon is the dark, brooding hero of the webtoon. As the king's personal assassin, he is aloof, intimidating and constantly carries a sword with him scaring people and spreading false rumors about him. He slays people and so does his face card. Taecyeon is the epitome of young, fine, tall and handsome. With broad shoulders, strong build and jawline and high self-confidence, he undeniably suits the role of a leading man always ready to risk his life just to protect his leading lady.
The villains are so annoying and cunning. This is how you properly create a compelling villain, you set up their back story clearly to know how they ended up as evil. They have unique perspectives and strong motivations to do something bad. I'm glad Eun Ae and Prince Yi Gyung are not one dimensional villains unlike the king.
However, the fate of these antagonists doesn't sit right with me. Their resolutions are too neat for my liking. They hardly paid for their sins and got away with it easily. I understand that no one wants more blood to be shed but a proper ending for these villains would have been more satisfying.
I must say this is decent kdrama compared to other mediocre shows out there which either has poor writing or acting. Of course, it's not the most groundbreaking of shows. We have seen kdrama plots in the past where the female character is pulled into the webtoon world or travels back to Joseon period (W, Scarlet Heart and Extraordinary You), but what makes The First Night with the Duke memorable is how flirty and naughty our main leads are.
Pairing up Taecyeon with Seohyun is undeniably the best decision of this show. Seohyun's cheerful yet provocative nature complements Taecyeon's guarded and intense character. They are the ultimate sunshine-grumpy trope.
Overall, The First Night with the Duke is a guilty pleasure through and through. It's perfectly cliche and hits the right feels. I was looking for a watchable sizzling romance and I got one and sometimes that's all it takes to be entertained and glued to the screen.
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