Welcome in a world of mental disorders. I'll be curious to read comments to know if the writer treat the thematic…
I like occasionnaly romcoms, but disappointed by recent ones. As there are many older romcoms I didn't watch, I have a long list for the day I'd like to see that. Since I've drop NGNL, I do a cure of Sageuk. 😄
Ep6. Some light comedy scene with court ladies. I appreciate because it feels natural. I like the drama show us real life of this time, like the silkworms building.
It's however a quite slow pace now. Not high on dramatics.
Woo! Now the FL has the light-green outfit! Feels like a promotion.
Next, Duk Im meets the queen. And she can be helpful for the prince. It's not the first time something like that happens and of course, the script create many situations to show how she help him.
Ep8: I like when an element set up in episode 1 comes to bite in episode 8. The book! 26:00 - It's not supposed to be comedy, but the meeting with the king turns in a funny way, when out of patience and without really caring about that, he makes FL situation worst.
Next the scene is well made and of quality I could expect: When Duk Im tells the story of her visit to the funeral, and it mixes her speaking and the king with flashbacks in that place. It also gives us the feeling the king remembers, but there is also an awesome line which was hidden in this scene of episode 1 when the king says "I will never come back here"... and... in a way he comes back here now, as Duk Im makes him remember. Brillant! Emotional peak when the King cries, then a small twist (just few seconds) when he pretends to not remember. Then, more: while the king is supposed to be the one who forgot, it follows with Duk Im who forgot why he gave her the book, and the King tells her. Irony. Damn good scene.
Princess Hwa Wan is spectacular, it's as if she had hate instead of blood in her body.
Ep9, 22:00 to 27:30 - Slow scene, explaining why I prefer older historicals. There are more reasons, but this example is significative. I noticed scenes like that in many recent historical dramas. Long discussion about plot. No tension, people speaking in low voice, and music is soft and sleepy. It's not writer fault only, but also directing and editing, using too much time on that. When a drama accumulate too much scenes like that, it's over. To compare to the classic narrative of historicals, using often short scenes about plots, many cuts for suspens or different people perspective, a bit like a comic book, with punchy or dramatic accents in music. Else, there is also the difference about directing, dramatism, acting and theatral feeling, but I won't speak about that now. Just using older camera and less budget didn't make the directing less good.
Next: first time I find main actress cute. She's asleep, eyes closed. On the couch her face is more round and we don't see her jaw. I've probably a problem with her eyes and jaw.
A king has zero chance to survive in a palace where court ladies are a secret organisation wanting him dead. They could poison his food anytime?
Always nice to get: a previous scene about kite was used as set-up for this moment when they are on the beach and unable to alert the palace. For sure, kites would be used. It comes sooner than expected, and so doesn't need a flashback of the setup scene. 2nd setup: The piece of wood given by the King is also used in the situation, to command army.
Nevertheless, for suspens, it lacks tensions. As a step adding some energy: the fight of the bodyguard vs court lady assassin. Next a battle: The Prince is almost Arrow! It's something we could see before: he's very strong with a bow. Lot of action now, it's first time in the drama, and enjoyable.
NOTE: it's a bit messy to put my impressions in the comment section, so I'll maybe cut-paste that elsewhere, doing a forum thread, or use a review thread, I don't know yet what's better.
oh my godddddd. a kdrama portraying a polygamous relationship feels like seeing unicorns. I'm conflicted about…
Welcome in a world of mental disorders. I'll be curious to read comments to know if the writer treat the thematic seriously, or if it's just a futile plot-device, as other never-treated thematics of this drama.
Reflection in the lake: so good!! Just in time as a cliffhanger.
Ep4: Princess Hwa Wan push a big dramatic boost unexpectedly. I'll like the character, she's horribly mean and create problems.
Then it's about punishment and prince decision. The plot points lead to decisions to take. Yep, I enjoy the drama.
There isn't a clear picture yet, about a bigger plot. However, Ep4 ending makes me think we could get this soon. At least, a main goal for the Prince.
Ep5: Lady Jo tells how the prince's father was mad. Here I see a missed opportunity. It could be nice to get flashback of the terrible events she tells. Or at least, insert of scary fastflashes.
Ep5 halfway: goals become more precise now, it's about transition of power. Time for the Prince to become King. It seems to be his main goal. But now, looks like the old King is ready to prepare that too. Only, many people oppose that, because his father was mad, and they fear he becomes mad too.
Cliffhanger on an emotional peak rather than a danger. But also well done.
About script quality: Raise the stakes, use obstacles and tension. It happens often, so I just choose one situation as example. SPOILER from episode 3.
Duk Im write 6 books for the king, so he forgives the prince. - Then: Gives the book to princess, so she offers the books to the king and ask forgiveness. - But: the king doesn't want any audience. - So, princess go to see the Queen. - But: the Queen just confirm there is no audience. - Twist: There could be audience, but only for a servant (Duk Im of course). - But: court lady chief says Duk Im to be silent and doesn't ask forgiveness if the King is in bad mood. - Raise stake: a court lady confirms the King is in bad mood. - Twist: she meets the King, he's welcoming and he seems in good mood instead. - So, he offers her to taste his meal first, before to speak about the books. - But: she doesn't find a way to speak about the prince and leaves. Failure. - Twist: the King calls her to wait before to leave. Ask her if she has a wish. - She asks for the prince, but the king turns in bad mood, orders to burn the books. - King speech is coherent and offers a new perspective about what the prince did wrong. - Raise stake: He says Duk Im will be killed for asking prince forgiveness. Now she's in a deep shit. I stop here because it continues.
They will never grow up to be women.
This drama is a way of keeping them deluded.
She's just as trash as he is.
I like the drama show us real life of this time, like the silkworms building.
It's however a quite slow pace now. Not high on dramatics.
Woo! Now the FL has the light-green outfit! Feels like a promotion.
Next, Duk Im meets the queen. And she can be helpful for the prince. It's not the first time something like that happens and of course, the script create many situations to show how she help him.
Ep8: I like when an element set up in episode 1 comes to bite in episode 8.
The book!
26:00 - It's not supposed to be comedy, but the meeting with the king turns in a funny way, when out of patience and without really caring about that, he makes FL situation worst.
Next the scene is well made and of quality I could expect: When Duk Im tells the story of her visit to the funeral, and it mixes her speaking and the king with flashbacks in that place. It also gives us the feeling the king remembers, but there is also an awesome line which was hidden in this scene of episode 1 when the king says "I will never come back here"... and... in a way he comes back here now, as Duk Im makes him remember. Brillant! Emotional peak when the King cries, then a small twist (just few seconds) when he pretends to not remember. Then, more: while the king is supposed to be the one who forgot, it follows with Duk Im who forgot why he gave her the book, and the King tells her. Irony. Damn good scene.
Princess Hwa Wan is spectacular, it's as if she had hate instead of blood in her body.
Ep9, 22:00 to 27:30 - Slow scene, explaining why I prefer older historicals. There are more reasons, but this example is significative. I noticed scenes like that in many recent historical dramas. Long discussion about plot. No tension, people speaking in low voice, and music is soft and sleepy. It's not writer fault only, but also directing and editing, using too much time on that. When a drama accumulate too much scenes like that, it's over. To compare to the classic narrative of historicals, using often short scenes about plots, many cuts for suspens or different people perspective, a bit like a comic book, with punchy or dramatic accents in music.
Else, there is also the difference about directing, dramatism, acting and theatral feeling, but I won't speak about that now. Just using older camera and less budget didn't make the directing less good.
Next: first time I find main actress cute. She's asleep, eyes closed. On the couch her face is more round and we don't see her jaw. I've probably a problem with her eyes and jaw.
A king has zero chance to survive in a palace where court ladies are a secret organisation wanting him dead. They could poison his food anytime?
Always nice to get: a previous scene about kite was used as set-up for this moment when they are on the beach and unable to alert the palace. For sure, kites would be used. It comes sooner than expected, and so doesn't need a flashback of the setup scene.
2nd setup: The piece of wood given by the King is also used in the situation, to command army.
Nevertheless, for suspens, it lacks tensions.
As a step adding some energy: the fight of the bodyguard vs court lady assassin.
Next a battle: The Prince is almost Arrow!
It's something we could see before: he's very strong with a bow.
Lot of action now, it's first time in the drama, and enjoyable.
NOTE: it's a bit messy to put my impressions in the comment section, so I'll maybe cut-paste that elsewhere, doing a forum thread, or use a review thread, I don't know yet what's better.
I'll be curious to read comments to know if the writer treat the thematic seriously, or if it's just a futile plot-device, as other never-treated thematics of this drama.
Don't feed the troll. 😉
Just in time as a cliffhanger.
Ep4: Princess Hwa Wan push a big dramatic boost unexpectedly.
I'll like the character, she's horribly mean and create problems.
Then it's about punishment and prince decision.
The plot points lead to decisions to take. Yep, I enjoy the drama.
There isn't a clear picture yet, about a bigger plot.
However, Ep4 ending makes me think we could get this soon.
At least, a main goal for the Prince.
Ep5: Lady Jo tells how the prince's father was mad.
Here I see a missed opportunity.
It could be nice to get flashback of the terrible events she tells.
Or at least, insert of scary fastflashes.
Ep5 halfway: goals become more precise now, it's about transition of power.
Time for the Prince to become King. It seems to be his main goal.
But now, looks like the old King is ready to prepare that too.
Only, many people oppose that, because his father was mad, and they fear he becomes mad too.
Cliffhanger on an emotional peak rather than a danger. But also well done.
It happens often, so I just choose one situation as example.
SPOILER from episode 3.
Duk Im write 6 books for the king, so he forgives the prince.
- Then: Gives the book to princess, so she offers the books to the king and ask forgiveness.
- But: the king doesn't want any audience.
- So, princess go to see the Queen.
- But: the Queen just confirm there is no audience.
- Twist: There could be audience, but only for a servant (Duk Im of course).
- But: court lady chief says Duk Im to be silent and doesn't ask forgiveness if the King is in bad mood.
- Raise stake: a court lady confirms the King is in bad mood.
- Twist: she meets the King, he's welcoming and he seems in good mood instead.
- So, he offers her to taste his meal first, before to speak about the books.
- But: she doesn't find a way to speak about the prince and leaves. Failure.
- Twist: the King calls her to wait before to leave. Ask her if she has a wish.
- She asks for the prince, but the king turns in bad mood, orders to burn the books.
- King speech is coherent and offers a new perspective about what the prince did wrong.
- Raise stake: He says Duk Im will be killed for asking prince forgiveness.
Now she's in a deep shit. I stop here because it continues.