Chair54

Yes, the director needs to go back to film school and educate themselves on how to do a kiss scene properly. It was very disappointing.

Yes, I agree with you this subplot was unnecessary. The writers could have handled things differently.

I just wanted to add a thank you to you for not being rude or insulting in your post to me and understanding where I was coming from in my previous post. I appreciate it, as some people were quite rude.

@Sometimes1: It's called an opinion. You have yours and I have mine. The writers can do as they want. I don't have to agree. I'm not demanding anything. I gave an opinion that I wished things could have been handled differently. If anyone is acting childishly and posting embarrassing comments, it's you with your personal insults and name-calling because I disagree with your opinion. You could have just said that marriages between minors and adults were present in the Joseon era, and you accept this subplot within that context, and you will have to agree to disagree with me on this couple pairing. But you did not. Instead, you act like a cyberbully and spew personal insults. I thought about ignoring your post, but I see that you have done this same treatment to others here, so I felt I could not stay silent. I can only hope in the future you will stop with the personal insults toward those that do not share your opinions.
I will have to agree to disagree with you regarding this particular subplot. Please do not respond to my post. Let it end here.

I understand what you are saying. For me, the writers did not handle this topic well. If they had to include this topic in the drama, I wish they could have explored this topic in a different way that did not involve minors with adults.

I hope you are right and maybe things change. I do not like this subplot promoting adult with a minor.

Thanks for the information. So in history, the wife of the CP could be no more than 2 years older than him. In this drama, the CP is 14 years, so his wife would be no older than 16 years. I still don't understand why the writers promoting the CP with a 24 years old adult woman. They could have handled things differently. I wish they had.

Thanks for the information.

Point taken. I will have to agree to disagree with you on this subplot. For me, I wish the writers had done things differently.

For this drama, the CP having an heir is an issue and it is the reason that the FL in-laws are trying to delay the wedding. In Ep. 1 and 2, They don't want CP to marry and have a son, which would cement his position as heir to the throne and provide a direct successor, causing them difficulty in getting their relative on the throne. Instead, they are trying to delay the CP marriage to gain time to get rid of him and make Prince Jinsung the official heir to the throne.
If the CP wasn't going to consummate the marriage until years later, then the villains wouldn't care about delaying the marriage. The threat to them is the CP having a son before they can get rid of him and install their choice as the new CP. Since they are actively trying to delay the marriage so a son will not be born, that means they expect the marriage to be consummated immediately after the wedding takes place. I understand your point, but I don't think it applies for this drama.

The CP is 14 and Ha Na is 24. The problem is he is a young teenager to her adult woman. The whole point of the CP having to get married is so he can have an heir ASAP and secure the succession to cement his status as the heir to the throne, so sex is part of this subplot. People are uncomfortable with the fact that he is a minor. And people would be uncomfortable if a grown man was paired with a young girl as well. This drama is a fantasy drama that includes a fictional royal family. Following history is not necessary. The writers could have handled this subplot differently.

Yes. I see your point. (Although I didn't see any disclaimer message on any of the episodes I watched. It might have been cut out as the streamer I watch often cuts the intros)

I understand your point. However, I still feel the writers could have handled things differently. Maturity and intelligence depend on the individual, and are not soley exclusive to age. There are plenty of younger people who are mature and smart as well as older people who are immature and stupid. For me, writers did not have to pair a young teen with much older adult woman at all. They could have at least aged up the CP a few years so he was not a minor. Instead, they chose to push a romantic pairing which makes many very uncomfortable. For me, this is a writing fail in an otherwise enjoyable series.

The writers did not have to include it in this drama which is a fantasy using historical backdrop with a fictional royal family, not a straight saeguk. Historical accuracy isn't necessary. This particular subplot could have been handled differently.

Totally agree. The writers could have done things completely different. It's a fantasy drama with a fictional royal family. There is no historical base here. Historical accuracy is not needed. And frankly, it's not followed anyway since the main characters are already shown as having a very accepting attitude toward homosexuality which was definitely not the case for society in Joseon times.

Yes, I agree with you on the Ha Na & Crown Prince pairing. It's so gross. And watching actors who have a real life 17 year age gap (He's 12, she's 29) playing those roles just makes it worse. Why did they have to do that? I wish the 2 characters could have had separate stories with an age appropriate partner. At the very least, they could have aged up the CP a few years. Make him 18 to her 24. At least then he's not a minor. They already made it clear in the drama the reason for the CP to get married is to have a legitimate heir ASAP. I really don't like this sub plot.

Yes. Why couldn't the CP be 20 yrs old? He could have been pretending to be a student scholar at Sungkyunkwan. It would have been cute instead of making me feel creeped out.

Oh my gosh! Why does this drama keep pushing a romance between these 2 characters? The real-life age gap between the actors just makes it even more creepy for me.

He gave an interview to Sports Chosun in October 2023. I saw an article saying he posted a picture with brief caption on his Instagram in November 2023 for the first time in 2 years. Apparently, he is trying to make a comeback:
https://koalasplayground.com/2023/12/01/k-actor-ji-soo-reportedly-meeting-with-agencies-attempting-comeback-two-years-after-bullying-scandal-led-to-leaving-industry/

12 episodes total