This review may contain spoilers
The problems with this drama
I won't repeat all the other reviews - I mostly agree with them - my big issues:This is supposed to be a drama about a strong, independent female general who leads her life disguised as a man.
They have her doing all sorts of "cutesy" behaviors that are weak and dependent on the ML. Okay that isn't in itself terrible, but it is when you are supposedly portraying a female general... What the heck? And we go from wearing a mask constantly to disguise herself to no effort in disguising her female identity? Who is making these decisions and not seeing the absurdity?
Why have the Emperor who has seemed to make mostly decent decisions, decide to not only NOT allow the FL and ML to marry, but decides to marry her off to one of the villains? AND to add insult to injury, the FL hears it and blames it on the ML instantly instead of understanding that the Imperial Edict that he reads is NOT his words, but from the Emperor. That makes 0 sense. She is supposed to be strong and independent; not stupid and silly and weak. Why doesn't she IMMEDIATELY confront the ML and tell him she knows he doesn't want that - she doesn't believe it and they go together to fight for their right to be together. And how can the Emperor not think this will make his two strongest, most devoted, loyal subjects hate him now?
And the second ML is a villain and then he isn't and then he turns into the worst of the worst portrayed by a mental breakdown of evilness. Just stupid.
The last 3 episodes just ruin this drama.
I still watched it to the end and they throw us a crumb after a lot of ridiculousness in the last bit by letting our main couple be together, but it is hard to erase 3 episodes of just unnecessary, senseless dribble that didn't add anything, but make everyone dislike this drama.
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This review may contain spoilers
Good and Bad
This drama had a LOT of potential to be a really fun and beautiful fairy tale story. The actors were really good and did have chemistry. At times the FL's character was over the top, but I know some people like that. The problem with this drama is that they didn't allow the ML to really grow consistently. Just when it seemed like he would, they still made him an asshole treating the FL whom he supposedly was madly in love with as secondary-she was the last person he would communicate with and even after long separations, he didn't run to her like a man in love with a princess. My biggest gripe was that the FL did grow and mature in her role as the princess, but lost her agency as a woman in a relationship. She was the one constantly being hurt by the ML, waiting for the ML and begging for his attention. And what was a fairy tale story about a princess in a palace ended flat. They spent the last few episodes after the common trope of being separaed for 2 years, fighting and finally not really getting together until literally the last 5 minutes on an airplane where the FL chases after the ML. What a sour ending to this story.Why take what this theme was - a princess in a castle and just drop it?
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Incredible, must watch
I normally am not a huge fan of historical dramas, but this one is mesmerizing, addictive and just absolutely wonderful. The actors are incredible - both the evil and the good ones. But it is the writing, for me, that just puts it over the top. Such a great script that lands perfectly with each and every line. I hate the scenes with Miss Yu, the evil prince, and their son, and have a struggle watching them, but that is also a credit to the actors, the writers and the production.The main leads are impressive. It is hard to believe how young they are. She is completely adorable.
Don't miss out on an amazingly entertaining and well done drama!
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Concept great, poor judging attitudes
I really love Culinary Class Wars Seasons I and II. The contestants are fantastic and the judging is high quality, fair and interesting.I wanted to love Cheonha Bakery: Bake Your Dream and it started out well, but after the very first competitor presented their bread, it went downhill. One judge in particular ruins the show - Noh Hee Young. There is just no reason to be rude and mean. She seems to enjoy that attitude. I wonder if she has never watched other cooking and baking shows that are so popular and have been around forever. One classic is the Great British Bake Off. They are well manners, polite, kind, firm at times, and honest without being mean. It was extremely repugnant to not even give one of the bakers a honest critique and not even allow him to enter the judges' table. How insulting and damaging to his self esteems and reputation. I found that to be so disturbing as well as disgusting. I'm disappointed in this show for doing that.
Kim Na-rae, while not as repugnant as Noh Hee Young, has a very snotty, know it all attitude that is really unpleasant. I suppose if everyone is lofty and high-brow, she would be their kind of judge. It appears to me that most of these bakeries are shops that ANY of us regular people could visit and afford. Their baked goods appeal to the general public.
Thank goodness Master Baker Lee Seok-won, Mimi, and Chef Kwon Sung-jun are also judges. They are thoughtful and offer their opinions and critiques with expertise and kindness. I'll give it one more shot, but I hope to never see another contestant who came with such high hopes and dreams and gave so much effort to be treated so cruelly and disrespectfully.
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