Fumiko

The court scenes are interesting and this Taiga drama is largely carried by the support cast. Also Heian era is interesting since it is not often depicted and it features many characters that never had a movie depiction so far.

Unfortunately since Murasaki‘s story in real life only begins after her elderly husband quickly died and she already had her daughter, then she actually began to write Genji thus her story moves extremely slow. Her interactions with Fujiwara no Michinaga are very romcom like (in history there isn‘t much proof of a relationship between them).

This is actually rather a Fujiwara clan Taiga and mostly focused on Michinaga‘s machinations.

I am really curious about how Gogukcheon will be depicted on the show since he seems to have a way bigger role than Sansang.

With the news about Song Ha Yoon‘s alleged past of bullying there have been articles about Jeon Jong Seo‘s past around the same time now as well (though in contrast to Ha Yoon there seems to be far less confirmation).

I’m on episode 11 and it is moving on painfully slow. If this keeps going we won‘t see Murasaki writing Genji much even in part 2 of the Taiga.

Congrats on the main role in the 2026 Taiga dorama ☺️! Nakano Taiga will play Toyotomi Hidenaga (younger brother of Hideyoshi) who is often considered to have been Hideyoshi's brain and voice of reason.

Atsuhime is a very beloved Taiga drama that also partly takes place in Ooku.

Many older Taiga dramas are very good like Dokuganryu Masamune, Aoi Tokugawa Sandai, Taiheiki, Kusa Moeru, Hojo Tokimune, Mori Motonari, Hana no Ran etc.

From the newer Taiga Gunshi Kanbei and Taira no Kiyomori are the best. I also like Yoshitsune, Kirin ga Kuru and Dousuru Ieyasu.

From the Fuji TV Ooku series most of the older Ooku series are all worthy being watched.

The costumes and music are really good and it is still enjoyable as a Ooku series but I agree the writing is very shallow and slightly immature this time.

I have watched episode 7 now:
Ieharu annoys me so much.
I really hope that Tomoko ices and ignores him completely.

Spoiler:
In history Ieharu had a son with concubine Ochiho who never became Shogun since he died age 18.
With Tomoko (main character) he had two daughters.
With Oshina (maid of Tomoko) he had a son who died in infancy.
Ieharu thus had to adopt the next Shogun Ienari. This means nobody won.

I also think that Oshina's son will likely not be Ieharu's since she only recently slept with that Ooku employee.

Same, Myung Ha I think might plan something awful in the finale. He has been a jealous guy and harping on the death of his traitor father for way too long and it has to lead to something…

I think that Myung Ha will plan some dumb action that will finally get him killed since despite him harping on his traitor father‘s death he was forgiven until now but he doesn‘t know when to stop.

Su-min is similar to Park Yeon-jin with being the most entertaining part and MVP in their respective series (sorta the break out character) . Both terrible persons and they learn nothing until the end.

I think that Yura will get the car crash.
Su-min will end up in jail with Ji-won visiting her one final time most likely.

I love Sei Shonagon's introduction so far. Since her thing with Tadanobu is mentioned I hope that her other rumored affairs are also included (Fujiwara no Yukinari and Fujiwara no Sanekata).

My favorite character overall is Machida Keita as Kinto so far and I hope that just like the guidebook mentions that when Murasaki starts to write Genji he will become interested in Murasaki's writings.

Fumi had some messed up or antagonistic characters early on in her career: Noriko in Brain Main, Hana in My Man, Chacha in Gunshi Kanbei was also a villain.

I could see Mayu matching the Su-min character a lot.

One thing that has to stay is that the Su-min character and the Min-hwan character have to be a trashy couple XD.
Wonder who they could cast as Ji-won expy and Ji-Hyuk expy. I hope that they choose good actors for these roles.

I at first thought of Nikaido Fumi since she is good with characters that can be awful however for a Su-min expy she is likely too tough for the seemingly innocent facade.

I would love Matsuoka Mayu in this role since she is really good at acting and I would love to see her as such as mean character since she can look super innocent and sweet.
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An expy of each of them would be awful to have in your life (and likely could easily happen in reality). Ji-won is however really exceptionally punished to have these many toxic people around.

Both Su-min and Min-Hwan are so insane that they are ruining each other now XD.

Su-min should have told Ji-Won that her mother is venting out her frustration on her. They could have talked about Ji-Won‘s mother and Su-min‘s father and Su-min could have stayed with Ji-won and Ji-won‘s dad as often as possible. But that would have been a normal reaction on Su-min‘s part. Instead she wanted someone who feels more miserable than her around.

The grandprince surely will be successor since not only was that promised but he also seems very dutiful already and seems to even put his own wants and needs behind if it is expected of him.

It has to be lack of confidence - thinking it won't get any better. In Ji-won's case it took her to die once so that she was able to start loving her life and throwing away the trash.

Min-hwan in a scene with Ji-won said once:
'No one would want you.'
I do think that that was quiet telling.

Joo-ran I hope takes example from Ji-won and gets rid of her garbage husband and gets with the decent guy as well.
Interestingly Joo-ran at the beginning of the show said to Ji-won once that she is way too good for Min-hwan thus she subconsciously likely thinks the same about her own situation as well but is not able to act on it yet.

I think Su-min despite being a horrible person is really interesting to watch. Curious what her mother will add to the picture 😅.