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What happens when suppression, obsession, and desire, combine.
September 2026.
Lots of mixed reviews over this drama, and given how often many actively seek 'hotter' productions, I genuinely wonder whether some (not all of course), of that wasn't due to the cast, and specifically JCW, being seen as never before.
Other relatively recent dramas with adult themes haven't created this divide.
It's also clearly summarised as containing sex and nudity... why would anyone watch it and then complain about that?!!! Any how....
It sticks pretty much to the classic novel, in terms of the agreement made between exes; driven by selfish needs. From the start, they manipulate one another, as much as they do their chosen victims... Lady Cho due to frustration, resentment and bitterness; Cho Won due to his obsession.
It starts off pretty low key, as the deal is struck and a second element is brought into their game.
Cho Won also has a servant whom he genuinely cares for. That servant's relationship, with their counterpart of An Hui-yon, has some comical, and touching scenes. The 'relations' between these 2 I found very amusing.
Out the 2 foremost characters, it is Lady Cho who is the catalyst for almost everything. Under the frosty, calm exterior I saw a woman hanging on to her status and beauty.
Seduction is the name of the game, and Cho Won's first success, I found so funny at times, as well as pretty hot. Most definitely consensual (as were all the adult scenes between characters).
It's so incredibly tangled; other's actions thwarting the twisted plans of the main pair, leading to more and more convoluted situations.
The cruelty of both is lost to them, however, in their own selfish, pity-me worlds.
It's very clever, how the often light-hearted score and moments of wit, just about keep the drama from being overly dark. The gossipy and jaunty narration, shouted throughout the story, is so naughty, funny, and genius.
The drama overall, is no walk in the park, however.
The culmination of Cho Won's ultimate, self-imposed challenge, was beautifully filmed, I thought. Not OTT, but as passionate as the character, although driven by the desire for his promised prize.
One obsessed, the other driving the obsession, at any cost. The Cho cousins are quite the pair.
I felt Cho Won really lost himself by the end, as a realisation dawned on him. JCW conveyed the character really well. I never felt certain of his feelings, and I don't think the character fully understood them either.
In the end, I personally believe he was protecting one woman, whilst knowing he'd never truly escape the other.
Bitterness, oppression, a decision based on feelings of filial duty, and then jealousy ~ out the two, Cho Yun was the most cruel in my eyes.
A well made series, with a slightly different representation of the story, yet keeping to the structure of it.
Not sure I'll watch it again, but I certainly don't regret having done so. It's mature; the rating? Well if I were 15 (which it's rated on Netflix), I wouldn't want to watch it with mum & dad, but it's not porn. The behaviour of the characters had consequences.
I personally feel glamourising violence, and normalising bullying and abuse, is far worst viewing for youngsters than some bare bums, boobs and sex.
Lots of mixed reviews over this drama, and given how often many actively seek 'hotter' productions, I genuinely wonder whether some (not all of course), of that wasn't due to the cast, and specifically JCW, being seen as never before.
Other relatively recent dramas with adult themes haven't created this divide.
It's also clearly summarised as containing sex and nudity... why would anyone watch it and then complain about that?!!! Any how....
It sticks pretty much to the classic novel, in terms of the agreement made between exes; driven by selfish needs. From the start, they manipulate one another, as much as they do their chosen victims... Lady Cho due to frustration, resentment and bitterness; Cho Won due to his obsession.
It starts off pretty low key, as the deal is struck and a second element is brought into their game.
Cho Won also has a servant whom he genuinely cares for. That servant's relationship, with their counterpart of An Hui-yon, has some comical, and touching scenes. The 'relations' between these 2 I found very amusing.
Out the 2 foremost characters, it is Lady Cho who is the catalyst for almost everything. Under the frosty, calm exterior I saw a woman hanging on to her status and beauty.
Seduction is the name of the game, and Cho Won's first success, I found so funny at times, as well as pretty hot. Most definitely consensual (as were all the adult scenes between characters).
It's so incredibly tangled; other's actions thwarting the twisted plans of the main pair, leading to more and more convoluted situations.
The cruelty of both is lost to them, however, in their own selfish, pity-me worlds.
It's very clever, how the often light-hearted score and moments of wit, just about keep the drama from being overly dark. The gossipy and jaunty narration, shouted throughout the story, is so naughty, funny, and genius.
The drama overall, is no walk in the park, however.
The culmination of Cho Won's ultimate, self-imposed challenge, was beautifully filmed, I thought. Not OTT, but as passionate as the character, although driven by the desire for his promised prize.
One obsessed, the other driving the obsession, at any cost. The Cho cousins are quite the pair.
I felt Cho Won really lost himself by the end, as a realisation dawned on him. JCW conveyed the character really well. I never felt certain of his feelings, and I don't think the character fully understood them either.
In the end, I personally believe he was protecting one woman, whilst knowing he'd never truly escape the other.
Bitterness, oppression, a decision based on feelings of filial duty, and then jealousy ~ out the two, Cho Yun was the most cruel in my eyes.
A well made series, with a slightly different representation of the story, yet keeping to the structure of it.
Not sure I'll watch it again, but I certainly don't regret having done so. It's mature; the rating? Well if I were 15 (which it's rated on Netflix), I wouldn't want to watch it with mum & dad, but it's not porn. The behaviour of the characters had consequences.
I personally feel glamourising violence, and normalising bullying and abuse, is far worst viewing for youngsters than some bare bums, boobs and sex.
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