Kim MC

Because of the gritty rawness of this drama, I have to watch an episode and then take a couple of days off. I love the fact that societal darkness is explored with humanity on the side and each actor deserves huge accolades for bringing the characters to realistic light. It truly is an amazing series.
Thanks so much for your article and bringing this to the forefront. It deserves the limelight.

Awesome article! Thank you.

I love him in this one.

I'm actually wondering the same thing.

I love Kim Eun Sook's written works, so I've been watching this from day one (add Lee Min Ho and Woo Do Hwan into the mix and I'd watch them make birthday cakes all day). Here's my take on a few things, minus spoilers:

From the first episode on, Lee Min Ho's posture and overall bearing blew me away. A lot of people have mentioned that he was rather stiff, but his character has been schooled and tutored in overall comportment since he first took his steps. Also, I love how he is cautious, in the story, with all interactions except the Lieutenant.

Woo Do Hwan blows me away with his acting ability and this is definitely a role he sinks his teeth into. I believe him, no matter which world he's from.

Can I wrap up Head Court Lady and bring her to my house for a couple of days? I just love the way that she can make any character stand up / bow / grovel with one eyebrow.

The Prime Minister - wow, I'm expecting her to fly away on her broomstick any moment and as of episode 5, I'm not sure if her character is dark, cunning, or just political.

Kim Go Eun's portrayal of Lieutenant Jung Tae Eul has left me confused up until episode 5 in that I could not get a grasp on why she was as standoff-ish and cautious towards other people. In episode 5, we get a tiny peak into her backstory and I look forward to more.

Overall, I like it and am probably going to love it by the end. The main writer, Kim Eun Sook, writes a drama that is rich and I've yet been disappointed as she's unfolded a story. Impatient, yes, but never disappointed.

Just a few thoughts....

I think it's more the portrayal of a King. I've been fascinated since episode 1 about his posture and his general walk, which is way different than other dramas he's been in.

Definitely.

Thank you!

LOL! Remind me to wear my glasses before I type.

I started Hospital Playlist and put it on hold for a couple of weeks. Unfortunately for me, I decided to pick up on episode 2 and binge watch all the way to episode 9. This show has it all! Excellent actors and writing....now I'm addicted.

I agree. The premise of this show is unbelievably good but to have the female lead disbelieving in parallel worlds for three episodes is frustrating and makes any plot movement too slow.

I loved him as that character!

Bring this thing out already! Love all the actresses.

I laughed out loud and agree 100% on your comment " he could probably have chemistry with a brick". I'd ship this guy if his love interest was cereal box.

It's very true that she is at a very, very down spot in her lifetime. I think that mostly what is enviable about her position is that she has life. She can stay, remarry, have other children, etc., and that is the one position Yuri cannot have. There's never a doubt that Yuri will she was choose to oust Min Jeong from her position, given she is now the child's mother. The reason I love this drama, especially at the end, is that there is no truly bad person in the mix. There's only choices to be made and I'm wondering where the last episode will leave everyone.

Both leads have had unbelievable chemistry with their costars before, so I was very confused why their scenes seem "dry". I think your word nails it.

I'm wondering what everyone thinks of Jung Tae Eul as a character? Something feels off in her interactions with Lee Min Ho's emperor and for the life of me, I can't figure out what it is. Any thoughts?

There's a general trend in dramaland for the slow burn, anguished past of the "hero - heroine - both leads" that slowly unravels to the viewer, all the while giving a philosophical perspective of life. I like those types of dramas, but it seems the genre saturation had me really, really wanting a high adrenaline show. For that, I'm extremely grateful for "Rugal" and have enjoyed every episode.

I think MJ stepped in willingly for her own reasons. The choice she made was to love Gang Hwa and be a mother to his child knowing his heart would not be 100 % involved. As she told Hyun Jung, "I love him too much to let go".

For a mother to watch another take her place, albeit as a ghost, would be unbearable pain. To watch that person take very good care and love your child would make the absence bearable and in turn, you would love and be beyond grateful to that person. Cha Yu Ri's anguish and loss is the one that most turns me inside and out, especially when outlined in episode 15 of the "what if". If she dies again, she'll never see her child graduate, watch her find her place in the world, never hold her grandchild. I absolutely had tears streaming down when they flashed the scenes of what would have been her life had she lived.

There is nothing as infuriating, frustrating and devastating as the divergent life path of the "what if". I seriously cried on episode 15.......well done, writers, actors and crew. Extremely well done.