Ha Seon is being really scary as well. I am afraid he is losing himself to the power in his hands.
Chief Royal Secretary was definitely worried. I was relieved to hear that he was feeling "weighed down" as well, just like the Royal Secretary. One of the things this drama is doing well is that it's showing us the reactions so we can interpret them.
Without CJH, it does not feel the same. Despite his lack of screen time, he was still an integral character that…
I wonder how this episode would have played put had CJH been there. We probably would have skipped the whole family time Ari demanded and would have seen Na Wang Shik fixing the lights, talking to the Empress, and maybe even confronting the Emperor like before. I would have even felt sad over his fate (if it's death or burns as the preview seems to indicate) - because he covered the bomb with his body before it exploded to save the Empress. It could have been poignant and given us closure.
Without CJH, it does not feel the same. Despite his lack of screen time, he was still an integral character that won't do with a mere body with no face. Without him, they had lost a potentially better way of dealing with the Imperial Family than how they did in these two episodes. Even with how it all turned out, I think his presence would have had a greater impact on the viewer.
Needless to say, the drama did not fall in on itself without him. It very much works, but the weakness cannot be overlooked.
He is a charming actor! I won't call him amazing, but he definitely has the potential to become one of the best. He's doing a good job in The Crowned Clown - playing two characters at once isn't easy, folks. I'll definitely look forward to his future work! He's one of those people whose growth you want to witness.
The Empress Dowager has found out that Ha Seon is acting as King - I think. Her subtle comment about clowns was intentional. I wonder if Ha Seon knows that the King got his little brother murdered? That should explain to him why she is being this way in the first place.
I wonder what the consort would do now that she has found the letter. Maybe demand a child from the King? Beats me.
Episode 13 has given us a glimpse into how addictive power can get and allow you to act rashly when crimes against your loved ones are committed. Even the Cheif Secretary thought Ha Seon was crossing a boundary by branding his sister's rapist's face. Not that he doesn't deserve punishment, but because he was taking action out of sheer anger, which mirrors the real King who used to make decisions out of malice.
The writing is strong mostly, but it seems weak at some points, like when the Emperor was thrown into the pit and his one motivation to be king was the queen, according to his words. When he said "I would've killed myself too had you died," to the Queen, I felt this wasn't the character we were dealing with so far. He's strong and not as weak as the previous King, so why would he let himself be swayed? Yes, love can do strange things to you, but the character and principles don't alter all pf a sudden. I'll understand him even there by saying he felt guilty for deceiving her, so to have her die believing the worst about herself would certainly be painful. But the clown ends up doing things that seem against who he is in some rare times.
The actors are doing a great job too. The grace of a queen the FL shows while simultaneously expressing emotions is commendable. And the ML is very flexible - the king and the clown are two different people, that much we know, but the actor has shown us exactly how they diverge from one another.
Ah, so this is how it feels like to watch two people fall in love: heartwarming. The romance is a softer side to this drama. If you like romance as a subplot, I recommend watching it.
On a tangent, is it just me, or do kdramas usually do well with romance when it's a subplot than when it's the main theme? I find that partners in the former are shown as each other's support (over which the relationship strengthens) while in the latter it's just "chemistry" and how-many-cute-scenes-we-can-shoot?
I'm curious as to how the drama will resolve without Choi Jin Hyuk in the final two episodes... He's been one…
Return definitely hurt itself by replacing the actress. But I think it wouldn't have felt so different had the reveal of the character's true colour not been so spontaneous. I think that's what harmed the drama.
Needless to say, the drama did not fall in on itself without him. It very much works, but the weakness cannot be overlooked.
I wonder what the consort would do now that she has found the letter. Maybe demand a child from the King? Beats me.
On a tangent, is it just me, or do kdramas usually do well with romance when it's a subplot than when it's the main theme? I find that partners in the former are shown as each other's support (over which the relationship strengthens) while in the latter it's just "chemistry" and how-many-cute-scenes-we-can-shoot?