This review may contain spoilers
So Unique, So Brilliant!!
When I started watching this series, It seemed like it was going to be good, and that we'd see a good tale taking place during the Joseon Dynasty ... but something happened along the way as each episode got you deeper and deeper into the story. The magic that Jun Ho, Se Young & Deok Hwa created was brilliant in every way. Se Young gives us such a great role as Deok Im, and Jun Ho showed what an unbelievable talent he truly is. His powerful performance steals every scene he's in.
The series itself is really in three parts, watching Price Yi San create the relationship with Deok Im, watching the king deal with a mental break down, and then the years that followed Yi San after he becomes the new king. Each story bleeds perfectly into the next chapter as you follow it through.
One thing that made this stand out to me was the death of San's grandfather, The King. Not just witnessing him die from dementia, which was unique enough, but watching the transfer of power from one King to the next. Cleaning out all the dead King's belongings, bringing in all new stuff to suit the incoming King. Normally we never see that happen, so it seemed rather interesting to watch. Deok Hwa, who usually plays an unlikeable character, was fantastic as the elder King, the grandfather.
Episode 12 is definitely the pinnacle episode of the entire series. From that point on, you need a seatbelt to stay strapped in for the rollercoaster ride that begins. As you go from episode 12 through 16 you just can't help being mesmerized by the great writing and acting ... and just when you think you have it all figured out, episode 17 happens. As the finale began, it takes you completely by surprise, not matching up with anything you anticipated. The first few minutes into it, I started to become somewhat disappointed and annoyed, watching all these hours just to lead up to this??? but that quickly changed, and the finale really delivered a powerful conclusion. The acting in this final episode is some of the finest you'll see.
Applause to a great great series. Extremely entertaining, worth watching again!
The series itself is really in three parts, watching Price Yi San create the relationship with Deok Im, watching the king deal with a mental break down, and then the years that followed Yi San after he becomes the new king. Each story bleeds perfectly into the next chapter as you follow it through.
One thing that made this stand out to me was the death of San's grandfather, The King. Not just witnessing him die from dementia, which was unique enough, but watching the transfer of power from one King to the next. Cleaning out all the dead King's belongings, bringing in all new stuff to suit the incoming King. Normally we never see that happen, so it seemed rather interesting to watch. Deok Hwa, who usually plays an unlikeable character, was fantastic as the elder King, the grandfather.
Episode 12 is definitely the pinnacle episode of the entire series. From that point on, you need a seatbelt to stay strapped in for the rollercoaster ride that begins. As you go from episode 12 through 16 you just can't help being mesmerized by the great writing and acting ... and just when you think you have it all figured out, episode 17 happens. As the finale began, it takes you completely by surprise, not matching up with anything you anticipated. The first few minutes into it, I started to become somewhat disappointed and annoyed, watching all these hours just to lead up to this??? but that quickly changed, and the finale really delivered a powerful conclusion. The acting in this final episode is some of the finest you'll see.
Applause to a great great series. Extremely entertaining, worth watching again!
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