After finishing "Mr. Queen" and being totally blown away by the brilliance of Shin Hye Sun (What a performance!!!), I decided to watch this. I have also watched SHS in "Oh My Ghost", and she left really very good impression on me despite playing a supporting role. Unfortunately, this drama while it had some great moments, it was only decent for me on the whole (maybe 6/10). I firmly believe the script was the problem, because actors are good. I felt the story was all over the place. There were too many useless tangents. I think this drama didn't need 16 episodes. 8-10 would have been enough. Or, it should have gone deeper instead of wider. I liked very much Archangel Hu. He was my favourite character from the supporting cast. So, final thought: Mediocre series punctuated by high moments.
So I rewatched this drama for the first time after a while. I don't like re-watching anything because I clearly…
I also don't re-watch series straightaway (The only exception was My Mister-best Kdrama imo), but I watched most of this one again. I am also still watching YT clips because it is such a wonderfull stress-reliever. The comedy is a perfect mix of wit and slapstick. Shin Hye Sun performance as a man is one of the best I have ever seen, regardless of country, in this type of situation. As a man, I can say that her mannerism was SO amazing!! I have seen tons of discussions about whether the King fell in love with the Queen or Jan Bong Hwan. I don't have strong opinion, but I would say certainly he loved Jang Bong personality. However, we can't say he loved him, because we can't ignore the fact that he was looking at a woman. I agree there is a certain level of ambiguity, but I am not bothered. I accepted the writer's version that Jang Bong inhabitted the Queen's body and changed her to become even better because she was at heart a good person. Personally, I was happy with how it ended.
Last night, I discovered this wonderful drama is on Netflix. I will re-watch it again for the 6th time... hahaha...…
I will certainly re-watch the first few episodes. One of my most favourite comedic lines was in E1. When he/she woke and eventually start running away. Then stopped and said "I lost my thing" ..and lady in waiting goes.."Tell me what you lost, and will search throughly". I was laughing SO hard.
Finished an hour ago. What a delightful series. Loved it. I must say that I liked the beginning more because it was such great comedy. While the humour never goes away, it stops being outright comedy. Despite being 20 episodes long I never felt it dragged or I was bored (maybe apart from some scenes here and there where I felt the jokes fell flat). The main actress was brilliant, and she really carried the show. The series wouldn't work without very strong performance by whoever plays the Queen. And She 100% delivered. Of course, it helps when you have 90% of the great lines. Although one of my top favourite comedic lines was by Lady in waiting in the first episode. I don't want to ruin the joke, but for those who watched, it involves "searching" lol. The support cast has done a uniformally good job as well.
Kdrama in general provoke more emotions than American drama. Sometimes scenes are little bit exaggerated, but I don't care. I want to laugh and cry when I watch TV.
Hahaha, yeah. So far most Korean Netflix originals are grim dark stuff, with a few romantic genre exceptions (which…
Amen! As another "Western viewer" I couldn't agree more with you, especially about the second point, which I have been talking about so much. I like how you added "proper" lol. I don't hold an extreme opinion that American shows are rubbish and Kdrama are brilliant. There are pros and cons in each. But, the trump card and the biggest advantage that Kdrama has is the one (on ocassion 2) season format. I have now reached a point that I don't watch any new American show unless it is limited series or hold HUGE interest to me. I am sick and tired of watching one series for years and not knowing at which point will be cancelled or seeing it becoming a shadow of its former self. I also share your principle. I will not watch the second season of "Squid Game" even though I LOVED S1 and I think it is one of the best Kdramas I have seen. But, for me the story ended. I might (not certain) watch Extraordinary Attorney Woo, because I think there is a room for second season
I decided to rewatch it a few days ago after seeing that it's almost been a year. But now it hits different maybe…
Thank you! someone agrees with me lol. For me the ending is exactly what made it special. If this ended in a classical way, I would have moved on very quickly. But that ending made me re-watch most of it, and it will probably stay with me for long time.
No Spoilers Please I have now watched 3 episodes. While there is a good deal to enjoy, I am not finding it that good either. I am hesitant to drop it, because there are elements that I am enjoying. So, considering that I find the first 3 episodes around 6.5-7, will the series get better?
I finished this show today. I really enjoyed it very much. It is such an excellent slice of life about growing up and the joys and pains of it. I though Kim Tae-Ri as Na Hee Do was amazing. I believe she was certainly the strongest actor, and probably the show wouldn't have been so good without a good actress like her. I also loved the Coach :) I have read around, and I could see many people didn't like the end. I beg to differ. I thought the ending was one of its strong elements, but maybe because I am middle aged person. Anyway, I think it deserves the hype.
Lol, Squid game is their no1 series why would they cancel it, needed or not Netflix milks their popular series…
I think you are right. I think the Korean TV industry as at a cross road. It is hugely popular, and there is a big demand for it at the moment. But, I dearly hope they don't go after short term profit and lose sight of what made them popular in the first place. The more the K-drama become like American the less popular it will become. And the format is one of those attributes. They should also remember that International fans don't have the same level of loyality like domestic fans who will probably always watch domestic series. International fandom love K-drama because it is different from American. I hope the people in charge don't forget this.
I have recently watched My Mister for the first time. Then re-watched it straightaway (was even better second time). A true Masterpiece, and one of the best series I have seen in any language (and I am almost 50) I am really excited for the series, but I must say also little bit worried. Writing is the corner stone of any drama, and it is not "My Mister" writer. I have also didn't click with "When The Camellia Bloom", and dropped after 1 episode first time around, but I kept seeing great reviews about it, so I watched 2 more, but it just didn't work for me. Still, I am hopeful.
let me tell you even after 100 of drama this is still my top drama. and no matter what you watch no drama cann…
I am increasingly getting that feeling. I have already re-watched it, and watched tons of YT videos about it. I would say that on second viewing it was even better. The acting is SO good by all actors. I think the actress playing the wife doesn't get enough credit, but I thought she was very good. The lead are obviously brilliant. I also normally don't care about OST, but this one is just AMAZING. The main song is incredible, but my favourite is "Far Away Place" which I eventually found on YT and played it so many times. This is certainly one of the best dramas I have seen in my life in any language, and I am not young.
Unfortunately, this drama while it had some great moments, it was only decent for me on the whole (maybe 6/10).
I firmly believe the script was the problem, because actors are good. I felt the story was all over the place. There were too many useless tangents. I think this drama didn't need 16 episodes. 8-10 would have been enough. Or, it should have gone deeper instead of wider.
I liked very much Archangel Hu. He was my favourite character from the supporting cast.
So, final thought: Mediocre series punctuated by high moments.
Shin Hye Sun performance as a man is one of the best I have ever seen, regardless of country, in this type of situation. As a man, I can say that her mannerism was SO amazing!!
I have seen tons of discussions about whether the King fell in love with the Queen or Jan Bong Hwan. I don't have strong opinion, but I would say certainly he loved Jang Bong personality. However, we can't say he loved him, because we can't ignore the fact that he was looking at a woman.
I agree there is a certain level of ambiguity, but I am not bothered. I accepted the writer's version that Jang Bong inhabitted the Queen's body and changed her to become even better because she was at heart a good person.
Personally, I was happy with how it ended.
Two words verdict: Must watch
One of my most favourite comedic lines was in E1. When he/she woke and eventually start running away. Then stopped and said "I lost my thing" ..and lady in waiting goes.."Tell me what you lost, and will search throughly". I was laughing SO hard.
What a delightful series. Loved it. I must say that I liked the beginning more because it was such great comedy. While the humour never goes away, it stops being outright comedy.
Despite being 20 episodes long I never felt it dragged or I was bored (maybe apart from some scenes here and there where I felt the jokes fell flat).
The main actress was brilliant, and she really carried the show. The series wouldn't work without very strong performance by whoever plays the Queen. And She 100% delivered. Of course, it helps when you have 90% of the great lines. Although one of my top favourite comedic lines was by Lady in waiting in the first episode. I don't want to ruin the joke, but for those who watched, it involves "searching" lol.
The support cast has done a uniformally good job as well.
I don't need to read the rest of the article.
Can't wait
Sometimes scenes are little bit exaggerated, but I don't care. I want to laugh and cry when I watch TV.
As another "Western viewer" I couldn't agree more with you, especially about the second point, which I have been talking about so much. I like how you added "proper" lol.
I don't hold an extreme opinion that American shows are rubbish and Kdrama are brilliant. There are pros and cons in each.
But, the trump card and the biggest advantage that Kdrama has is the one (on ocassion 2) season format.
I have now reached a point that I don't watch any new American show unless it is limited series or hold HUGE interest to me. I am sick and tired of watching one series for years and not knowing at which point will be cancelled or seeing it becoming a shadow of its former self.
I also share your principle.
I will not watch the second season of "Squid Game" even though I LOVED S1 and I think it is one of the best Kdramas I have seen. But, for me the story ended.
I might (not certain) watch Extraordinary Attorney Woo, because I think there is a room for second season
For me the ending is exactly what made it special.
If this ended in a classical way, I would have moved on very quickly. But that ending made me re-watch most of it, and it will probably stay with me for long time.
I have now watched 3 episodes. While there is a good deal to enjoy, I am not finding it that good either. I am hesitant to drop it, because there are elements that I am enjoying.
So, considering that I find the first 3 episodes around 6.5-7, will the series get better?
I really enjoyed it very much. It is such an excellent slice of life about growing up and the joys and pains of it.
I though Kim Tae-Ri as Na Hee Do was amazing. I believe she was certainly the strongest actor, and probably the show wouldn't have been so good without a good actress like her.
I also loved the Coach :)
I have read around, and I could see many people didn't like the end. I beg to differ. I thought the ending was one of its strong elements, but maybe because I am middle aged person.
Anyway, I think it deserves the hype.
I think the Korean TV industry as at a cross road. It is hugely popular, and there is a big demand for it at the moment. But, I dearly hope they don't go after short term profit and lose sight of what made them popular in the first place.
The more the K-drama become like American the less popular it will become. And the format is one of those attributes.
They should also remember that International fans don't have the same level of loyality like domestic fans who will probably always watch domestic series.
International fandom love K-drama because it is different from American. I hope the people in charge don't forget this.
I am really excited for the series, but I must say also little bit worried. Writing is the corner stone of any drama, and it is not "My Mister" writer. I have also didn't click with "When The Camellia Bloom", and dropped after 1 episode first time around, but I kept seeing great reviews about it, so I watched 2 more, but it just didn't work for me.
Still, I am hopeful.
I have already re-watched it, and watched tons of YT videos about it.
I would say that on second viewing it was even better. The acting is SO good by all actors.
I think the actress playing the wife doesn't get enough credit, but I thought she was very good. The lead are obviously brilliant.
I also normally don't care about OST, but this one is just AMAZING. The main song is incredible, but my favourite is "Far Away Place" which I eventually found on YT and played it so many times.
This is certainly one of the best dramas I have seen in my life in any language, and I am not young.