Hilarious farce with ridiculous scenarios
This is like a French Farce x Shakespeare x A Funny Thing Happened on the way to the Forum drama with crossdressing, silly misunderstandings, and mistaken identities throughout. If you take this as a complete fantasy where people will be shoved into closets, be mistaken for dead and put into a coffin, and where the best assassin in the world falls for a princess who likes a bit of torture, you'll love the ride.
I enjoyed 99.9% of it and it would be a strong rewatch for me. The show keeps a strong pace throughout, with an ensemble cast that really make each episode hilarious.
I've never seen a C-drama that had so many guys stripped down to their waist! LOL The main lead spends a LOT of time in his bathtub which isn't a bad view at all from my viewpoint. Although there are a few pursed lip kisses, the kissing scenes get better as the FL and ML spend more time together. The romance is between equals and there are some playful moments with the woman being in charge which the hero seems to be more than fine with.
The FL (Zhang Yue Nan) had a way of changing the intensity of her gaze when she was in lord-mode that was really good. Some of her standout scenes for me was when she regained her memory and sits on ML's throne telling him who she really is; when she is standing next to the ML and counsels him when the prospective bride shows up (a great moment showing the FL's game level); when she kills the first villain (bow-and-arrow scene); and multiple scenes of her working with the trio of Muxi spies who she calls father and brother.
It can be hard to pair a good male lead with a strong female character, but the ML in this show does an excellent job. I liked that he had a touch of vanity paired with his arrogance and none of the cold cruelty. The dialogue teasing between the two of them was easy to enjoy, and you could see them being not only lovers but good friends.
The story itself doesn't surprise but it's all played for laughs. There is some bathroom-potty humor which I usually dislike but this time it made me laugh as it was so ridiculous. A slight touch of noble idiocy at the end which gets quickly resolved.
What I didn't like: at the end there is a notice that "no animals were harmed" but let's face it - the villain picked up a rabbit by its ears (!) and a rat by its back (!). I honestly don't see how these scenes could have been filmed without some rough handling. Well, at least I didn't have to watch horses going down with a trip wire.
I also didn't like the ? mark ending with the implication that the villain would rise again, but that can be easily ignored.
I enjoyed 99.9% of it and it would be a strong rewatch for me. The show keeps a strong pace throughout, with an ensemble cast that really make each episode hilarious.
I've never seen a C-drama that had so many guys stripped down to their waist! LOL The main lead spends a LOT of time in his bathtub which isn't a bad view at all from my viewpoint. Although there are a few pursed lip kisses, the kissing scenes get better as the FL and ML spend more time together. The romance is between equals and there are some playful moments with the woman being in charge which the hero seems to be more than fine with.
The FL (Zhang Yue Nan) had a way of changing the intensity of her gaze when she was in lord-mode that was really good. Some of her standout scenes for me was when she regained her memory and sits on ML's throne telling him who she really is; when she is standing next to the ML and counsels him when the prospective bride shows up (a great moment showing the FL's game level); when she kills the first villain (bow-and-arrow scene); and multiple scenes of her working with the trio of Muxi spies who she calls father and brother.
It can be hard to pair a good male lead with a strong female character, but the ML in this show does an excellent job. I liked that he had a touch of vanity paired with his arrogance and none of the cold cruelty. The dialogue teasing between the two of them was easy to enjoy, and you could see them being not only lovers but good friends.
The story itself doesn't surprise but it's all played for laughs. There is some bathroom-potty humor which I usually dislike but this time it made me laugh as it was so ridiculous. A slight touch of noble idiocy at the end which gets quickly resolved.
What I didn't like: at the end there is a notice that "no animals were harmed" but let's face it - the villain picked up a rabbit by its ears (!) and a rat by its back (!). I honestly don't see how these scenes could have been filmed without some rough handling. Well, at least I didn't have to watch horses going down with a trip wire.
I also didn't like the ? mark ending with the implication that the villain would rise again, but that can be easily ignored.
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