Forest of secrets indeed
This show got me back into K dramas after a long hiatus after college. I was tired of watching the usual romcoms and found this one a refreshing departure from what I had been used to seeing. From the outset, the story seems to be a straightforward murder mystery, but as you keep watching, you realize soon that the web being spun if far more complicated. I found myself delightfully second guessing characters and trying to figure out who everything was connected right up until the thrilling climax.The talented cast give as a whole grounded and nuanced performances, fittingly restrained (for the most part) for the darker tone of the series overall. But it's not a downer of a story; throughout the whole drama, you can't help but root for Hwang Si-Mok, as he charges ahead in search of the truth.
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Royal cookout
This is in many ways a classic Korean romcom and an overall fun watch if you are not expecting gripping level palace drama. The focus is on the food - its cultural and historical contexts - and the dedication to making the various dishes shine is apparent.The romantic storyline and palace drama are very unremarkable in terms of writing, but both leads make an endearing couple onscreen, a testament to both actors’ ability to balance the comedic and dramatic elements of the characters.
All in all, a fun watch but nothing groundbreaking.
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A butchered script
There was a lot more potential in this story, especially as presented in the first third or half of the drama. Whether it was exploring deeper themes such as divine intervention vs fate and yin/yang, or whether it was exploring the very human stories of a failed marriage and the pain of losing a child, these could have gone in a more interesting direction. The script takes the safer route of maximizing drama in scenes but not taking the time to really plan out the structure of the story or the development of characters and themes in a more polished manner. In the hands of a better director, perhaps this still could have at least looked and sounded more layered. In the end, the whole thing is a bit soulless and forgettable. There are still moments that could be moving (I found Li Mo's story the most compelling) and entertaining, but in a year with already some great xianxia dramas, this is not one the ones I would recommend first to check out.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Not enough steam to last until the end
This drama starts off in a powerful way but by the middle of the 16 episodes, there is not enough meat to the story to sustain it until the end. The female lead's "revenge" story has nowhere to go because the audience already knows that the king is not the true villain of the story. Perhaps more importantly, the character lacks any real personality to make her scenes compelling to watch, much less make her romance with the delightfully complex male lead at all convincing.The king (male lead), on the other hand, has a true story to tell in this drama. His journey from Grand Prince to exile in Qing and back to Joseon and ultimately the throne is thrilling, and Jo Jung-suk plays him with so much pathos and intensity. The show could have ultimately benefited from minimizing the romance and female lead's role and focused on the king with a shorter number of episodes. Alternatively, a more interesting romance or more complex political storyline could have justified the full 16 episodes.
I was hoping for more from this beautifully produced show, hoping for a really satisfying, dramatic sageuk. There are some really great moments throughout, but by the end, I was fast-forwarding more than actually watching. I feel as though an 8 is really generous from me - but some of the performances (including the younger child actors) are really terrific and lift up the show. Something to check out for those who love period/historical dramas, but it is no masterpiece.
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