This review may contain spoilers
Great Beginning and Disaster Ending
This is the first Kdrama that I watch after so many years leaving this fandom. The constitutional monarchy fantasy lured me in. One my favorite Kdrama years ago was The King 2 Hearts. That also in the set up of Constitutional Monarchy. The early episodes were great. A prince and a businesswoman. In my mind, finally we are free from romance with social class gap trope. Because even though one is royalty and one is commoner, it is clear that Hui Ju is not your average commoner. She comes from the wealthiest business clan in the country, a CEO, and incredibly smart and beautiful. Certainly that amount to something. I am waiting for a double lead strong story.
At the beginning, that was exactly what we get: a double strong lead. They complete each other quite well. And watching Hui Ju slowly falls in love with I-An is a treat. Their little romance here and there made me want more and more. I kept re-watching the episodes during the early airing, while waiting for next week for my next treat. Everything went downhill after Hui Ju poisoning case. At that time, in my mind, I felt: "Ah, just another classic trope". And behold, Hui Ju soon became just another damsel in distress (even though not for long). Gone was the confident CEO, the one with endless desire to win.
I waited with excitement for I-An to take the throne with Hui Ju as Queen. Then, what??? Abolishment? Is abolishment is that easy to be done? It is a country system! The amount of work to change this will be so enormous. As far as I know, that is one of the reason why many European Countries stay with their constitutional monarchy instead of abolishing monarchy alltogether. I know this is fantasy, but my brain just cannot accept this kind of elementary writing.
Episode 12 is so atrocious. Here you have the previous King, and we have no one paid him attention while he is in public. As if he is just your average guy. This is unthinkable. Since we are given the information in the early story, that I-An is so beloved in the country. So, after he lost his title, everyone ignore him right away? Wow! And then the very fact that I-An has become jobless man after abolishment is so humiliating for this character. And then Hui Ju becomes this busy CEO that don't have time to accompany his pitiful husband at home. From a graceful Grand Prince to pitiful house-husband. Is the writer want to demean man or what?
The positive of this drama is the visual. The clothing and jewelry look beautiful and expensive. Music also quite good.
Acting wise, honestly, it is not spectacular. I agree with everyone that second FL (Queen Mother) has the best acting. ML is just so so actually. Stoic does not mean no expression at all. IU is okay, I think she improves quite a bit since The Scarlet Heart Ryo (last time I watched her drama).
At the beginning, that was exactly what we get: a double strong lead. They complete each other quite well. And watching Hui Ju slowly falls in love with I-An is a treat. Their little romance here and there made me want more and more. I kept re-watching the episodes during the early airing, while waiting for next week for my next treat. Everything went downhill after Hui Ju poisoning case. At that time, in my mind, I felt: "Ah, just another classic trope". And behold, Hui Ju soon became just another damsel in distress (even though not for long). Gone was the confident CEO, the one with endless desire to win.
I waited with excitement for I-An to take the throne with Hui Ju as Queen. Then, what??? Abolishment? Is abolishment is that easy to be done? It is a country system! The amount of work to change this will be so enormous. As far as I know, that is one of the reason why many European Countries stay with their constitutional monarchy instead of abolishing monarchy alltogether. I know this is fantasy, but my brain just cannot accept this kind of elementary writing.
Episode 12 is so atrocious. Here you have the previous King, and we have no one paid him attention while he is in public. As if he is just your average guy. This is unthinkable. Since we are given the information in the early story, that I-An is so beloved in the country. So, after he lost his title, everyone ignore him right away? Wow! And then the very fact that I-An has become jobless man after abolishment is so humiliating for this character. And then Hui Ju becomes this busy CEO that don't have time to accompany his pitiful husband at home. From a graceful Grand Prince to pitiful house-husband. Is the writer want to demean man or what?
The positive of this drama is the visual. The clothing and jewelry look beautiful and expensive. Music also quite good.
Acting wise, honestly, it is not spectacular. I agree with everyone that second FL (Queen Mother) has the best acting. ML is just so so actually. Stoic does not mean no expression at all. IU is okay, I think she improves quite a bit since The Scarlet Heart Ryo (last time I watched her drama).
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