Zulfurium

Agreed, I just think that Henry was a lot more ruled in his factional shifts by personal opinion and relatively momentary changes in mood (he lamented several of the many, many friends he had killed). He was constantly shifting from one extreme to the other and back - it never quite feels calculated. With Sukjong, I see it more as him trying to maintain royal power by playing the factions off against each other, and his wives and concubines being a part of those factional struggles.

There are plenty of rules that put large numbers of people to death, the difference here is with what purpose and degree of thought out planning they did so. I see Henry as a mecurial figure ruled by his emotions, ensnared by his narcisism and ever changing in opinion and wishes. Sukjong seems far colder and calculated - wielding courtly intrigues to eradicate threats to royal power and playing his courtiers off against each other.

There is a major difference in the power held by the two as well, so that might be part of what plays into this. Henry became ever more of an absolutist tyrant, whereas Sukjong was in a far more precarious situation and had far less power to wield than Henry ever did.

I really enjoyed the article, but I think it is really doing a disservice to Sukjong. Of the Korean Kings, he was amongst the most capable of balancing the factions against each other and playing them against each other. By contrast, Henry VIII was a sociopath who repeatedly murdered his friends and family, allowed his lust and gluttony to run rampant and literally broke with the church because he wanted to get some.

Henry VIII is a fascinating person and as far as their actual lives (multiple wives, constant shifting factions, etc.) go there are some similarities, but by personality I think he fits more with Yeonsangun. The violence against their own families, licentious, tyrannical and autocratic manners, murder both personal and institutional on a large scale etc.

Well that is an interesting twist to the story (episode 5).

Just started with season two and I am a pretty big fan of the novel, most of which I have read as well. I really enjoyed season one, and found it largely true to the novel - following just about all of the major story beats. However, just episode one of the second season literally covers something like 100 chapters in the book and cuts out several really major story events. The decision to compress the story, changes to the actors (not really sure where I stand on that point) and just shift camera angles make for pretty big changes to the story. Feels like someone took a knife to the story, cut away anything they felt was extra (a ton of which is really interesting and much of which was included in season one) and tried to piece things together.

I enjoyed the first episode, quite like the character of Baek Ho Rang

Honestly might be the show I have looked forward to the most for the last couple months. Really hope it works out. SHS is one of my favorite actresses so I have high hopes.

Up to episode 10. It is weird, I thought I would dislike Wuguli and Xiyin a lot more than I do - actually quite enjoy them. I think their portrayal is really fascinating - could easily have seen the story (so far at least) be portrayed from their PoV with them as the center of the story and it being able to carry the show. A great job by both of the actors to make the characters sympathetic and feel fresh, they so easily could have been unlikable clichés. Really looking forward to seeing how the rest of this plays out.

Trashy thriller, but good for what it is. I think once you throw away any sense of pity for the characters it really improves a lot. The two are really just fit for each other - both poisonous, treacherous snakes. Just enjoy as they tear each other apart.

Happy to help! :)

CJE is trying to scam the woman who scammed her father JBG, so they set up a false bank, convince the accountant of the scam company set up by JBGs to change to CJE and company's bank of choice and were supposed to just empty the company's accounts. However, the mother got too greedy and held off on pulling the funds and now CJE has been identified correctly by JBG. Hope that explains it.

I got into asian dramas as a whole when I read on reddit that The Story of Yanxi Palace was the most googled in the world, and got curious. Started watching and almost two years later I can't seem to escape the rabbit hole. From there got into CDramas and then later on KDramas. I tend to have periods of preference for one or the other, usually a couple months at a time. There are very distinct differences between KDramas and CDramas, so it is often a good change of pace.

Doesn't seem like it. I am enjoying it so far. Nothing new, but well done and interesting characters - particularly FL.

Was referring to Gyuri. I know she was meant to be annoying beyond all hell for that section, and that success is a good thing, but dear god was she intolerable for a short while there.

I really enjoyed the whole show. While I can see why people might find the FL annoying (and she is, particularly in episodes 2 and 3), I came to really enjoy the character for how absolutely coldblooded she could be. This is not a group of good people, they are all pretty far into the darker side of grey, but that makes them all the more compelling. They really nailed the whole double life aspect of the show. I also have to say this is one of the more f*ed up teen crime dramas I have seen in a while - in a good way.

I have watched some of Dr Foster, and the main thing - at least for the parts I have watched - the KDrama version has everyone much more at knife's edge with each other. They are all incredibly cruel spirited towards each other, where the English version seems less extreme.

I would give it a couple more episodes - it gets really good, but then again I liked it from the get go.

The harem ladies honestly don't seem particularly hostile towards each other. It is a part of society at the time and the Empress is manager of a harem of women and there are obvious challenges and conflicts there, but so far it is far more focused on the Emperor and his challenges dealing with running a massive state. Romance is not the focus of the story so far, but what little I have seen so far has been good. It doesn't feel like a classic harem drama.

The summary is actually horrid, I would honestly just ignore it. You can see already in episode 9 when they first meet that there is something between them. I am pretty sure their relationship is going to be a central feature of the story. From what I have seen he is going to really like/love her, but worry about how powerful and influential she and her family are.

Completely agree with you. Starting episode 7 and couldn't love it more. I think the problem is people not being particularly good at following the story and action - it is a lot of dialogue and a ton of understated glances, hints and particularly passive-aggressiveness in the relationship between Renzong and ED Liu. Also really like what little I have seen of Lady Cao so far.

Its the same team as that behind Ming Lan, so it will probably follow that sort of pacing - taking their time to build up the story in a sedate manner. The first episode was a bit sluggish, particularly if you don't catch all the nuances and references which require some knowledge of the Renzong era, but I thought the second episode picked up the pace very well.