Charlotte

Love the concept!

Wow...some haters turned up to toss mud, but Lee Min Ho has BIG fans in our family. We began with City Hunter, watching Faith now, and Legend of the Blue Sea coming up. Different strokes for different folks I guess, however if you have a favourite actor/star & there was an article about him on MDL...dollars to donuts, you'd find some haters buzzing around here just to disagree. It's a thing. Can't wait for his next drama...love him.

But it's AWESOME...great love story!

Am I wrong? This drama sounds like the set up for Prisoner of Beauty in which two warring nations who have made peace, seal the deal with a marriage contracted between a couple represented each side. Liu Yu Ning starred in it. Sea of No Return sounds the same. However I loved the premise in "Prisoner" so of course I'll try this one, hoping for the same quality of POB.

Completely agree.. Korean Producers/Writers seem to be aiming their work towards the western Netflix audience, likely because it's so lucrative and global. Of course it makes sense that Netflix isn't making dramas for a Korean audience, but choses according to their western audience's tastes. I find a lot more dark, thriller and horror Kdramas on Netflix. Same with the the Kdramas on Disney. Lately I'm preferring Chinese Costume Historicals over KDramas because they give me more of what I liked about Korean Drama characters & story developement back when I began watching in 2015. I found "Bloody Heart" on Disney which is a 'Tour de Force' for Koreanace actor, Jang Hyuk. But when all is said and done, the majority of dramas I watch are on viki which features both Korean & Chinese Dramas that still feel more true to Korean culture. Might just be my perspective, but I do believe Korean Dramas have definitely shifted these past two years. Not for the better...

I agree she does indeed love herself, which is praiseworthy for me if you stand your ground calmly not arrogantly, but right now at episode 5 I'm already tired of how proud & disdainful she is to most people if she feels slighted in ANY way, especially by businessman Ne Yuan from the get-go. No appreciation at all for what he does for her....insisting they are equals. But at this point they aren't, she's been flung out on the streets by her evil family and he's made a deal with her to help (ie half of his fortune is she succeeds in helping him) but she has yet to take any steps to meet him half way. Instead she just keeps hammering home that she won't bow. Ne Yuan's manner with her is polite & businesslike, a teacher/gentleman, but she finds reasons to look down her nose for anything. At this point, I of course understand that the writers want to portray a strong wise woman, but honestly, if she insisted on her way or choice all the time as my friend, I wouldn't want to hang out with her either. Being open, diplomatic & appreciative as well as being firm while standing your ground doesn't make a weak woman, but the trend for heroines lately seems to be more like "slap first', stare daggers and give people the 'side-eye' to keep your power lol. Might drop this drama at the end of this episode. Sad, because I like the ML who in spite of not being handsome has a winsome character. That, along with the costumes & sets, are lusciously enjoyable.

Just from my perspective, but the wives all end up 'ruling the roost' in each marriage, so much so that the guys have to huddle together to brainstorm on how to make their wives happy. lol. There isn't one relationship so far where the husband is actually in charge...even the stern Judge turns into a pushover. It's a femcentric series and quite funny, but I really find it hard not to roll my eyes when the women are ugly-crying or pouting when they don't get their way. The Mother to these girls had to support them on her own with some damage to her behavior of course (i.e. a transactional mindset focusing on getting money for every marriage... using tricks on the neighbouring businesses to get ahead, and also when she gets angry she screams & loses it on people, wielding a broom to fight. Hard to watch at the beginning, but got used to her. I do love her best when her voice softens talking to her girls. She's loud & doesn't 'read the room' very often, but she has a soft heart. Wish they'd find a husband for this widow! I also agree with previous commenters that there was a lack of developement or nuamce when each couple fell for each other. The relationships were a bit shallow right up until they suddenly looked at each other & fell in an instant. The only two relationships that gave us more substantive reasons to feel their connection was the scholar & his practical & tactical wife, and also the Judge & his relentlessly helpful wife, which was again a bit uncomfortable for me because she stalked him at the beginning and trapped him for a year's worth of marriage. We'll see how that goes when the contract is done. I like them togethger now, but really didn't like that she put her ethics aside in order to get the guy she wanted....which also happened to the scholar & wife who were blindsided by the young woman who wanted him for herself and pushed for their divorce . This drama definitelt has its flaws but I 've really enjoyed some of the cutural history topics like the scholarly discussion about whether men were considered more important than women at that time. Great writing. Same with the wedding arrangement details along with describing some of the societal problems families could face if they were put in a bad light by failing to act with the proper etiquette. For a romantic comedy, (a) it wasn't that romantic but (b) it was a terrific snapshot of a time & place in which people had set roles and levels in society, and had to act accordingly. Still watching this drama...there should be another two weddings left!

The traditional rule passed on to me when I first started watching Kdramas in 2015 has always been NOT to quit a drama until AFTER at least the third episode. It's my third time breaking it. Not going to wade into episode three at all. Nana's character is just so uncool & abrasive with the ML that I just can't anymore with her. Even our ML is not at his best. Way too serious & jaded and the actor seems stunned by whatever happens to him., especially with Nana's character.. As for the other Fairies, the writer might have been trying to make them cute but they act like teenagers instead of Fairies in charge of helping people fall in love. They need their wings clipped . Sorry to those who are enjoying the show, but I'm out.

@larami: You've hit the biggest problem for me with Netflix and their (quote)" Korean" (unquote) dramas. Cannnibalizing their Netflix "Originals" into halves changes the overall tone and the original landscape of a Korean Drama...in effect it takes the Korean out of Kdramas, which have always been about delivering us a complete story with an ending ...albeit you may like it or not, but at least there's a resolution and no shock-teaser trying to set us up for the next half. The characters and the plot in a korean drama have finished their story arc by the end and we can all move on to another experience, with new characters as well as fresh locations and plots.
Worse still, making us wait two years until the next half, drops can fog the memory and fade the overall impact of a series. The good first impressions we got two years ago are watered-down if you have to see season 1 again before watching the second season. I've often found that b theyy the time they release the next season, I often opt not to see it because I've forgotten what I liked about it to make me want to see it again. My appetite for it has passed.
Just my perspective, but many others I know left American Television behind along with its never-ending seasons precisely because it had gotten stale. Netflix seems to think that dividing a series in half will bring in the ratings and the cravings for the other part, but that never happened for korean series like 'The Aarthdal Chronicles" or"Vagabond". Meanwhile we just sit and wait for the other shoe to drop in a few years.

Yup...dropped this at episode ten. The FL's childish and bullying pettiness killed my interest and they were already repeating the same type of misunderstandings over and over between our leads. Very badly written and the actors weren't up to breathing life into their characters so that we could feel any sympathy for them.

Yonsama: Nail on the head about the weakness of that over-arching background story of politics. In the end, the palace was really there to sign-off on the requests of our three female leads to make take away pariah status and make things equal going forward. A very worthy end point, but to get to that place, we went on a pointless secretive chase for a painting between two opposing court sects trying to depose or strengthen the queen. Yet in the end, the uncertain Queen's evil machinations to protect herself are wiped clean and all is forgotten. I know this was a gender parity show, but the theme was a bit heavyhanded and after awhile I began to cringe every time I heard the point being driven home, which took me out of story. Thankfully the male gender was represented best by that wonderful king (who was also in 'Love Like a Galaxy'). A great actor for a great part. Our ML was a bit cliché although one I kind of like...the quiet man with a very dark ruthless job (if this was a modern drama, he would have been the cold heartless CEO ), and then interestingly Sunninang's husband was kind, gentle but an extremely naive klutz. Yes he was endearing, but it was painful to watch how he was 'managed' and nagged by his future wife and his students. Yes, Sunniang was strong and outspoken but a tad overdone. As for our heroine, you're right, she was always given the high ground and smugly enjoyed 'knowing everything'. I actually preferred watching Song Yinzhang's journey as a character. As opposed to Zhao Pan'er, her wordly 'sister', Yinzhang knew nothing about life and endured a lot of punches. She layered so well though as she grew to value herself, work as part of the team and then stand her ground as the restaurant manager. Lastly...I felt the comic elements were often quite flat since they revolved mainly around the childish antics of Chi Pan who did at least grow some at the end, but not by a heck of a lot. I stayed with this drama not because of the business plotting, but for the rich cultural images of the food, the tea ceremony, the Pipa playing and that spectacular 'show' they put on for the '12 best scholars'. I kept hoping I'd see a wedding with the same visual impact. All in all and 8/10 for me. There are many I've enjoyed more.

The voice is Jeremy Tsui's. It was dubbed in "Be My Princess". Much much prefer his real one.

Yes. 'The Arthdal Chronicles' left us all hanging years ago. And then there's 'Love (fst Marriage then Divorce)'. I stayed for season two and regretted it. The evil mother-in-law was switched out for someone else but she totally lost her edge. Same with my favourite couple on that one: she died at the beginning of season 2 and he was replaced by another actor who didn't suit her or his ex-wife. No chemistry. And the great actor who played the sleeze-ball married pychiatrist was also changed in season two. All the above series were created with the idea of selling to Netflix, whose american audience is used to seeing multi-seasons. I'm an anti-fan and was drawn to korean dramas in 2015 exactly because they were so well-written and had an ending. Extra seasons put the same characters and backdrop (i.e. hospital, legal office, police unit into a repeating spin cycle that wrings the original concept dry of any creativity. Watching a story build, climax and then end for good, is satisfying for me.... and then it's on to opening the next box of kdrama goodies.

I found the 9th Princess's constant need to 'run away' & leave the castle to drink & play a bit offputting.. Yes she was a teenager, but for me, she had no situational awareness as to how much damage she caused. Everyone else had to clean up her mess in the town. She acted like was the center of her own world and wasn't really respectful to anyone, including the Empress Dowager or even the Emperor. She said & did what she wanted and fought every rule she could, pouting when she was refused. For many viewers that's being spunky and fun. Not my sweet spot for heroines. That's likely why I felt sorry for Sese, who tried so hard to be a credit to her Prince, yet got crushed by the Queen at every turn. (although when desperate she did stoop quite low). And finally, at the end, I was disappointed in the 9th Princess for that last act of 'running away'...by killing herself. She was back with her Tribe, her brother and traditions and away from him, but I low-key believe that her suicide owas almost out of vengeance not just desperation. And in her discussions with the Prince, I believe she didn't approve of revenge...that is....until she learned who killed her Grandfather. Before this, she had finally come to understand the background of his death when she learned earlier that both the Li Empire and the Danchi used the same methods to win wars because the Danchi had killed her Aunt's grandfather, leader of the Xi tribe. She was getting over it, but then the fatal blow for her was it was learning that Xiou Wu, husband had killed him. Yet back then, the Prince was for all intents and prposes, acting the same as a soldier, acting on orders to assassinate the Danchi Leader to protect his State. It was an interesting theme for this drama; a definite warning of the dangers on both sides of a choice dilemna: (1) Save those closest to you, but then sacrifice your country and it's people, or (2) Put aside the 'Good of All' and act only to save them. During the World Wars, so many soldiers in Europe had to leave their families at home unprotected from the enemy while they left to fight in the trenches. I found this a fascinating thread throughout the story. I also liked watching the family relationships within each politcal family alliance., as well as the old friendships that had deriorated between the Emperor and his early friends. I truly didn't 'enjoy' the drama overall because it was so very gloomy, but I did admire the authors' subtle ways of flipping you on your back to re-examine your own perspectives as well as so many of the character motivations, their painful histories and the resulting betrayals.

Without a doubt the director's cut...you get 3 extra episodes

I agree that koreans can evolve however they want, and they have during the seven years and 583 dramas I've watched so far. But I actually do think American-based Netflix has become a big target. Netflix spends a lot of money either co-producing or investing in finished international productions that fit the Netflix style. So then Netflix money can often become a consideration when korean producers create a show. If they write and film towards Netflix preferences it can mean a sale not just to Korea's five TV networks, but also possibly to Netflix, This also garners a lot of extra viewers for k-dramas globally along the huge Netflix matrix . Netflix also does the same in other countries like Turkey and India.

So right, I always check out how many episodes they're releasing on Netflix. If it's only 8...I hold back and wait for a year until they drop the other half. I too have also just started watching C-drama historicals & fantasy and was surprised at how binge-watchable they are. 'Eternal Love, Ten Thousand miles of Peach Blossoms', 'Love & Destiny', 'The Sword and the Brocade' and now, (because of Wallace Huo in that one) I'm dipping into aother one of his, 'The General and Me'. He does a strong but gentle hero like no other. All of these dramas are so gripping, although they're long. Also found some neat East Indian dramas on Netflix for fun. The Turkish ones are a bit too makjang-heavy for me.

For many of us who've watched this same classic rom-com script played and replayed over & over and feel that it's too clichéd, I think we can remember when we all first discovered korean dramas. These shows were korean 'gems' that a lot us enjoyed and stuck with faithfully (I've racked up 589 Kdramas since beginning in 2015.). So I'm thinking that 'A Business Proposal' might be another great 'starter' drama for those who are just discovering their first KDs. (How many of us thought that "Boys Over Flowers" was outstanding when we first watched long ago? Yet for all it's derision now, it's still a gateway drama on Netflix to the korean vault of other great stories.) )The plot line of 'A Business Proposal' won't be chichéd to newcomers because they won't have seen them before. (I can remember loving the piggyback rides when I first saw them...and still never tire of them ). The only thing new KD viewers will miss out on is all the meta references to other shows and tropes that more experienced viewers will pick- up on. I too felt 'A Business Proposal' was a 'good' drama. I didn't find everything in it funny, but I did enjoy all the medley of characters (although the adorable grumpy Grandfather let me down by being inconsistent at the end). All in all, it was a nice 12 hours spent with a light-hearted script. Not necessarily addictive, but still quite a happy drama thoughout.

Ok. that's it for me. Netflix held back on ordering the last half of the season and ended it with a cliffhanger while Netflix considered season two. Korean shows are predominantly one season 'jewels' that tell a story arc from the beginning right to the end. Over. Finished. Done. No need for more seasons. Sadly, Netflix dollars are worth catering to lately, so when Netflix orders korean productions or buys them already produced, they do it from the perspective and tastes of North America. The end result is dramas with more seasons and those with slightly adjusted characters and story arcs which will play better to the western viewer. I worry that if this keeps up, the Korean Drama will abondon its audience-winning formulas & viewpoints along with its cultural richness. As it stands now, even the Netflix subtitlers often unwittingly change the story by substituting american slang words instead of equal-weight translations of the korean words. A word like "hyung' for example, which is what a younger male will call an older male friend in respect and it can also mean 'older brother'. But on Netflix I've heard "Dude" used enough times that it totally changes the relationship and the tone of a drama. However, the biggest problem with making second seasons is the artistic licence used to switch actors in the lead roles and also time periods ("9 Tailed": Season Two will happen in 1939 now as a prequel with a different female lead?) And now they're going to do it for 'Aarthdal Chronicles, yet another 'NetFlix Original'. I love Lee Joon Gi but not matched with Shin Se Kyun. It will be a pass for me. I don't trust the people that fooled us the first time.

"Because the drama became a seasonal system, there will also be a change in the time setting and background." Yes, and the heroine is different in this one too. To be honest, I love Kim So Yeon, and liked the original "Tale of the 9 Tailed", but one of the reasons I've stopped watching western tv is the constant seasons created by the producers of a hit series so that they can wring out more ad revenues from the main concept. But then the changes begin....the story line arc from the 1st season is changed along with the relationships, as the characters shuffle their positions, fall out of love and in again, morph into different personalities and face bigger monsters (especially themselves) and this goes on and on, losing more & more consistency. By the 3rd season they've changed so much you don't remember who they started out as. If this is a prequel and we learn more about the past, it likely won't be the past we were told about in the 1st season, which invalidates the original story we were told about his past life. Even if I prefer Kim So Yeon as an actress, it won't be fun to see our 9 Tail fall in love with her in the 1930's. It will make the original love story, which happens later in modern day, play more like a rebound. I wish the screenwriter had come up with a fresh new idea for story about the 9 Tailed Fox and given us some new characters to watch and enjoy instead of taking the original characters and building a new world around them. Korean dramas are famous for their brilliant storytelling with a beginning, a middle and end...like a novel. That's why we get such a rich variety of stories and a multi-verse of characters. Ok...that's it...sorry for the rant...