MsBookworm

Prior to watching this movie (and if I'm being honest, during the movie as well lol) I was on MDL and had read a lot of comments on here. It's so interesting to see how people had different interpretations to Hong Rim's answer of "no" when the King asked if he ever loved him. Some said he said it out of spite because he knew it would anger and hurt the King as revenge but some think it's the honest truth that Hong Rim came to realize that he never loved the King and that what he had for the King wasn't love.

I have to say, after watching it, I'm definitely onboard with the latter opinion. He was groomed at such a young age that there wasn't much chance for him to explore his own sexuality. So what the King had "provided" was all that he knows and he just went along with it. Friendship, camaraderie for sure but as for love, I don't think it's love.

Even though this movie was already longer than a typical movie, I think it would have really benefited being longer - just so they can flush out Hong Rim and the Queen characters more. The King's background and his development was easy enough to understand follow here but I feel there could have been more we can learn about Hong Rim and the Queen. Like making this into a trilogy, a three part movie would have been even better to portray each of the main characters. Unless it was the intention of the director to set a bit of an ambiguous tone so that it keeps audience speculating and to stimulate conversations? If that was the intent then I'd say it was very successful haha. I love discussions and conversations about analyzing characters and plot!

Ah I see I see, that's such a beautiful metaphor to their relationship! I thought it was directed towards Hong Rim and the Queen's relationship in that it bloomed at the wrong time and it could have never have gone to full bloom because of their fate.

I guess in a way, Hong Rim is the frozen flower since both his relationship with the King and the Queen was just never meant to be.

I was also wondering why this movie was called that but now that you explained it that way, it makes so much sense! Although I don't know if I'd say it was love that bloomed between Hong Rim and the King....lol.

Well said!! I agree with most of what you were saying! Thank you for putting my jumbled thoughts into words. I have just finished watching this movie and it's so intense and all the things that you mentioned and talked about, I pretty much came to the same conclusions too! At the end of all that, I don't think there was any real love either. It was clearly obsession (from the King) and lust (with the Queen).

You're welcome :)

Depending on where you watch it, it might be 35mins per episode which makes it 40 episodes or each episode is about an hour (like that on Netflix) which equals to 20 episodes.

It's definitely a happy ending!

Omg hahaha how awesome would it be if they played father and son in a drama!? One word: daebak!

Oh my god, never have I ever watched a drama with a male lead this sunny and adorable. He just makes me smile almost every time he's on screen. He smiles, I smile and when he cries, omg my tears come too. I've watched my fair share of dramas and I can confidently say he's a rare lovable character! I cannot imagine anyone else but Kang Ha Neul playing this character. Bravo!

Hahaha yeah, I get it! This drama was overall a thrilling ride for me so if you put romance aside and suddenly feel like going on some intense ride of alliance shifts here and there, then definitely go for it. If you're in a mood for more romance, this won't do.

The romance is not the main point of this drama unfortunately. In terms of romance, it's more about the growth and how their feelings develop and change based on actions and situation lol. So with that understanding, I enjoyed the romance (how Lee Hyuk came to love Sunny despite his unhealthy way of showing it) but the romance obviously ends when both ML and SML dies lol.

Haha yeah I totally get what you mean but the journey (of abolishing the imperial family/palace) was the main point in this drama! If it helps, I would say it was a happy ending for the main girl and her family for sure ;)

I was put off by this drama knowing the spoiler too, however, I have just finished watching it and I am thoroughly satisfied with how it ended actually! I thought it ended as tastefully and wonderfully as much as it can given the storyline/plot :)

I didn't think I would either but having just finished it, I have to say I'm extremely satisfied. If you haven't gone through watching it yet, I highly recommend you give it a try!

Oh nono, Zi Yi is still very much a side character lol. Jie Jie is the second female lead. The main female lead is someone new named Ju Nian and the main male lead is new guy named Han Shu. The second male lead is also new lol. Sorry if that was confusing. I can tell you more (with spoilers and all) what the story is about if you want me to!

The FL ends up with the ML though it's more like he finally broke down her walls and she admits defeat/life and ends up with him than the typical "happily ever after together" ending. Lol despite that though, I was satisfied with the ending. Hope this answers your question?

I feel that they have a pretty good amount! I also thought that there were a lot of couples after watching the first episode with the opening and ending songs. However, after watching a couple of episodes, I actually quite like how there are all these other side characters!

I went back to listen to it and you're right! It's very similar to it!

This was a fantastic read. So accurate and so, so hilarious!!

I just finished episode 3 and I think... if only this drama was out when I was in high school, I would have fully enjoyed it, loved it, and be super into it but alas, that was over a decade ago.... I will finish this drama for the sake of finishing and satisfying my curiosity lol but that's it. It has no substance - just air-headed fluff. The FL's reactions are like that of a girl that's just starting high school as oppose to starting college/university. The ML's lines sound like it was written by a young girl's imagination of romance from a mature guy. I keep hoping it'll get a bit dark or have some sort of twist but nothing (unless you count the ML's past which will be exposed next episode based on the trailer for it but even then, it doesn't seem like a huge thing). There was a scene in episode 2 that got my hopes up a bit - when the ML made a smirk at the SML while he was kissing FL but then that was it. There was nothing else after to carry that further. Of course, it's only episode 3 and there's 7 more to go so it could still have potential but.........I will no longer hold my breath. I even went to look up the manga and I couldn't finish reading it. I tried, honestly! I wanted to love it because the synopsis and covers/images look like it's right up my alley. The only good thing that's come out of watching this so far (and looking up this manga) is that I've realized that even though I love watching ML falling and pursuing FL first with persistency and seeing the FL as "the one and only", including all the intimate things, I need there to be more substance and deeper storylines/motives to fully enjoy the fluffy parts.

Oh how I wish I was younger to enjoy this more!