The intial - overly inflated rating (8.9 at one point, I think) - was the result of an aggressive campaign by creepy fans of one/both of the leads. After just one episode. The post airtime rating will be from people who actually watched it,
Is this an entirely fictional prince? Or is it meant to be about someone real (I know at least one prince was a hostage of the Qing for a while and was killed by his Dad shortly after he came back).
I also sometimes have fun by imagining how a kdrama (not film) adaptation would ruin a good book, by inserting excessive sentimentality or confucian 'morals'. Imagine what they'd do to The Hollow (Agatha Christie) for example.
When Shin Hye Sun cries it feels very real - there are awkward noises and skin reddening/swelling and, lets face it, snot. I hate the crying scenes - not in this drama - where a single tear doesn't even disturb the heroine's (thick) makeup.
Another thing: the product placement was off the charts. Instant coffee? Those disgusting blue drinks? The male lead dressed like a middle-aged, 1950s American woman?
Yeonsangun of Joseon already appears in lots of stories (Queen for 7 Days, The Treacherous, The Rebel, The King and the Clown) so A Crane Among Wolves wouldn't be a top pick for me.
This was a bit of a curate's egg of a series for me. I liked the character of the FL and aspects of the story. Decent acting, too.
But there was far too much focus on the 'visuals' (all that slo-mo, passionless - but prettily choreographed - kisses, heavy makeup, and heavier filters) and not nearly enough on world-building and developing an original story.
That said, I enjoyed it, particularly the first half, it was light-hearted fun. But a bit like eating candy floss, you enjoy the sweetness but are hungry immediately - for something with more substance - afterwards.
I think you're thinking of type 2. Type 1 is something that you're typically born with, is partly inherited and is not linked to poor diet. Type 2 is the one that's linked to being fat, poor diet, age and alcohol consumption.
Wow, I don't think I've ever seen such a stacked cast (and of mostly good actors) in a drama. Films, yes, that's where the good actors mostly do their thing, but drama is usually a mix.
But there was far too much focus on the 'visuals' (all that slo-mo, passionless - but prettily choreographed - kisses, heavy makeup, and heavier filters) and not nearly enough on world-building and developing an original story.
That said, I enjoyed it, particularly the first half, it was light-hearted fun. But a bit like eating candy floss, you enjoy the sweetness but are hungry immediately - for something with more substance - afterwards.
FFS. More word salad.