ohudushi

Yeah, pretty miserable time for girls :/
It's a bit confusing because in this drama he is called Deok-ro, which is a courtesy title. His given name is Hong Guk-young. There might be more google results with that name.

Uibin Seong's birthdate is July 1753. I think the current date in the drama is Spring 1773, the date the book, Tale of Kwak and Jang, was finished

Deok-ro's sister is Royal Noble Consort Won, one of Yi San's other concubines who died a year after she entered the palace (both are real historical figures)

He's a real historical figure so I doubt they will do that

She won't be his legal wife. Sageuks get into a lot of trouble when they're historically inaccurate (like Joseon Exorcist). What's unknown is whether this drama will actually show Queen Hyoui or Yi San's other concubines. I'm not sure if they're in the novel...

I think a lot of people were put off this drama by the Ruler association even though, as you say, she was only a co-writer. I want to believe that the fact that this drama is a closer adaption of a novel than Ruler means that the overall story arc will be more coherent. Fingers crossed.

I know what you mean but in the last episode they did meet quite a few times already (not counting all the times she went to him with apology letters lol). I mean, we already know he falls for her first since the drama tag line is "the king loved the court lady, did the court lady love the king?"

I know some bits from what I've read online. But it seems like 3 episodes in, Yi San is getting more backstory stuff than he does in the book so I'm hoping he's gonna be better/more sympathetic. I'm just worried how the drama is gonna show the multiple rejections. In real life, he punishes her servant after she rejects him the second time. That's not gonna go down well with an audience

Also, I love how the drama looks grand and epic but the characters are so human and complex. The king is scary and powerful but then we see that he's just like any other grandfather worried about his grandson.

I really wonder what's up with Deok-ro. I don't trust him. That psychopathic line about waiting for more people to die? Yikes. Actually, I don't trust anyone. They all seem to have an angle of some sort. Even Court Lady Jo? I liked her 😭

Aww from the way he was pining away in the library seems like he's already fallen for her. I'm gonna miss the bickering but I'm excited to see how their relationship goes from here. He was too cute at the end trying to hide himself lol. But I get that he wanted to keep the ruse going because he enjoyed their moments in the library talking like equals.

It's more of a "life story" of Yi San, so it follows him from childhood to late adulthood. If you're interested in Yi San the person/character then it could be worth a watch. Just be aware that it's quite a different kind of drama than The Red Sleeve, similar to other older "hero" dramas like Jumong

Yeah, by this drama's timeline, Deok-im should've already rejected Yi San once when they were teenagers. Not sure about the novel's timeline but I heard that there's no childhood connection in the book. Seems like the drama is kinda doing its own thing? I'm still bracing for a tragic ending though, especially given the first episode and how it started with a concubine's death...

Gong Hyojin and Jo Jeongseok is literally my dream casting but this drama was a hot mess. What a waste 😭

Good video summary here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P31KllPLa68
He married his wife, the queen, when they were children. The queen wasn't able to conceive a child so a concubine was chosen. That concubine died in a year, so a next concubine was chosen. Again, Yi San never had children with her. The only children he had were with Uibin Seong (Deok-im) and another concubine who was chosen after she died

Would've watched the Goryeo spinoff over this any day

You're definitely not alone

Nothing much happens and yet I couldn't look away. There's this slow-burn tension that builds and builds right up to the climax. The lead female character has a manic pixie dream girl aura, but this was based on a Murakami story so that's not surprising.

Pretty sure I could do better at home on photoshop than that poster lol. Anyway, I am willing this to be good because of the cast. Please.

I don't know where you're watching this but that's a mistranslation. Her title is Royal Noble Consort Yeong

The video game sequences 😂
I definitely prefer this show when it focuses on the downtrodden characters rather than the plot. Honestly, it might be getting a little too ridiculous for my tastes. But I understand why some people love it.