mysteryqueen9

Not in dramas or novels. The perfect example is 50 shades of gray, when the guy is mentally sick but hey he is handsome and he is a millionaire. I personally don't have a problem with Red flags ML/FL, the problem is when people try to embellish/sweeten some characters' actions. FL and ML's relationship is toxic and they are both Red Flags, but some people saying ML has is blameless because he has helped her are missing the point, and justifying his wrongdoings.

I am pretty sure ML at some point helped her at least partially because he had feelings for her genuinely, but are we forgetting he helped her so many times for his big plan of securing FL's help to make her family fall so his own family got scotfree? Like he indeed used her a lot and put her life at risk too, played her like a fool making her believe he was canned for helping her when FL's evil father threatened him "if I fall you will fall with me". Not blaming ML at all, he indeed likes her and wants to help her if it doesn't hurt him, but FL would be dumb if she trusted 100% (specially after what she has gone through) someone who has used her, put her life at stake, and even gets physically violent (last ep's choking scene..). Also, I would extremely despise being gashlighted into thinking "how much he has helped me" when he is actively making her a shield for his daughter and mom, but he even proposed to her in a way that made it like FL would be the one reaping all the benefits, like he was just lending a hand. And he still acts hurt when FL catches his real intentions and plays him too lol

I am really liking the drama so far, but I get why people are getting salty; it is not nice when a drama make a premise and later doesn't deliver; the synopsis makes audience believe we will have a power couple that trusts/relies on each other and make an united front when it is more a power struggle between them to see who manages to use the other more to their own advantage.
I personally don't mind it, I really like the drama and their dynamic is interesting and refreshing (contrary to the typical heartless ML who plays and uses poor innocent FL) but I got the feeling they shouldn't have promoted it like a romance drama, at least they should have pointed to a toxic complicated relationship.
Now, I feel it unfair how some people are blaming FL. Like other user said, that's double standars. ML has done exactly what FL is doing; using the other to get what they want and not putting trust on the other one. I have read some users say he has helped FL over and over again... that he only hide some secrets... That is not true. Sure, he has helped her many times, but we shouldn't forget most of them was for his own selfish interests. His big great plan all the time was to make her family bit the dust so his own crime was covered and to save his own ass. Am I blaming him? Of course not, it's totally understandable to throw others under the bus to save your beloved family, but he should understand she also will not hesitate to do the same to him to avenge her beloved mother.
FL is totally unhinged, she has suffered so much and finds only betrayal or people that plays her like a fool. Would you trust a man who gashlighted you into thinking he was doing you a great favour (the whole duke's corpse plot) but in fact he was just doing it out of self-preservation? Specially when FL has seen how much pain a manipulator like her father can cause?
I am blaming neither ML nor FL: the nature of their relationship is the result of mutual mistrust and harming/putting the other at risk for their own interests.

Season 1 already delivered quite a bit, though. Teddy's scene was used in S1 and it was one of the most shocking scenes imo. I really really hope S2 is not tamer but exactly like the webtoon/S1 in terms of gore

CH has a big secret in regards to his approach to FL and her royal family which we don't know. But I will post here some quotes from a very interesting article about Princesses in Joseon and Buma:
Not all men could dream of becoming the Princess’ consort or the King’s son-in-law. If the requirement to become a Queen consort included the high status of the candidates, it was the other way around for the Prince consort. The preferred candidates were picked among the families of officers rank 4~5 and below. Their families needed not to be too illustrious, and there were several reasons behind it. ...
a Prince consort could not hold office....
Despite the limited freedom of movement, there were those who aimed to become the Prince consort because of the advantage of forming ties with the powerful and the wealth that would come with it. Perhaps, the Prince consort would view himself as the stepping stone for his father and brothers to bring honour to their family.


Imo a Buma is after all very connected to royalty so he can get power by connections; but like I said in CH's case there is something more, something very fishy

We can agree that the marriage had "ended" way before the mistress issue happened. But we disagree in the rest. It's not a problem of communication of Crown Princess since the moment Crown Prince is a selfish neglectful person who doesn't have empathy or decency at all. They are both unhappy with the marriage okay, but that doesn't give Crown Prince the right to mistreat or humilliate his wife. Saying that a "loveless marriage" gives you the right to act neglectful or look down on other's feelings is simply, ridiculous. Ofc there is a betrayal, after so many years of companionship Crown Prince didn't respect his wife at all, he slept with his mistress the same night he had to officially visit his wife; when the book showed to the whole world the suffering of Crown Princess he didn't stop to think on her at all and went to ask mistress because he feared she was upset..and what about his faithful wife, who had to give up all she had to marry into the palace? who was his friend?

I see Jiwon's husband as excessively childish and dumb to make a good king. I don't dislike him but I dislike his immature reaction to Jiwon helping CP's divorce, disregarding his sister in law's situation and his brother's neglect.
About CH, it is impossible for him to be a king through FL. The puma (Princess' consort) was subjected to very strict rules to ensure they could not use their wifes to get power, to the point they had to give up their official position in court if they married a princess. That's why Prime Minister Lee was so opposed to Jang Won marrying FL: he is a very outstanding and talented member of a powerful family, with a position in court and a lot of prospects for the future. If he married FL, he would have to give up on his political career.

I understand the feeling, but looking at his brothers, the country would be doomed XD. Also, I think being King wouldn't give him much happiness; in fact it is way better living like a carefree prince like Jiwon's husband, outside of the palace and enjoying a peaceful life. Kings in Joseon had to follow a lot of rules and it was not like absolute monarchs from other eras that could rule however they wanted.

Thanks for the information. I love history and read several books about it but mostly focused on my country or other European countries', so I will look for the book you recommended because Eastern history is very different but fascinating. Since you specialised in Korean history, do you think Joseon was more "boring" compared to Silla or Goryeo? I loved the drama about Queen Seondeok, and I think Silla had fascinating things like the Hwarang institution and the Bone system . Imo Joseon was very monotone we could say? Ofc this is a very superficial view since I know little of the dynasty (apart from super important figures like Prince Sado or Concubine Jang Hui Bin)

I am not an expert on Eastern History but I had the idea is very bad taste of him to keep a woman outside. Noble and royal men were expected to have concubines, but if they want their reputation to remain intact, they should at least give those women a status and a place in their household. Though perhaps it is my experience with Chinese dramas and in Joseon it was different, but once again it was also very frowned upon for a royal member to choose as a concubine a widow.

Yes, I would recommend you to pick it up if your only issue is the love triangle. Though both ML and 2ML are in love with FL, it doesn't really have a big impact: 2ML decides to confess his love and (thankfully) asks for FL's opinion before putting his name in the Fuma's selection. FL tells him she doesn't want him as a suitor, he respectfully steps back and tells her he respects her choice. He has only helped her so far.

I am glad I was 1000% on Crown Princess' side since the beginning since she is not a princess but a QUEEN so amazing and strong, taking her own future in her hands. So disappointed in Crown Prince...I could understand him falling in love with mistress but the way he has DISRESPECTED his wife of so many years. He could go after mistress any night but no, he had to do it on the night he had to visit officially his wife, to humiliate her and have everyone discovering the mistress' issue (which not only humiliates his wife but also endangers his mistress)
When the book is published he is mortified but not because he fears how his wife is gonna react to the affair, NO, HE DOESN'T THINK AT ALL about Crown Princess' feelings, he immediately goes after mistress to she how she is...THE GALL OF THIS MOTHERF***KER
Funny and sad thing? His mistress is much more sensitive and she realises how she never stopped to think about the wife and she dispairs about how her love has hurt another woman... SHE CARES MORE ABOUT CROWN PRINCESS (who is a stranger) THAN THE SCUMBAG that has been married to her...
I really hope Crown Princess can divorce and live a happy life away from the palace, the mistress lives a happy life away from the palace, and Crown Prince remains alone and unloved

I have read some people blame Crown Princess for pushing CP aside but I will always side with Crown Princess because like you say she is very depressed and although I can understand he is hurt, I am mad he acts self-absorbed and hasn't realised how seriously depressed and mentally drained is his wife, and instead of trying to communicate with her or something he gave up inmediately...just because he felt insulted in his masculinity, he couldn't stop to think a single minute the reasons his wife acts that way (when imo she was very obviously almost in the middle of a panic attack in their last bed scene).
I really really hope somehow Crown Princess can fake her death/get a divorce and leave a peaceful and free life away from the Palace. Because she is not only that way because of the lack of pregnancy....palace life is suffocating her (the bridge scene broke my heart)

CH almost 100%. Chani's profile is very different, his nose specially. Also, CH has a robe in that same colour

since that scene happens in front of what appears like mistress' house, I would say it is related to mistress. My guess is that Crown Princess' clan discovered the affair and killed the commoner/made her disappear.... I have read people suggest perhaps the mistress will become his concubine but I can't see it happen given she is a widowed commoner (specially the widow part is a total obstacle since women in Joseon wouldn't remarry least of all with a crown prince) So even if his in laws get in rid of her, he can't really do anything imo

I think that scene connects with the first scene of the whole drama, in present world. modern Hwari is in love with Jang Won from modern world, so the librarian tells her: "you better confess your feelings before it is too late, don't have any regrets". Hwajin not only tells her sis to follow her heart, she says also "so you don't have any regrets", which shows the same premise: if you love someone, you better pursue your beloved one because that way you can get your love reciprocated; and even if you don't get it, at least you won't have regrets because you tried.
So imo the point about the whole Princess Hwari story that modern Hwari is reading is to encourage her to confess and follow her heart... Like Princess Cheong Hwa story that narrator tells at the start of the drama (a princess who was separated from her lover so she eloped and married him in secret), I don't know if Hwari will end up with Jang Won or not (though I would love it) but for sure I think from all I explained and Princess CH story, the fact that Jang Won is apparently not going to be a prince consort candidate and ML on the other hand will be (from the relationship chart photo) makes it more likely he will indeed end up with Hwari, since the main theme follows the "pursue what your heart says and don't have any regrets even if you must defy society", so I wouldn't be surprised if FL gets engaged with ML but then she realises she has feelings for Jang Won so she elopes to get with Jang Won.

For me she has all my sympathy since it is obvious she has depression, it's not like she is throwing a tantrum because of pettiness or childishness. Yes, the ideal option would be to communicate but when her mental health is like that I don't think we should judge so easily...pushing him towards other women it's in her mind a solution to put an end to the terrible pressure on them because of the heir matter. I really really hope the CP and Crown Princess have a happy ending together, because I smell tragedy for all involved otherwise.

Thank you for the explanation;)

I usually don't read articles unless it is a drama that makes me very interested. So I wanted to share since I have read comments precisely wondering if there was gonna be a love triangle and some seemed to dismissed the possibility because JW's character appeared as support role

After some research, it seems pretty clear this is gonna be a love triangle: FL-CH-JW.
“The Scandal of Chunhwa” is a historical romance drama that tells the story of Princess Hwa Ri (Go Ara)......Her groundbreaking decision throws the royal palace into turmoil and entangles her with two men: Choi Hwan (Chang Ryul), the city’s most notorious playboy, and Jang Won (SF9’s Chani), the city’s most eligible bachelor. (FROM SOOMPI)

In namu wiki there is some minor info from characters and basically confirms JW will fall for FL since it says sth like this (machine translated, the original is in korean): "Despite the ardent courtship of the women of the capital, he (JW) has no intention of marrying, but when the princess suddenly declares that he will be directly selected as the husband-in-law, the Eastern Kingdom is turned upside down, and a huge aftermath begins to hit his future" --> it seems there's mistake in translation because it makes no sense she will choose him as a husband candidate (her sis has feelings for him), I guess it goes more on the line that after FL informs the world she is gonna choose her husband and he starts having feelings for her, he is gonna name himself a suitor and...chaos will ensue (poor Hwajin).

BTW, it seems there is a mistake in MDL's cast for this drama. Jang Won is casted here as a supporting character, but in all the other pages I have consulted (Wikipedia, Namu wiki, soompi...) he appears as a main character. So we have 3 main characters, not two.