rationalbeings

Question about the last episode:

Everyone needs a Queens Umbrella!

I don't usually do palace political dramas esp ones with so little romance but this was so well done! This is the result of everyone - writer, cast & crew coming together to really make something different. It's fast paced but coherent, has some really interesting topics and always keeps you on the edge of the seat. It's one of the few dramas I had to give myself a bit of a spoiler for because I couldn't keep waiting to see how it would play out.

The Queen was so well written and brilliant and the Queen Dowager was brilliant in how evily she acted. It was really great to see two FEMALE veteran actors have such great roles. I have mostly seen Kim Hae Sook in positive roles and she always blows me away. Seeing her here, in such a negative role really made my respect for her grow.

All the princes even did such a great job. I disagree with those who thought the crown princess was too annoying, I thought she was cute but not naive. Just in love and knew what she wanted.

Although the plot is nothing new- it has all the normal palace political drama - the way it was written was refreshing. And it was interesting to see how the women in the palace both fought and comforted each other. It does slow a bit in the last few eps as everything unravels and comes out, but it was satisfying to see it all happen.

In short- watch this drama, everything was wonderful, esp the acting!

Yup that's what I read too! Super interesting how their community is set up.

On episode 6 and I feel like I need xanax with each episode. It's all so anxiety inducing (in an engaging way)!

Yeah I read a lot about them after being introduced to them here. Fascinating culture but like @bluekitchen said they have a more complicated approach to gender equality. It does seem that outside influence is slowly seeping into their culture now. Interested to see how it will play out with the new generation who are more interested in monogamy.

Also found it so interesting that their uncles are responsible in helping raise the kids instead of the fathers. So I'm assuming most father's have their own set of nieces and nephews they raise instead of their own bio kids.

Then it's probably best to ask - with an open and accepting mind- to women who choose to (google is also available). In my experience however, those who question a women's decision to do something largely ask without listening and without a willingness to accept their answer.

FYI your use of the word "hide" illustrates your predisposition towards negative judgment. The language you use has a lot of hidden connotations. But to them maybe they are protecting themselves or it connects them to their spirituality. Perhaps it's what they feel most comfortable in. What's the problem either way?

My thoughts lie with - her body, her choice. As long as no one is being forced/hurt then I don't see the harm in covering up or walking around naked. Why people need to question that is beyond me.

Putting this on hold on ep 7 for now. Can't deal with how bland the story is getting. They have something interesting to show but the writer decided 2000s Kdramas is where the plot needs to head to.

Same! I just finished ep 7 and I'm kinda annoyed that the writers chose to bring in a first love trope. She seems so nice and he is all like well I'm moving on. It feels so unfair to her.

It's also ruining the drama for me cause there's too much focus on this love triangle now and I want them to focus more on her supernatural ability. Like sorry - she can talk to dead people and we have to waste time on a pointless love triangle?

Same here! I was like.....this seems like the dumbest solution to his problem.

oo thank you! I will add this to my list.

Also - I love the fact that this turned the trope of cold boy being chased by sunshine girl on it's head. We got to see the straight A cold boy chase the sunshine girl and it was done well!

Hard to judge this one. It's both adorable and a bit of a drag. Unlike everyone else what I found dragging was the last 5 episodes. I think the writer/director put too many boring filler scenes after the main leads get together. Although I enjoyed their sweet moments did we need to see the car ride/wang yu's interruptions/airport goodbye of the exbff? Cause I wasn't interested in any of those scenes.

The drama relies on the push/pull chemistry of the main leads (as most youth dramas do) and this was sweet and fluffy in that aspect. Whilst it takes a while I think the execution up to this part was great. After that however it's like they forgot how to build tension (MINI SPOLIER:!!! like how they made her visit to the hospital in the end so anti-climatic).

The main leads were super cute together- slowly becoming a fan of Xi Wei - loved her in NLB and this. She has very unique sense of cuteness to her but can do emotional/serious scenes really well. ML was good (albeit a bit too stiff. I can't tell if it was the role or his acting) and most of the secondary couples were likeable. I hated the ex-bffs though and thought they were forgiven too easily. The FL basically just is overly-forgiving (a disease that most FLs in dramaland suffer from).

If this was 20 eps it would have been much better. Overall this is a cute watch but I don't see myself re-watching this. OST was good though!

Yeah they really overdid it with his interruptions. I was not amused by the 5th time already.

re: hijab - i think you sum it up best "but with what I think". i.e every single hijabi I know has independently chosen to wear it after careful evaluation. To stereotype most hijabis (sure there are populations that are forced to, like in Iran which I totally disagree with) - as unable to think for themselves is not only Islamophobic but also massively misogynistic and why western feminism has failed with POC women.

I think it's a massive misconception of the west to believe women who wear the hijab are conditioned to do so. It's looking at an entire religion/culture through the lens of western culture and judging it as so. Which is neither right or fair to the majority of intelligent independent thinking women who choose to wear it. It's akin to looking at a bikini through the eyes of a more conservative culture. Either way you are in the end telling women what to do and not respecting their own choice or decisions in the end. The argument that "these poor women don't know what they are doing" reeks of misogyny. Very White Saviour complex which let's be honest should be thrown away in 2022. We don't need it nor want it.

Anyway this is a drama forum so I don't want to get too political here but I'm over anyone telling any woman how to dress whether it be to cover up more or to not cover up. Taking someone's choice away is not freedom. It's gross to think otherwise.

Although I agree that equality is definitely better in Europe compared to other parts of the world, a lot of it also depends on the colour of your skin or your religion. Look at the disgusting way France is treating the right for muslim women to wear a hijab. It's body policing and it's so gross and then they claim to have equality. It's only when you conform to their norms is it "equal".

The world still has a long way to go *sigh*.

A very cliched but cute story that uses a lot of the traditional cdrama tropes to the extreme (i.e. evil 2FL, annoying 2ML). However the main leads were really cute together and get a lot of screen time which I'm grateful for because I skipped almost all the other side character scenes. They just were very paint by numbers of secondary characters.

Whilst all the actors still need improvement in their acting, FL was pretty good but the parents acting was the best. It was heartbreaking when they find out her disease. ML was a bit too stoic at times and unrelatable but he's definitely the worst I have seen. Interesting that they decided to go with ASL instead of just cancer. It really sheds some light on how difficult life can start becoming for those suffering from ASL.

Overall I would recommend this to watch in between dramas. It's light and cute but has some serious moments that were done well.

Yeah, I did find information on the different dynasties treating women differently. I learnt about foot binding at school student and to say I was horrified was an understatement. Even now some of the older generation in China view "big" feet on women as a ugly. Was specifically told by a shopkeeper in China "we don't sell men's shoes here" when I was there and asked for a specific design in my size. I have average shoe size in the west (size 8).

Unfortunately with women's rights it's always 2 steps forward 1 step backwards. Look at pro-choice rights being taken away in the states, the need for male guardians in the middle east or simply the fact that unequal pay is still an issue globally in 2022.

I had similar thoughts about this not being a bingeable show. Tbh the first few eps are really not. I would say probably till ep 10-15 (I can't remember) I was watching it like 2-3 episodes a day because I thought this can't be binge watched. But after it picks up it reaaallly picks up. I was clicking on next episode into the wee hours of the morning- so don't give up on this show! It's so heartfelt!

YUP! Even if now it isn't about the money for him, if it was before - it was always his money. I saw some comments by netizens going "well he already is rich so does he need more?" and it really shook me how people can be so callous about other people's issue. Sure he is rich and famous -but he was robbed and gaslit for decades. He deserves every cent even if all he is going to do is build a Scrooge McDuck vault to swim in it.

There's a stark difference between what's happening with him vs billionaires like Bezos/Musk who have built their wealth through unfair/borderline illegal businesses. And I think people are viewing these issues through similar lenses sometimes.

Honestly the AUDACITY of Hook entertainment is jaw dropping. First treating him (legit one of the bigest kstars) as a minus singer - gaslighting him for years, making bank on his hard work and NAME whilst not paying him his dues and to complete it up pretending its all going to be brushed under the rug after paying him what he was rightfully owed. He doesn't need to just go after the CEO, he should also make sure the senior management team are shaking in their boots. Because let's be clear- the senior team was ok to gaslight him for lining their pockets too. Obviously the CEO is the worst.

Even if he wanted to keep every cent to himself it would be 100 percent ok because... HE EARNED IT. It's his money. The fact that he wants to use it for the less fortunate is amazing but really should be something that the government of SK should be doing. And his case should be landmark in how the government sets labour laws moving forward (which I know they won't because SK labour laws and sexual harassment laws are a joke).

This whole thing is so frustrating because I just want there to be a fundamental change in the laws to protect labour rights esp in the entertainment industry which is soooooo dirty. Sigh.

But LSG is being so graceful and amazing atm. I hope he finds some relief and justice is delivered to him.