This short drama was headed for a perfect 10 until a particular scene disappointed me. Though I don’t usually care for Republican-era dramas, this one unexpectedly exceeded my expectations. The leads’ performances were both excellent, and perhaps the visuals were a great help. Unexpectedly, the film was both funny and clever, and the rest of the cast delivered stunning performances in this exquisitely told tale of revenge and redemption.
Even the villains were multi-faceted, that I couldn’t help but be sympathetic to one of their plights. Though some deserved their endings, I felt the handling of one punishment was egregious.
Nice little film. Amazing what some directors manage to convey with six minutes. Ignore the second reviewer above.…
If everyone liked this as you did, it would not have a rating of 6.6. I can't imagine that 1 bad review out of hundreds would have skewed the rating that much. The algorithm takes this into account and uses weighted mean (plus some secret sauce), and not a standard average to determine its ratings. So essentially you are saying, that anybody who disagrees with your opinion has issues. Good to know.
Review Summary:As I’m still quite new to the world of “duanju” dramas (having watched fewer than two dozen),…
As I’m still quite new to the world of “duanju” dramas (having watched fewer than two dozen), I don’t recognize many of the actors. But I was instantly captivated by Wang Yi Lei and Zhu Xiao Xue’s respective performances as a top lawyer and an ambitious law student. Clearly, they tried their best to work with the material they were given, which I must say wasn’t the greatest to begin with.
Their mutual dependence and the way they “cured” each other was heartwarming, but their initial encounter left me unconvinced. However, I think the show unfairly portrayed “cheating”, making the ex-boyfriend seem far worse than Wen Yue, despite their similar actions. Granted, Han Sheng kissed Wen Yue, despite her not being his partner, an act that could be interpreted as forced. In this situation, I’m unsure why we’re expected to excuse them simply because they’re the endgame.
Regardless, I think a stronger focus on Wen Yue’s prowess as a law student would have improved the show. We got a glimpse of her intelligence at the beginning, specifically when she first met Han Sheng at that party. I wished they had explored that more fully in the drama, maybe even having her help Han Sheng with his cases. Time constraints likely prevented them from doing so, but the plot contains too much unnecessary redundancy, such as the ex-boyfriend’s interactions with the socialite.
Overall, my feelings about this drama are a bit conflicted. Its quality is unremarkable; neither good nor bad, so I will settle for a “decent effort,” mostly kudos to the main leads.
As I’m still quite new to the world of “duanju” dramas (having watched fewer than two dozen), I don’t recognize many of the actors. But I was instantly captivated by Wang Yi Lei and Zhu Xiao Xue’s respective performances as a top lawyer and an ambitious law student. Clearly, they tried their best to work with the material they were given, which I must say wasn’t the greatest to begin with.
Overall, my feelings about this drama are a bit conflicted. Its quality is unremarkable; neither good nor bad, so I will settle for a “decent effort,” mostly kudos to the main leads.
Review Summary:Before beginning my review, I must admit that my frustration with finding a translated version…
What was expected to be a 36-minute watch (if the 18x2 detail is accurate) stretched to 3 hours. Was it worth all the trouble? NO. Absolutely not!! I am sparing you the effort!!! I assigned myself as one of the sacrificial lambs to tell you how this drama isn’t worth it unless you find a source where it can give you everything in one shot.
First of all, the poster is misleading. Nowhere in the show did they dress up remotely like they did in the poster. Shen Hao Nan spent 90% of the show in a pale blue wig that made him like a 17-year-old version of Vic Zhou if Vic Zhou was into cosplay. Second, Tang Xin spent half the drama evading her friend’s weak advances; however, the drama presented Wei Lai’s similar stalker-like behavior, including several uninvited visits to her house, as a romantic pursuit.
Third, the play’s message is that you shouldn’t pursue your passions unless it pays the bills, thus implying that you should work in a “real” job; or better yet, rely on your parent’s wealth if they have some, because that’s all you will be ever be good enough to do.
A better title for this drama would be “Curb Your Ambition” or “Don’t Be Stubborn,” highlighting both my and Wei Lai’s fruitless efforts.
Before beginning my review, I must admit that my frustration with finding a translated version of the drama influenced my opinion; so I watched the raw version instead. The problem wasn’t my language comprehension (I grasped about 75%), but the messy video organization—51 links for a mere 18 two-minute episodes! It was incredibly frustrating searching for the episodes, which weren’t in order, and I had to sift through related videos just to find them.
Wow, this short drama is a hot mess!!! It looks like somebody trying to heat up a quick snack in the microwave…
This show tried to cram in as many tropes as it could in half an hour: there’s the jealous bitch, the mean parents, the CEO BF, the blackmailing, the backstabbing, the hidden identity, the nasty ex, and to top it all off – the demure damsel in distress turns to be a gifted healer, a kick-ass martial arts master, a demonic speed racer, an ingenious hacker – like I’m surprised that they didn’t include a long-lost brother and sister forbidden romance, coupled with an amnesia trope.
Wow, this short drama is a hot mess!!! It looks like somebody trying to heat up a quick snack in the microwave and it ended up exploding. This show tried to cram in as many tropes as it could in half an hour (in the spoiler below)
I guess the scriptwriters didn’t learn the lesson that usually, “less is more” in short-run dramas. In this case, more was actually too much.
interested to know which other drama that does the “segue between first n second life” better. because if…
I actually was thinking of The Romance Between Tiger and Rose when I wrote this. Also TTEOTM and The Eternal Love could be included. I think it's because I was caught off guard with the transition, while the transitions in the other dramas were a lot smoother. But this is only a very minor detail, it didn't detract from my overall enjoyment.
Review Summary:This show is one trope away from being a dumpster fire. And it’s not the uncle-GIRL-nephew love…
This show is one trope away from being a dumpster fire. And it’s not the uncle-GIRL-nephew love triangle we are talking about, but apparently, it’s a gaggle of geese falling for the girl that I’m amazed Li Chen had the stamina to swap all those pesky mosquitos away from his beloved.
First, what this show did wrong is to make stalking look cool. Even if you have a man as hot as KeChun “following” you around, showing up wherever you are, to save you. This ain’t it.
Second, what is the case with Ke Chun dramas and women cuffed in chains?? Is this a common occurrence or was beating somebody shitless not good enough for TV now??
Third, whatever happened to the safety protocols of the fire department, that they let people in a burning building, let them spend 10 minutes kissing while fumes are piling up everywhere?
Fourth, where the hell are the nurses when the Wan Zhi’s mother left the room? Nobody in the halls saw this lady limping her way up the stairs??? Apparently, the two nurses who saw her thought nothing of a crippled lady making her way out of the emergency exit. Did they assume she went out for a smoke? Back to common-sense training!
Fifth, racing a fancy car against a lunatic with your beloved inside is not the right way to de-escalate the situation. You are definitely just asking for a car accident, and pray to god that she doesn’t die, or at least get amnesia so you can throw in another trope and prolong the agony of spending years apart.
I could go on and on with all the inconsistencies in plot and execution of this drama, that not even Ke Chun’s pretty face could save it.
This show is one trope away from being a dumpster fire. And it’s not the uncle-GIRL-nephew love triangle we are talking about, but apparently it’s a gaggle of geese falling for the girl that I’m amazed Li Chen had the stamina to swap all those pesky mosquitos away from his beloved.
Review Summary:One of the earliest and most iconic stories of lookalikes switching places is Mark Twain’s The…
One of the earliest and most iconic stories of lookalikes switching places is Mark Twain’s The Prince and the Pauper, which inspired the movie Masquerade, which this show is based on. After a sluggish start, this drama picked up steam about 4 episodes in, when the real king Yi Heon disappears mostly from the screen. I almost dropped this drama, and deemed it listless, but Yeo Jin Goo’s performance as both the real and the faux ruler impressed me. While I don’t remember seeing him elsewhere, perhaps in smaller roles, his presence as Ha Seon was truly magnificent.
Having watched Lee Se Young in three projects this year, her performance as the queen is exactly what I expected. Not to be outdone is Kim Sang Kyung in his role as the Royal Secretary, a man who has done many questionable things in the name of king and country. He plays the role of Lee Gyu so magnificently that we can’t help but empathise with him, even when he makes decisions that are even against our own moral standards. From Eunuch Jo to the detestable Kwon Hae Hyo as Shin Chi Soo, the rest of the cast delivered exceptional performances; his actions were so loathsome, I wanted to maim him.
In terms of plot, the drama had captivating moments but also some slow parts. The drama progressed as far as it did only because of the character’s actions driving it forward. It’s true that comparing a melodrama to a light rom-com is like comparing apples and oranges; therefore, it’s not surprising I wasn’t in stitches watching it. Though it included some comedic elements, they were infrequent.
Though there was one character that I found extremely irritating. Most would probably guess it’s one of the villains, but they’d be wrong. It is Ha Seon’s sister, Dal Rae, who frustrated me to no end. A naive farm girl’s lack of worldly experience is understandable, yet her actions didn’t suggest a life on the streets with clowns. Let me be clear: I don’t blame her for being assaulted. Yes, that crime was the perpetrator’s sole responsibility. But it was her actions afterward, like how after being traumatized, I would have thought she’d learn her lesson and NOT go off on her own. Despite repeated warnings from her uncle to stay put (or at least stay close to him), morbid curiosity led her to the small hut where the real king was imprisoned. Though unsure of who he is, Dal Rae follows the real Yi Heon throughout the city streets, carries a knife that clearly isn’t hers, resulting in her arrest and risking her brother’s exposure. Why on earth does she continually endanger herself and cause others such worry?
Another thing that bothers me is the way Lee Gyu and Eunuch Jo discuss Ha Seon openly. They say his name so many times, at the risk of being eavesdropped. To avoid confusion, why not use a variation of the real king’s name when referring to him? Have they not learned at all that walls have ears? Can’t they be more covert? I suppose not; otherwise, the villains’ wicked plans would have been revealed sooner. It could just be my own particular issue, but a problem nonetheless.
My rant aside, this show is a decent watch for those who appreciate character-driven shows, a dash of romance, and a heavy dose of political intrigue. It's not the best historical K-drama out there, but it's neither the worst.
One of the earliest and most iconic stories of lookalikes switching places is Mark Twain’s The Prince and the Pauper, which inspired the movie Masquerade, which this show is based on.
"The Crowned Clown" is a decent watch for those who appreciate character-driven shows, a dash of romance, and a heavy dose of political intrigue. It's not the best historical K-drama out there, but it's neither the worst.
Just discovered this guy and he looks like a combination of Xu Kai and Chen Zhe Yuan. Oddly enough, I'm not a fan of either of them but I can get on board with Want Xuan!
2 
This short drama was headed for a perfect 10 until a particular scene disappointed me. Though I don’t usually care for Republican-era dramas, this one unexpectedly exceeded my expectations. The leads’ performances were both excellent, and perhaps the visuals were a great help. Unexpectedly, the film was both funny and clever, and the rest of the cast delivered stunning performances in this exquisitely told tale of revenge and redemption.
Even the villains were multi-faceted, that I couldn’t help but be sympathetic to one of their plights. Though some deserved their endings, I felt the handling of one punishment was egregious.
More on these points on the spoiler below:
Their mutual dependence and the way they “cured” each other was heartwarming, but their initial encounter left me unconvinced. However, I think the show unfairly portrayed “cheating”, making the ex-boyfriend seem far worse than Wen Yue, despite their similar actions. Granted, Han Sheng kissed Wen Yue, despite her not being his partner, an act that could be interpreted as forced. In this situation, I’m unsure why we’re expected to excuse them simply because they’re the endgame.
Regardless, I think a stronger focus on Wen Yue’s prowess as a law student would have improved the show. We got a glimpse of her intelligence at the beginning, specifically when she first met Han Sheng at that party. I wished they had explored that more fully in the drama, maybe even having her help Han Sheng with his cases. Time constraints likely prevented them from doing so, but the plot contains too much unnecessary redundancy, such as the ex-boyfriend’s interactions with the socialite.
Overall, my feelings about this drama are a bit conflicted. Its quality is unremarkable; neither good nor bad, so I will settle for a “decent effort,” mostly kudos to the main leads.
As I’m still quite new to the world of “duanju” dramas (having watched fewer than two dozen), I don’t recognize many of the actors. But I was instantly captivated by Wang Yi Lei and Zhu Xiao Xue’s respective performances as a top lawyer and an ambitious law student. Clearly, they tried their best to work with the material they were given, which I must say wasn’t the greatest to begin with.
Overall, my feelings about this drama are a bit conflicted. Its quality is unremarkable; neither good nor bad, so I will settle for a “decent effort,” mostly kudos to the main leads.
Full review in the spoiler below:
First of all, the poster is misleading. Nowhere in the show did they dress up remotely like they did in the poster. Shen Hao Nan spent 90% of the show in a pale blue wig that made him like a 17-year-old version of Vic Zhou if Vic Zhou was into cosplay. Second, Tang Xin spent half the drama evading her friend’s weak advances; however, the drama presented Wei Lai’s similar stalker-like behavior, including several uninvited visits to her house, as a romantic pursuit.
Third, the play’s message is that you shouldn’t pursue your passions unless it pays the bills, thus implying that you should work in a “real” job; or better yet, rely on your parent’s wealth if they have some, because that’s all you will be ever be good enough to do.
A better title for this drama would be “Curb Your Ambition” or “Don’t Be Stubborn,” highlighting both my and Wei Lai’s fruitless efforts.
Before beginning my review, I must admit that my frustration with finding a translated version of the drama influenced my opinion; so I watched the raw version instead. The problem wasn’t my language comprehension (I grasped about 75%), but the messy video organization—51 links for a mere 18 two-minute episodes! It was incredibly frustrating searching for the episodes, which weren’t in order, and I had to sift through related videos just to find them.
Full review in the Spoiler below:
I guess the scriptwriters didn’t learn the lesson that usually, “less is more” in short-run dramas. In this case, more was actually too much.
Like I could skip any episode and I still wouldn't miss anything.
First, what this show did wrong is to make stalking look cool. Even if you have a man as hot as KeChun “following” you around, showing up wherever you are, to save you. This ain’t it.
Second, what is the case with Ke Chun dramas and women cuffed in chains?? Is this a common occurrence or was beating somebody shitless not good enough for TV now??
Third, whatever happened to the safety protocols of the fire department, that they let people in a burning building, let them spend 10 minutes kissing while fumes are piling up everywhere?
Fourth, where the hell are the nurses when the Wan Zhi’s mother left the room? Nobody in the halls saw this lady limping her way up the stairs??? Apparently, the two nurses who saw her thought nothing of a crippled lady making her way out of the emergency exit. Did they assume she went out for a smoke? Back to common-sense training!
Fifth, racing a fancy car against a lunatic with your beloved inside is not the right way to de-escalate the situation. You are definitely just asking for a car accident, and pray to god that she doesn’t die, or at least get amnesia so you can throw in another trope and prolong the agony of spending years apart.
I could go on and on with all the inconsistencies in plot and execution of this drama, that not even Ke Chun’s pretty face could save it.
This show is one trope away from being a dumpster fire. And it’s not the uncle-GIRL-nephew love triangle we are talking about, but apparently it’s a gaggle of geese falling for the girl that I’m amazed Li Chen had the stamina to swap all those pesky mosquitos away from his beloved.
Full review in reply below:
Top 5 Modern: Business Proposal; Extraordinary Attorney Woo; Sh**ting Stars; You're Beautiful; Crash Landing on You
Having watched Lee Se Young in three projects this year, her performance as the queen is exactly what I expected. Not to be outdone is Kim Sang Kyung in his role as the Royal Secretary, a man who has done many questionable things in the name of king and country. He plays the role of Lee Gyu so magnificently that we can’t help but empathise with him, even when he makes decisions that are even against our own moral standards. From Eunuch Jo to the detestable Kwon Hae Hyo as Shin Chi Soo, the rest of the cast delivered exceptional performances; his actions were so loathsome, I wanted to maim him.
In terms of plot, the drama had captivating moments but also some slow parts. The drama progressed as far as it did only because of the character’s actions driving it forward. It’s true that comparing a melodrama to a light rom-com is like comparing apples and oranges; therefore, it’s not surprising I wasn’t in stitches watching it. Though it included some comedic elements, they were infrequent.
Though there was one character that I found extremely irritating. Most would probably guess it’s one of the villains, but they’d be wrong. It is Ha Seon’s sister, Dal Rae, who frustrated me to no end. A naive farm girl’s lack of worldly experience is understandable, yet her actions didn’t suggest a life on the streets with clowns. Let me be clear: I don’t blame her for being assaulted. Yes, that crime was the perpetrator’s sole responsibility. But it was her actions afterward, like how after being traumatized, I would have thought she’d learn her lesson and NOT go off on her own. Despite repeated warnings from her uncle to stay put (or at least stay close to him), morbid curiosity led her to the small hut where the real king was imprisoned. Though unsure of who he is, Dal Rae follows the real Yi Heon throughout the city streets, carries a knife that clearly isn’t hers, resulting in her arrest and risking her brother’s exposure. Why on earth does she continually endanger herself and cause others such worry?
Another thing that bothers me is the way Lee Gyu and Eunuch Jo discuss Ha Seon openly. They say his name so many times, at the risk of being eavesdropped. To avoid confusion, why not use a variation of the real king’s name when referring to him? Have they not learned at all that walls have ears? Can’t they be more covert? I suppose not; otherwise, the villains’ wicked plans would have been revealed sooner. It could just be my own particular issue, but a problem nonetheless.
My rant aside, this show is a decent watch for those who appreciate character-driven shows, a dash of romance, and a heavy dose of political intrigue. It's not the best historical K-drama out there, but it's neither the worst.
One of the earliest and most iconic stories of lookalikes switching places is Mark Twain’s The Prince and the Pauper, which inspired the movie Masquerade, which this show is based on.
"The Crowned Clown" is a decent watch for those who appreciate character-driven shows, a dash of romance, and a heavy dose of political intrigue. It's not the best historical K-drama out there, but it's neither the worst.
Full Review in the Spoiler below: