The series starts out at a descent pace and you get an opportunity to see our two leads in their youth. It was fun and gave you the young love feeling. Their personality/character was revealed in the beginning so there is no mystery about whether or not they are bad or good. You can just tell. You will get a lot off political scheming and a hint romance (that’s right a hint). Although our leads performed well together you you don’t get to see the real chemistry between them together/together. You know they have feelings/love each other but you don’t feel it.
This series definitely highlights reform int this culture in the sense of foreigners, trade expansion and etc. I believe the overall premise for the series was growth of the culture, Progression and adapting. Well displayed.
What I enjoyed most about the series was the acting. The overall plot was well maintained.
What I didn’t like was the the lack of clarity and gaps. So many things were left out. How do I know? There were so many 3 years later or 1 year laters. After a while things got a bit confusing. There was a sudden infatuation by a character. Just strange. In truth, after the female leads identify was revealed I couldn’t understand why she lived where she lived and why these people were left to care for her. These things made absolutely no sense to me.
I do love the male leave. He starred in a similar series title “princess man. “ Some of the same events happen.
Important notes
-90% politics
-little to no romance but you do get love
- nice fight scenes.
-no redemption for those that were done wrong (yeah, you heard me)
-no major power plays (aka -shocker moment)
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Joseon's last days
This was a great telling of the factors leading to the decline of a 500-yrs old dynasty. Was it 100% accurate historically? No, but that's why it's a fictionalized account, not a documentary. I was delighted that this centered on history with a love story woven in, rather than a love story with a historical backdrop. This one had me researching Korean history after each episode.Fair treatment was given to the main players at that time, and very few were portrayed as "all good" or "all bad." Actual power resided in certain noble families, so family connection trumped capability and family interest trumped national interest. Jockeying for positions of power- Kim versus Jo, insider versus outsider- lies at the heart of this series. The means used to obtain that power were explicit, and clearly showed that at the end of the day, the welfare of a nation was secondary to the elites. Heungseon may have wanted to destroy the factional powers for a centralized government, but his own ambitions proved to be just as harmful to the people. Queen Min may have had a heart for the people, but her desire to topple her father-in-law to replace with her own influence, would add burdens on them. And hapless Gojong, as sad a figure in this series as he was in actuality.
Despite all this, the message I got was one of hope for the future of the Korean people. The foundations being laid to put value on a person's talents rather than geneology, value on education for all citizens, and value on being open to new ideas, as well as the idea of redemption, would see Korea through the years of darkness until her liberation in 1945. Sadly, the same issues that led to a divided Germany divided Korea in half. My hope is one day Korea, like Germany, will be united again.
The cast was amazing. Park Shi Hoo played Choi Chun Joong to perfection- inscrutable but with passion just below the surface. Jun Kwang Ryul was frightening with his changing persona. And Im Hyun Soo as Yeon Chi Sung made my heart ache for his utter devotion to any one who showed him he was valued.
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King Hater: The Change of Heart
This set up was just terrible— unconvincing, cartoonish, and downright ridiculous. And don't even get me started on that plot armor, it's like they thought they could get away with it. That love triangle was a mess. The guy was just plain revolting, but the real issue was how the writer tried to force us to feel sorry for him. If you're gonna have a crappy love triangle, just stick with it! Another bad habit the drama had was how often they leaned into cheesy drama tricks, killing the narrative and any potential right off the bat. One more thing to mention, I don't know how it's possible but the leads had negative chemistry. Their younger selves had a slightly better screen presence anyway.Was this review helpful to you?
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Destiny... I think?
This drama came up on youtube on my recommended. So much was packed into Episodes 1 & 2. From teenagers, getting married, being betrayed, exiled and reuniting. The fast pacing of events kept me interested from episode to episode. As time went on, it was clearly not a revenge drama nor was there much romance neither. I did get the feels when Choi finally realized the princess did everything for him and they finally hugged! We knew they still have feelings for each other, but they had such little screen time for romance. We don’t get a real kiss until ep 14! It had heavy politics but it was reasonable because they are “making a king”. This lead to the question ...Why do we need Choi to be the best fortune teller if we already have the princess with the special ability? Why didn’t they lock up Choi in the palace to do their readings instead of the princess? I liked the strategic moves that Choi made to ‘making’ the young kid the king. But after he became king…the drama took a turn. What’s up with Choi’s decisions to play politics moving people on his side… then jump ship to partner with the bad guy in the end? And he did this twice! He also disappeared twice. I was more interested to see what was going to happen with the young queen. Both Choi and the princess made a huge deal that she had the presents of a king. Choi put her in the palace to become the queen and be his ears. But nothing really happens with her. And the warrior, (I don’t remember any of their names) I thought he was falling in love with the queen…he just ends up being her bodyguard. He did leave the queen to fight with them in the end. They could had used him to fight or save the princess. The princess was captured so many times! She should get a bodyguard! The obsessed guy, In-Gyu was the most irritating character! Always stalking the princess. His ending was also annoying to watch, bc I could care less. The ending was kinda open ended, nothing really got tied up. It was disappointing to see their plan failed at the end. The bad guy was still in charge and the good guys just left to start their own life outside of the kingdom. I know this sounds like a rant, but it was enjoyable up until the last episode.Was this review helpful to you?
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Freedom in Real Sense and Royality
Mostly I love to watch dramas which are based on history, Medical & Music. Kingmaker : The Change of Destiny, has become one out of my favorite Korean Drama. It has many aspects of life revolving around the common problems of our society and it's people. The major problems faced by a common man because of corrupt government officers who take joy in making one suffer especially people those are innocent or hadn't committed any crime. It is similar to the unnecessary troubles faced by the people of Joseon.There are also some people who don't mind their own business but the only work they do is to blabber their mouth and make sarcastic comments on people who hadn't done anything wrong to them or to the society. It only because of the hypocrites and stereotypes existing in our society. Especially because of the bad and dirty politics played in one's nation like aa we know, India is famous for it in the World .
Taking about the Princess and Choi .. I feel sympathy for them as they have to go through many difficulties in their lives although they were innocent people. False charges made on choi and his father who were honest and upright to the king. Same thing happens nowadays in democracy too. The sufferings that the Princess went through by a minister who works for a king is a sad reality of today. Even though The King and the Queen Dowager both had permitted both the Choi and the Princess to marry why does the other people have problem with their marriage when the other people haven't given birth to them so do they own their lives or what?
The minister of finance and Chae In Gyoo has tortured the Princess and Choi both physically and mentally. They received back their karma as it is the law of Nature. They received their jealousy and hatred back by the Nature. But still the they both went through were those scars they never have forgotten in their lives even though the assailant got punished but what about the pain of the victim that they went through. The similar wasn't experienced by both of those assailant while getting punished.
Maximum people are selfish who takes advantage of other people who posses skills or knowledge. It's a reality su h selfish and self-centered minded people also exist in our society. Same thing is shown into this kdrama. Both the Princess and Choi possess some superficial and supernatural skills and knowledge which were taken advantage by the Minister of Finance and the Prince Heung. But both of them got punished as it was the gift of God only to those two people. So it's very obvious their they(selfish people) will get to their end by themselves by taking the advantage of God's gift given to the other few people.
The Royal Highness was the great and deserving queen to seated on the throne of Queen. She directed the Prince or the the king into the right direction by guiding him through some great books or her advice making Prince to take the right decision for the welfare of the People of the Nation. This is what we need in today's so called democratic countries especially where ministers and officers are corrupt. They are democratic for the name sake only killing innocent people who put them on their seats of minister by voting them.
As for romance, yes I like the Chemistry shown in the show between the Princess and Choi. I thought ending should never be a sad ending otherwise I don't want to watch such negative shows. The king and the Royal Highness were also great . The last scene where Choi appears was the most beautiful and emotional scene even though some might think how it was emotional? But after such sufferings from the beginning when the King and the Queen Dowager has already permitted them they met at the end of the show without any further troubles. I feel little bit sad for the suppressed Pincess King and the new king under corrupt ministers and the Prince Heung.
Music was excellent from the beginning whether we talk about the background instrumental music or the vocal music . Both the male and female singers were awesome and sounded melodious.
Aside from bad people or the negativity there were good people too. Like the barmaid, his brother and the Great Merchant Lady . They all were wise and polite and generous people who knew the reality of the authority and helped the Princess and the Choi according to their strength and knowledge. They let Choi and Princess to stay with them providing shelter to the victims of the dirty politics and also saved the innocent people of Joseon by providing shelter to the needy in her house. Protecting them against the brutality of the Corrupt Prince Heung who was blinded by revenge, jealousy and hatred for Choi and others resulting in adding the miseries and hardships of the suffering people.
They showed the trading relations between Korea, China and Russia which comes under the trading histroy of a particular place. Also the arrival of French missionaries in Korea resulting in new inventions taking place in a particular place in order to relieve people from their hardwork . But there are also some inventions like guns, cannons etc,., Which are harmful and disastrous for the mankind and humanity. It obstructs the happy and peaceful lives of the innocent hardworking people.
Overall, each character has portrayed their role perfectly whether they are the main characters or the supporting characters . Each of them has their own role which is important for the success of the show. Delegates from the China , traders from Ming were dressed perfectly . Costumes are as always designed perfectly whether the fabric used for the clothes is made up cotton, silk or wool. Especially Silk Hanbook and the Court gives the show a royal look.
At the end when we talk about the story, plot of the show, cast, cameramen, designers, background music, songs, singers, and other crew members were excellent in producing a good and heart touching show for the people.
This Korean drama has everything whether it's histroy, importance of Freedom and democracy, Good and bad politics played in the Court or in the democratic houses. Also at the same the beautiful story of romance of two two couples too.
Few questions like what happened to the little King and The Queen, The Queen Dowager and the Prince Heung were left unanswered. The Shows ends on the perfect note when people were ready to fight for the Freedom of their Nation and for living their peaceful lives happily without the interruption of the unknown negative people. A new Sunrise of Happy tomorrow can be seen in 1939 when World War 2 is going to begin.
Loved the Whole Production.
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Such a waste in the late Joseon era
In this drama, i didn't really understand the end, the story was confusing, why should a princess live outside the palace, how a man getting killed then came back? who saved him? There is really a poor management of the scenes, plus the relationship is bit weird between the fortune teller and lord heungson-gun. The only character that i understood is Chae in gae, the live that he chose to lead is because of his love obessed somewhere for the princess and his jealousy from his former friend choi chung jung, his death was a pain but respected when he came back to his sense and showed his pure love.Was this review helpful to you?
Wind, cloud and rain
The tale of nokdu
Queen for seven days
Rebel the thief who stole the people
Empress Ki
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