King the Land

Falling For The Boss

Review:

Leads: Leads have chemistry maybe because of their collaborations over the years or that they both have always been entertainers. I also think they are the same age as well, which makes it even better.
Now, I can put them together in real life and not just as K-pop stars, actors, and etc. Just look up their performances from not long ago and I think one from almost a year ago. Credit-MBC World.

Actors: The support roles seem to have good stories going as well and they are not skip-worthy. One friend will experience new love. One friend is married to a bum. They all suffer at the hands of superiors or seniors at work. But, much later they will get their resolutions that will lead to their happy ending.

Story: This is a good story but I can say I am mainly here for the leads. It’s not the best story but it’s fair enough to continue.
It’s cute, funny, and adorable. The actors bring this story to life. Some stories could have C-list actors as leads but as long as the plot and execution were great, it would be a hit and the actors would become well-known. This is the polar opposite. It’s not the best story but the actors make it worthwhile. Hopefully, the later episodes change my views.

Added: This romcom is like any other romcom known to the audience that involves Kdrama writers. Let's not pretend that drastic changes in writing patterns are always welcomed. That could totally end up as a failure. Writers have tried time and time again to step out and experiment with their writing only to be told by the audience it sucks. I can’t blame them for being cautious.
Is there a family rival? Yes.
However the twist is in his mom’s death and that his half sister deemed her a nobody.
Is there a boss and subordinate relationship? Yes.
Is there a comparison with other Netflix dramas? NO. Well, aside from a hotel chain in my 19th Life, the buck stops there.
Is there a rich heir falling for someone of a lower class? Yes.
There will always be rivalry, antagonist, family drama and a couple falling in love Cinderella style in this style of writing. However, that’s why most of us love them. We don’t escape to entertainment involving romance to see harsh reality. We escape to be entertained and shift our hearts from the reality of the world. When you watch a horror do we say they always get killed and someone always murder the monster? No. We just watch the same style writing over and over because we enjoy it. There will always be an introduction, rising, climax, falling and resolution in writing. Those are the key components. Pride and Prejudice has the same style with the Cinderella falling in love with the rich heir but we love it just the same. Fifty shades of Grey had a rich heir. Memoirs of a Geisha had a rich man saving the damsel in distress sold off by her father to save the sick mother who passed anyway. We have seen it a thousand times but we love romance and understand.
JMO

Rewatch: I would watch again but as of now it wouldn’t be often.

OST: Seems fitting.

Elephant in the room:
South Korea has tried hard to pull away from those older production writing styles from decades ago. They are trying more modernized approaches and views for a global audience but it's sometimes a hit or miss. Episode 7-8 My takeaway was a spoiled rich kid who loved women and money. Half of the entertainment world portrays most of the rich in such a negative way. I will hand it to Koreans, you guys can laugh at yourselves and think that we all can and I wish that were the case.
I do appreciate that they are really trying to reach more audience members. If whatever country, race, or culture involved takes offense to something they deemed inappropriate, racist, or xenophobic, then they do have a right to that. Also I think Netflix has a streaming session for some of their movies, shows they create if not all. I’m sure it will be a learning experience for all involved.

Happy Viewing🫰🏾

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Formulaic Love Story that Falls Flat

This floated up to the top in the Netflix global rankings so it got my interest, I also have seen the ML in Red Sleeve which he exceled in his role. If you want a light romance comedy that pretty much sticks to the typical tried and true KDrama formula of rich handsome chaebol and commoner but special girl who catches chaebol's attention, then this is it. Nothing about it stood out for me, it was just tried and true recycled themes assembled together in a new KDrama.

The ML is a rich chaebol heir who has a weird competitive relationship with his step mother and he hates fake smiles. Typical cold inaccessible chaebol KDrama male lead. The FL is innocent doe eyed multi-talented girl next door who gets hand picked for her job as a gym equipment butt sweat cleaner until she gets promoted to the hotel desk lobby and eventually by the side of Mr. Rich Hotel Chaebol. Their initial meeting is full of misunderstandings and for some reason she is sooooo NICE to everyone except him who she mixes up as a Pervert. The FL's personality not the actress herself isn't too interesting, she's just Nice.

I started to get bored by the fourth episode, they need to add some color and complexity to the characters and to the story line. Perhaps it might get better but don't think I will continue with this and will sit this out for later episodes.

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Good drama, but.....

I can see why this drama had mixed reviews. I'm enjoying it so far, but one thing I find frustrating is the class disparity in the workplace. The higher ups treat the subordinates as trash and give them Little respect. And this goes down the chain from the very top to the bottom. I was shocked when that head person drank up the coffee drink of the subordinate and then proceeded to do the same with the manager. And also made a snide remark about why she shouldn't be drinking it. I can see why the ML is frustrated by his half sister and the way she has little regard for the employees and everything is about making money. Even when the ML asks his father have you ever rescued just one person. And his father replied with something like people are preoccupied with making money as if to imply that making money takes priority over saving one individual's life. My question is does this really happen in Korea and is this drama based on reality in terms of how the workplace is run? Or is there is a bit of fiction here for drama's sake? At any rate, will continue watching it as I do like the two leads and I appreciate some of the side stories like the grandma.

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Racism

All i need to say that any director or show who thinks they can make fun of us you are wrong , we are not a subject to make fun of and make such a controversial characters and scenes about us as a Muslim and an arab this is such an obvious offensive thing especially that it’s directed to Saudi people so my message try to fix your problem instead of trying to create one in our community and culture respect us and you will get respected don’t u ever try to represent us in such an offensive way if it ever happens to black peoples or anyone else you would apologize in such fast statement even if you didn’t mean it but with us you use our language and our culture in such time when you can just search up if it offends anyone and you still used it so mind it if it ever happened again we will take care of it for u

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Their chemistry

I wasn’t so sure if I wanted to watch this drama at first but I gave it a chance and definitely don’t regret it! The acting from both leads and supporting actors is so good. Junho and Yoona’s chemistry is literally phenomenal and ep8 definitely proved it. Their kiss was chef kiss 🤌 It wasn’t awkward like so many kisses in kdramas, if anything it was one of the best kiss scenes I’ve seen in a kdrama before. Each episode never fails to make laugh. One of my favorite scenes was with the cop who gave Guwon (Junho) relationship advice. I look forward for the next episodes to come, Saturday and Sunday please come already 😩‼️

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just not for me

Since this show was really talked about and had really good reviews. People raved about the chemistry between the leads so I decided to tune it. However, it didn't keep me engaged, so i stopped watching it. I planned on giving this show another chance but then the racist and offensive part became news and i found out about it and just made me lose my interest. Huge fan of Junho but I'm not vibing with Yoona's acting. Love her but girly acting is just not for me. I just don't think this show will be my cup of tea, I've seen quite a few other clips but it was just not dragging me in.

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Had to stop watching because I didn’t want to end up disliking Jun Ho. Junho is a phenomenal actor, and I was really looking forward to the light romance, especially because his last project was so emotionally draining, but King The Land was a major disappointment. The plot, the acting by the rest of the cast, the superficial characters and the bland premise and plot line. A lot of the story was just scene that were forced in for the viewer to simply admire. The visuals alone weren’t enough for me. The female friendships that should have been a strong point of the story were meh too. It felt like I was watching a drama that was decades older and hadn’t really kept up with time. I get that it was a romcom but please, have some respect for the viewers and give us something actually cute and heartwarming instead of this brain cells killing drama.

I wouldn’t recommend this to anyone,

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uhmm not for me

To be honest, the first episode of this drama was nearly unbearable to watch. It felt incredibly awkward, with attempts at humor that ultimately fell flat. The comedic scenes came off as forced, and I found myself cringing more than laughing. I mean, that awkward silence during Cheon Sa Rang’s interview? It lingered so long that I honestly thought my Wi-Fi was acting up!

The second episode was an improvement over the first, but I still didn’t develop any strong feelings about it. While the pacing picked up slightly, the issues persisted, especially with the forced comedy.

One of my biggest pet peeves is how the main leads always seemed to “accidentally” end up in the same place at the same time. For instance, in one scene, they stood just two meters apart in a hotel lobby, only to walk away simultaneously for the sake of a slow-motion effect. Then there was that moment in the park, where they were once again only a few meters apart, gazing at the same city skyline. Why that park? Is it supposed to hold some significance? There are plenty of other vantage points to enjoy the skyline! And let’s not forget the balcony scene where they were miraculously standing outside their hotel rooms at the same time.

This kind of plot device feels incredibly outdated. I could tolerate it if it happened occasionally, but not every episode.

As for the characters, I can’t offer much insight since I only watched three episodes. However, based on what I’ve seen so far, they haven’t left a lasting impression on me.

Sadly, this drama just doesn’t work for me. But if you find enjoyment in it, I’m genuinely happy for you!

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Heal Your Heart!

This series has my heart so emotional started with the 1st episode and got me hooked and watched all the way.
The way they delivered this series plus the romance it was amazing.
It has special place in my heart. Would recommend worth every second while watching this.

"King the Land" is a delightful romantic comedy that effortlessly captivates the heart. It's a perfect blend of humor, heartwarming moments, and a touch of fantasy. The drama's engaging storyline, coupled with stellar performances, creates a truly immersive viewing experience.

The chemistry between the lead actors is undeniable. Their on-screen portrayal of love, friendship, and family is both endearing and inspiring. The supporting cast also delivers commendable performances, adding depth and nuance to the narrative.

The show's beautiful cinematography and stunning locations further enhance the overall viewing experience. The attention to detail in the production design is evident in every scene.

"King the Land" is a must-watch for anyone seeking a feel-good drama that leaves a lasting impression. It's a reminder that love can conquer all, and that even the most unlikely of pairings can lead to the most beautiful of stories.

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A Love Story Through and Through!

What I appreciated most about King the Land was its refreshing take on typical Kdrama tropes. So many dramas lean on angst, long-drawn misunderstandings, or toxic behavior disguised as romance. But here, the story largely avoided that. Conflicts between the leads were resolved quickly, and once the ML realized his feelings (pretty early on), he was all in. He never wavered, never toyed with other people’s feelings, and consistently protected the FL. That commitment made watching their love story feel both healthy and deeply satisfying.

I’ll admit, in the first few episodes I really didn’t like the ML. He came across as a complete jerk with little in the way of redeeming qualities, and I worried the drama was headed straight into the typical chaebol trope. But to my surprise, the show did a phenomenal job with his character development. Over time you can see he is a genuinely caring and sweet person, and his willingness to evolve into a better man because of love felt genuine and earned. Watching the ML’s transformation was one of the highlights of the drama to me.

The corporate machinations were there, but never overshadowed the romance. Even the redemption arcs had a decent payoff without dragging the tone into unnecessary heaviness. Supporting characters like the grandmother, the ML’s nephew, and the FL’s friends gave warmth and humor that rounded out the story.

The chemistry between the leads was undeniable, the kisses are real, and affection is what you would expect for two grown adults who are deeply in love. At its core, this was a drama that stayed true to its purpose: a sweet, wholesome, love story that avoids red flags, breakups, or manipulative “love games”. It’s light, romantic, and swoon-worthy. Not every show needs twists and complicated plots. Sometimes, watching two people love each other openly and steadfastly is exactly what the heart needs.

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King The Land: A land free of toxicity

Alright, I'll admit it: sometimes I pick a drama based on all the buzz, and other times, I skip one for the very same reason. This time, though, I decided to ignore the noise and dive in myself. I was fresh off the emotional rollercoaster of "Love in Flames of War" which was quite the ride and then had a much-needed laugh with "The Forbidden Marriage." So, I was looking for a little balance, or maybe just a healthy dose of Chaebol drama.

A Fresh Take on an Old Story

This a simple story, one we've definitely seen before. But this writer gave it a neat little twist. Our Chaebol lead is actually the son of a second wife, and he doesn't really care about the family fortune. His mom used to be a servant, so he’s got a heart of gold and a mission: to help people working at the same level his mother did. This part of the story, I thought, really gave the drama some soul. To do that, he needs power, and getting that power means going head-to-head with his super greedy sister, who'll stop at nothing to keep him from taking anything. Despite a tough childhood being left by his mom, kept his nose clean. He's one smart cookie, even if he looks like he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth.

The acting? As you'd expect from seasoned K-drama actors, it was solid. The visuals? Very visualizing. The supporting cast did an amazing job, and the friendship between the female lead and her best friends was seriously enviable, they really stuck by her. The fan favourite 2ML Mr. No, the male lead's assistant, stole the show with his comedic timing, delivering every line with such smoothness, and his loyalty was top-notch.

The relationship between the leads was beautifully done. They solved everything with open communication and decided from day one that they were meant to be. No silly breakups, no toxic in-laws, no crazy friends meddling.

Overall, it's a very watchable drama. It might not be one I replay endlessly or gets stuck in my head forever, but it was definitely a good watch.

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