King the Land (2023)

A Mixed Bag of Emotions: "King the Land" Review

Going into "King the Land," I was filled with anticipation, ready to dive into what appeared to be a promising drama. However, as I watched it unfold, my initial excitement gave way to disappointment. The show's plot, while having a sweet premise, left much to be desired. While it eventually wraps up with a cute ending, the journey leading up to it felt uneventful and lacked depth.

One redeeming quality of "King the Land" is the stellar acting by the main leads. Their performances are commendable, displaying chemistry that makes their characters' romance feel genuine. Unfortunately, the characters themselves come across as disappointingly basic and generic. It's a letdown to see such talented actors relegated to roles that don't offer them much depth or development.

Where "King the Land" truly shines is in the second lead couple of Oh Pyung Hwa and Lee Ro Woon. Their love story stands out as the highlight of the show. In fact, their dynamic and chemistry are so compelling that it almost feels like they should have been the main leads of the series. The moments shared by this secondary couple are not only sweet but also filled with a depth that the main storyline sorely lacks.

Overall, "King the Land" left me with mixed feelings. While it had the potential for a captivating plot and boasted some impressive performances, it fell short in its execution. The second lead couple, Oh Pyung Hwa and Lee Ro Woon, added a much-needed spark to the drama, making me wish that their story had been given more prominence. In the end, "King the Land" is a bittersweet experience, where a promising premise and talented actors are let down by a lackluster plot and underdeveloped main characters.

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Not Good Enough

Korean Drama " King The Land " is a romantic comedy with two strong leads.

The drama has a smooth start, with a story that brings back nostalgic feelings for the old Korean romantic comedies that ruled the last decade and even before that. The romance is sweet and the banter between the leads is adorable and entertaining. The friendship was also an enjoyable factor.

However, everything went downhill when the two leads got together, which happened early on. Thus, the drama was left to deal with romantic dates, traveling abroad, and some family drama, which at least kept things interesting here and there but was too predictable to be able to save the drama.

Other than the boring plot, however, the performances kept being strong, and the main couple had chemistry.

So, overall, two and a half out of ten.

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Definition of Chemistry will never be the same

I have not one complaint about this show. I can't even believe I'm saying that.

Look, it's not Dr. Zhivago, Gone with the Wind, or the Godfather. It's a rom-com that hits every point for me. Sometimes you don't want a full, heavy meal. You just want something light to eat and relax. Is the plot thin? Well, KTL is a magazine, not a novel. And magazines have their place too. KTL is light, funny, sexy, romantic and sweet, with two stars that know how to play off each other. It's perfect escapism. And it avoids all the Kdrama tropes: No birth secrets, no secret adoptions, no amnesia, no White Truck of Doom, no relative killing another's family member, etc.

Product placement? In spades. Find me a Kdrama (especially on KBS) that doesn't. But it's beautifully lit, staged, filmed, and the locations are surreal - think how beautiful the Thailand and England scenes were. And Yoona & Junho have re-written the concept of chemistry. We know their history IRL, which makes it even more special. Their scenes are so electric at times it could power Downtown Seoul. For me, nothing will ever come close to them as a couple. They are the new Gold Standard.

There's just enough villain to go around, but, and this is something that the current KBS series could learn from (I'm looking at you, TRHC & AOME writers) the biggest point to me is how well our leads COMMUNICATE. No deep secrets held for long, they talk out their problems, and nothing is held back.

This series is my Happy Place I've run to during the angst of TRHC. I can't even count how many times I've seen the last 2 episodes. It's ENTERTAINMENT, folks. That's all. And it's 10/10 on that aspect for me.

Count me in on those wanting a Season 2. I want to see how these 2 and their supporting cast tackle the challenges ahead (her running Hotel Amor while balancing being his wife, future family life, etc). I think they can come up with one more season of things for all of them to do. Hell, I could watch them playing Monopoly, frankly, and be pleased.

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Fluffy Cute CEO Romance with no plot!!!

ML Gu Won is a heir of a Hotel chain owner and head manager of the Hotel, ofc he has his share of childhood trauma eventually fell for a beautiful staff SaRang (FL).
This is a typical CEO romance, both leads are visual treats. extraordinary screenplay, has beautiful vacation, date nights, nice kisses and amusement park scenes.
If you liked CEO romance like Secretary Kim or Business proposal then it's a must watch for you.

Now if we look into the story, the love between the leads are just perfect but there are many flaws if we look into peripheral things like the ML is achieving things one after another but never showed him actually working. While he is in hotel, either he is busy thinking about SaRang or running after her. He won the political game yet they never showed that he is well connected with other board members. On what basis he is achieving success is not clear.

same goes with the past trauma of ML. His mother just left and comes back years later and things get normal just like that. I mean there should have been more to overcome his trauma but they dint pay much attention to it.

The sister is unnecessarily cruel, however her kid is super cute I enjoyed his interaction with Sarang.

What I enjoyed in this show?
Sarang! She is just like a sunshine spreading happiness with beautiful smile. she is hard working and eventually she realised her dream.
She is strong and her love towards Gu Won is beautifully presented in the show.

The granny of Sarang, ofc she is the best Halemoni of kdrama and here also she just outdid her role.


The makers paid much attention to Sarang's personal growth in the story but kinda ignored (or you can spent less time on) Gu Won's charecter development.

Sarang's friend who's husband is a cheater never get the justification of her situation. she is independent she could have moved on from that toxic family yet they wrapped up her story super fast, this part is pretty annoying!! if the makers can't rectify a toxic story, why bother showing it!!!
the roommate (airhostess)kinda get silver lining so I was happy for her.

however this is supposed to be a fluffy romcom and everyone gets a happy ending, the screenplay is beautiful so we as an audience are expected to be happy at the ending and that all it matters!! But wait does that mean there won't be any original approach!!!

Do i like ceo romance? goddam yes!!
Do I re-watch CEO romance dramas? absolutely yes!
Would I re-watch this one? - ummmm few particular episodes may be!!

P. S - I looooveee the ost though 💜

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It's not worth watching

I don't understand the trajectory the script was supposed to take, first the FL wanted to work in the hotel when she grew up but then has a change of heart towards the end of the drama. The romance between the main leads was too rushed and the characters lacked proper character development throughout the drama. The ML's sister could not convince me that she really hated her brother. The story involving the ML's mother isn't fully explored to the viewers satisfaction. I feel in love with the FL's grandmother she was really sweet. The drama was a let down in my opinion, especially due to the fact that it had the best actors in the industry, it's a pity their talents were not fully utilised. It's watchable if you skip a lot of unnecessary scenes. I appreciate the drama for it's depiction of friendship in a positive light.

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clichés are cute but no character development for FL, no-brainer watch

I am an avid romcom watcher and I love my clichés but after seeing this, I don't think it was worth the 16 hours I spent in the span of the 2 months it aired. I came here after seeing their cover of Señorita and their chemistry there was oozing! If only they had a more mature concept cuz they are grown late 20s/early 30s. The build up of the kissing scenes were just meh. It's not explosive and steamy. It's a good watch for children.
The last episodes were hasty. The sister was always fighting over the inheritance with ML and he expressed he didn't care about it but in order to be able to protect someone, he must have power. This seemed like it was just handed to him by his father because from the get-go, the father didn't want the sister to become the president of King Hotel.
Honestly, if they dug deeper in the sister Hwa-ran's story it would be more interesting how she became a "villain." She witnesses her father remarry and have a family with ML and his mom. Only for the ML's mom to disappear into thin air. It would be so cool to know their background and dynamics. If Hwa-ran was just pettily fighting her stepmother.
But no, they focused on Cheon Sa-rang who aside from dating a jerk before Gu-won, pretty much is a really good person. There's nothing to work with because she seems PERFECT. Nothing to nitpick in terms of character development because she seems to have it put together. In the end, she gets her grandmother's savings and starts a hotel of her own in 1 episode.
The OST was cute but once you play it too many times, it gets tiring.
If they did a historical fantasy, I would have dug that. If they did a modern day romance it would be so cool if they did 2 idols dating e/o. I was expecting something like W:Two Worlds were they didn't shy away from skinships as it felt more intense and "age-appropriate" for the actors. They also had to do the fiancee cliche with the girl saying she'll do anything to have Gu-won. I was actually sad she gave up too easily.
In real life, people just don't give up like that with one conversation. Same is true for Hwa-ran.
The actors HAVE talent but the script is so meh. If you want a no-brainer stress free watch go for it.
People compare it to Business Proposal and What's Wrong with Secretary Kim? but those 2 executed it better. This one not so much.

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Nothing new offered

I know the male lead Junho as an actor not as an K-pop idol he was an intense actor in Just Between lovers drama. This drama doesn't do justice to his acting skills.

The female lead Yoona Iam not a fan of her neither as an idol nor as an actor. I really don't like her acting. Being beautiful doesn't mean you are a good actor though I don't think that she is the one of the most beautiful idols.

The story Cdrama viewers would have seen multiple dramas with the same plot. There is nothing new to offer but at the same time it dint provide the enough excitement while watching.Same old story Rich man/poor woman cliche.

I really don't understand the concept that how only the friends of the FL tend to get hell amount of problems in their professional life. The FL characterization is the worst. The sister of the ML there is no proper ending to her.

Nothing exciting!!

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Mediocre and problematic with a big shiny budget

This is my first ever review but this series rubbed me in all the wrong ways and i had to ramble a little to get the bad taste of it out of my mouth. Sorry in advance if it’s a long one.
KTL started sweet and refreshingly enough albeit a cliche and it was comforting food for the soul but then it seriously downhill for me for a multitude of reasons and i’m not even gonna get into the whole Arab prince debacle which was done very badly and offended a lot of people.

Before getting to the thick of it i have to give some points for the production value, cinematography and OST but with a lack of solid script it didn’t achieve much.
The camaraderie in the friend group and the support they had for each other was one of the few redeeming things about this show.
It also realistically depicted the service industry and the abuse workers have to endure on a daily basis.
The intimate scenes were done well but steam even a lot of it does not a worthwhile series make.

One of my main issues is like literally how is the sister the bad guy?
What is it with kdramas and misogyny?
Women can be good and competent but not in real positions of power?
How many successful female CEOs have you seen in any kdrama that wasn’t a scheming evil rival of the protagonist who probably had a nervous breakdown by the end of the series and got what was coming for her?
The sister has worked hard all her life and is managing a big company with different departments, is successful and smart, rightly has acknowledged Sarang’s worth and good work since the beginning and justly promoted her multiple times but then because of her spoiled brother who by the way I haven’t seen any sign of actually working or appreciating his status, is not worthy of becoming the CEO of the company she has worked her whole life for?
Guwon gets a seat at the table out of nowhere just because of his father and gets opportunities at every turn again because of his father but his sister has to fight for her position and honestly her decisions are consistent with that of a true leader not a do gooder.
I don’t care about her rotten personality, her beef with her brother or anything that’s not business wise cause in that regard she’s more than capable and qualified as hell and Guwon certainly is not and this show is questioning her management skills solely on the basis of her personal life. It wouldn’t be a classic kdrama if we don’t have an evil female antagonist.

And for a show which was supposed to be anti nepotism, it did a very poor job. How many times has Sarang enjoyed privileges not provided to any of her coworkers because of her relationship with Guwon? It’s really awful and it cheapens her good work ethics specially the amazing thailand trip courtesy of the company owner’s son attended by said undeserving son.
I understand that Sarang’s character is supposed to be gentle and calming but this paradox of an independent modern working woman and a damsel in distress in constant need of saving from the hero was ridiculous.
She doesn’t have a mean bone in her body and treats everyone nice and fair.
You can’t have your cake and eat it too. Grow a backbone sister it’s 2023.

And let’s be honest, when has working in the service industry been about dreams of making people happy and smile?
Ep 11 felt like a very long sermon by a preacher preaching the many benefits of working your ass off helping others as a noble and good deed which reality check reconfirms is only about cashing your paycheck at the end of the month and making ends meet since literally in the history of time no one has served anyone for the sheer joy of it.
Any improvement in Guwon personality and perspective comes directly from his interactions with Sarang and it’s like he had never seen or comprehend before that there were people who worked in the service industry and got things done for him.
He treats these so called new discoveries as groundbreaking like how blind and clueless were you before true love found you?
With a big budget and enormous sponsors (the very unsubtle product placements get a lot of screen time and oohs and awws) they could’ve done a much better job but alas it was mediocre and repetitive.

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!!!OVERRATED!!! , all HYPE because of the CAST.

I've watched this drama because of all the hype surrounding it. I watched it while it was airing.
I've never been a big Yoona fan and haven't seen any drama with Junho before so I've kept my expectations low. That was good for me, because it was dragged on.

CONS / what i disliked:
- i think cliche rom-coms shouldn't be too dragged on. 16 eps were too much.
- i didn't like that every single ep had KISSING SCENES. i mean it was ok, but when there are too many you kinda lose the excitement.
- the flight attendant couple was 100 times better, while sarang and gu won felt a little rushed and idk TACKY/cringey
- some characters were horribly annoying
- i don't know what kind of boss gu won is but he seemed to do everything but work
-random events that felt like filler events: arab prince, thailand trip - they tried to make the drama not seem boring by adding so many events and "action" but it was MESSY ngl
-fake leads, idk they seemed a lil to FAKE for me? don't get me wrong i loved Business PROPOSAL and What's Wrong With SECRETARY KIM- cliche rom-coms, but idk something felt like a LIL TOO MUCH for me
-it felt PATHETIC how the BAD COWORKERS became her best friends overnight

PROS/what i liked:
- again, flight attendant couple>>>
-sarang's grandmother
-sarang's friendship with the girls

Easy to forget, overrated, all hype because of the cast.
NOTE: I know I've said I've never been a big Yoona fan, but this doesn't mean I don't like her. She just isn't one of my favourites. So don't mix my words.

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Just what I needed

I was hesitant to start this because it appeared they hated each other and there would be a lot of conflict. But, although there was some friction in the beginning, it was all due to a misunderstanding and pain from his past. The story was beautiful. I loved all the actors, down to the grandma, lazy husband, and even the clueless ex-boyfriend. Someone said there was nothing to wait for. I disagree. The conniving step-sister’s change, the hilarious friend and lazy husband’s resolution, the flight attendant and her admirer, the unjust treatment of the employees, the mother that disappeared and what happened and why, and where the leads would take us.

This series was entertaining, heartwarming, emotional, funny, steamy, and, most importantly, made me happy. The leads had so much chemistry. I never felt they were acting. I really loved this series so much!

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Overhyped

Honestly cannot tell what went wrong with this drama but.... I was excited when I saw the cast. I have to admit the visuals are there, friendship, chemistry but .... not sure where it started to fall off, maybe episode 8? And then watching this drama started to become a chore..

Story
Another romcom, feels like business proposal with the whacky characters and humour. Didn't mean to compare the two but if anything, Business Proposal was done better. I'm okay with cliches and stereotypical ceo-cinderella romance but something about this drama is just boring. I started to find the main couple cringey and even started skipping their parts. I know I'm not the only one when I say this (my friends feel the same) but the air stewardess' romance is better, more heart-fluttering.

Acting/Cast
Like i mentioned above, the cast was well-chosen. Yoona and JunHo are both good idol-turned-actors and the others in the friend group also do their part to make the show interesting.

Music
Quite nice but I must admit I don't remember any OST from this drama...

Overall
This drama has a very strong start that makes you want to continue watching but do be warned, you may start to feel bored just as I did. I was so bored that I put off watching the last 2 episodes of the drama for a while... low-key wanted to drop it at that point.

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