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Watch for Choong Ta and other amazing performances
I was enthralled from the beginning by the male/female characters of Choong Ta, played expertly by a veteran actress who is clearly enjoying the unusual characters. Funny, strange, not good nor evil - I think that would be my favorite character to play if given the chance.I have been surprised by the moments of true despair several characters have expressed and caused me to tear up in empathy. The entire first flashback opening sequence aside, I have gotten chills from the wails of pain from the ML and Ak Hee (each separately, though played by the same person), and the Eunuch crying for his briefly acquired “daughter” was possibly the saddest moment of all.
I think many of the poor reviews are from those who gave up near the beginning, assuming they understood where the story was going. I can honestly say that I’ve been surprised along the way. The plot twists are not groundbreaking in the genre, but they don’t play out predictably, nor do they follow traditional storylines. The fact that the ML let the FL leave the palace and trusted her to handle herself, despite worrying about her, was nice to see. And there’s no big attempts at misunderstandings, trying to convince each other that they don’t care in order so save each other.
Some of the side characters complications seem burdensome, like the queen and the bodyguard. There’s been no attempts to show that relationship develop or how deep it may or may not be. The father of the queen is also playing the cards so close to his chest that it makes it impossible to feel there could be a sense of resolution at the end because he’s clearly playing both sides all the way.
These “messy” elements are good red herrings that keep you guessing, however. It’s got enough palace drama to keep that crowd happy, and supernatural elements to keep that crowd happy. The only thing I wish there was more of is the push and pull of romance with Ak Hee and ML, maybe more confusion from FL about who is who or who she really loves. I think she made up her mind too clearly too soon. However, there needed to be a reason AkHee would refuse to come out and give ML a chance to bloom. So I understand that as well.
Overall, I think it’s worth a watch if you appreciate watching good actors dig deep and take chances in scenes.
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Better than I expected in the first half
When I read the summary I wasn't sure if I was going to watch this, the reviews and comments were mixed too but I decided I was going to watch the first episode and decide from there. I have seen the ML in Weak Hero Class and Flower Crew. He is a very talented actor and an unconventional one that doesn't fit into the standard KDrama actor mold. While they are both good looking, I find both the ML and FL don't fit into the conventional mold with their looks in standard Kdrama romance. I appreciate that because its more immersive for me as a viewer because I bought into their love story and felt it more so than if cookie cutter actors and actresses were in those roles.Is it a perfect story and perfectly executed? Nope. However, I appreciate the uniqueness it bought to the table in Asian dramas that tend to be littered with recycled themes. It was a big risk taken to tell a fantasy story of traumatized individuals in extraordinary circumstances where mental health issues and concepts of split personalities and PTSD are told in a fantasy setting with symbolism of the "evil spirit" representing the darkness in the human condition that resulted from trauma and abuse.
In the first half of the arc of the story, the Ak Hee evil spirit added a complex dimension in the story that showed his greed, seductive manipulation, impulsiveness, and ruthlessness of what he was willing to do because of the intensity of his feelings for the FL whether it be lust or a twisted version of love. The ML did a wonderful job portraying the light and dark sides with the push and pull within himself.
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Tudo é Fantasia
Hoje é o dia de se perder nas intrigas mágicas de Love Song For Illusion! Entre no mundo encantado onde o inusitado é a norma. Ak Hee, um psicopata adoravelmente destemido, está enfeitiçando nossos corações, enquanto o Príncipe Sajo Hyun é tão fofo . Sinto vontade de proteger esse príncipe em um potinho!Com a morte do Rei Mal, o caos persiste com o Grande Príncipe Sajo Yung lutando pelo trono e a ambiciosa Princesa Herdeira pronta para qualquer coisa para se tornar rainha . Kyera, em busca de vingança, agora se encontra no epicentro de um triângulo amoroso envolvendo o Príncipe Sajo Hyun e o intrigante "espírito maligno" ou personalidade Ak Hee. E como se isso não bastasse, sua verdadeira identidade foi revelada, colocando sua vida em risco.
Em Love Song For Illusion, prepare-se para uma montanha-russa de emoções, onde o destino de Kyera se entrelaça com segredos e paixões intensas. Não perca esse espetáculo de fantasia que vai te deixar ansioso por mais!
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An Acquired Taste
I am usually a read the synopsis then decide if I am going to watch a show and I must say I actually ignore this first but the I run out of shows to watch and decided to start this drama.So far, I am really liking this title and was looking forward for new episodes. I must say that characters need more development though. Also, this gives me the “Moon in the day” vibe with the revenge plot but then again as I say an acquired taste. It is not bad as what they say. I have been into Chinese (Wuxia/Xanxia) drama because of the fight scenes and so far this show has good stunts and fighting scenes.
I am really loving Park Ji Hoon here, the way he potrays his dualities in character is on point. The ML and FL chemistry are good as well.
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Emotional turmoil and visuals
Well, I liked it. I gave it 9. ML absolutely grat acting and being able to play two characters interchangably... convincing. What I liked a lot were costumes. In comparison to other period dramas, these had quite a modern take in it and I loved it. There is no need to be true to historic elements to a tee when presenting such a mistic world. And if I could address some of the comments in here on people skipping, or find it dragging, or repetitive with two identities switching, or.... I felt it was needed. Evil spirit needed time to move through his eveilness, falling in love, unrequited love, obsessing, trying to survive and live and keep K... all was needed to justify the end. As the main lead needed time to grow in strength, both mental and in a role of king without beeing opressed by his late father, and fix all his father's wrong doings, which he felt deeply ever since beeing a kid. Give this drama a go. Skip if you need to. I did. Most shaman stuff and the role they played in MLs growth were not of interest to me. I understand they were needed but to me the love and the sense of right vs wrong is what helped him overcome his weaknesses.Was this review helpful to you?
Exciting Story with very good main actors
This is one of the greatest shows I have ever seen. The story is really exciting itself, but the actors are on another level. Park Ji Hoon and Hwang Hee captivate me in a way I haven't experienced in a long time.I read the webtoon, so the story is not new for me, but even so it is so thrilling to see these figures alive.
I highly recommend this show. If you have the chance, read the webtoon: "Live is an empty illusion, ....., live is but an empty dream". Sigh !!!
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Interesting premise ruined by sloppy writing
Frankly, I'm glad this is over and it definitely will not linger in my mind unlike more substantial dramas.The dual personality problem promised psychological depth which in the end didn't get explored deeply enough. I was expecting a lot of character growth to take place but it didn't happen.
I enjoyed the first episodes but somewhere around ep 6 the plot went haywire, sidetracked from the main characters and got rather nonsensical tbh. What I liked most is PJH's acting (of course). Also liked the very strong FL lead: more of this type pls! Hwang Hee's acting in the last ep showed an amazing range of emotions. Hopefully his next role is not a villain role. The queen character was unlikeable all the way. The more a drama has purely unlikeable characters the less I tend to enjoy it. It would have been more interesting if Yeon Wol's warrior protectors (Wind Knife) had had a bigger role in the drama. Almost nothing was portrayed about their aims. What was shown came too late, in the last episodes.
The court scheming and politicking was boring. In a purely fictional drama, why give it such a big role. All in all, the psychology of Sajo Hyun / Ak Hee got only a superficial treatment. The damn shaman was a main character when a small support role would have sufficed. No offense to the actress who did great like she always does. 7/10
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A Refreshing Historical Drama with Minor Flaws
Love Song for Illusion completely drew me in, leading me to finish the entire series in two days. I haven't yet explored the webtoon it's based on, so my experience with the drama was uncoloured by any expectations or comparisons. This fresh perspective impressed me, and I'm now eager to read the webtoon to delve further into the narrative.This drama stands out for its meticulous attention to detail and its notably unique plot within the historical genre, offering a breath of fresh air with its innovative approach. However, I did notice a period in the middle where the storyline seemed to loop back on itself, creating a sense of redundancy. Despite this minor hiccup, the plot's originality and the engaging twists kept me hooked, proving it's a rare find in the realm of historical dramas. It is an exceptional series that marries a compelling story with rich details, making it a highly recommended watch for both genre enthusiasts and those looking for something new and captivating.
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Good Enough
Korean Drama '' Love Song For Illusion '' is a fantasy historical melodrama.The story is okay at first, with the two personalities being displayed brilliantly. The political drama was nice and smooth as well, with enough plot twists to keep things thrilling till the next episode.
Things went downhill after the first half, however. The romance was rocky, especially since the love triangle was not handled well. Also, the political drama got boring and cringey with the cheesy tropes that they used.
Finally, the performances were enjoyable.
So, overall, five out of ten.
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