Too many episodes, not enough material
This isn't isolated to just this drama. Story was good but they ran out of material by the 10th episode and fluffed up the show with pointless story arcs and unnecessary elongations like long stares into the screen. It makes what would have been an enjoyable show painful.This 500 word requirement is so pointless.
This 500 word requirement is so pointless
This 500 word requirement is so pointless
This 500 word requirement is so pointless
This 500 word requirement is so pointless
This 500 word requirement is so pointless
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A second chance on life and and a captivating romance transcending time
This is one of those dramas that suck you in immediately and so heavily, that you start to worry about being disappointed in the end. But you're not. Because it holds its promises till the end.Time travel is a popular theme in dramas and the variety of plots is immense. Here it's a queen in Joseon sentenced to death but suddenly waking up in modern days. Finding a second chance on life, she grabs it, only to discover that history is repeating itself, confronting her with the same threats she already had to face in her past life. Amidst the chaos, she meets her "nemesis", the ML, a coldhearted, domineering blockhead.
What makes the drama so entertaining is its strong cast that carries a quite well written story. Captivating performances of Im Ji Yeon, Heo Nam Jun and Jang Seung Jo make the plot work so well and create the true heart of the story. While Im Ji Yeon is outstanding with her play of a Joseon queen conquering modern routines and forcing her ancient means on others while "socialising" and "adapting" in her own manner in an extremely entertaining way, Heo Nam Jun creates a real good counterpart, unwillingly encountering her and her ways again and again, constantly loosing his composure over her, going against his principles all the time and afterwards questioning himself unbelievably, while unconsciously and helplessly falling for her deeper and deeper. And once accepting it all, he doesn't budge or shy away from his feelings, no matter what peculiar or disappointing things she did again. He's giving her room, he's never forcing her. And he accepts all her weirdness. The romance feels mature, you get your funny/silly moments and it still feels authentic, not over the top - even with the FLs unexpected antics. You notice the slight changes in their behaviour but they stay true to their very own treats from the beginning to end - esp. Im Ji Yeon and her Joseon speech. I appreciated that a lot because their initial bickering and all their early fired up interactions were what made you drawn to the couple in the first place. Their chemistry was on another level.
Jang Seung Jo is one of my favorite actors. He's got a real good acting quality, always giving it all and man, he's great at playing a two-faced, venomous snake. Yet the script manages to not making him out to be a plain villain, but actually gives him a soft spot as well. No matter, how black a heart, everyone needs a driving force in the first place.
What surprised me on a side-note was the grandfather. I always had my suspicions, but damn, they secretly rolled that out throughout the drama quite well. He might be one of the "good" ones, but I can't say that I liked all his ways.
When you look at the drama from above you find a lot of known tropes, yet it reinvents and makes them look more advanced, so you can fully enjoy them again.
If I had to wish for something, I would have liked it if they had shown a bit more about the past life. You get a lot of short scenes and can kinda put it together on your own which was well done. But a few more details for my own curiosity would have been great. I also admit I was a bit lost at the end, when they explained the actual reason for the time travel in the first place. But I might understand it when I think about it a bit longer though. Small personal issues here, but it doesn't lessen the overall entertainment of this commendable drama.
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Hyped and loud
I was very eagerly waiting for this show to telecast as Netflix tried pushing very hard on this, so far watched 4 episodes apart from first episode none of them had anything interesting after second episode , I had already lost the interest.I thought I will give another 2 episodes as kdramas are slow to pickup sometimes but nope, nothing interesting happening FL is too loud, ML is expression less
And backforth between past and present is too much mental overload
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This review may contain spoilers
Why did I start before it was finished?
Now I need to wait whole week for more episodes.It’s refreshing to watch a funny kdrama because it was written to be funny and because actors can deliver the material. Although I can not tell you “why” I find it so laugh out loud funny, even if my life depended on it. The humour is often so on the nose and campy, thus I fully understand it is not for everyone.
Besides the humour, I love the “slow burn” romance of this series, I understand and more crucially, Believe the mutual care and love the main characters feel for each other. I am extremely grateful to the writers and actors for this tasty morsel.
To balance the review out, I also wish to share my one annoyance about the story: the plot progression relies too heavily on miscommunication. I believe it goes against Shin Seo Ri’s character to hide from Cha Se Gye his brothers' scheming and threats (which are also becoming repetitive with the aunt and fiancee).
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This review may contain spoilers
THE enemies-to-lovers romcom
Finally, in the Lord's year of 2026, we finally have a Korean rom-com that ACTUALLY does both the romance and comedy right. Electric chemistry and a fast moving plot line with mind-bending twists that have you at the edge of your seat.The showstopper is the ML, Cha Se-Gye. It's been so long seeing the cold, arrogant CEO trope done right. Often times, they are straight-up assholes who are hyper-aggressive to prove their masculinity. Don't get me wrong, he's still an ass but NOT to her. I'm so soft for the ML is cold to everyone else but the FL cliche. And don't get me started on his eyes. The way he looked at her made me feel like I should be looking the other way. He's such yearner and his love language is definitely touch.
There was some doubt about the FL, since the actress fits the villain role so well. Lemme tell you, Seo-Ri blew it out of the park. Her vigor for justice and her energy to live life to the fullest is so well-done. She's such a lively character and it's no wonder Cha Se-Gye fell so hard for her.
The ending was also just so beautiful. I had low hopes since many dramas currently released has not been able to stick the ending. The finale is so important to me, it leaves such a bad taste when it's not done right. Thankfully, everyone's stories were wrapped so neatly and it truly was a happily ever after.
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Best Kdrama I’ve seen in years
I haven’t finished a Kdrama in years, but this one was totally worth it and drew me in from the first few episodes. If you are considering it, give it a try, I doubt you will regret it.This one had old Kdrama vibes in the best way possible, in terms of story, chemistry, comedy etc. Also, the kisses weren’t forced or boring. Everything was so natural between the leads. Whoever casted them did their BIG one. Two actors who are incredible at playing bad guys did indeed make perfect romantic leads together.
I seriously hope to see these leads reunite again someday! I know it’s more rare in Kdramaland (unlike Cdramas, or Thai dramas) but I sure hope they do one day! This chemistry was too good to only be in a 14-ep series.
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Falls short....
I was actually excited for this one because of the premise of the story.Unfortunately, I agree with one of the reviewers who gave it a 1.0. Her observations are very much the same as mine.
The FL supposedly travelled forward in time, and yet, the story failed to focus on her difficulties to adjust to a new time zone. Just 3 episodes in and she was almost completely settled in life in the future.
This alone was off putting for me. But if the producers chose not to focus much on this, then well, I will have to continue and see if the story will have any depth in the coming episodes.
The only good thing for me, is that the ML, is now being given the exposure after being a supporting cast for years.
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My royal disappointment
Honestly, this drama feels like a collection of recycled, kitschy clichés with very poor execution. The characters lack any sense of naturalism, they come off as exaggerated and caricatured, and the progression of events feels forced and unconvincing. Im Ji-yeon’s performance is disappointing, and the male lead feels particularly stiff, which doesn’t help the overall dynamic.I genuinely don’t understand the hype. There’s nothing new or compelling here, it’s entirely predictable. You can already guess the culprit and how everything will unfold. Watching characters who are supposed to be in their 30s or 40s act this immaturely, with over-the-top expressions and childish humor, is more cringeworthy than entertaining.
As for the typical SBS-style humor, it’s the same issue as always, it’s loud, forced, and completely unnatural, more focused on spectacle than substance. There’s no real depth, and at times, you can’t help but feel bad for the actors. The tonal shifts are also poorly handled, jumping abruptly from one mood to another. The comedy overwhelms everything else to the point where even the serious moments feel insignificant and impossible to take seriously.
The dialogue is equally shallow, and the story relies on an overused “enemies to lovers” trope, the classic arrogant, money-obsessed CEO who gets “changed” by a woman. It’s nothing we haven’t seen before, and it’s not executed in a compelling way here.
There’s also no real “wow” factor, and when I finish an episode, I don’t feel any urge to continue or see what happens next.
Overall, it just feels like a waste of talent, especially when it comes to the actress. I’ll pass.
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The entanglements of the past can pull you into your future with some smoke.
This series gave me what I needed it to give me: Magic, romance, and comedy.My Royal Nemesis starts off strong, giving us a perfect FL in a very interesting, and dare I say, messed-up situation. Because of it, we get thrust into the future where we meet our dashing ‘Male Lead’ Heo Nam-jun (who I ended up adoring in this role). When these two meet, it’s the perfect caustic and chaotic joining that lets you know fate can be a mo’fo sometimes and all the way right. It also gives that ‘Twin? Where have you been?‘ energy. 😂 I absolutely enjoyed these two individually in their roles and together. Both actors are known for playing the perfect villains in K-dramas, and to have them join in this series as potential love interests...it freaking worked for me!
This series will give you laughs, drama, and twists with an enjoyable soundtrack as well. The show title is a perfect descriptor for everything going on in this drama’s world; just know that, cus ooowee... 😑I have some beeffffffff with our series villain. While the co-protagonists sure did work my left and right eyelids. 😖
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Absolutely in love with this drama...perfect chemistry, acting..total joy
I am completely in love with this drama. Hooked from episode one all the way to the end—not a single boring episode. The storyline is incredibly engaging, blending present-day life with glimpses of past lives in a way that felt seamless and well-executed.The leads absolutely smashed their roles. Their chemistry? Fire. I was giggling and laughing out loud throughout. Watching their relationship evolve from something like enemies to lovers was such a joy—their interactions were fun, natural, and kept me smiling.
Ji Yeon's performance is outstanding. I loved her in The Tale of Lady Ok and The Glory, and she shines just as brightly here. Nam Jun is equally impressive—he acts so powerfully with just his eyes. I adored him in A Hundred Memories, one of my all-time favourites, and he had great chemistry with the lead there too. Here, the pairing is just perfect.
I binge-watched this over the weekend because I simply couldn't stop. I'm so glad we still get dramas like this. For me, this drama and To My Beloved Thief are the best of the year so far.
The story flows beautifully and the ending was satisfying. Yes, there are a few plot holes—like what really happened to the real Dan, etc.—but honestly? I didn't care. I was having too much fun with our couple to let those details bother me.
Verdict: A must-watch. Perfect chemistry, great story, and a total joy from start to finish.
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Not Light… Empty
Ok… the girl traveled centuries into the future.She already knows how to use a bathroom?
How to cross the street?
And when she gets her period… what is she supposed to do?
It’s not that I want hyper realism. I already know this is a cheesy, repetitive romcom.
But if your story depends on a massive time jump… the change should actually feel meaningful.
Because a woman from Joseon would not adapt to modern life in two days. She would be terrified, overwhelmed, paranoid, struggling with noise, technology, modern society… everything.
And that’s the problem:
the series uses time travel as if it were the heart of the story… when in reality you could replace the protagonist with a girl from a rural village arriving in Seoul for the first time and almost nothing would change.
The comedy doesn’t help either. It’s painfully basic: exaggerated reactions, physical gags, cartoon sound effects and silly visual effects everywhere. No setup, no payoff… no real laughter.
And of course… classic K-drama formula:
connect the leads through destiny and the past, and boom — instant romance.
This is not sci-fi.
It’s not fantasy.
It’s not a meaningful temporal clash.
It’s just a very ordinary romcom disguised as high concept.
If you enjoy it, that’s fine.
I’m simply looking at how it’s constructed.
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A Rom-Com With a Brain
A time-travel rom-com about a royal concubine and a modern chaebol heir — with enough emotional instability between them to keep a therapist, a shaman, and possibly a crisis hotline busy — already sounds like chaos, and it is. But the chaos has a brain. Under the body-swapping, palace baggage, and culture-clash comedy, the plot actually carries weight. These characters aren't props dressed up to service a gimmick. They feel like real people — proud, messy, wanting things, and spectacularly bad at handling any of it — and that's what keeps the whole ride alive. Silly, sure. Never empty.HORNY, DIFFICULT, AND COMPLETELY INTO EACH OTHER
The romance is where that pays off first. This isn't one of those dramas where the main source of sexual tension is catching the female lead mid-stumble. It works because of who these two people actually are: sharp, vain, reactive, and just a little bit unwell — in the best possible way. They annoy each other. They challenge each other. They are clearly into each other long before either one can admit it without combusting. Crucially, the drama lets all of that stay adult, which is half the fun. The flirting crackles. Secretary Son hears that Seo-ri brewed Se-gye some herbal tea and immediately weaponizes it into a stamina joke. There's the arm-size Namsan Tower gag. This is a show that knows grown people can want each other without acting like they were raised in a convent and released into society last Tuesday.
EVERYONE IN THIS CAST GOT THE MEMO
A lot of that clicks because the cast is operating on the exact same wavelength. Im Ji-yeon and Heo Nam-jun are doing far more than looking good, bickering well, and having chemistry — though they are doing all three at an obnoxiously high level. What sets them apart is the character work sitting underneath all the fun. Both swing from absurd to aching without a jolt, saying so much through the smallest things: a flicker of pride, a beat of cold calculation, a glance that's half irritation and half longing. That's what gives Sin Seo-ri and Cha Se-gye real shape — not just entertaining together, but genuinely layered together.
Secretary Son is an obvious gift, but he's far more than a punchline dispenser with immaculate hair. His reactions sharpen scenes and keep the comedy quick instead of labored. And Jang Seung-jo deserves real credit. His villain is written and played like a person with a full interior life — not just there to glare, meddle, and wait politely for defeat. He has motive, grievance, and emotional logic, which makes the conflict hit harder than it has any right to in a show this gleefully committed to royal nonsense.
THE DIRECTOR SAID "GO PLAY" AND THEY DID NOT MISS
You can feel the director giving the cast room to breathe. Scenes don't march from beat to beat like they're following traffic signals. There's looseness in the rhythm, space for genuine ad-libs, and a sense that the actors are allowed to play instead of just deliver. That's why the comedy feels alive rather than factory-sealed.
MORE BRAIN, LESS GRANDMA
And here's where it gets maddening: the drama knows exactly what it has in these two, and then slowly starts acting like it forgot. From episode one, Se-gye isn't just a handsome man in expensive suits — he's sharp, ruthless, and very good at what he does. And Seo-ri is absolutely not what anyone would call low-key. She has force-of-nature energy — opinionated, chaotic, wonderfully difficult — that keeps knocking scenes sideways in all the right ways. The show even sets up the quietly thrilling promise of watching Se-gye go to work on a villain with actual inner life. You can see the better version of the second half sitting right there, ready to go.
Which is why it's genuinely frustrating that the second half pivots so hard toward the grandmother arc and the extended metaphysical question of where her soul is meant to be parked. Both storylines clearly want to matter. But somewhere in all that, Se-gye's edge gets less room and Seo-ri's spark starts to dim — and you feel that loss more than you'd expect to.
The later episodes still have plenty going for them. They just never quite get that snap back. The grandmother arc carries real emotional weight, but it takes up so much real estate that the drama quietly starts starving its best ingredients — the layered villain, the adult romance, Se-gye's sharpness, Seo-ri's chaos. All still present. Just running on reduced rations.
STILL DERANGED, STILL COMPLETELY WORTH IT
This drama is gleefully unhinged in all the right ways, and it earns every bit of that chaos. It's funny, sexy, stranger than it has any business being, and smarter about its own ridiculousness than it first lets on. The final stretch softens some of that earlier bite — but not enough to undo what came before. Because the best romantic mayhem was never going to come from nice people being politely into each other. It was always going to come from strong personalities colliding, sharp writing keeping them on their toes, and a cast committed enough to make the whole beautiful mess look easy. This show has all three.
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