Historical Dramas Club

I think it was because a lot of people are on holidays in this period. There are many antagonists/villains I'm sure.

For me the most memorable ones are Kim Seo Hyung as the Empress Dowager and Jeon Gook Hwan as Yeon Chul in "Empress Ki", because it was my first sageuk and one of my favourites. Also Jang Hyuk as Lee Bang Won in "My Country: The New Age" and also as Park Gye Won in "Bloody Heart", always mesmerising. Baek Yoon Shik as Kim Jwa Geun in the movie "FengShui". And Ryu Seung Ryong as Kurushima Michifusa in "The Admiral: Roaring Currents".

Also, in general, all the Queens Dowagers that are most of the time embroiled in power struggles. 

 Knavery:

Anyone got some less-romantic serious historicals or maybe a romantic-comedy with a somewhat believable plot that has aired recently?

I've been slowly working my way through Love Between Fairy and Devil and while it's okay, it's a bit heavy on the romance for me. And I get a lot of people like the stuff, sometimes I do too but I'm not feeling it right now. It's hard to put into words but I feel like Love Between the plot and story exists to facilitate the romance instead of the plot happens and while the various characters are working towards goals, some romance stories happen between main characters, side characters.

Fights break sphere, the long ballad, story of yanxi palace

 Ten:

Hello! I was looking for an opinion on what I should start first. I am thinking of The Story of Yanxi Palace or The Story of Ming Lan. Which one would you recommend?

Both are great choices and very long.  I guess it depends if you feel like a palace harem drama or a slice-of-life family drama.  A smart and cunning FL, or a smart but quietly-waiting-for-her-chance FL. The pacing of Yanxi is faster than Ming Lan.  But both are excellent choices.  What are you in the mood for?

 Ten:

Hello! I was looking for an opinion on what I should start first. I am thinking of The Story of Yanxi Palace or The Story of Ming Lan. Which one would you recommend?

I watched The Story of Minglan first. These two dramas are really gooooooood and also both are lengthy. Given by chance again, I'll rewatch Minglan first and Yanxi after. Ming Dynasty comes first from Qing Dynasty. XD 

 Ten:

Thank you for all the replies. I decided to start with The Story of Ming Lan. Thank you all once again! :D

Enjoy ^_^

 kYuBin:

What's the topic of discussion for September ? It would be nice to add the list to one of the first posts of the club by the way.

Thanks for the timely reminder on the Mid-Autumn Festival (Chinese), Chuseok (Korean), Tsukimi (Japanese) celebrating the Full Moon by many Asian countries. Incidentally, the Discussion Topic for September is Scenic September!

In conjunction with the Moon Festival and Scenic September discussion, i read up a bit on the symbolism of moon in dramas/films. Incidentally, moons are often depicted in dramas/films not only for aesthetic, artsy, poetry reasons (especially in historical dramas), but to also convey symbolic context and meaning.

According to Miller's Guild, there are 12 spiritual meanings of the Moon:

1. Femininity - as opposed to the Sun that represents masculinity.
2. Cyclical Nature of the Universe - the moon phases viz new moon > waxing moon > full moon > waning moon > new moon symbolises the cycle of birth, aging, death and rebirth.
3. Human Lifecycle - the new moon symbolises birth, waxing moon represents our progress towards adulthood, full moon symbolizes the prime of our lives, after which a decline.
4. The Passing of Time
5. Hidden Influence - affecting the tides
6. Emotions - some people and animals (e.g. wolves) can become more active, irritated or emotional around the time of the full moon
7. Balance, Yin / Yang, Dark / Light with the Sun
8. Our Subconscious Mind
9. Astrology, Cancer, The Crab
10. Illumination 
11. Darkness and Mystery - i.e. witching hour
12. Love - i think this is connected to the tale of Chang'E, Chinese Goddess of the Moon

The pic i have included in my previous post is from the Alchemy of Souls (AoS), and incidentally according to HanCinema, the pic is a special poster released following the premiere of its 12th episode to commemorate that episode's most significant event: when Jang Uk and Mudeok do not perceive each other as master and maid, but as man and woman. So in this context, the moon symbolises love.

In The Untamed, the two leads of completely different temperaments, had their first argument and duel on the rooftop under the moonlight that ended in a draw. The Moon appears to symbolise balance and illumination - how both characters balance and illuminate each other's life.

Are there any other moon scenes in historical dramas that you recalled and what do you think are those moon scenes conveying?