Chaolice

Came in expecting an other plot, stayed because I couldn't look away

I thought it was going to be a drama where a man and a woman swap bodies and we follow their story. I realised early on I was mistaken. I was originally highly disappointed that we were only following the story of Jang Bong Hwan. I was expecting to drop it unless the plot hooked me. And hook me it did!

There was a good ratio of character progression, fun moments and intensity. I ended up binging it in a few days because I couldn't bear not knowing what would happen next. It's also ironic that "a man inside of a woman's body" ended up feeling like a more "accurate and realistic" depiction of a modern woman than we see in some other dramas. I thought it served a fun and light hearted portrayal and parallel to other representations.

Do not read past this line unless you're ready to read spoilers!

You have been warned!

I have to say the chemistry and writing made me crave to see more intimacy between the main leads. The show ended up showcasing the absolute minimum I needed to stay in. Any less and I might've screamed and stopped the show. Perhaps it's my greed talking but the writers did a fantastic job in making us root for them. And so I felt like I wanted to see more.

About the ending, I was disappointed in the fact than Jang Bong Hwan went back to his own body. I understand it often feels like an mandatory plot point of those types of dramas. The romance and love belonged to Jang Bong Hwan and Cheol Jong, and it feels like a band-aid to then match So Young and the King together. I would've loved to see the story progress in a way where So Young is now able to explore the choices that she decides to make for herself and her own dreams in Bong Hwan's body, while the two other leads in Joseon get to work together for a better future for themselves and the nation. But amongst all the endings they could've done, I still enjoy that So Young's life wasn't just discarded away and was given a real resolution.

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