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Classic Rom-Com that Reminds You of the Good Old Days
Firstly, if you want to watch a drama with deep plot, heavy palace politics and angst, I’m afraid to say that you are watching the wrong drama. Perfect Crown is silly, cute and fluffy – it’s a rom-com, it’s supposed to be like that. Perfect Crown does not promise an intricate plot and complex characters, what it promises is a fluttering romance and lots of giggles and laughter which it delivers to a perfection.
Seong Huiju is a stubborn, strong-willed and driven character who demands every opportunity that her rivals enjoy. She is not fighting for social equality, but for what she deems as her right. She is kind in her own way, as well as selfish in her own right. Her character is not written to be relatable or even liked, but to be enjoyed.
Prince I-An on the other hand is the epitome of perfection. Unlike Huiju, he is supposed to be liked - both by the viewers and the other characters within the drama. It’s quite literally in his job description. He is pretty, kind, regal, sassy and a hopeless romantic, what else do we need? But he also has hidden ambitions. I-An has always been forced to dim his shine so as to not overshadow others and has an unspeakable desire for power which only Huiju understood.
The overall plot is pretty straightforward, it’s neither novel nor unpredictable. It does not force you to think deeply but allows one to simply enjoy the ride. The romance is fluttering, the comedy actually delivers and there's just enough suspense and plot to keep the story moving. It takes tropes that we have already seen many times before and does it so well that you can’t help but appreciate it and bathe in the nostalgia of the old rom-coms that we used to love so much.
The drama does not bank on natural acting and realism but rather relies on exaggerated scenarios, expressions and dialogues to create drama and comedy. Again, that’s the genre, it does not translate to bad acting. IU and Byun Wooseok are both talented actors and they balanced the dramatic and exaggerated expressions, as well as sincere and heartfelt moments really well. The other cast members also did a wonderful job here to make it a fun and interesting watch.
Perfect Crown is visually pleasing with beautiful cinematography, stunning costumes and pretty styling. I especially loved I-An’s outfits with the fusion of traditional and modern style. The OSTs are also really good and matched the tone of this drama really well.
Honestly, I understand the people who wanted Perfect Crown to be more than a silly rom-com. This drama has an interesting premise with modern day Joseon dynasty and constitutional monarchy, social hierarchies among nobles and commoners, and characters with dubious intentions. Was there a huge potential for a complex plot to be explored? Absolutely yes! In a different genre, it would make a really gripping story. But do we need it to be explored here? Not really. This drama is, by all rights about the romance between Huiju and I-An, anything and everything else is subsidiary and simply not the point. If you love plot-driven dramas with depth, there are hundreds of dramas out there for you to enjoy but I think it's unreasonable to expect a drama to be something it never promised.
Now, I'll admit Perfect Crown wasn't quite perfect either. It has its fair share of flaws and personally, the final arc could've been done better. The writing fumbled near the end; the pacing got a little shaky, character motives fell flat and a few loose ends were left unattended. Given the buildup of the first 8 episodes, I couldn't help but feel a little unsatisfied with how they decided to wrap up the story.
But did I still finish the drama smiling? Yes, I did! Despite the flaws, Perfect Crown was totally worth the watch. Just know what you are getting into - don't expect an intricate plot and complex characters, don't try to analyze everything and just enjoy the ride. Watch this for the romance and giggles, and you'll find Perfect Crown to be one of the best rom-coms made as of late.
Seong Huiju is a stubborn, strong-willed and driven character who demands every opportunity that her rivals enjoy. She is not fighting for social equality, but for what she deems as her right. She is kind in her own way, as well as selfish in her own right. Her character is not written to be relatable or even liked, but to be enjoyed.
Prince I-An on the other hand is the epitome of perfection. Unlike Huiju, he is supposed to be liked - both by the viewers and the other characters within the drama. It’s quite literally in his job description. He is pretty, kind, regal, sassy and a hopeless romantic, what else do we need? But he also has hidden ambitions. I-An has always been forced to dim his shine so as to not overshadow others and has an unspeakable desire for power which only Huiju understood.
The overall plot is pretty straightforward, it’s neither novel nor unpredictable. It does not force you to think deeply but allows one to simply enjoy the ride. The romance is fluttering, the comedy actually delivers and there's just enough suspense and plot to keep the story moving. It takes tropes that we have already seen many times before and does it so well that you can’t help but appreciate it and bathe in the nostalgia of the old rom-coms that we used to love so much.
The drama does not bank on natural acting and realism but rather relies on exaggerated scenarios, expressions and dialogues to create drama and comedy. Again, that’s the genre, it does not translate to bad acting. IU and Byun Wooseok are both talented actors and they balanced the dramatic and exaggerated expressions, as well as sincere and heartfelt moments really well. The other cast members also did a wonderful job here to make it a fun and interesting watch.
Perfect Crown is visually pleasing with beautiful cinematography, stunning costumes and pretty styling. I especially loved I-An’s outfits with the fusion of traditional and modern style. The OSTs are also really good and matched the tone of this drama really well.
Honestly, I understand the people who wanted Perfect Crown to be more than a silly rom-com. This drama has an interesting premise with modern day Joseon dynasty and constitutional monarchy, social hierarchies among nobles and commoners, and characters with dubious intentions. Was there a huge potential for a complex plot to be explored? Absolutely yes! In a different genre, it would make a really gripping story. But do we need it to be explored here? Not really. This drama is, by all rights about the romance between Huiju and I-An, anything and everything else is subsidiary and simply not the point. If you love plot-driven dramas with depth, there are hundreds of dramas out there for you to enjoy but I think it's unreasonable to expect a drama to be something it never promised.
Now, I'll admit Perfect Crown wasn't quite perfect either. It has its fair share of flaws and personally, the final arc could've been done better. The writing fumbled near the end; the pacing got a little shaky, character motives fell flat and a few loose ends were left unattended. Given the buildup of the first 8 episodes, I couldn't help but feel a little unsatisfied with how they decided to wrap up the story.
But did I still finish the drama smiling? Yes, I did! Despite the flaws, Perfect Crown was totally worth the watch. Just know what you are getting into - don't expect an intricate plot and complex characters, don't try to analyze everything and just enjoy the ride. Watch this for the romance and giggles, and you'll find Perfect Crown to be one of the best rom-coms made as of late.
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