I'm surprised someone thinks that cause i'm honestly thinking exact opposite, i'm slightly surprised how little…
The time span of the drama (excluding flashbacks) covers less than a month, I’d say —from Ian/Huiju’s encounter at the palace on the little King’s birthday to her proposal to her moving to his place to the crash to the current Inner Court Banquet in the latest episode. That’s a lot to pack into a month.
So, I want to recant something I said about this drama’s being simplistic. On the surface, it seems like a simple fairy tale with beautiful people and that’s it—a simple contract marriage with a royal. But, in reality, I see subtle, yet powerful, themes emerging about the ridiculousness of classism (seen in Huiju’s story) and learning how to have voice and a sense of self (Prince Ian’s story).
Also, the hidden motives of people are not so simple, e.g, the Prime Minister—I still can’t figure him out. Is he a good guy or bad guy? Is he trying to protect Huiju or is he trying to protect Prince Ian? Who has been PM’s real crush all these years? Is his loyalty really with the Crown as he told the Queen or has he had other plans and motives all along?
The Queen—another extremely complicated character holding on to history and tradition as her only means of self-worth. The Queen’s father—We haven’t even scratched the surface of what this guy’s agenda really is.
So, all in all, this seemingly simple, yet visually stunning, fairy tale is not so simple at all. Beautiful story. Beautifully written. Beautifully acted.
watching the fifth episode again ;-) another possibility popped up......what if, knowing how i-an feels about…
The PM’s motives are unclear, for sure. I remember, in episode 1, his strange stunned face when Prince Ian said that he was getting married. In that moment, I thought that the PM had a crush on Prince Ian. This idea that he’s had a crush on Huiju all these years, yet never confessed to her until now, I’m like, why??? Has his true crush been the Prince all this time?
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Also, the hidden motives of people are not so simple, e.g, the Prime Minister—I still can’t figure him out. Is he a good guy or bad guy? Is he trying to protect Huiju or is he trying to protect Prince Ian? Who has been PM’s real crush all these years? Is his loyalty really with the Crown as he told the Queen or has he had other plans and motives all along?
The Queen—another extremely complicated character holding on to history and tradition as her only means of self-worth. The Queen’s father—We haven’t even scratched the surface of what this guy’s agenda really is.
So, all in all, this seemingly simple, yet visually stunning, fairy tale is not so simple at all. Beautiful story. Beautifully written. Beautifully acted.