Stunning!

I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about this series. I love historical Korean dramas and knew I'd watch it anyway but I was expecting something dark and gloomy. I was reading the tags that said it was a comedy and thinking "No, I doubt that...but maybe?" And Initially I read a lot of comments going on how it was certainly NOT a comedy and was too dark, grim etc.Let me say this: it is a show with a very serious main theme, and there are definite consequences to character actions (or lack thereof). That said, there are comic beats now and then--a scene sprinkled in here and there that lightens some of the seriousness. I still wouldn't class it as a comedy (Mr.Queen is much more comedic for example, though it has some serious beats as well).Things that stood out for me in the first episode: First and foremost--The cinamatography--is fantastic. The colors are vibrant, saturated and so luxe looking that I could stare at them all-day! I adore a well done set and they went the extra mile (and they lit it properly--which is often one of my personal nitpicks in sageuks).The acting---OMG. Yes. Please! More! It's rare for me to be counting down to the date of a show's next episode--and Under the Queen's Umbrella has got me doing just that! In relation to that--the first episode lays out a whole bunch of introductions of characters. I've read criticism of that, and while I agree it's a lot to take in at one time (and maybe it would have been nice if they'd made it a 20 episode series and spent 2 or 3 introducing all the characters) it's do-able and it is important as a viewer to know who these players are.Negatively speaking, I haven't got too much to complain about (except of course soo many names, and for me since most of the princes dress very similarly I have to rewind a few scenes here and there to make sure I know which one is doing what).I definitely think it's worth a watch (and a rewatch)

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