irmar

If you see the Korean version of "Love Affairs in the Afternoon" (Korean version) you will see a really toxic wife as well.

He could also have gone to a doctor and checked it out, no?

Because the actor is a sweetie trying too hard to play a villain by rolling his eyes etc., but not succeeding. I love this guy, but in this role he sucks.

You call that "good action"? You're sure easy to please. The enemy respectfully waiting until the mains have their moments of emotion, their dialogues, their glances etc. before attacking. Total BS!

I think you expressed what more or less all of us are thinking.

That scene was beyond cringe!

This is a fusion sageuk, and they usually end well, unlike real historical dramas.

At least she has a strong suspicion.

After the trauma of Queen for Seven Days I vowed never to watch a sageuk with sad ending if I can help it.

Yes, I loved the Crowned Clown. And Queen's Umbrella is on my watchlist as next to watch after this is over.

If you watch the Tale of Nokdu, it's exactly about that (and a very good drama too!) Also Bossam.

That was the dumbest move. Together with her going out with an uncovered face.

@hazepaseast. If she were a royal concubine it would have been okay, but it's not even that. She was a servant. Who then became a courtesan.

Yes, many of us agree with that. It's so obvious that it would be the best for everyone.

Yes, it was the wrong choice of an actor. He's not that young either, but has a baby face and he usually plays wistful, sweet characters with deep romantic eyes. He's trying to be a baddie here, but unsuccessfully, it's too far from his comfort zone as an actor.

This kind of fantasy sageuk usually doesn't have deaths of the main leads, it keeps it light and with a sugary happy ending. It's not Tree With Deep Roots (but that's a MUCH more satisfying watch, with stellar actors, which this one has not).

The story would have been interesting with better actors. As it is, it's a meh watch. Pity!

Have you watched Ghost Doctor, From Now On Showtime, Forbidden Marriage, Queen's Umbrella, Law Café? These are some that I've enjoyed in the past year.

Shi Yeol has most of our sympathies not only because of his character deserves it (which it does), but also because he's the only of the three young scholars who can convey any depth with his acting. If you purely look at the story, all three characters have interesting backgrounds, secrets, goals etc.
Kang San has good looks but can't act at all (his only attempt at showing any emotion is frowning, and he does it so much that you want to go and stick some tape between his brows). And Yu Ha is so boring you want to kill yourself to liven up the atmosphere. Of course he has the role of "second lead who is a good person and always helpful to the female lead", which is not the best one could offer an actor, and is usually sloppily written by the screenplay writers. But still this actor makes it even more "uninteresting".
The secondary characters (older couple) at Ihwawon are unidimensional stock figures. They have one characteristic, and they play with that from beginning to end, so they are a painful watch and you want to skip their scenes.
As for the leading lady, she's someone I will completely forget when the series finishes. Again, after Hwarang, Joseon Marriage Agency, Forbidden Marriage etc etc., we have a "spunky uncharacteristic Joseon female who, driven by circumstances, has to use her wit to make a living". But Dan Oh is the blandest of the many incarnations of this now cliché character. The writers gave her no development at all, from beginning to the end of ep.14. Whatever has happened in-between hasn't changed her a bit. This is the writers' fault, of course, but the actress is also very monotonous, with a limited set of mannerisms, so watching her is not satisfying.
I mean, all acting is shallow. Even the veterans, they play the parts that they have been playing for years. Decently, but again, you've seen them do that for a zillion times, in exactly the same way.
And don't start me on the king. I used to love Hyun Woo as an actor, only now I see how limited his range was. His desperate efforts of concealing his sweet and charming nature to play a villain are ludicrous if not embarrassing. Dropping his jaw and rolling his eyes... really? Just no!

Yes, you're right. Wikipedia says 1988 and we are in 2023 but I didn't consider the month of b irth and such things, so he might actually be 34 as MDL says.
Anyway, Im Siwan is a very good actor, he should be able to be credible in whatever he does. I will support him no matter what.