This review may contain spoilers
A Tragically Beautiful Palace Drama
My earlier versions of drafts for my review of this drama went too lengthy (and detailed) so i'm choosing to make a relatively short one for MDL. I say if you enjoy Morally Grey characters, angst between the leads, and matured emotionally charged acting, you can count on this one. Despite being a relatively old drama, I fell inlove with it and found it more interesting than the newly released one I have tried.
ALSO, the drama inspired me to read about the real historical figures and events that was incorporated in this drama so it's very interesting. Now my main goal is to let people know that this drama is good and deserves more appreciation and love! so please watch!!
For context, The King's Woman reminded me a lot of these dramas: Scarlet Heart Ryeo/Bu bu jing xin, because they're both palace dramas with complex MLs plus the heartbreaking ending; and Till the end of the moon, because both MLs are similar tyranic Kings who went through a dark past and the angst between the FL and ML is gonna pull you into the drama even more. Special mention of Kill me Love me since it also has a charismatic morally grey ML and the FLs are gifted with martial arts ability.
Okay so just based on the earlier paragraphs if you think this is your cup of tea, definitely check it out!
More unto the drama itself, i loved the acting so much. Despite knowing Reba as a famous actress I have never found her stuff interesting not until I discovered this drama. I like her look in this one, her natural beauty is not overly hidden by make up so she's very believable in playing such innocent righteous FL character. I have seen Binbin in Love has Fireworks and I actually liked his cameo there so I was more eager to check TKW out and it didn't disappoint me. Binbin played the charismatic complex King very well. It's like I don't even see the shy, innocent, clumsy Binbin in real life, he really absorbed Ying Zheng's character from head to toe. Not to mention the layers of emotion in order to depict such unpredictable dangerous character. Is it just me but I really love Binbin's eye acting! Reminds me a lot of Tan Jiance gege.
Anyways, the chemistry is top notch chef's kiss. The side/support characters play their roles well. Since it's a palace drama and a harem drama, expect there's a lot of plotting and scheming. Oh and also killing (*cries). It's not a love triangle for me. The FL intially has her childhood sweetheart lover but the drama progresses to her slowly getting to know the King into understanding him, and coming to love him. I know it's kind of messed up since the King basically abducted her through blackmail but HEAR ME OUT the King also had an unfortunate fate of being on the throne. He had a rough childhood and suffered so much past trauma that doesn't really quite heal for the entirety of the drama. He had bad parents and was used and abused. It's not an excuse to do wrong, but it's worth it to understand the reason of he's becoming, and I absolutely liked the way the FL is smart not just intellectually but emotionally. She was the only one capable of opening her heart to such a person and that's why I really feel sad because if only they were just ordinary people, they would be just like any ordinary couple who'll cherish a healthy relationship. Well anyways, whether it's messy or toxic it's up to you, and toxic doesn't necessarily hinder me from checking out a drama as I love analyzing complex, even troubled, characters.
I would say, the King truly loved Li Er. He just failed miserably in showing it. And yes, I hold him accountable for his mistakes and wrongdoings, but I also take sympathy because he's also having a hard time with himself. FL saw that, FL understood that, and that's why I also truly think FL genuinely really fell for the King. It's just that, life is not perfect and the drama successfully ingrained the rawness and realistic of what it's like similarly in historical times, and that's why you get a devastating but a lesson-learned ending. But really, it reminds me a lot of Scarlet Heart, and even Lost You Forever with the moral lesson that 'Being on the top is lonely, and there's always a heavy price for bearing the crown'. I never rewatch tragic dramas but Reba and Binbin's chemistry is just so good and their characters despite being put in complex situations still had some cute good moments, so I'll definitely go back to this in the future.
PS. more Reba x Binbin project juseyo TT (never say never, nothing is imposible lmao)
ALSO, the drama inspired me to read about the real historical figures and events that was incorporated in this drama so it's very interesting. Now my main goal is to let people know that this drama is good and deserves more appreciation and love! so please watch!!
For context, The King's Woman reminded me a lot of these dramas: Scarlet Heart Ryeo/Bu bu jing xin, because they're both palace dramas with complex MLs plus the heartbreaking ending; and Till the end of the moon, because both MLs are similar tyranic Kings who went through a dark past and the angst between the FL and ML is gonna pull you into the drama even more. Special mention of Kill me Love me since it also has a charismatic morally grey ML and the FLs are gifted with martial arts ability.
Okay so just based on the earlier paragraphs if you think this is your cup of tea, definitely check it out!
More unto the drama itself, i loved the acting so much. Despite knowing Reba as a famous actress I have never found her stuff interesting not until I discovered this drama. I like her look in this one, her natural beauty is not overly hidden by make up so she's very believable in playing such innocent righteous FL character. I have seen Binbin in Love has Fireworks and I actually liked his cameo there so I was more eager to check TKW out and it didn't disappoint me. Binbin played the charismatic complex King very well. It's like I don't even see the shy, innocent, clumsy Binbin in real life, he really absorbed Ying Zheng's character from head to toe. Not to mention the layers of emotion in order to depict such unpredictable dangerous character. Is it just me but I really love Binbin's eye acting! Reminds me a lot of Tan Jiance gege.
Anyways, the chemistry is top notch chef's kiss. The side/support characters play their roles well. Since it's a palace drama and a harem drama, expect there's a lot of plotting and scheming. Oh and also killing (*cries). It's not a love triangle for me. The FL intially has her childhood sweetheart lover but the drama progresses to her slowly getting to know the King into understanding him, and coming to love him. I know it's kind of messed up since the King basically abducted her through blackmail but HEAR ME OUT the King also had an unfortunate fate of being on the throne. He had a rough childhood and suffered so much past trauma that doesn't really quite heal for the entirety of the drama. He had bad parents and was used and abused. It's not an excuse to do wrong, but it's worth it to understand the reason of he's becoming, and I absolutely liked the way the FL is smart not just intellectually but emotionally. She was the only one capable of opening her heart to such a person and that's why I really feel sad because if only they were just ordinary people, they would be just like any ordinary couple who'll cherish a healthy relationship. Well anyways, whether it's messy or toxic it's up to you, and toxic doesn't necessarily hinder me from checking out a drama as I love analyzing complex, even troubled, characters.
I would say, the King truly loved Li Er. He just failed miserably in showing it. And yes, I hold him accountable for his mistakes and wrongdoings, but I also take sympathy because he's also having a hard time with himself. FL saw that, FL understood that, and that's why I also truly think FL genuinely really fell for the King. It's just that, life is not perfect and the drama successfully ingrained the rawness and realistic of what it's like similarly in historical times, and that's why you get a devastating but a lesson-learned ending. But really, it reminds me a lot of Scarlet Heart, and even Lost You Forever with the moral lesson that 'Being on the top is lonely, and there's always a heavy price for bearing the crown'. I never rewatch tragic dramas but Reba and Binbin's chemistry is just so good and their characters despite being put in complex situations still had some cute good moments, so I'll definitely go back to this in the future.
PS. more Reba x Binbin project juseyo TT (never say never, nothing is imposible lmao)
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