I still recommend watching it, the plot is complex and the actors are doing an incredible job portraying their characters. Nobody here is really a good person, but we get to see why...
Climax is about the link between politics and the entertainment industry and how actresses are treated like bargaining…
It's a very, very different role. I'm not sure if many actresses can pull it off, but she's doing so with ease. Which is why I'm SO invested in Chu Sang-Ah as a character. She needs to win some awards for her portrayal, she's doing so fantastic. It's like she's become Sang-Ah herself. That's hard to do. Very hard. Again I've fallen for her and I will watch any drama that she's in... incredible actress. Beautiful, charismatic, talented, fierce.
Climax is about the link between politics and the entertainment industry and how actresses are treated like bargaining…
I suppose since it (mostly) ruined Tae-Seop's career trajectory, it did the trick. I just don't like that the portrayal of Sang-Ah's same-sex relationships amounted to *that.* But... I am going to blame the political climate & South Korea's conservative culture as a whole on this part. Can't expect perfect sapphic representation when this drama was censored from the get-go.
If what Ha Ji-Won says is true, I hope to God that trauma stops getting dumped on her like sauces on a sandwich and that she finally, truly lashes out somehow. Because quite frankly... she's frustrating. Maybe it's some dark feminist rage fantasy I have, but I really, really wanna see her lash out or fight back. Maybe *this* is the possible climax. I wanna see her take. ACTION!
Additionally, I was also disappointed to see rape used as a plot device in this drama, so far it's pretty unique, but that... eh. 😬 It really solidified my dislike of Tae-Seop. There's no coming back from THAT (speaking from the heart.) That was rough to watch. He was angry and it exploded. Perhaps this is part 1 of the true climax? (Before the denouement? If we're applying storytelling structure & philosophy here? Because that's a very intriguing angle.)
Climax is about the link between politics and the entertainment industry and how actresses are treated like bargaining…
No. What I'm saying is that some of those scenes were purely unnecessary. Not EVERY scene in the show is absolutely pivotal to the plot. It's not even like that with non k-dramas. Luckily this drama is low on the filler content. I'm fine with JW and SA doing the deed, but was a sex tape of them genuinely needed to be released? Honestly speaking. Even that *one* scene in episode 9 (no spoilers) with Sang-Ah and Tae-Seop, did BTS actually NEED to do that? No, he didn't. (And can we not justify sexual assault either? 😁)
Could they have gotten the point of the "toilet scene" across (or something similar) without it being extremely degrading, and, like I said, just piling onto Sang-Ah's trauma? Unless, UNLESS- at some point, Sang-Ah is going to completely snap at some point and just... I don't know, veer into darkness like a Kingdom Hearts character.
If I see anyone trying to justify *that scene* between Tae-Seop and Sang-Ah, in any sort of way I'm going ballistic. 💀 You are free to dislike Jung-Won & Sang-Ah, hell, you can be mad that you got duped. But nothing makes sexual assault okay... NOTHING. Context or not, that's a moral line you don't cross for me. ABSOLUTELY NOT.
I wouldn't consider Zhen Huan a villain. She never actively harmed anyone. All she did was take revenge on those…
Ooooh, intriguing... so I guess she's an anti-heroine (at best.) Also the maids being symbolism & representing aspects of her (and her life) is such a great writing choice...
Damn, they LOVE the dramatic stare down cliffhangers in this drama lol they've done it so many times! But now the cat's outta the bag (but not really.) Ji-Ho is Jung-Wook & Young-Rang's son, and Jung-Wook is Alvin Kim!
I wouldn't consider Zhen Huan a villain. She never actively harmed anyone. All she did was take revenge on those…
That's interesting! 🤔 I gotta tap into these politics-historical harem c-dramas more. Or at least ones that center around a woman climbing her way to the top (like the k-dramas Empress Ki or Cruel Palace.)
I wouldn't consider Zhen Huan a villain. She never actively harmed anyone. All she did was take revenge on those…
Okay, then I have some (general) questions. Does Zhen Huan go through a "corruption" arc? Is she someone who does morally grey things to survive, or does she do bad things for a sympathetic reason? Is she someone who "turns" to the dark side over time, or was it always there? And is she presented as evil (not purely evil, but somewhat villainous?)
I wouldn't consider Zhen Huan a villain. She never actively harmed anyone. All she did was take revenge on those…
Anti-villains are villains who are villainous for a noble cause. As compared to a normal villain who's evil and does harm for bad reasons. But even "regular" villains can be made sympathetic in portrayal & writing.
I'm not surprised that the Emperor is a villain. I feel like Emperors are the roots of all evil in 90% of these political historical dramas. 😂
1 
2 
1 
I'm rooting for Sang-Ah to succeed.
If what Ha Ji-Won says is true, I hope to God that trauma stops getting dumped on her like sauces on a sandwich and that she finally, truly lashes out somehow. Because quite frankly... she's frustrating. Maybe it's some dark feminist rage fantasy I have, but I really, really wanna see her lash out or fight back. Maybe *this* is the possible climax. I wanna see her take. ACTION!
Additionally, I was also disappointed to see rape used as a plot device in this drama, so far it's pretty unique, but that... eh. 😬 It really solidified my dislike of Tae-Seop. There's no coming back from THAT (speaking from the heart.) That was rough to watch. He was angry and it exploded. Perhaps this is part 1 of the true climax? (Before the denouement? If we're applying storytelling structure & philosophy here? Because that's a very intriguing angle.)
Could they have gotten the point of the "toilet scene" across (or something similar) without it being extremely degrading, and, like I said, just piling onto Sang-Ah's trauma? Unless, UNLESS- at some point, Sang-Ah is going to completely snap at some point and just... I don't know, veer into darkness like a Kingdom Hearts character.
I'm not surprised that the Emperor is a villain. I feel like Emperors are the roots of all evil in 90% of these political historical dramas. 😂