THIS ROAD HAD NO SPLENDOR, and yet I ENJOYED THIS JOURNEY
I finished watching this drama two days ago, and yet I could not decide on how to rate it. It felt like a heartbreak happening in front of my eyes, and yet I could neither hate it nor look away from it.
One thing I do want people to know before picking this up is that THIS IS NOT A ROMANCE GENRE DRAMA, yes romance plays a pivotal role in the way the characters develop, and the decisions they make. However, there is barely any romance on screen. The story focuses more on the court politics, life as a commoner with no power, and how both of these shape and change the two pivotal leads individually *and* differently.
Without giving spoilers, I would say there were many times in the show where I hated the decisions (or the circumstances that resulted in those decisions) the main characters took, however I wasn't annoyed by them. Usually, I am the kind of person who drops shows instantly once a character makes a stupid decision that goes against their character's core traits. But here, all decisions taken were true to their core, and I think that's why I happened to fall for the show despite such heartbreaks.
This drama dares to tell a new story without falling for the celebrated perfect green flag ML and always understanding and devoted FL drama tropes. It treats its characters as real human beings instead of a self-insert mould in an escapist fantasy. And for that I fully respect it.
It also had me GLUED from episode one; this director's cinematographer should never stop working with him AND the screenwriter as always is GREAT at writing layered characters and diverse representation of what it means to be a strong female character.
I would recommend watching it but I would warn you, there was NO SPLENDOR ON THIS ROAD!
One thing I do want people to know before picking this up is that THIS IS NOT A ROMANCE GENRE DRAMA, yes romance plays a pivotal role in the way the characters develop, and the decisions they make. However, there is barely any romance on screen. The story focuses more on the court politics, life as a commoner with no power, and how both of these shape and change the two pivotal leads individually *and* differently.
Without giving spoilers, I would say there were many times in the show where I hated the decisions (or the circumstances that resulted in those decisions) the main characters took, however I wasn't annoyed by them. Usually, I am the kind of person who drops shows instantly once a character makes a stupid decision that goes against their character's core traits. But here, all decisions taken were true to their core, and I think that's why I happened to fall for the show despite such heartbreaks.
This drama dares to tell a new story without falling for the celebrated perfect green flag ML and always understanding and devoted FL drama tropes. It treats its characters as real human beings instead of a self-insert mould in an escapist fantasy. And for that I fully respect it.
It also had me GLUED from episode one; this director's cinematographer should never stop working with him AND the screenwriter as always is GREAT at writing layered characters and diverse representation of what it means to be a strong female character.
I would recommend watching it but I would warn you, there was NO SPLENDOR ON THIS ROAD!
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