Sam

What would happen if South Korea had a monarchy in the 21st century?

If you don't have time to read the whole thing, skip to the end where the conclusions are :)

Perfect Crown presents a world where the monarchy in South Korea never disappeared. Seong Hee-ju is the second daughter of the country's most powerful chaebol family. She has almost everything: beauty, money, and intelligence, plus a competitive spirit. But her commoner status begins to be an obstacle in her life, leading her into a marriage of convenience for status with the nation's grand prince, Prince Ian, who is destined to have nothing but his royal status. Amid misunderstandings and by feigning their relationship, they both fall in love for real and fight against numerous obstacles and the dark secrets of the palace.

The drama uses sumptuous and striking settings, such as palaces and elegant costumes that capture attention and enrich the atmosphere. The premise is very interesting because it sparks curiosity about what a monarchy would be like in modern Korea. However, I feel that this theme wasn't explored in depth and felt superficial. In just a few episodes, they showed us the people living under this system, and honestly, the changes weren't noticeable, except in social class. They only showed us those of higher status. I think they could have given us a deeper understanding of the monarchy's influence on the people without straying from the plot by better developing this fictional world, because there were parts where you forgot they were in a monarchy. Some episodes made me sleepy, and on one occasion, I had to pause the series and fall asleep before continuing. I really enjoyed the moments where they pretended to be in a relationship, and they made good use of the clichés; I found them very endearing. Another aspect I liked was the use of scenes that generated tension, which managed to hook me and keep me in suspense. Overall, it's a very good story, just a bit superficial and lacking depth, so I give it an 8.5.

The series includes a variety of characters, which makes it more interesting for viewers. But I don't know if it was just me, but what happened to Prime Minister Min? I wanted to see more of him too. I would have liked to see Ian's nephew in school, living a normal life, but I feel like they missed the mark. Our main couple had explosive chemistry, arguably one of the best this year. Their kisses were on another level, and their romantic scenes were wonderful, keeping you glued to the screen.

Here's my analysis of the four main characters:

Seong Hee-Ju (IU): The CEO of the Castle Beauty Group, the second daughter of a prominent chaebol family. Born into wealth, she is a successful businesswoman with exceptional beauty, intelligence, and an unyielding competitive spirit. However, despite her family's riches, she faces constant setbacks in South Korea's rigid, class-based constitutional monarchy due to her commoner status. Determined to obtain the one thing she lacks—status—she resolutely chooses a marriage of convenience with Grand Prince I-an.

This is the first time I've seen IU acting, and I must say, her performance is fantastic. The character suited her incredibly well; she perfectly portrayed a strong-willed CEO who doesn't let anyone push her around. I connected with her character and understood her loneliness. Even though she had everything, she also wanted to be loved. Furthermore, I loved seeing her human and kind side towards others.

Prince I-an (Byeon Woo-Seok): The pride and danger of the royal family, of which he is the second son. The crown prince's destiny dictated that, aside from his royal lineage, he was destined to be a figurehead with no future. As a second son, unable to achieve prominence, he repressed his inner passion, hiding his talents and remaining silent. Then, when the commoner heiress of a chaebol family proposes a marriage of convenience, his peaceful daily life is not only disrupted, but an unprecedented transformation occurs within him, as he had always been accustomed to concealing his true feelings.

For me, Byeon Woo-seok managed to capture that princely essence; his royal attire was spectacular. Although I felt that in the first few episodes he barely spoke and was very inexpressive, with everything revolving around Hee-ju, as the episodes progressed he gained more screen time and his acting did manage to convince me. Furthermore, as an uncle, I liked the connection he had with his nephew.

Min Jeong-woo (Noh Sang-hyun): A close friend and confidant of Prince I-an, and head of a political family. Following in his grandfather's and father's footsteps to become prime minister, he possesses not only a powerful family but also a brilliant mind and exceptional looks. He and Sung Hee-joo are classmates at the Royal Academy. After her decision to marry, jealousy takes hold of him.

I don't believe the whole "friendship with Prince I-an" thing, LOL. They never spoke about anything but work, and most of the characters in the series were envious and jealous of Hee-joo. If he liked her so much, why didn't he tell her before? And why bother being jealous now that he thought she was going to be single forever?

Yoon I-rang (Gong Seung-yeon): A woman born with the destiny of a queen, into a family that had already raised four children. She never doubted her mission: to project the perfect image of a queen to the South Korean royal family. However, before meeting her then-fiancé, the Crown Prince, she met Grand Prince I-an. Perhaps his desire to be part of the family frequently attracted her attention, or perhaps his temperament was similar to her own. The fact is, she tries by all means to ensure I-an marries so he cannot become king.

Initially, I found her a detestable character, driven by envy, though after getting to know her a little better, I was able to empathize with her somewhat. In the end, I liked that she was able to redeem herself and overcome her envy.

I also liked how Hee-ju's relationship with her brother and father changed. It was touching when she called him "oppa" for the first time. The two assistants make a lovely couple, and I'm glad they ended up together. The palace staff... They felt so real, though I wish they had continued showing the servants in the prince's private residence, as I loved how affectionate they were with Hee-ju. I give the acting a 9.5 overall.

The music was sensational, although I was disappointed that IU wasn't involved. My favorites included: My Pace (my absolute favorite), No Doubt, Behind The Shine, EVERGLOW, and My Favorite Part. They did an excellent job with them, so I give it a 9.5.

Would I watch it again? I think so. For me, it's not a bad drama; I just hope it doesn't make me sleepy again. So I plan to watch it again with my family, which is why I give it an 8.5.

In short, Perfect Crown is a drama that had potential with an interesting plot, but... some episodes got a little boring. It's an ideal drama if you like romantic comedies with a mix of tension and intriguing characters, a good premise, and suitable settings and music. It's perfect to watch on a weekend with your family or friends when you have free time, or if you prefer to watch it alone, that's fine too. I really enjoyed watching it every week. Overall, I give it a 9. I think I'll miss it. By the way, this is my first review. I'll do more when the last episode of the currently airing shows comes out.

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A pure and moving love story with touches of comedy and healing.

If you don't have time to read the whole thing, skip to the end where the conclusions are :)

Sold Out On You introduces us to two people who dedicate themselves entirely to their work each day, yet feel a profound emptiness in their hearts. Dam Ye-jin is a home shopping star who has amassed sales worth one billion won. With this track record, she aspires to a promotion that will grant her access to the coveted weekend slot on the channel where she works, but to achieve this, she must convince the owner of a beauty products company to renew her contract. So, she embarks on a quest to find a mushroom, prized for its cosmetic properties, that is only cultivated in the village of Deokpung. There, she meets Matthew Lee, an enigmatic farmer who juggles several jobs but initially refuses to collaborate with her. However, their paths continually cross in a series of encounters day and night, prompted by her insomnia, and gradually, each begins to understand the other's motivations. Over time, these coincidences transform into a deep emotional connection, demonstrating that differences in lifestyles can be the beginning of a meaningful relationship.

The drama uses fresh settings like the town of Deokpung, similar to Hometown Cha Cha Cha and Brewing Love. It has a good premise and makes good use of comedy, but sometimes it fell into ridiculous situations, and the protagonist had a bad attitude in the first few episodes, though this changed as the series progressed. The show uses multiple storylines that deal with family, your relationship with your parents, a mother's pain, friendship, and strong bonds, all of which were very well developed. I must highlight that the reference to Business Proposal and the background music of Love Maybe were the best parts; I hope this is a sign of a second season. The series also knows how to balance comedy and emotional tension, which developed well, maintaining a good equilibrium. Another aspect I appreciate is the focus on live broadcasts and the presenter's career, which I find very interesting. Overall, I give the story a 9/10 because it kept me hooked and engaged.

The series uses many characters, which is common in a drama set in a small town. The characters were well-developed, the main couple had great chemistry, and their romance scenes were also very good.

Here is my analysis of the main characters:

Matthew Lee (Ahn Hyo-seop): CEO of Gojeuneok Bio, a natural raw materials company, and a cosmetics researcher known for his technical expertise. He lives under the alias Matthew Lee to distance himself from his past and manages a mushroom farm in a rural area. He is the sole producer of the white-flowered uri mushroom, which is considered an ingredient with almost miraculous properties in the industry. Despite his attempts to stay out of the spotlight, he's an active member of the local community—too much so for his liking, as everyone calls on him for help with anything and everything.

This is my second time watching an Ahn Hyo-syop drama, and I must say I connected with his character. I understood everything he went through and the guilt he felt. I liked that he was a sincere person who enjoyed helping everyone, and when it was his turn to take the blame, he did so to avoid harming others.

Dam Ye-jin (Chae Won-bin): Star presenter of a show on Hit Homeshopping. After a controversial debut five years prior, she relieves work-related stress through her job. She lives on caffeinated beverages and, naturally, suffers from insomnia.

This is my first time watching a drama with Chae Won-bin, and I must say her acting is good. Although in the first few episodes, the protagonist seemed very conceited and looked down on everyone in town, this changed as the episodes progressed, revealing her kinder side. She was a perfect fit as a presenter, and her smile is lovely. Something I didn't understand was what her father did wrong and why she had to take it out on him when he hadn't done anything wrong. He only hid the truth about her mother because he didn't want to hurt her, which is what any father would do for his daughter's happiness.

Seo Eric (Kim Bom): CEO of L'Étoile, a global skincare brand, and heir to the Desruets family. After years of traveling to avoid family succession conflicts, he assumes a leadership role in the company.

I found her character somewhat unnecessary since he didn't contribute anything to the plot, in my opinion.

Something I definitely liked about this drama was the village grandmother. I cried when I found out about her son, and the way she took Matthew in and defended him when everyone blamed him was touching. The other couples were also fun. Overall, I give the acting a 9/10; it was good.


The music was good; some of my favorite songs were First Snow, That Day (my favorite), Island, I Love You, I Love You Too, and Love is Enough. So I give it a 9/10.


Would I watch it again? Probably, but not for now, it's a very good romantic comedy to pass the time, so I'll give it a 9/10.

In short, Sold Out On You is a romantic comedy with healing touches set in a small town, perfect for passing the time. If you liked dramas like Hometown Cha Cha Cha or Brewing Love, with a fresh atmosphere and scenery, endearing characters, and ideal music, overall I give it a 9/10. It was good.


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