Reviews

so unique! i'm pleasantly surprised

since the movie was only 30 mins long the story was very compressed, I think it would've been a lot better as a full-length movie with more detail because it’s such an interesting plot idea. i still enjoyed it and this movie is just a bit of fun isn’t it, not to be taken too seriously and they did a really good job too. I loved how they brought in a different genre (horror) rather than just the classic romance bl. since it was so short I definitely recommend watching it, you’re not going to lose anything and it's hard to get bored mid-way through since it's only 30 mins and things kept happening. I found myself feeling bad for the characters, laughing along and really getting into it too.

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One of the best short dramas

What's Wrong With My Princess is first a revenge drama then a romance. There is very little traditional "romance" trappings within the short story but it still manages to demonstrate two people learning to trust eachother and growing closer as a married couple.

Because we are given a front row seat to exactly what happens in her previous life to have her reincarnated back 5 years in the past, it's very easy to be invested in the revenge that is plotted out slowly over the course of the series. Each time the 7th Princess tricks one of the the antagonists we get reminded that they have it coming and more. Meanwhile watching the 7th Prince is no hard task. Seeing him as he supports his wife in her quest for revenge without ever even being told what they "did" to deserve this treatment was refreshing. He came to know her and her values and as such completely trusted that they must have done something truly awful to be treated in such a manner.

The music used was repetitive but soothing and fit the show. The acting was rather good for a short drama with the 7th Princess keeping mostly a poker face but sometimes slipping to show her utter disgust of the people before her when they weren't watching.

As for the last second ending, anyone who knows anything about these types of stories knew the "it was a dream" was coming. After all, it was between that or "it was a story she was writing/reading". That said they slipped the line in so quickly and then moved on that it's truly skippable and doesn't even really change the story we watched since the only dream part was the original life if understanding the line correctly.

Overall the show is absolutely worth a watch. I could even see myself watching a longer version that gave more detail about the backstop and showed them with perhaps a bit more conflict before 100% trusting each other.

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Rules are made to be broken.

The bold and unconventional baroness Ban Hua is a one of a kind character. Her doting uncle is the emperor of Daye; her father the hedonist Marquis Jingting has more money than God; she inherited her grandfather General Ban's martial arts prowess and she has a wardrobe to die for. For her, rules are made to broken and her flamboyant devil-may-care attitude and daring exploits have the noblemen smitten and dazzled and the noblewomen choking with envy. If there is one stain on her charmed existence, it is that all her engagements go down in flames, to the amusement of the Daye elite.

When the incomparable Ban Hua's path crosses with that of the elegant Rong Xia, Count Chengán, Daye's most talented and most eligible gentleman, their courtship becomes the talk of the town. The best thing about this drama is Ban Hua and Rong Xia's character design and their hilarious and sizzling interactions that light up the screen. The comedy is very well written and blithely presented by the lively cast. The Ban family is one of the most uproarious and delightful drama families I have seen in a long time. Ban Hua's biggest fan, her charming, spendthrift rogue of a younger brother Ban Heng is my favorite character. Both Guan Xiaotong and Hou Minghao hit all the right notes in their performances. Guan Xiaotong delivers a curious air of exquisite vulnerability that softens Ban Hua's imperiousness and arrogance. While Hou Minghao's Rong Xia is looks too handsome and unattainable and is so measured and powerful in a soft spoken way that he is the perfect foil for Ban Hua's impetuousness.

Unfortunately the plot does not at all do justice to the all-around strong performances by the cast. The history between Daye's aristocrat families and secret plotting that led to the Rong family's downfall is quite interesting and well conceived. I enjoyed watching Ban Hua and Rong Xia learn to trust each other and work together against their enemies. The drama would have been best served wrapping up after the take down of the villain of that early arc. After that, the plot feels very forced and succumbs to tropey, boring and contrived delusional love rival tropes. All of the progress the couple makes is undone to create unnecessary misunderstandings and ridiculous and unimaginative palace coups. I was left with the impression that the couple can't communicate or work together and is surely doomed to divorce. The second half is as boring and ridiculous as the first half is interesting and engaging. Rong Xia's character in particular is destroyed as he goes to inexcusable lengths to save his love. The character interactions are funny throughout and that is the only thing that kept me watching until the end. It is still overall a decent watch but nothing to write home about. This is overall a 7.5/10 but the first half feels closer to an 8.5.

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Since I am still experiencing TKEM withdrawal syndrome, I found myself looking for another historical romance similar to The King: Eternal Monarch. And so I came across this Korean drama and I must say I am not disappointed at all. I easily breezed through each and every episode.

The plot. It is interesting, in fact, very interesting enough how they unfold each mysteries at a time. Not reading any spoilers about this show helps peak up my interest in this drama.

Actors. This is the first time that I have watched a Park Bo Gum drama. I am more of a Lee Min Ho person so I haven’t placed any interest in him up until now. And I ask myself, why now? I have added Park Bo Gum to my list of handsome Korean male leads and I am going to watch another of his dramas after this. The chemistry with his female lead Hong Ra On ( Kim Yoo Jung) here is very evident and I really find her acting very profound and her image is so easy in the eyes that I have began loving her and her acting in this drama. Good casting indeed!

The only downside I see here is I wish that our female lead would be a bit powerful considering what family background she came from. Instead, I see someone who needs a lot of saving. She should have equipped herself with some fighting skills so as not to appear helpless all the time. I was looking for more girl power in the sense. Nevertheless, she has other strengths like her writing prowess and with a good memory, she can be a good strategist in the sense. Good enough to help our King as she stands beside him. After all, behind every king stands people that he trusts and will back him up no matter what.

Sword fight and action scenes. I must say I love the sword fights. Our actors namely Your Highness Crown Prince Hyo, Chief of Rites Kim Yoon Sung and Kim Byung Yeon greatly placed a lot of training and efforts into the fight scenes particularly on how they handle their swords. Simply takes my breath away sometimes.

Although there were scenes that were dull, still this show managed to take us to heightened moments. I like the idealism of the king and what he hoped his ruling of the kingdom might be.

Anyway, I have decided that every time I do a review, I will have to go through my checklist. A have come up with a checklist that every Korean drama has and I must say, Love in the Moonlight almost have it all

- [x] Based on a fairy tale or there is a fairy tale reference ( Little Mermaid)
- [ ] Kissing scenes
- [x] peck on cheeks
- [x] smack or peck on lips
- [ ] forehead
- [ ] 10-15 seconds kisses
- [ ] Hugs or Holding hands
- [x] back hugs
- [ ] usual hugs
- [x] Shopping involved
- [x] Jewelry or giving of jewelry to either male or female and vice versa
- [ ] Marriage at the end
- [ ] Cooking ( apart of course if it is a drama on food or cooking show)
- [ ] Noodles or ramyeon
- [x] Drinking and lots of Soju
- [x] piggy back
- [x] Action scenes. Sword fight or gun fight
- [ ] Product endorsements and presence
- [x] Cheesy lines and dialogues
- [x] Bromance
- [x] Alcohol and jealousy
- [x] Library scene or books involved

“Destiny can never be made nor it can be avoided.” Over-all, this tv series have enough drama, romance and definitely action with its twists and turns. A feel-good series.

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Where do I begin? This drama covers so many different bases in one: single motherhood, affairs, contract relationships, family, betrayal, lies, and so much more. The plot although it started off a bit slow just snowballed from there. The last two episodes though just really boggled my mind with how many emotions I went through: I literally cried, I lauged, I smiled, got angry, was nervous, and excited. The ending as well had to be one of the best I've ever seen in a drama.

The bad points: The fashion and wardrobe of the characters at times was pretty horrendous, but otherwise there weren't really any.

The acting was one of the best I've ever seen, and I only really didn't care for the chracter of Kiri who was Kaoru's friend. Kiri could be such a B at times, but you couldn't help feeling sorry for her lonliness.

Music was okay, but got a bit repetive hence the lower score.

Will I watch this drama again? Definitely -it has gone to classic status in my drama portfolio. I can almost completely assure you that this drama will leave you with a fuzzy happy feeling at it's end and that you won't regret watching it!

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A Refreshing, No-Nonsense Mini Cdrama Gem

I’ve watched up to Episode 20 (waiting for the rest to drop), and this is one of the best mini cdramas I’ve seen. Someone compared it to The Double, and after watching, I get it.

What I Loved:
The FL’s independence – She chooses to do everything on her own, and I respect that.
Lead chemistry – Their dynamic is lovely, with calm, wordless scenes that speak volumes. You just know they’re in love.
No unnecessary misunderstandings (from what I remember). A rare gem in a sea of cdramas filled with filler episodes and miscommunication tropes.
The costumes were great for the budget—no complaints there.
The oldest princess – Her backstory about being limited by her gender ("a woman’s role is to birth children") added depth, even if it doesn’t excuse her actions. Also, the actress is gorgeous!

What I Had Issues With:
The 2ML – I feel bad for him if he actually has feelings because the FL clearly doesn’t see him that way. His care for the child and offering her money showed his kindness, but I almost wish he’d been written as a female character instead.
The father & brother – I wish them worse. Did they die?(i don't remember) Probably not.
The FL’s decision in Ep 16 – Why did she go to the ML while he was tied up? The only reason he survived was plot armor. If he had died, it would’ve been entirely her fault. The princess seemed hurt, but… she caused it, so?
The white makeup – I couldn’t stop noticing how much paler the actors’ faces were compared to their necks. I know they’re supposed to be "pale," but the contrast was too obvious, especially on the oldest princess and FL. (It made me laugh, but still.)
Who was the princess referring to when she said the ML resembled "him"? Did we ever find out?(did i miss this?")

Final Thoughts:
The FL’s choice to leave the ML (because everyone acted like they were doing her a favor) made sense, but… five years? That’s a long time. I expected the ML to at least try to change her mind. Now, with only four episodes left, I guess she’ll finally reconsider?
The communication between the leads is chef’s kiss—no stupid misunderstandings, just two people who actually talk. What more could I ask for?
The FL’s acting was impressive, especially since this is her first main role. She’s only been in about four dramas so far, but she did a great job.
One of the rare cdramas I’d actually rewatch. Highly recommended!
After watching ep 21, I feel bad for the ML! His sister revealing he’s been depressed all these years? Oof. That final scene was so cute though—give me more of these soft moments!
Okay, I forgot about the series for a bit, but I'm back! Just watched episode 22.

What really stood out to me was the female lead's realization: the male lead doesn't need anyone else's connections or status to succeed in court. He can do it entirely on his own strength.

SPOILER FROM EP.22 (fl's Monologue):
"Did I make a wrong choice five years ago?
I thought he could marry someone of equal standing, someone who could help him gain a foothold in court.
But I never expected he would be so stubborn.
I should have known this is how he is.
He doesn't need to rely on anyone to break through and establish himself.
Perhaps the true coward here is me..."

That last line? Absolutely loved it. It's such a powerful moment of self-awareness for her.

Final Thoughts on the ending and overall:
Heading into the last episode, I appreciate that the core message seems to be: love isn't just about passion; it's built on trust, loyalty... (and so on).

While I loved it, I do understand the 7.4/10 rating a bit more now. The low budget showed, especially in the ML's hair in the final episode, it just looked unnatural and weird to me.
(what i mean is don't trust ratings)
Love the messages!
I genuinely wish both lead actors the best of luck and hope to see them in bigger projects! More than anything, I wish we could get more dramas like this with mature communication instead of annoying miscommunication plots but with bigger budgets!

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Wow wow wow. Adorable.
But I think I have a cavity.

Story (6.5):
This show was pretty much perfect for quite a ways. There was a great premise and set up, plenty of romantic drama and potential sabotages, media frenzies, fan greets, drama, romance, will they won't they... And then stuff calmed down.
And then the story went bonkers. I don't want to offend anyone, because the story is actually emotional and moving and it's not stupid or like I hate it, but it did change the tone of the drama. In my eyes, it broke up with most of the realism and down to earth maturity of the drama I'd felt to that point and got a new girlfriend called all the k-drama cliches you can think of.
I'm not going to lie, we saw some of this stuff coming from miles away and there are sooo soo many coincidences riddled throughout this drama, but as that ending kept going and oh wait another secret thing and okay that's convenient now that I think about it that's super coincidental... it's great but kicked me a bit out of starry eyed love into dispassionate appreciation mode. :)
I think if it had fewer episodes it would have been great. Either that or they need to change up their drama. Some of that stuff I was okay with but eventually I stopped caring all that much.
By far my favorite part of the plot was her undercover fangirling which also suffered a hit when the end drew near. I felt that particular storyline lacked full conclusion compared to other aspects. The last two episodes were twiddle my fingers candy. :D
Okay, enough criticism, now everything else is perfect.

Acting/Cast (10.0):
Park Min Young is (and has been) one of my favorite actresses (perhaps even my #1) and Kim Jae Wook is great in this drama. I was hesitant about the pairing at first and it's still not my favorite pairing (I much prefer Ji Chang Wook), but combined with their chemistry and Jae Wook's brilliant portrayal of a perfect boyfriend, you can't hate on this lead couple.
All of the other cast is very well done (yes even crazy director), but I think one of my favorites was the actress Kim Bo Ra who played Cindy. After watching this show, I realized I've seen her in a handful of other shows, most recently Ghostderella. I would honestly love to see a spin off show of her and that potential romantic interest at the end (not gonna spoil it guys). That would be such a fun show :D

Music (9.0):
That main opening song kept getting stuck in my head! I'd be going around thinking "All I want is you, all I want is you!" lol. There wasn't a whole lot else that stuck out, but there are other good songs throughout this show even down to the background music playing in the Cafe.

Rewatch Value (9.0):
There's such an assortment of fun and cute moments in this show, it's highly rewatchable. I'll admit, I'll probably stick to the first half, but don't put down the rest so easily.

Overall (8.5):
So overall, some mixed feelings; well over halfway, this completely topped What's Wrong With Secretary Kim (WWWSK), but as it kept going so much felt thrown on to keep the show going and also made the show lose some of it's credibility that it'd done so well holding to for awhile. We could see some of it coming for awhile, and I'd groaned a bit, but expected it... and then they just kept adding on... But if I'm really bored of a show I have trouble watching it, and that was not the case here. I watched every episode the day it came out... so yeah.
Compared to WWWSK they come up about even in my recollection, though this has the lead in the first half.
Recommend to all rom-com fans especially if you're sick of people who don't communicate and stop talking over minor mis-understandings and act like teenagers when they're in their 30s. This show is for you!

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good start, lackluster ending

Overall: I liked it overall but will add a half point to this review if they do a season 2 as there were several plot threads hanging. 8 episodes about 7 minutes each. Aired on Sukfilm's YouTube channel https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLYfaogVGCvwR6JKy1hl4Jq93_HjCqSLgc&si=dKNaW9aTzGwFqFUg - SUKFILM made these BLs: Seoul Blues, Blue Boys and Bad Guy

Content Warnings: dub/non con kiss, unwanted outing

What I Liked
- a character's actions show that he's romantically interested without an exposition dump or voice over
- visuals
- cheeky with the drink
- good kissing

Room For Improvement
- they needed to focus on the main leads and get rid of the queer panic if it was going to be resolved in a second
- the music with lyrics needs to be quieter when the characters are speaking
- in episode 4, one character's reactions
- in episode 4 if he had said that with the wallet privately then it would have been fine but I think in front of the line it went into mean/cruel territory
- one character gave me whiplash with hot & cold
- the dub/non con kiss (when someone is sleeping)
- episode 8 was not a good way to end a series

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Refreshingly different revenge drama

I was getting so bored of the same revenge storyline dramas so I was not too optimistic when I started this one. But I’m glad I did. This was a revenge drama done right. There was nothing overly excessive about it.... it was just done right. I loved the fact that the female lead was such a strong one. I loved that they finally showed a ML who didn’t shy away from his feelings... who was portrayed as being sensitive, caring from the get go. Bank played his role beautifully...he was a natural. I’m so glad it want the usual slap/kiss revenge dramas with a lot of hate and mistrust. Even the crazy female villains were toned down. There are lots of sweet moments between the leads... again a rare thing. I highly recommend this drama ...loved it

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There are a LOT of gender-bender/girls in pants titles in Dramaland, and I love just about all of them, but if I had to pick my favorite it is definitely Coffee Prince. Aside from the obvious awesome set up and favorite tropes this drama plays to, what cemented my love for this thing is the fact that the series wasn’t afraid to actively utilize the subject of homosexuality for the plot. Most of the time this trend makes me feel a bit uncomfortable because it’s often handled in a very badly done way, or for the purposes of comedy that falls flat. Not the case for Coffee Prince. Why? Well, the answer might be considered a spoiler, but the fact is the script writers don’t just toy with making the hero briefly question his sexuality, but that this is a huge point of conflict for the plot that resolves itself in one of the most beautiful scenes I have ever frackin’ witnessed. I also adore the fact that heroine opens the drama as a tomboy AND closes the drama as a tomboy, that she doesn’t magically get femininized just because she’s got a guy. The script handles the issue of homosexuality and gender roles in a very respectful manner. Add in the glorious sexual tension between the two characters (notice that’s becoming a recurring theme in my recommendations) and this ranks really high in my favorite dramas, no question!

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Starts off great but turns into a trashy soap opera

The drama pretends to be funny and light-hearted but inadvertently hides very dark themes that the writers fail to address. Kim Da Li and Jin Moo Hak have an incredible first encounter and form an instant connection. The show starts off as funny, cute, sexy, refreshing, and full of explosive chemistry. Da Li is a well-educated daughter of a wealthy family. Moo Hak comes from "new money" with no education or class. Her book smarts compliment his streets smarts creating a unique match. Unfortunately, after Da Li's father dies and she returns to Korea, everything falls apart.

Moo Hak is boorish and materialistic, but he is kind and sweet in the first two episodes. However, as soon as he finds out that Da Li owes him money, he becomes cruel and shortsighted just so he does not look weak. He insults, berates, and threatens Da Li while being fully aware of her bankruptcy, obnoxious family members, and creditors, then proceeds to relentlessly harass her despite witnessing her struggling to survive. Instead of bringing the two together to save the museum and build a great relationship, the writers turn him into an overbearing jerk and her into a perpetual victim.

What's worse, Da Li's intelligence and spunk completely disappear making her unable to stand up for herself. She takes abuse from everyone who berates, insults, and physically hurts her without any push-back. She allows Tae Jin to talk over her about his delusions of their non-existent relationship without getting a word in. She quietly sits still as Moo Hak's stepmother proceeds to assault and pull her hair without fighting back. And, this continues for the entirety of the show. Her character completely devolves into a doll with no agency or a personality allowing everybody to walk all over her. Moreover, she never demands that Moo Hak gives her an apology for his crappy treatment, and, neither do the writers make him apologize without being asked. The show makes no effort to correct past wrongdoings of any of the characters and force feeds us a happy ending.

Overall, the drama is somewhat entertaining, but Da Li's lack of a backbone and the characters' atrocious behavior make it very tedious to watch. For a brief moment, they address each other's shortcomings when Moo Hak demands why his mother hit Da Li, but it leads nowhere. This was a one time watch for me.

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Before I even get into my pros and cons, I just want to say I am in love with the concept of this drama and it's story. I am extremely glad I came across this and decided to watch it before others on my list!

Story | Sexism in life is the main theme. Several women who are in the work force deal with sexism constantly and due to certain circumstances end up working together at a restaurant started up by the main heroine. Just like the title, it is a restaurant with many problems. Exactly like women in the work force. But the restaurant becomes a safe place and a place for them to work without the prejudice and discriminations that are usually used against working women. These are real life issues that real life women (and even men) deal with daily.

Cast | At first I was kind of "meh" about the cast but as the episodes went on and the characters started to develop, I had zero issues with the actors or their acting. Everyone had great chemistry together and it worked out perfectly. Though there is quite a number of serious moments, the actors were able to also give off comedic vibes to keep the drama going and I loved those moments. Maki Yoko was a strong in this drama. She gave her character the perfect amount of courage, sympathy, anger etc. Can I just add how much I loved Yasuda Ken's character. Best. Character. Ever. Anyways, I believe every character had their own unique color and the actors were able to portray that extremely well.

Music | Instrumentals during scenes and Kyary Pamyu Pamyu's OST Mondai Girl was the ending theme. I scored low only because I'm not much into that type of music. The song is ok but just not my style.

Rewatch | Not too sure. I think I'll more recommend this people than actually rewatch it myself.

Overall | It's not a bad drama. I actually think it's quite an important drama because these types of issues aren't usually the main theme of a drama. These are real life issues that happen everywhere in the work place and it's disgusting. So many double standards and the following of Confucianism in the Asian culture is a big issue that I wish was talked about more. Unfortunately, I am only disappointed with this drama because 1. it was only 10 episodes long (which is normal for Japanese dramas) and 2. because it was so short, a lot of situations that should (or I thought should have) have been focused on more were only glimpsed at and a lot of big situations in this drama were opened and instead of being closed completely, they were slightly left open leaving me not feeling content.

I can't lie though, the issues and how things were dealt with and positive things that were said, made me happy. I can genuinely say I liked this drama. It's a nice short drama that you can get through in a couple of days or a weekend. Please give it a chance!

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