Reviews

If This Is All You Can Write Then You Should Have Let Zhuge Yue Marinate Under The Ice

Positive Points
1. Cinematography, direction and editing were top-notch. It was probably the reason I could bottle down this absolutely messy, vomit-worthy writing.
2. In terms of casting, only Li Yun Rui managed to pass with flying colours as Zhuge Yue. He was one of the reasons that I managed to finish this shit show. Though his character was not spared from "Operation Turning Every Rational Character Into An Impulsive Clown", he still managed to make me feel that the cool, composed, smart planner Zhuge Yue was still here, somewhat. He was the saving grace of this sinking ship. May he be blessed with proper written scripts in future.

Negative points
1. The main problem (I would rather say crime) of this drama is the script itself. This is probably one of the most horrible butcherings of characters I have seen in dramas. The most intelligent and rational character here was the pet donkey of General Huan. Even if you had to change the script and could not follow the novel due to plagarism issue, this is no excuse for turning every rational character into a love brained imbecle in the drama. The main beauty of season 01 (And the novel of course) was its complex characters (at least for me). The producer and production team claimed this to be based on the novel. I have read the novel, and I definitely did not find any resemblance except for the name of the ML, Zhuge Yue. This is severely misleading and insulting for the viewers and fans. If they could not follow the novel, why did they even make a S02? Were they trying to mock the fans of S01? The writer and everyone related to the script writing should consider changing their profession, if this is all they could come up with.
2. Except for Zhuge Yue rest of the casts were mediocre. The producer and casting director should have paid more focus while casting Yan Xun and Chu Qiao. This is completely unacceptable. While I agree Zhang Kang Le and Huangyang Tian Tian were given a very poorly written script, but it cannot be denied that they were hardly capable of handling the weight of their characters. The comparison with the season 01 cast was bound to happen, especially when the entire cast of S01 had given one of the best performances of their careers (at least in my opinion). I tried to watch with an open mind, and still I hardly felt they were playing Chu Qiao and Yan Xun. The producer adamantly had cast a minor FL with a grown man 10 years older than her, just because she resembled the FL of S01, is utterly foolish. Unfortunately, she could hardly act like the FL of S01. She felt more like a child trying to act like an adult to me.
3. All of the budget got used up in cinematograpgy it seems, as the drama lacked a proper dialogue writer who could write better than these plain, straight cringe dialogues. Except for Li Yun Rui, none of the others had a good makeup or proper costumes. Why did they even think that making everyone's complexion dark for no reason was a good idea? Moreover, who the hell wrote the dialogues? Especially, Chu Qiao sounds like a naive child. No one will believe this one is a military general fighting wars.
4. Now lets come to the writing inconsistencies. Princess Chun, who was discarded, suddenly became very powerful, who can kidnap Chu Qiao and Yan Xun in Yanbei. When did any character, especially Zhogue Yue was so expressive? His main trait was caring from behind the scenes always. He never showed it directly nor said it in words. Zhuge Yue, who was an utterly calm planner, suddenly became impulsive and had poison to save Chu Qiao. What happened to Chu Qiao? She is suddenly all about Zhuge Yue, forgetting her own dream of a slave free world (she later remembered her mission towards the end, but only for giving speeches). Suddenly, everything is about love. She is losing her memory, losing eyesight, all because she fell into a frozen lake. She is risking her life and setting herself as bait to confirm Zhuge Yue is alive. Yan Xun is jumping and falling in lake for love. He suddenly left his ambition for love. Is there any character here who is not foolish and an idiot, except for General Huan's pet donkey? Yan Xun leaving a traitor like Cheng Yuan alive is even more unbelievable, and he even agreed to give away his consort to him for love. Cheng Yuan objected Yan Xun's marriage with Chu Qiao at every opportunity he got, but later ran away with Yan Xun's consort, whom he had conspired with and had done everything to appoint her as Yan Xun's Princess Consort. Drunk writing totally. Moreover, this new Li Ce is actually foolish instead of the S01 Li Ce who was actually pretending to be a fool. It was so painful to watch. Who thought it was a good idea to replace a pretend-to-be-foolish crown prince with an actual, useless crown prince? Disaster after disaster. The empress doubted right from the start about the identity of the FL, but let the FL and Li Ce enough time to prepare and rehearse their fake story. Chu Qiao was injured and unable to hold a sword properly. But baam she drowned in the pond and suddenly can fight once again. Water is playing a supporting role here. What even was that poison drama, drawing all attention to Chu Qiao. Wasn't she sneaking out? Then fighting outside, coming back, playing the role of a patient by actually taking poison. There was no decoy, so who was the doctor treating even this whole time? Furthermore, is she even training a private military or a band of circus, even I am confused. What even happened at episode 19? A 3-person palace coup. You must be joking. After all the drama of running away, drowning in water and memory loss, the best war strategy this so-called famous lady general came up with is to surrender to Yan Xun just because people told her to surrender. The general in charge just surrenders even though she can win as she has the geographical advantage. She is a general, purely driven by emotions. She took revenge for Li Ce but has now caused the entire command chain in chaos. After creating the entire mess thinks about who will solve the mess. Later she appoints herself as the acting empress or whatever and plays dressing up for a while and leaves for her love once again. In the entire drama all battle strategies our so-called genius female general came up with were disguising herself as a slave/ princess/ giving herself up for exchange. What an upgrade. A military general entering an enemy camp alone right before the battle for whatever negotiation (as if it is believable). Fighting all and getting injured, and the mighty hero came to save her at the right moment. Who made this imbecile a general with this small brain? Now Yan Xun is coming to take her away and Chu Qiao's husband Zhogue Yue is leaving his wife in his mortal enemy's care. I am having a headache.
What is with this 7th prince and General Huan romance angle? Who attacked them out of nowhere just to create this gaging moment? (Oh the enemy brother of the pitiful prince). Ahh now another female general is abandoning her duties temporarily and escorting an injured mortal enemy while war is on the horizon. The 7th prince turned bad and killed his brother and took the throne but suddenly became good again as soon as he heard the self-righteous speech of Chu Qiao for a few minutes. Zhao Che is so smart that he even made plans for the king. But he blindly trusts Zhuge Yue. Ordering Zhuge Yue to arrest his wife Chu Qiao and Zhuge Yue obliges and abandons his wife immediately. What a foolish crown prince or king whatever. Also, Wasn't Zhao Che is a military general who was well-trained with vast experience? You are expecting me to believe that Zhuge Yue managed to defeat him within 2 to 3 moves. Furthermore, what even happened to that fake faceless god? What the hell was even that ending? Who died and who is alive I didnot even understand as I was banging my head out of frustration the entire time. I wish to shake up the writer so badly. How drunk do you have to be to write this high-level shit? Here, all the fools are competing to see who is the biggest fool. What is this drama even about? I have no idea.
This drama is an absolute waste of time, and I would suggest to all, especially if you are a fan of Princess Agents (like me) or even the novel fan; do not watch this drama to maintain your sanity.

PS. Who thought making all the actors floating like dead goldfish in an aquarium was a good idea for the opening title?

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cutest k-drama couple of 2026

IU and Byeon did so well in this!! They even looked like a real couple 😭.
I mean, yes, that's the point of acting, try to look real as possible. But what i mean is that they looked WAY too much real, LOL.

So, i think Perfect Crown doesn't stands out much to me because of the story, but because of the chemistry the main and second couple had. They were both so pretty and cute together! My heart was flattered every time they interacted 😭

But in comparison, the story didn't really matched my expectations, as it was not much developed the way i was expecting to.
I consider, for an example, the Queen redemption arc abrupt and fast. She did so many things and even so she was being controlled by her father, she was into destroying I-AN and i could totally see that se hated him. AND, she killed the King, aka her HUSBAND.
I understand that she repented for what she did, but it was too shallow.
I-AN just showed a trace of mercy towards her and suddenly the whole brain chemistry she had...changed! Could've been better

ALSO, the Prime Minister. He had no background. The only thing we've got to know about his past was that he had a crush on Hee-joo and that his father was a Prime Minister too. That's. All.
That would be """"fine"""" if he was, at least, developed well in the present. But he wasn't tooo!!!
After all he's done, the last scene he had was talking with I-AN man, like, where's the rage? How did he ended up? He was like "oh dammit, i lost her, okay😔" or worse?? Because he looked like a freak for Hee-joo but didn't even freak out when she showed to everyone, in front of him, what she discovered.
I was waiting for a scene where Prime Minister would talk with Hee-joo about his feelings and being massacred by her, or a scene where he would acknowledge that he lost her forever 😭

And, to summarize my deception (lol, there's so much more), i really wanted to see how our little King was doing after all he went trough...
That little boy was constantly crying and traumatized and his only source of comfort was I-AN. Where is a last scene with him all grown up with his uncle!?🥺

Anyways, in an overall, i enjoyed the acting, the osts (WOODZ my beloved did an excellent job), the scenerios and clothes, wich were beaaautiful! But story didn't reach my expectations

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i dont know how to react for this serial

I’ve watched every episode of this series, especially since there are characters I like, but

The screenwriter (Kim Eun-sook) seems to have taken too many liberties mixing Islamic theology, Middle Eastern mythology, and K-drama fantasy logic, resulting in the following problematic points:

1. The Romanticization of the “Devil” (The Ultimate Evil)

This series uses “Devil” as the main character’s name (played by Kim Woo-bin) and frames it within a love arc, where viewers are led to sympathize, get emotionally invested, and support his love story with a human.

2. The Depiction of the Angel of Death (Izrail) as Evil

In its fantasy plot, the character Izrail is positioned as the antagonist or the “evil side,” serving as the enemy and fighting against the Devil. This reversal of theological logic is deemed highly inappropriate and disrespectful to religious beliefs.

3. The Concept of Humans Becoming Jinn and the Interplay of Two Realms

This drama crosses that line by creating a two-realm romance plot, even introducing concepts of reincarnation and destiny where humans can transform into jinn (or vice versa) for the sake of love. This logic borrows from Korean mythological tropes (such as the fox spirit/Gumiho) but forces them onto Islamic theological beings.

4. The Misuse of the Historical Name “Muthalib” for an Antagonist

The name “Muthalib” (which is highly revered as it refers to Abdul Muthalib, the grandfather of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), known for his wisdom and generosity) is also misused in this series.

This sacred/historical name is carelessly used to name a fictional character with a villainous nature (even associated with a villain). This demonstrates the production team’s extremely superficial cultural research.

5. Repetition of Negative Stereotypes Against Arab Society

In the early episodes set in Dubai, local characters are portrayed with outdated stereotypes (as aggressive figures or criminals) solely to serve as plot devices so the main character appears as a “hero” who defeats them.


This is why the international Muslim community has been voicing criticism en masse as the series airs; not to spoil the viewing experience, but to provide education and “guidelines” so that the general audience does not blindly accept that what is depicted on screen is part of actual Islamic culture or beliefs.


For viewers who are “naive”—meaning they are unfamiliar with Islamic history, do not understand the religion’s theology, or are simply non-Muslim viewers consuming this series purely for entertainment—the impact can be quite concerning from the perspective of information distortion and cultural bias.

1. Trapped in “Normalization” and Sympathy for the Devil

Uninformed viewers will see the character played by Kim Woo-bin as a handsome, humorous, tragic man willing to sacrifice everything for love (a hopeless romantic). Because it’s packaged with a polished Korean rom-com formula, viewers will begin to sympathize, feel sorry for, and even get emotionally invested in this character named Iblis. As a result, the original meaning of the word “Devil”—a symbol of absolute evil—shifts in their minds to merely an “endearing anti-hero.”

2. Distortion of Historical and Theological Information (Misinformation)

Since this drama uses real names like Muthalib or Izrail, unsuspecting viewers will assume these names belong to mere fictional fairy-tale or mythological figures, on par with Zeus, Thor, or Goblin. They will never realize that for billions of people, these names hold real, revered, and sacred historical significance. If they ever hear the name “Muthalib” in the real world, their first association will be the fictional character from that K-drama.

3. Assuming Islam/Middle Eastern Culture Is the Same as Korean Mythology

The general audience will uncritically absorb the idea that the concept of Jinn in Islam is exactly the same as Gumiho (the nine-tailed fox) or Dokkaebi (the Korean goblin)—capable of falling in love with humans, capable of shape-shifting, and whose fate can be manipulated through romance. This creates massive cultural distortion, where the theology of a religion is equated with local Korean folklore.

4. Swallowing Negative Stereotypes About Arabs/Middle Easterners

In the early episodes set in Dubai, if the local population is portrayed with negative stereotypes (aggressive, rude, or criminal), unsuspecting viewers will take this as a true representation of the people there. This reinforces existing biases and prejudices (xenophobia) in Western media, which are now being reproduced by Korean media.

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Felt too realistic for me ?

Just realized that some movies I’ve been watching lately somehow match my real-life experiences this whole week lol. This one especially reminded me of my transit at Changi Airport. With the help of AI, I was trying so hard to see the indoor waterfall without going through immigration, and somehow I just kept walking in circles between Terminal 2 and Terminal 3 like I was trapped in an endless loop. 😭 Honestly, halfway through the movie I started laughing because it felt way too familiar. Okay… back to the movie before I start having airport flashbacks again.

For such a simple premise, this movie was surprisingly entertaining and stressful at the same time. I love how it keeps you thinking together with the characters instead of just throwing random jump scares at you. The repetitive looping situation could’ve easily become boring, but the pacing, acting, and atmosphere made it weirdly immersive. Japanese horror/thrillers really know how to make ordinary places feel unsettling without trying too hard. The movie also lowkey feels like a reminder to stop being glued to your phone and actually pay attention to your surroundings… which is honestly funny considering I got lost because I trusted AI too much at the airport. 💀

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What's wrong with the ending?????

Watched this on a plane with zero context. The movie itself mixes multiple mystery stories together with twists, social media commentary, secret documentaries, murder cases, and some really tense moments. I actually enjoyed few stories a lot because they were suspenseful and kept introducing interesting reveals, especially the island kids storyline. The anthology format was fun at first, even if it made the movie feel longer than it needed to be.

But near the end, things kinda went off the rails 😭 The final act tried way too hard to be deep and preachy, and instead of tying everything together smoothly, it just became messy and confusing. The open ending felt abrupt. Idk what were they trying to do, but it did not work like that....

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QUALIDADE SUPREMA

Não só a tinta é de qualidade suprema nesse drama, todos os atores, figurinos, montagem, enredo, diálogos, me sinto assistindo um filme da época de ouro do cinema da china e é impecável como capturaram toda a essência de uma boa filmagem, e o mais importante, uma protagonista que passa por tragédias e vitórias e que vai conquistar o seu valor no ramo que ama e mantém seu coração!!! Há tantos ensinamentos aqui, mal terminei e sei que isso vai ficar marcado para sempre, gostaria que mais dramas tivessem esse tipo de incentivo e investimento, e pregassem esses valores, além de retratar várias opiniões e comportamentos antigos de forma dinâmica que fazem o expectador se envolver com a temática e buscar conhecimento sobre a época. Os figurinos estão incríveis, apenas a maquiagem na Zhen que as vezes me incomoda, mas tudo nela é extremamente perfeito e delicado, sua força é comovente, e as crianças que os interpretam no começo foram excepcionais, atuação belíssima ✨️

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Love it love it love!

I am not usually a fan of superhero genres, but this drama wholeheartedly exceeded my expectations. It’s probably the funniest drama I’ve seen in recent months and the cast all had brilliant chemistry. I love the crazy trio and misfits, while the role played by Cha Eun Woo was a lot more restrained and calm. The acting performances were really genuinely good, all the four leads were mesmerising in their own ways and while at times, some of the actions could seem a bit overboard, I do think that it fits perfectly well with the theme of the show ie them being wonderful fools. The overall plot could have addressed some lingering questions that I had and there were some bits of cliches, however, if you watch it purely as a kdrama - it truly works. I am hoping for a season 2 now and I hope Netflix grants that! Also, the song choices were good, I mean let’s be real, Radiohead Creep fit this show perfectly!

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POB story but without all the fun.

I understand they wanted the dramatic approach of the story so they removed funny side characters and the silly interactions between the leads, basically that's most of POB charm, so this came out bland and too dramatic.

The two leads were ok, I'm not trying to compare them to the OG but their romance didn't convince me that much, the FL was meh most of the time she just hace this puppy eyes and i believe in POB the FL was smarter or they showed that clearly.

The female costumes were slightly odd, it's like they rediscovered female collarbones and decided to show that off. All. The. Time. ~~

My opinion about POB was mediocre, it was good it but had some flaws, this one isn't a better option if you want to see POB ho for it, don't settle for this ...

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Literally the live action of the webtoon JINX minus the NC

I am not sure why we don't see credits to Jinx but this is literally Jinx to the core. They have switched up the sport probably cz they had a hard time finding a lead as buff as JK to cast but they've kept the eyebrows. They've switched the grandma to brother. Potato is now a photographer and the actor is an artist. The plot remains the same but cz they've removed NCs they've had to make some minor changes.

The NCs are barely there so JK doesn't seem as bad as the webtoon he seems like a normal tsundre ML who is unable to express his feeling🤭🤭 which is kinda cute. The only reason i am giving this an 8 is cz i love the webtoon a lot especially the boxing and the granny... so the change kinda makes me uncomfortable. Overall it's a good drama but the acting needs a little work in some places

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Not Just Finding Home, But Finding the Right One.

I started watching Chosen Home (2025) because someone recommended it to me. I had actually been searching for this kind of JBL for a while, so finding this gem while I was on my way home from Seattle felt like perfect timing.

This definitely won’t be everyone’s favorite BL series, especially for those who prefer sweet, cheesy Thai BLs. But that’s exactly what makes it stand out.

I have to admit, the topic they chose is incredibly intriguing. It feels like the series isn’t just about “finding home,” but about finding the right home later in life. There’s a maturity to it that really resonated with me. It reminded me so much of Ossan’s Love, balancing social issues with heartfelt storytelling, while still keeping the narrative engaging until the very end.

Damn… now I need to edit my favorites list one more time.

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Its a messy watch, but u could see me locking TF in

I DONT USUALLY TYPE REVIEWS WITH SPOILERS BUT I NEEEEED TO GET THIS ONE OUT.


Lets talk about why this is my 9/10 series first

two main reasons : romeraffy and arnoldtua PERIOD, POINT BLANK. Pretty self explanatory but i'll elaborate on why. (Ok...FINE. I love AouBoom......)
AouBoom and JossGawin did SOOO good. I was eating up every bed scene these two couples had, AND THE NON-EXPLICIT SCENES TOO. I loved ArnoldTua's pacing, they were quite honestly the only ones not making me lose my mind for a huge portion of the series. Like when the other couples were in distress, Arnoldtua were in their own little bubble. I also loved RomeRaffy AND THEY WERE MY TWO FAV CHARACTERS IN THIS SHOW + DEAN, and that should be obvious as is as to why.

And here's why that 1 went away.
I hated Jack x Dean. So much. Jack is a very toxic boyfriend. Period. BUT HE'S BEST FRIENDS WITH BOSTON, u can't be boston's bestie and be a good guy DUH. I genuinely hoped we'd get a boston x nick situation with these 2 and if u ahvent watched the series u jst wouldn't get it.
I really wanted to like Jack, I REALLY DID. Mostly because he was an INFJ and am an INFJ too. But the only INFJ thing this man ever did was "the show must go on." THERE'S A REASON WHY YOUR BROTHER HATE YOU MY GUY, LOOK INWARD.
He's been such a bad boyfriend that Dean gave up acting (yes he picked it up at the last episode but wtv wtv), he always thinks he's in the wrong, and he's scared of getting into relationships. LIKE, WHOLE TIME WE WERE GASLIT THINKING DEAN CHEATED ON JACK WITH GAMEPLAY BUT THAT ISN'T EVEN TRUE 💔💔💔💔🙉 I'm telling u rn, Dean was never the reason why Jack and Dean kept breaking up, it was because Jack couldn't bring himself to fully trust Dean.

I've seen a LAWT i mean a LAWT of hate on Raffy and Dean, which is really wild, because why are we not hating Jack instead....
I mean, frankly, Dean and Raffy were assholes BECAUSE OF JACK. Sure it was a choice, but people in love do some wild stuff okay? And they're jst sassy like that and lowk preach. I loved Dean, Raffy and Rome the whole show. And sure, you can tell me that Dean and Raffy kept going back to Jack on their own, but for two people who have loved Jack for years, it's not that easy to move on from him, even if he's a peice of shit. DEAN PROVED MY POINT BY GETTING BACK TOGETHER WITH HIM ON EP 12.....
My only problem with Raffy was him saying that Dean was a host at heart, knowing damn well if he was broke as hell, he would have done the same thing too. Why? Because Dean and Raffy are very similar people. But I get why Raffy doesn't like Dean, its not easy to like someone who's been ragebaiting u.

WTVWTV BUT OVERALL, a solid 9/10. Idc wat anyone says abt this not meeting season 1's standards, because you and I both know that if they kept it very similar to season 1, this series would get even worse ratings.

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It honestly is not that bad at all. In fact, one of the strongest points of this drama is the acting. I was actually impressed by how well the cast performed, especially considering their young age. The emotions, expressions, and delivery of the characters felt natural and convincing, which made it easy to become attached to the story and the characters themselves.
What surprised me the most was that some of the performances felt even better and more memorable than those from overly hyped actors in other dramas. The cast here did not rely only on visuals or popularity — they truly brought their characters to life with genuine emotion and strong screen presence. Whether it was the emotional scenes, action moments, or quiet interactions, the actors were able to make viewers feel connected to what their characters were experiencing.
Lin Yunrui especially stood out because he portrayed Zhuge Yue with so much depth and charisma. Even subtle expressions carried emotion, and his performance made the character feel layered and realistic. The same goes for Chu Qiao, whose strength, determination, and emotional moments were portrayed very well. Their chemistry and acting together made many scenes impactful and enjoyable to watch.
Another thing that made this drama even more beautiful was the OST. The soundtrack perfectly matched the emotions and atmosphere of the story, making many scenes feel deeper and more unforgettable. Chasing the Wind by Liu Yuning was especially emotional and powerful to listen to. It carried the longing, pain, and strength of the characters so beautifully that every time it played, it made the scenes feel more touching.
I also loved Rebirth by Curley Gao because it perfectly reflected the drama’s emotional journey and themes of growth, sacrifice, and hope. The song felt inspiring yet emotional at the same time.
Flowers Drift Away by Yan An was soft, beautiful, and emotional, adding even more feeling to the heartbreaking and sentimental moments of the drama. Meanwhile, Journey Alone by Hu Xia gave such a melancholic and emotional atmosphere that stayed in the heart long after listening.
Overall, the drama became even more memorable because of the combination of strong acting, emotional storytelling, beautiful chemistry, exciting martial arts scenes, and an absolutely amazing OST lineup. The music truly gave life to the emotions of the story, making the entire viewing experience feel even more beautiful and unforgettable.

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Non è tutto oro quello che luccica...

“Wife of a 21st Century Prince” - conosciuto anche come “Perfect Crown” - è esattamente il tipo di drama che fa innamorare e disperare allo stesso tempo. Arriva con una premessa decisamente accattivante: e se la Corea del Sud fosse ancora una monarchia costituzionale nel 2026? L'idea di un principe moderno coinvolto in un matrimonio di convenienza con un'ambiziosa erede di un chaebol, promette qualcosa di nuovo ma al contempo rispolvera un tema nostalgico. Mi è tornato subito alla mente il bellissimo kdrama “The King: 2 hearts” dell’ormai lontano 2013 e, con lui, tutta una serie di film ancora più datati, per la maggior parte occidentali, degli anni in cui spopolava la fiaba romantica della povera fanciulla che incontrava il bel principe azzurro.
Ma qui, di povere fanciulle, non vi è neppure l’ombra. Abbiamo invece un’ereditiera tosta e ambiziosa, decisa a riscrivere un tema classico e ormai quasi sparito in chiave ultramoderna.

Tra i “pro” troviamo sicuramente la punta di diamante del cast: IU è semplicemente strepitosa, soprattutto nella prima parte, dove la sua verve e il suo spirito spudoratamente battagliero sembrano divenire parte integrante del DNA del drama stesso. Byeon Woo Seok non è nella rosa di nomi che avrei valutato per ricoprire il ruolo del protagonista, ma complessivamente ha portato a casa una buona prova: sicuramente bravo ma con un range di espressività a livello del volto davvero molto limitato. Quanto meno, la chimica tra i due non sembra risentirne, tant’è che regalano momenti in cui sembrano vibrare sulla stessa lunghezza d’onda.
Piace la caratterizzazione dei personaggi: l'attrito iniziale tra Hui Ju, imprenditrice tagliente e ferocemente indipendente, e il principe I-An, riservato e soffocato dal protocollo, è elettrico. I loro dialoghi sono scintille, gli sguardi pura sfida e provocazione, e la lenta discesa verso la vulnerabilità reciproca è la spina dorsale che tiene insieme l'intera serie. Un classico enemies-to-lovers moderno con una patina regale, che nella prima metà funziona davvero alla grande. Anche il cast di supporto ha i suoi momenti di pregio: la coppia dei segretari è un sollievo divertente e gradito, la regina madre è un'antagonista elegante e sfumata nelle sue ambiguità. Il giovane erede reale dona quel tocco di tenerezza, il fratello e la cognata di lei rappresentano un fastidioso fardello iniziale che mostrerà poi un fondo di valore, mentre il Primo Ministro è – come la regina vedova – una figura che si muove nella zona grigia: ho apprezzato in modo particolare il fatto che, dei due personaggi palesemente ambigui, si sia scelto alla fine di redimere quello che inizialmente poteva sembrare il meno probabile, e di condannare invece quello che godeva maggiormente della fiducia dei protagonisti.

Visivamente, è un lusso. Le location sono sontuose, i costumi fondono l'hanbok tradizionale con la moda contemporanea in modo incredibile, e la fotografia è sempre curata. Si capisce che qui i soldi sono stati spesi bene.
L’OST – in particolar modo la sigla di apertura, “My pace” di Bibi – finisce meritatamente nella playlist.

La mannaia che cala impietosa su tanto buon potenziale è rappresentata dalla sceneggiatura che, dopo un inizio anche brillante, finisce in un pantano da lei stessa creato e dal quale non riesce più a uscirne. Il problema principale è la gestione del tempo: con soli dodici episodi, il drama cerca di fare e di essere tutto, dalla commedia romantica, al drama di palazzo, al giallo politico per concludere con un taglio di critica sociale. Il risultato è che nulla viene approfondito come dovrebbe. Nella seconda metà della serie, inoltre, il ritmo è un disastro: le trame politiche, che promettevano intrighi accattivanti, diventano ripetitive e scontate. Il Primo Ministro si rivela un villain piuttosto piatto: la sua ossessione per Hui Ju è poco motivata e la sua discesa nella follia risulta più fastidiosa che tragica. Molte sottotrame vengono introdotte con enfasi – dall’avvelenamento al tentato omicidio - per poi essere risolte con una facilità imbarazzante nell'episodio successivo, come se non avessero avuto conseguenze emotive reali. Questa mancanza di peso drammatico uccide definitivamente la suspense.
Poco approfondita, quasi trattata in modo banale, l’idea di una Corea moderna con una monarchia assoluta. Il drama sfiora a malapena le implicazioni sociali e politiche di questo sistema, limitandosi a mostrare l'alta società. Che effetto ha sui cittadini comuni? Come funzionano davvero i poteri? È un'occasione sprecata per fare una satira interessante, sacrificata in favore di troppe scene di persone che camminano nei corridoi. Grossi scivoloni anche sulla coerenza, dove si alternano scene con uno stuolo di agenti di scorta indispensabili a movimenti praticamente in solitaria dei reali. L’abolizione finale della monarchia cala il sipario su una poco credibile immagine degli ex reggenti diventati – di punto in bianco e in modo palesemente irrealistico – gente comune.
Davvero, tolti i punti di forza, rimane una storia che – a conti fatti – non è poi tutto questo gran che.

In definitiva, questo è un drama che vive di alti e bassi. Gli alti - la chimica tra i protagonisti, la regia, il fascino della nobiltà moderna e, in generale, la prima metà degli episodi - sono sufficienti per consigliarne la visione a chi ama le rom-com leggere e poco impegnative. I bassi – la sceneggiatura confusa, i villain deboli, oltre a una seconda parte raffazzonata - sono altrettanto evidenti e ne limitano la portata. In conclusione, resta un conto in sospeso tra fascino visivo e narrazione vacillante.

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