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The only reason I gave it a 9 for rewatch value is that it is too emotional for me. This is an amazing drama. Thanks to the writers for doing their best while trying to stick with history
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The music that echoed through my room in the last 40 seconds of the trailer is what sold this drama to me (later revealed to be sung by the one and only Junggigo). Mesmerized by the bittersweet tune and drunk from the cinematography, I immediately tuned in (BEST DECISION EVER). 20 minutes into the show, and all the cells in my body knew that we were in for a masterpiece.
I don't think I've ever understood what motivated my characters to be who they are till this show. In my decade of drama-watching, I encountered many shows where I found compelling characters that moved the plot along, sure, but the selling point of “Queen for Seven days” is that all characters have motivations. All of them, I mean it, even a measly eunuch or a character often branded to be tertiary. All of them have a “purpose for which they were born into this world” (Shin Chae Gyung, E01). All characters introduced were fleshed out to be three-dimensional, with a school of thought that belonged to them only and faults that were irreversible but made them who they were instead. I’ve seen my characters speaking out their worries, thinking together and attempting to create the best future that they can possibly produce within their powers. They cried, we cried. They revelled and so did we. This is perhaps why “Queen for Seven Days” is almost faultless.
Continuing on with the talk about characters, let me begin my introduction of Shin Chae Gyung (future Queen Dangyeong, whose life this story was inspired by). Such an astounding, dignified, elegant and exuberant woman this version of Shin Chae Gyung we’ve received was! I’ll never possess even a grain of endurance she had, nor will I ever be able to forgive all the rough waves that came ashore in her time as a monarch’s family. All of the choices she made in her lifetime was noble, but none of them was idiotic. I wish to live as honourable as her. A round of applause to writer Choi Jin Young for her characterization! Child actress Park Shi Eun lit the torch first by making us viewers simply love the innocence and brightness of Chae Gyung, almost enough to give us anxiety on whether the loveliness will pull through. Why did I even worry, as Park Min Young has received her torch well, sprinkled some of her own magic, and made me fall deeply in love with Chae Gyung. Playing a titular character comes with so much responsibility but I am happy to tell you that she delivers, oh man, she delivers waaaay better than you’re ready to receive! Her smile was comforting, yet bittersweet; her tears were lovely, and had the ability to break us. Park Min Young has lived as Shin Chae Gyung the last 10 weeks and I want nothing but the best for her!
Ah Lee Yeok, the man who now owns both my ovaries. This man stole my heart and soul and I don’t think I want it back. Obviously, he was written masterfully by our intelligent writer-nim, but I believe it’s the actors’ that breathed life in this version of Lee Yeok. Baek Seung Hwan tugged my heart often in the beginning with his longing gazes and wide-eyed fascination towards others. We, the viewers, were there to witness his his transition from a clear-hearted boy to a young man ready for a change. However, it is Yeon Woo Jin, my husband, who sealed the deal. I actually understood why Chae Gyung loved him. Yes, that’s important, because how can I root for a couple when I don’t know why they even like each other? Yeok did change from his younger years to his older years, but fundamentally he stayed the same. A man who only wanted to love the ones he loved whole-heartedly without getting caught in its implications and simply live with a peace of mind. He was idealistic, yet vulnerable. He was weak, yet arduous and clever. He was a puppy in love, a loyal friend, a respectable son, and a loving man. He only wanted to make one woman happy, but he had to face so many challenges and bear the weight for a responsibility he didn’t want in his heart. I’ve always known that he was a brilliant actor, on par with Park Min Young actually, so I didn’t ever doubt his abilities. But I guess he only showed us a tenth of his ability his entire career because THIS drama is where he unleashed his whole acting prowess! I really never needed him to touch Chae Gyung or speak to her for I saw adoration in his eyes. His whispers and voice quivers were enough for me to know of his remorse, so I really didn’t need him to apologize. His gaze just had so much love in it, I was almost ready to help him propose to Park Min Young the actress because I believed that he loved her. Historically speaking, Lee Yeok/ Jungjong of Joseon was a weak King, but this show made me understand why that may have been so.
How can I write a review without mentioning the mind-blowing portrayal of King Yeongsan/ Lee Yung by Lee Dong Gun! For a while now, I have been allergic to Lee Dong Gun because his overall handsomeness wasn’t enough to cover the fact that he picked awful shows (ahem, talking about you Marry Him If You Dare). He was actually one of the reasons I was afraid of this show when it was being promoted. I mean, it’s his first sageuk… I didn’t know what I was getting myself into. But now I realize why he seemed so lacklustre in the past. HE WAS BORN TO PLAY IN A SAGEUK. Yeongsan of Joseon is one of the most hated Kings in Korea. He was a man with a see-saw level of emotional stability (as in, none) and relished in bloodshed. I am awed at how writer Choi Jin Young managed to flesh out so much humane-ness in his character (which unfortunately, is the cause of the poor viewership ratings in Korea. I get it you know, if someone tells me Ashikaga Yoshinori will star in a show, I will be reluctant to tune in myself). Throughout the series, even when he was acting manically, I just wanted to pop right into my screen and give him a big warm hug. Lee Dong Gun is a magician. How else can I explain his Oscar-worthy (not kidding) portrayal of Lee Yung? His eyes shone with evilness, yet in the span of a few seconds, with one word from those he cared, he would soften those globes into melancholic colours. How? God knows! Those big round eyes of Lee Dong Gun have been criminally underutilized in the past. He was fantastically horrifying. His voice had the power of a monarch, his expression convinced me of his madness, yet his yearning for love made me pity him one too many times! I started becoming afraid of Lee Dong Gun so I would watch his interviews from time to time just to remind myself of his gentlemanly nature. I’m so blessed to have witnessed such phenomenal acting. THANK YOU.
Now I will be committing a horrible sin if I don’t mention the characters I enjoyed to hate the last ten weeks. I understood why they were behaving the way they were but that doesn’t mean I have to love them right? *winks* Myung Hye, played by Go Bo Gyeol my new it girl, was a corrupt human due to her upbringing and position in society but she was surrounded by really ambitious good people. It was such a feat to see her sway in between good and bad. I couldn’t personally understand her choices often but I often saw how hard her life was and how criminally oblivious she was at times. Veteran actress Do Ji Won really played the Queen Dowager role beautifully. Her devotion to her biological son (Lee Yeok) and her idea on how he’s supposed happiness will come about was so flawed but we couldn’t blame her. She too was human. Lastly, Minister Park (Park Won Sang), I just loved to hate you. I probably barbequed you ten gazillion times over the course of the show. Thanks, you caused me stress and relieved it the same time.
To finish my point about the characters, I would like to comment on how grand a sageuk debut it was for Chansung (Seo Noh, our babe). He did SO WELL. Now if I wasn’t such already his fan, I would definitely think he was a seasoned actor. REALLY REALLY WELL DONE MY MAN~!
I believe I’ve spoken about the characterization, plot (loosely), music, and acting enough. Let me conclude my long, messy review (forgive me, it’s my first one) by saying that I will definitely re-watch this show. Not just once, I mean often. Whenever I miss any of the characters here that I have come to love so dearly. One thing I will mention is that you will need a few tissues while watching this show. Most of the time though, you will feel too sad to even cry.
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I watched the drama in one sitting with a confused face the whole time because DEAR GOD WHAT DOES SHE SEE IN HIM. If I ever met a man like him I would run so fast. I'm not sure if he's sexist or what, but almost every time he opened his mouth it was either controlling or insulting.
Honestly he reminds me of Christian Grey minus the BDSM abuse with the way he treats the girl he is supposedly "in love" with. That scene with the contract in this drama? He called himself the ALPHA in the relationship and she was the OMEGA that had to listen to everything he said. WHATTT!?!?!
Just...no.
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This review may contain spoilers
Honestly, when I started watching Tunnel, I had no idea what to expect. I knew it had a pretty loyal following, but I had no idea how this show would take me captive. Thus far, I haven't been very impressed with dramas this year. Tunnel is a great crime and mystery drama, but its best asset is its characters. This drama features rich characters with thoughtful story arcs and amazing chemistry. Choi Jin Hyuk who is cast as the main protagonist delivers a great performance. I was really able to follow all his ups and downs as he tries to figure out life in 2017. Again and again, I am so drawn to Yoon Hyun Min. He is by far my favorite actor to provide as second for any bromance. His role as the young, misunderstood Sun Jae is something of legend. When I first saw Lee Yoo Young's character, she honestly freaked me out a little. The slow burn romance between these two is absolutely delicious. Their subtle advances are soooo deeply satisfying, and I felt this greatly complimented the show.
Tunnel features great story telling. Throughout the drama it unravels a well thought out and intertwined plot. This story had me clinging to my chair the entire time. I felt like every episode revealed another layer to the story. While some have stated that it was too predictable, I pretty much equated the predictability to all the spoilers I accidentally saw when it aired.
I strongly recommend watching Tunnel. It really takes you on an amazing ride. My only regret is that I wasn't able to watch it when it aired.
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I am a huge fan of historical dramas for the reason that there is a lot more to work with than modern day dramas. There is the restriction of politics, hierarchies, and palace guidelines that generate problems that a juicy plot could build upon - and I felt like this drama utilized all three traits to its advantage. As for the plot itself, I had an impression from the start (literally the start, aka episode 1 LOL) that this drama would have a sad ending - similar to Scarlet Heart Ryeo's. Although my presumption was not entirely correct, I did spill a lot of tears throughout the drama. I rated the storyline a 9.5/10 (-0.5) for the reason that I did feel like certain parts were rushed, especially towards the end - it felt sort of like the domino effect, quick and abrupt. Despite that, I did really enjoy the contrast in romance, as this drama portrayed more struggle and strife rather than the typical smooth, stable kind of love that caters to the audience's desires; it's realistic and raw, rather than set up with all the fluffed up bogus that creates unrealistic expectations for viewers.
Initially, I picked this drama to watch because of my favorite actress, Park Min Young - who always finds a way to develop chemistry with the lead male role (this is double edged sword, because she ends up ruining all of my previous ships of her and other lead males heh). To my expectations, she did a great job once again - and out of the three lead roles, I felt like she executed her role the best. The on-screen relationship between all three leads was exceptional, and I appreciated how each of them were flawed in a different way. Not only did this add to the storyline, but it also made me super attached to each and every one of the characters - even the the secondary actors and actresses.
Ultimately, I would definitely recommend this to historical drama fanatics, but I would NOT recommend re-watching it - as a large majority of the drama is pretty depressing, even if there were some really lovely and happy scenes offered through the duration of it. It really stays with you, even after you finish it. This drama is one that I will always remember and keep close to my heart.
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“..my music isn't just music- its medicine.”
The story is incredible and the acting is superb. Love the characters in this drama, and the entire series shows how dedicated the team perform in a blitzing hospital environment. If you haven't watched the entire series, I do recommend you do it. Code Blue 3, all the characters in this story have grown and mature enough to take on bigger task and challenges ahead of them. Watch the story! I strongly recommend it.
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First, It's not a spoiler to say that this is indeed a Romance-Tragedy. It is inspired by the true story of Queen Dangyeong, who we know from the title, was only Queen for a week. If the title isn't enough to clue you in on what's in store, the show starts by glimpsing into the future, and we see a not so happily ever after moment where she tries to kill her love, the king, but can't. This was the same flash forward method that grabbed my attention in Empress Ki, and I knew that I would need to know exactly what road led them there. That road is not just filled with tragic moments. We actually go all the way back to childhood with the characters, and the journey to the end is more than just tears. There's humor, great friendships, some action, and of course romance, and what I thought was an interesting story of 3 people who's lives are controlled by their fate, in spite of their feelings.
I think Yeon Woo Jin was amazing as future king Yi Yeok. I've liked him in other dramas, but this one is a perfect vehicle for his range. He's matched with Park Min Young as Shin Chae Kyung, who I can say the same about. I think, because their child versions were so good, it gave them a lot to work with as far as backstory, and I truly believed all of their moments together. They may not have the most exciting chemistry, but that didn't stop me from liking them as a couple. The triangle is then made complete by Lee Dong Gun as Yi Yoong. I think his character, and acting, drives this whole drama. He also reminded me A LOT of a young Christopher Walken, and not just because of his big eyes. He has a charm and creepiness about him that made him the kind of villain I not only sympathized with, but sometimes rooted for in spite of myself. Even in his most over the top moments I totally felt for him. I really am a sucker for an actor who's really good at playing evil or crazy or both.
Most of the story revolves around the rivalry between these two brother for the crown, and their love of the same girl, but it still didn't feel too cliché to me. I think it's because every single character in this story, meaning every single supporting character, are so developed and well played, that it gave extra depth to the story and made me care about everyone... EVERYONE... even the Nanny. I would usually give a shout out to awesome supporting characters but there are just too many to name! I also loved that most characters, even if they were minor, had some kind of attention given to their specific part in the story, and some very emotional endings for their characters.
Ok, I will mention just one... Hwang Chan Sung as Seo Noh. *insert my standing ovation here*
As for the story, for me it just kept getting more exciting and addictive as the show progressed. The moments that may have felt slower were more of a build up to more exciting parts. Waiting for new episodes started to feel a little like torture, but sometimes I needed that week to breathe between episodes because the story got so intense. Sometimes characters were frustrating, but I think that's what added to them feeling human. Sometimes the political storyline was upsetting, but because it tied directly to these amazing characters, it kept my interest till the very end. The ending had a lot to live up to, and I think it was well done. I suffered from severe eye rain during the second half of the last episode, but the ending avoided just being completely depressing, which I think is impressive.
The music is beautiful and compliments this drama very well, and Junggigo's song will be on mental loop for a while.
Would I watch it again? Absolutely. I would probably need to watch a few light hearted shows in a row first, but sometimes you need a story that gets you in the feels too. I would just stock pile some tissues.
Overall I would definitely recommend this, BUT if you are not a fan of extreme drama then this may be too much. If you have never liked a sageuk ever, know this is more of the same, so don't expect this one to convert you. If you don't like stubborn characters who make you want to throw things at your screen, you definitely picked the wrong drama. Personally, I think it was beautifully bittersweet, and I I already added it to my favorites list before I even finished it.
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Everyone acting is good in this one, but the actor playing Zhe Yan is my favourite. People would skip the second leads pair parts but I watched it all. It can get boring if you dont like Di Jun and Feng Jiu pair. If you think the story needs more progressing then you can skip their parts.
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