Queen: Love and War follows Jin Se Yeon as a woman who becomes queen in part because she is driven to find her twin sister’s murderer. Eun Bo became lost as a young girl, and she spent time working alongside the shaman women. She is fierce and self-sufficient.
After the king and his new wife are ambushed and slain shortly after their wedding, she is called upon to care for the king’s remains. The monarch, however, is not dead, despite popular belief. The murdered queen turns out to have been Eun Bo’s identical twin sister, as she discovers.
Since her father was falsely accused, convicted, and killed, Eun Bo has only one goal in mind: vengeance. So, she applied for the newly selected queen selection. But now, in addition to defeating the other females on her path to the penultimate round, she must also overcome her attraction to the king, who believes that she is the ghost of his late queen.
The drama is divided into two parts. The first of these questions pertained to the act of harvesting itself. Friends turned into rivals, and people wavered between being themselves and winning. It was refreshing to see the main heroine overcome obstacles like politics, rivals, those attempting to use her, and doubts about the king and her own feelings.
1. The King Loves
The protagonist of The King Loves corresponds to the Goryeo Dynasty’s crown prince, who is both ambitious and disturbed. Together with his closest friend, Hong Jong Hyun, and the young lady of a rich aristocracy, he creates a tragic love triangle.
San, the female protagonist, is much in love with both Won and Rin, the male protagonists. The fact that they are also good friends adds another layer of complexity. It was the perfect love triangle, the type I’ve been hoping for for years.
Visually, The King adores is a treat as well. You know how much I adored the Goryeo period. The characters are dressed in gorgeous outfits and have immaculately styled long hair. The visual quality was stunning, and it did a great job of highlighting the location. I’ve always been a fan of the era’s aesthetic, and this drama does it well.
Crown Prince Wang Won is played by Im Si Wan. He is bold and self-assured, and he will stop at nothing to achieve his goals. In addition, he is not bashful in expressing his affection for our hero. But he has a hard time figuring out where he belongs in the palace. Moreover, he is thrust into the center of a titanic power battle, leaving him to wonder who he can trust.
The part needed some life, and Im Si Wan gave him that. Won’s slightly abrasive nature, though, might be off-putting at times. In contrast, he is also exceptionally patient and compassionate, which helped to even things out.
Wang Rin is portrayed by Hong Jong Hyun. He is not just Won’s closest confidant but also one of his closest friends. They’ve had a special connection for years. Rin is devoted to Won and constantly looks out for his best interests.
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2. Mr. Sunshine
Yoo Jin, a former slave who escaped to the United States and later served as an American military commander, was at the center of the plot at first. He has a grudge towards the Joseon and wants payback against the nobles who murdered his parents.
Lady Ae Sin, meantime, is the privileged grandchild of a prominent member of Joseon’s ruling class. Her parents were resistance fighters who had been killed in Japan. Her grandpa covertly taught her to shoot, and now she fights for the rebel cause.
There are now two more players in this contest of love. The engaged couple, Lady Ae Sin and Hui Seong are related to the guy who murdered Yoo Jin’s parents. He’s a party guy at heart who falls for Ae Sin and wants to keep her safe, but he just wants to have fun. Eventually, he becomes involved in the subsequent historical events.
Dong Mae runs a Japanese gang as its leader. He was the son of a butcher, and he had fled Joseon in search of a better life. When they both were young, Ae Sin came to his rescue, and ever since then, he’s harbored affection for her. However, he can’t really date her because of his criminal record.
At around the two-thirds mark, the action really began to heat up. Therefore, it is preferable to not give up on it at this time. The “triangle” of romance became much more solidified. The tale of politics was deeper, and the action sequences were richer back then. The finale was genuine and devastating, making it the ideal way to wrap up the story.
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3. The Scholar Who Walks the Night
Kim Sung Yeol, the protagonist of the Imaginary Medieval Scholar Who, in their right mind, Walks the Night, becomes a vampire after getting embroiled in a conspiracy to destroy the terrible vampire Gwi. Over the following 120 years, he will devote himself entirely to eliminating Gwi.
After being devastated by the loss of his first love, Myeung Hee, Sung Yeol finds solace in the company of a young lady called Jo Yang Sun. To help her family, Yang Sun sells books while disguised as a guy. When she starts dating Sung Yeol, things rapidly get messy.
Scholar Who in their right mind Walks the Night, and I was not disappointed. Overall, the drama seemed a little rough around the edges. Some of the scenes had great music, especially the ones with the spooky carnival music. However, the transitions between them were sometimes highly jarring, and the music had to be shut off quickly. The editing was also a little rough at first.
The drama’s opening act was similarly subdued and measured. While I can see how it would bore others, I found it rather calming. The drama’s second act was much more fast-paced and tightly edited than the first.
Positives such as an engaging plot that progressed at a good clip and outstanding performances by everybody involved overshadowed the film’s few flaws for me. Lee Joon Gi really bought into the role of a vampire and brought Sung Yeol to life on screen.
Unfortunately, they didn’t get to spend nearly enough time with the gregarious and pleasant Lee Joon Gi because of all the brooding he had to do. Unfortunately, there are good times strewn throughout. It was also entertaining to witness Lee Joon Gi in a different light as the ‘bad’ Sung Yeol in the last act of the drama.
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4. Rebel: Thief Who Stole the People
Based on a traditional Korean folktale, Rebel: Thief Who Stole the People follows the rise of a man (Yoon Kyun Sang) from humble beginnings to the ranks of an underground activist in Joseon, where he brings justice to the nobility on behalf of the people.
Yoon Kyun Sang stars as Hong Gil Dong in this production. He may have been born into servitude, but as a Mighty Child, he has been endowed with extraordinary powers. For a long time, he must keep this a secret, but eventually, he will have to step up and utilize his powers for the greater good of his fellow citizens.
Amogae is the father of Kim Sang Joong. Slavery has made him the object of constant scorn. Things go horribly wrong when he tries to liberate his family by himself. However, he strives to raise his family and improve his standing in the community.
We all know Chae Soo Bin as Song Ga Ryeong. She is a maid in a Gisaeng home and develops feelings for the household’s butler, Gil Dong. Despite the fact that he doesn’t reciprocate her feelings at first, she becomes incredibly devoted to him and his crew.
Honey Lee takes on the role of Jang Nok Soo, the gisaeng. She’s had a tough go of it but is now in a favorable position. She eventually falls in love with Gil Dong, but she needs to suppress those emotions in order to carry through with her plan to court the king.
Hong Gil Hyun, the elder brother of Gil Dong, is also known as Shim Hee Sub. He is well-educated and takes pleasure in expanding his knowledge, but social constraints limit his opportunities. But a fortunate turn of events brings him into close proximity to the King.
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5. Grand Prince
In Grand Prince, two princes (played by Yoon Shi Yoon and Joo Sang Wook, respectively) have an affectionate connection with the lady who is caught in the center of their tangled war for the kingdom.
Recently, there seemed to be a lack of major historical figures, but the Grand Prince has rectified that. And it did so by providing me with the elements of a historical novel that I like most: romance, action, conflict, and suspense. Add to it a fantastic story, expert direction, and a satisfying score, and you have a winning combination.
Recently, there seemed to be a lack of major historical figures, but the Grand Prince has rectified that. And it did so by providing me with the elements of a historical novel: romance, action, conflict, and suspense. Add to it a fantastic story, expert direction, and a satisfying score, and you have a winning combination.
Prince Lee Hwi is portrayed by Yoon Shi Yoon. He is a man of integrity and kindness. He is content to serve as the King’s third-oldest brother’s supporter and has no ambitions to succeed to the throne. He has little ambitions beyond tying the knot with the lady he loves.
He’s always so kind and charming. In this drama, though, we do get a little bit different: a rougher, more masculine Yoon Shi Yoon. The shift was definitely a welcome one. Still, he never fails to wow with his acting, which always makes me feel every one of the feelings he’s portraying. He gave a performance that was both riveting and energetic. Yoon Shi Yoon did an excellent job.
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6. The Crowned Clown
Ha Sun is a homeless orphan who is taken in and raised by a group of circus performers. His favorite part is playing the King, who resembles him more than he realizes. The King’s closest advisers decide to bring a circus performer in to act as the King’s double since the King is at risk of being assassinated and is mentally unbalanced as a result of stress and opium usage.
Yi Heon first seems like a political asset, but as time goes on, Ha Sun is revealed to be a more capable and compassionate leader. Ultimately, Ha Sun kills Yi Heon and assumes the throne as the “real” King. After falling in affection with the Queen, Ha Sun pledges to do all it takes to keep her and his subjects safe. But there are individuals who would utilize his secret to seize power if it were revealed.
Yeo Jin Goo is fantastic in both parts, and he successfully differentiates between them. I had to keep telling myself that it was one identical actor playing different characters. Ha Sun is a modest and kind guy who understands what it’s like to struggle financially and emotionally.
Instead of turning him resentful, his hardships have made him compassionate toward the individuals he helps. While he is inexperienced for royal life when he first appears at the palace, he learns quickly, and his acting abilities come in handy.
Yoo So Woon liked King Yi Heon at first, but as he got more intellectually fragile, she became suspicious of him and accordingly avoided him whenever possible. However, the Queen detects a change in Ha Sun the moment he enters the palace. Her mistrust of Ha Sun begins to fade as she experiences his genuine devotion and reverence.
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7. My Country: The New Age
Jang Hyuk is the reason why many people watch this show as a result of his always solid project selection. It was Jang Hyuk who first drew me in, but the chemistry between him, Yang Se Jong, and Woo Do Hwan kept me watching. As predicted, Jang Hyuk was superb in this drama.
He owned the whole thing. He didn’t do much of anything in any of the scenes, and yet I couldn’t stop glancing at him. This is the most faithful portrayal of Lee Bang Won ever made. Jang Hyuk did a great job of capturing the many facets of Lee Bang Won’s personality. The rest of the cast was excellent, so it’s bad that Jang Hyuk got all the attention.
Great job capturing Seo Hwi’s character. The hopelessness in his eyes was palpable. My focus is on Woo Do Hwan more than any other actor. He is presently one of the best actors of his generation. Again, he had a terrific performance.
General Seo Hwi Senior was wrongfully accused of betraying the country and hanged. Hwi, along with his sister, were thereafter reduced to the status of slaves. His sick sister needed him, and now his father was going to be put in a pot.
Nobleman Nam Seon Ho was the offspring of Nam Jeon. Nam Jeon’s name will stick out for how pivotal a part he served in this drama. He was treated unfairly due to his mother’s lesser social status, despite the fact that he was born into a family of royalty.
When they were younger, Seo Hwi and Seon Ho were inseparable. Both were skilled marksmen and martial artists. The land they had dreamt of until the point when their relationship was severely tested. Despite the many times they turned on and deceived one other, they ended the day still caring deeply about one another.
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8. The Tale of Nokdu
Jeon Nok-Du chooses to surreptitiously pursue the attackers in order to apprehend their commander and learn why someone wants his family dead after they are assaulted and almost killed. The end of his quest leads him to a community of widows where men are strictly forbidden.
Nok-Du disguises himself as a woman and moves into the town, introducing himself to the locals as “Widow Kim” so that he may complete his objective. When he arrives at the courtesan’s residence, he learns that he will be sharing a room with an aspiring courtesan by the name of Dong Dong-Joo.
Accidentally auditioning to join an exclusive group of expert female assassins, Nok-Du finds himself masquerading as Lady Kim and applying for membership. Nok-Du tries to persuade Dong-Joo that the lady who resides beside her is really a guy so that he can keep his private affairs to himself and the world.
Jeon Nok-Du and his mother and elder brother lived on a small, isolated island until his mother’s untimely death. Master Hwang Jae-Gun, a neighbor and good friend of his, has helped him become an exceptional martial arts student. Master Hwang’s seven-year-old daughter thinks she was actually betrothed to Nok-Du as a fiancée and is completely smitten by him.
When Dong Dong-Joo was a child, the monarch ordered the execution of her family on the grounds that her grandpa was planning to overthrow him via treachery.
Dong-Joo was raised as a prostitute despite the fact that her performing abilities left much to be desired since she was the sole survivor of her family. She has self-taught herself how to make and wield a bow and arrow in order to exact her revenge on the monarch for the death of her family.
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9. Secret Door
The plot of Secret Door revolves around a troubled father-son relationship in Joseon’s past; the father, who should have protected his son, instead ordered the boy’s execution.
The death of Crown Prince Sado tarnished Yeongjo’s reputation as the longest-ruling monarch in Joseon’s history, and the account surrounding the murder, which some have called an ideological assassin, is rife with embellishments and hyperbole.
Before Sado passed away, his son Yi San begged King Yeongjo to destroy all documents related to the event so that no one would speak about it and Sado’s legacy would be protected.
As much as many tried to keep quiet about it while Yeongjo was still alive, many different accounts of what happened leading up to the tragedy emerged, with some even casting Sado as an innocent victim because of the political maneuverings of the warring groups.
The Great Reconciliation Document, a pledge of loyalty and physical commitment signed by the members of the Noron party and co-signed by the hesitant Yeongjo, then the Crown Brother, was initially the center of the drama.
Noron used the pledge as justification for assassinating the weak and frail Gyeongjong for the sake of national progress. Yeongjo was pressured into making the treaty, and following his half-brother’s death, he became king.
The crucial issue was how much trouble Yeongjo and the nation would get into if the secret paper was made public.
Despite Yeongjo’s obsession with tracking it down and destroying it, no information was provided concerning the record’s supposed potency. He was so concerned that he may lose the throne because of it, but there had been no evidence that the paper was capable of causing as much damage as he feared.
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10. The Flower in Prison
The Flower in Prison is a period piece that takes place during the Joseon era of Korean history. Ok-Nyeo (Jin Se-yeon) is a young woman whose mother gives birth to her in jail before dying of a knife wound. Treasurer Ji successfully adopts the baby after being caught attempting to expose her.
As a result, the child spends her formative years in a correctional facility, where she develops an exceptional sympathy for the predicament of her fellow inmates, as well as a remarkable aptitude for picking up practical skills from the people willing to teach her.
The young Ok-Nyeo is portrayed by another actress in the first couple of episodes, who does a near-perfect job of establishing the character while the star actress is away. Ok-Nyeo is highly feisty, strong, imaginative, and kind in that she wants to end the root cause of suffering for individuals rather than just treating the symptoms.
She finds herself in a corrupt society where both civilians and military personnel are robbed of their money and resources. Because of the lawlessness, she and other law-abiding authorities are unable to cope. However, the situation is made worse by the fact that crime leaders like Lord Yoon Won Hyun and his concubine’s official wife, Jung Nan Jung, practically govern the nation.
The depth of the characters is the show’s greatest quality. She spent most of her adolescence working as a jail warden, where she saw inmates ranging from ruthless psychopaths to upbeat con artists; the show never fails to provide a similarly diverse cast of characters. Her foster father, the prison’s treasurer, steals money and does favors for violent convicts on a regular basis.
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