"I Am His Majesty's Woman." (Moon Embracing The Sun: A Review)
I fell in love with a 400-year old alien not so long ago and yet my friends told me I should meet the legendary King as well. After denying him for so long (unintentionally, because of work? And a whole other lot) I am now ready to face him and faced him in 20 episodes no less, I did. Every friend who has seen this K-drama has told me that Moon Embracing The Sun is Kim Soo Hyun's best. Did it live up to my expectations and the hype?
First, a few things.
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Credit: @actorksh's Twitter account. (Yes, that's his hand.) |
Moon Embracing The Sun is the first of its kind (period drama) that I get to watch mainly because inasmuch as I am curious about different cultures and languages, and the costumes really impresses me, I am stubbornly being nationalistic (Why should I see those? Why cannot I just watch and learn about our very own culture and homegrown heroes instead? There are so many interesting bits on our history that is so colorful and entertaining on its own, or so I would want to believe) and/or just being plain lazy hence the ranting is pointless.
But we are talking about Soo-hyun here. The man made me do things I never would have thought I would do (exaggeratedly speaking). Every project, every role no matter how huge or small, he is always giving his best, not missing a beat. There is just too much talent and fire in him that is not to be missed.
What do I expect? Marathon-ing a two year old drama just now also means that there are already a lot of spoilers everywhere. I have been curious enough to check some old reviews and threads so basically I knew where it lacked and where it has succeeded in terms of plot, casting, soundtrack and cinematography. I also knew that *coughs* my boyfriend (in another universe) *coughs* has been critically acclaimed by a lot of award-giving bodies because of his brilliant portrayal of the lead role (no matter how controversial) and that it has reached a 40+ viewer ratings making it a national drama when it was still airing in Korea a few years back.
People has a lot of things to say and now is my time to to rebutt or concur and see it for myself. I will be mentioning a couple of spoilers but seriously, if you have not seen the series yet, why even bother read this? Go to the side and turn around. I don't want to see your faces. (You see what I did there? Heh heh.) But to minimize the spoilers, alright, I will just be listing out the things that I liked and what could have liked more given the circumstances.
Did it live up to my expectations and to the hype?
YES.
METS is a fictional drama set in the Joseon era and despite a couple of political issues and social conflicts that have been laid, its major focus is on the romance side and it went on all throughout the series. It's amusing...seeing a King so in love I wonder if the monarchs are really like that back in the day. But who knows, love makes us do the craziest of things plus they are also human and we all have feelings, eh?
What I Really Liked:
The child actors. There is no review that is out there that would fail to mention how superb the child actors are and I could not help but agree. They really are. It even makes you feel bad at some point realising that they have to grow up (and then you remembered that soon Soo-hyun will take his adult role and all the sadness are gone). They set a high standard that makes you wonder if their adult counterparts can keep up with the role. Although, upon seeing the young Crown Prince Lee Hwon I have not had a doubt that Soo-hyun can match his energy. They both have brought the legendary character into life so effortlessly. It's not just him but the other teen actors as well. The funny, free-spirited hyeongnim; the very charming and intelligent orabeoni (to Yeon Woo); the skillful fighter (Un); the childish but funny little princess; the sensible and strong-willed future Queen. Everyone nailed it.
It has a good mix of comedic and dramatic moments. One moment you are crying your broken heart out with the moping Lee Hwon, then you were laughing loudly at Hyeong Sun's funny antics. He is one of my favourite characters in there, really. Not only that he is so good as the King's sidekick, was also able to bring out the best of Soo-hyun's funny side whenever they have a scene together. The comedic timing, of which not all actors in general possess, is so commendable on both. My favourite moment? Whenever the King is teasing the very reliable eunuch and pretending that he is into him.
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Man, these two are just too funny. |
Also commendable are the two confidants of the King. I have grown to love Un (except for his hair on the early adult episodes) and his dedication for the monarch and his admiration for his brothers/friends.
KIM SOO HYUN IS SEXY (and he did not even strip off his regal King robes, not even once) Well, most period drama do not show a lot of skin, and that is good but I DO NOT KNOW HOW HE FREAKING DID IT BUT HECK YEAH. The closest to being half naked (or the idea of it) that he had in here was when he is having a hot bath during a visit to a province, with full clothes on and yet, he does not even have to try, he is downright sexy. Must be the grin on his face, or it must be his face, I do not know anymore. But true to his character whom the very confident King Lee Hwon refers to as really good looking, and who every girl in the kingdom desires, he really is in all sense of those words.
To me he is the sexiest during that scene with the then Queen Bo Kyung where he is kind of teasing or mocking her that she may have everything she wanted now (being the Queen, etc) but she will never have his heart.
KIM SOO HYUN IS PERFECT AS KING LEE HWON. The actor who has portrayed the young Lee Hwon may have set the standards but Soo-hyun has nailed it. I was looking for traces of Do Min Joon in there but aside from the stride (the way he walks) that Kim Soo-Hyun apparently had, there is none, basically no connection between the two. That sort of impressed me. From the moment he came up looking monarchial with his red robe until the distinct military robe (my favourite!!!), he is so into his character. Don't even get me started with his emotional crying scenes. He has so much heart in each scene, tearing up effortlessly without getting over the top; just the right amount of emotions to make you root for him and feel his pain.
Truth be told, his character is not all too likeable. I have a lot of issues with Lee Hwon screaming here and there, forever moping for a (supposedly) lost love, selfishly thinking of his own happy ending (losing his brother in the process). You see, the character is so flawed and yet Soo-hyun has remarkably worked on with whatever he is given, and that I think is why his portrayal has cut me deep.
Oops. They Tried. (Things I Kind of Did Not Like)
The issues concerning with women. Personally, maybe this is really one of the main reasons why I am not into period dramas in general. Women back then don't have equal rights and they are like toys that could be disposed and stepped on there after. They don't have the voice in the society, or if they have, they are not always heard and prioritized. It kind of hurt, to be honest. I am glad that is not the case (at least not as worse as before) at present time.
Han Ga In. I gave her the benefit of the doubt. Albeir the comments that I have read about her are mostly about not being fit for the role, I tried to understand that maybe because the child actress who has played the Young Yeon Woo has been really phenomenal that you kind of expected her to do the same. Contrary to people saying the she and Soo-Hyun do not have chemistry because she looked older that she ought to be (she was 30 and he is 24 back then; in the show they are supposed to be 21 and 23 respectively), I think they somehow have. They've got a lot of cute moments, thank mostly to Kim Soo-hyun. There is one scene there that I felt connected to her, though. That moment when Lee Hwon got sick again before doing the deed with the then Queen and Yeon Woo being the human talisman rushed to his side and voila, he is magically feeling better. The way she cried in there is so natural you could feel her panic and need. That one time. It's not even a question of if she's a great actress or what. I just think there might have to be someone out there who would fit the role better. Although, i do not know a lot of Korean actresses to actually suggest one so... (Uh, just be Yoo Hee then, agassi. It's alright. *wink*)
The unnecessary deaths. I do understand that there has to be only one Sun but the way hyeongnim died is the worst way to put it. Dying in an actual battle defending the brother would have been more epic. Also, eight years and he is still pinning for somebody who has rejected him repeatedly? You are a handsome, free-spirited, funny man you may have met a lot of better girls along the way and moved on somehow...(thinking about it, he did move on, only, it is the same person, Yeon Woo and Wol) It is just kind of sad but I guess that is love.
Seol...why did she has to die? So she can confess her unrequited love to orabeoni? And wish him happiness nonstop that led to the reconciliation with his own wife ( the actors have no chemistry with each other to be honest, but they are cute). The only deaths that are justified, to me, are those of both previous Queens. Somehow there is no better way to end them than how they got cut off the show.
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Selca Credit: @actorksh's Twitter account |
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Selca Credit: @actorksh's Twitter account |
It may not have given more resolve in the plot that we would have wanted, or left out on things we wished could have been elaborated, it has given me the satisfaction and the reminder to continuously seek to be righteous no matter what it will entail. And of course, a happy ending to our pair.
So, in the end, will I watch another period drama? Well..it depends. ;-) But truly, if you want a drama with the right amount of fluff and loads of emotions, a sexy king (hahaha) and a happy ending, you might enjoy this one just like I did.
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Credit: @actorksh's Twitter account |
End Notes: I do not own any of the photos/gifs. Credits to the awesome ones who screencapped/made them. I only own my words. I tried to not fangirl about Kim Soo Hyun a lot and be more objective but it is hard knowing that he is the very reason why I watched this series in the first place so... forgive me; my fangirl heart cannot contain my fangirl feels and I am His Majesty's woman, as the title implies. What to you expect? haha
yey congrats! btw i also have posted a short review for this drama hehehe
ReplyDeleteyou might not remember me posting it becase that time you didn't know this babo exist hehehe
Probably. You know I don't really know him prior to being Do Min Joon, eh? He is so good in here but if I have to choose with him and Min Joon I think i will atick with my alien oppa hahah.
DeleteExcuse as I go hunt your blog hahaha i wanna read it :)
here: https://syjeqr.wordpress.com/2012/03/14/o_o/ really just a preview lol
ReplyDeleteHaha or so i have read. No full review? :D what i did though is i went to your site then typed ksh on the Search box. Hence the flood. Hahaha
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