This is about Joseon crown prince Lee Hwon (Yeo Jin Goo, Kim Soo Hyun) who at 15 falls in love with the chief scholar's intelligent and sensible 13-year-old daughter Heo Yeon Woo (Kim Yoo Jung, Han Ga In). Their love would be tested by political schemers who prefer a crown princess who would advance their standing in court.
I love the first 6 episodes of this drama, before the kids grow up. Kim Yoo Jung is loaded with charisma even at such a young age. Her chemistry with Yeo Jin Goo is much more palpable than that of their older counterparts.
The emotional Lee Hwon is everything I don't like about kdrama acting - too melodramatic and the yelling! Gosh I really hate when kdrama actors end heated remarks with yelling at the top of their lungs. Seems to me like whining, but yelling to desperately assert a frail ego. I can understand an immature character doing this once or twice in a series. But to treat the audience with this outburst as often as the grown-up Lee Hwon does in this drama is rather traumatic. Surely a grown man, especially a powerful man - a king! - at that, would realize that outbursts are signs of character weakness.
The grown-up Yeon Woo is also a disappointment. Her bulging eyes are distracting. But at least she's not too melodramatic.
The story is compelling but gets draggier and draggier after the first half, or maybe I just stopped caring about the characters by then.
Considering the number of awards this drama got, I had hoped for a much better viewing experience.
I love the first 6 episodes of this drama, before the kids grow up. Kim Yoo Jung is loaded with charisma even at such a young age. Her chemistry with Yeo Jin Goo is much more palpable than that of their older counterparts.
The emotional Lee Hwon is everything I don't like about kdrama acting - too melodramatic and the yelling! Gosh I really hate when kdrama actors end heated remarks with yelling at the top of their lungs. Seems to me like whining, but yelling to desperately assert a frail ego. I can understand an immature character doing this once or twice in a series. But to treat the audience with this outburst as often as the grown-up Lee Hwon does in this drama is rather traumatic. Surely a grown man, especially a powerful man - a king! - at that, would realize that outbursts are signs of character weakness.
The grown-up Yeon Woo is also a disappointment. Her bulging eyes are distracting. But at least she's not too melodramatic.
The story is compelling but gets draggier and draggier after the first half, or maybe I just stopped caring about the characters by then.
Considering the number of awards this drama got, I had hoped for a much better viewing experience.