Park Jo Hyun’s performance as the crazy swindler was on point, as her character goes about the world jumping in sticky situations and getting out the next with her out-of-the box thinking. Ye So Rang’s highly observant skills and wealth of knowledge aided in her portrayal of the dead princess’ lost spirit that the King believed her powers of shamanism to be real.
For his part, Kim Young Dae tried to be his best as the brooding widower Lee Heon, who pines for his dead wife even after years after her death. So when he hears of the possibility that he can see his wife’s spirit, the King eats up So Rang’s lies as a kid eating candy. Hilarity ensues as Ye So Rang weaves her tale larger than the last, and the oblivious Lee Heon could not determine whether he’s speaking to So Rang or to the dead princess, and lines get blurred.
But there’s someone who probably knows So Rang’s secret: the King’s best friend, right hand man, Lee Shin Won, who is relegated to his role as the second fiddle, third wheel in the love triangle. Kim Woo Seok is decent as the second male lead, as his stoic stance, quiet demeanor completes his loyal-to-a-fault, kicked-puppy-dog look, that he can only be So Rang’s really good friend at best.
This show has a good, solid ensemble cast, from the courtyard couple Royal Nanny and Chief Eunuch to the band of Mosuldan’s (probably incels in today’s world). Everyone has their own little part of the story and are quite interesting characters in their own right, like the cunning fortune teller, the erotic author, and other people who give color to this drama.
The Forbidden Marriage is equal parts romance, drama, comedy, and politics, not one aspect too overpowering to take over another. Even the villains are not so villainy like in other dramas where I want to throw their heads against the wall, although sometimes I feel it’s justified only to wipe the smug grins off their faces.
Though it became a tad serious at the end, and lost a little bit of steam, this drama is an enjoyable watch.
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Something I won't rewatch
The reason I watch historical kdrama is its presentation of Korean history in politics, governance, food, costume, and culture. I am not sure which period this drama depicts but it does give us a historical representation of Korea. However ñ, there are quite a few things that I don't find entertaining.The protagonists are quite good. Kim Young-dae (The Penthouse) is definitely my bias. I also find Kim Woo-suk (Military Prosecutor: Doberman) quite a good complement for Kim Young-dae. Park Ju-hyun delivered the character required for the story. But the main antagonist played by Yang Dong-geun is not as convincing as other antagonists in other dramas. The character is so annoying not because of the character, but because of the bad acting. The actor us just so unappealing, there is no effort in bringing out the viciousness of the character.
The story lacks motivation. Conflicts are driven by characters' motivations. What is So-rang's motivation in all her actions? She has no thoughts of vengeance or no ambition. Why is she there in the palace anyway? She should have something to look forward to so she should remain there. What is the Minister of War's motivation? There is no clear competition of power in the story. Jo Seong-gyun has no apparent competitor. The King is weak; he has no established allies, the story failed to establish that in the council meetings. It's as if the king is just playing king. I am not convinced. All he does is sulk, there isn't a lot of council meetings that would make us see his decision-making skills in politics and governance. Council meetings should reveal factions and competitions. I didn't see it because there ain't a lot of council meetings. Most of the screentime is spent between the king and So-rang.
The only characters that appealed to me are: Lee Shin-won He definitely has a motivation for staying in the State Tribunal and serving the king. He used his position to look for his betrothed. However, even though he had that motivation, the story failed to give us development. Another character that is appealing is Seo Un-jeong. I watched the actress play characters in several dramas and she is good. She's able to bring out the fierceness in a villain. She should have been the main villain here, not the minister of war.
In conclusion, the drama is entertaining in some parts especially the comedic scenes. But the cute scenes are way too much. All those scenes in the king's bedroom are too dragging, some of which could have been used to present other characters schemes. It appears that there is no complexity in the motivations of each character.
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Funny, and Fun to Watch!
The camera angles in the beginning are just mind-blowing. I've never seen anything aside from a music video filmed like that. The introduction to the show had me hooked immediately. A spunky female street-rat lead with her stand-in father-like figure who can often see the future are where this story starts. Alongside this opening storyline, is a king who cannot sleep or eat well after the death of his first and only wife. As others are known to say, 'misery enjoys company' and within this time a marriage ban is enacted. No physical contact, no flirting, no love letters, nothing to do with love is permitted. The people of this Joseon romp are in a quiet uproar, holding hands in secret, and asking for compatibility tests is hugely against the law.However, not for the female lead, So Rang. After being thrown in prison for being an underground matchmaker, she pretends to be able to conjure up the spirits of those who passed away. The King keeps her by his side due to wanting to stay close to his deceased bride, but soon after -- love sparks between the two of them.
With hilarious AND serious side stories, and your typical second male lead falling head over heels for the female lead -- the comedic timing and filming are to be enjoyed. Think of it like the McDonald's of kdramas. It may not be particularly healthy to binge watch an entire 12+ hour show, but I guarantee it's filling, enjoyable, and you may only feel a little sick afterward. Lol
The actors are great -- I truly think that the head eunuch, the old man psychic, and the lead bad guy stole the show at points, but the chemistry between the king and So Rang was good. The sets are stunning and the rooms, WOW, are just beautiful. I loved the costuming, and it was the series perfect length. Not too long, and just long enough to get the story out without ruining it.
I enjoyed the whole show and definitely would suggest it to anyone looking for a fun, not accurate-at-all kind of historical drama. Enjoy it for the modern speech, the jokes, the romance, and the serious storyline that is easy to handle because it's obvious, and hilariously awkward moments. It has a happily ever after -- so enjoy to your heart's content.
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Sageuk for beginners!
I just finished watching this kdrama and I have to say I enjoyed it more than I anticipated.When I started it, it was without any expectations, I just needed something to watch for relaxation after a long day. It brought me exactly that-relaxation and a good laugh. Characters are likable and relatable so I am sure you won't have problem with them.
What I liked the most was the fact that there was no plot dragging and miscommunication that usually occurs in sageuks and then prolong until the last minute. Everything was wrapped up nicely and there were no loose ends and unanswered questions.
Cast had great chemistry and did their best in portraying their characters. I was really sad to see that it was not as hyped as expected on social media, but I think there were more factors that contributed to that which couldn't be avoided.
I'd definitely recommend this kdrama to kdrama newbies and also people who usually don't enjoy period dramas. I am convinced that people who don't like sageuks didn't watch good ones so I guess this is your sign to give this drama try.
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Which one is the ML??
I love this so much. I picked this drama randomly, not knowing any of the actors and actresses. The FL is not the average pretty girl but boy is she so funny, how can you not love her.The story is about two men who have lost their love seven years ago. One's dead, the other one went missing.
I am really looking forward the see who will end up to be with the FL. The King, or the Officer. Who do I prefer? Both are dashing, so only time will tell.
At the current latest episode (4), it looks like FL has fallen to the King. But it might change? Because that officer is soooooo nice, I'll be devastated if he happens to be the one not getting the girl.
#####SPOILER#####
Update: I dropped this when I found out the FL will end up with the King!
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An Idol sageuk drama with a recycled, common, unoriginal plot.
Korean royal court dramas will usually start out with a premise of a useless king controlled by powerful ministers and the story develops on how he regains power and punishes these evil officials. This drama is obviously one of those, this time it's an idol drama dress up as a sageuk. I could probably feel sympathy for the king who lost the love of his life because of court machinations but what I cannot stand is how he never did anything for 7 years to investigate the queen's death and the deaths of women who were killed to intimidate him. Korean writers seem to really like inept and useless rulers that suddenly have Epiphany and become competent rulers. What a load of horse crap! The ML here spends his time moping and pining for the Crown Princess, flirting with the FL, getting jealous of the SML and again obsessively missing dead wife.The FL is of course the typical jolly and happy go lucky idol female lead who melts the heart of the cold ML. The FL ends up being a court lady to act as medium of the dead princess. Honestly, The FL acts more like a court jester than a palace lady IMO. A court lady should at least hold an air of formality and decorum. What was the rationale of having such an informal and coarse behavior. This in the end is a stereotypical romcom drama but writer thought it would be nice as sageuk. Predictably writer stayed with the same unoriginal story of weak king vs. evil court ministers. A thorougly Koreans style historical drama with not much story development or short term plot resolution. I'm bored to death.
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2nd lead syndrome
I absolutely LOVE period series. the clothing and landscape/style just captures me and keeps me engaged. Unfortunately in the beginning the main male lead (played by Kim Young Dae, whom I adore) is less than likable and in contrast the 2nd lead (played by Kim Woo Seok) is absolutely delightful and wonderful. He made me fall for Lee Shin Won and in later episodes, though Lee Heon does make a turn around, there was no possible way to switch my allegiance.Because you know that she's meant to end up with Lee Heon I stopped watching, because at that point in my mind she was going to end up with the 'wrong' guy. Not since True Beauty have I seen a series that suffers from 2nd lead syndrome this hard.
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how a KING is turned to be so WEAK and acting so POORLY?!
the male lead is so childish, acting like a baby king and the female lead should be instead his "baby sitter" instead of "love interest", kim young dae I am trying to find any positive sides for his acting but really I give up he is having a repulsive facial expressions whether a kind or evil person, I found him unbearable, there is so many actors that sometimes succeed and sometimes failed in their roles, but any drama he is playing after being interested I am ending dropping anything he is playing in any drama...the female lead is so fake in acting, there is no realistic acting at all like someone is forcing her to performe this role and she is following him as being his maid or his lover?!?! and the fact of rushing romance is not on the right place, is it possible for anybody mourning his wife to believe irrationally such swindler embodying her soul and that he is forgetting his devoting for his dead wife just for a weak moment of a liar woman believing herself she is the one replacing the deceased wife with no any reasons...
the moment I see that his dead wife will be returting from death at the next scenes of epispde 5, I didn't feel that interest at all to continue it and the love triangle is not that important thing as the second male lead is so dull in the other hand and I don't think a king personality is meant to be a weak one like him and the premise of forbidding the population to get married just because he is sad over the death of his wife for 7 years and the female leas is invested to change the rules of the nation!!!! that is something so silly to be written, I liked the funny side in the story otherwise the seriousness of a king is not present, I think kim young dae and park ju hyun could have replaced so easily by a more convincing and better actors in performance!!!!!
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Great young actors!
To be honest, Kim Young Dae was my main reason to see this drama, only later did I notice that the story is very interesting as well. I liked his performance as "The Penthouse" more that I would expect and was curious that he would be able to perform well in completely different environment - the role of a king in the Joseon era. AND HE DID I!The start of the drama was difficult because the first two episodes seem to turn in all directions but as soon as I reached episode 3 everything came to one point. Forbidden Marriage contain some popular clichés: intrigues at the palace, wicked stepmother, Cinderella-like heroine but this doesn't affect its positive reception. Humorous and romantic situations increase that reception. I love how they incorporated handsome men showing off their biceps, reading books to "wake them up" and unexpected references to other dramas like Hotel Del Luna considered bedtime stories ??
The drama was still very well balanced between the aforementioned himoristic elements and the seriousness of the situation in which the main couple is. I fought with myself for a long time whether to give the drama 7 or 6.5 points, but because of poor chemistry between the leads, it ended up on 6.5/10. Certain shots and actions of the actors showed that there was something between them, but it was not enough to accept it as a real feeling between the lady-swindler and the king ? These are young actors who need to learn a little more or have better screen partners ?? Nonetheless Kim Young Dae and Park Ju Hyun are on the verge of being great actors.
I speak more about this and other dramas on my blog! Come and visit me there: my-asian-dramas.blogspot.com
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