tvN Weekend Sageuk Captivating the King Growing Stronger in Ratings Post Midway Through Run with Praise for Jo Jung Seok’s Acting and the Directing

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• I don't understand the hate towards SSK for her part in Captivating the King - I think she is doing pretty well, and plays the role of a woman caught in the turmoil between love and revenge (okay maybe she's not too believable as a man/ boy, not her fault for looking that feminine). And this is coming from someone who think she was outshined by her secondary leads in Run On (Sooyoung) and Black Knight (the great Seo Ji Hye).

  • The FL role was carelessly written leaving many gaps that she seems lofty, immature and weak. The actress has limited expressions. The bewildered, head down look for every situation. She doesn’t show the steely determination nor feistiness beyond merely uttering the words of revenge. Her desire for revenge doesn’t seem strong and convincing enough to get the viewer on her side. Her father being such a loyal man to the king would turn in his grave. The would be king aptly killed the betrayer and traitor. Isn’t that the consequence of treason?
    Thus the character is just a child playing with fire and lack maturity to handle her own emotions
    The weak acting of FL merely serves to highlight ML’s acting prowess.

• Shin Se Kyung is not doing badly here at all but Jo Jong Seok is miles ahead acting wise and is hard carrying the drama to be very honest but not that it is any of her fault, I think playing a tomboy kind of role doesn't suit her at all but not for not trying though.

• The title should The Captivating King, JJS is so good in this role, so mesmerizing.

  The issue with this drama is the FL. First, the character is badly written. She's a baduk genius but in the real life every decision she takes is completely stupid. Then, the fact SSK is really not credible as a young man because she made no effort to lessen the make-up, to change her voice and mannerism, to make a clean haircut... And she always makes the same face when JJS has so many microexpressions.

• Nice attempt to justify or to cover SKK weakness. Poor acting is poor acting, she was never brilliant in any of her previous roles. The problem here is that she is facing the excellent and mind blowing Jo Jung Seok; it makes her acting so obviously bad and irritating

• I am not much of a Saeguk fan, but this series has me hooked. JJS is phenomenal, I have watched him in Hospital Playlist, Oh my Ghost etc. and always considered him a great actor but that was about it. I sincerely hope he gets some recognition and bags a few awards for this role.

  SSK, I have a soft spot for. Yes she is not the greatest of actresses, but I have seen far worse. I feel her expressions are sometimes off, but her eye acting is great and she is really pretty. Though for these two reasons her acting as guy is also not believable.

  Having said all this I enjoy watching the scenes with both of them and IMO I do feel there is chemistry between them.

• Oh is SSK that bad in acting? I think she's great in AC II. JJS on the other hand, is the reason I'm not captivated by Captivating the King. LOL.

• JJS is good here but SSK's acting is quite Medicare when playing opposite of him. Her character is supposed to want revenge but she hardly acts "vengeful" or hateful enough. I'm hardly convinced she even wants revenge. Her character doesn't come off as someone who is strategically planning revenge. Her acting just doesn't carry any really weight compared to JJS

  • This. And her plan seems childish and weak. She doesnt even know how to handle her own plan. Not to mention her expression. There's no sign of hatred.

• It was a slow but steady realization that this is a 'keeper' for me to watch and enjoy this fabulous drama. The male lead is one of the best Korean actors. He developed his character with charm and strength making the King come alive. Of course it doesn't hurt that he exudes a sexy feel. The whole thing about the female pretending to be a man is far completely ridiculous and laughable.

• I think acting is great all around. The actors can only do what the script demands. The lead actor had the best role and is absolutely fantastic. The female lead is good too. People shouldn't be so opinionated for heavens sake. It's just a drama. Life us real. Anyway, I love CTK. My favorite now ...it beats KTL & CLOY..lol. really.

  • ????

    People shouldn’t “be so opinionated” on the acting of an actor?! Whut? They are getting paid to work, and the viewers have absolutely every right to give their opinions on whether or not a paid actor is convincing or not. If someone’s posting hate messages about SSK or being abusive, that’s a different topic.

    Giving an opinion on someone’s work on a drama when this is also their “real life” day job? That’s completely valid.

• Honestly am enjoying the drama. Le in is amazing. I hope love wins than revenge. I hope the drama ends happily.
  In life vengeance does not pay. Love wins all.