I have to give some props to the PD of Jang Ok Jung, Live in Love. I watched both of his previous two dramas, A Star’s Lover and My Girlfriend is a Gumiho, and while neither had the strongest script his directing was a very steady and consistent hand that never sought the limelight. The PD isn’t into innovative camera shots or snazzy camera work, but he does weave in a very lively balance of action and stillness into each episode so that the narrative never feels bogged down. But similarly I’m not so taken with his display of skills so as to wrench attention from what is happening in the story. It’s a hard thing to do to strike this delicate balance, and so far he’s doing a swell job that he deserves a shout out. Episodes 9-10 this coming week look to advance the narrative further into revealing Ok Jung’s presence in Lee Soon’s life to the rest of his world. Will the Dowager Queen freak out (even more)? Will Minister Min strive to immediately remove her from Lee Soon’s orbit? Will Prince Dongpyung give up before he’s even gotten started? Will Chi Soo ride in on a white horse and whisk Ok Jung away? It’s hard enough finding the right person to fall in love with, as Lee Soon has probably realized by now. It’s not that he has to have Ok Jung or he’ll die, but I get the sense that he’s so lonely for so long that he realizes how special it was that he got to meet Ok Jung. It’s not that she’s beautiful, or that she’s intriguing, it’s that she captivates his heart and mind simultaneously and that is the dual basis for how people start falling in love. I don’t think these two are at the “we’ll die without each other phase”, so it’ll be interesting to see who has the willpower and strategic alliances to bridge the astronomical distance between Heaven where a King is at and the lowest echelon on earth where the daughter of a slave is at.