Four episodes into watching K-drama The King: Eternal Monarch and it’s a steady stream of “buh” and “huh” and “snooze…..” The story may be disjointed but there have been way worse written K-dramas that have worked better thanks to the onscreen romantic chemistry of the leads – not talking about acting ability, just whether the two leads make the viewer … Continue reading →
Woo hoo, this is such great news! A new romance sageuk is headed our way in 2020, with SBS picking up the K-drama adaptation of the latest novel by writer Jung Eun Gwol who also wrote The Moon Embraces the Sun and Sungkyunkwan Scandal. She’s like the Tong Hua of Korean period romance novels and her prior two novel adaptations … Continue reading →
Color me impressed that MBC is actually going forward with this upcoming drama. The network is dying for a big win as last year’s two buzziest dramas were on SBS with You From Another Star and Heirs. The sageuk Empress Ki was a decent success for MBC but one has to dig way way back to nearly three years ago … Continue reading →
Another year, another year end review. For me the year end review contextualizes the dramas watched on three levels – its own merits, how it stacks up against its compatriots, and how the year measures up against previous years. If I wanted to add an additional intangible factor, then it would be how happy or frustrating it was for me … Continue reading →
I was wondering if I should do this post next month but I know I’ll get too busy with year end work crunch plus the holiday prep not to mention this year I’m traveling again back to Asia the last two weeks of December. It’s better to start now and I’m sure this will be fun for everyone. I always … Continue reading →
Recently minted “national drama” The Moon that Embraces the Sun was supposed to air its final two episodes this week, but in a case of drama outside the drama, the PD of this entire operation recently booked it to join the month long ongoing MBC strike. Bravo to the PD for standing up for his beliefs, but OMG I feel … Continue reading →
I’ve pretty much confirmed that my love for The Moon that Embraces the Sun has waned (har har, moon joke). It was a steady and somewhat slow downward slide where lackluster acting, a plodding pace, and some wretchedly bad character and narrative development slowly sucked away my affection. I might switch to baby recaps soon, because I just don’t care … Continue reading →
I think we’re about to see some of the long awaited forward momentum on all fronts we’ve been waiting for in The Moon that Embraces the Sun. I, for one, am totally and utterly in the period drama mood, thanks to reading Da Mo Yao this weekend and then realizing the drama adaptation won’t be out until next year, so … Continue reading →
Looks like The Moon that Embraces the Sun is plowing full speed ahead on the love triangle aspect of the story, which makes sense since it’s the best developed aspect of the narrative. I like to see Hwon and Wol talk more, and not constantly in King to shaman topic of conversation, but truly get to know each other. I … Continue reading →
Another week arrives, and with it two more new episodes of The Moon that Embraces the Sun. With no confirmation from MBC on the rumored extension, this means the drama is now in the second half of its run. I expect the story is start kicking into high gear, and the actors to all step it up a notch or … Continue reading →
Another solid if not spectacular episode of The Moon that Embraces the Sun. I’ve given up hoping for the return to the cohesive clarity of the earlier episodes or for some much needed secondary character development. I’m still entertained, but I’ve accepted this is about as deep as it’s going to get. As the drama continues to steer its trajectory … Continue reading →
I can’t believe the ratings legs on this drama, which almost hit 35% today. While I like and enjoy it, I admit that quality-wise it’s nowhere near deserving that kind of ratings based on a really heavy handed story, laughable sageuk politics, inconsistent casting from various leads, and general just-okay feel of it. I suppose a runaway train chugs along … Continue reading →
Ahhh, episode 9 was solidly good, but all my previous gripes haven’t gone away. It’s good, I can live with those issues and still enjoy the drama. One thing I like about how the drama deviates from the novel is that it gives me the sense of freshness, like seeing something from a different angle almost. So far I don’t … Continue reading →
