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 believe they are mere seconds away from boning if the camera wasn’t there. The leads of The King don’t just have no chemistry, they might have negative chemistry like two same sided magnets pushing off each other. I thought to make my list of when there has been a stupid/far-fetched,/preposterous/fantasy K-dramas and whether chemistry made it work. This isn’t about a well-written or substantive K-dramas as that can allow the story and directing to keep the interest and carry the day. This is about when everything is actually quite stupid but viewers love it because the leads sell it. Here goes!
Continue readingTag Archives: The Moon that Embraces the Sun
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 … 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 … 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 … 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 … 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 … 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 … 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 … 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 … 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 … 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 … 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 … 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 … Continue reading