Downside of a live shoot is the inevitable delay of any previews week-to-week. The upside might be that any preview that comes out suddenly seems chock full of goodies. It’s weird how I know The Moon that Embraces the Sun is not a good sageuk by any measure of expected quality, yet I’m pretty hooked on the central love story. … Continue reading →
So I finally finished reading the novel version of The Moon that Embraces the Sun. While the drama hasn’t deviated so significantly from the novel that I would accord it an “inspired by” moniker, its deviated enough in major enough ways that I have no clue what parts of the novel might make it into the drama intact. With rumors … Continue reading →
[Edit: MBC is on crack, because it just released the written preview for episode 10 as well. Woo hoo! Bringing it to you below] If Hwon and Woon continue to remain so close, even I’m going to start wondering if the bodyguard and his King is undertaking some A Frozen Flower-esque forbidden love. I’m kidding, of course. Nothing wrong with … Continue reading →
Instead of writing this recap I was out actually talking about dramas with friends for a change. In explaining my interest in watching The Moon that Embraces the Sun, I chalked it up to a hankering for easy to digest not too complicated black and white fare. This isn’t your grandma’s sageuk, it’s more like a sageuk made for kids … Continue reading →
The transition from the children to the adults in The Moon that Embraces the Sun has changed the mood and dynamic of the drama as expected. Not in ways that are good or bad, just that the vibrant colors and sparkling energy has given way to darkened romance and moody melancholy. Everything feels heavier, as it ought to since the … Continue reading →
I’m glad The Moon that Embraces the Sun has fantasy elements, because it’s going to take a huge leap of logic for me to accept that everyone who loves and has seen young Yeon Woo’s face in the drama to not immediately recognize adult Yeon Woo. I hate it when a story posits that after a time jump when a … Continue reading →
The written preview for episode 8 of The Moon that Embraces the Sun is out, and it sounds so exciting. The story quickly brings all the adult versions of the major characters back into each other’s orbit, allowing the story to continue to build on the premise laid out in the childhood episodes. Hwon has never forgotten Yeon Woo, and … Continue reading →
I rather like the conceit of The Moon that Embraces the Sun in having Yeon Woo lose her memories about her past. It’s less painful that way for her, and also allows us to watch Yeon Woo and Hwon fall in love all over again. Which they will surely do. While young Yang Myung resonated with me because he lost … Continue reading →
At the rate the ratings for The Moon that Embraces the Sun is rising, MBC likely has the biggest sageuk hit on its hand since 2010’s Dong Yi, and might even rival the ratings juggernaut that was its biggest hit in years, 2009’s Queen Seon Deok. I appreciate how the drama is moving along so quickly, even if I get … Continue reading →
I’m a little too seasoned to suffer a bout of tears and snot over the smallest sad plot development in a drama, but watching Yeo Jin Gu cry in the preview for episode 5 of The Moon that Embraces the Sun got me right there in the gut. He’s truly a phenomenal child actor, and the same is true for … Continue reading →
The impetus for actions in a sageuk is rarely personal, and this is especially true in The Moon Embraces the Sun. People are eliminated simply because they got in the way. It’s not like anyone objects to Yeon Woo being Hwon’s Crown Princess because she’s ugly, stupid, or his half-sister. It’s because she doesn’t represent the establishment, and the people … Continue reading →
Two brothers. One girl. Clearly someone is getting his heart broken, and I can’t say I’m happy to see either guy suffer, even if I know both will. How can so much cuteness be built upon impending (and present) heartbreak? Episode 4 of The Moon that Embraces the Sun finds taciturn King Sungjo getting hit up by every one of … Continue reading →
Better and better. The Moon that Embraces the Sun continues to envelope me in great storytelling and beautiful directing. My heart is completely lost to Prince Yang Myung in his teenage incarnation, with the little smidgeon of hope he harbors in his heart daring to come out when it comes to Yeon Woo. I’m a sucker for hurt boys, and … Continue reading →