Moon Embracing the Sun (2012)

This is my very first Asian drama I watched and the review is for my second time watching it. This drama is just epic, deep and heavy, although the story line is somewhat unsatisfying to me, but this is personal taste. First, the drama gives a lot of time screen on political discussion which becomes boring after sometime. Moreover, the OTP do not come together until way later of the drama, thus I can agree with reviews stating there is no strong chemistry between OTP. Not that I complain too much, cos most part of the drama dominated by the superb acting of child actors Yeo Jin Goo and Kim Yoo Jung as the young OTP. In fact, the scene cut on how they first met is the main draw for me watching the show. Finally, I don't like deaths of good roles why have to make this drama so tragic. Despite my dislikes, excellent acting of main and supporting actors/actresses, beautiful cinematography and costume, and nice music built up the eminence of this drama.

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Ok let's start with the actors/actresses it was an amazing cast they were all so good looking and great great great acting skills seriously. Plus they can really cry I mean they have some really powerful crying potential is unbelievable how much some of this characters cried some I think they only showed them crying (like the mom). It was a great story I mean the plot the climax even the ending was great. And usually I am disappointed by the endings because I feel like they just didn't live up to their potential but this one did it was an amazing ending with a great story to back it up I mean I was literally screaming at the computer, or laughing (some pointing was done), and even teared up (cried) and I don't usually cry besides this drama only 2 other dramas were able to make me cry and they weren't Korean. The music was great they really knew what fitted the moment it was never out of place even when I thought it was I think about it again and it really was perfect. I am defenitly going to have to watch it again this drama just made it into my top 10 dramas of all time and there is some tough competition in there. It is by far the best Historical drama I've ever seen. If you don't like this drama then you are heartless.

P.S. when you watch this drama you need a box of tissues next to you. Thank me later.:D :P :D LOVED IT!!!! LOVED IT!!!!!! LOVED IT SO SO SO SO SO MUCH!!!!!!!

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I was looking forward to watching this drama as I have only recently started watching the historical dramas (was not keen about them). Since this drama has been topping most charts I thought it would be great but it was beginning to put me off historical dramas so I could not finish it. Things that I didn't like: Over the top acting at times, confusing storyline, flat chemistry. I stuck to the drama till episode 16 and yet did not finish it was because I just could not take the torture anymore. I was expecting that at some point I would understand why everyone was raving about this drama !!! Alas I got sick of it and its storyline.
Being a historical drama newbie I would suggest you to start elsewhere as this one is painful to keep up with. I quite enjoyed Scarlet Heart, Love in the moonlight, Hwarang, Arang and the Magistrate !!

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I was thinking about my rating for this drama, and it made me want to write a quick review. I gave it a 7 originally, but thinking back to it now, I think that's largely to do with the first 5 episodes, which almost deserve a 10/10. But then, the rest of the show is more like a 6. So i feel like it doesn't even deserve a rating of a 7, but when I think about the quality of the first 5 episodes, I feel like I can't give it less than a 7.

The kids were fantastic, and the mystery and story set-up of their episodes was enough to draw me in completely. I was waiting impatiently each week for the next episodes. But even with the adult actors being who they are (I was very ready to love this drama, with just the actors alone), that couldn't stop the drama from dragging its heels for all of the middle episodes, because they apparently only had one very thin plot point to go on (first love). The show was so focused on the main pairing that everyone and everything else fell by the wayside.

It was a very pretty drama, and got better towards the end, but I think this was one of the most overrated shows of 2012, and did not deserve to hit 40 in the ratings. It wasn't a bad show, not at all. It just wasn't as good as it could have been, or as the reviews and ratings suggest it is.

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Best show not to miss

there's nothing to say,
I didn't enjoy any kdrama after I saw SCARLET HEART RYEO, which had made a big impact in me,
After which, I saw THE MOON EMBRACING THE SUN, after much delay, and I regret that.

#2 HISTORICAL K-DRAMA ever made after #1 SCARLET HEART RYEO.

The storyline, the outstanding performance of the artists in their respective roles, the background score, the cinematography, the shooting spots, everything has concluded the one of the best kdramas ever made.

Though fictional story, yet everything is perfectly plotted.
The things you need to protect at times, the things that you adore the most you need to lose when you couldn't do anything even though you have everything, when you've power.
The bromance, the family relationship, the jealousy, the greed.
Above all, a romantic, thriller, mystery genre drama, that can't happen twice ever.

A must watch drama, you miss, you regret.

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The story is quite simple that we have seen in a drama. Although, the characters are very great especially Kim Soo Hyun who portrayed as King Le Won. He can perfectly acted as a man who is faithful to his lover b ut at the middle of the drama, the king couldn't control his kingdom because of his love. However, at the end we can see that the king can reunion his nation.
The actress, I didn't like that much. In my opinion, she cannot play very well especially whe she is rying , she can't make us to cry with her while the king can. So, I'm sorry for that.
Music- actually, the music is very good but they didn't play that much while I'm watching. Mostly, we an hear the music at the beginning and the end of the drama so, I cannot fel how much it good.
To rewatch the series honesty, I cannot spend my time to rewatch it.
Overall, this is a good love story between the king and a girl called "Wu". Plus, this is another love story for Kim Soo Hyun's audiences.

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The only drama series I watch again are Korean, and among those, only the ones I find excellent on all levels; I’m pretty demanding because I’m older, less patient with mediocrity, so have less time to waste. For me to stay with a drama, much less re-watch, it must be interesting, challenging, charming, amazing, and all those other qualities that keep us coming back. Of course I also watch for my favorite actors, writers, and directors. I will enjoy all genres if they qualify, because I know a great Korean drama will also reward me for my time spent with learning more than I knew , entertaining me, leaving me with such good vibes and memories that I will buy that drama specifically to watch again. I’m willing to try a new drama and actor(s) if they grab me in the first couple of episodes. I will also try one that has very high ratings, but even that is not always a good measure for me since we are human and have varying tastes as humans. All of which is to say why I love Great KDrama. . . And why I am re-watching Moon Embracing the Sun and other great KDramas during the COVID-19 Stay Home Era. Along with music, books, workouts, Zoom with friends, etc. they are perfect for this challenging time, and I’m also seeing aspects I missed the first time as I settle in with the drinks and snacks to stay home and reasonably calm these sometimes scary days. Can’t be too scared with these delicious stories and actors to distract from evil microbes.

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Sun embracing the moon

What even was that?! I would have rather gotten lost in a liminal space than watching this. The entire portion of the plot involving the kids was absurd and uncomfortable. They had no idea how to structure the narrative with the kids which led to a handful of subsequent problems that couldn't be fixed. About 80% of the drama was wasted on a single weak point of tension. The longer runtime made the tension even weaker. The following events didn't matter for how little investment the viewers have had in the first place. While the cast was mostly okay, Han Ga In didn't feel right in this drama.

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MUST WATCH!

This is one of the few dramas that I have watched over and over again :) Everything is simply brilliant about this drama. The story, the cast, the music, the acting etc.
I wish I could give it a higher rating. I did not fast forward even 1 second of it, as every episode was just that great, no dragging or trying to lengthen the series.
I hope these writers can come up with other dramas just as good.
Do not hesitate to watch this if you like costume dramas. not 1 boring scene, the chemistry was so good, both between the younger cast and the older cast. Pairing was perfect.

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Moon Embracing the Sun, 2012's highest rated drama in Korea. While I don't find the plot the best, the fantastic chemistry and acting in the first few episodes, actually makes one curious to discover what happens to each of the characters as the story goes on.
The costumes are very well detailed. I really love all the costume designs. My favorite however was the costumes for the child cast particularly young Heo Yeon Woo and young Yoon Bo Kyung's costumes.
The acting of the child cast is fantastic. Best actors are Yeo Jin Goo, Kim Yoo Jung, and Kim So Hyun. Though I don't really ship them or their characters, Yeo Jin Goo and Kim Yoo Jung look beautiful together so I understand why people want their characters together. Not to mention the way they were able to act out the emotions of their characters are fantastic. Kim So Hyun, is also excellent in showing the complicated feelings of an insecure girl with a selfish love suddenly turning to the other side. I also really like the acting of these young actors: Lee Tae RI, Jin Ji hee, Seo Ji Hee and Jo Min-Ah. Lee Tae Ri, in particular is the better of the two Yangmyungs for me, he was excellent in showing a smile in his face while being sad as he hopelessly shows love to Yeon Woo. The only thing that is lacking in his performances for me is showing some tears when his character is supposed to be literally crying. And of course, the senior actors like Kim Young Ae, Jung Eun Pyo, Ahn Nae Sang, Jeon Mi Seon, Yang Mi Kyung Kim Eung, Soo, and Sun Woo Jae Duk, can always be trusted for giving a good performance. As for the adult actors (those that grew up from child characters), Kim Min Seo is the best for me since she was able to express well the complications of her character Bokyung. While the rest of the actors are quite good and even some are excellent in showing tears while crying, their performances just didnt really touch me. I commend them for trying their best though.
One actress I really dislike though is the adult female lead Han Ga In. I just couldn't stand her performance, the way she delivers her speech is so bad. Her acting skills are so bad, can't help but compare it to Kim Yoo Jung, who was so excellent in the role. I'm not someone who would criticize looks, but to be frank the mole in her nose also distracted me. To be honest, I couldn't understand why she was cast. She's popular, but she's not the most popular actress of her age (if they want to get an actress her age) nor was she someone who had experience acting in sageuk. With all my criticisms of her however, she did quite impress me in one crying scene (when Yeon Woo remembered who she was), so I will give it to her, but for me it is not enough for her to deserve this role.
The music in this drama is really good. The love theme: Back in Time by Lyn perfectly fits the sad love of the characters in this drama. The instrumentals are great too.
Overall this is not the best drama, but it has a lot of elements that will make many people love. If you want a sageuk focusing mainly on romance, then here's your drama.

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Excellent entertainment.

I was blown away by the production quality of this drama that is now (2024) 12 years old. The two child actors were already very experienced and their portrayals were terrific. Both actors have continued to have successful acting careers.
Kim Soo Hyun plays the older Prince/King and his acting is excellent he has manged to select some great roles and has won numerous accolades. The FL Han Ga was not as animated in her acting and has since married, had children and dropped out of the Kdrama scene.

The palace intrigues are predictable, however, the use of the shaman to create and evil spell and the consequences are what drives the plot. You need to suspend your logic at times, e.g. the bad guy seems to have unlimited assassin yet is never caught in his bad deeds.

The 2ML is loveable but doesn't stand a chance and the writers were especially mean to end him the way they did. The head shaman got under my skin with her weak character and inability to show moral character I wanted to smack her.
The young actor playing Seol really owned her role and the desperate fight scene trying to protect her beloved master was heart wrenching.
NB Jung Eun-gwol is the novelist and Jin Soo Wan is the screen writer and both have created more memorable dramas since then.

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