Rooftop Prince (2012)

This drama is very entertaining but it fails to solve its core plot and execute it on screen

This drama is very entertaining but it fails to solve its core plot and execute it on screen. This drama was clearly written around its Joseon-era arc: a fine tale of a murder mystery about the princess. The crown prince then gets sent 300 years into the future and slowly realizes the same events happening again between two warring reincarnated sisters. While it executes the Joseon storyline in spades, it failed miserably to mimic it in the modern-era arc.

The villains are so horribly written. They're too lucky too, getting numerous opportunities to foil each and every plan of the protagonists. The protagonists are also mumbling idiots who are too trusting and get duped by the villains time and time again. You will wince and groan by the choices the villains and protagonists make during pivotal moments in the modern-era arc that by the time episode 17 comes around it reaches fever-pitch and becomes an unintentional comedy. I found myself laughing and shaking my head in disappointment numerous times at otherwise very intense, serious moments from episode 17 onwards. By episode 19 I was so ready to grade this drama a 5. I would've graded it lower if not for the first few episodes where I genuinely had a few laughs from its fish-out-water antics.

But then episode 20 came and it single-handedly redeemed the show to a degree. The episode literally pulled this drama up from the pile of shit it wanted to stay in. It was clear to me then that the writers wrote the Joseon-era arc first- which was finely constructed- but then had the problem of bringing the same similar events to the modern-era arc. And what they came up with was an utter mess. Episode 20 alone is worth the watch but it was too little too late.

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If you've got time to kill you can watch this

I really, really wanted to love this show.

The CP's 3 companions were the best bits of humor in the show and I could have done with their lines and plots being developed more (and edit out so much of the extraneous mooning between ML & FL).

What initially got me to try the drama was the time slip aspect. Who doesn't love that, eh?
That was good, as well as the mystery which is finally wrapped up at the end.

I also enjoyed the past-life/reincarnation / karmic aspects of the plot. It worked well with the time slip stuff.

The first few episodes were intriguing, and I thought "Ah hah! this IS going to be good!" But while it had good bones it was over fleshed out and poorly edited. So many establishing shots were of them going from a to b, standing in someone's apt, house, car garden etc, and watching what I think of as talking heads repeating the same stuff over and over. Yes, after the 3rd time of it being said, we know the ML is the CP. We know that he's also currently masquerading as the heir, and that the cousin is as dirty and underhanded as they come. We don't need that being reiterated in just about every episode. Really!

What I thought though was that it could have been made a more dynamic and interesting show with better editing of the script and shooting. It should not have taken 20 episodes to tell the story (It is pretty basic after all) and I think it could have been done within 16 episodes and we'd have had a better show because of it.

So if you've got some patience, and some time to kill watch this show. It's got a good premise it's just poorly executed.

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A love story full of suffering

I really loved the villains in this drama. They are quite villainous and cause all sorts of problems for our main couple. Se Na (Jung Yu Mi) has the same appearance as Yi Gak’s dead wife, and she has a complicated relationship with Park Ha which she exploits to her advantage.

And Tae Moo (Lee Tae Sung) has it out for Yi Gak’s modern day look alike Tae Young. He does anything and everything to take him down so he can better his position in the family. This duo is all kinds of trouble, but I sure did get a kick out of watching them cause problems!
Then there’s the rest of our Joseon crew. Chi San (Choi Woo Shik), Man Bo (Lee Min Ho), and Yong Sul (Jung Suk Won) are dedicated to serving the Prince and will protect him no matter what. They are a quirky bunch with a lot of heart. And they are oh so hilarious! The crazy situations these guys get into are so funny, and I grew to love each of them.

I loved Yi Gak and Park Ha as a couple! This is one of those relationships that I got completely swoony over. It’s a slow build with a lot of cute bickering in the beginning. But then it blossoms into quite the fated love story. It’s beautiful and heartbreaking and so much more. I adored this couple, and their love story completely tugged at my heart.

The mystery surrounding the death of Yi Gak’s wife was also very interesting. The drama laid it out well and slowly peels back the layers as we learn the full story and how it effects our characters in the past and in the present.
This is also a drama that just gets better as it goes along. What starts out as mostly fun, turns into a very dramatic and intense drama. The story was just so good all the way through, and I was completely invested in the characters. The romance hit all of the right spots for me and gave me feels to last a lifetime. Everything just came together to make this a truly wonderful drama.

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Surprisingly this show started with hilarious scenes but at the end I have cried my eyes out with its bittersweet ending. I loved it since 2012 and I still love it until now. It is fun, lighthearted blending with tearful scenes and mysteries. Its love story is even more touching. The bond between the two leads is truly beautiful. Love transcends time. The OSTs are also impressed me. And the cast! they're perfect. Yuchun was a talent and charming actor. He made me love Prince Lee Gak wholeheartedly. Han Ji-min's performance was flawless. The trio are so funny and lovely.

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Fun Watch!

The beginning is perfect! I love the hilarious antics of the trio so much. Really endearing and reminds me of 80's movies (ex, Splash). But around episode 12, it just keeps tacking on scenarios with careful thought just to extend the life of the show, which is a shame, cause it's a really great show. It really could have ended in 16 episodes and been a masterpiece!
I really don't like the ML there is just something off about him, also felt this way about him in 'The girl who sees scents'. Anyway, he's no longer on the acting scene due to some scandal.
I regress...back to the show...there are some glaring inconsistences, like when the envelopes get swapped and they have the whole transfer thing going on and I'm thinking...her name is printed on the actual plane ticket proving that she deliberately gave it to her. All of this could have been cleared up with one simple phone call...seriously.
I would have loved to have seen more of the comedic trio towards the end but their parts disappeared much like themselves!
They were more entertaining to watch than the love story. There a good OST, sounds kinda 70's in places.
Good strong characters, a bit one dimensional towards the end but you can't have it all!

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This drama was fun and thrilling enough to watch. I loved the first episodes the most I think because they were really funny and just fun to watch.
The episodes were rather thrilling. The way how this storyline was built was a masterpiece I must say. Be cause 'til the end I didn't know exactly what will happen.
Actors were good and I fell in love with one special song - Ali "Hurt"

BUT why I gave only 7 for overall - because the solution for this story was not my kind of thing. And it's not going to be my favourite drama.
There are certain scenes I would rewatch, but the ending.. I loved the 19th episode - I really cried. But somehow the last episode didn't move me as much as I expected. At first I didn't get it, how it ended exactly - then after thinking about it I understood, but it's still not the same..

Anyways, if you need a drama with fun and thrill about a big mess being cleared up with romantic moments, then it's for you.

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Yes, I gave this drama all 10's. Cant help it, but I also don't care. I love this drama so much.

This drama starts off HILARIOUS and you can't help but laugh out loud! It has a very interesting story and you get addicted to it very easily.
Then after some time, shit gets serious, and deep, and depressing....

I remember watching this drama in the first half of December 2012, and the fact that I remember it so clearly is amazing in itself because I have the worst memory. Here in my country we celebrate Lucia, and I remember sitting up waaaaaay past my bedtime watching this drama. And I remember that I only made it to episode 19. Oh man I was bawling my eyes out!! I can honestly say I have never cried SO MUCH because of a drama or movie before, and I am the kind of person who cries because "that high note in the song was just too beautiful! ;;__;;". Yeah. And I had snot and tissue papers EVERYWHERE! And not being able to watch the last episode until I got home the day after was absolute TORTURE! My friend still makes fun of me because of this, as we celebrate Lucia we go to church and sing and so on and I had an actual mental breakdown in church because of it! It may seem as if I am overreacting but this is honestly how great this drama is and how it made me feel! I feel like I needed to make this clear and let people know (especially us sensitive people) that this drama will make you cry your eyes out in a fetus position!

But to be honest, the ending still to this day confuses me. So if someone could explain for me I would be SO HAPPY! Sorry for the lousy review!

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Seriously the BEST Drama I've ever watched!
The acting was INCREDIBLE from ALL of the actors - I truly have to give my dues to the actors who played Se Na and Yong Mu (the baddies) because I truly hated them LOL !!! Truly Brilliant.
The music fit the the story line so PERFECTLY, I loved how all of the songs were incorporated with how you felt at each moment!
I would DEFINITELY watch this over again!!!
And the story line was PERFECT - I cried, laughed, and felt in tune with the characters throughout!!!
One of my FAVOURITE rom-coms and I would definitely recommend EVERYONE to watch!!

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Rooftop Prince is an extremely well thought out (and thought provoking), laugh out loud comedy, and above all, a love story. Crown Prince Lee Gak awakes one morning to discover the tragic death of the Crown Princess, and vows to do whatever it takes to discover the truth behind her murder. He puts together a team of the three most intelligent and skilled citizens of Joseon, and starts looking for clues; but the mysterious and magical properties of fate transport them three hundred years into the future. Here reincarnations of a still living princess and the other main characters struggle to escape a similar demise. Now it's up to the Prince and his new entourage to not only adapt to the modern world, but figure out what fate wants them to get right and prevent history from repeating itself. But first, they must survive living off the rooftop of the blunt and energetic city girl who's searching for a past of her own. Strangely, she seems to have ties to all those from former Joseon, despite being the only one with a face and name no one can remember.

Acting: The acting was brilliant on all sides. I do want to point out though, because this is a COMEDY, a few of the characters or more serious scences can seem a little over exaggerated at times. If you're able to look past this though, you should find this very enjoyable.

Music: Music was a 10/10. Very moving and matches well with the emotional scenes. I've had the songs stuck in my head long after I've finished watching. And I'm not tired of them yet!

Rewatch Value for me is really high. Despite my uncertainty at times, this show undeniably had me laughing and crying more than any other I've ever watched. I very much look forward to rewatching this drama that stole my heart.

Overall, I am floored by how spectacular this drama was. From the high caliber of the comedy, to the plot, the music, and the ROMANCE!!! (normally, I'd touch on this more, but I don't want to give anything away; it speaks volumes on its own). I enjoyed this SO much in fact, that it only took me three days to complete, and I wasn't bored once! Anyone whose watched a lot of dramas will tell you, that's crazy! I sincerely regret not picking this one up sooner. I hope that you find it just as enjoyable

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What really brought this show together was the comedy. It had a lot of seriously funny moments in it and honestly I wish there was a lot more.

The story was good and kept you guessing, and the romance was pretty good and very cute, but I felt that there was a lot more they could of done, and they could of gone into some of the side characters a lot more then what they did, and towards the end it feels like everyone just disappears except the lead roles. I felt very distanced from them and it made it seem like they just didn't matter much in the end.

Overall though this was a fantastic drama and I would recommend it to anyone, especially if you like a good romantic comedy.

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