Affection (2021)

This drama is so underrated it’s a pity. My favourite sageuk to date after Mr. Sunshine. Such a beautiful story with well-written characters and heart-wrenching yet pounding lines. The message of TKA hits strong and different and is delivered so compassionately it hurts every time I think about it. Every single detail is reflected with whole-hearted effort by the crew to make sure they all imply a special story-related meaning.

The music is what I like most about this drama, each soundtrack is rendered to fit perfectly in every single frame, arousing my sentiment to the fullest whenever I tune in for the show. The female lead is born for this role, her eye acting always left me speechless and it just got better every episode.

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Should have been 16 episodes!?

I read some other reviews that said it gets dragged and I have to agree! It gets dragged to the point you want to drop it. I personally dropped it for almost a month and decided to finish it today because I had 5 episodes left. I managed to finish it because I put the speed on 1.5x otherwise I would have dropped it completely.

I'm actually dissapointed because I was excited about this drama from the 1st episode. The story is good but 20 episodes are too much, there are many fillers with some side characters, I personally wanted more romance between the main leads I would love more scenes of their "forbiden love". There are also many scenes that are in slow motion which gets annoying.
I really like Rowoon and Eunbin and their chemistry was good but I left with the feeling I didn't see much together. Eunbin's acting was excellent btw.

Overall only the first and last 3 episodes are the best but if you like historical dramas you might like all episodes, it's not a bad drama.

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It was slow at first when showing the main characters as children in my opinion, but then it gets better as it goes on. I was happy with the romance, especially considering the ML accepted his love for the FL before he found out the truth of her gender and even more specifically her identity. I was really happy with how it ended. I found the acting to be great, especially Eun Bin’s. She did great in this role.

The only thing I had a hard time with was getting confused on certain royal family members and members of the court. This may be just due to my lack of experience with Korean historical dramas. I would’ve liked a family tree of the royal family.

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The Invasion of Korean Culture through KDramas

King’s Affection holds a special place in my journey in KDramas. Although I’ve seen a number of Kdramas before, this particular series made me sit up and realize how beautiful and well-made Korean dramas are. I suddenly understood all the rave and why there are so many networks giving airspace for them… Obviously I’m not Korean, so this historical drama is a delight to my senses. I am more aware of Chinese and Japanese culture, so the costumes, the makeup, and the set made me realize how rich Korean culture is. It’s beyond kimchi. I always thought Korea pales in comparison to aforementioned countries but the history (though this is fictional), the culture, the people are as interesting and as beautiful.

The story and the actors, most specially Park Eun Bin’s Lee Hwi/Dam-I, it brought me all the emotions that the director wanted his viewers to experience. I cried, I fell in love, I swooned, then I cried again! Specially with their lovely theme songs, how can I not get swayed and sing with tears?. Some found the story too long and slow, but the story is all about Lee Hwi/Dam-I’s strength and his determination to make the best out of the situation for her people and his loved ones. Second is the fierce loyalty and love of Ji-Woon and the other people closest to the Crown Prince. It’s a magnificent battle of good vs evil, underhanded maneuvering and power play. Casting is almost a coup, the actors embodied their characters (with just one main support to me that I found too pretty and not manly enough for his role). I am not a fan of melodrama but King’s Affection tightly held my hand and brought me to the very depth of our crowned prince’s pain and dilemma. And rejoiced with everyone after her arduous journey… after everything I went through with the Prince, I rewatched it again and willingly dove down that lake of tears again! I did this three times and will most likely do it over and over. And I am not a fan of melodramas!

After King’s Affection, I binged on numerous KDramas and I am amazed on how the film industry of Korea was able to imbed their culture to the world. I am now craving their ramen, my cupboard stocked with Soju, Kimchi’s my quick veggie fix, and compare my wardrobe to the dramas that I watch. The saying “the pen is mightier than the gun” leveled up to “the camera is mightier than a gun”.

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To live life without living life

This drama is a gem. It is not the in your face love story nor is it trying to be something that it is not. Rowoon def played the part of a lovesick guy who wants to protect his love. Like even when his character didn't know what we knew, he still pursued the relationship. I think he played the part so well def a great actor as we all know. I also liked the lead lady Eun bin, she def played a strong lead "female" (wink wink). I do know that most might think that this drags, and it does a little but it still is really cute and heart warming with a play on when you are kind and gracious people will back you through anything. :)

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No me convenció el romance

Historia

La mire porque quería ver una historia en que una chica se viste de chico (ocultación de identidades) siempre me parecieron interesantes. Pero esto, se me hizo un poco cansino. Lo sentí muy irreal que el prota se enamorara muy rápido de la prota, digo me gusto que se enamore aún si fuera un chico, pero no me gustó como lo manejaron, se me hizo agotador el romance, y que el chico la persiguiera como un cachorrito.




Actuación/elenco
Es el segundo drama que Rowoon no me gusta, quizás algún día lo encuentre en otro k-drama y ame su papel. La prota neutral. En resumen, No me gustaron mucho los protas. Ame a los niños, más que los principales. Hasta llegue a punto que quería que la historia sea desde el punto de los niños. Eso es terriblemente malo para mí disfrute.



Musica
La canción de Lyn, hace que no diga que no valió la pena mirarla.

Valor de repetición
Con una vez me basto.

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Romance Fluff

First, there's potential to the story. Second, the cast is good which is why I became more and more frustrated as the episodes piled up. I dropped it at ep 14 and went to YT to see the last few minutes of the ending.

It is meant to be what it was drawn as; a comic romance. The entire drama revolved around the two main leads getting together and trying not to be caught. The problem is, the environment around them didn't try very hard to be an obstacle. I cringed every time they were together in the last few episodes I watched and concluded romance dramas definitely isn't for me. The knowledge that it isn't possible for the two main leads to get together so easily makes it so much harder to watch. More so when the FL is cross dressing, a Crown Prince and a King later.

Royalty is always stringently protected, there is always an entourage and there are always bodyguards. More so for crown princes. I would have preferred the drama take on a serious tone, better written and directed to show the intellect, creativity, talents and skills of the FL to plan her way through the obstacles around her and how the ML supported her through his abilities. That the relationship between her and the ML is subtle and yet powerful. This would have made it more interesting, imo.

As it is, the potential is wasted, more so with a good cast for this drama. They're not fully utilised.

Lire davantage

Interesting premise, no tension or momentum.

Many Joseon era dramas these days feel like they are just recycled over and over again. It's a shame as I enjoy the dramatic situations available to historical romances, and due to the premise I was willing to give this show a chance.

The scenario that the woman is in the 'high power position' compared to the man is refreshing. But, it doesn't result in more tension or difference in dynamic compared to your standard gender bending (changing clothes, bathing etc.). There's lots that could be done to truly flip your expectations, but so far not much has happened.

Six episodes in, we are still at the show synopsis stage. You could read the summary, pick up at episode six and know exactly what is going on. There's now been episode after episode of long looks, and speculative glances with no real character development or real dramatic tension.

This is a competent effort, but does not add anything new to the genre. At this stage I couldn't figure out a reason to continue watching.

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