I'm rating this drama as a romance (6.5) because that's what it was written to be, however if it was written to be biopic of the King's life story where the love story was a side plot, I'd probably give it a higher rating.

Things I loved in this drama:

- Lee Junho as Yi San/The King: The first time I took note of Lee Junho was in Good Manager where I loved how intense his character could be, yet hidden behind that mask was a kooky weirdo that just needed to find his people. In Red Sleeve, he did a solid job of portraying an emotionally layered Crown Prince who was raised by an emotionally abusive grandfather (who was responsible for his fathers death if you know the real life story). The amount of trauma that alone would instill in any kid gives you a deeper appreciation for the King he grew to became and an understanding of *why* he was so adamant in following the law and made certain choices. He is by no means a flawless character but I think he did such a great job playing out the various aspects of San's emotions and struggles.

I also think he carried the love story mostly on his back and it was through him that we really saw the depth of emotions in the OTP. We saw his pain, doubt that the FL returned his feelings, his joy when he thought she did and his sadness when she was repeatedly aloof with him. I like that he was a flawed character -- there were times when he was really possessive and that lead me to understand why, in the beginning the FL might have been wary of showing her hand when it came to her feelings for him. I also loved that while he was so very in love, he never lost sight of his larger goal as a King and what he wished for his people. All in all, a character that I walked away liking.

THINGS THAT COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER:

*Writing/Plot and Pacing: I initially thought this was a love story, but after watching the show I felt it was more about following Yi San through his journey from Crown Prince to King, which also included his love for the FL. The writers spent a great deal of time during the middle/late end of the show drawing out the time period where the FL avoided committing to the King which I guess could have worked if they had written her to be a more nuanced character and had given us insight into her inner turmoil, but they pretty much had her repeating the same conversations to her friends or herself with no further insight. It's almost as if when creating her character avatar the writers highlighted "girl King loves who got away and he pines for" as one of her characteristic and forgot to flesh out what about Deok Im justified this almost decade long avoidance of committing to the King. We are given the whole "I want to make a choice in my life" front, but her personality and motivations are never as fully fleshed out the way it is for San and how he became the man he grew to be. So it ultimately felt like she was a female character written in with the express purpose of being the woman that hooked san for the amount of time she did.

I also think the pacing of the show from the midway point to the last episode was confusing and pointless. They again, maximized the period of time they were not together for a longer period than they needed to and then squashed in everything that could have happened into literally 1.5 episodes. Like, they literally timed jumped the shit out of everything that happened when she finally became his concubine and fast forwarded through everything we, as an audience who literally waited to see happen, only to end again with more solo time with San and how he processed everything emotionally. Which is why I would rate this higher if it was written specifically as a biopic that focused on San -- because then it did a pretty good job.

THINGS I'M CONFLICTED ABOUT:

*Sung Deok Im (the character and also maybe the actress? perhaps there could have an actress that could have saved Deok Im's character, I don't know) - Conflicted because in the beginning there was a fair bit of things that I loved about Deok Im's character. It's very rare that we get a FL that thinks quickly, talks back and actually does some saving of her own so I was very much here for it. However as the show progresses, you begin to realize that she herself is a very flawed character (fair, no one is looking for perfection), with a fair bit of ego and self centeredness. Some people like characters like this, so if you do, perhaps she could be your cup of tea.

She's more than comfortable subtly leveraging San's feelings for her to get what she wants, or doing something that would literally get anyone else killed but because of San's feelings for her (that she knew about) she knew she'd be safe. However, you point this out to her -- as Hong Deok Ro did when they were both outside the palace -- and she did the thing that made me start to seriously dislike her. Turned her nose up in the air and proceeded to stick her head in the clouds of self denial. And that's when you get confirmation that yes, this is a flawed character, but it's one that refuses to see her own flaws. In cases like these, I never know if the character was written this way intentionally or if the writer themselves believe what they have the characters saying. I guess we'll never know.

*the OTP: conflicted because I really loved San's half of the OTP but Deok Im was just like. Not it for me. the first half or so maybe, I could have worked with that, but as the show progressed and you got to see it's like. Man. I just feel bad for the guy. I don't think San was every fully sure if she loved him and to be honest, watching the show, you can't blame him. Given everything he went through in his life, it was kind of sad that the one person who could have offered him some sort of safety and security when it came to human connection ... kind of didn't. I mean he kept her around anyways, but it got to a point where he would cut himself off from asking her how she really felt because I think he really didn't want to hear the answer.

All in all, the OTP was lopsided and poorly written on one side. It was given the rating it has mostly because I think Lee Junho delivered on his role and carried the OTP. I'd really like to see him act in another sageuk with a better script and FL. ::crosses fingers::

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A delightful gem of a drama, one you wish they could create a formula for and replicate it.

I. Cannot say enough good things about this drama. Not even the drama. For me it's the cast. Hands down, 10/10. And you know something, I actually saw this advertising on Viki and I was just like. Ugh, what kind of madness are they going to try to pull with a show titled Mr. Queen? Did not expect anything good out of it and never even planned on watching it to begin with. Clicked on it just to reaffirm that yes, it was as bad as I expected it to be EXCEPT IT WASN'T.

the comedic timing?
the deadpan humor from our king?
the first time i've seen a female lead that was strong minded, quick witted, had a plan, TOOK INITIATIVE, DIDN'T WAIT TO BE SAVED! I CAN GO ON AND ON. we have waited 10, 000 drama years for a Queen such as her!

Please, I beg of you, drama land give us more.

I was also delighted by how taken the ML was by her idiosyncrasies, found them endearing and strived to understand her. I love delving into a world where a ML can be strong, commanding and NICE without being boring. They both had distinct personalities and they managed to make a ML whose entire personality didn't hang on how much of an asshole he could be to the female lead or how cold and aloof he could be but who was still INTERESTING and omg, who had chemistry with our girl! (the chemistry!)

I also have to commend this drama for writing both leads as individuals who were their own people, who had their own journeys and adventures to go on, never being solely consumed by their love for each other. I know it's sometimes super romantic, but (especially in sageuks) it's so easy to have this imbalance where one character is more action oriented while the other sits and waits to have things happen to or around them (often the FL). In this show *both* of our faves had their own agendas, their own inner struggles and personal growth. It kept everything interesting and through it all we saw them both on railroad their way straight into each other, crash fall to the floor and stare at the other wondering "why the hell am I stuck on you?"

It was delightful.

I've rewatched it countless times and probably will continue to do so forever.

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I know this show isn't going to be everyone's cup of tea. I definitely wasn't expecting it to be mine even though I went it loving Park Bo-Young after seeing her in Hot Young Bloods and Oh My Ghost. I'd never heard of Park Hyung Shik so didn't have any expectations for him going in which just made it so much more delightful. First and foremost, this isn't a perfect show. But it's highly enjoyable if you're into the kind of humor the show dishes out and if you fall for the lead couple as hard as I did.

I love:
-- strong, quirky, sassy female lead
-- a hero who is quirky in his own way while managing to still exude that confidences that makes you think he's worth your heroine's time. oh. also, totally respects her and always trying to lift her up.
-- their relationship. the witty back and forth between these two is GOLD for me. I just love it.
-- the growth of the female lead. I will admit. At first, I wasn't digging that she wasn't utilizing her powers. And I loved her.

I liked:
-- the friendship between bong soon + her best friend. at first I didn't care for it but they slowly grew on me. I don't know if it was the chemistry between the two actresses or what, but they managed to morph a friendship that I was at first thinking "why are we seeing so much of herrrr" into "aww they're like sisters! I want what they have" kind of relationship.
--bong soon's relationship with her dad -- normally I might not have commented on this but her mother was such a b**** that every tender smile or endearment that dad sent his daughter had my heart feeling warm
-- the gangster story line. look, I know not a lot of people care for that kind of humor. I never really cared for it but I love
-- the serial kidnapping storyline. Yea. I said it. I liked it. I think it worked. I was on the edge of my seat. Hell, Jang Mi Kwan did such an awesome job at his role he had me googling his ass within the first couple of episodes because i'm like "this dude is A PSYCHO BUT WHY IS HE SO GOOD LOOKING THO? AM I INSANE? WHAT DOES HE LOOK LIKE IN REAL LIFE?" i'm even more impressed that it was his first acting role. I hope keeps acting because it's SO RARE to find a villian that actually does a legit good job at being crazy.

HatedDidn't care for:
-- bong soon's mother. I honestly don't understand why the mom was written the way she was and maybe it's a cultural think, a tough love korean mom style thing that I don't get but I hated her. I skipped over most scenes with her once I realized that no, they were not messing with me, no, there was no redemption arch with her character, no place for growth -- that she was just a horrible woman. Quiet frankly I respected Bong Soon so much for being as sane and normal as she is for having a mother like this.
-- the monk storyline. what? why?
-- the love line between Bong Ki (bong soon's brother) and Hee Ji (gook doo's gf/ex). Look. As soon as Show put these two in the same room and I Hee Ji started eyeing up Bong Ki I was like girl GTFO. Just don't. I have zero tolerance for women that play that shit and couldn't care less for her or her storyline.
-- aside from gook doo these cops were NOT the smartest bunch. but they were endearing...to a certain degree. and redeemed themselves a little bit towards the latter end.


Overall---I thoroughly enjoyed this show. Then I got my sister to rewatch it with me while we had two kids running around and she enjoyed it just as much as me. It's not perfect--but I'd say watch the first 3-4 episodes before you decide to drop it. For all the things that I didn't like or care for, I've rewatched this show countless times (grateful that it's on netflix) when I needed a pick me up.

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Omg. So conflicted about what to write. The thing that I like about this show, I REALLY LIKE. Everything else can just go to the wayside--but I'd still recommend people watch it if they're interested in the thing that stood out to me.

Pros:
-Yoo Ah In as King Sook Jong
-THAT OTP CHEMISTRY YO
-Jang ok jungs character---for like 65% of the show ????

Cons:
-didn't care that much for the political stuff except for when it directly affected the fate of our couple
-the shift in the characterization Jang Ok Jung in the last leg of the drama


I've never seen Yoo Ah In act before and you know, I probably would have loved him in any role I see him because he seems to be one of those special few actors that can embody their characters. He made me FEEL. And it should be said that I did not know him from a hole in the wall prior to this drama. As a matter of fact, I had started watching it and didn't even bother finishing the first episode cuz when he came on the scene I was just like "ugh, who is this random guy I don't know? he aint even that cute. bye" Ha. Little did I know he'd have me totally and completely smitten before long. I give him a straight up 10 in this drama. Kim Tae Hee was good. Not the emotional feels level of Yoo Ah In, but she was good enough that I cared about her character and loved that she was a woman with dreams and ambitions that had nothing to do with a man. And HERE IN LIES THE CRUX OF MY PROBLEM WITH THE DRAMA. The characterization of Jang Ok Jung shifted (and I do know that historically the later half was probably more accurate--my problem is just in the sudden shift that was supposed to have made sense after a certain incident and totally didn't to me. If I had seen her slowly building this desire for revenge then I'd understand, but she had pretty much been getting the same messaging from people her whole life and then for some reason randomly we're supposed to understand that she just couldn't take it anymore when she was actually handling it with dignity and grace before? ????).

I do think the directors showed that side of her character at the beginning to enamor the viewers to her and it worked---but when you take away the things we like about our heroine (how focused and driven she was about being a fashion designer, how independent minded and entrepreneurial minded she was, her ability to stay grounded in her belief in herself when people tried to stomp down on her) and replace her with a woman focused solely on Her Man, seeking revenge, and someone that's just a little bit vindictive and manipulative---welllllll. You kind of leave the viewers thinking WTF. And look, I GET IT. Again we're dealing with a character that in real life was all of those things, but by the end of the show i didn't know what I was watching. The premise of the show was to show a different perspective. I felt like there was a lack of continuity in regards to her character development (or devolvement tbh) and that really killed what would have been on of the most epic OTPs for me.

BUT. like. I still want people to see this OTP in action cuz GAHHHH. So give it a try. I rated it 7 which might seem bad but by my standards it's not. And I'd probably go and rewatch a few episodes.

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you either like it or hate it.

I feel like this is one of those movies that you'll either really like or be left thinking "wtf did I just waste my time on?" I technically fall into the second category lol. I feel like the movie was trying to do one thing and then just had a personality switch towards the end (the last 10 mins that everybody is talking about) and from a storytelling perspective -- like I know what they were trying to do and I would have actually loved it if the transition was a little bit more seamless. But like I said you spent the entire movie in kind of this slow paced, somber mood and then bam! total reveal and I'm like WHY COULDN'T WE SEE THE QUIRKY HUMOR THE WHOLE MOVIE? I mean I guess they really wanted you to believe it was something it wasn't to increase the shock factor, it just fell flat on it's face for me. Which sucked because I was actually somewhat invested in the story line which I didn't expect to be.

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