Quel
São Paulo, Brasil
Choi Hee Jin is an aspiring actress, known only for dating Han Dong Min, a famous actor. To get her back, Dong MIn asks the director of a drama he is working on to cast Hee Jin as the main actress, and that´s how she gets her first significant role.
I didn't make a big deal out of Hee Jin's personality - she lets people attack her too easily. There are scenes when someone throws a flower arrangement on her face or slaps her, and she just stands there, reactionless. I know it may be shocking, but momma always told me to not take insults. The character, as well as the actress that plays her, is charismatic, making everyone swoon for her with her sweet and kind gestures - a little bit too much, even. The fact that she complies with everything people do to her annoyed me the entire drama.
The male lead is Kim Boong Do, played by actor Ji Hyun Woo, known for "Trot Lovers", "Angry Mom" and "Risky Romance". Playing Kim Boong Do is what started his acting career since he used to be a guitarist on a k-indie band before that. I didn't know him, and I was utterly astonished by his ability to show every single side of Kim Boong Do's personality - and believe me when I say they are many.
Kim Boong Do is a highly respected government officer, son to a wealthy family - of the Joseon Dynasty. Boong Do is given a talisman by a friend to protect him. The magical object takes him 300 years into the future every time his life is in danger. For being an honest officer and someone close to Queen In Hyun, a lot - A LOT - of people try to kill him during the series' sixteen episodes.
The emotional depth of this character surprised me. In Na's character is so simple, so "childish", that I didn't expect at all the mysteries found deep in Kim Boong Do's personality. In fifteen minutes, Hyun Woo is capable of showing anger, love, fun and then curiosity, not leaving any room for misunderstanding between the reactions of his character. I was very excited to see his acting and, today, I am definitely one of his fans.
This times friendzone is Han Dong Min, Choi Hee Jin's ex-boyfriend. Played by actor Kim Ji Woo - known for his roles in "The Birth of a Family", "Can't Take It Anymore" and "The Return of Hwang Geum-bok". I got to know about him through "Reunited Worlds", and found his acting skill extraordinary - it really made me fall in love with and then hate the same character; I find amazing those actors who can make our opinion about a character change drastically during the drama or movie.
I said above that Han Dong Min is the one who casts Hee Jin as Queen In Hyun to try and win her over, and here is where I explain it. Dong Min is a successful actor and, therefore, has an ego that reaches the moon and back. He thinks highly of himself and doubts the existence of any woman he can't make fall in love with him, and that's the only reason he wants Hee Jin back.
Dong Min is excessively childish. He wants everything to be his way, and if it doesn't happen, then he doesn't want it at all. Eventually, he fights with hee Jin and asks the writers to kill off her character so he doesn't have to act alongside her anymore - honey, the one who cast her was you! He throws several tantrums, getting in the way of Hee Jin's life in a bunch of situations and refuses to believe she is dating Kim Boong Do and not him. I got angry at him from the first second to the last. I don't think the character had any evolution - besides the amount of embarrassment he went through as the episodes went by.
The female secondary lead is Jo Soo Kyung, Hee Jin's best friend/manager, portrayed by actress Ga Deuk Hi, known for her roles in "Queen of Reversals", "Can't Live Without You" and "My Sweet Family". I didn't know her either, but I have entirely no opinion when it comes to her acting skills - I hated the character during the whole thing.
Soo Kyung, to me, managed to be a snake throughout all episodes. Instead of helping Hee Jin go through all the hardships involving Boong Do's time-travelling, she merely calls her friend crazy and sends her to see a shrink. She also thinks Hee Jin should get back together with Dong Min at any costs because for her the only thing that matters is Hee Jin's partner's social status, not who the person actually is.
I can't think of a single action that she took out of love for Hee Jin during the whole story. She even thinks about quitting during one of Hee jin's most difficult moments. I found Soo Kyung a completely selfish scumbag, false and heartless. I couldn't like her at all.
The male secondary lead is Chun Soo, Han Dong Min friend/manager, played by Jo Dal Hwan - known by "The Undateables", "Whisper" and "My Sweet Family". I can't actually pinpoint anything regarding his acting skills because he didn't appear much, honestly.
The only thing I can really say I liked about his character is that many times he scolds Han Dong Min when the latter does something shitty. Other than that, the actor didn't appear enough for me to have an opinion.
From 0 to 10, I would give a remarkable 10 to this drama. Of course, I found some scenes unnecessary, but that happens in every show. After forcing myself to watch it, I didn't leave the seat in front of my computer for the next two days - yeah, I finished a 16-episode drama in two days.
The romance starts out of nowhere, but I found the story extremely well written, interesting, well developed and captivating. Apart from all the scenes involving Dong Min, the rest kept me lingering fascinatingly.
I wouldn't recommend this drama if you're sad - at least, do not get to the final episodes. They are torture, and every ending is more shocking than the one before. I kept crying and with my breath unsteady until literally the last minute of the previous episode, starting from chapter 9. For people who want to watch a historical drama but don't actually have patience with the standard ones, this is really cool - it shows South Korea's past at the same time keeping it interesting thanks to its connection with the modern world.
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