A bit more on ep 3 of The Princess' Man

[dangermousie]

I am sorry this isn't one big comprehensive post but I am having a crazy day and can only post and watch in snatches.



The thing that drives me so crazy (in a good way) is that SR and SY are both such good people, who are also smart and strong but in the rigid and bloody world they are in, that is not enough - they have no issues now but, even in the unlikely event they survive the ending, they are going to be taken apart mentally (and for all I know, physically) piece by piece and it kills me. But it also makes for a great narrative arc - we saw beginning of ep 1, we see the world falling apart, we know those two well-adjusted and happy people will not stay that way for long and that knowledge haunts every step because we see the descent but are helpless to stop it. Well, at least for now, they are enjoying a bit of respite after they've been rescued but you know how well this will go.






I loved this scene, where he tells her she shouldn't have disobeyed and stayed in hiding and asks her: 'if you died to save my life, do you think I could be at ease?'




I sense a future love triangle:



I just love these shots because they are so gorgeous. This drama is a visual feast.






Friends but you can tell Officer is already having some lurking jealousy (not romantic, ambitious) issues. And of course, we know from the beginning, he's the one who lures SY out so as to track his father down for assassination.




Every time SY smiles like this, with his whole face lighting up, I just want to take him far far away from this whole world and hide him and SR far far far where all this blood-in-politics can't reach them.



The one I feel sorriest for, however, is the Crown Princess. True, she is an OTP interloper for our star-crossed lovers but it's not as if she has a choice. She didn't set out to steal SY from SR because he's hot or she's a bitch, no, she needs to marry SY to protect her family from SR's father. She's trapped just as much as the OTP is and she doesn't have mutual love to sustain her in her misery, either. I just want her to find some measure of happiness of her own, before it will all inevitably go to hell.





Such a good drama. Btw, even though SR's father is plotting and scheming and probably wants to off his own flesh and blood on the way to the throne, not to mention is after SY, I still think he should be king. Is it any doubt he'd make a much better ruler than the frail inexperienced boy who has no ability to command or martial skills at all? I like that complexity in this drama.

Comments

[troisroyaumes]

Btw, even though SR's father is plotting and scheming and probably wants to off his own flesh and blood on the way to the throne, not to mention is after SY, I still think he should be king.

Nod, actually, in the other K-drama I saw about this time period, Se-ryeong's father is the hero (clearly a competent ruler), so it's a bit interesting wrapping my head around him as the bad guy.

[dangermousie]

I still like him here (which is quite a feat seeing he's the one who dooms the lovers, really) - he is so much the superior choice for a king and sure, he's ruthless to his enemies, but what upperclass person of that period wasn't?

[troisroyaumes]

Nod, historically, his legacy is that he was a very good ruler, and his takeover of the throne was a good thing for the country in the end. I hope the drama goes more into the moral complexity of his position: on the one hand it is a selfish grab for power, but on the other it is better than letting the country be ruled by a weak puppet king.

[(Anonymous)]

I know right... he will betray his friend... why? I'm watching episode 5 and I can tell from his face he is plotting something against his kindhearted friend... Sigh.

The crow princess.. well well she thinks too high of herself - can't blame her - she is the princess after all, but I think she is so pitiful... can't love, chose anything and her father is dying, her uncle plotting to get rid of her brother and her... I would too be fierce like her and not trust anyone - she isn't trusting SR much anymore but I don't blame her (even thought I know SR didn't do on purpose, she broke her promise with the princess and she met SY out of palace and because of this that whole scandal about princess and YS happened and the princess lose her chance to marry YS who was the best option to protect her and the crow prince..)

But don't get me wrong, I like SR lol but she and YS are just too innocent to this dirty world...

[hollyxu.livejournal.com]

The interesting thing is that Se-ryung's dad eventually goes on to become one of the best kings in Korean history, and very well regarded for his abilities. So here he's obviously getting to a start on a rather bloody foot, but the intended audience knows it's for the greater good - and he's a very good father, whatever else you want to say about his politic machinations, which in kdramas pretty much overrules all other virtues.

You nailed it on the head about the tragedy of this drama, btw, in that the main characters are pretty much never evil (not even prince Suyang, and I am very thankful for that), and just trying to survive given the events set in motion by Suyang. You know what I think I'd like better? A historical drama based on the rise of King Sejo. Think of the possibilities!

Also, the friend has shifty eyes.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

The friend does have shifty eyes. See, SY, phrenology is your friend!

For what has been billed primarily and secondarily as a romance, this drama is pretty smart.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Yup, I just want to take the two of them out of there and timetravel them to the present or something.

[hollyxu.livejournal.com]

I am very fond of historical dramas because, by convention, they have to avoid the sillier plot devices trendy rom(-com)s writers love like cotton candy. And the automatic upgrade in camera/image quality is good too.

I have to say though, every time someone says Se-ryung and Seo-yoon will live because they aren't technically historical, I want to give them a hug and then wander off to cry somewhere. There is no way either one of them is coming out of this alive. WHY DO THIS, KDRAMAS?

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I see optimists commenting to that effect on soompi and it reminds me of people watching the jdrama Mawang remake and in the middle making chirpy comments as to future outcome of the OTP.

Yeah.

Let's face it:

a. period drama
b. Korean period drama
c. Korean period drama that's been billing itself as a Joseon Romeo & Juliet
d. Korean period drama that's been billing itself as a Joseon Romeo & Juliet, in which heroine's father slaughters hero's family
e. Korean period drama that's been billing itself as a Joseon Romeo & Juliet, in which heroine's father slaughters hero's family and hero vows revenge
Korean period drama that's been billing itself as a Joseon Romeo & Juliet, in which heroine's father slaughters hero's family and hero vows revenge, after which heroine's father historically rules for decades as a successful King

Yeah.

[(Anonymous)]

People think just because they suffer to much during the drama, they hope/exprct them to have a happy end, and think the writter woulnd't give a sad end to them after so many suffering... lol but then again, they can hope it from a modern/current drama not from a Historical one.. lol

The ones I saw have very sad ends, the main couple plus second lead... suffered so much and the end? Happiness for them? No.

Ah! Except for Dong Yi! It had a happy end!

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I saw some happily ending Sabrina but they are certainly in the minority. I mean, I would love for SR and SY to be happy together into old age, but chances of that are vvvvv slim.

[sanaenam.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I too was going to point out that King Sejo ends up being a very highly regarded monarch. Sigh.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Yeah, so doomed.