K2H stuff - random thoughts, no spoilers outside the cuts

[dangermousie]

After watching the first ep, I can see why Jo In Sung was rumored for the male lead at first - Jae Ha has the combo of a certain deliberate immaturity* mixed with a serious dark streak that would be very much up his alley. But despite being a JIS fangirl who was getting palpitations at the thought of him and Ha Ji Won costarring again, I am really loving Lee Seung Gi in the role. Not that he was bad in either Brilliant Legacy or Gumiho, far from it, but he's been getting better and better with every drama, and he is holding his own opposite Ha Ji Won and their chemistry is angry-combustible-hot. All I can think of is angry sex against the wall (after end of ep 1, one where she is the one slamming him against the wall and not the other way around :P)

* Normally, I hate immaturity in my protagonists, but I am not bothered by it here because it's not 'real' immaturity but more like a studied reaction to his surroundings and the whole 'ornamental royal' thing, a deliberate reaction as a lashing out/coping mechanism. Also, thank God, he's no dummy.

Ha Ji Won is, as always, brilliant - tough (and believable as a tough woman who could end everyone else in the story with a pinkie) yet still traditionally feminine in being interested in a potential for dating and liking stars (her fangirling Jo In Sung and Hyun Bin made me die laughing). But what she is, above all, is real. She always comes across as hyper-real on-screen to me and I always end up loving her and wanting what she wants.

The rest of the cast hasn't been getting as much time (duh) but I especially loved Jo Jung Seok (who stole my heart in What's Up in a very different role). I cannot wait to see how his story is going to develop.

Actually,

According the character descriptions, the current King will get assassinated (which makes sense, seeing that the title isn't Crown Prince 2 Hearts) and I am madly curious as to how this is going to play out, because whatever else is going on with him, Jae Ha truly loves, respects and even hero-worships his brother. I think he's seriously going to slip his leash. Mmmmm.

Comments

[seven-trees.livejournal.com]

I absolutely adored the first episode and am desperate for the second to be subbed. I'm actually kind of surprised that the leads have so much chemistry. I never really pictured HJW and LSG as being compatible on screen but that scene in the bathroom? I'll just be over here, fanning myself.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

The second ep is already 75%+ subbed (why, yes, I am checking every five minutes, why do you ask?)

I know - I love both of them separately but I never pictured them as so good together. Ha Ji Won is so very alpha that I was wondering if Lee Seung Gi could keep up - he's never really played grown-up before, not really (BL and Gumiho characters, by the end, were sweet, loyal, even brave puppies). But oh my, they sizzle on screen (the fact that he does play grown up and alpha in his own way, helps). That last scene in the bathroom - UNF. My mind went into the gutter and stayed there. Too bad it's not on cable :P Oh well, I can write things in my head :P

ETA: She manhandles a lot of her leading men, doesn't she? She used to pretty much beat up Hyun Bin's character in SG on a regular basis :P

[seven-trees.livejournal.com]

I think the alpha thing is why I thought they wouldn't be compatible, but it works very well here for some reason. Probably it's because although LSG isn't a complete child in this, he's just kind of immature and tired of being a puppet of the state.

She DOES manhandle a lot of her leading men, although I think HB's character was perfectly alright with it in SG.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

She DOES manhandle a lot of her leading men, although I think HB's character was perfectly alright with it in SG.

LOLOLOL yes. He loved it. In Damo she was super-tough too, can't remember if she cut either of her leading men. I think she might have.

Yeah, LSG isn't like a kid, which I am very happy about. He's immature without being childish, which is a hard thing to get right.

[quaggy]

I had this horrible feeling that the King would be assassinated... especially when I heard how close the brothers were. Being king is the last thing that Jae Ha wants (because he'd rather have his brother) and the combination of grief and being forced into a leadership role would give his character a development arch... which means it was almost unavoidable in terms of storytelling. It would also totally be in keeping with the "dark" tone the series is supposed to have. The assassination of a world leader is not found in romantic comedies, for good reason.

I wonder if this will happen after the wedding with the suspicion but no proof that it was the North Koreans, so there will be also sorts of trust issues and extra angst going on.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Yeah, as soon as I saw JH pretty much always leaping to his brother's defense, even when he was a teeny kid, I just knew something bad was going to happen. I was just hoping the King would be wounded or something, but of course, in narrative terms, making the protagonist's worst fear come true and going from there, is a really good arc.

Jae Ha, in addition to loving his brother, strikes me as someone who'd hate having to be the King even if he was an only child - he clearly is acting out against his position as is and also holds a deeply unflattering, angry view of the monarchy and their roles within in (tbh, I agree more with him than his brother, who is an idealist). He is, also, a fighter however, much more than his brother, so this is going to be interesting. (Especially since even the first ep shows he has a hella dark streak and revenge is really going to push his buttons).

I do hope he won't think NK did it because ouch - can you imagine? It would be kinda a great story though, for him to fall for (and/or marry) HJW only to be faced with the suspicion she is somehow implicated. I mean, she is an assassin after all.

[quaggy]

Exactly. I guess it's going to depend if they have already fallen in love (or close to or he's only just admitted it to himself), because if he suspects her AND he doesn't love her, there's no angst or story. If he does love her... then storytelling almost guarantees that the North Koreans will be suspects (or the actual perpetrators!) It's an utter waste of all that potential otherwise. (But utterly devastating for the poor characters.) It really does sounds like this is going to Spy Myung Wol done right (with much higher stakes within the fictional world.)

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I think the perp will be the bad guy who seems to be some sort of arms dealer/power broker who doesn't want NK and SK to be friendly (at least from trailers) but we'll see. I do think that he will like her first and then brother will get killed and possibly NK be suspected (I am sure bad guy will want NK suspected because that would help the strife).

You are right, it does make me think of MW only way grittier and with more coherent plot.

[spunspider.livejournal.com]

AUGH it's unavailable for me i am wetting myself here this is so unfaaaaair i cannot be deprived!!!!! i might have to resort to raw + recaps even though i hate not understanding every sentence but but but but but but

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I am sure softsubs will be out soon (darksmurf is subbing). So wait a couple of days? :)

You can also install a NA proxy and stream on viki.

[spunspider.livejournal.com]

i will probably end up doing this!!! i have this thing of waiting 6 eps before starting something that's airing but i think i'm going to crack.... :(

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Yessss, join us!

[spunspider.livejournal.com]

i'm glad there's a ready-made support group i think hand-holding will be required for this show. i wish i could read chinese!!!!!

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

i wish i could read chinese!!!!!

A sentiment I echo daily.

:P

[spunspider.livejournal.com]

giggles. ^__^ the elite squadrons i swear i just wanna see them at work some time.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

LOLOLOL

[iheartkleenex.livejournal.com]

Now I might have dreamed this, but I remember reading somewhere in one of the synopses for the drama that they would get married. Is that just me making stuff up? Anyway, between this and Rooftop Prince and Love Rain starting very soon, it's a good time for dramas.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

No, I remember that from somewhere too - married or engaged. This will be interesting.