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Not bad, but not what I hoped
I agree with what most others are saying.The ML was the best character and I found myself excited whenever he showed up on screen. It's hard to put this in words, but he is the most "king" character I have ever seen. He felt truly terrifying at times when people got on his bad side, but truly kind at heart. This dynamic made him really compelling. It's also one of the few times I've seen the power dynamic in these historical dramas to really play out. Most of the time, I felt like the FL was far too afraid of him. He gave her good reason to be, but I never felt like we really got over that well enough. At least on her part. I was fully "captivated" by him way sooner than she was, but I'm not the FL.
All in all, if you like political games, this drama has plenty of it to keep you interested, but if you want romance, there is very little of it. The king waists no time in letting the audience know how much he cares for her, and we feel it whenever he looks in her direction, or even just at the sky, but she seems really passe about the whole thing. She didn't even want to tell him that she returned from Qing and was going to leave quietly?! WOULDN'T YOU WANT TO SEE THE MAN YOU LOVE?! That was pretty disappointing.
The rest of the characters are fine. I have a soft spot for Lee Shin Young (Myungha) and Yang Kyung Won (Yoo Hyunbo), as they are my boys from Crash Landing on You, but especially Yang Kyung Won. I will watch him in anything, he's a great actor.
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Thumbs up to ML?? Thumbs down to FL??
I must say Jo Jung Suk's portrayal as the king was impressive. On the other hand, Shin Sae Kyeong's was below his level. There was no chemistry between the two leads. I don't think the FL fully embraced her role as the king's beloved. Her acting was not credible enough to make one feel that she actually was in love with the king. It felt forced. Even the moments where they kissed felt awkward. To have picked her as the FL was a mistake. She just didn't fit.Esta resenha foi útil para você?
An european view
I am European, Italian, and I watch K-dramas in the original language, with subtitles.I certainly miss a lot about Korean culture - which nevertheless fascinates me - and in particular about ancient Korea. So my review will have many flaws. I didn't know the two actors before Captivating the king.
Indeed the actress seems a bit stiff but I think it depends on her character: even though she has become her lover, she cannot behave with too much confidence. Look at the reluctance of her gestures even after the first meeting, and how they change later, when she is now convinced of the king's sincere love and of her real intentions towards the Crown Prince. Of course the king has more freedom of maneuver. But, I repeat, I don't know of any other performances by the two actors.
The historical setting takes many liberties, but overall it draws quite clearly on the events of the second Manchu invasion of 1636 and King Hyojong of Joseon.
In short, overall I watched this series with interest - and I rewatched a few episodes back, to better grasp the different nuances, and it didn't seem so bad to me.
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"Captivating the King" took me by surprise from the get-go. As someone not particularly drawn to political struggles for the throne, I entered with cautious expectations. Yet, from the very first episode, it managed to ensnare my attention in a way I hadn't anticipated.This series is about our FL disguising herself as a boy, fighting for a noble cause while navigating the twist and turn of love. Meanwhile, our ML is in a power struggle fighting for the throne. They bond through an Asian chess game called go.
Initially skeptical, I found myself drawn to the performances, particularly that of SSK. Her portrayal of the lead character's inner turmoil with teary eyes, captive my heart each time. I mean who wouldn’t be in the exact same position in front of the man they love but they cannot reveal their identity? Witnessing her growth from her previous roles, especially post-"Run On," was a delight in itself. The chemistry between the leads, which was intense and emotional, had me on the edge of my seat, emotions swirling as her gender was exposed and their relationship unfolded.
While the series excelled in many aspects, there were minor imperfections that caught my attention. Some scenes felt slightly stiff and awkward, especially the part where he grabs and hugs her, the angle just felt off. Also, the abundance of side characters like the senior court maid felt unnecessary and could have been streamlined for a tighter focus.
On a personal rating scale, "Captivating the King" lands at a solid 7.5 for me. It's been a while since a K-drama has captured my interest so thoroughly, and SSK's performance only adds to its allure. However, deductions were made for the repetitive nature of palace politics and hidden love between a female disguised as a male.
In conclusion, I'm eagerly rooting for SSK's continued growth and eagerly anticipate what future projects hold for her. "Captivating the King" may have its flaws, but its ability to keep audiences invested and chemistry between the leads is undeniable.
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Lack of reason overshadows credibility.
It's a good series to watch overall. I congratulate the production team and director, except for the scriptwriter. Particular attention was paid to the clothes, I congratulate this team twice. Other than that, the script had too much nonsense. First of all, it was not believable that our Badukçu Girl went to take revenge on the king with the same face and the same clothes. Even though the king said he would kill you, he did not. Afterwards, I had to punish you, and after a certain period of time, he sent his guards and asked them to save him. However, for some reason, this happened right at the time he was going to be killed. Badukçu fell off the cliff. The baduk maker's own servants find him and save him. This is also very interesting, you are there at this exact moment and are rescued. Then this girl of ours comes for revenge, wearing the same clothes and the same face, and appears before the king. He's making plans to kill her. Do you think it's believable? I think no. Nobody understood why this screenwriter did this. In addition, those who betrayed were rewarded instead of being killed. It was ridiculous. Our lead girl could neither be a man nor a woman. Caught between two games. His acting was next to nothing. So it wasn't there. It was just an empty image. However, Jo Jung Suk performed phenomenally. He may have been crushed under it. I don't know, but I didn't like the actress. Apart from the male lead, Choi Dae Hoon who plays the King, Park Ye Young who plays Lady Gong, Queen Mother Jang Young Nam, Hyun Bo. Yang Kyung Won, Lee Kyu Hoe who played the Prime Minister, Guard Kang Hong Suk, and Child Prince Choi Ye Chan were good actors that caught my eye. Apart from the script, it was a successful production. The scriptwriter has done a shame on the series. I couldn't feel the love in the series, I couldn't get the emotion. It's actually a love story, but it doesn't seem to have happened. Looks like it had a happy ending...Esta resenha foi útil para você?
Not a captivating one
I started watching seeing the trailer. The premise of the drams is lot similar to a lot of historical dramas with a small change that the FL is a Baduk player. the first 4 episodes were good. But it disappointed me when I saw the 5 and till jow the 8 episode. I understand that the FL had feelings for the Grand Prince but if she has come back for revenge then she shud have been woman of steel. That is where it lacks. she is still living in the past. there are people who are depending on her and she is on her own journey which I find a bit disheartening. The FL is a good actress but last few dramas I am disliking her acting as she has same expressions in all of them. She has very expressive eyes which can bring out lot what she has to say but I fail to see. the only expression I see is watery eyes. I was expecting a revengeful drama but it is a disappointment. The ML is a good actor and he has justified his role very well. I will continue watching knowing how it will end only because I like the acting of everyone else except the FLEsta resenha foi útil para você?
Captivating the King -A drama full of sadness , romance, hatred and plot
I love this Historical drama and with the great main actor and actress and also others who casts in this drama. Though it has not ended and watch until 13 episodes, the King is not a bad man, he wanted to build a better antion and create peace in his country as the son from his brother the ex King is too young to rule. However he cared for him and his sister but bad rumours about him made many suspicious of him and the killing of the traitor and given exile to those people whom they reported as traitors and one of them his valuble baduk player ( Shin Se Kyeong ) and was in misery when he heard that she died, and became acholholic and womanizer because of that. Deep inside him he listened to his mother and that wicked uncle of his. I have the feeling it will be agood ending for this drama and I enjoyed the story lineEsta resenha foi útil para você?
Very common drama with Jung Suk in a state of grace.
There are actors and then there are actors, but without a doubt, Jung Suk is at the top shelf. I believe that in the awards season, he and the leads of "A BLOOD LUCKY DAY" will be vying for the Best Actor award for drama. Returning to Jung Suk, he began the drama portraying himself as a sweet and simple prince, but upon ascending the throne, he transformed into a paranoid and suspicious king. However, as the episodes progressed, this image softened. Although I still believe that the crimes he committed three years ago have not been fully justified, I understand that if the characters affected by it have come to terms and moved on, I won't dwell on it.It's incredible how Shin Sae Kyeong's acting falls short, it's uniquely hammy. The female highlights in terms of acting, for me, are the veterans Park Ye Young (Lady Dong) and Jang Young Man (Queen Park).
My favorite character without any reservations was Kim Myung Ha, who was dismissed by the protagonist early on in the drama and moved on without trying to create a love triangle (thanks to the scriptwriters for that). Many times, he brought Hee Soo back to reality. Usually, secondary protagonists are persistent, but Myung Ha was different; he immediately stepped aside and even helped the couple get together in the end. Yes, I still find the lead couple extremely toxic, but that's a discussion for another topic.
It was an interesting drama that delved well into palace intrigues, and Jung Suk was the maestro behind it all.
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DECAYED CAPTIVATION
this historical drama bases its title on 'captivation', a kind of love/hate dellusional state... it sounds amazing, but did it hold the bar???without spoilers, the show definitely start with a BANG !
At least the first half is definitely worth it for the unmatched quality: the plot, dialogue, characters, concept, the pace! loved it all!
SPECIAL MENTION: the ML truly held the bar from A to Z till the last minute of the show. HIS PERFORMANCE puts him in the top actors in my view! it's also my first time seeing a show of his!
now for the things i liked less:
-the show looses pace & same quality after the first half, petty plotting takes over unfortunately...
- the FL performance was underwhelming. mainly her passion & strongheadness. In her defense, she had a multilayed character as she would disguise as a man to play baduk. the gender disguise trope has been done in other historical dramas, and many people compared the starring difference in performance. I think the production did not help the FL in solidifying her character ( ratio of women vs man disguise scenes) and historical context to show the limitations of women in the social sphere that pushes her 'stronghead' character... in other scenes, we had to assume her passion for justice or her emotions as it was not clearly vehicled in her performance. i like this actress a lot, but ubfortunately it was a stark contrast with the main actor performance...
- many unecessary dialogue scenes between ministers that can be a little boring.
-LOVESTORY: if you were expecting a passionate love story, this will not fall under your expectations! while it wasn't a bad thing per say, just know the lovestory part starts as an intellectual love and soulful more than emotional as the main characters are portrayed as geniuses that expect the same from their ideal partner.
All in all, i think this show is worth STARTING for a great captivation of the ML, and the amazing lines/plots of baduk geniuses ( ML & FL) where they may be planning 2-3 steps ahead of everyone.
REWATCH value: since i watched it as it was airing, i'd often rewatch a few scenes from previous episodes because the writers carefully put clues & hints in trivial things which i enjoy a lot! it's stimulating!
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Pretty Good
While starting this show i did not have high expectations since the cast was quite unfamiliar for me (i have only seen one of shin se-kyung's drama's "Run On") but i was utterly mesmerized in the first few episodes.Pros:
1) The biggest pro for me is the ml's acting skills, his eyes are so expressive and his line delivery is impressive, i found myself rewatching his dialogues because they were so powerful
2) The struggles of being the king was described really well and the king's predicament was also well written
3) Wave by Taeil which is one of the main osts of this show was soo good, its very melancholic and the tune was stuck in my head for days
4) I also really liked the fact that court lady dong was not a one dimensional villainess who always conspired to do evil but rather had feelings of her own
5) The queen's story was quite tragic and im glad that they didnt portray her as an obstacle to the main couples relationship but rather as a noble girl that got unlucky and her relationship with the grand prince was also really cute
Cons:
1) The ending didnt really feel like a proper ending, after seeing it i felt like i was seeing the second last episode rather than the last episode, i had certain hopes for what their relationship would end up as and i was sad that none of it came true
2) It got very fast paced towards the end and very draggy in certain parts as well
3) I remember being so annoyed when the fl kept having the deer in front of headlights look for every scene and the fact that she kept going back to revenge when the ml was baring his his heart out to her
4) I still dont see why myung-ha's character was necessary to the plot
5) I dont know if its the bad/biased writing but the fl's scenes were so unmemorable, on one hand you had the ml's POWERFUL line delivery and emotions and the fl consistently had the deer in headlights look and her lines were just not IMPACTFUL enough
Overall i would say that its a pretty good show, the first few episode were easily a 10/10 but the later episodes changed my mind. All in all if you like angsty romances with very less skinship but a lot of meaningful looks then this show is definitely for you. I do think that i liked this show more due to the fact that i waited every week rather than binge watching the whole thing since the wait at the end of every cliffhanger and the numerous predictions i cooked up were definitley a huge part of the experience
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Great acting yet no chemistry
Plot: Typical political plot of dethroning Kings and backstabbing. Nothing much special with the plot as it quite reflected that the king will always have his hidden moves to win just as how he plays baduk. I was hoping for some twist and turns but nothing really happened.Acting: Most of the characters did great in portraying their characters, however, despite the actress being able to cry, I just couldn’t sympathize with her. Her way of acting is not infectious enough to make feel her sufferings or even her happiness. I believe, the Main male lead did all the heavy acting and carrying for the drama but there’s still no chemistry between the leads. There were no ‘captivating’ parts, to be honest. It was nice to see Jo Jung Suk’s acting range though. I’m quite impressed.
Music: I think most songs are quite appropriate or nice but nothing memorable.
Rewatch Value: I personally wouldn’t rewatch.
Overall: It is a so-so drama that it can be forgettable to an extent.
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A Captivating Tale Between A King & His Favorite Baduk Player
Dynasty politics isn’t something new when it comes to Korean historicals. We always have a group of power hungry officials, who are either related to the Queen or the Queen Dowager, trying to force their opinions on the King. Corruption becomes the main subplot in these storylines; as such “Captivating the King” was no different. King Lee In/Grand Prince Jin Han ascends the throne when his elder brother (the former King) is poisoned. The only catch, King Lee Sun names his only son as the heir to the throne. Unbeknownst to others, Lee In masks this royal decree and ascends to the throne himself. While his power hungry mother and uncle barter for dominance, Lee In plays mind games with them to protect the young Prince (his nephew). Starring Jo Jung Suk & Shin Sae Kyeong in the lead roles, the show uses the backdrop of the baduk game as an intelligent ploy for the plot and the schemes, that the King devises to fool his corrupt opponents. Both main leads give exceptional performances, heralding the narrative in an intriguing direction. Let’s sit down to talk about their distinct portrayals!Read the complete article here-
https://kcdramamusings.wordpress.com/2024/03/05/captivating-the-king-series-review/
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