Affection (2021)

Nice Love Story

You love who you love. This drama depicts just that. Female pretends to be male heir (Prince Lee Hwi) to the throne, engulfed in drama and secrecy. At the same time, she must also hide her love for a man whom she loved from her childhood. However, attraction is strong between them, with him thinking that he is in love a man! How interesting to watch as the truth unfolds. A series of emotions, attraction and eventually adult love, which I found enjoyable to watch. The chemistry between the two leads Eun Bin and Rowoon is matched well. A really nice love story.

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Amazing character dynamics

I don't want to say a lot since I believe that you should watch for yourself. I just want to list the elements that impressed me the most.

- I never got distracted and was fully immersed in every episode, even when I was feeling tired or not really in the mood for it. As someone who gets distracted easily even when in the mood for watching dramas (I usually finish a one-hour long episode in almost two hours because I can't focus), this is pretty incredible for me.
- The story, while being VERY dramatic, wasn't as unbearably sad and frustrating as I feared. The numerous obstacles were justified by the overall plot, and while I felt my heart ache for the mains, I never felt frustrated about it and my interest in the story didn't fade.
- The dynamic between the two main characters is one of the best I've seen in a Korean drama so far. In most dramas the love story always ends up being between "a person and a woman" rather than two people, even when the female lead seems to be empowered/independent/whatever. In "The King's Affection" the romance is between "two people", and the protagonist actually comes across as a complete person who just happens to be a woman, as it should be.
- Kind of related to the point above: despite it being a historical drama, the gender roles aren't reinforced all that much and the characters have more room for their personalities to flourish.
- Most of the support characters have their own role in the story and aren't just there to act as a frame for the main characters. The only (very bad!) exception would be the second male lead, but the vast majority of second male leads in Korean dramas are either just there to be a useful tool for the main characters, or a complete waste of time, so I wasn't surprised.
- The gender-bend trope was done right, without those "funny misunderstanding/accident" moments that can be found elsewhere. It's the first time I see a serious take like this and I loved it.

If you're interested in a project with Park Eun-Bin after watching Extraordinary Attorney Woo and you like historical dramas, I highly recommend watching this.

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I actually love this drama! I've accepted long ago that Korean dramas will insert their love for draggy and boring political intrigues right in the second half of their drama series. Once I accepted that phenomenon, it's smooth sailing from there hahahaha.

As per usual in most dramas, the childhood arc is quite impressive, both in acting (except for the kid who played the ML) and pace.

Eun Bin is so so good in her role, she's like fairy when she's a girl and a very capable crown prince once she cross dresses. The moments where she's breaking down, and the ones where her princely training shines forth are all superb. A round of applause for her.

Rowoon is a fun ML, however I felt like there's a huge disconnect between the young Jung Ji Woon and the grown up Jung Ji Woon. I can't exactly pinpoint what it is. But for Rowoon's performance and character plot, I'm quite satisfied. I also appreciate that he fell for Crown Prince Lee Hwi first before he learned her secret.

I saw some disappointed comments on the ending. But personally, I believe they concluded their arcs cleanly. Sometimes just because you're good at something doesn't necessarily mean it will be the best choice for you nor does it certify your fulfillment. I like how it was all arranged in the end and our Main Leads finally got the normal happy life they've dreamed for so long.

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Poca storia, tante noie

Mi dispiace definirlo così, ma è quello che penso davvero. Una buona storia di fondo c'era. I personaggi anche. Solo che, ecco.. hanno voluto fare troppo. Se si fossero limitati a scrivere una storia d'amore impossibile e anche un po' divertene/tragica come hanno fatto all'inizio l'avrei apprezzato molto di più. Hanno voluto aggiungere roba, su roba e il tutto condito con diversi momenti di pura noia. Momenti morti, flashback di attimi romantici ce ne sono a gogò.
Anche se avessero lasciato la trama com'era, ma togliendo tutta la noia sarebbe stato bello, forse uno dei miei preferiti dell'anno. Ma ci stanno TROPPI momenti morti che dici madò e vai avanti!! Ammetto di aver skippato qualche puntata perchè troppo noiosa, senza saltarmi i momenti importanti.
Ho apprezzato particolarmente Ro Woon nella sua interpretazione, anche dico pure che l'ho amato. La musica tutto sommato ci sta, ma anche quella non è che aiuti molto nelle parti lente.
Giusto per spiegarmi meglio, non è che alcune parti le considero noiose perchè sono lente ma non servono a niente. Giusto per allungare il brodo.
Consiglio la visione cmq se non vi aspettate troppo. Alcune scene meritano di essere viste.

Nota bene: Non ho letto il manhwa, quindi parlo da ignorante che ha visto solo il drama.

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Meu drama perfeito, apesar das imperfeições <3

Ótimas atuações. Todo elenco está de parabéns. As crianças da primeira fase arrasaram e introduziram muito bem a trama. Me emocionaram e me prederam na tela.
Rowoon está melhor a cada trabalho, deu pra perceber o quanto ele se empenhou nesse papel e evoluiu como ator.
Um destaque para os protagonistas Nam Yoon Soo, Choi Byung Chan, Jung Chae Yeon e Bae Yoon Kyung que mesmo não tendo muitas cenas conseguiram ser críveis em seus papeis. O primo apaixonado e leal, o guarda-costas misterioso e a rainha sonhadora e apaixonada me emocionaram bastante e acredito mesmo que poderiam ser melhor aproveitados.
Uma salva de palmas para Baek Hyun Joo e Go Kyu Pil que juntos com a Eun Bin pareciam mesmo uma família. A intimidade e entrosamento deles era tão real e gostosa de assistir. Entregaram muito e foram essenciais para o drama. A dama Kim na figura materna do príncipe que sempre aconselhava e protegia e confortava ela do mundo mesmo com as limitações que seu cargo exigiam não poderia ser feito por outra atriz. O Eunuco Hong foi amor à primeira cena. Hora ele era como um irmão mais velho, hora um melhor amigo que por te conhecer fala a verdade, briga e brinca contigo, hora era só um resmungão fofo. O papel dele foi muito além de alívio cômico e eu amei isso.
E por fim deixei a Park Eun Bin. As mudanças na atuação como príncipe/rei e nos momentos que ela não precisava fingir eram demonstradas nas sutilezas, o que me encantou muito. Deu para sentir a entrega dela em todas as cenas. De inicio me pareceu pequena a mudança de modulação na voz quanto falava como príncipe, mas depois percebi que um tom mais grave seria caricato, forçado, não natural. Ela foi maravilhosa e constante no drama todo. Já conhecia e gostava muito dela, mas agora ela me ganhou totalmente. Inclusive admito que despertou a curiosidade de conhecera atriz por trás da personagem depois de acompanhar os bastidores das gravações.
Enfim, sobre a história, achei o texto foi bem escrito, especialmente os diálogos, várias falas reflexivas e sensíveis.
Só acho que poderiam ter dado um minuto pra explicar alguns fatos como a morte da rainha mãe na primeira fase, o casamento do rei na segunda e outros pequenos pontos que poderiam ser esclarecido até mesmo com uma conversa entre os trabalhadores do palácio ou ainda uma ou duas linhas escritas na tela para marcar as passagem de tempo e não deixariam pontas soltas na história.
As músicas são maravilhosas, me encantaram (não saem da minha playlist) e também ajudaram a contar essa história tão linda.
A minha única ressalva é com relação a efeitos especiais, tipo, as feridas e machucados. Muitos não me convenceram. Ou sararam em tempo record ou quase não saravam como a flechada no rei.
Apesar desses pontos a experiência com o drama não foi comprometida e ele é sem dúvidas maravilhoso! Um favorito de 2021. Recomendo a todos que assistam.

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Started out strong then it lost its momentum, but gave us a happily ever after at the end of it all.

This show started out strong and exciting. The moment the twin brother was killed and the girl became the Crown Prince, I was hooked and committed. Bring it on, I was really into it.

I liked the main plot. I am into hidden identities, cross dressing, forbidden love, politics and war. I lap those tropes up. I didn’t care much about the childhood sweethearts connection. It was great first 15 episodes.. then it sort of lost its way then fizzled out until the last episode.

The FL actually did a good job, but you can never ever convince me that she is male. But anyway, that’s neither here nor there. It was an okay portrayal, I just didn’t think she had much going on with the ML. Now, let’s talk about the ML. I think I am biased to say, that I wish he was not a scholar or physician but rather the bodyguard. I think in the manhua, the ML is the bodyguard or soldier. It was just an injustice to his character. He was always this useless, weak character that can’t do much for the King. It is quite annoying to watch. If he wasn’t her teacher then her secretary and rather some badass character, I think it could have been better… although I think another actor will be suitable for this…Then Roowon, I am sorry to say was rather bland in his portrayal. He has mastered the look of hopelessness.

I love the secondary characters, or what I think of as her “harem”. The cousin Prince Hyun and Eunsoo, the most beautiful bodyguard in the face of the Joseon era. Eunsoo, what another injustice, not much screen time and I just wished he got more parts into the story. To be honest, these two guys had more going on for them with the FL than the actual ML.

I was actually satisfied with the ending, not because the FL and ML got their happily ever after, but Prince Hyun becoming King. If there was one outcome I was hoping for this was it. Oh, and I need this hot bodyguard to have his own show.

All in all, it was a steady and okay watch.

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Overly cheesy bits didn't fit

The cast and acting made this drama, more than a story that was intriguing, but peppered with scenes that made me sigh (not in a good way).
The child actors who set the stage in the early episodes, were excellent, especially Choi Myung-bin, who in effect had to play 3 different characters.
There are some very bloodthirsty scenes in amongst the saccharin and the speed with which that changes, results in the odd case of whiplash!
There are moving moments as well, two in particular, near the start, got me. I was actually shocked by some of it, especially when they go hand-in-hand with the aforementioned cheese.
The story in itself is good and pulled me in. It's hard to find a female actress who can convincingly play a young man, but I thought Park Eun-bin did well. She didn't try to be macho, instead playing it reserved, stoic and frosty. It wouldn't be impossible to believe, there are after all, effeminate men (and that does not equal gay). Back then few got close, so I chose to go with it.
What that character goes through is awful really. Dreadful royal family under the thumb of one particular member, who takes the prize for best human without a heart. Surrounding characters are a mixture of funny, scary, torn, mysterious, cowardly and barking.
What I disliked, however, were the awful slow-mo scenes of falling into arms, pulling into arms, meaningful stares and hand holds, backed with whooshing music. The terribly overdone squeezing of clothing and clenching of fists, is in there [often] too.
PEB's chemistry with Rowoon was ok, but wasn't electric.
I liked how he portrayed his character, although my 2 favourites were Nam Yoon-su as Prince Lee Hyun and Choi Byung-chan as the mysterious Kim Ga-on.
There was a lot of action, yet I didn't feel the threat that should have come across in more scenes, as there were few build-ups.
The ending fit where the story wanted to go, but I thought it a tad far fetched, even for this plot. It wasn't awful though. I did enjoy the final scenes of the last episode.
It's a mixed watch; not riveting, but by no means awful either.

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The King’s Affection (2021) - this drama is really good for me especially at the beginning part, the scenes where they are still children. It was so heartbreaking. Since I know Lee Hwi's character in the korean drama grand prince, I could really compare both dramas and their respective storylines which was base on the history. Since I really like Grand Prince, there is a bit of disappointment for me in this drama. King’s affection may not be the best but I do have some favorite parts in the dramas - the revelation parts. Since it is a KBS drama, they always play it safe and I could really see how the ending would go. I also felt bad with Lee Hyun – the second male lead that deserves much more, like HE DESERVE TO BE THE LOVE LINE, but yeah I'm not the writer nor director so I don't have a say.

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Atuação show, história incriviel. OST gostosa de ouvir.

Eu gostei muitoooo de the king's affection, ele foi meu primeiro drama histórico e eu dei um pontapé muito bom com ele. Gostei tanto dos personagens e apesar de ter 20 eps não achei que ele foi cansativo ou que enrolou na história em algum momento. A história é maravilhosa, os atores são incríveis e tive a oportunidade de conhecer o trabalho deles. A OST do drama é tão gostosa de ouvir! Gostei muito que o Eun seo era o filho do preceptor que foi morto e ele queria buscar vingança, foi uma das melhores reviravoltas do drama. No final teve várias mortes o que é de esperar, mas gostei do final de todos os personagens. A park Eun bin deu um show de atuação e a química dela e do rowoon foi tudo pra mim! Incríveis demais. Parabéns a todo o elenco e ao pessoal por trás do drama, diretor, roteiristas e staff que trabalharam tão bem!

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Women should be allowed to be King more often! LOL

No, but seriously, this drama was top notch.

This was my first time seeing Park Eun Bin in anything but I'm convinced there wasn't a more perfect choice for the role out there. Not only was she physically a great choice, but she also killed it acting wise. She was so level-headed and composed most of the time, but when her emotions bubbled over she really stole the show. She was so badass and brave. But also humble and unafraid of being vulnerable. I really liked both the character and how Eun Bin brought her to life.

As for Rowoon, it's amazing how much better his acting has gotten! He's improved so much. He did a great job as Ji Un. It was so adorable seeing him be all confused and flustered over his budding feelings for the Crown Prince/King. And his chemistry with Eun Bin was electric. It was a joy to see them in every scene they had together.

The rest of the cast also deserves a shout-out. From Hyun, Eunuch Hong and Court Lady Kim, to commander Yoon, Ji Un's father and even all the kid actors. Choi Byung Chan was maybe a bit expressionless and monotone as Kim Ga On, but then again that was kind of the character's personality.

For a 20 episode drama there was a surprising amount of things that were barely addressed. Hwi's mother's death and her marriage come to mind, one came out of nowhere and the other wasn't even shown. Not to mention the rise to power of Hwi's paternal grandfather. A bit more backstory on the Uncle and her two cousins also maybe would have been helpful.

Lastly, I have to applaud whoever was involved in picking the OST. They really deserve a prize for a job well done. And the team that made the intro. I'm one of those people who always skip the intro sequence in dramas, but this one was so beautiful and went so well with the music that each episode I looked forward to it.

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