King the Lander (2023)

Underwhelming

I realize that my review is in the minority, and please, for those who love this drama, don't take offense. I adored Lee Jun Ho in "The Red Sleeve" and view him as a multi-talented entertainer. Im Yoon Ah is also a standout performer, and when I saw this coming out, it was on my watchlist from day one. My particular disgruntled opinion of this drama comes from the writing. The story arc between sister and brother was not explained well and the main FL's ex-boyfriend was unnecessary. There is also a Cinderella approach with Cheon Sa Rang with a feminist twist of "I want to do it myself," that miraculously came with grandma's savings. Really? The class distinction between the two leads was glossed over, and the character development between the two could have started with them finding a common ground between their social statuses. Instead, their noble characters made them fly above. I give it a solid 7 for the acting, total cast, and production. For the rest, I would gently urge the writers to pen a more interesting tale for the viewer. Without that, I hit fast forward a lot.

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Simple, Average Rom-Com, Surface Based Level Story

I finally finished this drama, a week after it ended. Honestly, it's not that bad of a drama but it certainly doesn't give me that motivation to catch up when it was still airing or continue on to the next episode. So, if you want something more in depth with the characters and the plot, then this drama is not for you. If you just want a simple rom com or something easy to watch where you don't have to think much, then this might be for you, since there's no breakup & no love triangles. There are evil characters in this drama but the evilness factor (1 - lame to 5 - pure villain), I give it a 1. I mean, I shouldn't even call them evil, just bullies, as most of them are rude/disrespectful co-workers and family members. The sister of the ML would be the closest to evil but even for her, she doesn't have the upper hand and never gets her way anyways.

The Plot: As I mentioned, the plot is very surface level based. This could be why some people found it boring. The writers didn't dive deep into details about problems each character had. It seemed like the direction was more focus on the comedy aspect. While they had good ideas on the problems for each of the character, it wasn't handled in a way where you wanted to know more about the issue. Instead, they just tried to make it funny. In fact, this drama felt more like I was watching a school drama except it was adults in their career world with co-worker bullies.

I like the cast but like I said, with the surface level-based plot, it was hard to connect with the characters and their importance of their role. Even the evil sister had a past wound that could've been healed within this drama but nope, it was brushed off with a last episode instant get over it. Let's talk about the leads. With the FL's character Sa-Rang, I never got that sense of reaction that she liked the ML's character Gu Won. It seemed more like, "Oh he likes me. I guess l'll like him back". For Gu Won, there was a scene with the grandma asking him what he liked about Sa-Rang and he couldn't even answer her properly. So, what was this connection then based off of? Who knows. Personally, I was more invested in the second couple, the airplane couple. At least their buildup of their relationship made a bit more sense than the leads.

At least the music was good. Nice osts playing in the background of certain scenes.

It's not a drama I would consider rewatching, but hey, this drama has a good group of friends, which I enjoyed watching their scenes and the relationship between Gu Won and his assistant is pretty funny. But besides that, just an average to slightly below average rom com.

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A Stunningly beauti ful Drama

This was magical. Superb acting from everyone but the Male and Female leads were absolutely fabulous. This drama is inspiring, Warm, Funny and above all heartfelt It is my first time seeing both Male and Female Leads and they are unforgettable. Their chemistry is wonderful. Good story with the ususal baddies who are heartless and selfish. The leads are glorious. Grannie is a true professional who brings warmth to every role she plays. I sincerely hope we get to see the Two leads again. It is above all positive, Uplifting and heartfelt. I loved it and highly recommend it . I will be watching it again.

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King of the Void

In the last two years, i have seen my share of kdramas, but nothing as bad as King the Land.

I got hooked to kdramas because of the original and creative premisses (Attorney Woo), strong and consistent storyline (Red Sleeve) or light but funny romcoms (Business Proposal).

Even super light shows like Secretary Kim, so light that i dropped it, feels like a Shakespeare play compared to the void that is KTl.
At least in that drama the secretary character had some agency in the first episodes, she was looking to improve herself and open a new chapter for her, trying to break away from a life serving her narcisistic boss. The KTL FL character is more: Oh, look an hotel, so shiny and pretty. Oh, look, it's the president son, so shiny and pretty. End of story.

I was just stunned by the poor writing and especially by the stale humour, isn't a romCOM supposed to be even slightly funny. I hanged on for several episodes, pressing fast foward on the frequent cringy scenes , and finaly quit in ep10, the worst episode ever of kdrama history for me.

I could not believe that in this day and age, an 1hour tv show would offer absoluting nothing as a story. It´s a compilation of promos for tourism in thailand, glamour pointeless shots of the lead actors and a string of unbearable cute/funny/giddy sequences with the cast, that could be from a B-rated US sitcom from the 70´s.

The humour here is simply appalling and It´s painfull to watch good actors lost in this degrading and meanlingess episode.

What's next, for the second season you don´t even have to pay a writter, the producer only has to mix some glamour stills shots off the lead actors, a PowerPoint presentation with "happy" moments of a random cast of actors who look funny and a promo video from the board of tourism of the country who pays better.

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So boring waste of time

I tried watching this but the FL is a bad actress and really annoying with her act and facial expressions. She looks dumb. The whole comedy was beyond stupid. The only good thing is the ML who is not just a pretty face but also can act well. I wish to see him in serious roles that align more with his visuals. This drama is a mistake for him to accept the role. I really liked the kiss scene though- Kdrama are definitely getting better and that man can really kiss. I have watched the red sleeve and I have to say that the role that ML represented there was great and his acting was top-notch. These truly surprised me since I know that he is a singer but I guess acting is his natural talent.

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This urban fairytale needs to come with a health warning

This show may not be a great drama, but it is a good textbook rom-com. It is totally divorced from reality and its characters are distillations of the classic Cinderella trope. It ticked all the boxes with workman like efficiency. Whether you love or hate this show will largely dependent on how much sugar you can handle before going into diabetic coma. DO NOT watch this show if any of the previous words is a trigger for you. You have been warned.

From start to finish, the show is an escapist fare. You have to accept this to enjoy it to the fullest. Hence the following checklist;
• Industrial strength rose tinted glasses ✓
• Left brain - disengaged ✓
• Comfortable loungewear ✓
• A tub of ice cream and 1 spoon ✓✓

To review this show as a serious drama is pointless. The performances are decent but most characters are one dimensional. There are many swoon worthy moments and a decent amount of skinship. Most of them centred around expensive and beautiful set pieces. Everything has been polished to a high gloss. Nothing is left to chance. It is the equivalent of a glamorous coffee table magazine.

Speaking of a glossy mag, this show also has product advertisements. So much PPL! Obviously expensive brands are prominently featured but wait, we can do a tin of paint as well. Oh, you want something bigger? Let's write a whole episode selling Bangkok and then continue to sell other Thai products in the next episode as well. It got to the point that I counted 11 PPL's in the last episode and that is not including a few implied ones.

However, all this PPL pales into insignificance when you consider the shiniest product on display, Mr Lee Jun-Ho. He is always impeccably dressed and groomed . A three-piece suit is his weapon of choice. It is cut so sharply that he should be declared a lethal weapon. The ML doesn’t carry the show, he IS the show. There are so many close up of him looking handsome, dashing, smouldering, sexy . . This is how you market a celeb, baby.

On the other hand, the FL only have a few glam moments. Most of the time she lives in his shadow, and she is almost always in uniform or loungewear. She plays the supporting role well. However, he is the Prince to our Cinderella. He literally comes to her rescue more than once.

While the ML is flying high in the business world, her goals are much more modest. It is a little unfair when you consider how capable she is suppose to be. It is further exacerbated by the ML pulling off win after win with ease and what appears to be minimal efforts.

The rest of the support cast is straight out of central casting. The ubiquitous BFFx2, sidekick secretary, executive yes-men, etc. The one antagonist is low impact and achieved little. Side plots are inconsequential and only serve to take up the slack. There is growth in some characters, but they are totally predictable and all paths lead to . . . the Happy Ever After Ending or HEAE™.

In fact, there are so many feel good moments in the last episode that it should come with a health warning. It is serious sugar overload. Every side plot is tied off with a huge pink bow and the thundering herd of unicorns are on drugs. Redemptions are handed out like free samples at the supermarket. There is no point in being judgey because this show exists in its own fairytale universe. All is well in this corner of dramaland.

You can certainly rewatch a few episodes on a rainy weekend and it will make you happy. Don’t expect to be touch in the heart but your dopamine level will rise. I did groan a few times early on before I gave up the fight and attack the ice cream instead and got comfy in my loungewear. If you can't beat them, join them with gusto is my motto!

P.S. I got to get my hands on that portable BBQ set. It is spiffing!

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Lots to like, but...

This Drama surprised me. It was a blast from the past, nothing but trope after trope, with clichés thrown in to break up the tropes. BUT, it worked - mostly.

WHAT I LIKED

1. Self-awareness. THe show KNEW it was a tropefest and embraced it, inviting the audience to laugh at its rehashing ALL the tropes. Couple shirts?! It worked because the show knew it was silly and was inviting laughter.

2. Kim Young Ok. This amazing actor just makes EVERYTHING she's in better, and the writer here was smart enough to give her lines that fit her dual persona as hallowed halmeoni and spunky gran perfectly. She was a HUGE part of the reason I stuck it out, as was

3. Ahn Se Ha. The one role that wasn't a trope - no BoF, Heirs type Drama that I've seen had such an irreverent Sancho Panza character, and Ahn's delivery was perfect. Very refreshing, especially in the first half.

4. OTP chemistry. I'm not so much out of the loop on who's dating whom in K Ent as out of the entire galaxy the loop is in, but if these two are a real couple, it would explain a lot. A by-the-numbers romcom like this literally lives or dies by the OTP chemistry, and these two sold it really well, INCLUDING

5. The first kiss scene - HUGE bonus points for this scene, one of VERY few in K Dramas where The kisser ASKED FOR PERMISSION. That is both romantic and sexy and swayed me heavily in favour of not dropping

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE

1. The clichéd mushiness of the evil half-sister at the very end. Keep those cojones, sistah!

2. The show was too long

3. The show was way too long.

4. The show was ridiculously way too long

5. The show was irritatingly ridiculously way too long

6. The show was unbelievably irritatingly ridiculously way too long


In the end, I gave it 7.5 because of everything it did right. It would have got 8.5-9 if it had been 12 60 minute episodes instead of 16 70 minute episodes

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"Sugar sweet" series with some places to improve at the end

First of all, ... I think the series is really sweet.. I laughed, pined and cheered at times. I think the two main actors were brilliantly cast in their roles and it was just fun to watch the development of the two. But the last two episodes have left me with so many question marks that I just have to know who else feels the same way.
***
Spoiler alert! If you haven't seen the series yet, please don't read any further from here!
***
Why does Sa Rang suddenly want to end the relationship in episode 15? This makes zero sense as there is no need at all. Even if she has new professional plans for herself, she doesn't have to sacrifice the relationship at any time. Especially after all the back and forth, up and down. What is it good for? At first I suspected the stepsister and was hoping for an exciting twist, but not even that. It's also her own will. Things get even more confusing when she then quits and tells Goo Won's father that she is doing this because she has realized that she cannot live without his son (makes little sense to end the relationship after such a realization) and for that prefers to quit to pursue his own plans. And if that doesn't cause enough confusion, without a clarifying conversation, the relationship will just continue just as cheerfully, even though she just ended it. He surprises her in a good mood at the bus stop and hey presto .. everything is back to normal. Then Sa Rang finally opens her dream hotel, which actually seems to be a “one-room” Airbnb, and the long-awaited marriage proposal finally follows. Well, from here I was in a forgiving mood ... but what was that at the wedding?
I thought it was sooo nice that he picked her up halfway down the aisle...but...then what? No vicar in sight, just Goo Won's right hand announcing both. OK, maybe it will be his job?! Arrived after 5 steps at the altar/on the stage, both overjoyed decide to walk together. What is that? No vows, no exchange of rings, no kiss, nothing...? So much was promised at the beginning of the mock wedding and then basically nothing happened. I've never seen a wedding like this and the ending left me a bit dazed. Instead of the longed-for full-length highlight, there is a look back into the cabin where Sa Rang chooses the Goo Won suit. So there shouldn't even be that much of a surprise.

Well, I don't know ... you could have ended this really successful series sooo nicely. Are you happy with it or do you feel the same way? It still got 9 points from me because I really liked the rest of it and had a few fun hours - but the ending was nothing. 😕

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Reallyyy cutee!

Two words: really cute! This drama is just cute. I can't say that is an amazing, fantastic kdrama because that isn't true, but at the same time I enjoyed it. The main problem for me is that it doesn't have a plot. All the 16 episodes are about the love story that I loveed but I wished there was something more. But if I have to be honest, I was a sucker for them. Their romance was on point and their chemistry was so good that I wouldn't be surprised if they are a couple in real life. It's definitely a good rom-com with really funny side characters and good romance.
Now, moving on the actors. So I personally lovee Junho, he's super handsome and an amazing actor. His first drama that I watched was The Red Sleeve and I fell in love with him so bad, so I was super happy to watched another project and also with Yoona. To be honest, I don't love Yoona as an actress. There's something in her acting that doesn't convince me. She's not be a bad actress but I don't love her acting performance. All the other actors where good; nothing special, just good.
So, I would definitely recommend this kdrama if you wanna start watching them and also if you are searching for a light rom-com that makes you smile like a stupid.

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Candy Floss Romcom with a tug of commentary

King the Land is one of those easy watches that will have you smiling like a kid in a candy store.

It makes no pretenses about itself and unapologetically commits to the fluffy rom com tropes with all the trappings of umbrellas, theme park rentals and magical appearances to save the female lead. And with all of that fluff - it still manages to touch on issues like classism, elitism and sexism in the service industry which I found so self-aware of the script.

While the ratio of plot to character is arguably thin ( those who say zero plot also have merit) the charm of the drama is the charisma of chemistry existing amongst all the leads and the drama makes very good use of this charm. The push and full factor runs very strong because of this making it an all round very pleasant watch that emits joy. Seriously - I was smiling throughout so top marks for that.

So why does it score an 8.5 and not a 9 or 10? Simple- though the show is a light hearted comedy at its core , I could not overlook that I felt baited at times into thinking it was going to get deeper into an issue/problem ( which were serious motifs by the way) only for it to fizzle out. Thematic resolution was thus quite weak and having the identity of being fluffy is not an excuse for not resolving pertinent themes presented.

Otherwise - the drama is amazing, Lee Jun Ho is captivating as Gu Won , Im Yoon A is greatly improved in her acting skills and the supporting cast was wonderful! No complaints. The music is great too and has entered my daily rotation too .And the visuals were top notch.

Shoutout to the presentation of Gu Wom and Cheon Sarang too- the most natural dating couple I have seen that was not prudish. Very rare in dramaland.

Overall- would not be surprised if this was a future rom com GOAT in time .

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Welp!

I won’t lie the first time this kdrama was being advertised i was suuuuper excited and had such high expectations, especially since i love comedy kdramas and this was advertised as one.

to that being said, let me just say that the comedy was certainly served well and i had many moments where i laughed! so that part was good.

but i can’t lie that certain moments in the episodes were such a drag. couple of episodes in it got super boring and it seemed like certain moments in the show were added just to make the episode longer, like a filler of some sort.

most dialogue scenes were super boring except for the rivalry between won and his sister, i was really intrigued by them! i wish we got to see more of them and more of them getting along.

the side plot with the mother was also rushed imo and very boring, she appeared out of nowhere and was quickly accepted and then we moved on, and the thing with that friend with the husband? like why did she stay with him when he’s a literal selfish prick? though im happy she put him in his place and i loved the daughter!! she was such a savage!!

i loved the side characters a lot but i also feel like mr.no’s romance plot was either ignored or forgotten? even if it was hinted at like maybe once or twice it felt like it just got erased and was used as a filler plot. i’m also sad we couldn’t get to see more of sarangs hotel!

so in conclusion i think a lot of things in the show were dragged out or rushed ! it wasn’t a bad show per se, it’s a good watch but it did take me months to finish it.

anyway the actors did well!

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