Master class in storytelling

There are so many arcs about this drama that deserve recognition but first and foremost, an award has to go to the scriptwriter Hwang Jin Young who masterfully created an interwoven piece of fiction with historical events. The flowing narrative of Lee Jang Hyun and Yoo Gil Chae flows within a nation under constant siege.

The acting in this drama is above excellent, especially from Namkoong Min (Lee Jang Hyun), Ahn Eun Jin (Yoo Gil Chae),
Lee Hak Joo (Nam Yeon Jun) and Kim Yoon Woo (Ryang Eum). The romance and stretched ties between Jang Hyan and Gil Chae are neither overdone nor underwhelming. They are a couple drawn to each other, distrustful of one another and yearn for each other throughout. The separation arcs are not contrived but seen as a symptom of the times; those not in the ruling class are at the contrived whims of those that are. There were several times that this drama was put in pause in order to emotionally calm back down.

The secondary parts of Yeon Jun and Ryang Eum are flawlessly portrayed on screen, and I look forward to future roles they are a part of. Yeon Jun is married to Gil Chae's best friend but also secretly attracted to Gil Chae. This character does not act on his attraction, not because of duty or loyalty but because his wife's family could advance his career as a scholar. Ryang Eum was perhaps the most fascinating character because of an illicit longing for the person who saved him from a slave's life: Jang Hyun. He is pitiful, beautiful and selfish and this part in the hands of a lesser actor would have made him an antagonist that left the viewers without thought. Kim Yoon Woo's acting was flawless in the part and deserves recognition for a nuanced and emotional portrayal.

The hardest and most riveting part of this drama was how it handled those captured by enemies and the unflinching pious attitude of elite nobility. A society more concerned with purity, bloodlines and social acclaim than aiding those who were helpless. I've read much about historical Korean standards towards women and most dramas will tell the story but not in a way that involved me emotionally. In this drama, the women, children and elderly who were captured, released and then brutally murdered by a cowardly king and court, shined a spotlight that could not have been brighter on societal hypocrisy. Again, the screenwriter created a beautiful, brutal world that has relevance in modern times. Brilliant and timeless writing by a master.

I've rarely called any drama masterful, but this title is deserved by all involved. If you're undecided if it's worth the time, please push play. You'll never regret it.

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A historical, emotional journey

This isn't my first time watching this drama and probably won't be my last simply for the acting of Zhou Xun and Wallace Huo. Don't get me wrong, the supporting cast is outstanding but the two main leads embody their characters; it's like watching the real emperor and empress alive in an unfolding story.

The hardest part of this drama is to observe the cruelty of a king and husband in middle age. He goes from youthful hope to bored tolerance and it is Wallace Huo's very nuanced portrayal that leads to a viewer understanding the heart of a king. In mid life, he rebels against the idea of not being allowed a choice of behavior. The empress calls him out on his callous indifference to a privileged life and the ensuing clash of dialogue is one I could watch daily. Masterfully written, directed and acted, it is a true to life scene between an exhausted wife and bored husband with the concluding split resulting in a husband and ruler slowly facing his flaws.

As a female viewer, it's hard for me to watch the history of harems. To love your husband and observe his pleasure with another woman is something I cannot imagine but, the history was real (pretty much in all cultures) and the emotional damage is displayed. This drama takes an unflinching approach in writing to their family dynamic and I would recommend it for anyone wishing to see a palace drama. It truly is a masterpiece.

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There was once a girl who lost her way

Anyone can look at my drama list count and know there is a slight obsessive trait towards Asian dramas. I'm an American who cut cable in 2014 and didn't miss a beat because I discovered the storylines from Korean and Chinese dramas offered a solid story line versus the gratuitous sex scenes in American television, which often times made no sense to the plot. As such, there are times of preoccupation with these dramas, and "Lost You Forever" is definitely one that I rewatch daily.

This drama was lucky and shrewd enough to hire the original author as a screenwriter, and it made this story absolutely rich in detail and pacing. Not once did I hit the fast forward button, and many times, a rediscovery of rewind and repeat was used throughout each of the 39 episodes. Because of my obsession, I found the English translation of the original work, read it in three days, and cried through the last ten chapters. Life is full of choices, loss, betrayal, and love, and this novel allowed each of the main characters to display every human trait to the fullest. If given a chance, please read it because the character's silent voice in the drama helped explain some of their decisions.

The actors in the drama are immersed in their characters, and this allowed me to dive into their world without interruption. The multi-faceted Xiao Yao who feared abandonment; the fierce Xiyan Cang Xuan who was schooled to assume power at the cost of his personal happiness; the gentle and cunning Tushan Jing who longs to escape his clan responsibility while clinging to an ever-fading hope of forever with Xiao Yao; and lastly, the beautiful Xiang Liu, who discovers clinging to the emotion of love is a war with indebted duty.

Needless to say, I cannot wait for part 2, but am watching part 1 daily and picking up details I missed during the first go around. This drama is a masterpiece, and I hope this continues in the sequel.

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From beginning to end, this drama was one that I had to take breaks from. The acting was exquisite, the production and direction were top notch, the story line was well thought out and on point. This drama sequences together the story of a prince, intelligent, arrogant and vulnerable to a court, who craves acceptance from a father; a king who cruelly envies the qualities he sees in a son, and a woman who believes in love and justice only to be seemingly betrayed. It is an emotionally raw portrayal of life, humanity and the price paid for power.

Luo Jin's portrayal of the Crown Prince in this drama is flawless. He can be callous and cruel in one scene only to seamlessly show vulnerability and a smile in the next. His unbelievable chemistry with Li Yi Tonga makes their scenes riveting but I'm a firm believer this actor could show love to a dead log and make me a shipper.

Li Yi Tong deftly portrays Lu Wen Xi (or Gu A'Bao). This character suffers an enormous amount throughout the drama for various reasons: for the love of the Crown Prince, for the freedom of her family, and finally, for justice, she endures cruelty in every form. As a character, I would never, ever want her placed within close proximity of the Crown Prince; he is infatuated, cruel, indifferent, callous and at times, endearing. Had it not been for the subtlety the two actors portrayed their emotions, I could have not watched it. At the end of episode 52 and throughout 53, Lu Wen Xi 's trust in the Crown Prince is shattered and the expressions the actress used to convey this betrayal had me glued to the screen.

"Royal Nirvana" is like watching a spider quietly and carefully craft it's web. The twists and turns of the plot portray a deadly and brilliant Chinese court with those in pursuit of power sometimes ignoring what is right and just. I highly recommend it for viewing but beware the emotional toll it can have on the viewer. It's just that brutally honest about politics, power and consequences of both.

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Definitely needs to be watched

I love, first and foremost, a really good storyline. If a lead couple has amazing and sizzling chemistry, sometimes they can over come the plot to make it highly watchable, but those dramas are rare. This is a very richly textured drama from episode 1 to episode 49 and I've enjoyed every minute.
Because it's not a perfect 10, there are minute flaws and the one I'd like to point out is the lack of love scenes between the main couple. They are very, very good actors in their characters but, for some odd reason, have very little passionate scenes. At one point, a pair of parrots simulates their climatic kiss moment and I found this truly bizarre.
Other than this one small detail, this is a phenomenal story, acted with finesse by all and a production that allowed me, as the viewer, to be immersed. Definitely worth every episode of time (minus the parrots).

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I started watching this because I'm a stalker-ish fan of Seo Kang Joon and also enjoy dramas featuring Park Min Young. I thought Park Min Young struggled to get into her character because of the amount of melancholy her role carries, Seo Kang Joon was very good and, as usual, portrays an enormous amount of emotion through his eyes. Those are moments I envy the cameraman. That being said, all of my anticipation for the two main leads was absolutely diverted by the actresses portraying sisters, Jin Hee Kyung and Moon Jung Hee. These two absolutely crushed their parts and became the coolest female characters I've seen in a while. Rewatch value is nil for me because in the current corona-times, I struggle with shows that have a lot of emotional realism, but I would highly endorse it just for the actresses mentioned above. I'm seriously considering sunglasses at night because they made it look so freaking awesome.

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The value of a meal

I live in Appalachia, which is a part of the United States that has it's own indigenous culture of family meals. What I've learned about Asian dramas and entertainment is that this is a worldwide phenomenon, not just a local custom. "Have you eaten?" is sometimes the first sentence a guest or family member hears as they enter the doorway with the next being, "let me fix you something to eat while you sit and talk to me while I cook".

This drama exemplifies several points about family and does so without being preachy or pretentious. We're human with flaws and driven to decisions that effect the present and future. Yu Hao is a character who strives to always be the better competitor in the cutthroat business world while Su Ke Lan is someone who realizes the importance of family moments. The clash and understanding between the exchange of characters is realistic and wielded brilliantly between actors and script.

I love this drama because it's light and understands the importance, especially in the cell phone world we live, about the gold standard value of sitting down to a meal. I highly recommend it for someone wanting to watch comedy, family and romance rolled into one. You definitely won't be disappointed.

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Welcome to travelling in time!

I loved this show because it was unique and I'm also a fan of time travel. Not one cliché is used throughout the entire 16 episodes and it does indeed twist and turn throughout. Time travel as a subject can be quite confusing as there are "multiverses" created and time loops that I still can't wrap my head around. As far as acting goes, Park Jin Gyum is unbelievably good as is the rest of the cast. There is very little romance involved in the plot and what little is hinted has become quite controversial with some. I just take the story at face value and try not to read something into familiar affection. I recommend "Alice" for everyone who is a fan of the genre as I am.

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I started this show with little expectation and really struggled to watch the first four episodes. There's a certain amount of silliness in the beginning that just didn't hook me into the story, but the acting truly is a 10+ in terms of rating, so I hung in there.

This is a story of life, of loss, of coping and of goodbyes. Each person, at some point in their lifetime, has to encounter these emotions and this story is a refreshing lesson in what daily life truly is: a gift. I am a single mother, a daughter, a family member, a friend and age has revealed the truth that each gifted moment should never be wasted. This drama exemplifies that and carries it to the next level.

So, there are truly funny and poignant moments throughout all 16 episodes. The story unfolds gently along each character backstory and the last episodes are unbelievably good. All the cast members get an A+ for their acting ability but Lee Kyu Hyung, as the husband, is riveting on the screen. His ability to engage and let me feel every emotion that he was going through was almost otherworldly. I am definitely a super fan.

Please watch this and enjoy.

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"Ending like this is another name for destiny"

I went into this drama with expectations and ideas; I'd seen "Goblin" and "Tail of the Nine-Tailed", which were good, poignant stories and for this very reason, I grappled with the storyline of "Doom at Your Service" for the first four episodes. If the expectation is for the slightly formulaic, well written story, well, "Doom" is one of those in spades but throw out this drama belonging to a standard storyline. In fact, it's so well written, so subtle, it took those first four episodes for me to understand the heart of this show. What does it mean to love, to regret, to live, and to understand that an ending is imminent in all situations?

I'll start with the second stage characters and that is Cha Joo Ik (the editor), Lee Hyun Gyu (coffee shop owner) and Na Ji Na (the author). This is a love triangle in three ways: the love of two men who are closer than brothers, and their love for the same woman. A backstory usually bores me in a drama because the words or actions from the past are usually repeated in the present. Their story unwinds logically, emotionally with their present person wearing the emotional scars of past regret. The friend who betrayed his brother, the woman who vainly searched for a boyfriend lost, the boyfriend who chose to hide rather than face pity. What unfolds is a slice of life that never preaches but displays emotions for the loss of love, of chances, of bonds broken. I've been riveted to the screen with every scene.

The deities of Doom and So Nyeo Shin also have an interesting dynamic. One is the creator and forgives, the other is the judgement and destroys and between them, there is an envy of the other's ability. Their balance and existence is born from humanity but the lack of an ending exhausts and bores Doom. He is the witness to the worst and pities the other deity's existence as she bears the burden of those sins throughout time. At episode 14, I still cannot figure out if there is compassion, affection or disdain for the other's presence

The last to be mentioned is the relationship between Doom and Tak Dong Kyung. Park Bo Young's character struggles through life, relationships and responsibility. Her first meeting with Doom (Seo In Guk) is not love at first sight but rather loathing that needs to turn into affection. His regard for her is one apathy and slight amusement for a person that threw her fate into a wish upon his name. They grow into a relationship and by the time they regard one another with affection, I know longer realize they are performers in a part. The acting craft in the drama is exhibited with flawless execution by all parties and again, by episode 14, there is not one emotion on the screen that I don't feel internally as a viewer.

"Doom At Your Service" is not a feel good drama but one that asks questions and then subtly answers them. I have a feeling that viewers will either find it thought provoking or dropped but ultimately, this story will resonate with me for a long time. What is fate through decision and what is fate unavoidable is something tackled in this story and I'll be interested to see what the last two episodes bring to the table.

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An intense ride

I binge-watched this drama in one day and was clenching my chair by the last episode. The acting is absolutely flawless, and for ten episodes, I felt like the story not only flowed at a perfect pace, but the intensity of the characters and their stories held me for the entire drama. Also, kudos to the writers because they unfolded the story of war and the repercussions endured by those who are helpless to fight or run.

Namkoong Min and Ahn Eun Jin are flawless in their roles, and their chemistry, especially in the last episodes, was off the chart. The dynamic of unsurity between the two characters is methodically played out to the very end, and the next season cannot come fast enough. Good, bad, happy or tragic, I'm all in for the ride.

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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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This is definitely a must watch!

This is my fourth story about written characters coming to life outside of the author's pages and I must say, I'm a huge fan of this genre (W, Extraordinary You, Romance of Tiger and Rose being the others). While Marcus Chang always brings his "A" game to acting and definitely did in this one, Simon Lian is also riveting in his role as his best friend. There were several moments when I laughed out loud when they were in the "book" and I think comedic accolades have to go to the female lead played by Vivian Sung. This is funny, poignant and an interesting take on the tropes seen in the drama-world.

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River Where the Moon Rises Review

Honestly, I couldn't think of a catchy title for my review.

When I started Asian dramas seven years ago, I couldn't handle the historical ones. Being from the west, it felt like the culture was so far removed from what I was accustomed, I couldn't grasp the storyline meaning.

Fast forward to the present and now I'm close to being obsessed with the history of the region, the court machinations, the people, their lives now hold my interest from beginning to end. I love how "River Where the Moon Rises" was based on a mixture of folklore and historical truths and the characters within are riveting; the main players are neither good or bad, display tempers, greed, love, compassion and petulance. That's what makes this drama so watchable (along with the acting) and I enjoyed the unfolding and character intersection to the very end. The two main leads are good, Kang Ha Neul absolutely lights up the screen, but Lee Ji Hoon as Go Geon made me never want to miss a moment with him in it. He loves, loses, mourns and regains through 20 episodes and the actor's portrayal had me living this character's emotions throughout.

I definitely recommend this storyline and controversy aside, it was a good, solid drama.

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Who we are and how we got there

I work with kids from adolescence to eighteen years of age. To sit and listen to about half of this populated group is to hear the hurt....my dad is in rehab, my mom's boyfriend beats her up and we hide. The stories are endless and sometimes, by the time these kids are eighteen, they lose the light in their eyes. Each year, each unforeseen and tormenting circumstance results in hope fading. This drama was the best I've watched at the portrayal of anger, ambivalence and abuse from the trusted caretaker to a child and how these events shape who they are in their journey.

Korean actors never cease to amaze me because I cannot see where the actor ends and the character begins and especially in these eight episodes. Park Ji Hoon, Choi Hyun Wook and Hong Kyung seamlessly show each facet of emotional turmoil they are going through and even though I'm not a fan of violence, the fight scenes were so realistic that I went to check the behind the scenes to make sure the actors were okay. Shin Seung Ho has a small but impactful part in this and in my opinion, lights up the screen in both "Alchemy of Souls" and "Weak Hero Class 1". He will be one to watch out for in 2023.

As for the other three actors mentioned above, flawless performances from all even down to their micro expressions. The weak and strong intertwining for the sake of friendship, the weak and the flawed holding onto each other for dominance, every bit of this is told in a way that won't let the viewer go. Simply amazing.

The only thing I marked slightly below perfection is in rewatch value. To see each character's torment is something I cannot tear myself away from in the first viewing but to go down this emotional rabbit hole a second time this soon would be too much. It's that good, that precise, that realistic to life. I have fingers crossed there is a season 2 to show where the path leads next.

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