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STORY 6/10
Since it took me so long to actually finish this series, I wouldn't recommend it if you're new to K-dramas or if you're choosing your first historical. The show is relatively slow-paced, mostly episodic and the important storylines tend to be...well, illogical at times, and some are left unresolved. Due to its episodic nature and some over-the-top comedic moments, Sungkyunkwan Scandal is actually much closer to Hana Kimi than to more mature Coffee Prince in the realm of cross-dressing dramas. I strongly feel that it was a shame that so much time was spent on long gazes (especially between the main couple), way too long dialogues between villains (their scheming was mostly pointless anyway), antics of the villain's sister and the villain's stupid sidekicks, or flashbacks (so many of them!). Instead, I would appreciate better developed relationships between other people than the two leads: Goo Yong Ha and Moon Jae Shin, Cho Sun and Ha In Soo or Kim Yoon Hee and (the real) Kim Yoon Shik...the list goes on.
There is another matter that strongly impacted my evaluation and that is the ending. (I will try to be as vague and spoiler-free as possible.) Honestly the last 2-3 episodes were a mess. First, it doesn't really make sense that the characters who served as wise mentors to our young heroes were incapable of doing some basic investigation and needed a help of students to solve a 10-year-old mystery.
Second, it never felt like the stakes were high enough – especially regarding Kim Yoon Hee's situation. A much needed emotional climax just never came and the matter was resolved too quickly and too smoothly to my liking. Yoon Hee is also uncharacteristically passive (and mostly silent) in her (potentially great) dialogue scenes with some big players in the last episode.
Third, way too many loose ends. Starting with the heroine's fate (regarding which we are left with way too many questions), through unresolved side-stories of several key players (e.g. Cho Sun and Ha In Soo) to the lack of epilogue regarding the political situation in the country (not all of us have knowledge of Joseon's history)...the list goes on.
Simply said, from all the K-dramas I've finished so far, Sungkyunkwan Scandal had the least satisfying - albeit cute - ending.
ACTING/CAST 9/10
While the two leads (Park Yoo Chun as Lee Sun Joon and Park Min Young as Kim Yoon Hee) were nice, they were ultimately rather boring and predictable, especially in comparison with the duo we were all rooting for: Song Joong Ki as Goo Yong Ha and Yoo Ah In as Moon Jae Shin, who were amazing, both character-wise and acting-wise. This was actually the first drama during which I experienced the infamous "second lead syndrome": they actually made Moon Jae Shin so perfect, that I can't understand why they didn't pair him up with the heroine (or with Goo Yong Ha for that matter).
MUSIC 7.5/10
Nice score, not something I'd need to buy a CD for, but several definitely memorable tracks and songs. Extra points for the main song ("Found You" by JYJ) that I can't get out of my head ;).
REWATCH VALUE 7.5/10
I'd say that the rewatch value is quite high because once you know what to expect, it's actually a really well-acted and cheerful – if somewhat cheesy – drama to revisit.
OVERALL 7.5/10
Since it took me so long to actually finish this series, I wouldn't recommend it if you're new to K-dramas or if you're choosing your first historical. The show is relatively slow-paced, mostly episodic and the important storylines tend to be...well, illogical at times, and some are left unresolved. Due to its episodic nature and some over-the-top comedic moments, Sungkyunkwan Scandal is actually much closer to Hana Kimi than to more mature Coffee Prince in the realm of cross-dressing dramas. I strongly feel that it was a shame that so much time was spent on long gazes (especially between the main couple), way too long dialogues between villains (their scheming was mostly pointless anyway), antics of the villain's sister and the villain's stupid sidekicks, or flashbacks (so many of them!). Instead, I would appreciate better developed relationships between other people than the two leads: Goo Yong Ha and Moon Jae Shin, Cho Sun and Ha In Soo or Kim Yoon Hee and (the real) Kim Yoon Shik...the list goes on.
There is another matter that strongly impacted my evaluation and that is the ending. (I will try to be as vague and spoiler-free as possible.) Honestly the last 2-3 episodes were a mess. First, it doesn't really make sense that the characters who served as wise mentors to our young heroes were incapable of doing some basic investigation and needed a help of students to solve a 10-year-old mystery.
Second, it never felt like the stakes were high enough – especially regarding Kim Yoon Hee's situation. A much needed emotional climax just never came and the matter was resolved too quickly and too smoothly to my liking. Yoon Hee is also uncharacteristically passive (and mostly silent) in her (potentially great) dialogue scenes with some big players in the last episode.
Third, way too many loose ends. Starting with the heroine's fate (regarding which we are left with way too many questions), through unresolved side-stories of several key players (e.g. Cho Sun and Ha In Soo) to the lack of epilogue regarding the political situation in the country (not all of us have knowledge of Joseon's history)...the list goes on.
Simply said, from all the K-dramas I've finished so far, Sungkyunkwan Scandal had the least satisfying - albeit cute - ending.
ACTING/CAST 9/10
While the two leads (Park Yoo Chun as Lee Sun Joon and Park Min Young as Kim Yoon Hee) were nice, they were ultimately rather boring and predictable, especially in comparison with the duo we were all rooting for: Song Joong Ki as Goo Yong Ha and Yoo Ah In as Moon Jae Shin, who were amazing, both character-wise and acting-wise. This was actually the first drama during which I experienced the infamous "second lead syndrome": they actually made Moon Jae Shin so perfect, that I can't understand why they didn't pair him up with the heroine (or with Goo Yong Ha for that matter).
MUSIC 7.5/10
Nice score, not something I'd need to buy a CD for, but several definitely memorable tracks and songs. Extra points for the main song ("Found You" by JYJ) that I can't get out of my head ;).
REWATCH VALUE 7.5/10
I'd say that the rewatch value is quite high because once you know what to expect, it's actually a really well-acted and cheerful – if somewhat cheesy – drama to revisit.
OVERALL 7.5/10
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