perfection
Otherwise known as The Moon That Embraces the Sun, or MoonSun. Third (and last) dish in the January kdrama sampler plate.
And yes, it's pretty much perfect.
I can wax on and on about the sheer charm and masterful storytelling of MoonSun, but I will probably run out of synonyms for "damn perfection" soon, so I will refrain myself. The last drama that made me feel this eager for new episodes (and I'm behind with the current episodes!) was Sungkyunkwan Scandal, which was adapted from a novel by MoonSun's author. Kudos to you, madam/sir, for being a wonderful storyteller. I wish I could read Korean so I can enjoy your stories in their original format.
Not surprisingly (considering the SJ/YH/JS trifecta of SKKS), it also has the most charming love triangle I've seen in quite a while. And as of episode 3, they're still teenagers. I know I'm lost when I'm shipping kids with each other.
But I'm getting ahead of myself.
MoonSun is the story of a pair of star-crossed lovers, the (fictional) Joseon king Lee Hwon and a shaman named Wol. He is (in his adult form) a genre savvy but too-young king struggling to establish his position in court, still mourning the death of his true love years ago, just as they were going to marry. She is that love, formerly a young aristocrat named Yeon-woo, torn from her loved ones for her protection (a certain mustachio-twirling dowager queen wanted to off her). She doesn't remember anything from her life as Yeon-woo.
I've only seen up to episode 3, still in the middle of 5 and 1/2 episodes of the childhood part of the drama, but I AM HOOKED. The kids who play Crown Prince Hwon, Yeon-woo, and Yang-myung (Hwon's woobie bastard brother, who serves the function of Moon Jae-shin here to Yeon-woo's Yoon-hee) are so good at playing the puppy-love-in-deadly-decadent-court thing. I'm buying what they're selling, and I want more. I ship young Hwon/Yeon-woo badly, although I feel sorry for Yang-myung, who must give way each and every time for his brother but pretends he's content, because he loves Hwon very much.
Other thoughts, in list form
1. I've read people complaining about the overuse of the Moon/Sun symbolism. While I agree that overuse of symbolism can wear thin, I don't think it's going to happen here. The use of nature as a way to see fate has been seen in many a sageuk, but in the case of MoonSun, this is what grounds the story to the realm of fantasy. Instead of just being an ancient practice, Joseon shamanism is presented as something that is real and accurate, if somewhat subjected to the whims of certain courtiers.
2. Hwon and Yeon-woo are cute. Pining Hwon is cute. Confused Yeon-woo is cute. There isn't enough cute in this sentence.
3. While I do feel bad for Yang-myung for having to lose Yeon-woo to Hwon, what really makes me feel sorry for him is his plight as brother of the Crown Prince. He's gifted, but he cannot serve as a public official because he's a royal. Likewise, he can't really hang around the palace much, lest someone use him as a rallying point to overthrow his Hwon. His father doesn't show him love for fear that he'd be harmed if he is shown any favor (just like what happened to the king's own brother). He doesn't deserve this, and everyone knows it.
4. I love how they showed the king shaking his head after learning that Yang-myung interpreting an order of his as "don't ever enter the palace again" when all he meant was "you should be careful when in the palace". The king loves Yang-myung, but I don't think Yang-myung sees that. Not that I blame him, but still.
5. Bo-kyung. Is it the subs, or have I missed the part where the shaman Nok-young declares her as the dark moon. She is manipulative and cruel, but she is mostly driven by the weight of family expectations. The dowager queen, who is a member of her clan, and her father expect her to be the queen, and her father is not afraid to show his displeasure at the slightest mistake. Sometimes I feel sorry for her, sometimes I wish someone would kick her in the shins. Still, not completely evil.
6. Evil dowager queen is a different story. She is poised and regal, but the way she smiles when discussing a murder, as if she's just sharing a delicious piece of gossip, is unsettling. Minister Yoon, on the other hand, seems merely her lackey.
7. Min-hwa/Yeom: not shipping, but I totally understand why Min-hwa squees like every fangirl ever at the sight of Yeom. Dude is way too pretty for his own good.
Verdict: This drama hits the spot. Perfect in every way imaginable (so far).
And yes, it's pretty much perfect.
I can wax on and on about the sheer charm and masterful storytelling of MoonSun, but I will probably run out of synonyms for "damn perfection" soon, so I will refrain myself. The last drama that made me feel this eager for new episodes (and I'm behind with the current episodes!) was Sungkyunkwan Scandal, which was adapted from a novel by MoonSun's author. Kudos to you, madam/sir, for being a wonderful storyteller. I wish I could read Korean so I can enjoy your stories in their original format.
Not surprisingly (considering the SJ/YH/JS trifecta of SKKS), it also has the most charming love triangle I've seen in quite a while. And as of episode 3, they're still teenagers. I know I'm lost when I'm shipping kids with each other.
But I'm getting ahead of myself.
MoonSun is the story of a pair of star-crossed lovers, the (fictional) Joseon king Lee Hwon and a shaman named Wol. He is (in his adult form) a genre savvy but too-young king struggling to establish his position in court, still mourning the death of his true love years ago, just as they were going to marry. She is that love, formerly a young aristocrat named Yeon-woo, torn from her loved ones for her protection (a certain mustachio-twirling dowager queen wanted to off her). She doesn't remember anything from her life as Yeon-woo.
I've only seen up to episode 3, still in the middle of 5 and 1/2 episodes of the childhood part of the drama, but I AM HOOKED. The kids who play Crown Prince Hwon, Yeon-woo, and Yang-myung (Hwon's woobie bastard brother, who serves the function of Moon Jae-shin here to Yeon-woo's Yoon-hee) are so good at playing the puppy-love-in-deadly-decadent-court thing. I'm buying what they're selling, and I want more. I ship young Hwon/Yeon-woo badly, although I feel sorry for Yang-myung, who must give way each and every time for his brother but pretends he's content, because he loves Hwon very much.
Other thoughts, in list form
1. I've read people complaining about the overuse of the Moon/Sun symbolism. While I agree that overuse of symbolism can wear thin, I don't think it's going to happen here. The use of nature as a way to see fate has been seen in many a sageuk, but in the case of MoonSun, this is what grounds the story to the realm of fantasy. Instead of just being an ancient practice, Joseon shamanism is presented as something that is real and accurate, if somewhat subjected to the whims of certain courtiers.
2. Hwon and Yeon-woo are cute. Pining Hwon is cute. Confused Yeon-woo is cute. There isn't enough cute in this sentence.
3. While I do feel bad for Yang-myung for having to lose Yeon-woo to Hwon, what really makes me feel sorry for him is his plight as brother of the Crown Prince. He's gifted, but he cannot serve as a public official because he's a royal. Likewise, he can't really hang around the palace much, lest someone use him as a rallying point to overthrow his Hwon. His father doesn't show him love for fear that he'd be harmed if he is shown any favor (just like what happened to the king's own brother). He doesn't deserve this, and everyone knows it.
4. I love how they showed the king shaking his head after learning that Yang-myung interpreting an order of his as "don't ever enter the palace again" when all he meant was "you should be careful when in the palace". The king loves Yang-myung, but I don't think Yang-myung sees that. Not that I blame him, but still.
5. Bo-kyung. Is it the subs, or have I missed the part where the shaman Nok-young declares her as the dark moon. She is manipulative and cruel, but she is mostly driven by the weight of family expectations. The dowager queen, who is a member of her clan, and her father expect her to be the queen, and her father is not afraid to show his displeasure at the slightest mistake. Sometimes I feel sorry for her, sometimes I wish someone would kick her in the shins. Still, not completely evil.
6. Evil dowager queen is a different story. She is poised and regal, but the way she smiles when discussing a murder, as if she's just sharing a delicious piece of gossip, is unsettling. Minister Yoon, on the other hand, seems merely her lackey.
7. Min-hwa/Yeom: not shipping, but I totally understand why Min-hwa squees like every fangirl ever at the sight of Yeom. Dude is way too pretty for his own good.
Verdict: This drama hits the spot. Perfect in every way imaginable (so far).