Shine or Go Crazy (2015)

About prince Wang So of Goryeo. A love story with wit, charm & affection. Makjang alert. Toxic, too

First of all: "Shine or Go Crazy" is a love story from head to toe with all the trimmings. Nevertheless, it is also about the dazzling historical figure of Wang So - King Gwangjong from the early hours of the Goryeo era. Thus it is a beautiful character study about the young prince, who at last became king, but who had by far not been the preferred prince of choice as far as the future throne was concerned. How did HE happen to become not only king but such an outstanding one as well - one who is NOT automatically (as so often) a jumping jack for his ministers, eunuchs and palace ladies? Who or what motivated and inspired his rather grounded, almost visionary, innovative, citizen-oriented policies?

This KDrama offers a (possible) answer to history, as well as an epic love story, playfully sprinkling disguise of origin and confusion of gender.

----------------- SIDE NOTE: --- Wang So, 4th son of Goryeo King Wang Geon, and later King Gwangjong
During his 26-year reign at the end of the first millennium, King Gwangjong laid solid foundations for the next four centuries. To this end, he introduced some popular reforms for the common people (yet unpopular among the nobility). Above all, these concerned slavery. Additionally he instituted the national civil service exam, which allowed people to serve the country according to their ability. Introduced during his reign, too, were so-called "Daebi-won" - medical centers for the free care of the poor. Finally, he secured the borders of the empire with military measures. Throughout, he consistently had to deal with opponing noblemen ... and eliminated them uncompromisingly. "Shine or Go Crazy" is a dignified multimedia monument to his rulership, that in general rather focused on the needs of his ordinary citizens than aristocracy.

The KDrama "Shine or Go Crazy" (as well as "Moon Lovers" who deals with King Gwangjong, too), offers a conclusive explanation for this King´s particular career. Whether this is historically justified by sources, I could not find out yet. In any case, Prince Wang So becomes tangible and understandable with the help of this fictional setting: The KDramas tell his story as at a young age being banished from the palace and sent to the mountains - thus hopefully avoiding a bloody prophesy from coming true. There he lived a life beyond the palace intrigues, yet close to nature and its existential everyday struggles for survival. Like that, his everyday life inevitably came quite a bit closer to that of the ordinary people of his time. This socialization in 'freedom' and largely grounded normality shaped him in a completely different way than his (numerous) direct and indirect siblings within the palace walls and thus makes him a resolute and popular monarchical free spirit. At the same time, this lays the right foundation for placing a completely unorthodox, unexpected and inspiring commoner´s love at his emotional side. Like that the fictional K-Drama helps to on the one hand understand the sharp edges of his disappointment because of parental rejection as well as his self-doubt due to his curse. On the other hand, however, this is balanced by down-to-earth experience of authentic affection and love. Historically true or not, the extrordinary historic personality of prince Wang So is painted in an impressively tangible, comprehensible way.

------------------- SIDE NOTE --- Trading at the time ---
An aspect of historical detail that's (in general rarely) brought into focus in "Shine or Go Crazy", too, is the importance of thriving international trade at the end of the first millennium. Throughout Korean history, life on the peninsula (not only, but also in KDrama) is rather isolated and self-centered. In this story, at least, business relationships with the immediate neighbors and with the rest of the world are given some space, at least to some extent.

-------------------- SIDE NOTE --- Balhae / Late Balhae
Also rarely a topic in the focus of KDrama is the Korean history BEFORE Goryeo - the time of the three kingdoms Silla, Goguryeo and Baekje. In "Shine or Go Crazy," the female protagonist is a princess from the Late Balhae Kingdom in what is now Manchuria. This dates back to one of five kingdoms that in 37 BC united to form the kingdom of Goguryeo. The first Goryeo King Wang Geon (posthumously Taejo) at his time attempted to reconquer the former territories of the original Goguryeo Empire and thus set his kingdom on proven, solid ground. Balhae being one of them, had previously fallen victim to the Para-Mongolian Kitan. Some (many) Koreans from ancient Goguryeo, who formed the ruling Balhaen elite, escaped to Goryeo - with the crown prince, the nobles and parts of the population. The female lead is set in this context (and also personally associated with an alarming (fictitious) prophecy regarding the future of her people.)

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Back to the (love) story between the 4th son of Goryeo King Wang Geon and the Balhaean princess, who is an independent prosperous business woman.

In proven KDrama style, there are subplots with their own stories and characters with their own motives, who courageously get involved in the (love) life of Prince Wang So. The political stage is intransigently characterized by malevolent power intrigues. There aren´t any scruples anywhere. Upright people hardly exist, loyalty and dependence being mixed up and confused. There's a lot of bad stuff going on everywhere. It gets pretty ´toxic´, too.

Set in this context is the affectionately and also humourously told relationship of young prince Wang So with a smart, proficient, quite self-confident lady in a double role in disguise as young man. These encounters inspire and enhance Wang So´s pragmatic world view. The dynamic between them is fun to watch - with wit and charm, since his queen of hearts is sometimes hidden behind a veil and sometimes in men's clothes. At times, Wang So has to seriously doubt his gender orientation (... not that this would have deterred him...).

Ah. Yes. The ending... Reviews I had read often blamed the ending. I was ready for the worst. Probably that was a good thing. Like that I was pleasantly surprised as I had expected even worse. In fact, whether I liked it or not, the ending made quite a lot of sense to me. (After all, this is about a historical character - the prince becomes king and has an archetypal task that is greater than himself - during his reign, Gwangjong sets the course for future generations.) Nevertheless, KDrama land even got us a little candy at the very end, too.

My criticism, however, refers to the soundtrack! Unfortunately, this is the first time I definitely have to complain! Shallow songs can have their time, I don´t mind. But in this case (at least in my acustic sound system) as soon as romantic vibes gently started to develop, an inappropriately dull, meaningless song (in my perception) acustically dominated the scene and thus insensitively destroyed each and every moment (again and again). A real shame! (I would like to hope, that this was just due to my technical device...)

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Why is it that TV & film writers feel the need to make drastic changes to the source material whose popularity provided the reason to make the drama? I'm talking major PLOT changes - especially endings! Which brings us to this drama.
I enjoyed the beginnings - quirky, good cast, interesting storyline, et al. I found that as the story progressed it did somewhat lose track of the beginnings, but not terribly, and the main love affair kept on track very nicely. It differed enough from the real history of this king that I didn't worry about the kids (shown in the first episode) too much & just wondered about the resolution.
Well. What resolution, I ask myself after finishing this? What happened? How? I don't know. I highly suggest one NOT watch the last 10 minutes of the final episode. Make up your own ending & watch the credits roll. Go read the book, which has a satisfying, logical ending. Don't expect to have any questions answered by this sageuk :(

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OMG...just skip everything and only watch the romance between the leads and even then you should stop watching at:40:15 of the last episode. This writer just ticked me off with that ending. I lowered the score 1 point for it alone. The rest of the story is just political and the other characters are stupid and annoying (well, except Shin Yool's people). I think the plot of the story is interesting. It is the writers execution of the plot that is the problem. It is like the writer wasn't sure where the story should go and had a hard time incorporating all the story lines so that it was smooth. Also, character development and change are common, but somewhere around episode 20 some of the characters changed to the point that it wasn't believable. Although, I guess love can make you do strange things. Also, the writer totally wasted a character. I was so mad that I almost gave this drama a 1. One thing the writer got right was the last "fight". It was the one thing the writer kept true to the story line and to Wang So's character.

This drama has some over acting from all the actors, but I think that they were directed to act that way. Other wise why would they all be overly dramatic? Then there are some well acted parts like diamonds in the rough.

I am a Jang Hyuk fan and I believe he gave the performance that was expected of him as Prince Wang So. Regardless of the directing he is still handsome, funny, serious, and sincere as needed. A lot of people say that Oh Yeon Seo has had too much plastic surgery. Maybe she has, but it seems that she has no problem expressing her emotions and I enjoyed her character as Shin Yool. That is where it stops. Lee Ha Nui as Yeo Won was just too wooden and even when she cried it seemed insincere. Her back story make since as to why the character would be cold, etc, but there is a difference between that and Pinocchio. Im Joo Hwan failed miserably as Wang Wook. His acting was really bad and he mostly looked like he was in drag. He is no rival to Jang Hyuk that is for sure.

There is some music that I liked.

I will never ever rewatch this.

I do not recommend this to anyone. Not even sageuk lovers.

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The beginning of this like so many was AMAZING. I loved it starting as a "tall tale". The characters and the actor were solid choices and I almost could not get enough of the show. It was fun, and cute with just enough fantasy thrown in, and it carried its self so well until nearly the end.

Personally I think the trouble started in the last 2 episodes. There was so much talking and no action. So much of this "is she; isn't she" filler and then in the last episode just NOTHING. I wanted to throw things I was so disappointed. It makes no sense as to why you would spend all this time building a love story and then in the end you cant even see the love? I mean were those his kids? her kids? together? or separate partners? and why does he look so upset in the end. Not to mention almost every other character is completely forgotten about in the last episode. I mean what happens to them?

I was so let down in the remaining 2 episodes that I wouldn't even suggest this drama to others.

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Noteworthy: Romance

Story: Oof that ending. Can't believe they just did THAT. LIKE are you seriously going to do that??? IT WAS SO GOOD ALL ALONG. I really liked this drama until the last episode. Yikes. They ruined a perfectly great drama with that ending... The only thing worth watching was the romance and the story in the beginning; solid 8/10 for me.

Acting/Cast: Shin Yool, Wang So, Princess were all wonderful. The Prince that loved Shin Yool was an ok actor but the main cast blew this drama OFF.

Music: I like ballads!

Rewatch Value: Hmm... debatable...

Overall: I loved this drama but that ending was unforgivable. I recommend this drama for the romance and the story in the beginning. Save your sanity by skipping the ending please.

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My review has some spoilers.

Shine or go crazy had an amazing potential and a solid good start. It has a very good cast, but especially two amazing actors: Lee Duk Hwa and Jang Hyuk But the drama kind of got ruined by some seriously flowed plots, script and bad directing. I was not happy with the acting either.

Personally I’m a bit disappointed with this drama, since it’s not meant to strictly follow historical facts why not please the audience with a feel good ending? Also, so very few likable characters to the point that I started to dislike even the main characters.

Anyway, the drama didn’t bore me, but I ended up watching without excitement or anticipation. For instance there were too many occasions where the hero Wang So was turned into a puppet. Also, Wang So had this incredible conviction that his brother the king had this great potential to rule the nation. Now, it’s okay to believe that since Wang So had to live in exile from an early age and he didn’t really know his brother that well. But there is a time when you realize that your brother is indeed a loser. Change strategy. Because you see 90% of this drama is about protecting this very inept King.

The gender bender was okay at the beginning. It made sense because you have a business woman dressing up to protect herself while she does some business in a man’s world. But then, why dragging it for so long? It didn’t improve the story, or made it more exciting.

The love story between the second leads…Omg kill me softly. You have a true vicious woman here. So be prepared.

There were too many useless sacrifices from lovers…etc.

Will I re-watch this drama again? I don’t think so, but I'll give a 6 because after all this drama has . entertained me.

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This Drama Shines

Story
I have seen three versions of Wang So played out and I must say this one played by Jang Hyuk stood out the best. But then again, every role he plays, he does them so well. As I am familiar with the real history of King Wang So, I am glad that this drama did not go too heavy on the politics. I was actually planning to just scan over the drama to see Jang Hyuk, but the way the whole drama was directed and the good acting, it kept me interested enough to watch the drama throughout. To see how Wang So, the outcast Prince grow from strength to strength to become the fourth King of Goryeo was really enjoyable to watch, especially when he did not even plan to be a King in the first place. As for the love interest, I was already expecting a not the ideal happy ending as in other dramas of Wang So, they always put this fantasized love interest which in the end did not end up with him but meet in the afterlife. In reality, Wang So had 3 consorts. His 1st wife (who is his half sibling as the king had many wives), 2nd wife is his half elder brother daughter and the 3rd is a Royal Noble Consort (one of the rich noble clans).

Acting
The overall casting is good and each character had their own fair bit of opportunity to show themselves. None of the characters frustrated me in this drama. As the leads are important, Jang Hyuk (Prince Wang So) and Oh Yeon Seo (Princess Shin Yool/Gaebong) performed well together. It was good to see the relationship between the two of them going through all their ups and down. It is refreshing to see that the female lead did not overdo the 'hard-to-get' part. I enjoyed watching the chemistry between the two characters. They are pretty good together and leaves us wanting more from them at every episode.

Music
Not too bad. Takes us through the motions quite comfortably but songs not outstanding enough to remember.

Re-Watch
Yes for sure to see Jang Hyuk! Lots of comfortable hugging and kisses and keeps you warm and happy!

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this review contains a little bit spoilers at the end!!!

I do recommend the drama to people who like oh yeon seo, Lee Honey, Jang hyuk(or charismatic actors), who like logical political strategies. who like fighting scenes, who like historical dramas, romance, who like gender bender! If you like only happy endings (like me), if you hate rushed endings, bad endings and everything concerned with endings then hmmm more than telling you I don't recommend, I'd rather say be warned and prepare that the ending is bad. It's mosntly the last 20 minutes of the last episode i think. When you think about it, they actually do show some kind of "happy ending" but I didn't find it happy.

intro:
I watched this drama for Jang Hyuk, as I fell in love with him after Chuno (Slave hunters). I also watched this drama a long time ago so i don't remember it quite well. I just wrote a review for it on another website before so I wanted to move that review here. I have also watched this drama long before the Scarlet hearts.

Acting/Cast:
Well, acting in this drama is top notch! Jang Hyuk never disappoints. He is amazing actor and Oh Yeon Seo also did a great job as a female lead. Other actors were also great! I think Jang Hyuk really suits historical dramas! I totally like the way he talks, his beard, and long hair. He is amazing!! <3

Music and cinematography:
Music was okay, nothing that was left in my memory, but nothing bad that can keep one away from watching. It was normal. The cinematography is also normal, i included it just because the Scarlet Hearts which depicts the same period has an incredible cinematography! this one is normal, nothing fancy, but nothing bad either.

Characters:
As acting was great characters could really stand out! I really really like this version of Wang So. He is cool, strong, active, funny, with a scar in his heart from his childhood and all, as he is an exiled prince, but still he doesn't have inferiority complex because of that. Anyway I totally liked his version of Wang So much much much better than the one in Scarlet Hearts. Maybe because I love Jang Hyuk. He played the king as a beggar very well, at first you watch and think he is really a peasant or street gangster and all, but then later you slowly start to think that this guy is suited to be a king! that is is the True King of this nation!! (I didn't get that feeling from Scarlet hearts unfortunately, maybe because i'm biased :) apologies to scarlet hearts' fans^^)
among characters i can't leave out the women in this drama. Great female characters! very strong and not losing not men with their thoughts and strategies. Very smart! The female lead is a real business lady and the second female lead is a real politician.
I kinda like that there is no overwhelming amount of beautiful princes dying one after another. Though the real story was like that I think.

Story:
The whole idea of the story is awesome! If you have watched Scarlet hearts you will now that Wang So was an exiled prince who later is meant to become a king. Here the prophecies sound somehow more interesting for me. The male lead is a prince that was exiled because of the prophecy which foretells that he will turn the country into a river of blood. And the female lead is a princess of Balhea who nearly escaped death from her own people because of another prophecy which foretells that she will become a light of another country! The royal fortune teller tells the king that his son's curse can stop and he can become the greatest king despite the prophecy he he meets/marries a light! a woman that is born under a certain star. Unfortunately that woman is not our female lead as no one knows about her real self. I also enjoyed the gender bender here!
Other than those beautiful prophecies i totally liked that this drama is very very smart! sometimes you watch a drama and die to tell all the characters do or not to do something. Well in this drama people can take one information combine it with another and get a new answer which helps them build their moves! They are all smart and strong and I liked it a lot. the story goes on really well but then suddenly "Poof!!" and everything disappears ><

a little bit SPOLERS ahead.

What I didn't like and biggest flow of this drama:
one is that from the middle, near the end of the drama, the girl starts to cry a lot and i don't quite like it. Second is, as many people already told, it's of course the ending! it ruined the whole drama for me and for many i think. I can understand why the leads can't stay together. The female lead is a strong business woman she wouldn't be able to live happily as a royal concubine, closed inside the palace walls. I understand it, but still the ending was rushed and not well made. It seems as they just tried to wrap it up very quickly without thinking through it well. so the minus 2 points is for the ending.

The overall score for me is 8.5. It would have been 10 if not for the ending. And it would have been 3 if not the great plot (+jang hyuk) before the ending.

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Couldn't shine, remained mad and crazy!

Ignore the ending, the prologue itself was appalling and distasteful enough to eliminate my expectations despite the drama having Jang Hyuk on deck. Speaking of which, once again, Jang Hyuk is playing the same character from The Slave Hunters (2010), if you've seen that one then you know what's up. Characters, while initially intriguing, suffered from inconsistent development. The pacing felt uneven, with moments of rushed storytelling followed by prolonged and uneventful sequences, disrupting the overall momentum of the show. The whole poison plot was painful to tolerate and sit through. The story was so terrible it just kept getting worse with every episode. The last 4 episodes in particular were poorly planed, marking them as the worst part of the drama. Once again, Jang Hyuk wasn't enough to save this drama although he was the only highlight.

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This is the first time in my life, I watched joseon dynasty drama, TBH! IT IS WORTH IT! I'm not even skip a single one episode. I'VE WATCHED ALL OF THEM!!!... (i'm screaming while typing caps lock word lmao) I'm proud of myself,lol. Anyway, the story was GREAT i'm not even kidding. Cast? Don't ask,they were SUPER GREAT!! It feels like all of the actor/actress match their character in this drama. It's suit them really well... But, I have a little disappointment for this drama. THE ENDING... for the first sec in the last episode i was so excited, I keep watching it until it was almost done, then i stopped. I don't understand, why the writer have to kill the stories like that? It feels the story doesn't make me relieve, that's why I don't have energy to watch it again sometimes :( I'm sorry, but I LOVE JANGHYUK SO SO SO SO MUCHHH. I watch this because of him in the first place...

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The drama itself is not perfect. The set design is artificial, the wigs look bizarre and some of the monologues are pompous. Nonetheless, I give this drama a 10/10, because for me it was a beautiful story that brilliantly showed the journey and inner transformation of not only the main character, but also many, many others. Jang Hyuk came off very artificial in some scenes, especially with his characteristic laughter, but for me it suited Wang So's character perfectly. For that, in the fight scenes, or on the back of a horse, he looked completely natural and convincing. On top of that, the drama has a lot of beautiful scenes that are memorable for a long time. Is it worth watching again? Definitely yes. I've already seen it three times and for me it's still 10/10. I love this drama mainly for the emotional impact it makes on me every time.

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