Rookie Historian Goo Hae Ryung (2019)

Minister Min is hot lol

Now in all seriousness Rookie Historian is a lovely kdrama. I remember while recommending it to others that I mentioned how I loved that it was historical and the costumes were beautiful! The element of an ongoing mystery with the banned books and the prince's nightmares was a great element well. I also made a point of appreciating the feminism and girl power! Goo Hae-ryung is differentfrom some female leads I've seen in dramas and tv shows that constantly need help/ are damsels in distress. I loved that our female lead is strong willed and willing to fight for what she believes in! ^_^ Prince Dowon was a nice male lead, I enjoyed his interactions with Goo Hae-ryung! The supporting cast were loveable as well, like the fellow historians hehe. Also Dowon's attendants were hilarious. Plus minister Min <3 <3 Anyway I was sad to see it end, but it got me back into watching kdramas.

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Good chemistry, one loud Eunuch! (Not much of a spoiler inside;))

To sum this up, it's a tale about contradictions between parents & their children, the innocents lost in an attempt to pursue progression and the love found in the process.

Hae Ryung!!! I love this girl!! I'm right there with her, *sigh* village spinster/maiden for life with books all around <3 but we can't have that, now can we? And the prince, Jin Yi Rim, is just too beautiful & cute not to stare at! haha and fall in love with. Yi Rim is like Cinderella and is so sweetly innocent, pure hearted, it saddens me when the only person he knows as his father shows him little regard and strips him of his joys.

Now an interlude, why's she's interested in the prince... "She needed someone she could throw at the tiger so she could runaway..." XD

This is soo fun & funny!! Love it, sound effects and all XD <3 Definitely worth watching

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One of my favourite korean dramas of 2019.

At first I watched this for Shin Se Kyung, one of my favourite actresses. I didn't know very much about Cha Eun Woo. I only knew he was in Astro. But now I must recognize I fell in love with him. He is cute, handsome, and the most important thing is that HE ACTS VERY WELL. I was really surprised at his acting skills. Not so many idols can acts this well. Cha Eun Woo is as good as IU and Do Kyung Soo. And now let's talk about the story. The plot is so different than any others historical kdramas. The all drama is about historians and the female isn't marrying the King. Strange right?! Only a few historical dramas has this kind of scenario like Hwarang and Flower Crew. After all, Rookie Historian is worth watching. Imma give it a 10. You need to watch it

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Best couple pairing award

A little late to the party for this review, but since I have rewatched this before Cha Eun woo's next Kdrama series True beauty starts, I figured adding a review/notefor one of my favorite drama pairings is the least that I could do

This pairing is up there for me along side the likes of deng lun and yang zi in ashes of love, xu kai and bai lu in the legends, yang yang and zheng shuang in love o2o.

Been taking note of Cha Eun woo since ID gangnam beauty, but in this series for this pairing it really caught my attention. Thou Shin Se-kyung does look older than Cha Eun woo, but its also what makes it work as she is assertive, bold, matured and direct in her approach.

Storyline and plot moves along fine and I have watched it more than once, the visuals are really captivating to me, and the OST are great too.

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Historical Drama with a Relatable FL and Gender Role Reversal ML

Okay, so there are already a lot of reviews of this drama but I will try to talk about things that others may not have discussed and that were standout moments for me.

The FL from the beginning was super relatable and likable. She does not want to marry. She is older than the rest of the girls and hasn't been married off...this is really frowned upon but she doesn't want her freedoms to be constrained. While I love a romantic novel she hates them because she is a logical person with a curious mind. For someone who enjoys character-driven dramas I feel this drama was really enjoyable to watch because the protagonist is a smart, strong-willed, diligent, funny, and relatable. This was important to me because there are many kdramas where I do not really like the females, as in I feel they're written one-dimensionally or without substance so this was a stand out for me.

I thought the ML's acting was a little off the mark in the beginning but as I continued to watch he made the role his own and I fell in love with him. In fact, both the leads were lovable. You root for them and when they get their happy ending you are filled with such happiness.

I didn't used to like historical dramas but recently I have watched a few that made me change my mind. Historical dramas don't have to be slow-paced and boring. They can be fun to watch!

I didn't give this a full 10/10 because I felt like there were some things in the plot that did not receive proper closure. For instance, I wish the crown prince and prince Dowon had a moment where they reconciled and shared a more profound bonding moment.

Also, I wished the FL could have had more developed female friendships. I wish the FL could have talked with another female about how limiting the social roles were.

They could have also shocked the grandmother by telling her about how prince Dowon and a historian were really in love. I just felt there were some moments that could have been better utilized. Also, the eunuch is often like a father to prince Dowon and they could have had at least one conversation about what he means to prince Dowon who has been neglected by the man he called father.

Okay, regarding the gender role reversal I am referring to how the show hinted that prince Dowon is like Rapunzel. He's trapped in his castle and can't leave. He is the one who often has to depend on the FL to save him and she does so. I found this really charming and made the story feel so light at times.

Overall, this is a wonderful drama that could have been explored more but that is definitely worth watching and warms the heart.

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Not so historical, not a great romance

It's a fair distraction to kill some time, though a bit boring in some political parts. Could easily have 16 episodes (one hour each).

Historically there's a lot of flaws, if you care about it, don't watch. Is a good story if you want to watch some totally made up plot to emphasize the need of records managing, and the struggles it may brings.

About romance, if you want some sweet fluffy romance that makes you sigh, is not the case. A little bit of romance and comedy, the right amount if you don't want to feel depressed cause you're single.

Eun Woo character was too comical at beginning, and at some point it was a little bit annoying. I think Se Kyung is very pretty but her romantic scenes always make me disappointed, really seems like Eun Woo was kissing a door.

Crown Prince and officer Min got my attention, nice acting.

Overall, not a really great story, some clichés, some loose ends, but it's decent. But they try to make it less sexist, and in a historical scenario it doesn't fit very well.

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One of the best historical Kdramas I've ever watched!

I started watching this drama while having low expectations honestly, I saw Cha Eun Woo as the ML and so I decided to give it a chance, but wasn't sure how it will turn out since his acting in his previous works (I mean ones before True Beauty and Island) weren't that good. But his character's personality was pretty close to his one in Island so he done great actually, he is improving clearly, and I liked his spoiled, adorable, and meschivous prince character. He looked flawless and stunning in the traditional style.

FL was very likeable too and had a real personality, she is brave, smart, logical, funny, honest, hard working, fair, and strong mentally, not just your typical dense damsel in distress or annoying rude bitch. Yes, she gets in trouble and the guys do try to help her, but still she also make accomplishments and help them back. She also didn't have her whole life revolved around ML, she truly cared about her passions/career as well. Actress is cute and her acting was good. Their chemistry was pretty good as well.

I highly enjoyed the romance between them, it was healthy, fluffy, cute, chill, realistic, straightforward, and simple without too much angst, stupid misunderstandings, and zero toxicity. They are now added to my top straight couples list.
Her older brother was sweet, I enjoyed their relationship.

Plot was pretty good, it has some nice political issues that kept me focused, without feeling bored not even once, a perfect balance of comedy/romance moments and the serious/dark moments, and surprisingly it didn't get draggy nor overcomplicated and dramatic although it has 20 episodes (40 episodes if watched in 30 minutes duration version).

Loved the relationship between the ML and his older brother, they had such heartwarming and unfazed bromance, and the crown prince totally deserved to be the king instead of their shit father. They both grew up as good men although the king is messed up.
The supposed 2nd ML (Historian officer Min) was also a decent and respectable guy.

The ML's servant eunuch was funny, loved the way he acted around the prince, he sometimes acted like his friend, while other times as his humorous and energetic grandfather. The price would turn up all cold and depressed probably if it wasn't for the eunuch and his brother. The two servant girls of the prince were also cute, even though they barely had lines.

The leader of the historians (Officer Yang) was annoying as hell at first, I mean yeah most of them were misogynic as hell (Which isn't surprising considering the era), but damn I wanted to slap him at times. Surprisingly he later became among my top characters, and I couldn't help but laugh whenever he appeared. The male historians overall became likeable when they stopped being too mean to the girls and started viewed them as equals.

The budget, outfits, hairstyles, make up, filming sets all looked quite beautiful (Especially the outfits of prince Dowon, I especially loved that dark purple outfit and the pink and blue outfit with the hat that has a green peacock feather, beads, and red ribbon he wore when he went to the plague filled village. The color pink fits perfectly with Cha Eun Woo, he looks majestic with it, and for the first time I thought a guy looked hot while wearing that type of lame looking hat), the OSTS were good, and I ended up binge watching the drama in few days and enjoyed it quite a lot. Every episode was better than the previous.

They also showed girl power/feminism in the plot in a good way (Unlike the one shown in Love To Hate You for example in which the women and men just existed to bash and hate on each other), in this drama they did show that women can be capable, ambitious, hard working, and brave just like any man if they are given the opportunity to use their talents properly, yes they face misogyny and harassment, they struggle to have equal rights and find themselves constantly controlled by unfair men, traditions, and laws but:

1- Not all the men are awful. Some like the crown prince, that chief of the military, the dethroned king (Who was the true supporter of equal rights no matter their gender or status), officer Min, prince Dowon...etc are pretty decent guys. They didn't try so hard to make everyone a scum. And the rude male historians started changing when they realized that the girls aren't as incompetent and stupid as they believed at start.
The men like the princes also struggle to be free and have to follow the royal rules, the can't even easily be with the women they love nor do what they want all the time. So in a way both genders face issues.

2- Mostly the girls had a very healthy relationship with each other, I thought the girls historians would hate on each other for some lame reason like over men, but nope, they helped ad liked each other. Even the queen dowager (Whom wasn't at fault, her on was wrongfully killed and had his reputation ruined, then his son was treated like shit), that doctor woman, crown princess, and few others were good women. Not sly, envious, slutty, and calculating. They also didn't need to be tomboyish or act vulgar to be considered strong or anything (Since many shows make it seem as if a strong woman is the one who tries to act as much as possible as men, all violent, or literally crossdress, while being girly and physically non tough makes her weak). The FL managed to use her words, brain, and actions to make everyone admire her and admit her ability to make a difference, including the king himself.

3- Like I said before the romance between main leads was pretty healthy, not that much cringe moments, no abusive ML with toxic masculinity. He can be soft, a coward, insecure, clingy, childish, naïve, awfully innocent, kind hearted, and romantic, not just a hero/knight in shining armor wannabe type. I liked that FL was the bold one in the relationship, and even was the one who would constantly kiss and hit on ML without hesitation instead of acting overly coy forever. Both of them supported and helped each other equally.
They had a big age gap with FL being the older one, and although I'm really not into age gaps that are more than 2-4 years, I didn't even care about it in this drama cause I simply loved them together.

The historians job, although important clearly, is still very boring, like imagine spending your days writing all day long about every fucking thing and breathe the royal family takes/does. Even writing about what they eat and them taking a dump lol The royal family as well always have to spend their days being watched by someone who stares at them as a hawk and writes about everything they do, like having CCTV everywhere in your house, it's horrifying! Lmao

The main villain (Officer Min's father) was well written, he wasn't your typical overly greedy and cartoonish type of evil who laughs loudly and tell his evil plans to everyone, he was actually very scheming, creepy, and had a pure selfishness about him that I liked, kind of a psychopath who didn't seem to have emotions nor care about anyone including his family, he was a total jerk who believed he was completely right till the end, but a good written one which made the plot even better.

The only thing that bothered me about the romance is that the FL kept saying she doesn't want to just be a wife and stay locked in her house serving her husband according to what I got, and I do understand that logic fully, being a housewife isn't bad or anything, but not wanting to be one is also not a bad thing. Still if the FL knew that was her goal since the start then why she fell for the prince and became his secret lover?! She gave him hope and made him get all obsessed with her like a child (Which makes sense since he is very young and was sheltered since birth so of course he will be naïve and reckless and will fall in love pretty quick), didn't she know it could end up with them marrying and her having to play the housewife role?? That part kinda upset me. Also the kiss scenes weren't as romantic as I hoped them to be, they weren't literally bad, but not great either.

The ending was logical and satisfying, it's refreshing seeing a historical drama filled with rightful people including most of the royal family. I like that in the end the leads became official lovers without even bothering to marry, the gender roles went out the window with FL going to do her job early in morning while ML stays home and waits for her (Unless he has to go on a trip to find inspiration to write on his books) while trying to come up with ways to look hot and romantic and seduce her lmao. It was basically a historical drama with a modern mindset and vibe.

Anyway what started as a drama that I had zero expectations for, ended up in my favorite historical & Korean dramas lists, and with a 10/10 rating, and I although I'm not into rewatching stuff, I wouldn't mind rewatching it someday in future. Especially the romance moments between leads.

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Stand your ground

In "Rookie historian," we meet Goo Hae Ryung (Shin Sae Kyeong), a young noblewoman who stood by her principles. This is my first drama series with Shin Sae Kyeong. I have to say I was pleased with her acting. Maybe because out of 64 dramas, historical dramas are only 17% of my viewing genre. (so far) Turns out, most of her appearances are in that genre.

It's not that I don't like historicals, I've seen several entertaining ones. I watch stuff based on my mood. Well, it was that time again and I chose "Rookie Historian Goo Hae Ryung" from 2019 while I'm playing catch up.

In terms of Goo Hae Ryung's character, I liked that she is intelligent, ambitious, and fundamentally and respectfully unwavering on her beliefs. Even when her life was at risk. She gained my respect when she stood her ground while speaking to Crown Prince Yi Jin. Ultimately, she becomes a historian as a result of her principles and a little luck. Despite facing numerous challenges, she remains determined and resilient throughout the series.

Goo Hae Ryung faces various challenges while navigating her new identity. After pleading and gaining freedom from an arranged marriage, she becomes entangled in political conflicts and a web of love, friendship, and loyalty. The series also explores themes of gender equality and education pursuit during a time when women's educational opportunities were limited. She wasn't totally alone on her journey. Officer Min Won was a fellow male historian. He gradually develops respect for her and becomes a supportive ally despite his initial mistrust. A total of 3 other female historians have been selected as well. Together, they initially faced trials. Finally, there was...

Prince Dowon. For at least 20 years, the handsome prince lived in seclusion on palace grounds. As events unfold, we learn this wasn't exactly a choice. The guy is mild mannered, charismatic, and respectful despite being sheltered. In reality, he's mentored/raised by Enuch Sam Bo, who's a comic relief when the drama gets tense. Entering Goo Ryung's life seemed the right thing for them both.

The slow burns between the main leads are what I love most. Characters are grounded in the story's context. Your heart goes out to them. You know if they just get together based on the story, the characters you care about will be happier AND the story will evolve. Having the courage to do what's right and stand up for yourself, the courage to love and document things as an historian to help not just yourself but your country. It's a slow burn of love, nothing forced. I don't think the first kiss happened until episode 10. ** (It says 40 episodes but on Netflix its 20. In Korea I believe it was 40 -1/2 hour episodes. )**

In "Rookie Historian Goo Hae Ryung," we learn about the challenges faced by women during the Joseon Dynasty, as well as the power of resilience, determination, and the pursuit of knowledge. How foreigners were viewed, how the government viewed them, and Catholicism. My interest in the series grew even more in that time period as I watched it with its compelling plot, well-developed supporting cast, and thought-provoking themes.

**As always, watching any historical show for entertainment, not as an educational documentary is my rule. Honestly, if I want to know more accurate facts, I'll just research.

I wasn't a fan of the "King" and the second state councillor. I also had a small issue with the way the series wrapped up quickly by time jumping without a clear explanation of events. Not a deal-breaker. I enjoyed the series overall and will watch Shin Sae Kyeong's work in the future.

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Seriously, Cha Eunwoo was made for royalty/rich guy roles. But Sung Ji-ru in this drama is no joke as well being a veteran actor that he is. I mean the master-servant relationship between Dowon and Sambo is so refreshing to watch. Also, I live for character development. At first every character feels light and has an aura that of a child but as the story starts to progress, you can see the character's development from Dowon, to the Crown Prince, to Hae-ryung, to each Historian. The story is a bit similar to other traditional dramas but it brings in a special flare with the witty sides and the incredible acting plus the story revolved around principles of being a Historian during the Joseon era.

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