Golden Spirit: Joseon Marriage Prohibition (2022)

CROWN PRICE ALWAYS GET THE GIRL

I don't like the story line, in my opinion, it's stupid and dragging. A man with status of King couldn't get over the dead wife was the most idiot, not to mention he couldn't function to do his responsibilities and job as a King because of matter of heart. I want to slap his face and shout 'get hold of yourself.' It's fine when assuming the wife might get murdered and looking who's the culprit, it's ok to mourn the beloved wife and kept her in memory, it's personal choice if he wanted a Shaman to reach death world. I just couldn't understand the dragging of story to nowhere..on and on for harboring feeling after 7 years sorrow. Someone needs to tell him to 'get a grip' and give him some reality check. Well....looking forward for better story in future episodes.

The plot that I like was the 2nd ML was legally engaged 7 years before the ban edict. They had mutual feeling of their marriage arrangement and their relationship as friends were blooming after the fact. While the King was muddle-head over a dead woman...and any matters about Kingdom was ignored...only about tiring feeling and sadness. The dead queen was a boring woman too...both actors had weepy expression on their faces, teary eyes with glossy make up (BOTH OF THEM). You know what they said about Crown Prince has always get the girl. No matter 2nd ML engaged to the girl, she picked the Crown Prince instead of him - a humble minister's son but not too worry - Crown Prince's sister choose him (convenience wasn't it) well....

There's similar drama 'Blooming Youth' on air that has the exact plots. Not hoping to finish the series.

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Its been awhile since I laughed so much, its funny like Alchemy of souls SEASON 1
The actors are all doing a very good job, I remember the main actress from a kdrama called “Memories” (or something like that) her acting is outstanding even this in that kdrama she wasn'ta main lead, hopefully I will see her more and more on the big screen, and I hope this kdrama does well both South Korea and all over the wolrd.
Been sleeping late because of surving, and
The story is not too complicated easy to follow, there are sad moments and funny moments
I’m very glad I decided to start this kdrama, its a GEM ?
Please do give it a shot!

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Idol drama. Nothing more, nothing less.

I was so disappointed by this. I really love period dramas (sageuk), but perhaps I had the wrong expectation. I really shouldn't expect too much of 12 episodes. I really wanted to love it - I love both the leads. The plot elements could have been fantastic together: there was a underhanded scheme going on with a mystery. There was a super clever maid. There was a sad king. There was cutesy chemistry between the two leads. There was a second lead romance. There was a brave sidekick. There were hilarious sidekicks. The first few episodes were funny.

Don't get me wrong, I can and do appreciate well crafted sageuk not based on history e.g. Red Sleeve Cuff, Rooftop Prince, and most recently, Bloody Heart.

However, this was an idol drama; nothing more, nothing less. This was a fantastical (ie I'm being sacarstic and rolling my eyes) drama.

The story suddenly introduces new characters and new plot points in the final few episodes.

SPOILERS
She survives attempts to kill her, jail her, etc etc so easily.
She SUDDENLY became eligible to be queen due to her newfound eligible heritage. (not previously mentioned)
The sidekick who was poisoned and his hand whitered away yet SUDDENLY and MIRACULOUSLY he survived and his hand heals.
She was SUDDENLY saved by someone who would become a key ally, in the last 4 episodes. We hadn't seen this person previously.
END SPOILER

I'm going to attribute this to the fact that there were only 12 episodes. No self-respecting sageuk can unfold over just 12 episodes. The writers didn't weave in a backstory (probably not enough episodes to). They simply threw assumed facts in your face to solve key plot points.

My only plus point: precisely because it was only 12 episodes, my pain wasn't prolonged.

In short, have the correct expectations when starting to watch this. Watch it because it's entertaining if viewed from a modern lens, like a fantasy drama. Do not expect an intelligent, authentic, sageuk experience.

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wonderful !

it s a beautiful series ! the casting is great ! the chemistry between the FL and ML is awesome ! The plot itself is nice and well built ! The costumes are beautiful, we have a bath scenery, and there is a happy ending ! I watched it 3 times !
Kim Young Dae is doing an incredible job here, he has a very difficult character to play, first sick and not far from crazy, then starting to be in love and asking help, to end lucid and completely in love ! Episode 9 is the turning point to me with a beautiful and mature romance and probably the moments i enjoyed the most in the drama.

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Not as good as I wanted it to be...

I chose to watch it because I was bored and I could't find antything interesting, so I didn't have a big expectations for this kdrama. However, by the cast I thought that it actually might be really good but I am kind of disappointed. Generally the idea for the story is quite good, but unfortunately I was often bored by the episodes. This show was cute, funny and made me laugh yet there were also a lot of moments that made me cringe as well.

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A Fairly Lighthearted Romp

I'm deliberately avoiding going into much detail because I don't want to ruin this for anyone. ;)

This was one of the shows that I was really looking forward to being released this year. I hadn't read the manhwa/webtoon before watching it so I didn't have any expectations of what the story was supposed to be like. After watching it I'll say that it makes me feel like it's a not-too-distant-relative of My Only Love Song. Like MOLS The Forbidden Marriage isn't strict on historical accuracy or realism. That's Ok with me, since it's really a fantasy more than anything else.

The story can be boiled down to this: Depressed King gets conned by "Commoner", they fall in love and then have to overcome the trials and roadblocks that get thrown in the way etc.

It's not the most original combination of plot ideas but they work together to tell an entertaining story.
It hits the points of having competent actors/esses, good sets, and clear cinematography. To be completely honest the supporting cast characters are quite engaging and I'm glad that they got a fair amount of screen time/plot time.

There is a lot of romance going around (almost all of it is telegraphed early on so there are no surprises about who ends up paired off).

The "Villains" of the piece are meh.
I'll agree that they do work (albeit not near as well as they could have with a little more exposition of the WHYs of their motivations). I'm not sure if this is a byproduct of the 12 episode format (which if it had gone to 16 would surely have given the writers enough time to actually make their motivations have some teeth!) Or if they'd been given the extra episodes they'd have wasted them...

As someone who really enjoys the meat of political scheming that you often find in sageuks, I can say this is definitely lightweight--verging on featherweight--as far as that goes. It's very common in sageuks that there are murders, poisonings, and bent Ministers who want to control the dynasty or at the very least the King. But somehow, even with those elements in The Forbidden Marriage it still manages to keep the floaty, fairly up-beat tone for the series.

Would I watch it again?
Yes.

Should YOU watch it?
Yes. Just bear in mind it's a bit of fluff. Enjoyable, but probably not something that's going to burn itself into your heart.

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An Obsessive Grieving King, a Lying Maid and a Dedicated Friend-Zoned Bodyguard

I agree with the other reviewer about not liking the storyline and where it's heading... I started off liking this and now, by Ep 6, I'm not. It's beginning to feel draggy and repetitive.

(Spoilers ahead):

I get it, the ML, (the King), and FL, (So Rang), are "supposed" to get together but it really sucks when you have a really good SML, (Shin Won). One of the worst love triangles of an FL being put between two best friends.

In the first episode, you know that the King and Shin Won, are like best friends and that the King mentions that of all people, Shin Won understands him best... meaning that Shin Won knows what it's like to lose someone precious.

The SML, Shin Won has been looking for the FL for seven years. He actually became a chief inspector just so it would be advantageous for him to aid in his search to find her and then fatefully, he finally meets her again only to lose her to his best friend, the King. WTF kind of BS writing is that? He fell in love with her before officially meeting her and he was the only one who truly cared that she was missing. Dude had been searching for her for seven years... a woman he never officially met but yet he was dedicated and and remained faithful to their engagement all this time. When he finally meets her under a new name, he soon discovers she was his betrothed. He doesn't let her know that he knows who she really is because he somehow senses that keeping her real identity a secret protects her. Soon after, she realizes as well that he was her fiancé and she doesn't say anything either. So now both of them know that they were betrothed to each oher.

Shin Won still protects her and saves her a few times and just when you think he's so deserving of her, we have to put up with FL choosing the King. The King who was only giving the FL the time of day because she lied about being able to channel his dead wife.

Now, it's not the "Second Male Lead Syndrome" that makes me start to dislike this more and more, even though from the beginning of the web novel, it seemed like the SML should've really been the ML in terms of the direction of the storyline. Here are other things that I don't like:

-An FL put between two BEST friends and she was engaged to the SML who shows nothing but pure dedication to her
-So Rang lying about being a "channeler" and using the King's grief for her own gains and then stretching the lie further by saying that the Queen didn't love him
-How the King couldn't move on because either he was too grief-stricken or the women he did get close to, died
-You're telling me that every year they know there's going to be another murder and they can't catch the killer yet? It's a bit too much with the women and violent deaths
-So Rang constantly friend-zoning the SML who constantly risks his life for her and even though they both individually knew from the get go that they were betrothed to each other in the past. How long do we have to wait until they both know that they both know... you know?
-So Rang and her sometimes listless look... getting too repetitive for me
-How are the villains getting away with so much sh*t for years and no one was suspecting them? Like the King didn't have his own spies?

Even in the end, if the writers write that Shin Won loses his betrothed to the King, (if the FL does get together with the King), I hope the writers either kill off Shin Won so he doesn't have to see that BS unfold or at least, let Shin Won leave the palace and let him have his dignity. Who the hell would want to stick around to see your "ex" married off to your bestie? If they write that Shin Won is "okay" with it and that the King is okay with being with the FL knowing that his friend, Shin Won had been looking for her for seven years, that will be the biggest tragedy and travesty of all. Just sayin'.

I'm at EP6 as of writing and I'm very close to dropping this...

Update:
I've decided to drop this. I had high hopes for Shin Won and So Rang and I was looking for something new instead of seeing the same outcome. Maybe I'm just tired of seeing the same thing over and over again where the King or the Prince gets the girl all the time. I saw Shin Won as a great ML as well. I won't pick this back up. It's just recycling the same kdrama clichés.

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Untraditional Sagaek with a lot of fun and comedic moments

“The Forbidden Marriage” is a light-hearted drama with many comedic moments. Don’t expect this to be a traditional sageuk, otherwise you might be very disappointed or pissed off. But if you are looking for something fun without too much angst, then this is a great stress-reliever. I would say the drama is about 70% fun, 15% politics and 15% serious plot.

The humor is not over-the-top per se, but could be very untraditional. I enjoy the quick references to “Goblin”, “Hotel Del Luna” and “Sky Castle”. I don’t think I’ve seen a historical K-drama with so much adult humor on sex and erotica. There is interesting background music and sound bites to complement the funny storytelling. I like the supporting characters - Chief Eunuch, Court Lady Won and Royal Secretary - who are the most unusual individuals to be giving out dating advice.

The romance is developed nicely between the main leads. I would have liked to see a few more cute and fluffy moments after they got together though. The kisses are meh, but I appreciate Kim Young Dae’s abs very much. He’s also very adorable. The second male lead is the typical nice guy/bodyguard/officer, who is also the best friend of the emperor/prince. It is interesting the way the second male lead said he’s not going to confess, is basically confessing without saying the actual words of “I like you”.

The acting is solid and the production quality is not bad. I don’t remember the last time I watched a K-drama where the female lead does not have perfect, glowing skin. FL is a swindler and a beggar, so it would make sense that she doesn’t look perfect. I also like how ML has dark circles and red eyes during his depressed state.

12 episodes is the perfect length. The pacing is good and everything flows well. I do think there’s too much focus on the “Solo” folks towards the second half of the drama. I am really not interested in their movement, or even the side romance of the common folks. The political and mystery parts are OK. I have to say that assassin has the lowest success rate I’ve seen.

“The Forbidden Marriage” is not perfect and might not have the best writing. But it creates a lot of laugh-out-loud moments. It’s great if this is what you are looking for. But don’t expect a serious plot about palace politics or forbidden love.


Completed: 2/14/2023

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fun non serious sageuk

a new take on a non serious sageuk!

this drama doesn't take itself too seriously which is one of the reasons that i really enjoyed it. there's obviously a horrible minister planning to take political power and meddling people in the palace. the things that made this drama so good is that it doesn't take itself to seriously as they make jokes.

they weren't afraid to lean into the charmingly boyish side of men with their two leads.the small mannerisms from each definitely made it better.
lee heon and shinwon were really shy for the woman they had affects for, especially lee heon. which brings me to my next point...

the characterization and story of the king is what really made this for me. lee heon being head over heels for his queen, who is rather indifferent to him and his really affectionate form of loving, suffering for almost a decade because he is haunted by what he knows is the wrongful death of someone he loved was so MOVING. this haunting is obviously done by the people wanting to destabilize his power and hoping to drive him to insanity. being haunted by that wrongful death since he felt he failed to protect her, seeing women constantly die in the same way thus not letting him forget it, and depriving him of sleep.

it was so nice to see the way he was reanimated with life and love after meeting so rang + to see so rang allow herself to return to her life and actually live it. and they're such a good match. heon can express his love and affection to someone who is very reciprocate of it :)

anyway, the show obviously has its issues (some loose ends w the political plot going on) and some things not explained well(which results into this feeling lower budget and web series like for me) but i still enjoyed it. made me super sympathetic towards the main three and made me laugh a lot! definitely recommend!

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The Forbidden Scam

A girl pretending to be the Crown Princess's ghost, a spirited leading lady, and a minor hiccup in the grand scheme of historical tales—the ban on love. It sold itself as this wild, carefree series, promising easy laughs and a blissful escape. However, the writers tripped hard trying to weave in melodramatic and political plots because the original concept was unsustainable for more than a couple of episodes. They birthed these laughable plots and pitiful antagonists in the process. The female lead, originally devious and witty, took this nosedive into becoming this sad, serious persona spouting profound but empty and hypocritical lines. It was hard to believe or feel anything she said or did after this drastic change in character. Again, forcing a systematic change across the board after a couple of episodes. At the end of the day, this is just another poor cosplay show.

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