Il Re e la Spia (2024)

Mildly Disappointing - Not Good, But Not Bad

This was mildly disappointing? I don’t know what sets this show apart from other historical dramas centered around power struggles and scheming, but this was only okay. Jo Jung Seok and Lee Kyu Hoe both delivered the best performances of the show and were generally delightful to watch. Especially JJS has great screen presence and created tense atmospheres out of nothing. One second, the scene is normal and in the next he’s scary and intimidating.

I liked his chemistry with SSK whose performance was alright. I liked her crying scenes a lot (which… she had a lot for some reason ??), her tears were like diamonds rolling down her cheeks, I can’t explain it. The female lead’s revenge was… I don’t know. Lacking? So-so? Wishy-washy? Can’t put it into words. I think the lack of character development (for all characters) at the end of the show also disappointed me. Did anyone change or grow? I don’t really think so… meh. Also… the fact that everyone believed that MW was actually a man… honestly a bigger plot armor than my girl Ying Luo ever had. The writers decided that her dressing as a man was believable to every single character when it really wasn’t lol. It was believable in “Coffee Prince” for example, but here??? It’s because the writers wanted it lol.

The show generally has left 0 impact on me, and I probably won’t really think about it now that I finished it. It did pull me in – ultimately, it was the tension between Mong Woo and the king that kept me going and made me finish the show. The last episode was a whole lot of nothing that kind of dragged and felt a little useless not going to lie. Overall, “Captivating the King” was alright, but not crazy good!

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A well known tale in a new envelope

It is the story of the Grand Prince who has been held captivated by the Qing dynasty. HE wants to learn about their war tactics and defeat them. But,.....
The opening episode is a wholesome. The director successfully traversed from the Joseon to Qing dynasty. The subtle difference in terms of culture, belief and work has been captivated. The Prince returns with a happy heart to his Kingdom only to be stopped at the door by guard. Here begins the the quest where the throne rightfully goes to Grand Prince and the incapable prince needs to step down. Like other historical dramas, it is also tells the tale of blood thirsty kins aiming for the crown. The capable Grand Prince needs to stay put and the incapable King wants to hold the throne even if at the cost of his beloved brother. The spare heir is benevolent and like always the crown keeper is the curse.

In the process of delivering historical stories, one of the key aspect is to malign the King. This is becoming so typical of the period pieces. A conniving Queen and the puppet King screams while carving path for Grand Heir to the throne.
The intriguing point of this historical drama fiction is the plot. Its fighting over the crown but the unusual suspense will keep you hooked. Helmed by Nam Gook, the male and female lead of the story is bound by play of Baduk. That Glorious game which made audience hooked last year with its subtlety. This time, the surprise is no miss. Hee Soo is determined to take down Lee In but her heart betrays her every minute. Lee Shin Young, whom you have seen as the dignified North Korean soldier in Crash landing on You is back as Myung Ha. He successfully triggers audience sentiment for him as the lone survivor of traitor father, who wants to teach the King lesson. His chemistry with Shin Se Kyung is soft and spicy, just essential for the gruesome plot.
Cho Nam guk, the man behind Good Detective leaves a taste of mystery throughout the story as character finds themselves developing with the story. Till the end, you don't know what is waiting for you....

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A Captivating Premise—but will it stick the landing?

Hello everyone :) This is my review for the ongoing k-drama Captivating the King. As always, all opinions are my own and no hate to any actors!

Story: 8/10
The story of this show is fairly generic for historical k-dramas—a high-ranking ML who is a nobleman or a member of the royal family—and a FL who hides being female for a purpose. From this description alone, I'm sure you can think of a few other k-dramas with the same premise. However, one thing that sets this k-drama apart from others in this generic description is it makes unusual decisions using the same algorithm. I'll outline how in a few ways:

#1) The ML in this show is not a squeaky-clean gentleman, he makes decisions that sway the FL and the audience against him, and then earns us back. His intentions and his mind are hard to read, and yet he's simultaenously very earnest-looking and charmismatic, making even the watcher wonder if it's right to root for him or not.

#2) The writers in this show are not afraid to kill off characters that aren't needed, which adds mystery to the plot as there isn't just one "big" villian throughout but multiple questionable characters that make us suspicious and then earn our trust back—the ML included.

#3) There aren't 100% clear lines of loyalty. Many of the characters cross and double-cross one another, using one another for their own purposes. I feel that this adds a lot of depth to the story, as in other historical shows, there's often the "good guys" side and the "bad guys" side.

For the above reasons, this show has been a lot of fun to watch so far. This being said, I will admit I have a few issues with the storyline as well, which is why I only gave it an 8/10 instead of a 10. These issues include:

#1) The FL in this show is admittedly less well written than the ML, which disappoints me for multiple reasons. Firstly, she's meant to be his equal, someone that gives him a run for his money (hence, the struggle of who gets captivated). We also don't get as many complex emotions from the FL's character as we do the ML's, as she almost always does what a viewer would consider to be "the right choice". I feel like the writers could have made her more of a grey-area character like the ML, and I think it would've made their already-incredible chemistry and forbidden love that much hotter.

#2) This show is very heavy on the politics and very light on the love. I understand why it's like that for plot purposes, but it's my own opinion that this show could've used more romance even if it was angsty. This being said, there are SOME scenes in which the intimacy just through simple touches and intense eye contact that made my heart flutter too, and since this show isn't over yet, I wouldn't say it's bad enough to be a dealbreaker even if you like romance dramas more.

Acting/Cast: 8.5/10
This is the first drama of Jo Jung Suk's that I've seen (although I am watching Hospital Playlist for the first time simultaenously haha) and I must say that I am blown away by his acting. His micro-expressions are incredible, the intensity of his eyes, and the way he says his lines with passion is really something. He really brings the ML's complex character to life in a refreshing way.

As for Shin Sae Kyeong, I have seen her previously in the Bride of the Water God and I was disappointed then and I am disappointed now. Now, I will admit that the writers did not give her as much to work with for her character as they did for Jo Jung Suk's character. Still, I feel that her expressions are exactly the same in every scene, give or take some tears. I do like the way she delivers her lines and the intensity in her eyes, but her flat expression takes away from her hard work. Initially, I wasn't too bothered by her expressions but as the show continues I am finding it harder to watch, especially since there's less romance than I expected and more political scenes where the FL must hold her own. Although I am disappointed, I mean no hate to Shin Sae Kyeong, and I am sure I will watch her future shows if they have an interesting plot like this too.

As for the supporting characters, I feel like they all did an exceptional job. Everyone, from the King's right hand man, to the royal family members, to the FL's allies, the Court Maids, and even the child actors did a wonderful job. The Grand Prince is a bit choppy in his acting, but he's still starting out so I won't criticize him too much.

Music: 8/10
I'm not a big OST person, but I felt this OST has been nice to listen to. 8/10.

Rewatch Value: 8/10
Since this show is still going on, it's a bit hard to guess the rewatch value since I haven't seen the ending. But I have enjoyed each episode and how it keeps me on my toes as well as the chemistry between the ML and FL, so I think I would rewatch this show.

And that's all for my review! Thanks for reading :)

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Three Games of Baduk

After reading some of the other reviews here,I realized that there is a serious lack of critical analysis and thinking going on with some of the reviewers. They miss the point of the Title and of the significance of theBaduk games being played. The King and Kang Mung Woo play the games on an actual board and they play tge game in the court. The King is acknowledged to be a genius player and by the nature of the game that means he is highly strategic and many moves ahead of other players and the members of his court. The viewers are not always let in on the moves he is going to make until it is time to make them. The same is true of Mongwoo. Some reviewers accuse her of not having any plan just because they are not shown it or because they are simply unaware of it. In the game of Baduk,a player can not have a fixed plan because their moves are dependent on the moves of their opponent. They can only have a goal and be able to spot opportunities for action as the other player leaves them. They seize on those opportunities and build on them. Therefore,their plans are always fluid. Such Mong Woos moves. The King moves in the same way. He is surrounded by power mongers looking for any opening to grab more power for themselves. Particularly. The Director and Dowager,who see him as a puppet. The Director is playing his own game of Baduk as he seeks to hold the same power as a King.

This is a drama of subtlety not one of high jinks drama and action. The actress who plays Ming Woo is supposed to be a cypher. She can’t afford to let anyone read her,not even the King. So she. Does not give away her thoughts or feelings. She could never enter have entered then palace with thoughts of toppling the King if she had not mastered her own body language. It is clear that although she loves the King in spite of herself,she does not trust him. Her love is not whole hearted because of her earlier experience with the King. Each time she begins to trust him,she overhears or is told something that makes her shut down again. All of this makes her game appear to be erratic.

One thing she is very clear on,is the King’s ability to play Baduk and be many moves ahead of everyone else. So,she knows she is walking a tightrope with him. He is aware,too,that she may betray him but loves her too much to send her away. Each of the buduk players ,the King, Mong Woo and the Director play with each other and against each other. It is like a subtle dance as they engage and disengage. Too bad that some it was lost on many viewers who need straightforward characterizations and plot to follow a story.

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I was Captivated!!!

I think all reviews should always start with "Personally, I hated or I loved".

Reading the low reviews, one would think this was a horrible drama. Quite the opposite. I absolutely loved this drama (and I don't like historical drama - at all). I was captivated from Episode 1 through to 16. I would have watched in one sitting, had it been possible. I would recommend you watch it and decide for yourself. If it's not your cuppa tea, that's cool. On to the next. Don't base your decision on somebody's else's preference.

I loved the cast, the storyline, the pace and the music, the music - absolutely beautiful. Purchased the soundtrack and its my current playlist.

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A Giant Game of Go

I very much enjoyed this - I had just finished My Dearest a couple of weeks ago and this overlaps in time with Captivating the King starting with the end of the Qing invasion and the prince being sent to Shenyen, followed by the gradual collapse into some insanity of the reigning king (they each take a slightly different lean on this aspect though). Translator Jung is also present in character as well (different actor of course and with different motivations compared to My Dearest). If you've watched one, watch the other, it's interesting seeing the common bits as well as the different takes on things.

The standout for me is the male lead - this is the first time i've seen Jo Jung Sook in an entirely 100% serious role, all of his others have allowed him to bring his brilliant light heartedness and comedic sense but there is nothing comedic about this role as he starts as the prince and progresses to being the King it's all serious all the way.

I enjoyed the interplay between the characters, the scheming going back and forth, and the strategies that the two leads were employing even independently of each other. It's like watching a pair of grand masters at work. The writing here was exceptional I felt.

I was absolutely hooked on this from start to finish - binged the entire thing in fairly short order.

Shin Se Kyung is someone I always enjoy watching and I thought she delivered well in this, does seem like she's a marmite attraction to many viewers but for me, I thought she was great.

As the bad guys start to get taken down there are definitely a number of "punch the sky" "yess!" moments to be had, especially with the big-bad :)

Well worth the watch in my view!

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Captivating The King Failed to Captivate Me

Before I start, what the %&@* was up with the ML's beard ?

I started it because I am a lover of the historical genre and I was interested in seeing how they planned on writing a fictitious animosity between Qing and Joseon. Now, I am fighting to see a reason why I should even continue this show. I must be a masochist because watching the FL act gives me a headache when without subtitles you can't tell if she is angry, sad, confused, upset, or in love. She only knows five looks to consult from her acting playbook. The writing is just abysmal at best. The side characters have less screen time and have shown more dimension to their characters with their acting. This goes for the royal family members and Court Lady Jo.

It started strong and then the foolish ploy to get revenge just lost me. I am a big lover of revenge plots but it seems like the FL can't seem to get her head out of her ass for one minute. Her anger at the king makes no sense when for one it was Myung-Ha who faked the confession, secondly, he was not even the one who let her father go to the Great Qing. Her reason for revenge is not because she thinks he is corrupt, her pride is just hurt. She was surprised that a newly crowned King did not lose common sense when tasked with exiling her.

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I was captivated by the story

Captivating the King has a great story to tell. It talks about the history of the dynasty on their generation, about the dirty politics on whose gonna ascend the throne. It maybe boring because it's too serious but you will be hooked to its story itself they have on point view of the things being tackle.
Jo Jung Suk is back in his craft he really owns this drama, he did an amazing job in portraying the king. It really suits him well. He is really a good actor.
Shin Se Kyung also did great, one thing that bothers me is that she's too beautiful to be a man hehehe...
I can say that ita a great casting, all the cast did an amazing job. This series really captivate me, it has a great narrative.

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Not Good Enough

Korean Drama '' Captivating The King '' is a historical melodrama, heavy on the political thriller.

The drama has an interesting story in theory, alas, it is not handled well. In fact, the spy part was never developed, left only in theory. Also, the leading lady was annoying and her actions didn't make sense after a while. Not to mention the ending was lukewarm, rushed when it came to the twists, and unsatisfying.

However, there were some nice elements to the drama, though they weren't enough to make it enjoyable. The guessing game of when the King will find out who his playing mate really is was entertaining to follow. The performances were great as well.

So, overall, four out of ten.

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JJS overshadows SSK as the king completely however this drama still failed to captivate me

aigoo...I just spent some time writing a review, but then my laptop shutdown and I lost it T_T so I'll sum it up into a few words:

what I liked:
- production quality (the clothing, backgrounds, lighting etc. were nice compared to recent period idol dramas)
- JJS as the male lead. I've seen him in the King2Hearts and think his acting and portrayal of yi in was very believable
- park ye young as court lady dong. I've seen her in hometown cha cha cha and didn't know she was good at sageuks! she looks like a different person! In fact I think she should've been cast as the female lead instead!
- the veteran actors, who acted the court ministers. although the bad uncle guy looked like every other bad guy in these dramas, the older actor's acting was good and as expected
- the actor who played the grand prince (kid)
- I actually liked seeing that actor from crash landing on you in here as one of the shady ministers
(thinking....what else I liked lol)
- I liked when I realised it wasn't worth my time and dropped it...T_T

what I didn't like:
- so I may sound like a broken record, but shin sae kyung really wasn't the right choice for this drama. I don't think she's a good actress. As someone who's seen a few other historical dramas that are so much better, they should've picked someone who could've played the part better!
I've seen snip bits of her in rookie historian and I think she looks okay in idol drama but not in a more serious drama filled with more experienced actors! she looks so out of place! whether she's sad or happy it's unclear most of the time, because her acting is so stiff and she looks likes she's crying most of the time or about to cry. she also shakes her eyes around too much.
- the "romance" was so unconvincing! I felt bad for JJS who was really giving his best, but the female lead made the kissing scenes awkward and I didn't feel much chemistry between them..
- the pacing. tbh from episode 1 I was waiting the whole time for the male lead to find out about her identity! I didn't really care about the rest of the plot and when he finally finds out in episode 7 I think I was happy but then the drama just went down the drain.
- the female lead's character was really badly written
- the cross-dressing was nonsensical and made us and the other men look like idiots. also..she was initially dressing up as a "man" to save captives from Qing by earning money with playing Baduk/Go, but it never actively showed her freeing anyone and also does she have power to free anyone?
- the bad writing
- female lead's revenge plot was weak
- I liked that the music wasn't a bunch of kpop like in idol dramas, but I feel like they could've put more effort into the instrumental OST because that's sometimes what tends to carry these historical dramas

Overall this drama is pretty forgettable and such a waste of like 12hrs of my life!
After a while I wondered why I was even still watching it

also I just remembered something which makes the female even more stupid! why'd she want kim myung ha to help her when he was the one who wrote the false attestation?!

also I thought myung ha was better than the female lead because he could actually act lol, but overall this drama isn't the best. maybe it's better than others, but meh

but all that to say, would this drama have been better if SSK weren't the female lead? maybe, but I guess we'll never know...

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