WhooshJul 8, 2024

#kDrama
Captivating the King
(2024 - Netflix, 16 1:10 eps)

A sageuk with the usual political intrigue, power-hungry villains, & royals in danger. The strategy of the baduk game the King loves is mirrored in the plans for revenge. A great role for the ML portraying the complicated depths of emotion as he is betrayed.

The FL wasn't believable as a man - eyeliner & lipgloss give it away. The child actor who plays the Grand Prince was a joy to watch.

The King's character is very well-written & has some great lines. The FL's character starts strong but becomes indecisive & teary-eyed for much of the last 1/2.

I enjoyed watching it with a watch party. It helped to have multiple brains to sort out all the intrigue. But for a similar story, I think "Our Blooming Youth" is much better.

https://mydramalist.com/745731-spy

#CaptivatingTheKing #세작매혹된자들 #JoJungSuk #조정석 #ShinSaeKyeong #신세경 #LeeShinYoung #이신영 #WhooshReview

Captivating the King

Lee In is a prince. His older brother is King Lee Sun, who cares about him a lot. Vowing loyalty to his older brother, Lee In is taken hostage by the...

Show threadEllenInEdmonton Jun 22, 2024
@jcurries It's a really interesting twist! Time without #kdrama is pretty sad. I couldn't watch much on my camping trip but I finished off #CaptivatingTheKing as well as the final shows of #LovelyRunner and #AtypicalFamily. Working on #HospitalPlaylist S2 and rewatching #UncontrollablyFond with @whoosh
Almost ready to start learning some new #korean vocabulary again now.
QuirkyFilmsJun 8, 2024
#CaptivatingTheKing (2024-)
The cruel love story of King Yi In, who is in a political crisis, fighting for the throne, and Kang Hee-soo, a secret agent who approaches Yi In for revenge but ends up being enchanted.
#TVThemeTunes #TVIntros #TVOpenings
#TVMastodon 📺 🎬
Show threadEllenInEdmonton May 25, 2024
@notthatkaren @KDramaQn Since I could download the episodes from Netflix, I’ve been watching #CaptivatingTheKing while I’m on an extended camping trip. I think it came out early this year. It’s quite good. #kdrama
EllenInEdmonton Apr 9, 2024
#kdrama updates:
I finished #Reply1988 and #ShopaholicLouis, both of which I loved. Reply had 20 episodes, which I rarely appreciate, even though it was awesome. Louis was just plain fun!
#CurrentlyAiring: #QueenOfTears, which is epic. I'm happy to rewatch episodes. A great mixture of vibes with lots of layers unfolding.
Watchparties: #TheTaleOfNokdu, a fast-moving gender-bending sageuk with a couple of great leads.
#CaptivatingTheKing: only one episode so far.
Next up: #WeddingImpossible?
JillMar 12, 2024

After all the smart-ness in #CaptivatingTheKing, I needed a #kdrama that didn't require any thinking. #ALoveSoBeautiful has the emotional and mental depth of an after-school special, and 20 minute episodes! Winning.

Except the ML is a total JERK to the FL. And the 2ML is thoughtful, supportive, considerate, kind, emotionally aware... *exasperated sigh*

It is a Korean remake of a #cdrama and ... I can tell?

30yos playing teens irritates me, though...

Show threadJillMar 10, 2024

#kdrama #CaptivatingTheKing final thoughts:

This was a tense show. Not overly intense or scary or emotional. But tense, as strategies are planned and play out. Like a game of chess (but in this case baduk).

This is not a romcom. There are few light-hearted scenes or silliness. But it also isn't intense and full of big emotions like "My Dearest." Cerebral-ish. But not too-smart-for-you.

Costumes were lovely. The child prince is so full of heart. Satisfactory ending.

Show threadJillMar 10, 2024

@EllenInEdmonton @jcurries @bougiewonderland it is tense and scheme-y with maybe 2 or 3 romantic scenes total. It is NOT a romcom. No real light-hearted scenes, either. Spies and treason and assassination and poisoning.

I think it is a solid 8/8.5 for me. It is good. I have just most of the last episode left.
#kdrama #CaptivatingTheKing

Show threadJillMar 10, 2024

#kdrama #CaptivatingTheKing
LOL the disappointment on Hee-soo's face when someone walks in and it is Kim Myung-ha. Ouch.

Why is no one hounding HIM to get married one day? Does he have no family left other than the prince and princess?

The King has never really seen Hee-soo dressed as a woman before, has he?

Is she allowed to still wear her hair down in a braid? She's slept with a man already. The King, even! Shouldn't she have her hair up?

Show threadJillMar 10, 2024

#kdrama #CaptivatingTheKing
LOL the DQ's disgusted face when the king suggested Mongwoo occupy the queen's quarters...

Ope, Hee-soo is playing the father card to get to go to Qing... it is so obviously a play for his sympathy. If I were him, I'd be insulted. LOL.

Oh! Kdrama bingo! We got a back hug!

So many exceptions to rules. Amnesty for attempted assassination. Can't kill and exiled criminal. But if he kills someone and runs away, THEN you can kill him. 📝