WATCH IT RIGHT NOW
THE BEST DRAMA. not an imperfection in the plot. i went through all 26 episodes in a week. this drama has brought smiles to my face and tears to my eyes. i’m so sad that i finished this drama- i miss it already :( . it’s so full of drama- there’s a new twist every episode but it’s done so well. it’s so interesting you’ll never be bored, and the characters are so lovable and hateable. the ending was mostly happy with a sad tinge to it. WATCH IT!! one of the best dramas if not the best i’ve watched. my favourite characters are na wang shik (i miss him sm), oh sunny (an angel), princess ari (cutest ever), lee hyeok (idc he was so funny), dong sik (adorable), and grandma (a queen). watch it right now you will not regret omg omg i love this drama sm i’m actually sobbingWas this review helpful to you?
For the story line, I liked how the writer made me grow to really hate the bad characters but then changed my mind in the end. So there was a reason as to why they were so bad and hateful after all! It was nice how the writers were able to give us a background as to why and how the characters were the way they are, and in the end everyone's death and survival was neatly justified, they truly deserved the way they ended up, maybe except for Lee Hyuk or Shin Sung Rok's character as I grew to really love him even if he was bad, he also wasn't really that bad if you compare him to all the rotten characters in this drama. I felt sad with what happened to him that I still can't get over it. Next, I loved the character development for everyone in this drama, all the characters never failed to amaze me when they twist the viewers expectation when they change or reveal their intentions and do betrayals. I also love how the bad and the good teamed up together in the end to take down the worst one.
Acting wise, everyone was just so good at their jobs especially with all the screaming, slapping, and hair pulling in this drama they couldn't pull it off perfectly if they weren't good enough. Therefore I commend the casting director for doing such a good job casting everyone in their roles. The cameos of other awesome actors was enjoyable too! Min Yu Ra made me hate her every time she raises her eyebrows and tries to pull someone's hair off and it just added to the reason why I loved this drama she was really the perfect villain for the role. Shin Sung Rok's character was also perfect for his role, the way he holds the gun to someone's head is just perfect like he had done it many times before, it suited him perfectly! Maybe the director had already seen his talent and potential for the role with Return that's why he was casted for this one and its just made this the best! He is the perfect role for the rich spoiled emperor who kills people. Jang Nara was also perfect in her role to portray the innocent, calm and righteous empress who would turn the whole palace upside down. We've seen her acting in Fated To Love You. Her character there was similar in a way but she showed us that she can bring more into that and delivered beyond expectation with this one.
As for the music, the OSTs were not too impactful and memorable, as the drama itself was too intense there wasn't really much area where it could have made it memorable, but they were great addition to the drama.
This review is getting longer and longer, so i'm cutting it short now. The Last Empress was a mind blowing crazy drama, but it was definitely enjoyable, refreshing, and very different from all those being released recently. I laughed, screamed, cursed, squealed, and cried while watching this drama with my sister who also did the same with me. The actors contributed a lot in making this drama even more wonderful. Everyone was just so good at their roles! I am glad to have picked up this drama and finished it. No regrets!
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Just okay only
LIKEThe plot twists among several members in the Palace
Though bizarre but okay with Wang Shik's transformation
DISLIKE
What Lee Hyuk did to Sunny
MUSIC - personal fav
Low Voice - Jimin Park
REWATCH VALUE
It doesn't matter if I re-watch or not
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I enjoyed the show a lot! It was veryyyy dramatic, a little tragic, a little cute, but overall, a really good watch! The story was great, drama was added at a good pace to really get you hooked! Though I must admit, it did get rather tedious at the end, and a little predictable. Nevertheless, it had some great twists! Personally, I really savoured the sweet moments hehe. The producers were not generous in giving us sweet moments so I had to >___< ; With that being said, I should say, this is quite an intense drama! It's definitely noooot a rom com. ;P Just telling ya that now, in case, by any means, you were led into thinking it is.
I'll just say, it's a really good drama with a very compelling and interesting story to keep you entertained through the entirety of it! There's a great mix of characters involved, some you may come to hate, and some you may very well come to love! Princess Ari was a lil cutie teehee
To conclude, give this a go for sure! Make sure to give it a good chance! Though you should be hooked from the beginning like I was ;) 9.5 only because of the tediousness I mentioned! But also maybe slight frustration towards some characters ;P Otherwise a solid 10! Good luck!
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great drama great acting
during the press presentation i was so hesitant about shin sung rok being the husband of jang nara...but while watching the drama i was so mesmerized with his performance...and the surprise chemistry between him and jang nara blown me away...although it was a love hate relationship but im loving their scenes together...i cried so hard when the emperor died...i need aeason 2....because there was a special epilogue where the emperor is so alive and together woth his empress once again...???Was this review helpful to you?
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This review may contain spoilers
Not bad but not as good as the start
I decided to stop watching this drama at episode 35 after spoiling myself. It has a very good premise, the political plots and the old cases always make me interested and curious. However, later on, it got messy. The scriptwriter has come up with many good plots, but the solution makes me lose interest.I also have a feeling that Jang Nara doesn't suit Sunny very well, not because she's bad. She does well in scenes with Wang Shik, but in other scenes, I can't feel her character. Shin Sung Rok is too good, his face and acting suits Huyk very well. Choi Jin Hyuk is super cool and handsome, everytime he holds Sunny in his arms, it looks like he came out of shoujo manga.
I also watched The Penthouse and realized that this writer loves to bring pity and sympathy for evil people such as Hyuk and Yu Ra. Yes, they have a dark past, but not everyone with a bad past will also become evil. If you ask me if I pity Hyuk, I say yes, but I don't like the way the scriptwriter does that. Every time I pity him, I'll remember him pushing his pregnant wife into the lake and leaving, or when he burned and tortured his mistress Yu Ra, even when he tried to kill Sunny before turn to love her.
Feeling that the drama only revolves around evil and injustice, bad guys last too long, And good characters like Wang Shik are too difficult to reach happiness.
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A totally underrated drama which can take you by surprise
Having recently watched as many thrillers as possible, I was searching for a drama to match the caliber of all those 'near-perfect' thrillers of the k-drama world. I stumbled upon this drama, mistaking it to be a rom-com after looking at the cast. I didn't read the summary either, but I swear I never regretted my choice. (That's why I'm making my first review for this drama)This isn't your regular sageuk drama or some nasty revenge thriller but is an excellent work that is a combo of
1. An outstanding storyline that isn't too easy or overwhelming either
2. A well-balanced pace of the story
3. A good narration/ the way the story unfolds ( gave me the feeling of reading a particular Dan Brown bestseller)
4. Good cast who bring out the essence of the character they portray
5. A cascade of emotions that aren't overly dramatic but something that all viewers would bond with. (You'll love the good ones with all your heart and hate the bad ones pouring all your anger as if it all was happening in your own life)
furthermore,
- I feel like this drama would suit an audience of all ages above 15 since there's no overload of sweetness or bitterness or manic action.
- 26 episodes (52 half episodes)were the best pace this drama could travel on, making all those moments and struggles match the pace of reality
Watching this drama was worth my time, and I don't think it'll disappoint future viewers either.
9I also have a feeling that even k-drama haters wouldn't regret watching it. )
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This review may contain spoilers
same old story where people fights for power. Evil mom, puppet son, puppet sons wife death and investigation, innocent girl, wronged second hero, mute siblings, story of mistress, good granny with no power, plotting against family members, revenge programs. Once watchable. However dint have to stretch for 25 to 26 episodes. Most of the time i had to skip or fast forward. Though starting it kept me hook, later its started losing interest as everything is predictable. Am i the only one who feel child actress (Ari) acting is bit overboard or is the character written like that. Was this review helpful to you?
I'm confused
I watch the Last Empress via Netflix Germany and this drama ends with episode 26.The king is dead. The quennmother is in prison. Oh Sunny is living in the restaurant of her father.
The last sequence is "one year later".
Is here someone who watch from Germany or Europe? Is it going on with this Drama? When??
I wanted to see the romance between Oh Sunny and Wang Sik. But till episode 26 there was not romance.
And I have waited and waited...
And who are the sister of the king. I have forgotten the name. Suddenly she was gone.
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I don't understand people who complain that some scenes are unrealistic. It's modern Korea with an Imperial family - you are looking for realism? Don't be silly. It's a fantasy and a melodrama. Keep your expectations within the parameters that the author has set, and you'll be fine. If you hate makjang, look elsewhere.
The story is intricate, with the expected plots within plots. It's easy to lose track of all the women in the Emperor's life. But even if you miss some threads, it clips along at a good rate and doesn't drag things out unduly. Typical palace intrigue.
The cast is outstanding. Jang Na Ra is a perfect counterpart to the Emperor, with humor, ethics and strength to spare. I don't think there's a weak performance in the lot, and 7-year-old Oh Na Rin is a winner as the crown princess. If you're addicted to second lead syndrome, you will like Choi Jin Hyuk, although he wasn't my cup of tea. Shin Eun Kyung as the Dowager Empress gave a good performance as the stereotypical woman mad with power.
The music wasn't annoying, always a difficult thing to find in K-drama, and a lot of it was good. Instead of trying hard to create an OST soundtrack that will appeal to the K-Pop set, the music enhanced the drama and rarely called attention to itself, blending carefully into the fabric of the whole.
The ending was surprisingly satisfactory. I expected to be disappointed as the Emperor ended up being a horrible guy to the end, but there were great nuances to his development; it was a nice example of why I love Shin Sung Rok.
Overall, I enjoyed it immensely - it was pure entertainment, well crafted by all. If there was something this engaging every season, I'd be a happy K-drama addict!
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it's rare for me to encounter a drama that leaves such intense emotions not only after the finale, but after every single episode. the fact that all characters in this drama are equally complex individuals who are focused and motivated to fight for their goals and purpose makes it very interesting to watch. when you are following this drama, you will bound to hate some characters, love some, and end up rooting for some that you initially hated. not because of bad writing where the character just turns from being a bad to a good person out of nowhere. but because you understand and empathise with why they did what they did. and i think such good writing that allows a viewer to establish such deep connections with a fictional character is part of what makes any drama so damn good.
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