Rookie Historian Goo Hae Ryung (2019)

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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Had a soft “woke” ending

8.5/10 is my rating. This is a 2019 South Korean historical romance with 20, 60 minute, episodes.

Goo Hae-ryung (Shin Se-kyung) is unique among the Ladies as she is more interested in reading books than she is in getting married. This has led her to be nearing the age where she will be forced to wed. When an opportunity arises to become a female historian and avoid the bounds of marriage she gladly takes it. Yi Rim /Prince Dowon (Cha Eun-woo)
is the only son of the dethroned King Huiyeong Yi Gyeom. What Prince Gowan does not know, is he is the rightful heir to the throne. Living within the palace but exiled both from public and even inner palace life, he is content for his uncle and cousin to rule (who he regards as a father and brother) while he works, in secret, as "Maehwa," the author of many popular romance novels. The Prince claims to want honest feedback on his novels but when Hae-ryung gives him some harsh feedback without knowing he is the author and the Prince he is both insulted and intrigued. As a historian, Hae-rung faces many challenges as the royals do not always welcome having their activities recorded. Things intensify even more when both Hae-rung and Prince Dowon become interested in what they were told were treasonous events in the past. They both suspect the event was not told entirely nor truthfully. Not all is as it seems nor is everyone on the same path they started on. As the two grow feelings for each other can they survive palace politics or will the past they both are tied to end their love and even their lives for good?

Spoiler alert!! I liked learning about historians and what their role may have been in the past it made me curious if they really were somewhat like they were portrayed. I loved prince Dowon and his brother, the Crown Prince. It was a cute love story with a lot of mystery around the events that happened in the past. There were even some side occurrences that kept you engaged and interested and let you get to know a lot of the characters better. I was disappointed a bit in the ending though in that the male and female leads did not get married or have any kind of long-term relationship. This happens a lot in current American romances and I think it’s part of the movement that is supposed to show that a woman doesn’t necessarily need to be married or be with a man to be happy. it makes me wonder how much of the story is influenced and written for American culture since it is a Netflix production. I don’t expect perfect historical accuracy but I do not even like that element in current American romances. I was also disappointed that Prince Dowon did not take some position in the royal family because even though he liked to write, the fact that there was so much buildup around him being the rightful heir, it was a let down that he gave it up. Prince Dowon was writing travel books which meant he did not get back to the type of writing he really liked which was the romance books. That also felt like Hae-rung had an influence on him when she ridiculed his romance books. Just like I don’t think the woman should have to change everything about herself to be with someone, I also do not think the man should have to completely change who they are either. Overall I felt like he had to change a lot and she basically stayed very much the way she was. Despite the small disappointments, the series was still good and I highly recommend it.

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Solid plot, charming romance, well-timed comedy and enough political intrigue to chew on

This was indeed a well-executed show with a sophisticated and witty script. Good content filled each episode and the show balanced between political intrigue, romance, comedy, and drama nicely. The hilarious moments were well-timed, and using the OST and interesting sound effects, the show almost always hit the right dramatic notes while transitioning smoothly to more light-hearted scenes. I liked the OST, all of it, the songs and the instrumental pieces.

I appreciated how the writers realistically weaved in the theme of female empowerment without using the cross-dressing trope. The women legitimately proved their intelligence and worth, ending up as historians in the palace after passing the civil exam. The show also handled the inclusion of various thought-provoking topics perfectly, like the clash between the Western and Korean cultures and religion, the embrace of modern ideas like science versus traditional beliefs, and gender and class inequality.

Shin Se Kyung mesmerized me throughout the show. She acted well as our plucky heroine, plus she is so lovely to look at, and I quite enjoyed admiring her gorgeous features, especially during her close-ups. Her voice suited her character, Goo Hae Ryung who was thoughtful, intelligent, well-read, brave, observant, and rational. Her rationality could be considered a point of frustration for our male lead, Prince Dowon, since Hae Ryung usually did not have a romantic bone in her body. That why I was pleasantly surprised that she initiated the first kiss while quoting a romantic phrase back to Prince Dowon.

The noona romance was another plus point for the show. The chemistry between the two leads was palpable, and the show was clever to leverage the age gap and shaped out the characters in a believable way. Cha Eun Woo portrayed the handsome and naive Prince Dowon perfectly, an adorable young romantic who wore his heart on his sleeve. His micro-expressions were on-point, from being love struck to showing determination and courage when confronting his antagonists. It was endearing to see the character growth of Prince Dowon and, through his coming of age, evolved into a man who consistently stood up for his beliefs, principles, and his love for Hae Ryung.

While I enjoyed watching the romance between the two leads, I did suffer from SLS. I honestly would not have minded if Hae Ryung ended up with Officer Min. For me, he was an excellent match for the FL - a mature, intelligent, principled man would have been a perfect partner for Hae Ryung. I first saw Lee Ji Hoon in "Dinner Mate", but he really caught my eye in this show. There was a certain charisma that I found attractive. I felt the same way about Park Ki Woong, who played the Crown Prince. Those two men totally rocked facial hair.

The downer for me was the dynamic between the Crown Prince and the historian Song. There was just something about the character, Song Sa Hee, that turned me off, and I did not want to see the Crown Prince develop feelings for her. So I ended up fast-forwarding through some of their scenes. This is the reason why I did not rate this show a perfect 10.

The whole cast did well, and even though there were over the top characters, they fitted well into the story. There were no superfluous characters; each one had a purpose and lent to the story.

Overall, if you are looking for quality production, a well-written story with a strong female lead, and a charming romance, you might want to give this show a try.

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The cutest and lightest Joseon Piece I've yet seen. When it isn't dealing with the throne it shines.

I keep giving Joseon pieces a shot. It seems they are a right of passage or actors aren't taken seriously unless they have been in at least one. There isn't a single star I have come to like or follow that doesn't have one of these history tales on their resume. So, I keep watching these weird hatted (I mean why are they mesh, they neither protect from the rain or sun, why are we wearing them?) medieval stories that unfortunately tend to all be carbon copies of each other where everyone is vying for the throne.

I have asked in comments if there are any Joseon stories that do not deal with Kings, Princes, succession, and cementing power through Queens marriage, to deaf ears (Err Eyes). This seems to be the only reason to ever write one of these things. There is always at least one, sometimes warring, politicians that are part of the court which always somehow have more power than the kings themselves and are always evil. There more often than not is a son of one of these politicians who is morally ambiguous, who "hates" their corrupt evil father but likewise does nothing to stop their dastardly deeds even while knowing how awful they are, at least until we reach the climax. There is always a forbidden love. The list goes on and on.

Rookie Historian is no different. All of the plot points above are found here as well. The constant recycling and repackaging of Korea's Joseon entertainment is alive and well yet again. However, I will say this time round, the actual tag of comedy can be proudly proclaimed, as there are actually many funny bits throughout the entirety of its run. There are characters and stories that remain light, cute, and fun for almost the entire duration. Their is a soft happiness to the entire production and though the story always has to dig into tragedy and ultimately a large dramatic finish, this time round it refrains from becoming totally horrific.

This time the "fresh" take on the story is by angling from the view of Historians, those that walk and skulk silently in the rooms of the palace writing everything they see to create a written record and truthful history that no one is allowed to read, except other historians apparently. This angle is narrowed when it focuses on the sudden reintroduction of women historians who haven't been used in centuries. Their job is to follow the everyday lives of the royals in their bedrooms and homes instead of the political meetings and public events like the men historians. Thus, the story injects a fresh shot of female empowerment and equality.

Our lead actress Shin Se Kyung plays Goo Hae Ryung, a headstrong, forward thinking, noble woman, with a somewhat mysterious past. Se Kyun is strong in the role overall. She brings both softness and strength to the character, as well as beauty. However, the character seems to not hold the resilience and grit the story early on claims our heroine has. As the tale progresses she gives in to the pressures around her for a stint, especially when it comes to her love. She begins to be the whole tortured female with an empty face, tears behind closed doors, suffer in silence publicly female character that is so commonly written. While she will ultimately spring to action for the end, there will be a whole section of episodes where you will just roll your eyes at her and feel like she just gave up. I suppose the plot needed this to happen at the expense of her character.

Then there is our male lead Cha Eun Woo who plays Prince Do Won. No one can argue that Eun Woo isn't beautiful. He is. Maybe he is a great performer and singer, I do not follow Kpop. But, I can say he isn't sturdy or balanced yet as an actor. It isn't that he is straight bad as an actor, there are moments here where he pulls off some good work. When it is time to be cute, playful, flirtatious, and smitten he does well enough. It is endearing and fun to watch. Him and his female lead have a cute chemistry, not screen blazing, but good enough. Even in the end when things take a more serious turn and Eun Woo is asked to pull off some more dramatic and tearful moments, he actually comes to shine and be very strong here. However, all the rest of the time, while he is acting jealous, contemplative, arrogant, suspicious, mischievous, and the story is having him as a moving part between the power struggle of the others in play that he becomes awkward, stiff, unnatural, and well shows he is acting. His facial expressions are not varied, but a constant repeat. He looks constipated a lot, or just simply blank. His smiles seem disingenuous. The delivery is just simply off. It doesn't ruin the show, but it does show his weakness compared to everyone else on screen. He is the weakest link here.

Our other male lead Park Ki Woong as Prince Yi jin is the powerhouse. You enjoy him when he appears and are drawn into his wide smiles or unwavering stares. His manliness smoulders and his acting is intense and well delivered. While I was dismayed by the ultimate path this characters takes, getting there was a treat to watch and yes Ki Woong's turn here in this role has made me a fan. Park Ji Hyun also appears as our second female lead Song Sa Hee, and as always does a great job as a morally questionable character who does everything in her own interest. She is detached and a lonely wolf, a character that she should feel right at home in by this point.

Lee Ji Hoon is also a lead as Officer Min, the second in command of the Historians and the morally ambiguous son of the "big bad" I mentioned at the begging. He is the male version of Ji Hyun's Sa Hee here. Detached and stoic he holds steadfast to the rules and doctrine of the Historians to a fault, letting the rules of his work, that historians document but do not take part in nor change the outcome of events not matter how horrible, corrupt, or atrocious the events might be, excuse his inaction regarding his father and those around him he knows are perpetrated wrongs against the crown and Joseon itself. I found it hard to like his character, there is too much he allows to happen, too much he could have stopped or helped with and he just doesn't. He knows there are historians being spies, and he allows it. He documents his father controlling the crown and watches the secret meetings in his family home, and tells no one. He is at fault in the backstory of his wife that you will come to learn, again because of his father. The whole Korean idea that children accept their parents as monsters just because they are their parents is not something I stomach well, yet it is a prevailing plotline in a large swatch of Kdrama (Joseon or not). While of course he is also a noble character who at times goes-to-the-mat for others in the show and if rules are broken ( I found it weird what rules he would not allow to bend or break considering what other stuff he lets slide). He also starts to realize his faults and issues when faced with our female lead who refuses, most-of-the-time to sit idle. Thus, he is put on a redemptive arch.

When the story is playing with its characters it is a great watch. When the story is dealing with medical backstory, or the writing and censorship story line it is engrossing. When it brings up social issues, injustices, equal rights, and takes on the unwillingness for society to change or allow anything different to grow Rookie Historian shines. When it is playful and cute and letting our leads fall for each other it is heartwarming and charming. When it wants to be funny, for the most part (some parts do fall flat or become old and repetitive), it is.

But ultimately all this originality, interesting concepts and explorations, and light hearted enjoyment caves in to the prevailing King/Prince/Throne/Power Grab story that can be found in EVERY JOSEON TALE FROM HERE TO THE MOON. This repetitive, stale, boring, and paint-by-numbers plotting that has not a single moment of originality or surprise ends up the main focus for the end and everything else is trimmed away. Oh well.

I had more fun with this than the last 5 or so Joseon tales combined so it was a surprise for me. While I wish someone would just lay the succession storyline to rest, I wasn't dismayed to have sat through this as I was for other Joseon pieces that claim to be comedies like "Flower Crew" for example. Rookie Historian is ,for the most part, a wining fun watch.

7.5/B/3 3/4-Stars. Shows its flaws but remains strong, likely to be enjoyed.

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