This review may contain spoilers
A good length period drama
It has the typical conspiracy, treason, revenge plot that you would expect in a period drama. I am glad that it is only 20 episodes (I watched on Netflix) long so not as draggy as those that are truly 40 episodes and above. I can't pinpoint what exactly made me stay throughout the show. The costumes were beautiful , especially Prince Dowon's. I had favourite characters (and the actors who played them):Prince Dowon, Yi Rim - Cha Eun Woo did really well in this drama. I think he is a good actor, he was believable. He went from being silly, in love, serious. He cries prettily too LOL. Kidding aside, I think he did well and does not suck as an actor like some of the comments I've read here.
Goo Hae-ryung - Shin Se Kyung, I like her character here. I like her banter with Prince Dowon and how she always manages to stump him. I like how she doesn't play innocent and dumb. In her subtle way she shows how in love she is with Prince Dowon - and his reactions are so cute. Oh I skipped all the parts wherein he had to have an arranged marriage with someone else - I didn't care, didn't want to know and didn't want to go through all that.
Officer Min Woo - such a straight arrow. He somehow gave me comfort that no betrayal to the historians would go past him.
Crown Prince Yi Jin - I liked his smile what can I say. I like how he treats Yi Rim and was super scared that he would turn out to be a villain - glad I was wrong,
Heo Sam Bo and the 2 court girls - a fun trio
The Historians - what a wacky bunch. I thought they would be bullies and would make the female historian's live hell throughout the show. They actually turned out to be a loyal lot where it counts. One historian, Hyun Kyung Mook did annoy me ;-/
All in all it was a good watch. The ending was fitting. I did wish for more though........ :-)
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The story and its characters are quite original (this is historical fantasy after all), but all of them blend together very well and you will be immersed in their world in no time. The female lead is an icon for strength and independence, and the male lead is sweet and soft but has also shown that he has a lot of potential as a king (if we add how handsome is CEW, you have the perfect combination for swooning non-stop over the prince)...they are super-cute and will make your heart flutter with their scenes together.
I also love that there are strong bromances and sismance going on. This drama is full of adorable and righteous characters and you will be rooting for all of them in no time. Fortunately the bad guys are minority and I expect they will be overruled soon.
It's also nice that apart from all the romance, fluff and comedy, the drama is tackling more serious topics, like science, education, politics and even the anti-vaccine movement. I find it very entertaining and a perfect summer watch. :)
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A show full of strong,smart and intelligent woman
This story starts off as a rom-com set in joseon era, with so much potential and great portrayal of woman as strong,intelligent and smart people. Woman who are not scared to speak up and always stand up for what's right.This is what sets it apart from the other countless dramas.As the story progresses you see how the issues of Joseon era is still extremely relevant in 2020, the modern world. Woman till this day are still looked down upon and are still fighting for equality in their own ways,this portrayal was really impressive.
This story also touches upon finding yourself. The prince's story was very touching, him finding freedom and happiness was very satisfying to watch. Hae Ryung also finds freedom and follows her dreams which was extremely inspiring.
The relationship between the characters was so refreshing. Especially the female historian characters had such a cute relationship, so refreshing considering how woman are always portrayed against each other. The show also portrays touching relationships between siblings and family.
This show has alot of political elements too which made me aware of so many social issues,was interesting to watch for the most parts. In my opinion some of these elements either shouldn't have been shown or portrayed better. But some issues like small pox,vaccination and western influence in joseon were extremely unique elements that really kept me interested. I had trouble with getting the motivation to watch some episodes it was frustrating,maybe because i dont really watch period dramas much,somehow i pushed on though and it was worth it!
The chemistry between our main couple was super adorable, but there wasn't much skinship between them still they managed to win my heart with just the right amount!
The acting of the main leads in my opinion was average not really up to the mark.Especially the guy who played the king really didnt suit the role, its probably intended,as the king was really bad at his job lol. Overall the acting was average, nothing mind blowing. But I can see that the leads both have improved ALOT from thier previous works! Appreciate that! Some characters were extremely well portrayed though especially lee ji hoon he really did an amazing job, I'm a fan! AND the queen did a stunning job, her accent was so beautiful to hear :)
Overall it's a good watch,kept me entertained for the most part :)
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Going into this, I wasn't so sure I would enjoy this series after the first couple of episodes. I'm not a big political drama kind of person, they tend to bore me easily.
After the first couple of episodes though, I felt it picked up and the political drama was so interesting and kept me wondering what would happen next.
Alongside this political drama, there is a budding romance of horribly adorable and innocent love. I couldn't help but smile widely when the characters interacted.
Overall, definitely recommend if you enjoy historical, political, or slow burn romance.
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oh well…
This drama took me forever to finish and really had me going through a Kdrama slump. I usually really like historical dramas but this one just wasn‘t it for me.The story was rather uninteresting and I feel like 10 episoded would‘ve been enough to tell everything that had to be told. Also it seemed to me as if the plot took several unnecessary turns and tried to tell too many stories instead of focusing on one main plot.
The cast was very good and the chemistry between the lead couple was definitely there, however I would‘ve appreciated a little more depth to Cha Eunwoo‘s character.
The scenery and the traditional houses and Hanboks were beautiful and really nice to watch, however this unfortunately couldn‘t make up for the story to me.
Although not everything about Rookie Historian Goo Hae-Ryung was bad and while the drama had fun and enjoyable scenes from time to time, I would not necessarily recommend it.
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This review may contain spoilers
Mediocrity r us
The drama had enough to create an engaging story and interesting characters, but for me it fell short. The show felt a lot of like a modern workplace drama with characters playing dress up. The plot didn't delve deep enough exploring the difficulties Haeryung faced trying to fit into a man's world. And, the dethroned prince storyline only picked momentum towards the end.The chemistry between Haeryung and Yi Rim was a bit bland. She was six years older than him and acted more like an older sister than a love interest. They often looked awkward together and weren't convincing as two young people in love. I was very apprehensive to watch this drama because of SSK's abysmal performance in Captivating the King. But, surprisingly, she did a pretty decent job.
The ending was very underwhelming. The drama had a very progressive message for women to pursue their dreams and not being shackled by society's expectations. However, neither Haeryung nor Yi Rim achieved any tremendous heights at the end. They lived together like a married couple, but they weren't married and nobody paid too much attention to that. This was especially strange considering the historical period they lived in. Yi Rim abandoned his princehood and became a nobody while Haeryung blissfully continued to bebop through life as a historian. At the end, they achieved nothing and their so-called "freedom" consisted of them blissfully living in an extramarital relationship. I didn't get anything out of this message except that being mediocre was ok.
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A more lighthearted look at historical drama
This seemed to me like watching people play dress up in historical costume, but it was actually in current time. For me, that wasn't a bad thing. I typically don't care for historical dramas because they are SO full of angst, often have tragic endings, all the government people look alike and are ALWAYS evil, there is often unrealistic flying around acrobatics going on. That's why this show for me was a breath of fresh air. Sure, the government people still all looked alike and there was a lot of evil to go around, but I was able to get past that because of the lightheartedness that was evident throughout.Interesting premise for a story and I loved the strength of the women characters. There were quite a few times that got me grinning, especially from the eunuch. Oh, the trials of trying to keep up with a prince!
The two leads were very good. I loved him in True Beauty, and he showed a more playful side to himself here. His expressions were so sweet, and his smiles and mannerisms as he journeyed into first love were a joy to watch. I appreciated that they took the time to show us the development of their relationship, and I could understand why they fell in love with each other.
As usual, giant time skip, rushed ending, but in this case, I was able to get past that because I enjoyed the three quarters of the episodes so much.
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Development of the characters
This was my first historical KDrama I've watched, and I feel I could not have selected a better one. What I enjoyed most about this story was the development of the two main characters. The overall storyline moves beyond the attraction these two have to each other, and shows the joys, the struggles, and the decisions they face within the positions they hold in this historical society. The subplots written into the main plot, bring a rich layer to the overall story that envelopes the viewer and never lets go. Even as the series ended, I found I wanted to see and hear more of Goo Hae-ryung, Prince Dowon, the historians, and characters that made up palace life. An added bonus were the beautiful costumes of the Josean period.Was this review helpful to you?
10/10 binge-ability.
I don't typically enjoy Joseon dramas all that much because the villains tend to suck and painstakingly explain all their awful plans step by step as they plot along. There was quite little evil plotting here, while still delivering lots of drama, so this show was a very welcome surprise!There were so many different plots happening in short and long arcs that I never got bored. There was a big mystery regarding a dethroned king, there was relationship drama, there were power struggles within the court and also the journey of a group of women trying to find their place and be acknowledged in a male-centric world. The show even took the time to give some backstory to a couple of the other historians, which could have been boring but wasn't because it ended up helping me better understand their actions and motivations.
The cast was huge, and everyone did a fantastic job. This was my first time seeing a drama with Shin Se Kyung and she was absolutely wonderful. And Cha Eun Woo as Prince Rin was just too precious for words. He was so earnest, sweet and pure. I liked the different power dynamic of having the female lead be the older, more confident one in the relationship and her male co-star be the innocent, unsure one. They were great together. And the Crown Prince and Historian Min deserve some recognition, too. Along with the other three female historians, the eunuch that always accompanied the Prince and Hae Ryung's maid.
A wonderful drama all around.
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The Pen Is Mightier Than The Sword
In a world for of societal pressures, what will you be?I have a lot of appreciation for what RHGHR was going for, the good, the bad, and the cuteness.
The era this is set in was full of turmoil as the world around it changed, but time stood still there. This drama captures those struggles and happenings within the palace, mainly focusing on the women's role within the walls. It's a mystery, romance, adventure drama that was easy to watch and a nice break from other body count heavy historical dramas (yes, I'm looking at you Scarlet Heart).
There is some drama (what would a historical drama be without some power hungry mongrel) but all is well in drama land as this issue is dealt with quite quickly and concisely. The ending was almost too quick for my liking, but left a smile on my face nevertheless, so I didn't have a big problem with it.
The music is lovely, the acting good (nothing groundbreaking), and the conflicts and humor were well-placed. There is much character development to be had, and a lot of light moments are spread throughout to keep the viewing experience pleasant. This drama faces societal pressures and norms head-on, and I'm very much here for it. There were challenges as to what was right and wrong, and where the grey in society should be placed. The male lead's character here was also very soft in comparison to a lot of dramas, with the woman saving him most of the time, but his character had balance between brave and sweet. It was nice to watch. The women here are kickass and meddlesome in the best ways as well.
All in all, a lovely, romance driven, light watch with some plot to it that keeps the drama from dragging. This is by no means a fast pace, heart-pounding, watch. It was highly enjoyable since I needed a break from the heaviness of other dramas. I would recommend if you're looking for something cute and fresh with some plot.
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This review may contain spoilers
How to turn your government internship into a main character moment and achieve justice
Have you ever asked yourself, what would it be like to be a scribe interning in the royal palace of 1700s Korea? Most certainly, I had not. But I’m so glad I randomly came across this drama, because it’s probably my favorite that I’ve ever watched so far.First of all, to be clear, Rookie Historian is an elaborate and dynamic political drama far before it is a romance. Rather, it is an intricate exploration of duty, integrity, and ethics that continues to escalate in a narrative filled with twists and turns. There are indeed some pleasant comedic hijinks (just skirting the lines of ridiculousness in a way that works), and a delectable but absurdly petite romance plot between the female and male lead (don’t be mislead by the romance novelist antics of the pilot); as well as often feeling slightly like an office dramedy, but the at the end of the day, you’re in for a ride of court politics that will keep you binging until the intense finale. Just remember to savor the happy and silly times, because they will be over by the third act!
Setting: I found this drama to be a deeply interesting cultural exploration as an American who knows very little of Korean history, let alone palace culture. If you like western governmental political dramas like me, this will hit the spot in a way you would never see coming.
Theme: I was not expecting this drama to be so rich thematically! Clashing of ideals, tradition versus change, power versus equity, loyalty and ambition, justice and truth, and the importance of history, literacy, and free expression. A great recipe with a surprisingly satisfying result.
Characters: The protagonist Hae-Ryung is likable and fierce, and among many characters that you will find yourself rooting for, even as you witness them make humanizing mistakes. Yi Rim is totally adorable, that’s about all I have to say on that.
Romance: I am the tiniest bit irked that we got edged on the romance, of course–the kisses were barely more than chaste! At the same time, I would have been completely happy for GHR and YR to just be platonic partners in crime, but since they decided to include catching feelings, I wanted that to actually go somewhere..oh well. They got an ending that suited their desires.
I’m already concerned that I may not be able to find other dramas that engage me like this one.
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My favorite drama ever.
I went into this drama not expecting much, it was my first period drama and I just fell in love with it.The show overall just made sense in every aspect.
The romance was not rushed or too slow, it is unproblematic, no major twists at the end, and it had a nice and clear ending. I especially appreciate that there's absolutely no filler and every scene has a purpose.
Everything about this drama is so beautiful, the costumes, the music, the acting... I just love it.
I love the politics in this drama as well and highlights feminism a lot in it.
I thouroughly enjoyed all the side characters and they all contributed to the story in some way and were very nicely thought out.
I recommend this to anyone who wants to start getting into period dramas, or just kdramas in general.
It's so rewatchable and really easy to follow and to understand!
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