MY ALL TIME FAV AND CLOSE TO MY HEART ?
King the Land - ReviewKing the Land (2023) is a charming romantic comedy that brings lighthearted fun and feel-good moments to viewers. Starring Lee Jun-ho and Im Yoon-ah, the drama blends humor, romance, and heartfelt storytelling into a delightful package, making it an enjoyable watch for K-drama enthusiasts.
Story and Themes
The story follows Gu Won (Lee Jun-ho), a stoic and reserved chaebol heir, and Cheon Sa-rang (Im Yoon-ah), a cheerful hotelier with an infectious smile. Their worlds collide when Gu Won is forced to manage his family's luxurious hotel chain, King Hotel, and Sa-rang becomes part of his team. The drama explores themes of love, personal growth, and the pursuit of happiness while offering commentary on workplace challenges and the social divides between the wealthy and working class.
While the plot doesn't break new ground in the romantic comedy genre, its execution is charming and engaging. The narrative is simple and predictable, yet it works well because of its lovable characters and lighthearted tone.
Performances
Lee Jun-ho shines as Gu Won, delivering a nuanced performance that captures his character's transformation from cold and detached to warm and vulnerable. Im Yoon-ah is radiant as Cheon Sa-rang, bringing energy, warmth, and authenticity to her role. Their chemistry is palpable, and their interactions are filled with both heart-fluttering and comedic moments that make their love story genuinely endearing.
The supporting cast also deserves recognition, particularly Sa-rang's friends and Gu Won's hilarious rivalry with his half-sister Gu Hwa-ran (Kim Sun-young), who adds drama and humor in equal measure.
Visuals and Cinematography
The drama is visually stunning, with lavish settings that highlight the grandeur of luxury hotels and the glamorous lives of the elite. The warm color palette and vibrant cinematography enhance the romantic and comedic atmosphere, making each scene a visual treat.
Music and OST
The OST complements the tone of the drama, featuring upbeat and romantic tracks that heighten the emotional and comedic beats. While the songs may not be as iconic as those from other K-dramas, they are well-suited to the narrative and help set the mood.
Strengths
Strong chemistry between the leads.
Lighthearted and humorous tone, perfect for escapism.
Visually appealing production design and settings.
Relatable moments and endearing supporting characters.
Weaknesses
The story’s predictability and reliance on common K-drama tropes may feel uninspired for some viewers. Additionally, the character development for secondary storylines is somewhat underexplored, leaving a few subplots feeling rushed or incomplete.
Final Thoughts
King the Land is a quintessential romantic comedy that excels in providing light, heartwarming entertainment. While it may not revolutionize the genre, its delightful leads, witty humor, and wholesome moments make it a comforting watch. Fans of Lee Jun-ho and Im Yoon-ah, or anyone looking for an uplifting and easygoing drama, will find this series immensely enjoyable.
Rating: 9/10
With its delightful charm and breezy storytelling, King the Land is a sweet treat for K-drama fans craving a feel-good romance.
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This review may contain spoilers
The best written couple ever!
Ooh man, if the end of episode 15 was a real breakup. I would have rated this a 5 but it was a fake out lolI do absolutely enjoy this show.
It is well Witten and acted. So many be great characters. The 3 females friendship
Simply the best. There aren't a lot of bad tropes, like FL didn't have any past connection with the ML etc.
No random villain or any crazy trauma,besides ML mom that had left him at young age and I was happy they didn't drag that for 3-4 episodes. She gave a perfect great excuse and I bought it.
The leads, their chemistry is absolutely incredible.
Alhough the ML played a rich boy type of character. I appreciate that at the end of the series when she decided she wanted to quit and had her own hotel. He didn't use his money to help her. He just supported her, he left her truly be on her own. She had to take a mortgage lol I find that funny lol
They didn't have random breakup half way through. Even though, so many things got in their way, they stuck together and always talked things through.
I really hope more couples do get written this well. I have a thing for bad tropes. If I roll my eyes at your tropes, well your score will get lowered lol
Anyway
I loved how they showed how difficult it is to work in customer service. The hotel, flight attendant stuff and the store. Good stuff.
The ML on episode 15 finally to show some range after he met his mother. Glad he got to show some good acting.
And of course, the FL is absolutely adorable, charming and with great personality.
No loose end.
Only character I didn't like was the sister.
She was some hater bro. She came around for her son but at that time, I was already done with her.
I definitely would watch this again.
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one of the best romantic comedy kdramas!
Sometimes we need clichéd dramas!I highly recommend and would rewatch this work, THE BEST ROMANTIC COMEDY I HAVE EVER WATCHED.
The bar has been very high thanks to Sarang and Guwon, the upcoming rom-com characters will have a hard time surpassing them, they have raised the bar a lot!
Best couple, best chemistry, the love story at a cliché level that everyone likes, just perfect! I don't think I'll easily find a drama that makes me feel everything Guwon and Sarang did.
I loved it so much, note 10!
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Solita storia ma bello sempre.
Non si puo dire che è una storia originale e che sia qualcosa di mai visto,tutt'altro e la solita storia che però piace sempre.Lui ricco ed eccentrico lei lavoratice e brava ragazza.Si incontrano prima si odiano e poi si innamorano.Il tutto in mezzo a una lotta per l'eredità e la voglia di emergere di lei.Vincono tutti loro una fantastica storia d'amore con il classico happy ending e pure intorno a loro va tutto a gonfie vele.Tutto raccontato con divertimento e con i soliti cliché e impreziosito da una bella colonna sonora.
Fantastica la chimica tra i due protagonisti.
Se piace la classica storia d'amore romantica questo è il dramma giusto.
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Perfect rom-com
This is all I wanted after those sad ending/revenge dramas~ Plus this really brought back my love for kdramas. Perfect chemistry of the cast together with an amazing storyline- I'm so intrigued 😍🔥After Big Mouth I didn't think I'll see Yoona much on screen especially if it's roscommon but I am loving this!!!! I think casting Yoona and Junho for this was the best idea ever!!! Since the 2nd gen of idols these 2 just had this vibe yk? 🤌🏻😮💨🔥❤️ Looking forward to the coming episodes~ currently on ep 5..it's amazing and the comedy is actually nice and gives natural flow instead of forcing it like other dramas.Was this review helpful to you?
A healing and enjoyable drama you can watch with family & friends
Like YoonA and Junho said, this is a feel-good drama you can watch during your meal. The drama is filled with generous amount of funny scenes (the ones which make you laugh out loud) and well-done executed romantic cliche scenes (ex: FL draining in the rain & ML coming to offer umbrella)!You can enjoy amazing performance from our casts. Their acting, visual and chemistry really scream Sarang and Guwon! It feels like this drama is made for them. Along with that you can also enjoy beautiful scenery with nice OSTs in this drama.
So far I've watched 8 episodes of this drama and will update this review when more episodes are released.
If you like makjang drama with many plot twists, this drama may not be for you.
If you like a romcom drama with funny and romantic scenes, then try this one out. The main leads' chemistry in and out of the drama is one of a kind!
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Very enjoyable!
With one episode left to watch (currently waiting for it to drop on Netflix sometime today) I can honestly say that I am thoroughly enjoying this show. It is a true rom-com. It isn't original or anything crazy, but it's exactly what I'm here for: the romance and the comedy. There's a bit of drama as well but it gets dealt with in a satisfactory manner and adds depth to the show as opposed to turning me away. (If I wanted to watch the bad guys win, I'd turn on the news instead of a rom-com that makes me feel good when I see the underdog win.)I have seen a lot of bad comments about this show, so I'll warn you that if you can't laugh at yourself and others without getting offended, then this isn't for you. If you respect your own culture/politics/religions as well as others, you should also be mature enough to be able to enjoy a comedy sketch without taking it seriously.
The actors do a good job playing their roles appropriately, and I have no problems with the directing and editing teams. There is sufficient chemistry between the characters to pull off believable relationships within the show. The settings are lovely and exactly as expected, and the music is appropriate and not distracting. It is overall, well made and easy to watch.
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It was just what I needed at the time but it's not without it's flaws
Ik everyone has mixed reviews but I had a great time, lighthearted ROM COMS are right up my Alley and as a huge fan of Business proposal this series was fun for me.I love the chemistry between the main leads, their banter and playfulness sold me, I loved the way Gu won has provided a safe place for Sa Rang to be able to vent, be happy and grow though at times I'm a bit torn because I feel as though Sa Rang could do a better job at returning the favor well that might be a little hard seeing as tho Gu won is all about Sa Rang and would rather listen to her vent all day than to vent himself 😭
As we all know good is often times accompanied by bad so here are some of the things that kinda missed the mark for me.
Mr. No. His character came off incredibly annoying to me there's a few times I chucked or had a small moment like ah that's cute but a majority of his scenes I find myself being incredibly frustrated.
Gu wons step sister, in most if not all her scenes I'm like ???
And her and Gu won constantly have the same conversation over and over again and it's like whip lash cuz I find myself thinking I've seen this scene already no?
The trifling husband like um ? This is a real problem bro I don't find it funny I was really hoping she'd get a divorce and we'll see her living a life in reference to what she said at the beginning of the show "why would I be with one person for the rest of my life". But hey u can't have it all ig.
And I prefised this earlier but I would really love to see Sa Rang give Gu won alittle more energy.
And I hope no one internalizes this as me hating bc I absolutely adore the show so far apart from the minor hiccups I'm literally having so much fun and I'd definitely rewatch it for the level of comfort its bringing me so far❤️
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Even Disney needs a Villan!
Even Disney needs a villan. Are we as a society getting so sensitive that we will start banning shows based on the villan portrayed or where they come from? It's just one villan, not an entire civilization. I personally would like to see an evil old woman, oh wait, that was Snow White. Does that mean all grandmothers are evil? Should I as a grandmother take offense and start a campaign to boycott Snow White? Remember, humanity has many kinds of people, some good, some bad, and some in therapy. Not all queens are evil, not all men are corrupt, not all prince's are charming, and not all Cinderella's need saving. Enjoy the show....I find myself drawn in by the storytelling, the amazing actors, the chemistry, the hotel and the dynamics between the families. Love the grandma, she is such a great actress. I loved the reference to the Red Sleeve. Now I'm off to see episode 9.
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This Drama made my hot summer weekends perfect!
Let me start by saying how amazing the ML actor Lee Jun Ho is, his visuals, voice and entire persona
really bring a sauce to this drama. He is the reason why I am watching this drama to the end.
The 2 episodes with the Arab Prince is just a fraction of the entire Drama and it's more than
worth it to watch it. The ratings were very high and some viewers opened new MDL profile
just to leave bad comments on the actors pages and rate the drama 1/10. Imagine you are an
actor in this drama and came on MDL to see the viewers hate comments about you. It's not
rocket science to know this is a fiction drama and these actors are hired to play the roles.
There is no need for the hate comments. I found those scenes joyful and funny to watch as
the Prince and ML were school friends. Some people take things too far.
I want to add that there are no cliche or unnecessary scenes, the flow of the story is great
and the writer hold back some things while the story unfolds. There is sister and brother
rivalry and this is somewhat the main story and the honoring service workers.
I have watched 14/16 episodes as I write this while it's airing and looking forward to watch
the last 2 episodes. I most add how amazing the cinematography is in this series.
The Director of Photography has displayed some amazing visuals to match the story and direction.
I totally recommend this drama. I will keep my ratings at 10/10 start to finish.
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A feel good romance!
King the Land follows the traditional troupe of classic contemporary romances involving a Chaebol and Candy leads but this drama gives it a new life and breath to the story by making the characters (all of them) well rounded, with background stories, and agency.Won is a great leading man. At first he comes across like any other chaebol character but quickly you realize he's nothing like it. He's confident, not cocky, has good manners and treats everything fair and square. Those who cross him had it coming tbh and even then he doesn't resent them for what they did. He simply puts them in their place.
Sarang comes from a working class family, and her parents passed away, but she never feels inferior to anyone and treats people with sincerity. She's also an independent, fun and lovely young woman who likes to go dancing with her friends, date and hanging out with her grandma. Sarang it's not, under any circumstances, the typical Candy heroine shouldering a hard, pitiful life. Sarang's life is full of color, warmth and joy.
Pyung Hwa, Da-eul, Ro-woon and Sang-sik complete the found family group of friends and they are equally enjoyable to watch. They all have strong, nuance personalities and have to deal with their own issues. They are not just background decoration for the leads to rely on when something happens.
The story is solid, angst free and really fun to watch. It's nothing new but, at the same time, the characters make it feel fresh. I particularly enjoyed the soundtrack, which I found to be perfectly placed at all the right moments. The cinematography it's also good, editing and directing wise there's no complains.
Overall, I recommend this drama to fans of rom-coms looking for a quality watch!
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So boring!
Is this really a 2023 drama? It's like one of those 70s productions on a budget! If you have time, it's something you can watch together with the kids and grannies, while cooking food on the stove too!The only nice thing to look at is the ML, who obviously has WAY MORE potential than he can display here. His acting range and expressive features dont benefit at all from this no-action drama... Nothing daring, nothing worth remembering. Plz give me a crazy lakorn instead of this!
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