Another historical drama that I'm happy I watched
I am not a fan of historical dramas until I watched Alchemy of souls and moon lovers. So what actually dragged me here was Park Ji Hoon and I don't regret it. The storyline was even more captivating for me because I was curious of how they would put it and overall back in those days and I was impressed. The Female lead was wonderful, beautiful and this was my first time seeing her and I liked her... a lot. There were funny scenes, there were scenes that made me be like...wow...everybody for themselves in this palace oo. I liked his other personality a lot, sometime annoying but overall, loveable.The characters acted their part well and I'm happy I got to watch it. To be honest, I either can't remember or don't have anything against the k-drama, but I highly recommend it.
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One of the exciting & Romantic Historical Dama
It was a real good Historical Drama and Best main actor who did double job/double man, evil and good. The main lady actress was equally good and this drama had all those great actors like the step brother as well as the spiteful father the ex King .Overall it was one of the great historical drama besides Captivating the King . Thank you for theis great drama
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This review may contain spoilers
This is my humble opinion. Just an office manager from Bds who loves dramas.
This is the first Korean Historical Drama I have watched, I have seen a few contemporary ones, but this is my first historical one, and it is a fantasy. So to be honest my expectations were not that high. After the first episode I was a bit skeptical and read the webtoon ( meah). I am not a fan of sad endings so before I went any further I needed to know that everyone wasn't going to die. (Trauma last year)The ML played by Park Ji Hoon was exceptional, I don't speak or understand Korean (read the subtitles) but he acted 3 parts in this series and I could see the distinct differences in each character he portrayed. The Crown Prince (with all his past trauma), Ak Hee (The Evil Spirt or alter ego ) and The King (without the trauma) with the strength to overcome the pain within himself.
Bravo, exceptionally done. Especially for someone his age. He drew me into the story, especially the way he expresses his emotion with his eyes, I really hope he can keep this passionate acting up, looking forward to seeing more from him.
The FL played by Hong Ye Ji was not bad, perhaps she needs a bit more seasoning, I felt her emotion and understood her character, maybe it was the script, but she did not show allot of depth in her performance. She is beautiful and elegant and in this role meant to be strong willed, but her character lacked more. . . . . . . everything.
Grand Prince played by Hwang Hee, fantastic, I really began to hate his character from the beginning and that only grew till the end. Any actor who can play a antagonist role and have the watcher really feel that "I would like to slap you" feeling, is doing his job. Just needs to work on his evil laugh, not sure if it was meant to be humorous but it didn't work for him.
Lastly the ML father played by Kim Tae Woo. Wonderfully done, he showed the torment he was feeling, he showed the distain for his son, he showed the wanting to numb the pain. I was very moved by his performance and will look for more work with him, hope I am not disappointed.
The rest of the cast was bearable.
The storyline itself was quite fun and different from the usual drama. However it was shortened too much in some areas and drawn out in others, there were so many directions, plots, twists and turns that could have made the story much better. The soundtrack was ok. Cinematography was lacking especially for such a short drama, and the editing was not the greatest, despite this I enjoyed it.
I do have a few questions about some things and this is purely from a lack of knowledge and not a judgement.
1. why was it so easy for the FL to come and go from the palace as she pleased, I know she is meant to play an assassin but still.
2. the grand prince's mother, was her part just supposed to be the comedy of the series, because she was not funny and i did not see the point of her being there at all.
3. the beginning was well planned out up till episode 8 but I felt like the rest was rushed especially the ending (last 4 episodes), is this because of having a set number of episodes allowed.
If you are looking for something to kill a few hours this is it, not too much thinking needed.
RTRC
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Emotional turmoil and visuals
Well, I liked it. I gave it 9. ML absolutely grat acting and being able to play two characters interchangably... convincing. What I liked a lot were costumes. In comparison to other period dramas, these had quite a modern take in it and I loved it. There is no need to be true to historic elements to a tee when presenting such a mistic world. And if I could address some of the comments in here on people skipping, or find it dragging, or repetitive with two identities switching, or.... I felt it was needed. Evil spirit needed time to move through his eveilness, falling in love, unrequited love, obsessing, trying to survive and live and keep K... all was needed to justify the end. As the main lead needed time to grow in strength, both mental and in a role of king without beeing opressed by his late father, and fix all his father's wrong doings, which he felt deeply ever since beeing a kid. Give this drama a go. Skip if you need to. I did. Most shaman stuff and the role they played in MLs growth were not of interest to me. I understand they were needed but to me the love and the sense of right vs wrong is what helped him overcome his weaknesses.Was this review helpful to you?
AKHEE
Jihoon was the reason I kept watching even though scenario was going opposite direction of my expectations.I loved the starting point of this drama. The dual / evil personality was such a great thing to have in a historical drama. Jihoon nailed it 100%. I was rooting for Akhee the whole time and couldn't really connect with the sajo hyun and yeon wol. Though beside the romance, it's the story itself that was the weakest point of LSFI. Plot was changing ep by ep, adding another plot twist or drama cliché turnover but it didn't make sense at all. It has a lack of consistency and it felt rushed a lot toward the last ep. I don't hate this drama, actually i followed every weak release but i must admit if it wasn't for akhee's character i would have dropped it. 😔😈
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concept is refreshingly unique
This drama presents a captivating storyline that breathes new life into the world of Korean dramas. The concept is refreshingly unique, offering a break from the typical narratives. The plot weaves through unexpected twists, keeping viewers hooked. The OST, a true gem, perfectly complements the emotional rollercoaster, enhancing every scene with its beautiful melodies.However, the main lead's portrayal falls short of the brilliance seen in other aspects of the drama. Despite the intriguing plot, their performance lacks the depth needed to fully engage the audience. The chemistry between the leads feels somewhat forced, leaving viewers yearning for a more authentic connection. Despite this drawback, it manages to carve its own niche in the K-drama realm, providing an overall enjoyable experience for fans of the genre.
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A Refreshing Historical Drama with Minor Flaws
Love Song for Illusion completely drew me in, leading me to finish the entire series in two days. I haven't yet explored the webtoon it's based on, so my experience with the drama was uncoloured by any expectations or comparisons. This fresh perspective impressed me, and I'm now eager to read the webtoon to delve further into the narrative.This drama stands out for its meticulous attention to detail and its notably unique plot within the historical genre, offering a breath of fresh air with its innovative approach. However, I did notice a period in the middle where the storyline seemed to loop back on itself, creating a sense of redundancy. Despite this minor hiccup, the plot's originality and the engaging twists kept me hooked, proving it's a rare find in the realm of historical dramas. It is an exceptional series that marries a compelling story with rich details, making it a highly recommended watch for both genre enthusiasts and those looking for something new and captivating.
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This review may contain spoilers
FROM INTRIGUING TO INCOMPREHENSIBLE
I just finished watching this intense historical fantasy drama, and wow, do I have thoughts! Right from the beginning, the drama sets a dark, intense tone with Minister Sajo Seung beating his son, Sajo Hyun, for drawing outfits. I thought this scene perfectly showcased the dysfunctional relationship between them, setting the foundation for Sajo Hyun's inner torment. The drama only gets more complex from there, introducing Wol, the assassin, and her tragic backstory tied to Sajo Hyun's father's massacre of her entire family.One thing I loved was how deeply flawed and multifaceted the characters were. Sajo Hyun is fascinating, with his split personality—Ak Hee, the wild, charismatic fighter, versus Sajo Hyun, the quiet, blood-averse fashion designer. The dynamic between them was one of the most captivating aspects, especially as they both vied for the attention of Kyera (Wol’s assassin identity). Watching Ak Hee's interactions with Kyera, particularly the love-hate tension, was thrilling. Their chemistry was undeniable, and Ak Hee’s jealousy over Sajo Hyun's growing bond with her added a lot of layers to the story.
However, the drama took some unexpected turns, and not all for the better. Around episode 12, things started to get a bit confusing. There were moments where I felt like the plot was trying too hard to keep us on our toes, throwing in elements like random amnesia, unexplained plagues, and complicated political schemes. Sajo Yoong’s rise to power and the constant switching of identities between Ak Hee and Sajo Hyun, especially towards the end, made it hard to keep track of who was in control.
Despite its flaws, I really appreciated how the show built the tension between the two personalities and how they both ended up working together for a common goal, at least for a while: Kyera. The ending, though, left me with mixed feelings. Ak Hee’s disappearance felt like a betrayal of his character, and while I get that Sajo Hyun had to let go of his fears, I had grown attached to Ak Hee and his complexity.
Overall, the drama started off strong but lost its way in the middle. It’s an emotional rollercoaster, with some beautifully executed moments, but I can’t help but feel like it was a bit of a mess in parts. The soundtrack, though? Absolutely amazing—I’m definitely downloading that one track that kept playing during the emotional scenes. It’s a drama I wouldn’t necessarily recommend to everyone, but for those who love complex characters and don’t mind a little chaos in their plotlines, it might be worth a watch!
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What noo noo.
That first episode is so good. and the actors are amazing, and so is the set design.but darne those writers, because that plot was awful, so hollow, this had so much potential and the writers flushed it all down the toilet.
We have a man with a split personality, but instead of flushing him out and healing him, they just gave us a good concurs bad.
Like a personality created of trauma doesn´t deserve to live... doesn´t deserve love.
We have a traumatised FL, who didn´t get any any time that was about her, no instead it was about his throne or how she fits into her life. BUt what happened to her revenge??? Her healing?
I can´t I´m done
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Good Enough
Korean Drama '' Love Song For Illusion '' is a fantasy historical melodrama.The story is okay at first, with the two personalities being displayed brilliantly. The political drama was nice and smooth as well, with enough plot twists to keep things thrilling till the next episode.
Things went downhill after the first half, however. The romance was rocky, especially since the love triangle was not handled well. Also, the political drama got boring and cringey with the cheesy tropes that they used.
Finally, the performances were enjoyable.
So, overall, five out of ten.
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This review may contain spoilers
Unique Story Needed Better Execution
I enjoy stories related to mental health and the fantasy genre. This kind of combination was definitely unique. What it lacked was in execution because I seem to have missed the point it was making with their ending.Though this series got a lot of flak, it isn't so bad. I'd say it's above average as I was curious enough to want to finish it. I just feel like the writers did Ak Hee dirty in the process and that didn't make sense to me.
I enjoyed the portrayal of the two personalities of the ML. The FL was all right. A bit stiff. I haven't seen her in other roles so I'm not sure if it's because of the character she was portraying or not. The supporting cast were all quite good.
The show is best watched at 1.5 - 2x as the pacing felt slow to me.
The biggest question I have is - How can one's illusion impact others? They messed it up with this aspect. Otherwise I didn't feel like dropping it at any point. Just feel a bit disappointed but other than that the ending was good. Even the way they wrapped up those creating trouble makers was fine.
It's okay for a one time watch.
The OST is quite nice and soothing.
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