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Political Hostage and Puppet Ruler MLs

Arclei

Hiii, I found a niche thing that I enjoy which is political hostage and puppet ruler MLs, so I'm here to ask for recommendations with this trope UwU

  • Any country, any type, any length
  • Either or; it doesn't have to be both. 
  • Preferably if it's a lead character/important character 
  • Ideal if it's a ML 🙏 but I'm taking reccs for all 'cause I wanna compile 'em into a list ^^
  • I'd appreciate knowing if it's a happy ending. 
  • Doesn't have to be historical- I'm kinda curious if there are any contemporary titles with this trope. 

Titles I've seen with this: Secret of Three Kingdoms (Puppet ruler ML), The Legendary Life of Queen Lau (Puppet ruler ML), The Legend of Hao Lan (Political hostage ML), Eternal Brotherhood (Political hostage SFL), Creation of Gods I: Kingdom of Storms (Political hostage ML) 

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emeraldarrows
  • Captivating the King (ML was a political hostage, happy ending)
  • Grand Prince (ML spends part of the drama as a political hostage, happy ending)
  • The Emperor: Owner of the Mask (ML is a puppet ruler, happy ending)
  • Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo (ML was a political hostage as a child and it shapes his character, sad ending)
  • Bloody Heart (ML is basically a puppet ruler trying to break free of the control, happy ending)
  • The Crowned Clown (ML is a puppet ruler, substituting for the real ruler who basically is one, too, happy ending)
  • Till the End of the Moon (ML is a political hostage, sad/open ending)
  • Colourful Bone (ML is very much like a political hostage he's actually the crown prince who was given up, mind-wiped and turned into a sacrificial bodyguard. There are two different/alternate endings, one tragic, one happy, so you can pick the ending you like, I prefer the happy one)
  • Yue Rou Fu (puppet emperor supporting character, happy ending)
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autumn iris

Haven't been mentioned (All MLs):

Lost You Forever (hostage)

Stand by Me (puppet ruler, haven't actually finished this because I read the ending spoiler)

The Romance of Tiger and Rose (hostage)

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Arclei
 emeraldarrows:
  • Captivating the King (ML was a political hostage, happy ending)
  • Grand Prince (ML spends part of the drama as a political hostage, happy ending)
  • The Emperor: Owner of the Mask (ML is a puppet ruler, happy ending)
  • Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo (ML was a political hostage as a child and it shapes his character, sad ending)
  • Bloody Heart (ML is basically a puppet ruler trying to break free of the control, happy ending)
  • The Crowned Clown (ML is a puppet ruler, substituting for the real ruler who basically is one, too, happy ending)
  • Till the End of the Moon (ML is a political hostage, sad/open ending)
  • Colourful Bone (ML is very much like a political hostage he's actually the crown prince who was given up, mind-wiped and turned into a sacrificial bodyguard. There are two different/alternate endings, one tragic, one happy, so you can pick the ending you like, I prefer the happy one)
  • Yue Rou Fu (puppet emperor supporting character, happy ending)

Thank youuuuuu!! You always deliver with reccs (and I appreciate the ending spoilers)!! Quiet some historical korean reccs which I haven't watched a lot of so I'll defs check em out! 


 autumn iris:

Haven't been mentioned (All MLs):

Lost You Forever (hostage)

Stand by Me (puppet ruler, haven't actually finished this because I read the ending spoiler)

The Romance of Tiger and Rose (hostage)

Thank you for the reccs!! Can't believe I completely forgor TRoTaR XD btw, which ML in LYF? 

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autumn iris

@arclei Xiyan Cang Xuan, he always accompany another kingdom's princess being called older brother but actually treated more like a bodyguard + servant, and not permitted to be back to his country.

Ah forget to say; you're welcome.

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Arclei
 autumn iris:

@arclei Xiyan Cang Xuan, he always accompany another kingdom's princess being called older brother but actually treated more like a bodyguard + servant, and not permitted to be back to his country.

Ah forget to say; you're welcome.

tysm! 🙏 

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TimiZero

If you want Japanese, there's Dou Suru Ieyasu. ML was political hostage until he reached adulthood. 

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Arclei
 TimiZero:

If you want Japanese, there's Dou Suru Ieyasu. ML was political hostage until he reached adulthood. 

Omg yesss!! I'm always looking for non-chinese historical reccs! Thank you!!

At what point in his life does the drama start? Like is it a past thing or do we get to see his life as a hostage? 

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TimiZero
 Arclei:
At what point in his life does the drama start? Like is it a past thing or do we get to see his life as a hostage? 

The drama is a biopic of Tokugawa Ieyasu so it will cover all his life from baby until his last moment, but mostly in the drama the character will be in a teen age (played by the same actor) during the hostage days. Since the time span is long, you will also see him as a free and powerful lord in the latter half of the drama.   

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Arclei
 TimiZero:

The drama is a biopic of Tokugawa Ieyasu so it will cover all his life from baby until his last moment, but mostly in the drama the character will be in a teen age (played by the same actor) during the hostage days. Since the time span is long, you will also see him as a free and powerful lord in the latter half of the drama.   

That's awesome! Exactly what I was hoping for! Appreciate the explanation! 

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TimiZero
 Arclei:

That's awesome! Exactly what I was hoping for! Appreciate the explanation! 

No problem!

But I forgot to mention that the Eng Sub for this drama is a bit complicated to get. 

The full subtitle can only be obtained by joining this community in LJ: https://takeoff-subs.livejournal.com/

There's an alternative version of the subtitle but it is still work in progress (I believe until EP30 is done). If you don't plan to watch this anytime soon, I recommend you to wait for this version instead of joining the community above. 

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mahiba

The first that came to mind is Empress Ki (one of the two MLs)

Also if you stretch it a bit for a modern version:  The last empress. There's a king but the real power lies in the queen (his mom)

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Arclei
 TimiZero:

No problem!

But I forgot to mention that the Eng Sub for this drama is a bit complicated to get. 

The full subtitle can only be obtained by joining this community in LJ: https://takeoff-subs.livejournal.com/

There's an alternative version of the subtitle but it is still work in progress (I believe until EP30 is done). If you don't plan to watch this anytime soon, I recommend you to wait for this version instead of joining the community above. 

Alrighty! I'm in no rush so I'll wait for the subs to come out! Thank you so much for all the info, greatly appreciated 


 mahiba:

The first that came to mind is Empress Ki (one of the two MLs)

Also if you stretch it a bit for a modern version:  The last empress. There's a king but the real power lies in the queen (his mom) 

Thanks for the reccs!! 

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