Lee C
La Belle Province
This review may contain spoilers
The Bachelor’s Mike Fleiss Could Learn a Thing or Two.
First and foremost this is a classy show. No-one gets tanked. The bitchiness is kept to a minimum. The contestants seem to actually get along. No nudity. Not raunchy.It really is more romantic than sexy. Which is surprising given the profile of the ‘Dream Guy.’
He actually gets more attractive as the show progresses. By the time the men see him rising from the sea, no one can contain their appreciation. Ahem!
If you are a clothes horse like I am you will be impressed by the dandies on the show whose outfits are most complimentary. Including one black Speedo! I love a well-tailored suit and was not disappointed. All were attractive, very different types, and in various progressions of attaining washboard abs. Some had to have been Greek gods in a past life! There is one contestant likely to make everyone’s jaw drop and another that will make Dream Guy do a double take.
You get a little peek into each contestant’s life which gave you a sense of their true personalities without their nerves. There are no bad guys. They all seem decent, sincere, and there for the right reasons.
There are sports, drama, and endurance challenges that propel the winner to the next round. The competition is very good-natured. These contests include celebrity guests. Here’s a spoiler: Max & Tul do some cooking.
Tul asks why he has been invited to be the Dream Guy and someone responds ‘because there would be women on your list! ´ JUST WOW!
The elimination ceremonies got to me! I found them more poignant than other shows of this genre.
I really felt so bad when someone was eliminated. And of course this is where the biggest surprises occur. Jewelry is given to the lucky ones which is preferable to a rose doomed to die.
The only thing I wish had been done differently was how the contestants were introduced. Uninspired and rather imposing on Dream Guy. Now you will notice I haven’t mentioned his name. I just cannot like his nickname - Claudjane! How to pronounce this?! Turns out it is an actual name. Note to self: Research HIS actual name.
One telling thing that was revealed was that two thought they were recruited for an acting job!
This is worth watching for the actual romantic gestures alone. And the respect they afford each other.
Oh and most importantly, the Dream Guy gets it right in choosing Mr. Right.
This is a sweet, positive, feel-good show. So go watch it now!
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
That open ended ending was indeed scripted that way for a reason...Here come the spoilers if you have not seen episode six.
The perfect fiancé is not ordering dinner! He is ordering a hit on Angie ! There goes the bride!
Not a sweetheart after all! ( Enter communal sigh here.)
And her dad who was pretty nice and low-key as far as triad bosses go , will show just how bad-ass he can be
when he has to protect Angie and her crush. Forget about his ties to future son-in-law’s triad dad. This could get ugly or funny!
I really enjoyed this different type of drama and fell in like with Jasper Liu. December cannot come soon enough! Mind you I will have to rematch season one for continuity’s sake.
Was this review helpful to you?
Richard the IiI + Romeo & juliet
Anyone who maintains that Park Shi-Hoo cannot act,. clearly has not seen this drama! Seeing him cry was a mind-altering sight. And he played nasty a little too well. Be prepared to have your cortisol levels spike and remain elevated as this drama is INTENSE! What I particularly liked about it was that I could not predict the script as I have with other sageuks. There were enough surprise elements to keep me on my toes.I particularly enjoy the interplay between councillors who rival for personal interest and self serving end goals. This grouping did not disappoint. I liked the fact that the gaesengs were actually involved in the goings on as were the attendants to all those who aspired to princess status, The.chidre,n were all adorable. It was positive to see men engaged in nurturing roles with them. The youngster who played the niece will be one to keep an eye on in the future,You just cannot help but fall in love with her!
i found the musical score to be aptly matched up with the action on screen. Not that we needed help in how to feel. The costumes were typical sageuk fare ( I say that after being spoiled with those of Rookie Historian Goo Hae-ryung’s) although PSH did look dashing in his all black ensemble and long tresses.
The leads all put in fine performances. The roles of the princess’s husband, the prefect and the disenfranchised daughter were all innovative. Each came with a fresh take on what it meant to be caught up in the machinations of others. The husband, albeit no heart-throb proved his worth a million times over. The prefect did experience moral dilemma while trying to stay true to values at odds within himself. And our fearless heroine was badass from square one and remained there. She knew just how to push her father’s buttons. These three were not typical characters and kudos to the writers for that ! My only complaints were that the tyrant king’s wife was so clued out to her husband’s doings; there was precious little comic relief with a drama so intense; there were lost opportunities for conflict between the two sisters finally, not enough romance per square inch. Oh and PSH did not smile nearly often enough! ? I may be biased on that last one.
I don’t re-watch any dramas no matter how brilliant, but if I did, I would choose this one. Definitely not a drama to be missed.
Just a note about ratings-I have great difficulty putting a numeric value on pieces of art!
Was this review helpful to you?
