21
35
7
WandereR
Borneo
When art and gamjatang go hand in hand
One is a cultured and idealistic museum curator of fine and modern arts, the other an unrefined but street-smart nouveau riche CEO of a gamjatang empire. What happens when these two meet? You get Dali and the Cocky Prince, and the rest is history. What initially appears as an absolute clash between principled altruism and avaricious pragmatism slowly but surely blossoms into one of the most oddly curious yet boldly amorous pairings in K-drama rom-coms.
Helmed by the director of Healer and Angel’s Last Mission, Lee Jung Sub while the screenplay is written by Son Eun Hye and Park Se Eun, both of whom co-wrote A Witch’s Love. The Cheongsong Museum of Art featured in the drama is actually the main museum of The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea (MMCA). In addition, the initial setting of Amsterdam during the first two episodes actually belongs to various unique locations across South Korea, as pointed out and painstakingly researched by @Vya van Velaris (shoutout to my Dutch friend!). Choi In Hee (Unasked Family, Red Shoes) serves as composer for the production. I was somewhat surprised that this drama is based on an original script rather than an adaptation of a novel or webtoon because of the extensive world-building.
Dali and the Cocky Prince is a hit-or-miss kind of romcom which doesn’t work for everyone. You either love it or hate it, which is apparent from the rather polarised viewer responses here on MDL and even among my own circle of friends. Personally for me, I belong to the “enjoyed it” camp but the drama is certainly not without its flaws.
What I Generally Loved
The art premise. The focus isn’t so much on art pieces per se but rather on the process of running an art gallery. In the context of the show, it is depicted as part artistic appreciation and philanthropy initiative that are based on a somewhat haphazard and risky business model. This aspect is explored with a degree of realism despite the lighthearted nature of the storytelling.
The humour and the romance. For the most part, I’ve enjoyed the comedic elements that incorporate slight slapstick undertones but generously OTT portrayals, particularly by certain cast members. This aspect is perhaps the main deal breaker for most viewers on whether to continue or to drop. I like the balance of the humor and emotions, while the chemistry between the leads helps immensely in making their interactions as well as the romantic development more endearing.
The story about opposites attract is as old as time itself. Despite not being groundbreaking or innovative, it does incorporate a number of themes to keep things interesting. In addition to the romance and the art, we have a love triangle and family makjang that play out amidst the burgeoning gamjatang restaurant business and shady realpolitik of chaebols and politicians.
For a KBS drama, the production quality is quite decent. As far as the visuals are concerned, the post-production editing of visual arts into B-reels or filler shots as well as scene transitions of the main footage is very creative and beautifully executed. This presentation fits with the overall artistic vibes of the production. The costumes, especially the FL’s dresses, are fashionably unique albeit unconventional. This includes her 1920s’ Gatsby-inspired hair styling which I thought matches her somewhat peculiar sensibilities.
The main cast comprising the leads Park Gyu Young and Kim Min Jae as Kim Da Li and Jin Moo Hak respectively. It’s hard to envision other actors in these roles because those two have successfully made the characterizations very much their own. This is my third time seeing Park Gyu Young this year. I thought her performance was intriguing in Sweet Home but I wasn’t impressed with the character design in The Devil Judge. Here as the titular Dali, she showcases a distinctive persona where she manages to infuse the perfect amount of quirkiness that brings out the eccentricity of her character. Meanwhile, Kim Min Jae deserves credit for his immersion into the character of Jin Moo Hak. At first glance, he comes across as cold-hearted and lowbrow but his gradual transformation from the opportunistic businessman to a warm teddy bear filled with rainbows and sunshine is quite remarkable because beneath all that bravado, deep voice and tsundere facade, there is a heart of gold after all.
Over the years, I have seen Kwon Yool expertly portraying a variety of villains and it is no different here with his understated depiction of the devious antagonist, Jang Tae Jin who possesses an extremely unhealthy fixation with the FL. Woo Hee Jin is fun to watch as art curator and Da Li’s confidant, Song Sa Bong. Her banter (and ideological debates) with Jin Moo Hak are one of the comedic highlights of the show. Hwang Bo Ra is a chameleon - her versatility in portraying a multitude of supporting roles extends to her utterly ludicrous depiction of the resident comic relief, Yeo Mi Ri.
As usual, no drama would be complete without the infusion of compatible BGMs and OSTs to elevate the key moments and heighten the overall feels. There are a total of 10 tracks for this show, some of which are collaborative pieces. My personal favourite is Kim Ye-ji’s Moon Crater for the quieter contemplative moments, while the playful That’s Ordinary Love by Seoho reflects the more adorable scenes between the leads. Full listing as follows:
I Want You By My Side 내 옆에는 너만 있었으면 해 by Ham Yeon-ji 함연지
That's Ordinary Love by Seoho 서호
Go Straight by DinDin
It's Strange (With You) 이상하죠 by Ha Hyun-sang 하현상
사랑할 순 없는지 Can't You Love Me by Fromm 프롬
U Hoo Hoo by Klang 클랑
Moon Crater 달 크레이터 by Kim Ye-ji 김예지
Gift by CHAI
The Kiss 연인 (키스) by Hodge
One Day It Will Be by Ian Hug, Seo Ho 서호
In addition, various iterations of the aria L'amour est un oiseau rebelle (Habanera) from the French composer Georges Bizet's 1875 opéra comique Carmen feature prominently as part of the BGM.
Unexpected Takeaways
This drama surprised me in many ways, not necessarily negatively but they were completely unexpected. For a premise based upon the appreciation of fine arts, one would expect a certain level of refinement and sophistication in the characterization that complements the narrative. Not so. This drama utterly excels in manifesting the incredible depths of hitting rock bottom, as far as the FL is concerned, and the extraordinary levels of the cast’s vocal registers through impassioned yelling.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a lead character in any drama repeatedly hitting the never-ending depths of despair as frequently as Kim Da Li. Some of it is caused by factors beyond her control but there is a fair amount that can be considered self-inflicted. As much as her character eventually develops as the plot unfolds, she will stumble many more times before she either gets rescued or picks herself up.
As for the intense shouting, NEARLY EVERYONE does it. It gets louder by the episode and at the end of it all, my ears are still ringing. I suppose it is part of the OTT portrayals and not necessarily for the comedy but also for the raw emotional outbursts which are aplenty. I honestly think there is more screaming in this drama than any dark crime thrillers that I have watched this year alone.
Final Thoughts
Not everyone will be enamored of Dali and the Cocky Prince. To be fair, it is one of those dramas that needs to be experienced first hand in order to make sense of whether or not to start it. I actually found entertainment value in its idiosyncrasies and witnessed a somewhat different side to the cast along the way. The story wrapped up neatly in a HEA ending at the end of the leads’ journey which perhaps makes this story a worthwhile and rather enjoyable viewing experience after all.
Helmed by the director of Healer and Angel’s Last Mission, Lee Jung Sub while the screenplay is written by Son Eun Hye and Park Se Eun, both of whom co-wrote A Witch’s Love. The Cheongsong Museum of Art featured in the drama is actually the main museum of The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea (MMCA). In addition, the initial setting of Amsterdam during the first two episodes actually belongs to various unique locations across South Korea, as pointed out and painstakingly researched by @Vya van Velaris (shoutout to my Dutch friend!). Choi In Hee (Unasked Family, Red Shoes) serves as composer for the production. I was somewhat surprised that this drama is based on an original script rather than an adaptation of a novel or webtoon because of the extensive world-building.
Dali and the Cocky Prince is a hit-or-miss kind of romcom which doesn’t work for everyone. You either love it or hate it, which is apparent from the rather polarised viewer responses here on MDL and even among my own circle of friends. Personally for me, I belong to the “enjoyed it” camp but the drama is certainly not without its flaws.
What I Generally Loved
The art premise. The focus isn’t so much on art pieces per se but rather on the process of running an art gallery. In the context of the show, it is depicted as part artistic appreciation and philanthropy initiative that are based on a somewhat haphazard and risky business model. This aspect is explored with a degree of realism despite the lighthearted nature of the storytelling.
The humour and the romance. For the most part, I’ve enjoyed the comedic elements that incorporate slight slapstick undertones but generously OTT portrayals, particularly by certain cast members. This aspect is perhaps the main deal breaker for most viewers on whether to continue or to drop. I like the balance of the humor and emotions, while the chemistry between the leads helps immensely in making their interactions as well as the romantic development more endearing.
The story about opposites attract is as old as time itself. Despite not being groundbreaking or innovative, it does incorporate a number of themes to keep things interesting. In addition to the romance and the art, we have a love triangle and family makjang that play out amidst the burgeoning gamjatang restaurant business and shady realpolitik of chaebols and politicians.
For a KBS drama, the production quality is quite decent. As far as the visuals are concerned, the post-production editing of visual arts into B-reels or filler shots as well as scene transitions of the main footage is very creative and beautifully executed. This presentation fits with the overall artistic vibes of the production. The costumes, especially the FL’s dresses, are fashionably unique albeit unconventional. This includes her 1920s’ Gatsby-inspired hair styling which I thought matches her somewhat peculiar sensibilities.
The main cast comprising the leads Park Gyu Young and Kim Min Jae as Kim Da Li and Jin Moo Hak respectively. It’s hard to envision other actors in these roles because those two have successfully made the characterizations very much their own. This is my third time seeing Park Gyu Young this year. I thought her performance was intriguing in Sweet Home but I wasn’t impressed with the character design in The Devil Judge. Here as the titular Dali, she showcases a distinctive persona where she manages to infuse the perfect amount of quirkiness that brings out the eccentricity of her character. Meanwhile, Kim Min Jae deserves credit for his immersion into the character of Jin Moo Hak. At first glance, he comes across as cold-hearted and lowbrow but his gradual transformation from the opportunistic businessman to a warm teddy bear filled with rainbows and sunshine is quite remarkable because beneath all that bravado, deep voice and tsundere facade, there is a heart of gold after all.
Over the years, I have seen Kwon Yool expertly portraying a variety of villains and it is no different here with his understated depiction of the devious antagonist, Jang Tae Jin who possesses an extremely unhealthy fixation with the FL. Woo Hee Jin is fun to watch as art curator and Da Li’s confidant, Song Sa Bong. Her banter (and ideological debates) with Jin Moo Hak are one of the comedic highlights of the show. Hwang Bo Ra is a chameleon - her versatility in portraying a multitude of supporting roles extends to her utterly ludicrous depiction of the resident comic relief, Yeo Mi Ri.
As usual, no drama would be complete without the infusion of compatible BGMs and OSTs to elevate the key moments and heighten the overall feels. There are a total of 10 tracks for this show, some of which are collaborative pieces. My personal favourite is Kim Ye-ji’s Moon Crater for the quieter contemplative moments, while the playful That’s Ordinary Love by Seoho reflects the more adorable scenes between the leads. Full listing as follows:
I Want You By My Side 내 옆에는 너만 있었으면 해 by Ham Yeon-ji 함연지
That's Ordinary Love by Seoho 서호
Go Straight by DinDin
It's Strange (With You) 이상하죠 by Ha Hyun-sang 하현상
사랑할 순 없는지 Can't You Love Me by Fromm 프롬
U Hoo Hoo by Klang 클랑
Moon Crater 달 크레이터 by Kim Ye-ji 김예지
Gift by CHAI
The Kiss 연인 (키스) by Hodge
One Day It Will Be by Ian Hug, Seo Ho 서호
In addition, various iterations of the aria L'amour est un oiseau rebelle (Habanera) from the French composer Georges Bizet's 1875 opéra comique Carmen feature prominently as part of the BGM.
Unexpected Takeaways
This drama surprised me in many ways, not necessarily negatively but they were completely unexpected. For a premise based upon the appreciation of fine arts, one would expect a certain level of refinement and sophistication in the characterization that complements the narrative. Not so. This drama utterly excels in manifesting the incredible depths of hitting rock bottom, as far as the FL is concerned, and the extraordinary levels of the cast’s vocal registers through impassioned yelling.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a lead character in any drama repeatedly hitting the never-ending depths of despair as frequently as Kim Da Li. Some of it is caused by factors beyond her control but there is a fair amount that can be considered self-inflicted. As much as her character eventually develops as the plot unfolds, she will stumble many more times before she either gets rescued or picks herself up.
As for the intense shouting, NEARLY EVERYONE does it. It gets louder by the episode and at the end of it all, my ears are still ringing. I suppose it is part of the OTT portrayals and not necessarily for the comedy but also for the raw emotional outbursts which are aplenty. I honestly think there is more screaming in this drama than any dark crime thrillers that I have watched this year alone.
Final Thoughts
Not everyone will be enamored of Dali and the Cocky Prince. To be fair, it is one of those dramas that needs to be experienced first hand in order to make sense of whether or not to start it. I actually found entertainment value in its idiosyncrasies and witnessed a somewhat different side to the cast along the way. The story wrapped up neatly in a HEA ending at the end of the leads’ journey which perhaps makes this story a worthwhile and rather enjoyable viewing experience after all.
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