Dong Yi

It's a watered down tale with low tension and disappointing baddies which all made the insane runtime just a tad bit more unbearable. The entire story is confined to in-palace drama where the king likes a commoner while another woman grows to be super duper extra jealous. You may imagine how the story will pan out for 60 episodes. Its length turned out to be its biggest weakness, this is further emphasized with its first and last 5 episodes of which they were dull and redundant. It would've been significantly better with a short runtime since the main leads were likable. Speaking of which, the main leads scenes were generally enjoyable, they had a good chemistry but only when it's NOT romantic. Their romance sucked! Making the king physically a weakling was a nice touch. Although the drama is named after the historical character and we were shown and told about her having ambitious ideologies but we rarely got to see that side of her character in the drama, just a few scenes in the middle and around the end. Instead, we got a typical melodrama in a historical setting while borrowing small bits and pieces from the real historical character for world building. The main leads were doing a lot of heavy lifting to keep the drama afloat. The drama is okay but it doesn't have much to offer and the long runtime is really hard to justify.

at the first sigh, perfect choice for a genre of viewers. at the second, a special form of fairy tale. or propaganda. or just a beautiful trip in the past of Koreea, in a seductive embroidery of romance, characters, clothes and ceremonies. its precious gift - to send the feel to be unique against the different dramas about the history of country, with same ingredients and spices, using the same recipes. a story about courage and fight. about generosity. and hope. beautiful in a admirable way. because, remembering small truths, it is the useful window to a magnificent world.

Best korean history drama ever. I love this drama still my favourite drama. Love you han hyo joo. She is soo talented

delicate instrument of propaganda, nice, refined, delicate, charming, version of Cinderella, arena for credible villains, ambition, fight for values and life, puzzle of revolution, power, love story and sacrifice, rivalries and high moral values, it is one of beautiful forms of propaganda for Coreean past. and little more. because it is not only exploitation of a success recipes but way to present traces of history nuances in a soft manner. so, another Coreean successful series. and a seductive story , part of a long chain but, in same time, special, mixture between a fairy tale and the laws of power and honesty as basic instrument to not be only slave of power.

Even at 60 episodes, the story of Dong Yi never flags. Exciting, touching, funny, charming, and full of characters that are noble, mysterious, tragic, comic, and inspiring. Great acting by all. I know it's a fantasy version of real history , and certainly melodramatic, but it may rate as one of my all time favorite Sageuk K dramas.

The leads are fabulous, the two sets of comic characters add levity at tense moments. Dong Yi as a character is almost too perfect, but I found myself wishing I could have her sense of fairness and grace. The king was royal, and genuine. Highly enjoyable and entertaining.