Shinibsagwan Goohaeryung

Another Netflix recommendation that wowed me. The cast is lovable. The story is well crafted, with romance, mystery, history and palace intrigues in just the right servings. I'm impressed with how ably Shin Se-kyung as Goo Hae-ryung and Cha Eun Woo as Prince Lee Rim/Dowon led this spectacular production.

If the Joseon royal court really had historians as dedicated as the ones depicted in this drama, they are unsung heroes of Korea, for upholding virtues in the highest places, for making sure the king and his court did not abuse their powers.

Don't judge this series by the strange title. It's a suprisingly involving historical drama and the setting and costumes are quite beautiful. The first episode might seem a little trite but stick with it, things get better as the series progresses. The love story is charming enough but isn't the main part of the show. There is an epic royal conspiracy and political intrigue, an epidemic, and some insights about the role of historians in recording the truth independently. Shin Se Kyung as the title character is sweet and intelligent looking which is right for the role and her character comes across as endearing and likable without being self righteous. Che Eun Woo is prettier than her. The supporting actors are convincing and serious as a balance including the crown prince and the historian Min. I liked the tone of this series - not too heavy - a good balance of romance drama light comedy and historical context.

The introduction to the show's plot, all the background information and getting to know the characters makes up 25% of the series. Getting through that wasn't easy in my opinion. But when the actual story finally started (as in the prince and the historian meeting for the first time), I was HOOKED. The characters are great and really funny most of the time, yet it didn't feel ridiculous in any way because they were still dealing with some serious topics. I'm not sure how accurate the historical side of the story is, but it didn't seem implausible to me.

The ending was kind of rushed in my opinion, but see for yourself.

In conclusion: don't stop watching if you're struggling with the first few episodes and definitely don't let the somewhat ridiculous title of the show fool you. It's such a good series that deserves to be watched.

I'm surprised that not many people have commented how funny the show is, especially the romantic naivety of the Prince and the clownish ensemble of Historians. Some really hilarious moments - I'd definitely call it a comedy-drama.

Very nice korean series. Warm feelings and particurarly interesting to get to know korean culture. Good for Netflix to share this type of entertainment. The actress and main character is wonderful.