Cautivar a un rey

Yes, you have to get over the petite fairy looking female lead being accepted as a man just because she wears male clothes. That part is always hard to swallow in similar K dramas. BUT, ignoring the gender bending trope, this series is very entertaining. Nothing truly unique about the storyline, but the quality of the acting drew me right in. Almost completely due to Jo Jung Suk's acting. He has charisma to spare. I also like that they feature the game of baduk (Go), which adds to the cultural atmosphere. There are the expected political struggles and evil ministers aplenty. But the young crown prince is so delightful and such a super actor as well. Shin Se-Kyung as FL does a fine job, though I would love to see the writer allow her to yell and scream once in awhile. I love Lee Shin Young as Myung Ha, (basically second male lead) who got a lousy break from the get go. Also loved Ha So-hoon, who played the very ill queen with subtlety and a heart-rending sadness.

This is a head slapper. Gorgeously produced Korean Historical drama with generally excellent cast, the usual court intrigue -- slow poisoning of the king, others vying for power while the poisoned king loses his marbles and suspects everyone's out to get him -- and an utterly, comically absurd premise that fails the first and every subsequent time I see the lead actress in drag as a gentleman.

The Crown Prince/titular King, a charismatic Hamlet type, is in a tenuous position with vicious courtiers on the one hand and a spiraling monarch on the other, so he finds solace playing a Go-like game of strategy against a phenom who never loses. This player is a pretty noblewoman masquerading as a man who no one realizes ain't a dude. (Snort.) That absurdity constantly intrudes on me as s/he navigates the political minefield of court after the king croaks and the crown prince assumes power. S/he is wrongfully accused of confessing to treason which implicates the prince, and for which the prince-now-king holds a grudge. But the now-king just can't help himself, s/he has captivated him...and oh the side-eyes do fly in court about the two strangely intimate besties. Geez, there is just no way on earth that that woman passes for a man ever in whatever manly costume or see-through stove-pipe hat she ties under her hairless chinny-chin-chin. NEVER. No way. I do not possess the ability to suspend disbelief for as far and for as long as this silly premise requires. There is one man, a rejected suitor, who knows her true identity but he has his own political problems due to Dad being a villain and loving her so much. In short, the premise beggars the imagination how sooooooo many men could be sooooooooo blind/deaf/sexless as to miss her manifest femininity. No adam's apple, no worries. Weeps and talks like a girl, whatever. No facial hair, no red flag, oh but s/he does wear lip gloss -- a beige rose when being a dude rather than pink red when she's dressed her gender but that's not odd, noooooo. I watch episodes with teeth gritted.

The 'gal dresses as a courtier/royal and gets away with it' plot crops up in other Korean and Chinese historical dramas so maybe it's a cultural quirk that just doesn't translate for me. In most cases, the ploy is easier to swallow for some reason. The King's Affection comes to mind. Here, it just tripped me up.

There are many, many excellent Korean Historical series (some serious, some funny): Under the Queen's Umbrella, My Sassy Girl, 100 Days My Prince, Royal Inspector & Joy to name a few.

I give props to the male lead, Jo Jung-suk. He develops the complex motivation of his character and expresses contradictory feelings with constraint, such as his feelings for the 'male' Go player who may've betrayed him but maybe didn't but dang he so fine...

Everything about this drama screamed total perfection of execution. The chemistry between the main leads was top-notch and insane, the acting is... WOW... AWARD WINNING!!! Plus the plot never lets you get bored, neither every episode. People who haven't watched this drama is missing out on a masterpiece! Watching this whole series had put me into an insane roller coaster of emotions and high level of tension! TRULY A GEM AND GREATEST KDRAMA OF ALL TIME! You can never go wrong with Captivating The King, plus the ending is so ethereal and well executed. LIVE, LAUGH, LOVE CAPTIVATING THE KING!!!!

What can I say, this K-Drama had me sitting on the edge of my seat. The twists and turns of the love between the king and his subject was beautifully executed, I even wished to be kissed by the king. I was willing the weekend to come so I could see the next episodes.

I love the way the characters brought out the barbarity of truth and lies and the plots to control each court faction.

Definitely let there be a series 2. I wait with bated breath. Let's see the blossom of love between the maid and the kings main guard, definitely something to entice us audiences with. Don't let us wait!!!!!!!!.

Us audiences want to see the possibilities of a child between the king and the love of his life. A Queen is born and a son, by god this king needs to have a happy ending. We want to see that this king who has a brilliant mind and ability to lead korea to victory over the impeding menace of the outside political forces.

The king has changed the system to be a worthy kingdom with zero tolerance for rich hording riches and food. He will be strong to keep his people safe and secure in the new Korea he will build with his Queen and Son by his side and adopted late brother's son.

Well done, I am rewatching the episodes again.

This drama has catch my attention because of the great chemistry between the two main characters, the king and the player.

Also the casting was a masterpiece.

She delivered an exquisite performance along with the king character, which made the slow paced history bearable.

I remember seeing Jo Jung-Suk at the great KDrama, Hospital Playlist, so I knew he would be embodying the character as his own persona, making the show a immersive experience in the Joseon era bringing a new perspective into the subject. Despite the slow paced scenes the amount of detail and development of the characters made those scenes justify by the end.

I was afraid of the end, because usually they are all the same in this kind of KDrama, but this particular show brought new perspectives and a nice end to are already captivating history.

I recommend it for sure.

KDrama are great to just let go some steam and enjoy the cheesy love stories. Nowadays everything that helps the mind scape a while from the craziness of daily problems, i'm in.