The Moon That Embraces the Sun

I am finding this show good in storyline and visuals, but excruciatingly slow and painful to watch. Each episode could be cut in half and still achieve the same goal. The switch of characters in the time jump baffled me as they looked nothing alike and it took me 3 slow episodes to figure it out. While i feel like I've complained a lot, the storyline is good and interesting and the costumes and sets are beautiful. I just wish i didn't fall asleep midway through every episode.

MOON EMBRACING THE SUN (2012)

Definitely a classic. Predictable ending though. All the actors were brilliant. I felt all their emotions. I like the Crown Prince Lee Hwon (Yeo Jin-goo) and the King Lee Hwon (Kim Soo-hyun) the most. I cry when they cry.

8.75/10 for me.

Been watching Historical drama the past weeks. I would like to be a shaman for one day. Haha!

it is an inspired mixture between grace of fairy tale and force of cultural message. a seductive love story and remember of values, naive and profound. the feelings and the power. the sacrifice and the force of emotion. the past as veil and the pressure of duty. the meetings and the transformation of universe. at first sigh,nothing new. the Korean movies are masters of this kind of magic. but something seems be different. maybe,the subtle details, the precise performance of the young actors,the tension circles and the carefully made of the end. a film who can be more than a show. who is not exactly memorable. but it has the art to be, like a small river, good occasion to rediscover the beauty behind the reality of every day. and that fact represents, not doubt, a precious virtue.

Who the hell decided to cast Han Ga-In as a grown-up Kim Yoo-Jung ? It was a terrible mistake and totally destroyed the show! With all due respect to her, she looks nothing like Kim Yoo-Jung and frankly her acting was mediocre at best. Funny thing is, Nam Bo-Ra would have been so much better for this role as one could easily believe thats a grown up Kim Yoo-Jung. Han Ga-In would have suited much better as a grown-up Joon Bo-gyeong.

It was a great storyline but the bad casting spoiled the show for me. I still gave it 6 because of Kim Yoo-jung in first 8 episodes and wonderful performance by Kim Soo-Hyun as the King in remaining episodes.

This is a powerful historical drama and love story, combining myth, shamanism, Confucius thought and a glimpse into some aspects of an ancient society. Very well-done and most compelling. Having lived many years in Korea/Japan, it gives me more insight into the depths of Korean history and society, the script they used, the food they ate, how they treated each other. I am dying to get back to Korea and see the people, experience the amazing cuisine of many small dishes of various fish, vegetables, rice, and visit the temples.

By studying this series, one can gain some good understanding into the Confucius thought that Korea adopted as its "religion" for hundreds of years, and gain some good insight into the people today.