A Lua Abraça o Sol

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.

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.

I overheard a student where i work mentioning that all her friends were asking for more Korean program suggestions on Netflix and I was intrigued. I've already enjoyed a few subtitled shows and when I heard her discussing them I knew I had to see for myself. While one of the suggestions wasn't really my cup of tea, Moon Embracing the Sun is one of those series you can only hope you find another like it. I'm on Episode 13 of 20 of Moon Embracing the Sun and it is one of the most enjoyable experiences I've had on television in years. It's a Korean period piece set in the distant past with a little bit of everything. The drama and romance (not sex) between the main characters is so intense. I love looking at their faces, their clothes, everything they do and the places they go. I find myself staring at the screen. It's a story about lovers who are subject to the events around them living in the royal palace and city. There's some political intrigue. There's the shaman culture and Confucian philosophy. There is a point where without warning the characters are replaced by older actors in a passage of time so I was a little confused at first but soon caught up. Love the actors who play the King - young and old. I'm thinking I want to know more about Korea now.

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!

If you love melodramas and period dramas, then you can not miss this one. This drama has it all, a strong love story, intense mystery, nice background story and politics. I loved that they kept the interest high throughout the twenty episodes, though some dramas tend to overdo it and spread the story so it can last for that long. The flawless acting helped in this case as well, though the leading lady was kind of emotionless at some points. Another thing that kind of stood out for me was that the moving from the past characters to the adult ones was a bit of a bumpy ride, but I can overlook that one, judging this drama as a whole.