Tag Archives: Moon Chae Won

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The Princess’s Man: Finale discussion

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It’s over, it’s over! But don’t tell me how it ended!

So The Princess’s Man aired its final episode last Thursday. Since that night a week ago, I’ve become a fugitive of sorts, lying low and appearing only when the coast is clear. Twitter, Soompi. Even my own post on the historical background of the drama. Any place where people might spill the beans on the ending became a minefield that I had to avoid. Because I have my own plans, you see. My own farewell party. This weekend I will watch Episodes 19-22 again. After that, I will watch, for the first time, Episodes 23-24.


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T285

The Princess’s Man (Part 1): The history

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Don’t be misled by the drama’s title. At the crux of The Princess’s Man (2011) is not a princess and her man, it is a king and his brother.

More precisely, a sickly king and his power-mad brother. A brother so ruthless he will kill his own family members if that will pave his way to the throne. Who is this man and is he for real? To uncover the answers, allow me to take you on a quick tour of the history behind this gripping drama (fifteen episodes devoured in four days). The last time I did something similar (the devouring, the researching, the writing) was for last year’s best drama, Jejoongwon. With nine more episodes to watch, I do not know if The Princess’s Man will be my drama of the year this time but a Top 3 placing looks almost certain. Just the political feuding alone has me on the edge of my seat and positively salivating.

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T278

Mackerel Run giveaway results

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Who’s the best person to judge an Lee Min-ho drama giveaway? A dear friend and fellow blogger who breathes the same air as he does and who has seen him up close. (Read all about the LMH encounter and other celebrity sightings here.)

About three weeks ago, I asked interested TP readers to write about Lee Min-ho. My guest judge would then pick two winning entries. Well, Softy has selected the winners!

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T274

Mackerel Run: A review and giveaway

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For various reasons (such as the frenzy surrounding the drama and its cast, one actor in particular), I’ve always thought that Boys Over Flowers was Lee Min-ho‘s first leading role.

This weekend I learned that I’ve been wrong all this time. Two years before his 2009 megahit, he was lead actor in a little-known drama called Mackerel Run.

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T93

Brilliant Legacy: Episode 24

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Writing this recap (after a break of two months) feels like coming home.

Before I started, I randomly picked a few of the previous recaps and read them in their entirety. As I did, all the old feelings came rushing back. Hwan making me giggle, he an open book of conflicting emotions. Jun-se making me swoon, again and again, his eyes these crystalline pools. Sweet and spunky Eun-sung, caught between the two men who loved her (thus turning me green with envy!) and between her own dreams and fears. Grandma — the heart of the drama — confounding me with her abstrusity and, lately, frightening me with her vulnerability. The witch and her witchling, their sheer desperation holding me transfixed.

Each one I have missed. Watching them again in Episode 24, I am reminded afresh of all the reasons why Brilliant Legacy is one of my favorite dramas this year.

The episode opens with a flashback to how Episode 23 ended: It is morning and Hwan and Eun-sung awake next to each other in Grandma’s hospital room, the first thing they see being each other.

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