If you are like me, and have watched a ton of Korean Historical Dramas, I know you are getting frustrated like I am. And this show is an epitome of why?
A continued TOTAL RELIANCE BY THE WRITERS to use:
1. Antagonists that can act with impunity (even in front of bystanders), spy with impunity (even in places where they would NEVER be allowed), avoid guards like they are invisible, have unkillable ninja traits, and can (worst of all) CONVINCE OTHERS (INCLUDING THE KING) TO ACT ON THE FLIMSIEST OF MADE-UP EVIDENCE, OR SOMEONE'S "WORD" WHICH EVERYONE BELIEVES AND DOES NOT EVEN TRY TO CHALLENGE IN THE LEAST.
2. Protagonists that CANNOT DO ANY OF THESE THINGS! They can't whisper without being overheard. Cannot spy or overhear conversations even when folks are shouting and throwing things. Cannot go anywhere without being tailed by obvious servants of the bad guys. And most annoyingly, HAVE EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEIR ARGUMENTS DISMISSED WITHOUT EVEN A SECOND THOUGHT.
3. More damning, is that they don't even try half the time. They slog through trying to get a 100% picture even when they know folks are trying to either frame them...or kill them.
Why should you care? You say, "well that's what separates the bad and good guys!" Right?
Wrong! Half the time you can't tell the difference between them when it comes to running the country, which is all that matters. But by the writers' definition, being the "good" guys means being DUMB, BLIND, Indecisive, and so passive the bad guys get to rack up a huge body count before a series of eye-rolling convenient encounters brings about a wholly unsatisfying ending.
The high ratings for this show are obviously from fans of the actors, and for the romance. I'm giving it all FOUR stars for the romance and the princess, who is funny to watch (at times).
But the rest of it is so damn predictable and annoying.
For once, I would love a KHD to be centered around an EXTERNAL threat, rather than the constant evil minister, queen, jilted girlfriend stuff that is at the core of too many of these pieces.