Goong

In Korean drama, two total strangers usually enter into a most improbable contract that will bind them together for an agreed period of time. Because of the ostensible conflicts in character, the disparities in their backgrounds and, the initial prejudices against each other, the most unlikely setup allows ample room for conflicting characters to learn and relearn each other and even some of the most basics in life. Such popular plot has produced some of the most entertaining dramas from Korea, such as Full House, My Lovely Sam-soon, My Girl, and Lie to Me, to name but a few. To appreciate them, a prerequisite imposed on the audience is to ignore how implausible such scenario is in real life.

While Goong is nothing anew in it, it demands more from the audience: to be told upfront to intertwine fantasy with reality; to participate in a masquerade where the long abolished monarchy is sound and well in present Korea; and allow the characters to move fairly freely between the medieval and contemporary Korea. An engaging character study, Goong captures how characters from different background respond and interact with each other while confronted by the many rigid rules of an ancient entity on one hand, and a freewill spirit of modern society on the other.

Despite its sluggish pace, especially the scenes that involve the mother queen wonderfully played by one of the most graceful actress Kim Hye-ja, the story is intriguing. At the beginning, my main purpose is but to check out the 'breakout' performance by Yoon Eun-hye, but within two episodes, I was drawn by the amazing chemistry between her and the two princes, let alone the understated use of chamber music and the fantastic art direction which provides us a stunning visual treat in the compound of the royal household.

Yoon Eun-hye is more confident and versatile as an actress in her follow-up role as a cross-dressing girl in Coffee Prince. And I also find the quiet but confident performance from Kim Jeong-hoon remind me of Rye Shi-won in his Beautiful Days and Wedding days.

Though also a drama mainly for the teen market, I find it a lot easier to enter the over the top game than those that offered in You Are Beautiful and Boys Over Flowers.