A costume drama in which a king Lee Heon played by Kim Young-dae has introduced a countrywide marriage ban after the death of his wife by suicide, which he thinks could be murder and is still haunted by apparitions. Into his life comes Ye So-rang played by Park Ju-hyun who pretends to be a shaman to rid him of his nightmares so she can get the ban lifted after seven long years. Entertaining story which is vey well acted and is based on a webtoon which adds to its quirkiness and humour in the directors approach to translating the story onto film. I would rate it as 8.5 as the acting of Park Ju-hyun is superb particularly as the shaman.
12 Reviews
Fun historical romp
jaldred-6612028 January 2023
If you are looking for historical accuracy this won't be your thing but if you want a feel good series this is one to enjoy. The female lead was a strong character. It did weaken at the end but a nice light watch. If you enjoyed Kim Woo Seok's performance (although not so much to get his teeth into) then watch Military Prosecutor Doberman where he gives an amazing performance. It was really refreshing to see a strong female lead who could take care of herself . The story is quite simple and not so much court intrigue as in some, it is more for a younger audience (apparently based on a webtoon and that was to see). Enjoyable watch to brighten up your viewing time.
Funny, quirky, dramatic and entertaining but with one of the worst love triangles since StartUp
hanalisss23 January 2023
Warning: Spoilers
I laughed a lot, the first half is specially funny, with loads of kdrama and modern culture references. It has also dramatic and sad bits but overall is not too dark.
I enjoyed the characters development and the acting is good. Both leads work great on comedy roles (watch Love all play and Shooting stars and you will see what i mean) Their chemistry wasn't as evident as the one between her and the secondary lead but was good enough, unlike the dead fish kisses which as always are as anti-climatic as they can be.
But I am taking two points away for two things:
One: the most absurd and unnecessary love triangle since StartUp, this one was very hard for me because both storylines (male lead and secondary male lead) were just amazing and captivating. If they did one or the other I would have been extremely satisfied and We could have had time to go in depth a little more with their relationship.....
But this is kdramaland and they just LOVE a bitter and heartbreaking love triangle.
The plot of the secondary lead was the best one for me, just a beautiful and profound concept. You will honestly fall in love of his character. But the writers just gave him hell after hell after hell. His storyline with the female lead deserves a whole drama.
And two: I mean this one has to be the drama with the most obvious villains in the history of villains.
They spend the whole show, from episode one, smirking, bragging and boasting about everything they do. It's literally impossible for the rest of the characters not to realize that and yet somehow they continue to freely do whatever they want until the very last episode.
Im not sure if this was on purpose or the writers think viewers are dumb.
Overall great and enjoyable drama, very entertaining, but don't focus too much on what is missing because you will find many holes. Just be happy watching it as an easy straightforward series.
I enjoyed the characters development and the acting is good. Both leads work great on comedy roles (watch Love all play and Shooting stars and you will see what i mean) Their chemistry wasn't as evident as the one between her and the secondary lead but was good enough, unlike the dead fish kisses which as always are as anti-climatic as they can be.
But I am taking two points away for two things:
One: the most absurd and unnecessary love triangle since StartUp, this one was very hard for me because both storylines (male lead and secondary male lead) were just amazing and captivating. If they did one or the other I would have been extremely satisfied and We could have had time to go in depth a little more with their relationship.....
But this is kdramaland and they just LOVE a bitter and heartbreaking love triangle.
The plot of the secondary lead was the best one for me, just a beautiful and profound concept. You will honestly fall in love of his character. But the writers just gave him hell after hell after hell. His storyline with the female lead deserves a whole drama.
And two: I mean this one has to be the drama with the most obvious villains in the history of villains.
They spend the whole show, from episode one, smirking, bragging and boasting about everything they do. It's literally impossible for the rest of the characters not to realize that and yet somehow they continue to freely do whatever they want until the very last episode.
Im not sure if this was on purpose or the writers think viewers are dumb.
Overall great and enjoyable drama, very entertaining, but don't focus too much on what is missing because you will find many holes. Just be happy watching it as an easy straightforward series.
A joy to watch ,seamless and funny!
connymphela21 January 2023
This drama was funny,the chemistry between the leads is seamless,unforced,it flows naturally , park ju-hyun is a revelation,she and kim young dae,they understood the assignment and delivered ! The show did not take itself serious ,it made me the viewer take it serious though ,the plot/storyline was solid ,it did not have any unnecessary plot twist or create subplot to keep the show going,the are no boring episodes or scenes ,everything is straight forward even the love triangle is not drawn out for attention or to create separate fandoms,the bad guys do bad things and eventually ...but all in all satisfactory,heartwarming!
Funny, and Fun to Watch
darlingremy7 May 2023
The camera angles in the beginning are just mind-blowing. I've never seen anything aside from a music video filmed like that. The introduction to the show had me hooked immediately. A spunky female street-rat lead with her stand-in father-like figure who can often see the future are where this story starts. Alongside it is a king who cannot sleep or eat well after the death of his first and only wife. As others are known to say, 'misery enjoys company' and within this time an marriage ban is enacted. No physical contact, no flirting, no love letters, nothing to do with love is permitted. The people of this Joseon romp are in a quiet uproar, holding hands in secret, and asking for compatibility tests is hugely against the law.
However, not for the female lead, So Rang. After being thrown in prison for being an underground matchmaker, she pretends to be able to conjure up spirits of those passed away. The King keeps her by his side due to wanting to stay close to his deceased bride, but soon after -- love sparks between the two of them.
With hilarious AND serious side stories, and your typical second male lead falling head over heels for the female lead -- the comedic timing and filming are to be enjoyed. Think of it like the MacDonald's of kdramas. It may not be particularly healthy to binge watch an entire 12+ hour show, but I guarantee it's filling, enjoyable, and you may only feel a little sick afterward. Lol
The actors are great -- I truly think that the head eunuch, the old man psychic, and the lead bad guy stole the show at points, but the chemistry between the king and So Rang was good. The sets are stunning and the rooms, WOW, just beautiful. I loved the costuming, and it was the perfect length. Not too long, and just long enough to get the story out without ruining it.
I enjoyed the whole show and definitely would suggest it to anyone looking for a fun, not accurate-at-all kind of historical drama. Enjoy it for the modern speech, the jokes, the romance, the serious storyline that is easy to handle because it's obvious, and hilarious awkward moments. It has a happily ever after -- so enjoy to your hearts content.
However, not for the female lead, So Rang. After being thrown in prison for being an underground matchmaker, she pretends to be able to conjure up spirits of those passed away. The King keeps her by his side due to wanting to stay close to his deceased bride, but soon after -- love sparks between the two of them.
With hilarious AND serious side stories, and your typical second male lead falling head over heels for the female lead -- the comedic timing and filming are to be enjoyed. Think of it like the MacDonald's of kdramas. It may not be particularly healthy to binge watch an entire 12+ hour show, but I guarantee it's filling, enjoyable, and you may only feel a little sick afterward. Lol
The actors are great -- I truly think that the head eunuch, the old man psychic, and the lead bad guy stole the show at points, but the chemistry between the king and So Rang was good. The sets are stunning and the rooms, WOW, just beautiful. I loved the costuming, and it was the perfect length. Not too long, and just long enough to get the story out without ruining it.
I enjoyed the whole show and definitely would suggest it to anyone looking for a fun, not accurate-at-all kind of historical drama. Enjoy it for the modern speech, the jokes, the romance, the serious storyline that is easy to handle because it's obvious, and hilarious awkward moments. It has a happily ever after -- so enjoy to your hearts content.
A great RomCom for the end of 2022
yrecatoapecamd29 December 2022
Warning: Spoilers
I gave it 7 after watching Ep5 & 6. Maybe it's too early to say so but the first 4 epsiodes were much better. I just wish that So Rang and Shin Won would have even a day together in Shin Won's world. Everything is moving all in favor of the King. Maybe a chance to see if what it would look like if So Rang & Shin Won would have gotten married in the first place. Again, maybe it's too early. It's just the last two epsiodes already closing chances for the other leading man. Anyways, still an awesome series. It broke my long hiatus watching K-dramas. Hoping that the upcoming episodes will be as interesting as the the first 4 episodes. Can't wait!
This was a fun fun fun show
angelimaney22 January 2023
A great mix of comedy, romance, action and some political intrigue. The chemistry among So Rang, the King and Shin Won was the best!! The over-the-top shaman scenes seem cringe if you take if seriously but you really shouldn't. There's a purpose for all of it.
Once I get through more KDRAMAs, I will definitely re-watch this. I feel like I missed out on some inside jokes because I don't have enough dramas under my belt. On the MDL discussions, people were mentioning "Oh that scene was just like the scene from ..." Argh. It's clear what I need to do before I can truly appreciate this show.
I liked Kim Young Dae from earlier shows, but I loved him in this one. His comedic timing was impeccable. His banter with the FL and his rapport with the SML endeared him to me.
The side characters were also well played. They added to the show, whether to the comedic portion or to the political intrigue part. You really get so many different views in this story of the 7-year marriage ban. It kept me entertained, and I will miss these characters.
Once I get through more KDRAMAs, I will definitely re-watch this. I feel like I missed out on some inside jokes because I don't have enough dramas under my belt. On the MDL discussions, people were mentioning "Oh that scene was just like the scene from ..." Argh. It's clear what I need to do before I can truly appreciate this show.
I liked Kim Young Dae from earlier shows, but I loved him in this one. His comedic timing was impeccable. His banter with the FL and his rapport with the SML endeared him to me.
The side characters were also well played. They added to the show, whether to the comedic portion or to the political intrigue part. You really get so many different views in this story of the 7-year marriage ban. It kept me entertained, and I will miss these characters.
Funny and lighthearted for the first half
gracechrista16 May 2023
I watched this for recommendations based on how funny it was. I do have to say that it still unfortunately falls into the slump of many similar Joseon dramas... once happy-go-lucky characters crying every other episode towards the latter half due to murder plots and class differences. Thankfully the ending was actually pretty happy with a minimal amount of death. However, I don't think it lived up to the hype I had for it. The first 3 episodes are the best of the series because of how lighthearted and comedic they are, and after episode 6 it slows down considerably in pacing and loses its charm. I just want one Joseon drama where there are no villains and it's pure happy-go-lucky cuteness and comedy!
Loved Everything About This
leahcubed4 May 2023
Warning: Spoilers
10/10 is my rating. This is a 2023 South Korean historical Romance with 12, 70 minute episodes. It is based on a web novel & webtoon of the same title written by Chun Jy-Hye.
First I will provide a synopsis then review
Synopsis The setting is during the Josean area but all the events and people are fictitious. King Lee Heon (Kim Young-dae) has placed a ban on marriage since the tragic death of his wife, the Crown Princess, 7 years earlier. A con artist, Ye So-Rang (Park Ju-Hyun), thinks the ban is unreasonable and is running an on the sly marriage service thinking it will escape the crowns's notice. When she is caught by none other than the king himself she devises a plan to pretend to channel the former crown princess. The king, who remains devastated by the loss of his wife, decides to keep So-rang close to gain closure on his wife's death. No-one is how they seem and the king's best friend and head of security, Lee Shin-won (Kim Woo-seok) thinks So-rang looks a lot like the girl who disappeared prior to their wedding. As So-Rang grows closer to the king she genuinely desires to alleviate his emotional pain using all her skills at deception. Will love grow in this unlikely place?
Review
I loved every minute of this heartwarming, funny, interesting historical romantic comedy. The relationship between the King and So-rang was well paced, their chemistry was really good and it was believable. Lee Shin-won (Kim Woo-seok) was a second male lead whose character you could not fail to love. If you like romance and with happy endings for all then this is a rare find. I lover it, would watch it again and highly recommend it.
*Spoilers So-rang is one of the most entertaining characters to watch. She had so much tragedy in her life yet found a way to survive and yet have a caring heart that wants to help everyone she encounters. The room becomes more fun when she walks in. Despite her relatively low social position both men fall for her as the truly unique and utterly engaging charismatic individual she is. She was so good at fake channeling you wondered if it was real at times and she did not even realize it. The dashing investigator, Shin-won was such a good human being you could not keep from rooting for him in everything he did. I loved his relationships with So-rang and with the king. They introduced his new love interest late but she was immediately someone I liked and she was someone fitting for the lovable Shin-won. The King was near perfect he was lovable, fair, honest and yet had a strong sense for punishing criminals and rooting out evil. I liked that, when he discovered she had lied and deceived him, he was angry but only for a short period then figured out, on his own, she did it to help him. To m if you love someone you would know those types of things about them and believe in them when it counted. I thought how the King nearly lost his mind when Shin-won put aside their friendship and pulled So-rang away was realistic and So-rang stopping hm from harming his friend showed the depth of all their relationships. The two men forgiving each other and renewing their friendship towards the end was so satisfying. The evil was fully revealed and punished. We got to see happy endings for all the main characters and a glimpse of happily ever after.
#ForbiddenMarriage #ParkJuHyun #KimYoungDae #KimWooSeok.
First I will provide a synopsis then review
Synopsis The setting is during the Josean area but all the events and people are fictitious. King Lee Heon (Kim Young-dae) has placed a ban on marriage since the tragic death of his wife, the Crown Princess, 7 years earlier. A con artist, Ye So-Rang (Park Ju-Hyun), thinks the ban is unreasonable and is running an on the sly marriage service thinking it will escape the crowns's notice. When she is caught by none other than the king himself she devises a plan to pretend to channel the former crown princess. The king, who remains devastated by the loss of his wife, decides to keep So-rang close to gain closure on his wife's death. No-one is how they seem and the king's best friend and head of security, Lee Shin-won (Kim Woo-seok) thinks So-rang looks a lot like the girl who disappeared prior to their wedding. As So-Rang grows closer to the king she genuinely desires to alleviate his emotional pain using all her skills at deception. Will love grow in this unlikely place?
Review
I loved every minute of this heartwarming, funny, interesting historical romantic comedy. The relationship between the King and So-rang was well paced, their chemistry was really good and it was believable. Lee Shin-won (Kim Woo-seok) was a second male lead whose character you could not fail to love. If you like romance and with happy endings for all then this is a rare find. I lover it, would watch it again and highly recommend it.
*Spoilers So-rang is one of the most entertaining characters to watch. She had so much tragedy in her life yet found a way to survive and yet have a caring heart that wants to help everyone she encounters. The room becomes more fun when she walks in. Despite her relatively low social position both men fall for her as the truly unique and utterly engaging charismatic individual she is. She was so good at fake channeling you wondered if it was real at times and she did not even realize it. The dashing investigator, Shin-won was such a good human being you could not keep from rooting for him in everything he did. I loved his relationships with So-rang and with the king. They introduced his new love interest late but she was immediately someone I liked and she was someone fitting for the lovable Shin-won. The King was near perfect he was lovable, fair, honest and yet had a strong sense for punishing criminals and rooting out evil. I liked that, when he discovered she had lied and deceived him, he was angry but only for a short period then figured out, on his own, she did it to help him. To m if you love someone you would know those types of things about them and believe in them when it counted. I thought how the King nearly lost his mind when Shin-won put aside their friendship and pulled So-rang away was realistic and So-rang stopping hm from harming his friend showed the depth of all their relationships. The two men forgiving each other and renewing their friendship towards the end was so satisfying. The evil was fully revealed and punished. We got to see happy endings for all the main characters and a glimpse of happily ever after.
#ForbiddenMarriage #ParkJuHyun #KimYoungDae #KimWooSeok.
Very enjoyable!
meemsyd23 June 2023
Probably the most enjoyable show I've ever watched. It had a mix of everything I love in a story; fast paced, great character development, a happy ending but a good amount of angst throughout, sexy and intimate but also genuinely heartwarming and hilarious. You will fall in love with every character and it has a really nice lighthearted tone and wholesome vibe, and a modern sense of humour despite being having a historical setting. The acting is pretty great throughout (great eye candy too if you're into that) and the female character is a standout; a layered, flawed, and sassy woman. The final episode is a bit lukewarm but not in a big way and it was an excellent journey. One of the few Kdramas I have watched out of many that I would confidently recommend and rewatch as it's just a great time!
The Forbidden Scam
Park_Min1 January 2024
A girl pretending to be the Crown Princess's ghost, a spirited leading lady, and a minor hiccup in the grand scheme of historical tales-the ban on love. It sold itself as this wild, carefree series, promising easy laughs and a blissful escape. However, the writers tripped hard trying to weave in melodramatic and political plots because the original concept was unsustainable for more than a couple of episodes. They birthed these laughable plots and pitiful antagonists in the process. The female lead, originally devious and witty, took this nosedive into becoming this sad, serious persona spouting profound but empty and hypocritical lines. It was hard to believe or feel anything she said or did after this drastic change in character. Again, forcing a systematic change across the board after a couple of episodes. At the end of the day, this is just another poor cosplay show.
Good Enough
PennyReviews25 February 2023
Korean Drama " The Forbidden Marriage " is a historical romantic comedy, with a bit of political drama.
The story is acted out smoothly, with the comedy genre being strong and overflowing from the beginning to the very ending. Without overdoing it, it aided the romance and it gave a fresh twist to the story.
The romance, in addition, was sweet and enjoyable, though it started out a bit off key, with the second lead taking the lead and having more interaction with the girl compared to the king. Still, it was a nice romantic story with some melodrama to spice things up.
The palace politics were, moreover, a bit on the low tempo, there to make things more dramatic, but not the main focus of the drama.
The performances, finally, were all enjoyable by everyone in the cast.
So, overall, eight out of ten.
The story is acted out smoothly, with the comedy genre being strong and overflowing from the beginning to the very ending. Without overdoing it, it aided the romance and it gave a fresh twist to the story.
The romance, in addition, was sweet and enjoyable, though it started out a bit off key, with the second lead taking the lead and having more interaction with the girl compared to the king. Still, it was a nice romantic story with some melodrama to spice things up.
The palace politics were, moreover, a bit on the low tempo, there to make things more dramatic, but not the main focus of the drama.
The performances, finally, were all enjoyable by everyone in the cast.
So, overall, eight out of ten.
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