A few months ago, I tried watching K-Drama adaption. I had no clue that it was adapted from a manhwa and the concept itself was pretty interesting.
Now, looking back, I realise that going into a show without really understanding or knowing any of the terminology used for each member of the royal family, the traditions and rituals they follow and just about anything else, was a little bit foolish on my part. Its no wonder I gave up just after 3 episodes.
The really great thing about reading translated versions of manga or manhwa is that new terms and such are always explained above or below the panels, which is what made me really enjoy reading this. I knew what they were talking about, I knew who they were taking about and I got to know a lot more about Korean culture, which is awesome!
A lot of this manhwa centers around the palace politics and the drama within the royal family, rather than just Shin and Chae Kyung's (really,really awesome) relationship (will get on that later), so it was always interesting and never dull. The antics of the elder members of the family always made me laugh after a particularly emotional scene.
I love Shin and Chae Kyung's relationship. It had its good times, bad times and ugly times, but in the end, you knew there were going to come out of it victorious. It was slow, honest, realistic and...not easy. And it only 90 chapters for them to finally confess their feelings to each other *eye twitch*. But whatever, I still like it.
Though I will not say I was never frustrated with them. Sometimes, it was Shin I wanted to throw out of the window and sometimes it was Chae Kyung I wanted to throw out of the window. But because we see things through both their POVs, you dont know who to throw first.
So yes, there are times when both of them made me angry (
I'm looking at you especially Chae Kyung
). Although this would not have happened if Yul hadnt given his two cents where it wasnt needed. Ah, Yul. Most of the time, I didnt know whether to pat his head and go "There, there" or to maim him with a chainsaw.
For someone who doesnt get the time to read more than 10 chapters of manga a day, I have no clue how I finished all the 179 chapters of this one in just 2 days. It made me laugh, it made sad, it made frustrated and it made me love it even more. Though that ending was the most inconclusive, iffy and fickle thing ever, though there are a million misunderstandings and though I often raged at the characters, I would read it all over again with no regrets. That, my friends, is the power of a good manhwa.
Rant over.
PS- I'm going to binge the hell out of the K-Drama on Viki now since I'm not a lost puppy anymore!