Hello all. This post will be a little different than some of the other posts that I write because this is more of a review / daily life post. I know that you guys aren't really here for my Game of Thrones posts but since some of you like them, I keep them going and will probably post one tomorrow. But a lot of you watch k-dramas and with that in mind, I feel like I can talk to you as I go back to watching dramas. I took a serious break from dramas after the heartbreak of Rooftop Prince. Of course I watched To The Beautiful You (what a terrible title), but yeah, Rooftop Prince wrecked me. From the theme song (Hurt by Ali)...wait, I am sorry but I can't really ever mention that song without posting the video.

ing goosebumps every time, no lie. Okay, got that out of my system. But yeah, the song, the EXCELLENT rookie acting by Yoochun (yes, I know he had some previous experience but I think this was his first REAL lead), the great chemistry between the leads and the heart crushing scene with the persimmons and...oh , my feels. Anyway, all that said, I just couldn't really watch another drama for a while because I just couldn't get over the perfect and  heartbreak of Rooftop Prince. However, I think the grieving period is now over and I am back at it with an older drama that has a lot of the same actors from Rooftop Prince.......THE MOON THAT EMBRACES THE SUN.

Isadora_Quagmire is responsible for this development as it was at her mention that I decided to google search the show and found that a couple of the actors and actresses on TMTETS were in Rooftop as well. Apparently they also  ran on t.v. at around the same time too, which was probably awkward for promotional purposes. So as of today I am about halfway through the series and will most likely finish before the week is up, but I have to say, my opinion is mixed on this series so far.  First, let me start with the transistion between characters as they age.

In TMTETS, most of the main characters are children/teens for the first 5 episodes and after a time jump of eight years, the story shows them as adults and honestly, the casting was very off putting to me.  Below are some side by sides and you tell me how good a job they did with the casting (based on time progression ONLY, not talent)

Crown Prince Yi Hwon (Yeo JinGoo and Kim SooHyun)

I don't think they look similar at all but I think it is cool that these actors have met before they worked together on this drama. That kid got so tall!

Heo Yeon-woo (Kim YooJung and Han GaIn)

Once again, the physical appearance was totally off to me (whose eyes get bigger with age?), but personality wise, the character was consistent.

Prince YangMyeong (Lee Minho {no, not THAT Lee Minho} and Jung Il-Woo)

I really like these two actors A LOT, but the prince was 18-ish before the time jump and most men don't change THAT MUCH from 18 to 26.

Girl..I mean Yun BoKyung (Kim SoHyun and Kim MinSeo)

More of the same, which is sad because when Kim SoHyun was on Rooftop Prince, she had an AMAZING age progression with Jeong YuMi (and this meme is absoulutely my life)

But the WORST age progression was Heo Yeom (Yim SiWan and Song JaeHee)

NO WAY, ABSOLUTELY NOT! Did the kid age twenty years instead of 8? The actor playing a 26 year-old Heo Yeom is actually 34. That is fact.

So the aging up of the actors wasn't as successful to me, but I did appreciate that they tried something different. Now, on to the drama itself.

Pilot Episode: Gripping! The shaman that sets this whole situation off was the best part of the pilot and it set a mood for this drama that made me really want to watch more and that is always good for a series.

Series so far (episodes 2-9): Amnesia is kind of a hackneyed plot device, but I think that when you are dealing with a realm where magic actually exists, you have to suspend your belief to some extent. That being said, there were times when I thought that it wasn't really needed. Instead, I found myself actually drawn to the intrigue of the court and especially the scenes with Lord Yun and the Queen Dowager whether it was them together or them interacting with others. That kind of tightrope of power and behind the scenes backstabbing really is my type of story. But one thing that bothered me (and since I'm only half way in, this might be explained) is how the family loyalty lines are drawn. It seemed like the Queen Dowager was against her own son and grandson but on the side of her nephew and that just goes against most conventional wisdom.

Acting: This has to be one of the most talented groups of child actors I've ever seen. Kim YooJung as Heo Yeonwoo was probably the weakest link in an otherwise stellar group of kids and I will just put this out there now - Kim SoHyun is going to be a MEGASTAR one day. She is already pretty famous now, but the fact that she is sooo young and displays such layered acting speaks to her talent as much as her potential for growth. And her character displays the true weakness of the story so far. Yun BoKyung starts as kind of a psychopath (beating the servant girl for ruining her dress and then putting on this benevolent face when confronted about her cruelty) but is this crying mess of a woman after the age jump is nothing like the cunning young woman from the first quarter of the story. And honestly, the age jump does a disservice to all of the child actresses in that their adult versions aren't nearly as interesting or nuanced. But the guys...

Kim SooHyun and Jung IlWoo are scene stealers every time and they are a lot of the interest in story. Both actor have a charm that borders on arrogance but they tamper those harsh edges with a deep vulnerability. When these two are love rivals, you almost don't know who to root for, but the female lead makes her preferences quite clear so..there's that. Still, I love them to pieces and having seen them both in other work, I wasn't surprised that I would love them here as well.

Finally, I have to say that the most interesting part of this show for me were the true villains, Lord Yun and Queen Dowager. I talked about them earlier, but as the series progresses, I look forward to them taking more screen time.

Anywho, that is my impression so far and I look forward to giving you more once I conclude the series which I am watching at dramafever.com.

Oh, and how cute is this little age progression:

Things like that just make me smile.