Open Thread: The Princess’s Man Episodes 1 & 2

Welcome to the Open Thread, everyone! Thanks for joining me for this epic journey that is The Princess’s Man! ❤️

SOME IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS, before we begin:

ZERO SPOILER POLICY

1. We will be adopting a ZERO SPOILER POLICY for this Open Thread, except for events that have happened in the show, up to this point.

The spoiler tags don’t work in email notifications, therefore, please take note that WE WILL NOT BE USING SPOILER TAGS FOR THIS OPEN THREAD. 

ANY AND ALL SPOILERS WILL BE REDACTED to protect first-time viewers in our midst (although, I’d appreciate it if you would save me the trouble of having to redact spoilers, heh 😅).

This includes, but is not limited to, how characters &/or relationships develop, later in the show.

We need to protect the innocent! 😉

SPOILER ZONE

2. HOWEVER!! If you’d like to discuss spoilers from a rewatcher’s point of view, I’ve created a SPOILER ZONE for you, where you can discuss all the spoilers you’d like, without the need for spoiler warnings. You can find it here!

Without further ado, here are my reactions to this set of episodes; have fun in the Open Thread, everyone! ❤️

My thoughts

Episode 1

What a solid, solid opening episode! 🤩 This bodes very well for the rest of our watch, because if memory serves, Show stays consistently solid all the way through to the end.

Full disclosure before we start: I watched this show when it first aired in 2011, and loved it a great deal then, but it’s now been 11 years since, and just about everything’s hazy in my brain and I can’t remember details.

Which means that it will feel very much like a new show, to my eyes. Or, as new as a rewatch can feel, eh? 😁

What I like about this premiere, is that it’s so efficient and engaging, all at the same time.

We get an immediate sense of the tragedy that is to come, with the flash-forward to when Prince Su Yang sends men to kill Kim Jong Seo, by using Kim Seung Yu.

We don’t get to see what happens afterwards, but this already gives us a very particular lens when viewing the events of the episode.

When we see scenes of Prince Su Yang trying to persuade Kim Jong Seo to agree to a marriage between Seung Yu and Se Ryeong, we already know that Prince Su Yang ends up killing Kim Jong Seo.

We don’t know yet, if Prince Su Yang is actually being sincere in his words to Kim Jong Seo, because there’s still the possibility that he could be earnest in this moment, but things changed along the way, and that’s how he ended up plotting to take Kim Jong Seo’s life.

And of course, the other possibility (probability?) is that he’s being two-faced with Kim Jong Seo, even now.

We’ll have to see how that unfolds, as we go.

Another thing that I like about this show so far, is that the politics, while present, doesn’t feel overbearing.

What I mean is, the focus is clearly on the relationship side of things, with the politics being present to provide context to our central love story.

This makes me interested in the politics, because all of it ultimately impacts the central loveline.

On that note, I also credit Show with making the politics pretty accessible and digestible, even at this early stage.

I feel like I know the various important bits of information, in order to appreciate the impact of various events, and at the same time, I still feel free to focus my attention on the central loveline. Very nice.

So far, I really like Se Ryeong.

She’s wide-eyed and curious, and has a sense of adventure about her, with her deep desire to ride a horse.

At the same time, we get a sense of her independent, slightly rebellious streak, where she says that the more she’s told that she shouldn’t ride a horse, the more she wants to do so.

Beyond that, I also like the sweet core nature that we get glimpses of, like how she’s gentle with the horse, and has such a sense of wonder about her, as she touches the horse.

Also, beyond her fixation with horses, she does appear to be genial and warm, like in how she is on close terms with Princess Gyeong Hye, even though Se Ryeong’s younger sister doesn’t care for the Princess’s airs.

So far, I find myself enjoying the friendship between cousins Se Ryeong and Gyeong Hye.

Even though Gyeong Hye’s a Princess and Se Ryeong should therefore observe palace decorum around her, I do get the sense that they like each other, and get along well.

The way they hatch that little plan (which soon gets out of hand), with Se Ryeong taking Gyeong Hye’s place during her lessons, also feels like an exciting secret between girlfriends.

The moment Se Ryeong shyly tells Gyeong Hye her real reason for suggesting that she attend the lesson in Gyeong Hye’s place – because she is likely to be betrothed to Kim Seung Yu and is curious to see what he’s like – Gyeong Hye’s all in on the plan and even directs the transformation, by choosing Se Ryeong’s princess outfit for her.

That feels extremely supportive to my eyes, and I find myself really warming to this friendship, even as I sigh with bated breath, because it’s so clear that this ruse is going to go wrong. 😅

As for Kim Seung Yu, I have mixed feelings about him so far.

On the downside, I don’t have an extremely good impression of him, on introduction, because it appears that he makes it a habit to drink all night at gibangs with his friends.

And then, not only does he show up for his first day at work, at the palace, no less, with lipstick marks on his face and neck, he is rather rude to the person behind the screen, whom he believes to be the Princess.

I mean, it seems extremely irresponsible to drink all night, the day before you start your new job at the palace, no?

And, even if the Princess has a reputation for making things difficult for her tutors, I thought his words to her, and his behavior, in raising the screen, are highly inappropriate.

Additionally, the way he goes back the next day, and lays down the law with “the Princess” also feels rather petty and manipulative, to my eyes.

I believe he’s trying to win the alpha position early, with his charge, but it still feels rather rude and inappropriate, I feel.

..Which is why, when Se Ryeong pushes back, and gives as good as she gets, without actually losing her cool, I find stars growing in my eyes, for her. 🤩

All that said with regards to Seung Yu, I don’t find him completely unlikable.

For example, I like that he’s loyal to his friend Jeong Jong, and doesn’t hesitate to take on responsibility for Jeong Jong’s debt with the loansharks, in order to save him.

That, and the way he doesn’t hesitate to go after Se Ryeong, when she sees that she’s having trouble with her horse, even though he believes that she’d made him look bad in front of the King on purpose, makes me believe that he ultimately has a good heart.

And, with him swooping in to save Se Ryeong like this, the connection between them can only grow stronger, yes?

At the same time, the fact that the King now announces that he would like Princess Gyeong Hye to marry Kim Seung Yu, definitely throws a very big, very fat, and very valid spanner into the works.

Color me suitably intrigued and invested. I’m eager to see what happens next.

Very nicely done, Show! 👏🏻

Episode 2

Things get really complicated really fast, this episode, and I realize that this is one gigantic, mammoth-scale misunderstanding, or, a circus of multiple misunderstandings, whichever you prefer, where everyone has a different understanding of the situation.

Credit to Show, because that’s a lot of misconception to juggle, and yet, Show does such a solid job of it, that everyone’s various actions make sense, given their different perception of the situation.

In the first place, the reason Se Ryeong shows an interest in Seung Yu, and allows herself to be closer to Seung Yu than she would the average man, is because she has reason to believe that Seung Yu is very likely going to be her husband.

And, the reason Seung Yu feels obligated to protect her, is because he believes that she is the Princess.

Of course, that already creates the situation at the top of the episode, where he rescues her from her runaway horse, and then takes pains to escort her back into the town.

Over the course of their interactions, I feel like Show does a very nice job of teasing out a growing connection between the two, even though neither of them actually intends for things to develop this way.

For example, even though Se Ryeong’s rather disdainful of the fact that all the gisaengs at the gibang appear to be oh-too-familiar with Seung Yu – which is evidence that he’s very much a regular there – she can’t help but also soften towards him, like when she realizes that he’s applied medicinal herbs to her swollen ankle.

On Seung Yu’s side of things, I completely understand that his main reason for getting involved in Se Ryeong’s matters at all, is because he believes her to be the Princess.

And, it’s not like he’s planning to romance her in any way whatsoever; it’s just that Se Ryeong is just that guilelessly charming, in her own way.

The moment he leaks a smile when he spies her asleep behind that screen at the gibang, I knew he was a goner.

If he can’t help but smile at her with such amusement and affection, in spite of himself, that’s a Very Strong Sign that feeeelings are growing, whether he’s cognizant of them or not, right?

And then, later, when his father informs him that he is going to be married to the Princess, he also leaks a smile, while mulling over it.

This tells me that while he hadn’t been thinking about getting romantically involved with “the Princess,” he’s not at all opposed to the idea of marrying her – because he’s accumulated that much attraction to her.

All of this is unfolding like true romance clockwork, but there’s a layer of tension for us as viewers, because we can also see what’s going on in the court, while Se Ryeong and Seung Yu have their unexpected rendezvous.

The King decides that it’s best to have Seung Yu as his son-in-law, because he feels that joining hands with Seung Yu’s father Kim Jong Seo, would help to keep his children – particularly his son – safe.

But that changes the entire ballgame, doesn’t it?

Credit to Princess Gyeong Hye, who tries to dissuade her father from the match, partly because she knows that Se Ryeong anticipates that Seung Yu will be her husband.

But with the King telling her that this is the best way to protect her brother, that basically changes everything for Princess Gyeong Hye, doesn’ it?

Now, instead of seeing Seung Yu as a potential cousin-in-law, she needs to look upon him as her future husband – and of course that affects her response to Se Ryeong’s interactions with him.

Even though Gyeong Hye doesn’t have a romantic interest in Seung Yu, she simply can’t condone the idea of her future husband having such close interactions with another woman, can she?

..Which puts her in opposition towards Se Ryeong’s growing connection with Seung Yu, all of a sudden.

I’m quite bummed by this, honestly, because when this little role-play had started, it had been a bit of fun between the two friends, who had both been rather thrilled by the idea of Se Ryeong getting a good look at her future husband.

At that time, the ruse had seemed to bring them closer, as friends and sisters.

But now, with how things have changed, Gyeong Hye cannot help but suddenly find herself on opposite sides, with Se Ryeong.

We don’t see what Gyeong Hye intends to do with this new turn of events, but from the way she mutters that Seung Yu isn’t Se Ryeong’s man, it does feel like she’s going to do something about it, and soon.

Of course, Prince Suyang’s first instinct would be to find a way to prevent this royal match from happening, because the only thing worse than Kim Jong Seo opting not to join hands with him through the marriage of their children, is Kim Jong Seo opting to join hands with the King instead.

On paper, his plan for that isn’t such a bad one – except for the inconvenient fact that Kim Seung Yu is apparently the most outstanding young bachelor (with the cleanest family record) in all of the land, and none of the other potential candidates even comes close.

..Which is how he lands on his back-up plan, which is to kill off Seung Yu, so that Kim Jong Seo wouldn’t be able to join hands with the King.

Basically, if I can’t have you, I will destroy you, eh? 😬

..Which is how Seung Yu and Se Ryeong end up being targeted by bandits on what is supposed to be Se Ryeong’s final hurrah on horseback, before marriage.

(And again, the only reason Seung Yu would offer to do this for her, is because he believes her to be the Princess, the woman whom his father has told him he will marry.

And the reason Se Ryeong would accept such close proximity with Seung Yu, is because she still believes that he is going to be her husband.

Oh, but what a tangled web we weave! 😅)

As we close out the episode, we’ve got Seung Yu felled by an arrow and looking like he’s ready to pass out, and Se Ryeong at her wits’ end, as the bandits close in on them.

I have no idea how they’re going to escape this very dire situation, but I am very sure that Seung Yu won’t die. I mean, it’s just impossible, isn’t it, given the nature of our story, and the fact that we’re only just done episode 2? 😅

I’m curious to see how Show works a way out for both Seung Yu and Se Ryeong, and I’m even more curious, to see how all this cross-wired matchmaking is going to shake out, next set of episodes!

Next Open Thread will be up on: Saturday, 1 October 2022!

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Snow Flower
Snow Flower
1 year ago

I am late to the party but catching up. This is my second watch. I think I watched this about 8 years ago, so, just like Kfangurl, the show feels new to me. Moon Chae Won is as wonderful as I remember. The court politics are relatively easy to follow. I am also not completely on board with the ML.

Elaine Phua
Elaine Phua
1 year ago

Unfortunately this show is not safe to watch with my son! Some sword slashing and arrow wounds etc. But I am making time here and there when I’m alone to catch up. The first episode I was not impressed with ML for sure. Frequenting gibangs and showing up late and with kissy marks for work, hmph. But kinda appreciated that he gave attitude to the “princess” to let her know he won’t be bullied, and that sparked Se Ryeong to sass him back. I’m surprised they’re bonding so fast, thanks kfangirl for giving context that they each think they are practically betrothed so it’s OK to get closer. I really like that he remembered what she said about wanting to enjoy the freedom of a horse ride before getting married and trapped and didn’t expect so much physical contact and skinship on episode 2 of a period drama haha!

The last two sageuks I watched – The Crowned Clown and The Red Sleeve – were quite emotionally gutting, hope this one will be moving in a rewarding way rather than making me give up sageuks forever and ever!!

Last edited 1 year ago by Elaine Phua
phl1rxd
phl1rxd
1 year ago

Fangurl – I did not realize that Lee Soon Jae is in this. That is a big bonus for me. I enjoyed the first two episodes.

ngobee
ngobee
1 year ago

So, this time I’ll make a real effort to not just watch but also comment.

Boy, they sure don’t take no prisoners from the start. The first episode really set up everything you need to get your bearings. I also felt a hint of vintage – might be the film material and the way it is shot – but that disappeared pretty quickly and I came to care about the story.

The female lead is fun and sweet to watch, the princess a successful mix of mannerisms and real emotion. The male lead, who seems very young to teach a princess, spouts off his Confucian philosophy which was certainly also valid for a princess. He is not that likeable from the get-go, but seems to enjoy freedom from society’s restraints as much as the FL. Only there was a parallel world, the gibang, where he could let his hair down with his friends. Women did not have that opportunity. So the ride is where they can share their longing for feeling free.

Everybody seems pretty active, as has been remarked. No sitting around, the princess ventures into the street. The FLs mother beats her with the cane – not a positive occurence, but they all do something. There’s lots of movement, from the beginning with that ill-fated ride towards the ML’s father.

I am really intrigued and will have a hard time waiting for the next two episodes.

The horse – I don’t know. I probably thought the film crew would take care of it and didn’t worry … What intrigued me more was the way those two fell off the cliff together. It reminded me so much of the scene in CLOY when Captain Ri in his paragliding gear on the hilltop puts his arm around Yoon Se-ri and they fall off the cliff together to glide down into the valley to escape capture. Did CLOY quote the older “Romeo-and-Juliet” drama here? Or is that altogether a Korean drama trope?

Leslie
Leslie
1 year ago

First, I’m enjoying this classic drama so far, and anticipate it will be an emotional engager. 

Impressed by how deftly Show sets up what seems will be the central, potentially tragic, dramatic element – star-crossed lovers – with an innocent game between two friends, fooling the new teacher and potential husband. How very efficient in building viewer dread, while our main characters are busy building bliss.

Second, an observation rather than a criticism: how quickly dramas start to look dated in just 11 years. The acting style feels different – less natural, more stylized? Our FL may be spunky, but she’s still more demure and sweet than modern takes on spunky. ML is handsome, but even with a Joseon hairstyle, he still looks like 2011 attractive (to me). Overall, make-up is not meant to glamorize or perfect vs now – which feels more authentic, btw. Maybe it’s also the filming – the quality of light, the filters, etc. All together, it feels a little vintage. Somewhat distracting, but hope I’ll soon just sink into the TPM world.

Amused by how many of us were distracted by the fate of the horse. #dramaticfocusfail

MariaF
MariaF
1 year ago
Reply to  Leslie

@Leslie
how quickly dramas start to look dated in just 11 years. The acting style feels different – less natural, more stylized?

I didn’t want to go there, but since we’re already talking about it… You can take screen shots of actors’ faces from this show and make them into emojis: happy, angry, scared, surprised.

Although I’m not 100% sure why: is it the age of the show, or maybe these particular actors, or the type of the drama (Sageuk).

eda harris
eda harris
1 year ago
Reply to  MariaF

maria and leslie,
is it the age of the show, or maybe these particular actors, or the type of the drama (Sageuk).
i think the latter is more accurate in this case: these actors, or director’s vision, or the sageuk, rather than the age of the drama itself.

MariaF
MariaF
1 year ago
Reply to  eda harris

I think you are right.

j3ffc
j3ffc
1 year ago

Let her know that one way or the other
Our love’s gonna be written down in history 
A-just like Romeo and Juliet

Solid first episodes; reasonably entertaining and certainly no time wasted in setting up our story. Unlike kfangurl, though, I was as usual a little confused about the palace intrigue part of the story. I understand that there is a king, and a princess, and her buddy, and some threat to the throne’s line after king (who does not look well at all) leaves the mortal coil, and that our OTP’s families are on opposite sides of the coming chaos. I am hoping that this is enough to get me through to the next couple of episodes (if the coming attractions are accurate we’re gonna ramp up on conflict and soon).

I do like our OTP and am curious to see where the (actual) princess is going to go….she too is in a spot of sorts. And I just found Lee Soon-jae, who plays Seung-yoo’s at her, to have such an iconic look and especially voice (even though I’ve not seen him before in anything, although he’s had apparently quite the distinguished career). And while I cannot opine on color schemes, that Prince just oozes ick.
And, yes, I too wondered about the horses!

eda harris
eda harris
1 year ago
Reply to  j3ffc

j3ffc,
confused about the palace intrigue part of the story.
i feel the same many times. but this time i watched these 2 episodes twice. i so wanted to jump ahead, so to keep myself from doing that (i’m trying to exercise discipline), i simply watched the two allowed episodes again. that helped to clarify, so let me try to help you to unconfuse.
the main issue: the king is getting old and has little time left. he has two children, the older daughter (the princess) and a younger son, looking like 10-12 years old. he is supposed to inherit the throne. but the king is worried that after his death his brother prince su yang (who wants to be king himself) will kill the young prince or even both, the prince and princess. in order to protect the young prince and the throne, the king chooses to marry the princess to the son (kim seung yu) of his trusted minister. because he hopes that this minister is the only one who will be able to protect the young king and the throne. and of course, this minister and the king’s brother prince su yang are arch-enemies. all the rest of the politics circles around this.
do not know if this helps any, but anyway, it will become more clear to you as it goes on.

eda harris
eda harris
1 year ago

the opening scene: i must have watched it – i lost count how many times. a few words can describe it -a FEAST for EYES.
richness of color, music, horse and the dark brown shape of a young man – the combination is striking and promising and it is beyond spectacular in every aspect. the screen in front of you is bathed in opulent dark orange and amber, gold, splendid sepia and the sunset itself is exploding right in front of you and horse’s feet (just feet, we do not see the whole body of the horse, which i find a very creative way of leading us into the drama) galloping right into this glorious sunset. seriously, it took my breath away.

father and son, blooded and brutally being killed, under the orders of the evil conniving prince su yang(do they both end up dead, or the young one must live, as he is the ML as i understand) -so does it already give us the bitter end – i am not thrilled about it. but i am curious already, what is behind it all?

quickly we move a year back, to one of the main characters (it’s prince su yang, we later learn more about him) – what catches my attention is his outfit – the “poisonous light but o so bright orange overcoat with royal blue sleeves sticking out – god, make me color blind just for this moment, it’s an insult to my eyes. do not know if anybody else noticed it, but i am very sensitive to colors, and it was so offensive, that i had to mention it. but was it done on purpose, as a juxtaposition to the opening scene, or as a lead into his “poisonous” character (we learn later). i quite intensely dislike him, right from this moment. but we’ll see if my gut feeling is correct.

a little note: a few young men, looking like aristocrats, sleeping on the floor, it’s a brothel, after a night of drinking and having fun there. but to me it was more than funny, as it looked like a student dorm nowadays, he he (without the services of the gisaengs).

and now we get to the two girlfriends, the princess and lady se ryeong. they are blood relatives, looks like they grew up together, cousins and they seem to be very close and they look exceptionally cute together, and have a special bond like only women can have. i already like them both, individually and together, and i enjoy their openness with each other and their pranks, but i wonder where would those pranks end up, and more importantly how will these two young women get out of such situations? and especially i am curious, what will happen to this almost “soul mate connection” when a man gets in between them???

our ML and FL (or so it seems). i like them both, as characters, and i do not find the teacher (kim seung yu) rude or out of line, i kind of find it funny and even endearing in a way, like many young men/women would start a bit aggressive, but it will morph with time. and initially he adopted this tactic so he can stay on the job. i thought that it was even smart of him.
se ryeong – a true free spirit, a rebel. it is clear that she’s not a woman who would be “just a man’s shadow” as prescribed by the teachings. she’s sharp, stands her grounds and would not let a man be above her. yey – my kind of girl!
and when she wants to get on the horse, she sure enjoys to step on him. but the attraction between them develops very fast, it’s a nice paste and i am definitely interested.
this will truly be the first time i’ll try to be disciplined and not jump ahead. (i will need a bulldozer to keep me back), most of the previous GW dramas were rewatches for me, but this one is a first.

MariaF
MariaF
1 year ago
Reply to  eda harris

poisonous light but o so bright orange overcoat with royal blue sleeves sticking out – god, make me color blind just for this moment

Blue and orange combination is not that bad… It’s actually very effective, because these colors are directly opposite each other on the color wheel.

Also, blue and orange are in the middle of the warm and cold sides of the color wheel. All the other cold colors are warmer than blue, and all the other warm colors are colder than orange.

So each of them represents opposing concepts, such as hot and cold, natural and artificial, etc… Is this the key to his personality?

and especially i am curious, what will happen to this almost “soul mate connection” when a man gets in between them???

Yes, but I don’t think it’s just “a man” issue. One is a king’s daughter, and the other is not.

I don’t think they ever allow themselves to forget it, even if they grew up together. Korean society was extremely hierarchical back then. Rivalry and politics made relationships in king’s circles even more toxic and dangerous.

i do not find the teacher (kim seung yu) rude or out of line

Well, he was definitely rude and out of line by their times’ standards. But it was funny, and you are right about his intentions: he felt he needed to behave this way to gain her respect and maybe even instill some fear.
Still, I wonder what would’ve happened in real life, if she complained about his behavior.

F1596BEA-CC8A-45FD-B757-8BB76A2E905B.jpeg
MariaF
MariaF
1 year ago
Reply to  MariaF

or this

79E4E2E7-47CA-436D-B92D-57FEC3998618.jpeg
eda harris
eda harris
1 year ago
Reply to  MariaF

maria,
Blue and orange combination is not that bad… It’s actually very effective, because these colors are directly opposite each other on the color wheel.
you are totally right about this color combination, i know it all. but in this case… i have never seen such a blinding, poisonous type of “orange” (if you will), as here. i have an MFA and also was teaching color, light and composition (along with other subjects) in one of the most prestigious universities at some time, so color is my thing.
please, take a look at this again and tell me if it is a regular what we perceive as orange. i would be curious to know, or is it just me, or is it the color on my tv screen.

MariaF
MariaF
1 year ago
Reply to  eda harris

I’ll rewatch and let you know.

eda harris
eda harris
1 year ago
Reply to  eda harris

maria,
Yes, but I don’t think it’s just “a man” issue. One is a king’s daughter, and the other is not.
yes, but the other is a daughter of a king’s son, as her dad prince su yang is the biological brother of the current king and the biological son of the previous king. so, in my mind it is pretty close. actually, i do not understand why she’s called “lady” and not princess, as she’s a royal also. and from what i have seen in other dramas, i thought she should be called princess also. i wondered about this.

but in the case of these two girls, even that it is in korea at this particular time, in this drama they seem to be closer than usually allowed, it’s also different from what i have seen and know about this issue from watching other dramas, and as you rightfully point out. if we go by all the rules, it should be as you say, they should not be allowed to forget it, but here they clearly do.
and if we are talking “by their times’” – lady se ryeong would not be able to climb on a horse and run around. so… i think this is how this drama wants us to think about.

MariaF
MariaF
1 year ago
Reply to  eda harris

lady se ryeong would not be able to climb on a horse and run around

You better believe it! Noble women during Joseon era probably weren’t allowed to breathe without male supervision. Ok, I’m exaggerating a little, but only a little. These poor women had no life.

I should probably stop trying to analyze FL/ML behavior from the historical point of view…

I haven’t seen many Korean historical dramas (maybe one or two). So I can’t comment on how the king’s brother’s daughter should be called.
But I imagine there must have been a huge difference in status of a king and his children vs status of the king’s brother’s family. Especially when the king had a son (heir to the throne).

seankfletcher
1 year ago
Reply to  MariaF

MariaF – This topic is always interesting. Here is a link to a very good post that gives a thorough insight to how it all worked: https://thetalkingcupboard.com/2014/06/15/women-of-the-joseon-dynasty-part-1/

In Part 2 she concludes with a very thoughtful comment: Although these people were only portrayed as supporting characters in dramas, they lead colourful lives, each of them with their own stories to be told. It was not easy to dig up the information about them but each description about them is as precious as their lives. Even though women in that era were not as active as their male counterparts, they still made a difference in the lives of their grandfathers, fathers, uncles, brothers, husbands, sons, and even grandsons with their contributions. Without these women as the grandmothers, mothers, sisters, wives, daughters, granddaughters, and even lovers, the history would be incomplete. Thus, they could be regarded as contributors to the longevity of the 500-year dynasty.

Flowergirl
Flowergirl
1 year ago
Reply to  eda harris

I do think there were women in Joseon times that have a rebellious nature and like activities not traditionally seen for women like riding horses.

seankfletcher
1 year ago
Reply to  Flowergirl

Flowergirl – you are exactly right, some very famous ones, too 😊

MariaF
MariaF
1 year ago
Reply to  eda harris

@ Eda
You are right. That shade of orange on prince su yang looks terrible.

In the very beginning of the first episode Shin Myeon is also wearing orange and blue, but those two colors look stunning together.

eda harris
eda harris
1 year ago
Reply to  MariaF

thanks for confirming i am not crazy. yet.

MariaF
MariaF
1 year ago
Reply to  eda harris

You are welcome. And I think you have a long way to go to”crazy”.

eda harris
eda harris
1 year ago
Reply to  MariaF

that’s encouraging. thanks. i’ll try to remember.

Ele Nash
1 year ago

Sorry kfangurl and everyone, I hadn’t realised I had to have Viki plus to watch this, and I only have Viki standard 😟 so I won’t be able to join you. I think I’ll give The Sword and Brocade a whirl instead. Alone… 😭

eda harris
eda harris
1 year ago
Reply to  Ele Nash

ele, that’s just such a loss, for you and for us.
but i think you can just pay, and when we are done with this drama, cancel it. that’s what i would do.
in general, i find that viki is the most valuable in asian dramas.

uyen
1 year ago
Reply to  Ele Nash

wait Ele, The Sword and Brocade has been on my list since JJ mentioned it! I would watch it with you too!

seankfletcher
1 year ago

All in all, we see with the first two episodes the template for many future shows. The Princess Man still stands up extremely well. It had me engaged from the start to finish re both episodes.

And just for Trent: The Jeju National Museum has a wonderful webpage re an exhibition on the history of Joseon horses. Jeju is considered the home of the Korean horse.

If you go by the wonderful paintings on display, the horses were magnificent compared to what we see in TPM and just about any other Korean show for that matter 😊

uyen
1 year ago

I watched the prologue and felt, oh no…this is going to wreck me. I’m excited. I really liked that opening sequence where we zoom into images in the eye and past memories between both of them, very nice editing!! I am also liking the music, especially the OST at the end of ep 2.

I thought the simple scene where Se Ryeong is dressing into princess clothes in front of actual princess was super interesting because if her dad’s ambitions go well, that would actually be what she would wear! Obviously knowing her personality so far (and I totally love her being so headstrong and fearless), that’s not going to go well when she finds out her dad’s a schemer, but it is an interesting “what if” scenario if she had been the princess instead.

I was a little taken aback by the princess’s change in attitude since she seemed very friendly, but logically I do understand that she sees him as her future husband now /: I didn’t love it because I don’t want her to become scheme-y and manipulative, but I have hope she’ll be a more complex character!!

Also interesting reflection just for myself, I knew the angst between the characters was coming but for some reason, perhaps because of stereotypes, I thought the evil dad would be the ML’s dad, not FL’s dad. I just like her so much, I don’t want her to go through the angst of navigating family loyalty, I guess.

Trent
1 year ago

So this was an enjoyable first couple of episodes. Moon Chae-won is, as expected, vivacious and full of life. I’m not yet fully on board with the ML, but he has some diamond-in-the-rough potential, so we are withholding judgment.

I went ahead and, as I am wont to do, looked up the historical background, and oy! Of course, the opening prologue does somewhat let the cat out of the bag, but.. Oops, forgot, no spoiler tags in these threads, so I chopped out the spoilers, even if they were historical record spoilers. You can go read it on Wikipedia under “King Sejo,” if you’d like..

I have to say, this is kind of small-minded of me, but I spent a significant chunk of the second episode fixated on horses: first of all, you don’t just get on a horse that’s standing at the public hitching post and go riding off! But both our FL and our ML do that (and do it again in ep 2!). And then, as they’re heading toward the cliff–understandable as FL has no clue how to really ride–he jumps on and, instead of grabbing the reins and turning or reining in the horse, he jumps off with her. Okay, good way to potentially end up with a concussion and a few broken bones, but whatever.

But then, the whole first half of episode 2, I was like, wait a minute, what happened to the horse? Did it gallop off the cliff, and our leads are just like, ho hum, whatever? and they ride the remaining horse back, and there’s no posse out for their heads for horse stealing? If not for the still-living horse, what about *the missing horse*!? This kept niggling at me.

Look, I know it’s dramatic license, and ultimately who cares, right? But I cannot imagine that horses are such a commonplace commodity in 15th century Joseon that you can just casually ride off on one and then not bring it back and…no repercussions. What’s going on?! Will no one think of the horses!? 😤

Whew.

Last edited 1 year ago by Trent
uyen
1 year ago
Reply to  Trent

justice for the horses!!! this is why I have to turn off my logic lens for dramas

MariaF
MariaF
1 year ago
Reply to  Trent

After watching these horse scenes (riding off, jumping off, etc. ), my exact thought was: “What the hell?!!”.

I’m now worried that this kind of sloppiness (if it continues) is going to ruin this drama for me.

eda harris
eda harris
1 year ago
Reply to  Trent

Will no one think of the horses!? 😤

i am, i am, trent. that’s exactly what i was thinking when they rolled in the grass, but what happened to the horse? i just watched another drama where the horse and the carriage fall of the cliff, but the drama put out a disclaimer that it was not a real horse in the picture falling down. but i am always upset seeing horses used in war scenes, and in other events like this.

enapeters
enapeters
1 year ago
Reply to  Trent

Yes! Many thoughts along these lines. Did the horse jump off the cliff? Would a horse really be that stupid to jump off a cliff? Then in episode 2 when they go looking for the horse, was the horse really just wandering around still? Surely someone would have found that wandering horse out in the hills by now and been like, “Score!”

phl1rxd
phl1rxd
1 year ago
Reply to  Trent

Trent – there are trained stunt horses. I have cringed at some of the stunts as one cannot help but wonder if the poor horse got hurt. I want to think that the trainers love them and are lax to put them in a situation that could end their stunt career (and future earnings). Fun fact: In Ben Hur the chariot horses had understudies.

I did get the spoiler but it is no problem. I appreciate that you took the time to research this and I did look it up as well. It was quite interesting!

Alexandra
Alexandra
1 year ago
Reply to  Trent

Trent, she rode her father’s horse (she was at home). That was the lost horse (the one she jumped off). And the other one they brought back with them (and probably a servant of the ML took it back). And in the second part of ep. 2 she was trying to get back the lost horse because her servant told her her father will be going on a hunt soon. So the ML probably recovered the lost horse too.

Last edited 1 year ago by Alexandra