Hi everyone!

Today I’m sharing my episode 1-2 notes on Perfect Crown, because I’m enjoying it nicely, and I was wondering if you’d like to join me? 🤗

These are my episode 1-2 notes, exactly as they appear on Patreon.

I hope you all enjoy, and I hope you’ll consider joining us over on Patreon, for the rest of the squees and discussions! ❤️

Episode notes:

E1-2. Ok, so it took me a hot minute to get situated with this one, but two episodes in, I do find myself to be a pretty happy camper. 😁

Part of the reason I needed a bit of time, is because I had to adjust my expectations, somewhat.

What I realized, is that my expectations had been calibrated to something more immediately polished and confident, but two episodes in, this show feels… less fully formed than that, in a way that shows up across multiple areas.

I’d cut my drama teeth on Goong, which had been an immediately immersive experience, and I just felt like the world-building in this show doesn’t pop as much.

I guess I’d expected a more immediately grabby soundtrack, and a stronger sense of polish and luxury, in the cinematography.

I think I’d been expecting the cinematography to be in the same league as the cinematography in Can This Love Be Translated?  and it’s just.. not? 😅

I was a little disappointed, can’t lie.

However, I do think that there’s enough Pretty in the palace sets and hanboks, once I adjust my expectations.

That same sense of things feeling a little less fully formed shows up in the writing as well.

Because this script won the Excellence Award in the Feature-Length Series category at the 2022 MBC Drama Screenplay Contest, I had Expectations, naturally.

However, so far, the writing doesn’t strike me as being particularly remarkable.

In fact, I’d even go so far as to say that – so far, anyway – some of the bits that have me feeling underwhelmed, trace back to the writing. 😅

For example, a lot of the Intended Humor is not really landing for me, and while there’s directing and delivery in the mix as well, I do also think that the writing plays a part as well.

If I had to pick one thing that bemuses me and takes me out of the show the most, it would be everything around the character of Do Hye Jeong, Hui Ju’s secretary.

Everything about this character feels try-hard to me, from the lines themselves, to the delivery of the lines.

I feel like Lee Yeon (whom I thought was impressive in Juvenile Justice) is possibly miscast for the role, but I also feel like the writing around her character is weak.

Like, Hui Ju’s written to be fearsome and intimidating; someone whom her staff members get nervous around, but Hye Jeong isn’t afraid of her, and even nags, scolds and is animatedly aggravated around her as a matter of routine.

The thing is, we are not given any narrative reason why Hui Ju would put up with that kind of behavior from Hye Jeong.

After all, Hui Ju’s the boss – and one who manages with an iron fist, at that.

I find this weird and jarring, and because this dynamic shows up on my screen very often, I find it setting me back in my efforts to just relax and enjoy the show.

Also, I have to say that these initial episodes feel mostly like set-up, and there’s nothing particularly creative about how that is written or handled.

Given my high expectations coming in and the way the first two episodes were utilized, I did feel slightly underwhelmed, particularly with episode 1.

However, on the upside, I enjoyed episode 2 quite a bit more (I think part of it is just me getting more used to the show, honestly), and right now, I’m rather looking forward to getting to watch episode 3.

That’s not bad, considering my false start with this show, eh?

Mainly, I find both leads growing on me nicely.

Let’s start with Hui Ju.

She’s mainly a “prickly on the outside, soft on the inside” kind of character, and while we mostly see her pricklier side in episode 1, we get more of the softer underbelly showing through in episode 2, which helps to balance it out, for me.

I definitely feel that IU’s personal charm and comic timing are helping to take the edge off the character as written, though I do think that the rhythm of quite a few scenes feels off to my eyes, because the other characters are not in the same flow.

Case in point, Hui Ju’s scenes with Hye Jeong.

IU’s delivering Hui Ju’s lines with a great sense of smugness and flair, but Hye Jeong feels like she’s on an almost completely different page, even though they are engaging in the same conversation – if you know what I mean?

On her own, though, Hui Ju is a character that I rather enjoy, and would like to see more of.

It’s true that she’s smart-alecky and a bit obnoxious, but we know that this stems from having been discriminated against for being born out of wedlock, over an extended period of time.

I can buy the idea that she’s had to grow this defensive armor, in order to fight her way forward in a world that would rather forget her existence.

And now, I can buy the idea that she wants to buy legitimacy, via a contract marriage to Grand Prince Yi An.

Speaking of whom, I am enjoying Byeon Woo Seok nicely in this.

It’s true that so far, he hasn’t had to do a whole lot besides look royally ethereal, but he’s doing that part really well, so I feel like I can’t complain. 😁

It did take me a hot second to piece Yi An’s situation together, but now that I understand his position, I feel like I can understand his angst.

Essentially, he’s considered less than because of the fact that he wasn’t born of the Queen, and that’s why, in the present, he’s stuck in a position where he’s more suited to the throne than the actual King, but can do nothing more than assist his nephew, while the Queen Mother hovers suspiciously, worrying that Yi An would have designs on the throne.

To my eyes, that’s why he floats in-between being indolently nonchalant (while looking quite celestial), and acting like a helpful uncle, to his young and helpless nephew.

I do wonder at the way he seems to get under the Queen Mother’s skin.

She says in episode 1, that he eclipses the Crown itself. That’s a big statement, and, to my understanding, has to do with his person, rather than his accomplishments.

To be frank, it seems to me like there’s some degree of hyper-awareness in the tension that she seems to feel in relation to him? (Or perhaps I’m projecting my hyper-awareness onto her..? 🤭)

Either way, she’s definitely feeling threatened by him, which is why she requests that he wed – because that would entail that he move out of the palace.

And in a very similar sort of way, Hui Ju’s marriage is being discussed – in order to get her out of the way of the family’s succession plans.

At the heart of it, even though no one would ever actually say that Yi An is illegitimate, he’s in a similar position as Hui Ju – and I do believe that that’s why she gives him pause, whenever she shows up in his orbit.

I believe that that’s why, in the flashback, he’d ended up requesting that the shooting range be open to all students in the lead-up to the competition; it all boils down to the way Hui Ju had remarked that it was his privilege that had allowed him access.

By the time we get to the end of episode 1, we have strong reasons for both Hui Ju and Yi An to enter into a contract marriage, and a solid foundation of solidarity upon which to build – which is why, I think, I find myself feeling a little impatient at the episode 2 hijinks to get us there. 😅

Specifically, I thought the running gag of Hui Ju trying to get through to Yi An, first in gaining an audience in episode 1, and then in ambushing him in order to spend time with him in episode 2, felt tired and overdone.

It’s been done in so many sageuks (Bon Appetit, Your Majesty comes to mind) that it felt to me like this show is just borrowing the beat to fill up screen time.

Aside from this, however, there are several things that I liked, that led to my better enjoyment of episode 2 compared to episode 1.

First, I do like that we get a little more insight into Yi An’s backstory.

It only really clicked in my head, in episode 2, that the recently deceased King hadn’t been his father, but his brother.

That somehow makes Yi An’s situation feel more acutely poignant to me, because he’d already been passed over once for the throne when his brother had become King, and now it’s happened again, with his nephew becoming King.

I can imagine that this would make Yi An feel like he’s stuck, and that nothing really matters – because everything that he does or doesn’t do, is futile anyway.

I do think that having our male lead live with fire-related trauma feels rather tropey, but I’m willing to roll with it, because of course our Grand Prince needs some extra angst. 🙃

I very much appreciate the beat where Yi An shows up for the King, despite his previous determination not to interfere where he’s not wanted – all because his nephew had called and made that plaintive cry for help.

Aw. I love that Yi An’s got this huge soft spot for his nephew, that he would come running, just to soothe his little nerves. 🥰

Another thing that appealed to me, is when Yi An’s aide Choi Hyeon remarks that it would be interesting to see Hui Ju and the Queen Mother go head to head in a fight.

I do think that that’s an interesting angle, and I feel like I’m about as intrigued as Yi An is, by the thought. 😁

I also very much appreciate that we get to see more of Hui Ju’s softer side in episode 2.

The way she interacts with the young King while receiving the Flower of Honor is cute and kind, and the way she throws in a little bit of flirtatious banter with Yi An, is charming too.

Plus, I do think that it’s very winsome, the way Hui Ju thinks nothing of wearing her flower hat out to lunch with Jeong Woo and then to her hotel staycation.

I really enjoy the thought that she’s so comfortable in her own skin, and so confident in her happiness, that she has zero care about what other people might say or think.

On a related tangent, it’s becoming clear that Jeong Woo is nursing feelings for Hui Ju, and I do wonder why he hasn’t yet made a proper romantic move.

Is it because her “illegitimate” label is inconvenient for his political career?

(Though I must say, Steve Noh makes a very handsome young Prime Minister. 🤩)

Of course, it’s drama law by this point, that Hui Ju’s staying at the same hotel where Yi An’s taking refuge while unwell, and I like that she offers practical assistance by calling for her personal doctor – and then makes sure to request that the doc say on record that she had been the patient.

That consideration and thoughtfulness really does endear Hui Ju to me. 🥲

How convenient for our story, that Hui Ju would get caught up in that whirlwind of rumor, that she’s Yi An’s secret woman – and might even be pregnant (because of the doc’s house call)! 🤭

I am very tickled by this, for some reason. 😁

When Yi An eventually calls for Hui Ju, I’d assumed that it was because he was ready to accept her marriage proposal, in order to deal with the scandal.

So color me surprised, when his actual order of business, is to apologize to her, for dragging her into this scandal.

Ooh! Yi An is much more of a gentleman than he’d like to let on!

And it’s Hui Ju who brings the conversation back to marriage, when he asks her what she desires (in compensation), by telling him about how she’s always on the brink of being replaced by her brother – and how she’s looking to marry up.

When he clarifies that she’s willing to marry him just for a title, and she says that it’s because she’s lost too many opportunities for not having one, it feels like something clicks within him – which is when he tells her to prepare to be the Grand Prince’s wife.

To my eyes, it echoes the situation with the shooting range and the archery competition, back in high school.

He’d requested that the shooting range be open because he’d wanted to help her close that privilege gap, and I do believe that it was a similar line of thinking, that caused him to lose on purpose, too.

My sense is that he feels that he is stuck, and irrevocably so, but that she is in a position where she can move forward beyond the confines of her social prison – which is why he opts to enable her.

I feel like he’s helping her to achieve what he cannot achieve for himself, perhaps so that he can live vicariously through her, and I am honestly quite intrigued by this train of thought.

Time will tell if I’m on the right track or completely off, but for now, I’m interested and invested – and I hope you’ll join me. ❤️

*I’m covering this show on the 💎 Ultra Access (US $24) Tier on Patreon*

To view episode 1-2 notes in Patreon, along with everyone’s comments, you can go here!

You can find my Patreon page here, and for all future episode notes for this show you can click here.

Episodes 3-4 notes will be out next week! I hope you’ll consider joining us!

It’ll be a way to have fun, and support me at the same time? 🥲❤️

PS: For more information on what the Patreon experience is like, you might like to check out my Support page (here!) and my Patreon update post for April (here!).