King2Hearts (2012)

King 2 Hearts is, hands down, one of my favorite kdramas. I could rewatch it time after time and still not get tired of the storyline.

Lee Jae Ha, played by Lee Seung Gi, had one of the best character developments in the drama. He went from a spoiled, rich, entitled, bratty prince to a strong, responsible and respectable King. His relationship with Kim Hang Ah, played by Ha Ji Won, was amazing. They both brought out the best in each other. She taught him how to grow and mature into a King that she and the people can respect. They were a power couple but couldn't have made it without A LOT of trust and respect in each other. They had amazing chemistry right from the beginning. I mean that kiss in the kitchen on the floor was ???? because so much tension had been built up already.

The side characters were amazing. I don't have any complaints about them. Some of my favorites were Eun Shi Kyung, the princess and the infamous John Mayer, even though I despised him for the things he did the actor playing him did an amazing job at portraying his character. But I think one character in particular deserves a shoutout: Lee Jae Kang. He was my favorite because of how supportive he was of his brother. He had such a kind heart and you could tell he really wanted the best for Lee Jae Ha. He wanted peace between both nations and just I loved his character. I don't want to get into his character too much because I might spoil some things but he's the type of brother I think everyone wants/needs in their life.

The storyline is unique to the other kdramas that I've watched and after all these years (7 years to be exact) it still remains one of my favorites and one of the most unique, amazing, gut-wrenching, and heart turning dramas I've watched. Every episode I was on the edge of my seat not knowing what to expect because there were so many twists and turns. While I disliked Lee Jae Ha's attitude at the beginning of the drama he really redeemed himself as the drama went on. The way he knew how to push John Mayer's buttons got me hollering at my phone screen saying, "YES!" "The password is one word. It's something I have but you don't..." and the message inside the box. *jaw dropping* But John Mayer's retaliation/s got me on the edge of my seat and I think once you watch this you'll never look at another villain the same. John Mayer almost puts other villains to shame. (Gah, what he did to the royal family though).

I cried like no other. It was a cry of agony, pain, and loss, something that I was shocked about how a kdrama could have such a strong impact on my emotions. I think that's why this drama was so good. They did an amazing job at getting you to connect and sympathize with the characters so when something dramatic happened you were right there with them crying when they were crying and laughing when they were laughing and cheering right along with them. A lot of events happened that when I look back I'm surprised they fit all of the events in just 20 episodes and STILL make it good.

Overall, if you like dramas that have fictional hints to it along with politics thrown in and some romance and comedy on the side I think you'll really enjoy this one. I do believe the romance was stronger than some believe but it wasn't the central part of the storyline and that's what makes it watchable. Politics is thrown in but it's understandable and you kind of get what's going on without understanding much about politics. I give this drama a 10/10. I knocked off half a point in the acting/cast only because of the foreigners they casted. Some of them were cringey and some of them were supposed to be American but had a foreign accent. However, overall, that wasn't enough to keep me from watching this drama. Seriously, give this drama a try!

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Yo... At first I thought it would just like be Goong, but after watching the first episode... I've realized it's REALLY different from Goong...
The story was good. I love how they incorporated the North-South Korea conflict in the story. It was not simply a romance drama but a drama with SENSE. This drama was exciting and definitely COOL.
For the cast, I admit, I find Ha Ji Won soooooooo COOL and AMAZING. I love her character... She was definitely great in portraying her role as Hang Ah. Seung Ki, was great as ever. He was moving and hot and I almost think that he was really a real KING... The princess and shi kyung's story was also very heartwarming. BUT my favorite character for this drama would be JOHN MAYER! He was simply CREEPY! He was so good in his role that he gives me goosebumps when I'm watching him act. He was a real FREAK! But freaking in a good way, since he really was the MAIN INGREDIENT for the drama's suspense. He is the BEST VILLAIN I've seen so far in dramas.
The music, on the other hand, I couldn't notice it while watching the drama. I don't know. But I might be just so concentrated that's why I can't notice it. Heheh... Rewatch value, 8, hmmm... I don't think I would watch this again. maybe, after some time. Overall, I think this deserves a 10... (^-^)

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King2hearts it is breath taken. It is exciting, mysterious, lovable, painfull, happy, scary.... It's so many things. I couldnt stop watching it untill I realize I was in the final episode.
As I said is breath taken, good and bad. But You till the end wont lose hope.
The rolls of Lee Seung Gi and Ha Ji Won was SO PERFECT.
I enjoyed as much as I did the main roles, I did for the supporting roles.
They were believable, all of them.
That was one of the most perfect dramas I ever seen. And I watched plenty of it.
Hope you guys enjoyed as I did.
Cried a lot when it ended.

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Blew my mind

This is the oldest drama i’ve watched yet. This is also my first review as well, however I thought that I should write one for this.

At first I wasn’t expecting much because of the fact it was filmed in 2012, however I was wrong. The acting was good when it came to the Koreans. Seungi never fails to disappoint me with his acting. And since this was filmed in 2012, I understand that his acting obviously isn’t as good as it is today.

What kind of threw me off was the acting from the international actors, however I think that has always been the case with me when it comes to international actors in Kdramas. However in this particular one, the acting looked more forced and just didn’t really fit well with me and threw me off at times. Especially the girl in CLUB M. It gave off cosplaying acting rather than professional acting, other than that the acting was great overall.

I definitely felt that some scenes were taking too long, or didn’t really get to the point which made me skip them. Such as the WOC first round for example. It dragged out in some parts which made it boring for me. I also kind of wished they showed at least some clips on how they won the other rounds, however that’s that.

The storyline was honestly pretty good. I’ve watched a few other royal modern day kdramas and south and north korea dramas as well such as The King: Eternal Monarch, Crash Landing on You and The Last Empress (which I have yet to finished.) now obviously the storylines were different, however this definitely was one of the best out of them all.

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The only problem I had with this Kdrama was they had fake Americans instead of real Americans, do you know how many Americans live in SK? But I am happy that at the end of the WOC they peacefully were united.

Lee Seung GI, just love this actor, his acting abilities are so on point! Something about his eyes and when he smiles, I smile, when he cries I cry when he laughs I laugh... his demeanor is just that way. He throws everything of himself into the character he plays. Does SK have a fountain of youth? Ha Ji Won could pass for a teenager but instead, she is a strong woman! I loved her in Secret Gardens as well, she is now on my top Korean Actress list.

Thank you to the rest of the team and cast! Y'all did great even the fake Americans. lol

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This is one drama that I sincerely enjoyed watching entirely without minimal skipping. This drama had a bit of everything: comedy, romance, action, melodrama. The scenes with tension really made your heart race, and there were so many unexpected moments that made you go "what the fuck just happened?" Lee Seung Gi and Ha Ji Won portrayed such a beautiful caring chemistry that really showed how much their characters loved each other. I thoroughly enjoyed the fact the FL was the one protecting the ML physically, but that the ML was protecting the FL through his societal powers. The FL was such a badass and girl crush, I can see why many girls fell in love with her. The villainous scenes were terrifying but also hilarious in how the psychopathic villain was portrayed. All the characters stayed true to their roots despite their situations. I was amazed at how the drama crammed so many different subplots in such little time without making it feel rushed. The music was perfect in every scene, especially the action scenes.

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Good plot and wonderful romance

Well, I want to be concise.

PLOT - Like it even if I don't know much about Korean monarchy. I wish the relationship between the 2 Korea's were like that! I don't think a conglomerate could have a mad and fragile guy like that. How can nations policy be driven by a guy, some corrupt politicians without any gain?

ACTING - love it! The ML and FL were great. All others also. John Mayer was very good and that is why I hated him. But, a couple of things...
FL - I don't think that a strong, powerful woman like her could be so childish in terms of love in the beginning...
ML - too stupid in the beginning. The transformation was way to great. Don't understand his thoughts in the WOC competition at first, completely ridiculous...
Kang-seok should have met the female band members!!! Huge flaw!!!!

OST - don't appreciate that kind of music but I think it was well put in the drama.

REWATCH - maybe but passing forward lots of scenes!

In sum... A interesting story to "paint" a good romance. It was entertaining. I lack some knowledge about the relations between the 2 Korea's, the public view about monarchy but I didn't know that the king had such influence...

Do you romance? Please watch...

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Previously I watched Vagabond casted by Lee Seung Gi then the Netflix recommended King 2 Hearts. I didn't read the synopsis whatsoever, and I solely saw because of the monarchy setting since I once love Princess Hour long time before and see that it contains action. I must say this is the best! This is my most favorite drama! This is not romance packed and it is more talk about responsibility and trust. Love is of course need to be there. But this drama is not having the tropes which Kdrama usually have but more political and reality. The vibe that I also get from Designated Survivor. But to be honest this is more has the humor, dark side, emotional.

Lee Jae Ha, well at first I want to drop the drama because he is being a jerk. To be honest for the first few episodes I keep hanging because of Hang Ah, King Jae Kang, and Eun Shi Kyung are there to lift the mood. But since the refrigerator kiss, I started to like him, and through the drama I really saw the development. He learns so much and I like it! Lee Seung Gi is the best I think to portrait Jae Ha, and so far the best LSG acting for me.

Kim Hang Ah is so believable! Some people said she is inconsistent, or fall to the weak side. But I don't feel like that. Kim Hang Ah is the female lead that actually the most I admirer from Kdramas I've ever watch. She is tough, yet she wants to be loved. She actually soft and cute, but because of her profession of course she need to look tough and badass while as a wife (or soon-to-be) she needs to be a support for her husband and family. And when she started to enter the SK palace, of course she needs to balance and adjust that she is in different place, not in the comfortable place where she used to be in NK. Step up from your comfortable place, of course you will feel weaker, and need to learn a lot. However we can see that it's her integrity and principle is still there and being the light of the royal family and that's she came to protect. This is my first Ha Ji Won drama, and this is where I fall in love in the first sight and want to watch her projects more (and I'm done already, never be disappointed with her acting)! Again you can argue me, who can do better to portrait Kim Hang Ah aside of her?

Eun Shi Kyung and Princess Jae Shin... this one which have more romance and swoon scene for me. They both delivered well.

The OST.. ughh how can I say more. Missing You and Love is Crying is always in my playlist.

I could give 10 but i'm quite annoyed with American actors, and the English script for them :)

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