Forbidden Marriage

 

Ah, what a beautiful change to the lengthy Chinese See You Again, which I seem not to be able to finish 😅 Forbidden Marriage has been on my list for a few weeks after releasing but because the main wole is portrayed by Kim Young Dae from The Penthouse, I had to wait until I saw him again 😇

Kim Young Dae was my main reason to see this drama, only later did I notice that the story is very interesting as well. I liked his performance as The Penthouse more that I would expect and was curious that he would be able to perform well in completely different environment - the role of a king in the Joseon era. AND HE DID I!

Why the marriages were banned?

After the sudden death/suicide of beloved crown princess, the current king Lee Heon fell into a deep mourning coupled with the onset of madness. Every year for seven years, the marriage ban was extended as the king continued to seek a wife. The subjects, however, did not see that during the election of the queen one of the potential queens was hanged. For all these years, the culprits could not be found. Meanwhile, a black market for clandestine marriages and tea-room gatherings developed in the Joseon kingdom. One such place is run by Ye So Rang. One day, King meets Ye So Rang, who claims that the spirit of the king's late wife exists within the royal palace. To escape great punishment, Lady-swindler pretends to be possessed by crown princess's spirit. As the goes her lies got bigger and more audacious.

The start of the drama was difficult because the first two episodes seem to turn in all directions but as soon as I reached episode 3 everything came to one point. Forbidden Marriage contain some popular clichés: intrigues at the palace, wicked stepmother, Cinderella-like heroine but this doesn't affect its positive reception. Humorous and romantic situations increase that reception. I love how they incorporated handsome men showing off their biceps, reading books to "wake them up" and unexpected references to other dramas like Hotel Del Luna considered bedtime stories 😆😋 

The drama was still very well balanced between the aforementioned himoristic elements and the seriousness of the situation in which the main couple is. After all, he still loves his dead wife and is freaking out because he knows she didn't commit suicide, but no one believes him. What's more, strange things are happening in the palace involving her spirit. While she disguises herself as a Ghost Whisperer and tries to convince the king to lift the marriage ban because trade in the city is starting to die 😐😑 Not the best circumstances to find love in each other.

The performance of these young actors (Kim Young Dae & Park Ju Hyun) was a pleasure to watch. At the age of 28 and 29 respectively, they created a wholesome characters and played theirs roles realisticly as they seem to have had fun in this shoot.

Taken from a web novel, this colorful and light comedy with deeply dark background is defianetelly with recommending. Both positive and negative characters were well acted. The main villains were so realistic that I was happy to see their brutal end 😈 The story was not too complicated and beautifully laid out in 12 episodes of the drama. This is the second short production in a row that has such a fantasticly organized plot 😍 I wouldn't be mad if a little more drama and action was added to the drama so it was extended by 2 episodes because I enjoyed it so much.

I fought with myself for a long time whether to give the drama 7 or 6.5 points, but because of poor chemistry between the leads, it ended up on 6.5/10. Certain shots and actions of the actors showed that there was something between them, but it was not enough to accept it as a real feeling between the lady-swindler and the king 😒 These are young actors who need to learn a little more or have better screen partners 😬😅 Nonetheless Kim Young Dae and Park Ju Hyun are on the verge of being great actors.