Lead cast: Jo Jung-suk, Shin Se-kyung, Lee Sin-young
Latest Nielsen rating: 4 per cent
However, that coincidence aside, these are quite different shows. For one, while Lee Hanee’s Joseon lady in disguise in Knight Flower carries around a sword at night, Shin’s court lady Kang Hee-soo walks around with a baduk (also known as go) game board during the day, trouncing all the male opponents who challenge her.
Hee-soo has never been beaten, save by her father who taught her – the chief state Councillor Kang Hang-soon (Son Hyun-joo). The only person in the kingdom she believes might be able to challenge her is Grand Prince Lee In (Jo), the king’s brother, who has just returned from exile and is a legendary baduk player.
Fortunately for her, he overhears her saying so after beating an older man and winning his board during a baduk match. She doesn’t realise who he is at first, until he follows her back to town and steps in to save a courtesan being harassed on the street, who happens to be Hee-soo’s best friend Hongjang (Han Dong-hee).
12 of the best new Korean drama series to watch in January 2024
12 of the best new Korean drama series to watch in January 2024
Captivating the King is a handsomely staged period drama, filled with resplendent costumes, atmospheric cinematography, and lots of very cinematic rain, but the show’s visual appeal has so far outshone its narrative pull.
We have to wait until almost two-thirds of the way into the opening episode for Hee-soo to finally appear, and what precedes her entrance is yet another familiar tale of palace intrigue.
The stereotypical story involves the ailing king, Lee Seon (Choi Dae-hoon), who is being manipulated by the queen (Ahn Si-ha) and minister of military affairs Kim Jong-bae (Jo Sung-ha). They intend to remove Lee In as heir and install the queen’s son instead.
Following the invasion of Korea by China’s Qing dynasty the king surrenders, and the terms of surrender include Lee In being held a hostage of the Qing forces. The guilt-stricken king bids farewell to his brother and thanks him for his service.
Yet when Lee In returns several years later, he does not receive the welcome he expected. The king, who initially refused to see him, isn’t well and has been led to believe false rumours that Lee In has become an undercover spy who the Qing want to assume the throne.
Yet we already know that the queen and Jong-bae’s efforts will fail to some degree, since Lee In is dressed up in king’s robes in the show’s marketing. We also know that Hee-soo will fall in love with him and later appear before him as a spy when he is king, presumably for revenge, although for what we don’t yet know.
We have yet to arrive there, but clearly the pieces are setting the stage for an epic tale of tragic romance. Trouble is, the show is spending a lot of time wallowing in the court politics surrounding the central pair when it should be focusing on them.
Looking at the performances, Jo Jung-suk is given the most to do so in these opening episodes, whether sorrowfully surveilling a corpse-littered battlefield or putting on a brave face for his brother before being sent to stay with the enemy.
Then there’s the persona of the confident man with a glint in his eye – his trademark acting style – which suits the Grand Prince very well.
Less comfortable in these early stages is Shin, who isn’t terribly convincing as a man – or perhaps it is the duped men around her who are unconvincing – but mostly struggles with her unevenly written character. Hee-soo is shown to be an overly confident character, but she also falls for Lee In straight away.
Caught between Hee-soo’s conflicting personas and personalities, Shin occasionally seems at a loss as to what to do.
These issues aside, the attractively produced Captivating the King offers fitful entertainment and as the story heats up and its ingredients take clearer shape, it may well make for a satisfying meal further down the line.
Captivating the King is streaming on Netflix.