Captivating the King

TV-PG

16 episodes1 season

US Release

~ The one who messed up the world, the one who messed up the heart. ~

Overview:

Amid a royal and political power struggle, a king entangles with an intriguing woman — whose hidden desire for revenge transforms into unintended love.

Created by:

Cho Nam-guk & Kim Seon-deok

Status:

Ended

Language:

Korean

First air date:

1/21/2024

Last air date:

3/3/2024

Key words:

palace
espionage
revenge
deception
romance
royalty
historical fiction
king
historical
power politics
political intrigue
go
hidden identity
power struggle
double identity
joseon dynasty (1392–1910)
period piece
melodrama
romantic

Seasons

Season 1

16 Episodes

Cast

Cho Jung-seok

~ as ~

Lee In

Shin Se-kyung

~ as ~

Kang Hee-Soo

Lee Sin-young

~ as ~

Kim Myeong-ha

Park Ye-yeong

~ as ~

Dong Sang-gung

Cho Seong-ha

~ as ~

Choi Dae-hoon

~ as ~

Lee Gyu-hoe

~ as ~

Jeong Seok-yong

~ as ~

Na Hyun-woo

~ as ~

Chu Dal-ha

Yang Kyung-won

~ as ~

Yoo Hyun-bo

View full cast & crew

Reviews (1)

F
For_What_It_Be
Written 7 month(s) ago
~~
Excellent introduction to historical k-drama genre.

The korean acting style is a bit more broad than in the west, as are the plot points, but if you are able to get past it, then this one will captivate you. Timelines can feel a bit rushed as well.

At the core, it is about what it means to do good in a world where power takes on a life of its own. The consequences of your choices that cascade around you.

The performances of the two leads ground the story, as Choi Jun Seok has the presence of a king, while Shin Se-Kyung is beautiful and charming enough to believably have him fall for her, the weakest part being the cross dressing, as she is too pretty for it and a strong suspension of disbelief is required here.

Rest of the acting is above average. Plot can get a bit convoluted, as key points can be single sentences without emphasis, but overall the tension is maintained through to the end.
Writing overall is good and crafted to reflect the audience feelings of wanting to overcome the trials so the couple can just have a happily ever after.

Watch when you're in the mood to cheer for a bittersweet love in the face of political pressures.