Tuesday, August 7, 2012

K-Drama Review: Princess Hours/Goong, Episodes 23-24















Read Episode reviews for:

Princess Hours/Goong--Episodes 1-2
Princess Hours/Goong--Episodes 3-4
Princess Hours/Goong--Episodes 5-6
Princess Hours/Goong--Episodes 7-8
Princess Hours/Goong--Episodes 9-10
Princess Hours/Goong--Episodes 11-12
Princess Hours/Goong--Episodes 13-14
Princess Hours/Goong--Episodes 15-16
Princess Hours/Goong--Episodes 17-18
Princess Hours/Goong--Episodes 19-20
Princess Hours/Goong--Episodes 21-22

Contains Spoilers for Episodes 23-24

This long running show finally comes to a close in these episodes.

In the last episode, there was a fire on the palace grounds, and I was expecting Shin to rescue Chaekyung from it, but she was never in danger, as it turns out. But now the number one suspect for the arson is Shin himself. The whole thing's a plot by Yul's Mom, who set him up for a fall.


Uh-Oh.

Chaekyung tries to comfort Shin in his time of difficulty, but he doesn't want her pity.

Yul's Mom tells Yul that Shin started the fire, but Yul says, "Mom. Shin isn't that emotional." Ha! That's great that Shin's name could basically be cleared from arson charges just because he doesn't have the capacity for the type of strong feelings required to start fires on purpose. Ice Prince, indeed. Yul realizes that his mom is behind the plot and starts investigating.

Investigating in English, No Less.

Chaekyung visits Shin and again and hugs him tight while telling him that she's sorry for all the troubles they've been through, but she really does want to stay by his side. Dawww. Chaekyung confesses that she loves him and just when it looks like Shin's about to send her away, he says, "Stay by my side. Don't leave me." For Shin, this statement is tantamount to writing her name is rose petals on a moonlit beach. The boy is not romantic, but Chaekyung loves him anyways.

Kissing, Yay!

I'm surprised that I'm still so happy for these two to get together. After all, Shin's been a near-emotionless robot for the whole show and Chaekyung has been bemoaning her fate for eight or so episodes. But hey, happiness is happiness. I'll take it! They have a precious discussion about how she'll earn the money and he'll watch their future kids if they get kicked out of the palace.

So Great, I Kind of Wish It Would Happen For Real.

The Queen Mother comforts her brokenhearted grandson Yul with some words of wisdom and a hug. Good. Yul needed a shoulder to cry on. The royal family soon decides that they have to send Chaekyung overseas--not sure why, it just seems like it'll take some of the national focus off of Shin and his potential misdeeds. But Chaekyung and Shin live it up anyway, going shopping and doing cute couple things. Then Shin and Yul work out what's left of their animosity through fencing.

The Sport of Literal Kings.

Chaekyung tearfully says goodbye to the royal family, but not before bonding with Shin's mom, the Queen, as she has never done before. Yul goes on television and claims responsibility for his mother's involvement in the arson. The King decides that he wants to retire from the kingship due to his failing health, leaving Shin in charge now that he trusts his son again. Yul's Mom finally repents of being such a total rat.

The story picks back up when Shin visits Chaekyung while she's living overseas in Macao. Turns out that Shin let his older sister become the reigning monarch instead of him! Such a nice twist. And then the Queen Mother comes to visit them, as well!

Shin At Right, Looking Sharp In His Suit Coat and Jean Shorts.

The Queen Mother gives Shin her own engagement ring to give to Chaekyung, now that they love each other truly. Shin hands the ring to Chaekyung and says, "Let's get married for real." This time, their marriage will be 100% their choice, not just something arranged by the royal household.

Too Sweet!

They renew their vows with only the Queen Mother and Chaekyung's lady-in-waiting as witnesses. It's a good contrast to the colorful but unfeeling spectacle of their initial wedding. Chaekyung feels nauseated immediately after the ceremony, and grandma suspects that she is pregnant. Shin and Chaekyung look surprised, but they also look like this is a distinct possibility. But...when did they...? There was no time...? Ah, anyways. The show ends with our two leads happily married for the second time, and their future is partly sunny with a chance of babies.


Watch Goong HERE on Dramafever.

Episode Evaluations: It's all over now, and I have trouble finding anything to say about Goong anymore. The ending wasn't bad--it was quite nice, even. Just took us ten too many episodes to get there. Goong is a pleasant Cinderella story that gets weighed down by angst simply because the same old conflicts refuse to resolve themselves. But it's not bad--just very, very slow.

I'm glad I watched the show, just so I'd know for sure what the longstanding buzz was all about, and I'm also glad that this show introduced me to the awesome actress Yoon Eun Hye who plays Chaekyung. There are several cute moments in this series, but they're spread a little too thin over the high number of episodes, so that puts Goong a little further down my list of classic K-dramas to recommend to others.

This is Tiger Holland, signing off and looking for a show with more zippy plot movement.

40 comments:

  1. Wow I am totally late in the game on your reviews- but you made me smile! I loved the Goong manga and the anime- I haven't watched the drama, but it was fun reliving those memories!

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    1. Thank you! Most of my friends also say they read the manga instead of seeing the drama, so it's kind of cool for me to hear about the little differences between the versions. Goong is sweet in any form!

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  2. Yeah I was also breaking mai head hw she is getting pregnant...
    Did I miss any ep or wat..? Hw did she gr pregnant.. ??

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    1. I believe in Episode 23 when they we.re laying on that bed or some can of chair

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  3. i like the ending but i don't understand how Chaekyung getting pregnant???

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    1. I really don't know. These two have been married for a long time, but I don't remember any episode where they were implied to have consummated their marriage.

      But oh, well. Royal babies are always wonderful, even if there's no good explanation for them!

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  4. I really wanted a confrontation with Yul's mom where the King would be embarrassed for being so easily duped and the Queen would give him the "I told you so" look.

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  5. There were two assumed get togethers. The first was after they made up and Shin talked about a celebration. The other was after he came from the police and wanted to see her. She gets hiccups and he's "helping" her get over them and she tells him that's not helping. He sleeps with her that night as you hear him say are you going to do this all night.

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    1. I always felt they had been having sex after that kiss

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    2. I agree with you completely. I , too, assume that it was the night when Chaekyoung has the hiccups.

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  6. Did Chae Gyeong ever go back to the palace?

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  7. sooo, shin and chaekyung are not Crown Prince and Crown Princess anymore?? or are they?? or are they just Prince and Princess?? what?? somebody help me... THNX

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  8. sooo, shin and chaekyung are not Crown Prince and Crown Princess anymore?? or are they?? or are they just Prince and Princess?? what?? somebody help me... THNX

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    1. In my opinion they are still Crown Prince and Crown Princess because the Queen (Shin's sister) is not married yet to have kids of her own. So next in line to the throne is still Shin.

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  9. I just finished going through this series for the second time. I know why chae-kyung is leaving but why and where is shin going?! I am lost.

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  10. Honestly first time seeing this I love hw the uptight prince came to love the girl he never wanted bt I loved it

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  11. ypu should watch "lie to me" if you thing you loved her as chae kyung you will fall at her feet in lie to me!!!

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  12. I didn't like the part that she got pregnant, they never did anything, at least not in any episode, hehe... surely they left us to our imagination :/

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  13. I've seen this drama back in 2007 and I decided to watch it again last week. Princess Hours has always been one of my favorites,and I just fall inlove with the story everytime I watch it. The best part was when they were starting to fall for each other,but when they finally confessed their love,they ended up separated because of the King's decision. It was nice that they renewed their vows this time,in their own will. I just couldn't tell the time difference from the time the princess left the palace until the prince visited her in Macao, if she was pregnant then it couldn't have been that long since they got separated. I was just curious. I just wish they weren't apart for so long after what they have been through. When they finally saw each other in macao, the princess casually waived at the prince when she saw him. She could have been so surprised and ran into his arms. When the princess left,it was so dramatic. If the prince passed the thrown to his sister,he could have went straight to the princess and be with her.Maybe I was expecting more,now that they know they feel the same way. when the prince proposed to the princess i was also wondering why she did not answer him right away and said she needs to think about it,and that he is only visiting her because he mentioned that he's leaving the next day.. Anyway,she still surprised him in the car. I guess now they're married and are expecting a baby,i guess they wouldnt have to be apart anymore.

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    1. Seems like shin regularly seeing chaekyung because we see she's not that surprised when shin visiting her in Macau

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  14. The setting setting could have been in Paris,since the Prince wanted to be free as a bird. It would have been nice if they were in Paris, the prince pursued being a director and the princess in designing. He did mention that he wanted to take her there. Maybe i just couldnt get over the story and wanted it to be perfect until the end. :-)

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  15. I just finished the manhwa around last year and my friend just ask about this drama again.

    Still, after watched the drama, read the manhwa and then rewatch it again, the plot from drama still less confusing and dragging from drama.

    well, the plot is confusing, the moment was amazing (he he... read the vol.. 20+), the ending was........ hmm?

    this drama is one of drama that better than original, I think.

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  16. yeahhhhh this is my favorite koren drama. I like it very-very like ..
    already several times watching this korean drama..




    nurdiana.web.id

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  17. I'm with the author (Tiger Holland) on this one. It was overall okay, but it was just way too long. I think about 12 to 14 episodes would have been perfect. They let things drag on for too long or repeat one too many times, it was just getting annoying and it's sort of the "well, I'm already this far in, so I guess I gotta commit to watch till the end..." at around Episode 9 or 10ish.

    They really could have developed some of the characters a lot more-- particularly Hyorin, if she indeed is supposed to be a main character (she practically disappeared as if she never existed in the last, what 8 episodes??).

    I say that my favorite characters were Chaekyung (she was 10/10 up until about the point where I felt the drama got draggy-- around episode low-10s)-- then she kinda became slightly annoying, but not as bad as the others. Also liked the Shin character. I think they could have added a bit more depth and complexity to his character to make him come alive more, but I think overall the actor did well and the character was well developed. For example, I would have liked to maybe show a bit more of his youth/growing up and how and when he got to become the man with walls stacked up so high that no one could peek into his heart and soul... Again, too long. By the time we had Chaekyung climb that wall and jump inside, it was a bit too late, I felt... It's a pity.

    It could have been easily a great drama without the typical annoying stuff kdramas are known for. Oh well, they fall victim to it yet again. I just watched Coffee Prince right before this, and that was a delight-- a total 10/10 drama that lacked most of the stuff i hate about k-dramas: it has a strong and real woman lead, real chemistry and build-up without becoming annoying or frustrating, no real villains to frustrate you, no weird stuff like incest, people coming back from the dead, terminal illness, amnesia, etc. lol...

    I feel like I'll be disappointed at the next one I watch... I haven't watched drama for maybe 10 years because of that. Just started to go on a Yoon Eun Hye streak cos I wanted to see why people love her so much... Any recommendations? [Mini-series, please-- I hate when things just go on and on...]

    Thanks for the blog. I read every single page as I was watching the drama. It was nice to have an analysis/thoughts in English. I'm watching without subtitles to improve my Korean, so it helps a lot.

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  18. Due to this being after school for kids in Korea they don't show all the intimate details but you get the picture. But in episode 23,when he goes in her room and tells her he misses her and goes in for a kiss and she says is this for real? and he says yes (notice how she got hiccups and he said she's ruining the mood? Then they show the outside of the room?) that's when she gets prego. At point 41:15

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  19. I am so fucking angry right now I just finished the show and I hate it do not ever watch it if you don’t want your hopes to be crushed

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  20. I've seen this drama a long time ago then i decided to re-watch it because the first time i watched this drama, it was dubbed into my country's language, i thought it would be nice to watch it again fully. Now, i appreciate more shin and chaegyoung, as well as the royal family and chaegyoung's family and friends. There are scenes that will truly give you headaches but i love how shin and chaegyoung manage to do develop their characters well and fell in love with each other. I cried with the last episode because of the pure intentions and realizations of our characters. Amazing drama! Surely will watch it again for the 3rd time.

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  21. I rewatched this drama this year for fun and honestly it's still as good as it was back then. Considering this was the first drama for both our leads they did an amazing job carrying this plot. Without their chemistry and acting, it would have never gotten so popular. Their romance is slow but I think it's more realistic this way. They are literally in high school and in an arranged marriage, I really adored that there was no exact point when Shin fell in love with her. That build up is rarely seen these days. Everyone relies on kissing and skinship but if you can feel their feelings for eachother through the screen it's so much more satisfying. As for the whole pregnant thing, I think after their kiss they probably did it many times after that they are married after all. I don't think the drama needs to show the exact point. This drama will always have a special place in my heart. I hope they make cameos in the reboot (although I wish they left it alone altogether)

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  22. Waahhh! I've re-watched this kdrama for so many times already! I can never get bored with this, the baby thing might started from the hiccup thing 😁😁😁 I'm honestly happy that they had a baby and they end up together, unlike in the manga. 😭

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  23. Hi just finished rewatching the drama and the feeling is still the same. Actually i fell in love with ut the second time around since i first watched which was dubbed in my country (i was 9 years old at that time, now im already 24)Watching this drama brought back so many memories. They'll always be my power couple

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  24. It would have been fine with 16 episodes. The same problems repeated for 10 episodes. I didn't get any sense of chemistry with main couple. The prince's sister character could have been developed more.

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  25. Hello 2022!
    I really love the soundtracks, Perhaps Love (Filipino version Pag-Ibig Na Kaya), I'm a fool and If We Fall In Love (Ph OST). It's so nostalgic that it brings back my youth back, its just nowadays Kdrama makes me feel more in love 😍 (I am married and I think watching Kdrama is the only way to make me feel love my husband, appreciate and learn life lessons)

    ♥️ Vomiting during pregnancy occurs in the first trimester and since there's no baby bump seen we can say "IT" happened during "hiccup" scene. 🤷‍♀️

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