Reino da Conquista

This is a head slapper. Gorgeously produced Korean Historical drama with generally excellent cast, the usual court intrigue -- slow poisoning of the king, others vying for power while the poisoned king loses his marbles and suspects everyone's out to get him -- and an utterly, comically absurd premise that fails the first and every subsequent time I see the lead actress in drag as a gentleman.

The Crown Prince/titular King, a charismatic Hamlet type, is in a tenuous position with vicious courtiers on the one hand and a spiraling monarch on the other, so he finds solace playing a Go-like game of strategy against a phenom who never loses. This player is a pretty noblewoman masquerading as a man who no one realizes ain't a dude. (Snort.) That absurdity constantly intrudes on me as s/he navigates the political minefield of court after the king croaks and the crown prince assumes power. S/he is wrongfully accused of confessing to treason which implicates the prince, and for which the prince-now-king holds a grudge. But the now-king just can't help himself, s/he has captivated him...and oh the side-eyes do fly in court about the two strangely intimate besties. Geez, there is just no way on earth that that woman passes for a man ever in whatever manly costume or see-through stove-pipe hat she ties under her hairless chinny-chin-chin. NEVER. No way. I do not possess the ability to suspend disbelief for as far and for as long as this silly premise requires. There is one man, a rejected suitor, who knows her true identity but he has his own political problems due to Dad being a villain and loving her so much. In short, the premise beggars the imagination how sooooooo many men could be sooooooooo blind/deaf/sexless as to miss her manifest femininity. No adam's apple, no worries. Weeps and talks like a girl, whatever. No facial hair, no red flag, oh but s/he does wear lip gloss -- a beige rose when being a dude rather than pink red when she's dressed her gender but that's not odd, noooooo. I watch episodes with teeth gritted.

The 'gal dresses as a courtier/royal and gets away with it' plot crops up in other Korean and Chinese historical dramas so maybe it's a cultural quirk that just doesn't translate for me. In most cases, the ploy is easier to swallow for some reason. The King's Affection comes to mind. Here, it just tripped me up.

There are many, many excellent Korean Historical series (some serious, some funny): Under the Queen's Umbrella, My Sassy Girl, 100 Days My Prince, Royal Inspector & Joy to name a few.

I give props to the male lead, Jo Jung-suk. He develops the complex motivation of his character and expresses contradictory feelings with constraint, such as his feelings for the 'male' Go player who may've betrayed him but maybe didn't but dang he so fine...

When picked this drama to watch, I hadn't realized that the male lead was Jo Jung Suk. I smiled like a teenager in love for the first time. I immediately thought of "Oh My Ghost!" and "Hospital Playlist" (they owe us a third season, by the way). What a difference between these lead roles, however, his performances were super each and every time. I don't recall seeing the female lead acting before, therefore, I can only applaud her performance. The match between them was delightful. I must finish saying that I was expecting the same historical drama that I have previously watched. It is far from the truth! From episode 1 until the last one, this drama catches all your attention an heart. It is a "must watch".

I've liked Jo Jung-suk from 'Oh my ghost' and 'Don't dare to dream', so I was easily drawn to this drama. What do I like about him the most... it's those intense loaded looks he gives his female leads that make my heart skip a beat.... and he didn't disappoint in this drama with 'Shin Se-kyung'.

There was a point in one of the episodes where I didn't realise how much I had been holding my breath in great anticipation of a certain meeting.

I've just finished watching episode 5 and have a WHOLE day to wait for the next episode (how will I cope? Lol) The acting has been superb with no dull moments in my opinion. There are so many of the supporting cast that I have been endeared to which is a credit to them bringing their characters to life. I'm not sure why it's been rated lower than I would have expected but the characters are bringing to our present world the cut-throat and back stabbing behaviours of those who wanted power back in the day, which at times is hard to watch. I am hoping and praying that the next 11 episodes don't disappoint.

Everything about this drama screamed total perfection of execution. The chemistry between the main leads was top-notch and insane, the acting is... WOW... AWARD WINNING!!! Plus the plot never lets you get bored, neither every episode. People who haven't watched this drama is missing out on a masterpiece! Watching this whole series had put me into an insane roller coaster of emotions and high level of tension! TRULY A GEM AND GREATEST KDRAMA OF ALL TIME! You can never go wrong with Captivating The King, plus the ending is so ethereal and well executed. LIVE, LAUGH, LOVE CAPTIVATING THE KING!!!!

Yes, you have to get over the petite fairy looking female lead being accepted as a man just because she wears male clothes. That part is always hard to swallow in similar K dramas. BUT, ignoring the gender bending trope, this series is very entertaining. Nothing truly unique about the storyline, but the quality of the acting drew me right in. Almost completely due to Jo Jung Suk's acting. He has charisma to spare. I also like that they feature the game of baduk (Go), which adds to the cultural atmosphere. There are the expected political struggles and evil ministers aplenty. But the young crown prince is so delightful and such a super actor as well. Shin Se-Kyung as FL does a fine job, though I would love to see the writer allow her to yell and scream once in awhile. I love Lee Shin Young as Myung Ha, (basically second male lead) who got a lousy break from the get go. Also loved Ha So-hoon, who played the very ill queen with subtlety and a heart-rending sadness.