Shine or Go Crazy

Between "shine" and "go crazy" I choose "shine." Although the theme of the cursed prince is not new in Korean dramas (see The Kingdom of the Winds, for instance) and the talent of Jang Hyuk pulled at my heartstrings ever since I first saw him in Chuno, watching Shine or Go Crazy was such a joy! The humour of this series, the unexpected turns for the better in some of the antagonistic characters, the hope that is nourished and demolished and then flourishes again, all these make it special among period dramas; all these make it a little bit (just a little bit) less heartbreaking, all these make the ending more tolerable; all these set a lighter, more pleasant tone than other stories of the kind. I was so nervous and worried about watching the last episode that I couldn't believe I actually felt at peace with it. It was so rewarding to watch!

I agree with the ( only to date) other reviewer here that "Gaebonga, you rascal" is the leitmotif of the film, but isn't it a great one? Doesn't he utter it so lovingly? Jang Hyuk annoying? Oh, no, he is just so so ( or shall I say So So?) into his role, which he plays brilliantly. He shines. We, as his audience, can only go crazy. ( For him and not only.)

Ignore the ending, the prologue itself was appalling and distasteful enough to eliminate my expectations despite the drama having Jang Hyuk on deck. Speaking of which, once again, Jang Hyuk is playing the same character from The Slave Hunters (2010), if you've seen that one then you know what's up. Characters, while initially intriguing, suffered from inconsistent development. The pacing felt uneven, with moments of rushed storytelling followed by prolonged and uneventful sequences, disrupting the overall momentum of the show. The whole poison plot was painful to tolerate and sit through. The story was so terrible it just kept getting worse with every episode. The last 4 episodes in particular were poorly planed, marking them as the worst part of the drama. Once again, Jang Hyuk wasn't enough to save this drama although he was the only highlight.

A lot of times Jang Hyuk can be annoying but other than that he is a really good actor. The story was interesting and it has a realistic ending.

Oh wowwww. I just so love the story line. The acting is just on point. I would recommend it to my friends. It's truly worth. Watching. I had tears running down my cheeks. It also kept me at the edge of my seat. To.all.those who.love fighting scenes, mixed with a love story, this is the series to binge on. Well done to.all the actors. Prince So s queen is also a good actress. After watching so many Korean series. This is one of my favorites. I.just finished watching Queen of Tears and this is just as good. I would rate it up there with Moon Lovers red scarlet, Moon Embracing the Sun etc. Well done.