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The Crowned Clown: Spoiler-Free Mini Review

  • Jul 28
  • 3 min read

Updated: 4 days ago

Title:

The Crowned Clown (2019)

Platform:

Viki, Tubi, Roku, Youtube (free)

MDL & IMBD Rating:

8.4 & 8

Genre:

Period (Joseon) Political Melodrama/ Romance

Episode Count:

16

Parental Guidance Rating:

PG-13: SA of a minor, bloodshed, violence, and a weird occult moment. I'd say a hair down from MA, so TV-16 vibes.

Starring:

Yeo Jin Goo (Hotel Del Luna)

Lee Se Young (The Red Sleeve)

Kim Sang Kyung (Poong, the Joseon Psychiatrist)

Jang Gwang (Bon Appetit, Your Majesty)

RBTS Rating:

3.4/5 Stars (A Masquerade (2012) and Prince and the Pauper retelling that nails the duality of the role with an excellent performance by Yeo Jin Goo, but muddies the water with slow moving politics and a need to be beholden to the original storyline).


Synopsis:

Amid political chaos and threats against King Lee Hun, a clown named Ha Sun, who closely resembles the king, is brought into the palace as his double. Orphaned during an epidemic and raised by a troupe of clowns, Ha Sun once impersonated the king on stage. Now living as the monarch, he fears being discovered and falls in love with Queen Yoo So Woon. @MDL



Spoiler-Free Mini Review:

A remake of the Korean film, Masquerade (2012), and inspired by the classic The Prince and the Pauper tale, The Crowned Clown sees Yeo Jin Goo (ML actor) taking on the dual role of the King and a look alike clown who is forced into his biggest gig yet: Pretending to be the ruler of the land. Yeo Jin Goo did a phenomenal job being both sinister and sweet, and both of his portrayals came with a presence fit for a king.


I will never not think of Mickey Mouse. Or in the words of New Girl, Mick Mouse.


The beginning of the drama is great, but the water gets muddied rather quickly. The narrative is chock full of political machinations, Dowager hijinks, and some seriously crazy people. Poor Ha Seon is in over his head for most of the drama, but his goodness and willingness to do the right thing proves to be his saving grace.



The romance was sweet and I wanted more of it, but Yeo Jin Goo (ML) looks like a baby, and although the FL actress is only five years older than him, I don't know if it was the best casting choice for a romantic couple. I can't take his romances seriously; I had the same feeling in Hotel Del Luna where he just looks SO much younger, even though IU never ages. I'm torn, because it kind of works for the story being told as Queen Yoo So Woon (FL) is supposed to be more regal and mature than him, and Lee Se Young (FL Actress) nails that aspect. She is the period drama Queen (literally).



Lee Gyu was such an interesting and complex character, but the other characters didn't catch my attention. In terms of content, the show does have a minor who is SA'd, although nothing explicit is shown. The drama leans more TV-16 in my mind, but it isn't for the faint of heart.



The Crowned Clown shined with its cast and Yeo Jin Goo's performance, but the plot was slow and political, ultimately tripping over itself trying to get to the predetermined destination of the original. The end... was something. I had so many theories of how it would resolve and they would have fit better. lol. I feel salty.




Story=3.5 (Great at beginning but gets muddled), Acting=5 (Top tier acting), Production Quality=4.5 (Visually beautiful!), Ending= 2.5 (Not as satisfying), Enjoyability= 2.75 (drags quite a bit in the middle and end), Would I rewatch= Maybe


Trailer:


Director: #KimHeeWon (Queen of Tears)

Screenwriter: #ShinHaEun (Hometown Cha Cha Cha)


*Disclaimer: I do not own any of the images used on this blog. All images belong to their respective copyright holders and are used for commentary and review purposes. All reviews, opinions, and statements expressed on this blog are my own and are intended for entertainment and informational purposes only. They reflect my personal thoughts and interpretations and should not be considered as factual.



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