As some might have seen this familiar character been played over and over in dramas and movies- yes indeed Prince Gwanghae is the famous role for a movie. In the 2017 sageuk period movie Warriors of the Dawn (대립군), the Japanese are invading Korea in 1592. The useless King Seonjo leaves his country and runs to China. He leaves his Crown Prince Gwanghae (Yeo Jin Goo) in charge of the country to fend off the invasion from Japanese.
Gwanghae is not used to face people and rather timid. He is often looked after by his Eunuchs and beloved maid Duk Yi (Esom). With the help of the proxy soldiers led by To Woo (Lee Jung Jae), the entourage went through deep across the mountains to Pyongyang. The Japanese soldiers came interrogate Prince Imhae requesting for Gwanghae's whereabouts. Gwanghae was lost for words when his close Eunuch turns out to be a spy and sending hints for soldiers to kill him. In fact they were orders from King Seonjo to kill his own son! The citizens and followers shook their heads realising Seonjo is hopeless and has abandoned the country for his own sake.
Gwanhae learned everything through the hard way, fighting to survive and learning the real truth that his father despise him after his mother died during childbirth. He realised that he needs to stand up for his people and fight to the end. But he didn't want to put the proxy soldiers in danger. He told them to go after they escorted him safely to Pyongyang. The King suddenly sends a message instructing Gwanghae to abandon the city and leave for his safety.
The useless King is a big joke! First he sends assassins to kill his son, then when his son is safe he wants him to leave again and go somewhere else! The ministers want Gwanghae to leave his citizens behind but he refused. To Woo came back with his other buddies to help the Crown Prince and people. They escaped to a ruined fortress to shelter while the Japanese came to confront them. They are so determined to capture Gwanghae but he fought hard to the end. Many soldiers died and even Duk Yi was shot to death. Gwanghae's tears rolled down upon seeing his people have been sacrificed for the royal family. He changed his clothes to a commoner to avoid the enemies.
The people and Gwanghae were about to board the boat to escape when the Japanese came to look for them. To Woo and his gang decided to remain- fight to the end. However the Japanese have guns so they have won the battle. But Gwanghae, his ministers managed to escape safely to another side of the region. He went to a nearby General camp battleground seeking for refuge. Nobody could recognise him as a Crown Prince but as soon as he handed the Royal Flag and letter from the King, everyone was shocked. Who would expect a Crown Prince dressed like a peasant with bruises and dirt, arrive at the battleground.
Flash back when Gwanghae asked why there were 2 dragon motifs on the royal family flag. To Woo answered humbly that one dragon symbolise the King, another represents the people...
What a meaningful movie...
The four butlers arrived at the destination whereby there's a van waiting for them to transport them to somewhere to meet their new master. First of all, they teased each other on their clothing as Se Hyung wore a beanie, Sang Yun wore a long winter coat while Seung Gi and Sung Jae are in thick padded jackets. It was cold and it's Christmas Eve, the four men are excited to meet their master on the special day.
The first hint provided by them is via emcee Kang Ho Dong where he started screaming Seung Gi's name throughout the entire call. Of course the two worked together in 1N2D and Strong Heart, nevertheless Ho Dong was like Seung Gi's mentor in his youth days. Ho Dong was a chatterbox and he mentioned the new master is quite terrifying. Even Ho Dong turns into a meek lamb in front of him. Another hint is the 'watch'. Immediately the three faces froze except for Sung Jae who looked clueless. Seung Gi exchanged glances with Se Hyung if their guesses were correct, this master is definitely no joke.
The bus arrived at a closed prison and the butlers didn't like the atmosphere. What a day to spend at a prison looking for their new master. Se Hyung complained he wanted to go home.
Their task is stand in front of an ice block, break the ice block to find a hint card. The message says 'break it'. They didn't understand at all. Master instructed them to look for him around the prison grounds. In groups of two, they started searching for their master while grunting away.
Se Hyung screamed after bee captured by the master Choi Min Soo and then instructed to get the rest in front of the pile of sand. Se Hyung pretended not to remember anything while Choi laughed at them behind the door. Immediately they bowed upon seeing him. Se Hyung tatters about Seung Gi complaining to get him in trouble. While they worked hard to dig the treasure box in the pile of sand only to find a popping up clown. What the...the expression on the faces were priceless!
Next Choi brought them into a room filled with scary gadgets while asking them to face their biggest fears. Four butlers were blindfolded while Choi pretends to cut their hair with razor with fake hair...etc. Se Hyung and Sung Jae opened their eyes so they failed the fear test. The two winners sat in another room watching Choi bringing the two losers for Chemical, Biological, and Radiological (CBR) gas test. Se Hyung and Sung Jae were horrified as Choi asked the rest of the staffs to leave with the gas coming in the room. He insisted he will not wear the mask while the two struggled to wear it. After a while, Choi started coughing and collapsed on the floor. Se Hyung panicked and immediately sprung up to his aid. Choi then laughed and said it was all a prank! The two just looked speechless. At another end, Seung Gi and Sang Yun laughed their hearts out. Se Hyung has proven to be very helpful and kind heart when he offered his mask to Choi. Choi mentioned it's their fear in their minds thinking it's real tear gas. In fact it's just normal smoke with his acting skills, the two feared for their lives!
Another session with Choi is telling him truthfully about their biggest fears in life. Seung Gi started first but saying he's afraid of making wrong decisions in life resulting in failure. Choi nodded and poured 3 glasses of tea. One is green tea and another two is the bitter sumac tea. Seung Gi goes flustered when he's deciding which glass to drink. Sung Jae reckons all are green tea as Choi is just tricking them. Choi remained his poker face while asking Sung Jae to drink the last cup without any reaction. However Sung Jae lied that it was green tea while all of them drank the bitter sumac tea! Choi's lesson is life is all about choices- there is no right or wrong choice. Humans tend to perceive in a way that the other path is wrong. Next up was Se Hyung who poured out his biggest fear- Death. All were surprised. His father's side = most men tend to die early diagnosed mostly with cancer. Whether it's hereditary, Se Hyung fears his time is up soon. Choi hesitated for a while and then advised him to take the fear as an advantage. Choi was once diagnosed with a serious illness on 8th grade- his heart is like a time ticking bomb. He has never feared so much in life. However he accepted it as a gift to realise the joy of living life to the fullest.
Night was getting super chilly so Choi brought the butlers back to his home. They slowly crept to the attic where there is a nice fireplace with sofa..etc. Seung Gi whinged that this should be the place to spend Xmas eve, not at a prison playground! They started roasting marshmallows at the fireplace...not to mention they look like thieves at their own home. June Kang who is Choi's wife went up the attic; only to be shocked to see her guests been kept out in the cold! She reprimanded her husband for ill-treating their guests, immediately he stood firm like a kid in front of her. The butlers laughed as their scary master has a 180 deg change in personality. They knew June would be their protector so they continued feeding her information how Choi made them suffer so much at the prison. June acknowledged her husband is rather eccentric in attitude and dressing. So she carefully planned with the butlers to prank Choi back. She instructed Choi to cook ramyeon for the hungry guests and slowly she went to his wardrobe to start packing some flashy clothes and gears.
Choi followed her orders and even washed up the dishes. June gets the butlers to pick whatever they like in the room- they belong to Choi. His flashy jackets, motorbike gears, sunglasses, hats...etc. Rather interesting to ruffle through the wardrobe! Ha ha! Seung Gi picked some of the unique clothing complementing himself looking like Bradley Cooper.
Sung Jae looked nice in a cap with studs while Sang Yun wore Choi's favourite helmet. It was like a fashion parade to them scaring the hell out of Choi. His eyes start wavering when June says it's Christmas- a time for giving and sharing so she decided to give away these clothes, shoes and gear to the butlers. The shocked expression on Choi as he treasures those items though he is very eccentric.
A good funny Christmas eve to spend with Choi Min Soo and June Kang... what an experience.
The remake of the 2012 film Masquerade, the new title The Crowned Clown (왕이 된 남자) is a period drama set in the Joseon dynasty where the characters are mostly fictional. It opens with a dying King (cameo by Jang Hyuk) is feeling relentless as he is passing down the throne to his Crown Prince Lee Hyeon (Yeo Jin Goo). The King knows that Lee Hyeon will not spare his younger brother's life when he takes over.
Indeed after the coronation, Lee Hyeon banishes those ministers against him and promotes the evil Minister Shin Chin Soo in the court. Shin is trying every means to please the new King and even pushes his niece Seon Hwa Dang as a concubine. The poor Queen Yoo So Woon (Lee Se Young) just looks unhappy in the palace while trying her best to upkeep her image. Shin frames Minister Yoo to beheaded. Meanwhile the Queen Dowager keeps her vengeance inside plotting to assassinate the Lee Hyeon too.
Outside a bunch of clowns are performing on the street. One of them is the happy go lucky Ha Sun (Yeo Jin Goo) who lives earnestly with his saviours. They often mock the Royal Family members in their performance causing laughter among the public. One day Minister Lee Kyu (Kim Sang Kyung) is enraged hearing the performance mocking the Queen. To his surprise, he was taken back by Ha Sun's striking resemblance to the King! Immediately he brought Ha Sun by force to the palace showing his face to Lee Hyeon. The King laughed hysterically that he needs a replacement to die on behalf for him while he secretly recuperates in a temple as he's high on drugs.
Poor Ha Sun takes the big responsibility as the puppet King as slowly he realises there are more to wealth, power, struggle and love behind the palace doors. He bears a deep grudge against Shin's son who brutally violated his adopted sister.
I must say I like almost every drama that Yeo Jin Goo has starred in. He has grown up so well from a child actor to a brilliant lead role in most dramas and films. He's definitely portraying both roles very well in this drama. No regrets of watching this drama.
