The last episode’s credit rolled out, and without me myself realizing it, I’m already sobbing between tears, watching each and every character’s smiles flashed in front of my eyes. I have never thought that I would become so attached with this sageuk, moreover I aimed to watch it until the end in the shortest time possible. Without any warning, it entered my heart, little by little, and that had me crying at the sight of any touching moments. That’s what I experienced while I watched a drama with heart, called The Princess’ Man.

Words travelled, and the love people had for this show was and still immense. I am fortunate to be able to indulge into it, though my journey started quite late than others. The effects are the same to me as what other people experienced. To me, this sageuk keeps lingering in my mind, whether when I’m asleep or awake.

Treat this not as a review, but as an afterthought of a viewer about her favourite show. Then, should there be anyone who hasn’t seen this, stay away, for this might contain spoilers.

The Princess and Her Man

 

Se Ryung and Seung Yoo..the two names that shouldn’t be included even in one sentence. Their worlds were different from the start, but fate’s powerful enough to make what had been fated to happen. The lies turned into affection, and the affection blossomed love. But fate was crueller than anyone, stripping off the young couple madly in love from each other using the wicked way: death.

 

The love turned into hatred, the person he adored became the thorn in his eyes. Blinded by revenge, burdened by guilt, he returned from death to kill his father’s murderer. Seung Yoo lost himself, but the thought about Se Ryung and Suyang never left him. The courage to kill the thorn who was once his rose melted away; the rose who was once a small bud has blossomed into a strong rose who couldn’t be shaken easily. Se Ryung found the lost part of Seung Yoo, and fate fared them more than Suyang would.

The Princess and Prince Consort

 

An unpleasant first meeting..and they became husband and wife. Kyung Hye, the one with steel appearance but with a fragile heart. Jong, the Royal Consort..the one who people never thought would be the princess’ husband. Beneath his playful attitude, he’s a man with unshakeable stand. The thoughts he always had for his beautiful wife, though she didn’t care about him. He vowed to take care of her, and never once he forgot his promise when he became the nation’s Royal Consort. His undying affection shook Kyung Hye to her core. She never realized it before, but she already shared her pain and sorrow with him, only through her eyes.

The love was so strong until she’s willing to do anything for him..even staking her pride. She became so low in front of others, but in Jong’s eyes, she’s still the beautiful woman he met once, who became his other half. They understood each other, they complement each other..and the greatest supporter of each other, be it in for the better or for the worse.

Shin Myun

 

Perhaps, the most unfortunate man..being at the centre of everyone, yet no one was beside him, supporting his lonely soul. The choice he’d given was not easy, but he’d picked he deemed fit and eventually arrived at the point of no return. The guilt, the anger, the tears..the sad gaze that had never been returned, the affection that was left behind, the severe ties that was bound to break with his choice. He didn’t win and didn’t gain, almost anything..

The Parents’ Path

 

..would eventually build the path for their children, even after they’re long gone. Suyang and Se Ryung, the loving father with his endless love for his daughter. But which child would do nothing when her father used her to achieve his ambition? The bloody path he chose was eventually left by Se Ryung for Suyang to walk upon by himself.

 

What’s more painful than hurting one’s own comrades? Or watching your friends killing each other? The sweet memories of innocent youth changed in an instant; replaced with hatred and spilled blood. The shared drinks became quiet tears, longing for each other. The different path, they took accordingly, leaving behind the promises of their youth: Shin Myun, Kim Seung Yoo, and Jung Jong.

 

Se Ryung and Kyung Hye..friends and sisters, each other’s great strength. Brought together by their fathers, but in the end it’s their fathers who made the pure hearts tainted with anger; the endless yearning they had for each other expressed only through their thoughts.

War: of Power and Hearts

 

The sworn faith and the endless love, the views and feelings. People were hurt and killed, hearts throbbed and ached. When the power rules, the matter of hearts were put aside, for what mattered most was the power; then the love would come, bowing towards the powerful, disguised in fear. Love wasn’t so tainted; hearts would never be blinded by mere power. To leave the power behind, or to embrace the undying love. Authority and love: one would be fortunate to have both, but could one become merciless in the name of power, but embracing the love as if there won’t be tomorrow?

   

I exchanged my heart with yours;

And only now, we realize how deeply,

we’ve been missing each other.

 

What on earth is affection?

I ask the world;

And I will answer…

That which makes us unhesitatingly,

grant life and death to each other;

That is exactly,

what affection is.

To be able to encounter such a great story and great people, I feel very honoured. For once, let me reminisce all the memories, good and bad, before bidding you goodbye. Let the affection I have for you, The Princess’ Man, lingers around for a little bit more..