The Moon that Embraces the Sun

[edit]Synopsis

Historical drama "The Moon Embracing The Sun" tells a love story between King Lee Hwon (Kim Soo-Hyun) and a female shaman named Wol (Han Ga-In). Wol was born from a noble family and became the crown princess, but she was entrapped and faced execution. Finally, she lived as a shaman. Based on the novel "Haereul Poomeun Dal" by Jung Eun-Gwol (first published December 29, 2005).

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Han Ga In (Wol/ Yeon Woo)
Main Role

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Kim Soo Hyun (King Lee Hwon)
Main Role

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Jung Il Woo (Prince Yang Myung)
Main Role

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Yang Mi Kyung (Shin Jung Kyung)
Supporting Role

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Kim Yoo Jung (young Yeon Woo)
Supporting Role

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Ahn Nae Sang (King Sung Jo)
Supporting Role

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8 days ago 20 of 20 episodes seen

Doremeduck
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
Other reviews by this user
- Overall 9
- Story 8
- Acting/Cast 10
- Music 10
- Rewatch Value 8
I was a little hesitant to start watching the drama, because of the storyline. It didn't seem like it was going to be a good drama. When I started watching it I really did expect the story to be overtaken by the conversation of politics and sadness, but it was the exact opposite. The romance in this drama was so beautiful! There was, of course, some political talk, and sadness, but it was replaced with very humorous moments that I have not ever seen in a historical drama before. There were times when I was desperately heartbroken, and others where I was literally unable to breathe, because of something being extremely hilarious. The acting was great all the way through. I have to give huge props to all the actors who played the younger versions of the main characters. They all did a wonderful job, and are beyond their years in the world of acting. I loved, loved, loved Soo Hyun in this drama. He took his character to a knew and complex level. The music was absolutely beautiful!! I can still not get over the music that was played throughout this drama. It had an eerie grand warrior feel to it, if that makes any sense. I would rewatch this drama in no time. I really enjoyed it, and I'm sure anyone who watches it will. Overall, I give this a 9. Based on my personal rating I gave this drama a 10, but I feel that the storyline wasn't the absolute best, but you really cannot judge a drama based on it's initial plot. Loved this drama, and you will to. So! stop reading this review and go watch this drama!!!!!! read more
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18 days ago 20 of 20 episodes seen

manicmuse
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
Other reviews by this user
- Overall 7
- Story 8
- Acting/Cast 8
- Music 7
- Rewatch Value 5
I have mixed feelings about this drama. Maybe my expectations were too high, because of the great reviews, and because of how much I was pleasantly surprised by Sungkyunkwan Scandal (both were based off of books by the same novelist). Don't get me wrong, there are many great things about this drama, but towards the end I felt myself losing interest.

During the first half of the series I was extremely excited. The story of the royals plotting, and scheming, was great. I loved following their rivalries, obsessions, and ruthless ambitions. I thought it was even more impressive considering the fact that most of the main cast was so young. The performances by the teen actors were really great. I think Kim Yoo Jung, and Yeo Jin Goo could rival any adult couple with their performances. l loved watching all the relationships develop, and the fact that there were such strong backstories for the characters. I loved some characters, and loved to hate others. I was instantly hooked, but then all the characters grew up...

Once the characters matured, the show lost some of it's spark for me. I'm not sure if it was because of the pacing, or the constantly depressing tone. It was clear from the first episode that this story would be tragic, but many times in the 2nd half I was bored watching characters cry & scream over the same things. It also seemed irrational for so many characters to be so determined to be with people who didn't love them, so it was harder for me to sympathize with them. The story always managed to pull me back in however with new revelations, or a great scene, but there were still long periods that felt repetitive. This made it much harder to stay excited.

I can't really blame the adult cast, because many of the adult cast members matched their younger counterparts well. I thought Kim Soo Hyun did well as the king, and he really seemed like an older Yeo Jin Goo. Jung Il Woo didn't really look much like his younger version, but I knew to expect a great performance from him. The Queen, Seol, and Jan Shil were all great casting matches. I think the most flawless transition between the young and older version of the character was Jin Ji Hee and Nam Bo Ra. I also think that Nam Bo Ra had one of the most moving scenes in the entire series. On the other hand, one character that was a disappointment was Song Jae Hee as the older Heo Yeom. He just seemed so much older than the rest of the cast, and It was distracting hearing him described as being so handsome when, no offense but... he's one of the least attractive men in the cast.

I think one of the biggest character issues I had was with Wol/older Yeon Woo. I thought she visually matched Kim Yoo Jung, and gave some good emotional performances in some scenes, but she lost all of her charm. She transformed from a young but wise independent thinker, into a willing doormat with a blank wide eyed stare. I really had a hard time believing that such a well read young girl would be so self sacrificing towards the king. I think it also effected their romantic moments together. I think Han Ga In meant for her performance to be melancholy, and altruistic, but instead she often looked bored to me.

Even though all of the main characters had at least one epic crying scene, i barely teared up while watching this. Nam Bo Ra, and Yeo Jin Goo came the closest to making me cry, but I did not have an emotional reaction to many of the sadder parts, which is crazy since the 2nd half is mostly sad parts. Even when characters died my eyes were dry, and I am often a crybaby. I enjoyed watching the relationship between wol, the king, the prince, and the queen, but it lacked enough chemistry to get me emotionally invested in their stories. You still may want to keep tissues nearby just in case, a lot of them.

Speaking of story... The plot itself was a good one, but the pacing of the episodes got worse and worse. There were too many repetitive scenes ( i said this already didn't i. irony...), which fueled much of my boredom. There was also too much reliance on flashbacks, including a flashback of a scene that happened seconds earlier. I didn't lose interest in the story, I just lost patience with how it was being told. The last episode is a perfect example of that. They rushed through endings for major characters, some pretty tragic endings, then filled the time with a silly story about learning to play an instrument. I was satisfied with the ending, but not moved by it.

I would recommend this drama to people who like tragedies (like 49 days, or Sorry I love you). Those looking for more romance (like in Sungkyunkwan Scandal, or Goong) may be disappointed. Those looking for comedy will find some funny moments, but not enough to balance all the crying, sulking, and screaming. Overall I liked the story, but thought the drama was inconsistent. I doubt i would watch this again, but maybe I'd like it more the 2nd time since I now know what to expect. read more
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Make a Recommendation | More recs.Recommendations

Sungkyunkwan Scandal

both dramas are adaptation of novels by the same author
reportRecommended by al25200
Chuno

It is a great historical drama with an interesting plot and well-chosen actors.
reportRecommended by Crisstina

Comments (165)

mssarahlm 5 hours ago
this drama is a great masterpiece based in a novel. it's all well done!
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ReyBo 2 days ago
god!!!!!! its so........ there's no word can show how much i love this drama~~~~~ i feel like i wanna put my heart here to express how i really feel!!! - Soo hyun marry me !!!
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hind 8 days ago
i like it so much.. the story the actrors and the wholl dram .. i like it one of my faverites
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Doremeduck 9 days ago
Maybe it is just me, but for some reason Woon reminds me of Rain. Some of his facial expressions, or his mouth...he looks like Bi!
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asliceofkate 12 days ago
The young cast in this are absolutely amazing, Kim Yoo Jung in particular. I can hardly believe that such depth of character can come out of a 13 year old. She had this etherial quality about her that I really missed when it changed to the adult cast.
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educto1 14 days ago
what is the name of the young yeom in this drama?
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- Doremeduck 9 days ago
  Lee Min Ho. He's also in Rooftop Prince.
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- educto1 9 days ago
  no, the orabeoni of yeon woo. well, i just knew his name just recently, he's siwan of Ze:a
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- Doremeduck 9 days ago
  Wait. Oh duh Duck! Wrong person. Sorry. I've been obsessed with Lee Min Ho ever since I saw him in Rooftop and this drama.
  
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educto1 16 days ago
I'm CW this drama, although some people gave reviews which are not that good, I thought there could be a reason why moon/sun is one of the top rated dramas.
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Doremeduck 19 days ago
I can't help it. everytime I see him all I can think about is Song Sam Dong.
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rasheed 22 days ago
A mus watch the plot and actors are great. I love the chemistry between the young couple i could really feel there connection.
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ForeverATroll 25 days ago
i love this drama sooo much and i can't believe it has finish....:(
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dream27 Apr 19, 2012
I started to like kim soo hyun and yeo jin goo beacuse of this drama!! one of the best korean dramas that I watch! thumbs up! all of the cast are soo great!
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shirozzu Apr 6, 2012
I feel so sorry for Yoo Bo Kyung (the queen) since the king is so cold towards him.. :'< I don't know why, but when Kim So Hyun played her I she was annoying and I didn't really like her but I like her played by Kim Min Seo.. Maybe because I loved her acting in Sungkyunkwan Scandal as well?
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- 7burgerhands 23 days ago
  I think the queen had a really tragic life. I expected her to be like vicious and everything yet she ended up being too pitiful.
  
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- shirozzu 22 days ago
  I know right? I hoped she would find a different happiness in the end.. But I don't think it's bad she was pitiful, I've kind of had it with the bitch 3rd wheel female characters.. So annoying.
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- 7burgerhands 21 days ago
  I'd have to agree with that. :)
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memyself Apr 4, 2012
can somebody please tell me how they rate the dramas? not the episodes but the drama as a whole?
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- Doremeduck 9 days ago
  When you have the drama added on yourdramalist, you can edit it, and that is how you rate it.
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beloved Apr 3, 2012
plan to watch this IMissWitch Yoo Hee

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334402096 Mar 30, 2012
i love this drama in the end they got back together!! :)
and i loved kim soo huyn!! :)
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