Not all historical/romance Kdramas are created equal. Occasionally, something magical like Love in the Moonlight comes along to fill any Kdrama lover’s happy place. Based on the web novel Moonlight Drawn by Clouds, Love in the Moonlight stars Park Bo-gum as Crown Prince Lee Yeong, a young royal from the 19th Century Joseon dynasty with a reputation for getting into trouble. On one of his adventures outside the palace, he crosses paths with Hong Ra-on. A young woman raised as a boy, she goes by the name of Sam-nom. Sparks fly between the two, landing them in a hole in the ground where Ra-on tricks the prince into helping her get out.
Later, when circumstances force Ra-on to become a eunuch at the palace, the Crown Prince immediately recognizes the young “man” who left him stranded. From that point on, he is determined to make Sam-nom’s life as a eunuch difficult. The problem is, the closer he gets to Sam-nom, the more he cannot stop thinking about his favorite eunuch.
- Series Title: Love in the Moonlight (Korean: 구르미 그린 달빛) also known as Moonlight Drawn by Clouds
- Starring: Park Bo-gum, Kim Yoo-jung, Jung Jin-young, Chae Soo-bin, and Kwak Dong-yeon
- Written by: Kim Min-jung, Im Ye-jin
- Directed by: Kim Seong-yoon, Baek Sang-hoon
- Network: KBS2
- Where to watch in the US: Viki
- Year Released: 2016
- # of episodes: 18
- KafeNook Rating: 4.7 sips
Love in the Moonlight — !! Spoilers Ahead!!
As I wrote this review, I realized I should have subtitled it “Three men and a Eunuch” because it’s all about Hong Ra-on and the three dashing men in her life – all of whom are willing to sacrifice themselves for her.
But first, I do have to mention Jo Ha-yeon (Chae Soo-bin), the young woman chosen to be the crown princess. There are enough villains in the show, so it’s nice that her character is not one of them. Instead, she is intelligent, thoughtful, and absolutely smitten with Crown Prince Lee Yeong. (Really, who can blame her?) She provides just the right amount of angst between Lee Yeong and Ra-on, but ultimately wants the crown prince to be happy. By the end of drama, she has been given the chance to start a new life and maybe find a love of her own.
Now to those three men and a eunuch . . .
Royal Guardsman Kim Byung-yeon
Kwak Dong-yeon is to blame for me adding Love in the Moonlight to my Kdrama watch list. While working on the review for Gaus Electronics, I came across an intriguing picture on the internet of Kwak Dong-yeon in period costume. Not only did he look arresting in the photo, but I immediately wanted to know more about the mysterious, thoughtful swordsman portrayed in the image. The character of Kim Byung-yeon is every bit as interesting as I imagined he would be from the photo.
A man of few words, Kim Byung-yeon looks cool standing still – but also walking casually in front of flying arrows. Mystery surrounds the young guardsman. Is he a friend to the Crown Prince? They have known each other since childhood and Lee Yeong trusts the head of his guard more than anyone. Or is he a spy? Under orders of a rebel leader, he often sneaks away from the palace to carry out dangerous missions. He definitely has a soft spot for Sam-nom and is one of the first people to notice the Crown Prince’s growing affection for his eunuch.
Proving where his heart lies, it’s Byung-yeon who intervenes to save Ra-on when the Crown Prince cannot. What follows is one best moments in the show. Lee Yeong tells Byung-yeon not to drop the sword the guardsman holds to his prince’s throat. With hundreds of arrows trained on Byung-yeon, the Crown Prince knows what will happen to his friend once the sword is removed. Tears streaming down his face, Byung-yeon understands the price he’ll pay for the choice he made to save Ra-on and the prince. The ultimate sacrifice. Then the arrows fly . . . (Pardon me as I wipe my copious tears away).
Golden Spoon Kim Yoon-sung
Need a swoon-worthy second male lead in a Kdrama? Turning to a Kpop star is a safe bet. Jung Jin-young from the group, B1A4, exudes charisma as Kim Yoon-sung. With that charming smile, it’s easy to see why Yoon-sung is popular with the ladies. What is a mystery is how he managed to avoid the corruption in his family starting with his grandfather, Kim Heon (Chun Ho-jin), the Prime Minister. Perhaps playing the aloof playboy helped him stay out of his grandfather’s devious plans. Or it could be due to the mistaken prophesy that caused his grandfather to believe Yoon-sung will one day rule Joseon.
Yoon-sung has such a good heart. As the first person to discover Ra-on’s secret, he does everything he can to protect her within the palace. And when his aunt, Queen Yoon (Seo Jeong-yeon), hatches her despicable baby switching plan, it’s Yoon-sung who saves his newborn cousin from death. In any other drama he would be the lead character. In this one, he competes with Crown Prince Lee Yeong. He can’t even spend an evening with her due to the prince declaring Eunuch Sam-nom to be “His Person”. Yoon-sung’s ending, though tragic, is fitting for his character. He sacrifices himself for the woman he loves and the person he once considered his best friend.
The Flower Scholar and The Puppy
Park Bo-gum, or the Flower Scholar as he is called by Sam-nom, may have forever spoiled crown princes for me. Crown Prince Lee Yeong is the full royal package. Part of Lee Yeong’s appeal is watching him mature from his initial boyish ways to becoming a wise and formidable ruler. The path to getting there is fraught with intrigue and danger, however. Lee Yeong must navigate palace treachery, contend with rebels, and outwit the Prime Minister – all to achieve his goal of a better country for his people. It’s a country he will build one person, one saram, at a time – starting with Ra-on. Eunuch Sam-nom. Puppy.
Kim Yoo-jung portrays Ra-on/Sam-nom with a wonderful combination of innocence and mischief. It’s easy to see how she brings out Lee Yeong’s protective side. She is a worthy sparring partner for the prince but also sparks his playfulness. The scenes between the two of them light the drama, with her secret adding a layer of tension to every moment between them. The Crown Prince thinks his favorite eunuch is just another guy, but like the feelings Rowoon’s character in The King’s Affection struggled with towards his own crown prince, Lee Yeong comes to realize his feelings for Sam-nom are complicated.
How Love in the Moonlight handles the reveal of Ra-on’ secret to the Crown Prince is beautiful and unique. Throwing caution to the wind, Lee Yeong decides to write Sam-nom a note declaring his feelings. Without giving her the note however, he meets the disguised Ra-on in the garden. He says wants to try that “wicked” love before leaning in for a kiss. What Ra-on (and we viewers) learn later is that when the Crown Prince went to deliver his note, he caught her dressed in the women’s clothing purchased for her by Yoon-sung. By the time he meets Ra-on in the garden, he already knows her secret. No wonder that sly smile plays across his lips before the kiss!
Though the Crown Prince does everything in his power to protect Ra-on and her secret, she falls into his enemies’ hands. Her relationship as the daughter of the famous rebel leader, Hong Gyeong-nae, makes her the perfect scape goat and a sure way to bring down the Crown Prince. His hardest moment comes when he is forced to stand and watch as a blade hovers above neck of the woman he loves. In the final seconds, he reaches for Kim Byung-yeon’s sword, making the decision to sacrifice himself for Ra-on – only to have Byung-yeon step in instead.
Love in the Moonlight Ending
With so many men willing to sacrifice themselves for Ra-on, it’s good to know their sacrifices are not in vain. By the end of Love in the Moonlight, Ra-on is safe and pardoned of all rebel charges. Thanks to Crown Princess Ha-yeon, the Crown Prince survives a poisoning attempt. This leads him to discover the person behind his mother’s untimely death years earlier and gives him the evidence needed to bring down the Prime Minister.
In a surprise twist, Royal Guardsman Kim Byung-yeon, miraculously recovers from his multiple arrow wounds. (Whew!) Before heading out for places unknown, he promises Lee Yeong he will return. (He did want to see the kingdom the Crown Prince would build someday.) It’s difficult to say what the future holds for Ra-on and former Crown Prince – now King Lee Yeong. For now, the Flower Scholar and the Puppy are free to be happily in love. That’s not a bad ending at all.
Random Things I Liked
Ra-on’s beautiful dance during the King’s celebration. Actress Kim Yoo-jung is such a gifted and graceful dancer. It’s a talent she displays again with the sword dancing scenes in My Demon.
The five leads are part of the cast of the Young Actor’s Retreat – a reality show by Love in the Moonlight director Kim Seong-yoon. It’s an absolute blast to watch, and for me, proved to be A Cure for Doldrums.
Love in the Moonlight Soundtrack
The Love in the Moonlight original soundtrack reminds me a bit of the soundtrack from Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo. While not quite the masterpiece as Moon Lovers, it’s still very good compared to most Kdramas. The OST has a has nice mix of jazzy, smooth songs like I Think I Done Sleeping sung by Soyou & Yoo Seung Woo and standout ballads such as Gummy’s Moonlight Drawn by Clouds. Other great songs include Sung Si Kyung singing Fondly, plus Goodbye, Melting by K.Will, and Because I Miss You sung by Beige.
Misty Way with the lovely vocals by Ben is my favorite song of the entire soundtrack. Of course, the OST would not be complete without a song by our own Crown Prince – Park Bo Gum with the fitting title: My Person.
