Since its premiere earlier this month, Park Ji Hoon and Hong Ye Ji's period romance drama "Love Song For Illusion" received rave reviews from viewers and critics alike.
The drama depicts the romance between the king and his concubine, and his alter ego who wants to take him down to claim the throne.
In addition, it also attracted a lot of audiences from other countries, earning a big cult following in a wide demographic of K-drama fans.
Apart from the sophisticated casting lineup, what else is there that the viewers love? Here are three reasons why you should check out "Love Song For Illusion."
1. 'Love Song For Illusion' breaks gender roles and stereotypes.
Besides the romance and revenge genres in the drama, "Love Song For Illusion" also appeals to the public because of this unbiased portrayal of its characters.
In the media, most men are shown as valiant and strong. However, Park Ji Hoon's character is generally soft. He has a penchant for designing beautiful clothes, which is deemed "unmanly."
Because of this, he suffered from a trauma due to his father who cruelly chastised him as a child for his "girly" hobby. Despite that, he stood tall and found refuge from his drapery.
On the other hand, Hong Ye Ji grew up with a sword on their hand to fend for themselves, breaking the "damsel in distress" trope that is rampant in the K-drama scene.
2. Park Ji Hoon and Hong Ye Ji's high caliber performances.
In their previous works, Park Ji Hoon and Hong Ye Ji already proved their skills as actors, which landed them their new roles in "Love Song For Illusion."
In the new series, they took on the challenge of giving life to their dual acting roles. Park Ji Hoon acts benevolent as the crown prince, sporting soft features and a warm heart.
As his alter ego Ak Hee, he plays a conniving character who has a thirst for bloodbath. The difference between the two characters despite being played by one actor is endearing.
Furthermore, Hong Ye Ji's body language perfectly captures her nuanced performances as a manipulative assassin and a seductive concubine.
3. 'Love Song For Illusion' is packed with awesome choreography and dance sequences.
Most historical pieces boast grandiose choreography and stunts, especially when it comes to sword fighting.
"Love Song For Illusion" also deserves a mention as it contains fluid moments, boasting a Korean traditional performance led by Hong Ye Ji's character who is a dancer.
The martial arts and battles in the work are all well-choreographed, keeping viewers engaged and entertained.
KDramaStars owns this article.
Written by Elijah Mully.
