Dong Yi (2010) User Reviews

ONE TO WATCH

[martin-fennell · 9/10 · 8 April 2019]

Han Hyo-joo is marvelous in the leading role. She is backed up by a terrific cast. For me, the standouts were Park Ha-sun as queen Inhyeon, Jung Jin-young as Seo Yong Gi. I first came across this actor in Kingdom of the winds, and loved his performance as King Yuri. It's probably the best portrayal of a king I've seen. It's how I would want a king to be. Oh Yeon Seo as Queen Inwon, Kim Yoo Jung playing Dong Yi as a child. First spoiler Nam Da Reum as Dong yi's second child second . Spoiler the guy who played Dong Yi's nemesis after the death of Lady Jang. The drama itself is a terrific mixture of romance, political intrigue, romance, adventure, mystery and some comedy as well. For me, the comedy was probably the weakest part.

I'm not saying I didn't laugh at the antics of the two court musicians, or the idiot who was obsessed with Dong Yi, But I never warmed to any of those characters. My favorites scenes were Queen inheyon's return to the palace. Dong yi's entry to the palace, Dong yi's return to the palace.

Jung Jin-young smiling in the last episode. The most moving scenes were Dong yi cradling her dead child, and Dong yi and Chun soo finding each other again.

I loved the tenderness of the scenes between Dong Yi and her second son. The romance between Dong Yi and the king was very convincing. The relationship between the two princess's was very well done. Yes, you could say the drama was quiet predictable, and that Dong Yi would always turn up trumps. But the drama was so well told, that it didn't matter, and yes, it is a great story. There is a lot of love in this series. The love between Dong Yi and her two children, between the king and Dong YI. But also between Lady Jangm and her mother, and brother.

Yes, they are the villains, but they are also willing to lay down their lives for each other. At one point, Dong Yi says something like "Even the most evil person hides a tender heart" At first I thought "Really".

But then I thought about it more, and realized it was true. Heck, even Hitler loved somebody. Although I'm not quite sure that's what the scriptwriters meant. Now a few things that bugged me. (1) When Consort Chun/Choi/Dong Yi's room is being searched for the deployment records, lady Yu,(Was it her?) and her two helpers are discovered by one of the consort's attendants. Lady Yu tells her helpers to get rid of her, which obviously meant to kill her. Did those two girls really look, like they could kill anybody. But leaving that aside, there is only a brief mention of the girl's disappearance afterwards. There is no investigation into it. I also thought that the drama didn't have to go so far as to have Dong Yi lose a child, so that the king wouldn't have had to execute her. Surely he could have stood his ground with the ministers, and said "Look, I'm having the woman I love, exiled. If that's not good enough for you, tough luck" Highly recommended.

Oh, yes. One other character, i liked was Kang Yoo Mi as Ae Jong. It's nice to see a young person, who wasn't a beauty.

I suspected, she might have been a comedian.

Another epic worth watching

[thornnnn · 10/10 · 8 November 2011]

Subtitles for English! Starts out kind of hokey, stick with it tho, ends kind of hokey .. but wow the over all story is fantastic lots of ups and downs and cliffhangers. This was up there with jewel in the palace. Don't let the first few eps fool you.. how a low borne girl gets her entry in the annals (well documented history) of the Josun dynasty. Min from jewel in the palace is the king in here. I think these series are so popular that public demand refuses to allow the original endings.. so they tack on episodes after the main theme has run it's course. Regardless i was so attached to the story and characters i didn't mind the additions. If you liked jewel in the palace this is one to watch too.. or if you liked this one jewel in the palace (54 1 hour eps) is one to watch. ahh now the withdrawal symptoms of exiting a fantastic 60 hour movie after you have fallen in love with all the cast.. great drama! worth watching! :) I give this 12 out of 10 stars!

Best korean history drama ever

[githmalelwela · 10/10 · 22 July 2019]

Best korean history drama ever. I love this drama still my favourite drama. Love you han hyo joo. She is soo talented

Best Korean Drama and Costumes!!

[onig_gino_17 · 10/10 · 22 February 2021]

If you are looking for a roller coaster ride of Traditional Korean Drama, this is the Best of all in its Genres. Like CSI in past Joseon Era.

Dong Yi is based on Historical Figures and Story is 80% based on Annals of the Joseon Dynasty, most of the Characters are real life like Dong Yi(Suk bin), Ok Jung(Hee bin), King Sukjong, Quenn Inhyun, Queen Inwon, Prince Yeoning and etc.

Started with Dong Yi's tragic childhood until she entered the palace as servant in music ministry. She first met Ok Jung before tragedy hit her life that killed her father and brother and almost everyone she knew. After 5 years working in the Palace, she met the King, then they solve their first case together to save Ok Jung, then their next case until she was elevated to Lady Inspector. She befriended the Queen Inhyun and discovered Ok Jung's cruelness by framing the Queen to be deposed, then worked hard to prove her innocence, then ran of the palace and Ok Jung(Now Hee bin) became Queen the Dong Yi returned as Royal Consort, in the Palace. Proven Hee bin Guilty to all her crimes, deposed and Queen Inhyun got reinstated again. She became Sukwon, 4th rank consort, administered by now her best friend Queen Inhyun, got pregnant with young prince. The horrors from her past came back to her, her first born died, then got exiled for 6 years, bore her second son, Geum, during that period. Went back to the palace as Suk ui, 2nd rank consort, her son became Prince Yeoning, then found out that his son was a protege, befriended the Crown Prince, Hee bin's son. Queen Inhyun died from Shaman Rituals by Hee bin's mother and Hee bin herself. Dong Yi became Suk bin, 1st Rank Consort, next in line to be Queen since there is no Queen at that time. Her bin got exposed of all her crimes including the death of Queen Inhyun, she dies by drinking poison. She Denied the King's Offer to become Queen so the King got Married another lady, Queen Inwon. Queen Inwon adopted Prince Yeoning and Suk bin move out to the palace to give them time to be close.

past traces

[Kirpianuscus · 26 April 2017]

at the first sigh, perfect choice for a genre of viewers. at the second, a special form of fairy tale. or propaganda. or just a beautiful trip in the past of Koreea, in a seductive embroidery of romance, characters, clothes and ceremonies. its precious gift - to send the feel to be unique against the different dramas about the history of country, with same ingredients and spices, using the same recipes. a story about courage and fight. about generosity. and hope. beautiful in a admirable way. because, remembering small truths, it is the useful window to a magnificent world.

Okay

[Park_Min · 5/10 · 22 October 2023]

It's a watered down tale with low tension and disappointing baddies which all made the insane runtime just a tad bit more unbearable. The entire story is confined to in-palace drama where the king likes a commoner while another woman grows to be super duper extra jealous. You may imagine how the story will pan out for 60 episodes. Its length turned out to be its biggest weakness, this is further emphasized with its first and last 5 episodes of which they were dull and redundant. It would've been significantly better with a short runtime since the main leads were likable. Speaking of which, the main leads scenes were generally enjoyable, they had a good chemistry but only when it's NOT romantic. Their romance sucked! Making the king physically a weakling was a nice touch. Although the drama is named after the historical character and we were shown and told about her having ambitious ideologies but we rarely got to see that side of her character in the drama, just a few scenes in the middle and around the end. Instead, we got a typical melodrama in a historical setting while borrowing small bits and pieces from the real historical character for world building. The main leads were doing a lot of heavy lifting to keep the drama afloat. The drama is okay but it doesn't have much to offer and the long runtime is really hard to justify.

another successful Coreean story

[Vincentiu · 31 July 2013]

delicate instrument of propaganda, nice, refined, delicate, charming, version of Cinderella, arena for credible villains, ambition, fight for values and life, puzzle of revolution, power, love story and sacrifice, rivalries and high moral values, it is one of beautiful forms of propaganda for Coreean past. and little more. because it is not only exploitation of a success recipes but way to present traces of history nuances in a soft manner. so, another Coreean successful series. and a seductive story , part of a long chain but, in same time, special, mixture between a fairy tale and the laws of power and honesty as basic instrument to not be only slave of power.