100 Days My Prince (2018)
Quick Take: 100 Days My Prince (2018), starring Do Kyung-soo and Nam Ji-hyun. 10/10. Sixteen 70-minute episodes
Synopsis: After an injury, Lee Jul, the Crown Prince, ends up in a rural village, living as a commoner, with a wife who is a stranger to him. He has no memory of who he is or how he got there. He is clueless about life in the village, but his royal sense of entitlement is intact. That gets him into trouble, since a rude and arrogant commoner is apt to receive harsh punishment from his betters. Over time, though, he discovers that he can read, write, shoot an arrow, ride a horse, and fight off armed attachers with a tree branch. However, once back in the palace, even those abilities may not be enough to save him.
Review: Political intrigue, double dealing, and ruthless assassination provide the context for this story of deception. In the beginning Hong-shim, Lee Yul’s new wife, doesn’t know who he is — but she knows that he isn’t Won-Deuk, her fiance` just returned from military service, which is what she tells him. Their relationship is the heart of the story. She is by turns exasperated and amused by her husband’s foolishness. They gradually grow closer but when he is returned to the palace, and to his pregnant wife the Crown Princess, all seems to be lost for both of them.
The King is weak, the Queen is scheming, the Crown Princess is not to be trusted; Hong-shim is not who she seems either, and her brother holds a dark secret. The Crown Prince is aided by a capital police officer with dubious loyalties of his own. He is smitten with Hong-shim the first time he meets her, but when they meet again she is married to Won-deuk.
Recommended.
Rewatchable - 5, Compelling - 5, Plot/ Story/Writing - 10, Acting/Casting - 10, Production - 10, Bonus - 10. 100 Days My Prince is one of the Practically Perfect..
Notes:
D.O.
is the stage name of Doh Kyung-soo. He became an idol trainee in high school and made his debut with K-pop group EXO in 2012. He has been acting since 2014.
Nam Ji-hyun
began her career as a child actress, and then successfully transitioned into adult roles. Her recent roles include Suspicious Partner (2017), 365: Repeat the Year (2020), and Little Women (2022).
Kim Seon-ho
was already well-known in the world of theater when he began film and television acting. His supporting roles quickly brought him to the attention of audiences worldwide. See him also in Strongest Deliveryman (2017), Welcome to Waikiki (2019), Start-up (2020), and Hometown Cha Cha Cha (2021).
Kim Jae-young
has been acting steadily since 2012 without getting a lot of recognition. That may change. See him also in Beautiful Love, Wonderful Life (2019) and Love in ?Contract (2022).