Grand Prince follows the love-hate relationship between two princes (Yoon Shi Yoon and Joo Sang Wook) and their complicated battle for the throne as well as the woman (Jin Se Yeon) they both love who gets caught in the middle.
There has been a bit of a historical drought as of late, and Grand Prince came along to put an end to that. And it did so by doing everything I love in a historical by giving me romance, action, angst, and thrills. Combine all of that with a wonderful script, great directing, and a good soundtrack to round things out.
Yoon Shi Yoon plays Prince Lee Hwi. He is kind, brave, and honorable. As the third eldest brother, he has accepted his position of just being a support to the King and has no desire for the throne. He just wants to marry the woman he loves and live a peaceful life.
I love Yoon Shi Yoon to pieces and have such a soft spot for him. He has this charisma that just radiates when he smiles that warms my heart. He always seems so sweet. But we do get a little something different in this drama as we get to see a rougher and manlier Yoon Shi Yoon as the drama progresses. It was an interesting change for sure.
And of course, he still completely delivers with his acting by pulling me into the emotions he is feeling and tugging at my heart. He put in an intense performance that was so engaging and full on. Fantastic job by Yoon Shi Yoon!
Joo Sang Wook is Prince Lee Kang. He is the second eldest brother, and unlike Hwi, he wants the throne more than anything. After feeling lonely and ostracized as a child, he has become greedy and selfish and is willing to do anything to become King…including killing his own brother.
Joo Sang Wook is such an intense actor, and he really brought it for this role. His strong presence was intimidating yet also showed a subtle vulnerability underneath it all. An excellent performance all around.
Then we have Jin Se Yeon as Sung Ja Hyun. She’s a bit of a troublemaker and likes to sneak out to go discover and experience other things. She finds herself caught in the middle of the battle for the throne as well as the affections of the two brothers. She goes through some serious heartache because of these guys.
This was my favorite role of Jin Se Yeon’s. She is so beautiful and charming with such a bright smile. Then she gives such heartfelt and emotional scenes that really make me feel for her character. A perfect way to round out our trio.
I definitely got all swoony with the romance in Grand Prince! Hwi and Ja Hyun are the definition of fated lovers, and their deep love for each other gave me so many feels. It was easy to get completely wrapped up in their adorable moments as well as their profound confessions of love for each other.
It just seems like it has been a while since I watched a couple fall so deeply in love and then loudly proclaim it. Listening to their beautiful words to each other definitely had my heart fluttering! I loved their chemistry and just thoroughly enjoyed getting to experience what felt like a genuine romance.
And Hwi and Ja Hyun go through so many hardships. They are fated, star crossed lovers with so many things coming against them and preventing them from being together and being happy. Their love is strong for each other and helps them endure, but it sure was heartbreaking watching their struggles. And there are lots of struggles! I just wanted them to be happy.
The brothers of Hwi and Kang are complete opposites. Kang felt lonely and rejected growing up which made his desire for power only strengthen. Then Hwi is so kind and loving towards his brother but is not met with the same affection. It makes for a complicated relationship that is filled with intensity, betrayal, and heartbreak.
There is a wonderful cast of supporting characters that ranges from friends, family, and servants that round things out and keep all of the scenes engaging. The villains are also pretty villainous and did their job at making me dislike them, sometimes very much so.
I thought all of the other elements of Grand Prince came together beautifully. The script was well written, and the pacing was great from start to finish. Even though there are some politics, it is usually kept brief, to the point, and spread out appropriately through each episode. Exactly how I like them! There are also plenty of dramatic events to keep things exciting. It was seriously all so well done to make for a wonderful adventure filled romance from start to finish!
My Rating: 8.5/10
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