Moonlight Drawn By Clouds is a classic K-drama gem with a cute OTP that is 50% Bo-Gummy, Gat Byung-Yun and a lot more that you can just enjoy from behind your screen. Whenever Yoon-Sung came on screen however, I wanted to jump into the screen and fix things in his favor.
When it aired in summer 2016 I spoiled myself through recaps and did not pay much attention to him, because you know, another flower boy second lead that will end up being too good to be true. My broken heart is enough proof that I severely underestimated him.
Being a second lead does have its perks. No, you won’t get your lady, but at least your courting and your personality will be admired and remembered by other characters and some viewers. If it weren’t for her affections, your love rival would usually have even less to offer in the courting and personality department.
Yoon-Sung really got the short end of the stick here. His rival in love and practically everything else is crown prince Bo-Gummy. Whenever Yoon-Sung made our hearts flutter, Bo-Gummy would go even one step further in the next episode. As a crown prince he did have more power and leeway to benefit from.
Yoon-Sung’s biggest enemy, however, turned out to be our villain. His grandfather, the prime minister orchestrated his whole future and the next coup. As the sole heir Yoon-Sung was expected to take his side against our crown prince. The best examples would be during the interrogation of Ra-On and her father or when Ra-On is dancing at the banquet. Yoon-Sung is forced to stay behind and watch from a distance, while all he wants is to get closer to protect his friends or to be near Ra-On.
Yoon-Sung was doomed to remain one step behind at all times. I lost count of the amount of times a conflict dragged on or even existed in the first place, simply because nobody bothered to tell Yoon-Sung about it. Only Gat Byung-Yun did bother to ask for his help in rescuing Ra-On when the Chinese envoy was around.
While our crown prince made a scene, freed Ra-on and literally rode off with her into the sunset at the end of the episode, Yoon-Sung only finds out the next episode after sprinting through the palace and bumping into officials left and right (not good for his spotless reputation!) to check up on her, that she is doing fine. His happiness and relief to see her well are painful to watch as she is blissfully unaware of his feelings, worries and his part in her rescue until the crown prince acknowledges his help.
Another great example would be the baby princess. We already know by then that our crown prince takes good care of his (half)sisters, so of course she will be surrounded with love and care in the end. Only viewers will know that Yoon-Sung actually found out about his cousin first and even threatened the queen to ensure her safety. The only protection and love he could offer her were a group of kisaengs and secret cuddle visits. No wonder he looked at the fake baby prince in disdain whenever his power-hungry relatives were cuddling him.
Speaking of threats, I’d rather not get on his bad side. Bo-Gummy and Gat Byung-Yun may have some sick sword fighting skills, but cunning and observant Yoon-Sung has enough dirt on you to take care of the job much faster. Imagine my pleasant surprise when he took out that gun and actually fired it at that eunuch. He could have easily become the third musketeer with his sword fighting skills.
His good side is simply boyfriend goals. He follows his heart, and it influences how he views the people around him. The crown prince and his guard will forever remain his best friends, whereas the queen and prime minister are merely his aunt and grandfather by blood. His cold playboy appearance hides a caring and protective lover, friend and cousin underneath who would even use his body to shield them from swords. Twice.
It is a shame that his grandfather indirectly killed him with his great painting, even when he was still alive. Ra-On was his lightning bolt, who literally fell into his arms when he felt trapped and made his short life more bearable. In an alternate universe without Bo-Gummy they might have been happily married.
But I love him more than our OTP, so my preferred ending simply includes him being alive and living happily ever after painting, loving his friends freely and receiving their love in return. Because by Gat, he has earned it!
TurtuallySarcastic
March 4, 2019 at 4:31 PM
An Ode to Yoon-Sung (read on in the comments).
Moonlight Drawn By Clouds is a classic K-drama gem with a cute OTP that is 50% Bo-Gummy, Gat Byung-Yun and a lot more that you can just enjoy from behind your screen. Whenever Yoon-Sung came on screen however, I wanted to jump into the screen and fix things in his favor.
TurtuallySarcastic
March 4, 2019 at 4:31 PM
When it aired in summer 2016 I spoiled myself through recaps and did not pay much attention to him, because you know, another flower boy second lead that will end up being too good to be true. My broken heart is enough proof that I severely underestimated him.
Being a second lead does have its perks. No, you won’t get your lady, but at least your courting and your personality will be admired and remembered by other characters and some viewers. If it weren’t for her affections, your love rival would usually have even less to offer in the courting and personality department.
TurtuallySarcastic
March 4, 2019 at 4:32 PM
Yoon-Sung really got the short end of the stick here. His rival in love and practically everything else is crown prince Bo-Gummy. Whenever Yoon-Sung made our hearts flutter, Bo-Gummy would go even one step further in the next episode. As a crown prince he did have more power and leeway to benefit from.
Yoon-Sung’s biggest enemy, however, turned out to be our villain. His grandfather, the prime minister orchestrated his whole future and the next coup. As the sole heir Yoon-Sung was expected to take his side against our crown prince. The best examples would be during the interrogation of Ra-On and her father or when Ra-On is dancing at the banquet. Yoon-Sung is forced to stay behind and watch from a distance, while all he wants is to get closer to protect his friends or to be near Ra-On.
Yoon-Sung was doomed to remain one step behind at all times. I lost count of the amount of times a conflict dragged on or even existed in the first place, simply because nobody bothered to tell Yoon-Sung about it. Only Gat Byung-Yun did bother to ask for his help in rescuing Ra-On when the Chinese envoy was around.
TurtuallySarcastic
March 4, 2019 at 4:33 PM
While our crown prince made a scene, freed Ra-on and literally rode off with her into the sunset at the end of the episode, Yoon-Sung only finds out the next episode after sprinting through the palace and bumping into officials left and right (not good for his spotless reputation!) to check up on her, that she is doing fine. His happiness and relief to see her well are painful to watch as she is blissfully unaware of his feelings, worries and his part in her rescue until the crown prince acknowledges his help.
Another great example would be the baby princess. We already know by then that our crown prince takes good care of his (half)sisters, so of course she will be surrounded with love and care in the end. Only viewers will know that Yoon-Sung actually found out about his cousin first and even threatened the queen to ensure her safety. The only protection and love he could offer her were a group of kisaengs and secret cuddle visits. No wonder he looked at the fake baby prince in disdain whenever his power-hungry relatives were cuddling him.
TurtuallySarcastic
March 4, 2019 at 4:33 PM
Speaking of threats, I’d rather not get on his bad side. Bo-Gummy and Gat Byung-Yun may have some sick sword fighting skills, but cunning and observant Yoon-Sung has enough dirt on you to take care of the job much faster. Imagine my pleasant surprise when he took out that gun and actually fired it at that eunuch. He could have easily become the third musketeer with his sword fighting skills.
His good side is simply boyfriend goals. He follows his heart, and it influences how he views the people around him. The crown prince and his guard will forever remain his best friends, whereas the queen and prime minister are merely his aunt and grandfather by blood. His cold playboy appearance hides a caring and protective lover, friend and cousin underneath who would even use his body to shield them from swords. Twice.
TurtuallySarcastic
March 4, 2019 at 4:34 PM
It is a shame that his grandfather indirectly killed him with his great painting, even when he was still alive. Ra-On was his lightning bolt, who literally fell into his arms when he felt trapped and made his short life more bearable. In an alternate universe without Bo-Gummy they might have been happily married.
But I love him more than our OTP, so my preferred ending simply includes him being alive and living happily ever after painting, loving his friends freely and receiving their love in return. Because by Gat, he has earned it!
BdxPelik
March 4, 2019 at 8:12 PM
*standing ovation*