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Premiere Watch: An Empress’s Dignity, Red Moon Blue Sun, SKY Castle, Priest

This week’s premiere lineup runs the gamut of different genres: romance, thriller, horror, and satire.

 

An Empress’s Dignity

Time slot: Wednesday & Thursday
Broadcaster: SBS
Genre: Romance
Episode count: 48 episodes (35 minute episodes, 28 hours total)

Reasons to watch: Imagine a modern-day Korea that still has its imperial family. Throw in romance, political intrigue, murder, and revenge and you have An Empress’s Dignity. Jang Nara stars as a struggling musical actress who sees her life change completely when she marries Korea’s young emperor (played by Shin Sung-rok). But the world inside the palace walls is full of secrets and deceit. When the empress dowager (Shin Eun-kyung) is murdered, the imperial family is shaken to its core and the monarchy’s very existence is thrown into peril. This might suit Choi Jin-hyuk’s character just fine as he plays a royal bodyguard who’s driven by desperate desire for revenge against the Korean royals. While he seeks to destroy the monarchy, Min Yoo-ra (played by Lee Elijah) is hellbent on marrying the emperor — his current marital status be damned. All of these conflicting desires and schemes are sure to collide; who will emerge victorious?

 

Red Moon, Blue Sun

Time slot: Wednesday & Thursday
Broadcaster: MBC
Genre: Mystery, thriller
Episode count: 32 episodes (35 minute episodes, 18 hours 40 minutes total)

Reasons to watch: A strange child and an accident turn Cha Woo-kyung’s (played by Kim Sun-ah) picture-perfect life upside down. After Kim meets this mysterious child, she sets off on a search for answers, but tragedy might be waiting at the end of that search. Lee Yi-kyung co-stars as a dedicated violent crimes detective named Kang Ji-heon who believes criminals should be punished to the fullest extent of the law. Lee is on his own search — for the culprit behind a serious of strange crimes. Nam Gyuri will play a mysterious woman who hides behind a mask of apathy and Cha Hak-yeon (of the idol group VIXX) will round out the main cast as one of Kim Sun-ah’s work colleagues. If you can handle intense thrillers that are full of foreboding, give Red Moon, Blue Sun a watch!

 

SKY Castle

Time slot: Friday
Broadcaster: JTBC
Genre: Social satire
Episode count: 16 episodes

Reasons to watch: It feels like every other drama features a chaebol or the superwealthy. Though SKY Castle is about Korea’s 0.1%, this show stands apart in that it’s a social satire. The drama will follow the foibles of the elite who live in the fictional SKY Castle apartment building. A man’s home is his castle and the drama’s characters refer to themselves — only partly in jest — as kings and queens. With outsized egos and ambitions, SKY Castle will be a powder keg about to explode. The cast is sprawling, and the housewives will be played by Yeom Jung-ah (as the group’s queen bee), Lee Tae-ran, Yoon Se-ah, and Oh Na-ra. Their husbands will be played by Choi Won-young, Jung Jun-ho, Jo Jae-yoon, and Kim Byung-chul.

 

Priest

Time slot: Saturday & Sunday
Broadcaster: OCN
Genre: Horror, thriller
Episode count: 16 episodes

Reasons to watch: Priests are the latest dramaland trend, and OCN is serving up our latest priest-centric drama, aptly and simply titled Priest. Park Yong-woo and Yeon Woo-jin are two exorcist priests who team up with a doctor (played by Jung Yumi) in order to protect a hospital and countless souls from demonic powers. Because Jung Yumi’s character is a rational skeptic, the alliance between the three is uneasy. In the face of demonic evil, can faith and science prevail?

 
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Red Moon Blue Sun, please be good.

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Oh no that little girl’s face got cut off!! 😮 I am glad at least she looks so happy being held by N.

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hehehe!

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For some reason, I'm really attracted to SKY castle. I've never seen social satire in a modern-day drama. Hopefully it's written well.

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Same! And the cast seems amazing too, lots of potential.

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I'm worried that if they don't get the ratings, they'll drop the 'satire' part and just go full-scale makjang instead.

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That might still be entertaining with this cast. Although we'll also wish for the subber that @leetennant had with Risky Romance if that happens.

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Social satire done right can be super fun to watch. Love 'heard it through the grapevine' so much that I'm totally willing to give sky castle a try despite my exam weeks is coming tomorrow, lol

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Hoping same. If they focused on talent than popularity for the casting, surely they care more about their vision than ratings? *cross fingers*

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For some reason I've never heard of this one, but it looks right up my alley. If it takes a left turn into makjang, so much the better --- muahahaha.

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Another exorcist priest story so soon after The Guest?
At least Empress's Dignity waited a few years after King 2 Hearts to repeat the modern-monarchy with the outsider who marries into the family routine.

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The characters relationship in the priest feels almost similar to the guest. We got the males characters who believe in demonic spirit & the sceptical female character. Hope the similarities end there

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The comparison is inevitable given the absence of buffer time in between them. I'm pretty certain I won't enjoy Priest as much as The Guest, if they're similar.

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I managed to survive Park Il-do's depredations in GUEST, but am feeling pretty fatigued at the prospect of more exorcisms. Much as I'd love to see Yeon Woo-jin, I think I'll absolve myself of the need to live-watch PRIEST. If I find myself regretting the decision, I can always repent and tune in. ;-)

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I didn't watch Guest because I've always found exorcism dramas to be extremely boring. I'd rather watch fantasies that admit they're fantasies.

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OCN is on a religious spirit...

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They did Rescue Me before all this too.

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That's the show that started it all, methinks XD I just hope Priest can differentiate itself from The Guest... it's awfully similar to its predecessor. Unlike Rescue Me vs Guest.

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I'm still looking for a nice rom-com to fill the hole 100 days my prince left so I don't know if I'll check these out

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I’m just going to wait for First, Clean Passionately for now. Fingers crossed that it’s actually good.

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Full of thriller.... I still mad at Third Charm ending and just want finish my on going list. I'm looking forward to priest and Red Moon Blue Sun to be good as the poster.

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From the descriptions, none of them seems like a real must-watch. But hopefully one of them will be amazing and much better than they sound.

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On the other hand, I've got three on my to-check out list. HAHA
The Empress' Dignity
Priest
Red Moon, Blue Sun
I really hope at least one is good enough to stick to. XD

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I'm really bad at figuring out which one I'll end up liking from the descriptions anyway...

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You might want to check out my cameos, too.

1. Top Star Yoo Baek: I play The Island. I've never played a geographical feature before, but @pakalanapikake and @bbstl are so encouraging and supportive, so I'm giving it my all. No man is an island, because it takes a strong, resilient woman (me) to be an island.

2. An Empress's Dignity: I play Dignity. It's going to be tough, but it's fine, because I thrive on challenging roles. Abstract cameos are no stranger to me...I gained a lot of experience playing The Law in Lawless Attorney.

3. Red Moon, Blue Sun...hm, sounds interesting but I'd have to be a red moon one instant, and blue sun the next. Kind of tiring, and I'd be working 24/7, night and day, so I don't know.

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Break a leg, @yyishere YY!!! I'm so glad you decided to go for it and expand your acting range -- along with your horizons. I can't wait to see your characterization of the island. Have you found out yet how far offshore you're situated? Will it be a long commute for you? LOL at your John Donne rebuttal. ;-)

Ooooh, a cameo as Dignity. And not just any Dignity, but distaff Imperial Dignity. 48 episodes' worth. Aside from MR. SUNSHINE, it's been a while since I've watched a drama of that length.

I'm sure you'd make a great heavenly body in RED MOON, BLUE SUN. However, I think you're really wise to skip a 24-hour-a-day gig. Pacing yourself is definitely the name of the game. Because of the tides, you cannot afford to have schedule conflicts with your island role in TOP STAR YOO BAEK. You wouldn't want to leave Kim Ji-suk stranded high and dry on the mudflats. ;-)

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I’d love to watch you in Top Star Yoo Baek but I haven’t been able to find subtitled episodes. 😭

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I don't talk, I just lie in the sun, so you won't need any subs for my scenes.

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Tell Kim Ji-suk to do the same so we wouldn't need subs.

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😂😂😂

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LMO that was naughty 😂

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@mary, @cherryinbloom cherry 🍒 doesn’t want million ⭐️ to fall from the sky November 20, 2018 at 1:46 PM

Please allow me to remove my foot from my mouth. My Freudian slip is showing. Sheesh. ;-)

*waits for ground to open up*

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It'll be the first drama without dialogue. People walk around vaguely and lie down in the sun languidly between the walking scenes.

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@yyishere and then @sincerelytod comes along yelling SPEED BUUUUUUMPS!!!

(Also heehee @cherryinbloom, I was also a bit shocked at uri @pakalanapikake's racy pun.)

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@yyishere,

I just watched eps. 27-28 of BAD PAPA, and for a second there I slipped my clutch and confused you with TRUCK OF DOOM, who has been insanely busy in that show. By the time it finishes, TOD will need to get an extended rest in an airport long-term parking lot, or some such. He's been running his wheels off. When you said you'll be lying around in the sun, that sounded like a good follow-up role for TOD. He wouldn't be able to relax if he were in a junkyard, what with all the customers wandering around ready to pick him clean for parts.

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Do you know that TOD has a cousin, Bike of Doom? I read in a post on DB, and was laughing my head off. I tried to watch Bad Papa, but he looks miserable in the stills. I want him to be Lee Gunish, not all beaten up and loserish.

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@yyishere YY,

Yes, I've heard tell of the Bike Of Doom, but I'm not sure I've actually watched a drama in which it starred.

Jang Hyuk hasn't been beat-up and loserish for the whole show. His latest match went badly, but before that, he had some pretty good fights. And there were some nice, touching family moments that were heartwarming.

I have a feeling that we'll never see another Lee Gun, which is why I rewatch bits of FATED TO LOVE YOU. ;-)

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Maybe Jang Na ra, because she is great at everything....
But nothing else!

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I love Jang Nara, but I may skip this one.

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I'll check out An Empress's Dignity. It feels like Goong, if the Prince were a morally ambiguous King and the hero was actually Jo Jung-seok's bodyguard character in The King 2 Hearts. Also, I really liked that the cast dressed up as their characters for the presscon. Jang Na-ra looked really lovely in that queen hanbok.

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Yees~ a mix of The King Two Hearts and a more mature version of Goong? I'll check it out 😉

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Yeah same! I just hope Choi Jinhyuk has recovered from his injuries.

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Interested to "Sky Castle." Looking at the teaser and the line of actors reminded me to "Secret Love Affairs" on some level.

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Looking to buy some time. Anyone got extra on their hands? 'Cause the shows keep coming and this week alone I'm willing to check out Empress' Dignity (Jang Nara!) and Red Moon, Blue Sun (suspense!).

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Psst.... here!

I heard you are.. looking for some time?

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Uh, yeah... um... got any?

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Definitely going to watch Empress' Dignity for Jang Nara and SKY Castle for its unique concept genre. I love the vogue-ish poster spread!

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Me: *sad I can't watch all four new shows*
Also me: *starts My Healing Love for Yeon Jung-hoon's cheeks*

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Definitely want to check out An Empress’s Dignity (as long as there are subs ;A;). I hope it will be recapped here too. I see Red Moon, Blue Sun is in the recap list. This show and Sky Castle seem interesting, but not enough to hook me yet.

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Empress Dignity and sky Castle. If those are meh. Go for the other two drama. 🤣😂.

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I'm surprised that Choi Jin Hyuk still attended the press conference for "An Empress's Dignity" despite needing 30 stitches for an on-set injury that he suffered yesterday! He even apologized for getting injured...

One word I've definitely learned from watching Korean dramas is sorry. People are always apologizing, even for things they shouldn't be.

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Here is a 1.05 min language lesson on saying "I'm sorry" in Korean (now we all know!):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NfQ8J0GkDn4

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My initial reactions without having seen any of them.
An Empress - As much as I like Jang Nara, probably won't watch. This is I think the 5th drama/movie based on this theme, and it is approaching the Dead Horse Beating stage.
Red Moon - Sound interesting, but I hope they leave the totally stupid cop's sidekick out this time.
Sky Castle - If done right, this could be hilarious or just totally stupid and filled with inane slapstick. Will give it a shot.
Priest - Like Empress, this whole exorcist thing strikes me as an overdone theme and is getting tiresome.

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I just watched AN EMPRESS DIGNITY AND I LUV IT.

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I'm really really curious about Sky7. It seems like it could be cracktastic, and even if it sucks, we can still enjoy it in all its Makjangtastic glory.

Next is def Empress Dignity for the love Jang Nara and Shin Sung Rok( even if I lament his typecasting as mischievous evil bad guy).

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It seems that 2 of these dramas should be available subtitled on either Viki or Kocowa or both. Look for these titles;
THE LAST EMPRESS (for An Empress's Dignity) and CHILDREN OF NOBODY (for Red Moon, Blue Sun).
I have no information on weather the OCN or JTBC drama will be available subtitled.
O/T. I am grateful to whoever was responsible for the subtitles for JTBC's THE THIRD CHARM. If it was DramaFever, I thank the old DramaFever not the new outfit that came in and pulled the plug on DF.

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It's VIU subbing The Third Charm, same goes to upcoming JTBC dramas SKY Castle and Clean with Passion for Now and OCN drama Priest.

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Kocowa already has teasers up for CHILDREN OF NOBODY (for Red Moon, Blue Sun)

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definitely checking out An Empress's Dignity for all 3 leads. i love jang nara and i love love choi jin hyuk.
i am still tramatized by the guest but in both good and bad ways. the exorcisms were so intense. i could do without all the eye jabbing. but the leads were worth watching just for them. if i got too scared i could always just focus and stare at their lovely faces and try to ignore the fright welling up inside. i am interested but it has to be gripping or i can't sit thru another one like that.
definitely going to try red moon blue sun also. kim sun ah can do no wrong and i am liking what lee yi kyung has been showing.
the only one that does not sound great to me is sky castle cause satire usually goes over my head or it is too dumb to make sense to me.

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i'm in Empress' Dignity just for GumiDaddy's bodyguard muscle shirt character portrayal...

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One Name : Yeon.Woo.Jin
😍😍

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SKY CASTLE sounds like King's Castle from TERIUS BEHIND ME. As long as it doesn't turn into Skynet, we should be fine. ;-)

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saw a trailer for empress dignity on instagram. it looks like SSR sweeps her off her feet and then the relationship looks like it'll turn abusive. i thought it was going to be light and fluffy but i guess not....

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I'm worried that the show will turn makjang...When I saw the burned corpse of someone wearing Jang Nara's clothing in one of the trailers, I knew that this show would be pretty heavy...

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To me it is definitely makjang. Some violence. I am not sure how some will react to some the abusive scenes. Honestly I didn't expect it to be THAT makjang. But I couldn't NOT watch. Watched every single minute of the 2 episodes. We will see how it goes. I want sweet Jang Nara to do some serious chops on the ridiculous royalty and their minions. Definitely not Goong. It is just modern day makjang in fancy clothes.

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Actually, it's black comedy. Not makjang. They're making fun of makjang.

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I just watched the first hour of Empress and the one word I'd use to describe it so far: Delicious. Deliciously evil Emperor and his mistress. They're playing their roles really well. It was all over the place but in a good way. It's dual: serious (but not taking themselves too seriously) and then slapstick, which of course is why they chose Jang Nara to play that part. It's rather campy I'd say. It's kind of reminding me of the dark humor in Heard It Through the Grapevine. The production values seem rather well done.

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(rubs hands in glee) your review just made me want to jump right into it. thank you! see on the recap posts

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After watching the 2nd hour I can definitely say it's black comedy. So take it as that. But enough with Jang Nara's slapstick humor - I don't think it will last much longer. The emperor's smile is so smarmy! Perfect role for the actor (can't remember his name...)

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Ahhhh I love the leads for Priest but not interested in the plot especially right after The Guest. Talk about wrong timing, OCN.

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Kim Suh ah, the drama and her acting is really good. I was waiting for 21st Nov. Happy to see her drama. Love her.

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After watching the first 2 episodes of Sky Castle, I think it's loosely based/inspired by Desperate Housewives (American series) The Sky Castle neighborhood is the K-version of Wisteria Lane 😄

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