Politics and peril in The Secret Romantic Guesthouse
by solstices
Whoa, talk about a tonal shift. SBS’s upcoming romance sageuk The Secret Romantic Guesthouse has just released its second teaser, and it’s a lot darker than any of the promotional material thus far. Starring Shin Ye-eun (The Glory), along with her three flower scholars Ryeoun (Through the Darkness), Kang Hoon (Little Women), and Jung Geon-joo (Kiss Sixth Sense), the drama was shaping up to be a lighthearted rom-com. Until the palace politicking kicked in, that is.
Our first glimpse of the king Lee Chang, played by a barely recognizable Hyun Woo (Law School), is an unsettling one. Drawing a guard’s sword, he cuts down a palace maid in one fell swoop, splattering her blood onto a ledger. Then, in an ominous voice, he asks another maid who she thinks the next king will be.
We’re given a montage of our three candidates — Jung Yoo-ha (Jung Geon-joo), Kim Shi-yeol (Kang Hoon), and Kang San (Ryeoun). It’s hard to tell if the king has a favorite pick in mind, but it’s clear he isn’t too enthused by the possibility of being replaced. His unhinged demeanor and impulsive actions push the queen dowager Nam Ki-ae (Little Women) to tears, while the gisaeng Han Chae-ah (The Golden Spoon) notes the apprehension evident in the furrowed brows of the left state minister Ahn Nae-sang (Unlock the Boss).
In the darkness of the night, the king approaches a tied-up Lee Jun-hyuk (Alchemy of Souls). Elsewhere, judge Oh Man-seok (Youth of May) faces off against a group of masked fighters — and he isn’t dubbed Joseon’s best swordsman for nothing, because he emerges victorious with only a scratch on his cheek.
At the heart of all this plotting and bloodshed lies the central mystery — the whereabouts of the deposed crown prince’s son Lee Seol. There are those who want to behead him for treason, and there are those who want to put him on the throne. In order to do either, of course, they need to find him first. But countering that is a word of warning in voiceover, advising them to cease their search for the person they’re chasing down.
Those words certainly hold more weight next to the peril that’s shown onscreen. Not only do we see a glimpse of someone almost being pushed off the edge of a cliff, but our heroine Yoon Dan-oh (Shin Ye-eun) also finds herself bound and strangled by Jang Tae-hwa (Oh Man-seok).
We aren’t shown the allegiances of our three scholars yet, but once they get entangled in the plot, it’s sure to become even more nerve-wracking. Hopefully we’ll get to see more of them working together rather than scheming against one another — I’m excited for the Flower Ever After reunion of Jung Geon-joo and Kang Hoon, and Ryeoun is adorable as always, so please let them be on the same side!
Directed by Kim Jung-min (Queen: Love and War) with scripts penned by Kwon Eum-mi (Woman with a Suitcase) and Kim Ja-hyun, The Secret Romantic Guesthouse is based on a webnovel of the same name. The 18-episode drama is slated for a March 20 premiere.
Via Newsen, SBS, Sports Chosun, Star News (1, 2)
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Tags: Jung Geon-joo, Kang Hoon, Ryeoun, Shin Ye-eun, The Secret Romantic Guesthouse
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1 jerrykuvira
March 3, 2023 at 11:23 PM
...and now we have the palace politics😊, and a reveal of supporting casts I so much like to see🤭. I'm in.
But for 18 episodes. I hope the script isn't stretched out thin by the midpoint.
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Flix_Crusin
March 4, 2023 at 10:23 PM
If mystery IS as importabt as prodyction claims it is, pacing will have to be good or the whole show will go down in flames... I, too, dread the ep count a lil bit
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2 Reply1988 -❣️Mother Bean❣️
March 3, 2023 at 11:37 PM
And, just like that this is taken off the watchlist and I am saved from a drop of disappointment.😬 I so wanted a historical slice of life romance.
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Kafiyah Bello
March 4, 2023 at 5:13 AM
Omg, me too. I couldn't decide, but it looked fun and then Palace politics, I am out.
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Reply1988 -❣️Mother Bean❣️
March 4, 2023 at 5:29 AM
Let’s live in hope that one day a K Drama writer will go for a historical slice of life about nobles and the commoners. There must be classic novels from the past eras that are the equivalent of Thomas Hardy, Jane Austen or Dickens that could be turned into dramas. I can’t find them translated but I can’t believe they don’t exist.
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Kafiyah Bello
March 4, 2023 at 11:36 AM
That would be awesome and amen friend.
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Nejsu
March 4, 2023 at 6:36 AM
I share your disappointment. I've recently gotten into Chinese dramas, where historical slice-of-life is very much a thing, and I'd love to see a K-drama take on it. Was hoping this would be it, but alas... It's gone from a 'definitely watch' to 'I'll wait for the reviews to decide.'
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Reply1988 -❣️Mother Bean❣️
March 4, 2023 at 6:45 AM
I have not watched any of the slice of life historical dramas although New Life beginnings was palace politics it balanced this out so we got to see other elements too.
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kiara
March 7, 2023 at 8:33 AM
Chinese historical dramas at least would explore different timelines. Korea is 99% Joseon. I'm bored to death with it.
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parkchuna ❤️🍉
March 5, 2023 at 11:50 PM
It was too good to be true chingu..wow 2023 is rough man..where are all my drama love?
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3 Kurama
March 4, 2023 at 12:49 AM
It was just a question of time. They always told the 3 characters have secrets...
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4 Diana Hansen
March 4, 2023 at 11:19 AM
I am all in! A saeguk with a great cast is one of my catnips!
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5 ar_arguably romantic
March 4, 2023 at 12:42 PM
NooOoOo! Palace politics!!!
I think I could take the palace politics if they weren't so copy and paste. It's always Joseon era and it's always old men going Jeeeonnnha and the occasional crazy king. I wonder if it's just cheaper to make? Reuse those Joseon costumes. Reuse those same locations and sets. At some point, I think ChatGPT can write out an average sageuk.
If it must take place on royal grounds and if we must reused Joseon costumes and sets, I wish we can get another Rookie Historian. You got the palace stuff, but it had a unique theme (significance of record integrity and preservation) and is centered on a young woman for the entirety of the story. Or one of the royal inspector dramas where the characters get to travel outside of Hanyang.
I'd also love another like Arang and the Magistrate, where I think the highest level of government represented is the magistrate. A Joseon Into the Ring would be awesome.
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6 ladynightshade wants to be gazed at by namgoong min
March 4, 2023 at 3:47 PM
*Sigh* Of course they couldn’t resist inserting in palace intrigue and a secret crown prince. It can’t be a sageuk without one. I can’t have anything I want.
I’m still watching though. The cast is too fun to resist. All I can do is hope there is more fun, romantic hijinks than ministers screaming “jeonhaaaaaaa, please kill me.”
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7 Flix_Crusin
March 4, 2023 at 10:21 PM
While I feel sorry or those looking for a historical slice-of-life, I'm super excited about the palace intrugue stuff - ESPECIALLY if it is a mystery , I love a mystery!
Turns out I'm looking foword to this, nice
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