Title:해를 품은 달 | Haereul Pum-Eun Dal | The Sun and the Moon | Moon Embracing the Sun
Genre: Drama | Historical | Romance
Episodes: 20
Broadcast Network: MBC
Broadcast Period: January 4 – March 15, 2012

Synopsis:

This is a fictional story that happened during Joseon Dynasty. King Lee Hwon and Shaman Wol were destined to be together from the start but forces against them drove this fate into a journey of fighting against deceit, corruption and mysterious powers that shrouded them. It started long before they were both born when a shaman named Ari was accused of putting a spell for the Prince to die. Ari before executed from false charges was helped by a noble pregnant woman, Yang Mi-Kyung, and Ari seeing what will be the fate of the unborn baby promised Yang Mi-Kyung to protect her child even in her death. That child is Heo Yeon-Woo but grew up as Shaman Wol after losing her memory during the attempt to her life. Against all odds Shaman Wol and King Lee Hwon still met and fell in love but the road of being together is filled with thorns to reach its fruition and the power to defeat everything against them lies on the strength of their love for each other.

Characters:

• Kim Soo-Hyun as Crown Prince | King Lee Hwon
• Han Ga-In as Heo Yeon-Woo | Shaman Wol
• Jung Il-Woo as Prince Yang-Myung
• Kim Min-Seo as Yoon Bo-Kyung
• Yeo Jin-Goo as 15-year-old Lee Hwon
• Kim Yoo-Jung as 13-year-old Heo Yeon-Woo
• Lee Min-Ho as young Yang-Myung
• Kim So-Hyun as Younger Yoon Bo-Kyung
• Sunwoo Jae-Duk as Heo Young-Jae
• Yang Mi-Kyung as Shin Jung-Kyung | Madam Heo
• Song Jae-Hee as Heo Yeom
• Yim Si-Wan as 17-year-old Heo Yeom
• Yoon Seung-Ah as Seol
• Seo Ji-Hee as Younger Seol
• Kim Young-Ae as Queen Dowager Jung-Hui
• Ahn Nae-Sang as King Sungjo
• Kim Sun-Kyung as Queen So-Hye
• Kim Ye-Ryeong as Lady Park
• Nam Bo-Ra as Princess Min-Hwa
• Jin Ji-Hee as young Min-Hwa
• Song Jae-Rim as Kim Jae-Woon
• Lee Won-Keun as 15-year-old Kim Jae-Woon
• Jung Eun-Pyo as Hyung-Sun
• Kim Min-Kyung as Court Lady Min
• Chu Gwi-Jung as Court Lady Jo
• Jeon Mi-Seon as Jang Nok-Young
• Kim Ik-Tae as Hye Gak
• Bae Noo-Ri as Jan-Shil
• Jo Min-Ah as young Jan-Shil
• Jang Young-Nam as Ari
• Kim Eung-Soo as Yoon Dae-Hyung
• Jang Hee-Soo as Mrs Kim
• Seo Hyun-Chul as Shim San
• Lee Seung-Hyung as Han Jae-Gil
• Kim Seung-Wook as Yoon Soo-Chan
• Yoon Hee-Seok as Hong Gyu-Tae

My Review:

Saguek K-Dramas is not something I seek for to watch but there are a few that made the story exceptionally well that I don’t mind watching it during those era. This K-drama is one of the exceptions. However, I must mention that though I have been entertained, this K-drama do have a lot of flaws in comparison to other excellent saguek k-dramas I’ve seen like Sunkyunkwan Scandal.

So, What do I Like About this K-Drama?

(1) The actors who played the characters here are quite exceptional especially Kim Soo-Hyun. He truly deserve to be a hallyu star not only just because he’s handsome but he indeed has depth when he acts. He was great in “My Lover From Another Star” but he was quite truly exceptional here. The range of his different emotions were delivered in such perfection.

(2) Normally the childhood years of the main characters is something I can’t wait to be over so I can already watch the main leads on the screen but this one is one of the few that can be an exception to my rule. Yeo Jin-Goo as 15-year-old Lee Hwon and Kim Yoo-Jung as 13-year-old Heo Yeon-Woo were so fantastic that I forgot that they will grow up and be played by another actors. Kim Yoo-Jung has a rare gift to really act and I’m glad I’ve seen her blossom at “Love in the Moonlight” which became one of the most successful k-dramas in 2016. And, Yeo Jin-Goo became one hell of a great actor in all of his projects I’ve seen since this.

(3) I enjoyed the fantasy part of the story because it gives a different twist to the story.

What I do Not Like About this K-Drama?

Although, this K-Drama has certain flaws, they are quite minute that I can let go and ignore them. Having said that, I feel that casting Han Ga-In as Heo Yeon-Woo is a mistake. Han Ga-In is a good actress but she wasn’t really able to match the acting prowess of the male actors, Kim Soo Hyun and Jung Il Woo. Also, even if she looks young, you can sense the age gap and her being older than the 2 leading men playing a role as her love interests which kinda affected the intensity of the romantic angle. It looks awkward and can sense with her body language to be as such. I believe she failed to really immerse on her character and was very much aware that she’s older and married in real life.

Would I recommend this K-Drama? Yes

My Rating to this Drama
( See My Rating System: ) 4/5 Stars

OST:

01. Back in Time – Lyn
02. Under The Moonlight – HeOra
03. Trail of Tears – Wheesung
04. Shadow – Monday Kiz
05. The Moon That Embraces the Sun – Various Artists
06. I Hope It Isn’t – Lee Ki Chan
07. The One and Only You – Kim Soo Hyun
08. 애지애가 – Various Artists
09. 궐 – Various Artists
10. 장명루 – Various Artists
11. 저자거리 – Various Artists
12. 위령제 – Various Artists
13. 두개의 태양과 하나의 – Various Artists
14. 은월각 – Various Artists
15. 연우 내리다 – Various Artists
16. 태양의 눈물 – Various Artists
17. 궁의 아침 – Various Artists
18. 달빛의 노래 – Various Artists
19. 흑주술 – Various Artists
20. 나비의 춤 – Various Artists
21. 숨은 달 – Various Artists
22. 꽃잎처럼, 불꽃처럼 – Various Artists