"K-drama version of Bridgerton": 'The Remarried Empress' earns praise from overseas viewers… "Shin Min-a and Lee Jong-suk seem to have been born for these roles" [K-EYES]

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"What makes Navie remarkable is that she refuses to become a victim."

Reactions from overseas viewers are pouring in following the critical acclaim, one week after the release of the Disney+ original series 'The Remarried Empress'.

'The Remarried Empress' is a romance fantasy about Navie (played by Shin Min-a), the perfect empress of the Dongdae Empire, who, upon receiving a divorce notice from Emperor Sobieschus (played by Joo Ji-hoon), demands approval for her remarriage to Prince Heinrey of the West Kingdom (played by Lee Jong-suk) instead of accepting the divorce. Lee Se-young plays Rasta, a runaway slave who has captured Sobieschus's heart. Based on the popular web novel and webtoon of the same name, the series consists of 10 episodes. Four episodes were released first on the 3rd, followed by two new episodes every Wednesday thereafter.

According to Disney+, 'The Remarried Empress' became the most-watched local original among all Disney+ titles worldwide within three days of its release.

Following buzz generated by positive reviews from US media outlets such as ScreenRant and Collider, and its selection in The New York Times' "Must-See Series for November," direct evaluations from viewers have also been emerging steadily since the release.

A new review has appeared on the US film review site Rotten Tomatoes, stating, "Shin Min-a commands the screen in every scene" (9 out of 10).

On the global movie and drama rating site IMDb, it currently holds a score of 7.9 out of 10 based on ratings from over 400 users. Reviews from fans of the original work are particularly noteworthy.

One viewer wrote, "It is the best live-action adaptation of a webtoon," adding, "What makes Navie remarkable is that she refuses to become a victim. Instead of clinging in the face of betrayal, she maintains her dignity. Her true strength lies not in flashy revenge, but in an unshakable composure."

Reactions continued, including "Shin Min-a and Lee Jong-suk seem to have been born for these roles" and "They have faithfully transferred the splendor of the webtoon, from the palace and dresses to the jewels." A viewer from Myanmar shared, "Myanmar fans are completely smitten with Heinrey."

Discussions are also active on the K-drama board of the online community Reddit. One viewer who had watched up to Episode 4 said, "I usually lower my expectations for Disney+ dramas because they lure you in with flashy casting but then deliver bland scripts and direction, but this one completely exceeded my expectations." He added, "Usually, stories like this depict a poor girl entering the palace to save the prince from a wicked empress, but this work completely subverts that cliché," praising "Shin Min-a's subtle acting" as the highlight. The post received over 50 upvotes.

The comparison of it being the "K-drama version of 'Bridgerton'" also emerged. One viewer said, "From the setting to the costumes and even the gossip, it has a complete 'Bridgerton' vibe," adding, "I am testing my patience up to Episode 5 because of the cliffhanger ending in Episode 4." Regarding Lee Jong-suk, reactions included, "It's been a while since I watched a Lee Jong-suk drama, but he is doing such a great job with this quirky and cute role." For the ball scene in Episode 4, one viewer commented, "The scene where Heinrey blocks the Emperor from Navie's wavering vision was truly cool."

On the other hand, there are also many voices expressing disappointment. The most upvoted criticism on Reddit concerned lighting and direction. One viewer pointed out, "While the indoor sets are beautiful, the daytime scenes are too bright and the night scenes are too dark," adding, "Sometimes it feels like watching a children's play." Opinions such as "The forest scenes feel like a tea party rather than a fantasy kingdom" and "The costumes look somewhat cheap" were also present. One review stated, "The casting is this flashy, but the direction falls short of it."

Opinions were divided among fans of the original work regarding the adaptation. While some praised that "Sobieschus's predatory side toward Rasta is depicted more clearly than in the webtoon," others pointed out that "Sobieschus changes too abruptly, which is confusing."

'The Remarried Empress' is released on Disney+ every Wednesday.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original