Latest news with #historicaldrama
The Review Geek
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Review Geek
The Haunted Palace – K-drama Episode 13 Recap & Review
Episode 13 Episode 13 of The Haunted Palace begins with a 100-year-old flashback. The enemies are getting close and King Yeon-jong makes a run for it. With nowhere to hide, Escort Officer Cheon Geum-hwi suggests his hometown, Yongdam Village. Unfortunately, on the way over, the enemies find out their location. King Yeon-jong decides to send a decoy to Yongdam so the enemies don't find his new safehouse. Cheon asks for time to evacuate the villagers but the King refuses as it would give away the ruse. With Choi Gil-song's signal, an officer ties Cheon to a tree and they all leave. The enemies slaughter everyone in Yongdam while searching for the King. At present, King Lee Sung is ashamed by his ancestor's cowardice and selfishness. Yeo-ri feels Cheon's guilt as he blames himself for the massacre. But he is not alone. As the 8-foot ghost, he has absorbed the grudge of all the murdered villagers. Gangcheori reveals that the villagers who survived turned bitter and vile. It is why he believes all mortals are loathsome beings. Meanwhile, the 8-foot ghost attacks the Crown Prince. However, the ghostbane stone keeps him away and Ga-seop comforts the prince. Back in the village, Yeo-ri spots Yoon Gap's soul. Gangcheori realises the ghost is scheming something but Yeo-ri has other problems. She wonders what will happen to Gangcheori after Yoon Gap takes back his body. Gangcheori is playful with her and Yoon Gap watches them from afar. In-seon is curious about them too and Yeo-ri flexes their relationship. Gangcheori teases her but he is surprised by the caragana plant suddenly blooming. A flashback shows Ga-seop explaining that caragana flowers have water energy which can help Gangcheori defeat the ghost. It seems to be a necessity as the Imugi's powers are getting weaker and weaker. Elsewhere, the King learns of Kim Bong-in's death and is upset. Paired with the shame of his ancestor's doing, he mopes. However, he does attend the one-legged ghost's ritual. Choi Won-u hesitates but ends up profusely apologising to the ghost which helps him cross over to the afterlife. As for the punishment, the King fines Choi and orders 50 lashings. While the retinue returns to the capital, Pung-san targets Minister Ahn, Kwak's peer and the one who had introduced the talismans. The blind shaman wins him over by promising to make him Chief State Councillor. Yoon Gap continues to watch as Mrs. Yoon dotes over Gangcheori. He is also upset when it is Gangcheori who cheers up a sulking King Lee Sung with some tough love. Gap is hurt that Gangcheori has taken everything important to him. We finally learn that Pung-san hopes Gap's bitterness will fester into an evil grudge. Onto the showdown prep, the King procures an identification tablet for Cheon Geum-hwi. Inspired by the one-legged ghost's resolution, he hopes to share his regret and apologise to the 8-foot ghost which should allow it to cross over to the afterlife. Yeo-ri agrees to hold a ritual 10 days later, on Cheon's 100th death anniversary. She does try to exclude Gangcheori out of concern but he refuses. Meanwhile, the Queen Mother tries to find closure. She is heartbroken when Yeo-ri reveals that Prince Yeong-in has been devoured by the 8-foot ghost. However, Yeo-ri lies that praying with his precious belongings shall set him free. The kid ghost calls her out but she points out the tenacity of a mother's prayer. The kid misses his mother and Yeo-ri helps him cross over as well. Pung-san's next phase is put into motion as Lord Ahn invites Gangcheori for a meal. The Imugi realises it is a trap but it is too late as he faints. He is taken home and he seems to be burning up. At the end of The Haunted Palace Episode 13, Yoon Gap wakes up in his own body. Mrs. Yoon is delighted to see that he is back to his old self. But Yeo-ri is worried by Gangcheori's disappearance. The Episode Review As the penultimate week, this K-drama is off to an exciting start. The Haunted Palace Episode 13 unravels all the remaining mysteries such as what happened in Yongdam Village and why the ghost is targeting one particular royal bloodline. Yoon Gap finally returns but is leaning towards the misguided villain role rather than the hero we all thought he would be. Gangcheori and Yeo-ri's romance is still pretty sweet even though the focus is largely on wrapping up the ghost conflict. And while it is quite sad how Yoon Gap feels replaced, the moments between Gangcheori and the King, Yeo-ri and Mrs. Yoon were quite heartwarming. It highlights just how much Gangcheori has changed from the beginning of the show. And finally, a shoutout to Sung-jae for portraying two distinct characters so well that we could identify Yoon Gap the moment he woke up in his body. Previous Episode Next Episode Expect A Full Season Write-Up When This Season Concludes!
Telegraph
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
BBC drama ‘rewrote history to turn scandalous aristocrat into a feminist'
The BBC rewrote the story of an 18th century heiress to wrongly paint her as a feminist heroine, the historian Hallie Rubenhold has claimed. Rubenhold, an award-winning historian, was delighted when her biography of Seymour Fleming, styled Lady Worsley, was turned into a BBC Two drama starring Natalie Dormer. In a case that scandalised society in 1781, Seymour left her husband, Sir Richard Worsley, to elope with his best friend. Sir Richard sued for damages and the case became a sensation when Seymour revealed in court that she had taken many other lovers. This 'devalued' her in the eyes of the law and Sir Richard was awarded only a shilling in compensation. The BBC told this story in The Scandalous Lady W, which aired in 2015. After years of speaking diplomatically about the adaptation, Rubenhold confided her feelings to an audience at the Hay Festival. She said it was 'spine-tingling' to see her work transferred to the screen but went on: 'It is an act of negotiation. For me, one of the most difficult things about that was the desire to make Lady Worsley into a feminist when she absolutely was not a feminist. 'She was a rich heiress who wanted her money back. And she did what she could to get it back. 'She wasn't doing these things for the good of womankind or anybody else other than herself, and there was this desire to frame her as a feminist so she could speak to a modern audience, and that made me slightly uncomfortable.' Rubenhold shared the stage with fellow historian Joshua Levine, who was a historical consultant on Christopher Nolan's Dunkirk and Steve McQueen's Blitz. The pair discussed the historical inaccuracies found in film and television period dramas. Levine singled out Downton Abbey for its 'really modern characters with modern attitudes who are very anti-racism and very inclusive, and it's really frustrating to watch. It's nice, it's cosy but it's not right.' Rubenhold reserved her greatest ire for a Hollywood blockbuster. 'I absolutely cannot stand Titanic. I hate everything about Titanic. I really was glad that Jack died,' she said. 'James Cameron was so obsessed with the technicalities of the ship – moment-by-moment, how it was sinking, how at this point it split in half, at this point that collapsed, these people slipped that way and this room flooded. 'Why did nobody pay any attention to the believability of the characters? Because these were not characters from 1912. The entire plot was just stupid.'
South China Morning Post
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
8 classic K-dramas to catch, from Full House to Stairway to Heaven to Coffee Prince
The popularity of Korean dramas is nothing new. Highly rated shows like Stairway to Heaven, Jewel in the Palace and Winter Sonata once swept Asia, captivating audiences and sparking a cultural phenomenon. Advertisement These classic dramas from the 1990s and early 2000s, which were instrumental in launching the original Korean wave, are now finding fresh audiences worldwide thanks to the power of modern streaming services. US-based Korean content streamer Kocowa, operated by Wavve Americas, says these older shows' powerful storytelling continues to connect with viewers around the world today. Here is a closer look at some of these all-time classics, drawn from a list provided by the US-based Korean movie and drama streaming service, that helped shape and influence the dynamic Korean entertainment landscape we enjoy today. A still from Jewel in the Palace, set in Korea's Joseon dynasty. Photo: MBC Epic dramas Historical K-dramas, with their rich, cinematic narratives, offer outside audiences a unique and immersive window into a world they may not be familiar with.
Geek Tyrant
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
Teaser Trailer For The Revolutionary War-Era Thriller 1780 Starring Kevin Spacey and DJ Qualls — GeekTyrant
A teaser trailer has been released for 1780 , a gritty Revolutionary War-era thriller that pairs one of Hollywood's most controversial actors with one of its most offbeat. Kevin Spacey and DJ Qualls are leading this unexpected charge into historical drama. Directed by Warning Shot's Dustin Fairbanks, 1780 is set 'in the vast forests of Pennsylvania, where a wounded soldier finds refuge with a trapper and his young son. As British forces close in, they must navigate loyalty, survival and the harsh realities of a world at war.' It's a stripped-down, character-driven story soaked in paranoia and wilderness grit. You can watch the first teaser and see how it leans into the cold, bleak vibe of early American warfare. Back in 2027 Spacey was hit with allegations of sexual misconduct and it derailed his career, Spacey has mostly operated in the indie sphere since. This includes recent releases like The Contract , Peter Five Eight , and Control . He was found not liable in a lawsuit brought by actor Anthony Rapp and later found not guilty of criminal charges in the UK, but I don't think his career will ever be what it once was. Qualls, known for cult comedy classics like The New Guy , Road Trip , and Hustle & Flow , has been on a bit of a genre streak lately. He was recently in Hulu's horror flick Carved and Max's dark comedy series Bookie . There's no exact release date yet, but 1780 is expected to drop sometime later this year.
The Guardian
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
1536 review – three Tudor friends throw sharp light on Anne Boleyn's execution
Ava Pickett's debut play, a product of the Almeida's new writing scheme, comes laden with accolades including the Susan Smith Blackburn prize. All the fuss is justified. Set against the impending execution of Anne Boleyn, 1536 is an effortlessly funny, bold and ballsy play, which asks the question: just how much have things really changed for women today? While the historical backdrop is dramatic, this is largely a play of small and arresting moments. Max Jones's stark set – full of long lush grass and empty horizons – never changes. We're in a forgotten field in Essex, where three female friends meet, talk, prod and tease each other. The long grass blows and the sky, thanks to Jack Knowles' emotive lighting, seems to throb with the promise of other, grander lives playing out somewhere far away. It might have felt a bit static were it not for Pickett's brilliant eye for detail and three captivating central performances. There's midwife Mariella who – rather refreshingly – hates her job and whom Tanya Reynolds imbues with a bristling, fragile competence. Siena Kelly is lovable and loathable as 'good girl' Anna, who longs for marriage and brims with anxiety, vulnerability and – as the plot darkens – something steely and ugly too. At the heart of things is Liv Hill's thunderbolt of a character, Jane. Practically half the scenes begin with her thrust up against a tree, as she dangles her sexuality in front of men like a horribly dangerous toy. She's selfish. Brave. Naive. Knowing. As news of Boleyn's awful fate reaches these three women, Hill's Jane seems to physically bolt and buck against the world – a wild horse frantic at being kept in captivity for far too long. Directed with wit and vigour by Lyndsey Turner, 1536 is both an easy and a deeply unsettling watch. The contemporary parallels sometimes feel slightly overplayed and, dare I say it, I could have seen more of the men. When they do appear, the scenes glimmer with menace and we are plunged into a world where even the slightest gesture – the refusal to eat a sweet, say – feels fraught with an all-too recognisable danger. At the Almeida, London, until 7 June
