Love in the Moonlight, also known as Moonlight Drawn by Clouds, is the latest Korean teleserye that I’ve binged watched since ‘rediscovering Korean telenovela’ a few days ago. The first one was Descendants of the Sun. 🙂
In the last 5 days, I’ve spent at least 37 hours glued to my laptop watching a video stream of Descendants of the Sun and followed closely with Love in the Moonlight.
Marathon watching with only few hours of sleep in between.. that’s about 37 hours out of 120 hours, 30% of my time! LOL. #addictlang Not healthy I know so am trying now to find a good balance lest my work suffers. 🙂
The last time I was so engaged watching a Korean drama was years ago, I think the last tv series was that of Vivian and Carlo in Lovers in Paris. Aja! 🙂
I still remember snippets of the first Korean dramas I got hooked-on, the Endless Love series – Autumn in My Heart and Winter Sonata. Soon after, work life demanded more time and telenovelas took a back seat. But it looks like I’m back, hooked once again, waaah, hehe.
UPDATE October 22:
Waaahhh the cast and crew of Love in the Moonlight are now in Cebu for their celebratory vacation!!!
What makes Korean drama so engaging? Probably because the story telling is excellent with fully developed characters that showcases real feelings that most people can relate to. The stories are also generally light and fast paced, unlike the very heavy dramas of Philippine television.
What I like best and appreciate about Korean tv novelas is that they typically run for only 2 to 3 months even if a series becomes a massive hit in their native country Korea and even if the series became widely popular in other Asian countries. This is part of the big appeal of Korean dramas for me at least – sustained excitement because their story ends when it should, as planned. No forced extensions, no book 2, no chapter 2.
In comparison, most Philippine television series producers tend to squeeze every ounce they can from a hit series, adding more chapters, new characters, more (forced) twist just to stretch the story. What for? To continue raking in those earnings? When the audience is desensitized and the ratings plummet. the series end on a flat note. Pigang-piga ang kakalabasan.
Sorry I got sidetrack with comparing Philippine series versus Korean dramas. This sharing on Penfires is supposed to be about Love in Moonlight, a historical Korean drama set in the Joseon Dynasty, so I’ll try to get back on track. 🙂
*Love in the Moonlight is composed of 18 episodes that runs about an hour each. Started airing in Korean tv channel KBS 2TV from August 22, 2016 and ended October 18, 2016. Available for streaming via various online channel like 123movies.cz. This will soon be dubbed in Filipino and will be shown via ABS-CBN The Home of Asian Telenovelas.
MAIN CAST – Lead Characters
- Park Bo‑gum as Lee Yeong (the Crown Prince)
- Kim Yoo-jung as Hong Ra-on aka Hong Sam Nom (Eunuch Hong)
- Jinyoung as Kim Yoon-sung (scholar and the grandson of the Prime Minister)
- Kwak Dong-yeon as Kim Byung-yeon (Chief of the Royal Guards of the Crown Prince)
I’ve interlaced some of my favorite lines from the series within my musings. 🙂 The music and sound track really sets the atmosphere. Hope you can watch it!
Warning spoilers ahead! Do not read further if you don’t want to know parts of the story!!!
Moonlight Drawn by Clouds
This is the story of the Crown Prince Lee Young and a young woman named Hong Ra On who is hiding her real identify and masquerading as a boy, Hong Sam Nom. Ra-on became a palace eunuch serving the Crown Prince amidst the turmoil of political manipulation happening in the palace.
Love in the Moonlight is a coming of age story of a young prince destined to be the next king, a ‘left behind’ daughter who has to fend for herself, a story of responsibilities and expectations, of moving on after suffering a great loss, of doing each other’s part so the world maybe better, so we may be a blessing to one another.
It’s also imparts to the audience that each one is no different from each other – “Your rob is as heavy as mine”.
This is also a story about friendship and loyalty and that “may we be nothing but friends in our final moment”.
A story of seeing things clearly with your heart
“You had a sad dream”
“It was a happy dream. At least I can see my mom again.”
It’s the realization that it is people that makes a place meaningful.
“It’s not like anyone like the palace, but if you like someone in the palace it becomes a worthy place to live.”
It’s a celebration of love that makes moments, places and things sacred and constant.
“Whether you see it from the palace or from a farm, the moon is simply the moon. I maybe the Crown Prince but it doesn’t matter who you are. Whenever it is and wherever we are, it’s fine as long as our heart are the same. Just like that moon”.
“I am happy if you are happy.”
“I regretted it. I should have pretended I did not know. If I had known you’d always be looking for a way to escape .. Had I known I would not have struggled with whether you were a eunuch or a woman. I would have thought about how to keep you with me as long as possible.”
Super kilig lines waaaah
“You said you get angry when you see me.”
“That is still true. I get angry when I see you but I cannot help it. When I could not see you, I was angrier and it drove me crazy. So stay by my side”.
“Don’t you think it’s futile? Even if his feelings are conveyed, nothing changes.”
“…. Is it wrong to confess to someone just because nothing can come out of it? Letting someone go well off is a feeling that’s as warm as the feeling of love. Who knows if the feeling of being loved could become your strength to live on for the rest of your life?”
“You see, there are moments when ordinary things and everyday life suddenly feel very precious”
“You will feel that way when it is the last time.”
The heart suffers from pain of unrequited love that would gladly do anything to make sure the one who owns the heart remains happy.
“You must be missing someone far from here.”
” ‘How dependable’, can’t you think that of me?”
“What has a hold on your heart that it’s worth putting yourself in danger?”
“You may cry. I will not hope or delude myself.”
#angsakitsakit Episode 14
The heart rejoices when Ra On got into her mother’s embrace after 10 years of longing and waiting, a wish fulfilled by the man whose heart belongs to her.
The series is also replete with a few cheesy lines and scenes hehe makes the story and the characters cute 😀
“I cannot take another step…my steps have never felt so precious before.”
“It’s an eternal bracelet that will tie the fate of you two together forever… even if you two break up, each of you will go round and round until the two of you meet again.”
On the last episode, Episode 18, the heart awfully breaks when the fatally injured Chief Kim slowly fade away while cradled in the Crown Prince hands. And the heart cries when Ra-on rocked the dying friend and protector Young-song as he slowly catches his last breath.
The heart warms up and cheer for the Crown Princess who selfishly requested to step down as the Crown Princess despite knowing that she will be destined to live alone away from family from then on, and who near the story’s end gladly and boldly looks on to her new life journey with hope and enthusiasm.
A few more of the memorable lines and quotes in Moonlight Drawn by Clouds
“The King, not like the sun that shines by itself, but like the moonlight who shines surrounded by the people.. His Majesty is like that.”
“So you are going to remain as His Majesty’s cloud.. is that it?”
“Then, Who am I?”
“You are the Ra On that filled up my entire world.”
🙂
I thought I won’t love this series as much as I adored Descendants of the Sun which fascinated me from its very first episode. How wrong I was. Moonlight Drawn by Clouds slowly captures your heart episode after episode, building into a beautiful crescendo that makes the story lingers with wonderful memories long after you’ve watched it.
Do what makes you happy. Don’t over complicate life.
My Moonlight marathon ended last night, and when I woke up this morning, I kept thinking. What is it about this series that tugs at my heart? I realized it’s because of the characters. Not just the two main one but the four leads – their stories, struggles, and triumphs is easily real life. To say it simply, the Crown Prince, Eunuch Hong / Ra On, Chief Kim, Kim Young-song reached the heart.
That is why, this post. I wasn’t planning to write about a Korean drama tv series on Penfires, but I can’t help it. I was immersed in their world for a bit of time (‘bit’ is maybe a stretch haha), and am glad to have watched.
Korea was not part of the places I strongly desire to go to and visit, it is now. I especially want to set foot in the Gyeongbokgung Palace. 🙂 Now, how to get a visa? Haha.
If you have time, you know what to do… 🙂 Sending you good vibes wherever you are in the world.
Thank you! Kamsahamnida!
i love your review. I have just started watching Love in the Moonlight. I could feel all kinds of emotions in this perfect Korean Series. I am so enchanted by this series and the actors. They portray the characters so well that you cant stop watching and looking forward to every scene and words uttered. I am so inlove with this Korean Series and the actors. They are perfect fit.
Hi Tucker, this kdrama really gives us the feels! I’d probably re-watch this again and again, love the actors chemistry too! 🙂
This explains everything. Thank you for sharing this. I guess we have the same feeling that I am now madly inlove with LITM most especially its characters. ??
So happy to find a kindred soul, Ian! I am pretty sure I am going to re-watch this kdrama down the road. 🙂
Do you remember a quote from one of the characters about having doubts? I’ve been thinking about it but I just can’t remember. I also forgot who said it. 🙁
P.S. I loved reading this!! Felt good to know someone has gotten the Moonlight bug so badly, too!! Haha. I love how it brought love, leadership, loyalty, friendship and everything else together into this amazing kdrama. ?
Hi Jen, I’ll try to rake my brain if I can remember hehehe. Am too happy too that Love in the Moonlight is being shown on local tv kahit naka-dub. I’m really desirous na sana more people will get to see this korean drama like us and be enthralled too, haha.
Waah.. I just finished watching this kdrama.. And its definitely my new fav. Drama.. I happen to stumble with ur blog and i feel like i instantly want to be your friend.. Na cucurios na tuloy family ko about the drama kasi bukang bibig ko na.. Im inloved with the characters…
Jerene apir! 😀 Naku sabihan mo family mo manuod na din!!! <3
I love your review.. everything is in detail. I love how you summarized everything based on lessons in life that can be learned from the show.
Sana magaling dn ako magsulat haha
Haha, Thanks Alyssa! 🙂