Review: Rooftop Prince

I've been in a KDrama hiatus for some months for two reasons: I was too busy to watch anything and no dramas were "calling out" to me until Rooftop Prince came along. I mean, Yoo chun (!!!) would play the lead character and he's gonna be a Joseon prince much like his character in Sungkyunkwan Scandal (a drama which still I am still super hung up on) - so I really have been anticipating for Rooftop Prince.

The story is a time travel romantic comedy themed drama about a Joseon era (18th century Korea) crown prince named Lee Gak (Yoo Chun) and his 3-men entourage who were trying to resolve the mystery surrounding the death of his crown princess when suddenly they were transported 300 years into the future (modern day Korea) into the rooftop house of a girl named Park Ha (Han Ji Min). 

Park Ha is a (reincarnation of Lee Gak's sister in law,Bu Young) happy and strong willed girl who has amnesia due to a car accident she got involved in when she was little. She was adopted and lived in the US and she went back to Korea to search for her family to find out that her dad just died. She tried to live with her step mom and her step sister, Hong Sena but her step sister doesnt really like to see her so she lived on her own. Hong Sena is actually the one who kept the little Park Ha at the back of a truck so that the kid would be away from their home but the truck was involved in the accident that made Park Ha lose her memory. She is also the reincarnation of the crown princess, who same as her was also jealous of her sister , Bu Young (Park Ha) and accidentally burnt Bu Young's face with an iron thus leading her to be the crown princess instead of Bu Young. So you can see that both in her past and present life, Hong Sena caused harm to her sister and is pretty much talented at lying and manipulation to get what she wants. 

As you've noticed I have mentioned reincarnation several times already as this story also showcases that idea. Prince Lee Gak believes that the reason why they were sent to the future is to stop anyone who wants to kill the reincarnation of the crown princess,Hong Sena and when they do so they can uncover who murdered the crown princess and they will be sent back to Joseon. Lee Gak assumed the personality of his modern day reincarnation Yong Tae Yong (who was missing for the past two years now) to get close to Hong Sena. However, the prince develops feelings towards Park Ha and found out things about the disappearance the real Tae Yong. Yong Tae yong is a chaebol and heir to a very successful TV shopping company who disappeared and was believed to be dead for two years. Lee Gak found out that Tae Yong's cousin,Tae Moo jealous of his cousin hit him and left him to drown. Tae Moo lied to everyone and said that they didnt see each other in the US but later on he found out and because of his desperation he tried to kill Lee Gak who at that time was disguising to be Tae Yong. Tae Moo hit Park Ha instead, who would have died if not only for Hong Sena's show of conscience. In the end, Lee Gak and his retainers were sent back to Joseon and uncovered that the the crown princess tried to poison the prince urged by her family who was supporting Moo Chang (past life of Tae Moo) to be the king instead of Lee Gak but their plan failed because Bu Young found about it and she ate the poisoned pomegranates to save the prince and actually it was Bu Young in the crown princess clothes who died.   In the present time though, Park Ha was so depressed upon losing Lee Gak but met a live and well Tae Yong. 

*Joseon F4 - before and after the haircut*

So about the review..Lee Gak and his retainers, Song Man Bo (the intelligent scholar - green) , Do Chi San (intel officer - yellow) and Woo Yong-sool (prince's body guard - blue) provides us with very hilarious scenes as they were trying to blend to the modern life.  

My top 3 favorite scenes of the Joseon F4 were:

1. Elevator Scene: I almost died laughing when they thought the elevator was a changing room. They were all half naked when suddenly the elevator opened up. Their expressions were so hilarious as if they were harassed or raped and ChiSan was already close to crying! ROFL

2. HairCut scene: I understand that in the old days it was a crime to cut the hair but looking at grown men so attacted to their hair to the point that they would choose to die than cut it off was so funny. They even cried while they were having a haircut!

3. Samsung phone scene: Look at Prince Lee Gak's very "stupid" expression and look at the other 3 who were staring open mouthed to the phone and tell me if thats not funny! They thought the prince was imprisoned in a magic box! 

*look at those childlike expressions*

And of course, the rest of my favorite scenes in the show was the comical, and loving moments between Lee Gak and Park Ha. It was really an amazing love story because Lee Gak came from the past and he was first attracted to Hong Sena (such a loyal guy to be attracted to the reincarnation of his wife) but the feelings Park Ha was stirring within him, confused but delighted him. When I saw the real Tae Yong,though in comma,returned in episode 15 I already knew what the ending would be and seeing the final episode was really hard, itI did make me emotional. The best scenes I have for Lee Gak and Park Ha are actually some of the most heart wrenching parts of the drama. One of which is when the two were dating when suddenly Park Ha noticed Lee Gak was disappearing and the other scenes was that they made a small wedding for the both of them and just as when ended saying their vows Lee Gak returned to Joseon. 

*cried buckets in this scene*

But the greatest part of the whole drama for me was the end, when Lee Gak wrote a letter for Park Ha (as inspired by the final letter Bu Young wrote for Lee Gak before she died) that even after 300 years and even after several life times that they would still love each other. Of course,in the end you would see that came true when Park Ha met Tae Yong in the park. 

*dont know if this is truly a happy ending*

Prince Lee Gak letter to Park Ha after he returned to Joseon: "I can only imagine how you are doing, unable to touch you. I miss you like crazy. I want to hear your voice, and touch you. If I could die and meet you, I would die right now.Even after three hundred years pass, I will love you.”

It's a bit sad because though Tae Yong is the reincarnation of Lee Gak, of course its just not the same.I do think its for the best because Lee Gak really belonged in the past and that originally,if there had been no interference's Park Ha would have met and dated Tae Yong first but there's still this small part of me that hurts. I think the director understood the feeling since the last shot you would see in this drama is Park Ha meeting Tae Yong but Tae Yong was in a king's robe. I loved loved the story (more than Sungkyunkwan Scandal) but I think I would have to give it time before I can watch another time travel drama because it seems like no matter how much the story is great my heart wont be ready for it yet. 

Over all, Rooftop Prince is a feel good drama full of cute characters/actors, funny bogs gags and puns and its has a lovable plot. Its something that I highly recommended because its definitely a drama that can make you feel cheerful and giddy for the whole 20 hours. True, the ending is a bit sad but dont let that ruin your impression of the show since all in all it is truly entertaining. 

For those in the Philippines though,be ready for this drama because for sure its gonna be another craze when it hits the primetime.

Thanks to DramaBeans, SBS, and OHKpop.