π¬ Subtitles and Bad Decisions Presents:
π«° Because I have feelings, subtitles, and no self-control.
Princess Hours (κΆ) AKA Goong
π South Korea • 2006
Format: Standard Series
Episodes: 24 (too many, we’ll get there)
Duration: ~60 min each
πΊ Available on:
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Viki (Subscription — not available in the US, because joy is rationed)
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Prime Video (Subscription w/ Kocowa)
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Kocowa (Subscription)
✨ Synopsis
Feisty, bubbly, and allegedly no-nonsense, Shin Chae-gyeong is a normal high schooler until a dusty old will forces her into an arranged marriage with the emotionally constipated Crown Prince Yi Sin, who also attends her school because 2006 dramas feared no realism.
Thrown into palace life, suffocating etiquette, and a husband allergic to communication, Chae-gyeong struggles to survive royal chaos—while Sin’s sentimental cousin Yul slides in with soft smiles, entitlement issues, and a disturbing sense of ownership. Political meddling, romantic sabotage, and “special measures” ensue. No one asked for peace. Everyone asked for drama.
π₯ Cast
π« Yoon Eun-hye — Shin Chae-gyeong / Bigung Mama
“Professional crier. Serial apologizer. Walking proof that wardrobe upgrades ≠ character growth.”
π₯ Ju Ji-hoon — Yi Sin / Crown Prince Mu Won
“A royal refrigerator who slowly learns how to emote. Growth arc detected. Rare but appreciated.”
π Lee Yoon-ji — Princess Hye-myeong
“The only sanity left in this palace. Punk princess energy. Deserved her own drama.”
π Kim Jeong-hoon — Yi Yul
“Second lead syndrome? Absolutely not. I’d rather catch a virus.”
π Song Ji-hyo — Min Hyo-rin
“Disaster energy with sparkle. At least she committed to the chaos.”
π¬ Ratings
π Story: π — 6/10
“Could’ve been iconic. Instead chose emotional sabotage.”
π« Acting/Cast: π — 5/10
“One man evolved. Several did not.”
π§ Music: π΅ — 7/10
“Celtic-Korean palace vibes had no business slapping this hard.”
π Rewatch Value: π — 6/10
“I complain loudly, yet I’d still rewatch. That’s on me.”
π Overall: π — 6/10
“A stretched noodle of a drama. Salty. Familiar. Weirdly comforting.”
π Review
(WARNING: Potential Spoilers — I’m Not Saving You from Any Emotional Damage)
Let me start by saying this: I love older K-dramas.
I love the toxic tropes. The melodrama that makes telenovelas look subtle. The fashion crimes. The emotional blackmail. The villains with eyeliner. I sign up for the chaos. I thrive in the chaos.
But Princess Hours?
This show tested me.
This show put my patience in a chokehold and whispered, “You thought you were strong, didn’t you?”
THE FL: Bold of Them to Call This “Character Development”
People online swear Yoon Eun-hye “carried the show.”
Carried what, exactly?
Certainly not a brain cell. Not growth. Not critical thinking.
Chae-gyeong spends 24 episodes being a professional crier, a mobile fashion disaster, and the densest human alive. There’s naΓ―ve—and then there’s “Dora the Explorer would’ve asked you to look again.”
The constant apologizing alone should’ve earned her a wrist brace. Even wallpaper has shown more emotional evolution. The only thing that grew? Her coats. Congratulations. You leveled up outerwear.
THE ML: A Certified Jerk — But At Least a Jerk Who Learned Something
Ju Ji-hoon starts this drama with the warmth of a refrigerator and the communication skills of one too.
But—credit where it’s due—he grows.
He thaws. He reflects. He attempts communication like a sentient being instead of a royal gargoyle.
Insufferable? Yes.
Progressively insufferable? Also yes.
That already puts him ahead of most of this cast.
PRINCESS HYE-MYEONG: THE ONLY SANITY I HAD LEFT
Realizing she’s the same actress from My Demon nearly took me out.
Watching her go from anxious palace daughter to “international punk princess escaping like it’s a prison break” was the serotonin boost I deserved. She deserved more screen time. Frankly, she deserved her own show.
YUL: SECOND LEAD SYNDROME? ABSOLUTELY NOT.
This man returns after 14 years like:
“Hi. You were promised to me as a child. I now own your existence.”
Sir. No.
That’s not romance. That’s a restraining order.
He’s a bowl of lukewarm oatmeal with entitlement issues. And the fact that Chae-gyeong never questions his behavior? Ma’am. Borrow one brain cell. One.
And yes—I disliked him more than Hyo-rin. At least her mess had sparkle.
THE KING: WORST FATHER. WORST MONARCH. WORST EVERYTHING
Emotionally allergic to his own son. Obsessed with Yul like he invented him.
Useless ruler. Pathetic parent. Every scene made me want to yeet him off the balcony. He ruled like a toddler losing at Mario Kart.
QUEEN MOTHER: OLDEST MEAN GIRL ALIVE
Her personality: disapproval.
Replace her with a decorative vase and nothing changes.
QUEEN REGENT: MY UNPROBLEMATIC QUEEN
Soft. Clueless. Occasionally the only source of warmth in this frozen palace. Protect her. Give her cookies and therapy.
YUL’S MOTHER: ENTITLEMENT LEVEL — SUPERVILLAIN
Exiled for cheating but somehow blames everyone else. Spends the entire show plotting how to ruin a teenager’s life so her son can cosplay as king.
Thailand. Murder plots. Audacity.
Her downfall? Delicious.
THE REAL PROBLEM
Too much SML/SFL.
Not enough actual romance.
This drama drowned itself in:
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Miscommunications
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More miscommunications
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Yul lurking
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Hyo-rin gliding
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Political nonsense nobody ordered
Meanwhile, Shin and Chae-gyeong’s relationship was treated like a side quest.
This Should’ve Been 16 Episodes
They had a solid 16-episode romance but stretched it into 24 like overworked dough. And we sat there. Watching. Like loyal clowns.
π Final Mood
“Exhausted. Annoyed. Still humming the OST.”
π·️
#SubtitlesandBadDecisions #EmotionalDamageApproved #PrincessHours #SecondLeadNoThankYou #Mid2000sMelodramaSurvivor
πΆ Binge-Worthy Beats: My Favorite Tracks
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Perhaps Love (μ¬λμΈκ°μ) — HowL feat. J
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I Am a Fool — Stay
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Two Words (λ κ°μ§ λ§) — Jung Jae-wook feat. The One
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Give Me a Little Try — Seo Hyun-jin
