Review by: Sabrina

Synopsis

“The Secret Romantic Guesthouse” (“Guesthouse”) is a love story and fictional political drama set during the Joseon Dynasty.  Kang San/Lee Seol (Ryeoun) is the son of the deposed crown prince who was murdered for the throne by his own brother. Kang San vows to remove his uncle, a cruel and violent king, from the throne and restore peace to Joseon.  Yoon Dan Oh (Shin Ye Eun) is an innkeeper with whom Kang San falls in love.  The story begins 13 years ago when the then-king’s younger son, Lee Chang (Hyun Woo), leads a rebellion against his father, deposing the king and killing his older brother, the crown prince.  Lee Chang also attempts to kill his nephew, but Lee Seol manages to escape by hiding in the Yoon Family’s doghouse.  When Dan Oh discovers Lee Seol, she keeps his presence a secret, hiding him from the soldiers sent to kill him.  Lee Seol vows to tell Dan Oh his name, should ever they meet again.  Thirteen years later, Dan Oh has converted her noble family home into Ihwawon Inn, a guesthouse for scholars who come to Hanyang (the old name for Seoul) to take the civil servants exam.  Occupancy is perpetually low at Ihwawon due to rumors that it is haunted by a Ghost Maiden.  Despite this, Dan Oh tenaciously wrangles three scholars as guests – Kang San, Jung Yoo Ha (Jung Gun Joo), and Kim Shi Yeol (Kang Hoon).  Over time, it is revealed that each scholar is hiding their true identity – Kang San is Lee Seol; Yoo Ha is a member (and eventual leader) of Mok In Hoe, a secret group of men who seek to lead a rebellion to overthrow the king; and Shi Yeol is Watchman, the shadow guardian of Lee Seol.  Overcoming many obstacles, Dan Oh and the three men work together to overthrow the violent and cruel king.  In the end, Kang San gives both his name and his throne to Yoo Ha – his half-brother who is the king that they have always envisioned – and leaves Hanyang with Dan Oh.  The K-drama ends with Kang San and Dan Oh walking along a path surrounded on both sides by beautiful yellow flowers.  Dan Oh asks if he regrets leaving the palace life behind and he assures her that he does not regret choosing an ordinary life spent with her.   

Yoon Dan Oh

Dan Oh is the second daughter of a once noble family who has had to convert the family home into a guesthouse in order to survive.  Dan Oh is financially responsible for Ihwawon; her older sister, Yoon Hong Joo (Cho Hye Joo); as well as the family’s female servant, Najoodaek (Lee Mi Do).  She is in mourning of her father’s passing on the night that Lee Seol hides in her doghouse.  When she hides him, he gives her his yundo (a traditional Korean compass) out of appreciation, and tells her that he will repay her kindness one day.  He keeps the top of the compass and presents it to her again, 13 years later, proving his identity as the son of the deposed crown prince.  Though Dan Oh is not royalty, a scholar, nor a warrior, her role in the K-drama is pivotal, for she is the glue that holds the story together; the center around which everyone else gravitates.

Kang San/Lee Seol – the man who would be king

Kang San/Lee Seol is the grandson of the deposed king and son of the deposed crown prince, making him a direct threat to his uncle, the current king.  Kang San has spent his entire life hiding from his uncle’s cronies, with the sole focus of returning to the palace to dethrone the tyrant king.  Kang San is a skilled warrior and becomes a member of the Royal Guard as part of his plan to get inside the palace.  Kang San acts unbothered by people, when in fact, he cares deeply.  He is aware that many people sacrificed to protect him, and he wants to become king so that their sacrifices were not in vain.  But as he gets closer to reclaiming the throne, he realizes that he has focused so much on usurping his uncle, that he has not given much thought to what he will do as king.  He comes to realize – through his interactions with Dan Oh and the other scholars at Ihwawon – that what he wants is for the current king to be dethroned and replaced by a better king, though not necessarily to be the king, himself.  When the odds are stacked against him, Kang San vows that he will “not be wrapped up in fear,” but “overcome it and move forward” – words worthy of a king.  But in the end, Kang San identifies his half-brother, Lee Gyeom, as a better man to be king, and selflessly gives up both his name and his claim to the throne, resolving to live the rest of his life as Kang San.

Jung Yoo Ha/Lee Gyeom – the man who becomes king

Yoo Ha/Lee Gyeom is a kindhearted, brother-type friend to Dan Oh.  He is introduced as the illegitimate son of a nobleman, but in actuality, he is the half-brother of Lee Seol, born to the crown prince and a concubine, Hwa Ryeong (Han Chae Ah), the owner/hostess of Buyounggak Courtesan House.  He is a member of Mok In Hoe, a secret group of scholars whose desire it is to see a world where “the poor and the lowly can also work to make their dreams come true.”  He helps convert Chinese texts to Korean because he believes it will change the world.  He assumes the name of Lee Seol in order to stop the tyranny of the king, but when he learns of Kang San’s true identity, he graciously bows out.  Their father was killed by his brother for the throne and neither brother wishes to repeat that tragedy. But ultimately, he is the best brother to assume the throne, having developed concrete solutions on how to address Joseon’s current issues.

Kim Shi Yeol – the man who protects the king

Shi Yeol is my favorite character in “Guesthouse.”  He first appears in the K-drama as a bit of a womanizing, irresponsible scholar.  We see him drinking, sleeping, and gambling at Buyounggak Courtesan House.  He almost always has a smile on his face and does not seem to take anything seriously.  Pretty quickly, however, it becomes evident that Shi Yeol is incredibly observant, possesses great intuition, and seems to know and understand things quickly.  It turns out that Shi Yeol is, in fact, Watchman, a shadow warrior who protects Lee Seol.  He is one in a long line of secret warriors trained to protect the royal family.  Watchman must be ruthlessly willing to sacrifice himself, as well as others, to save the royal family member he is meant to protect.  While staying at Ihwawon, Shi Yeol falls in love with Dan Oh’s sister, Hong Joo, keeping his identity a secret from all.  When Hong Joo’s life is threatened by a group of swordsmen, Shi Yeol astonishes her with his unexpected and superior sword fighting skills.  But when Hong Joo learns of Shi Yeol’s true identity, she is horrified at the number of lives he has taken, including that of her betrothed many years ago.  And though Shi Yeol has come to see Lee Seol as more than just someone he protects out of obligation, he begins to despise the mindless killing machine he was become as Watchman.  He desires to bring an end to the raising of Watchmen, a cruel cycle of turning children into cold-blooded killers.  Even though he does not assume the throne, Kang San ensures that his brother does just that, and he tells Shi Yeol to erase his dark shadow and to live the life he wants to live. 

Bromance

One of the best parts of this K-drama is the bromance between the three scholars – Kang San, Yoo Ha, and Shi Yeol.  Bromances in K-dramas typically fall into two categories.  In the first category of bromance, the men have been best friends for some time.  They have either grown up together or have served in the military together.  In the second category of bromance, the men are strangers who initially see each other as rivals, usually for a woman’s affections.  And yet, despite their differences, they are drawn into one another’s lives, either because of the woman or because of a shared purpose/goal.  “Guesthouse” falls into the latter category. While Yoo Ha has been friends with Dan Oh for quite some time, the other two are loners whose appearance at Ihwawon is allegedly to take the civil servants exam.  All three men are hiding something about their identity, their purpose, or both.  Kang San is hiding his identity as Lee Seol, as well as his intention to overthrow the king; Yoo Ha is hiding his involvement with Mok In Hoe; and Shi Yeol is hiding his identity as Watchman.

A regular recurring theme in K-drama bromances is that the men give each other a hard time, yet are always there to protect and care for one another.  The three male leads in “Guesthouse” are no exception.  The three men give each other dating advice – despite none of them having any actual experience with women – and they take pleasure in criticizing each other for their mistakes.  But the men also care for one another.  When Shi Yeol mischievously misleads Dan Oh regarding Kang San’s absence, Yoo Ha defends Kang San, insisting that he is studying for the third military exam.  When Kang San is wounded by a poisonous arrow, Shi Yeol quickly prepares and applies a medicinal rub that saves his life.  And when Yoo Ha’s surrogate mother passes away, both Kang San and Shi Yeol are there to console him. 

Despite the fact that they tease one another, the three men – along with Dan Oh – come to value and rely on one another.  One of my favorite lines in “Guesthouse” is Kang San’s line – “I was taught that problems are to be shared.”  The three men – a king, a brother, and a guardian – are tied to one another by their fate (another recurring K-drama trope).  Relying on each other to help carry their individual burdens allows them to accomplish their shared purpose/goal more efficiently and effectively.

Unfortunately, as in many K-dramas, the bromance in “Guesthouse” is threatened. It is threatened when Kang San and Yoo Ha learn that they are brothers vying for the same throne, and then again when they learn of Shi Yeol’s identity as a man sworn to kill – without mercy or exception – all who threaten Lee Seol.  And yet, the men work together, all fighting to restore Joseon to the state they envision. Though each man has his own personal motivation, each plays a crucial role in the removal of a cruel and violent king and the establishment of a new order.   

Hidden Identities

Besides the three scholars, there are many other hidden identities in “Guesthouse.”  Hong Joo lives locked away from the world after faking her death rather than committing suicide (as was the custom of the day), when her betrothed was killed before their wedding day.  Left State Minister serves the current king, but hides the fact that he supports Mok In Hoe out of desperation to rid Joseon of the tyrant king.  Hwa Ryeong, hostess of Buyounggak Courtesan House, hides the fact that she is Lee Gyeom’s mother, and that she serves Left State Minister in support of Mok In Hoe.  Royal Consort Park hides the fact that she gives birth to a baby girl, and switches her with a kidnapped baby boy, claiming him as the king’s son and heir to the throne.   

But one of the most interesting – if frustrating – characters in “Guesthouse” does not hide his own identity, but rather the identity of another.  That character is Head Eunuch (Lee Joon Hyuk).  Head Eunuch is the only royal servant who can identify Lee Seol, having served his family closely before the rebellion.  We first see him 8 years ago when he betrays a teenaged-Lee Seol, luring him out of hiding to be captured.  (And were it not for Watchman, Lee Seol would certainly have been captured!)  He is then forced back into service many years later, to aid in the identification of Lee Seol, whom the king suspects is living in Hanyang while preparing a rebellion.  But despite being able to identify Kang San as Lee Seol when he encounters him at Ihwawon, and despite having betrayed him in the past, Head Eunuch does not reveal Lee Seol’s identity to the king’s men.  Instead, Head Eunuch decides to side with the rebellion and keep Lee Seol’s identity secret, even when threatened. And though you might suspect that Head Eunuch’s motives stem from remorse for his past betrayal of Lee Seol, they do not. Head Eunuch’s motives and actions are always self-serving, allowing him to survive the political turmoil that surrounds him.

Antagonists

“Guesthouse” has two main antagonists, the king and Chief Administrator.  The king is a cruel and violent man, which should come as no surprise since he willing killed his brother (and potentially his father, though that is never made clear) to obtain the throne.  Because he only became king when the previous king was deposed, he is incredibly insecure in his position.  He lives in constant fear of being deposed himself.  Because of this, he savagely kills a servant for reading “Three Prophecies of Joseon,” an ancient text which prophesizes the return of a great man.  He issues a royal decree that all found reading the book will be executed, even children.  When he captures Yoo Ha, whom he mistakes as Lee Seol, the king gleefully plans to violently execute him by drawing and quartering at a palace festival.  And though he knows that Lee Seol’s supporters have snuck into the festival with plans to stop the execution, the king arrogantly refuses to change his plans.  Instead, he dismissively orders the head of his royal guard to round them up, for they, too, shall be executed.

While there is nothing redeemable about the king, Chief Administrator is a father who has lost a son.  That being said, he is so blinded by his need for revenge against Watchman that he often employs ruthless means on his hunt to identify and capture him. He even allows the real Lee Seol and his men to escape capture at the festival because he is so focused on Watchman.  His arrogance costs his men their lives, as Watchman, the most superior warrior in the land, single-handedly eliminates them, including Chief Administrator himself.  The Chief Administrator does exact revenge on Watchman, however, as he gives voice to Watchman’s inner demons before dying.  And though Shi Yeol and Hong Joo do eventually end up together, it is not without difficulty, as they have to first come to terms with the life that Shi Yeol has lived as Watchman.

Final verdict: WATCH  

“Guesthouse” is a solid K-drama that lands on our WATCH list.  The story is compelling and well-paced, and does a great job misdirecting the viewer in their effort to figure out the hidden identities (and allegiances) of the various characters.  The dramatic scenes are well-balanced with lighthearted ones, and the multiple scenes of violence are well-shot without being too intense for more sensitive viewers. The fear of history repeating itself is palpable as Left State Minister, Head Eunuch, and Hostess Hwa Ryeong all urge each brother to kill the other and claim the throne for himself.  Fortunately, neither brother inherited the crazed cruelty and insecurity of their uncle, and are both willing to put the needs of Joseon before their own.  In the end, Kang San leaves the throne to his more capable younger brother and removes himself from the palace to prevent political turmoil.  In the United States, we take the peaceful transfer of power as a given, but stories like “Guesthouse” remind us that it should never be taken for granted.  Coups and rebellions happen when there is political unrest in a nation/kingdom, and Kang San’s decision to leave rather than be used as a pawn against his brother is the perfect end to the K-drama.  Unfortunately, “Guesthouse” has two major flaws that prevent it from making our MUST WATCH list.  The first is the two-year time jump.  Time jumps are a traditional K-drama trope, but they are often unnecessary.  Such is the case with the time jump in “Guesthouse,” which occurs just before the end of the K-drama and has zero impact on the storyline.  The second flaw that keeps “Guesthouse” from making our MUST WATCH list is that it is, overall, relatively unremarkable. The relationship between the four friends is the heart of the story, as they work together to overthrow the king, but the bromance overshadows any of the romantic relationships in the K-drama. This includes that of the Lead Couple, which does not quite live up to its very promising beginning.  While it is certainly a K-drama worthy of recommendation, it does not rise to the ranks of our MUST WATCH K-dramas.     

So there it is, our review of “The Secret Romantic Guesthouse.”  What did you think?!  Thank you for joining us on this journey. 

Have a favorite K-drama you think we should review, comment down below!!  We look forward to seeing you back again soon!

Up next, “Glory”