A Nearly Perfect Historical K-Drama That Created 'Moonlight Syndrome' is Free to Watch in April

Summary

• In 2016, Park Bo-gum and Kim Yoo-jung starred in a new historical K-drama.
• The rom-com takes place in the Joseon era, and combines a friends-to-lovers romance with political intrigue.
• Fans are so obsessed that it sparked a phenomenon known as 'Moonlight Syndrome'.

Historical romances are the bread-and-butter of K-dramas, but some are better than others. If you're looking to start yourself off with the very best, there's really only one series we can recommend to you. It's silly yet heartwrenching, joyful yet thoughtful. There is no magic or demons to solve the problems of our protagonists – only their love and a surprisingly mature ability to actually talk about their feelings. (Sometimes. It's still a K-drama after all). And most of all, there's the sizzling chemistry between the two leads.

We're talking of course about Love in the Moonlight, which premiered back in 2016 but remains the gold standard of K-drama's historical romance genre.

What's It About?

In the Joseon era, Crown Prince Lee Yeong (Park Bo-gum) is a mischievous troublemaker whose pranks hide a sharp intelligence and deep sensitivity. Lee Yeong makes friends with the snarky, sparky Hong Sam-nom (Kim Yoo-jung), and soon invites the boy to join his inner circle. Although they start out by pressing each other's buttons, there's no denying the connection and the two are soon fast friends.

What the Prince doesn't know is that his 'eunuch' friend is really Hong Ra-on, the daughter of a revolutionary whose uprising cost hundreds of lives and made her entire family an enemy of the court. To ensure her daughter's survival, Ra-on's mother disguised her as a boy and gave her strict orders to never reveal her true identity.

Looking For a Place to Belong

If there's one thing that binds Ra-on and Lee Yeong together, it's their mutual vulnerabilities. Both present a mask of confidence to the world, but both are hiding lifelong doubts and wounds.

Ra-On has spent her entire life without safety, and without being able to claim her true identity. She scrapes together an existence through guts, hard work, and entrepreneurial savvy.

Meanwhile, Lee Yeong is grieving for the death of his mother and has no wish to take on the mantle of ruler. He rejects the weight of responsibility that comes with being a future king, and wishes that he could give up the title of Crown Prince. Through his relationship with Ra-on, the Prince slowly evolves into a new kind of monarch: one who listens compassionately to his people while running circles around his enemies.

Plus his love for Ra-on turns him into a total dork, which is adorable.

Friends to Lovers

The chemistry between Park Bo-gum and Kim Yoo-jung transforms Love in the Moonlight from a great historical rom-com to one of the best of all time. The combination of their fireworks and the show's perfectly tuned dramatic tension gives us a relationship that's layered and sensual.

Best of all, Ra-on's disguise means that she and the Prince get to know each other as friends first. They learn each other's strengths and weaknesses, preferences and hopes. By the time romance becomes a possibility, they've already in love – and they've made us fall in love with them too.

When the political machinations of the world start to become the focus of the story, Ra-on and Lee Yeong's relationship continues to evolve into a mutual partnership. They give each other respect and strength, and even become capable of something very few rom-com couples (in K-dramas or Hollywood) ever achieve: they learn how to communicate like rational adults.

A Sweet Treat

Love in the Moonlight has it all – it's so silly, but very sincere. It's got political intrigue and melodrama. It's also gorgeously shot, with every frame looking like a photograph. No wonder fans went so nuts over it, the craze was dubbed Moonlight Syndrome.

So if you're looking for an escape from the real world, join the rest of us in embracing Love in the Moonlight.

You can now stream Love in the Moonlight on Prime.