Jewel in the Palace

This series is one of the best dramas I have ever watched. I don't just mean Korean dramas either. I mean ANY drama series ever!!! This series will draw out many emotions in the watcher and keep you on the edge of your seat with what is going to happen next. You feel every character's pain, sorrow or anger even the bad guys...All of the actors are amazing!! And the music is just amazing, I really want this soundtrack but I didn't know there was this much talent in Korea. This is only my second Korean drama but I gotta say that I'm glad I started watching it before any other because now I will be watching Korean dramas a lot more. Thanks.

Witty, clever, amusing, brilliant, and always surprising.

You may get frustrated from time to time with the brief moments of silence and hesitation, but overall a pleasurable drama that is loosely based on a historical era in the Joseon Dynasty. Most of the characters were real people who sided or went against Jang Geum. However, Lady Choi was more lenient than the real Lady Choi, as the real Lady Choi was more malicious during her time and have done unspeakable matters.

Change is the matter of applying something different into the formula. While the equation becomes an inequality, it takes another meaning in life and grows from those roots into another wonder or atrocity. Jang Geum was the symbol of rebellion, intervention, change, justice, modesty, and knowledge. She may have been born as an Aquarius, the seeker of knowledge, aloofness, justice, rebellion, and change.

I often find her remarkable in how she solves problematic situations quickly with impatient royalties and higher rank officials.

I was weary half way through the series wondering when she becomes a doctor. However, going through half of the series was worth the character and plot development. It shows you the true nature of human beings, and the devious plots and schemes by the antagonist. It gives you a better view and idea of what kind of people or persons Jang Geum might be facing. Sadly how Jang Geum's communication skills are rather poor, though she is able to sum up her worries and problems in a few sentences (based from over a decade of strife), while the listeners just happen to understand everything fully without much details.

I was certainly surprised in the end. In the end, justice prevails from liars, thieves, murderers, and those who extort others just to receive wealth and power. The Choi family relied their wealth and power in the Royal Palace Kitchen. They relied on the Royal Palace Kitchen for power, because the Choi family was never in a high ranking class in the beginning, so they relied on their ancestors who have already-schemed their way to the top and eventually finding place in the palace as "respected, yet feared" members. Without wealth, there is not much power. They backed their menial power of the Highest Kitchen positions through the men of the Choi family, whose job is to monopolize businesses to earn great wealth in the country, and eventually use it as an unfair advantage for the women of the Choi family in the kitchen, because they would have access to rare goods and exotic foods. The men and female of the Choi family are never at their own fault but the family's. The family is obviously pressuring them to continue their line of work and to maintain the family's status of power and wealth.

With Jang Geum's good nature, she gains valuable allies throughout the series who have often supported her views and actions. Eventually some gets in trouble because of their rash behaviour, but ultimately Jang Geum wins in favor by both the Queen and King.

Since the drama is accurate in terms of food, technology, medicine, culture, fashion, and people, I have learned a lot of the Korean culture and their language. It sounds similar to Chinese and Japanese. Dae Jang Geum means Dae like Dai means Big, Jang like Jeung/Cheung means Long, and Geum like Gum means Gold, in Chinese. I learned about their rules in the historical Royal Palace, and how women were treated back then in a man-ruled society. The show taught me a lot about Chinese herbal medicine that I was initially skeptical about. It taught me how Western medication is not always the solution. Jang Geum is right, illness is not cure by medicine or the healer but by the person himself. As long the person takes care of their health, they will be alright.

I hope people can learn a valuable lesson in Ancient Korea and be inspired how anyone can do anything if they try hard.

Set in Korea (Chosun) around 1500. Much of the setting is the royal court palace, and what's around the protagonist, Jang-geum. The focus doesn't go very far from her through most of the storyline. Which is good since she rarely fails to hold interest. The food, dress, and architecture are all good, esp. the food. There is a lot of dialog outdoors and the filming is superb. The court intrigue unfolds with a lot of reaction shots. Clear some time on your schedule for this one.

I was never into subtitled Anime, much less drama, but the storyline was of great interest to me and it received a lot of positive feedback, so I decided to give it a try.

This show was my very first subtitled T.V. series and I see that as both a blessing and a curse now, because I don't know if there is another show that will be as exceptional as this one. That is my only warning to those who are new to Asian Dramas. I'm so happy and inspired by this series... I'm only upset with myself that I gobbled it up by watching it for 2 weeks straight; (after the first 5 episodes I became a member because I was so eager to see the rest).

The quality and backdrop of the scenery and film was very authentic. Each character was so dynamic in their personalities that I both loved and hated the bad guys. While the pacing of the series does start slow (and I've heard that most Korean shows are like this) the pace was perfect to me, as it covers the back story of Jang Geum and you actually see her grow up within the series. I've never seen this before in a series, and I liked this show more for it.

The culture is explained well in the series, as the life of a court ladies, servants, peasants and other roles of society. It does not cloak the decisions which may make you feel were unjustified but seems to remain true to what life was like during this time.

I cried so hard on the tragic parts, but had some tears of joy when Jang Geum overcame challenges that if it was anyone else they would have given up long ago, or became bitter and resentful of the life they were living. I have never fallen in love with a character as I have Ming Ho -- so thoughtful, so endearing, so charming (so cute!). The love story could not have been more perfect with him by Jang Geum's side.

There is this married couple in the series that is so hilarious, that you come to enjoy when the scenes were on those two, as they were the ones that mainly brought the humor into storyline and did a great job of doing so.

Overall, I absolutely adored this series, and I was sad to to finally complete it. I felt personally tied to each character and I feel like I miss them even though I just finished watching it this past Sunday.

If you want a story that has EVERYTHING, drama, action, love, inspiration, comedy, you should not pass this up.

This is my all-time favorite drama! The OST is absolutely amazing. The plot is captivating, the acting is outstanding, and the actors are well fit for their roles!
This drama is so colorful and inspiring in every aspect, and it represents, especially to me a different Korea, a different way of life.
The storyline displays Korean way of living in the 16th century, and emphasize an ancient culture. The culture of royal court cuisine, traditional medicine and outfits.
Dae Jang Geum's determination, courage and kindness make her a model for imitation. A girl that becomes a woman, a chef, a first female royal physician and a mother despite all hardships. Min Jung Ho's devotion and faithfulness throughout the whole drama, make this to be one the best love stories ever!

If you have yet to watch this drama, make sure you do so!