Shine or Go Crazy's royal love triangle » Dramabeans Korean drama recaps

56 January 6, 2015

Shine or Go Crazy’s royal love triangle

by girlfriday

Two half-brother princes vying for the throne and falling for the same princess? What could possibly go wrong? Im Joo-hwan finally gets his turn to shine (…or go crazy) as the romantic spoilsport in the epically doomed/cursed/fated love between Oh Yeon-seo and Jang Hyuk, in their new MBC fantasy historical drama Shine or Go Crazy. He’s clearly going to be the flower boy counterpart to Jang Hyuk’s manly man, though both characters will do as much swordplay as they do romancing, if their “top-class sword-fighting skills” get put to good use, anyway.

The Goryeo-era drama features the first royal house of Goryeo, where Jang Hyuk plays the legitimate heir to the throne who gets cast aside because of a prophecy. In his absence his ambitious half-brother, played by Im Joo-hwan, sees the opportunity to make a play for power. He’s described as extremely sharp-minded and a skilled fighter, but behind a good-natured face and words hides a much colder ambition. He’ll fall for Oh Yeon-seo’s princess (of Balhae), pitting the brothers against one another. I don’t know how plain ol’ love has a chance against star-crossed romance between two cursed and fated lovers, but that’s never stopped a second lead before. He’ll have some help from Honey Lee too, who sets her sights on the hero.

The first teaser below is pretty — it introduces Jang Hyuk’s character as he displays his graceful sword skills, and we see in a flashback snippet someone running with a child screaming, “You should never have been born!” He narrates, “A cursed prince. Fated to turn the world to blood. That is what they all said about me. But you alone…”

The second teaser is jarringly light in comparison, almost like we’re suddenly in a historical rom-com. The princess thanks him sincerely for saving her world, then sends him falling to the ground by asking him to marry her: “Just let me borrow your body for one day!” She must be asking him to be a stand-in for some reason, but he answers back in his Gun-voice, “You want to borrow my body?” Why do I suddenly feel like I’m watching a Fated To Love You parody scene? My worlds, they’re colliding! I hope it’s just the teaser.

Shine or Go Crazy airs on Mondays and Tuesdays following Pride and Prejudice and premieres January 19.

Via iMBC

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1 Quiet Thought

January 6, 2015 at 3:11 AM

A reminder that half the fun of acting is playing dress-up, right?

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2 Quiet Thought

January 6, 2015 at 3:12 AM

. . . And those Goryeo people really knew how to rock a hair style!

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TS

January 6, 2015 at 1:45 PM

Honey Lee looks AMAZING.

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Parsley

January 6, 2015 at 3:54 PM

Historical clothes suit her so much better and the lovely hairdressing.

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3 popcornhoney

January 6, 2015 at 3:14 AM

Can't wait!!!

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4 eunchans

January 6, 2015 at 3:20 AM

Im Joo Hwan <333333333333

Gosh, that first pic looks ridiculously pretty.

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MsB

January 6, 2015 at 5:21 AM

Doesn't he look pretty?! About dang time they released a pic of him from the drama!

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houstontwin

January 6, 2015 at 6:38 AM

He is such a sweet and sensitive actor. I'm so glad to see him again I was beginning to think that he was never going to appear in another drama!

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YY

January 6, 2015 at 7:27 AM

I want him to be the lead....

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Redge

January 7, 2015 at 12:47 AM

Joo Hwan needs to be a leading man in something again. He's so handsome and I love his acting.

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5 Sugarcandy

January 6, 2015 at 4:05 AM

This drama looks absolutely beautiful!
I love fusion saeguk..... OYS and IJH look good together.
I hope i'm not wrong but the stills are showing chemistry btw the leads already.

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6 Dramafed1782

January 6, 2015 at 4:06 AM

For a minute I thought in the first picture it was Song Jae Rim :)

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maythida

January 6, 2015 at 4:48 AM

I totally thought that too !!!
and then wondered why Mary hadn't talk about it and so realized "def' not the JaeRim"

looks pretty though..

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bbstl

January 6, 2015 at 8:59 AM

Ha I thought the same, including the thought of Mary :)

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fab

January 6, 2015 at 6:08 AM

Me too! Thought I was the only one, LOL.

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7 revlow

January 6, 2015 at 4:41 AM

Gonna get me some Jang Hyuk. ;-)

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8 Sammy

January 6, 2015 at 4:58 AM

Honey Lee looks so royal here. A real beauty!

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9 umbrella

January 6, 2015 at 5:01 AM

Gun voiceeeeeee

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10 museofmanymasks

January 6, 2015 at 5:08 AM

What is is about sageuk costuming recently that makes the "evil" woman look more distinctive? I had a similar reaction at TTM teasers: Yu In-young's styling garnered my interest in her character more than the princes'. Honey Lee's costume here appeals more than Oh Yeon-seo's (exempting the wedding garb which I might maim for). Certainly not the final sentence (I ended up liking the princess and her outfits) but I wonder if there's a subliminal thing going on here where all shades of pinks and lighter colors=Mother Teresa and dark blues, reds, etc=maneating murderess.

On another note, interesting initiative to practice sword fighting "blind". I won't jump the gun and say its foreshadowing, but unless he's channeling Daredevil (who inspired me to run around trying to hit things with my eyes closed), it's concerningly specific.

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fab

January 6, 2015 at 6:16 AM

In contemporary dramas, the second lead girl(often 'evil') is also more distinctive.
The old theory of setting the protagonist as the most 'pure' creature.

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11 rinoak

January 6, 2015 at 5:23 AM

The thing is, I totally want to watch the drama if it's more like the second teaser, but I'm sure it won't be and for some reason, the first teaser reminded me of what everyone said about Yeo Woon in Warrior Baek Dong Soo. (And we all know how that drama ended!) So if it's too heavy, I think I'll pass . . .

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12 korfan

January 6, 2015 at 6:12 AM

"...in his Gun voice..."

Totally.

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13 ana

January 6, 2015 at 6:20 AM

Honey Lee is a beautiful woman but her mouth area is a default :-(

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14 Sour Grapes

January 6, 2015 at 6:39 AM

Im Joo Hwan!!! Too bad he is playing a third wheel.

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15 popcornhoney

January 6, 2015 at 6:50 AM

Watching this for Oh Yeon Seo
Totally love her after jang bori. She is so so beautiful
The novel is really good too.

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16 YY

January 6, 2015 at 7:32 AM

Dang! I thought Im Joo Hwan was the lead. Loved him so much in Tamra. Parkyu, I miss youuuuu!

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17 logan5

January 6, 2015 at 7:45 AM

I've already thrown in my support and devotion behind Honey Lee ...

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Ella

January 6, 2015 at 8:10 AM

Totally! I love her and she looks beautiful here. And oh my, that still of Im Joo Hwan is gorgeous too. I wish I liked Oh Yeon Seo, but I have a hard time warming up to her and her acting doesn't quite excite me either.

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18 CaroleMcDonnell

January 6, 2015 at 7:45 AM

omo! I'm hooked already.

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19 meme

January 6, 2015 at 7:51 AM

Somebody DO SOMETHING about her eyebrows!!! :X

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20 Honeychichi

January 6, 2015 at 8:16 AM

Not really a fan of honey lee
She is pretty but her face is stuck to particular face expressions.
But i will watch this for the three main casts and because the trailer looks Awesome!
The wedding part is really funny. Hopefully there will be some romantic comedy btw the otp. I do love prince and princess love story

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21 Ek Ladhki Thi is Kim Eun-sooks no 1 fan

January 6, 2015 at 8:20 AM

What's all this about borrowing a body? Is she not human?

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Sanchita Suman

January 6, 2015 at 9:11 AM

OH my gosh! u have chosen such a cheesy name!
But thanks to your cheesiness I instantly understood we both belong to the same place!
I really get overexcited and enthusiastic to see my fellow countrymen/women having a similar taste as mine. :)

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Ek Ladhki Thi is Kim Eun-sooks no 1 fan

January 6, 2015 at 2:28 PM

Ottoke! Sorry to disappoint you but I'm not Indian. Bollywood was my first love hence the name. But, aapko fikar maatkijiye, I consider everyone my family.

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Sanchita Suman

January 7, 2015 at 8:37 AM

yeah we all belong to one gr8 family! 'DRAMABEANS'

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Quiet Thought

January 6, 2015 at 10:32 AM

Just as a guess, she might be wanting to produce an heir for the failing royal line. One with chiseled good looks.

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shopslove

January 6, 2015 at 4:50 PM

lol actually from some tiny bits which i read, the girl was reprimanded to find a husband and he met Jang Hyuk who is dressed up like a beggar.

The girl kidnapped him and make deal for him to marry her for just one day as a substitute (without knowing that he is actually a prince)

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22 yoadrian

January 6, 2015 at 8:27 AM

Life is immense. And we all need Jang Hyuk in it.

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23 john

January 6, 2015 at 10:31 AM

This looks good. The 2nd trailer does have a Rom com feel to it. Look forward to it.

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24 amber

January 6, 2015 at 11:32 AM

Dimple war between actresses.

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25 Mandy

January 6, 2015 at 12:00 PM

"Im Joo-hwan finally gets his turn to shine (…or go crazy)" Pffft.

I really need this to be the sageuk that finally does it for me again. I haven't seen a good one in what feels like years! Fingers crossed because Jang Hyuk looks smexy in that mane of glory.

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26 shopslove

January 6, 2015 at 4:46 PM

this drama will be unlucky as this will start after pride&prejudice which have now the lowest rating btw the 3 dramas.
sigh.........that p&p drama is just boring and a train wreck. It should have been finished weeks ago when it has its momentum.

I'm really anticipating this Shine or Go Crazy of Janghyuk and OYS.
The costumes and the casts are all stunningly beautiful.

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27 ongsy

January 6, 2015 at 5:05 PM

Omg!! Im ju hwan! Im so happy to see u in another drama...idc if ur playing a good or bad character. I Will watch this drama just for Im Ju Hwan :)

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28 Pearl~ai88

January 6, 2015 at 6:07 PM

Wow. Even if this turns out to be horrible I might still watch it just to stare at the GORGEOUS costuming *.*

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29 shailovely

January 6, 2015 at 6:18 PM

Blaargh honey lee. Sorry, never like this actress. She is never existence in any drmas that she was in.
Tell me that she is not the lead > <
I do like ju hwan and the girl from medical top team. She is so cuteee

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30 Kiki

January 6, 2015 at 7:40 PM

Omg everyone's so pretty?

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31 whitewire

January 6, 2015 at 9:00 PM

WAAAAAAAAAAAAAA, THIS LOOKS SUPER ENCHANTING!!!

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32 popcornhoney

January 6, 2015 at 9:15 PM

Beautiful!!!!

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33 Viki

January 7, 2015 at 1:48 AM

Don't tell me Oh Yeon Seo is the lead over Honey Lee!! How the heck does she always end up with lead lead roles? Well, I guess she's decent but...

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34 Gollum

January 7, 2015 at 3:42 AM

Oh yeon seo!!
Yeay i'm hoping for her to shine more and more.

Lee honey too. She has been underwhelmed as supporting characters and her last leading role modern farmer was a flop too.

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35 lemonicricket

January 7, 2015 at 1:41 PM

Ah I love the Goryeo aesthetic

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36 watchumlots

January 8, 2015 at 12:00 AM

Sorry, but I think JH's acting skills are going backwards! His acting hasn't changed/improved since Slave Hunter; everything is Slave Hunter N, especially the crazy laugh. I am so sick of that crazy (fake) laugh.

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really

January 8, 2015 at 10:30 PM

So u are saying Slave Hunter and Fated to Love You was exactly the same acting? Cuz I think that would be a very, very, very minority who thinks like that....He looked totally different, sounded totally different, was just totally different beings. I doubt you watched FTLY after the first episode, if all you noticed was the crazy laugh (which was also pretty different from Slave Hunters), and wasn't mindblown at how different he was. In fact most of my friends didn't even realize he was the guy in Slave Hunter.