Classic KDrama 101: The Moon Embracing The Sun

Although this drama is only a year old, it was so loved and so successful that it earns the designation of Classic KDrama. "The Moon Embracing The Sun" has everything that makes a kdrama enjoyable: intersecting love triangles, doomed, separated lovers, a little magic, political intrigue and, for lovers of historical dramas, great costumes and some epic sword fights.

The drama begins when 13-year-old Heo Yeon Woo, played by Kim Yoo Jung, accompanies her mother to the royal palace to attend a ceremony. When she wanders away, she meets the Crown Prince Lee Hweon, played by Yeo Jin Goo, trying to escape the palace. They fall in love and she is chosen as the Crown Princess. If ever there was a devoted and well-suited couple, it's the Crown Prince and Princess.

But, alas, fate intervenes in a heartbreaking way. The Dowager Queen, played by Kim Young Ae, orders Heo's death, so she can install the daughter of another clan as Crown Princess. She orders a shaman, a spiritual intermediary between people and the gods, to cast a spell on her. But the shaman has promised a friend that she will protect the girl and instead, in true fairy tale fashion, casts another kind of spell to spirit her away.

Eight years later, when the Crown Prince is King and is unhappily married to Yoon Bo Kyung, played by Kim So Hyun as a girl and Kim Min Seo as an adult, he encounters the shaman Wol, who unbeknownst to him is Heo Yeon Woo. She has no memory of her former life and was raised to believe that she is a shaman, although she has no powers.

Besides the wonderful performances by the younger actors, Kim Soo Hyun as King Lee Hwon and Han Ga In as Wol are more than convincing in their role as lost lovers. Also delivering a great performance is Jung Il Woo as Prince Yang Myung. He champions Wol at a time when no one else will stand up for her.

Besides being a compelling story, "The Moon Embracing The Sun" also offers some insight into the role of shamans in Korea. Mostly women, the practitioners of this ancient religion were once a powerful force.

Drama fans voted "The Moon Embracing The Sun" as DramaFever's Best KDrama of 2012 award and voted the Best Newcomer of the Year award for Yeo Jin Goo.

You can see this drama at hulu.com or dramafever.com.

If you've seen it, let us know what you think.