The Unexpected Marriage (2024)

Unexpectedly bland

My expectation of this series is fairly low after reading the synopsis, but I didn’t expect it to be so samey and boring.

The premise of the show is the proposed marriage alliance between the princess of a smaller kingdom to the prince of an aggressive neighbouring state. Of course, there is the usual mistrust and misunderstanding. The enemy-to-lover tropey is front and centre.

There is nothing new with this set up. It has been done many times before. The problem is compounded by the cast lacking depth/skill and the script being too tropey to give the show a boost.

You soon realise the script brought little new to the table. All the usual tropes are lined up like little ducklings. It is serviceable but hardly engaging. As expected, the romance of the leads is the primary focus. Other than the usual push-pull and misunderstandings, there is not a lot to write home about. There is also an inherent problem with their characterisation. The show can do with stronger individual traits but they mostly play with a straight bat.

The typical palace intrigue and petty second leads provide the bulk of the angst. It is mostly run-of-the-mill power plays from rival princelings and their scheming wives. Similarly, the second leads are only there because the playbook said so. Our leads have nothing to fear from those quarters.

There is a 2CP but their progress is initially fraught. I know this sounds odd but there is more skinship than I expected but they are fairly wooden. There is a bit of fan service towards the end. However, the ending is oddly untidy and feels rushed.

In terms of acting, the FL did ok. Her role of a sassy princess offers few challenges. The ML mastered the nonchalant stance and the cheeky smile but he is not very convincing as a king-in-waiting.

On the other side of the ledger, the production quality is acceptable. This is hardly surprising as production companies can churn out costume dramas with ease these days. It is practically an industry. The flip side is a tedious sameness unless the production is S class. Sadly, this one sits firmly in the middle of the pack. Not only are the costumes and sets generic in look and feel, the distinction between the two kingdoms is minimal. They’d call each other barbarians but, in most aspects, they are almost identical aesthetically.

In the end, there is little to recommend this show. It is inoffensive and mildly entertaining. It is hardly a must-see unless you are a fan of the leads. It is a classic filler and I'm thankful that it is 24 and not 40 eps.

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Comedy that aims to be light and fun, with a good cast, but stupid writing.

PLOT: The FL, princess who cannot marry because she brings bad luck (rumor invented by ML2, friend in love) accepts a marriage alliance, orchestrated by the emissary of the neighboring country (ML, Prince incognito ). The marriage is postponed following the conspiracies of the ML brothers, who want to kill him to access to the throne. The couple (ML + FL), in love, ends up dispelling the misunderstandings, but the villains continue to plot.

+++ Very good young actors, whom I am waiting to see again.
+++ Good OSTs
+++ Some funny scenes, the actors playing the fathers having some style.

BUT
### Story VERY poorly written, full of clichés, nonsense, stupid characters ლ(ಠ益ಠ)ლ ლ(ಠ益ಠ)ლ (This script was written for brainless teenagers) I don't know how many times in this series, I wanted to eat my hat...
### The characters behave in ways that are totally unsuitable for custom, or even common sense!
### Ending even more ridiculous!!

=> No point wasting your time watching this brainless series.

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Comédie qui se veut légère et fun, avec un bon casting, mais une écriture vraiment stupide.

PLOT: La FL, princesse qui n'arrive pas à se marier parce qu'elle porte malheur (rumeur inventée par le ML2, ami amoureux) accepte un mariage d'alliance, orchestrée par l'émissaire du pays voisin (ML, Prince incognito). Le mariage est reporté suite aux conspirations des frères du ML, qui veulent le tuer pour s'assurer du trône. Le couple (ML + FL), amoureux, finit par dissiper les malentendus, mais les villains continuent à comploter.

+++ De très bons jeunes acteurs, que j'attends de revoir.
+++ Bons OST
+++ Quelques scènes amusantes, les acteurs jouant les pères ayant un certain style.
MAIS
### Story TRES mal écrite, bourrée de clichés, de non-sens, de personnages stupides ლ(ಠ益ಠ)ლ ლ(ಠ益ಠ)ლ (This script was written for brainless teenagers) Je ne sais combien de fois dans cette série, j'ai eu envie de manger mon chapeau ...
### Les personnages ont des comportements totalement inadaptés aux usages, voire au bon sens !
### Ending encore plus ridicule !!

=> Inutile de gâcher son temps devant cette série brainless.

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Something is missing

In the beginning they started off really good and I was really into it. But it was like something was missing the entire show and I can't put my finger on it. It's like everything was just trying too hard and it just turned me off.
For example 2nd ML like to play jokes on FL but really was in love with her yet he was able in like two episodes after meeting another female character fall in love with her and want to be with her... Also 2nd ML had a walking cane but then halfway in the story decane disappeared and it was never mentioned again and he was walking perfectly fine....
Why did so many bad things had to happen to ML? For example, in the first few episodes we see him with the assassination attempt but even that felt awkward. Then we see him back in his home country and to be meet his siblings, who again? It just felt like they were trying too hard. Like when his brother was going against him for the locust plague, it just felt like something was missing to make it make more sense.
Last but not least, the ending was not good. Like we have watched this whole show about FL and how she is not scared of the rumors that she's a jinx. Yet in the end she leaves him because she finally believes the rumor?!?!
While the show did have some good qualities and I did love the actors themselves, there are just some things that didn't quite click for this drama and I really was looking forward to it yet it didn't leave the impression I thought it would.

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