This time, Ju Ji-hoon shouted, It’s not a crime to fall in love!
Actor Ju Ji-hoon has transformed into a major frustration-inducing character. Stepping back into the imperial palace, Ju Ji-hoon traded sweet palace romance for the garb of a self-centered and shameless emperor. He is an egoistic figure who easily breaks his promise to the empress as he falls for a new love, demanding only his own desires be met.
The Disney+ series ‘The Remarried Empress’ (scripted by Yeo Ji-na and Hyun Choong-yeol, directed by Jo Soo-won), released on the 3rd, is generating explosive reactions. As a highly anticipated new attempt at a ‘K-fantasy romance’, it has drawn various reactions while being compared to Netflix’s hit series ‘Bridgerton’.
Based on the web novel of the same name, ‘The Remarried Empress’ is a romantic fantasy where Navier (played by Shin Min-a), the perfect empress of the Eastern Empire, is notified of a divorce by Emperor Sovieshu (played by Ju Ji-hoon), who has fallen for the runaway slave Rashta (played by Lee Se-young). Accepting the divorce, Navier instead demands approval for her remarriage with Heinrey (played by Lee Jong-suk), the prince of the Western Kingdom.
Through this work, Ju Ji-hoon plays the emperor and empress of the Eastern Empire alongside Shin Min-a, writing their third ‘ruined love’ narrative. He is a character who falls head over heels for Rashta, easily breaking his promise to the empress not to take a royal concubine and turning his back on her. Exclaiming that it’s not a crime to fall in love with Rashta, he surrenders entirely to his instincts, becoming endlessly shameless. It’s reminiscent of Lee Tae-oh (played by Park Hae-joon) and his affair in the drama ‘The World of the Married’.
In particular, Sovieshu’s behavior after telling Navier that he will take Rashta as his concubine is what truly infuriates viewers. Despite breaking his promise to Navier, Sovieshu boldly demands a concubine and goes further by taking Rashta’s side in front of the empress, humiliating her.
He unhesitatingly expresses his affection for Rashta right in front of Navier and unashamedly reveals his desire for Navier to take care of her as well. It is a self-centered attitude that cares nothing for Navier’s feelings or respect, focusing solely on his own emotions and desires. Sovieshu’s selfish behavior, acting as if he cannot help it because he fell in love with Rashta, establishes him as the ultimate rage-inducing character of this universe.
At the same time, he shows strong jealousy when Navier happily dances with Heinrey, only to immediately surrender to Rashta’s tears. Though a powerful and capable emperor, he proved to be a self-centered and immature husband to Navier.
Ju Ji-hoon portrayed this version of Sovieshu with shamelessness and sly wit, prompting viewers to vent their anger on the character following the release. Viewers let out sighs of frustrationβin the worst possible wayβat Ju Ji-hoon’s slick acting. Regarding this, Ju Ji-hoon shared his mindset during a prior press conference, saying, Times are tough economically and life is hard in many ways; if our series can make your heart burn with anger and give you a sense of catharsis as you point fingers at me, I don’t mind getting cursed at.
With ‘The Remarried Empress’ heating up viewers’ hearts from the very beginning with a rage-inducing character, attention is focused on whether Ju Ji-hoon will be able to build narrative persuasion through future developments, or if he will break records as the ultimate villain.
