The Disney+ original series Remarried Empress is a drama that drove both anti-fans and avid supporters crazy even before its official release. Fans of the original web novel worried whether the charming characters and massive storyline could be successfully translated into a series, while others showed immense interest in the fact that South Korea was finally producing a live-action romance-fantasy project.
The original web novel surpassed approximately 2.97 billion cumulative views and was also adapted into a webtoon. It is considered a legendary work with a global fandom, serviced in 10 different languages including English, Spanish, and Japanese. When its domestic production was first announced, it immediately drew massive attention, raising questions about whether it could open a new horizon for K-romance fantasy. On the other hand, skeptical views also questioned whether the unfamiliar genre would turn out like a reenactment drama such as ‘Surprise’ or a hit Netflix series like ‘Bridgerton’. Now that Remarried Empress has finally unveiled its veil, how is it actually performing?
Disney+ original series Remarried Empress brought forward its release date by a day from the 4th to the 3rd to meet global fans earlier. This decision came after receiving better-than-expected responses during its premiere screening for general audiences at the 31st Busan International Film Festival last month, which boosted confidence. Amid high expectations and concerns, the first 1 to 4 episodes out of a total of 10 were released, sparking a wide variety of reactions.
Visuals, Cast Sync, and Skin Tone Controversies
First, the visuals of Shin Min-ah and Lee Se-young, who looked as if they stepped right out of a Disney animation, received passing marks. Lee Jong-suk’s high synchronization rate for Prince Heinreyβhaving reportedly recommended an actor even more handsome than himselfβwas praised as true ‘romance-fantasy material.’ However, comparisons with the three actors led to criticism that Joo Ji-hoon’s overly dark skin tone broke immersion, triggering mock reactions such as "He looks unhealthy," "The emperor looks sick," and "A drinking tone or cirrhosis tone in a princess and prince drama."
At the same time, the gorgeous realization of the Eastern Empire’s beautiful scenery and the palace where Empress Navier and Emperor Sovieshu live elevated the visual appeal. The passionate performances of actors who smoothly delivered a unique toneβneither strictly historical, period, nor modernβshone brightly. Furthermore, strong supporting performances by Madame Eliza (played by Lee Bong-ryun), Marquis Lantht (Nam Yoon-ho), Heinrey’s secretary and cousin McKenna (Choi Dae-hoon), Madame Albani (Jung Young-joo), and Viscount Rotesch (Park Ho-san) enriched the drama even further.
Overcoming ‘Surprise’ Parodies with Addictive Romance
Nevertheless, lingering fears and concerns that the show resembles the reenactment program ‘Surprise’ still exist. Substantial criticism remains regarding unfamiliar foreign names, as well as somewhat crude costumes and props that diminish the overall production quality. Since small details accumulate to elevate the quality of an entire work, viewers noted that more meticulous attention from the production team would have been ideal.
Even so, the love triangle and entangled romance among the four main charactersβrivaling the intensity of a daily soap operaβproved more than enough to hook viewers. A story where an emperor falls in love with a runaway slave at first sight and makes her his mistress, while a handsome prince who secretly harbors a one-sided crush on the empress delivers bold direct flirts, is practically a makjang plot. Yet, this very imperial romance-fantasy has already proven its massive appeal by surpassing 2.97 billion cumulative views.
Achieving Record-Breaking Global Viewership on Disney+
As a result, Remarried Empress achieved the record for the highest viewership ever among all Disney+ local original titles within just three days of its release, writing a brand-new history of box office success.
According to Disney+, within three days of its November 3 release, Remarried Empress ranked as the most-watched Disney+ local original content globally. It secured the #1 spot among Korean titles released across more than 50 markets worldwide, including the United States, United Kingdom, France, Spain, Germany, Mexico, Chile, Australia & New Zealand (ANZ), and Canada. This achievement holds even greater significance given that only four episodes have been released so far.
Previously, the best-performing Disney+ original series included Season 1 of ‘Moving’ and the ‘Made in Korea’ series. All eyes are now on whether Remarried Empress will remain a subject of internet memes and criticism or go on to set monumental historical records.
