#miss king

[redsamuraiii]

If you like dark and gritty Jdramas

[redsamuraiii]

Miss King (2025)

Not really a fan of 'revenge' dramas as they tend to be 'lengthy'. Every episode has the antagonists provoking the protagonists, that you have to watch them suffer for so long to make you angry, before they finally have their satisfying revenge at the end.

But this one is an exception for me. Maybe because I love dramas that got to do with Japanese culture and traditional Japanese games. And that I like the female lead, Non. I like her in the asadora, Amachan, and her recent movie, Bullet Train Explosion.

The first two episodes was hard to watch for me, watching her character suffer by some insufferable antagonists, being isolated and alone, with nothing but tragic memories and uncontrollable anger. It starts to get better on the third episode.

But even so, it's a roller coaster ride, with ups and downs.

Non plays Asuka, whose parents went through a painful divorce when she was a child, because her dad is obsessed with Shogi. Years later, her dad still refuses to see her dying sick mother, pushing Asuka off the edge into almost committing murder and suicide.

Until she met a man who hates her dad, as much as she does, and they devise a better way to "kill" him, by destroying and humiliating him in Shogi for all to see, taking away his crown of King of Shogi, for herself.

It's from the same network, Abema, that produces Scandal Eve.

[redsamuraiii]

Miss King (Ep 5 & 6)

I like how Asuka starts the game strong, then get caught off guard by her opponents, starts panicking, then she re-evaluate her strategy and make a power move that destroy her opponents, startling them.

Not sure if she really got caught off guard or she purposely lower her guard halfway through the game, to bait her opponent into attacking her, going into her territory for her to give them her finishing move.

Either way, she's a genius.♟️👑

[redsamuraiii]

Miss King (Ep 6)

Both Kaori and Asuka lost several matches at the beginnings.

Only difference is that Kaori think is because she's a woman and doesn't have the same capability to play the game as men, leading her to lose, thinking she doesn't have what it takes to play.

While Asuka doesn't think that way, she knew something was wrong with her way of playing that she review her every gameplay to change strategy to get better, and pushed on till she wins.

Tessai, the gamemaster who used to train Kaori, sees something in Asuka that Kaori doesn't have. Her strongheadedness and is convinced that her determination alone is what will lead her to victory.

[redsamuraiii]

Miss King (Ep 5)

I love how they both try to outsmart each other.

Asuka knows Yuna have been undefeatable by playing by the book and strategize to defeat her, but only for Yuna to catch her off guard by playing off the book for the first time that Asuka started panicking.

Yuna thought she's winning, but once Asuka realize what's her game plan is, she's able to counter swiftly. The look of surprise on Asuka's face is like, "Ah, so we're taking off our gloves are we?." 😎

[redsamuraiii]

Miss King (Ep 5)

They're both strong.

Only difference is Yuna believes too much in what the haters say while Asuka doesn't believe any because she's driven by anger.

Maybe that's what Asuka is trying to do, trying to make Yuna angry.

American Civil Rights Activist, Malcolm X, once said, "Usually when people are sad, they don't do anything. They just cry over their condition. But when they get angry, they bring about a change."

[redsamuraiii]

Miss King (Ep 4)

They're like the cool uncle and aunt bad influencing the niece. 🤣

[redsamuraiii]

Miss King (Ep 4)

"Don't run away from your weakness. Acknowledge it. Get stronger."