Mixing fantasy, romance, and comedy, My Royal Nemesis is a show that will make you want more of it. The plot follows the story of Kang Dan-sim, a concubine who is famous in all of the Joseon court for her beauty and intelligence, coupled with survival skills. Post her death by poison, she wakes up in 2026 inside the body of struggling actress Shin Seo-ri. She now feels out of place in the new world she has stepped into. She is clueless because her world is still stuck in an era that is way different than the one she is in. But even in her previous birth, she was known to have skills of survival. And that has continued in this birth as well. She quickly adapts to the new birth she has come to. Soon enough, her oaths collide with Cha Se-gye, a cold-hearted chaebol heir whose arrogance makes it dangerous to be in love with any woman. And yes, you guessed it right, these two fell in love. However, the plot makes more sense in terms of the survival struggles of Kang Dan-sim, for whom Seoul becomes a battlefield in itself. Those scenes are filled with humor, which makes My Royal Nemesis worth every watch.
We can also look at the series like a continuation of Bon Appétit, Your Majesty. Of course, it is not, but if you wanted to imagine what the King's life would have been like in Seoul, My Royal Nemesis is a perfect example of what that could have looked like. One of the biggest strengths of the show is its humor. Right from the first episode, there is loads of it which makes you want to watch more. Plus, the concept taken is highly interesting. One can only imagine what the life of a Joseon-era person would be in modern-day Seoul. And the makers show us what that could be. That makes My Royal Nemesis a great watch.
Lim Ji-yeon is flawless in both roles. She comes across as very balanced all in all whenever she is playing either of the roles. There is a sense of calm when she plays Kang Dan-sim and a sense of chaos when she plays Shin Seo-ri. That transition is what makes My Royal Nemesis an experience to watch for. Furthermore, the chemistry between Lim Ji-yeon and Heo Nam-jun is the reason why the show works so well. They don’t look forced on screen, and everything feels as natural as it can get between them. It is because of them that the makers have been able to show the “enemies to lovers” plot in a good manner.
The pacing of the show is fine as well. Nowhere will you feel that the makers dragged it or slowed down. Neither will you see them rushing with the plot. So in every sense, it’s a great watch that will keep you intrigued right from start to end without making you feel the need to fast forward anything.
Final Score- [8/10]
Reviewed by - Neerja Ch
Follow @NeerjaCH on Twitter
Publisher at Midgard Times