'Captivating the King' aka 'Sejak' release date, plot, full cast and is Netflix K-drama worth watching
Series name: Captivating the King aka Sejak
Platform: Netflix
Country of origin: South Korea
Date of Release: January 21, 2024
Genre: Historical Drama/Romance
Writer: Kim Seon-deok
Director: Jo Nam-guk
Full cast: Jo Jung-suk, Shin Se-kyung, Lee Shin-young, Choi Dae-hoon, Lee Gyu-hoe, Yang Kyung-won, Jo Sung-ha, Son Hyun-joo
What is the plot of 'Captivating the King' aka 'Sejak'?
Yi In may be a king, but he certainly isn't regal. Weighed down by the devilish machinations both within and without his court, he is the shadow of a man who would lead an empire. As Yi In's paranoia gnaws deeper into his psyche, he begins to grasp for a thread of hope that will show him all is not lost, yet. Enter Kang Hee-soo, a woman with only one thing on her mind: Revenge against the king. But in order to carry out her avenging plot she needs to get close to him first. What develops is a relationship founded on mistrust and diabolique, that grows into something neither Yi In nor Kang could have foreseen. There's only one problem, affection does not necessarily dampen the embers of revenge and it surely doesn't kill its roots.
'Captivating the King' aka 'Sejak' Main Cast
Cho Jung-seok
Cho may just be 43, but he has the filmography of an industry veteran, and in a good way. Starting off as Eun Shi Kyung in the TV series 'The King 2 Hearts' in 2012, Cho went on to make his name when he played Cha Dong-tak in 'Two Cops'. He would go on to star in such excellent shows as 'Nokdu Flower' and the immensely popular 'Hospital Playlist' in which he starred as Lee Ik Joon.
Shin Se-kyung
When Shin played the young Princess Cheonmyung in the 2009 TV series 'The Great Queen Seondeok' there were already glimpses of the stardom awaiting her. In 2011's 'Tree With Deep Roots' she showcased her talent and while her next series 'Fashion King' bombed, her portrayal of Lee Ga-yong was lauded. Roles in 'Unexpected You' and 'Naemsaereul Boneun Sonyeo' helped put the 'Fashion King' fiasco behind her, but it was as Boon Yi in the hit show 'Six Flying Dragons' that she was finally thrust into the spotlight where she belonged. She also starred in the critical hit 'Rookie Historian Goo Hae-Ryung'.
Is 'Captivating the King' aka 'Sejak' worth watching?
The hints of 'Kingdom'-style machinations cannot be ignored, and there is enough meat in the plot for 'Captivating the King' to be...well...captivating. And although it will be vying for a global audience's attention this January with the much-anticipated 'The Bequeathed', it should more than hold its own, thanks to its excellent cast.
MEAWW Watch ranking
3 out of 5
'Captivating the King' aka 'Sejak' trailer