The Girl King (2015)
4/10
Really disappointed with this one....
23 December 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Going in, reading the title, the... sketchy less promising summary of the film, I guess I should've have expected much, but I really wanted to like this. It has every a good potential queer story can offer for a historical drama, and the main character is a flipping queen! So many chances at good storyline, and gender empowering moment in history - a queen struggle at power, social status, free-thinking during the time of religious autocracy. And most of all, the queen is gay, and cannot separate her duty and personal interest. It was a perfect duality for our main character, but did the writer needed to ruin something that they could tackle less black and white, and more gray.

The main character was really unlikeable, which is a problem because she is written to be this charming and intelligent and witty queen, clever enough to charm her subject. But boy did she did the opposite. PLAIN MEAN. She was awfuly, demanding and showing none of the class. I guess the point being she's breaking the gender stereotype, but we mustn't forget her time period, when she is alive and the social upbringing. Somehow she turned out far beyond her time. Which could be interesting, if she'd be more likeable as a character.

And the romance felt very forced. Romeo and Juliet-y. And her majesty felt rape-y. How she's manipulating her lady-in-waiting to spend time with her... (take her clothes off in front of her). And none of the date or the fluff or the attempt at flirt. It just happened?? Blasphemy! :'(

I really wanted to like this. But worst of all, the queen abandoned her duty and ran, after being caught. Historically bonker. All that potential ruined. I'm disappointed.
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