TV You Might Have Missed 12 —The Crowned Clown (Korea)

Standing in for an unhinged Joseon king, a look-alike clown plays the part but increasingly becomes devoted to protecting the throne and the people.

In the context of this show, "clown" actually means actor or comedian. When the reigning king becomes unbalanced because of the many assasination plots aimed at him, his main advisor secretly gets a look-alike to replace him until the king can recover. The clown is good-hearted and a quick study, but it is his innocence and dedication to caring for people and country which are his best attributes. 

 We're familiar with this concept from The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain. This series came about because of the extraordinary popularity of the movie Masquerade which I highly recommend. Partway through The Crowned Clown takes a different path than the movie because they have the time to explore more ideas. 

Though it is a political drama it also has a romance, some mystery, and intrigue (of course - it's in a royal court!). And let's not forget the three main villains who we hate as much as we love the clown, the Royal Court Secretary, the Queen, and the head Eunoch. These are all expertly interwoven in compelling storylines.

 This is the best K-drama I've seen yet. That's saying something considering the quality of Extraordinary Attorney Woo, Law School and Tale of the Nine-Tailed.  The plot is interesting and just when you think you know where the big dramatic climax is going, they twist it around and surprise you with completely unexpected (but logical)  developments. 

The acting is top-notch, often very subtly conveying a lot of information. The direction and cinematography are beautiful and arresting. I'm also a sucker for period costume from the Joseon period. Since we're in the court of the king, it is all simply gorgeous.

Highly recommended. My favorite television show watched in 2025.