Review: Shopping King Louis (2016)

A homeless amnesiac chaebol. A prudent country bumpkin. Throw them together in a world full of trends and consumerism, what we get is a drama with a hilarious yet heartwarming take on life, love, and the lessons that go in between.

A 16-episode South Korean Drama starring Seo In Guk for the titular role, Shopping King Louis is a light hearted romantic comedy about a rich heir fond of shopping who loses his memory and a country bumpkin who helps him regain his memory while teaching him about prudence and navigating life in the city... which eventually leads them into falling in love.

Image via MBC.

With Seo In Guk already in his 30s this year, I find Shopping King Louis as a drama intended to market himself towards a wider audience (i.e. the female and teenage groups) as a follow-up for his return from the military service should he push through with enlisting anytime soon, especially since he has filmed this right after Squad 38 which I assume was somehow targeted at males. This is a smart move on his end, even more so because Shopping King Louie had been a fun and entertaining drama during its run.

❀ RAVES ❀ »•»

1) Comedy. Seo In Guk's comedic timing is impeccable as always, yet apart from him, the rest of the cast's take on a humorous portrayal wasn't anything short of decent either. Comedy was among the greatest strengths that Shopping King Louis has, and I love how the show has made me laugh and grin like a fool in almost every episode. Here's one hilarious scene, for example:

Episode 2 was definitely one funny episode. Apart from the hilarious sauna scene, I also loved this part where Louis followed Bok Shil around, whining like a baby that he be fed. The gestures and expressions that he had as he shoved a toast on his mouth while Bok Shil scolded him for taking food when he doesn't even have money to begin with was... Ha. I can't even.

Here's another one:

Seo In Guk is known to be scared of ghosts and bugs, which makes these scenes in Episode 3 and Episode 10 all the more funny! His terrified reaction upon seeing a centipede and a spider had me like a goner! It was akin to what he was like when he saw a moth during an episode of Law of the Jungle I just couldn't stop laughing . He's just so adorable

2) Seo In Guk as Louis. I may sound bias by praising Seo In Guk a lot for his acting in various shows, but man, this guy sure deserves to be praised. No matter the role, he always makes sure to own a character to a T, and I love how he has owned Louis in this show from the voice to the expressions down to the body language. Seo In Guk played Louis as someone endearingly nuanced, and I can't thank him enough for always surprising me with something new whenever he takes on a project. Here's one scene that I loved:

Seo In Guk was marvelous in this scene in Episode 10. How Louis broke down crying after regaining some of his memories and realizing that Bok Nam was the one who had died in that plotted car accident was moving in so many levels. The emotions and guilt that Seo In Guk has shown in this scene spoke volumes of his commendable acting skills, because even through all this, Louis' characterization never got brushed to the side. The tears he shed were so real and raw but at the same time still so uniquely Louis in fashion. Kudos to Seo In Guk for delivering such scene brilliantly.

And this:

My heart ached for Louis when he wailed inconsolably under the rain for not being able to be with Bok Shil in Episode 11. The same goes for Episode 12. Even if Louis was just faking his amnesia, he couldn't contain his feelings upon seeing Bok Shil again. Seo In Guk was evidently so full of emotion in this scene that my heart ached for Louis even more.

3) Nam Ji-hyun. I have never seen or heard about Nam Ji-hyun prior to Shopping King Louis, and it was just so welcoming to see her act all sweet and charming in this drama. I love how she was able to play Go Bok Shil's multifaceted character compellingly well. She has this ability to make you laugh, cry, and fall in love with her in just a heart beat. It didn't help that she was so dang pretty too!

4) Heart. Aside from comedy, another strength of Shopping King Louis for me was its heartwarming take on life and love. It never attempted to have an overarching plot, but instead basked in it's simplicity, which was hands down beautiful. Most of the heart of the drama stems from Louis and Bok Shil's interactions. I love how the story revolved on these two navigating life in the city, and I will never get tired of how charming it was to see Louis and Bok Shil support each other during the entire show. How they always got each other's backs through the ups and downs of their crazy journey will always be one of the fondest memories I have for Shopping King Louis. I specifically love how Louis taught Bok Shil to relax and loosen up a bit, but I loved more how Bok Shil taught Louis to be a little more mature and responsible, such as being wise in spending money. I also love Louis' little realizations about the world around him, and though he's like a naive kid all throughout, his innocence and kindness never failed to get me and warm my heart.

5) Animation. Seeing those cute animations in various scenes not only upped the comedy for Shopping King Louis, but also added an artistic effect you never knew you needed in this show. Those animations were refreshing to see, and I love how it made the show look a little more creative and cheeky at the same time.

❀ RANTS ❀ »•»

1) Bok Shil's Hair. I don't really have anything to rant much about Shopping King Louis, except that the abrupt change in Bok Shil's hair was sort of distracting to look at at first. I mean, up until Episode 4, Bok Shil had this cute curly hairstyle to match her country bumpkin look, but then in Episode 5 she suddenly began sporting a straight hairstyle when she didn't even go anywhere near a salon during the previous episode. Plus, nobody in the office even seemed to notice the change! What, did all the sweat from being sick miraculously changed her hair like that? Not that I don't like it, she was definitely prettier with that straight hair... But, even if it was something very very minor, it sure was distracting the first time I've seen it.

❀ RULING ❀ »•»

Shopping King Louis was a great watch from start to finish. Yes it was cliche, but in an entertaining kind of way. It's such a funny and feel good drama I'd gladly pick up whenever, wherever; a ray of sunshine in a world (and the world of K-Dramaland) that is sometimes grey.

TAGS: K-Drama, K-Drama Reviews, Nam Ji Hyun, Seo In Guk, Seo In Guk Dramas, Shopping King Louis   Edit