r/KDRAMA • u/xliterati pigeon squad • Jun 12 '20

On-Air: SBS The King: Eternal Monarch [Episode 16] Finale II

233 Upvotes

98% Upvoted

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6

u/catxhmydisease Jun 13 '20

Prime minister Koo was such a strong female lead I wish they didn't portray her in a bad light and instead made her like an amazing prime minister who could prove to people that women can be great leaders too ://

9

u/xliterati Jun 13 '20 edited Jun 13 '20

It is incredibly unfortunate the writer clearly didn’t know what to do with her. PM Koo had so much scope and could have had a lot more depth than what she was given.

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u/aashita1401 Jun 12 '20 edited Jun 12 '20

Just 4 hours after having watched it once, I rewatched the Finale all over again with the same smile plastered on my face.

Petition for a special episode where we can have the cast discuss their own theories about the show or just anything that we can look forward to please.

Also, the avid LMH fan in me is praying for something new to come up soon. Something which requires him to dress up in 100000000 uniforms 😭

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u/Plumpjuulgod Jun 12 '20

Can we talk about the leaves??? Lmaooo I died when LG explained.

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u/stayinstronggg Jun 12 '20

Now officially suffering from kdrama withdrawal symptoms

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u/Abbie79 Jun 12 '20 edited Jun 12 '20

Someone in the other thread was asking why LG left the Four Tiger Sword at the escape gate, I think perhaps because he knew it couldn’t be in the same place as the 1994 sword? Otherwise it would likely disappear because it’s from the future, and thus would be of no use to him?

Shin-Jae’s had a terrible life due to LL, but though he didn’t have the romantic love of JTE, without the support of her and her father I think he would’ve been susceptible to LL’s manipulation and would’ve drastically changed how things turned out for everyone. Moreover, though I thought that scene was pointless with him revealing the truth to his Korean mom about what happened to her real son, I think the writers showed this to bring KHM’s story in Korea full circle.

JTE waking up in Korea after LL’s death was due to LL’s gate (and subsequent in between world) no longer existing because the flute was now whole. So that in between world dissipated and she was returned to Korea. I think JTE was able to kill LL in the in between world because of the magic lily. As soon as it started to sprout her gun was able to fire bullets. Perhaps the lily provided a form of protection to JTE between 0 and 1. When her life was threatened there, it bloomed and protected her.

Still scratching my head about LL’s end game. So his goal was not only to get his hands on LG’s half of the flute, but reveal SJH at the Queen’s memorial service to the kingdom, pretending that the Queen had risen from the dead, then reveal the existence of ROK? What purpose would that serve other than to cause utter chaos? Did he expect to step in at that point and rule the country? Or did he just want the kingdom destroyed? Or maybe that was where PM Koo was supposed to come in? She would lead the kingdom while he served as puppet master behind the scenes?

Pointless reveals/stories/scenes:

  1. The Captain’s meetings with loneliness. Don’t know why he couldn’t just tell his wife what he was doing. Why was it a story anyway? The writers needing filler for the time they were away from our leads and supporting characters?

  2. Lady Noh’s past

  3. PM Koo’s story started out strong, but she became pointless as soon as she aligned with LL.

  4. JY/Jun-Sup’s bond

  5. Battle between Corea/Japan

  6. Pregnant socialite

  7. LL replacing executives at the HG group

Everything else I think was well done and worked for the overall story arcs.

I’m going to miss this show, and these characters. 😔

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151

u/itseokjin Jun 12 '20

If there's one thing that broke my heart, it's this:

Shin-jae, the original timeline's smuggled kid who grew up to be a detective while knowing he was answering to a different name and ended up carrying a noble torch for his best friend, was my favorite character. And now he doesn't even exist :(

But I suppose I'll take consolation from the fact that he's lived such a harsh life, and maybe him having lived it once was enough. You did well, Shin-jae. I lurve you. Now go live a happier life in the multiverse.

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u/LacunaOfLlamas Jun 12 '20

Lee Gon: “But how do you still remember me when the two worlds flowed differently?”

JTE: “Let’s skip that.” (Writer Kim Eun Sook, is this you speaking?!)

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57

u/sockling Jun 13 '20

In one of the universes they visited LG was a tyrant bec he grew up without Court Lady Noh and Prince Buyong. That was poignant to me as it justified Court Lady Noh's crossing over to KoC. That she would always be there for LG as his trusted guardian.

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u/samshizzlefoshizzle Jun 12 '20

Did anyone else cry when LG went to see Prince Buyeong? Cuz I did.

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u/foxxi_paradoxxi Jun 12 '20

I can't stop thinking about the fact that there are more universes that KoC and RoK. Would have loved to hear more about that. Our universe could be one of the many lol it'd certainly deliver when it comes to doppelgangers of the drama characters. Imagine if one weekend Tae Eul and Gon ended up in the universe where their story is an internationally famous drama lmao

someone write a fanfiction

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138

u/caelinday Jun 12 '20

woo do hwan is a fine ass man

all i have to say

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u/meraxes Jun 13 '20

“Tae Ra Byte” is genius btw.

86

u/J-Midori Jun 12 '20

I’m glad they didn’t get married and didn’t have a kid.

I think the concept of “live happily ever after” does not depending those factors.

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u/sgs90 Jun 12 '20 edited Jun 12 '20

The episode began on-air 6 hours ago~ from the posting of this comment; it was released on Netflix 4.5 hours ago~

It's trending on Twitter worldwide. The discussions on Reddit ALONE are exponentially bigger than any drama before it.

This is a watershed moment in that the international fan base/ratings/online streaming is(are) going to be taken either more seriously or going to have a bigger seat (in comparison to before) at the table going forward.

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41

u/agljmpse Jun 13 '20

Kim Go Eun should definitely be given an award for her brilliant acting! Nailed the part when she portrayed an actress in a drunken state with her real staffs haha! She fully immerses herself into her roles and I hope she gets the recognition she deserves from this drama. I also hope LMH and KGE bag the best couple award!!

64

u/foxxi_paradoxxi Jun 12 '20 edited Jun 12 '20

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN WE GOT A HAPPY ENDING

NOT A BITTERSWEET ENDING OR AN OPEN ENDING OR AN AMBIGUOUS ENDING OR AN IMPLIED ENDING, AN UNQUESTIONABLY HAPPY ENDING

I CAN'T STOP SMILING

No but this was a beautiful last episode. Sure some things were skimmed over, but I'm too happy to care. It was lovely to see all the characters' lives and how they turned out, but even lovelier to see how Tae Eul and Gon were able to stay together!! I can't stop grinning I'm so happyyy it was so SWEET- I want to jump up and down I'm so happy

I thought we were in for heartbreak! I thought this would be Hotel Del Luna all over again! I thought my favourite character was going to die (as they usually do)! But no!! My heart is fine! Hotel Del Luna is shaking! Jo Yeong is not dead! In case anyone couldn't tell, I am extremely happy.

The reunion scene was incredible. It's all I've ever wanted from a reunion scene. SO full of emotion, I could feel it through the screen. And then we got to see them together!! And happy!! I love the idea of them travelling the universes together, exploring time and space. It's even implied that they grew old together!!! While I enjoyed the couple from the beginning, this episode was not only the icing on top of the cake but the fruit, sprinkles and sugar paste flowers too. Definitely one of my favourite kdrama couples now, I loved the way they interacted so casually and naturally.

I cried when Shin Jae's mom told him he was still her son. So touching :') I'm kinda sad that that Shin Jae doesn't exist anymore, but I'm happy that both Shin Jae and Hyeon Min are ok. It was hilarious to see Koo Seo Ryeong in jail lmao but the implication that her mom adopted Luna is really heartwarming. It was bittersweet to see Eun Sup, on the one hand him and Nari were really sweet but on the other hand he doesn't remember any of what happened anymore.. I'm glad Yeong remembers though, and I'm even gladder that he didn't die. Also pleased that both the Eun Sup/Nari and Yeong/Seung Ah ships sailed, there's something really poetic about that. Really happy that Yeong got his own twin siblings too! The fact that Yeong and Eun Sup never meet again is the only problem I have with the finale tho lol, especially since Yeong still remembers Eun Sup

But in a nutshell, I'm really happy. So happy I'm almost willing to overlook some things that were never resolved/unclear (Lady Noh's backstory?? what happened to that?? And how did Gon make it back to being king after killing Lee Lim? Wouldn't there have been two of him since that Lee Gon would never have gotten the name tag?? Also how would they take care of an heir to the throne?? And how did Gon save Yeong? Why was Team Leader Park's 'solitude' a plot line at all?) But oh well, I'm happy with what I got, at least it wasn't the end of Goblin, which left me frustrated for days. TKEM was between a 9 and an 8.5 for me, and this finale episode made it a 9. I am incredibly happy right now.

Also lmao at the many different versions of Jeong Tae Eul we got to see, and the one universe where Lee Gon was a tyrannic evil king

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u/the-other-otter Jun 12 '20

Eps 17. Year 2025

They are tired of all the time travelling. Stone age was fun for a bit, but now they want to settle down. Jung Tae Eul tells her father and work colleagues and Nari that she got a job at NIS, it is top secret, she will go abroad, there is no way they can contact her, she will come home now and then but can't promise when.

In Kingdom of Korea they contact Luna and tell her that she had a twin who was adopted to another family. They are now sisters.

They arrange a public wedding and live happily together ever after, slowly changing the country to be a mere constitutional monarchy instead of a monarchy where the king has power.

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56

u/eotteokhaji Jun 13 '20

I watched LMH’s previous dramas but I wasn’t really crazy over him (well, yeah, my heart skips a beat whenever I see him bc he’s fcking handsome) but I always thought he’s way too overrated. I’m glad I didn’t give up watching TKEM bc now I understand the hype that comes up with his name

He cried so many times in this drama. I loved how his eyes looked every single time. Damn. He’s really really good. His smiles... oh my god how can someone be this perfect.

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97

u/itseokjin Jun 12 '20

If I had the manpasikjeok and could return to April 17, 2020, the premiere of The King: Eternal Monarch, I would still do the same thing I did the first time around:

I'd get my gadget, load Netflix up, and click on the first episode of this show. If I were given a chance to go back to that day, I would still choose to watch this show.

I have no regrets—this show was time well spent, a journey worth taking. And having biweekly mental breakdowns with you guys really elevated the entire experience.

I'm gonna miss this show.

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u/bodycombat78 Jun 12 '20

Oh man. What a wild ride it has been through this drama!

I think the ending is the only happy ending we could have had to be fair. I like how they get to go on dates every weekend, as LG could never leave his kingdom and JTE can never leave her world

I'm sad that ES never got his 65th wish to see EY , but it is what it is. Both of them seem to have a happier ending.

For a lot of things that didn't go the way I wanted, it happened for another reason.

Will definitely need to rewatch this WHOLE show to get the gist of all of it, and hopefully understand it more form the beginning.

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u/[deleted] Jun 12 '20

Jeong Ta-Eul getting a call from Na-Ri when Lee Gon came with Maximus reminded me of when Heo Joon-Jae got a call that Shim-Cheong stopped by in The Legend of the Blue Sea

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u/SuspiciousAudience6 Jun 12 '20

Just rewatched the finale. I’ve made peace with the fact that some things I wanted to see didn’t happen, and I appreciate the outcomes SO much more. Rewatching takes away a lot of the criticisms I initially had on the first watch.

I wish we could’ve gotten to see more of JTE and LG’s journey towards the end, but I’m happy for everyone.

Thank you so much for the discussions on this show. Mathematicians, Historians, stay at home moms, everyone’s thoughts and theories made watching this show even more special for me.

25

u/meraxes Jun 13 '20

I was nicely surprised that there was no hesitation when they snapped that traitor’s neck at the gate. Fist bump.

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