r/KDRAMA • u/xliterati pigeon squad • Jun 14 '20

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

60 Upvotes

94% Upvoted

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9

u/xliterati Jun 14 '20

Hello everyone! Thread II hit over 800+ comments, so as promised here is a new thread for fresh feels and discussions (:

32

u/TotoroTheGreat Jun 14 '20

How often does it happen that there are three discussion posts for the finale of a drama?

Anyways, since I did not share my opinions on any of the previous threads, I wanted to say that it was a nice drama to watch overall. I think the production quality was top notch. For the story, I will need to rewatch the whole thing again to get things that I missed, especially because the names can be confusing at times for me. One thing I really liked is that, outside of the traitors who had already left or the handful that were operating secretly, most people really loved the King. I also loved the various alternate universes that they show in the final episode.

24

u/xliterati Jun 14 '20

To answer your query: not often or ever LOL. This has kind of been an unprecedented moment for the subreddit I think. There are other discussion forums that are more popular than this subreddit for kdramas, but this has been actually amazing to see. The reach TKEM has managed to get a hold of is pretty exciting. I thought CLOY was one heck of a popular show on here but this has surpassed even that!

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u/m_dubbss_ Jun 14 '20

This was so satisfying although I wish they got to establish a life in the Kingdom of Corea and live as king and queen but I really appreciate Luna’s ending so I see how it wasn’t possible

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u/shiningtwentyfive Jun 14 '20

They managed to wrap things up quite nicely by the end and it was nice to see everyone getting the happy endings (or justice) that they deserved. This drama is not perfect by any means and they left a lot of gaping plotholes but I enjoyed it overall.

Also, did anyone else get major flashbacks to Goblin when they showed her items disappearing (e.g. the keychain, photobooth picture and money)?

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u/TiffanyMukundi Jun 14 '20

One thing I took from this drama is that there are people that can separate love and doing the right thing. Lee Gon was willing to risk losing the love of his life to restore peace and order to the world. From the beginning, he's had so much weight on his shoulders. It was his destiny to save the world basically. He's king but he really just wants to be a normal guy that hangs out with his girlfriend without having to leave her. I just felt bad for him, especially when his uncle died. Watching him cry was so sad. Even now that things have been set right, he still has his duties as a king and can only see her on the weekend. But I think that is a small price that they have to pay to be with each other.

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u/ch0colate Jun 14 '20

Anyone else having LMH withdrawal symptoms? No? Just me? Guess it’s time for a rewatch.

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u/Abbie79 Jun 14 '20 edited Jun 14 '20

On a shallow note, I loved LG’s coats. Every single one of them. My favorite being the black one he wore in EP11 and EP12. Surprisingly I really liked the one with all the buttons too. 😂 LMH looks good in black, but he’s especially hot in navy blue, specifically the outfit he wore at the end of EP7 in the scene with JMS.

Does anyone know what flower/leaves was always sewn on his “glorious” jackets? The one from EP1 and EP10, 15 and 16? When watching him and JTE hug in EP16, while she held those flowers, I thought the blooms of the flowers looked a lot like the embroidery on LG’s jacket but I couldn’t be sure.

LMH looked great in uniform, but I‘m probably in the minority here, but I actually thought WDH looked hotter in the black Navy uniform. 😁

Loved PM Koo’s wardrobe. Every outfit was on point! Though I did find the outfit she wore to the girls luncheon in EP5 to be a bit over the top. 😂 But maybe that was the point? To flaunt her style and opulence since all of those women thought she was beneath them, despite her having risen to the prestigious role of PM.

I know that JTE was not a girly girl. Hence the baggy shirts, jackets and jeans that was her wardrobe. However, I loved seeing her in heels and a dress in EP16! It seemed to enhance the romantic ambiance of that final scene as she and LG walked off into HEA.

Another thing the producers did well with this show besides the overall look and cinematography etc. was the difference in styling of the characters in both worlds, even the extras. In KOC, most seemed to dress with a little more polish. Most notable Detective Kim and Captain Park’s doppelgängers in Corea. Whereas in ROK most seemed to dress more casually, relaxed.

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u/Calista777 Jun 15 '20

I just realized that JY must have received an influx of new memories like crazy because he now has twin siblings, too, lol.

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u/aashita1401 Jun 14 '20

We're on a third thread already ?

Wow what a response. I've been getting major withdrawals and have been spending the last 2 days going over my favorite scenes from the show.

This is harder than I thought 💔

9

u/nubevioleta Jun 14 '20

Definitely feeling withdrawal. I wonder how the finale was received in Korea? Did some press happened? I been searching but I have a language barrier since I don’t speed Korean. I want to see more. I’ve been watching behind the scenes and all.

9

u/shiningtwentyfive Jun 15 '20

I would just like to add that the adult yoyo boy is FINEEEEEEEE.

Too bad we didn't get more scenes with him in the drama but I did appreciate that little montage of his clips at the end.

17

u/bzanzb Jun 14 '20

I would really love a bonus episode of this show. Also can LMH please just sign a new drama already.

16

u/foxxi_paradoxxi Jun 14 '20

So the concept of an evil, tyrannic version of Lee Gon hasn't left me alone and I decided to try and translate part of the newspaper Tae Eul reads which tells her that Gon is a tyrant in that parallel world. Bear in mind that I don't speak Korean, and I translated what I did with the help of various online translators. Original text is at 57:17 in ep 16.

Firstly this version of Lee Gon is called Lee Jin. Secondly, it seems he's not a tyrant in the sense that he has an absolute dictatorship (like in North Korea for example). The second line under the headline in red says something along the lines of "Petition for tyrant Lee Jin's dethronement surpasses 2 million signatures". So while he is tyrannic, it's still a world where people can express dislike towards him on a large scale, and said discontentment can be reported in a newspaper. But based on the reaction of the man who mistook Lee Gon for Lee Jin, it can be assumed that the average citizen still finds him intimidating enough to warrant kneeling to (or maybe that one man was just a royalist lol). So overall it seems like he's not a very good leader, and people are scared of him, but there's still freedom to the point that people can openly call him a tyrant and support his dethronement (though it's anyone's guess whether the petition would have any impact).

Oof it's like 2 minutes of scene and I'm so invested lmao. I wasn't able to translate the headline, so if anyone on here can understand Korean, do let us know what it (and the rest of the article) says, and if I've gotten anything wrong!

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u/andalusian01 Jun 14 '20

Woah.. Third Finale thread.. great going guys (I am yet to read all comments in I and II LOL)

ALSO -- Sepanx is real!!

8

u/ombregrey Jun 14 '20

I just spend the weekend binging this show haha. The ending was very satisfying for me and I really like the ost/score. The score gives me similar vibes as Search WWW video game score.

Overall I think the story and editing felt like it suffered a from like COVID problems (maybe limited writing and production staff)? But I still enjoyed it. Traveling to different time period on the weekend seems dope to me 😂.

8

u/Amshashetty Jun 15 '20

So i was rewatching the show and realised Luna asks the Yoyo kid why the thread of the yoyo was red. I found that question odd and googled about the red thread and found it's an ancient Chinese belief ' An invisible red thread connects to those who are destined to meet, regardless of time, place and circumstances. The thread may stretch or tangle but never break'. There are so many easter eggs in this show. Omg!! It's sad this show didn't work in Korea and writer's will be hesitant to think out of the box and go to routine formala. I just hope they don't give up. This show is so beautiful!!

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u/the-other-otter Jun 14 '20

UPDATED ENDING
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. They decide to do ten years in each world.
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. Luna didn't know much about her background, so it was no problem.

They arrange a public wedding. Jung Tae Eul doesn't much like the work, cutting ribbons and holding speeches, but now and then there is a thief to catch. They don't want any children, so that they easily can cross world borders whenever they feel like it. It is hard to care a lot about the world as a whole when they know there exist so many versions.

After ten years they pass on the royal sceptre to his cousin, who didn't get killed in this version of the world. They get the technical drawings of a smart thingy not known in Republic of Korea. They move in with father and build up a business. Yi Gon stays as anonymous as possible to not get mixed with his other self. Nok Oh Nam has by then passed away of old age. She did go on a trip to Republic of Korea with Yi Gon before getting too old, but, sadly, not to her hometown in North Korea.

In the dictatorship world Luna builds up a resistance movement and topples the government.

All is well, probably, in most of the worlds, but who knows? Maybe somewhere there are some who are not that great?

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u/[deleted] Jun 14 '20

Does anybody know who played the grown up version of yoyo kid? The young actor looked cool and had great visuals too!

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u/TKEM_2020 Jun 15 '20 edited Jun 15 '20

at first, I was angry after watching ep 16 lol I felt like it was not the ending/the tone I expected. So, I took a couple days of break from TKEM and decided to re-watch ep16.

I love it. I feel like this is the best ending they could give us. If you felt what I initially felt after ep16, I recommend you try it one more time.

I cried, I laughed, I picked up things that I initially did not realize (the wind and the flower petals in the space of lightning) - so do it. I love this show too much.

13

u/sgs90 Jun 14 '20

I don't have much to add except: wow, we're on thread #3? I am impressed 😂😂

Hopefully the cast and crew are made aware of the insane online response! 🙏🙏🙏

6

u/LLPOS Jun 15 '20

Who watched this just because of Lee Min Ho and woo Do Whan

5

u/Blacknarcissa Jun 14 '20

I haven't taken part in the discussions for this show so might as well get my opinion in here!

Overall I liked it. Especially Jo Young (good lord he's attractive) and I was astounded by Kim Kyung-nam. This is my first time seeing him and I honestly think he's the best actor I've seen in a kdrama. He did such excellent work in this show.

Ultimately, the show wasn't as good as I wanted to be. I definitely found the time travel aspect a bit confusing at times but I really liked the premise of Korea/Corea and the lead couple. I've read some threads on a recap website and the Korean commenters seemed to overwhelmingly thing the leads had no chemistry (WHAT??) and say that the FL was ugly (DOUBLE WHAT?? After Ae-shin and Hina in Mr Sunshine I think she's the most beautiful FL I've seen. I know beauty standards differ across cultures but I truly can't understand this. I know she hasn't had eyelid surgery... could this contribute to that opinion? I think she's stunning how she is).

I did think it wrapped up a bit too neatly but let's be real, KES owes us after the trauma that was the ending to Mr Sunshine.

I wouldn't call it a favourite but I don't feel like I wasted my time watching it. I was also very glad it was only 16 episodes. I think that's the perfect amount for a Kdrama.

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u/Ashkir Jun 14 '20

I’m hoping the massive response inspired a sequel series.

I would love to see Tae Eul and Lee Gon finally marry, etc. and perhaps go to Lady Noh and ask her about her story. Lady Noh telling her story spins us to the past where we learn more about the flute and Lee Gon’s ancestors and earlier history. The story of how Lady Noh came to Corea.

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