The King: Eternal Monarch (2020)

A great drama

I don't understand the hate in the comments about this drama ! I really enjoyed it till the end. It's true that the story is very complex but I think this was on purpose. The combat, the plot twist, the travel time thing was really great, you can't be bored at all.
I enjoyed every episode and I think the chemistry between Kim Go Eun and Lee Min Ho was incredible ! I loved the way that she is a badass who can only be fragile with the man she loves.
The acting of Lee Min Ho was perfect, he was perfect for the role , really charismatic, strong , a real king !!
Can we talk about Woo Do-hwan ? He was stunning ! I loved the opposite personnalities of his doppleganger , for me the cast is a 10/10.
But I am not sure that I really understood everything at the end, that's why I can't give more than 8.5 stars.
Also I think that the vilain's story was not developped at all, like why does he want to kill his brother in reality ?? It will have been interesting to know his past too.
I think that's it ! It's a great show, give it a try !

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MIND-BOGGLING AND HEART-WRENCHING

I was indeed looking forward to this drama this year and I can say that it never failed me. It got me hooked from the get-go not because there was this back-and-forth thing that was happening but because of how it captured my interest and how the plot was intriguing. The story had to build-up overtime for our characters but one thing that needs to be pointed out is the fast-pace of the love story. LG's character has given away already that his love for KGE is there, ever since he held that ID of hers. So there was no need to build up his character. JTE, though it took her a long while, wasn't that dumb to let it linger for so long. So she reciprocated in a way that was only JTE style. I was satisfied with the ending as again, the writer's style is to have always the audience given that "open to interpretation" choice.

The story will bring you to a roller-coaster of emotions - all highs and lows. It will have your brains working on those formulas, time freeze, and time loops. But one thing it will surely make you believe is that no matter the time and distance, true love prevails and will always come back to you. 

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While y'all out here hating, we on the other side loving. PERIODDDD.
First of all, why the hate??. Y'all dong get mad at some other shows that are literally the same, like copy and paste. Ma'm this show was bananas in the best possible way, the acting was great, the story was confusing at times but guess what, there's something call PAUSE or REPEAT THE EP. I think people spent most of their time hating on it without watching the next ep. I loved the cast, they did a really good job. My only advice would be that next time if you are traveling back and forth they should change the color of the screen for the audience to understand better and not having to go back and forth almost every single time
Loved the badss women on this series. And Woo, boy you better come through I FELL IN LOVE W YOU. Anyways, stop the hate. Xoxoxo

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I knew that KES's drama always a big hit but i don't know it'll be this fab. I knew her from The heirs and after that i've watched many of her dramas. The King is one of drama where i need my brain to be useful. The actors, the ost, the plot twist and etc. It's just too perfect. The King will always be my favorite K-Drama and then Goblin. I'll be waiting for another wonderful project from KES. And hopefully it'll be very soon and can i ask for Kim Soo Hyun to be another main lead on her drama? And Kim Go Eun too, i'll never be tired if she's the female main lead. You know you can't resist her charm, she's just too good to be true.

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I liked it

Loved the concept of two worlds. Love the cinematography. The scenery of horse riding in episode 1 & also the library scene transaction

Lee Gon is a king. He has a painful past. He is a genius in science & math, smart, cheerful, full of himself.

Jeong Tae-eul: A police officer. She is badass, brave, smart.

Like the scene where Lee Gon fulfills his duties, he didn't show anyone his sorrow until he is alone with the head court lady to cry his heart out. At a very young age, he showed his maturity.

Love Lee Gon & Jo Yeong dynamic relationship.

Jo Yeong & Jo Eun-Sup relationship. They are both opposites of each other. Jo Yeong is always serious, prudent, whereas Jo Eun-Sup is funny, joyous, friendly. Loved Woo Do Hwan acting of portraying two different characters.

Jeong Tae-Eul reaction after coming to Lee Gon's world.

It was funny seeing how Jo Yeong acted as Jo Eun-Sup.

Loved the scene where Lee Gon saved Jeong Tae-Eul.

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STORY:

This drama had plenty of possibilities to be entertaining an unforgettable. But it did not lived up the expectations. It was too messy trying to handle too many characters and too many events including details some very important some completely useless. The writer spent the first part of the drama placing all these elements little by little like Lee Lim placing his pieces of chess where all this led? Nowhere. When the action arrived and the characters started to take place in the plot, the drama seemed to take its momentum but it kept being erratic and when the final had to be delivered, there was not enough time to properly wrap up. The writer just scribbled a terrible ending by sending everyone in a maelstrom of time travelling completely absurd but with happy ending for almost everyone. But everyone are not the same ones of course since everything changed. What a silly way of ending a drama. I don't even mention the romance totally forced and not natural. Them ending as time and space travelers until they get old is a joke. They are scientists? They try to correct events? The purpose is to go drink tea? Nonsense ending.

ACTING / CHARACTERS :

- Lee Gon was just too perfect to be sympathetic or credible. The guy could do every good thing (calculating, cooking, rowing, beating, shooting, riding...) or bad thing (order suicide, executing unarmed people, slaying people out of rage, beheading people) all this without being held accountable. How 2020 Lee Gon version 2 doesn't meet 2020 Lee Gon version 1 who came to save Lee Gon as kid? How he did not vanished if Nothing happened in ROK? The way LMH portrayed him was annoying, boring, usual LMH work.

- Tael Eul was interesting at first when she was a cop and she was working on cases and then she become infatuated to the King God knows how and when or where. Then it is only about them missing each other and finding each other. She is a police officer but when Lee Gon slayed people with his sword for free she did not even blink an eye. Inconsistent writing. KGE did a decent job but no sparkles with her co star.

- Luna: what happens to her in the ROK? She just dies like that? She never happened? KGE was better in this role

- Lee Lim : He scarcely appeared, looked so mean but without clear motivations but ended up killed by his younger self in 1994 but he appears again anyway in 2020?? (terrible plot hole) . He vanishes in the twilight zone with his clothes but not his watch which turns counter clockwise because it looks nice this way... Lee Jung Jin wasted his time in this drama.

- Jo Young : No character development for him. He is just a bodyguard. If we assume he survived his travel in 1994 the Myung Seung Ah he meets back in KOC is not even the one he met at the beginning of the story. That scene in the corridor has no backstory.

- Eun Sub : a simple comic relief.

- Shin Jae: most complex and interesting character but what is the end for him? He hugs his mom and that's it? If He never happened in ROK, Lee Gon also never happened and Jo Yeoung as well. These two should have vanished like Lee Lim.

- Prime Minister: Starts a capable strong female who chases Lee Gon but she ends up a divorcee?? who falls from grace before her connections with Lee Lim are even explained.

- Nari / Myung Seung Ah : I am divided between "they were wasted" or "they were useless"

- The woman who is pregnant in KOC and gets swapped in ROK. For what? Just being beaten by her husband? Another plot hole and useless writing.

MUSIC:

I spent my time trying hard to find the logic of the events and characters so no time to notice the music. No song catched my attention.

REWATCH: Never.

OVERALL: This drama is a waste of talent and a waste of time. If you like beautiful and handsome actors showing their best side to the camera, you can try it. If you look for a good, well written and entertaining story, you shall pass. This drama tells you a draggy messy improbable story of some people and events and it ends up telling you "tricked! It never happened...". But how it never happened if it happened for it to never happen. Stupid writing. Stupid drama.

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A masterpiece

This beautiful fusion of fantasy, romance and mystery engages both the heart and mind. To best appreciate it, one needs to closely follow the captivating adventure set out by the writer. Thus, skipping parts of it is strongly discouraged - you might as well not watch it.

Those who love this drama are fully aware that a story about parallel universes and time travel is not everyone's cup of tea. It is totally understandable for somebody who is not into fantasy to not like it. Excuses like a messy story and too many product placements are not necessary to explain one's inability to appreciate it. What is hard to understand is why some people feel the need to bash it. When I don't like a TV series, I simply stop watching it, not go on and on about why I don't like it. So it's really intriguing why viewers who don't like this drama refuse to leave it alone, keeping on bashing it instead. Is it some defense mechanism? Perhaps this drama made them question whether they're as smart or imaginative as they think they are? Perhaps it made them wonder whether their inability to focus on the story and ignore product placements denotes short attention span? Perhaps they wonder whether not seeing the chemistry between the leads denotes their inability to separate the actors from the characters, in turn denoting their inability to fully immerse themselves in the drama, in turn denoting short attention span?

In any case, many viewers around the world relished this drama and consider it a masterpiece.

Story:
Lee Gon, the eight-year old crown prince of the Kingdom of Corea, witnessed the assassination of his father at the hands of his illegitimate uncle, Lee Lim, who was after a magic flute named Manpasikjeok. After Lee Gon cut the flute in half, Lee Lim tried to strangle him but he was saved by a masked stranger who left an ID card before disappearing. Lee Lim escaped to an alternate world, the Republic of Korea, through his half of the flute. The orphaned Lee Gon grew up to be a wise, intelligent and benevolent king under the care of his dad's cousin, Prince Buyeong, and Head Court Lady Noh. He took comfort in the ID card of Lieutenant Jeong Tae-eul of the National Police Agency left by his savior. For 25 years, he searched for his savior unsuccessfully until one time when, astride his white horse Maximus, he chased a mysterious stranger through the bamboo forest and came across the portal to Korea.

The first person he encountered in the alternate world was police officer Jeong Tae-eul. Utterly happy at finally meeting the owner of the ID that had been his companion for the last 25 years, he hugged her upon meeting her. But, being a no-nonsense and feisty detective, she doubted his claims of being a king in an alternate universe, promptly jailing and investigating him. Their encounters, with him openly declaring his affection for her any chance he got and her slowly warming up to him even while doubting what she thought were delusions of a crazy weirdo, were delightful and heart-tugging. Even when they were bickering, it was obvious they were perfectly matched in personality, intelligence, humor and values. For a fantasy film, the romance was surprisingly realistic. Lee Gon and Tae-eul were both honest about their feelings for each other. Embracing their fate, they didn't toy with each other's affection. While showing the world their strength and bravery, they were not afraid to expose their vulnerable sides to each other. They deeply loved each other, with him willing to open all the doors of the universe to look for her, and her willing to wait until he succeeded. But they were both selfless enough not to let their love rule over peace and balance in the universe.

Lee Gon and Tae-eul could not bask in each other's love as the world was unraveling from the effects of the broken Manpasikjeok. Lee Lim had already killed his and Lee Gon's doppelgangers in the alternate world. He had also been smuggling people between worlds to plant spies in the palace among other reasons, making people kill their doppelgangers in the process. Furthermore, when the portal between the alternate worlds was crossed, time froze, with the duration of time freeze increasing such that there would come a time when both worlds would freeze forever. The solution was to make the Manpasikjeok whole again and to close the doors between the alternate worlds. How Lee Gon accomplished this with the help of Tae-eul, Jo Yeong, Eun-sup, Sin-jae and other allies was as compelling as it was brilliant.

Acting/Cast:
Lee Min Ho's regal bearing and facial and vocal expressions ably brought Lee Gon to life. He successfully portrayed the decisiveness of a strong and wise leader, the brilliance of a man of science, the gentleness of a loving foster son to both Prince Buyeong and Lady Noh, the playfulness of a friend to his Unbreakable Swords and the vulnerability of a man in love. Kim Go Eun's versatility was on full display with her spot-on portrayal of different characters. She clearly showed why Tae-eul was the most suitable partner for Lee Gon. Her honesty and drive to do the right thing were what Lee Gon needed in a life tainted by betrayal. She made us believe in a character who decided to be brave because not everyone could be. She made us hope that seeds from Corea would grow in the inter-dimensional gate and the alternate world just as she hoped she could fire a gun in an environment with no air, wind and light. The supporting cast was excellent with special mention to those who portrayed Jo Yeong, Eun-sup, Lee Lim, Seo-ryeong, Shin-jae, Prince Buyeong, Lady Noh and Secretary Mo.

Music:
From the initial strains of the opening credit to other exquisite background music like "Parallel World", "Fantasia of Another Dimension", "Empire" and "Into the Fantasy", the soundtrack of TKEM transports viewers to a wonderland. The haunting melody of "Maze" with the lyrics "born to be walking alone" gives a glimpse of the lonely world of an orphan who wore the crown. At the same time, the lyrics "light that I chased is you" conveys what he felt about the person whose ID kept him from being sad and lonely while he was growing up. The song "I Just Want To Stay With You" expresses his desire to be with the person who had been his beacon of hope for the last 25 years. The sublime "If Only/My Love and..." background music played at the end of episode 3 made us realize that Tae-eul missed the deluded weirdo who forced her to keep his horse in her yard and that Lee Gon's heart was breaking at having to leave her to go back to his world. The soaring notes of "My Love" make us feel the power of a love that could last forever even when the object of affection had frozen. "You're My End and My Beginning" makes us believe in somebody who would do anything for a loved one.

Rewatch Value:
I have re-watched this masterpiece several times. Each time, I either become more emotional or notice something I have not noticed before. For example, the third time I watched the scene where Lee Gon and Tae-eul were in the hospital quietly looking at each other, I was struck at their painful submission to their fate as they were trying to savor each other's presence and committing each other's features to memory knowing they would likely not see each other again. It was heartbreaking, making me cry now just thinking about it.

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