[Drama 2020] The King: Eternal Monarch, 더 킹: 영원의 군주

[Geolyvseven]

Now that is a kiss I can get behind. I didn't catch the episode yet as I am working but just had a few mins break to watch what you guys are writing on Soompi

[Dramafreak]

One liner post:

 

LG is crying while kissing her! My heart is melting with the tears.

[Jad068]

59 minutes ago, madmad min said:

Real Scene .

 

Timeline....

1. Dec 20-21 2019>>LG scanning JY's laptop for any traces of LR. Catches a Glimpse of LR who has not aged. 

 

2. Same day as point 1 realizes he needs to check if there is any gateway through passage OR is LR still in passage stopping his Ageing. 10 days in Living Worlds=5 hours within Passage between. LG realizes he has 5 hours to scan the passage and Return before New Year  (Cue the Lunar New Year or New Year here is a bit ambiguous for me 10 hour=5 days is Correct though).

 

3. He travels the passage, Fails to find LR's 0-1 Obelisk, again reaches His obelisk of ROK and JTE was missing him that point ( Somewhere between 5 hours/10 days in the world) , they meet cry and hug. (LG does know he reached ROK via his OBELISK and actually would have called JTE via payphone if she did no meet him there.)

 

4. Dec 23rd 2019>>Travels back via passage to Kingdom of Corea and reaches on 23rd Dec 2019. (My estimate he spent around 1.x - 2.x hours in passage which was equivalent to 2 days)

I think they are talking about the Lunar New Year  which is January 25 2020 in here so he probably left January 14 (since ten days before the last day of the year) then came back 23. That is why the press secretary says that the new year is the day after tomorrow and Lady Noh says the date is 23rd.

 

44 minutes ago, Umjicheok said:

No he is Corea bookstore owner. He mentioned about prince Buyeong visiting the bookstore.

 

This was very sad episode 

 

I won't  repeat the points since you ppl are ahead of me.

I just wanted to mention that LG's cousin Se jin looks to me like dopplegangler of facemask girl. 

 

KGE acting in the last scene reminded me of JTE crying for Kim shin. She is really a good crier.

 

How come Lee lim can kill all royal guards, prince buyeong was supposed to go to palace. How I wish king himself along with his royal guards escorted him to the palace

 

Looks like episode 11 onwards we can expect time traveling aspect.

Now I am off to watch this episode again.

 

 

Oh also just to lighten up the mood they missed PPL opportunity when Tae eul brought food for jo yeong I thought they would show kimchi or something else.

 They are openly talking about PPL when they were sitting outside the police station Well looks like motto is if you can't avoid PPL then openly promote it.

 

Same, the feels urgh. 

 

I also think one of the reason he killed the Uncle Prince B was because he visited the bookstore and he does not believe in coincidences.

 

I also think the daughter of Uncle Prince B also looks like facemasked girl. I mean there is probably a reason why they never really show her face for long (other than in pictures). Just my guess though, people with clearer eyes could probably recheck.

 

 

for my main theory. I think we are looking at ala-Time Traveller’s Wife. But the wife dies instead of the time traveller. I really think JTE died because why would future LG (I think he is the future LG based on the clothes which is the same with episode 1) say “I never” if JTE is alive in his present. So he is just replaying their memories and interacting with those stolen/frozen moments in time. I also think when our current LG realizes that time travel is possible maybe he will try to change thinks only to cause the things he is trying to change to happen (ala-Terminator) and that he was his savior all along like how Harry Potter realized he was the one who conjured the patronus that saved himself and Sirius. Hopefully, this show will end ala-HP Prisoner of Azkaban wherein Buckbeck never really died and was saved the whole time but the trio from the future made it only that way so that the past will stay the same and not cause the Grandfather’s Paradox. So I hope it will turn out that JTE was saved the whole time (with the help of yoyo kid) and was only made to look-like she died so that LG will still have the incentive to timetravel and save her. 
 

Something I have also realized, when they kissed LG is crying as if saying goodbye and he is also giving JTE a warning that if it would seem he will disappear so does that mean their timeline is in reverse. Look at it, we never really saw future LG until now (except from 25 years ago if he is really the savior) yet he knew that that future him will be disappearing in JTE’s future. My theory is that he knows his time is up and this is his last meeting of her because future JTE probably told him he never met her before that. It’s like the British show Doctor Who their timeline are in reverse, wherein River’s and the Doctor’s first and last meeting are respectively the last and first of the other so when he first met her it was her last meeting with him. Think of it like a manual rewind wherein the first scene in rewind was the latest scene you have just saw recently. So maybe it means when LG time travels he can only slowly time travel to his nearest frozen moment of his past. Think of it as netflix rewind 10 seconds button and that you keep pressing that button till you reach that start of the episode. So what if he can travel only to his nearest past and he slowly and repeatedly timetravel until he reach 25 years ago. 
 

just the rambling of my confused and hyperactive brain hahaha

[mychoiyoung]

Ok, am a bit calmer now...  I think the LG we see at the end is him from the future where TE has already died. He probably went back in time to see her again. He said he came from a far away place & even crossed the universe and had to travel through the moments frozen in time. And he also was crying, giving me the impression it was a goodbye kiss on his side. The only way he could have disappeared like that without her noticing it is either time stood still. If it is time travelling, there must be some sort of rule or time limit for LG to stay. Just like that novel turned movie "Time Traveller's Wife".

 

WRT to the preview?  TE  definitely is in Corea on her own.  Does not look like she is anywhere near the bamboo portal and since she is calling LG, she did not travel with him.  Was she kidnapped by LR? And in the process of escaping, shot someone?

 

This week will be PURE torture waiting for epi 11-12

 

As a final thought - with all these major hints of a tragic conclusion or that they can never be together (that talk with JY is another major red flag), am still holding on hope for a happy ending. I did not see Goblin or Mr Sunshine so I have no experience with what others refer to KES' penchant for a sad ending. Cos to be on a never-ending time loop?  That's is not only heart breaking.  It is simply cruel.  Come on KES, give us some redemption.

 

LG will find a wrinkle in the fabric of time.  He will find a way!

[madmad min]

4 minutes ago, Jad068 said:

I think they are talking about the Lunar New Year  which is January 25 2020 in here so he probably left January 14 (since ten days before the last day of the year) then came back 23. That is why the press secretary says that the new year is the day after tomorrow and Lady Noh says the date is 23rd.

 

Rewatched the scene again , LG Left KOC when there was 10 DAYS Left for Last day of the Year. I mean isn't the last day supposed to be 31st Dec in every Region? Could Be Jan 13-14 , but again a Bit confusing  here, maybe someone can re-translate the dates with original context.

[mychoiyoung]

6 minutes ago, Dramafreak said:

LG is crying while kissing her! My heart is melting with the tears.

 

That was some incredible acting from LMH and KGE.

[rocher22]

 

 

 

 

 

[ponderings]

When Lee Gon realized that Lee Lim doesn't go through the portal in the bamboo forest, why does he think of Haeundae the place to go next? We always see LG go through the portal, but we have never seen LL go through one. So why Haeundae? 

[Dramafreak]

18 minutes ago, mychoiyoung said:

If it is time travelling, there must be some sort of rule or time limit for LG to stay. Just like that novel turned movie "Time Traveller's Wife".

 

WRT to the preview?  TE  definitely is in Corea on her own.  Does not look like she is anywhere near the bamboo portal and since she is calling LG, she did not travel with him.  Was she kidnapped by LR? And in the process of escaping, shot someone?

 

This week will be PURE torture waiting for epi 11-12

 

My two cents:

I think it could be the time stop that happens which helped LG (future/past/present) disappear.

 

The wait is already a torture

 

good that you havent seen other dramas... treat each one as a piece of art in itself

 

btw the preview is very much in line with the new director's style. I could be wrong but in his other series Hi Bye Mama, i think there are a similar preview which gives no hknts but creates anxiety and let us br honest.... everyone here is anxious!

 

Also, i think ppls have ended now as the fun times are over. I want to understand the conversation of fate with LR / LR eith his minion of fate / SJ with JTE and of course LG with JTE at the end.

 

I love how the drama makes fun of itself. 

 

@ponderings : that particular place because of the video 2022 that he saw? He actually says some dialogue just before oh we wasted our time and I thought that explained it all.

 

Did someone notice the nice dialogue: lr after doctor uncle is dead -- dont act surprised, you knew this was coming !!! Ohhhh...

 

I really feel bad for the king and he needs trusted people in his world --- JS go back.

 

JS and JTE talk was only possible coz both dont know that LR wont go down as easily as JY thinks he will.

 

Action happened in Corea and now I think action will happen in Korea.

 

The next 6 episodes will be nice. 

[Lu_San5]

Hello, I've been a silent reader since the beginning of the drama. It's been years since I logged in here, I didn't even remember my old account lol. But this drama is blowing my mind so I decided to come back here to see the ongoing discussion and theories. I love it  Today's episode has me thinking way too much, I cannot wait for Friday to arrive!

[madmad min]

To Lighten the Mood, I sometimes Wonder if any writer or TKEM crew member reads Soompi Forum. Even LG's secretary wonders if he vanishes for Scandalous Rendezvous.  

 

 

 

 

[Jad068]

21 minutes ago, madmad min said:

 

Rewatched the scene again , LG Left KOC when there was 10 DAYS Left for Last day of the Year. I mean isn't the last day supposed to be 31st Dec in every Region? Could Be Jan 13-14 , but again a Bit confusing  here, maybe someone can re-translate the dates with original context.

They were talking of the New Year of the Lunar Calendar (Lunar NY)  not the New Year of Gregorian Calendar. Lunar New Year (known as Chinese Nee Year in some countries) was celebrated January 25 this year (the date changes every year depending on the lunar cycle, the date of new moon and full moon) . That is why they were talking about how it is the start of the year of the rat ( part of the 12 Chinese Zodiac). Asian countries typically celebrate new year twice: one for the gregorian new year and the other for the lunar/chinese new year. Though the Lunar NY is celebrated more in the sense of festivals and holidays.

[madmad min]

1 minute ago, Jad068 said:

They were talking of the New Year if the Lunar Calendar (Lunar NY)  not the New Year of Gregorian Calendar. Lunar New Year (known as Chinese Nee Year in some countries) was celebrated January 25 this year. That is why they were talking about how it is the start of the year of the rat ( part of the 12 Chinese Zodiac). Asian countries typically celebrate new year twice: one for the gregorian new year and the other for the lunar/chinese new year. Though the Lunar NY is celebrated more in the sense of festivals and holidays.

 

Thank You, Will Re-edit the post, I said ambiguity because of Dec25/23 and All that Jazz

7 minutes ago, ponderings said:

When Lee Gon realized that Lee Lim doesn't go through the portal in the bamboo forest, why does he think of Haeundae the place to go next? We always see LG go through the portal, but we have never seen LL go through one. So why Haeundae? 

 

It's Near to the KING's Palace in Busan from what I understood in sub-text and from what Google told me.

 

Spoiler

Haeundae is an affluent beach front community that attracts tens of thousands of tourists during summer. It has been subject to considerable commercial development in recent decades. The beach is linked to Busan Subway Line 2 and train stations on the Donghae Nambu railway line.

 

[mychoiyoung]

21 minutes ago, madmad min said:

Rewatched the scene again , LG Left KOC when there was 10 DAYS Left for Last day of the Year. I mean isn't the last day supposed to be 31st Dec in every Region? Could Be Jan 13-14 , but again a Bit confusing  here, maybe someone can re-translate the dates with original context.

 

They are probably referring to the Chinese New Year celebration or what others call as Lunar New Year.  Take note that during LG's speech, he referred to the Year of the Rat.  That should clue you in.  It is not the traditional or gregorian new year celebration.

[Alice Wonderland]

Seriously, writer KES is doing a very good job in casting LMH as the king. I mean, he's perfect height,  super good looking, top acting and charisma jjang!! I might sound subjective, you bet it. But I am only stating the fact here. Lol.

I love the 5 minutes of confrontation in Hondae. It was just so good. I keep myself in aweing. What was for, yeah it's all for how good that scene of the two, the tension is there. If it wasn't for more casualties reason and the citizen's safety, he would be caught on the spot. But... yeah... you can't expect our king defeat him so easily right. He was the so-called traitor who massacre the whole royal family in the history. So it won't be easy to behead him soon. You know the background music during this moment and how LR and his followers left after creating some chaos like that, they remind me of Dementors in Harry Potter. These Dementors like to suck up the spirit life by taking out their souls. Just like they do. I like this scene. I mean, it gives you that goosebumps feels.

And what makes me feel glad about TKEM, even they have found the villain and lost him before their eyes, I don't really find it so annoyingly with the heroes. And even we have seen that big spoiler they always have a way to keep me curious and interested, like the end preview of bloody TE with the clothes she wear in 2022 timeline. She called LG telling him she's on her way to the palace. Wait....what is this??? Why they do this to me????! I want to know what happens??? Does the payphone LG mentioned before was another clue to this???

Oh why did they kill our king's good uncle??? Whyyyyy, I told you writer I'd be very upset. Poor him. This LR is really a monster! So I want to see how he ends up living his eternal life like hell. He must taste the hell he created for people all this time. Give him a painful life or a very tragic death. That will serve him best!

On a lighter mood but end up being another sad story here, I am glad he's back with a bucket of pretty flowers, seems like buckwheat flowers but looks blue??? Well, what flower is that. Reminds me of ehmmm.. yeah you know which right? Okay, that's not my point, why they torture our OTP over and over! Their long-distance relationship is not a simple thing to do but now they add up more bitters like the repetitive farewell from time to time. So heartbreaking, seeing how teary eyed LG told her he loves her, he's really in love with her. Such a great pair of excellent acting! KGE still looks so darn pretty even she's crying in agony. Huhuhu... my poor heart, don't they know I'm quite weak to this kind of thing. I easily tear up like a silly girl here.

I feel bad for SJ, those confession in front of JH's memorial is one of the saddest things happened so far in ep 10. I don't know whether to feel bad or good that LR deported SJ to Korea. He could be one of the crack that LR missed, one cracks of his plans.

My only consolation to this episode was ES is saved. I am sure he does when he wears that vest before. And he makes me laugh when he amazed to the speech that LG delivered. He was ME, my reaction during the scenes!! LOL
JY vs. ES's sister, I'll watching you. Hahaha. She's genius! That's a real sister!

Opps... another long post, but if you read me until this last line, thanks, I hope I don't bore you or spoil you too much in anyway, sorry if I did. I can't wait for another week. Let's continue for more talks of this week episodes soon. Now, good night peeps, I'm sleepy. I'm going to bed. Jaljayo, kkeut.

[Geolyvseven]

49 minutes ago, gwin said:

No.  Crash Landing on You and Itaewon Class were much much bigger.  

Let's not make comparisons.

 

Spoiler

Itaewon Class and Cloy are placed in No.30 and No.31 run time ended sometime ago not bad by all means. TKEM is No. 19 and half way it's airing date which means it's coming up fast and ranked at number 10 worldwide this week. 

 

TKEM is only 4 weeks old and moving fast up the ranking. TKEM target is top 10 which is on sight and realistic target 

[effyisme]

8 minutes ago, madmad min said:

To Lighten the Mood, I sometimes Wonder if any writer or TKEM crew member reads Soompi Forum. Even LG's secretary wonders if he vanishes for Scandalous Rendezvous.  

 

 

His response was gold too.. he said its more like an illegal immigration but it was amazing indeed... amazing considering what he and JTE did in the forest 

[ms_inquiry]

Ahhhh my heart hurts    the acting in this episode was heartbreaking and sublime. LG's surprise and concern when he spots JTE while riding. 

 

Speculation: What does that last scene mean?

The Lee Gon of the last scene is definitely from the future. He seems to be saying goodbye, which means I'm pretty sure that they will be separated at the end of the drama (or if we are incredibly lucky it only means that LG believes that they will be forever separated and they actually won't). However JTE's sense that their time together will be short (ep. 8) and LG's demeanor in this scene suggest to me that they won't end up together. He is crying, and probably using this opportunity granted through time traveling to see her one last time/again. JTE will meet LG again, it will just be the present LG who we, the audience, last saw mourning his uncle. That LG will later on become the one we saw in this episode's last scene. 

 

I agree with whoever suggested that the flowers might be from the in-between space. Perhaps when the gates are starting to close (or are closed) there will be wind, sunlight, time etc. and therefore the flowers can grow and bloom. And perhaps that is what is happening. The gates are closing.

 

I don't think there is an alternate universe LG, just as others have stated I think there is only a future LG.

 

Side note: If the ending is really dark LG might have to sacrifice himself to set things right, so after time traveling he might disappear forever. The gates might be closed for his future self in this last scene we just saw (and his future self might be stuck in the Republic and/or be stuck time traveling - not in a time loop though; stuck in the sense that he can only time travel back in time and when he has set things right he might disappear or end up back in the Kingdom without the flute and without the ability to see JTE again). This might be too dark though... I am worried though that the shoulder scar is a sign that using the flute will take a toll. 

 

Theorizing based on the two filming spoilers that were revealed earlier:

Spoiler

At some point the LG we have seen, the one currently mourning his uncle, will travel through time. He will become his own savior from episode 1 (which is pretty similar to how Harry Potter saves himself in The Prisoner of Azkaban) and will also meet young JTE. I think he is time traveling to set things right, to undo the damage LL will cause. When the flute is whole he will be able to time travel but perhaps the portals between the worlds will close, or he must close the gates for the sake of saving both universes.

 

So while time traveling and setting things right (perhaps through rewriting time), he is also closing the gates and thus separating himself from JTE forever - he is probably visiting her at different points of her life. Just so he can see her/say goodbye. Pretty sure that's why we saw young JTE's actor in those filming photos. 

 

I don't think I've ever seen I show where I have needed the ending to be happy so much 

 

Another thought: the reason he suddenly disappeared in front of JTE is because time froze, right? So is he only time traveling through frozen moments? The phrasing of his last words to JTE seem to indicate they she will see him after he has traveled through those frozen moments - since he asks her not to worry because he seems to be gone (and the phrasing seem to indicate that those events, her being worried and him being gone, has already happened to him, rather then that it is currently happening to him). However this is only based on the phrasing of those few sentences and might just as well mean that she shouldn't worry because he is not dead, but gone only because he is time traveling.

 

[Spring Lady]

i thought i prepared myself well for sad ending. but seeing today ep, i might sue them for breaking my heart like this why they can't be happy... is it a big wish to wish for?....

 

but that kid really good at acting hearing lee lim said about god is useless and powerless. it remind me to goblin and grim reaper, who don't believe in god and saying bad stuff about it. but the god always watching them closely. seems like this is the same case.. 

[leeminhosny]

I found this did anybody share it?