As you probably know, I’m a Cynical Islander (population: 1).
artwork by Phoenix
A couple of days ago, I asked my good friends over at Shallow Island (they’re really NOT shallow at all) to write their testimonials for Lee Gon/Lee MinHo.
I’m compiling their posts out here for others to enjoy.
I invite all the Bitches and (oooh, what do we call the dudes?) the Gnomes to appreciate Lee Min Ho and Lee Gon.
Newbies: Remember my Bitch Rules, please. BANNED WORDS
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credit: itsjeonsjungkooks’ tumblr
Growing_Beautifully wrote this about Lee Gon:
Once a character starts being comfortable in his own skin, becomes happier and relaxed, that’s half the battle won for me! I enjoyed seeing LG as the regal, careful/responsible, sedate King, being mindful of his behaviour (except when he disappears), who accepted his lot calmly, with maturity. I liked that his character was consistent and that he was not a complete wastrel, when he has trillions to waste.
Now to see him like a delirious kid, happy to bring home a new friend. Excited to show her around his place and to have the chance to prove that he has been truthful all along, is heady stuff.
I guess I always have a soft spot for young folks who suffered as kids, but grew up OK. Who kept working towards the good, but who were never actually completely fine (or suffered trauma in silence), although they never complain. To see them happy ‘at last’, is healing and rewarding.
Plus his expression of joy!! His open laughter which we never heard til Ep 5! (His Yeongi and bodyguards were shocked to hear it.) His frequent smiley eyes and cheeky grins. His wanting to look good in front of the girl. His teasing (I love that he keeps his face deadpan straight each time and confuses her) and their banter. All so natural, and thus, so sweet!
I actually think the kiss was appropriate in that it was something like a dare from TE and a response to the dare from LG. It was an experiment between 2 people who look like they’ve never seriously dated, and they remained staring at each other in scientific observation mode LOL. Plus in non-pluss-ed,’what now, are we supposed to be dating?’ mode, after the kiss.
Growing_Beautifully’s list of swoon-worthy moments:
@pkml3, What? Just 3 moments? LOL. Well, it’s still more the King LG that I like than just LMH, but ok, the smile, the look and the walk are LMH so …
Episode 5 Timestamps
11:45 When he said he’d ditch OCL and get back to TE he blinked with a smile.12:20 When he laughed with incredulity that she finally believes he is the King.
22:50 When he admitted that he’d imagined bringing TE to his kingdom many times – he said it with a wag of his head. (Smitten with a head wag!)
23:25 When he handed his mobile phone to her without hesitation (Smitten by his trust)
25:40 This one pkml3 mentioned, OCL was giving him the evil eye as he asked which side TE’s room was. He looked back at TE with a smile.
29:13 He had sneaked into her room and was looking so pleased with himself.
29:30 When he handed her the beer he’d stashed in his pocket.
32:40 He had sneaked into her room and bluffed her about the CCTVs, then when she got up to check, he pulled her down and stared at her unwaveringly: “You believe everything I say now. That was a lie.” LOL
39:00 at the Math Lecture when he walked around telling jokes and then leaned on the podium looking very debonair. (Smitten with the walk)
Then he asked the bodyguards if he was cool or not (LOL) and turned and winked at her with a smile.42.30 In the helicopter when he laughs to see what searches she made on his mobile phone. Very good humoured look.
1:07:30 When he walked out of the building to TE. (Smitten by another walk).
credit: dreamingsnowflake20’s tumblr
Agdr03’s top 3 moments:
Here’s my 3 swoons from episode 5.
– That whisper to OCL from 26:29 asking where exactly is TE’s room is my number 1 receipt. 😍 Look at his closed lips right there after looking back at TE at 26:35! Swoon!
– My second is at 21:44, the King in his royal robe has a food trolley and beer for TE. That’s service for you! He can give me Min-grin Margarita anytime. 😂
– Entering the basketball stadium from 39:03. I’m being too shallow here but I thought he looked very relaxed here. ☺️
But let’s look at LMH’s smile to dimple again from 25:11 and again at 26:09. 😍
credit: dreamingsnowflake20’s tumblr
From Phoenix:
Okay…how do I condense my emotions into such a short space? I’m wondering. Long post alert now:
I absolutely adored the sedate and serious king discovering he is in love for the first time and trying out new things to please his lady love. If I was TE, I’d have fallen long ago, however much I might have pretended otherwise, simply because he is so earnest. He is so ready to offer her support and his entire world – there’s something touching about it, especially because it comes across how lonely he has been as a child who lost his parents but had no true childhood or time to grieve as he had these huge responsibilities thrust on him. I didn’t see him laugh even as a child – he was just too serious. How he is changing gradually now for his love is just touching.
Is my adoration for LMH or LG? I think it’s more LG as a character but LMH has made it his by his portrayal. I actually think his acting is far, far better in this than Legend of the Blue Sea, as this is a role unlike he has ever essayed before – the gravitas and the responsible monarch regal demeanor he needs to portray.
So when I give instances of why I’m smitten, I may not always be able to distinguish between LG the king and LMH the actor, and that I think is a testament that LMH in the latter episodes has actually got into the skin of the king’s character. I love how caring he is towards TE and how attentive he is to all her wants, whether expressed or unexpressed. He is breaking so many of his habits for her that it is swoonworthy. Any man who makes that kind of an uncharacteristic effort towards making his lady love feel happy is a keeper in my books.
My top favorites (from Episodes 5 and 6):
1. Beginning of ep. 5 – The first time that LG brings TE on horseback into his dimension – the way he holds onto her carefully and understands she is shocked – there’s something very caring and protective about that, especially when he tells his guards to step back because she is shocked. Then he looks deeply into her eyes (swoon) and when she says that she will soon be beheaded now, he laughs and there’s something very indulgent about his laughter – like he is allowing her liberties he allows no one else because she is special.
2. Ep. 5 – The scene in TE’s room at the palace – The sequence when he lays his head on her shoulders is just so touching. I liked how they are already being each other’s support. I feel somehow that gesture shows how much LG trusts her and shows her his vulnerability – to others he never bends and is ramrod straight and composed, but he needs to rest his head too on someone’s shoulders as his shoulders carry the weight of so many responsibilities.
He can trust extremely few people in his life, given the circumstances, and this was so apparent when he was forced to suspect the old prince who did the autopsy (he looked so hurt that someone who he trusted actually kept secrets from him and kept asking if the prince has called to confess because he wanted to restore his trust).
credit: kdramafan22’s tumblr
From Phoenix, continued:
Back to the scene – I liked how he came back to TE because he knew she would be uncomfortable in a new place in an alien world that she is still coming to terms with. He sits on the ground for her the first time in her life (did anyone else notice the slight hesitation before he did that) and even finds he likes it. That is so cute!
Then when TE dares him to say if this is when he is dating, the way he slowly moves in for the kiss – it wasn’t forced at all to me, more of a declaration from his side and giving a choice for her to explore her feelings – because he gave her ample time to retreat which she didn’t and there was no surprise in her eyes, though she may not have responded back (I feel at this point she is still thinking about what she is feeling and it is still very new to her but she is more than half-way on that route already unknowingly).
Then after the kiss, he asks her did he prove he had dated before or that they are dating now, with a smirk (swoon). If you watch ep. 6, you will know there is an extra scene here which is shown in ep. 6 where immediately after the kiss, TE asks LG to remove his clothes (RAWR) and he looks shocked that she is moving too fast…lol. She, of course, only wanted to see his scar.
3. Ep. 5 – The way he drops everything and turns around his helicopter to bring her back on hearing she is distressed. He lands in Seoul knowing it will cause a diplomatic situation (as the Prime Minister will come to know). For a man who always is careful to follow protocol, he doesn’t spare a thought for it when it comes to making TE comfortable – he puts her first. Then when he walks out of the glass doors all in rescuing knight mode (swoon).
4. Ep.6 – When TE confidently fields the probing questions from that highly irritating Prime Minister, how LG looks admiringly at her that she is capable of saving herself. Then when she says she is a liberal arts student, the way he laughs (swoon) because that is something he teases her about all the time, contrasting with the fact that he is a maths expert. .
5. Ep.6 – The scene in the helicopter where LG (who actually doesn’t like people touching him) asks for TE’s hand because he knows she wants to ask him something and is hesitant in front of his guard and assistant. The way they interact by writing messages on each other’s hands is just so adorable (while the two sitting in front of them wear shocked expressions at seeing their king behave this way…haha).
From Phoenix, continued:
6. Ep. 6. – The scene in the kitchen where he makes so much of effort to cook for her and when he understands she was lost and confused in the alien city today (and he had gone through the same in her world), he asks her to come over and touches his forehead to hers to comfort her (double swoon), saying he can’t hug her as he can’t use his hands. This is just such a caring gesture. Even TE is affected and says it doesn’t look like this is his first time (dating)…he is so smooth. He also says he won’t let her go now (the way he says that…with steady conviction..his eyes…swoon)
7. Ep. 6 ending – That final scene – I think this is where it finally hits TE that she loves the King too. All this while, it was him who took all the initiative while she was on the fence about her feelings for him. But he is just so steadfast in his affection and coming back for her again and again that it finally dawns on her that she misses him when he is not around – and she slowly discovers that what she must be feeling is love. The way she runs to him and he embraces her in his arms and holds her protectively, realizing now that he has put her in danger as evil uncle is alive and anyone close to LG is now no longer safe. I watched that ending scene on a rewind.
In contrast to all those who feel no spark in the relationship, I think the growth of their relationship has been shown perfectly – a gradual progression from more interest on his part (because of him associating her with his savior from childhood), to him going out of his way to make her feel comfortable and cared for, to them giving each other support even while bantering, to her finally reciprocating. I’m fully on board this ship now 🙂
credit: Gudongmae’s tumblr
Phoenix added:
@packmule3 While my earlier post is about LG, it’s also about how LMH shows caring through his eyes every time he looks at KGE, how he sparkles when he laughs, how elegant he looks in the ending scene in that overcoat, and how nice his wind-blown hair looks in that night scene on the yatch.
Like I said, I’m falling for LG’s character BECAUSE it is LMH who is portraying it for me. Hence it may have been written as a great character, but it is LMH with his long deep gazes, adorable cheeky smirks, slow motion walks and tall regal bearing who is making it swoonworthy for me.
From mychoiyoung:
Among the many swoon-worthy moments since the start of the series, the one that stands out for me is the kitchen scene. That loving head-butt? S.I.G.H.
TE was visibly unbalanced by that gesture. But of course by then she was already in a very vulnerable state. What with experiencing what LG experienced when the latter was in ROK, her empathy for him grew by leaps and bounds.
ps: LMH in dark clothing & that deep voice… so fiiiiiiiiiiine. The end.
credit: kdramafan22’s tumblr
From Fern:
@packmule3, and @nrllee, you aren’t alone yet. “end of Ep4 horse ride through the portal did send me crossing the bridge over yonder Shallow Island for a bit”. nrllee, are you still on Cynical Island after Ep6?
I think that I am enjoying the writing of the love story. The question was whether Lee Gon is swoonworthy BECAUSE of Lee Min Ho. Eeeesh. As to casting, his physically large facial features and height also help make him ‘regal’. I think that his restrained movements and poker face in the early episodes fit in well with how royals are taught to act in public and it’s heartening to see him becoming more relaxed. I think that the PDs wanted this contrast (and the shock of the courtiers) to convince us of his affection towards Tae-Eul and his humanity.
Having written that, I have to say that I enjoyed the scenes that were mentioned by @agdr03, @GB and @Phoenix, especially the writing on the hands and her look when he said the surface of the moon was covered in ‘l-something’. I also liked the somewhat poignant scene in her bedroom when he said that crossing between universes was easier than crossing the (gesture) invisible line between them and when she said that she needed to leave and he said ‘you can’t’, but of course he let her.
I am equally interested in the other characters, though. I like the Myeong Na-ri/Seung-a and Jo Yeong/Eun-Seop. I’m hoping to see Jo Yeong unbend a bit.
LOL @pkml3!!! What, just because we can swoon over a few moments you feel abandoned on your island?!?!? I still Island hop, but I like the show more than I rolled eyes at it.
Does liking the OTP relationship cancel out cynicism? Or put it the other way, does being cynical over the show eradicate liking the OTP together or liking the production? I’d say ‘No’ to both.
We watch hawk-eyed to catch the flaws as well as the good stuff, enjoying the ride along the way, ever ready to sail into the Bay of Disdain, fish in Snarky Lake or trek through the Forest of Sarcasm at the drop of the wrong hat. So do not feel abandoned, @pkml3. We have been guessing with a degree of wildness, and have yet to be fully convinced. 🤔 😂
Squuuueeeeaaaaaalll!!! 😍😍😍
Thanks @pm3 for putting this up! Now I can just go to this whenever I want to see my favourite hand conversation between LG and TE and that whisper to OCL. 🥰🥰🥰
Oooohhh! This post is just awesome!!!🥰🥰🥰
Those gifs are everything!!!😍😍
I’m supposed to be working for I’ve lost all my train of thought😜😜
That backward glance and dimpled cheeky grin💓💓
Thank you @@packmule3 😁
You are never alone..we are just a bridge across and we keep hopping across islands anyways😛
I’m babbling too now🙄🙄
I meant I’m supposed to be working but I got distracted by this😜😜
Thank you also for including my comments. That’s very nice of you 😊
Thanks for this post @packmule3. A lot of complaints have been said re the couple’s acting. This is my first time to watch KGE but I find her attack on her role refreshing.
And with LMH, as you can see in my username, I am a Faith enthusiast. Whatever pitfalls that series had, I just cannot get over how magnificent he was as Dae Jung Choi Young. Others find him wooden – just like in TKEM – without taking into context what the role requires. At least for me.
I can see the maturity in the way LMH attacks LG’s persona. His voice, his actions, mannerisms, laugh, posture – everything about how he interpreted the character is wonderfully measured and regal – when needed. After all, he is King, right? Nobility exacts a certain decorum from the person.
But we can see that when he is with JY, Ok Nam and lately with TE, he becomes animated and loose as any nobleman is allowed to be.
I saw this posted in weibo which I think is very telling wrt to LMH’s performance
Wrt to the character LG there are two things that stayed with me –
1. I look back at the conversation he shared with TE in the bamboo forest when TE asked what kind of a king he is. TE’s initial description was superficial, remember? “Handsome, rich, etc…” , which is his public persona. But when it was his turn to describe himself — “rower, mathematician… – what embodies him and values which are beyond skin-deep – his enviable skills, his beautiful mind, his royal legacy. I like that he is very adaptable, honest, delightfully nerdy and very self-aware. What’s more, LG is unapologetic about all of these. Amazing given his traumatic childhood.
2. I don’t think anyone has spoken about this but I also liked that LG prioritized talking to TE’s father. And if the conversation between TE and his Dad is any indication (after TE came back from Corea), I think LG made quite an impression on Dad! I find it real charming that he took the time to get to know TE’s family.
So, sorry Bitches, no need for me to island hop. I appreciate LMH. And I like King LG a lot! 🙂
😂 Cynical Island population 2. I did contemplate ducking across after that horse ride into the unknown and how he cared for her when he told the guards to step back. But no…still on Cynical Island I’m afraid. Especially after the rude awakening that Maximus the magnificent was actually Lady Maximus the Maidenly. 😲. I still haven’t watched Ep6. I was so disengaged in Ep5 that I couldn’t summon the enthusiasm to start Ep6. But I do have to admit that Mr LMH is very easy on the eyes. I just still find his delivery of lines and his portrayal of the character just not quite there. I just can’t warm to him. I like Lee Gon as a character but LMH…I just can’t get on board.
I like the dialogues of Lee Gon but LMH’s acting can’t sell them to me.
I swoon for WDH and I want to give a banbogi to Shin Jae 😀
@mychoiyoung… I was super entertained by TE and her dad’s conversation. Not only did he not miss his daughter at all, he missed the horse more than the man LOL. He went on and on about how LG and he had chatted in front of the horse and wondered how he could leave with the horse. That was great comic relief.😆
I was laughing at that too @GB and @mychoiyoung 😁
There’s TE who was glad to be back in her world and did miss her Dad but he missed Lady Maximus and LG instead. Yes, LG sure did made an impression to her Sad. ☺️
@GrowingBeautifully (GB) @agdr03 – and may I stress the just point out the possible significance of LG talking to THE Dad… Couldn’t be because of the coffeee, right?! Serious much about his lady love? LOL Oh Pyeha! Hahahahahaha
Of course! Of course @mychoiyoung. 😉 He probably talked to the Dad about simple /casual things but I’m sure he made it serious enough to let him know he’s interested in his daughter. 😆
Faith is the first kdrama I watched, so I always will have a soft spot for LMH. He is not the most subtle actor, but he is never over the top either. There is certain earnestness in his delivery which is endearing.
LG as character is
brave and decisive
smart but not showing off too much
honest and straightforward
reserved but warmhearted
good cook
not succumbing to the charms of PM Goo
But my heart aches more for the mysterious and potentially tragic Sin Jae…
Respectfully submitted by Snow Flower, originally a Shallow Island resident, now comfortably established on the Bridge
I’m working on my Lee Gon post for Ep 6.
Yes, I watched him on Faith. I didn’t like his partner there, though. I couldn’t feel the romance, maybe because I was seeing her as a noona.
I liked Lee MinHo’s character best among all the other characters he played. (I’ll explain later).
Yes, SinJae is an intriguing character isn’t he but he’s a bit too “emo” for me. Which is understandable because he’s suffering from some sort of depression.
I wouldn’t trust his psych, though. Something shifty about her. Always bumping into him like that.
But I’m laughing at Capt Jo Yeong everytime he shows up. He rocks that disapproving, disdainful glare so well.
Phoenix,
Yes, we need to take a break from all the seriousness of theories.
And gathering those gifs from tumblr was my humble contribution to the post. 🙂 I knew you’d like them.
I’m writing a post on Lee Gon so it should be up tonight (if I’m not distracted by other dramas).
@pm3, I agree that the shrink lady is shifty and not trustworthy. I would not be surprised if she is a mole planted by Evil Uncle to spy on SJ.
I want to see more Captain Jo- Palace PR lady interaction.
@packmule3 Here are lots of cookies for you for this post🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪
I’ve unabashedly been on Shallow Island from day 1 because I always knew I was susceptible to LMH, especially when he isn’t resorting to mannerisms (which he is not as LG)…and I made no bones about my liking for him in this drama😊
And I know we are all very inclusive here and sarcasm is as welcome as gushing😛😛😛😛
That’s why we all keep frequenting this blog😊
This blog is so much of a relief to me in these difficult times😍
Like @agdr03, I can now look at those gifs whenever I’m stressed.
Will wait eagerly for your post on Lee Gon @packmule3. It’s sure yo be awesome😊
Yeesh, I thought I was being very, very moderate in my praise of LMH playing LG. I’m still not sure if another actor might not be better in the scenes I liked. I’m still waiting, willing and wanting to be convinced.
He does look regal in the sense that I could see him in statue form – think Gwanghwamun Square or Mount Rushmore. That’s a good job by the casting director.
Conclusion: I’m still on the Cynical side of the bridge, if not in the pub.
“ He does look regal in the sense that I could see him in statue form”
😂 I think it doesn’t help that it’s plainly obvious that the writer and PD just keep freeze framing his visuals for everyone to ogle at? He’s like a a Vogue model.
Saw a couple of fan videos showing LG wielding his Four Tiger Sword in the streets of Busan! Just like Dae Jung 🙂 I think those will be shown by Epi 8. Terribly excited for this as I love LMH in combat mode.
There is just something poetic about his movements when he wields a sword or weapon
I liked LMH’s acting in Faith too. It’s my favourite drama of him. I liked the OST Carry On by Ali 🙂
The press conference with English subtitles.
Some information suggests that the drama will become much more eventful in the near future.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c44LK5ghrR4
There’s a weird vibe. Looks like they all drank a lot the night before, and just had time to drink the hangover soup before coming.
At first, they say things like, “warm”, “dynamic”, when they seem to be the other way around.
The relationship between the two main actors seems quite distant. The journalist is a bit sadistic, since she would like the actress to call LMH “oppa”. Tssssssss. All this is of course very embarrassing for everyone.
I wonder if this drama is going to be a 16-episode script, or if it’s going to be like “Vagabond”: a necessary season 2.
You have to be pretty swoon-worthy if you ride up in a white steed named Maximus.
@WEnchanteur, thank you for the press conference video. You wrote, “At first, they say things like, “warm”, “dynamic”, when they seem to be the other way around.” It’s possible that they are trying to escape being ‘shipped’ should they express themselves familiarly in public. Fans can be vile.
@nrllee, “the writer and PD just keep freeze framing his visuals for everyone to ogle at?” 🤣 Well, yeah. I feel over-loaded by the freeze frames, the triple-takes and even more, the slo-mo, which becomes trite when over-used IMO.
I have to say, while I was not a LMH fan before TK:EM, he has exponentially grown on me. That nose is to die for! And his acting skills are not as bad as I initially thought; his character is pretty convincing.
I am finally joining this drama thread. Can I say I’m on the bridge, at the launch party? More confused than cynical, occasionally shallow. 😛 Joining not because of LMH, but mainly cos of all the hype and that because @packmule3 is reviewing this helps me not get so confused. I am still digesting all the sci-fi parallel world thing and family members (there are 2 names to remember for each character!). This is the first LMH drama I am watching so I come without expectations or background of his acting, just that his nose is really sharp isn’t it. Nonetheless I enjoyed the love storyline and the development of it, how TE’s self-protection and defensive shield from this crazy man who claims to be king slowly melts into an awe of him. You all pointed out all the scenes that happened…scenes worth swooning!
Oh dear @all (it’s strange but I feel part of a group here. Umm. Yes. I’m weird.) But moving on, I am finally here and coherent. In all my previous comments on this drama thread, I wrote that I do not understand this drama. Well, I rewatched all 6 EP after a read through of @Pm3 theories and explanations. I must admit, I not only understood what was going on, I thoroughly enjoyed it !!
Thank you to all the contributors here who make my sleepless nights lighter and filled with more smiles.:) I enjoyed this list even though I’m not a “traditional” LMH fan. I think he’s doing a way better job than legend of the blue sea. I never found his grieving scenes there convincing. If @pm3 is right, and TE would indeed die, he better be more convincing in his sadness. Especially since the child actor playing LG is so good.
About the shipping part, I agree with you @Fern. I’m shocked at the extent people are pushing lead actors of CLoY together. It’s ridiculous.
Welcome @grace! Good to have someone on the bridge. We party there too (at least I believe our launch party was held there!)
Yes, come with fresh eyes and without expectations to watch LMH and the whole show generally. It’s not another one of those easy sci-fi romances, but seems out to confound us with complicated ‘mathematical’ formulae and to challenge us to work out beautiful solutions to beautiful answers. Heh!
Since there are both liberal arts students and science-y people here, the conversation is scintillating and informative. 🤓 🤯 😆
Hi @Arihsi! Of course you’re part of the group here. There’s nothing strange about it. If you can bear with our banter and bitch along with us, all is right in our 2-island world!!! At least we only need a bridge and not a portal to link our islands!
I’m glad you’re re-watching and understanding more of this show. It’s hard work and takes a lot of time. Getting some insight after all the work, is so highly rewarding though!!!
You’re welcome, and you’re also welcome to our wild imaginings LOL!
I’m not an LMH fan, but I like the character, Lee Gon. I only watched LMH in 2 other shows and dropped Legend of the Blue Sea. I agree that he’s better in this show than I’ve noticed before, but then I watched so few, so …
In any case, have fun and enjoy!
@GB *wave* great to have company on the bridge! I am more of a liberal arts – tending towards design person. Sciency stuff are interesting but so complex. All these disciplines relate to one another in some way or another anyway. Hopefully I will learn something or two here
I’m drowning in the Swoon-worthy Sea… and suddenly I’m burping LOL am I full? what am I eat just now? (because I’m fasting today ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ) I think I eat a lot of love from all of you towards LG.
btw, do you guys already know? although you can consider this information as a spoiler but I can’t keep it to myself, but two days ago my IG be flooded with posts about LG and TE’s wedding. it proved by two posts from a wedding organizer and their staff (?) they didn’t make a clear caption tho, but the hasthags said it all.
hopefully, it won’t be a one night as hubby and wife like Kim Shin and Ji Eun Tak. please make it as the ending, for them, live happily ever after together and forevermore. amen.
Heh! @yellow_grass cute rumour or spoiler. Since LG has already by the end of Ep 2 declared he would take her as his wife, the Queen, and as he has so far shown that he means what he says, a wedding is consistent. What we’ll be interested to know is what leads to this situation, why she’d agree and what the role of Queen offers or adds to LG and TE.
Back to the old chess board, the Queen is the most powerful piece, and personally, if I were to play chess, I’d loathe to give her up, but I believe that the sacrifice of the Queen is a chess strategy. If a Queen is sacrificed, it has to be for a clear end game reason, ie a certain win. The loss of the Queen would lull the opponent into thinking that the game is easy to win or already won, but other chess pieces will come into play and beat him.
Which reminds me that TE says she is already beaten by anyone who belongs to LG’s world, but LG assured her that even if he found the saviour he had been looking, ie the beautiful formula, still TE had already won, because he had designated her the answer he was looking for. She’d beaten anyone in his world (or even in her world) already.
Episode 6:
What sweet irony if the saviour she’s beaten is himself, and whomever else may have gone back in time to save Child LG.
Like you I also thought of Goblin’s Ji Eun Tak and Kim Shin’s wedding, and wonder if we’ll also see a perfect day, for a perfect but short lived marriage.
@yellow_grass: I hope the spoiler is true🙏
Let’s hope that marriage is not short-lived this time🤞
“I think I eat a lot of love from all of you towards LG”.
@yellow_grass Happy that you liked our posts😊😊
@GB if TE is the answer maybe there will be a way to turn hack time and get her back, if she dies that is. I’ll keeo hoping 😊😊🤞🤞
@Phoenix I’d like to get through fixing the bad guys without anyone having to die too. I guess it’s just that this is a KES drama, and her view on life after death, on punishment or reward, and the ironic view that solving a problem can mean the ultimate sacrifice, or a sacrifice for a greater good is a thing to do… leads me to think that it’s not going to be painless.
I believe that we are envisioning LG is going to figure out how to go back in time to change things about, but that it may lead to some other tragedy that he has then to also go back to rectify.
I’d like to know who will be arrayed on his side. Won’t it be funny if both Jo Yeong and Eun Sup worked together in the same universe. The big question mark will be Shin Jae, who has a ‘secret life’ we don’t know about. PM Koo is likely to be swayed by her own greed and ambition. Prince Buyeong and the psychiatrist will be interesting to watch as well. And HCL Noh may have more than just talismans up her sleeves. 😆
Omo @packmule3, did you just wrote in Malay language on your latest King’s post? I am impressed! ^-^
I googled it. 🙂
Did I write it well? When I looked at the country where myTK_EM post was getting a lot of clicks it was from “Indonesia” so I wrote it in Indonesian/Malay. I didn’t have time to google it in Philipino.
hahaha.
We just said Dilarang/Jangan Ulang Siar in Malay but sounds sooo dictionary hahaha… Nowadays people just mix Malay with English i.e. Manglish. Indonesian language are similar but there are same words with Malay but different meanings. Jangan Repost is also acceptable to current socmed generation *wink* No need to change pm3. That is sufficient. 🙂
@GB I know what you are saying about KES is true. @packmule3 has been warning about the same thing. But I can’t watch if I think that😊 I’ll still hope there is a way out..maybe an open ending like Goblin’s will be slightly less sad😔
@Growing beautifully (GB) thank you!*waves hi* I’m not up to date with the wonderful discussions on this drama but I just read the red king’s dream post (closed for comments 🙊) and thank you for asking that question to pkml3 !
@pkml3 you wonderful human being… You should be writing about so many things for the greater good of educating bozos like me. I have actually seen the original copy of the Dali painting in a museum. No one told me to notice the sleeping eye. Was the guide I hired sleeping? who knows. I actually thought it’s a weird dead something.
P.S. I wonder sometimes if you are indeed someone I read often outside of this blog. You are extremely knowledgeable over a wide variety of topics, write so well, have a keen analytical eye and travel frequently. You could easily be a journalist or a reporter I actually read and have no idea it’s “my own” Pm3 ! 😌
Also. Dear @all. Please give me a heads up about a sad ending as soon as your keen eyes spot confirmatory signs regarding it (KES wrote DOS And secret garden with non sad endings?). I can’t take sad endings right now. I refuse them. I’d like to do umm.. don’t know what considering I just rewatched all 6 EP to better understand the drama 🤦 but yes. I refuse sad ends to imaginary stories at the moment.
@Arihsi I’m with you🙌 The moment everyone here seems sure of sad ending, I’ll stop viewing. No second thoughts.
It’s a happy ending. 🙂
@GB IKR?! when the kiss scene happened in ep 5, I was really shocked. gosh, the preview isn’t lying, that’s what I said. because I often be fooled by previews or hints, it made me rather difficult to expect something, including a hint that LG will make TE as his queen. but once again it turns out that the hint had given will really happen.
it seems my ability to see a vision in a drama is decreasing 😂
“I’d like to get through fixing the bad guys without anyone having to die too.”
me two!
but it seems so difficult because they need dramatization and also the opponent has a high level of mysticism 😥
@Phoenix I should be the one who thanking you all here 🌸
I even promoted this blog to my friends who watched The King. I like this blog that much ❤ I’m being able to get new knowledge, I can appreciate a drama more and be chill about negative comments out there which actually is empty.
later when The King has finished, I want to continue watching the Hospital Playlist, because its writings is provided here too 😄
honorable mention @packmule3 thank you always or in Indonesia “terima kasih selalu” (because I’m an Indonesian ❤🌸).
@Phoenix not to worry, it’s unlikely that death will have the final word, and for those who believe in life after a good life (and death) it’s all good!!! I believe that as this is a story of ‘Eternal’-ness there will be a ‘play’ on time, which means more than 1 chance to get things right. However I feel that at the end, the ‘eternal-ness’ should no longer be, once it has served it’s purpose. It opens up the door to problems. I’m guessing that the door to the worlds should be permanently closed. And if LG and TE have to be separated in their own worlds, it’s not so bad to imagine that in death, they’d be reunited forever anyway. 🙂
Awwww….@packmule3, @yellow_grass, @GB, all of your are so super nice 🙂 All this social isolation alone with no end in sight is kind of getting on my nerves..hence want to be sure the show’s ending doesn’t send me into more depression. Not what I can deal with right now 🙁 But I’m so happy to be part of this group…when I share my happiness and concerns, it feels a little less lonely 🙂
And @packmule3 has given me hope of a happy ending too 🙂 I don’t even care how KES manages it…after death or alternate reality or rebirth or something wild…haha
LMAO. Am sorry but I have to post this from the dcinside site, as translated by gtLmh0622 over at soompi:
The question was serious and that’s those are the answers most chosen! How is that for LMH appreciation! (Still LMAO)
@mychoiyoung That was so funny 🤣🤣 I’ll go with option 5 too😝😝
Maybe we can get him on Shirtless Bay🤔🤔
For a few minutes I was happy on Shallow Island with the ending of Episode 8. Having not 1, not 2 but 3 good-looking guys together in the same room was great! I’d have liked more light with which to see Yeong’s cool moves against Shin Jae as well. But when LG strode in, and the 3 of them stood still staring at each other, that was a very pretty tableau and a great Mother’s Day present LOL!
@GB, it is refreshing that someone has motherly feelings about them. 😉
Cool scene, though. I think Kim Kyung-nam did a great job in this scene and the one with his mother. He shows a lot without opening his mouth.
Kim Go-eun’s portrayal of Luna was super as well. Seemed even more different than Jo Yeong/Eun-Seop.
LOL @Fern! 😂 I was puzzled there for a while about my so called motherly feelings! 🤣 🤣 🤣 It was great to admire a bunch of handsome men, looking masculine and all, and a good change from a bunch of flowers! Better eye-candy than no candy on Mother’s Day!
I had the same thought about KKN, especially with this scene. His eyes were red-rimmed and his expression utterly appalled that his dimly remembered history, had become a reality in his present. I was all admiration!
As for KGE, she blew me away already in Goblin playing both the teenaged Eun Tak and the adult. I had no doubts that she’d totally convince me she was Luna.
@GB I really liked that ending scene too🙌 Such a cool montage if all 3 men confronting one another. And it doesn’t hurt that they are all so good looking😍
When news of this drama first broke out it didn’t really pique my interest. I just thought LMH is really lucky to be entrusted with a big production for his comeback. I say it’s a big production because it’s by KES, produced by Studio Dragon, and news said it has a budget of more than $1M per episode (about $18M for the entire series, close to Mr. Sunshine’s). And I say LMH is lucky because though we all know how handsome he is, we also know KDramaland is never short of drop-dead gorgeous and talented actors yet the role was offered to him. Some people say LMH needs to broaden his acting chops and explore roles that won’t merely capitalise on his aesthetic glory. But I think BOF, City Hunter, Heirs, LOTBS were all given to him because he will be perfectly capable of portraying what is expected of those characters and he was smart enough to have chosen the roles. I think his breakdown scene in Heirs (Ep17/18) and LOTBS (when his Dad died) were well-executed. I could think of only one other actor (of peer age group) who may play LG well too, Kim Soo Hyun. I couldn’t quite picture out if Ji Chang Wook, Lee Seung Gi, or Park Seo Joon can exude the same regal charisma LMH is showing in this drama.
I’m not an LMH fan anymore though. I’ve since moved on to Yoo Seung-Ho. Haha!
Oof I’m in the minority here because for me, Lee Min-ho is the weakest link in terms of acting in this drama. I’m so sorry. I found his acting especially in the first few episodes… flat? And it bothered me a lot but I still watch the show because of the story. In latter episodes, Lee Min-ho did better especially in the past two episodes, showing emotion and matching Kim Go-eun’s intensity. I hope he did that since the first episode.