I agree with your review and I'm so pissed at the finale, that I can't even bother to write my own review. When…
A lot of kdramas writers do that, probably they want to make an impact or something like that but it never works, just this year we got a lot of lame endings on promising dramas (Most of them are adaptations from webtoons/novels idk why).
I'll share my interpretation of whatever the writers intended to do with the ending, feel free to share your opinion.
If we follow the rule that something that was meant to happen will happen, even if he changed stuff as Jin do Jun (like miracle investment existence or Minyoung memories of him) the status quo finds a way to remain the same with more o fewer steps.
So let's assume that he was reborn or transmigrated to JDJ when he died as HW, so yes he lived as JDJ and made changes to the past but some events happened no matter what, mostly were deaths (like his mom's who originally died from a heart attack but now she committed suicide or his grandfather death), and some business stuff like acquisitions or SY investment, the last one explains why probably JDJ died in the first place maybe he was always his grandfather favorite so even if HW would have never changed stuff in the past, probably JDJ would have ended up in the succession line in another way.
So back to the present the changes that he made as JDJ finally triggered a major change (even if he wasn't able to change all the past, the small changes he did, accumulated through time) this allowed him to survive as HW and finally with all the effort of both lives he get justice for both and a second chance to live for both (cause he is both JDJ and HW), cause he is not the same HW of ep 1 and is more close to how he was as JDJ(except for his mom, dad, and brother, he remained with everything else).
His past decisions as HW ignoring JDJ death (were the catalyst that allowed him to reborn, cause he never would have shown remorse for his decision until he lived as him) at the same time JDJ was destined to die no matter what, to allow the initial event to happen and make a perfect cycle (it's fantasy so logic doesn't live here, is more like karma with a life lesson for HW).
And about the repentance let's assume that both original JDJ and HW weren't the nicest people out there, and both made bad choices and crimes (if you ask where is original JDJ soul, we will never know), so when HW got his chance to reborn he lived rightfully his both lives as much as he can (what about HW soul when he was JDJ well let's assume both are him in different times until he reaches the present) and that allowed him to get justice for both and that stuff.
About the recording, honestly, that's a plot hole, but if we seek logic, we can say that he was remembering his past life as HW in the flashbacks but as we get close to the past (present for HW as JDJ) he remembered the actions of the new HW, so even if something changed he remembered them, that could explain why he didn't remember some stuff cleary as time changed and probably the accident/JDJ death happened differently but he was meant to be there no matter how, and the result aka the conversation and HW becoming a SY dog was going to happen sooner or later.
Big historical events remained intact cause they were meant to happen even if they changed dates (the seo taiji comeback date was different but it happened, of course, it just affected some small events).
What we see in the last ep is the new timeline, with the changes but as things were meant to happen so it looks like nothing happened.
To summarise: *There are events and moments that would happen no matter what or when. *OG JDJ was similar to HW as JDJ but with different decisions. *He was always his grandfather's favorite (OG JDJ) so maybe with his father's help and other decisions he became the successor or at leat a threatening person that lead him to be killed. *HW old self was reborn as JDJ and changed the past but at the same time, his young self lived as HW so he remembers his old memories as the drama progressed and HW life start to change he remembers the new actions. *The breaking point is the accident so he doesn't remember it, cause its unclearly how is going to be or when, until it happens. *The repentance is about paying for his wrongdoings and getting a second chance, and yes he didn't time travel or was possessed or a dream, it was him living a different life to learn and pay and that. *What we see in ep 16 is the world with HW as JDJ but is pretty similar to the old one just with small changes like miracle, minyoung, mom's death, grandfather dead, etc.
That's my interpretation but there are still many plot holes in the story that don't make sense at all so it's hard to get a proper explanation as the more I analyze the story gets harder to interpret.
People saying that the ending was satisfactory, that we just walked on JDJ shoes, making JDJ a Nostradamus who predicted things years ahead just because.
Of course he did change things but as everything that happened was meant to happen not so much changed.
They just throw away all the development to make a new whole ending, the novel was popular for a reason but who cares.
As I understand he reborn but he died so he came back to his old self (even if he got shoot on the head and fall in the ocean).
The only good thing was that the reason he reborn as JDJ was because witnessed JDJ original death, was a good idea but horrible implemented. ( However having the same killer was more thrilling).
JDJ life became pointless and tragic, but hey at least he is with gramps on heaven ( doubt it).
Everything was rushed and they literally had everything to have a perfect paced/ satisfactory ending.
MY ended alone and now as she sees the resemblance between JDJ and HW she is going to fall in love with him. (...)
The ending is fine compared to other big dramas like big mouth or golden spoon, but it's a wasted potential, the difference between a memorable drama and a generic one is the ending, sometimes realistic endings are good but in a fantasy drama you can allow yourself to have a happy one. If we just had witnessed how JDJ became the chairman and married with MY (or anyone else) and after they could had pull out a Mr.Queen, people will be more happier (even knetz are angry). Or better they could have followed the original ending and make everyone happy.
The original plot holes became exponential with this ending and is a shame, but at least the drama got good ratings so at least our cast will get better offers for kdramas.
The reason why people are mad is not just because they throw 14.5 episodes of development, the ending could have worked but it was poorly excecuted, the story itself became nonsensical, the build up of the story was setting JDJ as the chairman, and that would have been satisfactory, fullfilling his revenge and the promise of his beloved grandfather but now we get an ending. It's basic narrative don't throw away your whole story. There is a difference between a plot twist, a impacting ending and garbage.
Sometimes you just need to follow the source material. (The writers didn't and well it's gonna be hard for them, after all they transformed the most watched record breaking drama into the biggest disappoinment of the year ).
However the first 15 episodes are worth watching even if the ending should be watched with zero expectations.
I kind of get what the author was trying to do, but something is off. I tried different theories to fix the writer’s…
Her ending could have worked if she changed more stuff, everything is similar to the novel except the ending so it feels off and weird, even skilled writers don't dare to do such crazy plot lines. As someone say she wanted to cause controversy (and ruin her career/the drama/ and everyone Christmas on the process)
What a massive difference ending makes! This drama was such a fantastic show until last episode where nothing…
The ending is actually a big part of the story since is the conclusion of everything. This time they choose a plot twist as every kdrama this year and well even knetz are mad about the ending.
But what if the last life he has left is his own life?
So let's assume that he was reborn or transmigrated to JDJ when he died as HW, so yes he lived as JDJ and made changes to the past but some events happened no matter what, mostly were deaths (like his mom's who originally died from a heart attack but now she committed suicide or his grandfather death), and some business stuff like acquisitions or SY investment, the last one explains why probably JDJ died in the first place maybe he was always his grandfather favorite so even if HW would have never changed stuff in the past, probably JDJ would have ended up in the succession line in another way.
So back to the present the changes that he made as JDJ finally triggered a major change (even if he wasn't able to change all the past, the small changes he did, accumulated through time) this allowed him to survive as HW and finally with all the effort of both lives he get justice for both and a second chance to live for both (cause he is both JDJ and HW), cause he is not the same HW of ep 1 and is more close to how he was as JDJ(except for his mom, dad, and brother, he remained with everything else).
His past decisions as HW ignoring JDJ death (were the catalyst that allowed him to reborn, cause he never would have shown remorse for his decision until he lived as him) at the same time JDJ was destined to die no matter what, to allow the initial event to happen and make a perfect cycle (it's fantasy so logic doesn't live here, is more like karma with a life lesson for HW).
And about the repentance let's assume that both original JDJ and HW weren't the nicest people out there, and both made bad choices and crimes (if you ask where is original JDJ soul, we will never know), so when HW got his chance to reborn he lived rightfully his both lives as much as he can (what about HW soul when he was JDJ well let's assume both are him in different times until he reaches the present) and that allowed him to get justice for both and that stuff.
About the recording, honestly, that's a plot hole, but if we seek logic, we can say that he was remembering his past life as HW in the flashbacks but as we get close to the past (present for HW as JDJ) he remembered the actions of the new HW, so even if something changed he remembered them, that could explain why he didn't remember some stuff cleary as time changed and probably the accident/JDJ death happened differently but he was meant to be there no matter how, and the result aka the conversation and HW becoming a SY dog was going to happen sooner or later.
Big historical events remained intact cause they were meant to happen even if they changed dates (the seo taiji comeback date was different but it happened, of course, it just affected some small events).
What we see in the last ep is the new timeline, with the changes but as things were meant to happen so it looks like nothing happened.
To summarise:
*There are events and moments that would happen no matter what or when.
*OG JDJ was similar to HW as JDJ but with different decisions.
*He was always his grandfather's favorite (OG JDJ) so maybe with his father's help and other decisions he became the successor or at leat a threatening person that lead him to be killed.
*HW old self was reborn as JDJ and changed the past but at the same time, his young self lived as HW so he remembers his old memories as the drama progressed and HW life start to change he remembers the new actions.
*The breaking point is the accident so he doesn't remember it, cause its unclearly how is going to be or when, until it happens.
*The repentance is about paying for his wrongdoings and getting a second chance, and yes he didn't time travel or was possessed or a dream, it was him living a different life to learn and pay and that.
*What we see in ep 16 is the world with HW as JDJ but is pretty similar to the old one just with small changes like miracle, minyoung, mom's death, grandfather dead, etc.
That's my interpretation but there are still many plot holes in the story that don't make sense at all so it's hard to get a proper explanation as the more I analyze the story gets harder to interpret.
Of course he did change things but as everything that happened was meant to happen not so much changed.
They just throw away all the development to make a new whole ending, the novel was popular for a reason but who cares.
As I understand he reborn but he died so he came back to his old self (even if he got shoot on the head and fall in the ocean).
The only good thing was that the reason he reborn as JDJ was because witnessed JDJ original death, was a good idea but horrible implemented. ( However having the same killer was more thrilling).
JDJ life became pointless and tragic, but hey at least he is with gramps on heaven ( doubt it).
Everything was rushed and they literally had everything to have a perfect paced/ satisfactory ending.
MY ended alone and now as she sees the resemblance between JDJ and HW she is going to fall in love with him. (...)
The ending is fine compared to other big dramas like big mouth or golden spoon, but it's a wasted potential, the difference between a memorable drama and a generic one is the ending, sometimes realistic endings are good but in a fantasy drama you can allow yourself to have a happy one. If we just had witnessed how JDJ became the chairman and married with MY (or anyone else) and after they could had pull out a Mr.Queen, people will be more happier (even knetz are angry). Or better they could have followed the original ending and make everyone happy.
The original plot holes became exponential with this ending and is a shame, but at least the drama got good ratings so at least our cast will get better offers for kdramas.
The reason why people are mad is not just because they throw 14.5 episodes of development, the ending could have worked but it was poorly excecuted, the story itself became nonsensical, the build up of the story was setting JDJ as the chairman, and that would have been satisfactory, fullfilling his revenge and the promise of his beloved grandfather but now we get an ending. It's basic narrative don't throw away your whole story. There is a difference between a plot twist, a impacting ending and garbage.
Sometimes you just need to follow the source material. (The writers didn't and well it's gonna be hard for them, after all they transformed the most watched record breaking drama into the biggest disappoinment of the year ).
However the first 15 episodes are worth watching even if the ending should be watched with zero expectations.
As someone say she wanted to cause controversy (and ruin her career/the drama/ and everyone Christmas on the process)