Alvea

As for "WDH relationship with WDH" I was referring to a situation that happens in the episodes 7&8 specifically, not to anyone’s opinion :)
Also, I honestly almost always end up more interested in other aspects of dramas than the romance itself (especially mystery aspect is my favourite). The first six episodes seem like a wasted potential in this department, unfortunately.
I wonder if you gonna like episodes 7&8.

Seriously this is a very interesting theory! Luna definitely has some end goal, that is why she is collecting money. The boy with yo-yo also have some significance, I think. I also think Shin-jae is the one that saved Lee Gon when he was eight.

I recommend you watch episodes 7&8. They are way less focused on the romance (which I agree with you - it is probably the weakest part of this drama!), but if the plot twist and WDH relationship with WDH won't buy your interest, then probably the best thing for you is to watch something more fulfilling.

As for the KGE and LMH romance, I finally saw some potential. The "seven-bullet-shooting-for-an-award scene" was actually quite nice, had a comedic tone to it and felt natural. A scene after that, were they were discussing possible danger and recordings were also quite natural, and a nice point to their "love" story. They talked like two mature adults trusting each other and those scenes felt “in the right place”.
On the other hand we have "I-love-you" scene in ep. 8. In was sooo painful to watch, oh my gods and goddesses, it made no sense. The pacing was all wrong, it was so random and LMH almost became Han Solo, right there.
On another note – the scene with mother of the prime minister calling her daughter and the daughter cutting her when she tried to say something very important was such a classic example of a plot dragging syndrome. I wish they would stop doing that. I also wonder if the prime minister will stand on Yi Lim side due to jealousy or will be replaced.

I finally watched episodes 7&8. I have to say, they are a definite improvement, finally I can feel that characters are progressing the plot, not being dragged by it. Cheesy lines and artificial love story is still there, but possibly because episodes 7&8 were focused more on relationships between other characters, not the main couple, I was enjoying this drama way more.
First things first. I can't believe you can have chemistry with yourself! Woo Dohwan, you are a saving grace of this drama. Love the duality and the ability to play such different characters. I wonder if they will team up in the next episodes. The only thing I wish is that we would be given a little more backstory of Jo Yeong or at least some decision making and cooperation with people in "the Republic world" in his "quest", as he still feels to me a little too much of an extension of the king not a separate entity. I can see the potential, I hope the writer will utilize it soon.
As for the king character - I have to say he is constantly disrespectful towards Yeong. I get that he is the king, but still, he is constantly sabotaging Yeong's work. Also, he is still quite paper-thin character. He is shown as this almighty king, but in reality all he does is date and spend large amounts of money. He is seriously underestimating his enemy and hardly does anything about it, especially after what he suspected before and what now finally realized.
I'm pretty sure the writer has a crush on LMH and is writing a teenage-style fan fiction about him xD At least this is what I feel when I see Lee Gon on the screen.
The prime minister - little change here. I can still see her underutilized. And I can still see traits of "the obsessing third wheel". Also - Beauty rest only scenes? Really?
Luna - the wig is awful, but i can see potential, I hope we get to know her backstory because she seems to be very calculated but at the same time she also seems to have some sort of an end goal and a secret. Can't wait to know what it is. Again, I have theories, but I’m afraid if I’m not thinking about them too deep.
Shin-jae is getting way more interesting plot development than everybody else. He is a very interesting character even though he is not very emotional. He is a great example of well written character – his relations with others are established efficiently, not only with the KGE but also with his boss (?), mother and even KGE father. The plot twist in ep 7&8 was effectively build and well executed. I genuinely liked it.
FINALLY: The amount of shameless product placement is killing me. I really get that this drama was unbelievably expensive to make, but there are moments where it's like watching commercials with a plot, not a drama. They are not being subtle, at all. And yes, I love chicken too. And Coffee. And kimchi. And lipsticks. Thanks.
After half of this drama I think that maybe the writer had very little time to think things through. Or maybe her fangirling over LMH clouded her judgment, who knows. I will keep watching, as the mystery part of this drama is finally gaining momentum and I’m genuinely interested and invested in it.
I also want to point out some scenes that I like and dislike in those episodes but due to spoilers I put them in the comment below.

Busan dialect

Arent Yo-seop i Nari married tho? With children?

Yes, most likely those "storm malfunctions" that both Yi Rim and Lee Gon experience are the result of the flute being broken. Even the long life might be the part of the malfunction. It is not explain yet, we can only speculate. It was said at the beginging that the flute could do so much more than just open a portal to alternate reality.

If you watch the very beginning of episode one, Yi Rim explains, that the flute's power is what keeps him young.
Yes he killed his doppelgänger and used his body to fake his own death.

Also, can we talk how stupid and dangerous is not only having THE HEAD of your COUNTRY in your first line of defence, but also announcing it to your enemy? This was purely ideological piece of crap.

After watching 6th episode I decided to share my thoughts again. 5&6 are definitely an improvement from the first four, but still are haunted by all of the previously signaled problems. Drama still have so many wasted screentime with pointless action and long pauses. The plot still focuses mainly on "romantic" relationship of KGE and LMH, which is still painfully superficial and honestly I feel that this is the weekest point of this drama. I'm glad we were finally given some scenes that they were doing things together, but it was all in the wrong order (they supposed to do things together to fall in love not the other way around). Also, all of the cliche camerashots are still completely misplaced, forsing the mood instead of highlighting it.

Next - Prime minister. First I thought she is a calculated b**** with a power complex, which would actually be a good thing here - that would show why she was chosen as a leader of a goverment: not because of her face or connections, but because she can truly have the capability to govern and outplay all of her enemies. But after a particular scene in the sixth episode I started to wonder if she is not planned to become "the triangle". Please, no.

At this point the most interesting part of this drama is the question: "What is Yi Lim end goal here exactly?". I have a couple theories, alhough some of them are not exactly flattering for this drama - I fear that his character will fall flat in his scheme.

Court Lady Noh is the real MVP here. She is my favourite character in this drama. We can clearly see her motivations, fears and abilities witout being told about them. She is (so far) the most humane character in my opinion, even though she does not have much screen time.

Also, Is this drama is suppoused to have more that one season? I saw a Netlfix promo on Youtube and the title said "Season 1"...

Also why the horse is called "Maximus" if it's a female horse? My latin-infused brain shows an error lol

I already gave my opinion down in the comments.

Also, some people don't seem to realize, that those people who put constructive critisism are writing it because they feel passionate about a certain project and they want it to be good and succeed, not for some dark, hateful objective.

No way! Im sooo excited! I hope second season will be as exciting as the first three-parter!

Normally I would agree with your comment in regard of any other character, but the thing is, in case of Lee Gon, his impulsiveness and selfishness (and lack of understanding the value of money, for that matter) is still the part of "I-am-magnificent-because-I-m-the-king" package. In my opinion his "flaws" are supposed to further establish his status, not to show us is human side. I don't mind simple characters or lack of expressing intense emotions. But to me, so far, Lee Gon just seems to be paper-thin and superficial idea, not a person. I really hope that changes in the next episodes.

I would also be delighted If this drama would give us more scenes that show the relationship between Lee Gon and Jo Young. That could also be a key to humanizing them both.

Also, I strongly agree with your thoughts on KGE's character.

What I meant, is that in the episodes so far there is a lot of wasted screen time, that didn't give us anything substantial, therefore, a lot of scenes could be cut and overall structure would still be intact.

Drama is quite uneventful so far, the plot could have been squeezed in first two episodes. Visuals, camerawork and music are really well made. Unfortunately both the visuals and the camerawork are trying to suggest some kind of a deep, longing-type connection between main characters, but so far this show has more of a tell-not-show type of a plot - nothing really meaningful happened between them, to make me believe in the suggested connection. Lee Min-ho's character is mainly shown as this I-am-magnificent-because-I-m-the-king style which is starting to irk me. I really want to see some of his human side, he is a human, not just an idolized idea, for goodness' sake. Kim Go-eun's character is actually pretty enjoyable to watch, but I cannot see any chemistry with Min-ho. After four episodes I still have no idea were the plot is supposed to be going, but I will keep watching.

In my opiniom nothing really happened in the second episode tbh... Felt draggy a bit. But I hope next episode will be a step forward.

So far so good.

While watching episode 8 (13/14) I felt like I was watching an episode of Winter Sonata. Like, seriously, come on writer-nim! That series was produced almost two decades ago! I love the series and I don't mind the bestiality angle, but while watching this episode(s) I felt like I went back in time two decades in kdramaland, lol.