5
1
This review may contain spoilers
The only real plot twist was abolishing the monarchy
The Perfect Crown ended with almost no real surprises.
Honestly… did anyone actually think the villains were going to win? Probably not.
The only twist I genuinely didn’t see coming was the abolition of the monarchy itself. And while most reviews will focus on the chemistry, the romance, and how “beautiful” everything was, I think that final decision is the most interesting part of the series.
The ending clearly tries to echo The Last Emperor: the former king returning to a palace that has now become a museum, reduced to a relic of a vanished institution. The problem is that it doesn’t carry the same emotional weight. Only three years have passed, and somehow the palace already feels like a polished tourist attraction.
The series also tries to portray the king becoming an ordinary person, but the transition happens way too fast. Everything is compressed into the final thirty minutes. There are not enough scenes, moments, or daily-life sketches to truly make us feel the loss of power and identity. The drama simply tells us: “he’s normal now,” and moves on.
And the imbalance becomes noticeable. While he loses the crown, IU’s character barely loses anything. She remains wealthy, powerful, successful, and busy running her company. The one left emotionally adrift is him. That could have been fascinating if the show had been willing to explore it more deeply.
Still, the series is entertaining, smooth, and very easy to watch.
But it’s not a masterpiece, and it’s nowhere near as profound as some fans claim.
A fun popcorn drama.
Honestly… did anyone actually think the villains were going to win? Probably not.
The only twist I genuinely didn’t see coming was the abolition of the monarchy itself. And while most reviews will focus on the chemistry, the romance, and how “beautiful” everything was, I think that final decision is the most interesting part of the series.
The ending clearly tries to echo The Last Emperor: the former king returning to a palace that has now become a museum, reduced to a relic of a vanished institution. The problem is that it doesn’t carry the same emotional weight. Only three years have passed, and somehow the palace already feels like a polished tourist attraction.
The series also tries to portray the king becoming an ordinary person, but the transition happens way too fast. Everything is compressed into the final thirty minutes. There are not enough scenes, moments, or daily-life sketches to truly make us feel the loss of power and identity. The drama simply tells us: “he’s normal now,” and moves on.
And the imbalance becomes noticeable. While he loses the crown, IU’s character barely loses anything. She remains wealthy, powerful, successful, and busy running her company. The one left emotionally adrift is him. That could have been fascinating if the show had been willing to explore it more deeply.
Still, the series is entertaining, smooth, and very easy to watch.
But it’s not a masterpiece, and it’s nowhere near as profound as some fans claim.
A fun popcorn drama.
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