circulate9oo

Very much so. Most of the time, the BGM would ruin the scene for me in other dramas as they often feel sudden or out of place in the moment. But in this drama, the music helps in building up the emotions, the beats properly timing exact movements. It's so perfect.

You nailed it. Haseon is someone who wanted to gain power due to the injustice he experienced as a lowly commoner. What Shin Chisoo offers him is power to continue trampling on more lowly commoners in the future. Shin Chisoo gravely miscalculated Haseon's intentions for the throne.

I love this show for giving us characters that are not purely black and white. I'm glad they showed the depth of the Queen Dowager's pain in this episode, and at the same time giving us an insight how merciless Doseungji can be. There is Doseungji who aims for a better nation for the people, but at the same time, he is someone who's willing to sacrifice people who will serve as an obstacle to his goals. Then there is the Queen Dowager who ends up killing people just so she can take vengeance for the innocent lives of his father and son.

Doseungji finally calls Haseon "Your Majesty" and switches to formal speech when talking to him. I'M CRYINGG

Haseon's main characteristic right from the beginning is doing what he feels is right in the moment regardless of the consequences. Like when he broke all those jars of food when they didn't get paid for their performance. This trait is his strength and weakness at the same time.

He gained the favor of the people around him because he always fights for what he believes is right. But at the same time, because he is often motivated for always fighting for what he feels, he ends up neglecting that in order to keep that power of the King, he needs to be more wary of the politics that comes with being a King.

Doseungji has been used to ordering Haseon around, but now Haseon is slowly learning to be more independent in his position and is even using his current power to settle his personal conflicts, without consulting Doseungji first.

Haseon isn't just a mere clown anymore, that after breaking some jars he can just easily move to another town. He is now the King and the bigger gamble he makes, the bigger the consequence is.

Eunuch Jo is like everyone's favorite. It's impossible not to love him. I love how he started as someone so wary of Haseon to loving him and treating him like his own son. He cries so easily whenever Haseon's involved and you know he'd do anything for Haseon's sake. I love them.

Sowoon crying in front of Haseon when he finds out she is now infertile is so heartbreaking to watch. Lee Se Young really nailed that scene of someone trying to hold it in together but breaks down in front of the person you truly care for.

Haseon is a good leader for the people, but he is bad at handling the palace politics. He often lets his heart get in the way of resolving conflicts.

I'm just really hoping for a happy ending for our OTP even if they end up having to leave the palace.

My girl Court Lady Kim is back!!! She's one very charismatic villain, I love her.

True. (Do you mean Haseon btw?) I just wish the writer could've made Haseon's main motivations equally strong (the sister and eventually the Queen) without having to throw away the other and not make him suddenly feel inconsistent all for a few lines that could've been worded differently

I agree with this. The writer's making Haseon too blind with his love for the Queen. I love the OTP but I hope the writer could do better.

Please someone tell Haseon to stop going on cliffs. He always gets severely wounded whenever he goes there.

With that said... Sowoon's "Your Majesty" at the end! My heart.

She actually has a lot of experience herself. She's been acting since 1997. :D Yeo Jin Goo was even teasing her that the reason he wanted to try acting was because he watched her movie when he was a kid and thought he also wanted to be like her, hahaha.

I already saw it coming since it also happened in the movie, but then he suddenly grabs Hogeol's hand! That scene was so perfectly executed. Loved it.

Really? I actually really like her acting. She manages to captivate me with her emotions while keeping her restraint and not overdoing her acting as Queen.

Oooh the Queen finally knows. I'm really glad. Even if it's sad that she has to face the hard fact of this betrayal, and Haseon the consequences. I'm glad she finally knows that the man she has fallen for is Haseon.

Fingers crossed for a happy ending... T_T

I get that there could be slight inspirations but I just need to clarify that the character of Gwanghae is only for the original movie. The King here is not Gwanghae, the production made that clear right at the start through different interviews and press releases. Of course it's understandable you wouldn't have heard of it though, hehehe.

The production changed all the historical figures from the original movie and made them entirely fictional in the drama:
Movie: Gwanghae aka Yi Hon (이혼)
Drama: Yi Heon (이헌)
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Movie: Chief Secretary Heo Gyun
Drama: Chief Secretary Yi Gyu

The alternative titles you are referring to are only there because it's the full title of the movie where the drama is based from, which is "Gwanghae, the Man Who Became King."

The drama removed "Gwanghae" in the title of the drama mainly to let it become purely fictional this time. The only actual title of this drama is "왕이 된 남자" aka The Crowned Clown/ The Man Who Became King.

I hope that helps. ^_^

- The actors deliver a very strong performance
- The cinematography is gorgeous. It's a work of art.
- The director is doing one heck of an amazing job! Yeo Jin Goo is a great actor, but she also also manages to bring out the best in his skills.
- The drama is so different from the movie but at the same time, they've put in the elements that are so reminiscent of the original while putting their own twist.
- There are people who enjoy the politics side more, while there are others who prefer the romantic scenes more. There's a mix of both in this drama.
- Like what @sassynoona said, I'd say give the first 2 episodes a try to see if it's to your taste. Mosts people like it, but there are also some who don't. The first 2 episodes would give you an idea about the general tone of this drama.

The way the director focused on the letter at the end of Ep 10 is very telling. T_T

Woonshim and Gapsoo had no idea where Haseon was off to. All they know was that he was going to try and get revenge to Shin Yi Gyeom. But I agree, I wish they won't keep using Dallae as plot device. It's also pretty cold of Yi Kyu not telling Haseon that Woonshim has lost contact with Dallae because it will obviously distract Haseon. But then, I find it in-character for Yi Kyu who will choose what he's fighting for above all else, even at the cost of other people.

Haseon is still learning Hanja, I don't think he has stopped studying. It shows in the next episode's teaser, you will see the Queen finding out the truth when she finds Haseon's written Hanja which is so far different from Yi Heon's handwriting LMAO. It's that letter she's holding when she told that nobody is allowed to follow her. Somebody flipped the image upside down and you will see Haseon's Hanja that looks like it's been written by a child. Even if he's born talented, there's just no way he'd master Chinese characters given the time he's stayed in the palace. XD

"Even if I die missing you my whole life, I am happy to have known you." This foreshadowing. Ugh it's about to be heartbreaking af. Please be happy, Haseon and Sowoon.