A Second Watch, A Deeper Story: "The King: Eternal Monarch" Review
"The King: Eternal Monarch" series was released in the year 2020, I watched it from start to finish sometime in 2021 and just last week, I re-watched the whole series... Why did I rewatch? What changed for me? Was it worth rewatching?
The first time, I was watching and loving over my favourite actor "Lee Min-Ho" as he was the male lead for this story. I didn't even notice the amazing actress "Kim Go-eun" back then. My honest reason, I didn't remember the story at all.
I had to rewatch the series for many reasons starting with I had forgotten the story. After rewatching, I saw all the things I had totally forgotten about the series... The parallel worlds, the tensions, the doppelgangers and the ending.
I rewatched "The King: Eternal Monarch" but this time, it hit deeper. Slowly, quieter and intentionally take note of every scene and what the story truly tell. Surprisingly, I couldn't find more than five scenes where I remembered well.
I'm sure you'd have seen a movie again and you just keep waiting for the scenes you love most because you already know all that will happened. Rewatching this series wasn't like that for me, I got all the kind of emotions when I saw it again.
Unexpectedly, the series started off with a tense scene and the trauma of young Lee Gon witnessing the death of his father, the king. It was a trauma that even as a viewer, I could actually feel it... Also revealing the story's villain so early.
The Main Characters, Revisited (With Fresh Eyes).
Lee Min-ho as Lee Gon.
A king burdened by destiny, trauma, and responsibility. Rewatching it, I saw the âperfect monarchâ but more of a wounded boy who never truly got to grow up. Lee Min-ho played that quiet ache beautifully. It made sense why he clinged to a half memory of a woman who saved him once.
How did I forget his beautiful relationship with the royal court lady? How did I miss the chemistry with his favourite sword man, Jo Yeong and his lover, Tae-eul? The series confirmed again why he really is king of kdrama.
Kim Go-eun as Jung Tae-eul.
Grounded, stubborn, principled. I'll say she is the emotional anchor of this series. This time, I appreciated her restraint more especially from her first meeting with a man claiming he's from another world entirely. She wasnât weak for doubting, she was being human, it was relatable.
It's surprising how I didnât remember how great she played her role in this series when I saw her in "Goblin: The Great Guardian" after. Playing the two roles in this story for herself and her doppelganger, Luna was so good to watch too.
Woo Do-hwan as Jo Yeong / Jo Eun-seob.
Honestly? A masterclass. I could have almost say this character was my favourite. Jo Yeongâs loyalty was silent and unshakeable with his uptight personality, while Jo Eun-seobâs warmth and humor made him unforgettable. Two characters, one actor, zero confusion. Like wow!
Kim Kyung-nam as Kang Shin-jae.
I've seen this character in other series but only until this series did he seem familiar. A tragic character through and through. His story felt heavier for me more... Identity displacement, quiet love that never asks to be returned. He deserved better, but thatâs what made him real.
Jung Eun-chae as Koo Seo-ryung.
She could have easily passed for a villain but I couldn't bring myself to hate her. If for any reason to love her, she is ambitious, composed, and deeply lonely. She wasnât evil, just painfully aware of her place in a world that valued power over affection so she tries to gain as much power.
Lee Jung-jin as Lee Lim.
Time itself wearing a human face, is this villain. As much as I want to hate how Cold, patient, terrifying he is in this story, I love how cool, relaxed and untouchable he looked. Lee Lim didn't feel much like a villain but gave this inevitable thought.. What's gonna happen to him?
Most Memorable Facts/Scenes From The series.
The series has one of the most haunting openings I had forgotten... The treason day when Lee Gon witnessed the death of his father. The frozen moment, the flute, the mysterious savior. It was tense, tragic, and beautifully cruel to watch.
Every scene where the protagonists cross between worlds, it felt dangerous to me and I couldn't stop wondering out of fear that something might go wrong whenever they cross.
The reactions of characters to the whole supernatural story happening, is one of my favourite part of this series. Anyone would be mouth wide open to the realization that a parallel world exists especially Jo Eun-seob's reaction.
Watching the series again perfected the ending for me. The first time, I thought it had a pointless ending. This time, I focused on what it cost. Love across worlds, the choices made that tampered with fate and the happiness that exists, even though not without loss. The ending felt more mature to me. The series may not be the perfect one but it's one worth watching and rewatching.
Images are from Imdb.
I like the ending of this film better than any other time travel movies Lee Min Ho has ever acted. It just made sense that their love continued across worlds, considering that it started with different worlds. I just watched this film in December, so I could literally picture everything you said in your review, because we share similar opinions (Jo Yeong was also my second favorite).
For real, it had the most realistic ending because I can't imagine the king going to stay in her world with her or she going to his world. That kind of love is unrealistic. đ
Glad you've seen it too, we found a diamond in the rough. I wonder why they don't hype it enough as they do other series.
This is a lovely read my friend. Itâs amazing how rewatching a series feels so different with fresh eyes. You really captured the emotions and the characters well, especially Woo Do-hwan. This made me want to watch it too.
Yeah, I couldn't help it. They did a great job with their roles.
Thanks for stopping by, friend.
You are welcome ma'am. Happy new year also.
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The truth is that I feel totally identified: sometimes I watch a series and after two years the cassette has already been erased, so the rewatch feels almost as if it were a premiere. You have piqued my curiosity with the parallel worlds and that more mature and "traumatic" tone that you mention in the second round. Would you say that it is very complicated to follow at the beginning with so much jumping between worlds? Because it sounds like you have to pay a lot of attention to it, but I still dare. Thanks for the review!
Yeah, it's a storyline you'd have to pay a lot of attention to but totally enjoy doing that.
I hope you see it, for the parallel worlds and the tone. đ
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It is already in my list and I will watch it for sure. I didn't read it because it may end my curiosity.
Haha yes, please do watch it soon.
Reading this will end your curiosity. đ
se ve muy interesante, gracias por recomendar
It looks very interesting, thanks for recommending
It is very interesting, I hope you see it soon.