A house and friendship divided in The King Loves

42 July 5, 2017July 5, 2017

by tipsymocha

MBC’s upcoming fusion sageuk The King Loves has released a slew of promo material in the final weeks leading up to its premiere, including a new poster, short character teasers, and an extended trailer that was curiously only made available at the recent press conference. I’m pretty pumped to watch this for Im Shi-wan (Misaeng), since this will be his last project before army duty *sad face*, and for writer Song Ji-nah’s drama comeback.

The character teasers are super short, and feature each of our main leads as they narrate a line that hints at the bromantic heartbreak and romantic angst they have in store for us. Im Shi-wan’s Wang Won character says, “Since when did these two become unable to meet each other’s eyes?” Yoon-ah’s (The K2) character, Eun San, gets a bit more variety in her teaser as we see her in multiple costumes, while narrating, “Now I know why my heart would both race and hurt.” And finally, for our third leg of the love triangle is Hong Jong-hyun (Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo) as his character Wang Rin thinks, “I am fooling His Majesty. As expected, he still does not know.” Noo, don’t kill the bromance!

The extended trailer reveals certain plot points that I’m sure are going to wrench my heart out once the show starts: Im Shi-wan narrates that there was once a child between a Goryeo king and a Yuan princess, and that everyone bowed down before that child. However, all does not seem well in the royal household as a young Wang Won joyfully tells his father that the people will no longer resent their king, to which the spiteful ruler, played by Jung Bo-seok (Monster), replies: “Me? Those people are my people, you barbarian mixed-breed.” Seriously, were there any good father figures in Goryeo’s royal lineage?

It’s so sad to hear Wang Won internalize all of that as he ponders whether it would be better for Goryeo to have a pure-blooded king, and it’s also bittersweet to see Wang Rin firmly nip that thought in the bud as he says that it’s the person, not the blood, that makes the throne. Won says, “There’s only one person in this world who would shed tears for me. And I continued living in case I made him cry.” Bah, forget Yoon-ah, can’t you two just run off together and live happily ever after?

But of course, it wouldn’t be a proper love triangle without our heroine Eun San, who apparently has a history with the prince since he recognizes her at first sight. She has her reasons for keeping her identity a secret though (is Yoon-ah supposed to be cross-dressing?), and threatens to kill Won if he keeps showing up in front of her. Her threats don’t deter him though since he gladly gives her license to kill him: “This is the story of how I came to love you more than myself.”

Rin and San are both caught up in some secretive missions, and they bump into each other as they carry them out. One of them involves Rin shooting an arrow in the king’s direction, (intentionally?) making the king think his son is trying to kill him. Aw, Rin, say it ain’t so! As if there aren’t enough reasons to make the two besties turn their backs on each other: They both separately declare that San is their lover, accompanied by an angsty merry-go-round of brooding and soulfully staring into each other’s eyes. We get a glimpse of the three in happier times as Won narrates: “My dear friend, whom I trusted more than myself, began to deceive me. And between my lover and me, an uncrossable river began to flow. He was my only friend, and she, my only lover.”

Man, that’s a lot of Shakespearean tragedy for one drama, but is it weird that I’m looking forward to it, angst-fest and all? It’s definitely a great platform for Im Shi-wan to showcase his acting prowess, and I’m hoping Yoon-ah and Hong Jong-hyun also deliver solid performances in the upcoming sageuk.

MBC’s The King Loves will premiere on July 17, after Lookout ends its run next week.

Via Sports Chosun, iMBC

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1 callie

July 5, 2017 at 12:05 PM

Why do they look drugged in all the promotional pictures?!?!

WAKE UP!

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paroles

July 5, 2017 at 8:31 PM

The posters look so bad they'd be better off not releasing them at all.

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hannaehh

July 5, 2017 at 10:30 PM

I'm glad I'm not the only one who feel disturbed by the posters.

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Rose

July 6, 2017 at 6:00 AM

They are high "on love" kkkk^^

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2 nerdy

July 5, 2017 at 12:15 PM

I would watch this one but I honestly hate love triangles. They often go this way- there were two happy friends, everything wasn't perfect but they worked through it, then the girl came.

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sorrynotsorry

July 5, 2017 at 1:36 PM

Normally I would pass this by because I despise the love triangle thing soooo much. For my love of Goryeo & the writer, I will probably end up giving this a try at some point. I'm also concerned because I got the impression from a previous DB post that Song Ji Nah's writing crew was doing this and she had to come in and give a hand. That concerns me but oh well. I guess she did me the favor of having no triangle in Faith and Healer so there's that.

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3 Sonali

July 5, 2017 at 12:21 PM

First a fall I would like 2 know whether it has a sad ending bcz had pain and aches after scarlet heart and also watching seven day queen .plz some one tell me about this story

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Ahj ❤ ❥ ♡ ♥ ღ

July 6, 2017 at 12:38 AM

I THINK somehow there's a chance of happy ending for this one since they are thoroughly labeling it Fusion Sageuk unlike Moon Lovers and Seven Day Queen that despite of having fictional story right from the start they are already giving a hint of following history and such. But I may be wrong.

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⭐ Sera The Ms Temper ⭐

July 6, 2017 at 12:51 AM

I read there's a possibility that she will end up with Hong Jong Hyun's character..So it could be happy ending too for their shipper? ??

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jess

July 6, 2017 at 4:53 PM

If it follows the original novel, then it can be considered as a happy ending for all three

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yeyy

August 30, 2017 at 10:09 AM

give me spoiler please, Who is San end up with? Crown Prince or Lin ? Thank you :)

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4 azzo

July 5, 2017 at 12:50 PM

*circles July 17 on her calendar and draws a heart next to it*

CAN'T WAIT!!

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5 Pickwick12

July 5, 2017 at 12:52 PM

This is a bit more promising, but I'm still on the fence. This latest crop of publicity probably bought them a look at the first ep at least, but I'm still not quite sold.

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6 Nam Joo-hyuk is Tall

July 5, 2017 at 1:07 PM

I already got second lead syndrome just from the promos. Sensing little spark from the Im Shi-wan and Yoon-ah here. I can't resist a tragic bromance so will be watching this to the bitter end!

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7 wapz

July 5, 2017 at 1:11 PM

Why am i so disinterested from the teasers alone? Compared to SDQ it looks so lackluster. I hope it proves me wrong.

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8 ⭐ Sera The Ms Temper ⭐

July 5, 2017 at 1:13 PM

What!?! Jung Bo Seok is in this drama??! LOL I didn't know or I might've forgotten about it.

Now, I'm curious between this drama, Falsify and School 2017, which drama will be the winner in Mon-Tues timelot. This drama has the advantage from the star power and hype, so even it is not a winner, it will not suffer like Queen for Seven Days.

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9 Sunflowerdiva

July 5, 2017 at 1:24 PM

I don't think I'll be tuning in, it doesn't really appeal to me. HOWEVER -- I'm perfectly fine with Yoona ending up with Shiwan in this obvious love triangle because I will gladly take Jong-hyun, please and thank you. ;)

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10 Linda Palapala

July 5, 2017 at 1:27 PM

Bah, forget Yoon-ah, can’t you two just run off together and live happily ever after? Yes.

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11 bubbles

July 5, 2017 at 2:29 PM

Somehow I am always excited for sageuks when I see the promotions and then just stop watching them early on...I don't know why. I still need to continue with the 3rd episode of Q7D...

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bubbles

July 5, 2017 at 2:30 PM

I liked the scene where he apparently pins her against the tree, see some chemistry there. :)

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12 dooleygongshil

July 5, 2017 at 2:57 PM

I don't know about her acting skills, but, gosh, Yoona is just so pretty. Totally girl crushing on her. GOALS. If she's supposed to be crossdressing....how would anyone believe that? I mean look at her, she's adorable. Although with male leads that pretty, just maybe I could suspend my disbelief just enough.

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13 Kyokik

July 5, 2017 at 3:16 PM

Wow it sounds complicated. I better prepare myself for some potential angstfest. Will probably tune in and give it a few episodes before deciding if I'll add the show to my current growing list of shows.
#Iwanttheboystobehappy

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14 Ajusshi

July 5, 2017 at 3:56 PM

This WILL be so muchbetter than Ruler.

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15 Ally

July 5, 2017 at 4:49 PM

I kind of like the muted colors in this. It looks old. I think Yoon-ah is adorable too. She gets better every time I see her in something. However, I think Im Shi-Wan might be more beautiful than she is in this!

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16 Del

July 5, 2017 at 5:49 PM

Sageuk is favourite genre but I am on the fence on this one.

First, I was not impressed with Im Shi Wan in "The Moon that Embraces the Sun" and in the trailer alone, his voice came out so weak, he does not give me enough vibe to be captivated for a main lead. He does looks pretty but not the pretty like Lee Jun Ki kind which is pretty and alluring at the same time.

And there is Yoona and her acting skill. The scene where her character stumbled on top of ISW and the two engaged in staring contest, she totally gave me the IU's trademark O_O vibe. There's nothing in that look other than just empty stare.

I will probably tuning in because the drama playing same time as Korea in my country and may be for Song Ji Na, though her sageuk track record is not so excellent and for Hong Jong Hyun, since I wanted to see more of what he could offer after that wonderful turn as a mad king in the later half of Moon Lovers.

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miselpo

July 5, 2017 at 9:01 PM

LOL IU's trademark O_O

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Dezzy

July 5, 2017 at 9:53 PM

I noticed in the screenshots above that her facial expression is, well, very consistent in almost all the pics.

She may end up being amazing and I'll gladly eat my words. But I don't think it's a good sign that she's making the same expression whether she's getting hugged or shot at. Just sayin'.

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⭐ Sera The Ms Temper ⭐

July 6, 2017 at 12:49 AM

Tbh, I am going to give this drama a chance for Song Ji Na, the child actors and for Hong Jong Hyun. Nothing impressive on Im Si Wan and Yoona yet. They kinda look too modern for sageuk theme. lol.

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miselpo

July 6, 2017 at 2:02 AM

yeah I'm mostly distracted by actors whose faces don't fit the saeguk theme. Those Moon Lovers younger bros, I really can't take them they ruin the seriousness of that drama for me.

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17 LimonadeSoju

July 5, 2017 at 5:56 PM

Wow that shagged face of Yoon-ah in one of the screencaps...
Out of the 3 upcoming Mon-Tues dramas, this is the one I'm most interested in

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18 Wag-a-muffin

July 5, 2017 at 5:57 PM

I don't mind love triangles. (I almost always ship the 2nd lead. But that's okay.)

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19 miselpo

July 5, 2017 at 9:45 PM

Hong Jong-hyun does the archery thing again, man he just keeps getting better at it.

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20 Napkiin

July 5, 2017 at 9:50 PM

The only person who looks awesome in this teaser is the queen

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21 hannaehh

July 5, 2017 at 10:33 PM

Watched the 4-min trailer and tbh, it doesn't really appealing to me. But I'm gonna give it a try to support the two male leads here.

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22 mmmmm

July 6, 2017 at 1:34 AM

Im Shi-wan and I'm sold.

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23 kooriyuki

July 6, 2017 at 1:57 AM

In Jung Bo Seok we trust to bring on a terrible Dad.

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24 Rose

July 6, 2017 at 5:59 AM

I <3 everything but Yoona, I just cant begin to understand her appeal as an actress.

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25 Fatcat007 (Kitty 💜)

July 6, 2017 at 8:47 AM

oooh that's an interesting trailer! Please be good! Please be good!!

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26 Fairy

July 6, 2017 at 9:12 AM

Talk about an untalented cast! Skip for me.

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27 wackycashew

July 7, 2017 at 3:36 AM

Definitely counting down to this!!! Bring on the angst if it means I get to see Siwannie on my screen. Hwaiting!!

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28 Sharon

July 8, 2017 at 11:22 AM

LOL am I the only one kind of excited about this drama?

Yoona has been improving compared to her older dramas, and Siwan was so good in Misaeng! I'm also very curious about Hong's acting since I've only seen him play a terrible person in Moon Lovers. And I'm a sucker for aesthetically pleasing dramas (and the filming of this is beauuutiful). I'm hoping this drama does well because it's Siwan's return to dramaland.. but I get so heartbroken with love triangles hah. We'll see where this goes...

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29 Yashica

August 9, 2017 at 9:27 PM

Honestly When this film came out I Think I never want to watch this Film (the only saeguk Film that I watched only The moon that embrace the sun ( I don't even know that si wan Play in that drama)), but because many People talked about this film I felt a lil bit curious so I started Watching this drama 3 days (16 eps right now) ago and now I start love all of them, when watching Si wan as a Prince I start thinking why they choose Him as a Prince, because si wan Body look so small than jong hyun, and it makes me want to protect him (?) I dont have any problem with their acting, and they have their own charm, this film contain beautiful words in some part of this film, and the last I love how they take every video beautifully, hope they can have a happy Ending. I don't care about the rating tho.

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The King Loves