You better not, Hong sisters 🙂

I wanna hold my tongue and still hoping that he will be a great future King, and learnt to let go his insecurity complex. Please do not turn my charming CP into evil, Hong Sisters 🙏

I'd imagine two scenarios -
1. He goes halfway to the dark side, comes to his senses, and redeems himself OR
2. He goes dark side but it's all a fake to take down Jin Mu once and for all
Either way, he ends S2 as a great future king (who is still sometimes childish and petty coz I need that!).

I guess I find it hard to imagine a version of Won who is fully evil because it would just not be in line with his character so far. He's just too smart to be played by Jin Mu to the end. In fact that was the one thing I found implausible in the S1 finale.

My Crown Prince Won is the smartest person in the cast besides Yul. He's playing Jin Mu and everyone. I refuse to believe he'd really turn evil and betray Wook and Songrim just out of jealousy.

I hope he doesn't because why would he even trust Jin Mu at this point?! He saw Jang Uk save everyone and that he wasn't trying to be in the spotlight. Even if he is the king's star, he wasn't the adversary Mu was making him out to be. He was it with his own eyes.

I doubt it. It has already been established that Won do not blindly follow Jin Mu or his parents without fact checking and making his own opinion of the matter. That's what made him a great character. My take is he is sounding off Jin Mu's plans and CP Won will not turn to the dark side.

I really want it all to be a ploy to totally outsmart Jin Mu and bring him to justice while he equally settles his score with Park Jin.
All the other masters can pay lip service to him all day long but Park Jin joining the group was what pissed him off the most. For crying out loud, from his conversation with Lee Cheol he knew that he definitely was not the King's star. I don't know why Jang Uk didn't tell Park Jin about he and CP Won's agreement. A lack of passing needed info clearly does a lot of damage everytime in AoS.

NOoooooo please NO! He’s such an interestingly complex character to root for. He can’t be a villain just for the sake of needing one.

I really really don't want him to join the dark side but I am worried about one thing.
He didn't seem that sad that Jang wook was dead. I thought after all they have gone through together, he would be a bit more weepy. He might have been relieved about the king's star no longer being a problem.

Though, he would make a fantastic villain. That voice. *Swooooon.

Seriously though, A villain CP would just become a self-fufilling prophecy. It would only prove that he was not good enough to be the king. And that would just be heartbreaking.

Hmmmm. I don’t think a “hot take” is going to cut it as this deserves more than a perfunctory attention grab.
I think the breadcrumbs are leading us to that conclusion but it also could be part of a poorly devised plot which might not pan out. I have really come to enjoy Shin Seunho’s acting and how he has embodied 9Won. I don’t want to see him as a dangerous antagonist as he would commit to it to the hilt. I first came across him in the “A Moment at 18” and he portrayed that arrogant, insecure, highly-strung and miserable character so well that I found it unbearable. He has a powerful presence as an actor for sure.

If Uk gets darker because of Naksu's death, if Yul gets shady because of the worm, if Jin Cho-Yeon gets angry because her father's death, I really hope the Prince will be the hero we need! He saw how the power made his father weak, it would be sad that he becomes like his father.

Having not watched the last two episodes yet NOOOOOOOOOOOOO

I figured if no one liked Go Yoon-jung’s Naksu that we’d at least have Prince Won and Jang Uk taking solace in each other, crying over their once beloved. Aaaand maybe through their heartbreak and pain they would eventually develop an intimacy…
Perhaps finding their initial aversion to each other was really an attraction…

Okay yeah I’ll just head over to AO3 and read up on some Prince Won x Jang Uk fanfic

I'm really worried that this is exactly what they are heading for. I agree with the other commenters here that he is intelligent, and he won't be easily led down Jin Mu's path, but I worry because of his pride, and ultimately his insecurity.

When CP Won first came on the scene, I was like, "Ugh, here is a person I will totally hate because he is the worst kind of male imaginable" - fragile ego galore, needs to be told he's won at every turn, looking for appeasement everywhere. And I was really happy to be proven wrong, and for him to be one of the best characters in the whole show. But he kind of still has those qualities.

And Jin Mu has known him as his Master for a long time, so if anyone knows how to push those buttons into manipulation, it's Jin Mu. I'm really hoping what we actually get is a short-ish (part 2 is only supposed to be 10 episodes, right?) veer into dark territory before he makes a sharp turn back to the light and assists the rest of our heroes in a beautiful takedown. I would love to see that final epic team-up!

I am hoping he will not. He is so loveable and human, that he has bouts of self-doubt and jealousy that make him human and not necessarily evil. I will haunt the Hong sisters if they make him go to the dark side.

Can we just take a moment to appreciate Prince Won, though? I mean - man just bodies the best and most captivating crown prince role I've ever seen in k-drama land. I do not believe I am exaggerating. His stature is phenomenal, his deep voice, Lord, and my goodness, his mannerisms just demand attention, no matter how silly. I am in awe. If he turns bad, it'll be ok, I trust that the Hong sisters will redeem him somehow cause if they don't, I'm coming for necks.

I love how most of these comments are “don’t let him be evil, but if he does for abit pls redeem him otherwise heads will roll” 😆

No He's Not!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'd be gutted but understand if he turned evil from conclusions he drew himself, but if it's because he trusts Jin Mu, then NO. That won't work for me.
He was shaping up into such a wise and clever king! Like the way he came and offered Uk a drink after Uk beat him in the duel because a Crown Prince needs powerful people on his side...

Didn’t think I was at all passionate about AoS but then this post shows up…

Maaaate you come for my boy you come for me!

CP will be in conflict: 1) he wants to be the King; 2) he knows the people believe the Star King (Uk) is the chosen leader; 3) he must weigh the option of stepping aside or defeating Uk (which seems impossible since Uk is now the ice stone incarnate). Personal pride will rule #1. Pragmatic logic will rule #2. Clever intellect will solve #3.

I could see Won travelling some of the way to the dark side before coming to his senses after several clues. We have seen in S1 that he considers all sides of an issue and draws his own conclusions. However, he does have a jealous side and is prideful, always wanting to save face, so these can occasionally cloud his judgment. I hope I'm not wrong, but hopefully his good characteristics will prevail. Hong sisters, don't mess this up!

Well, I don’t know but I’m all there, with 🍿

I don't believe Prince Won will turn to the dark side. He has his faults- he's proud, often cold, and susceptible to jealousy. But throughout the season he's also been fair-minded, and he recognized the decency in his “rival” Jang Uk despite not always particularly liking him (shout out Shin Seung-ho for some really fine acting in conveying this balance). The prince had a look of skepticism when Jin Mu announced he had caught the soul-shifter Naksu and blamed Songrim for harboring her; part of this may have been his own feelings for Mudeok/Naksu, but he also seems very deliberative and not someone to rush to judgment. Previously, he had been pushing for Jin Mu to confess and accept his punishment; with Naksu running wild and killing people he then refrained from exposing Jin Mu, but I don't get the sense he is under Jin Mu's influence or sway. Jang Uk may be the King's star and rightful heir to the throne, but I'm thinking Prince Won would actually make the better king (and hopefully this is borne out in Season 2 and he doesn’t actually become a villain).

I love how Won started out as this seemingly typical infuriating royal who now has us defending his honor and threatening for necks to roll, Naksu-style, if they destroy his character. 😂
But seriously, I'll understand if he detours through a short villainy road. But please, Hong Sisters, stay true to the character you've written. Jang Wook is hot and all but CP Won just is KING material, ya hear me? He reminds me so much of Zuko from ATLA so please give him a good ending in season 2. 🥺

i wish they incorporate original Naksu (GYJ) when she met the blind Bu Yeon (JSM) during the scenes where they confront each other in some kind loop in one of the few eps especially during that ice stone scene. it will better like so that some people will at least ready with OG Naksu return during 2nd season.
now you have people saying they dont want to watch 2nd season due to lack of JSM participation.
honestly i love to see how Wook and OG Naksu will meet each other. will Naksu find him first and keep eye on him or they will meet in some unexpected situation that require them to fight side by side.

I. M E.X.C.I.T.E.D FOR DEC TO COME!!