Who does San love? I like that the show keeps us guessing as to San's true motivations. It's not often that a kdrama does that. I wonder if a kdrama is risqué enough to make a heroine fall in love with both men ? Hmmmm

Right now I'm firmly in the second lead male's camp as he's more compatible with our heroine and something about Hong Jonghyun's quiet portrayal of a devoted friend and loyal subject, just gets my heartstrings. I want him to be happy. At the same time, I'd like Won to be happy as well. Where does that leave me, I wonder?

The complexity of the motivations of this dramas characters is what makes this drama so darned interesting and they keep layering them with each passing episode. It was something Hwarang failed to do in its writing and plot. Hopefully the ratings will go higher as more and more people come to appreciate the drama.

Damn, what kind of situation is this? Leaving me hanging like this, you are so cruel, show! Btw, I was seriously amazed by Siwan in that very last scene. When he saw San, his face muscles almost didn't move (only his eyes widened slightly), but his expression somehow changed completely, his eyes were saying so much. I was watching that moment few times, I was that fascinated by it. Serious props to Siwan for that scene.

Rin is giving me some serious feels with his gentle, caring and brave self, he's just so good. SLS will hit me hard, now I'm sure of it.

This is my favorite show right now. I can't wait to see how Won will deal with this--I'm afraid whatever he decides will make things worse.

"Which one of them made my heart ache more?" Damn, the writer is so good making us viewers figure it out ourselves by San's eyes, words and body languages from all the time she was with the guys.

I think it's always been Rin for the man she secretly in love with. To me, if San doesn't love toward Rin, why would her heart hurt just because Rin always turns his back on her? It's the kind of feeling that you get when you've a crush on someone. You need that person's attention and you do all sort of things to make that person look at you. As for Won, it's out of pity, she likes him as friends and she doesn't want to hurt him even more.

The scene of San and Rin after her voiceover convinced me even more that San wants Rin's attention and concern which is why she said she should have tripped just to know what'd Rin do. But Rin's answer makes her hurt even more, plus with Rin's remark of her being his master's lover. She knows that it'd be hard for Rin to betray Won and be with her instead. It's time to let go of her feelings and move on.

As a woman, if the man you love keep on pushing you away, and there's another man you learn who sincerely love you, you might eventually give in and give another man a chance. That's how I take if San ends up with Won and we could see it already that San slowly accepts Won's love.

I'm actually quite surprised by Won's decision on marrying Dan to save her and I'm so proud of him taking that action. But the last scene changes it all, I wonder what Won's decision would be? He already promised Dan that he'd marry her. Dan also knows who's in Won's heart, so I don't know if Dan will actually give up and let Won be with the love of his life, or her desperation on not leaving to Yuan would make her selfish and won't let Won choose San. Even if it's the latter, I'd actually understand Dan's desperation and motivation and won't hate her because of that.

I've been rooting for Rin for all the time since the beginning, but I'd say that Rin just surpassed Jung Pal in Reply 1988 for being the noble idiot. Rin had so many chances to actually be with San but he blew it all away for the sake of his loyalty towards Won. Boy, I'm disappointed in you. As much as I want Rin-San to end up together, but I'd accept if San end up with Won because Rin never tried to pursue San. It's his loss.

I think what I took the most from this episode is that Won's mother is so very lonely, in part of her own machinations to protect her own position and her son being the very thing that distances Won from her. And because the King is an easily manipulated tool with an inferiority complex a mile wide he's also made her life miserable. And she's trying to give him a partner he loves but it has to be through underhanded means, she probably threatened San to be there, she probably knew exactly why Dan was there and tries to circumvent it and keep her plans intact by using Won's love and San. She's a very interesting character and I love watching how her love for her son manifests.

I finally enjoyed getting insight into what San feels. Now we know she cares for them both, but I wouldn't call it love either way, I don't think. Pity and a longing to be noticed when you're ignored. I'm sure both can lead to real love down the line but right now I actually wouldn't say she loves either of them yet. She cares about them and is concerned but that's it. There's been too little time, too many secrets, for love at this point.

Om-goodness!!! Omo, and any other phrase of shock and surprise! How is it that Won was not able to find San sooner? She was literally right below the shadow guards' noses the entire time! He kept asking where she was and no one around him knew? Aside from this, o think this episode may have been the best one yet. I love Princess Wonsung. She's not a terrible mother, she's just protecting her son and she's trying to make amends for her sins but bringing him his first love. Too bad he's essentially promised Dan that he would marry her. Dun, dun, dun!!! Or rather Dan, Dan, Dan!

And King Chungryeol, what a piece of doggy poop. His rule was no chump change but I'm wondering how??? Upon looking up my own family's roots, he ruled Goryeo for 34 years, while his son only ruled for 5. There's something missing in the drama about this. I'm no historian, but would like someone to fill in the blanks here.

Rin is such a sacrificial lamb. How he lays down his life for his friend and sister was heart-wrenching! Ahh, I can't even...he's basically the (literal) "noble" idiot, breaking up his bromance and leaving as tribute and not telling his best-friend why. And leaving San too. Let's not forget that ?.

San also has no idea the ramifications of her carelessness and care free independence that she embraced several episodes ago. If she wasn't so torn, I would dislike her character. But she is, and that's what makes her interesting and relatable.

sompi user :packmule3 share interesting opinion about won... based on her post, he defended won and didn't like rin's dishonesty towards won, guys you can check it out before bashing wang won ^.^
https://forums.soompi.com/en/topic/391434-current-drama-2017-the-king-loves-%EC%99%95%EC%9D%80-%EC%82%AC%EB%9E%91%ED%95%9C%EB%8B%A4-mondays-and-tuesdays-2200-kst/?page=50
and next page (p51)

I only read the recaps but I gotta say the king is an asshole. Who treats their own son like that? I mean Won is still a prince. But I guess because he's half Chinese everyone sees fit to treat him like crap. Poor thing.

My heart ached for Won in this episode. How he was humiliated by the King in front of those hypocrite,manipulative Minister Song, Jeon and Boo-Young. I saw and could totally feel San's reactions during that scene. She learned about what Won has done for her, that she didn't know before. That might be one thing that can make her fall in love with him. This is one of the things that confused me about San's feelings ><

As for the king, I was very upset with him. Won even pointed out that he was surrounded with these manipulative people, yet all he cares about is that Won hurt his "girl". Smh do you hate your son that much?

Won also showed that he's a great friend too. He did go and stop the wedding, despite knowing that he was openly disobeying the king's orders. he also understood that Rin was trying to find a way to stop it without hurting Won. Rin ah.. sometimes you can't do something all alone. If you need help, you need to say it. So I'm glad that he finally asked for Won's help. But he still asked to be sent for tribute T.T Rin :'(

Poor Won, I wonder how he's going to make the choice. Though that last scene where San revealed her face was beautifully shot and their acting was on point to. Good job!! Really loving this drama <3

"Their inability to confide in each other has complicated matters to an impossible degree."
- Yaaas I can't agree more. Miscommunication or the lack of it among allies happens in like, every drama! If only they were honest with each other, the problems they now face would've been lesser. If San told Won about being invited in the gathering of possible wives, Won will be able to make a better and prepared action to take. Now, I just feel so so bad for Dan. But I guess the "inability to confide in each other" complicates things and makes for a dramatic story.

I really teared up during Dan and Won's conversation especially when she said that she's alright. Dan is the nicest and is so pure so it's heartbreaking to see her in this position. Dan is not even doing anything but she's the one suffering. It makes me mad at Rin for some reason. Rin deserved that punch from Jeon for not knowing what's happening in his household first before making decisions.

I'm still on the SanRin ship but WTH I think they're really pushing and hinting on WonSan? ?? Or are eps 15-16 just exploring WonSan?

San's confusion is understandable especially because she's young and is possibly feeling this way for the first time. Plus, who wouldn't be confused when you are surrounded and cared for by 2 charming men?

Rin should stop pushing San away. San's feelings could've blossomed more towards him if he's not always looking away and acting nonchalantly, it only confuses San which leads her to pay more attention to Won's affections. I know Rin's loyal and all but sometimes it lools like he's treating himself so lowly. He's a Wang for goodness sake!

Last two eps, I sympathizeed with Song In and Joen, now, its the queen I feel bad for. No one's really just plainly evil in this drama. But just when I'm about to fully sympathize with her, she goes on sending precious Dan as tribute and makes Won pick between Dan and San. She's smart and she knows what Won wants but this is what she does? She keeps on hurting him.

Does the king think he's cool and vicious cause hes not. He's annoying. Or maybe it's because I still don't get him. All the other characters' plight are unfolding, but the king's? Idk!

Also, I gotta admit, sometimes I think I like Yoona's acting when she's wearing a veil more than when she's not.

I wish Won will choose Dan, for her safety and Rin's.

Sigh. Anyway, I find the king appalling. In the beginning, I thought that he'd be a complex character - someone who loves and worries for his son but is unable to show this love. However, there seems to be no love for Won, just pure jealousy for his power. :(

I read an old article where the PD said this drama explores what it means to sacrifice for love. Well done. The emotions are so complex, just like real people. San likes both men, but one she pities and the other she has a deeper connection (plus he's so attractive...). I've watched every episode twice and am trying to restrain myself from a 3rd go, so I decided to rewatch Scarlet Heart just to see Jong hyun. But came to discover the writing in Scarlet now seems rather cheesy compared to this drama which is ever so much deeper and well written, complex characters.

I really agree with knet comment
[+426, -3] If Won selected his beloved San, Dan will be in the list of tribute to the Yuan and his friend Rin will have to go to Yuan too. If he picked Dan, San who avoid from being in the tribute list will be brought to light… No matter what decision he makes, Won will be miserable..ㅜ

source:http://mystarmyangel.tumblr.com/post/163981394946/trans-netizens-comments-170808-yoona-the-king

If Won can't recognize the woman he loves when she's wearing that little mask -- dude needs glasses.

Meanwhile, the combo that makes sense is Won + Dan, Rin + San. Everybody gets their first or 2nd choice, which is better than 10th choice or a one-way ticket to Yuan.

Dan and Rin moment is my favorite scene from this episode. It's so touching watching the two sibling affection to each other. Dan cries on the thought she won't be able to see Rin and father anymore then Rin encourages her not to go?. I like Dan she doesn't actively beg to her brothers or father or Won to save her from being sent to Yuan. She's afraid but kind of accepts her fate coz nothing she could do about it.
Rin always breaks my heart each episode. His answer to San's question about him speaking politely to her from the start. Gahhh Rin-ahhhh when will the day come you tell the truth about your feeling for San. At least somebody has to know. Does Dan know? Won seems to suspect something but he pretends not to see it. And San's ambiguity for who makes her heart ache more. Indeed this love triangle is not easy.

I think the hierarchy is really apparent in this drama and they all started with the title, only San is not behaving in that because she just knows them as her friends.

There is two side of this,
Rin sacrificed himself for Won.
Won did a big favour for Rin as his best friend, even take the humiliation.

The difference is that Rin can't sacrifice his own family. Whenever he lies and hold it to Won, it's related to his family [especially his 2nd brother's plan]. In his view, he knew they will never be equal and he thought that the wrongdoing if his brother/family is also on his shoulder to pay.
The betrayal of his brother is paid by his loyalty.

Then we have Won who knows this clearly but he never told Rin who now going places just to stop his brother and save his sister.

If he told that it's San that his brother wants to marry, Won will take the matter to his heart and it will damage Rin's family.
I think we underestimate how Rin cares about his family including Jeon, treason lasts for 3 generation [at least that's what I remember] and even if they are friends, the law is above that and Rin can't bet that. No one is protecting Rin's family, not even Won [imo] if Won knew it was Rin's brother that hurts San and if he knew Rin had a feeling to San.

Won on the other hand is always the one with not much to lose,
he is the only crown prince with the yuan's family. He has power and he has money, no matter people want to dethrone him, his backup is strong enough with his mother for now.

So in Rin's case, he has too much at stake, his own life, his family, his sister, Won, San and he can't pick the priority.
While in Won's case, it's about San, Rin and himself but he never really thought that they have a family too, they have their own responsibility too.

It's not that I am defending Rin or making Won looked bad but this different perspective from them is what makes them an ill-fated friend. Won likes to be the centre of attention and will give it all to people that care about him while Rin is someone that lived with a responsibility to avoid being a burden.

Rin will do not implicate Won in more problem cause the more Won is included because of Rin, the more the royal family will be hard on Rin's family while in Won's care, his family will not harm him [yeah the humiliation is really bad but when Won knew the whole story of Rin's family and San, he also will lose them and Rin and San family can't be saved from the royal family]

Sitting here analyzing and realized this is a true triangle - with equal sides. Of friendship and love. The 3 are friends, but each loves the other two in different ways. What makes the triangle unravel and become unequal is the fact that Won is the Crown Prince and has the power over both Rin and San. This drama isn't necessarily about "who gets the girl". For all we know, she could die, or not end up with either. Or Rin could die. Or Rin and San could end up together, etc. But we do know Won ends up the lonely king. He says as much.

Hong Jong Hyun said that eun san's father really rich... 1/4 of goryeo land belongs to him... he is the richest man in goryeo after the king..
marry won to san will be more benefit for the queen...but If won end up with san, this drama won't be interesting because it'll be another typical saeguk drama, I still hope for rin san, because I really looking forward tragic ending..Sad ending sometime more beautiful than happy ending as long as they have good script ^.^

Am I the only one who stars to ship dan and won's bodyguard? Won only considered Dan as a little sister T.T
If won played by lee min ho,Kim soo hyun or yoo seong ho, I really sure their ratings will hit 20% .

Ugh, I love the character studies in this drama. I would just be repeating myself again, but how this drama portrays people is just so damn realistic and moving. These are messed up people, and just because they're in a sageuk setting wearing fancy clothes does not make them any less messed up. These characters are all heartbreakingly real (yes, even the wimpy King who acts like he has all the power in the world but is actually kinda powerless so he asserts himself through small, petty gestures).

My fave scenes are Rin and the Queen's conversation and when Won snaps at his father asking him why he doesn't see the farce of a tea ceremony for what it is. Rin and Queen Wonsung are the two most loyal people to Won, but they are on opposite ends of the politico-social spectrum which means they can't be allies. But they recognize that each one is loyal to Won which means they have at least respect for each other despite their antagonistic relationship. Again, this isn't explained but shown through how the characters interact and through their convos. LOVE A DRAMA THAT CAN DO THAT.

Won continues to be smart but you can also see that he continues to be young when he tries, but in the end fails, to go along with the tea ceremony. He needs to be slicker than that to be king, and you see that he has the makings of it, but it's still raw at this point, because they can still get to him. How much longer till he grows, however?

As for the romance, I saw that many were confused as to who San really likes after this ep, but it remained clear to me: She wants Rin's attention (that tea scene at Geumwajon (?) gave total pay-off today! when Rin would look at San but avert his eyes when she turned to him), but feels pity for Won because she sees through Won's mask of cheerfulness, perhaps recognizing in him a kindred soul (she herself masks a deep pain through her outwardly brash personality). She recognizes Won's pain and therefore wants to help him alleviate that pain. Whether she would grow tired of Rin's apparent wishy-washiness (though we as viewers know that is not the case) and falls for Won's actions (she is already moved by them), remains to be seen. I cannot wait for Monday.

It has been quite a long time since I last cried watching a drama and it finally happened in this episode. It was unexpected. I was surprised by my own reaction, but the tears did not stop.

I was already emotional at the beginning of the drama and throughout the hour I was in an emotional rollercoaster because of what the four leads are going through. I have many favorite emotional scenes from this episode, but my tear floodgates opened when Won "proposed" to Dan. It was poignant yet sweet because Won showed that he cares for Dan even if only as a sister.

I realized that the Queen may seem strong and evil, but she is in fact filled with loneliness and pain and probably more fragile than what she makes it appear to others especially to the King.

What's going to happen next? Who will Won choose. I was glad that when all ladies were introduced, Won looked at Dan with something like a reassuring smile because they had a plan. But then San showed up and omgg. What now?

That ending was just a great (and killer) twist.

hmm.. what day today? Oh it's still Saturday 11.52 pm... haha at least 46 hours again I can see what happens with San-won-Rin hahahaha
thank you writer-nim for such amazing hanging end plus new dramatic OST for Won TT

If Won changes his mind and not choose Dan, will she still be sent to Yuan as a tribute? But Rin and the queen already had a deal, right? Or will they both go? It was also mentioned, ones the list is sent to Yuan, there is no taking it back. Was it sent already? It says the tributes to Yuan are going in five days, so could it be that the list was there? Can the queen cancel whenever and whoever is in that list? She's the queen after all.

While the princess wonsang 'is' lonely and all that, but I absolutely hated today how everyone in the palace would kind of do things for their own benefits.
1. princess wonsang: She cries and feels so much for her son, quite valid. I credit her for not neglecting the prince, but but but, evil people love their kin too. I was hoping we would take sides of people who are righteous, and kind, the princess loving her son but then trying to forcefully use dan to insult Rin or saying on his face that he should leave, since he's a thread to the CP, was absolutely horrendous imo. Good deeds will ultimately win I believe, so while she thinks that by getting rid of the strong and righteous Rin would be good for Won, it is gonna backfire on her at some point in the future honestly. In their thirst for power and blind affection for their children and lovers, the king and queen both are losing the trustworthy people they could have. Afterall money is not the most important asset in life, it's love, trust and the bond of friends and family.
2. That brings me to my next topic: Won. While I 'LOVE' him and love how Im Siwan is portraying the CP, I live for his micro-expressions, and the discoveries in the depth of his character, so that's why both of his negative and positive attitudes is a joy to watch. For example, when he said to Rin, 'bring my woman', it was all kind of problematic for me. Think about how we would react, if this was the modern time and someone said that to his friend or subordinate, while power gives Won the privilege to act as he wants, but still if he 'has' considered Rin as his friend and (One and only at that), then he was not supposed to treat him like that. Since he knows very well that Rin likes San too. Even if he's a crown prince, and would be a king in future, and because we have seen that he is quite honest and trustworthy in other aspects, but just because of how dominating and rude he is at times towards Rin, I can't certify him as a man of good character. So though he calls Rin friend, I think he doesn't see him in that regard when the love of his life is in question. Like that time in the jail when he tells to Rin directly, I would be saving San, and not you. And though Rin says jokingly, I thought I was of more value to you than that, I felt in inside he was a bit hurt may be? So that made me think, did Won actually love Rin that much as a friend, or trust him fully? If he had more high regard for his friend, he wouldn't just say, bring me my woman, rather I would expect, 'so I kind of like San, but I have this inkling that you like her too, so why don't we leave it to her to see which one of us actually makes her react/confused?' But the dominating and regal tone he used with Rin, every time San was involved, was quite uneasy for me to watch. A man of good attributes won't act that way, I felt. While all that time, Rin just listened to him and said nothing, and even when San asked him, 'why did he...

Wanted to add, loved your review Teriyaki! I think I kind of am curious like you, about whom San really likes or who makes her heart move. I would be kind of disappointed if the drama writer takes a different course than the original writer, since this could affect the quality of the script or the message/impression the original writer intended to give. So here's to hoping that we get a satisfying ending.

I want to add how I found it hilarious and cute (amidst the rather tense atmosphere) when Won entered and awkwardly greeted the ladies. Siwan is such a cute awkward. Reminds me of awkward Jang Geurae.

Thanks for your recap, TeriYaki!