Kathryn_51

Exactly - it's seo-ri's phone - including the heart-warming text messages from her grandmama. I would rather watch the scenes of Dan-sim's mouthwatering fireworks over Korean street food than routine/mundane self-learning.

Perhaps they are descendants of the originals. According to the synopsis, Kang Dan Sim's "spirit" is currently possessing the body of has-been actress Sin Seo Ri.

I am enjoying this drama very much, but I'm not sure I'm on board with a spirit possessing (like co-habitation) a person's body because, sooner or later, one of them must exit the body. Dan Sim clearly has certain powers that sense danger - so perhaps her fear of the cousin is nothing more than that. I hope so, because everything else is a mixture of laugh-out-loud humor/heart-warming moments (grandmama) and two very strong-willed, intelligent characters.

My Royal Nemesis.

It's been a long time since a kdrama rom-com entertained me from the 1st minute to the last. 10/10 on 1st episode - and something would need to go very, very wrong for it to ever go lower.

I've been looking forward to this one but forgot that this released today (thought it was Sat/Sun). Must somehow find time to watch before Ep. 2. Good to know you are enjoying this.

Could very well be a secret (but with only 4 episodes to go, the absence of hints makes it unlikely - unless, very bad writing). My impression - based on the 1st 4 episodes, is that the King Father was worried that Yi-an would overshadow his so-called "weaker" OLDER brother. I was most confused about the constant change in name/title during the oughts (2000-2009) which is apparently significant enough that it was highlighted on the MBC official timeline. Perhaps Koreans would understand why yi-an was poorly treated in a Joseon household, but it's not clear to "foreigners" like me.

16 episode drama always include a major break-up - whether noble idiocy/sacrifice, major argument, manipulated betrayal by a third party. Doesn't matter - once a couple does the "I love you/kiss-kiss scene, viewers won't continue for another 6-8 episodes of sweetness.

This would be an excellent twist! But I see it differently. If he believes that she is in danger --- by publicizing that the marriage is just a "contract" and will end in divorce, then she's protected. Crazy theory but it does make sense and would be the first surprising twist in this ho-hum drama.

Okay, I watched the scenes with both Queen Mom and her father and then Yi-an and the safe/document. And then I re-checked the time-line. I think there is a strong possibility that King Yi-Yoon (the child) is NOT a royal. His parents were married 10 years before he was born. That is NOT what royals do - they work hard to have many kids to guarantee succession. So, what if the Queen Mother seduced someone and got pregnant. The King realized it and that's why he was planning to abdicate. Perhaps he even explained that in his explanation to Yi-an as to why he was abdicating. But he died shortly thereafter and it was critical that stability be maintained.

Crazy theory after watching one of the final scenes today - what if the PM is Yi-yoon's birth father?? That would definitely explain alot.

Added: I enjoy the intrigue far more than the romance. In fact, it's the main reason I'm even paying attention because I like the historical aspects.

I'm behind on my watching, but sped thru Ep. 7 (checking out one scene) and I feel like I'm watching a play - I'm the audience and these people are on a stage acting. It's very scripted, everyone saying their part, very polished. But, I'm not immersed - I don't feel pulled into the story. Maybe you're missing something different, but that's the answer for me and why I'm not rating this super high yet.

Not going to happen as long as the lawsuit(s) are proceeding.

I did some research yesterday and confirmed that Joseon followed strict primogenitor protocol - the succession went to the eldest son unless he was unfit, died w/out children/etc. But, I did more digging today with your question and there were a handful of times when the designated Crown Prince was NOT the eldest. I started to write a lengthy reply to you with lots of "what if's" but realize now that I need to watch today's episode to understand the precise nature of what happened with King (brother) before I speculate further.

I guess I should watch first, but - unless something was said in today's episode regarding some special reform-Joseon protocol as regards the succession, the King - who has a son - cannot abdicate to a brother. He cannot remove his own son from succession - UNLESS he knows the boy is not his son. And considering that the Crown Prince and Yi-rang were married for 10 years before she got pregnant, I wouldn't be surprised because that gal would have been trying to get preggers with lots of babies as quickly as possible after her marriage.

For those interested in or theorizing about timelines, I put this together from the MBC official site.

[Historical note: The Joseon Dynasty/Korean Empire ceased to exist in 1910 when the Japanese annexed Korea and the monarchy was abolished. In 1945, the Japanese colonial rule ended with the end of WWII. South Korea was officially established as a sovereign nation in 1948 and it adopted the “Constitution of the Republic of Korea” which vested legislative power in the National Assembly.]

The “Perfect Crown” Timeline
1945: Constitutional Monarchy established. The Monarchy is largely ceremonial and (presumably) laws are written by some sort of unnamed legislative body (but in current day South Korea, it would be the National Assembly)

31st Generation of the Joseon Dynasty
1995: King Hui Jong (Age 32) ascends throne
1999 (Sept.): Yi Hwan (Age 11) recognized as Crown Prince
2000 and 2009: Yi An’s title changed back and forth
2005: Queen died in auto accident
2010: Royal marriage between Crown Prince Yi Hwan and Yun Yi-Rang
2012: King Jui Jong dies from heart attack

32nd Generation
2012: Crown Prince Yi Hwan (Age 24) ascends the throne and becomes King Yi Hwan.
2018: Yi Yoon is born
2020: Yi Yoon (Age 3) recognized as Crown Prince
2022: King Yi Hwan dies in a fire

33rd Generation
2022 (March): Crown Prince Yi Yoon (age 5) becomes King
2022 (Sept.): Grand Prince Yi An is appointed regent.

I will post this in the Discussion Topic Forum as well

I'm able to watch it in the US (because Disney+ includes Hulu now), but in prior years, I would watch Korean Disney+ shows using a VPN and. . . .HONG KONG (because the streaming platform was blocked in Korea in deference to the broadcast (non-streaming). Every once in a while, I would stay up late my time to watch the last episode on the broadcast, but there were no Eng. subs. Actually, I should admit - it's been a couple of years since I did this - I have no idea what might work/not work these days.

I don't do illegal sites and kisskh is illegal.

Queen of Tears was a Wild Rollercoaster Ride from start to finish. Loved it - recently re-watched on a cold, dreary winter weekend.

I also had some of the same thoughts. So did a deep dive (research/translation) into the official timeline and it's posted way, way down below in the middle of very long thread. Good theory, but not possible because the King (Father) died several years before Yi Yoon was born. Here are the relevant dates:

2010: Royal marriage between Crown Prince Yi Hwan and Yun Yi-Rang
2012: King Jui Jong dies from heart attack
2018: Yi Yoon is born

If I have time to put the entire family timeline together, I will post something more detailed in the Topic/Discussion Forum - hopefully before the next episode airs. 😊

I also enjoy theorizing and there are still many unanswered questions/unknown facts to unravel before the end.

Okay, I did the research/translation so that you won't have to😊😊😊 (from the MBC website timeline)

31st Generation
1995: King Hui Jong (Age 32) ascends throne
1999 (Sept. 09): Yi Hwan (Age 11) recognized as Crown Prince
2000 and 2009: Yi An’s title changed back and forth
2005: Queen died in auto accident
2010: Royal marriage between Crown Prince Yi Hwan and Yun Yi-Rang
2012: King Jui Jong dies from heart attack

32nd Generation
2012: Crown Prince (Age 24) ascends the throne
2018: Yi Yoon is born
2020: Yi Yoon (Age 3) appointed/designated Crown Prince
2022: King Yi Hwan dies

33rd Generation
2022 March: Yi Yoon becomes King
2022 (Sept. 16): Grand Prince Yi An is appointed regent.

So, Yi-rang not pregnant (apparently) when she married the Crown Prince. But I still don't understand why Yi An was so opposed to the marriage.

Thanks for that history lesson - it definitely removes one possible plot twist.

LOL, but if I'm really fascinated with a drama, I pull out a notebook at the beginning and begin to write down dialogue that seems to foreshadow; dates; character descriptions, etc. But as I've said elsewhere, this drama isn't

Based upon replies to my original question regarding succession, it appears that there are only two heirs to the royal family: The King (child) and the Grand Prince (Yi An). There are no known heirs. Might be an unknown (or perhaps even known by some folks) illegitimate child somewhere, but that's really irrelevant to the overall story/mystery/intrigue.

In the future, if the Grand Prince marries and has one or more children, they would also be potential heirs. But this story ends in 6 episodes, so the future is irrelevant EXCEPT if certain factions are determined to end the monarchy.

Plot wise, if both die, the country would be in crisis - there is no Royal Family (and the Queen Mother would lose all of her power/influence). Perhaps the Constitution dictates what happens but realistically (IF this even becomes a question), Prime Minister will be waiting in the wings.

I recognize that most viewers are enchanted by the romance, but I'm not one of them - I'm interested in the palace intrigue.