That's such a brilliant ending----for viewers to choose. I choose happy. Even tho" the more rational one would…
Yep. The way the series ended, even if they "lived happily ever after" was in a sad tone too. That even he appeared to have remembered her, there's something sad in the overall feel. They did well in mixing things up to leave open the possibility of a different ending.
True. It does happen in some people that their intense grief and desire for someone turns into a hallucination wherein their desires are fulfilled but because of their gried they get trapped in it.
------- The monk hinted that something bad will happen if an inexperienced person tries the fake death technique but he never said anything as to what that could be.
Ending 1: And they lived happily ever after … On Dal will never remember everything but he is actually alive.
Here's the thing: On Dal was shot with multiple arrows front and back … even if you enter the fake death technique, your wounds will not disappear. Those arrows were deadly, no amount of fake death technique can stop his bleeding or heal his wounds _instantly_.
If so, then the only explanation left is… Ending 2: Pyeong Gang is hallucinating. On Dal did die and never got out of the fake death technique. The monk understood that Pyeong Gang was seeing a hallucination of On Dal just like how On Dal was hallucinating his mother.
Her hallucinating On Dal also acts as her penance for her life as a cold-blooded assassin as well as for losing her way and forgeting On Dal's happiness. It is also her penance for not fulfilling her promise to protect On Dal, the promise she made with On Dal's mother.
If the monk was not there when Pyeong Gang arrived and there was fire, then there's no doubt On Dal is indeed alive. However, the monk came from the house. In addition to that, they never showed a scene wherein On Dal and the Monk are together. The only scenes were Pyeong Gang + On Dal; and Pyeong Gang + Monk.
It's a clue that On Dal is not real and only Pyeong Gang can see him. The Monk knew and simply explained what On Dal tried but failed because he was inexperienced.
Which ending do you like? And why? Or perhaps you have another ending? Please do share! -------
Well, historically, it was Silla who first dreamed of a unified Korean peninsula. It was also Silla that first achieved of a unified Korean peninsula.
What's interesting is … the royal families of Baekja and Silla both claimed descendancy from Gogoryeo ("ancient goryeo") so in the end, they are all related. Lols.
In one of the episodes, Won was led to believe a lie about the true heritage of her sister. Because of that he…
They should've dedicated one or two episodes for Won, there's a story to tell there. It was indeed mysterious he just turned into that type of king after four years, something triggered in him. Could be the death of their father, or it could be the "prophecy" that their father's reign was about to end and that his job was to ensure the empire goes to Won and Pyeong Gang (episode 18), Won was listening then. It could be that Won understood it as Pyeong Gang eventually sitting on the throne, and since she's the eldest …
Also, Pyeong Gang did say that there is a way for a woman to lead the empire and she will ensure that she becomes the ruler. While she's no longer desiring to sit on the throne, Won probably also discovered there's a way for his sister to be a legitimate ruler even if the idea of a woman acting as "king" is unheard of.
Do you think Viki will upload the first episodes with Na In Woo?
I wouldn't count on it. Their target market is the International viewers, and their contract no doubt have any clauses about changing the earlier episodes for whatever reason.
Is there a possibility? Sure. But will they take action on it? That's what you shouldn't count on because they'll rely on their licensing deal and sales. Will they earn more if they upload the new episode versions? Will the same amount of people who watched the original versions re-watch the new versions? If that can be guaranteed, then they probably will. Since that can't be guaranteed, then they'll probably just "wait-and-see".
i still don't understand the sudden horrible change in won after becoming king, it bothers me. also moyong was…
In one of the episodes, Won was led to believe a lie about the true heritage of her sister. Because of that he started to have doubts who her real father is.
Those scenes were never addressed in the entire series, when Pyeong Gang saved him from a poison (which turned out to be not a poison), he suddenly became cozy-cozy with his sister again. Yet he was not with On Dal until after he taught him how to shoot an arrow.
Since he never grew up with a mother, and the last time he saw his mother was when he was a kid-kid and was even left alone in the Palace when he wanted to go … and then when Pyeong Gang returned she was suddenly the talk and focus of everyone … there is no doubt resentment grew in him.
When he became king, that resentment finally showed up … especially with an advisor who only thinks about his clan -- the father of the queen.
For Won, the sudden reappearance of his sister is a long-term plan to take the throne for herself.
In addition to those, he loves to listen to secret meetings and he is a very observant person. In his teenage years, he was very good in pretending to be a teenager but in reality he knows a lot about the politics in their empire. He knew there are clans who wish to control the king from behind-the-scenes. He knew that these clans are willing to do the unthinkable, like keep a king hallucinating, just to get what they want.
Personally, I wasn't surprised when Won suddenly became cozy-cozy with his sister because he probably formed a plan to ensure he will take the throne. But the more Pyeong Gang's name grew locally and abroad, the more worried he became that he might lose his throne to her.
Won is not addicted to power. Won was not corrupted by power. The issue with him is he is being controlled by fear. Fear for his throne. Fear that his sister is far wiser and more capable as a warrior. Fear that the people will abandon him just like his mother and sister left him. Fear that he will once again be alone in the world.
If he will only let go of that fear and trust his sister, then he'll be a good king because like his sister, he is not lacking in intelligence and wisdom. He survived his childhood and teenage years, with enemies around him and his father, by learning to observe, listen, and play dumb. But his fear is blinding him.
1 - April 3 2 - April 9 3 - April 10 4 - April 16 5 - April 17 6 - April 23 7 - April 24 8 - April 30 9 - May 1 10 - May 7 11 - May 8 12 - May 14 13 - May 15
Episodes 1 to 3 is Dramaworld 1 (re-edited) Episodes 4 onwards is Dramaworld 2.
Friday and Saturday, 10:30 PM (UTC+8) 11:30 PM (UTC+9) a new episode is made available for free viewing. (2 episodes per week)
As of this post: Episodes 1 to 5 is now available for free viewing. Episodes 6 and 7 is available for paid subscribers. (Should be available for free viewing next week.) Episode 8 is available for preview (for all accounts).
Based on the 2019 script by Matt Naylor, this Korean live-action version was a good adaptation. There were some scenes which were far too similar with another Western apocalyptic film released a few years ago (I can not recall the title) in this version that is not in the American version.
If you want to watch the American version based on the same 2019 script by Matt Naylor, look for the movie entitled "Alone" (2020).
The Next step in augmented reality and augmented virtuality games is indeed playing it with a smart contact lens. We will witness this become reality in the next 10 years.
1 
Check my thread: https://mydramalist.com/discussions/cut-to-heart/61537-did-they-live-happily-ever-after (but spoilers of course).
-------
The monk hinted that something bad will happen if an inexperienced person tries the fake death technique but he never said anything as to what that could be.
Ending 1: And they lived happily ever after …
On Dal will never remember everything but he is actually alive.
Here's the thing: On Dal was shot with multiple arrows front and back … even if you enter the fake death technique, your wounds will not disappear. Those arrows were deadly, no amount of fake death technique can stop his bleeding or heal his wounds _instantly_.
If so, then the only explanation left is… Ending 2: Pyeong Gang is hallucinating.
On Dal did die and never got out of the fake death technique. The monk understood that Pyeong Gang was seeing a hallucination of On Dal just like how On Dal was hallucinating his mother.
Her hallucinating On Dal also acts as her penance for her life as a cold-blooded assassin as well as for losing her way and forgeting On Dal's happiness. It is also her penance for not fulfilling her promise to protect On Dal, the promise she made with On Dal's mother.
If the monk was not there when Pyeong Gang arrived and there was fire, then there's no doubt On Dal is indeed alive. However, the monk came from the house. In addition to that, they never showed a scene wherein On Dal and the Monk are together. The only scenes were Pyeong Gang + On Dal; and Pyeong Gang + Monk.
It's a clue that On Dal is not real and only Pyeong Gang can see him. The Monk knew and simply explained what On Dal tried but failed because he was inexperienced.
Which ending do you like? And why? Or perhaps you have another ending? Please do share!
-------
Thank you!
Well, historically, it was Silla who first dreamed of a unified Korean peninsula. It was also Silla that first achieved of a unified Korean peninsula.
What's interesting is … the royal families of Baekja and Silla both claimed descendancy from Gogoryeo ("ancient goryeo") so in the end, they are all related. Lols.
Also, Pyeong Gang did say that there is a way for a woman to lead the empire and she will ensure that she becomes the ruler. While she's no longer desiring to sit on the throne, Won probably also discovered there's a way for his sister to be a legitimate ruler even if the idea of a woman acting as "king" is unheard of.
I think I missed that information in the first episodes.
Is there a possibility? Sure. But will they take action on it? That's what you shouldn't count on because they'll rely on their licensing deal and sales. Will they earn more if they upload the new episode versions? Will the same amount of people who watched the original versions re-watch the new versions? If that can be guaranteed, then they probably will. Since that can't be guaranteed, then they'll probably just "wait-and-see".
;)
Those scenes were never addressed in the entire series, when Pyeong Gang saved him from a poison (which turned out to be not a poison), he suddenly became cozy-cozy with his sister again. Yet he was not with On Dal until after he taught him how to shoot an arrow.
Since he never grew up with a mother, and the last time he saw his mother was when he was a kid-kid and was even left alone in the Palace when he wanted to go … and then when Pyeong Gang returned she was suddenly the talk and focus of everyone … there is no doubt resentment grew in him.
When he became king, that resentment finally showed up … especially with an advisor who only thinks about his clan -- the father of the queen.
For Won, the sudden reappearance of his sister is a long-term plan to take the throne for herself.
In addition to those, he loves to listen to secret meetings and he is a very observant person. In his teenage years, he was very good in pretending to be a teenager but in reality he knows a lot about the politics in their empire. He knew there are clans who wish to control the king from behind-the-scenes. He knew that these clans are willing to do the unthinkable, like keep a king hallucinating, just to get what they want.
Personally, I wasn't surprised when Won suddenly became cozy-cozy with his sister because he probably formed a plan to ensure he will take the throne. But the more Pyeong Gang's name grew locally and abroad, the more worried he became that he might lose his throne to her.
Won is not addicted to power. Won was not corrupted by power. The issue with him is he is being controlled by fear. Fear for his throne. Fear that his sister is far wiser and more capable as a warrior. Fear that the people will abandon him just like his mother and sister left him. Fear that he will once again be alone in the world.
If he will only let go of that fear and trust his sister, then he'll be a good king because like his sister, he is not lacking in intelligence and wisdom. He survived his childhood and teenage years, with enemies around him and his father, by learning to observe, listen, and play dumb. But his fear is blinding him.
^_^
1 - April 3
2 - April 9
3 - April 10
4 - April 16
5 - April 17
6 - April 23
7 - April 24
8 - April 30
9 - May 1
10 - May 7
11 - May 8
12 - May 14
13 - May 15
This is the link in iQiYi (official streaming): https://www.iq.com/album/2c1yna4728d
Episodes 1 to 3 is Dramaworld 1 (re-edited)
Episodes 4 onwards is Dramaworld 2.
Friday and Saturday, 10:30 PM (UTC+8) 11:30 PM (UTC+9) a new episode is made available for free viewing. (2 episodes per week)
As of this post:
Episodes 1 to 5 is now available for free viewing.
Episodes 6 and 7 is available for paid subscribers. (Should be available for free viewing next week.)
Episode 8 is available for preview (for all accounts).
If you want to watch the American version based on the same 2019 script by Matt Naylor, look for the movie entitled "Alone" (2020).
* American version based on the same script: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alone_(2020_horror_film)
* Korean version based on the same script: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alive_(2020_film)
If that helped clarify it, then please update your rating too. ^_^