momo

Exactly. Even if SY was indeed more in charge of Queen's body after ep 7, it wasn't made clear, and I too had the impression that it was mainly BH's soul. The thing is, it was never properly explained why Queen's inner voice changed. So even if it was writer's intention for SY to be in charge, they should have made it clear, because a huge part of the audience believed that the one in charge was BH, based on Queen's behaviour.

I haven't really found any comments on that, so I'm gonna write it myself - the scene in ep 15, where they met the person that caused the accident was pretty cruel. For sure, that man did something terrible, but he suffered 13 years and devoted his life to paying FL's hospital bills, trying to make up for it. Through the entire show we were told that ML should lead his life well, leaving his guilt behind (Jennifer had that plot as well), but then we get to that man and the writers don't even want us to try to understand his situation... I get that Jennifer and FL were mad at him, but for a show that's supposed to be focused on healing, I just felt bad at that moment. Believe me, anyone can make mistakes, and if they want to make up for it and change, we can try not to villainize them even more. I know it's a difficult subject, I just wish it was handled with more delicacy.

You're totally right. Even if they wanted to send BH back to the future, this could have been executed so much better, to show us that he is indeed happy. Throughout the whole show I felt that the writers really understood the characters and relationships, and developed them really well, but the last episode proved me wrong and left me quite heartbroken. Like, they were doing the spinoff, why wouldn't they add a scene with BH in the present there if they didn't think about it earlier?
I also agree with you on BI. His father did show affection to him in the series, even if it was through a pretty cold facade. I didn't really feel that his father used him for political goals or whatnot. So why not show his father shed at least one tear, or show that he is wondering whether he sould have his son killed or not? I don't get it.

I don't know if it would make sense... I like the spinoff but some of the scenes don't fit in main series' timeline at all...

Yes, you can find it here for example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exYrPMbz7Jw

I believe that Bong Hwan will meet all those people, reincarnated, in the future, as was suggested in the spinoff. I would prefer for it to be shown in the main series, but I'm not taking that sad ending of ep 20. BH and CJ deserve a happy ending together, if not in the show - for sure they got it in my heart.

I think that you could argue, if episodes 1-19 had an lgbt theme (I for sure thought that they did), but at the end it all came down to be pure queerbaiting, unfortunately.

I loved the majority of the show, but the more I think about it, the more holes I see. There was so much time for explanation, but we basically didn't get anything. Why did the souls switch in the first place? If pain was trigger for BH to get back to his body, why didn't he come back before, like when BI's guys hurt him? Why SY's soul was in the lake if now they say that she was in her body the whole time?
This became even more apparent in ep 20. Why was BH the hero in the new timeline, if that happened before he came back, changed, from Joseon? He should still be an asshole at that time. Why was mr Han there? How did Korean society change due to CJ becoming successfull?
For me, the reincarnation route was the best choice. It didn't require much explanation, and would tie a lot of loose ends. And it would lead to happy ending - even if SY couldn't be happy with CJ in her past life, she could be now, as BH/So Bong. It would also be a happy ending for CJ, as he would end up with the person he loved, not half of him.
I feel sad that the writers didn't pay attention to all these bits. There were better ways to end it, ones that could satisfy more people. I'm creating another timeline in my mind, where BH and CJ met in the present times, no matter their gender, and had a happy life together.

I don't wish to offend anyone, but I feel that some of the comments I read show a very simple understanding of love. You don't fall in love based on a 1-minute meeting with someone. At least that's my perspective. You can be attracted to somebody, sure, but love for me means a deeper relationship with somebody, which developed over time. Therefore I don't think we were truly shown (even in the spinoff), that SY loved the King or the other way around - we were merely given short encounters between them. Therefore, I'm not attached to their relationship. On the other hand, SB and CJ had 20 episodes to fall for each other, understand what they love about one another (and even what they don't like lol). I know it's a drama, but I still expect some sort of realism when it comes to emotions. So I don't consider the spinoff to be justification for SY ending with CJ (not even mentioning the fact that such scenes shouldn't be in spinoff, but in the main series, goddamit!).

Yes, I think they really did justice to Hwa Jin in the end. I loved the scenes where she enjoyed herself with her servant.

I was a bit uncomfortable with Oh My Ghostess as well. I wasn't really able to draw the line between male lead's relationship with human soul and ghostess soul. But at least the male lead was made aware of the whole situation, and believed it. And there was a proper goodbye...

I agree... I actually didn't prepare myself for this ending at all, as I thought that So Yong is not writer's focus. Of course her story was tragic, but Bong Hwan stated that she died and the King will never be able to apologize to her. I was in peace with that. I don't understand, why not go the reincarnation route, and saying that based on BH ans SY having the same soul, BH being in love with the King would bring justice and peace for SY. Let it be clear that BH is happy in Joseon, and after his death, he could go back to the present. That would be the perfect ending for me. Instead of that, they kept us in the dark for the whole show, never explaining the voice change, SY's memories coming back, and if she's even alive! I can't even talk about BH not being able to say goodbye, it just instantly brings tears to my eyes.

Even though I am not a fan of the ending, thank you for your comment. I just wish we had the chance to know SY a bit more, and that it was made clearer that she is actively participating in Queen's choices...

You captured my feelings so well in this review, thank you for that. I guess I'll just carry precious memories about BH and CJ love in my heart, and imagine that they will meet each other in their next lives.

I'm starting to think that too... At least King's relationship with Bong Hwan wouldn't be meaningless...

I agree 100%, the body swap was forgotten around ep 7, Bong Hwan just gave up on it altogether, and and it was never the show's focus...

Ok, so basically there are winners and there are losers. The winners are the ones who suspected So Yong is "behind the wheel", the losers, suspecting Bong Hwan of leading. Personally, being in the loser team, I don't think we should fight. It's not our fault that we had different theories. The ones at fault are the writers/producers/whoever who made the decision to keep us in the dark FOR THE WHOLE SHOW. Like, there were other alternatives, to list just a few:
1. Bong Hwan going back to his body after falling in ep 6-7, letting us know that So Yong is taking control with full set of his memories, so she's still pretty quirky
2. Introducing So Yong to us, letting us know that she was in charge more and more - and not only when the Queen was getting intimate with the King! Instead, they introduce SY to us in the spinoff...
I'm not even talking about my personal favourites here... But if they wanted this kind of ending there are better ways to do it. Like, for 13 episodes (7-19) there was no talk about BH even considering the possibility of going back!
I feel that the ending would have been better if I had known it from the start. But now, after all those episodes where BH was questionning his sexuality which made me so sure that he was the one falling for the King... I guess when I rewatch the episodes I will try to convince myself that it's in fact SY who is in charge, but I still feel so heartbroken.

The first episode on Viki is 31 minutes long. I was anticipating 1 hour ep, so a bit disappointing, but better than nothing

Not yet I'm afraid :(

Actually, I just recalled, that in Itaewon Class it's a way bigger storyline :)