Goryeo love triangle drama The King Loves has released more promos: posters, stills, and a teaser, oh my! This novel-based romance drama tells the story of an intense friendship that devolves into an even fiercer rivalry between two men of royal blood, the half-Mongolian crown prince Wang Won played by Im Shi-wan (Misaeng) and his pureblood relative Wang Rin played by Hong Jong-hyun (Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo). The woman who stands between them is Eun San, the daughter of the richest man in Goryeo, played by Yoon-ah (The K2).
The latest posters introduce each character’s inner thoughts. The Janus-faced Crown Prince Wang Won thinks: “He was the only friend and she was the only woman in my life.” From that it seems there’s a possibility that he thinks he’s been betrayed by both. So when Eun San’s poster says: “Now I know. Why my heart fluttered and hurt at times…” is she referring to Wang Won or Wang Rin? Perhaps she’s caught in between and Wang Rin doesn’t understand because the copy on his poster reads: “How can a heart stop in the middle?”
Despite his sometimes one-note expressions, I’ve had a soft spot for Hong Jong-hyun since Mama: Nothing to Fear and Her Lovely Heels. So I’m hoping his role in The King Loves as Im Shi-wan’s best friend and a royal who is “the embodiment of crane-like elegance” will help him break through his past acting weaknesses. Park Hwan-hee (Jealousy Incarnate) will play his one and only precious younger sister, pictured below.
The stills of Im Shi-wan and Yoon-ah look serious, but the teaser is definitely lighter in tone. It starts off with Eun San blaming Wang Won for her pack of food falling over into the never-ending abyss. He quips back, telling her it’s definitely her fault, but in frustration, he asks her how much it was because he’d rather pay than have to deal more with her. Eun San tuts at his demand, asking: “Is that your money or your parents’ money? You should be ashamed of yourself…”
Then the copy “Flower Prince Wang Won” flashes onscreen next to Im Shi-wan’s smiling face. He doesn’t seem to have a high opinion of Eun San at all, telling her that she should be grateful that a great person such as he should even remember her. But she throws him to the ground easily and dismisses him as a pompous jerk. When the trio are together, Eun San sees how close the two boys are and she quirks an eyebrow and postulates: “Rather than friends, you guys are secretly…?” Her cackles can be heard in the background while her name is introduced as “Girl Crush Eun San.”
Then we get to hear Wang Rin for the first time in the teaser as Yoon-ah balances on a rickety wooden rain: “I won’t hold you back. I’ll be supportive.” But when she falls, he’s a step too late and it’s Wang Won who holds her hand steady. Eun San looks carefully at Wang Rin’s face, asking in reply to his statement that he’ll support her: “You? But, how you look, how you act is exactly like…” and then the voiceover switches over to Im Shi-wan talking about gisaengs.
Although Wang Won tries to intimidate her with talk of these ladies, Eun San doesn’t back off. He asks why she’s there with them, and she starts replying: “Your crown prince…” but he interrupts by saying, “You know, he’s your crown prince too.” Finally the teaser closes on a conversation where Wang Rin asks the prince how long he’s going to hide his real identity from her, to which Wang Won cheekily answers, “Until the fun wears out.”
Ooh, I guess there’s going to be an identity swap then? Hopefully it’ll be better than the one in Ruler—Master of the Mask. MBC’s pre-produced Monday-Tuesday drama The King Loves will begin broadcasting on July 17.
