​The King: Eternal Monarch (2020, 16 Episodes on Netflix)

Screenwriter: Kim Eun-Sook 
Actors: Lee Min-Ho, Kim Go-Eun, Woo Do-Hwan, Kim Young-Ok, and others

Euler's identity, admittedly way above my head, is spelled out as e i π + 1 = 0.  Counting the endless digits of Euler's numbers, E-Gon orients himself in the timeless space. Allow me to literalize this mathematical theorem in making sense out of Lee Gon’s pursuit of his destiny: when e (of Ee Gon) embraces i (the imaginary unit) and π (another concept that realizes a circle, the universe) in the presence of the absolute being (a minor god or magical reality), the world of eternity and infinity opens itself. Here I exploit the eye rhyme in ruler and Euler  [ˈɔɪlər] as well as the homonyms of e and Lee in Korean phonology.

Writer Kim Eun-Sook creates an engrossing, epic narrative about parallel worlds, blending together the Arthurian romance, the pursuit of the Holy Grail, dynastic family feud, police procedural, and romantic comedy. 

The King: Eternal Monarch may seem dawdling in early episodes, but wait until layers of colors and texture are added in the second half of the series. All of a sudden the seemingly shallow sketch starts to grip and pull at your heartstrings. I for one am in love with the beauty, allure, and nobleness of the Emperor's character and mental agility. 

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Exposition: Where is the KOC? Who is Lee Gon? Why is Jung Tae-Eul? How is the future name tag? (my apologies to Marvel fans.)
setting: the Kingdom of Corea and the Republic of Korea; from October to November 11 of 2019
Ep 1: Why does Prime Minister Gu aggressively exploit her femininity by mentioning her "wired" bra? Why does the King ask her if she is "honest"?
Lee Gon is the man of all seasons, who does not miss a beat in riding, reading, rowing, and running with that cool head of a mathematician. We know Lee Gon is in the eye of the storm, at the heart of royal intrigue, family tragedy, and cosmic mystery. Deep down in his heart, what emotional need drives and motivates the King?

Ep 2: What or who enables the two KOC men to seek their places in ROK?
Lee Gon’s court scrambles to cover up his absence and Lee Lim assembles his army of tools while biding time for another coup. Police Inspector Tae-Eul exhausts every possible means of securing the stranger’s ID in vain and reluctantly, she helps the stranger.

Ep 3: What does the burning crack on the King's flesh signify?
In what ways is Time connected to Space? Why does Time slow down or stop when somebody travels through the portal between the parallel worlds?
How does cross-cutting establish the yo-yo boy's preternatural authority?
Why is Tae-Eul's banter about a poem cross-cut with Lady Noh's recitation of a poem by the same poet?
Screenwriter Kim Eun-Sook throws in a meta-theatrical joke about another show about time travel (Signal penned by her friend Kim Eun-Hee). In what ways is The King similar to Signal? How does rectifying the past wrong restore justice and balance?
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Ep 4: Tae-Eul commands respect from colleagues and the King. On the other hand, in what ways is PM Ku's moral authority undermined throughout this episode?
Why do the King's formal duties often revolve around state funerals? Why is the first official duty of the King resume with an attendance at a funeral of his mentor's father? Does this mean Lee Gon as a king is a profoundly unhappy person?
The King returns to the KOC, but Tae-Eul's world is already deeply affected by his visit. On November 11, Tae-Eul cannot help but to accept what all the evidence points at as reality. The King drops by to pay back debts and takes his lady back to the KOC.

The library scene and the OST are seamlessly integrated to accentuate how each strives to touch the other’s time (space).
The way the King inquires about the autopsy report to Prince Bu-Yong reveals the inner strength and inward virtue of his character and I started to fall with gravity for Lee Gon at this moment.
Loose ends or foreshadowing devices? Why and how is Kim Bok-Man framed for murdering Lee Sang-Do? Similarly, why is the pickpocket case relevant?
Why is Lee Gon's GPS relevant? Will Sin-Jae play a role as a partner for Tae-Eul when she travels back to the past? Is gambling a metaphor of Lee Lim’s coup d’etat and a way of characterizing his minions?

Rising Action: Criminal intents encroach the bounds of reality 
Ep 5: the KOC and ROK; night of November 11 and the next day
​This time it is Tae-Eul’s stint in the wonderland. Lee Gon is in his element.
Ep 6:
Ep 7:
​Ep 8:

Still Rising: Gon anticipates, plans, and executes every step of  the royal mandate 
Ep 9:
Ep 10:
Ep 11:
​Ep 12: ​

Climax and Resolution: How to reset the past and the future
Ep 13:
Ep 14:
Ep 15:
​Ep 16: ​