The King's Affection (2021)
TV series · Drama
Stream itif you enjoy high-stakes secret identities and slow-burn romances set in a lush historical period.
A lushly produced historical drama that thrives on the tension of a high-stakes secret identity and forbidden love. While it features palace intrigue, the heart of the show is the slow-burn romance that carries the entire season.
What it is about
When the crown prince is killed, his twin sister assumes the throne while trying to keep her identity and affection for her first love a royal secret.
Trailer
What The King's Affection is like, and who it is for
What it is like to watch
Watching this series feels like stepping into a vibrant, high-contrast painting of the Joseon era. The pace is deliberate, allowing the tension of the central deception to simmer alongside intricate palace politics. While there are moments of sharp action and political maneuvering, the intensity is primarily emotional, anchored by a performance that captures the suffocating weight of royal duty and the fear of exposure.
Who it is for, and who should skip it
This is for fans of the 'cross-dressing' trope who appreciate a story that treats the disguise with genuine gravity rather than just comedy. It suits those who find beauty in longing and the 'star-crossed' narrative. You should skip it if you possess a low tolerance for the typical tropes of historical k-drama, as it is occasionally melodramatic and heavily reliant on coincidences. One caveat is that at twenty episodes, the middle act can feel somewhat repetitive.
The right evening for it
It is ideal for a long winter evening when you want to be completely absorbed by a grand, romantic epic. It pairs well with a quiet atmosphere where you can appreciate the gorgeous cinematography and costume design.
Written by our AI from the facts on this page. It has opinions; it has not watched it.
Teaser
Teaser · The King's Affection | Official Teaser | Netflix
How The King's Affection leaves you
One line on the mood it ends on, with no plot. Some people count that as a spoiler, so it stays hidden until you ask.
You are left with a lingering sense of bittersweet longing, feeling both emotionally wrung out and deeply moved by the central struggle for authenticity in a rigid world.
How The King's Affection ends
Spoilers. The whole ending, in a few lines. Nothing shows until you ask and then confirm.
As Lord Sangheon and Prince Wonsan storm the palace with their army, Grand Prince Jehyeon, Prince Wonsan, and Jung Seok-jo are all killed. Facing her grandfather, Dam-yi feigns surrender and serves him tea laced with sonangcho poison, the same substance he used to murder the former king. She drinks the tea alongside him to ensure his demise; Lord Sangheon dies from the toxin, but Dam-yi survives due to a medicine provided by Jung Ji-woon.
In the aftermath, the honourable Prince Jaeun ascends to the throne. He grants Dam-yi the freedom to reclaim her original identity, allowing her to leave the palace behind. The series closes on Dam-yi and her beloved Jung Ji-woon living together in happy exile by the sea, finally able to be together after the long deception is over.
Summarised by our AI from the plot section of the Wikipedia article, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. This summary is shared under the same licence.
Stills
Images from TMDB.
The King's Affection soundtrack
- 1Shadow of You · SUPER JUNIOR-K.R.Y.
- 2One and Only · Lyn
- 3IF I · Baek Z Young
- 4I Believe · An da eun
- 5Hide and Seek · VROMANCE
- 6Full of You · HAE YOON
- 7Full of You · VROMANCE
- 8No Goodbye In Love · Ro Woon
- 9The King's Affection · PARK MINJI
- 10Marchen · 강명수
Album and songs from Apple Music.
Awards
The King's Affection won Best Telenovela at the Emmys.
Emmys
- Won: Best Telenovela · 2022
From Wikidata, which can miss some.
Questions people ask
- Is The King's Affection a romantic series?
- Yes. On Watchlist Boosted it is tagged Romantic. A lushly produced historical drama that thrives on the tension of a high-stakes secret identity and forbidden love. While it features palace intrigue, the heart of the show is the slow-burn romance that carries the entire season.
- How many seasons of The King's Affection are there?
- 1 season and 20 episodes, at about 70 min an episode. It has finished, so you can watch the whole thing.
- Where can I watch The King's Affection in the UK?
- In the UK, The King's Affection is included with Netflix (all plans).
- What awards did The King's Affection win?
- The King's Affection won Best Telenovela at the Emmys.
- What songs are on the The King's Affection soundtrack?
- The King's Affection (Original Soundtrack) has 18 tracks, including “Shadow of You” by SUPER JUNIOR-K.R.Y., “One and Only” by Lyn, “IF I” by Baek Z Young, “I Believe” by An da eun and “Hide and Seek” by VROMANCE, and more. It is on Apple Music.
- Is The King's Affection worth watching?
- Stream it: if you enjoy high-stakes secret identities and slow-burn romances set in a lush historical period. IMDb users rate it 8.0 out of 10 from 8,137 votes and TMDB users 8.1.
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