How it started: King the Land started with mixed reviews on the pilot episode. K-drama fans were divided about the cliche plot and the call back to the 2000s plot structure. Even the characterization of the main couple was criticized for being the same old story told thousands of times.
How’s it going: We are obsessed!
It was a light-hearted love story that discarded the toxic traits in the portrayal of romance and embraced the supportive, healthy relationship between two people who equally needed each other.
The finale for King the Land was just released, and the series got a well-deserved ending. Episode 16 ties all the ends, although not entirely in the right. But still, the series is a refreshing binge; would recommend 10-on-10 if you want to give your brain a pause.
Let us navigate the world of King the Land with the final episode.
What Happens in Episode 16 of King the Land?
It all begins with the love story between two people, where one hates “fake smile,” and the other has the most beautiful smile. Yet Gu Won and Sa Rang stood the test of their fate and showed how love can change a person.
Episode 15 quick recap: In the previous episode, Gu Won’s mother, who abandoned him at a young age, returns. Gu Won reconciles with his mother after knowing that she had to leave because of his grandfather’s orders, and she had to fight for the hotel staff.
Then they had it in the first half, where it felt like Sa Rang would break up with Gu Won. He then rushes to the exile hotel to meet Sa Rang. He asks her to return to King the Land, but she tells him she must stay back to support the staff.
Episode 15 also reveals that Pyung Hwa was once registered for marriage with her ex-boyfriend as a joke. She did divorce him but kept this whole affair a secret.
Gu Won tells Sa Rang about his plans to buy King the Land and integrate a forest therapy program with a retro aesthetic to make the hotel the main tourist attraction of the village. Sa Rang appreciated Gu Won’s goals and told him how proud she was. Gu Won expresses mutual admiration. And with that, they head into the finale.
Finale Episode: Throughout the series, we see a theme of two people bringing each other up and showing unconditional support.
While Gu Won is busy achieving his goal of transforming King the Land according to his vision, Sa Rang is strategizing to make her dream of owning a hotel a reality. Our beloved grandmother helps Sa Rang by giving her savings. Sa Rang gets to work renovating the hotel all by herself and naming it Hotel Amor. We like a “power couple” pursuing their dreams while maintaining a healthy relationship.
However, all’s not well with our two supportive angels.
Pyung Hwa has been ignored for promotion ever since her divorce was revealed. This completely shatters her expectations, and her inner turmoil changes to a pure “don’t care anymore” attitude.
Meanwhile, Da Eul finds out that her husband never had a proper job to contribute to the piling of finances. She is furious upon knowing how she struggled for years in a retail job just to support her useless husband and his family.
Hwa Ran and her son Ji Hu finally show some normal emotions between a mother and a son. Just as Ji Hu is about to cross the security line to board his plane for the USA, Hwa Ran rushes to the terminal, hugs him, and takes him back home.
What Happens at the End of King the Land?
By the end of the finale, Gu Won proves himself as the greenest flag ever to walk. He surprises Sa Rang by decorating her lawn with flowers just before the grand opening of her Hotel Amor. The two spend a loving night together, commemorating their unwavering relationship.
We jump to one month later…
Our best girl Pyung Hwa has found some solace with the best boy Le Ro Un. He takes her to a gravesite to introduce her to his mother. In a heartwarming sequence, we see the two embrace each other in their difficult times.
But the best arch has to be for Da Eul, who turns the table like a savage. She makes her good-for-nothing husband do the same chores he imposed on her earlier. She gives him an ultimatum that if he doesn’t mend his way, she will leave him.
Although, the end might not be agreeable to many; where the majority of viewers felt that she should have divorced him. But maybe it’s a commentary on how divorce is still taboo in Korea.
Meanwhile, Sa Rang’s hotel is booming, as the hotel is always fully booked. Gu Won comes to her rescue whenever she faces issues with her hotel. They display a non-judgmental, equal dynamics relationship.
Gu Won asks her grandmother for her blessings to marry Sa Rang.
Is King the Land a Happy Ending?
King The Land is definitely a happy ending as Gu Won and Sa Rang’s wedding ceremony is in full effect. Everyone joins the ceremony, including Hwa Ran, who encounters Gu Won’s mother, Mi So. The two reconcile as well. Meanwhile, Chairman Gu is also making attempts to win back Mi So. She neither denies nor agrees to his advances, but we can see a few sparks fly.
The series ends with two completely transformed people who complement each other. Junho and Yoona played their roles perfectly, giving a sweet ending to the series.
What are your thoughts on the series finale? Did you like how their story ended? What are your thoughts on the side characters?
Let us know in the comments section below.
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