The First Night with the Duke Ending, Episode 12 (Finale): Everything We Know So Far
The First Night with the Duke is an ongoing historical fantasy romance drama starring Seohyun, Ok Taec Yeon, Kwon Han Sol, Seo Bum June, and Ji Hye Won. Screenwriter Jeon Seon Young wrote the script, and Lee Woong Hee directed it. The mini-series follows an ordinary college student named Cha Seon Chaek as her soul possesses a minor role in a romance novel. After entering the fantasy book as a minor character, Seon Chaek spends the night with the obsessive prince Yi Beon.
"Cha Sun Chaek's confusion and emotional changes, along with the complicated relationships between characters, will create a story unlike typical romances. We hope you look forward to it," the production team shared.
Here is everything about the last episode of The First Night with the Duke, including the air date, preview, spoilers, and streaming details.
The First Night with the Duke Episode 12:
People in Korea can watch the last episode on TV or stream it online. K-drama fans from other parts of the world, including the US, Canada, Australia, the UK, Mexico, Denmark, Romania, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Greece, Greenland, Hong Kong, China, Japan, New Zealand, UAE, Singapore, Turkey, and South Africa, can watch the mini-series with subtitles on online streaming platforms, like Viki.
Here are the International Air Timings of The First Night with the Duke Episode 12:
US - 7:50 AM
Canada - 7:50 AM
Australia - 11:20 PM
New Zealand - 1:50 AM
Japan - 9:50 PM
Mexico - 6:50 AM
Brazil - 9:50 AM
Saudi Arabia - 3:50 PM
India - 6:20 PM
Indonesia - 7:50 PM
Singapore - 8:50 PM
China - 8:50 PM
Europe - 1:50 PM
France - 1:50 PM
Spain - 1:50 PM
UK - 12:50 PM
South Africa - 2:50 PM
Philippines - 8:50 PM
Ahead of the finale, the cast members, including Girls' Generation member Seohyun, 2PM member Taecyeon, Kwon Han Sol, Seo Bum June, and Chi Hae Won, opened up about the historical fantasy romance drama. They explained the efforts they made to bring the characters to life.
"I approached [my characters] as three different personas: K, the wounded college student who was hurt because she trusted others; pre-possession Sun Chaek, who lives an abundant yet monotonous and empty life; and post-possession Sun Chaek, who lives with a bold and proactive attitude. I focused on different points for each. Especially after Sun Chaek became the heroine, I worked hard to show her growing freely and confidently, unlike her real-life self," Seohyun shared.
Meanwhile, Taecyeon spoke about Yi Beon, while describing him as a pure-hearted man and a cold-blooded tyrant. According to the cast member, he had several discussions with the director before portraying Yi Beon. He carries hidden pain, though he seems perfect from the outside.
"There were many scenes where he was so cruel that it was hard to tell if he was a hero or a villain, but I wanted to maintain his underlying gravity in every scene. I tried to express Yi Beon's emotions more through his actions and eyes than through words," the actor added.
Actress Kwon Han Sol, who portrayed Jo Eun Ae in the fantasy romance drama, said she had to prepare every scene several times and analyse tiny details to portray the character perfectly. The actress further explained that subtle changes in the expression and tone would have made a big difference on screen. So, she focused on an intense preparation process.
"Since he's a multi-layered character, I tried to show different sides depending on who he's interacting with. With Yi Beon, whom he's comfortable with, I used a more lively voice and gestures. With Sun Chaek or Eun Ae, I acted more calmly, and in front of his father, I emphasized his tension to portray him more three-dimensionally," actor Seo Bum June said about his preparations for featuring Jung Soo Gyeom.
Actress Chi Hae Won focused on portraying the glamorous presence of villainess Do Hwa Seon. The cast member revealed that she had to work on featuring Do Hwa Seon's emotions uniquely. She tried to show Do Hwa Seon naturally blending with the surroundings rather than using a typical sageuk (historical drama) tone.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNA
an hour ago
- CNA
This Singapore director's films have won global acclaim, but he almost moved to the UK to take up citizenship aged 6
Sundays were sacred when Mr K Rajagopal was a boy in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Not quite for religious reasons, but you could say the cinema within the grounds of the old Seletar Camp where he lived with his family served as a temple of joy for the youngster. There, he often sat on wooden benches alongside his four siblings, underneath a thatched roof that sloped down just enough to provide a vantage point under ample shade for cinema goers to enjoy moving pictures projected onto a plain canvas. The family would dress the part too for these cinema evenings which took place once every three months. "We had long socks and shoes and we wore our best clothes. It was a big deal because it was very rare, you know, it was like a treat you get for being a good child or for behaving yourself," he said. It was there where he first caught a glimpse of works from the old matinee idols of Tamil cinema, such as MG Ramachandran and Sivaji Ganesan. A week before Singapore celebrates its 60th year of independence, I asked Mr Rajagopal – who also turns 60 in September and is now an internationally-acclaimed and award-winning filmmaker – to take me to his old stomping ground for a walk. The old Seletar Camp, now used by the Singapore military, was home to British forces back then. Mr Rajagopal's father and paternal grandfather worked for the Royal Air Force. As we entered the grounds of his childhood home, the sun was scorching and the man was dressed in black from head to toe. But even as droplets of perspiration trickled down his temple, his eyes lit up as he spotted familiar landmarks from his childhood. He pointed out the guardhouse along the Piccadilly roundabout where his father would drive by every day. He also drew my attention to the ghaut where he would watch a kind dhoby wash clothes. 'This brings back a lot of memories,' he said. But it is when he talks about film, including his mother's love of cinema, that his baritone voice perks up the most. He recalled: "Jalan Kayu used to have pasar malam (night markets) on Friday nights, and there were Tamil movies on Fridays too. "I remember my mum rushing us all back home (from the pasar malam) by 10pm so she could watch her movies on the TV. She would scold us and get us to hurry onto the bus. "It was an important part of our lives." Today, Mr Rajagopal is best known for his 2016 debut feature film A Yellow Bird – which follows a Singaporean man of Indian ethnicity navigating life after prison, grappling with the fractures he created within his family and being marginalised by society. The film premiered at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival's Critics' Week and was also screened at noteworthy festivals in Russia, South Korea and India, among others. He might not have known it then, but the memories gleaned from being glued to screens in 1970s Seletar played a crucial role in honing his creative sensibilities in the director's seat. STORYTELLER AT HEART I knew within the first five minutes of meeting Mr Rajagopal that I could listen to him talk all day as a throng of tales spilled out of him. He remembered that occasionally, on humdrum Sundays where a visit to the nearby cinema wasn't possible, an aunt named Rema would come to Mr Rajagopal's residence and recreate "entire movies" for him and his siblings. Aunty Rema would play the parts of every character, portray in detail the way they walked and talked, enunciate every bit of dialogue immaculately. Thus, his education in storytelling began very early. The fact he had a deep, articulate voice helped too – prompting his teacher at St Andrew's Junior College to persuade him to join the theatre. That teacher, Ms Marilyn, gave the young student a role in a play, which eventually drew good reviews in the newspapers of the day. This both excited and emboldened him to audition for more roles. The arts had stuck. "The whole idea of making theatre and acting shaped me. That's what art does to you, it opens up your mind to various things," he said. Even though he discovered this talent for storytelling early on and had an obvious love for all things cinema, it was only at age 30, while working as a manager for an American firm in the arts industry, that he put two and two together and decided to make his first film. He wrote and directed I Can't Sleep Tonight in 1995 after being inspired at his evening job moonlighting at a motel in Little India where he met a whole host of people: refugees fleeing their countries, a woman conned into becoming a sex worker, a druggie backpacker trying to evade the law. That film, and two others from 1996 to 1997, won three consecutive Special Jury prizes at the Singapore International Film Festival – a hat-trick of scoops that cemented his reputation as one of the country's most compelling voices in cinema. I was thus puzzled when he told me he felt as though he still hadn't reached a certain "level" to call himself a filmmaker – even after the success of A Yellow Bird. Why? "Because I've watched some amazing films by amazing filmmakers. There are too many, and when I watch them, I just feel so inadequate. I think I have so much more to learn." Perhaps it is also to do with the fact that he never had a "proper" film education, he said. "But my films are my experiences. They're personal, they're a very good way to express what I feel, and that's why I've stayed true to it." ALL SINGAPOREAN, YET ALMOST BRITISH Every film Mr Rajagopal has made is rooted in Singapore. They may explore different themes, but all of the characters live and breathe in the same places he has. This is by design. "I feel that this is where I'm at my best," he said. "It's very important because I am trying to talk about Singaporeans, and I relate to the people and to things that happen in this country. "I like to examine our differences and similarities. I want to present different perspectives and not to judge. That's why I make films in Singapore – because I'm Singaporean." Yet, life might have turned out quite differently for Mr Rajagopal. In 1971, as British military forces prepared to leave Singapore, his paternal grandfather – a longtime employee of the Royal Air Force – was ready to leave with them. The United Kingdom was offering citizenship to those who had served the crown, and like many in the community, his grandfather saw it as an attractive proposition. But Mr Rajagopal's mother was resistant. He recalled: "She was a school teacher, and she felt very strongly about living in Singapore. She said that she didn't want to be a second class citizen in a foreign country. "Unfortunately at the time, she couldn't really voice her opinions, so she had to do it through my father." He might only have been six years old at the time, but Mr Rajagopal remembered vividly the altercation that occurred between his father and grandfather over this disagreement. "That created a bit of tension within my family. I think my grandfather slapped him, and I remember hiding behind my mum and watching the scene (unfold) in the living room. This story was the premise behind his 2015 work The Flame – which featured in an anthology of short films entitled 7 Letters, produced in homage to the nation's golden jubilee a decade ago. He said: "That story changed my destiny. I could have been in the UK now, speaking differently, maybe not as a filmmaker." LOOKING FORWARD Indeed, staying gave him a front-row seat to the nation's evolution, and the raw material for all the stories he has told and will continue to tell. Does he feel like his films – and especially his magnum opus to date – have made the impact he desires on Singaporeans? "I wouldn't say it's widespread, but I think the response from the fraternity – filmmakers and audiences who like independent cinema – appreciated the fact that I've made a very realistic film. "I want the film to reach out to a lot more people, but I can't force it. It's not about playing to the galleries, I think you have to make a film that you really believe in." In the same breath, he spoke with cautious optimism about the future of Singaporean cinema. The scene, he said, has grown significantly since he made his first short film three decades ago. It's now more vibrant and more varied, with filmmakers such as Royston Tan, Anthony Chen, Boo Junfeng and Yeo Siew Hua carving out distinctive voices. "It has definitely progressed, and it's encouraging," he said. "But we need to stay open – more can be done to accept different premises, stories and issues that can be discussed in films. Sometimes we can be a bit restrictive and self censor. He hopes the next wave of filmmakers will embrace Singapore's present and future, not just look at the past with nostalgia, and that the space for artistic freedom continues to widen. "In cinema, you have to explore. We must allow everyone to express themselves freely."
AsiaOne
4 hours ago
- AsiaOne
'More like a trip with friends': Cast of K-drama Love, Take Two recall bonding in the countryside during filming, Entertainment News
Filming for their new drama almost turned into a retreat for actors Yum Jung-ah, Choi Yoon-ji and Kim Min-kyu. AsiaOne recently spoke to the cast of new K-drama Love, Take Two about their experiences portraying their characters, as well as filming in the countryside. The comedy-drama follows the story of construction site manager Lee Ji-an (Jung-ah) and her medical student daughter Lee Hyo-ri (Yoon-ji), who move to Cheonghae Village in the countryside to start a new chapter in their lives. There, Ji-an bumps into her first love Ryu Jeong-seok (Park Hae-joon) and Hyo-ri crosses paths with his son Bo-hyun (Kim Min-kyu), a bright young farmer. The cast spoke to AsiaOne about the memorable times when they bonded on and off set. Min-kyu, 30, regaled: "One memory that comes to mind is the three-day shoot we had in Gangneung with our Cheonghae Village friends. We went to arcades, worked out together and enjoyed great food. "It honestly felt more like a trip with friends than work. We all got a lot closer during that period so it really stands out in my memory." Actors Kim Mi-kyung, Kang Ae-shim, Jung Young-joo and Park Soo-young played residents of the village. He added: "While filming, we visited so many beautiful places across South Korea. Each time, we'd have meals together and share stories together and those little moments became such a source of healing for me." We asked the actors if they would consider living in the countryside, now that they've had a taste of the fresh air and wide-open spaces. Min-kyu told us he would still pick living in the city. "It's mostly because I love food so much - I need delivery options even late at night. But rather than a big, bustling city, I prefer somewhere quieter. A city where I can enjoy time alone." Jung-ah, 53, said: "It's hard to choose between the convenience of city life and the comfort of the countryside but because we filmed most of this drama outside the city, the cast became closer than ever. "We even made fun little videos together like Shorts and Reels while watching funny clips. I hope viewers will enjoy these behind-the-scenes moments as much as we did." For Yoon-ji, it was through the drama that she found herself thinking: "Life in the quiet countryside might be wonderfully peaceful too." The 28-year-old added: "At times, the landscape even speaks for the characters' emotions. I think viewers will naturally find themselves immersed in that atmosphere. The calm, seasonal music woven throughout adds to a sense of peace, making the entire watching experience comforting." Living vicariously through their characters Despite having portrayed mother-daughter relationships in past shows, Jung-ah said it was different this time. "This was the first time the story felt so personal - like a reflection of my own life. That made it easier to fully immerse myself. As a mother myself who shares both tender and tough moments with her daughter, I naturally found myself blending into my character." In their likeness, she relates to her no-nonsense character Ji-an in more ways than just being mothers. The veteran actress shared: "No matter what role I take on, it's impossible to completely separate myself from the character. Ji-an's independence and boldness are qualities that really resemble who I am in real life. And like her, my children always come before work." "But honestly, she has more lovable sides than I do. In portraying these qualities, I found myself living vicariously through her at times." While Yoon-ji was never a rebel in her youth, she resonated with her character in other ways. "From the moment I first read the script, I felt that Hyo-ri's personality had a lot in common with mine and I really wanted to play her. She's a multi-dimensional character who lived a simple life but begins to grow through a major turning point and experiences a wide range of emotions. As an actor, I was drawn to that challenge. "However, because she doesn't openly express her feelings, I felt it was even more important to convey her inner world through silence and glances - nonverbal, subtle expressions rather than lines. "I don't see Hyo-ri as defensive. I think she's a girl who knows more than she lets on. Even in her cold tone, I felt there was a quiet desperation hiding beneath and I tried to reflect that in my performance." Love, Take Two is now available for streaming on Viu. [[nid:721111]] No part of this article can be reproduced without permission from AsiaOne.
Straits Times
a day ago
- Straits Times
Is your underwear showing? For K-pop idols, that's the point
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox A fashion trend known as sagging is making a comeback among young K-pop idols. SEOUL - In today's K-pop scene, showing one's underwear is no longer likely to be a wardrobe malfunction. It is a fashion statement. A fashion trend known as sagging, where pants are worn low enough to reveal the waistband of one's undergarments, is making a comeback among young K-pop idols. The look was once popular in the 1990s and early 2000s, often associated with the Y2K era. Many from that time still remember it vividly. 'I remember Justin Bieber always wearing his pants this way in paparazzi shots. I used to mimic the look, but it wasn't easy,' said Mr Park Jung-min, 34. 'I walked uncomfortably.' Back then, some Koreans who disliked the trend jokingly said it looked like someone had pooped their pants. Many millennials of the time referred to it as the 'poop-in-the-pants look.' However, the revival is now unmistakable. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Some ageing condos in Singapore struggle with failing infrastructure, inadequate sinking funds Singapore Wastewater overflow in Bedok and Chai Chee due to choked sewer at BTO worksite: PUB Singapore Fine for man who damaged PAP campaign materials on GE2025 Polling Day Singapore Teen's love of dance powers her through cancer to perform at NDP2025 Singapore Jail for driver who drove over leg of special needs woman in accident on church driveway Singapore Ex-Hyflux director fined $90k over water company's failure to disclose information on Tuaspring Business S'pore firm looks to buy SMEs lacking successors, launches CEO training programme to foster renewal Asia Kpods, zombie oil or etomidate? A new name may help Hong Kong curb its youth drug crisis Fashion icon Jennie of Blackpink embraced the look with a red cropped top and black parachute pants, finishing the outfit with matching red underwear that peeked out above her pants. Aespa's Karina and Giselle also styled their outfits to leave the elastic band or lace trim of their panties visible, a move that quickly went viral with fans. Natty, of girl group Kiss of Life, also joined the trend, posting a photo on the group's Instagram with her pants unbuttoned to reveal part of her underwear's waistband. But perhaps the boldest take on the look comes from Tarzzan of boy band All Day Project. Known for his experimental style, he has been spotted multiple times layering underwear in contrasting prints, sometimes even matching them to his outerwear. While it is clear that the trend is circulating among K-pop idols, not everyone is sold. 'If a celebrity wears it, it's fashion. If a regular person does it, it just looks weird,' reads one online comment under an article introducing the trend. Another was more blunt, saying: 'If someone showed up dressed like that in real life? I'd think they lost their mind.' However, the broader 'underwear-as-fashion' movement seems to be gaining traction, especially when it comes to tops that resemble camisoles. On Instagram, Rose of Blackpink recently posted photos wearing a lace camisole, channelling the 'underwear, but make it fashion' vibe. 'We're seeing more Gen Z consumers embrace underwear not just for its function, but as a styling piece like Rose,' a fashion industry insider told The Korea Herald. According to Korean fashion firm E-Land World, sales from January to July in the homewear category of its women's lingerie brand Evelyn, which includes stylish, lingerie-inspired clothing, rose nearly tenfold compared to the same period in 2024 . THE KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
