The Throne
Ancient Korea, July 4, 1762. The Crown Prince Hyojang, posthumously named Sado, son of King Yeongjo of Joseon, is accused of treason. Thus, the king asks him to commit suicide, but his closest vassals prevent it, so the king orders the prince to get inside a wooden rice chest, where he suffers deprivation of food and water.
The film earned $42.2M at the global box office.
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
The Throne (2015) demonstrates precise narrative design, characteristic of Lee Joon-ik's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 14-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 2 hours and 6 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.1, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 2 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes The rice chest (wooden box) is prepared in the courtyard as Crown Prince Sado awaits his execution, establishing the tragic end that frames the story.. Structural examination shows that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 16 minutes when Young Sado fails to meet his father's expectations during a royal ceremony, and Yeongjo's brutal public humiliation of his son marks the beginning of their irreparable rupture.. At 13% through the film, this Disruption is delayed, allowing extended setup of the story world. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 33 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 26% of the runtime. This shows the protagonist's commitment to Sado experiences his first complete psychological break, suffering a violent episode that reveals his descent into madness is now irreversible; he crosses into a world where he can no longer control his actions., moving from reaction to action.
At 63 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Structural examination shows that this crucial beat Sado commits a murder that cannot be hidden, and Yeongjo is directly confronted with undeniable evidence of his son's dangerous insanity; the stakes escalate from personal to political as the kingdom's stability is threatened., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 95 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Yeongjo makes the devastating decision: he orders Sado to enter the rice chest, choosing his duty as king over his love as a father—the ultimate "death" of their relationship and Sado's literal death sentence., indicates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 101 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 81% of the runtime. In his final moments, Sado achieves clarity and understanding; he forgives his father and accepts his fate, while Yeongjo finally expresses his love—both men synthesizing duty and emotion too late., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
The Throne's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 14 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs systematic plot point analysis that identifies crucial turning points. By mapping The Throne against these established plot points, we can identify how Lee Joon-ik utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish The Throne within the drama genre.
Comparative Analysis
Additional drama films include Eye for an Eye, South Pacific and Kiss of the Spider Woman.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
The rice chest (wooden box) is prepared in the courtyard as Crown Prince Sado awaits his execution, establishing the tragic end that frames the story.
Theme
A court minister speaks about the impossible burden of being both a father and a king, foreshadowing the central conflict between duty and love that will destroy this family.
Worldbuilding
Flashbacks establish young Sado's childhood: his father King Yeongjo's impossible standards, the rigid protocol of the Joseon court, Sado's early promise and his father's harsh criticisms that plant seeds of psychological damage.
Disruption
Young Sado fails to meet his father's expectations during a royal ceremony, and Yeongjo's brutal public humiliation of his son marks the beginning of their irreparable rupture.
Resistance
Sado grows into adulthood attempting to gain his father's approval through various means—excelling at arts, administration, and military studies—while his mental state begins to deteriorate under constant criticism and impossible standards.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Sado experiences his first complete psychological break, suffering a violent episode that reveals his descent into madness is now irreversible; he crosses into a world where he can no longer control his actions.
Premise
The film explores the premise: watching Sado's madness escalate through violent outbursts, cross-dressing, murders of palace staff, while Yeongjo remains paralyzed between love for his son and duty to the kingdom, and the court factions maneuver for power.
Midpoint
Sado commits a murder that cannot be hidden, and Yeongjo is directly confronted with undeniable evidence of his son's dangerous insanity; the stakes escalate from personal to political as the kingdom's stability is threatened.
Opposition
Court factions pressure Yeongjo to act; Sado's condition worsens with more violent episodes; the Queen and Princess Hyegyeonggung desperately try to protect Sado while Yeongjo agonizes over his impossible choice, but opposition mounts and options narrow.
Collapse
Yeongjo makes the devastating decision: he orders Sado to enter the rice chest, choosing his duty as king over his love as a father—the ultimate "death" of their relationship and Sado's literal death sentence.
Crisis
Sado suffers in the rice chest for eight days while the family watches helplessly; Hyegyeonggung's anguish, Yeongjo's torment, and the court's cold observation create a prolonged dark night as father and son face their tragedy.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
In his final moments, Sado achieves clarity and understanding; he forgives his father and accepts his fate, while Yeongjo finally expresses his love—both men synthesizing duty and emotion too late.
Synthesis
Sado dies in the rice chest; the aftermath shows Yeongjo's grief and guilt; Princess Hyegyeonggung preserves Sado's memory and raises their son (future King Jeongjo); the resolution addresses the historical and emotional consequences of this tragedy.
Transformation
The final image returns to the rice chest in the courtyard, now empty, as the weight of the tragedy settles—the transformation is one of loss, showing how rigid adherence to duty destroyed what love could not save.