I actually agreed with Woo Won on the place of historians. They are privy to the conversations of the most powerful people in the country - those who run it. So if they had any influence at all, that is a very dangerous road. So I thought Hae Ryong's actions were justified and saw nothing wring with it, but I totally understand the principle that Woo Won is trying to get her to understand, he's not wrong.

Sa Hee I do not trust at all. I don't know if I've interpreted her wrong, but I found it hypocritical of her to tell her father off for going after personal gain when she herself is an outright spy. Does she not see the moral ambiguity in using her position as a recorder of private conversations to tell someone else who is in power the content of those conversations?

What I'm looking forward to seeing is how her relationship with the crown prince will play out seeing as the crown prince's wife is the daughter of the man for whom she is a spy. And I don't want the crown prince to be hurt by her betrayal either, he's nice.

Rim is very adorable, but I will enjoy seeing him learn and grow. Hae Ryeong is just a delight to watch so far.

I really enjoyed the episodes this week albeit the lack of our lady historian team goodness. The biochemist in me was really happy to see a historical drama use variolation to combat smallpox!

It was fascinating to see jealous Rim but I understand him because Hae-ryung is just lovable you can't help but like her. Really glad to see that he is still taking baby steps because development doesn't come overnight but those steps mean A LOT.

Do we even have a word for "???" because that is my reaction to Woo-won this week. I get it, he has his principles but doing nothing by being silent is almost the same as doing something bad because you do not, in any way, help those who are in need.

Sa-hee might be confused as to who she wants to be right now (an ally or a spy), seeing that her background is not the best as it sounds so I do understand her. I can still see her growing both as a person and as a historian so a "redemption arc" for her might be coming on our way soon.

Also, didn't we see Woo-won going beyond his neutral codes when he's at home, writing down his honest and dangerous opinions abt the court which he can't write in official records?
So I feel like he's not actually against Hae-ryung's rebellious streak, he's just trying to rein her in a bit and stop her when she goes too far.
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On a completely different note, glad to see Rim finally actively paricipating in a large part of the plot. Finally it feels like Hae-ryung and Rim are fairly and squarely sharing their screentime!😍
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P.s.- The hidden cinnamon roll is the nice Historian Seong. His dozing off was the most unexpected and hilarious thing this episode.

Hum... My favourite part is our female historians squad. So far from the Palace, I could see them so much.

Now that Prince Dowon can take an active part in the story, I'm not convinced by the acting of CEW... I can see him acting and it makes me hard to be focused.

For the debat about the historian's place, I don't think she did wrong. I don't think giving informations is bad, at the end the Prince Dowon could take a decision with all the current informations and not blindly.

The fact that Rim is not the king’s son has been mentioned in an earlier episode but it sounds like it’s in the king’s interest to make him look like his son. I wonder whether his claim to the throne is stronger than the king’s and that’s why he hates Rim. The dowager Queen’s actions and protection of Rim makes me think that. I don’t even think the king would have acted differently if Rim obeyed his orders. There is nothing Rim can do to please the king as the king seems to be looking for excuses to punish him. And it doesn’t look like the poor boy knows the truth.

I really enjoy Rim’s jealousy of historian Min as well as Hae Ryung’s almost husband (which was a concept he had difficulty wrapping his head around due to Hae Ryung’s vague answers. LOL)

I did like the beach scene and Hae Rung showing Rim how to enjoy it. As unrealistic as it was her bossing around Rim and Min to help around in the village and their incompetence was also hilarious.

I agree that the whole biasing the history argument is flawed. Historians are supposed to write the history objectively as it happens rather than taking a biased account of it but there is a vast difference between taking a biased account versus changing the course of history. Min’s argument sounds more like the argument of angels not interfering with human life. But historians are different. They are people who have opinions on what should happen and as long as they record the events accurately they have every right to interfere with the course of events like everyone else. They are not robotic recording machines.

On the secondary couple front Jin and San Hee all the way. I think they can be a lovely couple who is honest with each other, supportive and loving and it is clear they can both use a person like that by their side.

I really think this show is an absolute gem right now. However, the whole smallpox epidemic bothered me from a medical standpoint. Unfortunately, it takes weeks to achieve immunity from any vaccine or illness. And it sounded like this was an overnight (3 day) thing. Also, those with the infection already would not achieve anymore benefit getting it. It doesn’t cure an ongoing infection either. Although, it did look pretty real how they were cutting the skin in those scenes. Prince Rim has my heart and I’m pretty sure Jin is going to die. His father will have to lose something very precious to him. I can’t decide how he will, but I’m getting my heart ready. The historians back at the palace are really annoying me as they are our Rookie historians as well!!! But I could watch Rim and Min’s odd couple shenanigans all day! One question: what term of endearment is Eunuch Sam-bo calling Mo-Hwa? Netflix puts “dear” or something similar which made me think she was his wife, but that can’t be right.

Prince Dowon has been the star of the latest episodes. We have seen how adorable he can be with his crush on Hae Ryung, like, how can he write and give that poem to her (he's really a romantic), or give her the precious pork that the eunuch had saved for him...that was SO.CUTE. At the same time we could see a more mature prince coming back from the trip, he opened himself to new knowledge and risked his life to save people, he is proud of what he did, and he asked the king for forgiveness but never said he was wrong.
I'm also loving Goo Hae Ryung and that she initiated the vaccination idea. I disagree with Historian Min about impartiality. You can be an impartial writer while registering facts as a historian, but later as a person you can have your own opinions and take action based on that. I'd really like if it's Hae Ryung the one who uncovers what happened to the former king and helps to put an end to the current king and his evil minions. I'm fine with either Jin or Rim taking the throne and I'm sure they will not fight about it. Hopefully all the good guys will team up together.
Btw, seeing prince Dowon and Historian Min going around and failing at doing everything was hilarious. Hope we can see more of this comedy duo in coming episodes. 😃

I truly enjoyed this drama so far! The show has mantained a great balance of the sageuk politics, romance and comedy and I hope it will continue to the end. I'd love to see the princes, queen, and the historians team up to overthrow the king.

I love that Rim is SO whipped for Hae-ryung and it's so adorable that now whenever he finds something that he wants to experience (the beach, the boiled pork), his first thought is to share it with her.

I'm still a bit confused about Rim's name. I know Yi Rim is his actual name so is Prince Dowon his title or something? But the Queen keeps calling him Dowon as if it's his name.

Watching Haeryung adjust to palace life and figuring out the best ways to use her skills has been a delight, and now that it's Lee Rim's turn, it's been equally as delightful. He really is like Rapunzel being let out of the tower for the first time and realizing there's more to the world than he's been taught. His chemistry with Haeryung gets better every episode, and I love watching them just be happy together - plus I love that she's in control and is the one teaching him.

I was really surprised and thrilled with the vaccination (variolation?) plot, as it felt like something relevant even now while also tackling social issues in Joseon that I don't think I've ever seen a saeguk do. Granted, I haven't seen that many, but it's always in-fighting about who will be king with barely anyone caring about The People. Crowned Clown probably came closest before this one, but I love that both Jin and Rim genuinely care about what's best for their country. There's also the fact that while Haeryung may be privileged, she's also gotten a chance to see how the people of Joseon live and is in a position to speak for them.

Finally, Sahui and Jin... I'm onboard. Just intense, fiery gazes and misunderstandings galore. Loved how he called her out for spying and she called him right back out for doubting. More please!

These episode were a big a U turn for Prince Li Rim. He became a person he was meant to be. Always nodding to other ppl requests, today prince came out of his cacoon to become a beautiful butterfly. In the last scene, the look he gave to king. He was on his knees still he looked mighty.

Also, I could see the kind of influence GHR has on him. He respects her & that's why he at least looked upon on her suggestion.

And can I say how much I loved Lee Rim & min hoo bromance. For the first time ever, I saw Min ho actually listening to anyone or even agreeing with the person. With others he always act superior even if he doesn't not talk back but his eyes say that he give richard simmons about the king and even a little bit of crown prince but with Lee Rim, I saw his soft side. It's like he respected him for real. Agreeing to what he was saying

I always used to think that crown prince will be the one who will rebel against the king, but now, I think Prince Lee Rim will sooner than later will stand against him for welfare of ppl. Loved this character development..

And I am loving everyone's acting and Cha Eunwoo is doing a great job

Did anyone else find "how" our dear prince and historian tried to start the fire a bit weird or is my mind very,very dirty?!😅

With what we have right now i also think Prince Dowon is a son of the dethroned king from a young concubine, what i'm not sure about is if the dethroned king was the current king's father or elder brother. I remember in a previous episode, in a flashback of 20 years ago the second state Councillor, then a general i think addressing the Queen Dowager as Queen Dowager. Was she already the Queen Dowager or did she just become the Queen Dowager after the dethronement of the King? Anyway I think the Queen Dowager had much political influence to trade with Prince Dowon's life, that's why he was spared and adopted by the current king as his son. Also either way he has a higher claim to the throne than the king and definitely more than the crown prince so that's why he was isolated and not allowed to marry, so that he won't be able to have any political support or be able to continue his lineage.

@laica: I love his dynamic with Hae-ryung, because she pushes him in a way that no one else does, while he takes the time to explain his position to her, a privilege most people don’t merit in his eyes; the mutual respect in unspoken but palpable, and it just gets me. (I have a feeling that these might be the beginning signs of a painful case of Second Lead Syndrome. Dangit.)

We-eeeell if I didn't already have a severe case of SLS, your words just gave me one. (Rim is still cute though.)

And I'm MAD jealous you got the episodes where they're outside doing normal-people and saving-people things. T___T And you even had the "rich fish out of water" montage too! For both guys! *pouts*

I love how this drama has such strong women characters who prove time and again that Women Get The Job Done. But at the same time, they like dressing up, and a glass (or pail) of soju.

Question. What actor is the one playing the Historian Min? The one who also came to this trip to the affected area?

I think cha eun woo's best acting this week was the very last scene with the king. He nailed it, approaching the king with optimism while hiding his trepidation, not being too surprised when he was not received well (he didn't look surprised with the slap even, hurt for sure but not shocked), resolution that he did the best for the people and unrepentance for doing that. Even on his knees he looked resolute that he did the right thing. He was only asking forgiveness for disobeying his father and king but not for what he did for the people. I loved that spine of steel.

I hope Laica (or somebody at DB) continues this recap storage otherwise where would I go to ask: Who is the actor who plays the hottie guard who winks at Apprentice Goo (in Rim's jealous imaginings) and then dunks himself in the water?

Real life kepeing be sooo busy still I couldnt resist being here just cause GHR is the BEST FEMALE character I ever watched in a kdrama.... she put both the males (Dowon and Woo won) in tough spot asking them to do tasks... and when they struggle she did that with ease like cakewalk. This was the crux of females have to work/struggle in real world when male counterpart thinks they this world owes them everything. Even if this drama finishes I am going to suggest this one drama to each and every friend of mine to just see and try to feel how it looks like....

rest eveything is going well and I am enjoying this drama so so much.

I should probably be talking about this drama's great female lead and female characters generally - it is, after all, my thing but holy hell Rim is adorable. I think he's the most adorable male lead since Boksoo. I love these marshmallow justice warriors and their badass love interests. It's my new favourite thing.

I'm only in these episodes so far but I'm quietly enjoying it. I think this is the very first K-Drama where I really don't mind if Hae-ryung end up with Rim, Woo-won or Jin.

Letting Yi-rim alone in the way she does is SO not nice. His main characteristic is deep, echoing loneliness, and that sh*t about getting over people faster only works if there is lots of love and laughter in your life already, and hardly then.
Leaving someone with the impression that they were alone in feeling any sort of connection is so cruel.