Thank you @laica for such a spot on squeecap.

I had my share of sageuks, but RHGHR continues to surprise me with its unique way of tackling the storyline - - which is, in my opinion, the Historians of Joseon Era. I love how every episodes never fail to remind it's viewers that this drama is about the historian, their story and we should treat them as important part of history.

I agree with @laica on everything she wrote. I love how the historians fought for who they are, what they are and where they are in the whole history spectrum. I find it so refreshing, especially on how the writernim subtly injected it scene after scene. We do not even need a whole half an hour of innercourt bickerings, or political factions secret meetings at night to topple each other for power. The historians made every scenes their own and at the same time, te us their story.

Some viewers are impatient of the HoDam and Prince Rim story arc, which is really not highlighted from these episodes. But I believe, both arcs are just supporting arcs of the whole historian story. And I am okay with that. This is first and foremost the story of GooHaeRyung, not of Prince Rim. And I love the fact that writernim never let us forget that.

I am looking forward to how the story will weave Hodams/Rim's arc to that of the Historians. I felt like... the romance will be sacrificed in the end - - to make a point!

I think I know what I like about this show and it's characters, the growth that they all have. And it is not limited to the younger people on the show.

And it is not superficial, on the surface, it is actual growth. The writers of this show managed to have the topics that are tackled feel so modern in how it plays out that you find yourself sometimes forgetting you are watching a fictional program.

Also, the fight scene was just freaking hilarious. I was wiping tears from laughing so hard.

I felt like these episodes did two things very well: on the one hand, the grand story of the historians and their role in the royal court; and on the other, the little personality details that bring that first story to life. I love how Officer Yang hung back and let his men fight the battle, and how his scribe counterpart tried to get him to fake a fight so they could stay out of the brawl, and all the king's pettiness. I liked the attention that went into making the historians individuals with wives and families, who weren't ready to give up their lives to save history. And then the contrasting epic storyline of Officer Min laying down his life for the principle of impartial history (the closest thing to a free press) and for Hae Ryung's release. I know it's naive, but I actually felt like I was watching history. I'm glad the romantic moments were kept to a minimum. I'm honestly not sure what Hae Ryung sees in the prince.

Thanks for the recap! I found these episodes had more silly humor than the show has had so far. I honestly would prefer if it did not continue like this because I was really enjoying the style of humor from before to this over the top one I still really enjoyed the historical emphasis that this episode had. Despite the general levity of the show, I was completely drawn in by the seriousness of the conflict.

I'm not into Sa Hee and Crown Prince's interactions at all. I still have that bias against her from the fact that she is/was(?) a spy. Her story with crown prince seems typical of many a sageuk I've seen though. Like Dong Yi.

If I have to pick, the interactions between GHR and the king was my favorite. It was so much fun watching the pettiness of the king and the way she bulldozed him.
‘If you are trying to get me drunk don’t bother, I have high tolerance’ And immediately the king puts the cup down in frustration.
I laughed so hard!!
This show is amazing and nicely balanced the humor and seriousness. And I love that all the characters are interesting.

i was legitimately cackling during that fight scene. it improved the quality of my life 100 fold.

Thank you @laica for the recap!

With more than halfway through, I love that the show has managed to stay focused on the historians which are the heart of the story, instead of being muddled with the royal family politics.

And I keep being pleasantly surprised, I can’t believe they make me like the king, who is supposed to be the villain! He’s hillarious in the latest episode and he is actually just a petty kid.

The mystery of Hodam will surely start to get unveiled soon, and I hope they will show the importance of the historians’ role in the midst of it.

I really enjoyed the way the conflict between the historians and the king was done. It felt so realistic and relevant. Regardless of time period, there will always be moments where people have to fight for their rights to prevent abuse of power or even autocracy. What a nice change of pace from the typical sageuk politicking!

I also felt the outing with the Crown Prince and Sa-hee was weird. It came across as kind of forced and awkward. I wasn't feeling that at all. I'd rather they not go the romantic route with those two.

These episodes were super awesome except that outing with the Crown Prince and Sa-hee. I was disappointed that the CP bought her hair accessories. I was like seriously dude? I thought you'd buy it for your wife. Wow.

He was super cold to her too in the beginning so this really felt forced just to create some sort of line between them. I'm not buying any of it until I find out what's really going on with Sa-hee. I thought I got her and was rooting for her to achieve her independence and follow her dreams but she became too all over the place. I hope the writer knows what he/she is doing.

I really like those episodes! It's really an office drama but in past times.

The female historians showed their badass sides and Officer Yang can't deny they deserve to be historian anymore!

I liked the scene with the Crown Prince and Sahee because I really like his character and there isn't enough scenes of him for me. I like her too. I don't think she's a real spy, all she said until now wasn't so important. It's hard to judge his relationship with his wife because she's the daugher of the villain and we don't know how they got married together. But at least he showes respect toward her.

The scenes with the King were really interesting. He always has been mysterious until now... Good or bad King? His decisions were not all bad, for example send Prince Dowon was pretty smart because he needs the Crown Prince. But his behaviour with Prince Dowon is not very kind and we still don't have any idea why...

The love story is still the weakest part for me but it doesn't take a big part of the story, so it doesn't bother me so much. But if we take off the character of Prince Dowon, the story doesn't change so much... I prefer the scenes between Office Min and GHR, they share something important for the both of them and they learn from each other.

Beanies have discussed all the great things about this episode so I'm just dropping by here to say that I LOVE HISTORIAN DAD YANG AND HISTORIAN MOM MIN. THE OFFICE OF THE ROYAL DECREES IS THE BEST FAMILY IN A SAGEUK DRAMA WORKPLACE EVER. ❤

Thanks for this recap -- so good!

One of the excellent things about this show is that it's steadfastly refused to paint its antagonists as villainous -- neither the king nor Councillor Min make any pretense at being nice men, but almost all their decisions seem underwritten by pragmatism or some clearly signalled (if unexplained) motive. That allowed for these episodes to really bring some depth to the king's character, which was their biggest success for me.

Agree with the commenter who said they could do without the comic tone of these episodes. They really enhanced GHR's character, with her superb comebacks and her responses to challenging situations; and they also made the historians' role expand with a beautiful light touch. But I thought it took Jin and Sa-hui off the rails a bit (IDK whether to be happy or sad that Park Ki-woong plays him like a truant schoolboy in the 'Seja-joha's Day Out' sequence). And I'm not thrilled that we didn't get more backstory to the Ho Dam plot.

Min U-won is too good for this world and I'm extremely worried they're setting him up to be a tragic sacrifice. Death-defying courage to protect principle, a "pooped my pants" joke, AND bringing GHR ice-water for her blisters? I'm shook, I'm a convert, I'm praying for your safety, Officer Min!

My only concern as of the moment is that Prince Rim seems like he was forgotten by the writer. He's just like a side character at least for these eps.

Laica... WHY DO YOU ALWAYS GET THE LOLARIOUS and CHARACTER-BUILDING EPISODES???

I love everything you pointed out and everyone’s comments rehashing the awesome and the funny things this week.

I can’t believe they made me care for the King! Now I’m rewriting my conspiracy theories. Watch me pin all the blame on Daddy Min now.

I forgot another funny moment: Woo-won’s scandalized looks every time his fellow historians talked down on “Clerk Yi” and belittled his upbringing. XD He’s such a stickler for propriety, he must’ve had multiple heart attacks during the party.

I see Hae-ryung as the totally in-charge "husband" while Prince Rim as the "wife" she likes to pamper and tease.

The most intriguing development was the King’s character arc. As HR d, if he had been a tyrant he could have used any number of tyrannical methods to threaten her. Instead, he chose to try and work her into surrender, and failing that try and get her drunk. So, if the King is not a natural bad guy, ... that leaves Historian Min’s father as the last villain standing?

Not that I much care about the villains...the Tales of the Historians arc is the interesting part.

(unrelated to the rest of my comment: i love everything about this recap--thanks @laica as always so appreciated and so fun to read <3).

i know i am in the minority here, but i'll just throw this out there: i'm not getting much of the mutual attraction vibe between the Crown Prince and Sa-hee. I do sometimes get the impression she's trying to make a move on him, and maybe that's for political (spying?) reasons, but I read him as feeling more sympathy/respect/pity for her than attraction/interest. I think that's why he let her tag along and why he bought her the hair thingie. Like, he just wanted her to have a nice time outside the palace for once. To be free from all the weight she bears (even if a lot of that weight is self-inflicted). Maybe he can sympathize with that?

Anyway this could be way off; I do think the show is going out of its way to cast the Crown Prince as "lonely bachelor" type even though he's married (and all the drama with the Crown Princess seems a little unnecessary to me). Maybe that's so we are less judgemental when he hooks up with Sa-hee? In any case, the chemistry between Sa-hee and the Crown Prince (or the actors at least) just isn't quite there for me. Sa-hee is still a mystery, though, as many commented, and it will be interesting to see how her story plays out. And I like the Crown Prince a lot; I'm enjoying how he's written and acted.

I may be the only one, but I cried serious tears during these episodes because it mirrors my country's current political mess and the rush to destroy institutions in order to favor a man-child. If only it could be corrected so easily here with a rookie historian and an experienced historian putting their lives on the line. Sigh.