Yay! I've been waiting for this! Thank you, @mary!

At first, it made me really sad that Hae-ryung got to know Rim's true identity THAT FAST. I thought we wouldn't get more of the bickering and their friendship but show took a great turn and made their friendship even stronger after that. When Rim gave Hae-ryung his room so she can cry because no one will hear her there, it made me happy and sad at the same time. And it was really refreshing to see a Prince do all the disguise and pretending in Dramaland where the heroines are usually the one pretending. Hehe

I really liked the focus on the lady historians and their work. They are not just there to be side characters because they are their own characters too!

Also, I ship Hae-ryung with everyone.

So excited to have a recap from you! I'm adoring the show so far, both from the romance trope goodness, the friendships and feminism, and even for the court politics that will hopefully not follow the same path as saeguks before it.

Lee Rim and Haeryung are too precious for words. I love their childish bickering, but I love even more that they complement each other. He gives her a safe space to be herself and she pulls him outside of his sheltered life.

All of the supporting characters are worthy of fully-fleshed stories, too, and I'm really enjoying the taste of historian struggles and Crown Prince shenanigans. Also, I have to lol at Historian Min's perpetually frowny face. Perfect descriptor!

Sometimes I feel I shouldn't love this show as much or have such high expectations because it'll only end up hurting me.

But I cant help it. GIVE ME MORE OF THIS CUTE AND ADORABLE SHOW!!!! I'm loving it so far, and it's the only current drama I'm watching (will try Devil Calls). The actors are doing a good job. They're not "amazing" (ahem, CEW) but I don't even mind. Just hoping, the whole show doesn't get ruined by palace politics, noble idiocy, childhood drama, unnecessary conflict..... The list goes on.

*fingers crossed *

This drama may have been billed as a fluffy, romantic fictional sageuk, but I've been impressed by how well-thought-out and interesting the politics have been. I'm also living for historian yang. He has hilarious one-liners that you can't get the humor in english translation.

Thank you, @mary! I’m glad this show has made it into the DB annals. I have so much to say, but no time to say it. Just know that this is the show I look forward to every week, and the only show I’m watching now.

I should be watching this... I'm a historian and this sounds like my dream job! Unfortunately there are no palaces with job openings nearby.

Now wait. How does a Eunuch have a wife?

@mary, thank you for making me laugh. You get straight to the heart of everyone's quirks and complications. I'm so glad to see you wee-capping.

Yay for the weecap! I ended up watching all six/twelve episodes of this show over last weekend, when I only intended to checkout one, at most. I was certain it wouldn't appeal to me. HAHA But this one is adorable. Can't wait for tonight's episode.

Thanks for this, @mary!

This show is so much fun. It's the perfect light, easy watch without being entirely fluff. The female historian angle is fresh and handled well, and I'm enjoying the Crown Prince's story line as well. I'm not as interested in the conspiracy stuff yet, but maybe it'll get more compelling.

I really like the development of Hae-ryung and Rim's relationship. Beneath their bickering is growing camaraderie between two outcasts who both need a good friend. I much prefer when a couple starts with a solid friendship, so I'm happy with the direction this is going.

Please don't kill Jin...pleaseeeeee🙏🙏🙏

I feel that Crown Prince Jin and Sa-hee make a good pair. I just hope she is as shrewd and as brave as I think and stands by him as he grows into The King ✌️❤️️

But, I also want Rim to grow into his own person because I thin he is smart and capable and just needs the chance. With Hae-ryung by his side, nothing seems impossible❤️️

Coming to the historian herself, I simply love how kick-ass she is. Her refusal to quieten down in front of the palace maids was so brave and courageous and I am here for all the times she puts everyone else in their place. And, I also love, really love the fact that she is growing herself and learns to see things from others' perspective, instead of being coldly stubborn.
Do I need say, I ship her❤️️❤️️❤️️❤️️❤️️❤️️❤️️❤️️❤️️❤️️❤️️❤️️❤️️

Sorry for spamming the comments section but I have soooo much to say about this drama.. This is the last one I hope.
The second hero, the upright First historian Woo-won has stolen my heart. He stands up for the rookies, reprimands them when required, but behaves as their one and only role model. Beyond all that, his heart is in the right place and he admires our heroine's guts, as do our other leads❤️️(sorry, I dunno which way to swing)...
But, what makes my heart ache is that Hae-ryung also admires him in return and in an alternate universe, where there in no Rim, they would have made a well-matched couple...sigh💔💔💔💔💔 I hope his character does not lose his moral high ground and he continues to inspire and lead our rookies, and maybe Jin and Rim also, for good measure.

"But I swear I will throw a tantrum if you break their precious bromance and/or kill Jin, Show."

I almost dont want to watch this show till its over - basically till i can get assurance that Rim & Jin will be ok all the way to the end. I want them to be badass brothers who work as a team. No fighting for the throne pleeaasseee! and no deaths for god's sake.
I spend my time watching this show being super in love with Hye Ryung and super annoyed with her. How can anyone with such a talent for getting into trouble have not developed any foresight over her entire life! I'm also really disturbed by the end of ep 6 (or 12?). I just so worried for the two of them. Also really annoyed. How does a King and his whole retinue manage to surprise you like that?!
i really do like this show - when its not annoying me :P

Yay for recaps! Thanks for this @mary, for the recap and recommending it on the OT some time ago 😆 I wouldn’t have checked it out.

Thoroughly enjoying the drama! Looking forward on how our price and historian will take part in revealing the King and the SSC’s evil doings. Also the other lady historian, who’s reporting to the SSC but might have a romance with the Crown Prince, what will she do?

And I actually ship Hae-ryung with Woo-won, a definite sinking ship. But I wouldn’t mind if they continue as sunbae-hoobae.

As for acting, SSK really suits sageuk. This is her acting turf. And it’s my first seeing CEW act, there are times that I get what emotions he’s trying to convey but it doesn’t go deeper than that. Cute and comedic scenes are done well but when it comes to emotional scenes, not so much, for now.

Honeslty, for me Prince Dowon is pretty boring for now. After 12 episodes (6), he did nothing. I'm really excepting more from him for the today's episode, the trailer looked promising.

Because after the dinner between HR and Woo-won and the clerks and their discussion after that, I found them together so much interesting! They have real discussion and they make the other to think, to question himself/herself.

I love to see all the girls supportive with each other. They were cute trying to help HR.

For now, I'm more interested in her new life as historian than the love story that is inevitable sadly, second lead syndrom in sight.

So yesterday, my friend and I were watching The Chef on Netflix. It was such a heartwarming experience, but I could not relax because every time they told the child to be careful, or do something, or I just heard a car speed up in the background, I expected something to go wrong sooner or later, that the kid would be hurt or there would be an accident, and there would be some third act angst or separation over it. Because that is what happens in all movies nowadays.

I say this because that is what I feel when I watch Rookie Historian. On one hand, I enjoy the main character being strong but clearly flawed, and having her flaws achknowledged and having her LEARN from her mistakes (even though some flaws are illogical). I like how she clearly has a relationship with all the three important young men there, plus the cheif historian's respect, because of her ideas and morals, and I like how I can totally see romance in all of them, yet also them simply being respected friends.

HOWEVER, how many times have I been burned by watching a drama with a kick-ass female lead, or the PROTAGONIST and title-character (BEAUTIFUL GONG-SHIM), be reduced to a side character while the men, even men who do not like each other, get all the action and drama and speak about important matters that involve the female lead, without her consent. Latest was Absolute Boyfriend, but even my darling favourite Queen for Seven Days did not escape this, where the triangle drama was solved by the boys talking together and restoring their bromance, with the female lead - title character - hearing about it and simply respectfully bow. Which makes sense due to how the genders were segregated at the time, but still, the chemistry between Chae-Kyung and Yeonsan were much more interesting to watch than the typical brothers conflict. Not to mention Chae-Kyung, the last episode, ascended from our protagonist to be this wise woman the prince, and thus us the audience, had to understand and wait for, which is fine, but after many dramas where the woman was more interesting yet it became about the man ("While You Were Sleeping"), it sort of soured the ending for me.

And that is what I keep thinking when I watch and enjoy Rookie Historian. "Don't get too attached, the female lead will become a useless side character soon", "The bromance will take over the show while the title character is sleeping somewhere unaware of the climax happening", "even though we follow the female lead, soon the story will be about the male lead due to his mysterious past, and the mysterious past of the female lead will be all about him". These thoughts will not leave me, and it frustrates me because of how nice the show is right NOW.

Love the way you recap the series in a perky, and looking-forward-to-watch kinda excited.
The story may not be super fresh and ultra original but i find it exciting and a pleasant to watch.

It irritated me to read "so called critics" who have nothing but bad things to say about how they dislike the flat acting of so-and-so actors when they haven't seen any progress in the first two episodes. There is so called character development that actors go through as the story move forward. They may be not Oscar-worthy on the first episodes coz it is what the script is asking for.

Anyway, I truly appreciate the recap while putting in and adding on some thoughts worth looking forward to and hints of developments that are a-must to watch out for.

Thanks you.

lol i'm such a sucker for a guy who wears his heart on his sleeve and prince dowon IS DEFINITELY A GUY WHO WEARS HIS HEART ON HIS SLEEVE

lmao

It looks to me that Yi Rim is the son of the deposed king and that Queen Dowager might have saved him in exchange for her support to the new king. I don't think that the brothers will fight, or at least for too long. The current Crown Prince seems to be well suited for the role and I think Yi Rim might be happy leaving the crown to him later. What I'm most excited about is to see more of the prince and Hae Ryung together. Hae Ryung should help Yi Rim to find out about his past, they will make good investigation partners. Plus, they make a super cute couple 😍, every scene with any of them realizing their growing attraction for the other is precious.

Crown Prince Jin’s beard is hot, Mary. And I am not even a fan of facial hair. 😄

I absolutely love when a drama flips our AND protoganists' opinions about not-loved-characters on its head.
It was ironical to see the girls gushing abt Ladies of the Palace and bashing the smelly sunbaes, only to meet with the rude awakening with the pleasant surprise of that after all, Sunbaes will always take care of their hoobaes.
It was love.

@Mary thank you, thank for recapping/creating this thread! I just started watching Rookie and need to catch up!

Can someone explain why Song Sa Hee (the serious lady historian) is spying for the Second State Councillor? Apparently he's the Crown Prince's father-in-law and even Jin knows his wife is a plant.

Have you ever seen such a surfeit of chemistry in a fluffy little sageuk? Sibling love, budding romantical friendships, thwarted love, eunuch love, work crushes—I love it!

My favorite weirdly sexy moment was the It-Happened-One-Night set up with the young prince drinking water behind the screen.

Can I just say that I clutch my heart every single time the scrumptiously bearded Crown Prince smiles at anybody?

Thank you mary for this squeecaps!!
Been waiting for this. Really appreciate you sliding this to us, despite your busy schedule.

I have so many theories about this drama... and gets so proud everytime I see my theories coming into life with the scenes.

I am still on-edge with EunWoo's acting, lotsa improvement, but the new episode gave me that big hope that he is getting there.

The oh-so-many early reveals are killing me, because this means we'll gonna have coming weeks of political struggle anf surprises. HOWEVER, the best thing I like about this drama is that the political tension and inner court fights are so subtle. I don't need to find out if one is Soron, Noron or Namin. The drama just breeze through the surface of the political catfight, without drowning the viewers (esp those who are new in sageuk) with too much technical history.

I love GHR & Prince Dowon's friendship. I do not ship them because I have this theory that GHR is instrument to reveal Prince Dowon's real identity. Her spunk is what Prince Dowon needs to grow up fast. I mean, VERY FAST!

RHGHR is a tight drama. Love how the writer makes you wanna understand the characters and makes you wanna stay to listen to their story.

RHGHR, fighting!

Thank you Mary for the recap. I really love this drama & was eagerly waiting for the recap.

I love each & every character as well their acting in this show

How I agree with you about Rim and Jin @mary. It is so rare to see such a brotherly bond in positions of power in dramas (whether historical or contemporary) I’m loving it.

I am hoping for a romance between the Crown Prince and Sa Hee not just for Rin’s sake. Sa Hee also needs some love in her life and needs a lesson that power and wealth aren’t enough for happiness.

It's not possible for the crown prince and sa hui to have met before but i feel like they once dated. From the beginning of the show where she touched his hands, thats how i interpreted it. I hope they get together cos she's strong and will help him. I ship them

I think we should not forget that this drama belongs to fluffy romantic saeguk genre. Prince Yi Rim is such a sheltered and naive character but he has his own strengths and insightful wisdom. I agree CHW might not be the most convincing actor, in his defence his talents major as a vocalist and he is still trying his hand at acting so i think we should be patient and give him a chance to show his growth as a character and an actor because i get the feeling that his character is more complex and layered than the show first let on. So far i'm loving the show for its fluffiness and CEW smiles❤️ but i won't be surprised if it manages to deliver some indepth message in the process.

I find the Prince's character mysterious. He is someone who was literally imprisoned within the palace walls which explains his constant yearning to go out albeit his eunuch's distress. I am waiting for the big reveal!

Also, I am fascinated with the historians and how they keep on bickering with but deeply care each other anyway.

Aaaaahhhhhh I've just caught up to these episodes and your write up is perfection, @mary!

I feel sad because I am shipping Woo-won with Hae-ryung even though OBVIOUSLY they are not the OTP (and I ship the actual OTP!), but he deserves a requited love, such a waste to languish away on a jjak sarang!

Fusion sageuk really was last year's greatest gift to the world. Even if this show eventually loses its way like Tale of Nokdu did, the fact we have yet another sageuk with a modern sensibility featuring a strong, flawed female lead and an adorable gentle male lead makes me happy. I'm glad I started this and I'm also glad I waited till now to watch it.

5-12? There really must have been a lack of recappers at the time, because this story is not the kind that disappoints so that you just decides to make a discount recap otherwise.
I came here to say it hurts so much to see Min with his sad eyes ... all the time.
In The Affection of the King there is also that phenomenon of a person who just looks on the wedge of tears morning to night, every day we must assume, for years. When everything happens on this basis of sadness, episode after episode ...
It is like a thin background sound of a single violin, setting a mood, requiring our patience, stirring our curiosity and then tiring it out, so that our curiosity joins that violin - suspended and hurting a tiny little bit, because it is also tied to our compassion. Why is he so sad?
(With the King in ...'s affection we know, but with Min we don't).
Goo's kind and wise guardian has some of that sadness too, though in that case we have already seen that he is being blackmailed - never with money, of course, it is always about the lives of your loved ones.
TBH I have watched this drama before and have forgot, only that obviously it has to do with the traditional murder, hostage-taking blackmail , corruption and hopelessness in the strangled atmosphere of the Joseon court.
Goo's

I agree, the "Cry all you want. No one can hear you here, and nobody ever comes here," was heartbreaking. Especially when you remember he also lived there as a small child, year after year. It also opened my eyes more for the longing in the prince, not just for touching Goo, as a woman, but even more just for touching a human being that makes him feel less lonely. He is pretty, funny and annoying but most of all ... SO lonely.