I love that kiss this week!

Great job, Park Eun-bin! Fighting Park Eun-bin!

So many things happened in 2 episodes O_O

First, the scene of the revealing and the next ones were beautiful! I loved to see Hwi lying against Ji-Woon and him casually carressing her back and talking about their future life.

Then, the politics hit and strong... It's weird how Hwi isn't in any groups who are fighting for the throne but she's the one who is manipulated the most.

I'm happy that her little brother wasn't killed, banished he can still come back. Her cousin messed up and I wasn't so sad for him...

For the Queen, it's sad for her. She looks nice and innocent. But I don't think she loves Hwi, she's more in love with the situation married to a handsome King, becoming Queen. Because she clearly never tried to understand Hwi, the fact he was banished and had to come back to the Palace because his father died, forced to marry her, who wasn't his own choice, Hwi chose Shin So-Eun after all. She couldn't not realize how Hwi was stuck between her grandfather and her grandmother...

I liked how everybody agreed about the fact that Ji-Woon is a rightful person and seeing him doing nothing was weird and sad. But at the end, he's still him and he helped Hwi with the book and just waited for her to do the first step for once! What she did!

Now I want to see lovely scenes between them even if the situation is dangerous. Hyun was clear about this, he doesn't want Ji-Woon to act as a lover, protecting Hwi is the most important for him. But I think Ji-Woon is the first who doesn't just share Hwi's secret but shares her burden. He doesn't want her just to live, he wants her to be happy too.

I think Inspector Jung will help them. He messed up so much by killing the Crown Prince, he killed an innocent child who ended up to his Prince.

It's going to sound strange with my general hatred of Sageuks and the billion characters who all look alike and the endless boring palace scheming, but I really enjoyed these two episodes.
The show has expertly sold us a tragic loveline of two people who pine for each other from afar in the centre of a hyper-superveilled, oppressive and menacing environment. You want them to be together, you're terrified of them being together. You want them to show their feelings to each other, you're terrified somebody will see them do so.
It's something Sageuks always try to do but imo fail at usually. But here they've nailed it.

I'm going to throw something through my screen if it does not end happily for our Lady King! I'm ok with an open ending but not with a sad one. Let her be happy for once how she was a few minutes in ep 13. I feel bad for the Queen too and am hoping there is some way out for her. PEB has been great and Rowoon has improved each episode. Though NYS is green and it shows. He is good in scenes where he has dialogues but when he has no dialogue his expressions remain the same. Still, he is going well for a new actor.

I had to look *anagnorisis* up @missvictrix, and yes, it was that moment. I'm enjoying this. It took me a while to get into it, but the last four episodes have been great. After all, I'm into kdrama for the yearning, and we are now getting that in delicious spades full.

Also Bae Soo-bin is playing a great role as Ji-woon's father and as Lord Sangheon's assassin. He is shadowy, intense, and dangerously compelling (but so far, heartless). We got some insight into his character this episode and his point of view. He is now in a tight spot. Does he expose the King, fess up to killing the wrong twin, and endanger the life of his son? Maybe now he has to make a choice, something he claims he never had the opportunity to do before.

First of all: not so fast, @missvictrix, the "achingly beautiful goodbyes" is three weeks and six episodes away. According to my Netflix schedule, it ends in Dec 14, which has 20 episodes.

It is important to talk about this, because I think the pacing is nice these 2 weeks. Now Dam-yi's true gender is opened to Ji-woon (I wonder if Jiwoon knows it's his father killed Damyi's twin brother and put her in this damn situation yet. He will learn this cruel truth soon enough), then it is time to put more obstacles to our star-crossed couple. Yes, the story goes downhill from the reveal, but it is obvious Damyi is not surrendering, even when she said she is willing to be her grandfather's "puppet": Zooming down, she is holding her fist, hard (The show is giving us sign through her hands several times already, and this is the first time she's shown determination).

This is an important development in terms of her arc: Always she is not confident, and always in fear ("I always imagine the situation when my true gender is reveal before someone," she said to her father last week). Now she is the fearless and confident king. When she says "being puppet" for her grandfather, her revenge has also begun.

She is more confident and open before Jiwoon, too. In the end of Episode 14, she asks Jiwoon to stay longer. The kiss is not only romantic, but beautiful--Her freedom is not gifted by anyone but herself. Also last week I said, her being a woman, her love to her man, as well her vision to her country is now tied together; with her father mentions to Gaon about the Fu/tally hangs on his sword, this is the promise between him and Gaon's father for a new and better world, now it's up to Damyi to realize it, and I guess Gaon will come back to remind her, as she vows to keep the promise with him one more time.

At this same moment, Jiwoon's father discovers his son and Damyi's relationship. Now he is facing a choice. One of the main points in Episode 14 is about his choice. In the beginning he says to his son the palace is a place "where morally right or wrong is not the rule", and then we found out him and Commander Yoon was long-lost yet not long-forgotten friends (Yoon may need more of his mercy to make Damyi's plot successful), and now this. Will he sticks to his choice or will he regrets it and try to right the past wrongs? Now it is the question of the day.

I know the ending of the story according to the webtoon it based on is not a happy one (and not a good one either, which I have no interest to spoil here). However, I consider the drama version has changed some of the setting in the past episodes (one of the most obvious: Jiwoon in webtoon version disguised as a woman when he first met the adult Damyi, who has been disguised as male Crown Prince for ages), so I don't consider the screenwriter is obliged to follow the story to...

This drama just grips me every week. like others my heart was happy and breaking at the same time, especially when they were planning a future together that could never happen. Thats what makes their stolen moments so much more thrilling and sad.
I also feel for the new queen. She is so open, innocent and an overall happy person. She wont last long in the palace. By the end of the ep we can see her personality change after she was refused by Dam-Yi/Hwi. Its sad that someone so vibrant will be snuffed out, especially when she seems to truly care for the king.

Wait.. I thought the poisoning was engineered by the CP's grandfather himself (he was holding that poison container last week) and he framed the queen and her father.

Now that Dam-yi is back in the palace as king, there is only one way for her to get out - death, real or fake, since kings cannot just hand in their notice and retire.

Naturally I am hoping for a fake death with the help of acupuncture, as before. I have a feeling that it was brought up now not only so that Jung realises that the supposedly dead infant is very much alive and the present king, but as possible escape route for Dam-yi and Ji-woon. I also think that Jung will switch sides (and die). He should.

Inspector Jung will definitely hide the truth to save himself. So many people in on the charade now that I’ve lost track of who doesn’t know our emperor is a she. But how good are Rowoon and PEB together??? I loved hope they showed his attending to her cut not once, not twice, but THREE times and each time was more intimate. And the young queen is being played perfectly too. I do feel terrible for her and I just hope she doesn’t die. And the kiss! I’m over here tormenting myself—I want it to happen, but don’t at the same time. I agree with @leetennant here where the show is doing everything right, dialing up the yearning, making you scared they’ll act on it, and when they do, you feel feel the catharsis, but then you fear the repercussions. Sageuks are favorites of mine because of this: death is always at your door if you step out of line, and so the stakes for true love are higher. The heart wants what it wants, in Joseon-times or modern times.

I think I figured why I like Ga-On so much despite him having 1 scence per episode, if that. I thought it was because leftover good impression from Cheif Kim after watching Moonlight, but no. It's the fact that this dude lives and operates on an entire different plane of plot than other characters of the main cast. He's going to discover Dam-ii's secret only to be all like "oh so THAT what all the fuss has been around" and hop off to his meeting at murder o'clock. I love his total ambivilence-though I am glad his path starts to converge with the main plot (he is looking for the enouch's wife, methinks).
Also, Ga-On, honey, you can't tell the king "You don't know anything about me!" Like who's fault is that? You never talk!
(Also booo for the king for telling him "oh is that your way of dealing with your anger" no bro, it's his way of dealing with the fact that the curropt officials that framed and murdered his father are still operating, under YOUR RULE. What have you done to keep up with Kang's promise?)

Yes, I am continuing with my tendencyo of prefering the minor characters to the main one. This week's special love goes to: Yoon (the MAN) Court Lady Kim (who is dying inside, constantly) and the new queen (who was roped into this and is in grave danger without her knowing)

I did love seeing Dam Yi and Ji Woon outside of the palace, forming a closer bond than before. So I was a little bummed, but resigned about the fact that I knew she would have to go back. To deal with her big role and all the politics. I'm glad she is secretly doing her own investigation and analysis of the different moves her grandfather and his minions are making.

I couldn't enjoy the last kiss scene much because of Inspector Jung's intrusion! Ughhh. It was nice to see Dam Yi showing more of her feelings and affection (heh) to Ji Woon though.

We got to learn a little more about Inspector Jung. I was surprised that he had been friends with Commander Yoon (glad he's still alive!). He could have been a basic villain all the way, but now he is more complex. Will he struggle with the secret he discovered? Will he inform Dam Yi's grandfather? I doubt it. He cares for his family extremely in his own way. I can imagine him saving his son by sacrificing himself.

I just want to know who in Dam-yi’s harem will consummate the king and queen’s marriage and help her produce a royal heir -- Hyun or Ga-on?

I don’t think it was the queen and her father who poisoned the king’s drink. Wasn’t it Lord Sangheon who poisoned it and made it look like they did?

I enjoyed these episodes as well, but have a couple of questions.

First, is there any reason beyond impatience and a desire to have a puppet in charge that the grandfather wants the Crown Prince on the throne? It's true that I zone out a bit when the focus turns to palace intrigue, but I realized that I have no clear idea of Evil Grandpa's motives.

Second, I don't understand why we never get a sense of anyone questioning the CP's romantic or sexual interests. Certainly, this would have been the source of much speculation and gossip starting when he was a young teen. And it would amp up once word got out--and word would get out--that his marriage hadn't been consummated. I understand I shouldn't be looking for realism here, but I find the absence of any acknowledgment or inclusion of this kind of idle talk to be odd.

Bring Ga-on back and kill the grandfather!

I actually thought this would end at 16eps and was able to catch up today to prepare for Monday but boom, it's 20eps. Time to pause and wait for Ga-on's return.

Since I'm also watching Red Sleeve, there are times I mix the royal family xD.

I supposed inspector Jung hasnt gotten any in a long time. why else would he be so bitter.

The newly married Queen is going to be the wild card here. She's such a clueless woman-child that she will surely be prattling on about their "nights together" to her ladies in waiting. Can only hope that Ga-on shows up again soon to save the day.
Agree with @leetennant, that the writing/acting/production team is really nailing this one, especially PEB. Even some of the beards look real.

Still enjoying the heck out of this show, despite some cringe points most folks have already covered in spades.

I really, really, really want Ji-woon's Dad to do the right thing when it matters later, and for it to be beautifully poetic and lovely and emotionally conflicting yet satisfying because it was so easy to hate him before. Don't think I'll get my wish, but there it is.

Love your recap @missvictrix but I believe they showed that Dam-Yi’s grandfather is the one who poisoned the King through manipulating the King’s trusted eunuch. It was his grand plan from the beginning, and why he had asked Jiwoon’s father to escort her back to the palace as soon as they’d left for exile. It’s also why Dam-Yi told her little brother that she’s the reason their dad died (albeit indirectly and obviously not her fault because her grandfather’s need and greed for power). I think it would be great if you could fix that little error :) anyways keep up the great work and thank you for all the time and energy you spend on providing us with recaps :))

Does anyone else think that Lord Sangheun knows that the king is a woman? I think he has some level of affection for the king. There could be many reasons why he wouldn’t say anything about knowing: he knows but doesn’t care what her gender is if she gets the job done, he knows and feels guilty for his past crimes, he knows and wants to use the fact as an ace card to control the king…

Regardless, the theme of responsibility has been growing for the older characters. The late king took responsibility to live by his values, the plot is setting up Commander Jung to confront whether he is going to keep being an evil lackey for Lord Sangheun. It would go so well with that theme if Lord Sangheun could have similar character development, even if just a little.

So when she confessed to Jung Ji Woon, is it meant to be assumed that he also knows she’s Dam-I? Or does he not know that yet?

I just finished watching episode 14 and I have to say, I am so frustrated with Ji woon ..for several episodes now! I know he is in love and wear his heart on his sleeve but he is putting Dam-yi in danger! He is totally clueless and constantly acting inappropriately towards Dam-yi. Hyun spoked to him already how he only watches from afar as to not to put her in danger and what does he do … light lanterns for her …OMG …seriously, what does he expect from her ….she is the King 🤦🏻‍♀️