The King's Affection: Episodes 17-18 Open Thread » Dramabeans Korean drama recaps

24 December 9, 2021December 9, 2021

The King’s Affection: Episodes 17-18 Open Thread

by missvictrix

We’re in our penultimate week, and things sure are escalating. Our couple goes from blissfully in love to facing one of their biggest blows yet. And as if that wasn’t enough, our king’s closely-held secret is rapidly starting to unravel. It’s about to get real, people!

EPISODES 17-18 WEECAP

The King’s Affection has been a really solid story of loyalty (in addition to its other elements), and from loyal servants to loyal love, it’s been one of the most enjoyable parts of the show for me. But loyalty can be shaken, as we begin to see with Inspector Jung. Loyalty can also become a weakness, and we soon see how that plays out for not only our king and his scribe, but those around them.

Inspector Jung’s character has taken quite a nuanced turn. I wasn’t expecting the death of the much-beloved (by me) Commander Yoon to cause a ripple effect, but I’m liking it. In the awesome end of last week’s episodes, Inspector Jung swoops in to save his son and the king from the surprise attack, and while it’s a satisfying moment, it also feeds into the looming questions that are lurking around our king and his companion.

I knew we got rid of the awful Prince Changwoon too easily. He’s back and creating chaos, and so is Hyun’s hyung, Prince Wonsan. There is so much political interplay between these characters and Evil Grandpa — who is playing who, who believes who, and who really knows the truth about the king? Most importantly, we learn first that Inspector Jung knows (*gasp*!). And while he’s both protecting the secret, he’s also using it against Ji-woon. In order to keep the king safe, Ji-woon forlornly agrees to do his father’s bidding: go along with an arranged marriage to So-eun.

Inspector Jung is accomplishing a lot with this marriage — he’s not only keeping his son in check, but he’s also squashing the rumors that are flying around the palace like mad: that the king likes men, and one rather tall royal scribe in particular.

So much for our happy lovebirds of last week. They had their sunny happy kisses, and poor Dam-yi was sure that she would take the consequences of her love for Ji-woon — but I don’t think either of them expected the situation to get so dire quite so fast. Or for the king’s very life to be at stake.

Ji-woon’s marriage to So-eun will kill the rumours about the king, but really only solve half of the problem. The other half is that the king is only pretending to spend the night with the queen. She tries to hide this fact, but is unable to do so for long. While on one hand I feel for her as she ardently begs the “king” to let her fulfill her sole duty as queen (produce an heir), on the other hand: zero sympathy. The queen is such a child bride, with her emotions on her sleeve, that I honestly lose patience for her. And I’m sick of these barriers; on with the OTP!

But the story has other plans. Both Dam-yi and Ji-woon are utterly heartbroken as he distances himself from the king and prepares for his marriage. Dam-yi gets out her emotions by practicing her swordsmanship; Ji-woon continues his side mission of trying to locate the deadly herb that killed the king, and thus prove the connection to Evil Grandpa.

Speaking of Evil Grandpa, this is where things reallllly get crazy. Inspector Jung might quickly wipe Prince Changwoon and his rumor-spreading off the face of Joseon, but the damage is already done. Rumors of all kinds are flying and eventually reach Lord Sangheon.

He and the king have an utterly terrifying encounter — super well-acted and arguably one of the best scenes in the drama. Lord Sangheon makes a midnight entrance at the king’s quarters and the two have a conversation full of hidden threats and subtext. Dam-yi’s grandpa tells the story of the twins’ birth, how he ordered the girl’s death, and how the rumor is going around that the king is that girl. Then he sends out this creepy laugh, and you can’t tell what he’s really thinking, getting at, or even after. Unless it’s just to terrify us all, because that’s working.

Dam-yi is amazing as she keeps her composure and holds her ground; when Lord Sangheon leaves, it’s Eunuch Hong and Court Lady Kim that are about to faint from panic and terror. But there’s something dire in Dam-yi’s eyes: she knows that her beloved servants are in danger and has Hyun sneak them out of the palace. Rightly, she knows they are her weakness and will be used against her. And so, she removes her support system and her weakness at the same time. She intends to prove her grandfather’s guilt, abdicate, and have her half-brother Prince Jehyeon take the throne. (I’m all for this plan, just saying.)

The stakes just got super duper high, because Dam-yi feels stripped of all her protections, with her secret crumbling like a house of cards. It’s exciting, though, and also satisfying to see how she’s finally come to this point.

It’s already as tense as it’s ever been, but there’s one final element to really put the icing on the cake, and that’s Court Lady Kim going to find Ji-woon before they go into hiding. She tells him the long-kept secret: that the king is in fact Dam-yi, the young maid that he loved as a boy.

This drama hasn’t gotten me very emotional up until this point, but man, seeing Ji-woon literally running to the palace, overcome with emotion, was soooooo good. It’s a gorgeous moment of the drama, and the plot — the fate between these two is finally in the open, and I don’t think anything will keep them apart now. Also, just as Dam-yi becomes more vulnerable as she heads into her final battle, how amazing that that’s just when Ji-woon is running to her. With everything stacked up and ready to go, it’s going to be one heck of a final week.

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1 Kafiyah Bello

December 9, 2021 at 6:10 PM

I'm sooo nervous for our King, I wonder what she shall do. As for the Queen, she has all my sympathy, the poor woman, I hope she finds someone who brings her joy. The King is in an untenable prison crafted by her grandfather's hubris and arrogance, but she will survive. As for Ji Woon's fiance, 😑😑, girl why? Finally, the red sleeve did the same thing, knowing that you have a childhood connection doesn't make your connection stronger sirs and madame. Sigh.

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2 Alluvial_Fan

December 9, 2021 at 6:46 PM

Aigoo, Thanks for providing me with a space to share. While I love Red Sleeves it has never once made me tear up as I have done several times in King's Affection.
That the "king" has embraced the love-struck girl who loves with such open sincerity. telling her that she will learn the truth soon.
That her faithful servants are treated with such concern and respect.
That she never played the first-love card but here it comes.
I doubted the 20 ep format and stand corrected. PEB is the GOAT.

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honeybean

December 9, 2021 at 11:14 PM

Glad I'm not the only one who had tears in my eyes when Hwi arranged for court lady and eunuch to be safe. Sending them away would leave no one by her side, as Hyun would be with them and Jiun had already pulled away. It was like removing her source of protection and strength at a time when she needed it the most.

But she never even considered how lonely she would be if they left. It showed how much she appreciated their unending loyalty and love for her.

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Emperor Titus

December 12, 2021 at 5:17 PM

It has become a crash of two ideologies: as King Hwi/Damyi treasure everyone loyal to her as she treasure every lives (despite castes, gender, and everything else) in her nation, her grandfather Lord Sangheon doesn't mind to shed blood for the sake to keep the traditions and (more importantly) his own profit and advantage.

This makes The King's Affection's message a lot more powerful then The Red Sleeves, it makes the former closer to our heart. I have to stress, however, the latter has merely gone half the show, and the production team of The Red Sleeves really take a lot of effort to update the story (and The Red Sleeves has one more limitation: it is based on real history). But for the time being, I care more about the she-king then the righteous king and his concubine ...

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3 Athena

December 9, 2021 at 6:52 PM

I worry that her real weakness isn't just her servants but Ji-woon. Ultimately she has to take out both evil grandpa and evil cousin? uncle? Anyway, that guy. It will be interesting to see how it plays out.

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Miky

December 10, 2021 at 10:58 AM

But will it be that easy,that man built his fortress and connections,from fear to respect in the palace among the other people,if he was so easy to remove why no one could do it over more than 20 years or so...
Must say i'm a bit sad they didn't keep the more charismatic character for Wonsan,as he was so full of machinations trying to guess his mind yet charismatic(not to mention his long hair LOL)

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4 dramalover4ever

December 9, 2021 at 7:11 PM

I liked her resolve at the end, that she was going to take control of the situation, and I'm looking forward to see how it plays out. This drama has been unique in showing her agency, in her relationship with Ji-woo and in flexing her muscles as king. I'm hoping there's more to come. Bring it on show.

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5 Kurama

December 9, 2021 at 9:16 PM

I was frustrated by the Queen too. I understand why she's sad and it's true that is totally unfair for her. But she never tried to understand the King. She didn't protect him. She said to Ji-Woon to leave and instead to be strong and hide her feelings, she was roaming in the Palace with her sad face...

So-Eun's situation was sad too. It was nice to see her trying to be friend with Ji-Woon's friends, because they are his family. But again, Ji-Woon never hid the facts he didn't have feelings for her.

Hwi is in a battle she never wanted... Her grandfather and her cousin are fighting for the throne. They use her to attack each other. She is trapped between them and she lost people she loves because of them. I really want to see her win against them. Rabbit's comeback to become King is a good solution.

Inspector Jung is such an interesting character. He was clearly bad being Chief State Counselor's dog but he can't let his son being hurt because he's son but because Ji-Woon is the good person he's not.

Hyun is such a nice character. I'm sad for him that the person who wants to hurt the more Hwi is his brother. I hope he will make it until the end, but the chances are low...

I liked how the childhood connection was handled. They were each other first love but as adult, it didn't influence their decision. Hwi thought he was a liar and had no morals. Ji-Woon thought she was dead and kept her in his heart as a beautiful memory. They both fell in love with their adult version. If it's not a big deal, it's still meaningful for them.

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Shae D

December 11, 2021 at 7:14 PM

I don't know, guys. I am usually a main leads apologist, but this go round I have nothing but immense sympathy for the surrounding characters. Both So-eun and the Queen are getting such injustice that I doubt the drama can possibly right it (nor is it interested). All to serve the OTP who aren't being strong for each other anyway.
Seriously, this is a new feeling for me. The drama has done such a good job of making So-eun endearing. And they made Ji-woon a huge part of that change. I was asking myself, why not her? Just because she's not his "destiny"? Sometimes that doesn't mean the best pairing, and that's just real life.
And I know the Queen can be annoying, but she really is going off of the only information she has. And once again, the drama did a better job of explaining her drive than the leads, even turning her into a tragic figure. It is incredibly sad that all she sees herself as is a vessel for an heir. And she gets thrown into this bizarre situation with little explanation as to why. She even tried her best to keep it hidden. She did nothing wrong in my book. Those in Hwi's circle needed to keep a tighter lid on the situation. Put someone in place they could trust to be queen if they weren't going to inform the one about to be very "intimate" with the "King". Like, what was their plan? Sorry, rant over.

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Kurama

December 11, 2021 at 11:35 PM

But the difference, it's that the Queen and the So-Eun had the choice when Hwi and Ji-Woon didn't.

If the Queen did a minimum of research, she would have known that the King didn't choose her the first time, but So-Eun. He lost his father and was forced to marry her. She never was his choice. And she acts like she was married by love and it will be the most beautiful love story. Yeah, she's cute and innocent, but for someone who said she loves the King, she never tried to understand his feelings.
When the rumors started, she should have acting as a Queen and not strolling in the Palace with a pity face. What Hwi's plan? Hwi is pretty busy to take down her grandfather. Why she doesn't talk about it to the Queen? Maybe because she doesn't seem interested by politics in the first place and that her father is on the grandfather's side. So either the Queen could betray them, either she will be in the unconfortable position to choose between the King and her father... Saying the truth now is risky too, she doesn't know how the Queen will react.

For Ji-Woon being in love with Hwi, it's not because of destiny. They spent a lot of time together and he saw Hwi struggle as a CP and becoming stronger. It's why he fell in love with Hwi, she protected his friends and him, she fought for her Court Lady, she apologized to the Chinese Eunuch for his childhood. Ji-Woon didn't spend so much time with So-Eun.

Now, it's sad for these characters because they're nice and we want them to be happy too, the same for Hyun.

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paige

December 13, 2021 at 12:51 AM

I don't get why you're blaming the OTP for So-eun and the Queen's feelings/situations.
Just because So-eun is endearing does not mean that Ji-woon has to choose her? That's just real life, nothing to do with "destiny". It's not his fault that she falls for him when he is already in love with someone else. Ji-woon was a gentleman when he told her that he does not return her feeling. He does not own her the truth that he loves someone else or who that person is. So-eun is her own woman, and she made her own choice. I find her not as mature in her thinking and actions as Hwi. She chose not to be the crown princess, rejected Hwi, and went after Ji-woon, causing more trouble. So-eun also acted rashly before. She threatened Ji-woon with his friends and almost cost him and his friends' life. And again, she chose to marry him and asked her dad to accept the marriage proposal. I'm glad that she found out about Ji-woon's feelings and will break off the engagement. That's justice for her.
As for the Queen, Hwi has no choice here. Marriage? No. Who is the queen? No. The last time she chose So-eun, look what happened? The queen can not be just anybody, and royal marriage is an occasion to form allies. Hwi's queen has to be evil's grandpa's choice/people. Unfortunately, Ha-kyung is in love with Hwi and an innocent victim. But Hwi has treated her with kindness and as much honesty as she can be. Hwi also apologized for hurting her and promised she will tell Ha-kyung the truth when the time is right. This is the best Hwi can do now until she takes care of the evil grandpa and abdicates the throne to her younger brother.

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Mustang Zoot

December 16, 2021 at 2:28 AM

Hey ya'll they are all good characters with sad fate of unrequited love and tho it's sad somehow for the characters but they will all have a happy ending, this is not like the other historical drama genre. It focuses more on the romance.

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6 honeybean

December 9, 2021 at 11:00 PM

When breaking up with Hwi, Jiun told her, "This is where I would stop." And as he walked away, she called out, "Stop right there! I have yet to tell you to stop." It was a bit confusing as to why the word 'stop' was used, but when I rewatched ep 15, I could see its significance.

There was a scene where she was in her quarters, Jiun told her that he wanted to stay by her side and help her achieve her goal. She replied that he could, but it would be incredibly risky, and he should pull back if she says so. "Then promise me this one thing," she said. "When I tell you to stop, you must."

So, it was expected that if their relationship proved to be an even greater danger to their lives, it would be Hwi who would pull the plug, not Jiun. It would've been so out of character for him if he did so. Which is why Hwi was so shocked when he announced his marriage. He had always stuck to her side, and for him to leave at a time when she needed him most stung.

There was also the fact that he gave a pretty vague reason as to why he was getting married. I wish he'd told her that his dad had threatened him. But it would've gotten rid of the angst, and TKA thrives on angst, so there's that.

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7 panshel

December 10, 2021 at 12:52 AM

The queen has all my sympathy. Dam-yi needs all the allies she can get. She should've told Ha-kyung her secret so they can devise a plan on how to conceive a royal baby. If So-yeon were Queen, I expect Dam-yi telling her.

I like Prince Wonsan who is a smarter villain than Evil Grandpa. Not only did he fake Prince Changwoon's death, he deduced the crown prince had been switched. I understand his desire for the throne because he is royal bloodline versus Lord Sangheon who is royal family by marriage. Instead of abdicating to Gyeom, Dam-yi ought to abdicate to Prince Wonsan or Hyun.

I never imagined Eun-seo and Young-ji as a pair, but I ship.

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Kurama

December 10, 2021 at 1:19 AM

Hwi doesn't really know the Queen except she's young and naive. How will she take the news that the man she fell in love with is actually a woman?

Hwi is already pretty busy with her grandfather, she can't take the risk to tell the truth to the Queen, who tells everything to her servant who told to Hwi's grandfather...

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Raven995

December 10, 2021 at 8:48 AM

Exactly... I don't know why people wanted Hwi to tell the truth to the Queen when, a we seen, she obviously can't keep a secret

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Shae D

December 11, 2021 at 7:32 PM

I completely agree with your sympathy for the Queen. They really did just let that happen with no strategy, didn't they?
I even had the same thought, you're going to need an heir, the Queen's going to have to get one from somewhere! But then I thought about it.
I think I have seen so many European royal stories, that I was treating the concept of an heir more flippantly than clearly the East Asian culture treats it. Monogamy doesn't necessarily abound, but the line leading up to the King is tight. If there is a baby coming from the Queen or one of his concubines, it very well better be his. None of the palace intrigue or scandal is ever over who is the father, but how to arrange things so it is the King who is producing an heir. Thus their problem, I suppose.

But it just seemed so simple to me. Somebody else needed to get her pregnant. But there seems to be a need for more decorum than that. Still, Hwi was always going to have a serious problem delivering that, wasn't she? Thus begs the question, what was the plan?

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paige

December 13, 2021 at 1:32 AM

Telling Ha-Kyung the secret and planning to conceive the royal baby is NOT an option. Hwi didn't tell anyone her secret except Ji-woon. And it happened only when she was out of the palace and thinking she is free to live her life. Anyone who knows that Hwi is a woman has died. For her safety, Ha-kyung should stay in the dark. Anyway, what can Ha-kyung do with this secret? She can't help Hwi.
Imprenant Ha-kyung? Royal baby? This got to be a joke, right? Why would you want to bring an innocent baby into this messy situation? Who is going to be the one to do the deed? Hyun? But that would be unfair to him because he loves Hwi. Ga-on? Then the baby would not be from royal blood. And when the truth comes out as it surely will, then there will be more innocents dying. Not only it's unfair to Hyun but it would be so cruel to innocent Ha-kyung! What could Hwi say to her? I know you love me but sleep with someone else and give me a royal heir?

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8 Sofie

December 10, 2021 at 1:54 AM

Thanks for not giving up recapping #TheKingsAffection.

As we are waiting for the final week of the series, i just wish that Park Eun Bin and Rowoon would win an acting award aside from Best Couple award and the drama would be recognized also for its directing and cinematography. Fighting, Yeonmasters!😊

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9 Shae D

December 11, 2021 at 7:52 PM

I guess count me in the minority, because I did not find that final realization as moving as it was supposed to be. Count it to my black heart.
I just guess that if I were Ji-woon, I would have been upset at various points in the drama. A huge part being that for me, personally, knowledge is power. And it's hard to believe that you love me and I am in your trusted fold if I am being duped by you. I get it, the entire premise was Dam-i needing to keep the secret, but I really can't reason why it was so dangerous for Ji-woon to know? His proximity was going to put him in danger regardless, so it just seemed like the information was upheld for the sake of contrivance. Not very romantic in my book.
It just seems as if his emotions were toiled with. A lot of the side characters' feelings are and it seems needless. I would feel some kind of way if I were mourning a long lost love just to be by her side this whole time unknowingly, but by her own doing. Can you tell I'm not a fan of noble idiocy? Seriously. Why couldn't her identity be revealed along with her gender? Even that was late enough I feel.
Ultimately I just want two people who are supposed to be in love to treat each other with more respect than this.

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paige

December 12, 2021 at 7:28 PM

Hwi didn't dupe or toiled with Ji-woon's emotion. It's not because of romantic, noble idiocy, or dangerous reasons that she didn't tell him this secret. Knowledge is power, but it doesn't apply in this case. Hwi kept this knowledge from Ji-woon because it would pain him greatly to know that his dad killed the prince, her twin brother. Ji-woon would be so crushed knowing that his dad is the one responsible for Dami's sufferings. And what could Ji-woon do with this knowledge? Kill his father? Since she already told him that Dami died, she didn't want to burden him with the guilt this knowledge would ultimately cause him. I believe that Ji-woon understands Hwi's thoughts/feelings, and that is why it moved him to tears. Knowing that she did it out of love for him and to protect him. Also, to be able to see Dami again and realize Hwi is Dami must be an emotional shock for Ji-woon.

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honeybean

December 12, 2021 at 11:50 PM

Both Hwi and Jiun hid secrets about Papa Jung from each other, but I feel like those secrets shouldn't have been hidden at all. Hwi not telling jiun about his dad killing the CP made him blind to just how dangerous Inspector Jung is. And Jiun hiding the fact that his dad knew that she's a woman and was out to kill her (and blackmailed him into marriage as a result) put Hwi in even more danger.

Granted, they did it to protect each other, but I wish they'd communicated about it earlier, no matter how hurtful the truth may have been.

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paige

December 13, 2021 at 1:42 AM

I agree with you however, I'm responding to the above comment about why Ji-woon and other viewers find this final realization moving. And why he would not be upset or blame Hwi for keeping this secret from him.

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10 Darienne Flint

December 13, 2021 at 9:52 AM

Excellent series. Great acting and direction.
Fab storyline

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