While I enjoyed the trolling on who is who, I have to admit I was deeply disappointed with the reveals in these two episodes, as they seem to have turned this into a much more conventional kdrama storyline than it looked like it was shaping up to be.

Having teased us for so long, the ultimate reveals seem to leave us facing a very conventional set up, with Yoo Ha (egged on by his obvious mother) as San's antagonist in both love and war, and presumably ultimately for the chop.

Moreover, I still don't find San very convincingly kingly or charismatic; and in part that's the down to the actor who is pretty but not up to the level of others we've seen recently (admittedly Park Hyung-Sik is a high standard to live up to, but think back to less experienced actors such as Moon Sang-min in Under the Queen's Umbrella for example). He's fine as far as the romance goes, but he still seems far to impulsive and hotheaded, and beyond getting rid of the king's tyranny, we've been given no sense of his future agenda.

Shi Yeol still looks much more kingly to me, but on the plus side, I like the way his character is being developed, relationship with Hong-joo (though can't see how that is going to work out once everything comes out!).

Do seem to be a few hooks for further twists (just what will that duplicitous eunuch do now?), so I really hope they have enough left to keep this from becoming a fairly ordinary sageuk.

The guessing game is ended but I still have so many doubts that I keep thinking in previous episodes trying to complete the puzzle.
There are things/hints/gestures/ that are (or have been) there for a reason, even in the background.

Agree with other beanies that Ryeoun acting is green and that's surely doing no favour to his character (San) but Kang Hoon and Shin Ye Eun are great for now. And I like the rest of the cast.

I'm shocked at everything. TSRG's who is who played me to the end. I didn't get one correct.
San being Lee Seol shocked me to the very end, he wasn't even on my radar. No does he exude princely aura. Yoo-ha on the other hand has the royal aura that made me believe that he was Lee Seol, until he wasn't but that was a twist with him being royalty.

And to the one who shocked me to the bone marrows, like the core - Shi-yeol. Watchman? Like...how? That was a plot twist I partly envisaged - he being skilled with the sword, but that was just it. I didn't expect beyond that. Alas! He's the watchman. The mystery behind his character, that playful attitude and all never made me peg him for watchman, but I pegged him for Lee Seol and swordsman. His interruption when Taehwa first raided Ihwawon now makes the perfect sense.

Still on Shi-yeol, that guy is persistent in his affection. His method of persuasion is enough to melt the heart of a lady who's meant to be dead but decides to take a risk and another shot at life. I commend him. He did well. And I've paired this two already from the very beginning.

Does anyone else think these people are acting like they want to get caught? Bless their hearts, there is no discretion, and everyone is a blabber mouth. Like Dan-oh asking about that slow boat to China in the middle of the Buyeonggak. She knows she’s being watched, so what gives? The King, Minister Shin, Tae-hwa, the Queen Dowager, the Eunuch, Ban-ya, San’s backstabbing buddy, and probably the little dog that disappeared all appear to be in on the secret. Who’s left? And are they just waiting for Lee Seol to make an official announcement?

Mistyisles, thanks for the recap.

Trying to pass Yoo-ha off as Lee Seol, what could go wrong ? 🙄
Shi-yeol is probably tired of killing people . Not sure he wants the throne. He would probably like to retire.
The King is still crazy. Will they kill him ?
Dan-o drunkenly talking smack about Najoo-daek‘s cooking . 🙂
How old is the gaesang , Hwa-Ryeong, supposed to be ?

After San was revealed as being Lee Seol, I had an inkling that Shi Yeol would be the watchman but I wasn't any less surprised when that reveal played out! Whilst I was invested in a Shi Yeol-is-Lee Seol story line, I'm actually excited to see his arc as the watchman though and how that ties into Dan-oh's sister's storyline and also the that one time someone called him 'your majesty/highness' (unless I hallucinated that??). I do understand why some might be not thrilled about how the 'who's who' has played out, but I guess we can't have it all with kdramas 😂 I'm surprised too that I'm not disappointed though given how passionate I was about my other guesses, but I reckon, regardless of thoughts on the reveal, the pacing still stands strong. The intensity is definitely starting to heat up, and I'm excited to see the fall out when everything comes out into the open - soon by the looks of things.

I'm actually less interested with each episode in the romance, and more interested in the court politics/the potential coup coming up which is astounding because it's almost the always the other way around for me and sageuks. I am just quite literally so thoroughly invested in seeing this Yoo-ha v San thing come to a head, what the Left State Councillor's and head Eunuch's end games are AND also whatever is going on with the Queen and the King. I love that they're both cunning and somewhat edging 'deranged' - it's positively refreshing because it makes them a match made in heaven and somehow also makes both their evilness tolerable because they're BOTH as bad as each other lol. If that makes sense!

Going back to San and Yoo-ha though, I think lowkey Yoo-ha would make a better King because he's got more of a level head on his shoulders but he isn't without emotions. San seems a tad on the impulsive and reckless side, which makes sense given he's been on the run and is largely running on blind revenge at the moment, but god boy if you want to succeed in your plan you really need to HIDE your emotions better! Him and Dan-oh literally have their thoughts spelled out, in bright neon, on their faces and it makes me want to 🤦‍♀️.

And finally, the icing on this ramble, my one qualm is that I feel like Dan-oh's doing nothing and has been pushed off 'stage' somewhat as the episodes go. Everyone's got things to do and is doing them - even her sister - and she's just sort of there reacting to whatever is happening around her. I hope she gets more of an active role going forward!

I'm happy that Shi-Yeol is not only a lazy schoolar because he was the best when he was doing mystery things. But I have issue with his age... He looks like he's around the same age than San and Yoo-Ha and not 10 years older. He had to be an adult when he killed Hong-joo's husband.

It's the same for Hwa-Ryeong, they made like she was the mother of Yoo-Ha but she doesn't look so older than him...

For the characters, Dan-oh is good player of go but in the real life she's pretty stupid. She's not discreet by asking for a boat like in the middle of people, dropping the compass, etc.

I can't imagine San being King. He's a good person but he hasn't any royal aura or authority. He doesn't seem to have a big plan. It doesn't help that the actor is not very charismatic.

Becoming a watchman looks like very difficult and dangerous. I wonder what Shi-Yeol had to go through to become the best guard of Joseon!

I love how the drama is quick-paced, answer a question and 10 new questions arise.

Thanks for the recap @mistyisles! Totally agree with other beanies about weaknesses and having to just roll with it, but it's still entertaining!

I actually thought Si Yeol might be the watchman from about episode 3. The minute he came across as such a hapless idiot I began to suspect it was an act. Confirmed every time he announced he was too weak to do something, and absolutely confirmed when he was willing to be tortured as the deposed heir despite not being it (as he isn't in possession of something with "Pyeong" on it). From what we've seen of the "watchmen school", looks like recruits are brought in as children - I suspect he was sent there by others and had no choice about becoming a killer. For that, he's regretful. The interesting question is why was he sent - who made a deal with whom that required him to sign up?

Thanks for the recap! Reading the comments, I feel like others have identified why the series, while maintaining its suspense and pace, has become slightly less interesting. While the romance remained undeclared and subtextual, Yoon Dan Oh was a very interesting character. Now she and San have lost the individuality that came from the FL's having initiative and drive, and the young actors themselves having playfulness. Now they have to act like they are In Love, and it's tiresome. It's almost like the people who write romances don't understand why they grab us, when they grab us. The leads have to be people who want things--each other, but other things, too. The minute a FL is only focused on worrying, she fades into the background.

So the real mystery for me is where does Shi Yeol keep his Watchman gear. Is it under his day clothes? Does he keep several stashed around Hangsang ready for a quick change in the Joseon equivalentof a phone box? What would be the Joseon equivalent of a phonebox?
And that hat can't be easy to hide...