As always, thanks for the recaps!

Episode 14 was very good. The show had slowered a bit but episodes 13-14 are fast paced again.
Shi Yeol and Heung Joo are so cute together. I totally believe they are in love and the kiss scene and their conversation was perfect.

I'm glad San and Yoo Ha are in good terms and cooperating. I think Yoo Ha could be a good king, while San and Dan Oh could be free and travel, as she wishes.
Shi Yeol and Heung Joo deserve to be happy too but I their past will come between them.

SHI-YEOL AND HONG-JOO ARE SO CUTE I forget they're the secondary couple BUT THEIR SCENES THIS WEEK HAD ME SQUEALING! I'm glad you pointed out that Dan-Oh and San have good communication @mistyisles because I love that about them too - it seems like their partnership is pretty solid now so we won't be getting any noble idiocy or other related separation tropes from them which is refreshing (but it does seem like that'll come into play for our secondary pair maybe?)

I'm also glad we weren't the only ones wondering exactly what San's plan is lol so many characters pointed it out to him that he hadn't really thought through his revenge plot or what the aftermath means for him and those around him, but honestly I do like that they've characterised San this way because it'd make sense that the lost prince who lived in hiding for this long doesn't exactly know what to do post-rebellion unlike Yoo-ha, who's been studying and planning politics and philosophy for a while.

I really, really hope this drama is sending us a bucket of red herrings, but I can't shake the feeling that Shiyeol or Hongjoo or both are not going to walk out of this alive... And I'm not happy with that.

I've been wondering for weeks what exactly San's plan is so it amused me that the writer's intention was to ask the same question. I like that the show doesn't make obvious choices - like Yoo-ha and San working together, Ban-ya being on the side of good, etc. I've been spoiled on the book's ending but watching the show in light of that also strangely proves more rewarding.

I hope all of our Ihwawon family survives but I think they are going to sacrifice Hwaryung. Before that, I hope we get to know more about her life and how she was forced to give up her child. A tragedy that no doubt has impacted her life in many ways.

It seems to me Yooha is being primed to become the next king. The poor thing. A life of constant worry in that den of vipers. He is decent, brave and kind as well as egalitarian for that time. How will he ever succeed with the brutal and classist network of dominant families dividing the country among themselves? I will pretend that he would become a reformist king and one day, usher in a nascent democracy with human rights focused reforms ultimately ushering in the end of monarchy. Fiction let’s us imagine and hope, right?

I'M SCARED.
Si Yeol and Hong Joo's love story is stressing me out tbh. Unlike others, I couldn't enjoy completely their cute moments because I was too afraid the Chief was going to randomly appear and kill them both.
Everytime she was outside of the house I felt too anxious! And episode 14 made all my fears come true, just awesome. *Insert Gary/Seung Gi's voice* AH STRESS.

Now talking about politics... What a mess. 😂
Well, I'm proud of how San handled the whole stolen identity thing, and I'm so glad that he's actually starting to think about the "next step". I think that listening to Gyeom's plan and Dan Oh's dream is going to help him figure out what's best for Joseon's (and his) future.

He probably grew up hearing that his missing in life is killing his uncle and taking the throne, but maybe he just realized that he doesn't know crap about politics and that all he wants is to chill with Dan Oh.

Idk but maybe he should let Yoo Ha live like Seol forever. Just saying.

My favorite scenes were the ones between the three boys or the whole family. I love their interactions. *Sings the bromance song from Scrubs*

Oh, wait. My favorite character of the week is Ban Ya. She's awesome. I totally love her. She should be the queen. Idk just saying.

There are very few K-drama couples who melt my heart - but every single scene (in every episode) of Shi-yeol and Hong-joo hit the target. I don't know if their dialogue is from the novel or the drama writers, but it is beautiful. Not "cute" - but meaningful.

Reddit commenter Monimss calls them ghost and shadow - neither one truly living prior to meeting each other.

Meanwhile, the main couple is truly "meh" - I understand some of the limits on k-drama love scenes, but Fully Clothed after doing the deed?

All I know is that no matter how it is scripted, when Shi-yeol and Hong-joo are finally happy/reunited/whatever, their scenes will eclipse everything else. Probably only 30 seconds in the last few minutes of Ep. 18, but I know it will be worthy of re-watch over and over again.

I must add: I think Watchman identity will remain a secret to the end - the three Musketeers know all and it will remain with them.

The one thing I continue to like best about this show is that it subverts expectations at every turn. I wouldn't say it's entirely unpredictable--is there any sageuk that's ever not predictable in some way?--but it often surprises me with the turns it takes, and those it ignores.

For instance, we had several tropey setups--Dan-oh jealous, the brothers vying for the throne, Ban-ya being in a position to betray Dan-oh in her quest to win San's heart--that never went anywhere. Dan-oh's jealousy was quickly assuaged by San, the brothers decided to work together (with some wariness, but still, they're united), and Ban-ya stayed loyal. This makes the show so much more interesting and satisfying to watch.

I also really liked how San and Dan-oh calmly and rationally discussed their future in terms of what they both want to accomplish as individuals. They already know they're in love, so the next step is to decide if they want the same things out of life. The way they respectfully and lovingly reached that conclusion together was wonderful to see.

I am worried for Shi-yeol, though. If he truly was the one who murdered Hong-joo's finance, I'm not sure how they could be together. Not to mention the fact that he's in constant danger and her former father-in-law is planning to murder her.

San's as a child looked more like a Prince than now. He's a fair person but he doesn't have any idea what his people need and how to do it. I didn't specially like the fact he spent the night with Danoh. He's a futur King, she's a noble and the situation didn't look like so dangerous.
Yoo-ha will be a good King. I was disapointed his mother tried to kill San. The family is oftent not helping...

Tae-hwa is really a jerk. Asking his son's fiance to be dead because his died won't change anything. It was the one who gave the order for the mission to his son, he should assume his role in his son's death. Shi-Yeol's identity will be known if he fights to protect Hong-Ju. His face à face with Tae-Hwa will be so interesting. I'm not confident that he will live at the end of the drama after King 2 Hearts...
My favourite episodes are the ones with the Watchman in action :p

So I continue to love this drama for all the reasons others have given: Shi Yeol (in every scene he is in!) and his adult (in contrast to the boring soppy teens San-Danoh) romance with Hong jo; countering tropes like Banya, and good Queen Dowager for a change; bromance aplenty; interesting (and hard to call!) Left Minister, and so forth.

But I did find it annoying that the plot is now progressing through a mass outbreak of stupidity and lack of any sense of operational security!

Top of the list obviously goes to the revelation that San has no plan beyond killing the king, and apparently no-one on the sidelines waiting to help actually do the killing! I assumed that the reason he didn't strike while he was out alone with king and chief bodyguard was needed his waiting cohorts to assist. But apparently not even the former CP's body guard is an active supporter!

Then there are the milling hordes of Yoohas revolutionaries, which anyone can apparently turn up to provided they wear a flimsy white handkerchief!

Repeated conversations about sensitive subjects where anyone can (and does) hear - and can't help wandering if that other royal guard has heard rather more than he should too (just who is he really working for!).

Most annoying though, was that the writers have decided to make Shi Yeol act dumbly now, presumably because he is in love. First, doesn't seem to be doing his job as watchman - shouldn't he have discovered the assorted bods lurking around Ihwawon spying on them? Why did he leave it so late to cancel out his date with Hong joo given he clearly know about San's hunting plans in advance (though just as well given swordsmen's arrival)? Why has he suddenly decided its alright for girlfriend to go out in female dress after all that hiding anyway - he knows she was engaged, but that wouldn't have been enough to warrant hiding out in and of itself; shouldn't he have actually asked a bit more now that she has told him about dead fiance?

And above all, why is Administrator Jang still alive anyway? Should surely have been on watchman's list given failed to kill him last time, and his assorted maneuverings have clearly shown him to be a continuing threat to San. Part of the problem is probably San - he is the only one of the three men who actually know both sides of the story (viz that watchman killed his son, told at court that he was just waiting for the chance to rip Yee Seol to pieces; that son was engaged to elder sister, told by bodyguard after being asked to investigate by San). And I get that Shi yeol really hates being a killing machine. All the same...

The other thing I find slightly annoying is some sloppy writing/historical social inconsistencies which no one calls each other on. just to note a few:

Yook Ho's 'father' chat demanding that Shi Yeol pass the state exam for example is pretty ironic coming from someone who famously failed it for years and years and is currently romancing the...

Tension is high throughout the drama but we are about to hit the climax. I too agree that perhaps Yoo-ha has better plans and can make for a better king. Either way, I won't complain as long as everyone gets their happy endings. Please let Hong-joo and Shi-yeol end up together. Those two suffered the most.

Thanks for the recap @mistyisles
This show continues to do some things really well, others less so. I was quite annoyed with the "spending the night" scene. Although this is not a straight up sageuk (re most recent post), I thought it was not in character. On the other hand, San's lack of vision, which was noted before, is. He has spent his life running and plotting for revenge so it is understandable, but again shows he might not be the best man for the job. The show seems to be headed that way.
The only uncertainty now is the fate of our second lead couple. Will one or two of them be sacrificed? Maiden Hoong Jo would not survive another death and neither would Dan Oh if her sister is killed. Since this is "fusion sageuk" I'm hoping for a happy end. The writers have avoided a few tropes, ie Ban Ya. I'm still hoping the Watchman that killed the Maiden's fiance was not Shi Yeol. Also, I think/hope that fellow Royal Guard might be another Watchman!

Mistyisles, thanks for the recap !

Secret Royal Loveshack
So there are three young bucks possibly vying for the throne.
It looks like all are in agreement, the king must die ! ☠️⚔️
Just as important as “the man who would become the king” rises the question , “ who would be your queen” ?

San/Dan-oh : San is the man without a plan (aside from killing the king), and the man without any fans. No mobs, armies, rebels.
Dan-oh. I won’t say she couldn’t do Queen , but I don’t think she wants the throne, but, I bet she’s going to have Sans baby . 🥰

Shi-yeol/ Hong-joo The long shot . Would they crown a Watchmen ? Shi-yeol is far more savvy, in the ways of the world and the court. Hong-joo may not want the throne after her years of hiding.

Yoo-ha/Ban-ya A convenient couple of opportunity that allows our other couples an escape. Yoo-ha could have the followers, Ban-ya is royal. Just a guess.

I fear the king won’t be the only one dying. Jang needs to go. Left minister might have to too since the king knows of his plans.

The eunuch wants to enjoy retirement and will work to have the king killed .