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Yep, I think there was some of that at play too. I found the transition between the convo with the head guard (hilarious btw) and the attack so jarring. But maybe that was part of the direction choice? Attack when no one expects it? Bring on ALLLLL the fan service, please. And thank you. Too much to hope for a mature rating, I suppose! 😍

Lovely, thanks! ☺️

Thank you! 🙏🏽

I think it'll show up when San is teetering on the edge of deciding what to do with Deok-Ro. He's a threat to Deok-Imma not to mention all the crazy torture cells so that'll be the final nail in his royal career. I hope.

In terms of narrative strength and pacing, I felt that this week the direction felt a little unsure. Quite unlike the steady vision of previous weeks. Nonetheless, I'll give them the benefit of the doubt since our story has pivoted from external foes and threats to internal aggressors. Uneasy is the head that wears the crown has never been more appropriate than in this episode. After tenuous alliances helped the crown prince become king they gradually unravel as everyone seeks to consolidate their own position. The Dowager Queen and the Royal Secretary are the most obvious in their power grab. The former is clearly out to press the King where it hurts the most - his personal relations. It was interesting to witness how upfront she was about pointing out his vulnerabilities and making sure that he is aware that she's pressing hard on her own agenda. The insult to Deok-imma was a classic example of the fact that he is vulnerable when it comes to the women's court since his mother is beholden to the Dowager Queen and his aunt would rather see him dead. Meanwhile he can't protect Deok-imma or place her in a position where she can protect herself because she refuses a position and title that can safeguard her.
The Royal Secretary, meanwhile is showing aspects of himself that only people who were weaker in relation to him have felt before, a naked power grab by killing dissenters, making deals with the King's mum, the Dowager Queen and pushing his sister to become concubine 1. It's interesting to see that San is very aware of his machinations. In his conversation with his mother and his nuanced act of controlling conversation in court -- he's clearly keeping score. I think, the Royal Secretary is going to meet his end very soon, if the preview from EP 14 is anything to go by. The first check mark against the Royal Secretary was his appalling commentary on Deok-Imma - that king should have her and get her out of his system -- which the King has already censured him on. The second check mark was arranging the King's private life by going behind his back and talking to the queen mother and the Dowager Queen. And now, if he goes on a rampage post EP 14 and does anything to harm Deok-Imma then..well, I wish I could say it was nice knowing you. Not to mention...that ripped page is going to be the final nail in his coffin. Because that has to show up now with suspicions at an all time high.
The political astuteness Deok-Imma's friends show was a nice touch. It pulled the story away from the zoom on the king and the inner court to zoom out on how others are seeing the situation. Deok-Imma's love for her friends plays a quiet but important role in this part of the story. Her friends are her family. Apart from herself...what little she owns of her self beyond her loyalty and love for the King...her friends are what she loves most. They ground her and give her comfort. More importantly, they are all in the same place in terms of power dynamics so relations are equal.
I thought this point was beautifully made in the library scene, which was a reframing of the first library scene - except this time he attempted to understand her answer (which indicates some growth on his part). It was so moving when she says, that she is afraid of losing herself because being with him would mean giving all of herself to him....as a King and as a man of his time that is what he would demand. And given the power differential between them, there is no way she could stop that from happening. I love that they have shown how torn she is between her love for herself and her love for him. I think, in the end, when/if she does accept him it will be her realisation (rationalisation?) that loyalty to the King demands that she put herself second and him first (as much as that idea repels me!) because with his heart safe, his peace of mind assured, and his major vulnerability -- Deok-Imma -- protected, he will have the stability necessary to do all that he aspires to do. It's a terrible situation to be caught in but I think the story is inexorably pushing us in this direction. So their love then isn't all sweetness and light. It's dark. It's bittersweet. It's full of sacrifice. A love story for grown-ups. Where the happily ever after isn't entirely happy or forever.
Right then, bring on the next eps. Tomorrow is going to be in freefall.

I agree with the other commenters - the pacing felt.a little uneven in this episode but some powerful moments. And the plot has also advanced. Somewhat.
But the acting...oh the acting was stellar. These two communicate more with their eyes than entire dramas do with spoken lines. Their silences whether filled with amusement e.g. stone skipping or denial and frustration -- the bulk of the episode, or despair and confusion e.g. the library scene are so evocative. I think when the push and pull ends, we're all going to combust. God knows that near miss kiss was hot AF.
When the ep is airing I'm all about the delayed gratification. But when I'm waiting it's like get it on already! hahaha. But I suspect, I'm not the only one. Also, kudos to the dramas and the epic commenting on this page. I've never refreshed comments so often and so fast in my drama watching life. 😂👏🏽

What an emotional rollercoaster ride of storytelling this week has been. I though the arc with the King and the Crown Prince was handled beautifully. The fever pitch of emotions from paranoia and distrust to confusion and disbelief to sheer horror and grief. The King's vacillating emotions and his unraveling of San's father's dark past was incredible to watch. San's horror and the magnitude of betrayal he felt, that his father could have done something so terrible and that he had been by turns punished and loved for being his grandfather's hope for the future only for the old King to blame him for his father's sins. Jun Ho's portrayal of a range of emotions was brilliant to watch. All the dirty laundry -- the terrible dark deeds that were whispered about that he had been shouldering in silence -- all of it came spilling out in a front of a full court, full of friends and foes. It was the betrayal he portrayed that hit me the hardest. To be the bearer of silent shame only to have a spotlight shone on it. I think it was one of those rare moments where his hate for the Old King superseded all his other filial emotions. I was bawling during the Old Kings's death. As he puts it so beautifully, his grandfather - who loved and loathed and feared him in equal measure - was his sky and to have that ripped away from him. It's no wonder his emotional control is stellar once he's crowned as King. No longer a frightened child nor a young man unable to steer his own destiny -- he's come through all of it, older and stronger, and wiser. But it has cost him those glimpses of humanity, and warmth, and humour that were so apparent in the earlier episodes. I don't think we'll see these emotions to the same extent in this next set of episodes because as other commenters have said: he's no longer the same person. But if someone can unearth his softer aspect it will be Deok Imma.
The story of the fairy court, conspiracies and all was wrapped up well. Not a clean slate by any means but definitely something that went back underground after the current leadership died. It was a shame that the direction chose to focus on the love forsworn aspect of the Chief Court Lady's motivations rather than retaining the complexity of power accrued to safeguard the weak and yet using the same power to corrupt. But that's a small quibble. It's still very cool to see how the women of court continue to exercise power and shape the circumstances of their existence to better suit them.
In all these happenings my heart went out to Deok Imma. I know, most of us are in favour of her refusal and support her limited acts of agency but my heart broke for her when she was sitting with her mentor. It was a beautifully written and acted scene. Breaking her own heart now because it would break later at the hands of a man who is loved and feared by many; and who can never be hers alone. And the pieces that are hers will also wear away over time. It was such a relatable fear. One that I don't think San knows and possibly, may never know. When she has such little power and choice, Deok Imma can choose him and break her heart, or she can refuse him and break her heart. It's a terrible choice. But fantastically well presented in the drama. It certainly doesn't help that this incredibly hot, smart, overbearingly insufferable man looks at her like she's his next breathe and his last meal. Falling in love and Being in love are two completely different animals and in this drama both Deok Imma and San experience them so differently. His becoming King means he can finally be with her, make a family with her (be still my heart!), and make her his. The one person who is his own to trust and to love. His. His. His. But for her, San's becoming King means that his sphere of influence shrinks her agency even further. While her loyalty and trust can bloom because he is king, her love for him is so vulnerable because he and all he represents is so overwhelming. He can never be Hers. Just Hers.
Ugh. It's all a bit too much.
Never have I wanted my leads to just effing GET IT ON so badly while wanting them to just WANT AT A DISTANCE. Because no matter what lens I use their love story, history aside, will always be bittersweet.
This is my first, and possibly, last, sageuk folks. I don't see how anything can come even close.
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On a more shallow note, the scene where she patted his mouth with a napkin and fed him a slice of sweetened ginger, has got to be one of the more erotic kdrama scenes I've watched. It was pared down to just the them. And my heart was about ready to explode.
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Bring on all the tears and palpitations this next set of episodes.

What an engaging set of episodes. It bears repeating but the direction, the story, the cinematography and the acting of everyone involved has been top notch. Just like every other week. More thoughts on the eps marked as spoiler below.

lol! Down the rabbit hole :)

The whole treason plot was so cinematic in detail from the subterfuge and destruction of weapons to the two pronged attack and the lady ninjas. The red tones and the fire burning in the braziers to his red robes and archery...the detailing was so rich.
That scene at the end of ep 9 and the start of ep 10 was delicious. Fraught with nerves and relief and fear but also a curious sense of "oh yes, there you are." And "I never doubted you for a second." These two have done such an excellent job in their silences, when they just look at each other. I think this was the moment where he realised that while she may have refused him and thrown his position and her own as a barrier to their relationship, in this moment, he realises that her actions are her confession. She proves her loyalty time and time again. Of everyone around him, save his chief guard, she is the one person whom he doesn't have to doubt. Interestingly though, this realisation and Yi San's tendency to wear his heart on his sleeve is going to ruffle a few feathers. Most noticeably his chief advisor, Deok Ro.
Deok Ro may have recovered some of the lost trust in the whole "leave the lost girls" debacle by getting the support troops to the palace in time but he's on thin ice again with his three references to Deok Im -- in the courtyard when she's asleep, in the main palace when he comments that the prince was with her, and then when he effectively tells Yi San to "get her out of his system." I don't think Yi San is feeling very forgiving when it comes to any slights to her so Deok Ro really needs to watch his step. But again, credit to the writer and director for showcasing such complicated characters.
Nothing is black and white in this story. It's about love and loyalty but also treason as in the case of the fairy court; it's about the 'conventionally' weak amassing power to protect themselves as they covet their life in the palace but are also trapped by it like the King's daughter, the court ladies etc.; it's about love and trust and suspicion and how much hardship a relationship can bear before it crumbles i.e. the king and Yi San, the Court Lady and the King, the fairy court and all the men who have obvious power.
My first historical drama. And I only started it because I love Lee Se Young. She's a fantastic actress in any role. And Junho was a revelation in Between Lovers. The synergy is manifest from the bts. Together they are fire.
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I've already fancast them as the leads for the k-drama version of Crush. Oh and if anyone wants to remake the grown up version of Goong Princess Hours -- then I nominate these two.
Can you imagine how wonderful they would be in a no-holds barred laugh out loud rom com?

What a fantastic set of episodes. They are really ratcheting up the tension. It's like a series of pots of trouble on simmer and then they start boiling over almost simultaneously. No one is in control, and just when you think you have one conflict defused or, at the very least, deferred another rises up. Suffice it to say, the road to ruling isn't going to be easy and his love life doesn't seem to be any easier. But I do love how complicated the plot is and the nuanced characterisation. No crazy eye rolling, hyena laugh villains here. Everyone has a point of view, which may or may not be sympathetic but does make sense. And these two....aah, my main leads are like embers waiting to blaze. 🔥

Enjoy!

I did. He was eating constantly. It was hilarious. And the smirk was definitely very much in. play.

It's part of his charm. I think he'd be great as the anti-hero who gets his woman/man. Soulful to murderous to lustful plus that smirky smirk... I've also fancast both of them as the leads of the k-drama remake of Crush. They would KILL it.

He goes from soulful to murderous in a hot second!

Hahahahhahah!

Agreed. I don't watch historicals but these two....and this story, direction, production *chef's kiss

They are both very good! If you're interested you should check him out in Rain or Shine or Confession -- they are both fairly intense but he's excellent. She's fantastic in the Crowned Clown (historical); and just as good in Korean Odyssey (although not the main) and in the Memorist and Dr. John -- very different characters to play.

😂 next level!

I hear you. This is why I wait for dramas to end before watching but these two....they just sucked me into it. 🔥