mysteryqueen9

Not at all:
- She is a very introverted person, and Mirae doesn't seem the type to gossip, the same way she hates the idea of people seeing her vulnerable (Hosu reveals how Grandma told him that Mirae only felt 100% at ease and comfortable with Miji to show her vulnerable side in pain at the hospital) it is likely she didn't feel it necessary to share something so intimate of a new classmate and neighbor...I don't see any bad intention in staying quiet initially about Hosu's deafness

- The "hugging" is most likely a misunderstanding. She seemed more like she was fainting. I guess she got sick so Hosu went to help her but Mirae begged him not to tell Miji about her fainting/sick moment because she didn't want to worry Miji at an important moment in her life. That would explain why Hosu didn't immediately explain why he was late and in Mirae's company : he had been with her at the hospital or something
- The lies to the friend...I don't buy it AT ALL. The friend is suspicious asf, it seems so clear she is in love with Hosu (rewatch the dinner scene in ep 4, how she looks with a bitter/sharp look at Hosu defending Miji passionately when they were badmouthing her) she is all the time around Hosu too, calling him, going to his workplace... She probably knew since they were teens Hosu loved Miji, that's why she said "they seem to be dating" because she knew that Miji's weakness was her low esteem and would immediately believe her "perfect better" sister was Hosu's crush. Also, it was implied Mirae hadn't kept in touch with her friend for a long time so Miji is surprised when Hosu tells her as "Mirae" this, and Miji is shocked Mirae keeps her distance.
Mirae doesn't look like the type to gossip/badmouth...I wouldn't be surprised if evil friend discovered "Mirae" was instead Miji (by seeing how Hosu treats her, and because she must know Mirae very well and Miji too) and that's why she sowed discord. I think Mirae knows she is unreliable and that's why she kept her distance from "friend"

I think it is quite implied Mirae is "soft even though she pretends otherwise" as Hosu's mother stated. She is not trying to hurt Miji imo

Didn't the tie scene happened only at first ep when Miji was still acting as herself? Perhaps I missed a new scene with the tie?

I am convinced Ho Su knows about the swap:
- They insist in a prior episode how he knew Miji so well he could tell them apart even with towels in their head that made them physically indistinguishable, even without speaking. Mirae wanted Miji to stay far away from Hosu after the swap because she thought "he will know for sure"
- Miji is very different in personality from Mirae, and she doesn't bother to put a real effort into mimicking her twin's behaviour. She had several slips with Hosu (not knowing a lot of things that Mirae should, the way she speaks to him quite cheeky and in a way that could be interpreted as rude if not typical Miji behaviour) and she also gave herself away with the rivel Han and eating ramyeon comment...she yelled at him when he asked if she was Miji and acted very defensive in a too familiar way "Mirae, Mirae...you only ask me about her? but here the other way around. My guess is he knew but didn't continue to press the matter since Miji was acting so defensive because of fear of she distancing herself from him.
If you think about it, Miji has actively avoided Hosu like the plague, and it's only now that she is under Mirae's persona that she feels remotely comfortable of being around Hosu: she has such low self-steem and such hidden emotional scars, she can't stand to be around Hosu as Miji for fear of hearing Hosu asking her about Mirae and not caring about her.

- The dinner with friends scene: this is imo the most doubtful scene because Hosu is alledgedly angry at her for not standing up for Miji, implying he really thinks she is Mirae....but if you really think about him, it seems he is jealous ask because of the guy asking for her phone number (moment where his face becomes frosty) and then he has a flashback at this house when seeing the photos, about how the guy was flirting with her at the table while Hosu drank with jealousy, and then the next flashback is about him accusing her of being a bad sister.....he is venting, jealous so he uses the excuse "you didn't defend Miji, that's why I am angry". At the dinner table he seemed pained watching her instead of angry, and Miji looked very down and like she was not there entirely.

- "I like her, she was my first love, you know it" he is confessing to her imo. Hosu couldn't very well confess his feelings when she was out of reach, always avoiding him and when they met, she didn't want any conversation. He seems to be taking advantage of the fact she can't reject him since she is impersonating Mirae. Hosu is super reserved too, especially as a kid...did he even tell Mirae about
his feelings for Miji? It could be a way to also confirm 100% she is Miji. Leaving that aside, I doubt very much Mirae would blame Miji about the grandma incident, and Hosu must know it. Instead of being angry at Mirae saying such things about her twin, he opens his heart and tells her his own traumatic story so Miji doesn't blame herself. He even insists: "no, I want you to say it is not Miji's fault". He is trying to help Miji deal with her guilt, mantaining the ruse he thinks she is Mirae out of fear of Miji closing herself and refusing his company.
Mirae is not vocal in the way Miji is, she is the type to hide her feelings so much it will hurt her, and she shows her emotions through actions, never words (cutting her hair so her sister could graduate) there's no way she would go around with explosive show of emotion as Miji in the river Han when Hosu caught her, or badmouthing her sister in such a way, and Hosu knows it.

On the contrary, imo that line "you know Miji is my first love" makes a lot of sense if he know is Miji and not Mirae. First of all, not impossible, but I find it unlikely such a reserved teen as Hosu was, that didn't open himself to anyone until Miji, would confess such a big secret of his like that, specially since it is implied Mirae wasn't so close to him compared to Miji. And if Mirae knew, why wouldn't she tell her twin or try to probe her feelings for Hosu? (unless they play the "jealous twin who wanted to put down her kind twin/both twins in love with same guy and one of them sabotaging the other, which I would dislike a lot honestly).
So Hosu would say such an out of character comment for 2 reasons:
- Having certainty it is Miji and not Mirae (if he told Mirae he loved Miji, she wouldn't act surprised; and if he never told Mirae, he could caught Miji's lie when she tries to go along with his words)
-Confessing his love to Miji since he didn't have the chance/courage before.
I am with you: I really really hope Hosu knows it's Miji: it would leave a sour taste in my mouth if he got in love with "Mirae" and didn't feel awfully conflicted bc of it: imo it would display the twins are interchangeable, specially when they made a point that Hosu knew Miji so well he could tell them apart even when they wore towels and looked exactly the same

Not in dramas or novels. The perfect example is 50 shades of gray, when the guy is mentally sick but hey he is handsome and he is a millionaire. I personally don't have a problem with Red flags ML/FL, the problem is when people try to embellish/sweeten some characters' actions. FL and ML's relationship is toxic and they are both Red Flags, but some people saying ML has is blameless because he has helped her are missing the point, and justifying his wrongdoings.

I am pretty sure ML at some point helped her at least partially because he had feelings for her genuinely, but are we forgetting he helped her so many times for his big plan of securing FL's help to make her family fall so his own family got scotfree? Like he indeed used her a lot and put her life at risk too, played her like a fool making her believe he was canned for helping her when FL's evil father threatened him "if I fall you will fall with me". Not blaming ML at all, he indeed likes her and wants to help her if it doesn't hurt him, but FL would be dumb if she trusted 100% (specially after what she has gone through) someone who has used her, put her life at stake, and even gets physically violent (last ep's choking scene..). Also, I would extremely despise being gashlighted into thinking "how much he has helped me" when he is actively making her a shield for his daughter and mom, but he even proposed to her in a way that made it like FL would be the one reaping all the benefits, like he was just lending a hand. And he still acts hurt when FL catches his real intentions and plays him too lol

I am really liking the drama so far, but I get why people are getting salty; it is not nice when a drama make a premise and later doesn't deliver; the synopsis makes audience believe we will have a power couple that trusts/relies on each other and make an united front when it is more a power struggle between them to see who manages to use the other more to their own advantage.
I personally don't mind it, I really like the drama and their dynamic is interesting and refreshing (contrary to the typical heartless ML who plays and uses poor innocent FL) but I got the feeling they shouldn't have promoted it like a romance drama, at least they should have pointed to a toxic complicated relationship.
Now, I feel it unfair how some people are blaming FL. Like other user said, that's double standars. ML has done exactly what FL is doing; using the other to get what they want and not putting trust on the other one. I have read some users say he has helped FL over and over again... that he only hide some secrets... That is not true. Sure, he has helped her many times, but we shouldn't forget most of them was for his own selfish interests. His big great plan all the time was to make her family bit the dust so his own crime was covered and to save his own ass. Am I blaming him? Of course not, it's totally understandable to throw others under the bus to save your beloved family, but he should understand she also will not hesitate to do the same to him to avenge her beloved mother.
FL is totally unhinged, she has suffered so much and finds only betrayal or people that plays her like a fool. Would you trust a man who gashlighted you into thinking he was doing you a great favour (the whole duke's corpse plot) but in fact he was just doing it out of self-preservation? Specially when FL has seen how much pain a manipulator like her father can cause?
I am blaming neither ML nor FL: the nature of their relationship is the result of mutual mistrust and harming/putting the other at risk for their own interests.

Season 1 already delivered quite a bit, though. Teddy's scene was used in S1 and it was one of the most shocking scenes imo. I really really hope S2 is not tamer but exactly like the webtoon/S1 in terms of gore

CH has a big secret in regards to his approach to FL and her royal family which we don't know. But I will post here some quotes from a very interesting article about Princesses in Joseon and Buma:
Not all men could dream of becoming the Princess’ consort or the King’s son-in-law. If the requirement to become a Queen consort included the high status of the candidates, it was the other way around for the Prince consort. The preferred candidates were picked among the families of officers rank 4~5 and below. Their families needed not to be too illustrious, and there were several reasons behind it. ...
a Prince consort could not hold office....
Despite the limited freedom of movement, there were those who aimed to become the Prince consort because of the advantage of forming ties with the powerful and the wealth that would come with it. Perhaps, the Prince consort would view himself as the stepping stone for his father and brothers to bring honour to their family.


Imo a Buma is after all very connected to royalty so he can get power by connections; but like I said in CH's case there is something more, something very fishy

We can agree that the marriage had "ended" way before the mistress issue happened. But we disagree in the rest. It's not a problem of communication of Crown Princess since the moment Crown Prince is a selfish neglectful person who doesn't have empathy or decency at all. They are both unhappy with the marriage okay, but that doesn't give Crown Prince the right to mistreat or humilliate his wife. Saying that a "loveless marriage" gives you the right to act neglectful or look down on other's feelings is simply, ridiculous. Ofc there is a betrayal, after so many years of companionship Crown Prince didn't respect his wife at all, he slept with his mistress the same night he had to officially visit his wife; when the book showed to the whole world the suffering of Crown Princess he didn't stop to think on her at all and went to ask mistress because he feared she was upset..and what about his faithful wife, who had to give up all she had to marry into the palace? who was his friend?

I see Jiwon's husband as excessively childish and dumb to make a good king. I don't dislike him but I dislike his immature reaction to Jiwon helping CP's divorce, disregarding his sister in law's situation and his brother's neglect.
About CH, it is impossible for him to be a king through FL. The puma (Princess' consort) was subjected to very strict rules to ensure they could not use their wifes to get power, to the point they had to give up their official position in court if they married a princess. That's why Prime Minister Lee was so opposed to Jang Won marrying FL: he is a very outstanding and talented member of a powerful family, with a position in court and a lot of prospects for the future. If he married FL, he would have to give up on his political career.

I understand the feeling, but looking at his brothers, the country would be doomed XD. Also, I think being King wouldn't give him much happiness; in fact it is way better living like a carefree prince like Jiwon's husband, outside of the palace and enjoying a peaceful life. Kings in Joseon had to follow a lot of rules and it was not like absolute monarchs from other eras that could rule however they wanted.

Thanks for the information. I love history and read several books about it but mostly focused on my country or other European countries', so I will look for the book you recommended because Eastern history is very different but fascinating. Since you specialised in Korean history, do you think Joseon was more "boring" compared to Silla or Goryeo? I loved the drama about Queen Seondeok, and I think Silla had fascinating things like the Hwarang institution and the Bone system . Imo Joseon was very monotone we could say? Ofc this is a very superficial view since I know little of the dynasty (apart from super important figures like Prince Sado or Concubine Jang Hui Bin)

I am not an expert on Eastern History but I had the idea is very bad taste of him to keep a woman outside. Noble and royal men were expected to have concubines, but if they want their reputation to remain intact, they should at least give those women a status and a place in their household. Though perhaps it is my experience with Chinese dramas and in Joseon it was different, but once again it was also very frowned upon for a royal member to choose as a concubine a widow.

Yes, I would recommend you to pick it up if your only issue is the love triangle. Though both ML and 2ML are in love with FL, it doesn't really have a big impact: 2ML decides to confess his love and (thankfully) asks for FL's opinion before putting his name in the Fuma's selection. FL tells him she doesn't want him as a suitor, he respectfully steps back and tells her he respects her choice. He has only helped her so far.

I am glad I was 1000% on Crown Princess' side since the beginning since she is not a princess but a QUEEN so amazing and strong, taking her own future in her hands. So disappointed in Crown Prince...I could understand him falling in love with mistress but the way he has DISRESPECTED his wife of so many years. He could go after mistress any night but no, he had to do it on the night he had to visit officially his wife, to humiliate her and have everyone discovering the mistress' issue (which not only humiliates his wife but also endangers his mistress)
When the book is published he is mortified but not because he fears how his wife is gonna react to the affair, NO, HE DOESN'T THINK AT ALL about Crown Princess' feelings, he immediately goes after mistress to she how she is...THE GALL OF THIS MOTHERF***KER
Funny and sad thing? His mistress is much more sensitive and she realises how she never stopped to think about the wife and she dispairs about how her love has hurt another woman... SHE CARES MORE ABOUT CROWN PRINCESS (who is a stranger) THAN THE SCUMBAG that has been married to her...
I really hope Crown Princess can divorce and live a happy life away from the palace, the mistress lives a happy life away from the palace, and Crown Prince remains alone and unloved

I have read some people blame Crown Princess for pushing CP aside but I will always side with Crown Princess because like you say she is very depressed and although I can understand he is hurt, I am mad he acts self-absorbed and hasn't realised how seriously depressed and mentally drained is his wife, and instead of trying to communicate with her or something he gave up inmediately...just because he felt insulted in his masculinity, he couldn't stop to think a single minute the reasons his wife acts that way (when imo she was very obviously almost in the middle of a panic attack in their last bed scene).
I really really hope somehow Crown Princess can fake her death/get a divorce and leave a peaceful and free life away from the Palace. Because she is not only that way because of the lack of pregnancy....palace life is suffocating her (the bridge scene broke my heart)

CH almost 100%. Chani's profile is very different, his nose specially. Also, CH has a robe in that same colour

since that scene happens in front of what appears like mistress' house, I would say it is related to mistress. My guess is that Crown Princess' clan discovered the affair and killed the commoner/made her disappear.... I have read people suggest perhaps the mistress will become his concubine but I can't see it happen given she is a widowed commoner (specially the widow part is a total obstacle since women in Joseon wouldn't remarry least of all with a crown prince) So even if his in laws get in rid of her, he can't really do anything imo

I think that scene connects with the first scene of the whole drama, in present world. modern Hwari is in love with Jang Won from modern world, so the librarian tells her: "you better confess your feelings before it is too late, don't have any regrets". Hwajin not only tells her sis to follow her heart, she says also "so you don't have any regrets", which shows the same premise: if you love someone, you better pursue your beloved one because that way you can get your love reciprocated; and even if you don't get it, at least you won't have regrets because you tried.
So imo the point about the whole Princess Hwari story that modern Hwari is reading is to encourage her to confess and follow her heart... Like Princess Cheong Hwa story that narrator tells at the start of the drama (a princess who was separated from her lover so she eloped and married him in secret), I don't know if Hwari will end up with Jang Won or not (though I would love it) but for sure I think from all I explained and Princess CH story, the fact that Jang Won is apparently not going to be a prince consort candidate and ML on the other hand will be (from the relationship chart photo) makes it more likely he will indeed end up with Hwari, since the main theme follows the "pursue what your heart says and don't have any regrets even if you must defy society", so I wouldn't be surprised if FL gets engaged with ML but then she realises she has feelings for Jang Won so she elopes to get with Jang Won.

For me she has all my sympathy since it is obvious she has depression, it's not like she is throwing a tantrum because of pettiness or childishness. Yes, the ideal option would be to communicate but when her mental health is like that I don't think we should judge so easily...pushing him towards other women it's in her mind a solution to put an end to the terrible pressure on them because of the heir matter. I really really hope the CP and Crown Princess have a happy ending together, because I smell tragedy for all involved otherwise.