The King Is Dead
Ji-Un and Hwi are seen in the woods by the Commander, who is trying to find them. Ji-Un tells him that she is the woman he saw earlier and that she is Seok-Jo’s sister. The Commander is surprised and delighted to hear this, and orders his men to take care of them.
Hwi is badly injured and bleeding from her arm. Because of this, it gives Seok-Jo the perfect trail to lead them right to her. However, Hwi is more concerned with how Ji-Un is taking the news about her being a woman. Ji-Un, as it turns out, feels resentment, but mostly at himself. Hwi does her best to try and explain the situation, telling him she was put in a difficult position to play this role. After all, that’s not exactly her fault. Eventually he comes around to her way of thinking and embraces her in a really touching moment.
Meanwhile, Ga-On shows up at the palace later that night and holds a sword up to the King’s neck. He demands to know why Yoon was following him. Hye-Jong tries to level with him, promising to do right by Ga-On’s father whom a lot of this animosity is directed toward.
However, the eunuch shows up and hands over some soup to the King. Of course, this is the Left State Councilor’s doing, and he’s poisoned the dish. Unbeknownst to the King though, he drinks it all down. ..
As Ga-On watches his father’s coffin being lowered into the ground, he can’t help but feel a sense of dread. He knows his father’s death will mean the end of an era and he doesn’t know who will take his place. But even as he thinks about it, Ga-On can’t help but feel a sense of excitement. He knows that this new king will be different than the ones before him and that they will have to face many challenges.
Yoon uses his quick wits and smarts to escape his captor. As he breaks free from his binds, thanks in part to Hyun showing up, he hurries to the woods before Seok-Jo can find Ji-Un and Hwi.
Our star-crossed lovers spend the night together cuddled under a tree before eventually making it into town. They’re unaware they’re being hunted so mercilessly and take time to buy new robes and embrace their roles of male and female. It’s all pretty surreal to Hwi, who struggles with her newfound freedom after so much time in the palace.
After waiting for Ji-Un for hours, Seok-Jo is kidnapped by armed guards and taken back to the palace. Ji-Un, her grandfather, and the Crown Prince all arrive to find out that the King has passed away. Hwi may be the new King, but who will take over as Queen? ..
The Left State Councilor has his own agenda in the wake of all this going on. The Crown Prince being exiled and the King dead both lead to the possibility of social unrest. For now, Hwi shows up to pay her respects to the late King. She drops to her knees, struggling to hold back tears.
This plan would obviously work in the Minister’s favour, as it would urge the Queen Dowager to have Hwi arrested for breaking the exile charge. In return, that would allow Prince Jehyung to take the throne and be an easy target to be manipulated.
With the King poisoned and evidence of this at hand, thanks to the investigation, the wrong people are arrested. The Queen Dowager, Lord Changcheon and Prince Jehyung are all arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to murder. With only Hwi left, Ki-Jae revels in telling her that he needs to step up and be the King. If he defies that? Well, he’s going to have absolutely everyone she knows hurt, killed or enslaved. No pressure then! ..
The Councilor’s desire is insatiable and his rule wicked, forcing Hwi into submission. Hyun though is not happy and arrives to fight back, grabbing a sword from one of the guards and turning on the others. He urges Hwi to leave but it’s no good. He’s eventually outmanned and taken away too, leaving Hwi at the Councilor’s mercy. ..
Ji-Un returns to the palace, where his father greets him with a nasty slap across the face. When he learns Hwi is going to be King, Ji-Un refuses to leave and hurries inside. However, it’s not in enough time to stop Hwi agreeing to the Left State Councilor’s terms. As long as all of her people are kept safe and out of harm’s way, she’ll play along and be his puppet.
When Hwi leaves, she is defeated and bleeding from the arm. She greets Ji-Un and plays the role of King once more, but her promise to him is broken. There’s no way Ji-Un can stay by his side anymore. It’s a heartbreaking moment, and one that eventually sees the King step up. “Let the morning assembly begin.”
The Episode Review
The King’s Affection returns to see Hwi and Ji-Un’s getaway cut short thanks to the King being poisoned. The evil Left Stater Councilor knows how to manipulate, and the gambit for Hwi has certainly paid off for him. ..
The North Korean government has issued an ultimatum to Hwi, demanding that she return to the country and take part in a propaganda campaign. If she does not comply, her family will be in danger. ..
Ji-Un and Hwi’s relationship is still in question, but this episode showed that the show has done a great job of slowly drip-feeding out their romance. The moments with them together this episode, embracing their true selves, helps to set the foundations for what should hopefully be a triumphant romance in the end.
The King’s Affection is a really exciting and thrilling chapter of drama and romance.
