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Seven Day Queen: Episode 12

The way he looks at her slays me, like he can’t imagine how anyone could be so cute. There’s a lot of love to go around today, some of it happy, some of it tragic, and some of it downright swoony. If only we could bottle up the good parts and save it for the storm that lies ahead.

 

 
EPISODE 12 RECAP

The wedding day is here and the groom has finally made it. As they bow, Chae-kyung peeks over at Yeok with a little smile, but then she sees the trail of blood flowing out from under his sleeve. She’s filled with dread remembering Yeonsangun’s warning that she’d begin to suspect Yeok, and she begins to cry.

Yeonsangun watches the ceremony with a dark expression, but then he begins to feel the pain from the arrow he just took in the shoulder and winces. The queen dowager takes note.

Down below, Yeok finally notices his bloody hand and hurries to wipe and keep it covered. He glances at his brother, and it’s unclear whether he was quick enough to hide the blood.

While the wedding goes on, we catch up with Seo-no, who had split off on his own as Yeok went to rescue the others. He arrives at a cabin deep in the woods, not noticing that Scarface is behind him. Secretary Im had sent Scarface to watch him from the start, since he knew that Seo-no would rush to secure his father.

That’s exactly what Seo-no does, as he hurries inside to reunite with his father, who lights up to see him. Dad doesn’t seem well, and moments after hugging Seo-no happily, he coughs up blood.

After the ceremony, Yeok sits down with his father-in-law, who says that despite the families arranging this marriage, he hopes that it will be an ordinary marriage, and not an arranged one. Yeok understands, and Minister Shin reminds him that Chae-kyung’s fate is in his hands now, and begs him to live only as his son-in-law and Chae-kyung’s husband and the king’s brother. Eep, that’s not how he’s going to live at all!

At the same time, Chae-kyung gets grilled by her new mother-in-law, who finds it amusing how Yeok and Chae-kyung seem to have gone round and round only to end up back together. Chae-kyung says that all things eventually end up on the right road, which is why she believes that she and Yeok are fated to be.

Chae-kyung promises not to make the same mistake twice, knowing that the queen dowager still dislikes her because she let Yeok take the blame for their jailbreak five years ago. The queen dowager asks her to take Yeok’s side and live as his wife from now on, and not her father’s daughter.

She gets a break from the interrogation when doctors arrive to examine her, and she runs out of the room when she spots Yeok passing by. He wonders to himself why those men stopped their attack back in the field, and realizes that they knew it was Yeok and his friends out there.

He’s about to run off when Chae-kyung calls out to him, so he says he needs to take care of something and will see her at home later. Dude, it’s your wedding day! Nanny says as much, and then wonders if he’s got a second household stashed somewhere, earning her a stern look from Chae-kyung.

Yeok meets his team at the hideout and shares his worry that Seo-no and his father might be in danger. But Seo-no walks in soon after and says that he met his father and no one seemed to be tailing him. The problem is, he left for a brief moment to go get some water, and when he returned, Dad was gone and only a letter was left behind.

Dad hikes his way down the mountain with Scarface behind him the whole way. He stops at the stream, which is when they whack him in the head and carry him off quietly.

Back at the palace, Nok-soo treats Yeonsangun’s shoulder, which he covers up when the queen dowager is announced. She’s brought her medical kit because she noticed he was injured at the wedding, acting the part of a doting mother.

Yeonsangun smirks and says he merely got injured hunting: “I thought it was a helpless elk, but it turned out to be a wolf.” She tries to contain her nerves as she asks if he caught the wolf, and he says he hasn’t, but he will very soon. He vows to skin it and offer it up to her, and she visibly trembles. When she reaches up to his cheek though, he pulls away and tells her to stop acting like a mother, and she doesn’t press the issue.

Later, the queen dowager wonders how much the king knows, and Deputy Commander Park guesses that he doesn’t know about the will yet. See, this is why you guys are always ten steps behind! Why do you underestimate the evil genius?

Chae-kyung paces her room and declares that she’s really only getting married the once, exhausted from the day’s events. Nanny sees her suffering and unties her headdress, muttering the whole time that it doesn’t really matter if the husband unties it himself, even though she’d like to break his legs, ha.

Chae-kyung is shocked when Yeonsangun shows up unannounced. He says he forgot to give her medicines, which seems like the flimsiest excuse ever.

Yeonsangun says she’ll need them because Yeok seems to get injured often, and Chae-kyung notes that Yeonsangun is injured too. She asks if they fought, and he scoffs when she calls them brothers. Then he asks slyly, “Was Yeok injured?” Gack.

Chae-kyung hesitates a beat, and then says with a bright smile that she hasn’t even seen Yeok properly since the wedding. She changes the subject to ask why he came all this way, and Yeonsangun reminds her that she’s supposed to be his spy. She says that she’ll need time to gain Yeok’s trust, but Yeonsangun counters that it’s his trust she should be trying to gain.

He tells her about going to the pawnshop the other day, and how Yeok seems to have appeared from nowhere. Yeonsangun says that there’s something suspicious about that place, and asks Chae-kyung if she isn’t curious what Yeok is up to.

Yeok makes plans to search for Seo-no’s father, and his friends finally urge him to go home since it’s his wedding night. The boys suggest that he buy flowers on the way and not end up in the doghouse the first day, and Seo-no sincerely congratulates him on his marriage.

Yeok must not be a complete dolt, because he tiptoes home with flowers in hand, and creeps quietly into his bedroom. He jumps out of his skin when Chae-kyung lights a candle, calm as can be. Before he can get a word in, she says matter-of-factly that the flowers must be her apology present for being late, and she plucks them out of his hands emotionlessly.

He stammers that it’s too bad she’s already changed, because he wanted to do all those traditional customs like undressing her wedding clothes. She asks since when they follow traditions, and he says things are different now that they’re married. Chae-kyung deadpans, “Oh, so you were late because we’re married.” Lol, this is a losing battle. Just say you’re sorry!

He says “our Chae-kyung” knows how to tease, and she counters that she’s nothing compared to “our prince.” She says that the king stopped by, and one look at the basket of medicine alarms him. She asks with her back turned to him if he’s perhaps been injured, and Yeok blurts no while instinctively grabbing his arm. Hurt at his obvious lie, Chae-kyung slams the basket shut and angrily stomps out to bring him dinner. Yeok sits down to treat his wound, wondering if she noticed. Ya think?

Thankfully Chae-kyung refuses to just leave things as they are, and she stomps right back into the room and silently takes his arm to treat it for him. He fumbles to come up with a ridiculous excuse, saying that it’s the same old wound from when they were chased into the cave.

She says in a hollow voice, “Sure,” not believing him for a second. But she says that if that’s what he says, she’ll believe him, “Because having trust is something I can choose to do. I’m just going to trust the heart and the words of the person I want to trust.”

Her voice starts to shake as she says that the one thing she can’t control is whether he gets hurt, so she asks him to please not come home injured if he can help it. “It isn’t for you, but for me—because it hurts me more,” she says. He tenderly takes her hand and then opens his arms wide to hug her, which finally gets her to smile. But as he leans forward, Nanny announces dinner and Yeok scrambles to sit back up.

Seo-no takes out the letter his father left behind along with new clothes for him. In the letter, Dad apologizes for having to leave again and tells Seo-no to stay by Yeok’s side and not be shaken, proud of how strong Seo-no grew up to be. Seo-no sighs to himself that Dad could’ve stuck around for one meal together, at least.

Myung-hye returns to the hideout, and Seo-no asks if she came back for his father’s letter, insisting defensively that it’s just a letter and not about the will. She doesn’t argue and says with sympathy that she’s sure his father is well, and that he shouldn’t worry.

Yeok excitedly digs into his first home-cooked meal from his wife, while Chae-kyung pettily moves the meat and fish farther away so that he can’t reach them, heh. He asks if she’s getting revenge for his tardiness, which she denies innocently.

Judging from his reaction, she’s not the best cook, but bless his heart, he doesn’t say a word about it. Chae-kyung tells him how her father always said that home-cooked meals tasted good because of her mother’s heart for her family, regardless of cooking skill. She hopes that Yeok will think the same, that the food tastes good because it’s filled with her love.

He agrees wholeheartedly to always eat his meals at home from now on, because no one else will think of him more than she does. Chae-kyung happily begins to feed him, though I still detect some revengey feelings, as she fixates on making him eat dreaded beans. He dutifully opens his mouth and swallows them down.

Nanny chuckles as she listens in from outside, and she catches Eunuch Song eavesdropping too. He actually seems to be smiling (I have a feeling that he’s secretly rooting for the lovebirds), but she chases him away so that he can’t spy.

Yeonsangun arrives at a secret compound, where Secretary Im and his men have Seo-no’s father tied up to a post, looking pretty battered. Yeonsangun picks up a hot iron and says it’s unfortunate that they didn’t meet five years ago, because he might’ve wanted to hear what the man had to say.

“But today… it happens to be today that I met you,” he says with a scary glint in his eye. Augh, I really hate it when you torture other people because you’re mad at Chae-kyung. He sticks the burning iron onto the man’s chest, screaming through the smoke and searing flesh for the location of the will. You know it’s bad when evil Secretary Im winces at the torture.

Chae-kyung brings Yeok’s bedding in and says that she’s going to make his bed and then go to her room, which is way on the other side of their giant house. He’s flabbergasted that she intends to use separate bedrooms already when it’s their wedding night.

She says that his mother insisted on it because the doctors said she had to drink some tonics first (likely to help aid pregnancy), and they were instructed not to sleep together until a date was designated. Chae-kyung adds that they would’ve slept in separate beds tonight anyway, clearly still miffed at him.

Yeok is not onboard with this plan at all, and starts arguing that she’s going to regret it later in the night, when she’s kicking her covers with her feet. Chae-kyung: “Don’t you think it’s better than kicking you with my feet?”

He literally chases her around the bed, calling her Chae-kyung and then “wife,” and then finally plops down in bed fully clothed. She says he has to get undressed first, and he wags his foot at her, like he’s daring her to come do it. She rolls her eyes and says that she heard men turn into babies when they marry, and Yeok counters, “Shouldn’t wives stay with their husbands once they’re married?”

She tells him to do as he pleases and heads out, and he panics and leaps up to grab her hand. He looks up at her with his best puppy eyes and says, “Let’s stay together.” She seems to melt a little at that.

Someone sneaks into a room and lies down, and HAHA, it’s Nanny dressed as Chae-kyung. She sleeps in Chae-kyung’s bed knowing that the spies are keeping watch, and hopes that Chae-kyung will sleep in Yeok’s room. Best nanny ever.

Meanwhile, Chae-kyung sits nervously on the edge of Yeok’s bed, and he asks how long she’s going to stay like that. She says she’ll stay here until he falls asleep, so he just scoots closer and stares up at her expectantly.

She gets so nervous that she decides to go to her own room after all, but Yeok pulls her into his arms. Wide-eyed, Chae-kyung argues that he promised that they’d just stay together and that’s all.

Yeok smiles and points out that he never said otherwise, and snuggles close as he says goodnight. She stares at his sleeping face and begins to smile, and thinks back to her answer about suspecting Yeok—that she was merely waiting for him, because learning the truth late doesn’t always make it a lie.

She sneaks out of the room after he’s fallen asleep, and only then does she let herself cry, wondering how and why he got injured.

The torture goes on for so long that Secretary Im urges Yeonsangun to stop, otherwise Seo-no’s father will die before telling them anything. Yeonsangun finally resorts to threatening Seo-no if he doesn’t talk, and Dad pleads for his son to be spared, saying that he will tell them everything.

Yeonsangun laughs and says bitterly that this is a father—someone who would do anything to save his son’s life. “So why was my father so cruel?” he asks, “Why did my father leave behind a will that would kill me?! WHY?!”

Seo-no’s father says it was for the sake of Joseon, because the late king believed that a king couldn’t lead a nation and its people alone, and needed to be supported by his officials to be a good ruler. He says that it was a decision the late king made not as a father, but as the king of a nation.

That only angers Yeonsangun more, and he raises the burning iron and screeeams for the will. Seo-no’s father cries that it’s written on a woman’s body, and that’s all he knows. He suggests that they search all of the women who were around the late king.

Yeonsangun takes him at his word, but says that no one else must know about this, and picks up a sword. He tells Seo-no’s father to go now, and stabs him with a terrifying smile on his face. Seo-no’s father says with his dying breath, “This is why your majesty cannot be king.”

On his way out, Yeonsangun looks up at the sky thinking of his father and how much he adored little Yeok. The sounds of peasant families around him in the village grate on his nerves, especially the happy children and their fathers reuniting at the end of the day. He suddenly declares that he will have to do some hunting here, and orders for this whole village to be wiped out and turned into his hunting grounds. Yikes.

The next day in court, Yeonsangun seems out of sorts, paying more attention to threads in his sleeve than to his ministers, who report that there are complaints about the vice minister of war extorting expensive seafood from fishermen.

The vice minister says that the seafood was meant for the king, but Yeonsangun says he doesn’t remember liking those foods and asks dispassionately what the punishment is for that crime. He lets the vice minister choose whether he’d like to be flogged or exiled, and the vice minister is reduced to begging on his knees, and in the end he chooses exile. The air in the room grows ice cold, and Yeonsangun cancels today’s court, clutching his wounded shoulder in pain.

Minister Shin asks the official who led the push to impeach the vice minister of war how they learned of his illegal activities in such detail. The man says that they investigated a tip from the Snail Brides, who go around town putting up flyers of various officials’ corrupt activities.

As he says this, we see Yeok marking the vice minister of war off of his rebellion board, and the Snail Brides sneaking through town to put up new flyers and pass out more rice. The official tells Minister Shin that the people believe anything that the Snail Brides say, because in times of famine, it was the Snail Brides who saved them and not the king.

Secretary Im saunters up to offer the tidbit that the Snail Brides’ activity just so happens to coincide with Yeok’s return. Minister Shin shuts down his line of questioning immediately and tells him not to cloud the king’s judgment any longer.

But with his sister, the queen, Minister Shin shares his honest worry, and the queen fears what it’ll mean if Yeok is really a part of the Snail Brides. Minister Shin urges her to remain strong and promises to look into the Snail Brides himself.

Chae-kyung contemplates the key that Yeonsangun left her to use when she comes to report on Yeok’s activities. He’d ordered her find out what he does at the pawnshop and come straightaway to tell him.

Nanny slaps Chae-kyung on the back and croons, “You did it!” But Chae-kyung says that she and Yeok won’t be sharing a bed until the queen dowager gives the okay, which Nanny thinks is absurd, insisting that if you’re married you just do it. High-five, Nanny.

Chae-kyung laughs, and Nanny decides that she’s not trying hard enough, and begins to coach her on how to seduce Yeok with sexy bedroom eyes and alcohol. I’m pretty sure Yeok’s not the one who needs convincing.

Chae-kyung asks what happens next, and Nanny hilariously says the next step is to get him drunk and ask who his first love was and how many women he’s been with before her. That sparks an idea and Chae-kyung asks for all the liquor in the house, preferably the strong stuff that’ll get him drunk quickly. Nanny: “All of it? If he drinks all of it, he’ll pass out and you can’t even do anything!” Hee.

The boys tense up when there’s a knock on the pawnshop door and scramble to hide their documents before Seo-no opens the door. But it’s just Chae-kyung, who comes armed with giant jugs of liquor to meet her husband’s friends.

The boys greet her eagerly and tease them into calling each other husband and wife like a proper married couple, and Yeok is adorably smiley the minute she tests out the word “husband.” She proceeds to get them rip-roaring drunk, and Yeok quietly asks if she came here to nag and make a point about him staying out late.

Chae-kyung says she came to cheer him on because he works so hard, and then makes sure to toast so that everyone keeps drinking. She thinks to herself that she’s only going to take a quick look around, so that she can tell the king without reservation that there’s nothing fishy here.

Yeonsangun drinks with Nok-soo and asks if they’re together right now, meaning Chae-kyung and Yeok. He supposes that they are since they’re married now. He adds that their unhappiness has begun as well, since being married means they will endlessly suspect and grow to hate one another. Well that’s a sunny outlook.

In flashback, we see that Yeonsangun had been brought to his mother as a young boy late one night, when she had been pacing outside the king’s chambers nervously. She told him that he was having nightmares and bloody noses, which the boy knew wasn’t true. But his mother had insisted on it and stormed into the room, interrupting the king while he was with Yeok’s mother, who was then a concubine.

The queen had demanded attention for their sick son, crying that the king wouldn’t see her if she didn’t charge in here like this, and Yeok’s mother had come over to them to see if Yeonsangun was okay. The queen jealously yanked her son away and told the concubine that it wasn’t her place to be there.

In the present, Yeonsangun says he hated and was embarrassed by his mother, who used him as an excuse to make her way into the king’s bedchambers. “But I know now,” he says as a tear trickles down his face, “that my mother was just a person. A person who wanted to be loved by the person she loved. Before being Joseon’s queen, she was a woman who wanted to live as one man’s wife.”

He adds, “So I have grown curious—do I want to live as a king, or do I want to live as one woman’s man?”

Secretary Im arrives with a group of court ladies who served the late king, and Nok-soo orders them all to get undressed. Yeonsangun stumbles drunkenly past the row of women and stops in front of one. He raises her chin and says she looks a little like her.

Alarmed, Nok-soo reminds him of what they’re looking for, but he ignores her and asks the woman to stay. He kicks everyone else out, including Nok-soo, and then pulls the court lady close to him and lays his head on her lap.

Chae-kyung gets to the bottom of her liquor, and everyone is passed out except for Yeok. He just stares at her adoringly while she pretends to be drunk and she announces that she’ll go home to get more.

He sits her down and goes out instead, though he just goes to the nearby inn to buy more liquor. On the way back, he stops in the street to look at some hairpins for Chae-kyung.

Chae-kyung makes sure that the boys are asleep and then starts poking around the pawnshop, but as she looks around, her conscience starts to bug her and she asks herself what the heck she’s doing, rooting around like a thief when she swore to trust Yeok.

That’s when she looks up to find Yeok standing in the doorway, having seen and heard her talking to herself.

He walks over to her slowly… and then wraps his arms around her. Ohthankgod.

He lets out a long sigh, and she asks tearfully if they can’t just go live in the countryside together. He surprises her by agreeing readily, and she cries into his chest in relief as he hugs her tightly.

Myung-hye arrives at the pawnshop sometime later and sees a suspicious straw mat covered in blood in the courtyard. She carefully peels back the mat and shrieks to uncover a dead body—oh no, it’s Seo-no’s father.

The boys rush out at the sound, and Seo-no breaks down at the sight of his father’s bloody, broken body. Waaaah, there is no moving to the countryside, is there?

Yeok lies awake thinking of the night that Seo-no’s father came to see him. He’d said that the late king’s will was meant to be given to Yeok when he came of age, in the hopes that it would give him strength.

As we see Chae-kyung take a bath, Seo-no’s father says in voiceover that the location of the will was inscribed on a woman’s body. He’d added, “And that woman…” We don’t hear him finish the thought, though the close-up on Chae-kyung’s tattoo is clue enough who that woman is.

Yeok is speechless when Chae-kyung enters his room and declares shyly that she’ll sleep in here tonight. “We’ll just keep it a secret from the queen dowager,” she says cutely.

She crosses the room and leans onto his chest, and Yeok can barely breathe as he tentatively reaches out to embrace her. But just as he does, Seok-hee calls out for him from the yard. Augh, you have the worst timing!

Seok-hee runs up in tears and Yeok whispers for him to speak quietly because there are people listening here. Seok-hee tells him that Seo-no’s father was killed and his body dumped outside the pawnshop, and Yeok starts to race out before remembering Chae-kyung.

He runs back to tell her that something happened at the pawnshop and that he’ll be right back, and Chae-kyung hurriedly puts on a smile in front of the servants. She sits up to wait for him all night, and wakes up alone in the same spot the next morning.

Yeok and his friends bury Seo-no’s father, and accompany Seo-no as he bows in mourning. He cries thinking of their brief reunion and how happy he was to be given new clothes, insisting that they were perfect when Dad had been surprised at how he’d grown.

Chae-kyung goes to the pawnshop in search of Yeok, and goes pale when she sees bloodstains on the staircase. The door is locked, so she grabs a hammer and busts her way inside, and gasps to find more blood on the floor, in a trail leading all the way to a wall.

She puts her hand where a bloody handprint remains, and the false wall opens up to the hideout. As she looks around, Yeonsangun’s warning rings in her ears—that Yeok’s will and determination would be a sign of treasonous intent.

Yeok puts a hand on Seo-no’s shoulder and kneels beside him, apologizing for not being able to protect his father to the end. Seo-no says through his tears, “Then become king as soon as possible. As king you can protect the remaining people.” He begs for Yeok to stop letting people die unfairly like his father did.

In the hideout, Chae-kyung spots the one thing she shouldn’t—Yeok’s rebellion chart. She draws back the curtains, and the one glaring name at the very top, Lee Yung [Yeonsangun], makes it clear what this is. She draws in a sharp breath, and then loses her footing when she sees her father’s name there as well.

She clamps a hand over her mouth to contain her sobs, and she shakes as she thinks back to Yeok’s warning before they were married, that it would be her last chance to back out.

 
COMMENTS

Yeah I bet she would’ve thought twice about marrying you if she’d known! I don’t think knowing the truth is going to change her love, but I do wonder if she would’ve run away if she had the chance to weigh her family against Yeok’s ambition to be king. Because he’s now put her in the position of throwing everyone she loves in a 50-50 gamble between life and death. There is no neutral safe zone for her and her parents, so they must either choose Yeok or Yeonsangun, and will face certain death if they choose badly. Worse yet is if they split their choice, which means tragedy for one and all no matter which way you slice it. It’s no wonder he tried to protect her from knowing this, though it certainly doesn’t change the fact that they’re all in danger anyway from the moment the wedding vows were made.

Plotwise, I welcome the cold, hard dose of reality for Chae-kyung. I love her innocence and her blind trust in Yeok, but I was beginning to worry that she’d unknowingly put them all at risk by jumping through hoops to play spy and prove his loyalty to the king. I don’t know how she’s going to keep fooling Yeonsangun now that she knows the truth though, because I don’t know if she’s shrewd enough to bluff in front of him. Yeok is the only one with the balls to do that, and even he can’t fool his brother completely. Maybe Yeonsangun’s love for her will be the only thing to keep her safe, which isn’t exactly a comforting thought.

I have to say, I love the way Yeonsangun’s descent is happening by degrees. I find it so believable, the way his core temperament is the same, but he’s just less and less predictable and therefore more dangerous. I shivered when he suddenly switched gears from looking for a tattooed court lady to wanting one to stay with him because she resembled Chae-kyung (or maybe even his mother—he never says who the resemblance is to). And I was shocked when he had an entire village razed to the ground because he was so twisted up with jealousy over Seo-no and everyone else having a real father’s love. It just makes you wonder if Yeonsangun was always going to be a tyrant, or if he was just a self-fulfilling prophecy because his father said he wasn’t fit to rule. I guess we’ll never know, but I love that his show makes me wonder about it.

It broke my heart when Chae-kyung asked Yeok to move to the countryside with her, because I knew the instant he said yes that it made me too happy for it to come true. And now with Seo-no asking him to become king to protect his people, how could Yeok run off with Chae-kyung and choose his own happiness? He can’t, and I know that, and it kills me.

I was just so relieved when Yeok caught her spying and hugged her, because I feared his reaction to her suspicious behavior. But this couple consistently defies that frustrating habit that drama characters have of feeding distrust with more suspicion. They’re walking through a minefield of misunderstandings daily, and yet they continue to trust each other more than any logical person should. They actually trust impulsively, and I can see why everyone else around them thinks they’re always being too rash to believe in one another. But that’s the quality that makes the drama the complete opposite of frustrating, because at every turn where someone else might cry and doubt and wait to be told the truth someday, Chae-kyung bullies her way past Yeok’s excuses and chooses to believe him, lies and all, and Yeok chooses to hug her and feel responsible for making her spy on him. They’re not normal, that’s for sure, but would we have it any other way?

 
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*keyboard smash* I just love them all and want them to be happy! Is that too much to ask?

*hears the KDrama gods cackling maniacally in the distance*

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me too! i just want them to be happy and cute always! :( heartbreak

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Here are a few of my thoughts throughout the episode:

-I was wondering when CK would find out about Yeok’s plans. I just wish it didn’t have to come because of what’s going to happen next. The one thing that I do wish would happen is Yeok telling CK everything. They both love each other and want to protect each other, but this is just tearing them apart. They both think that what they’re doing is protecting each other, but by not telling each other the truth when they figure it out for themselves, it hurts them even more. One of them (Yeok IMO) needs to come clean.
-CK and Yeok’s couple moments are always so emotional and loving and thoughtful. Case in point being when CK was dressing Yeok’s wound. The nanny always has bad timing, but she’s the best ? Also, can’t CK and Yeok live together peacefully in Geochang? That’s all CK (also me) wants, away from all the lying and drama. I want them to live happily and like best friends, like they were as kids.
-Nanny and CK is the best duo by far. All of their methods to get back at Yeok was hilarious and left my mom wondering if there was something wrong with me ? All of CK’s teasing and the way the nanny is always on her side is a pure joy to watch every episode. I want to see the nanny beat up all the eunuchs and maids at the house LMAO
-Seo-No killed me in this episode. I was hurting so much every time he was on the screen. His small talk with his father before his father left got me. I cried so hard during the funeral scene. I’m sure a part of me knew that his father would die some time because of him being the scribe and all. But, WHYYYY ?????
-Okay, I had some sympathy left for the king but now I don't know if there’s anything. The way he tortured SN’s dad? The way he gets triggered by a word? Maybe there’s a sliver still there because of how his mother was treated and how she acted, but the majority is gone. Though, I do understand that YSG just wanted to be loved by his father. Along with the fact that he thinks the late-king betrayed him because of the order.

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His mother's jealousy and insecurity was distressing for young Yeonsangun. Poor thing had to put up with it and ended up scarred for life. Did she have some sort of mental illness perhaps for her to act so irrationally? That she may have also passed on to her son, perhaps?

It turned me off when he killed SeoNoh's father. The King has truly turned dangerous and unpredictable. This is a point of no return for him imo.

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I was thinking that as well. Because of how Yeonsangun saw his mother behave, the same behavior seems to have most likely passed on.
I agree with you fully about his actions now. After killing SN's father, he can't go back to the person he once was. He's become too impulsive and unstable.

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I might be wrong, but I read it somewhere that Yeosangun's mother was kinda temperamental and highly jealously which was the reason why she was desposed.

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I'm thinking that in modern days that kind of jealousy would've been understood and even applauded. Because what kind of woman wants to share her man with other women?. I certainly wouldn't! However since this is Joseon and she's expected to turn a blind eye to her husband's many wives and concubines, she's accused of being irrationally jealous and temperamental.

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According to the books, it's said that she scratched the then-king's fave and got found out. She also apparently cursed some concubines to death.

Therefore, the end. Bye bye lo.

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*face, not fave. That scratch was more "severe" of an offence on a king than a concubine!

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Deposed Queen Yoon was a really jealous woman and she also interfered a lot with his concubines, like poisoning. She scratched her husband's face one night and then queen dowager at that time demands she gets deposed

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Their first night and second night are totally ruin :)) But I hope until there are no more secrets between them, they will truly have many other nights, hehe.
I cry for Seo No in this episode. Such a heart breaking scene. Yung ah, why did you do that????

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I can feel the heartbreak coming sooner and sooner... Although it's true that Chaekyung and Yeok can't sleep together except on approved certain dates, I really feel like Queen Dowager is taking this advantage of this situation so in the future it's easier to depose Chaekyung. A queen with an heir is much harder to get rid of than a childless queen... I honestly think they will consummate the marriage before their "permitted dates" anyway, they can't possible drag this for that many episodes.

I swear PMY is the queen of hanboks, she just looks so damn good in all the hanboks she wears, especially with her hair up as a married woman! It totally suits her. I can't wait to see her wear those regal and beautiful queenly hanboks, but I'm also not ready for the angst and heartbreak... YWJ also looks amazing in hanbok, I think he should be doing more sageuk from now on.

I just wish Chaekyung and Yeok would come clean to each other, I understand why Yeok is keeping Chaekyung in the dark about things since he wants to protect her. What he's doing is treason technically, and either way if he fails to claim the throne, Chaekyung would be demoted to a slave status, so there's no way she won't be involved. Now Chaekyung found out about Yeok's motives, I can't help to feel really bad for her, she has to choose between her parents and her husband which is really hard.

Did anyone laugh when Yeonsangun said that court lady looked like Chaekyung? You need to get your eyes checked man... I liked Yeonsangun in the beginning, now he's just becoming crazier. LDG continues to slay of course.

I was not expecting Chaekyung's tattoo to be that secret will/letter! I don't really understand, her tattoo literally means "God's tree". How is this going to prove Yeok is rightful heir? Is this some sort of code...? And of course the viewers don't know if Seo No's dad really told Yeok if Chaekyung is the one who carries the will. Ugh dangit. I wonder if this is why the previous King wanted Chaekyung to marry Yeok.

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Seo-no's dad told it's not a secret will but a secret command. So it's probably something like whoever married Chae Kyung is the king? Or something concerning Chae Kyung's destiny.

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IMO I think it's a secret command saying Yeok should be the King. If CK married Yeok, Yeok would know the command, if CK married Yeosangun (which is highly unlikely), he should give up the throne to Yeok.

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If it's a secret command then it should be a royal scroll with a king stamp on it. An official royal scroll. So for now, they need to search the location of the hidden scroll. The clue only can be seen by CK's husband. Wonder seonoh's dad knew about CK or not because it seemed Yeok was still clueless. No hurrying in disrobing CK yet. Too busy thinking about other matters.

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I hope it's not some kind of BS that the one who can become king is Chaekyung's husband

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I don't think it's related to CK at all. In away, those father and sons- all of them used CK. The deceased King stated his intention to give the throne to Yeok from the beginning. Yung as he instructed should just willingly give up the throne once Yeok come out of the age. But now, without a black and white royal command only hearsays, no ministers will take Yeok's side. But with the royal command, Yeok will have the power because most of the older ministers were his father's subjects before Yung.

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I just love how Yeok looks at CK. Like she is always a delight and someone he cherishes. Its no wonder that CK said something like she can see the truth in his eyes. He has such expressive and beautiful eyes that you just want to get lost in. *sighs*
Now back to the what ever I was about to say.. what was it again ??

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And SukHee has to come barging in at that time. What great timing he has. Was hoping they will consummate it soon to thwart the Dowager Queen's plans.

And that scene when she ask him to go to Geochang with her, I so wanted them to runaway together. But Yeok will bot do that. As much as he loves her, he can't let his brother continue to rule when the people will end up suffering for it.

Its also just right that CK knows the truth now. As per her nature, she will confront Yeok about it. We can't drag her not knowing any longer. And I can not wait for the next episode.

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I am glad YWJ played as Yeok because of these reasons. We truly believed the prince loves CY from the bottom of his heart. With the twinkling of his eyes. The teary eyes when he felt hopeless and guilty for lying to her. The way he conveyed his emotions spot on. With lesser actor, most probably we will hate this prince who puts his ambition first and lying through his teeth to the one that loves him unconditionally. There is one comment in naver - If you look at the way Yeokgyeong couple kissing, you'll feel that all your dead love cells turn alive. Lots of positive comments about their chemistry.

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They really have great chemistry. The scene comes alive when they are together.

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I love how our couple subverts all the momoents that plague other kdrama couples and cause them to separate and angst. Instead they simply choose to love each other enough to overcome all those suspicions.
Yeok understands Chae Kyung's predicament but he is unable to choose between her and the people who look up to him and expect him to lead them. Chae Kyung now has to carefully make her choices to keep her husband and family safe from harm. This makes a good drama?

Yeonsangun is so vicious and is lashing out at everyone without consequences. He is so fixed on the married couple and projects his own unhappy experiences onto them and finds satisfaction in that. He has gone beyond redemption at this point!

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On a lighter note, Yeok and Chae Kyung are so much fun as husband and wife. They are cute, cheeky and so sweet. Chae Kyung laying out bed, kicking it and beating it excessively, for Yeok was so funny?

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My favorite part was when she kicked the blanket to spread it with her foot. Really consistent. I can see nanny doing it. She was raised by her gutsy nanny anyway. I think even MH the fighter will pretend to be a lady like on her first night. But not our CK in her sulking mode.

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"I love how our couple subverts all the momoents that plague other kdrama couples and cause them to separate and angst."

I couldn't agree more! :)

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I thought The Princess' Man was awesome enough for giving us a rare gutsy sageuk heroine, but this. This gives us three fantastic leads! Both dramas make me clench my fists, bite my nails and tear my hair for all that good angst and tragedies.

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The way Yeok calling Chae kyung-ah even the moment Chae kyung hiding a knife to—i wish it just not true—stab him just flutter my heart.
And those pinky with a little ring on it. They deserve all the happiness. Don't be too hard on them, Show?

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Really Yeok really?? He disappeared on their wedding day smh, this prince. Also yes, BEST NANNY EVER. Her seducing glances lmao. Yeonsangun's madness is giving me shivers wow. I mean one minute he's torturing and ordering a village to be wiped out and next minute he's trying to find comfort in a court lady who looks like Chae Kyung. This is my favorite performance of Lee Dong Geun ever I think.

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Nanny is a gem of an actress... She also played KGE's aunt in Goblin!!

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I haven't watched this epi yet, but Seo No ? I loved Chan Sung before in his comedic role like Ms Temper & Nam Jung Ki, but I also love him here in am meatier role, and I'm glad this drama didn't make him just as a stoic guy. After Junho, he has become my fav 2pm member as an actor and definitely looking forward to see his next drama.

I'm also glad CK at last know the truth, but it is hurt too much because she only knows after their marriage. The truth will hit her so hard, and I can't wait to see her reactions next epi. Will she confront Yeok about it, or silent & waiting for him to tell her. At this state, their first night will only be full of sadness and her suspicious and that will be so sad to see.

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The writer is a genius. Everything just clicks together and I love there is always an extra depth in every scene and every dialogue without going too preachy or resorting to cheap shock value conflicts (something that I almost find in many sageuk dramas).

When Seo No's Dad told Yeonsangun this is why he can't be King, I'm getting goosebumps. Actually, I'm getting goosebumps all the time in this episode, all the dialogues just gets me. The writing is actually closer to a movie rather than a drama.

The last time I feel this way was when I watched "Belle", a movie about a woman during slavery era and her journey to accept her identity. Just like 7 Days Queen, I find the dialogues and the scenes to have an extra depth.

I'm still bitter why the rating is such a disappointment but there was already a long discussion why. For me personally, I think Yeon Woo Jin still lacks charisma to pull viewers. 7DQ writing and acting is superior to Moonlight but they have Park Bo Gum that I honestly think drive 70% of rating because the middle to end part of Moonlight is pretty much a repetitive mess. 7DQ writing is still strong till episode 12 which already surpassed 90% of dramas I've encountered. I hope it keeps that way till the end.

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Yeon Woo Jin does not lack charisma... OMG, has no one seen his fabulously charismatic character in Marriage Not Dating, his pitiful character in Arang & the Magistrate or his early career movie Just Friends with Lee Je Hoon??

he is a fabulous actor, it's unfortunate that his last drama was a written mess.

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I'm just happy he is getting all the recognition he deserves not to mention his great chemistry with Park Min Young. Love this too

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A lot of actors or actresses can act well but still lack that 'x' factor. I don't know how to explain this tbh, I mean Park Bo Gum is one of the actor who has this magnetic quality whether he acts as a psycho or lovestruck puppy prince.

On Rebel, I find Amogae is much more charismatic than Gil Dong so it doesn't always about the pretty face.

There are some actor and actress that just 'steal' your attention when they're on screen and YWJ isn't one of them for me especially in this particular drama. I have nothing against him though, this is just my subjective observation.

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I'm in the minority who still don't find anything can attract me with Park Bo Gum, even when everyone was so wow with him in I Remember You and in Moonlights. I do acknowledge him as a good actor, but he alone can't make me stay for any drama, so far.

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This x factor thing is entirely subjective. Let be real, these actors are at the mercy of the dramas they take part in. Personally I can't see the "magnetic" quality from Park Bo Gum that you spoke of, in contrast, I find YWJ extremely charismatic and mesmerizing in most of his roles but what do I know.

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I agree that he's a great actor and he's very charismatic in Marriage Not Dating, I love him so much in that drama! I don't know what's wrong with this drama, true, he's great at portraying his emotions and his chemistry with PMY is great, but it's either he doesn't really give a prince vibe, or Lee Dong Gun's charismatic character being a tyrant king kinda overshadow him. In MND, I was convinced that he's Gong Gi Tae, but in this drama, I'm not that convinced that he's Prince Jin Seong, I kinda feel he's just Yeon Woo Jin. But I don't really have a problem with it tho.

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Me too! I've been wondering about the same thing. I'd vote for him being overshadowed by LDG and most of the time outsmarted too. I can't say if it's done on purpose for later character arc or it's just how the drama wants the prince to be depicted.

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The writing and direction is so good in this show. As you mentioned, they convey the emotion with less but powerful dialogues. Who is the writer and director btw? As for YWJ , I guess you are right. He is a really good actor and he emotes so well but he lacks the charisma to pull a larger audience. This is his first role where I am actually convinced and drawn into his acting.

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Exactly my thoughts above Moonlight. That sageuk was soo cute and intriguing at the start but eventually turned into a great mess in the middle to end that I can't just get myself to finish. Same thing that is happening with Ruler now. But SDQ keeps on surpassing my expectations. When Yeok's identity was revealed earlier in the episodes, I was like "So ok, they revealed their strongest card, so what's next?" But the writer has a lot hidden that every episode leaves me wanting for the next. The scenes are also very heartwarming especially when Yeok hugged CK when he heard her doubts about him. That's the most romantic part in this episode for me.

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wooohhh I love that film too. It's a great movie and great love story too.

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The similarity of this drama and the movie, almost all the dialogues are quote-worthy. :))

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I love Yeon Woo Jin so much, but I agree he lacks of charisma to attract viewers. Rebel had Kim Sang Joong in early epi, and thanks to him the rating was good from the beginning. Charismatic or not will not determine any actor's acting skill, it is like a bonus part, if you have it, it will be an advantage. But nowadays there are many actors who are charismatic but sadly, lack of acting skill. I'll still go to good actor with less charisma nevertheless, rather than charismatic actor but poor acting skill.

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Interesting, I always find the one who has 'charisma' in acting is also great actor/actress. Park Bo Gum, Kim Min Hee, Song Yoon Ah, and many more.

You simple can't focus on other thing but them when they're on screen even when the story went banana. K2 story is stupid and I could care less with the main lead but I stay for SYA's marvelous acting and Yoo Jin's story.

If one's acting is terrible, I won't buy his/her perfomance. For example, Suzy is a teribble actress and I won't call her charismatic in acting despite her legion of fans. She may be charismatic as an idol, singer, dancer but not as an actress.

Now I'm curious to whom you would call charismatic actor/actress with lack of acting skill...

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Off the top of my head, Kim Tae-hee. She's a very popular actress despite being widely regarded as mediocre at best. She has improved in her last 2-3 dramas though.

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I see, now I understood what you and Sera meant. My definition is a bit different though, I'll rather call these 'charismatic' actors and actresses as personalities.

They mostly the result of the right gimmick (nation's etc) + great marketing effort + luck... Suzy is also the perfect example of this.

For me the charismatic actor/actress is the one who doesn't just have good acting skill, but has that x factor to keep audience stays because of their delivery. They got the audience invested in their story and curious on how the character trajectory will be.

The reason why I choose PBG is simply because I didn't know the guy previously and I'm invested in his character from day one, even after the writing went downhill. Same with K2 Song Yoon Ah.

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Park Bo Gum has ZERO charisma for me! So I guess charisma is very subjective...

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I'm so proud of YWJ seriously. I still remember his second male lead days, and he's so good at acting! I'm so happy he's a first male lead material now. I hope he has a drama in the future that will make him mega popular

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I would have to disagree with Park Bo-gum being 70% of the reason Moonlight was a success. It's all the elements of the show coming together, from the intuitive directing to the engaging performances by a charming cast, and also good timing (it premiered a week before Moon Lovers, and the other sageuk Flower in Prison was a heavily political long-runner). An actor (or a pair of actors) alone could not raise the ratings that high. Ruler, for example, relies heavily on Yoo Seung-ho and Kim So-hyun's star power for their ratings but they have not reached Moonlight's level of success because all the other elements of the show are not engaging the viewers.

SDQ has all the makings of being a better Moonlight since the writing has more depth and the directing and production quality are just as good. It's failing to attract audiences because of a combination of reasons: the lack of star power among the leads despite their strong acting skill and chemistry, the subject matter (both kings are awful but are being romanticized), and the poor timing (the last sageuk to premiere in a month filled with romance sageuks, Rebel just wrapped up, etc). The show was just hit with a three-way whammy. I wouldn't (solely) pin this on Yeon Woo-jin. He (and PMY and LDG) could've made this work had the timing been right and/or the subject matter less objectionable to Koreans.

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Agree with you.It's true less charismatic actor wouldn't be able able to pull viewers in right away,
but the low rating cannot be determined more than 50% because of that.

70% of the rating success for MDBC due to Park Bo Gum was a bit too high when Kim Yoo Jung also in the same level with him and her name also has been established earlier than Park Bo Gum. Not trying to sound bitter as I'm not a fan of both drama, but if Moon Lovers took their drama seriously from the beginning -including from casting stage, maybe MDBC would not get their rating that high. Probably.

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Lol the ratings for Moonlight took a slight dip when they tore Yeong and Ra-on apart. Bo-gum was the most popular star on the show, but it was his chemistry with Yoo-jung that captivated the audiences.

As for ML, if it had better execution, it would have given Moonlight some serious competition in the ratings game. SDQ's opening episodes were (relatively) light, but it managed to interweave the darker aspects of the show seamlessly. Even now as the show heads to darker waters, the writing still deftly combines humor and tragedy, sometimes in the same scene. Moon Lovers was just clumsily handled for most of its run. A shame because I loved the original cdrama and I was rooting for Lee Jun-ki to star in something good after Two Weeks.

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Oh I forgot there was a Reply 1988 prior to MDBC which already gave PBG high popularity.

Yes agree with you on ML.

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@seralovestteobokki

R88, and of course fangirls will always gravitate towards the male lead so they're often more popular even though the female lead is the more established actor. Yoo-jung gets far less credit for Moonlight's success than she deserves. Most lead actresses suffer the same fate. Even here in SDQ, most knetz comments focus on LDG or YWJ while PMY is mostly ignored even though her character is the heart of the show.

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Because most of fans are girls lol * I also focusing more on YWJ because I love him the most among the casts ?

Anyway, we need more of fanboys for these actressess, me myself always fangirl actress, but it is hard to find a female character that I can fangirl.

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I don't consider myself a fan of PMY but I'm a fan of Chae-Kyung. The other two royal brothers can drag each other into a corner and fight there all day for all I care haha XD.
Admittedly my interest in 7DQ has waned a bit in recent weeks, but if not for CK I would have quit already.

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Somehow I have this idea that a viewership magnet i.e. the actor/actress is characterized in this way:
Ratings for premiere week
5% - below average
10% - good
15% - excellent
This is regardless of the quality of the drama be it writing, directing, casting etc etc.
Going by these, I would say Park Bo Gum/Kim Yoo Jung is able to attract more viewers than Lee Jun Ki/IU.
I had previously thought that one of the main reasons why Moon Lovers tanked was because it's a remake. However, My Sassy Girl despite the Korean's aversion to the remake of their beloved movie premiered around 9%.
I think the Koreans are very particular about who's the lead. If the story turns out engaging and doesn't falter too much, they will keep watching. Even if the writing is terrible, like Ruler , they will stick to it for the leads.

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So far, the dramas that I anticipated for this season turned out to be a great disappointment and those that I expected to skip turned out to be my favorite. To be honest, when the remake of Sassy Girl was announced late last year and Joo Won was confirmed as the main lead, I was totally invested in watching it and can't wait for the drama to start but when it finally did, I was quite underwhelmed. The lead actress is just not doing it right for me. I find her annoying to say the least and her acting just don't convince me. She has 0% chemistry with the Joo Won as well. So I dropped that drama. With Ruler, the story was quite engaging at the start but it turned out to be a mess in the middle that even though I like Kim Sohyun, I find her too young for the role. However, SDQ turned out to be a revelation. I watched just to fill the gap while I wait for Ruler (like I said, I loved it in the earlier episodes) because I don't like PMY that much and I don't she has chemistry with YWJ. So when it was announced that she'll be the lead, my interest dwindled though I love to see YWJ back to saguek since Arang (I totally love him in that drama). But OMG, this drama now tops my list of sageuks! I was totally waiting for this sageuk since the end of Dong Yi, Moonlight Embracing the Sun, Queen Seondeok, and Empress Ki. Since the end of those great dramas, it was a drought of sageuks for me. So thanking all the drama gods for this. Even though this will be the end of me because of its tragic plot I'm still going with it to end.

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On My Sassy Girl - well she is annoying for you, but Oh Yeon Seo technically carrying more than half of MSG. Probably I won't watch this drama if the original actress was casted. Joo Won's character is not meatier like he always did, so I feel it isn't right to judge his performance in this drama, although I do feel at times he isn't sure how to approach his character as well. Someone like Yeon Woo Jin probably will be able to make this character stand out- since it is really requires subtle and understated acting to make the character alive.

The female lead's character was over the top in earlier epi, I don't deny it. This might unpopular opinion, but among the female lead in sageuk at the moment the character Hye Myeong / Oh Yeon Seo is my fav. Cha Kyung is good female lead as well, but I don't always like this kind of female character. It is thanks to good writing as well, otherwise even top notch acting won't be able to make this character alive. Mediocre writing can turn Cha Kyung to Ga Eun (Ruler), fortunately it isn't. We do not need another Ga Eun this year.

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Well, 70% did sound crude, sorry. I agree there are many factors to make the star aligns (aka a rating winner).

However I stand to my opinion that if anyone else replaced PBG, Moonlight rating won't be as impressive as it was. There are many times where his script was pretty bad but thankfully his acting saved it.

As for Reply fame, isn't him the only actor who survives the Reply curse? CMIIW though.

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Of course not. He's one of the major reasons why the show was successful. But in the same vein, the show would not have been as successful as it turned out to be if those other reasons for its success (Bo-gum's talented co-stars, the directing and execution of the show, and the good timing of its release) failed. I love him and he's a very talented guy, and he was lucky that the stars aligned and he was able to work with other very talented people for Moonlight.

Yoo Yoon-seok also broke the curse with RTDK (which got close to hitting 30%). Seo In-guk's Fashion King was a modest success so he's a maybe. We'll see if Go Kyungpyo follows suit with Strongest Deliveryman. I don't count Jealousy Incarnate since he's only the second lead there.

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YWJ is a gem because of the subtlety in his acting. It's nothing showy or perhaps charismatic but it strikes a chord somehow. The dinner scene was made funnier because of those blink-and-you'll-miss cringes from Yeok, that gulp and slight widening of the eyes in alarm at the taste. And the way his voice sounds when he lowers it a notch...! I've not watched a single show he was in, but he did catch my attention for this one. It's the comedic and romantic scenes that YWJ and PMY so naturally and sincerely pull off that balance the darkness of the Yeonsangun ones and makes this show such an engaging one. From a random surfing of the weibo sites, being the busybody that I am, it seems like SDQ is receiving a lot of love from the Chinese viewers. YWJ seems to be garnering a ton of new fans over there. So I don't think it's his lack of charisma per se that is a result of the ratings. But that's my subjective view too and it is clear that I'm now plainly biased lol

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That dinner scene was perfectly played out. YWJ acting was not over the top and he just gave you a subtle hint that the food was not that good but it's fine and he can still eat it.

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so i'm thinking -- did they just waste TWO of her SIX NIGHTS (or is it 5 nights, being that she was queen for 6 DAYS)???

omg, this drama will be the end of me... i just LOVE when they are together, and how he looks at her and how he hugs her and how he kisses her... soooo sweeeeeet........

and it's all going to end so sadly... but please let us at least share their happy, sweet, joyful, loving moments together... please?????

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okay, i'm stupid... i had it right the first time... queen for 7 days, duh.... it's late. i'm upset at the ending of this last episode...

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The current year in the show is 1504 and prologue in episode 1 is set in 1506. They have two years of (hopefully semi-blissful) married life in between. Yeok Chae-kyung will become king and queen in 1506 after Yeonsangun is deposed, but Chae-kyung will be dethroned a week later.

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I don't have the exact timeline but they were married for more than 7 days. I recall reading somewhere that they were married for quite a number of years before he became king and she got deposed shortly after.

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In history, they were married for seven years. So originally, they should have been married when they were 12 years old but this drama made some changes with Yeok's disappearance.

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I guess that explains why CK has no kids from the marriage because they got married to young. Sad that the king would get his heir from Myung Hee who will die after 8 years of being queen.

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Haha there's no way they would make 12 year olds get married in this drama!

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TBH married for seven days sound a lot more tragic than being a queen for seven days. ? It is like a teminall illness drama - when a couple only get married for seven days. sigh..

You're right, they have been married for years before Yeok get the throne, I think around 6/7 years. This drama will still have few more epi of their life as a husband and wife.

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What I still don't understand is the opening scene, CK was about to be hanged, I thought she was just sent to exile after being deposed according to history (cmiiw). Is that part also fictionalized in this drama to make the ending more tragic? *ooph, my heart* ?

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I truly believe Chaekyung won't be executed in the end. I mean in real life she died of old age! PD is probably baiting us lol

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Sigh. I know they love each other. Their loyalties, her trust. This episode kind of unrolls the reasons why the marriage was doomed. He is like the ambitious politician, she is like the social worker or UN official. Maybe in further episodes we will see her to be less naive of the political atmosphere. It is making more sense why Queen Dowager favours the Life Saviour over Chaekyung. Life Saviour does seem to be in tune with Yeok in ambitions. Maybe not enough to make Yeok happy. A little heartbreaking really.

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Exactly my thoughts!

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After such long time, this is a show where the leads have great chemistry and I just want these two to be happy and have more lovey dovey moments but the show is doibg the exact opposite sadly.

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Just put these 2 together in another drama. I love their honest to goodness portrayal of their role as Chae Kyung and Yeok... you simply see them as their character.

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I sincerely amaze by all the actors in this drama, despite the (undeserve) low ratings, they give all they have and make a beautiful show for all of us to enjoy.

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Yes, professionalism to the highest level.

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agree! i even leave comments in their IG to support them n the crew.

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DO YOU HEAR ME ? I JUST WANT THEM TO BE HAPPY :( * sobbing *
I'm a bit upset about Yeok agreeing to go to Geochang because we all know he cannot do that. I just want him to stop lying and tell her the truth. I'm sure Chae-kyung will try to trust him. She loves you more than the king. Trust her!

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Heh, Yeonsangun's arrow wound hurts so he clutches where it hurts... which is on the side with his heart. I know it actually IS the wound hurting, but I'm sure they placed the wound deliberately in the heart area for this visual effect.

I agree that it is refreshing to see the main couple trusting each other and not misunderstand. Maybe it is unrealistic for many, but on the other hand, so many dramas' continued misunderstandings and distrust is unrealistic/idiotic and when ANOTHER show does it, it is frustrating. So to see a couple that frustratingly trust and love each other but still cannot be honest about crucial things for relatively sound reasons, it is delightfully frustrating instead of just annoying.

I WAS wondering if Yeonsangun would start invite women to his bed based on Chae Kyung's likeness! Considering how we really only see him sleep alone or with Nok-Soo, I was curious how they would introduce that aspect of the real-like king. I think they did it fairly well, and the tattoo and "prophesy" (sounds more just like a warning: If the son marries her he'll see the tatoo and then chaos in court!), which I thought was weird additions to the plot, suddenly make more sense or at least feel more important.

Agh, I can't wait till next episode!

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I agree. I remember thinking that the search for the tattoo would be a way to address the stories of the historical King's lecherous ways. I felt a little sorry for Noksoo at that point. I do believe that, despite everything, she does love the King. It's a shame that he doesn't seem to recognize those feelings. But I have a feeling he might eventually acknowledge her love when things come crashing down and he is deposed.

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Oh yeah. I'm not that knowledgable in old Korean culture, but from the attitude in sageuks I've watched, I guess they were very no-no in showing skin. The rumour that the king calls for countless women to take off their clothes would definetely escalate, especially if he starts sleeping with them too.

Yeah, she does seem to genuinely care for him, but his view and experiences in love are so bad that he is almost incapable of seeing real love. Even if he recognizes that her mother's woes were because his father loved others now, he is incapable of self-reflection and realize that he is doing the very same to his queen with Nok-Soo, AND to Nok-Soo with Chae-Kyung.

It WOULD be bittersweet if, during his exile, she was the one who stayed even if she lost all the jewelry and riches she craved, so he could die feeling loved. Otherwise I am a little surprised that they portray Nok-Soo so, I don't know, passive? She talks and schemes with Im and she is shallow with riches, but if they really wanted her to be evil, I think she would have been more arrogant and angry in certain scenes, rather than sad or worried. Or maybe that is just the actress giving her extra depth. I do feel like the casting director did a good job with this show, even characters that I think are shallow have actors that act the heck out of what they have!

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I do like the actress' facial expressions. They do help to add more depth to her character.

I wish she would stay by his side to the end, but I guess death is in store for her, if the show follows the historical record.

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Oh, yeah, that's true! I just checked WIkipedia, ouch. Well, maybe she will be told by Im during the attack that they have to hurry and escape, and she's like, "No, I cannot abandon the king!", and he yells that if she stays, she dies. But she stays and spends their last moment as king and consort together. However, it would be even more tragic if he was so far gone by then that he still did not recognize it; if it had been weeks earlier, he would, but by now he just… does not.

Agh, this show is so good it makes me curious about its BACKGROUND characters and pretty shallow villains!

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I knew there was something about that tattoo...it has been shown so many times that it can't just be a coincidence. Well played show. Well played.

Do any of you know what other dramas this writer has written? I would really love to know if they're as good as this one.

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The writer is Choi Jin-young. As best as I can figure, this is their first drama. You can bet your booties I'll be watching for that name in the future, though.

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This writer is very promising. I didn't expect this level of skill in handling a full-length sageuk from a rookie.

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Yes this writer is a rookie. This writer has the skill to write good romance melodrama either in sageuk or modern drama, and can write a balance & consistency of the plot. I personally don't view this drama as a well made sageuk in general as I do think there's a little lack of historical part, but if I view this as romance sageuk only, it is beautifully done and to compare with most of current romance sageuk, this drama has the best writing so far. Probably she will be the next Lee Kyung Hee.

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I heard that the writer (and director?) was a woman, and I was a bit surprised. In the west there are few female writers and directors compared to men, and many mean that movies like Wonder Woman shows big and small ways a woman directs/writes compared to most men, mostly in how the women are treated both in design, casting and story.

I'm curious if the writer being a woman does a lot to the way 7DQ is written. I am a beginner with Korean drama, gender-politics and culture in general, so I am probably wrong. But this drama feels so different from the few other dramas I have watched. It is probably because I have not watched enough drama, or that the writer is also a rookie and thus has not gotten stuck with the frustrating conflict balls of drama yet. But it makes me curious. I am definetely going to watch her next show!

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Yeah, a lot of the writers behind kdramas are women. It's a large part of why I love them and why I am much more likely to watch them over western media. Not because I think I should support female writers or anything, but because they are more likely to write things that speak to me. It was pretty awesome discovering this whole entertainment industry where the target audience is women.

(I wasn't sure about this particular writer. I thought she was a woman, but when I did a search on the name, I was getting hits for a male actor who committed suicide in 2010. So I knew the name could be a man's name, and I started second guessing myself.)

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I see! I definetely find a lot of my own preferences and guilty pleasures from South-Korean and Chinese dramas. I guess in many ways, these dramas are made with women in mind, whereas most western dramas are mostly made with both genders or men in mind, and dramas that intentionally go after a female audience is ridiculed or looked down upon.

Huh, I get your confusion then. I'm very biased and, as I said, don't know much about Korean entertainment, but I am a little inclined to think the writer, or director, is a woman. But I'm ready to accept I'm wrong!

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Woah, finally the writer I've been waiting for amidst the lackluster dramas airing right now with their crappy plot (looking at you Sassy Girl, Ruler). I seriously don't mind the changes in history since this is not supposed to be your political sageuka like Queen Seondeok or Dong Yi, but a romance sageuk. In fact, I'm wishing for writer-nim to give our lovebirds a happy ending like can Yeok give up his throne early and be with Chaekyung like what they did with the King and Dong Yi?

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Yeonsangun . . . boy did not have much of a role model for healthy relationships, did he. He is talking about how marriage is where distrust and jealousy fester, and how his mother was so distraught over his father having another woman. But he doesn't see the irony in the fact that he is telling the story to his mistress, his other woman, not his wife. And immediately afterwards, he kicks his mistress out too in favor of some poor court woman who had the misfortune to catch his eye.

Boy did not take the correct message from his mother's pain.

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The scene where Chae Kyung berates herself for doubting Yeok reminded me of her younger self. Characterization in this drama is so consistent. ?

I have reservations about Chae Kyung's tattoo being the secret document/command, but I wonder how Yeok's mom would react to that. She isn't very keen on Chae Kyung marrying Yeok (so much so that she's told Myung Hye to wait patiently for her time) but she believes the last king's will is their best bet in taking the throne. I wonder if she'll still be one of those who'll advise to remove Chae Kyung as Yeok's queen when the time comes...

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I too have the thoughts that maybe the Queen Dowager will have a hand in the removal of Chaekyung as Queen. I doubt Chaekyung will be happy as Queen for long but still.

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Ikr! When she asked Yeok to live in the countryside, we already know something simple and beautiful like that ain't gonna happen! And there goes my heart ?

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The simple life in the country and monogamous marriage. She won't get those from a King. Heartbreak all over the place.

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I'm afraid the Queen Dowager will use her to legitimize Yeok's claim and then plot to throw her away when that's done.

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Huhu I feel so sad for Chae Kyung! I just want to be there when that happens so I could give her a hug!

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But why would she does that though? If Chae Kyung is the key for his son path to the throne, she is million time more useful than MH...

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She is useful for her son to take the throne but without Shin clan and her father supports, she will be useless as a queen. A weak queen without any strong connections. The palace politics always about who are behind the queen. King can't do anything without powerful backup especially from his queen's clan. Even MH she became his queen because of her uncle was the most powerful at that time. MH, if I am not mistaken, was not the only concubine. All clans that helped him sent their representatives to be taken as concubines.

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No preview whyyyyyyyyy T_T

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The drama is in live-shoot mode so no footage available yet to make the preview. I'm quite surprised they managed to last this long before the filming schedule finally caught up with them.

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Whoah, it's a live-shoot? :O With how well-thought out everything was, I kind of just assumed that it was already shot and made. That is pretty impressive.

But, uh, this is the first time I watch a live-shoot while it is being aired. Is there a chance that the show won't arrive next week because they are not done?

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It will, unless something happens that will seriously derail their filming schedule.

Most dramas are liveshot. If you've watched a drama, chances are it was liveshot. Kdramas have recently started taking up pre-production (Moon Lovers, Saimdang, Sassy Girl), but they haven't had much success with it.

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I also love how Chae-Kyung at first tried to uphold her mother-in-law's words about them sleeping together, but in the end she decides to keep it a secret from her and plans to sleep with Yeok anyway. I don't know what old Joseon wedding beds were like, but it just sounds so HUMAN to break those kinds of rules. They exist, but of course a couple that love each other will sneak around and just sleep together anyway. XD Just like in Viking Iceland, courting was strictly forbidden, as was sex before marriage, but everyone knew courting happened and men were still expected to have slept around before he married anyway.

I don't know, it just is so cute of her, especially because SHE is the one who takes the initiative. He of course is the first to try to insist, but he won't pressure her about it, and in the end she's like "heck yeah I want to sleep with my boo too, let's DO THIS" only maybe less subtly than what I quoted. XD

I am curious about the aspect of waiting for a designated day, though. Was that Joseon tradition? If not, this could be the Queen Mother's way to, as others suggested, avoid a pregnancy that woulld make it difficult to depose of her later. It's just ironic if so, because the quicker they sleep together the quicker he'll find the secret will that she craves so.

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Royal families tend to set a specific date for couples to sleep together in order to increase chances of pregnancy.

I honestly think Queen Dowager is using this as an advantage so she can depose Chaekyung later though.

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I see! thanks for clearing that! But why couldn't they just sleep together as much as they wanted, PLUS those specific dates? Was it because they wanted to avoid having sex as much as possible?

Heheh, but she didn't think of the possibility that NANNY would dress up in CG's place so CG could (try to) have hot, archaic intercourse with her husband!

Though, I just realized that the spy that Nanny tricked… wasn't she Yeonsangun's? I thought Yeok said all the servants were his people and knew they would all observe their every move and report to the king, and we did not get a scene where the Queen Dowager said her own people were planted there.

…Does that mean Yeonsangun is keeping tabs on especially CG (since there were nobody by Yeok's room), and his servants would also make sure they did not consummate the marriage? Because, the Queen Dowager told CG to wait for a date, but not that her own servants would watch to make sure. If so, that adds another creepy factor to the king.

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I can't wait for the next episode! I wonder what Chae Gyung would do as she's know torn between her trust in Yeok and the words from Yeosangun. Now that she's seen the list name, it'd probably made her believe Yeosangun's word. I seriously can't predict if Chae Gyung would support Yeok's plan or she will go against him as she's worried about Yeok's traitorous mind.

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*she's now

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Goodness, the recaps and the comments for this drama are always super, super fast (not complaining) ?? I haven't even watched the episodes most of the time. How do you guys get subbed version so fast? I usually only get it the day after the original air time.

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Oh, and now *off to watch this episode ?

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well, i usually watch on kissa***n, but today the site is weird, so i ended up watching it on d****nice.... google the title, eng sub and the episode number... then you'll find the sites where you can watch with full subs, if available....

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Yeah, I think some sites are faster than the other. For very popular dramas, I've seen some on certain sites that have been subbed just within a few hours after the episode was aired. I generally watched via an app on my phone 'cause my internet connection is not always stable, and this app allows me to download first so if the connection suddenly turned bad I still can watch it offline, but the wait for the subbed version unfortunately does take a bit longer.

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My relationship with this show is like Chae-kyung's relationship with Yeok. It's sweet and so, so good, but it keeps hurting me every episode. Even then, I still love it so much. *sigh*

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I love this comment! Great simile and so accurate to how we all feel I'm guessing!

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Another excellent week! LDG is just so effective that I forget about the couple sometimes. Right now the characters I'm really feeling for are CG and King YSG. Yeok - there's something that's missing that I can't totally root for him.

CG and her nanny are the best combo. The nanny knows about the palace workers being there to spy on Yeok and CG. I love that even though she doesn't trust Yeok, she stills help CG in consummating her marriage with him.

CG is one of the best written heroine I've seen. She's so stubborn and I love how she gave him grief about coming home late and lying to her on the night of their wedding. Serves him right! What groom does that??

King YSG has effectively planted the seeds of doubt in CG's mind and now he's just waiting for it to grow like weeds. I'm glad that CG is no longer in dark of Yeok's plan. I can't wait to see this play out next week.

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Me too! I mean, I care about the main couple, but that is mostly in relation to CG because I want her to be with the one she loves, and because their scenes are cute. But my drug right now is her interactions with YSG, because their chemistry is so good no matter if it is as friends, as servant and master, or as technical enemies (which is why I really wish we got more episodes of them being friends, but this show's strong point is how it moves the plot along anyway). While I am curious how Yeok will get the throne, I'm tuning up for next week to see HER reactions and what SHE does, especially in relation to YSG.

I agree that CG is one of the best-written heroines I've seen in a while! Just about everything is done well, and when some of her personality starts to get annoying (her somewhat naive trust in Yeok this episode), BAM they move the plot along and I can now wait excitedly to see what she will do now.

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I love Nanny! She's one in a million ?. 'Nuff said.

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I asked my mother if i should continue to watch it or just wait until the end of the story to avoid heartbreak, she asked why then i go on lengthy explanation about yeonsangun, jungjong and dankyung (i'm not even korean citizen btw, n i dont even remember my country history that much.this what sageuk drama did to me) then my mom said better not, we dont even want to pour out our tears or bawling again like scarlet heart ending.but the romance just so good and damn hurt, i juz wanted to watch more n look forward for every yeok n chaekyung scene.

The scene where king took a court lady that resembles CK just damn creepy and disturbing.

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i really don't get why this drama has poor rating. like why? the plot, music, acting and chemistry of main leads are all amazing. YWJ and PMY have to do another project together again with a happy ending one. Their chemistry is seriously amazing. With only staring and smiling each other, it's enough to make me scream. I don't mind watching Yeok staring at Chae Kyung all day.

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perhaps they hate sad ending unlike many of us here hahah

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most probably; actually, i really like the cast and wanted so bad to watch another sageuk drama like this but i still couldn't bring myself to do so... well ya know, i have a weak heart (ouch *sfd* ouch)

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We see through Yeonsangun's behavior that he does not have the qualities of a just and moral king. My question, however, is whether or not his late father truly saw that all those years ago. Seo-no's father says that the late king spoke and acted as a ruler, not as a father. But I can't help but feel that the glimpses of the past do not seem to support that idea. All we see are displays of favoritism, with a young Yeonsangun deliberately kept from being a part of those familial moments. If the king saw something "wrong" in his son, why not try to correct it? Why not try to be a positive influence in his life? Instead, his actions helped to fortify the insecurities and resentments in his older child. In more than one way the downfall of Yeonsangun is a self-fulfilling prophecy. He father helped to fulfill it by his cold actions and Yeonsangun is finishing the job through his insecurity, cruelty, and hate. I can't pardon Yeonsangun's actions, no matter what. I can feel sorry for his wasted youth--and his lack of positive parental influence, both from his mother and his father--but I cannot excuse the pain he causing others.

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*Correction* "His father helped to fulfill...."

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I'm sure there were pleasant memories too but Yeonsangun chooses to dwell on the moments that breed his hate. He is an unreliable narrator because of his resentment, insecurities and instability.

Remember when we saw Yeok's memories there were happy times with his brother and he clearly loved and adored his brother which was why he was so adamant in believing him.

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I agree that there were pleasant memories, at least between Yeonsangun and Yeok. The last flashback would also suggest that the current Queen Mother showed affection towards him when she was still a concubine. Yes, he is unreliable; he is someone who is constantly twisting the words and intentions of others. I still feel, however, that something was not right in the late king's treatment of his older son. But once again, Yeonsangun is manipulative and I wonder if he still would have taken the path he is currently on. There is more I would like to say on this topic, but I don't want my thoughts to ramble. I feel like, no matter what, this is no win win situation. Still, Yeonsangun is the one in control of his actions. Within the context of this drama, I wonder what would have happened if he had taken the opposite path, just to prove the naysayers wrong. Instead, he is confirming the opinions of those very people (deceased or otherwise). I won't pose such hypothetical questions for the historical Yeonsangun, because that is a completely different story.

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About the king's treatment of Yeonsangun: When the prophesy first came, I honestly rolled my eyes and thought they would once more hinge the entire country on what a wisewoman says, which will take its time and cause rift between the MCs. But, as time went on, the "prophesy" made more sense; it was not a prophesy at all, but a warning that was related to the throne's ascension. The secret will was connected to CG, giving her a bigger role in the brothers' conflict (IIRC, DramaBean's critique of Beautiful Gong Shim was that at some point, Gong Shim almost faded into the background fo the half-brothers/cousins' struggles). A thing that I didn't think was to be more than just a small detail to fill space, turned out to be much more important than what I thought. Not to mention that the writer has done a great job at moving the plot along, not staying one place too long and even surprising me by some of its development (I definetely did not expect Yeok to reveal himself public that early!)

With that, I gained a lot of confidence in the writer. I too think the king's apparent favoritism toward Yeok is a point that will be talked about, because unless we see flashbacks that showed Yeonsangun was truly beyond saving, the late king just sounds like a dick and a coward for secretly changing the will. I mean, if he planned for Yeok to find out his inheritance when he came of age, who is to say Yeonsangun hadn't gained enough power to take all support away from Yeok? Maybe if the king had said, "as your mother was deposed and executed, a son of a criminal is not fit to rule", it would be better for all parties, and at least Yeonsangun would be furious and hurt, but his descent into madness would not be as extreme.

Which is why I think it will be a point that, though Yeonsangun is an unrealiable narrator, the king was a flawed man and did a huge mistake which caused all this mess. Or something else. At least, if that part of the plot is not lampshaded or mentioned at any point, I'd be surprised at the writer.

And yes, it's too bad that Yeon can't use his smarts to prove them wrong. He tried when CG told him to be a wise king, but apparently that has been forgotten, maybe because of his anger at CG marrying another man.

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i would go crazy to Yeon Woo Jin's stare if i was 5 years younger than i am right now ?

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They just love and trust each other so much UGH I WANNA HUG THEM. *blubbers incoherently* the show is really convincing me of their love story.

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I can watch Nanny snarl at the eunuchs all day too.

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But why did I feel nanny and that eunuch can be a good sparing partner- nanny bickering- the eunuch the timid one. Maybe they can accompany CK in her exiled.

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I know YSG is a tyrant, but he is kind of a tragic, since it's shown he wasn't loved at all growing up,which turned into a huge contributing factor to him being the awful monster he is turning into.

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I begin to sound like a broken record, but I just cannot stop myself from praising Yeonsangun's character. Everytime he's on screen I'm on my toes, wondering what he'll do next. This episode was especially good, it showed his further descent into madness (torture scene was so chilling, even Secretary Im seemed creeped out by his cruelty), his jealousy and this miserable yearning that makes me feel so bad for him (when he rested his head on that woman's lap... So pitiful). Of course he's twisted as hell, an enemy to our heroes and a genius of evil, but Lee Dong-gun just does such a good job of making Yeonsangun layered and interesting, I can't help but get super excited over scenes with him.

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I just wanna say:

I LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE THIS RECAP SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO MUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCH!!!!!!!

I kept laughing and smiling coz the recap is just as funny as the drama. Hahhahhaah. ... Salute, GF!

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So by history, we all know what's going to happen. But part of me just wants a glimpse of what if. Maybe before everything goes down, we get a glimpse of what could have been, whether a dream sequence or whatever. If the king had the love and nurturing, maybe if he had CG,will he still be the same?

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I must be cursed always to love the sageuk that the Korean audience hates. First, MLSHR and now 7DQ. My favorite addictive-as-crack sageuks just can’t catch a break!

I give full props to writer because this is good tragedy. The characters are consistently written, their motivations clear, and the plot is well-paced because screen-time is not wasted on foolish plot devices as time-fillers.

I feel like I’m watching a game of chess. Each character is trying his or her best to survive and thrive, but given the circumstances, their own personal foibles and strengths, and the other players involved, everything is fated for tragedy.

While I know that Yeok and Chae-Kyung will end up together, I have to hand it to Lee Dong Gun for giving me SLS like I can’t believe. There’s just something irresistible in the trope of a man who is flailing desperately to find salvation, and he unwittingly places all his hopes on the woman he loves.

We know from history that Yeonsangun was a terrible tyrant, yet this story humanizes him to the point where we *wish* he could be redeemed, all the while knowing he’s bound for self-destruction. He’s one way out of madness is Chae-Kyung, but her heart already belongs to Yeok. And how poignant that everything Yeonsangun has ever wanted: family (whether it be the confidence of his father, the affection of his mother/step-mother, or love of the girl he fell in love with) has always somehow been denied him and given to Yeok. #tragedy

And like @girlfriday said, Yeonsangun’s descent into madness by degrees is so memorizing to watch! It makes logical sense, even if heartbreaking.

What I find interesting is comparing the female lead in MLSHR to 7DQ’s. While I think most would agree that in MLSHR, Hae Su was obviously sent back to help Wang So ascend the throne, ultimately, she had no place in Goryeo, as exemplified by the facts that she had no powerful familial connections she could wield, and ideologically, she’s completely at odds with 10th Century palace politics.

Yet, Chae-Kyung is not in the same situation, but she is still doomed. While she is probably quite naive regarding palace politics, she is extremely well connected to the king both through her father and her aunt. And yet, this is the very thing that will bode ill for her when her beloved, Yeok, decides to take the throne.

Is the overall message that no matter what, love cannot survive the throne? Hmmm…..

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You can either gain the thron or love of your life... being a king of a nation means sacrificing your everything else including your love...

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I can't bear to watch the episodes...my heart just keeps hurting everytime I see CK's reaction to Yeok's lies. It's just really sad that Yeok doesn't love CK enough to abandon his dream of being king & live quietly with CK. Or maybe he thought that the end justifies the means. In his mind, the only way they can live happily forever is once he becomes king.
Honestly speaking, I really think CK wouldn't have been deposed if her family chose to side with Yeok instead of YSG. I remembered reading somewhere that Minister Shin was given the choice to join his son in law or stay with his brother in law & he chose to side with his brother in law because he thought the current crown prince (YSG's son with Minister Shin's sister) can replace YSG. Wrong move on his part. He should have sided with his daughter vs his sister.
Even if CK wasn't deposed, she will never feel the same kind of love towards Yeok because it was due to him that her entire family was killed. She would have ended up being bitter & hating him. So in the end, I guess it's a sort of saving grace for CK to just leave the palace & be away from all it's dirty politics.
This is just me trying to justify the eventual sad ending of Yeok & CK's love story. ?

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She says that his mother insisted on it because the doctors said she had to drink some tonics first (likely to help aid pregnancy) ---> Uh oh, it's also possible that the tonics will make Chae-kyung infertile, pffft. That can probably explain why Yeok and Chae-kyung didn't have any children together.

On a "lighter" note, I'm glad that the nanny is staying with Chae-kyung so there is a big chance that she will not get killed and will be the one to accompany Chae-kyung during her exile. It also blows my mind that the actress playing the nanny was Eun-tak's hateful aunt in Goblin.

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If the writers get lazy and just down right ignore history, I'm so on it! I just want a happy ending for our couple <3 Please!!

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i want a happy ending too, pdnim please, please?????

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OK I have already resigned myself to the fact that there's bound to be a lot of shite and angst and tragedy to go around for everyone especially the leads but can they please leave Nanny alone? That's all I ask. ??? I don't think my heart can take it if Nanny too will be harmed. Seriously Nanny is LOVE.

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in cried a lot in this episode ??

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Thanks for the recap, Girlfriday!

I was actually glad that Yeonsangun did not actually force Chae-gyung for that kiss during the previous episode. At least he still has this decency to stop himself. I do think he's still being reminded that he's human when with her or he just cherishes her that much I don't know, but well, we all know what dastardly acts he can do.

I reckon Yeonsangun is intent to nail Yeok to, first and foremost, prove to Chae-gyung that her husband cannot be trusted. At times it actually seems that that is the first reason instead of that other reason of maintaining his status as a king. He'd like to prove to Chae-gyung that he's right all along and that he should be the one loved, not Yeok, something like that. At least, that's what I read from him because he would always huff at every turn, always with Chae-gyung on his mind. He's also aware of this as he said to himself, “So I have grown curious—do I want to live as a king, or do I want to live as one woman’s man?”. Yeonsangun can kill an innocent man without compunction one minute then would look so vulnerable lying his head on a court lady's lap the next. He's cruel and murderous alright, but I just cannot completely hate the guy.

Now regarding that board with the flowchart. I'm really nervous as it is still there with just a flimsy curtain covering the darn thing. They know they are being watched. Yeonsangun has been to that place for crying out loud! If he so much catch a glimpse of it then they're all friggin' dead! It's not like they have a steel-enforced panic room over there, it was just wood and paper and curtain with an inner room that actually has a wall that falls into its tiny room, oh god these people. Now Chae-gyung has seen it, with her name on the board, of course. I was actually wishing that there will be no misunderstanding with Chae-gyung's intention (thank goodness Yeok heard everything during that near-kiss, and thank goodness that in kdramaland, people just don't have any peripheral vision), but now Yeok is the one being misunderstood. I mean I know Chae-gyung will have doubts now about Yeok's love for her but well it is expected that she will stick by his side (I just don't know how though, she would always see the good in everyone but I would think it would be a big blow to her that Yeok was actually staging a rebellion). She knows that telling Yeonsangun will be the death of Yeok but I don't know how she'll be able to lie straight-faced. She might be able to use the key she's been given to save her family though, if she had seen that her family is being targeted as well. Dear me, how many days should we wait for this to be answered? This waiting-for-the-next-ep nonsense is just driving me mad seriously!

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I am still hoping for a very steamy honeymoon night ahahaha! Yeok has to see that tattoo and the only way he can see that is for that one steamy night we all have been wanting and wishing and dreaming...argh...thinking of that in butterflies!!!

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I'm totally hoping for that steamy night amidst all the intrigues in this drama especially now that CK is made aware of Yeok's plan. I hope the chances are still high ?

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He still needs to see the tatoo in the back... maybe in one of those 'steamy" nights... lol..

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Have been watching this drama and also Fight My Way. Strange to say, this is a beautiful drama. I am a Yeon Woo Jin fan after seeing him on Introverted Boss. The plot just isn't intriguing enough to make me emotionally invested in any of the characters. I still watch it though - just for the couple scenes and Yeonsangun being mean :P

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I got done with Yeonsangun when he ordered to make the village his hunting grounds. Crazy. I wish it doesn't include wiping out the people too but we all know that's the case. Still, him being like this was the product of his environment and experiences. It's just too bad he couldn't win against all of it.

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Oh! And Nanny is the best!

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I wonder how CK will view Yeok now that she found out about his chart. I'm so curious to know what happens next waiting a week is too goddamn long

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IMO I think it's unfair to say that YWJ lacks charisma, the drama just gives him less moments for his acting to shine like he did in Marriage not Dating. Yeok seems to gain less attention compared to YSG simply because in the last couple episodes the writer has only showed us his actions and less insight into his thoughts. YSG was given tons of time screen time with intriguing mono dialogues while Yeok just ran around doing this and that. Anyway, everyone is outdoing themselves, I'm really enjoying the show right now and will keep watching it.

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Whatever the reason is/are: charisma, number of fans, etc........ This drama is outstanding.... I just dont over analyze about the k-viewers they are not the only people in the world, it's their loss... LOL....

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I want the next episode and I want it NOW

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