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The King 2 Hearts: Episode 9

Why does this show want to kill me dead? Now that we’ve treated one heartache, it’s time for another, and this time Misunderstanding rears its ugly head. It’s actually deployed in a cracktastic fashion, but damn if I’m not hurling things while glued to the screen. Gorrammit, can we shoot them up with truth serum and lock them in a bunker? They’re military-trained. It could work.

 
EPISODE 9 RECAP

Bong-gu greets Jae-ha with an auspicious bow, feigning disappointment at the fact that Jae-ha can’t remember him. He’s like, oh it was twenty-some-odd years ago, no biggie. Well if you refreshed his memory about the pen stabbing, I bet he’d remember.

He looks over at Jae-kang’s portrait, gasping at how such a thing could happen, crying real tears (as in liquid, not genuine emotion), “He liked my magic so.”

They sit down for a meal together, and Bong-gu asks about the ark shell dish on the table, noting that it’s prepared in a rather unorthodox way. Jae-ha says good-naturedly that well, he’s the king, so now it IS tradition. You can tell it’s exactly the king of thing that raises Bong-gu’s hackles, but he laughs it off.

Jae-ha brags that it was made by the future queen (so cute) from a recipe passed down by his mother. Bong-gu asks if he likes that North Korean woman, talking about her very casually, and Jae-ha warns him to choose his words wisely.

He steels, “She is the future queen of this nation.” Ooooh, I kinda like these two in the same room together all of a sudden. Bong-gu just says in turn, “There’s this old saying: If you want to trust someone, suspect them first.”

Shi-kyung tiptoes into Jae-shin’s hospital room so awkwardly it pains me, and she doesn’t notice because she’s listening to music. He sees her leg hanging down off the bed and decides he should sneak up and cover it with a blanket, because apparently he’s never seen a wildlife video before and doesn’t know what happens when you poke a sleeping tiger. Are you new?

She freaks out, of course, refusing his help and screaming in a fit. He tries to help her up when she nearly falls off the bed, only making matters worse. She’s freaking out, he’s panicked and doesn’t know what to do, so that’s when he decides it’s time to unveil the present he brought – a talking parrot.

He launches into this ADORABLE awkward stuttery speech about how he found it at a pet shop and the bird had a broken leg, and well… then the parrot didn’t have a broken leg… and it was because the parrot exercised by himself… and… and… if the princess were to get physical therapy… then she could be like the bird… and… uh… IT SINGS!

HA.

The whole while, she’s completely offended that he thinks her such a simpleton that he’d use this obvious metaphor to tell her to buck up, only Shi-kyung really IS that earnest, and he’s in no way mocking her. Can’t you just picture him in the pet shop, all, this is the best idea ever! She screams at him, calling him a crazy bastard, and he’s so panicked by now that he starts entreating the bird to sing and help a brother out.

So then he’s singing at the bird trying to coax it, and the bird just deadpans, “Stupid idiot! Stupid idiot!” Pfffft. It’s finally so funny that Jae-shin cracks up. She says to the bird that he’s better than the ajusshi, and tells Shi-kyung to bring him over.

Aww, new friend. Shi-kyung just watches her make friends with the parrot in relief, sweating more bullets than he ever did during all that WOC training.

Bong-gu says his goodbye to the king, and offers up a parting gift. He takes out a pen…

Oh crap. And then he confesses on the spot that he once stabbed Jae-ha with a pen when they were very young, offering the pen now as a token of reconciliation. Jae-ha just looks down at it and laughs, saying that no such thing ever happened. Er?

He laughs, asking how someone like him could dare to stab the king, and tosses the pen back at him with a flick of the wrist. He adds that he’d never have endured such a thing, no matter how young he was. “You’re mistaken.” He walks out, leaving Bong-gu completely turned around.

It’s the one reaction Bong-gu doesn’t expect – he wants fear, shock, anger, and instead he’s met with a blank wall. He returns to the classroom where it all happened, reminiscing that the moment he wrote, “I am king” on the window, he had already made the decision to usurp the throne.

He flares up at how long he’s spent tending to his horrible father to get where he is today, and that he won’t let that punk ruin it for anything. He declares that he is the real king, and tells his minion to donate 5 billion won to the royal family.

His reasoning is that with Jae-ha’s IQ, things will never happen on their timetable, so they need to change the game. Only he’s acting from the judgment that Jae-ha is a complete idiot—he thinks that with a memory like his, he has to be a fool. Well, you’re not right but you’re not wrong either.

Secretary Eun tells Jae-ha about the donation and though it surprises him, he tells Secretary Eun to accept it freely. Do you maybe think it’s time to tell him that it would be taking money from his brother’s killer? No? Okay then.

Secretary Eun calls to warn the baddies that just because they’re taking the money to build a memorial for Jae-kang, it doesn’t mean they get anything out of it, and Bong-gu’s minion says of course, it’s not like they’d ask, oh, Where’s the king vacationing? It’d be funny if I weren’t still bitter about it.

So construction begins on the villa where the king and queen died, to turn it into a memorial park. The queen mother arrives to look at the place where her son died, which she takes in quietly, subduing her grief.

Shi-kyung keeps watch, and then an agent runs up with something they discovered while digging up the site. He storms back into the palace still holding the box, and bursts into Hang-ah’s room.

He tells her that this is what they found at the scene of the crime (coal dust, of which he’s brought a sample while the rest is being tested)—and she opens it up to find a North Korean cell phone. Ruh-roh. This is bad. Also really obvious, but I don’t trust them not to fall for it. Shi-kyung says they’re putting guards at her door.

Jae-ha is on his way to the palace, and asks Dong-ha where Shi-kyung’s been lately. Dong-ha says he was actually headed to see Hang-ah earlier… and Jae-ha fidgets jealously, announcing a change of plans: they’re going to Hang-ah’s quarters. “And from now on, if there’s a reason to go there, YOU go.” Hee.

Jae-ha bursts in, catching the pair looking awkward, but only because they’re trying to hide the box, and well, Shi-kyung is just awkward at everything. Jae-ha asks what they’re doing, and Shi-kyung just bows and walks out.

Hang-ah is clearly standing right in front of the box she doesn’t want him to see, and he asks what she’s hiding, “What, did you guys share some chocopies while I wasn’t looking?”

She finally steps aside and fills him in, and the way she searches his eyes, waiting for his response, kind of kills me. Shock, anger, and then the realization of what it means for them – it all comes at once, and after a long pause, he says that it still has to be investigated.

I like that this moment is played with more silence than words. They both know what it could mean, but won’t say it aloud. He takes the box and walks out.

Meanwhile, the news breaks. Ack. Investigators have taken apart the phones and the technology, inside and out, is something that North Korea had recently boasted about as an advance in their telecommunications—as one of the first countries to develop phones using embedded passives.

Jae-shin goes straight to Hang-ah, furious and calling her a Red, asking if she wanted to be a queen so badly that she murdered Big Oppa, crying that she let herself be bathed by her brother’s killer.

But Hang-ah doesn’t flinch at her reaction, grabbing her wrist to get her to focus. She presses Jae-shin to remember the events of that night—did she see the king, or anyone else? Her memory is the key.

Hang-ah says that if she’s the one responsible then she’ll pay the price, but if not… then North, South, all of them get swept up because of some unknown, who’s going to swallow them whole. I love that she’s a level-headed soldier.

Jae-shin says, trembling, “I hope that it wasn’t an act. Sincerely.” She sits with Mom in the greenhouse later, mulling it over, and decides that even if the North is responsible, Hang-ah couldn’t have been involved herself. “There’s no way.”

And then she has a flash of memory from that night, triggered by music. She shakes and chokes, as flashes of her attacker come back. Please say you remember something. For now it just seems like trauma but not concrete memories.

Jae-ha sends Secretary Eun to represent the palace in the investigation council, and asks for a report—no frills, just the truth. Dad takes Shi-kyung along, and finds that the congressmen leading the investigation are more interested in arguing with each other, but agreed on one matter: how is Kim Hang-ah involved?

He reports to Jae-ha that they want to summon Hang-ah, and that immediately puts him on the defensive. Hang-ah? They just want someone to blame! Aw, I love when he defends her honor.

Secretary Eun says yes, exactly. They just want someone to blame. He starts to say how unrealistic it is to expect a union with the North, a woman from special forces. Jae-ha argues that it was hyung’s idea, which Secretary Eun now admits he was against from the beginning.

He says that the investigation has already moved out of their grasp, into the purview of Congress, and now they need a sacrificial lamb. Just like that? You’re not even gonna TRY to clear her name before tossing her to the wolves? You make it so easy to hate you.

Jae-ha: “So what you’re saying is, you want to sacrifice Hang-ah? Just because we’re not engaged… SHE’S GOING TO BE MY WIFE! She’s a member of the royal family!”

Secretary Eun: “She’s a North Korean!” He says that she’s on the same side as those who killed the former king. This scene is tearing me in two directions, because I’m so moved by Jae-ha’s reaction, but I’m cursing at Eun Kyu-tae’s bald-faced move to turn Hang-ah into the scapegoat to save himself.

Jae-ha tries to reason that it’s too obvious for North Korea to actually be involved—why would they leave evidence that points directly back at them? THANK YOU. Is anyone on the investigation team asking these questions?

But Eun Kyu-tae knows how to play on Jae-ha’s weaknesses, noting that it’s clear he wants to believe that the North isn’t responsible because of his feelings for Hang-ah. He accuses him of letting that cloud his judgment, which Jae-ha can’t ignore, of course, since it’s true.

He goes to see Hang-ah and suggests they have a drink, reminiscing about the first time they got sloshed and her dad caught them red-handed. He thought for sure he’d get hit, and she says that he was so forward that she wanted to dig a hole in the ground and hide.

He says she should’ve then, blaming her for being too easy, and she in turn blames him for feeding her love shots on purpose, to get her drunk. He stops to ask how she knows they’re called love shots anyway, and realizes she totally played innocent with him.

She says she let him think he won, “You should be grateful.” He laughs.

But then the conversation takes a turn when he asks why she hid the box of evidence when he walked in and found her. Oh crap. Are you really asking her that? In that suspicious tone? She gulps. (Note: here they start to say “our” and “your” in reference to North and South.)

She says she did it without thinking, and when he asks why, she says because the cell’s outside (the casing) was theirs. Jae-ha: “Just the outside?” Oh damn. They sit there, frozen like that for a long tense moment.

Finally she speaks, brining up the official investigation. She says that she’ll go in for questioning. “To clear your doubts.”

He looks her in the eye, “I trust you. I trust you as much as I’d want to kill you with my own hands, if there was a one-in-ten-million shot that you’re involved.” It sounds more threatening than what he means—basically that he trusts her, enough to let himself be a fool if in fact she is actually a cold-blooded killer. As in: I trust you, even if that means I’ll have to kill you when they tell me I’m wrong.

She calls him “your highness,” and asks if she can address him freely because it’s just the two of them. She smiles, “That’ll never happen, Comrade Lee Jae-ha.” He smiles back. How much do I love that their term of endearment is comrade?

The next morning she prepares to go meet her summons, and the queen mother asks to see her first. Hang-ah enters nervously. Mom: “I think it’s possible that North Korea is responsible for what happened. Because they don’t like us. But… I won’t abandon you.”

Aw, I love her. Hang-ah’s eyes fill with tears, as Mom smoothes her hair, saying that she needs to make a good first impression. A tear falls, and Mom tells her, “No, don’t cry. A member of the royal family must be strong.” She nods as more tears fall.

Jae-ha spends his day watching Hang-ah on the news, mindlessly playing minesweeper in an attempt to keep himself distracted. I like that they have the same denial activity.

Hang-ah appears before the committee, confident and strong, and speaks honestly about her training, even joking that one thing is the same in North and South—they oughtn’t believe everything they read in the papers.

They ask about her communication with the North, and she hands over the last text message sent by her father, to follow South Korean ways because she is one of them now. She says that’s why she’s here today—to follow the South Korean laws, as a South Korean person.

Meanwhile her father calls Jae-ha with an urgent request, saying that they have evidence that clears the North, but can’t disclose it yet. He starts to hang up, but Dad says they found out who was behind that treadmill bomb during their training days: Club M.

Jae-ha’s still slow on the uptake when it comes to them, only having the recent donation for hyung’s memorial to go on, but Hang-ah’s father urges him to look into the king’s records, where he’ll find that Club M was more of a problem for his administration than Jae-ha knows.

Hang-ah returns to the palace to find Jae-shin waiting for her, this time with a much calmer attitude and a smile. She asks if Hang-ah got to curse the royal family freely, and she says she was going to, but they never gave her the chance.

She asks after Jae-ha, clearly looking around for him, and Jae-shin says he turned in early and that he’s always been kinda lazy. That’s not news to Hang-ah, but she can’t hide her disappointment.

He’s actually busy trying to crack hyung’s password for his diary, which is confusing since you’d think the next king would just be given access to that, but it makes for an amusing scene anyway.

He remembers Secretary Eun’s suggestion that he set his password as the thing he wants the most, and tries: North-South reunification. Nope. Baby. Nope. Shim Eun-ha. (HA) Nope. He sighs that this is hard.

Meanwhile North Korea asks for a meeting at the DMZ, and they show their hand—the technology that they bragged about? Yeah, not so much. The North admits that they’re on their way to developing EP technology, so what’s the harm in leaking it to the press a year or two in advance?

But now the truth serves them more, because there’s no way they could have made the devices involved in the assassination. Oh nice. I like this development.

Bong-gu sighs at the hiccup to his evil plan, but says to leave it alone, since the prideful North isn’t about to admit the truth, and when all is said and done, things’ll roll along like they’re supposed to.

And he’s not wrong, because while the North did share the secret, they aren’t willing to cop to it publicly. They threaten war if the truth gets out. The committee battles it out—how do they say North Korea isn’t responsible without that key factor?

Secretary Eun returns from the meeting, and Shi-kyung smiles at his side, saying that the king will be pleased to hear that the North isn’t responsible. But when they reach Jae-ha who asks if there were any new developments, Dear ol’ Dad says nothing.

Oh shit. No, don’t break Earnest Bot’s little bot heart! He stands there with his mouth hanging open, confused as Dad tells the king not to get his expectations up. Thankfully, he’s not built like his father, and he speaks up right away.

“Father…” Dad tells him to stay quiet, and Shi-kyung just blurts to Jae-ha that North Korea isn’t responsible. Dad kicks him out of the room. Jae-ha is so happy at the news and what it means for Hang-ah that he doesn’t even register the weirdness between father and son, and then finally asks later why he didn’t say so in the first place.

Secretary Eun says it’s because they can’t announce the truth anyway—the North threatened war if they reveal the failed EP technology, but without solid evidence, the South can’t just say the North didn’t do it, end of story.

Jae-ha doesn’t see the problem with just revealing the truth anyway, since a threat is simply a threat, and well, it’s not a new one. But Secretary Eun says that’s not an option (at least here he’s conveying the congressional committee’s take, and not just his own).

Jae-ha asks what they’re supposed to do then—just keep letting the world believe it was the North? “Then what about Hang-ah?”

That’s when Secretary Eun tells him that they’ve found a solution that saves everyone involved… Oh you’re about to say something evil aren’t you? He says that if they put Hang-ah officially on trial, before the people…

He argues that the monarchy is in danger, and the public is up in arms. What, you’re not going to add the part where it saves your guilty ass from taking responsibility for your actions if she takes the fall?

Jae-ha interrupts him: “No.” Secretary Eun says she did a good job at the congressional hearing, and Jae-ha screams, “How can I make her do that twice?! NO! Just the once made me go crazy. But twice? And in front of the people, so she can be turned into a public mockery? It’s never going to happen.” Nice.

Meanwhile Shi-kyung waits nervously in Dad’s office, and immediately apologizes when he storms in. “He’s the king. I thought he should know the truth.” But Dad shouts back that this monarchy is not a real monarchy (as in, it’s so messed up that it doesn’t even count). “I told you to learn about the real world! Are reality and truth the same thing?!”

Aw, for Shi-kyung they are! They are! Stop ruining it for him! He looks up with hurt in his eyes, and bows before walking out.

Hang-ah gets a video call from her father, which she turns away at first, but the aide tells her that the queen mother gave her permission, so she takes the call. Dad asks if she’s okay, and she starts to break down almost immediately, though comically her words are, “I’m fine!”

Once he makes sure she’s okay, Dad starts to grumble about her having to appear publicly before Congress, which is news to Hang-ah. She hangs up the call (flattening poor Dad’s face) and asks to speak to the king.

But damnit, it’s Secretary Eun who comes, and tells her that yes, she will be required to be questioned again by the committee in an official capacity, and this time on public record in front of cameras. She tells him that she’s scared—she barely got through the last time, and her legs were shaking, and she admits that the public scares her. She knows what they’re saying—calling her a Red, telling her to get out, to go die.

She asks if the king signed off on this, and he totally lies that Jae-ha said nothing to stop it.

YOU BASTARD. Okay, now you’re fucking with their feelings. Auuuuugh.

He tells her that Jae-ha wants to “be sure of her true heart.” Omg, are you making her think that he wants her to prove her love this way? I’m reaching for a stabby object.

She looks at him, pained, “My true heart? Then what is everything that I’ve done up until now?” A tear falls as she says with resolve, “I’ll show him then, until he’s satisfied.”

He then calls Jae-ha, who’s busy running around in a hanbok for a public appearance, and lies to him that Hang-ah was resolute in her decision to appear at the public hearing, and that it was her idea. GRAR.

The deed is done. He stops to bow at Jae-kang’s portrait hanging in the memorial hall, apologizing to the king that this was the best option.

Hang-ah goes back to testify before the congressional committee, this time with rows of cameras broadcasting live. (Shi-kyung is there on protective detail.) Everyone watches nervously from the palace, Mom wanting to change the channel because she can’t stand to watch. But this time it’s Jae-shin who reminds her that she said she wouldn’t abandon her, that she’s family. Aw.

They start by asking her to introduce herself, and she just gives her name. They ask for a longer introduction as the princess-bride-to-be, but she says that since the engagement isn’t official yet, all she’s got is her name. Okay, it’s a relief that she seems more at ease than expected. Yay for smart and witty Hang-ah.

They ask how she feels about South Korea. She thinks for a moment, and then says that girl groups are all the rage, citing their popularity while she trained for the WOC. Shi-kyung smiles to himself.

From his office, Jae-ha finally breaks into a smile, after watching on pins and needles. She continues, “South Korea is… warm.” She begins to describe how it’s full of passion and there might be misunderstandings and it hides its true affection, and you realize she’s not talking about Korea, but about Jae-ha.

She says that underneath the surface, there is a deep affection, and has concluded that citizens from both countries are in many ways alike.

But they catch her calling North Koreans “us” in the way that she and Jae-ha still very much speak of “us” and “them.” She explains that she has yet to become a full citizen, or grow accustomed, but it launches them on the offensive.

We start to see the proceedings from Jae-ha’s point of view, and he gets fired up at the line of questioning. He calls someone, shouting into the phone as he’s watching it live, speaking at the members of the inquisition through the tv, which is hilarious.

One of them asks what she thinks of all the attacks from North Korea. “What did SHE do them all? Is Kim Hang-ah the Terminator?” Another asks her to rattle off South Korean monarchs’ birthdates. “Even I don’t know my father’s birthday!”

Another asks if war broke out right now, which side she’d fight on. “You didn’t even GO to the army!” He screams into the phone for the prime minister to get his ass over there.

He asks what the hell they’re doing to Kim Hang-ah up on the stand, and tells him to announce that North Korea isn’t responsible this instant. He hems and haws, so Jae-ha cuts to the chase—threat of war? They’re always threatening war.

It’s turns out he’s got threats of his own too, and asks about that 8% raise that everyone in Congress took on the sly. The prime minister gulps. He starts to argue that it’s not the king’s place to mess with elected officials of the people, but Jae-ha just coos that he’s not going to bring it to light; no, he’ll just reallocate the funds… to himself. HA.

Hang-ah arrives back at the palace, eager to see Jae-ha, but Secretary Eun tells her that he’s out. Her face falls. Yeah, but he’s out kicking the prime minister’s ass! For you!

Jae-ha returns, eager to see Hang-ah, but Secretary Eun intercepts him again, reminding him of how tired she is after a day like today. He’s disappointed, but agrees to let her rest.

Aaaaaaargh. Just go see her! This misunderstanding is killing me! Romeo and Juliet ain’t got nuthin’ on you, you wire-crossing, secretary-trusting fools! Grrrrraaaaar.

He eagerly tells Secretary Eun about getting the prime minister to announce North Korea’s non-involvement, which he says he already knows, and seems displeased about.

Hang-ah speaks to her father, who’s up in arms about how they treated her at the hearing, and in particular how Jae-ha isn’t there for her, declaring that she’s going to suffer in a one-sided love. Aw, Dad, I know you’re upset for her, but you’re making it worse. She hangs up on him again. Ha.

She starts to cry, as she flashes back to Jae-ha’s meanest moments – when he told her she wasn’t a woman to him, when he said that his feelings were all an act, and then earlier, when he asked why she hid the box of evidence from him.

But this time we see the B-side of that conversation. He immediately follows it with a laugh, “I’m just kidding,” and takes her by the hand to go get dinner. He opens the door, and then suddenly there’s a glaring light.

He turns around, and there’s a gun in his hand. He pulls the trigger…

The shot rings out, and she wakes up gasping and clutching her heart. Augh. What a horrible dream.

She checks her phone to see if he called, but nothing. She hates that she’s crying, but can’t stop the tears from coming.

Jae-ha arrives the next morning with breakfast in bed for her, only she’s not in bed. He calls out to her, and finds her sitting stoically at her desk. He’s breezing along on top of the world, while she’s clearly been stewing all night, which is just a recipe for disaster. He reaches for her hand but she pulls away.

She asks where he was yesterday, and he teases that it’s a secret. But he realizes that she’s angry, and asks if things were really that bad yesterday. She takes that to mean he didn’t even bother to watch her hearing, which couldn’t be further from the truth, but she’s beyond hearing an explanation at this point.

He starts to tell her, but she asks if he was too busy boozing it up with women like the playboy that he is, and then corrects herself, “Oh no, not playboy. Trash.” *gasp*

His face hardens at that word. But she keeps going, cooing that she forgot that his highness was so sensitive to being called trash. She suggests he stop keeping it to himself, and announce it to the people: “that South Korea’s king is trash.”

She asks him to tell her just one thing: “Do you like me or not?”

Jae-ha: “I like you.” But then he steps closer and adds, “You’re easy and a pushover, since you’re from the North. Trash? I told you that in trust. Because I trusted you, I showed you my weakness. But you’re… playing with that? A North Korean bitch, to the king of South Korea? Go back. Right now. To the North.”

Oh. Shit. No no no no no!

She can barely get out, “Comrade Lee Jae-ha…”

But he turns his back and walks away.

 
COMMENTS

Nooooo! It’s not like he didn’t have it coming to him, but I swear, they have the worst timing ever. Plotwise, it was a nice progression throughout the episode of missed connections, things left unspoken, and then misunderstanding piling on top of misunderstanding. It was well-played, even though it left me screaming at the torture of it all. It also makes complete sense that she’d react this way, since frankly, I would’ve given the same speech a handful of episodes ago. Her feelings kept that anger at bay, but now that dam has broken.

In some ways, I don’t mind that there’s an active agent fueling that misunderstanding, because for one, it gives me a place to focus my anger, and two, I no longer have to deal with Secretary Eun’s possible wishy-washyness with one foot in Good and the other in Evil (or Stupid, take your pick), because the man is now dead to me.

My heart breaks for Shi-kyung, who’s starting to see behind the curtain a little, but at least now we get to see a little more motivation behind Evil Daddy—he’s starting to show his true colors when he gets backed into a corner, though it would’ve been nice to have this coloring earlier on. I’ll take what I can get though. Clearly the man’s got more of an agenda now that his feelings about what the monarchy should and shouldn’t be are starting to surface, which is a clearer ideological line than just I’m-trying-to-save-my-hide. Along with Bong-gu’s latest moves, the villain angle is starting to shape up a little better. Jae-ha’s memory loss is an interesting wrench to throw at the villain, which so far I like because it at least throws him off his game.

As far as the final dust-up, it kills me that Hang-ah doesn’t know how much he really cares about her and how high he jumped to try and protect her in this episode. But on the other hand, he’s also an idiot for not going to see her that night. Even if he believed it was her idea to appear at the hearing, he saw what it was like for her, enough to make threats and be all proud of himself for the outcome. So then why would you leave her hanging? Gah.

I especially like the way her dream rearranged history—picking up the most hurtful moments, which if you watch in a string like that, culminating in the shooting, you wonder how she ever deals with it at all. But clearly, there’s a lot that’s unresolved between them. It’s one of the most tenuous relationships, even for a drama-filled dramaland, which is a helluva lot like the very unstable relationship between North and South. Apparently love needs a DMZ too.

 
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thanks GF! off to read now! :)

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thank you for the recap! cant wait to read.

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Wow! What an episode. Thank you for the recap GF! I feel your frustration. I want to punch that old man something fierce for what he's doing.

Episode 10! Can't believe the shows gonna be at it's halfway point already.

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I screamed many times! So glad I was home alone :-D

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Thanks for the recap, GF!! Off to read~

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Have so much to comment about this drama but......back to revision for exams zzz.

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sad episode! test for JH & HA's love has just begin..
misunderstanding, please don't take it to long.
btw thanks GF ! ^^

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kinda not feeling the episode. it was good and all, but just let the plot move forward. we don't need unnecessary hearings or trials that will only last for half an episode.

why do i always feel that every week 1 of the TK2H ep is slower than the other ep? just let the plot progress every episode. it's been 9 episodes and so far the King and Queen dying is the only plot point that brings out all the suspense and disbelief. i want more action! i thought Jae Ha and Bong Gu's battle will begin this ep? don't tell me Jae Ha will learn of the truth during the last 5 mins of ep 10 and Bong Gu will escape at the end then bam! see you next week?

come on, show. and people wonder why ratings are dropping? give us something to work with. love love love the show but this ep let the momentum slide. it should be all-out war against Bong Gu now!

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The same goes to me..while I love the show so much, but I also feel the pace going slower each episode(exclude the 7-8 episode, we need our right to mourning over the King).

Dear editor, please do your best, pick the pace, jaebal!

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The same feelings here too! I wonder where did the Hang Ha soldier trained woman go? Wasn't she a smart and strong woman? Putting nice clothes on made her less strong? I need to see the girl from ep. 1-6, not the princess she became.

I like better the second plot, the love story between the Shi-kyung and the real princess. The actors are so sweet, just make me smile during their screen time. <3

The secretary - the writers shouldn't make him so bad in an instant, it's cheap.

This episode - 7/10, and it looks like the next is even worst, with suicide attempt and hospital. yak!

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i just want the show to pick up speed BIG TIME. it's already episode 9. i can count on my one hand the plot points that happened in 9 hours worth of airtime.

episodes 1-4 were okay since the show was still young, 5-6 was a bit of a stretch, especially ep. 5. eps 7-8 were probably the best PLOT-WISE. and now ep 9 nothing actually happened. first off, the "evidence" was stupidly executed, and then of course the predictable blame on the NK woman, etc. etc. i could've easily shaved off eps 3 and 5 and i wouldn't have missed any important plot point.

i think what this drama needs is to focus on one thing more than the other. it keeps going back and forth between the enemy and the romance. sometimes i feel like the writers treat Hang Ah as an afterthought. as soon as it goes into the "action" part, the drama does a 180 and goes to romance by inserting Hang Ah's character, and vice-versa.

so far, i don't know. i love love love the drama, but seriously just get the plot moving already! i didn't care about the whole "public trial" thingy because it was so out of touch, predictable, even the main characters opposed it. i didn't feel the gravity of the trial at all.

also, what the hell happened to Hang Ah's character? a soldier has to be strong physically and mentally yet she cries in every episode. where will you see a trained-to-kill assassin cry buckets because her love forgot to check in on her at night? errrr...

again, show, give me something gripping! just, cut out all the unnecessary things and build the suspense. just when i thought we'd get it through the confrontation or Jae Ha knowing it was Club M then bam! Jae Ha doesn't know the password like whatthehell! don't tell me i have to sit back for another hour just for the king to retrieve a damn password! UGH! okay, i'm calm.

on a side note, i think i know why Equator Man came out on top. it's because the stakes are getting higher! take note TK2H.

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I disagree with you. I think that it was necessary to show the trial scenes. It is to show the stuff that HA is made up off. Also probably for character building - being part of the royal family, will mean a lot of scrutiny from the public. The bickering scenes btwn the politicians were also important.

This drama is more than just a romance. It also questions the values and prejudices of both the North and South Korea. The North is more concerned with saving face, even at the expense of putting one of their people through public mockery and enmity. The South, more interested in money and scapegoats, rather than finding out the truth.

Perhaps this is the main reason why the ratings are falling. People are uncomfortable with what they are seeing as it makes them think about their prejudices, which maybe they did not even think they had.

They may want reunification, but on their own terms. I believe that reunification can only take place if both sides are willing to let go of their pre-conceived ideas about the other side, and the prejudices that they have built up over 60 years. Both sides also need to re-evaluate their value systems.

It is also perhaps unfortunate that the drama happens to coincide with the North launching their missile.

That is why i think that this drama is more for the serious and thoughtful. If one is merely looking for just romance and light-heartedness, there's always RTP. Some people can't or don't want to face these issues and are simply looking for a light-hearted drama.

I personally think this drama is daebak! It's romantic - can't find a hotter OTP or cuter supporting lead romance; the bromance is warm; the acting of ALL the characters is jjiang and the plot intriguing and thought provoking. What more can I ask for?

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100% agree ailin - more passionate and thoughtful a drama :)

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Couldn't agree with you more.

Also want to add about Hang-Ah: she is now a princess not a mere soldier any more!

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I beg to disagree. Hang Ah in her nice dress is still the brilliant officer who told Jae Shin to remember something from that night. She doesn't need to pull a trigger or kick some a**es just to show her army training.

One plothole that I had so far is only from the WOC training days with its bombing incident, we know (and Jae Kang knew) it was Club M/John Mayer but I think it's weird that they (north and south) didn't find the mole who helped John Mayer and punish him/her/them.

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my heart.. heart. heart.. is so HURT!!!

:(

haaiz..

this show is killing me.. :(

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thanks for the recap GF.

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Thank you for the recap, so much! goes to read now.

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thanks...

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Why ratings are dropping continuously? It hits bottom today. This show is too good to deserve this.

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There was less than a percent separating this and RTP! I think it's a given that the ratings will either stabilize or drop further!! Yeah sure the ratings are not the best but I feel if RTP being a breezy rom-com is doing just a percent or two better then it isn't too bad!!

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Who knows why the ratings are dropping. Personally, I find The King 2 Hearts kind of boring. :/ It's a struggle to convince myself to watch it every week. I'm only holding on for Ha Ji Won, tbh.

If I had to choose between this drama and Man of Equator, I'd go with Man of Equator with no hesitation.

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Gosh this episode...can't wait for ep 10, its going to be awesome. Well, i love this series, i don't fucking care about the ratings. I love the twist. I love their moments. Haters gotta hate anyway

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Agree with your every words, deary.
But I havent watched ep 9.
Maybe I'll postpone until ... like 5 eps, then I am gonna em altogether. In the meantime, just keep update with the stories from the recap. Thanks GF.

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I am with you, Deary. I love this show, this episode is necessary in building the next plots, no need to get scared, Hearties!

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Lock them in a bunker!!! YES PLEASE! haha

thanks for the recap GF! ^^ off to read!

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The royal family got Hang-ah's back! Mom was so sweet to assure Hang-ah that she won't abandon her. Jae-ha did his share of protecting or defending Hang-ah though she doesn't know any of it.
Shi-kyung!!!!!! Why so cute?!
I felt the bang on my chest watching Hang-ah's nightmare!

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thank you for the recap

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i've seen better shows with worse ratings and worse shows with better ratings. They don't really matter...MOST of the time. I think this drama is splendid and new, but like most ppl, i prefer 16 eps drama coz they move faster and cut off unnecessary parts!!

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totally agree. i'll help you with the example: Prosecutor Princess

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oh boy! cant seriously pick between the 3 wed/thurs dramas...and it doesn't help that their plots are so different yet so similarly executed, when we r all happy on the rooftop so is the soldier prince (sort of) and so is the young high school kid defending his new smart friend.But then when its all mayhem up on the rooftop...yeahs you'd know what happens if u watched all 3 dramas yesterday!

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Kamsahamnida, GF! Off to read now...

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Anticipating the next episode.I'm addicted to this drama and I promise to moderate myself.Hope the next won't be a heartache like this one.Please writer do a good job ,the actors are doing their part.

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Thank you so much for this. :)

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love this ep

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So much pain! I really enjoyed the bird scene though, and Jae-ha's ownage of Bong-gu :) Otherwise, these things need to get cleared up, pronto! This old man is driving me crazy! I just want Shi-kyung to come in on a white horse and fix everything, but we'll see how long that takes...or maybe Jae-ha will finally figure out that password at the last possible second...just as his sister regains her memory...

At least the Royal Family is finally on her side, though she seems to be leaving their's...

The ending was heartbreaking, but at least he did not claim that he *didn't* like her...

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thank you so much for a very detailed recap GF.. waah.. super sad episode.. they really move me to cry.. >,<

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Thanks for the re-cap Girlfriday. This episode was a heartbreaker. We get to see how everything they are doing is to try to help and protect the other, but they each don't get to see that. Which of course leads to the big misunderstanding. But that last scene just guts me. I completely get where she is coming from, and thing he's done in the past completely earned that reaction, but right then he was FINALLY doing things right for her.

And poor Ski Kyung, it's going to slay him when he finds out who his dad really is.

I love this drama so much! Can't wait for tomorrow's episode.

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The last scene was heartbreaking.
I feel so sorry for both of them.
Thanks for the recap!

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Aaaaaaaaaargh.. This is more frustrating than I thought. But wasn't that also so true to life. Things left unspoken (because you don't want to brag) is the argument feeder.

Also, my heart already breaks for Shi-kyung. Jae-ha and Hang-ah will resolve the misunderstanding and live happily ever after (hopefully sooner than later) but Shi-kyung won't be able to forgive himself for what his father has done. Aw.

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thank you gf. This episode did hurt can't wait for the reconciliation. Off to bed I need to wake up early for live stream. I can't wait too excited.

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This drama... wants... to... kill... me... darn...

Too many misunderstanding... My heart breaks for Hang Ah, Jae Ha, as well as Shi Kyung.

This drama is not only about the King 2Hearts, but also the King with 2 over-the-top annoying villains.

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Gah!! Heartbreak!! Now I can't wait for the next ep...

Thanks GF for the recap.

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Oh, thank you GF.
You are true a great recapper. I can understand the story, thank to the details you wrote. Thank you.
I hope they can solve their 'trust' problem in the next episode. And jae shin regain his memory.

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oof, my heart.

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i dont think my heart will be able to take this. i cant understand korean so i'll just have to make do with whatever i can (thanks for the recap!) :)

Hang Ah has really gone through all kinds of heartache a guy can give; on a whole new level. having talked to meanly, having dismissed as a woman... we have seen some of that in different dramas... but having shot at?! and by your loved one... that tension is sure gonna be hell. no wonder when there was a suspense of doubt hanging between them, she turns defensive first. she felt so insecure that their past conflict has really got the best of her (even in her nightmares)

one thing i really love is that even when Jae Kang is gone, Hang Ah has earned herself a place in the hearts of both the queen and the princess. this is what family is suppose to be - trust.

and also, my lovely Shi Kyung was so cute with that parrot and i would love to see things develop between the princess and him. but his father... i dont really get why he has so much opinion on the mess the monarchy is in. and why he has to make HA the scapegoat when no one on the good side is doubting him. just because she's a North Korean, he sees it as fitting to make her the sacrificial lamb?!!! thank goodness his son would rather live as an upright soldier/palace guard (O how i love him!!)

i really cant wait for the following development of the plot (and it seems that i can go nowhere but here...) Thanks again, gilrfriday...

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i thought i ride a roller coster while reading this recap.

this episode, really show that Kim Hang Ah was ROCK!
don't mess with her. she's not only wear tears for weapon.
she's ex-team unit force anyway..

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aaaaaaarrrrrrh , the stupid secretary Eun, how could you let Hang-ah be your scapegoat!!!!! I heard that later on hang-ah might be miscarriage because of all these misunderstandings. it will be more hertwrenching in the next few episodes, now it is just the begining T_T (hoping that Jae shin could get her memory back asap!)

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This episode was awesome like the last ep.8. It's really a shame that many korean ppl are missing out the chance to watch this drama. Well, the rating is low but I am glad it gets really good responses online.

Other than fantasy setting of modern day monarchy, this drama brings out alot of realistic side of stories/issues. This episode dealt with politic stuff and it was so what s. korean gov. would do..omg. so so so real.. that's why I like this drama.

And, Lee Seung Gi, he is seriously good at acting!!!

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I totally agree with you!

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Is it bad that I like seeing Shi Kyung and Jae Shin together more than Jae Han and Hang Ah?

He's too cute for words. :D

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I hate secretary Eun. As predicted, one foolishness (or you can call it crazyness for selling a secret over beatles album) but it lead to many lies and crimes to cover. Than we just wait until it end in neither murder nor suicide.

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The phrase, from the sublime to the ridiculous totally describes this drama. It is wonderful when it is sublime and terrible when it is ridiculous.

It is amazing that the writer can come up with such beautiful and excellent writing for the deceased King. And, yet, resort to having characters of an overweight mini-me and a total idiot as the most powerful person in the royal office to run the plot. Ugh!

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The villain Mayer reminds me of is Syndrome from The Incredibles.
We saw both of them being dissed as kids, then they grow up and using cash become supers.
Problem is the good-guys don't even take them seriously.

JM's villainy is over the top, and childish.
Where have I seen behaviour like his?
Yes! The Toddler Rules:

1- If I want it, it's mine
2- If it's in my hand, it's mine
3- If I can take it away from
you, it's mine, etc.

At this point, it doesn't matter why he thinks he should be king. He seems to be citing rules:

7- If it just looks like mine, it's mine
8- If I think it's mine, it's mine

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Lol! True, too true!

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You are so right. And he does look like him!!! ;-)

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I agree with you AuntieMame... when it is sublime, it's cracktastic, but when it's ridiculous, my love for this drama dies just a little bit. Still addictive though!

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jesus, that secretary. is he even human? thank god his son isn't like him, who's a totally cutie, btw. i literally was just giving the secretary the bird every time i saw his face on the screen while watching today's episode. how could he say such ridiculous lies and MANIPULATE the feelings of two people in love? legit, what a SOB....

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OMO!!!! I can't wait for tomorrow's episode!!

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Seriously, this drama will be the death of me! The last scene was so heartbreaking. It pains me to see Hang Ah goes trough with anguish and sorrow, just because of some misunderstanding and manipulations from the Secretary. Now, I really want to know what's up behind his sleeves? What and why is the Secretary is doing this? Ugghhh! However, I am loving the Royal family that they've got Ha's back. It also confirms that Jae Ha really is in love with Hang Ah. Loved it so much how he was trying his best to protect her in his own way.

My fav. part was Hang Ah stayed calm and a bit of wit whilst she was being interviewed!

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gahhhh. more shi-kyung ang jae shin moments please.^^

ahhhh. why is shi kyung dad Dr. Evil?so sad for Ernest Bot.

Cant wait for tomorrow's epi.

Thankgs gf!

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Doesn't Secretary Eun knows that he need 1 lie to hide another lie? And to hide this current lie, he needs to think of another lie... How many lies/excuses can he comes up with? Can his old age(memory) allows him to do so? He will need a diary too to record what he has said before..

I can imagine how heartbroken Hang Ah is when Jae Ha did not go and see her.. But girl, is not your lover's fault.. is Secretary Eun fault!!! He is the one who prevent your lover from going over to console you!

But it's also very hurtful to Jae Ha to hear the word 'trash' from the woman he loved. No one would like to be called useless or 'trash' by the ones they loved.

I hope they will be back together soon.. please do so in episode 10!!

OTP, Fighting!! You have to be together in good & bad times. Fighting!

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Ok Thanks for the recommendation for Viki.

I love the Bad guy's plot. Do nothing and let them eat one another.

I loved the Princess and the Captain moing towards really finding out what it is they have with the other person.

I loved the family pulling Hang Ah into the closed ranks and doing what they could in way of supporting her.

I loved Jae Ha not being a go along to get along sort of guy. telling the PM get this worked out or I will reallocate your raises.

I liked that Hang Ah and her father's talking once again. She has needed his being able to show his love.

I knew we were going to have the bloodletting both our lovers were going to inflict on one another.

I still want to think that the old man has a gameplan he is running to get back at Club M but the deliberate steps to cause miscommunications between Hang Ah and Jae Ha were painful.

Which one is going to find out first? And which is going to coem forward and will the other party listen since both these people have PRIDE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (If I coudl change the font size I would there).

So a few more hours and we get a few more questions answered and more questions will be created.

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thank you so much! ;)

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watch this episode hurts my heart for both. . . can't wait for tommorow thanks for the recap

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I was going to say that it's wonderful how the royal family is standing behind Hang-ah (in contrast to a certain chaebol family in another drama that just laid the smackdown on another plucky heroine...) but then Jae-ha goes and does what he did at the end. Pffft.

PS I think Lee Yoon-ji is gorgeous, but not with that hairstyle.

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aww, don't blame my Jae-ha!! <3 b/w the 2 of them nobody's at fault except for that two-toned hair (in GF's words) and skunkguy (in Jomo's words)!! heh

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Grrr... the angst! Can't wait for episode 10!!! I love these two leads.

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man, I really hate it when it comes to the misunderstanding part... I feel like pressing the forward button, really..

but I'll just be brave and face this phase... oh my dear King JH, will you pleeeease stop trusting that ol' Secretary Eun???

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If I ws pierced like a piece of fillet mignon at the age of 8-11 (guessing) , I sure as hell remember! So WHY did JH say he forgot tt incident? Unless he already realised that this Bongo-Whacko is more than yr regular serving of a filthy rich eccentric.
So , I dunno why Bong is given so much freedom to meet wt d royals (ie Jaekang outside at some palace bldg ) & do u remember how he just lands on d palatial green lawns & struts like a crazed peacock into Blue House ? He & frustrating Eun even have each other on quick dial basis !! Wat's up?? I hd suspicions of him belonging to a deposed royal line but till now , nobody has even remembered or recognised him or alluded to this! So can we strike out that possibility thats he's cousins / blood relatives? He can't be d only Big donor that he can call d shots & run riot thru d script!
I wished the writers wd make him more believable as a political adversary cos his carte blanche antics are such a stretch of believability!
In an age of twitter & techno easy communications , why din the lovebirds just call or text each other like real people do to get their concerns across? But then , misunderstandings , buildup angst are part & parcel of what makes up a story , ya ?
Poor Hangha , her scary dream ws what it took to break her down good till she was so uncharacteristically unkind & unwilling to listen & just twisted the knife full circle into her shocked darling! I felt his Shock & Pain !
I wonder if tonight , our frustration's gonna spiral further down ?? Then we all gotta wait 6days for a possible pick-me-up ...or isn't there? Urghhhh!!
Meanwhile , can Jae Shin & Shi Kyung throw us some love to float us along ?? Pretty Please!

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yeah, while JH and HA's relationship is testing us the viewers, it would be great to see JS and SK's relationship development... ah, sweet and earnest SK is totally my new cutie pie...

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Dear girlfriday,
Thank you so much for a very level-headed (under the circumstances a truly difficult thing to be) review.

I like your take on Eun Senior. Yes, that makes much more sense than him just being a greedy old fool trying to cover up. So, he hates Jae Ha's guts and he told Jae Ha that already. Does his hatred extend to the whole royal family, the royal system? Like he tolerated Jae Kang for at least he worked hard - but maybe he viewed Jae Kang as a keen but hapless king too?! I shudder to think having such a snake in the palace...

And why didn't Jae Ha remember the stabbing incident? Did he really forget? Or...

And to Jae Ha and Hang Ah, please have faith in each other and just use the darn phone!!!

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"And to Jae Ha and Hang Ah, please have faith in each other and just use the darn phone!!!"

I really wanna shout it to them too! I know it's a sensitive issue for JH, you know, the hyung murder.... she's being the North and stuff, but but but c'mon you guuuys... have faith in each other!

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Secretary Eun is pretty much a political being. he dosnt believe in the royal system or anything else. For him there no right and wrong, he knows that with the right spin on things you can fix either to your advantage. That said I do think he liked the old king, and took pride in how he manipulated politics using that relationship, power behind the throne thing. But his service to the royal family has always been a self centered one, in the end he did it for himself, that is what he is now protecting, that image he spent years building up..his fake honor at being seen as the always faithful hard working Secretary Eun. Plus I think he can see more and more that the new king would never allow him the freedom to be the power behind the throne that the old king trusted him to do.

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I like!

Like in the history books I have read about King Henry's, or Queen Elizabeth's or Catherine the Great's courts, we see all these allegedly loyal folks constantly maneuvering the royals for the best outcome for themselves. They just pretend it is for the benefit of the court.

When the monarchs are strong and confident, they are able to be on guard against it, however, at their weakest times, they allow it to happen. Especially when the person doing the advising has proven to be trustworthy before.

I hope JH crushes the Skunk in the end. No forgiveness!

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