5.13 - Episode 13 of Mr. Queen

Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 13 of Mr. Queen, the hit K Drama on Netflix starring Shin Hye-sun as Kim So-yong, Kim Jyung-hun as King Cheoljong, Seol In-ah as Jo Hwa-jin, Na In-woo as Kim Byeong-in, and Choi Jin-hyuk as Jang Bong-hwan. We also talk about poison and assassination by poison during the Joseon dynasty.

We discuss:

• The songs we featured during the recap: Conspiracy by Kim Deuk-su and Other World by Howl.
• How this episode is so dark when compared with previous episodes.
• How the attack against the king is turning family members against each other.
• The shocking revelation that the king planned the explosion himself.
• How the queen has such ambivalent feelings toward the king, but she is threatened by Kim Jwa-geun, so she decides to live and betray the king.
• The loyalty and steadfastness of the king’s men who were arrested and tortured.
• How the Dowager Queen plants the ledger in the queen’s chambers; the ledger and the notes from the king are found by the Grand Dowager Queen.
• How the queen is now in real danger from the Grand Dowager Queen and Kim Jwa-geun.
• How Kim Jwa-geun seems to be everywhere and sees everything happening in the palace.
• The queen cooks in this episode but she’s cooking as a form of meditation; this cooking scene is not funny for a change.
• Of all the K Drama elements, we almost missed the back hug by Kim Byeong-in against the queen.
• A potential, new K Drama element: looking for, and discovering, your love across a street, bridge or crowded area.
• Why this episode is titled No Tomorrow
• Poison and death by poison during the Joseon Dynasty.

References

• Arsenic: The Poison of Kings