“Under the Queen’s Umbrella” synopsis by episode (Eps. 1-16, no spoilers) with in-depth analysis of its cinematography

Jump to synopsis of Episode 1; 2; 3; 4; 5; 6; 7; 8; 9; 10; 11; 12; 13; 14; 15; 16 (Finale); How I wrote these episode summaries with no spoilers; Historical / cultural backgrounders and other information; Lessons in photography from “Under the Queen’s Umbrella” with in-depth analysis of the drama's visuals, cinematography, and editing (work in progress)

From Wikipedia: “Under the Queen’s Umbrella” is a 2022 South Korean television series starring Kim Hye-soo, Kim Hae-sook, and Choi Won-young. It aired from October 15 to December 4, 2022, on tvN’s Saturdays and Sundays at 21:10 (KST) time slot. It is also available for streaming on Netflix in selected regions. It was written by Park Ba-ra and directed by Kim Hyung-sik (“Secret Door”).

“Under the Queen’s Umbrella” ranked first in its time slot from start to finish, with four episodes reaching over three million viewers; its finale reached over four million viewers.

Genre: historical drama, black comedy.

How I wrote these episode summaries with no spoilers

1. I assumed that you will be reading these summaries and watching the videos chronologically.

2. I narrated some of the main actions in each episode without revealing the plot’s twists and turns.

3. At the beginning of each summary starting with Episode 2, I placed in a table a recap of the major twists and turns of the previous episode. But because you have already watched the video of the previous episode, they aren’t spoilers anymore.

4. I followed this structure all throughout, except for Ep. 16 (Finale) where I included spoilers. Reason — most people want to know if the drama has a good/happy ending or a sad ending before they invest the time in watching it.

Episode 1

King Lee Ho presides over a contentious meeting of the ministers on how to stop the plague from a blockaded village from spreading into the capital. While some ministers want to stop totally the supply of food and other provisions into the village, other ministers plead for a merciful response to the affected villagers.

With King Lee Ho and the Queen Dowager set to attend the lecture at Jonghak (an educational insititution for the princes and others of royal descent), Queen Im Hwa-ryeong scolds her attendants for failing to keep watch over her sons who are late for the lecture — Grand Prince Ilyeong is still asleep while Grand Prince Seongnam is missing.

Grand Prince Gyeseong arrives first at the lecture hall, with the princes (sons of the royal consorts) arriving after him. Later, arriving ahead of two younger princes who are also on their way to the hall, Grand Prince Muan greets them cheerfully.

As the royal consorts fuss over their sons in the hall, one of them notices that Prince Uiseong is a reading an advanced book; he’s the eldest among the princes and the son of Consort Hwang, the most senior among the consorts.

At Sigangwon (the educational institution exclusively for the Crown Prince), the royal tutors test the Crown Prince. Meanwhile, after King Lee Ho poses a whimsical question to the Grand Princes and the princes, Grand Prince Seongnam arrives at the lecture hall.

The conflict between Queen Im Hwa-ryeong and the Queen Dowager deepens when the Queen Dowager pointedly asks Consort Hwang to meet her and then calls the Grand Princes troublemakers. Queen Im Hwa-ryeong replies that the Grand Princes’ lessons at Jonghak don’t really matter because kings are born in Sigangwon. The Queen Dowager retorts by saying that the Grand Princes cannot hide behind the Crown Prince forever.

The Queen Dowager and Consort Hwang are stunned when they see Grand Prince Seongnam beating up Prince Uiseong at the training ground as the other Grand Princes look on. Meanwhile, as Queen Im Hwa-ryeong walks away from Sigangwon together with the Crown Prince, the Crown Prince suddenly collapses.

The Queen Dowager asks Consort Hwang to take Prince Uiseong with her and then punishes the Grand Princes by asking them to kneel for several hours as the rain pours on them.

Note: The video below from “The Swoon” might contain some spoilers that could ruin your full viewing of the episode.

Episode 2

Ep. 1 recap: Prince Uiseong is bitter because as King Lee Ho’s firstborn son, he should have been designated as the Crown Prince. But his mother Consort Hwang reproves him by saying that he cannot aspire to that position if he has not yet surpassed the Crown Prince in studies or in character. Queen Im Hwa-ryeong finds out from Royal Physician Kwon that the Crown Prince is suffering from “hyeolheogwol,” a disease caused by blood deficiency and fatigue. She also finds out that the Crown Prince forbade his eunuchs and attendants from telling her about his worsening condition. When Royal Physician Kwon says that the disease could be hereditary because former Crown Prince Taein died from the same disease, she says that she will look into the physician who treated former Crown Prince Taein. The royal consorts become agitated after finding out that, contrary to tradition, a prince will be selected to be the Crown Prince’s cohort (study partner) in Sigangwon. But Consort Hwang warns them that it could be a trap. Some of the senior royal consorts also become intrigued over how the Queen Dowager (a royal concubine) managed to make her son the king. As they arrive at her quarters bringing gifts, they’re disappointed, however, that Consort Tae (mother of Prince Bogeum) is already speaking with her. Queen Im Hwa-ryeong becomes suspicious after finding out from King Lee Ho that the royal physician who treated former Crown Prince Taein has been sent away from the palace and that the Queen Dowager suggested selecting the cohort from among the princes. She becomes even more concerned when her attendant tells her that the Queen Dowager gave Consort Tae a book that outlines all the secret methods of bringing up a king. After finding out the Crown Prince is sick and unconscious, the Queen Dowager warns Queen Im Hwa-ryeong that her only worth in the royal family is being the mother of the Crown Prince because she was chosen simply to keep the political balance in King Lee Ho’s favor; she also says that none of the Grand Princes are qualified to become the king. When Queen Im Hwa-ryeong presses her attendant to reveal what happened to Queen Yoon, her predecessor who was deposed, the attendant fearfully say that it’s something between Queen Yoon and the Queen Dowager. The Queen Dowager orders her attendant to secretly give all of the royal consorts a copy of the book on how to bring up a king. Alone at night, under the pouring rain, Queen Im Hwa-ryeong visits deposed Queen Yoon, who’s living in hiding. She begs on her knees for Queen Yoon to tell her how she can protect her children.

To Consort Hwang’s delight, the Queen Dowager offers the position of Crown Prince to Prince Uiseong. Meanwhile, deposed Queen Yoon tells Queen Im Hwa-ryeong how the Queen Dowager and Chief State Councilor Hwang Won-hyeong plotted against her and her children. She warns Queen Im Hwa-ryeong that if she doesn’t prepare any of the Grand Princes to take over if the Crown Prince dies, she will lose everything; she says that she herself should had been crude, cunning, and shameless, despite what others might have said, in protecting her children.

Based on the secret book that the Queen Dowager gave them, the royal consorts put their sons through the rigorous methods of preparing themselves to rule as king.

After Queen Im Hwa-ryeong orders Royal Physician Kwon to check the records of the Royal Clinic for the treatment given to the late Crown Prince Taein, the Crown Prince regains consciousness. The next day, she rushes to meet her four other sons to force them to join the selection process for the Crown Prince’s cohort. But her attendant pleads with her not to force the Grand Princes but to persuade them.

After their meeting, Queen Im Hwa-ryeong meets with Chief Royal Secretary Min Seung-yun to ask him to evaluate which of the Grand Princes has the best chance of being appointed as the cohort. Meanwhile, Grand Prince Seongnam overhears Prince Uiseong badmouthing Queen Im Hwa-ryeong again.

Chief Royal Secretary Min Seung-yun gives Queen Im Hwa-ryeong his frank evaluation of the Grand Princes and their chances of being appointed as cohort. Later on, Queen Im Hwa-ryeong and her attendant see Grand Prince Gyeseong walking aimlessly in a deserted part of the palace grounds.

Along with her attendant, Queen Im Hwa-ryeong follows Grand Prince Gyeseong into a ramshackle building. As she peers into a small opening of a room, she’s shocked by what she sees and then staggers out of the building.

Episode 3

Ep. 2 recap: Prince Uiseong threatens Grand Prince Seongnam that if he becomes the king, he will eliminate him and the other Grand Princes. Grand Prince Seongnam retorts that if Prince Uiseong becomes king, he will personally bring his kingdom into ruins. Chief Royal Secretary Min Seung-yun tells Queen Im Hwa-ryeong that the Grand Princes lack the drive, not the talent, to succeed; he warns her that, with a few more absences, Grand Prince Seongnam and Grand Prince Gyeseong will be declared as delinquents and forced out of Jonghak. To Queen Im Hwa-ryeong’s surprise, the Grand Princes apply to join the cohort selection; after the Crown Prince reminds him of their childhood days and entrusts his son to him, Grand Prince Seongnam also applies. Consort Hwang connives with Chief State Councilor Hwang Won-hyeong and his allies by giving Prince Uiseong the questions that will be asked during the cohort selection. The senior royal consorts hire top Confucian scholars and academic tutors to prepare their sons. On the other hand, Queen Im Hwa-ryeong herself studies all the books used in Jonghak and takes notes of the potential questions. Queen Im Hwa-ryeong finds out from Royal Physician Kwon that almost all of the records of Crown Prince Taein’s treatment were lost in a fire and that the physicians who treated him either died during the fire or are no longer in the palace. When Queen Im Hwa-ryeong pressures the Grand Princes to study well for the cohort selection and their Jonghak classes in exchange for marrying them off, Grand Prince Seongnam protests that she’s giving the Grand Princes false hopes. But she assures him that her actions are based on her desire to protect them. Consort Ko (mother of Prince Simso) has found out from her attendant that Grand Prince Gyeseong has been going to a deserted place in the palace grounds at certain times. Thinking that he’s secretly being tutored by someone hired by Queen Im Hwa-ryeong, she follows him into the ramshackle building. To her shock, she sees Grand Prince Gyeseong wearing full makeup.

Consort Ko staggers out of the ramshackle building in shock and confusion at what she saw. Looking back, however, she smirks and then goes to see the Queen Dowager.

As she hovers over the Crown Prince who has collapsed again, Queen Im Hwa-ryeong receives from his eunuch a journal that the Crown Prince has kept for the past year. When Court Lady Shin hastily arrives, she finds out that rumors have spread all over the palace that the Crown Prince is gravelly ill; she decides to cancel all of the Crown Prince’s appointments for the day.

For the first stage of the cohort selection, the Grand Princes and princes are given three exams in arithmetic, composition, and an unusual topic given by King Lee Ho. Those who get the top scores will qualify for the second stage of the selection.

At the ramshackle building, the Queen Dowager inspects with disgust the jars of makeup and women’s clothes that Grand Prince Gyeseong has been using.

While King Lee Ho and the Sigangwon royal tutors are discussing the results of the first stage of the selection, Queen Im Hwa-ryeong arrives. In front of all the royal tutors (including Chief State Councilor Hwang Won-hyeong and his allies), she asks that the Crown Prince be allowed leave from his studies so that he can visit the Onyang hot springs to deal with his worsening skin problem.

While they’re discussing how best to prepare Prince Uiseong for the second stage, Consort Hwang tells Chief State Councilor Hwang Won-hyeong that she will closely watch Queen Im Hwa-ryeong’s quarters.

After someone betrays what Queen Im Hwa-ryeong is doing with the Crown Prince, the Queen Dowager decides to inform King Lee Ho about Grand Prince Gyeseong.

Note: The video below from “The Swoon” might contain some spoilers that could ruin your full viewing of the episode.

Episode 4

Ep. 3 recap: Prince Bogeum, Prince Uiseong, Grand Prince Gyeseong, and Grand Prince Seongnam qualify for the second stage of the cohort selection process. Chief Royal Secretary Min Seung-yun is impressed by the insightful and practical solution that Grand Prince Seongnam gave to the arithmetic exam. The Queen Dowager assures Consort Tae of her support for Prince Bogeum as long as she keeps her promise of being totally loyal to her. Queen Im Hwa-ryeong finds out that the royal physician who treated the late Crown Prince Taein died in a fire. Court Lady Shin reveals to the Queen Dowager that Queen Im Hwa-ryeong pulled a switch and is having the Crown Prince secretly treated in her quarters. But Court Lady Shin denies knowing about the rumors circulating in the palace about Grand Prince Gyeseong. The Queen Dowager slyly escorts King Lee Ho to the ramshackle building, hoping to expose Grand Prince Gyeseong. But when they reach the place, the building is already being consumed by fire that was set by Queen Im Hwa-ryeong. The Queen Dowager threatens Queen Im Hwa-ryeong that she will someday expose Grand Prince Gyeseong; she also warns her that if the Crown Prince doesn’t get well, she will not allow any of the Grand Princes to succeed him. Late at night, Queen Im Hwa-ryeong takes Prince Gyeseong to a studio where a painter draws a portrait of him with full makeup and in a woman’s clothes.

When Queen Im Hwa-ryeong says that she’s doing what is best for the Crown Prince, Grand Prince Seongnam asks her if it was also for the best that she made him grow up outside the palace and that she burned down Grand Prince Gyeseong’s hideaway. The next day, he hires two men to find someone with the expertise to treat “hyeolheogwol.”

At the palace, Queen Im Hwa-ryeong faces a dilemma on whether to consult Royal Physician Cho Guk-yeong, who had just returned; she wonders why he had risen to a high post while the other physicians who treated the late Crown Prince Taein are either dead or can no longer be found. With the Crown Princess about to give birth, the Crown Prince is expected to be present. King Lee Ho thus tells her to bring the Crown Prince back from the hot springs.

During a meeting at the royal clinic, Royal Physician Cho Guk-yeong becomes suspicious of the medications that have been prescribed for the Crown Prince.

When King Lee Ho insists on a public debate between those who qualified for the second stage, Chief State Councilor Hwang Won-hyeong meets with the Queen Dowager and tells her about his suspicion that with the Crown Prince being sick, King Lee Ho isn’t merely looking for a cohort but for a successor to the Crown Prince. When the Queen Dowager seems evasive, he reminds her of their agreement 20 years ago. He tells her that she must mobilize her people to fully support Prince Uiseong.

The men who Grand Prince Seongnam hired report to him that a certain Master Toji has the expertise to treat “hyeolheogwol.” But they also warn him that he will be risking his life if he wants to meet Master Toji.

Episode 5

Ep. 4 recap: During the public debate, Prince Uiseong says that the plague-infected village must be burned down with all the people in it. But Grand Prince Seongnam becomes outraged by his proposal and says that the government must provide food and medical treatment while studying how to prevent plagues from happening again. Grand Prince Seongnam sneaks into the plague-ravaged village and learns from Master Toji how “hyeolheogwol” can be treated. At the dispensary, when he cannot pay for the medicine because Master Toji has taken all of his money, a beautiful young noblewoman gives her silver knife as a guarantee for payment. He promises to pay her back in ten days’ time; unknown to him, the young noblewoman is the daughter of War Minister Yoon. Queen Im Hwa-ryeong and Royal Physician Kwon refuse to use the medicine and treatment that Master Toji prescribed because they have not been verified by the royal clinic. Despite Chief State Councilor Hwang Won-hyeong’s schemes, Prince Bogeum, not Prince Uiseong, is chosen as the Crown Prince’s cohort. When the Queen Dowager threatens to expose the Crown Prince’s condition if he’s not healthy enough by the time the Crown Princess gives birth, Queen Im Hwa-ryeong decides to use the medicine that Grand Prince Seongnam got from Master Toji. The Crown Prince becomes healthy enough to be appear before King Lee Ho, the Queen Dowager, and the royal consorts as the Crown Princess gives birth. But days later, during a session at Sigangwon attended by King Lee Ho and Queen Im Hwa-ryeong, he collapses as he spits out blood. Everyone becomes shocked, even Chief State Councilor Hwang Won-hyeong.

King Lee Ho imprisons Royal Physician Kwon and confines Queen Im Hwa-ryeong to her quarters, suspending her from exercising authority over the court ladies. He also orders Royal Physician Cho Guk-yeong to establish an Emergency Royal Clinic with Chief State Councilor Hwang Won-hyeong as its head.

At the entrance to the Crown Prince’s quarters, the guards block the Grand Princes from entering and finding out what’s happening. The Queen Dowager also orders them to leave, saying that they’re disobeying King Lee Ho’s order. When Grand Prince Seongnam refuses to leave, she confronts him with the warning that she gave him when he was a young boy about keeping his mouth shut and doing nothing if he wanted to keep his loved ones alive.

When the senior royal consorts learn that the next Crown Prince could be chosen through “taekhyeon” (“choosing a wise and worthy successor regardless of legitimacy”), they begin currying Consort Hwang’s favor. Meanwhile, one of the junior royal consorts say that Prince Bogeum could be chosen as the next Crown Prince since he bested academically all the Grand Princes and the princes.

Prince Uiseong mocks Grand Prince Seongnam that the Crown Prince will die within two weeks’ time because he has coughed up blood clots; he also warns him not to think about succeeding his brother. On the other hand, his mother Consort Hwang and his grandfather Chief State Councilor Hwang Won-hyeong scheme to ask help from the Confucian scholars, the Queen Dowager, and War Minister Yoon in deposing the Crown Prince.

Thinking that the medicine he got from Master Toji caused the Crown Prince’s condition to worsen, Grand Prince Seongnam sneaks into Queen Im Hwa-ryeong’s quarters. Later, he also sneaks into the prison to see Royal Physician Kwon.

Grand Prince Seongnam sneaks back into the plague-ravaged village and threatens Master Toji with his sword. When he reveals his identity and that the medicine was for the Crown Prince, Master Toji mutters under his breath, “What goes around, comes around.”

Episode 6

Ep. 5 recap: On the Queen Dowager’s order, Royal Physician Kwon is kidnapped and tortured into revealing that he was treating the Crown Prince on Queen Im Hwa-ryeong’s instructions. But he doesn’t reveal anything about the medicine that Grand Prince Seongnam brought into the palace. Unable to get any updates from King Lee Ho’s eunuch about the Crown Prince’s condition, Queen Im Hwa-ryeong orders Court Lady Shin to activate the network of court maids, eunuchs, and palace guards whom she has placed previously in the palace. The young noblewoman who Grand Prince Seongnam met at the dispensary is Cheong-ha, War Minister Yoon’s daughter; spoiled by her parents since childhood because she has been diagnosed with a heart disease, she has nevertheless lived up to 20 years. Despite being warned by his mother Consort Tae, Prince Bogeum tells King Lee Ho that the ministers are justified in asking that the Crown Prince be deposed. But he adds that the ministers are waging a conflict with him and that as the sovereign, he must be wary as a tiger whose enemies are enticing it to come down from the mountain. Disguising herself as a court lady, Queen Im Hwa-ryeong leaves the palace and meets the deposed Queen Yoon. At the palace courtyard, she sees the ministers led by Chief State Councilor Hwang Won-hyeong as they petition King Lee Ho for the Crown Prince to be deposed. As she waits at the dispensary with her servant for Grand Prince Seongnam to arrive, Cheong-ha sees the disguised Queen Im Hwa-ryeong and thinks that she’s a noblewoman who’s having an affair. At a gisaeng house, Queen Im Hwa-ryeong asks deposed Queen Yoon if Crown Prince Taein coughed up blood clots before he collapsed. When deposed Queen Yoon replies that what’s happening to the Crown Prince is retribution because King Lee Ho is a wicked usurper of the throne, she says that if human intervention rather than divine retribution caused the Crown Prince to be critically sick, she will kill those who are responsible. After making Queen Im Hwa-ryeong promise to unconditionally grant her request later on, deposed Queen Yoon confirms that her son’s symptoms were different from those of the Crown Prince; she also says that the Dowager Queen reveled in telling her that she murdered Crown Prince Taein. Queen Im Hwa-ryeong confronts the protesting ministers at the palace courtyard; when Chief State Councilor Hwang Won-hyeong says that she’s supposed to be confined to her quarters, King Lee Ho says that he has released her. He also orders the ministers to disperse and stop petitioning for the Crown Prince’s deposition, or else they will be charged with treason. The Crown Prince dies.

Chief State Councilor Hwang Won-hyeong tortures Royal Physician Kwon, hoping that he would implicate Queen Im Hwa-ryeong in the death by poisoning of the late Crown Prince. When King Lee Ho finds out that poisoning is suspected as the cause of the Crown Prince’s death, he sets aside the ministers’ petition to fill the vacant position of the Crown Prince either by “taekhyeon” or by appointing the Grand Heir (the Crown Prince’s young son).

Through the palace servants and the eunuchs, the rumors spread in the palace that Queen Im Hwa-ryeong hastened the Crown Prince’s death by poisoning him so that the Grand Heir can fill the position. The Queen Dowager also meets with Prince Uiseong, Prince Bogeum, and Grand Prince Seongnam.

Queen Im Hwa-ryeong visits Grand Prince Seongnam in his quarters because he has been refusing to eat or meet with anyone after the Crown Prince’s death and wants to leave the palace. She challenges him to think of the welfare of his brothers and of the Crown Prince’s children. Later on, she comes upon the Crown Princess, who’s fleeing her quarters with her children because her attendants are supposedly trying to poison her and her children.

Queen Im Hwa-ryeong rushes to the interrogation grounds upon hearing that Chief State Councilor Hwang Won-hyeong is interrogating Court Lady Shin on the poisoning of the Crown Prince. As she sets Court Lady Shin free, she tells Chief State Councilor Hwang Won-hyeong that she herself is willing to be interrogated on the Crown Prince’s death. Later, in her quarters, as she, Court Lady Shin, and another attendant talk about the possibility of Physician Kwon cracking under torture, Consort Tae (Prince Bogeum’s mother) overhears them talking about the medicine that they brought from outside for the Crown Prince.

Queen Im Hwa-ryeong arranges for Physician Kwon to be brought outside of his jail cell. In a room at the Royal Clinic, after Royal Physician Kwon assures her that the Crown Prince didn’t die of poisoning, she orders him to endure the interrogation and to say nothing about Grand Prince Seongnam and how he brought the medicine into the palace.

With the possibility of a “taekhyeon” becoming more imminent, Consort Hwang confides to her father Chief State Councilor Hwang Won-hyeong something that she has done. Meanwhile, when her uncle, a senior royal minister, says that they can’t make the Queen Dowager come over to their side to support Prince Simso, Consort Ko sends her servant to meet the Queen Dowager.

Note: The video below from “The Swoon” might contain some spoilers that could ruin your full viewing of the episode.

Episode 7

Ep. 6 recap: Consort Hwang confesses to her father Chief State Councilor Hwang Won-hyeong that she asked Royal Physician Kwon to add something to the Crown Prince’s medicine to make his conditions worse but not enough to kill him. She asks him to stop Royal Physician Kwon’s interrogation in fear that he might implicate her. When Chief State Councilor Hwang Won-hyeong says that they must liquidate Physician Kwon, she refuses, saying that they need a Royal Physician on their side. She doesn’t tell her father that while Royal Physician Kwon was checking her pulse one night, they had sex. Queen Im Hwa-ryeong warns Consort Tae that in a “taekhyeon,” she and Prince Bogeum could end up losing their Iives. When Prince Bogeum cautions him against aspiring to be the next Crown Prince, Prince Uiseong challenges him to a sword fight. He raises his sword to kill Prince Bogeum, but Grand Prince Seongnam stops him. With her pride pricked by the reality that she was a mere court maid before she became a royal consort, Consort Tae becomes more determined to make Prince Bogeum the next Crown Prince. She asks for the help of her confidante, the newest Special Court Lady. Consort Ko’s servant reveals to the Queen Dowager that Queen Im Hwa-ryeong met with the deposed Queen Yoon. In exchange for supporting Prince Bogeum, Consort Tae reveals to War Minister Yoon that Queen Im Hwa-ryeong brought medicine from outside the palace for the Crown Prince’s treatment. Chief State Councilor Hwang Won-hyeong forces a physician and a nurse to falsely testify against Physician Kwon. At the interrogation grounds, he accuses Queen Im Hwa-ryeong of bringing into the palace the medicine that led to the Crown Prince’s death. When Queen Im Hwa-ryeong defends herself by saying that Chief State Councilor Hwang Won-hyeong previously claimed that the Crown Prince was poisoned, King Lee Ho postpones the interrogation for the next day. The Queen Dowager warns Queen Im Hwa-ryeong that if she doesn’t confess bringing the medicine from outside the palace, she will reveal that she met deposed Queen Yoon. While trying to get the Grand Heir to eat, Queen Im Hwa-ryeong finds the numerous puncture marks on his leg that was caused by his nurse maid. She’s horrified when she sees that the silver spoon has changed color, indicating that the Grand Heir has just been poisoned.

Queen Im Hwa-ryeong orders the royal guards to ransack the royal kitchen and search for the poison that may have been used against the Grand Heir. In her quarters, she sees the Crown Princess on her knees, begging that she and her children be allowed to leave the palace. When she refuses, the Crown Princess takes out her “eunjangdo” (small silver knife) and threatens to kill herself right there and then.

Grand Prince Seongnam confesses to King Lee Ho that he was the one who brought the medicine from outside the palace. He promises to prove that the medicine did not cause the Crown Prince’s death by making Master Toji and the herbalist testify at the interrogation.

Queen Im Hwa-ryeong tries to get into the jail where Royal Physician Kwon is being held. But Chief State Councilor Hwang Won-hyeong invokes King Lee Ho’s command and stops her from entering.

Grand Prince Seongnam rushes to the plague-ravaged village, but Master Toji and the herbalist have already left the village. In the interrogation grounds, Royal Physician Kwon finally confesses that he got the medicine from Queen Im Hwa-ryeong.

Episode 8

Ep. 7 recap: The nurse maid poisons herself without revealing who ordered her to harm the Grand Heir. Queen Im Hwa-ryeong bargains with the Queen Dowager and Chief State Councilor Hwang Won-hyeong that if they spare the lives of the Crown Princess and her children, they can be declared as commoners and sent to exile. She says that if they agree, she will no longer object to the “taekhyeon” and will relinquish her title as queen if none of the Grand Princes qualify as the next Crown Prince. Chief State Councilor Hwang Won-hyeong orders his men to kill the Crown Princess and her children once they reach their place of exile. On their way to there, however, they’re taken awau by Queen Im Hwa-ryeong’s men and Grand Prince Seongnam to a secure hideaway. Royal Physician Kwon is dismissed from the Royal Clinic and leaves the capital; at the end of his journey, he meets his teacher, Master Toji. Grand Prince Seongnam decides to join the “taekhyeon,” but Prince Bogeum asks the Dowager Queen to support him in becoming the next Crown Prince. King Lee Ho agrees to the “taekhywon” but surprises the ministers by insisting that he himself will choose who among the Grand Princes and princes is the most worthy. Meanwhile, Queen Im Hwa-ryeong tells the royal consorts that the best among the Grand Princes and princes will be chosen through a contest. As she’s speaking to the consorts, unidentified men kidnap the Grand Princes and the princes and take them to a forest where they meet Chief Royal Secretary Min Seung-yun and his allies.

After the physical part of the contest, the Grand Princes and princes are given various assignments for the next four days; they cannot reveal their royal lineage, however, and must take on the identities of secret inspectors. But Chief State Councilor Hwang Won-hyeong and his allies are outraged when they find out that the assignments are for the secret inspectors to bring to the palace men who have been convicted of treason or who have turned their backs on government offices.

Grand Prince Muan consults a face reader, saying that he only wants to be the Crown Prince for his mother’s sake. The face reader takes what he says about being a royal prince with a grain of salt and humors him by saying that he will soon meet two women, one of whom will change his fate. On the street, he helps Cheong-ha as she nearly gets run over by Prince Uiseong and his horse. He sees the sketch of the man Cheong-ha has been searching for and recognizes who the man is.

The royal consorts get the background information about the men that the Grand Princes and the princes are supposed to contact and bring to the palace. Through their men or by themselves, they try to give the information to their sons to help them fulfill their assignments.

On the way to his assignment, Grand Prince Seongnam is ambushed by bandits. When Queen Im Hwa-ryeong finds out about it and doubts that it’s a random case of robbery, she asks King Lee Ho to go after the masterminds. But King Lee Ho refuses to do anything about it.

Note: The video clip below from “The Swoon” might contain some spoilers that could ruin your full viewing of the episode.

Episode 9

Ep. 8 recap: Park Gyeong-u, the man who Grand Prince Seongnam and Prince Bogeum are supposed to bring back to the palace to serve as Minister of Taxation, says that he cannot comply with King Lee Ho’s command because he’s blind. But Grand Prince Seongnam proves that he’s just pretending to be blind. As he studies how to get Park Gyeong-u to comply with King Lee Ho’s command, he meets Cheong-ha on the beach. King Lee Ho confronts Chief State Councilor Hwang Won-hyeong about the attempt against Grand Prince Seongnam’s life. But Chief State Councilor Hwang Won-hyeong slyly reminds King Lee Ho that he was watching when Crown Prince Taein was murdered. Chief State Councilor Hwang Won-hyeong and Consort Hwang hired the bandits to delay Grand Prince Seongnam, not to kill him. But the Queen Dowager’s attendant paid off the bandits to kill him. Queen Im Hwa-ryeong gives the Queen Dowager a box as her supposed gift for not observing filial piety towards her. But inside the box is cuckoopint, a poisonous plant; she threatens the Queen Dowager never to put Grand Prince Seongnam in danger again.

The Queen Dowager uses the cuckoopint (poisonous plant) that Queen Im Hwa-ryeong offered to her and a great acting job to shake King Lee Ho’s confidence in Queen Im Hwa-ryeong’s claim that she and Chief State Councilor Hwang Won-hyeong tried to kill Grand Prince Seongnam. The Queen Dowager says that even though she (and King Lee Ho) knows Grand Prince Seongnam’s true origins, she could never attempt sgainst the life of a grandchild.

In Manwol Island, Grand Prince Seongnam and Prince Bogeum follow Park Gyeong-u as he goes about his business of earning huge commissions through the sales of clams; Cheong-ha tags along with them.

After planting seeds of doubt in Consort Tae’s mind about the Queen Dowager’s real intent towards Prince Bogeum, Queen Im Hwa-ryeong visits Chief State Councilor Hwang Won-hyeong. She brings along with her the subleader of the bandits, who identifies Chief State Councilor Hwang Won-hyeong’s right hand man as the man who hired his group of bandits.

In Mount Gyeryong, both Grand Prince Gyeseong and Prince Uiseong find Seo Ham-deok, the man they’re supposed to bring back to the palace to become head of the Royal Commandery Division. But Seo Ham-deok is now a money-loving and skirt-chasing Buddhist monk. While Grand Prince Gyeseong goes to the temple, Prince Uiseong sees Seo Ham-deok fighting with a man who protests that Seo Ham-deok took advantage of his wife.

Chief State Councilor Hwang Won-hyeong and Consort Hwang leave the Queen Dowager’s quarters, disappointed and angry when the Queen Dowager insists that she alone decides who the next Crown Prince will be. Meanwhile, Queen Im Hwa-ryeong speaks to War Minister Yoon in private; she reminds him that as the only member of the Yoon clan to survive after Queen Yoon was deposed, it’s more important for him to survive than to remain faithful to the Queen Dowager.

Through Consort Tae, the Queen Dowager spreads among the people a malicious rumor about a member of the royal family. A Grand Prince and a prince both quit the contest but are quite happy about it. Hungry and in shabby clothes, Prince Simso tries to get into the palace, but the palace guards turn him away. Meanwhile, Grand Prince Muan still hasn’t gone to his assignment because he has to visit the woman he loves at the gisaeng house.

Note: The video clip below from “The Swoon” might contain some spoilers that could ruin your full viewing of the episode.

Episode 10

Ep. 9 recap: Outraged that Queen Im Hwa-ryeong took Prince Simso back into the palace, Consort Ko searches Grand Prince Gyeseong’s quarters and finds the portrait of him with full makeup and in a woman’s clothes. She offers Consort Hwang the portrait in exchange for making Queen Im Hwa-ryeong weep tears of blood. Prince Simso tries to take his own life by hanging himself, but Queen Im Hwa-ryeong and her attendants rush him to the Royal Clinic. Later, after using special wine cups as an illustration, Queen Im Hwa-ryeong assures him to be more assertive when it comes to the things that he really likes to do. Grand Prince Gyeseong reads King Lee Ho’s royal edict to Monk Haeham, who refuses and says that he’s not Seo Ham-deok. When he questions why military texts are hidden in Buddhist writings and why there’s a map of the royal palace hidden in the quarters, Seo Ham-deok attacks him. But then police officers arrive and arrest him for the murder of the man he had an altercation with the previous day. But it’s actually Prince Uiseong who killed the man using Seo Ham-deok’s knife. Using one of the maps that he found in Seo Ham-deok’s quarters, Grand Prince Gyeseong goes up to a mountain and finds an armory; he concludes that Seo Ham-deok is plotting treason. Meanwhile, former Royal Physician Kwon and Master Toji visit Seo Ham-deok in his jail cell. At the palace, Queen Im Hwa-ryeong finds out that former Royal Physician Kwon was Consort Hwang’s physician and that it was Consort Hwang who recommended him to be the Crown Prince’s physician.

Queen Im Hwa-ryeong surprises Consort Hwang by saying that she wants to recall former Royal Physician Kwon to the palace.

Former Royal Physician Kwon says that the royal edict appointing Seo Ham-deok as head of the Royal Commandery Division is a good opportunity for them. Later, after agreeing to Seo Ham-deok’s one condition for accepting the royal edict, Prince Uiseong leaves the jail cell, smugly thinking that he has just won the contest. But Grand Prince Gyeseong stops him, saying that Seo Ham-deok is plotting treason.

At Hyewolgak, a halfway house for women and an orphanage, Queen Im Hwa-ryeong meets Cho-wol, the musician at the gisaeng house who has captured Grand Prince Muan’s heart. But Cho-wol doesn’t back down, saying that she will decide how to end her relationship with Grand Prince Muan. As she leaves, Queen Im Hwa-ryeong remembers why she established Hyewolgak.

With Cheong-ha keeping watch, Grand Prince Seongnam and Prince Bogeum find Park Gyeong-u’s book of accounts; they find out that he has been defrauding the villagers in Manwol Village by embezzling part of the commissions from the sales of the clams.

King Lee Ho and Queen Im Hwa-ryeong find out about the posters that are spreading the rumors that Grand Prince Seongnam is not King Lee Ho’s biological son.

After receiving Prince Uiseong’s letter that he killed someone to force Seo Ham-deok to comply with the royal edict, Consort Hwang asks her father Chief State Councilor Hwang to send swordsmen to kidnap Grand Prince Gyeseong, who’s rushing back to the palace.

Consort Hwang brings King Lee Ho to Consort Ko’s quarters and tells her to show King Lee Ho the portrait of Grand Prince Gyeseong that will reveal his hideous secret.

Episode 11

Ep. 10 recap: Seo Ham-deok lays down the condition that Prince Uiseong must kill the other royal inspector (Grand Prince Gyeseong) for him to comply with the royal edict. After studying Park Gyeong-u’s book of accounts, Grand Prince Seongnam and Prince Bogeum find out that he used part of the commissions that he “embezzled” to pay off the villagers’ debts with the Righteous Granaries and to establish a cooperative that gave the villagers financial independence. To their surprise, Park Gyeong-u reveals that he knows that they are King Lee Ho’s sons. Queen Im Hwa-ryeong and Consort Ko embarrass Consort Hwang by switching Grand Prince Gyeseong’s portrait in full makeup and in woman’s clothes with a harmless painting of a playful tiger. After presenting Seo Ham-deok to King Lee Ho, Prince Uiseong suddenly reveals that he’s a rebel who’s plotting treason. After having Seo Ham-deok arrested, King Lee Ho scolds Prince Uiseong for presenting Seo Ham-deok even though he already knew that he was a rebel. As punishment for slandering and defaming Grand Prince Gyeseong, Queen Im Hwa-ryeong demotes Consort Hwang to the lowest level of royal consorts. For the final stage of the “taekhyeon,” King Lee ho asks the Confucian scholars in Sungkyungkwan to evaluate Grand Prince Seongnam, Prince Bogeum, and Prince Uiseong.

Despite the Sungkyungkwan scholars being locked inside a hall for the evaluation, the news leaks out that Grand Prince Seongnam is leading the evaluation. The Queen Dowager thus orders War Minister Yoon to bribe a high ranking government official and the fathers of the Sungkyungkwan scholars to persuade their sons to vote for Prince Bogeum. When Chief State Councilor Hwang Won-hyeong hears about this, he strikes back.

After bargaining with Chief State Councilor Hwang Won-hyeong and Consort Hwang, the Queen Dowager orders Prince Bogeum to withdraw from the “taekhyeon.”

Queen Im Hwa-ryeong demotes Consort Tae as a court maid in her chambers.

The Sungkyungkwan scholars ask Grand Prince Seongnam and Prince Uiseong to appear before them and give their opinion on a hypothetical case.

When War Minister Yoon becomes concerned that she can discard him the way she discarded Consort Tae and Prince Bogeum, the Queen Dowager promises that whoever is selected as the Crown Prince, his daughter will be the Crown Princess.

Episode 12

Ep. 11 recap: Consort Hwang promises that if Prince Uiseong is chosen as the Crown Prince, she will give full control of the Inner Court to the Queen Dowager. Queen Im Hwa-ryeong finds out that the Sungkyungkwan scholars and their fathers are communicating through messages secretly delivered by the kitchen ladies. She confronts the scholars with these hidden messages; after appealing to their integrity as Confucian scholars and future government officials, she burns the messages. Before King Lee Ho could announce the results of the evaluation by the Sungkyungkwan scholars, Chief State Councilor Hwang Won-hyeong raises the issue of whether Grand Prince Seongnam is of royal blood; he has previously found a way of manipulating the blood examination results. After the blood examination, Queen Im Hwa-ryeong refuses to accept the results and insists that the same examination and the same water be used in examining Chief State Councilor Hwang Won-hyeong and Consort Hwang. She also insists that the Queen Dowager inspect the ears of the Grand Princes, Prince Bogeum, and Prince Uiseong to see if they have the same characteristic of King Lee Ho’s ears. While she’s examining Prince Uiseong’s ear, she hesitates, and Consort Hwang seems agitated. Queen Im Hwa-ryeong reveals that the Queen Dowager and the palace elders forced Grand Prince Seongnam to live outside of the palace during his childhood years because he was “indecently” conceived during the mourning period for the previous king. Grand Prince Seongnam is chosen as the new Crown Prince.

In his first day of instructions at Sigangwon, Chief State Councilor Hwang Won-hyeong and his allies try to intimidate Crown Prince Seongnam with their questions, disagreeing with every answer that he gives. On the other hand, his cohort Prince Bogeum and Minister of Taxation Park Gyeong-u defend his answers.

With the selection of the Crown Prince, a marriage ban is instituted throughout the whole country for all eligible women. The Queen Dowager also provides Queen Im Hwa-ryeong three names of young women whom she wants to be part of the selection process for the Crown Princess; among those she wants is the second daughter of War Minister Yoon. Determined to stop the Queen Dowager from controlling Crown Prince Seongnam by suggesting women with political connections to her, Queen Im Hwa-ryeong, with Consort Ko and Consort Tae assisting, begins an unofficial search for a strong candidate who’s not connected to the Queen Dowager.

At a silk store, Queen Im Hwa-ryeong and Consort Ko put the eldest daughter of Chief Royal Secretary Min Seung-yun at the top of their list; when Consort Tae arrives, she also excitedly confirms that they’ve found the best candidate. As they’re watching their best candidate, they hear a loud argument on the street outside the silk store. They see a young noblewoman (Cheong-ha) creating a scene by arguing with a street vendor.

After visiting Seo Ham-deok in jail, former Royal Physician Kwon meets and plans with the other rebels; later, he meets with Consort Hwang, who asks him what kind of poison he used with the late Crown Prince.

After the initial proceedings, the Dowager Queen recommends the daughter of War Minister Yoon to the Three-Step Selection, while Queen Im Hwa-ryeong recommends the eldest daughter of the Chief Royal Secretary.

Note: The video clip below from “The Swoon” might contain some spoilers that could ruin your full viewing of the episode.

Episode 13

Ep. 12 recap: While pretending to be a senior court lady, Queen Im Hwa-ryeong meets Cheong-ha and finds out that she has met Crown Prince Seongnam before and fell in love with him without knowing his true identity. Former Royal Physician Kwon poisons Seo Ham-deok. The Queen Dowager thinks that she can bring down Crown Prince Seongnam by choosing the worst candidate of all — Cheong-ha. During the Three-Step Selection, Queen Im Hwa-ryeong asks Cheong-ha about the Three Exceptions when a man cannot divorce his wife. When his eunuch tells him that the eldest daughter of War Minister Yoon has been selected as the next Crown Princess, Crown Prince Seongnam isn’t thrilled about it, thinking that she’s a lackey of the Queen Dowager. Unknown to him, Queen Im Hwa-ryeong met with War Minister Yoon and his wife; assuring them that Cheong-ha is the best candidate, she promises to be Cheong-ha’s shield in the palace against the Queen Dowager if War Minister Yoon would be Crown Prince Seongnam’s shield. Durung the wedding, Crown Prince Seongnam recognizes the Crown Princess as Cheong-ha, the woman he met outside the palace. Thinking that Cheong-ha deceived him, Crown Prince leaves her without consummating their marriage. At the palace gate, Cho-wol carries a baby, demanding to see the baby’s father.

After Cho-wol leaves the baby with her, Queen Im Hwa-ryeong visits Grand Prince Muan in his quarters. Faced with the reality that the baby is his, Grand Prince Muan promises to be responsible in taking care of it.

When the Queen Dowager asks if they had consummated their marriage because she has heard some nasty rumors, Crown Prince Seongnam becomes testy, saying that her attendants are more focused on him rather than her; Crown Princess Cheong-ha, however, says that Crown Prince Seongnam returned to her quarters after leaving her for a while.

In a private audience, Crown Princess Cheong-ha asks Queen Im Hwa-ryeong to teach Crown Prince Seongnam about how to have sexual relations; when Queen Im Hwa-ryeong says that she will schedule another date for the consummation of their marriage, Crown Princess Cheong-ha innocently asks why a date has to be scheduled.

Despite the objections by the Chief State Councilor Hwang Won-hyeong, King Lee Ho appoints Crown Prince Seongnam to lead in the reformation of the corrupt Righteous Granaries. As he studies the books that relate to the granaries and welfare relief for the poor, Crown Prince Seongnam finds a folded piece of paper inside one of the books.

Prince Uiseong meets with former Royal Physician Kwon and Master Toji. When they speak about a rebellion that will topple King Lee Ho, he refuses, saying that he will not commit treason against his father; he also mocks how a former royal physician can make a bold promise of making him the Crown Prince.

While continuing to investigate the connection between the deaths of her son and of Crown Prince Taein, Queen Im Hwa-ryeong becomes interested in Master Toji.

Note: The video clip below from “The Swoon” might contain some spoilers that could ruin your full viewing of the episode.

Episode 14

Ep. 13 recap: Unknown to Grand Prince Muan, Queen Im Hwa-ryeong has taken Cho-wol in as a court maid so that she can be her baby’s wet nurse. She promises Cho-wol and Grand Prince Muan that she will somehow make things right for them. The piece of paper that Crown Prince Seongnam found is part of the journal that the late Crown Prince kept; from comparing the prescription that a retired nurse got from Royal Physician Yoo Sang-uk and the prescription that Crown Prince Seongnam got from Master Toji, Queen Im Hwa-ryeong concludes that Master Toji is actually Royal Physician Yoo Sang-uk. Cornered by Grand Prince Seongnam, Master Toji aka Royal Physician Yoo Sang-uk confirms that, based on the autopsy sketch, Crown Prince Taein and the late Crown Pribce were both poisoned to death. Former Royal Physician Kwon tells Prince Uiseong that he killed the late Crown Prince on the orders of Consort Hwang. Later, when Prince Uiseong reveals what the rebels offered to him, Chief State Councilor Hwang Won-hyeong becomes outraged, saying that he was responsible for the deaths of the members of the Yoon clan. When he warns that the rebels actually want to reinstate Grand Prince Yeongwon (aka Yi Ik-hyeon, Crown Prince Taein’s younger brother), Prince Uiseong says that Grand Prince Yeongwon will die. Royal Physician Kwon is reinstated into the Royal Pharmacy because of Queen Im Hwa-ryeong. Later, he gives Consort Hwang a sample of the undetectable poison that he used in killing the Crown Prince. With the poison, Consort Hwang tries to kill the Queen Dowager. But after breaking the cup with the poisoned tea, the Queen Dowager asks Consort Hwang who the real father of Prince Uiseong is. Former Royal Physician Kwon is actually Grand Prince Yeongwon (Yi Ik-hyeon).

Flashback ... Master Toji aka Royal Physician Yoo Sang-uk takes the young Grand Prince Yeongwon (Yi Ik-hyeon) with him, ordering his own son to live with deposed Queen Yoon and pretend to be Grand Prince Yeongwon (Yi Ik-hyeon).

When the Queen Dowager pressures her to reveal who the real father of Prince Uiseong is, Consort Hwang drinks the tea that the Queen Dowager says has been poisoned.

Crown Prince Seongnam finds the journal among the annals in the Chief Royal Secretary Min Seung-yun’s office; it confirms that Master Toji aka Royal Physician Yoo Sang-uk indeed conducted the autopsy on Crown Prince Taein, but a page has been ripped from it. Later, Queen Im Hwa-ryeong asks King Lee Ho to reopen the investigation into Crown Prince Taein’s death. But King Lee Ho refuses, saying that such an investigation will destabilize his reign.

After learning from Prince Uiseong that Consort Hwang has approved of his plans to join the rebels, Chief State Councilor Hwang Won-hyeong rushes to confront her. But he’s shocked when Consort Hwang confesses that Prince Uiseong is not King Lee Ho’s son.

Based on Crown Prince Seongnam’s investigation, Queen Im Hwa-ryeong finds out that the historiographer who recorded the incidents of Crown Prince Taein’s autopsy is the father of Minister of Taxation Park Gyeong-u. She summons Minister Park Gyeong-u to her quarters and asks him if he has seen his father’s draft (“gajangsacho”).

Chief State Councilor Hwang Won-hyeong finally meets the rebel leaders; he’s stunned that the leaders are former Royal Physicians whom he tried to kill. When the leaders ask him if he’s willing to testify that King Lee Ho was present when Crown Prince Taein was murdered by poisoning, he says that he will if the leaders guarantee Prince Uiseong’s position. When the leaders ask for Crown Prince Taein’s autopsy report, he denies having it and points instead to Royal Physician Cho Guk-yeong, who was the assistant of Master Toji aka Royal Physician Yoo Sang-uk.

Minister of Taxation Park Gyeong-u finally shows Queen Im Hwa-ryeong his father’s draft of the incidents during Crown Prince Taein’s autopsy upon her promise not to tell anyone about what’s in the draft. After reading the draft, Queen Im Hwa-ryeong is stunned to realize that King Lee Ho possibly knows what really happened to Crown Prince Taein.

After finding out that Crown Princess Cheong-ha and the other Grand Princes have been visiting Grand Prince Muan’s quarters, the Queen Dowager orders her attendant to closely watch the quarters.

Queen Im Hwa-ryeong gets fed up when the rumors swirl in the palace that Crown Prince Seongnam has “hwaja” (problem with his sexual organ) and that, unable to deal with his loneliness, Crown Princess Cheong-ha is having an affair with Grand Prince Muan. She meets Crown Prince Seongnam and Crown Princess Cheong-ha and introduces them to a court lady who will guide them on how to consummate their marriage.

Episode 15

Ep. 14 recap: Queen Im Hwa-ryeong assures Crown Prince Seongnam that she chose Cheong-ha as the Crown Princess. Because they drank several cups of wine during the night they were supposed to consummate their marriage, Crown Prince Seongnam and Crown Princess Cheong-ha can’t remember the next day if they actually had sex. With the records tampered, Queen Im Hwa-ryeong orders Royal Physician Kwon to bring samples of poison that could have been used in killing the Crown Prince. At Hyewolgak, Queen Im Hwa-ryeong finds out what poison was used to kill her son. Rushing to the house of deposed Queen Yoon, she realizes that the man living with Queen Yoon is not Grand Prince Yeongwon (Yi Ik-hyeon). After poisoning Royal Physician Cho Guk-yeong, Royal Physician Kwon (Yi Ik-hyeon) goes to the Royal Pharmacy to look for Crown Prince Taein’s autopsy report. But Queen Im Hwa-ryeong has already taken the report.

Royal Physician Kwon (Yi Ik-hyeon) escapes from the Royal Clinic as soldiers pursue him; meanwhile, soldiers raid the rebel base.

To Queen Im Hwa-ryeong’s confusion and disappointment, King Lee Ho says that their son was killed by a mere royal physician and that Yi Ik-hyeon is the man living with deposed Queen Yoon.

After finding out that King Lee Ho wants Royal Physician Kwon (Yi Ik-hyeon) dead, Queen Im Hwa-ryeong rushes to meet the Queen Dowager. She reveals that Physician Kwon is actually Yi Ik-hyeon, son of deposed Queen Yoon, and that he killed Royal Physician Cho Guk-yeong. She says that if the Queen Dowager presents Yi Ik-hyeon to her alive, she will give her Crown Prince Taein’s autopsy report.

The Queen Dowager finds out that Royal Physician Kwon (Yi Ik-hyeon) is hiding in Prince Uiseong’s residence but doesn’t report it. She also strikes back against Queen Im Hwa-ryeong by threatening to have Crown Princess Cheong-ha deposed.

Episode 16, Finale (with spoilers)

Ep. 15 recap: The Queen Dowager bribes the Royal Physician into saying that he misdiagnosed Crown Princess Cheong-ha as being pregnant. When she finds out that Crown Princess Cheong-ha has had heart problems since she was a child, she threatens to depose her unless Queen Im Hwa-ryeong gives her Crown Prince Taein’s autopsy report. When Queen Im Hwa-ryeong asks him to give her his father’s draft of the incidents during Crown Prince Taein’s autopsy, Minister of Taxation Park Gyeong-u says that he gave it to King Lee Ho. Acting on the Queen Dowager’s instructions, Chief State Councilor Hwang Won-hyeong lures Royal Physician Kwon (Yi Ik-hyeon) into the palace. When soldiers close in on him, Royal Physician Kwon (Yi Ik-hyeon) takes Chief State Councilor Hwang Won-hyeong as a hostage and then stabs him to death. Based on the Queen Dowager’s scheme, Royal Physician Kwon (Yi Ik-hyeon) ends up in her quarters. Consort Hwang arrives and confirms that Royal Physician Kwon is really Yi Ik-hyeon. With the quarters surrounded by soldiers, Prince Uiseong arrives and stabs him. Before he dies, however, he tells Prince Uiseong that he is his son. The Queen Dowager burns Crown Prince Taein’s autopsy report.

 

Historical / cultural backgrounders and other information

1. [FICTION VS. HISTORY] ’Under the Queen’s Umbrella’ faces questions about Chinese influences

Though it was clear the drama is fictitious, the series still could not avoid criticisms regarding factual inaccuracies that most historical dramas or films face. The criticism began right after episode 2 when simplified Chinese characters showed up in the subtitles to explain the phrase “mul gwi won ju,” which roughly translates to “missing or stolen objects gradually come back to their owner.” It should’ve used hanja, which was what the characters were actually using during the Joseon Dynasty.

Viewers quickly took their anger to online communities and demanded tvN issue an explanation. The producers of the series quickly apologized and corrected the subtitles saying it was a mistake. However, some historians insisted that the expression “mul gwi won ju” itself is Chinese and that it would have never been used during Joseon.

2. Period Drama “Under The Queen’s Umbrella” Is Criticized By Scholars For Historical Inaccuracies: “Historian Kim Jae Won agreed to the drama’s inaccuracies and further stated such inaccuracies were disrespectful to Korea’s history.”

3. Kim Hye Soo’s ‘Under the Queen’s Umbrella’ Slammed by Historian for Showing ‘No Respect to History’

4. ’Under the Queen’s Umbrella’ writer responds to accusations of historical inaccuracies

5. “From the kings of the Joseon Dynasty to the lost and found of the subway”

“The umbrellas we use [in Korea] came into the country by missionaries [in the late 1800s and early 1900s],” said Jeong Yeon-hak, a researcher of the National Folk Museum of Korea. “Yet, at the same, the umbrella was considered taboo because it covered the sky.”

Back then, the king was often compared to the sky. So covering yourself from looking at the sky was an act that could easily be seen as being disrespectful to the king.

It wasn’t until the king started to use an umbrella to cover himself from the sun’s glaring rays that higher level aristocrats slowly started to follow suit.

Soon an umbrella became a symbol of power and wealth and whether or not an aristocrat used one was seen as an indicator of their accomplishments.

6. Elaborate hairpins of Queen Im Hwa-ryeong and the Queen Dowager

Phoenix-ornamented binyeo is a jewelry worn by Joseon’s royal family (The Dong-a Ilbo):

Binyeo is part of Korean traditional culture that dates back to the ancient Korean Peninsula, and bongjam was a piece of jewelry favored by the Joseon dynasty’s royal family. Jo Hyo-sook, a chair professor of the fashion design department at Gachon University, described bongjam as the “representative artifact of the royal family of the Joseon dynasty, which could only be worn by women in the highest rank of the royal family, such as the queen and the king’s mother.”

The unique shape of the Korean-style binyeo originated around 1756 when King Yeongjo of Joseon banned the use of a Korean wig called “gache.” In East Asia, a vertical clip bineyo was widely worn to fixate the gache. However, after King Yeongjo imposed a ban on the use of gache, women in Joseon started to wear a horizontally long and thick binyeo to pin up their high bun updo hairstyle. “A binyeo is a fashion item that can add a style to the combed-back, high bun hair. Joseon binyeo was elongated with time, and the jamdu (the head of the pin) also got thicker and became three-dimensional,” said Professor Lee.

From A Guide to Joseon Hairstyles and Headgears (The Talking Cupboard): “Jam (잠) was a more lavish hairpin compared to binyeo, worn by the upper class women and royalties. The name depended on the design: yongjam ((용잠)) for those with dragon shape, bongjam (봉잠) for phoenix.”

From Binyeo, Ornamental Hair Pin Exhibiting Wishes: “The variety of materials used to make binyeo included gold, silver, jade, pearl, brass, bronze, wood, coral and animal bones or horns; each material symbolized social hierarchy or an occasion. For example, the social elite wore hairpins made of gold, silver or jade, while commoners wore those made from wood or animal bones or horns. Black wooden or horn binyeo were made for widows. Commoners wore binyeo 10-20 cm long except at weddings, where a 30 cm-long hairpin was allowed. Binyeo was a valuable heirloom that was passed down to the next generation of women in a family.”

7. In Eps. 8-10, as part of the contest, the Grand Princes and the princes disguise themselves as "secret royal inspectors" (“amhaeng-eosa”) in pursuit of the assignments given by King Lee Ho. In some scenes, you can see the inspectors’ seal (badge) and tool: the “mapae” and the “yuchuk.”

From “Amhaeng-eosa: secret royal inspector in Joseon Kingdom” (The Korea Times):

So, who actually were the amhaeng-eosa in the Joseon Kingdom? They were undercover officials directly appointed by the king and were sent to local provinces to punish corrupt officials and comfort the sufferings of people while traveling incognito. The amhaeng-eosa system was one of the most excellent inspection systems in the world, the likes of which is very unique and hard to find in other countries.

The secret royal inspectors kept “horse requisition tablets” called “mapae” and “rulers” called “yuchuk” with them throughout their missions. Mapae was a symbol of the secret royal inspector. There were horses carved on the mapae, meaning the inspectors could commandeer as many horses as were carved on the mapae. The mapae was used not only to ask for horses but also to prove identity.

Yuchuk is a brazen ruler and usually two yuchuk were given to the secret royal inspector. One was to measure the implements of punishment for criminals, to restrain the overuse of punishment by checking whether each province implemented the right punishment according to the code of law. The other one was to investigate whether the measurement system for taxation was correctly followed.

Lessons in photography from “Under The Queen’s Umbrella” with in-depth analysis of its visuals, cinematography, and editing

Note: This analysis is a work in progress.

Index: A. The three most visually memorable scenes from this drama; B. “Fade to black” transitions to depict or reinforce tension (similar to “Vincenzo,” “The Crowned Clown,” and “D.P.”); C. Numerous uses of long siding — lead room, nose room, looking space — to short siding (similar to “A Business Proposal” and “Healer”); D. Overhead shots — bird’s eye view, aerial view, God’s view (Wes Anderson’s influence?); E. Visual cues, with overly dramatic Dutch angle shots, including 90-degree angle shots; F. Transitions; G. Miscellaneous: “Barrel roll” shot in Ep. 8 (influenced by Christopher Nolan?); Out of focus shots to depict or reinforce emotional or psychological tension (similar to “My Liberation Notes”); Almost similar to breaking the 180-degree rule or crossing the line (similar to Park Chan-wook’s “Decision to Leave”); Two kinds of lens flares used in this drama; Lower quadrant or lower corner composition; rack focus shots of Queen Im Hwa-ryeong’s and the Queen Dowager’s “binyeo”; Some nitpicking criticisms of “Under the Queen’s Umbrella”; Ep. 10 scene from “Under the Queen’s Umbrella” and my hangover from Park Chan-wook’s “Decision to Leave”; A final observation: Ep. 16 scene of Queen Im Hwa-ryeong remembering the late Crown Prince and “dancheong”

A. The three most visually memorable scenes from this drama use the visual techniques that I will discuss in this analysis — fade to black transitions, overly dramatic Dutch angle shots with 90-degree Dutch angle shots, out of focus shots, overhead shots, etc.

Ep. 2: Queen Im Hwa-ryeong staggers from the deserted place in the palace where she saw Grand Prince Gyeseong. I especially like the 90-degree Dutch angle shot as the camera pulls out.

Ep. 14: Using his influence, King Lee Ho gets the page ripped from the “sillok” (annals), which narrates the incidents during Crown Prince Taein’s autopsy; he burns up the page, thus condemning himself to a lifetime of guilt.

Ep. 16: When King Lee Ho confines her to her quarters, the Queen Dowager takes her own life, dressed in the ceremonial Joseon queen’s clothes and ornaments.

B. “Fade to black” transitions to depict or reinforce tension (similar to “My Liberation Notes,” “Vincenzo,” “The Crowned Clown,” and “D.P.”)

“Fade to black” (aka dissolve-to-black) is a transition technique; it’s done not in-camera but during the post production stage.

From “What is a Fade Transition — How & Why to Use Them Explained” (Studio Binder): A fade is a subtype of dissolve transition that gradually moves to or from an image to or from black. Fades are often used at the beginning/end of movies. But in rare cases, filmmakers use fades inside of a scene, for example when a character comes in and out consciousness. Crossfades are gradual transitions that move between images rather than between an image and a black screen.

From “On Fading to Black: The Hows, The Whens, and The Whys” (Premium Beat):

As with most aspects of filmmaking, there’s no single set way to do one thing. However, the fade-to-black transition tends to work best in the following circumstances:

Fading from the end of a theme to the beginning of another.
Fading from one character’s narrative to another.
Fading into a later date.

In the “Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Infinity War Official Trailer,” you can see “two dozen fade-ins and -outs during the trailer—quite often from clip-to-clip.”

As I discussed in my analyses of the visuals, cinematography, and editing of “The Crowned Clown,” “Vincenzo,” and “D.P.” there are tension-filled scenes where the emotional or psychological tension is depicted or reinforced by the use of a series of fade to black transitions. “Under the Queen’s Umbrella” also uses this visual device. (Notice that the Studio Binder and Premium Beat articles do not mention this use of fade to black transitions.)

Example from “The Crowned Clown”:

Example from “Vincenzo”:

Example from “D.P”:

Examples from “Under the Queen’s Umbrella”:

Ep. 2: Grand Prince Gyeseong walks towards his secret room in a deserted place in the palace grounds.

Ep. 5: After the Crown Prince dies, there are a series of shots/scenes of people mourning his death in different places in the palace, starting with the Crown Princess. The shots/scenes are divided by fade to black transitions. Because of the limits of the GIF program that I use, I had to divide the GIF into two parts.

Part 1: Crown Princess; Queen Im Hwa-ryeong and King Lee Ho; reverse shot of Queen Im Hwa-ryeong and King Lee Ho; eunuch performing the "chohon" (traditional Korean mourning practice of "calling to the dead") on the palace rooftop; flashback to the Crown Prince and Grand Prince Seongnam saying goodbye during their childhood years. (I especially love how the eunuch drops the Crown Prince’s outer robe, which leads to the fade to black transition and the flashback.)

Part 2: From the childhood farewell scene up to the bonding scenes between the adult Crown Prince and Grand Prince Seongnam, there are four fade to black transitions.

Ep. 16: The Queen Dowager burns Crown Prince Taein’s autopsy report and then tells Queen Im Hwa-ryeong that, at that moment, Prince Uiseong must have already killed Royal Physician Kwon (Yi Ik-hyeon). The single fade to black transition not only leads to the flashback scene between the Queen Dowager and Prince Uiseong but also reinforces how evil the Queen Dowager is.

Ep. 16: As Crown Prince Seongnam protects Queen Im Hwa-ryeong from the rain with an umbrella as they walk towards the main palace hall, there are cross cutting shots of Queen Im Hwa-ryeong walking back to the palace with Grand Prince Gyeseong. After the single fade to black transition, we then see Queen Im Hwa-ryeong protecting the young Grand Heir from the rain with an umbrella.

(The other scenes with fade to black transitions are in Ep. 14 when King Lee Ho burns up the ripped page from the “sillok” and in Ep. 16 death scene of the Queen Dowager.)

C. Numerous uses of long siding — lead room, nose room, looking space — to short siding (similar to “A Business Proposal,” “Healer,” and “Vincenzo”)

“Short siding” means that the subject is facing the edge of the frame he/she is nearest to. When the subject is separated from the end of the frame that he/she is facing with a lot of space, we say that there’s “lead room,” "nose room," or “looking space.” Directors and cinematographers use short siding to depict or reinforce emotional or psychological tension. (As I’ve stated in my previous analyses, I hate short-sided shots.)

Examples of long siding — lead room, nose room, looking space — from “Under the Queen’s Umbrella”:

Examples of short siding from "Under the Queen’s Umbrella":

Examples of shots/scenes where the character is long sided — with lead room, nose room, looking space — but becomes short sided as the camera trucks (moves parallel) to the character:

Ep. 5: Deposed Queen Yoon tells Queen Im Hwa-ryeong that Crown Prince Taein was murdered.

Ep. 7: King Lee Ho rejects Queen Im Hwa-ryeong’s plea to investigate who masterminded the attempt against Grand Prince Seongnam’s life.

Ep. 8: Consort Hwang cautions her father Chief State Councilor Hwang Won-hyeong that Queen Im Hwa-ryeong still wields great power.

Ep. 9: Consort Ko sneaks into Grand Prince Gyeseong’s quarters and finds the portrait.

Ep. 10: Consort Hwang is demoted by Queen Im Hwa-ryeong to the lowest level of the Royal Consorts.

Ep. 14: Queen Im Hwa-ryeong pressures Minister of Taxation Park Gyeong-u to give her his father’s draft of the “sillok” (annals) that describes what happened during Crown Prince Taein’s autopsy; here, instead of trucking, the camera pushes in on Queen Im Hwa-ryeong at an angle.

Ep. 14: The Dowager Queen confronts Consort Hwang as to who is the real father of Prince Uiseong.

Ep. 16: King Lee Ho becomes troubled after Queen Im Hwa-ryeong challenges him to set the records straight as to the deaths of their son and of Crown Prince Taein.

I first noticed this kind of shots (long siding to short siding) in “A Business Proposal”(2022). Later, I was surprised when I saw this kind of shot in “Healer” (2014); this is why, in my analysis of the visuals, cinematography, and editing of “Healer,” I posed the question, “Did the visual style of 2014 and 2015 K-dramas set the template for today’s dramas?” While working on this analysis, I reviewed “Vincenzo” and found a “long siding to short siding” shot in Ep. 8.

In at least two instances, the director and the cinematographer do the opposite of long siding to short siding. They shoot the character from short siding to long siding to show that the character realizes something or comes to a decision.

Ep. 10: Cho-wol challenges Queen Im Hwa-ryeong about the disparity between trying to break up her relationship with Grand Prince Muan and her ideals in establishing the halfway house. Queen Im Hwa-ryeong replies, “When it comes to my children, I’m just a crazy woman with empty words.”

Ep. 16: After Crown Prince Seongnam appeals that he testify on how Crown Prince Taein was murdered, Master Toji (aka former Royal Physician Yoo Sang-uk) sits in his jail cell contemplating what to do.

In several instances also, the camera moves such that a short-sided character becomes even more short sided. I first noticed this visual technique in Ep. 14 of “Beyond Evil.”

D. Overhead shots — bird’s eye view, aerial view, God’s view (Wes Anderson’s influence?)

Studio Binder in “The Overhead Shot: Creative Examples of Camera Angles” says:

An overhead shot is when the camera is placed directly above the subject. It’s somewhere around a 90-degree angle above the scene taking place. Overhead shots are also called a bird view, bird’s eye view, or elevated shot.

Its placement is somewhat near the action, differing from the aerial shot. An aerial shot would be closer to a satellite or airplane view, closer to a God’s eye view, and an overhead shot is closer to a bird’s eye view.

Why do directors use overhead shots?

- Shooting vertical action within a scene
- To empower the viewer with an objective perspective
- When they want to diminish actors in the frame

Overhead shots — whether bird’s eye view, aerial, or God’s view — are usually associated with famed director Wes Anderson.

Relevant resources: “How Wes Anderson uses the God’s Eye Shot” and “All Wes Anderson’s God’s Eye View Shots in Chronological Order”

GIF of overhead shots — whether bird’s eye view, aerial, or God’s view — from “Under the Queen’s Umbrella”:

E. Visual cues, with dramatic Dutch angle shots, including 90-degree angle shots

“Visual cues” are explained in an excellent series of articles from “My Drama List” by someone with the username “3GGG.”

“Popular Visual Cues found in K-Dramas, Part 1: visual ways to establish a conflict, division, or fight between two or more characters”

“Popular Visual Cues in K-Dramas, Part 2: boxing to establish a character’s vulnerability, solitude, or fear; comfort and respite; change; danger; showdown”

“Popular Visual Cues in K-Dramas, Part 3: Dutch angle”

“Popular Visual Cues in K-Dramas, Part 4 Interpersonal cues (using cues simultaneously or one after another)”

The YT video “The Brilliant Cinematography of Parasite” by Thomas Flight (5:04 mark) shows how director Bong Joon-ho used lines to depict the division between the social classes, between the rich family and the poor family.

Examples of visual cues from “Under the Queen’s Umbrella”:

Ep. 1: Under the pouring rain, Queen Im Hwa-ryeong kneels on the ground and pleads with deposed Queen Yoon to help her. Notice that she’s boxed in by the frame created by the house’s posts; she’s also shot with a dramatic Dutch angle.

Ep. 2: Queen Im Hwa-ryeong follows Grand Prince Gyeseong into his secret room at a deserted place in the palace grounds. Notice how she’s boxed in by windows and posts.

Ep. 3: Stunned by what she saw after she followed Grand Prince Gyeseong, Queen Im Hwa-ryeong hides and cries inside a very small room, with Court Lady Shin trying to comfort her. Notice how they’re boxed in by the room’s posts.

When two or more characters are boxed in within the same frame, it could signify either unity or conflict, depending on the context.

Ep. 3: In a premonition about what’s going to happen because of his sickness, the Crown Prince asks Grand Prince Seongnam to take care of his family. Notice that they’re boxed in by the foreground window.

Ep. 3: Grand Prince Gyeseong looks at what remains of his burned up secret room. Notice how he’s boxed in by the holes in the walls and the posts inside the room.

Ep. 5: Grand Prince Seongnam threatens Master Toji with his sword, thinking that the prescription harmed the Crown Prince. Notice how the foreground post depicts and reinforces the conflict between them.

Ep. 5: After the Crown Prince collapses, Queen Im Hwa-ryeong orders her bodyguard to secretly bring deposed Queen Yoon to a gisaeng house to ask her about Crown Prince Taein’s symptoms before he died. Notice how deposed Queen Yoon is boxed in by the door posts and the foreground post.

Ep. 6: Consort Ko begs War Minister Yoon to support Pribce Bogeum. Notice that she’s tightly boxed in by the window to depict and reinforce her dilemma.

Ep. 6: Same scene as above; notice how Consort Tae and War Minister Yoon are boxed in within separate frames to depict and reinforce the division between them.

Ep. 7: With the court ministers protesting at the courtyard, the Queen Dowager pressures King Lee Ho to act one way or another. Notice that they’re divided by the large post in the foreground to depict and reinforce their conflict.

Ep. 7: Queen Im Hwa-ryeong tries to get into the jail where Royal Physician Kwon is being held, but Chief State Councilor Hwang Won-hyeong stops her by invoking King Lee Ho’s command. Notice how they’re boxed in (separately) by the crisscrossed spears.

Ep. 7: King Lee Ho faces a dilemma when Grand Prince Seongnam fails to bring the witnesses with him; he’s boxed in by the bamboo trees in the foreground.

The conflict between Grand Prince Seongnam and King Lee Ho is depicted and reinforced by the bamboo tree in the foreground.

Ep. 7: Queen Im Hwa-ryeong urges King Lee Ho to agree to the “taekhyeon” but to reshape it according to its original intent in order to thwart the ministers. Notice how they’re boxed in by the door in the foreground.

Ep. 9: Queen Im Hwa-ryeong finds out that that former Royal Physician Kwon was Consort Hwang’s physician and that it was Consort Hwang who recommended him to be the Crown Prince’s physician. Notice how her dilemma and confusion are depicted and reinforced by how she’s boxed in by the window posts.

Ep. 10: Grand Prince Seongnam and Cheong-ha are boxed in by the house posts as they watch the beautiful sunset. When two or more characters are boxed in within the same frame, it could signify either unity or conflict, depending on the context.

Ep. 10: After being demoted by Queen Im Hwa-ryeong to the lowest level among the Royal Consorts, Consort Hwang is further humiliated by Consort Tae. Notice how her humiliation and anger are depicted and reinforced by the way she’s boxed in by the wooden railing.

Ep. 11: After Queen Im Hwa-ryeong tells Prince Bogeum that she will punish his mother Consort Tae (by demoting her to a court attendant), Court Lady Shin goes to tell Consort Tae that she has been summoned by Queen Im Hwa-ryeong. Notice that Consort Tae is boxed in by the window to depict her tension and dilemma.

Ep. 13: Crown Prince Seongnam accidentally finds a page from his late brother’s medical journal hidden within a book. Notice how he’s boxed in by the shelves.

Ep. 13: Queen Im Hwa-ryeong reinstates Royal Physician Kwon into the Royal Clinic. Notice that he’s boxed in by the legs of the small table between him and Queen Im Hwa-ryeong; earlier, he expressed his worries to Master Toji about being reinstated because it might be a trap.

Eps. 14-15: While searching the Royal Clinic for Crown Prince Taein’s autopsy report, Royal Physician Kwon gets caught by Queen Im Hwa-ryeong. Notice that he’s boxed tightly in by the shelves.

Eps. 14-15: Queen Im Hwa-ryeong reveals to Royal Physician Kwon that she knows that he’s actually Yi Ik-hyeon. Notice that the book shelves create dividing lines between them.

Ep. 15: Consort Hwang finally finds out that Royal Physician Kwon is actually Yi Ik-hyeon (Grand Yeongwon). Notice that the torn curtain serves as a dividing line that depicts and reinforces the conflict between them.

Ep. 15: In a flashback, the Queen Dowager manipulates Prince Uiseong into killing Royal Physician Kwon. Notice that besides the dramatic Dutch angle shots, they’re boxed in by the posts of the wall.

Ep. 16: The Queen Dowager tells Queen Im Hwa-ryeong that King Lee Ho will never reveal the truth about Crown Prince Taein’s death because it will put the legitimacy of his reign into question. Notice that they’re boxed in tightly by the door to depict the tension and conflict between them.

Examples of dramatic Dutch angle shots:

Examples of 90-degree Dutch angle shots:

F. Transitions

From “10 Great Transition Scenes”:

The best films use every single second of footage to their advantage. A lot can be said in a minute or less; and a good transition packs a punch. The following transition scenes are used to clue the audience in on important information and either take them comfortably out of the previous scene or prepare them for the next (or in a great case, both). Whether it be introducing us to an environment, character or giving us the facts we need to understand what’s coming next, transition scenes are key to the fluidity of film.

Relevant resources:

“The Importance of Scene Transitions” (Edgar Wright transitions)

“Stranger Things 2 - 25 Creative Transitions” by Zackery Ramos-Taylor

Some transitions from “Under the Queen’s Umbrella”:

Ep. 1: The Crown Prince is going through his lecture at Sigangwon, while the Grand Princes and the princes are having their own lecture at Jonghak. The director and cinematographer use the “hopae” (identification tags) to transition from Sigangwon to Jonghak.

Ep. 1: After two cross dissolves of the Crown Prince, the camera pedestals down, and there’s a transition from Sigangwon to Jonghak where King Lee Ho tests the Grand Princes and the princes with a hypothetical question.

Ep. 1: Night to day transition as Queen Im Hwa-ryeong takes care of the Crown Prince who collapsed because of his sickness.

Ep. 7: The establishing shot shows King Lee Ho alone in the hall, contemplating on what to with the ministers’ demand that a “taekhyeon” be held to choose the next Crown Prince. The camera trucks him as he goes up to his throne; it then arcs around him, and there’s a transition, with the hall now filled with the ministers.

G. Miscellaneous observations: “Barrel roll” shot in Ep. 8 (influenced by Christopher Nolan?); Out of focus shots to depict or reinforce emotional or psychological tension (similar to “My Liberation Notes”); Almost like breaking the 180-degree rule or crossing the line (similar to Park Chan-wook’s “Decision to Leave”); Two kinds of lens flares used in this drama; Arc shots; Lower quadrant or lower corner composition; rack focus shots of Queen Im Hwa-ryeong’s and the Queen Dowager’s “binyeo”; Some nitpicking criticisms of “Under the Queen’s Umbrella”; Ep. 10 scene from “Under the Queen’s Umbrella” and my hangover from Park Chan-wook’s “Decision to Leave”; A final observation: Ep. 16 scene of Queen Im Hwa-ryeong remembering the late Crown Prince and “dancheong”

G-1. “Barrel roll” shot in Ep. 8 (influenced by Christopher Nolan?)

In a “barrel roll,” the camera turns on its axis until it either rests on its side or completes the roll by being upside down. The director who’s most famous for the “barrel roll” is Christopher Nolan, and his most famous “barrel roll” is in his 2008 Batman movie “The Dark Knight.”

From “Christopher Nolan: Director Style And Techniques”

One of the most interesting uses of the barrel roll is in The Dark Knight (2008). When Batman (Christian Bale) captures the Joker. Even though it is Batman who should be in control when he hangs Joker upside down, Nolan makes sure the viewer knows that Joker still controls the situation.

The barrel roll is used to turn out the upside-down image of Joker into right-side up. Joker is seen straight while the world behind him turns upside down. This shows who holds power and chaos in their hand. Because, even though Joker has been captured, he was still able to accomplish his mission.

Relevant resources:

“Christopher Nolan’s Favorite Shot, and How It Reflects What His Movies Are Really About”

“Christopher Nolan’s Favorite Shot”

“Movi | Barrel Roll: How to shoot a rolling shot”

“Cinematic Barrel Rolls made easy”

In Ep. 8 of “Under the Queen’s Umbrella,” there’s a “barrel roll” that may have been inspired, technique-wise, by Christopher Nolan’s “barrel roll” in “The Dark Knight.” Queen Im Hwa-ryeong and her men have captured the subleader of the bandits who attacked Grand Prince Seongnam. The first shot shows the hood being taken off the subleader’s head; it looks like he’s right side up as he looks around him and upwards. The next shot shows what he saw, that is, several sharpened bamboo spikes that seem to be pointing downward towards him. But then, in the next shot, the camera rolls clockwise such that as it completes the roll, we now see that he’s actually hanging upside down from the roof. This barrel roll is disorienting and brilliant at the same time.

G-2. Out of focus shots to depict or reinforce emotional or psychological tension (similar to “My Liberation Notes”)

Some examples:

Ep. 2: Queen Im Hwa-ryeong reacts in shock and confusion after she sees Grand Prince Gyeseong in his secret room. The GIF ends as the camera pulls out, with Queen Im Hwa shot with a 90-degree Dutch angle; notice also that as the camera pulls out, she becomes out of focus.

Ep. 5: Prince Uiseong mocks Grand Prince Seongnam that the Crown Prince won’t survive because he has spit out clots of blood; he also tells Grand Prince Seongnam not to think about becoming the next Crown Prince. Notice that in the shots below, they’re both out of focus.

Ep. 13: Crown Prince Seongnam walks out of Crown Princess Cheong-ha on their wedding night; while in his study, he keeps thinking that she’s a lackey of the Queen Dowager. He stays there until night turns to day; notice that he’s shot with a 90-degree Dutch angle, and the shot becomes out of focus.

Ep. 15: As Royal Physician Kwon (Yi Ik-hyeon) searches the Royal Clinic for Crown Prince Taein’s autopsy report, Queen Im Hwa-ryeong comes into the clinic; notice that she’s out of focus.

Ep. 15: Manipulated by the Queen Dowager, Prince Uiseong stabs Royal Physician Kwon (Yi Ik-hyeon), who reveals their relationship as father and son before he dies. As he stands over the dying Royal Physician Kwon (Yi Ik-hyeon), he becomes out of focus.

G-3. Almost like breaking the 180-degree rule or crossing the line (similar to Park Chan-wook’s “Decision to Leave”)

Park Chan-wook is the world-famous Korean director of the “Vengeance” trilogy and “The Handmaiden” (2016; starring Kim Tae-ri of “Mr. Sunshine” and “Twenty-Five Twenty-One”). For his 2022 movie “Decision to Leave,” he won the "Best Director" award from the Cannes Film Festival, and the movie was selected as the South Korean entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 95th Academy Awards.

Near the end of “Decision to Leave,” there’s a shot that’s almost like what is called in cinematography as “breaking the 180-degree rule” or “crossing the line.” Police Detective Jang Hae-jun questions a Chinese thug nicknamed “Slappy” about meeting Seo-rae. In the flashback scene, Slappy is frame left while Seo-rae is frame right. In the present day scene, the camera then trucks (moves parallel) to Slappy’s left. As the camera passes Slappy, we then see Detective Hae-jun (instead of Seo-rae). The two shots were stitched together such that Park Chan-wook and his cinematographer seemed to have broken the 180-degree rule.

This shot from “Decision to Leave” may have influenced shots from Ep. 4 of “Under the Queen’s Umbrella,” Ep. 11 of “Little Women,” and Ep. 6 (Part 1) of “Alchemy of Souls.”

Ep. 4 of “Under the Queen’s Umbrella”: In a flashback, the Queen Dowager (then a Royal Concubine) bargains with Chief State Councilor Hwang Won-hyeong that if he supports her son to be the next king, she will make his daughter the queen. Twenty years later, Chief State Councilor Hwang Won-hyeong wants the Queen Dowager to fulfill her promise by mobilizing her people to fully support Prince Uiseong as the Crown Prince’s cohort.

Notice that in the flashback scene, Chief State Councilor Hwang Won-hyeong (in an over the shoulder shot) is frame left while the Queen Dowager is frame right. As the camera trucks (moves parallel) to the right, there’s a time shift to the present or 20 years later with Chief State Councilor Hwang Won-hyeong now frame right with the Queen Dowager now frame right.

G-4. Two kinds of lens flares used in this drama

I discussed lens flares in my previous analyses of “Into The Ring,” “Hotel Del Luna,” and “True Beauty.” In those analyses, I said that (1) lens flares can either be done in-camera or added during the post production, and (2) the horizontal blue lens flares in the “Star Wars” films by JJ Abrams were created by the use of anamorphic lenses while filming.

In “Under the Queen’s Umbrella,” you can see two kinds of lens flares: (1) polygonal lens flares, and (2) horizontal blue lens flares. I stand to be corrected, but I think the lens flares in this drama, especially the horizontal blue lens flares, were added during the post production.

Example of polygonal lens flares from “Under the Queen’s Umbrella”

Examples of horizontal blue lens flares from “Under the Queen’s Umbrella”

G-5. Lower quadrant (lower corner) composition

In my analyses of “The Red Sleeve” and “Hotel Del Luna,” I discussed (1) the quadrant system of composition, and (2) how directors and cinematographers place a character or characters in the lower left quadrant or lower right quadrant to depict or reinforce emotional or psychological tension.

Examples of lower quadrant (lower corner) composition from “Under the Queen’s Umbrella”:


G-6. Rack focus shots of Queen Im Hwa-ryeong’s and the Queen Dowager’s “binyeo”

I’ve stated in almost all of my analyses that a K-drama isn’t a K-drama if it doesn’t have rack focus shots: for example, please read my discussion titled “Our Blues” (this drama’s cinematography is a masterclass in the art of rack focus or “focus pull” and the important work of the focus puller) at https://www.reddit.com/r/KDRAMA/comments/w0adgn/our_blues_this_dramas_cinematography_is_a/

In “Under the Queen’s Umbrella,” there are numerous rack focus shots of the elaborate hair pins (“binyeo”) of Queen Im Hwa-ryeong and the Queen Dowager. The most significant of these are in Ep. 6 between Queen Im Hwa-ryeong and Consort Tae and in Ep. 16 between King Lee Ho and the Queen Dowager.

Ep. 6: Queen Im Hwa-ryeong warns Consort Tae that if she continues to want Prince Bogeum to be the Crown Prince’s cohort, she will not be able to protect her and Prince Bogeum. Unknown to Queen Im Hwa-ryeong, Consort Tae is scheming with the Queen Dowager and her allies for Prince Bogeum to be appointed as cohort.

Ep. 16: The Queen Dowager is stunned when King Lee Ho reveals, after 20 long years, that he saw how she and Royal Physician Cho Guk-yeong killed Crown Prince Taein.

G-7. Some nitpicking criticisms of “Under the Queen’s Umbrella”

In at least three instances, the shots are so wide that the characters are so small such that viewers have a difficult time seeing them.

Ep. 3: Queen Im Hwa-ryeong embraces Grand Prince Gyeseong after the portrait painting session.

Ep. 7: At a bamboo forest, King Lee Ho reproves Grand Prince Seongnam for failing to bring the witnesses with him.

Ep. 15: In a flashback, the Queen Dowager manipulates Prince Uiseong into killing Royal Physician Kwon (Yi Ik-hyeon).

G-8. Ep. 10 scene from “Under the Queen’s Umbrella” and my hangover from Park Chan-wook’s “Decision to Leave”

Near the end of “Decision to Leave,” as Det. Jang Hae-jun searches for Seo-rae, he finds her car parked near the beach. It’s an aerial shot of Det. Jang Hae-jun, the cars, the beach, and the waves. If you focus on the waves, you’ll notice that at one point, they form what looks like a woman’s profile — forehead, nose, lips, and chin. In an interview, Park Chan-wook said that the shot wasn’t manipulated in any way.

In Ep. 10 of “Under the Queen’s Umbrella,” Grand Prince Seongnam and Prince Bogeum successfully complete their mission and escort Park Gyeong-u to the palace. When I saw this aerial shot of Grand Prince Seongnam and Prince Bogeum’s entourage through the sand bar that’s surrounded on both sides by waves, I became giddy. I thought, “Will this drama also have some kind of pattern or profile appear in the waves?” Sadly, I was disappointed.

G-9. A final observation: Ep. 16 scene of Queen Im Hwa-ryeong remembering the late Crown Prince and “dancheong”

In Ep. 16, Queen Im Hwa-ryeong watches as Crown Prince Seongnam welcomes back to the palace the Grand Heir, along with the former Crown Princess and her baby. As she watches the emotional scene, she remembers the Crown Prince’s last words to her about remaining strong. In her mind, she tells the Crown Prince that he can finally rest in peace; she then looks up at the sky.

Notice that with the way the director staged the scene, Queen Im Hwa-ryeong isn’t looking up at a blank, sunny sky; the sky is framed by the ornately designed and multi-colored roofs. Why did the director stage the scene this way?

The multiple colors and elaborate motifs on the roofs are what’s called “dancheong.” From “Dancheong: Spiritual Colors of Korea” (The Korea Times):

Dancheong is the use of Korean-style decorative colorful patterns on wooden buildings and other wooden items to convey beauty and dignity, using five basic colors _ red, blue, yellow, black and white.

“The colours symbolize the desire for stability, peace, and a rewarding afterlife.”