Crowning a king is one thing. Crowning yourself? That’s a whole different ball game. In episodes 9-10 of ‘The Queen Who Crowns,’ Won-kyung is showing everyone exactly what a queen is capable of. She’s not just sitting on the throne; she’s building it, brick by bloody brick. But in a court where betrayal is the currency and power is a dirty word, can she really crown herself without losing everything in the process? Get ready for a royal rumble where the stakes are higher than ever.
TL;DR
- Won-kyung’s influence grows as she stands up for the people.
- Bang-won’s paranoia and insecurity lead him to attack Won-kyung’s allies.
- The struggle for power intensifies, with Won-kyung fighting for her family and justice.
- Betrayals and political maneuvering threaten Won-kyung’s position.
- The question remains: Can Won-kyung secure her power and legacy?
As we inch closer to the grand finale, the battlefield of wits and wills intensifies. Our queen, Won-kyung, stands unwavering in her convictions, while her once-supportive husband, Bang-won, methodically strips away her power. It’s a chess game where the stakes are life, legacy, and the future of Joseon.
Episode 9-10: The Breaking Point
We return to the unfolding drama with the crown prince’s marriage announcement sending ripples through the palace. Sook-beon, ever the ambitious mother, pushes for her daughter to be chosen as crown princess. However, Won-kyung believes a queen should be a worthy partner, not a pawn in a political game. With a keen eye, she notices Sook-beon’s daughter’s greed and disdain for her maids—red flags that scream trouble. Instead, she selects another noble’s daughter, one who demonstrates kindness even to commoners.
Of course, Sook-beon’s daughter is not one to take things gracefully. She resorts to cheating but is swiftly disqualified, paving the way for the noble girl to become the new crown princess. This, naturally, does not sit well with Bang-won, who wanted Sook-beon’s daughter for strategic reasons. He bides his time, waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike back.
When the Min brothers uncover corruption among the royal relatives—who’ve been colluding with brokers to hike real estate prices—Bang-won seizes the moment. Using the crown prince’s wedding as a grand distraction, he pardons the corrupt relatives, painting a glaring target on the Min brothers’ backs. Won-kyung, never one to stay silent, calls him out on his cowardly maneuver, but Bang-won is playing a long game.
The Fall of the Min Family
Just when Won-kyung thinks things can’t get worse, her father falls ill. On his deathbed, he pleads with Bang-won not to forsake the Min family. But once the funeral incense has barely faded, Bang-won moves swiftly. He exiles Won-kyung’s brothers for an absurdly exaggerated sentence of one thousand years—as if their descendants in the 25th century will still be atoning for their forefathers’ sins.
Before Won-kyung can even grieve, Chae-ryeong and Sook-beon conspire to hand over Pan-su, Won-kyung’s most loyal informant, to Bang-won. Pan-su, to his last breath, refuses to betray his queen. This earns him Bang-won’s lethal wrath, and just like that, another piece of Won-kyung’s support system is gone. Chae-ryeong, who clearly didn’t anticipate such a brutal outcome, looks stunned. Really, girl? What did you think was going to happen—tea and cookies?
Devastated, Won-kyung confronts Bang-won. Why is he doing this? His response is the Joseon equivalent of “It’s not personal; it’s just business.” That’s rich coming from a man who exiles entire bloodlines over petty grievances.
Won-kyung’s Defiance and the People’s Queen
Determined to give Pan-su the honor he deserves, Won-kyung leaves the palace to oversee his funeral. But Bang-won, ever insecure, forbids her from returning. She finds refuge in a temple, where she stumbles upon another scandal—royal relatives are embezzling relief supplies meant for commoners. Knowing that confronting Bang-won directly is pointless, she sends a monk to relay the information. Unfortunately, the monk is intercepted and killed, and the royal relatives twist the narrative to make it seem as though Won-kyung is conspiring with her exiled brothers.
Now, trapped in the temple, she finds herself under house arrest orchestrated by her enemies. However, a junior monk who witnessed the murder sneaks back with a warning, allowing Won-kyung to stage a daring escape. She rushes back to the city and orchestrates a protest, having the aggrieved citizens beat the Drum of Grievance—a move that forces the king to listen.
In the city square, Won-kyung publicly exposes the corruption, and Bang-won is forced to take action against his own allies. But the damage is done. The people’s hearts belong to the queen, and their chants for her only deepen Bang-won’s resentment. No insecure ruler likes being overshadowed, and Won-kyung’s rising popularity sets the stage for an inevitable clash.
The Queen’s Final Battle
Back in the palace, Won-kyung makes her next move—banishing Chae-ryeong for meddling in palace affairs. It’s a poetic moment, considering Won-kyung once warned her not to step too close to the edge of the cliff. Bang-won, in typical fashion, doesn’t hesitate to discard Chae-ryeong, and she is soon demoted to a lowly herb gatherer.
But Bang-won isn’t done tearing apart Won-kyung’s world. He orders her exiled brothers to commit suicide, plunging her into mourning yet again. Her strength is fading, but the fight isn’t over.
Time skips forward five years, introducing Grand Prince Changnyeong—a bright and compassionate prince. Meanwhile, the crown prince remains unimpressive. Won-kyung now faces her final challenge: securing the throne for the right son.
Analysis: A Queen Without a Crown?
Won-kyung’s journey has been an uphill battle, and these episodes perfectly showcase the loneliness of power. She fights for justice, yet her own husband betrays her at every turn. Bang-won’s paranoia and insecurity make him a ruthless opponent, but his real weakness is his inability to recognize a true ally when he sees one.
The power struggle between them mirrors modern themes of gender politics, ambition, and the cost of integrity. Won-kyung refuses to be a puppet, which makes her dangerous in a world ruled by men who see women as mere tools.
My Take: A War of Egos and Legacy
Honestly, Bang-won is the textbook definition of insecure leadership. He punishes loyalty, exiles competent advisors, and alienates the one person who genuinely wanted to rule alongside him. How does that make sense? It’s like chopping off your own foot and wondering why you can’t walk properly.
As for Won-kyung, she embodies resilience but also tragic idealism. She believes in justice, but the world she inhabits thrives on corruption. While she wins moral victories, she continually loses everything she holds dear.
With only the finale left, the real question is: Will Won-kyung triumph, or will she be the last casualty in Bang-won’s war for absolute control?
Final Thoughts
Episodes 9-10 set the stage for a gripping conclusion. Won-kyung has been battered but remains unbroken. Bang-won, on the other hand, is isolating himself to the point of no return. With history as our guide, we know how this story ends. But watching the pieces fall into place? That’s where the real drama lies.
Stay tuned for the K-Drama final showdown, where we’ll see if the queen who crowns can keep her throne—or if she’ll become just another name in the history books.
