Missing Crown Prince – K-drama Episode 5 Recap & Review

Episode 5

Episode 5 of Missing Crown Prince kicks off with Do Sung rushing to the palace, only to find his father unconscious. The palace doctors do their best, but sadly, the king falls into a coma. Queen Yoon frantically declares her innocence, saying she had no idea the food was poisoned. When Do Sung discovers that Queen Dowager is behind the poisoning, he storms into her chamber, sword drawn, but he hesitates when Dowager reveals that only she can save the king.

Now, Do Sung is given two choices, either he chooses to save the king, his father, or Lee Gon, his half-brother. This is exactly why Do Sung betrayed his brother. After Lee Gon is imprisoned, Do Sung demands the antidote to save his father, and Sang Rok assures him that the king will recover soon. When Queen Yoon learns of Lee Gon’s arrest, she tries to go to the Department of Justice to save him but is stopped by Do Sung.

He later visits his brother in prison and apologizes, saying he has no other choice but to betray him. It is revealed that Lee Gon has agreed to accept the treason charge and asks Do Sung to ascend to the throne once he is dead. Do Sung advises against it, but Lee Gon knows that if he doesn’t admit to the false charges, Queen Yoon will be jailed for something she didn’t do.

On another front, Sang Rok and the Left Council President conspire to persuade Lee Gon to admit to the charges of treason. This is the only way through which Do Sung can become the crown prince. Sang Rok stresses that if they fail to get a confession, all their plans will go awry. The Left Council President pays Lee Gon a visit, urging him to bite the bullet and accept his fate. He warns Lee Gon that if he doesn’t play along, everyone will suffer, including the king.

Lee Gon points out that even if he takes the fall, there’s no guarantee the king will survive. As long as the king’s around, Do Sung can’t become the king. The president is a power-hungry politician, willing to sacrifice even his daughter’s happiness for a taste of the sweet power. Unfortunately, Queen Yoon overhears everything and orders the guards to keep him out of the king’s chambers.

Lee Gon sends a message requesting to meet Queen Dowager, who is currently in charge since the king is unwell. Upon assuming power, the Queen Dowager appointed Choi Sang Rok as Chief Inspector and Royal Secretary.

During their meeting, Lee Gon warns Queen Dowager that Left Councillor Yoon plans to kill the king and then target her and Choi Sang Rok. He pleads with Queen Dowager to save his father, as only he can stop Yoon’s deadly scheme. While Queen Dowager is willing to save Lee Gon, as she herself lost her son to conspirators, Sang Rok stops her, claiming it’s too late. I’m sorry, Sang Rok says to Queen Dowager. 

At night, Lee Gon is brought to trial, and the left councilors paint him as a traitor who tried to poison the king. Lee Gon’s bodyguard tries to intervene, claiming Lee Gon is innocent, but he is beaten and silenced with a cloth shoved into his mouth. Choi Sang Rok whispers to Lee Gon that he will keep the king safe if Lee Gon agrees to the charges.

Meanwhile, Queen Yoon pleads with the king to wake up, telling him that if he doesn’t, his son will be executed for a crime he didn’t commit. The king moves his finger, suggesting that he is recovering.

The Episode Review

Suho’s Missing Crown Prince is one of those dramas that really plays with your head. It’s hard to tell who’s good, who’s bad, who’s evil, and who’s the hero. Sang Rok and the Queen Dowager seem pretty evil at times, but then you start feeling sorry for them, seeing them as two star-crossed lovers just trying to be together.

Sang Rok claims he doesn’t want to hurt the king, but then he goes and poisons him with the help of the Queen Dowager. What kind of twisted game is he playing? Then there’s Left Councillor Yoon, who’s playing his own game of thrones.

He doesn’t want to steal the throne himself, but he wants someone on the throne whom he can control. It’s like everyone in this drama has their own agenda and no one’s playing fair.