Queen Woo – K-drama Episode 3 Recap & Review

The Savage Prince 

Queen Woo episode 3 starts with a flashback to 28 years ago. Around this time, the King announced that the winner of the National Chess games would receive a high position in the government regardless of their age or social status. A young Queen Woo disguised herself as a boy and attended the games. She ended up winning, but upon getting spotted by her father, she quickly took off. When he saw her, a young Go Na-mu was once again impressed by her.

We circle back to six years before the King’s death. Go Nam-u travelled to the rural town of Jwamulchon, Amnogok in West Gorguyeo to appoint Eul Pa-so as his prime minister. It goes without saying that the official tried to protest this appointment. They felt that Eul Pa-so was a mere farmer and a descendant of the Royal family of Juna. Go Na-mu’s grandfather killed Eul Pa-so’s family. As such, the officials worried that Eul Pa-so might be holding a grudge against the King. However, the King remained adamant in his decision and threatened to slaughter any clan that opposed him. He also clarified that Eul Pa-so was never to fight with a sword but with words. He wanted Eul Pa-so to use his intellect to protect the kingdom.

Presently, Eul Pa-so keeps busy investigating the king’s death. He is surprised when he finds out that Woo-do killed every suspect in the holding room. Woo-do thought it best to kill any servant who might talk about the king’s death. You know, the dead tell no tales, but will this harm the Queen?

Speaking of the Queen, she journeys to Bal-ki’s region, but everyone on her team remains on high alert. They spot a group of farmers on their way, but Mu-gol and Mo-chi quickly realise that they are not farmers but assassins. When they stop for a water break, they decide to handle the matter quietly. However, the assassins come in tenfold and manage to reach the queen. Thankfully, she can hold her own and defend herself. At the same time, Woo-sun continues to eat an elixir she got from Sa-bi. She starts hallucinating about the King’s death. After dealing with the assassins, it dawns on the Queen and Mu-gol that whoever sent the assassins must know the king is dead. 

Back at the palace, the royal physician does a test to determine the King’s manner of death. His investigation leads him to believe the king was killed by an extract from the Lily of the Valley. However, only the country manages the flower. This means that whoever killed the King works in the palace. Eul Pa-so orders his men to search the palace and investigate any suspicious person. They start by visiting Sa-bi, but she shows them her elixirs and points out they are not harmful to anyone. She asks about the King, saying she can’t see his star anymore. However, no one gives her an answer. Instead, she warns Eul Pa-so that he might be in danger because his starlight is dimming. Later, she sends one of her servants to investigate what is happening in the King and queen’s chambers.

As for the queen, she finally gets to Bal-ki’s region and is shocked by his excessive display of power. He has bodies hanging in the forest to send a message to his enemies. In his region, there are fierce warriors known as the White Tiger. Anyone who dares to make eye contact with them ends up dead. Finally, we meet Bal-ki, the savage prince who kills his people out of boredom. Currently, he is playing a manipulative game with some of his residents. He keeps asking if they believe he will be king after his brother’s death. No matter the answers his subjects give, he gets angry and kills them. He has always been bloodthirsty and craving power. He killed his nanny when young and kept trying to invoke fear in people. 

The Queen’s arrival ruins his game, and he rushes to welcome her. He questions why she would make an unannounced visit late in the night. The queen lies and explains that she is on her way north to deal with a traitor. She adds that the King sent her because he is indisposed due to his injury. She lies that the King asked her to deal with the traitor who brought up her dethronement in the same way he dealt with his elder brother. In a flashback, we learn that Go Na-mu sliced his brother’s nose before banishing him. Prince Bal-ki witnessed this and grew terrified of the king after this incident. 

As they talk, Bal-ki remains wary that the Queen is there to gauge his loyalty. He cautions his right-hand man Chang-heon from speaking aimlessly. He is afraid the queen will frame him as a traitor and get him killed by the King. He grows afraid that his brother is lurking by, waiting for a chance to attack. He therefore sends Chang-heon to investigate where his brother’s soldiers are hiding.

After the meeting, the Queen decides that she will not marry Bal-ki. She has witnessed first-hand his inhumane actions and refuses to give him more power. She opts to try linking her fate to a different prince. Unfortunately, travelling to another prince will take time and they running out of it. She convinces Mu-gol to help her and they should escape. Woo-su continues to have hallucinations. The guilt and desire to ruin her sister’s chance to be queen takes over her. Woo-su still believes in the shaman’s prophecy that she will be the next queen. She sends a message to the Hae Clan, informing them of the king’s death. 

The Hae Clan worry that The Hidden One made a move. They also worry that the Queen is trying to secure her position by liking her fate to Bal-ki. They start plotting on how to prevent the Woo family from taking the throne again. Hae Bu, the clan leader, opts to seize the queen and wait for the perfect opportunity to label Bal-ki a traitor. He plans to use Bal-ki to do his dirty work and leave Woo-sun in the dark. To set his plan in motion, Hae-bu sends his secretary to inform Bal-ki of the King’s passing.

Back at the palace, Eul Pa-so figures out who received the letter sent by the spy. He realises that only the family related to the original Crown Prince would have been so brazen. He starts plotting a way to save the queen. At the same time, the assassins who survived send a message to Myeong-rim, informing him that they failed to kill the Queen. 

On the other hand, the queen and her team sneak out of Bal-ki’s palace and make a run for it. By the time Bal-ki learns that the King is dead, the Queen is already miles away. As expected, Bal-ki is furious after realising the queen’s real intentions. He talks with Chan-heon and starts plotting how to use the queen to his advantage. They summon the White Tigers and ask for their help to hunt down the queen.

The Episode Review

We knew Woo-su was tripping, but she has truly lost it. Does she forget that she is a member of the Woo clan and the Hae Clan is their mortal enemy? Her sister is out here risking her life to save them while she is selling them to the Hae Clan. Now, Queen Woo will have to fight off Myeong-rim’s men as well as the White Tigers to safely get to the next prince. They already were running out of time, but fighting with assassins would only slow them down further. Both the Hae Clan and the White Tiger want to capture the queen alive, but will still kill her entourage.

In this episode, we meet Bal-ki, and he is revolting. He is obsessed with power and will use any means to gain more. The Queen was wise to refuse to marry him. Imagine the damage that Bal-ki would do if he became king. The mere thought of him sitting on the throne is terrifying, but what will he do to the queen if he captures her?

On second thought, if the queen makes it to the banished Crown Prince, will he be a better choice? He must have a grudge against his brother for cutting off his nose and taking the throne. Will Queen Woo survive that meeting? Will the Hae Clan sit by and let the Crown Prince take the queen as one of his wives?