The Queen Who Crowns – K-drama Episode 8 Recap & Review

Episode 8

Episode 8 of The Queen Who Crowns opens with the mention of a distant royal family member involved in the buying and selling of houses in Hanyang. Elsewhere, the king uncovers how certain palace administrative officers were unable to secure homes in Hanyang due to widespread corruption, prompting him to launch an investigation.

Meanwhile, the queen meets Kim of Bamgol, the aforementioned royal family member, who remains unfazed by any potential consequences of her corrupt dealings. On her way back, the queen spots Court Lady Kim—the king’s court lady—lurking near the area. Later, she threatens Court Lady Kim into ensuring that she, rather than Chae-ryeong, is the one to update the king on the matter. Unsurprisingly, Chae-ryeong takes offense at this power play and, in retaliation, visits Princess Kwon-seon to forge an alliance against the queen.

Meanwhile, it is revealed that Tae-jo’s stepbrother is backing Kim of Bamgol. Seizing an opportunity, Kim of Bamgol attempts to trap the queen’s brother by selling him ten houses, hoping that the queen will be forced to drop the case to protect her family.

Later, during the queen’s bath, Court Lady Kim secretly adds something to the water. However, the queen, by sheer luck, does not use it.

Despite these threats, the queen successfully completes the ritual for the deity. Soon after, Tae-jo’s stepbrother publicly accuses the queen’s brother of buying and selling ten houses for profit. However, thanks to intelligence from Pan-su, the queen is already aware of Kim of Bamgol’s scheme.

In a surprising turn of events, her brother takes the initiative to apologize to the king and pledges the houses as a demonstration of his loyalty. This triggers a chain reaction, forcing other ministers to relinquish their unethically acquired properties, effectively resolving the housing crisis in Hanyang.

While the king is pleased with the queen’s actions, he is also struck by the realization that she exhibits more qualities of a ruler than he does. This realization fuels his insecurities, leading him to devise a new strategy. He appoints one of the queen’s brothers to lead an investigation against Kim of Bamgol and other corrupt ministers. His true intent, however, is to pit the Min family against Tae-jo’s stepbrother’s faction—ultimately setting the stage to weaken the Min family’s influence.

Later, the king announces the crown prince’s marriage and invites noble families to present their daughters as candidates for the position of crown princess, aiming to counter the Min family’s growing power. Among the candidates is Lee Suk-beom’s daughter. Recognizing the significance of this selection, the queen decides to hold a competition to ensure a fair and just decision. The episode ends on this note, setting the stage for further intrigue.

The Episode Review

This is yet another gripping episode that highlights Won-gyeong’s sharp political instincts. She is undeniably a natural leader, which in turn deepens Bang-won’s insecurities about his own authority. Bang-won emerges as an increasingly complex and tragic figure, weighed down by the burdens of kingship and the expectations placed upon him—made all the more glaring due to the gendered nature of leadership roles in the era. Despite this tension, the dynamic between him and the queen remains fascinating.

In terms of storytelling, the show continues to grow more addictive with each passing episode. Palace politics and corruption are becoming increasingly intricate, keeping viewers invested in every twist and turn.

One particularly intriguing mystery is Court Lady Kim’s actions—what exactly did she add to the queen’s bathwater? Hopefully, this plotline will unravel in future episodes rather than being conveniently forgotten. With tensions rising on all fronts, The Queen Who Crowns is proving to be a compelling and politically charged drama that keeps us eagerly anticipating what’s to come next!