The Queen Who Crowns- Episodes 1-2
OMG, drama lovers, The Queen Who Crowns has landed, and what a rollercoaster ride these first two episodes have been! Right out of the gate, we’re hit with high-stakes drama, jaw-dropping betrayals, and some serious romantic tension. The cast is huge, the intrigue is non-stop, and I’m already obsessed. Let’s dive into all the tea! ☕👑
A Coronation With a Side of Bloodshed
The show wastes no time throwing us into the thick of things as Queen Won-kyung (Cha Joo-young) is crowned. But don’t let the pretty robes fool you—this coronation is a hard-earned victory. Her husband, King Lee Bang-won (Lee Hyun-wook), snatched the throne after taking out his half-brother, Crown Prince Bang-seok. And when another brother, Bang-gan, rebelled, Won-kyung was the one whispering, “Finish him.” So yeah, this queen isn’t just sitting pretty—she made her king, and she knows it.
Won-kyung and Bang-won start off madly in love, and it’s clear they’ve got passion AND power. Unlike most royal couples who treat intimacy as a mere duty, these two actually enjoy each other (scandalous!). But while Won-kyung sees them as equals, the rest of the world? Not so much. Rumors fly that Bang-won is just a puppet for the powerful Min family (her family), and the whispers are loud.
Father Issues? More Like Father Assassins
Just when Bang-won thought being king meant ultimate power, his dad, Lee Seong-kye (the incredible Lee Sung-min), reminds him who’s really boss. Turns out, Seong-kye still holds a massive grudge against Bang-won for overthrowing him, and he is NOT letting it go. Instead of a stern fatherly lecture, he sends a freaking assassin to the palace. Bang-won barely survives, but the attack leaves him rattled—his own dad wants him dead. That’s gotta sting. 🫢
Cue the cracks in his marriage with Won-kyung. The doubt creeps in—was all of this worth it? Did he really win, or is he just a king in name? And if his father hates him, who really benefits from his rule? The Min family, perhaps? Hmm…
Enter: The Ex and a Secret Baby!
Because no royal drama is complete without a long-lost lover, Young-shil (Lee Shi-ah) makes a grand reappearance—with a secret son Bang-won fathered during his princely days. Cue the collective gasps! 😱 To make matters messier, Young-shil was once a servant Won-kyung herself saved from abuse. So yeah, this is all kinds of awkward.
Won-kyung is understandably furious but tries to control the situation. However, Bang-won completely ignores her and brings Young-shil AND their son into the palace. And just like that, their marriage takes a sharp nosedive.
The real dagger? Bang-won reveals he didn’t just cheat—he picked Young-shil specifically to get back at Won-kyung’s family controlling him. EXCUSE ME, WHAT?!? The pettiness! The audacity! The betrayal! 😤
From that moment, their once rock-solid partnership shatters. Bang-won declares he’ll be making all the decisions now, and Won-kyung? She just has to obey. Uh, excuse me, sir, what happened to “we’re in this together”?!
A Queen’s Breaking Point
Heartbroken but not powerless, Won-kyung makes her next move: she refuses the next royal consummation. She straight-up tells Bang-won that had she known he’d turn out like this, she never would’ve fought to make him king. OOF.
But instead of apologizing or reflecting, Bang-won goes full villain mode and does the unthinkable—he forces himself on Won-kyung’s closest companion, Court Lady Chae-ryeong (Lee Yi-dam). I just… no words. 😡💔 Chae-ryeong, once a street thief whom Won-kyung saved, now finds herself trapped in the palace in the worst possible way. Won-kyung doesn’t blame her but is absolutely livid at the king for what he’s become.
Meanwhile, Young-shil (now Princess Hyosun) is out here playing palace chess like a pro. She feeds into Bang-won’s insecurities, making him believe Won-kyung suffocated him with her strong will. And what does he do? He gets even colder towards his wife. Ugh.
When Hyosun tries to accuse Won-kyung of being too strict with her stepson (hello, he’s a prince, he needs to study!), Won-kyung finally snaps. And y’all, she SLAPS Hyosun so hard, I felt it through the screen. Naturally, Hyosun plays the victim and gains more sympathy from Bang-won. 🙄
Meanwhile, poor Chae-ryeong is just trying to survive. And in a desperate move, she betrays Won-kyung, feeding the king information in exchange for her own safety. When she hands over a hairpin that Won-kyung once gifted her—a symbol of their friendship—I swear, my heart cracked a little. 💔
An Invitation to Die For
Just when things couldn’t get any tenser, Bang-won receives an invitation from his father to attend a temple ritual. Won-kyung and Bang-won both suspect something shady, but refusing would be political suicide. So, they go.
And THEN. THE CLIFFHANGER TO END ALL CLIFFHANGERS. Seong-kye swings a MACE at Bang-won’s head. Yes, you read that right. A. Freaking. Mace. 😱😱😱
DramaZen's Opinion
I. Am. SHOOK. This drama is delivering everything—gorgeous cinematography, rich storytelling, and some of the best performances of the year. Cha Joo-young is absolutely killing it as Won-kyung, giving us strength, vulnerability, and heartbreak in equal measure. Lee Hyun-wook’s Bang-won is fascinating—both tragic and infuriatingly cruel. And let’s not forget Lee Sung-min, whose presence alone can make a scene feel 10 times more intense.
I also LOVE that the drama is keeping the focus on family betrayals and personal conflicts instead of endless court meetings. Give me messy royal drama any day over long-winded minister debates!
Bottom line? If these first two episodes are any indication, The Queen Who Crowns is about to be one of the best historical dramas of the year. I’m officially OBSESSED.
I’m so not ready, but I need it NOW.
Rating: 9.5/10 👑🔥
