The Queen Who Crowns- Episodes 3-4

The drama is heating up, and the palace is basically a battlefield at this point! Our queen, Won-kyung, is fighting to keep her place, but with rebellion, betrayals, and family feuds everywhere, she’s going to need more than just her sharp wit to survive. Grab your popcorn, because these episodes were a wild ride!

Dodging Maces & Family Feuds

We dive right back into the action at the temple, where Seong-kye goes full WWE mode and throws a mace at Bang-won. But before it lands, hero queen Won-kyung throws herself in the way and takes the hit instead (SOMEONE GIVE HER A MEDAL). Chaos erupts, but Bang-won, ever the drama king, orders his guards to stand down—once again shocked by how much his father really hates him. Despite almost getting murdered, he insists on finishing the ceremony for the sake of appearances. Then, in classic Bang-won fashion, he orders his father’s arrest.

The father-son heart-to-heart we get next? Oof. Seong-kye basically tells Bang-won he regrets ever having him, and Bang-won fires back, saying his whole life has been shaped by his father’s ambition. But guess what? Seong-kye doesn’t care and declares Bang-won unworthy of the throne. Yikes. In return, Bang-won puts his father under house arrest so he can watch him rule properly. Savage move, but will it work?

Bang-won’s New Hobby: Making Everything Worse

Feeling emotionally drained, Bang-won runs straight to Hyosun for comfort. She (conveniently) whispers that Won-kyung makes him lonely. Um, the same Won-kyung who literally took a mace for him?! Sure, okay. Hyosun vows to protect him (from what? his own ego?), then leaves him alone so he can have a dramatic, brooding breakdown.

Meanwhile, Bang-won starts plotting to depose Won-kyung because his paranoia is getting the best of him. He fears that her growing authority after saving him will overshadow his own, so his solution? Get rid of the queen. What happened to “I love you forever”? Sigh. Won-kyung’s brothers are ready to throw hands, but she’s more worried about what Seong-kye’s real endgame is.

Rebellion & Backstabbing 101

Won-kyung figures out that her father-in-law is planning to make Bang-won’s older brother, Bang-hwa, king instead.But plot twist! Bang-hwa doesn’t even want the throne. He knows a coup will only lead to more bloodshed, and honestly? He just wants to chill. Too bad Seong-kye and his army don’t care.

At the same time, Chae-ryeong is out here playing the long game. She keeps bouncing between Bang-won and Won-kyung, trying to stay on the winning side. She even decides to have as many royal babies as possible just to secure her place. Ambitious? Yes. Messy? Absolutely.

The Intelligence Battle & Bang-won’s Temper Tantrum

Bang-won confronts Won-kyung about her private spy network, accusing her of breaking his “no informants” rule. She points out that it literally just saved his life, but he’s not having it. She calls him out for pretending he has control over the court when, in reality, everyone wants him off the throne. He refuses to accept that Seong-kye is actively plotting against him. His father tried to kill him just the other day, but Bang-won is still in denial. MAKE IT MAKE SENSE!

Later, Won-kyung lets Chae-ryeong back into her service only if she brings useful intel. But Bang-won doesn’t trust her either—he’s more interested in what she hears about Won-kyung’s secret meetings. The paranoia levels are through the roof, and now Chae-ryeong is caught between them.

Meanwhile, a Ming envoy arrives (because we don’t have enough problems already). Won-kyung manipulates the situation so that she’s the only one who can persuade Seong-kye to negotiate. Bang-won reluctantly asks her for help, and she agrees—but only if he drops the whole “let’s depose the queen” thing. Smart move, Your Majesty.

Won-kyung Has Had ENOUGH

Things take a dark turn when Bang-won demands that a court lady observe their royal consummation (ew). Won-kyung, fed up with his power games, storms out. Bang-won, being the petty king that he is, declares that he will never seek her out again. Not to be outdone, he then bans her from sword practice because apparently, Joseon women can’t wield swords anymore. Excuse me?!? Wasn’t this their thing back in the day?

Won-kyung soon gets wind of yet another plot: Seong-kye’s men are planning a surprise attack on the palace. Despite her brothers begging her to stay out of it (because they also broke Bang-won’s “no spies” rule), she warns Bang-won anyway. He threatens that if she’s wrong, she’ll pay with her life. But, of course, she’s right (again), and before Bang-won heads into battle, he actually trusts her to escort his father back to the palace.

Predictably, Seong-kye’s men ambush them, but Won-kyung’s forces turn the tide. In a poetic twist, Bang-hwa himself shows up to declare loyalty to Bang-won, proving once and for all he doesn’t want the throne. Seong-kye, defeated, refuses to return, but honestly? Mission accomplished.

Bang-won’s Absolute Meltdown

The aftermath? A total disaster. Won-kyung’s brothers call for Hyosun’s execution because her greedy court maid got caught up in the rebellion. Bang-won’s authority is on the line, and his hands are tied. Hyosun begs Won-kyung for mercy, but Bang-won walks in and decides to make it about himself. He says he’s never felt comfort like he has with Hyosun (um, what?), and Won-kyung demands he beg for her to be spared.

For a second, it looks like he might actually do it. But nope. Instead, he grabs a knife and STABS HYOSUN HIMSELF. Excuse me?!?!

DramaZen's Opinion

These episodes were chaotic, and I LOVED IT. The tension, the betrayals, the insane political mind games—it’s giving Shakespearean tragedy, but make it Joseon.

Won-kyung remains the ultimate queen, protecting her son, fighting off coups, and handling Bang-won’s endless nonsense like a pro. But Bang-won? Unhinged. His insecurities are eating him alive, and at this point, he’s his own worst enemy.

And don’t get me started on Chae-ryeong—her survival instincts are top-tier, but girl, pick a side!

With all this betrayal, scheming, and emotional damage, I have no idea how Won-kyung is going to stay on top. But one thing’s for sure: this palace is a war zone, and I’m here for every second of it.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)

Thoughts? Theories? Does Bang-won need therapy? Drop them in the comments below!