Empress Ki Episode 1

The episode begins in Daidu (eventually Beijing), the capital of Yuan. You can tell you're in China because the emperor is wearing that flat hat with the strings hanging down in front of his face. That would so annoy me but then I'm not a Chinese emperor. The Chinese emperor walks up to meet with a Korean man. You can tell he's Korean because he's got that top knot thing going on with the elaborate headband. That and this is a Korean drama so of course there's gotta be some Koreans in it.

 

The Korean is King Wang Yoo of Goryeo (played by Joo Jin Mo). The Chinese is Emperor Huizong (played by Ji Chang Wook of the horrendous Bachelor's Vegetable Store). Wang Yoo announces his plans to return to his home country. Huizong is surprised the Korean king doesn't want to stick around for the coronation of the new empress. After all, if not for her then Wang Yoo would be a dead man. Nope, Wang Yoo ain't stickin' around. Huizong figures it is because the Korean king is still in love with Sungnyang (played by Ha Ji Won).

 

I know Ha Ji Won is a beloved actress in Korea and beyond but to be honest I've just never liked any of her stuff.

 

Sungnyang gets all dressed up for her coronation. All the people (real and CGI) are throwing their arms up in the air in congratulations. Far in the back of the cheering crowd Sungnyang spots Wang Yoo. They both have tears in their eyes. Wang Yoo sighs and turns to leave.

 

This would be a good place for a flashback.

 

Child Sungnyang (played by Hyun Seung Min of May Queen)  is tied up along with her mother and some other women. They are tribute women being sent to Yuan. Nearby on horseback, young Prince Wang Yoo has a refreshing drink. Another man rides up. Oh hey, it's Kim Jung Hyun. He'll be playing Dang Ki Se. Nice pony tail, Ki Se.

 

OMG, according to the credits this show has everybody in it.

 

Anyway, where was I? It's time to move out and the women aren't moving fast enough so this other guy with awesome braids starts whipping then. You'd think they would treat these women better. They're a valuable commodity, after all. Prince Wang Yoo tries to intercede on behalf of the wounded but Braided Guy and Dang Ki Se don't pay this little boy any mind.

 

That night the women are stored in cages. Prince Wang Yoo and his batman Bang Sun Woo (played by Lee Moon Shik) have somehow procured the keys and plan to set the women free. The women (loudly) flee to the forest, Dang and his Blue Wolves in hot pursuit. Sungnyang's mother is killed protecting her daughter. Before she dies she gives Sungnyang a ring and orders her daughter to find the matching ring, therefore finding Sungnyang's father.

 

The bodies of the dead women are recovered. Prince Wang Yoo is out in the rain mourning the fact he couldn't save them. He's approached by Wang Go (played by Lee Jae Young) who basically tells the prince he's useless and hopefully will die while he's over in Yuan.

 

Another place and time. Two men are having lunch. It's Safari from Heartless City! Yay! And he's finally got his fried hair under control. Yay! He's having lunch with one of Chae Won's uncles from A Hundred Year's Inheritance. The two men leave, just missing an encounter with a dirty Sungnyang. She's still searching for the man with the matching ring.

 

As she walks along the streets she sees Evil Dang and his men riding her way. Fearing they'll recognize her, Sungnyang starts to run. She doesn't yield the right of way and is run down by another horseman at an intersection. This guy looks so familiar but I can't say where I've seen him before. What I do know is he's one of Evil Wang Go's people. Feeling responsible for the civilian he just ran over, Familiar Looking Guy takes Sungnyang back to the estate where everyone assumes "she" is a "he."

 

This would be a good place for a time skip.

 

Thirteen years later and Sungnyang has self-trained herself to be a warrior. Everyone still thinks she's a he. Sungnyang is still working for Evil Wang Go, who has his sights on being named the next king of Goryeo. He thinks he has it easy as Prince Wang Yoo is considered a wimp.

 

This would be a good place to cut to Prince Wang Yoo not being a wimp.

 

Wang Yoo is having a fighting match with Jum Park Yi (played by Yoon Yong Hyun) and look there in the crowd - there's Chae Won's other uncle from A Hundred Year's Inheritance. I told you everybody is in this drama.

 

Wang Yoo is looking for a challenge. Park Yi tells him about The Jackal, a legendary fighter and marksman. Guess who the Jackal is. Go on, guess.

 

Wang Yoo challenges Sungnyan to an archery contest.

 

This would be a good place for me to go get a snack while these two fart around.

 

By the time I come back into the room the archery contest is over and Wang Yoo is making Sungnyan's lady parts quiver.

 

But now it's down to business. The real reason Prince Wang Yoo and his team are in town is to investigate Evil Wang Go's involvement in salt contraband. Wang Go is aware of this and orders a beekeeper assassin to take the prince out.

 

Sungnyan takes Wang Yoo out that night to enjoy the Lantern Festival. She spots the beekeeper assassin and jumps in front of Wang Yoo, taking the arrow in her leg. Despite her protests, Wang Yoo picks her up in his arms. This makes her lady parts quiver. Or maybe that's the arrow in her leg. He carries her back to the inn where he's been staying so they can tend to her wound. Sungnyan just barely keeps her sexuality a secret.

 

Under Evil Wang Go's orders, Sungnyan is supposed to be leading Wang Yoo into an ambush. Instead, Wang Yoo and his men are able to catch Sungnyan and her gang in the act of smuggling salt. Stuntmen earn their pay as a fight breaks out. Wang Yoo knew about the ambush because of a secret message sent to him by an unknown informant who has been helping them uncover Evil Wang Go's dealings.

 

Guess who his unknown informant is. Go on, guess.