Written and Video Preview for Empress Ki Episode 23
There are a couple of things I’m now certain of when it comes to Empress Ki. It’s still entertaining as all out what with the eye-popping plot developments with nary a boring moment in sight. C’mon guys, there are inexplicable time jumps and babies everywhere! It’s also clear that Seung Nyang is (1) delivering her royal Goryeo baby in the cave (rather than miscarrying), and (2) will survive the experience. There is a slightly longer video preview out for episode 23 where we see our favorite future Empress Ki escaping the pursuing Yuan soldiers led by Yeom Byung Soo as well as a flashback scene with her and Wang Yoo. I’ve combined the two written previews together below and translated it to add more clarity as well to the future plot trajectory. Tanasiri gets her teeny evil paws on a bouncing baby boy and it’s still 50/50 as to whether that baby is the Ta Hwan/Lady Park baby or the Wang Yoo/Seung Nyang baby. For the sake of Ta Hwan’s sanity I hope it’s the former, because even I don’t think he deserves to be raising the love child of his beloved Seung Nyang and her beloved Wang Yoo.
For the sake of plot trajectory, it’s probably the latter since it gives Seung Nyang a major reason to go back to the Yuan Palace. Given that she’s in love with Wang Yoo, married him and then had his baby, and shown no romantic reciprocation to Ta Hwan’s feelings til now, it would be logical that part of her reason to become Empress Ki is for the sake of her child. Once that kid becomes the Crown Prince of the Yuan dynasty it’s rather hard to drop the birth secret further down the road. We’ll know on Monday which way the drama goes with the baby swapping business but either way Ta Hwan is the loser in the equation. Even if the baby in Tanasiri’s hands is his son with Lady Park, that baby will still be used by Tanasiri to control him and extend the power of her family now that she’s “produced” a Crown Prince. I still wish he would be emotionally stronger of a character, it’s a bit embarrassing to read in the previews that Ta Hwan’s reaction to finding out Seung Nyang’s dead is to fall dead away in a faint. Whereas Wang Yoo in the video preview vows to punish those responsible and deliver the pain in thousands and tens of thousands fold what they inflicted on his Seung Nyang. Too bad Seung Nyang is stuck between them, without her maybe Ta Hwan and Wang Yoo would have developed a bromance and they could easily take out Yeon Chul together.
Written preview for episode 23:
“I’ll take this child.”
Seung Nyang is escaping with her child and runs into Yeom Byung Soo at the edge of the cliff. Wang Yoo hears of Seung Nyang’s death and is overcome with rage and sorrow. Ta Hwan hears of Seung Nyang’s death and suddenly collapses and loses consciousness. Tanasiri wants to take the baby found at the nunnery and plans to make him the Crown Prince, thus she hides the baby away and stealthy sneaks him into the Palace……
New preview for episode 23:
[youku id=”XNjYzNDYzMDE2.html” w=”625″ h=”445″]
Is it just me or does anyone else see that “Sorry, this video can only be streamed within Mainland China”?
Thanks for the written preview! 😀
You can unblock Youku on chrome by installing the extension.
HI!
1) Mawiie: is not just you. I see it as well.
2)I just marathoned this drama last week. I just got caught up and I like all the wackiness.
3)I was wondering about the subs for this drama. Could anyone tell me if they use as much ‘slang’ in the drama’s original language, as it is used in the English translations??
For what I understand Sageuks use a different kind of Korean than new dramas, but the English used is really informal. It feels more informal than dramas taking place in current time. I don’t know if that is part of the ‘Fantasy Fusion’ genre. This is my first Sageuk.
4)Thanks for the preview and translation. There wasn’t one at the end of the episode.
No, sageuks used formal language. The MBC subs for this drama are abominable. A travesty. Complete and utter garbage. There is no slang used anywhere in the drama. EVER. It is simply a really shitty subber deciding to use modern English to translate sageuk Korean. *headdesk*
Thank you for writing! It is always good to read your insights!
OT but the video of Lego performing for the fans is up on IAGW’s FB page…
But this show gives some hints towards SN not being untouched by the Emperor’s feelings! After the King’s proposal she sits in her room crying and thinking about intimate scenes with the Emperor! Also, she didn’t respond at once, it took her some time to use the hair pin.
And after the big confrontation in the library between her and the Emperor where he finally learns, that the Commander was her dad both break down crying. He inside, she outside and her crying is not angry or livid, it is desperate and sad.
These are small signs we shouldn’t overlook.
I think I may be done with this drama even though I so wish you were right… I mean WY and SN had a freaking baby together… I think the TH ship is now sinking. It’s too bad because I just can’t connect with the “main” OTP… I don’t think I’m strong enough to handle the Emperor suffering and being merely used by SN. It feels just odd and wrong
I think this semi fiction novel based on real historical figures about the Yuan dynasty is politically motivated to drum up nationalistic fervor given the current situation with China et al regarding the S. China Sea and those islands in dispute. It seems the entire drama is an attempt to rewrite history or create what ifs. I know it’s just a drama but I just can’t put my analytical brain aside to even enjoy the crazy makjang plot.
You speak as if giving birth alone in a cave is abnormal or something.
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Anyhoo… I am sad that it looks like Safari dies.
When is this actor going to cut a break and be the man who lived?
Why did Ki cry so much when the Crazy but Nice Former Concubine died?
Did I fast forward through some Meaningful Interaction between them?
Well Lady Noh used to stay with SN when SN was still a palace maid. Then she stayed with her again for 4 months at least bonding with the baby. Time does pass on the show. It’s not like SN is an anti social robot and wouldn’t form bonds with people lol
That’s the point. She bonded with a lot of people.
It was remarkable that she had that reaction ONLY for the one lady – not any of the other palace maids or even Lady Park.
Damn, I was hoping it was a random baby Tanashiri picked up. I suppose tha hope was just flung out the window. So I guess Seung Nyang doesn’t have a child for Ta Hwan. That sucks majorly for him especially if this new baby is, as you put it, his beloved and her beloved’s. I agree though about the whole Ta Hwan fainting being embarrassing. I mean, I love the boy and all but wow. He’s a big softie. I just want to see how everything ends up by at the first episode.
Well…so today we will c another makjang episode?actually ta hwan fainted after hearing the bad news of seung nyang death is not embarrassing..everyone have their own way of how to express themselves and their reactions after hearing a devastating news…it doesnt meant because he is a man so he is not allowed to cry or have fainting episode..he and wang yoo have differ personalities …anyway as this story goes on no matter how hate some of you of ta hwan character..i still pity of him…cos seung yang will only keep on using him to gt the power in yuan court..so i can say that these both male leads are very pity to fall in love with seung yang hahaha
wow we have different wishes for this drama,,,you know I really wish that it was not SN-WY child that will land on Tanashiri’s hand but you have a point there, it’s more possible that the child can be SN and WY’s since SN has the tendency to leave her child in a safe place since she is being chased….but how I wish she wont be separated to her child, and wish wang yu will find out about it….but what will be the story line then LOL… wish to see you recap Koala.. thanks for your recap and your posting of the recap for the novel…
SPOILERRR !! Dont read it if you dont want to
i’m not sure if it is sunghyang baby or not, but when she was chased by that ugly yom , the baby fell from the cliff into the water,and I’m not sure if the baby dies or not 🙁 I just saw the raw video cant explain it that well,but I strongly believe that the empress took her baby (fuck I hate that whyyyyyy 🙁 ) and also sunghyang found the blood vow oh yeahhhhh