Captivating the King Episode 3 Recap and Review: Famous director, Jo Nam-gook known for his top hit series The Good Detective is back with a historical romance drama with a spoonful of twists and turns, Starring top-notch actors like Jo Jung-suk, Shin Sae-kyeong, and Lee Shin-young, Captivating the King (세작, 매혹된 자들) has all the fun and spice in it to make the viewers sit back and watch throughout. Both Netflix and TV are distributing the series, meaning its potential is global.
The three main roles are done by Jo Jung-suk as Lee In, Shin Sae-kyeong as Kang Hee-soo/ Kang Mong-woo and Lee Shin-young as Kim Myung-ha. Jo Jung-suk’s previous hit was Hospital Playlist (2020 – 2021), Shin Sae-kyeong’s last venture was Run On (2020 – 2021) and Lee Shin-young was last seen in CEO-dol Mart (2023).
– Captivating the King Episode 3 Review Contains Spoilers –
Captivating the King Plot
Lee In is a prince with a caring older brother, King Lee Sun. Pledging loyalty to his brother, Lee In is taken hostage by the Qing Dynasty. Unfortunately, King Lee Sun misinterprets this loyalty as betrayal, leading to a strained relationship. Lee In suffers emotionally due to his brother’s resentment.
During his time as a hostage, Lee In encounters an unknown baduk player who captivates him with her skills. Eventually, circumstances unfold, and Lee In ascends to the throne as the king. Despite holding a powerful position, he grapples with internal sadness and vulnerability.
Kang Hee Soo, previously known as a skilled but unknown baduk player, crosses paths with Prince Lee In and falls in love with him. However, fate takes a twist as she becomes a spy with a mission for revenge. Her journey involves approaching King Lee In, adding complexities to their intertwined destinies.
Captivating the King Episode 3 Recap
Myung-ha doesn’t reveal Hee-soo’s identity but rather says that they both promised to play Baduk together this time. Hence Lee In leaves disheartened. Myung-ha tells Hee-soo that if she gets caught for disguising as a man, she will be tortured in interrogation. They both argue and the conversation ends with Myung-ha stressing that he loves her and will wait for her. Grand Prince Lee In keeps thinking about Mong-woo/Hee-soo and Myung-ha’s friendship, wondering what type of relationship they two hold.
Meanwhile, news comes to the King’s palace that a spy has been caught in the Qing dynasty and that they want to know who sent him. The King doesn’t reveal the truth that he sent the spy but rather lets all the ministers find the culprit. Minister of War gets information from his right hand that it is Grand Prince Lee In who sent the spy and he buys it. Lee In’s master who really sent the spy, speaks to the King and requests him to send him as an envoy so he can seek forgiveness. The King agrees as he knows there’s no escape.
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When the news spreads, Lee In confronts his master and asks him to send him instead but his master says that already the enemies are plotting such a rumour and that it’s not the right thing to do. Lee In understands that his master is doing the right thing by protecting him for the country’s welfare. Hee-soo overhears this and her heart breaks. She also stays away from Lee In so that he might not recognise her.
The day arrives when the Master gets arrested and taken to the Qing dynasty. The King grows weak and hates himself for his moves. The minister of war comes and tells him that he is sure that the Grand Prince is the one who sent the spy. The King despite knowing the truth as it is he who sent it, gives permission to the Minister for an interrogation of all the witnesses. This allows the Minsiter’s right hand to avenge himself. He arrests all Baduk players in search of Hee-soo and also the comfort woman.
They torture the witnesses so that they will reveal the Baduk player’s name. News goes to Hee-soo’s ear and she disguises and comes. Myung-ha doesn’t allow her as he doesn’t want them to torture her. Just in time, the Grand Prince comes and demands they stop it and interrogate him instead. Then he goes to the King’s chamber and the two argue. The King acts selfishly even after knowing that Lee In knows the truth and starts to attack him. During their argument, Lee In somehow gets hold of the King’s sword and keeps it near the King’s neck to stop him.
Captivating the King Episode 3 Review
The King is absolutely selfish. He isn’t ready to face the people and doesn’t want to listen to anyone. Despite being at fault he simply wants to hide in plain sight and put the blame on others. The Minister of War on the other side is only focused on getting Lee In out of the royal palace as he wants the Prince Royal to ascend the throne. Amidst all this, Lee In is struggling to bring back his people from captive and save his dynasty. He also loves his brother too much but since he has been acting outrageously, we guess he’s going to take the move to end it all.
Captivating the King is streaming on Netflix. Let us know your thoughts in the comment section.
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