Captivating the King Episode 5 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 5 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 5 Recap
The episode starts with Hee-soo practising Baduk with her master with hopes of becoming the apprentice of Prince Doksaeng, with whom King Lee In plays. Just when Hee-soo gets the chance and moves back to Joseon as Mong-woo, the Prince gets murdered. It is assumed he is killed by the King’s order but we later learn that Principal Director executed the order and not the King. Hence the King warns him subtly.
The Queen Dowager tries her best to make the King bear a son with any one of the concubines but he doesn’t bother about them. He only trusts the court lady Dong and doesn’t let any woman close to him. After the death of the Prince, he arranges for a Baduk player competition so that he can have one inside the palace with whom he can often play. At the same time, the King summons Myung-ha back to Joseon and appoints him as the sixth secretary. He gives him the biggest responsibility of restoring the peach tree of his late brother.
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To date, nobody has fulfilled the peach tree mission but Myung-ha takes it up with determination. Queen Dowager worries about Myung-ha’s return as there are chances of him avenging his father’s death. As the Baduk player notice arrives, Hee-soo disguises into Mong-woo and participates. She keeps winning every round and moves further. Myung-ha learns about her survival and meets her. She however doesn’t listen to him and proceeds with the contest and he lets go of her.
The King learns about Mong-woo and goes to the contest to see whether it is indeed him. To his surprise he finds Mong-woo, his long lost Baduk player friend. He challenges Mong-woo to win the contest and come to the palace or else his tongue will be ripped out. As expected, Mong-woo wins the contest and becomes the Baduk player of the palace.
When Mong-woo goes to the King’s chamber, the King asks why he has returned after so many years. Mong-woo gives a normal answer and the King gets mad at him. He says that he knows Mong-woo has returned to take revenge and kill him. The episode ends with both of them glaring at each other with anger.
Captivating the King Episode 5 Review
I still don’t understand how the King doesn’t figure out that Mong-woo is a woman despite the fact she has feminine features and a voice. Regardless, he does want Mong-woo to be his friend again but due to all the struggles he faced, the King has become extremely cold and doesn’t trust anybody. Moreover, everyone around him is trying to use him and carry out their missions, making the King look like the evil guy.
We can see how he looks completely dead and only focuses on his guilt. Hopefully, Mong-woo/Hee-soo will learn of his good intentions, forgive him and give the King a chance to live a happy life after all the sadness he has been carrying.
Captivating the King is streaming on Netflix. Let us know your thoughts in the comment section.
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