Under the Queen’s Umbrella (슈룹) is a historical Korean drama series directed by Kim Hyung-shik, and stars Kim Hye-soo as Queen Im Hwa-Seong, Kim Hae-sook as Queen Dowager, and Choi Won-young as King Lee-ho. Others joining the show include Moon Sang-min as Grand Prince Seong-nam, Bae In-hyuk as Crown Prince, Yoo Seon-ho as Grand Prince Gye-seong, and Kang Chan-hee as Prince Ui-seong alongside other cast members.
The series takes on tvN’s Saturday-Sunday 09.10 PM timeslot previously occupied by Little Women. Under the Queen’s Umbrella Episode 10 has a runtime of 63 minutes.
Netflix describes the series as:
A SPIRITED QUEEN TRIES TO REIN IN HER ROWDY SONS IN ORDER TO MAKE ONE OF THEM THE NEXT KING OF JOSEON, WHILE HER COMPETITORS VIE TO SNATCH THE THRONE.
-Under the Queen’s Umbrella Episode 10 Recap Contains Spoilers-
Hwa-ryeong asks Consort Hwang if she has any leads on Physician Kwon as she wants to bring him back to the palace. While as opposed to our previous hypothesis, Kwon isn’t an accomplice to Prince Ui-seong’s actions but is rather firing up a conspiracy of his own with Master Toji and Seo Ham-deok. However, their ground plan mapping blueprint of the same is not in their possession anymore since Grand Prince Gye-seong had been tailing the supposed monk.
Kwon checks the royal edict handed out to Ham-deok and sees it as an opportunity, so the latter accepts it from Prince Ui-seong but raises a condition of his own. In the meantime, Court Lady Shin reports that the Grand Prince is in Hanseong instead of completing his mission, compelling Hwa-ryeong to rush out.
Gye-seong warns Ui-seong about Ham-deok’s plans of treason, but Ui-seong chooses to quench his thirst for power instead for the time being. The Grand Prince heads back to the palace to reach before Ui-seong via the shortest route and inform the King of everything about the traitor.
Hwa-ryeong asks Muan to retrieve his plaque as soon as she catches him with Cho-wol and the Grand Prince admits that he will do it anyway as he has no ambitions to become the Crown Prince. Additionally, he also wants Cho-wol to become his concubine. His mother discusses the case with Cho-wol, thus acknowledging that her son isn’t someone she can depend on. Cho-wol addresses the situation and claims she can cut ties with him but can’t stop loving him and is ready to stay as his “congenial friend” if necessary.
Also Read My Hero Academia Season 6 Episode 8 Preview: When, Where and How to Watch!
A flashback to five years ago transports us to the village where Queen Hwa-ryeong stood up for a rape survivor exploited by a nobleman. She helped her stay at a woman’s quarters, the same as Cho-wol’s residence. These memories come flooding back since Cho-wol’s mother and Hwa-ryeong shared the same quarters 20 years ago, while the former was pregnant with Cho-wol and the latter with Mu-an. It seems like she’s destined to be a part of their life after all.
Now with only Ui-seong, Gye-seong, Seong-nam, and Bo-geum left in the competition, the last two princes’ deadline to convince Park Gyeong-u is nearly over. The two also start noticing his embezzlement actions and initiate an investigation to look for solid evidence.
Seong-nam finds his book of transaction records but leaves the premises late and is caught by Gyeong-u. Both princes are turned away from his place, but they keep looking into his seeming ‘noble’ act by sharing the respective evidence gathered by them. As soon as Bo-geum realizes the truth, he throws away the confidential intel passed on by his mother and joins forces with Seong-nam for good.
Back at the palace, the King discusses with Hwa-ryeong his mother’s recovery and that she’s likely to get back in the game. Nevertheless, he assures his wife about pushing through all kinds of opposition.
Seong-nam and Bo-geum piece the puzzle together and realize that Park Gyeong-u was actually helping the village folk out of their debt, which is where he put all the acquired black money to use. The two princes finally persuade him to return to the palace with them and help the remaining children of the kingdom in the same manner.
It’s then disclosed that the King had already reached out to his old friend regarding the matter and had asked him to discern the capabilities of the princes and pick out the most suitable candidate among them. However, in this case, Seong-nam and Bo-geum’s team is a match for the ages, and their collective actions bring about the best result.
Meanwhile, Chief State Councilor Won-hyeong plans to push Seong-nam out of the picture after looking at the posters (as planted by Consort Tae in the previous episode) all over the capital, questioning his legitimacy as a royal prince by birth. When the news reaches the King’s ears, he passes the order to retrieve all such posters in the kingdom, whereas, Hwa-ryeong already knows the person behind this conspiracy – Queen Dowager.
Cheong-ha confesses her feelings for Seong-nam, and a wide smile glistens on his face on hearing it, so we all caught the drift, right? He and Bo-geum resume their journey back to the palace and escort Park Geyong-u.
At the same time, in a parallel scene, the condition posed by Ham-deok is revealed – he wants Gye-seong dead. While the Grand Prince gallops back with his intel to the palace, he is attacked as per Consort Hwang and Won-hyeong’s scheme to save Ui-seong. All evidence of Ham-deok’s treacherous plan is stolen from Gye-seong, and a plan is hatched to make it look like the Grand Prince has killed himself in fear of his secret being let out.
Approaching the King, Consort Hwang orders her old accomplice, Consort Go, to reveal the portrait as evidence. Hwa-ryeong reaches the scene too. Consort Hwang starts feeling that the two ladies are stalling time, so she blurts out the truth about Gye-seong being transgender and forces Consort Go to hand over the portrait. Once the portrait is rolled out, she’s shocked to find a tiger’s painting instead, and Queen Hwa-ryeong asks for the King’s permission to punish her as per the rules of the ladies’ court.
Following the incidents of the previous episode, wherein the Queen saved Prince Sim-so’s life, Consort Go has pledged her true allegiance to Hwa-ryeong’s cause, thus helping her out of the mess, all while Gye-seong is rescued.
Hwa-ryeong advises her son to hide out at the secret quarters till he’s fully recovered, but he chooses otherwise. As a result, she assures him that the King knows Ham-deok’s true intentions against the kingdom, proving that it was a test meant to judge the princes’ characters.
Prince Ui-seong uses Gye-seong’s information as his leverage to get the upper hand in the contest, yet the King calls out his actions for having brought such a dangerous man back to the palace at all. On the other hand, he praises Seong-nam and Bo-geum’s team-up and is relieved to see his old friend back alongside him after a long while.
The Queen pulls out her son, Gye-seongs name, from the race, thus leaving Seong-nam, Bo-geum and Ui-seong as the three finalists. She goes on to thank Seong-nam for all his efforts while her son asks her to hold all words of appreciation till the contest is finally over.
Under the Queen’s Umbrella Episode 10 Ending
Queen Hwa-ryeong calls a meeting in place for all the royal consorts of the court to announce Consort Hwang’s punishment – demotion from the first to the fourth rank of a junior consort, the lowest among all concubines. Driven by the hysterical fire of public humiliation, she vehemently urges her son to become the next Crown Prince.
Hwa-ryeong isn’t quite done fighting back yet. Queen Dowager is on her list, whom she plans to drag down in retaliation for slandering Seong-nam’s name in the capital. Imitating a letter in the handwriting of her the Queen’s Court Lady Nam, Hwa-ryeong puts the blame on her for having attacked Grand Prince Gye-seong. She reveals her trick-play to Dowager when alone.
For the final evaluation of the three standing candidates, the King summons Confucian scholars of Sungkyungkwan to avoid any biases playing into the decision of his councillors. Having a one-up on Chief State Councilor, the King corners him into acquiescing to his notion while Minister Yoon also agrees with the novel method on his own accord.
With the locked doors barring the scholars from being influenced by any external interference, Hwa-ryeong and the King hope for a just decision to announce the new Crown Prince.
Under the Queen’s Umbrella Episode 10 Review
It’s always a delight to see the Grand Princes in action because they know how to get the work done despite all the prior allegations against them for slacking off. Gye-seong’s case is truly heart-rending, and it broke my heart to see his name being pulled out of the competition only as a means to protect his true identity. While it was the best a mother could do in the Joseon period for her child, it still is unfair how Gye-seong’s intelligent and smart demeanour must be kept locked up to keep his secret from getting out.
The series presents a realistic picture of the case because while we, in the 21st century, may be sensitive to such ideas, it couldn’t have been an easy time for all those people who shared their secrets with Gye-seong back in the olden era. Notably, the series keeps such sentiments in mind and gives them an appropriate platform to shine regardless of what some non-believers may hold on to.
In this particular episode, Queen Hwa-ryeong’s interactions with Queen Dowager were held off till the last moment. This act allowed other people in the royal court to make a visible impact in the episode. At the same time, the nature of the conflict between the Queens was exacerbated, thus making room for a better viewing experience on the part of the audience.
It’s also remarkable on the part of Hwa-ryeong’s character to call out his sons when necessary, proving that she isn’t afraid to address their lacking qualities, just like she never turns away from praising them when the moment is right. Moreover, the romantic intervention in the series continues to serve its healing purpose as a subplot instead of taking over other crucial issues, unlike many similar counterparts of the period drama genre.
I appreciate the writing for including every bit of emotion throughout the series and making these characters as human as possible instead of positioning them as stereotypical caricatures.
Under the Queen’s Umbrella Episode 10 is now streaming on Netflix.
Also Read: The Kardashians Season 2 Episode 9 Preview: What Happens Next and When Will It Release?