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 11 has a runtime of 69 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 11 Recap Contains Spoilers-
The competition for the crown prince continues as three princes remain standing whom the King can’t help but feel proud of. He then poses the question of what they would ask the crown prince candidates if they were the King in order to select the best talent.
Prince Ui-seong asks a political question, Prince Bo-geum asks about the government, while Grand Prince Seong-nam presents the question about the situation outside the palace and the criticism that the people have towards the King. This shocks everyone present in the room, however, he soon tells the King about the existence of criticism against the King and the importance to know what it is.
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Through this, he brings out the corruption taking place in Uichang that has been stealing grain that is meant for disaster relief. The King is pleased with this question and asks the princes to find out what caused the degeneration of Uichang and what they can do to improve the situation.
Later, extra material is included in the assessment of the princes and this is sent to the scholars to help them make a decision. The news of this extra material is spread everywhere and it is known that Seong-nam is now leading the competition which gives Queen Hwa-ryung a breath of relief. But this also brings the issue of the leakage taking place in a competition.
The news infuriates Queen Dowager and she is ready to shift the direction of this wind by using her own methods. The pulling of officials now begins and this starts with the Ijojeongrang (Ministry of Personnel) through whom the roping in of other officials is not a hard task.
On the other hand, Hwang Won-hyung is made aware of what is happening and starts roping ministers himself as he begins with the deputy minister of the Ministry of Justice, but what he needs is to find someone.
Just like this, the tug-o-war continues and is reported to Hwa-ryung who decides to do nothing as that is the best option, however, she is able to sense bigger waves that are going to arrive. Elsewhere, Tae So-yong uses the record from the Office of Royal Geneology which shows the misdeed of Ui-seong and brings him down once again.
When consort Hwang finds out about this, she chooses to ask Queen Dowager for her help and promises to not become the queen if her son wins to become the crown prince. This offer pleases Queen Dowager as she calls for So-yong and tells her to take back Bo-geum’s plaque from the competition.
She further tells Bo-geum that a prince from a low-ranking mother should never dream of becoming the crown prince and that she had been using him this whole time for Ui-seong. Bo-geum has no choice but to take down his own plaque while this matter finally infuriates Hwa-ryung.
She then heads to the chambers where the scholars are gathered and with permission from the King she heads inside to have a talk with them all. She first reveals the secret messages that they have all received after which she destroys the evidence and shows her trust in the integrity of these scholars who are to choose their future king.
This ignites the scholars’ honour as they now lead the path of making the decision without any interference from the outside during this period. Later, she calls for Bo-geum and tells him that she will be punishing his mother.
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The scene shifts and So-yong is brought to Hwa-ryung’s chambers for her punishment and she is demoted to a court maid who is in charge of cleaning her chambers. So-yong begins her duties while Hwa-ryung orders that no one is to help her in her duties.
So-yong goes on with her work and one day falls asleep in Hwa-ryung’s room, and when she wakes up, she is made to understand the real mistakes that she has made which is against Bo-geum. Hwa-ryung’s lesson soon dawns on her as her physical fatigue clears her mind and she is able to go back to her cheerful self while the scene shifts back to the conversation between Hwa-ryung and Bo-geum.
She clears up the mess in his brain created by Queen Dowager about his origins and lets him know that as the son of the King he has all the rights to fight for the position of the crown prince.
She gives him a new ray of hope and tells him that a King cannot fulfil his duties without trusted aides and this is the position that he should now aim for. Being the crown prince is not the only way to prove his worth and now he should once again work hard with a new goal in mind.
Hwa-ryung is thus able to revive the fallen hopes of the mother and son and brings them closer through her understanding of motherhood.
Elsewhere, Yoon Soo-kwang asks queen dowager if he too would be thrown away as she did to Bo-geum to which she denies and tells him that it doesn’t matter who becomes the crown prince because his daughter is set to become the crown princess.
On the other hand, the scholars have made their decision but Won-hyung is aware of who the winner is. But he is not ready to give up and brings up the issue of Seong-nam’s birth to push away the announcement of the result.
Under the Queen’s Umbrella Episode 11 Ending
Under the Queen’s Umbrella episode 11 ends with the ministers all asking for proof and the chief of the medical office along with the queen, Seong-nam and a few ministers are called to witness the truth. Won-hyung has already tampered with the water that will be used for the test and is sure that Seong-nam will be proven to not be of royalty, but Hwa-ryung is ready for all their tactics.
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She proves that the blood test has already been tampered with and instead calls for the other princes and the queen dowager to prove her son’s lineage. With the help of a hereditary bone structure in the ear, she asks the queen dowager to check the ears of all the princes and do justice to this matter.
The queen dowager proves that Seong-nam is indeed the King’s son, however, she finds out a secret when she checks Ui-seong’s ear. Hwa-ryung thus proves that the rumours of Seong-nam’s birth are all fake and that it was her mistake in the past that put her son in such a situation.
She reveals the happenings of that time and later apologises to Seong-nam in private for what happened back then. Seong-nam is able to understand her predicament and has been aware of her visits to him as well as her act of sending his brother over to give him company.
Back in the court, the results are revealed and Grand Prince Seong-nam is chosen as the crown prince which angers Ui-seong and consort Hwang who are ready to make sure that this crown prince doesn’t get the throne.
Later that night, Hwa-ryung enters the crown prince’s chambers and finally lets go of her elder son once and for all and begins the preparations for the new crown prince to reside there. The next day, Seong-nam is ready to begin his journey as the new crown prince.
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Under the Queen’s Umbrella Episode 11 Review
The calm character of Hwa-ryung which is also strong and logical is something that has caught my attention and now I am charmed by her demeanour. I am simply amazed by her way of doing things and she is indeed a perfect queen at this moment after the games that she has played in the palace all these years.
On the other hand, there is no doubt that Ui-seong is not the King’s son which can explain the talk that the queen dowager had with consort Hwang with those looks and I wonder what this is going to bring to us.
Altogether, this was a fun episode with just the perfect amount of palace drama and politics while bringing characters who really make you feel like they exist.
Under the Queen’s Umbrella now streaming on Netflix.
What did you think about the episode? Let us know in the comments below!
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Today’s episode was about ” all the credit goes to mom”. it was not only epic but significant details has been about other characters. I am enjoying this drama so much.