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-ryeong, 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, 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 8 has a runtime of 66 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 8 Recap Contains Spoilers-
All consorts have schemes up their sleeves, this time, quite literally. As the first contest is underway, the King seeks to test the princes’ abilities as inspectors and each one of them is assigned a subject to pursue after their race. Seong-nam puts his abilities and his brother, the late Crown Prince’s teachings to the test, thus promising his mother to pull himself to the end. While Hwa-ryeong on the other hand assures him to put everyone stepping out of line and resorting to unfair means back in their place.
The King shares his wistful yearnings about a past acquaintance and supporter, Park Gyeong-u (the same man the princes are supposed to escort back to the palace in their first contest), with his Queen. Both of them express their mutual trust in each other as the King claims her to be his lifelong friend as she can see through him at all times.
Hwa-ryeong suggests the concubines engage themselves in the art of embroidery while keeping each other accompanied with the motive of keeping an eye on them all as Court Lady Shin reports them to be assisting their sons in their respective investigations. Consort Tae wishes to get away as soon as possible to reach her son, while Consort Go is already away on her own mission to do the same.
Queen Dowager forms an alliance with Prince Bo-geum and his mother, Consort Tae as hinted at during the last episode. The younger concubines side with Consort Hwang, thus pulling their own sons out of the race. Meanwhile, each of the princes has his own strategy and commanding spirit to lead the contest (or, in some cases, not), while the younger princes categorized as “just little kids” continue on the expedition only to favor their own interests, and with that a few name plaques are already out of the contest.
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A group of bandits, led by Yi Eok-geun, purposely attacks Seong-nam on his way, unannounced, with red spearheads as their symbol. Though he fights his way out, some royal guards secretly look out for him and gather evidence of the attack.
Prince Bo-geum is the first one to approach Park Gyeong-u (the King wishes to appoint him as the new Minister of Taxation), while Seong-nam follows closely behind. The second person to be brought in by the princes is Seo Ham-deok, presumably a traitor, and will be appointed as the head of the Royal Commandery Division. As could’ve been envisioned without a second thought, Chief State Councilor Won-hyeong and his posse have a lot to say on the matter, nothing good, obviously.
The King has his own share of puzzles to resolve as he outrightly confronts Won-hyeong for the attack on his son, firmly declaring that he will do whatever it takes to unearth the mystery. However, Won-hyeong starts poking around the past that still somewhat haunts the King even though he won’t admit it.
As a result, he puts off the investigation till after the contest is over, thus creating another web of misunderstandings between him and Hwa-ryeong for the moment as the latter charges headfirst into the investigation on her own. And her first discovery proves that the ones who attacked her son weren’t your regular robbers found along the way, rather mercenaries hired by someone.
She directs her next set of questions back at the room full of concubines, stating that she earnestly wished against any of the princes getting hurt during the contest. Yet someone is specifically after her son, listening to which Consort Hwang is left with a frigid reaction that piques Hwa-ryeong’s attention.
Misinforming some bits of them, she expects one of them to lead them to the remaining ties concerned with the scheme. And just as she had suspected, Consort Hwang does. While another guard earlier tailing Seong-nam informs Won-hyeong of the case, who instantly commands him to find the sub-leader of the operation. Hwa-ryeong’s chief of intelligence reports the same to her, and she guides him to follow Won-hyeong’s men, who will eventually lead them to the sub-leader.
Under the Queen’s Umbrella Episode 8 Ending
Although Seong-nam is still unable to turn Park Gyeong-u to his side, his fate once again has him bump into Yoon Cheong-ha, who never gave up on him and is now keen on marrying him.
Back in the village, Won-hyeong’s men are after the sub-leader, but Hwa-ryeong’s men catch him in time before them. Another eye-opening revelation leaves her dumbfounded as the sub-leader mentions that their group was only meant to rob the princes, but another group raided them, and they had to leave the scene.
Hwa-ryeong gives him one last chance to save his life, and he then blurts out that after the men gave them the orders to pull the basic robbery stunt, another woman followed in hiding. She was the one who gave his leader Seong-nam’s portrait with order to eliminate him. Once he adds that she smells of peony and wears a green pin, Hwa-ryeong instantly catches the scent of Queen Dowager’s involvement.
Making haste to her quarters, she openly threatens Dowager for issuing the order of an attack on her son. She presents her with one last chance to ask for forgiveness, or else she will expose all of her wrongdoings against Seong-nam.
Under the Queen’s Umbrella Episode 8 Review
The Queen’s job as the leading detective in the lot never seems to come to an end. Except for yet another conspiracy against Seong-nam at hand, this episode took a rather relaxed route as compared to the previous ones. While the princes were out vigorously playing their parts in the contest, we caught a glimpse of Seong-nam and Bo-geum’s paths converging, but the latter chose to keep things formal, prioritizing the contesting agenda.
Yet it allowed for a slight comical interlude to slip in and break the mold of the grave aura defining the series. It was a much-needed breakthrough, especially with the incessant cases of schemes hindering Hwa-ryeong’s path.
The contest itself also sought to define the characters of each of the princes as distinct personas with a mind of their own, yet, in some cases, they’re constantly subdued by their power-mongering mothers. It’s only in Grand Prince Muan, that we find an opposing image of individuality, hoping to break out of the royal paradigm and that contrast comes across as a fresh vision.
Despite the multitude of actions taking place in the episode, along with bits of the King’s history being outed, it still feels like a lighter addition meant for us as the viewers to digest easily, but as we know it, such things should be taken with a grain of salt. It could be yet another calming misdirection before the raging storm strikes again.
Under the Queen’s Umbrella Episode 8 is now streaming on Netflix.