The new Friday-Saturday drama has fans counting down the days until each new release. ‘Perfect Crown’ is a fluffy rom-com with a balanced mix of romance and suspense. The show’s pacing feels genuine, and this week’s episodes have raised the stakes with a chaotic royal wedding and intense palace politics.
By the end of this week’s episodes, it has become impossible not to feel curious, as every character starts to feel like a suspect. The story also begins to feel less like a rom-com and more like a crime thriller drama.
So, let’s break down this week’s episodes!
Episode 7
This particular episode clearly leaned more into the romance side of the story. After their passionate kiss on the yacht, Hui Ju and Prince Yi An returned home, only to find themselves feeling awkward around each other. Hui Ju, in particular, behaves unusually as she struggles to make eye contact with the grand prince and avoids having long conversations with him. At one point, she even turns to the church and asks for an exorcism, convinced that something must be wrong with her since she cannot stop thinking about their kiss.
On the other hand, Prince Yi An does not hold back and shows a bolder side of himself. In this episode, he finally confesses his feelings to Hui Ju and openly admits that he initiated the kiss on the yacht because of his feelings for her. Later, he even barges into Jeong Woo’s office without an appointment just to warn him not to cross any lines when it comes to Hui Ju.
So far, the previous episodes have highlighted that Hui Ju is absolutely right when it comes to her family, especially her father. However, during the royal pre-wedding dinner at Hui Ju’s house, the moment when Hui Ju’s father asks Yi An to cherish his daughter offers a small glimpse of the affection he may have for her.
However, the dinner does not go as smoothly as expected. Hui Ju assumes that her father is faking his concern for her, and as a result, she walks out, with Yi An following after her.
What might have surprised viewers the most in this episode was how easily Hui Ju decided to hand over her shares to her brother, along with the partially burned royal edict — the same edict in which the previous king expressed his wish for Yi An to take over the throne — to Yi An.
Another important moment came through the flashback to the night the previous king died. In that particular scene, Queen Yi Rang breaks down and tells her father, “I burned it all to the ground.”
Back in the present, the royal wedding takes place, and the newly married couple makes their way to the palace. The only person who seems disappointed while watching the couple on TV is Jeong Woo, and Queen Yi Rang does not miss the chance to twist the knife. As soon as Jeong Woo congratulates the couple, Hui Ju starts coughing and then collapses.
Episode 8
This episode definitely stands out because it reveals a more vulnerable and emotionally desperate side of Prince Yi An. With his wife poisoned and lying in the hospital, he orders a public royal investigation, even asking Jeong Woo to interrogate royal family members and palace staff.
Hui Ju’s hospitalization further reveals small glimpses of the hidden affection her family may have for her. This is especially evident when her father slaps the grand prince for failing to protect his daughter, and when Hui Ju’s brother and sister-in-law stay by her bedside until she wakes up. It is then revealed that the real target was not Hui Ju, but Prince Yi An. Given that he occasionally uses a specific drug, he would have died had he consumed the poisoned drink. After coming to this conclusion, Prince Yi An asks the investigators to look into Queen Yi Rang and her father.
In the meantime, Hui Ju’s sister-in-law helps her through the discharge process and accompanies her to the palace. As Queen Yi Rang pretends to give Hui Ju a warm welcome, she also informs her that she will be handling all of Hui Ju’s royal duties. Luckily, Prince Yi An rejects her request.
Inside the palace, Yi An gives strict instructions regarding the people who are allowed to stay with Hui Ju. While it was nice to see Yi An’s caring side, it was even better to see Hui Ju’s reaction and how concerned she became when the grand prince said that he would rather be the target than her.
Eventually, no romantic K-drama would be complete without a classic shower scene where the male lead steps out showing off his handsome physique. Even Hui Ju could not escape its effect, as her heart rate started rising. What follows is one of those butterflies-in-the-stomach moments, but watching the scene is far better than simply reading a recap of it.
The next day, the newlyweds attend an event at their former high school, where Hui Ju is expected to give a speech. Unfortunately, the writers could not end the episode on a happy note. While she is delivering her speech, the media suddenly storms in and starts questioning Hui Ju about her contract marriage with the grand prince. Yi An may have stepped in front of her to protect her, but the nightmare is far from over.
Now, the biggest question is: who do you think leaked news of the contract marriage?
Written by Diksha Gangadeen
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