[mslee's thoughts] Empress Ki Screen caps Episode 18 - The Men in Nyang's Life

This is my second post on Empress Ki. I am not really doing an update on the drama but because there was a short break in between airing the next episode due to holidays and drama awards, I decided to make some screencaps from the last episode [18] and also post my thoughts.

The men in Nyang's life at the palace and their struggles to own her love is one of the interesting plot of the drama.

So far the story is slowly unfolding the love predicament of Sun Nyang. Wang Yoo 

is definitely the man she cares for very deeply but here is the childlike Emperor who claims her as his. He even made her his personal servant to make sure she won't be out of his sight. The poor emperor is very jealous of Wang Yoo and his advantage over him. He knew how Nyang feels for the King.

Meanwhile, Dang Kise, the hated villain but made me curious about him because of his reluctant feelings for the heroin which made him feel even more spiteful and vindictive towards her, is making it his business to expose both the King and Nyang to El Temur. He wanted to make his father see that Wang Yoo will not be trusted and that he is only tricking El Temur. I am fascinated everytime Dang Kise felt so much hatred to Nyang. He knew she can never be his so what is left but to make her suffer so no one will have her.

The episode showed how El Temur is somewhat nervous and fidgety making him more angry because of unusual events happening at the palace. The emergence of many rats which believed to be a curse and the blood crying Buddha which made the Empress mother panicked and prayed in the temple but not impressed El Temur. He even wanted to destroy the Buddha but the Empress mother was adamant that it would bring more harm if he do it.

Not knowing who is behind these unusual events, El Temur and Dang Ki Se both were trying to find out.

In the end, two people were framed by Dang Kise. Nyang and Wang Yoo. But when El Temur appeared at the scene, he believed Wang Yoo over Dang Kise, to his utter disappointment and anger. There's no one to put blame to but Nyang. She was tortured. The Emperor was very anxious to know what is happening to her. But Wang Yoo beat him to getting to Nyang first. He saw her tortured state and carried her just as Ta Hwan [Emperor] came. 

Actually, I think the title already suggested who she will end up with. She will become the Empress so naturally, Ta Hwan will have her as maybe a concubine first before he married her. I am curious to find out if Nyang will fall in love with Ta Hwan but seeing the first episode when she married him that she was crying while staring at Wang Yoo from afar was a clear indication that she was still in love with the King.

I think I like the chemistry Ha Ji Won has with Ji Chang Wook more than Joo Jin Mo. The affection Ta Hwan felt for Nyang since the beginning when she posted as a man was real. It only developed more as time goes by and when she revealed her real identity. The Emperor maybe foolish to everyone's eyes, with no backbone but I think that it was because of his feelings of being scared. He grew up pampered. But I think that he has good intentions and they just needed to be supported in order for him to find the courage to face El Temur and his bullying.

This is a 50 episode drama and it is not yet halfway. So many things will happen. I am wondering what will happen to Tanashili, the Empress. She seemed to have been fascinated by Wang Yoo. And I am curious where both Bayan and Tal Tal's loyalty will go. I think for now, both are wanting to keep themselves safe by treading carefully around the people in power. But I hope that they will go with Ta Hwan. After all, they are soldiers and their loyalty should be with the Emperor. With their intelligence, knowledge and their fighting skills they can be a great source of help to Ta Hwan.

Episode 19 should be interesting. With the ending in episode 18, the twist is unpredictable. El Temur is taking his chance with Wang Yoo. Will he really fall for his deception? or will Dang Ki Se find another means to reveal the true intentions of Wang Yoo. As for Ta Hwan, the Emperor, will he back down and let Nyang and Wang Yoo have their moments? 

screen caps below...