8.070 minSeason 1 • Episode 16
LatestThe king faces a dilemma concerning a long-held secret, as revealing it could undo his life's work. The queen gently offers him words of wisdom.
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.
Acting
Kim Hye-soo devours every scene like it's her last meal.
Costume
The hanboks are characters themselves — watch the color symbolism.
Writing
Dark comedy sneaks into the most brutal court politics.
Creators
Kim Hyung-sik, Park Ba-ra
Kim Hye-soo
Queen Im Hwa-ryeong
Kim Hae-sook
Queen Dowager
Choi Won-young
King Lee Ho
Moon Seong-hyun
Prince Shimso
Kim Eui-sung
Hwang Won-hyeong
Kang Chan-hee
Prince Uiseong
Moon Sang-min
Grand Prince Seongnam / Prince Lee Kang
Ok Ja-yeon
First Junior Consort Hwang
Kim Ga-eun
Third Senior Consort Tae
Woo Jeong-won
First Junior Consort Ko
Kwon Hae-hyo
Master Toji
Seo Yi-sook
Deposed Queen Yoon
Jang Hyun-sung
Yoon Su-kwang
Kim Seung-su
Park Gyeong-u
Park Jun-myun
Senior Court Lady Shin
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The title refers to the queen's role as protector of her children under the 'umbrella' of maternal duty, a concept deeply rooted in Confucian royal ideology that the series both honors and subverts.
Kim Hye-soo performed most of her own running scenes despite being 51 during filming, famously collapsing from exhaustion after the rain-soaked chase in episode 8.
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