When last we left our kinda prince and his taciturn bodyguard, there was sex and protests, unrelated.
Smiling Prince imprisons a protester for the rest of his life
Nin finds this troubling and gets no help from Charan. He asks for the truth about the mines, and Smiling Prince blames himself. Then he tries to distract Nin with a pretty pearl and fancy food.
Later, Charan comforts Nin by telling him everyone was doing their job. Also, don’t trust anyone. Nin understands he shouldn’t trust Charan because of his duty.
Charan meant that he can’t trust himself to keep Nin safe, and wants Nin to keep himself safe. The conversation gets confusing for me, as Nin brings up how Charan was cruel to him. When? Episodes ago, when ordered not to protect him by the King?
But he gets Charan to admit to liking him and agrees to take care of himself.
Nin spends too much time on social media
Where news about the protests is getting out despite the King. He realizes he can’t even trust his own family. If you can’t trust a monarchy, who can you trust?
Another confusing spot for me, Charan is on the phone with someone to… Get more info? About who hurt Nin? And a letter that might be a prank? He hangs up when Nin comes out.
The King refuses to tell Nin anything. Then he makes Charan have another tea conversation. The Earl Grey is strong, but Charan needs to look into distractions weakening it. Nin is the Earl Grey.
After some encouraging words from Nin, Calvin apologizes to Jay for bailing on the protests. We see a flashback to Calvin getting in trouble with his parents, but I don’t think he tells Jay anything except that his feelings are deep.
Someone tries to kill that nice Ramil
Paytai naturally ends up injured instead. Ramil suspects the attack was ordered by one of the two other clans with an heir. Yes, that would be obvious. Is it too much to hope that it’s Smiling Prince?
The King promises to find the guy, which doesn’t reassure Ramil or his Dad. He also tells Nin’s biological Father that the whole mine thing is fine and they just need money.
Charan is starting to confront the King for once, when Nin bursts in. He and the King have a furious argument about the rumors, and Nin gets sent out of the room. Charan once again says things can’t be fixed right away. Nin only wants to know the truth. Charan promises to get him the answer, Nin likes that idea.
A man being tortured says he was ordered by the King. To attack Ramil? Not sure.
Nin is wearing black and plays angsty piano when biological Dad shows up for more useless comforting. Biological Dad is going to their homeland for a lantern procession, and of course, Nin wants to go too. And Charan hasn’t been to the lantern procession, or homeland, since his mom died.
Charan’s investigator friend rescues Nin’s Dad, who claims he doesn’t need help. Then he gets a text that we don’t get to see.
Nin’s biological Dad finally earns a point
By asking Charan to join them at their dinner table. He also made a meal that he knew Nin’s Dad had made for him. Then he reassures Nin he’ll take care of the mine situation. I doubt it.
At the festival, Nin tries to hold Charan’s hand, but Charan is too uncomfortable. Investigator friend brings Dad to see Nin hanging with Charan. Nin sees him, but Charan has him whisked away. Nin tries to follow.
I get confused, again, but I think there are two protests. One at the festival, and one at Nin’s biological Dad’s place. Nin’s biological Dad is also useless with protestors, and the guards drag him to safety.
Nin won’t let Charan drag him away from his protestors and asks him to trust him. He talks to them and makes promises to help. Despite this, Calvin is knocked down. And probably still hiding that he’s a Prince.
Eventually, peace is restored by Nin singing the protest song.
Biological Dad’s solution is for Nin to make him King
Better late than never, he’s realized he always just goes along with the King. But if Nin makes him the King, he can do something. Nin tells the King the same, and when the King says “real change takes time” again, declares that real change takes courage and determination.
Meanwhile, Nin’s Dad is fine with the King trying to kill him because he’s from an older, accepting generation. He gets into a prolonged fishing metaphor with Charan’s investigator friend, who argues that a lot of little fish can win against a single big fish.
The King orders Charan away from Nin’s Dad. But Nin saw his Dad. He knows their meeting would put him in danger, but wants to know he’s okay. Charan promises his investigator friend is protecting him.
Charan gives him a back hug. Nin thanks him and says he trusts him.
So, back to the competition!
Ava practices hard to prove women have value, so her sexist father can be King. He tries to replace Ava’s coach because she’s a woman. Heirless Smiling Prince tells him to chill. Ava tells her coach that she belongs to her. There’s a lot wrong here.
Nin found the book his Dad used to read to him about Emmaly’s history, and how the Prince saved the kingdom by sharing power. Now he feels like it’s a fairy tale. Charan admits there is another version of the story where the Prince is forced to share power.
Charan chills in his sexy robe while on another mysterious phone call. Something about the truth that happened in the past and how it has nothing to do with “him”.
Nin shows up in a pink sexy robe. He needs sex, and Charan being Charan, Nin has to seduce him. With a paintbrush? It works. And Charan gives him a “Good Boy” for remembering to breathe.
There’s too much going on
The show is piling on “more” instead of going deeper. I don’t dislike anything in particular, but the parts that I like most (Charan, Nin, and the King’s power struggle) are getting lost. Also, Ava and Ramil need more screen time. Jay and Calvin I hardly know.
I don’t believe Nin would be satisfied studying and waiting for Charan to get info. He’s a smart kid, at the very least, he’d be trying to find the real history of Emmaly in those books.
So what’s up with these mysterious phone calls and texts with Charan and Nin’s Dad? I’m hoping I didn’t miss anything, and this is set up for something larger with Charan. Is his “duty” a cover while he works against the King in some way?
I like that Nin wants sex and goes for it. I also see how Charan’s silence and repression make Nin insecure, so he keeps pushing Charan to say he likes him. I’m hoping it doesn’t take until the end of the next four episodes to see Charan break free.
Leave a Reply