The BEST episodes of Jewel in the Crown season 1

Every episode of Jewel in the Crown season 1, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Jewel in the Crown season 1!

Set during the reign of King Sukjong in the Joseon dynasty, the story focuses on Dong Yi, a water maid who gains the trust of Queen Inhyeon and later the favour of the king when he is moved by her prayers for the health of the Queen during the court disputes caused by Jang Hee Bin. Dong Yi becomes a concubine with the rank of sook-bin and bears a son who will later become the 21st king of Joseon, Yeongjo.

Last Updated: 4/21/2026Network: MBCStatus: Ended
Episode 28
star
9.97
33 votes

#1 - Episode 28

Season 1 - Episode 28 - Aired 6/22/2010

The King doesn't recognise Dong Yi as he is dragged away by guards. He then turns his attention to Jang Ok Jeong when he hears that she is conscious. Jang Ok Jeong is happy because her plan works out as the King ponders that she might be innocent after all. Then, the investigators come to inspect the water maid's residence. There, Lady Jeong finds the message that has been hidden by Dong Yi. But, before she is able to tell the King, she is arrested on the charges of conspiring to kill Jang Ok Jeong. Meanwhile, Dong Yi manages to run away from the palace by outsmarting Jang Hee Jae's men who wants to catch her. The King is very concerned about Dong Yi and goes to their old haunts outside the palace. He then hears a familiar melody that eventually leads him to Dong Yi.

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Episode 16
star
9.94
33 votes

#2 - Episode 16

Season 1 - Episode 16 - Aired 5/11/2010

Dong Yi is given three days to find the truth about the Joseon smuggler. She discovers that he staged his own death and the suicide note is not written by him. Then, Chief Seo heads to the nearest port to stop the smuggler from leaving Joseon. Cheon Soo who is given the task of taking smuggler, Kim Yoon Dal to the port, drops him there and watches the police arrest him. Oh Tae Seok is in charge of the investigation decides that smuggler Kim must be punished by death. Jang Ok Jeong sees the King chatting with Dong Yi and she asks him if he has feelings for Dong Yi. He denies it and plans a surprise banquet in Jang Ok Jeong's garden to announce that he will make Jang Ok Jeong his concubine

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Episode 29
star
9.94
33 votes

#3 - Episode 29

Season 1 - Episode 29 - Aired 6/28/2010

Finally, the King and Dong Yi are reunited. He then hides her at a royal place outside the palace. Then, Dong Yi gives the evidence that proves Jang Ok Jeong and her accomplices are involved in the Queen's dethronement to the King. Now, he knows who is guilty and when he returns to the palace, he ignores Jang Ok Jeong. She is very surprised of the King's behaviour and she then realises that Dong Yi is alive. The case against the Queen is reopened and Chief Seo is being promoted to Head of the King's Royal Guards. The Tribunal and the Head of Treasury is investigated. Finally, the King has all the proof all the guilty parties including Jang Hee Jae are arrested.

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Episode 40
star
9.91
32 votes

#4 - Episode 40

Season 1 - Episode 40 - Aired 8/3/2010

Dong Yi goes out of the palace to investigate the hand signals that being showed to her when she was a child. She and Sir Shim go to the gambling house to ask about it, but no one knows the answer. In the meantime, Cheon Soo goes back to slave village and discovers that Sword Fraternity have regrouped. The new leader of Sword Fraternity is Dong Yi's friend, Gae Doo La. The new Sword Fraternity have been targeting noblemen. But now, they are targeting King's concubine and Gae Doo La doesn't know that she is targeting Dong Yi.

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Episode 15
star
9.88
32 votes

#5 - Episode 15

Season 1 - Episode 15 - Aired 5/10/2010

The Qing guards want to arrest Dong Yi for trespassing but the King insists that it will be investigated by the Joseon police. Then, they find out that the code is a name for a place near the river. It is then searched by the police and Chief Seo, who finds the smuggled weapons that belongs to Jang Hee Jae. He is very angry at Dong Yi for finding him out. The King has to talk to Dong Yi now that she knows who he is. Dong Yi begs for forgiveness from the King, who in turns asks her to stay informal like before. Then, Qing wants Dong Yi to be handed to them because of the international incident that she committed before. She then decides to turn herself in.

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Episode 6
star
9.79
34 votes

#6 - Episode 6

Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 4/6/2010

Dong Yi manages to escape before she is killed by the bad guy. She finds a policeman but when they go back to the barn, the body is gone. The capital is in turmoil because of the bad omen. The King is determined to find out who is responsible for the musical disaster. But the police and tribunal have come up with nothing. Dong Yi decides to do the investigating herself. She takes evidence dropped by the bad guy and then goes back to the barn, where the King turns up. Then, there's an argument outside the barn and the King bumps into Dong Yi when he hides. They escape together and as the collect more evidence, they get cornered by armed men.

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Episode 45
star
9.67
3 votes

#7 - Episode 45

Season 1 - Episode 45 - Aired 8/23/2010

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Episode 30
star
9.60
5 votes

#8 - Episode 30

Season 1 - Episode 30 - Aired 6/29/2010

In order to make Jang Hee Jae and his accomplices to confess their crime, they are being tortured. But, Jang Ok Jeong still refuses to admit the charges and blames the King for her actions. Then, she orders Oh Tae Seok to kill Dong Yi. So, Southern Faction refuses to accept Dong Yi's evidence because she is a servant and ask her to be handed to them. The King however makes her a special court lady so that everyone will treat her with respect.

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Episode 31
star
9.60
5 votes

#9 - Episode 31

Season 1 - Episode 31 - Aired 7/5/2010

Dong Yi's life changes instantly. But, she thinks that she has no right to be a Special Court Lady. Furthermore, she also worried that the King find out about her past. Then, the King visits her and confesses that he loved her. He also gives her a ring. But, Dong Yi's promotion is not being taken kindly by some. One of them, Jang Ok Jeong sees an opportunity to negotiate her brother's release in exchange for the Southern Faction to accept Dong Yi as Special Court Lady. The King accepts the offer. Later on, Dong Yi sneaks out from the palace. The King thinks that she has run away but she has gone to pay respect to her late father. The King finds her and assures her that her past is not important to him.

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Episode 14
star
9.50
4 votes

#10 - Episode 14

Season 1 - Episode 14 - Aired 5/4/2010

Jang Hee Jae agrees to help Cheon Soo to find Dong Yi if he works for him. Jang Hee Jae is spooked when he hears that investigators are looking for Cheon Soo. Cheon Soo and Dong Yi run around looking for each other and they finally met. Then, the delegates from Qing have arrived but it's revealed that there are Joseon smugglers in the party. The smugglers are working with Jang Hee Jae and they are prepared to financially support Namin if they can smuggle freely into Joseon. Oh Tae Seok agrees to their demands and he needs to stop the investigations into the smugglers. Dong Yi meanwhile keeps thinking about the paper with Chinese characters on it which is later discovered as a code. Then, she sneaks into the guest house to take the things that she needs and runs away while chasing by the Qing guards. She then rushes over to a man. Then she realizes that the man is the King.

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Episode 51
star
9.40
5 votes

#11 - Episode 51

Season 1 - Episode 51 - Aired 9/13/2010

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Episode 32
star
9.33
6 votes

#12 - Episode 32

Season 1 - Episode 32 - Aired 7/6/2010

The King is in love, but Dong Yi is having trouble in her new role. This is because the court lady doesn't want to work for her. But things get from bad to worse when Dong Yi's maid starts to get sick. The King then takes Dong Yi to their favourite tavern and when they get back to the palace, a strange plague has spread. Strangely, only the court maids are infected. Then, Dong Yi is under suspicion of trying to kill the Crown Prince. Unfortunately for Dong Yi, Jang Ok Jeong is in charge of the investigation and she is only being given three days to find the cause of the plague. She will be killed if she fails.

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Episode 47
star
9.33
3 votes

#13 - Episode 47

Season 1 - Episode 47 - Aired 8/30/2010

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Episode 34
star
9.25
4 votes

#14 - Episode 34

Season 1 - Episode 34 - Aired 7/13/2010

Jang Hee Jae is summoned to meet Qing delegates who are angry about the fake security records. They warn him that the Crown Prince position can be reversed and if they don't get the book before they leave, the King will be informed. Jang Ok Jeong in the meantime wants to make Dong Yi an official concubine. The real reason is, Jang Ok Jeong wants to know about Dong Yi's past because the candidate's background will have to be thoroughly checked. Then, the King also asks Chief Seo to check Dong Yi's past. He also tells Chief Seo about the cliff and when he heard about it, he is very shocked.

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Episode 36
star
9.25
4 votes

#15 - Episode 36

Season 1 - Episode 36 - Aired 7/20/2010

Dong Yi decides to go back to her residence, but Jang Ok Jeong does not let her. She knows that when all the guards and police are in one place, Jang Ok Jeong accomplices can search for the records freely. They do find the records in Dong Yi's room. However, Dong Yi wants them to find the records so that the police can catch Jang Ok Jeong's brother when he is in the act of handing it over to the Qing delegates. So, when Jang Hee Jae realises that he is surrounded, he tries to burn the records but get caught in the act. He and his accomplices get caught and tortured. Jang Ok Jeong proclaims that she is innocent and supported by the Southern Faction.

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Episode 38
star
9.25
4 votes

#16 - Episode 38

Season 1 - Episode 38 - Aired 7/27/2010

Queen Inhyeon returns to the palace and greeted by the King who feels guilty on how she was treated before. Jang Ok Jeong goes back to her old residence and determines to take her revenge. Dong Yi meanwhile is put in charge of the Investigation Bureau. She forgives Lady Yun and her accomplices and as their punishment for helping Jang Ok Jeong, they are demoted to the lower ranks. The King has a dream about having a baby but disappointed when Dong Yi says she is feeling fine. But then, the ceremony to make Dong Yi a level 4 concubine is delayed when the doctor announces that she is pregnant.

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Episode 50
star
9.20
5 votes

#17 - Episode 50

Season 1 - Episode 50 - Aired 9/7/2010

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Episode 1
star
9.18
11 votes

#18 - Episode 1

Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 3/22/2010

The story begins in 1681, 7th year of King Sukjong. Dong Yi lives with her father and brother in a slave village. They are the members of Sword Fraternity, which is the organisation made up of the lowest class people. Then, a high ranking government officer from Southern Faction was assassinated. After that, Dong Yi finds the assassin ID and hand it to the police. But, it belongs to a corrupt policeman who worked for Oh Tae Seok. He is arrested, but gets killed in his prison cell. Dong Yi's father has the information, so Oh Tae Seok's masked man try to kill him but he gets saved by his friend, Cheon Soo. When they get home, Dong Yi is not there.

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Episode 17
star
9.17
6 votes

#19 - Episode 17

Season 1 - Episode 17 - Aired 5/17/2010

The palace is in confusion with the announcement that Jang Ok Jeong will become a concubine. Western factions are concerned that it will give Namin more power. Then, Jang Ok Jeong becomes pregnant. One year later, Jang Ok Jeong has been promoted to the highest ranking concubine and Southern Faction wants her son to be named Crown Prince. But, Queen Dowager disagrees with the idea. Suddenly, Queen Dowager is seriously ill. Cheon Soo says that if her tonics are mixed with unprescribed herbs, there can be a toxic reaction. Then Dong Yi remembers that she found an unprescribed herb in Jang Ok Jeong's ladies' quarters.

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Episode 9
star
9.00
4 votes

#20 - Episode 9

Season 1 - Episode 9 - Aired 4/19/2010

The pharmacist who gave Dong Yi the herbs has been murdered. Police interviews Dong Yi, but she says that she gets the medicine for a musician and not Jang Ok Jeong. Chief Seo turns up and when he hears her name, he asks if she is Dong Yi that he knew. But, she says no. The ladies who investigate crimes that are committed by the women are very strict. And they have been ordered to investigate Dong Yi for buying the herbs and illegally bringing it into the palace. Torture tools are being prepared because Dong Yi still refuses to say who sent her to buy the herbs. Then, Jang Ok Jeong arrives just in time to confess that she is the one who ordered the herbs.

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Episode 13
star
9.00
4 votes

#21 - Episode 13

Season 1 - Episode 13 - Aired 5/3/2010

Dong Yi fails the test. So, she begs her superior for another chance. The Queen is angry when she heard about it and scolds Investigator Yoo because of her behaviour. Then, Dong Yi is given 3 days to prepare for the test and it will be invigilated by Lady Jeong. While she studies for her test, the King turns up to help her. And this time, she passes the test. Meanwhile, the King decides to put Namin instead of the Seoin in power and Jang Ok Jeong will be made concubine. Then, Cheon Soo arrives at the palace as Chief Seo's helper. Even though they work in the palace, they keep missing each other. Young Dal who worries about Cheon Soo, searches his room and finds his Sword Fraternity headband. He takes it to Dong Yi in order to investigate who he is. She is shocked and then rushes to find Cheon Soo.

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Episode 19
star
9.00
4 votes

#22 - Episode 19

Season 1 - Episode 19 - Aired 5/24/2010

Jang Ok Jeong and her family will be in trouble if they are found guilty of poisoning the Queen Dowager. She then realizes that it is an opportunity to frame the Queen and takes her title. But, both of them are suspects and because the King doesn't know who to believe, he orders Chief Seo to investigate. Jang Ok Jeong's brother wants to kill Dong Yi, in which she refuses at first. But then, when she sees Dong Yi is talking with the King, she accepts her brother's proposal. Then, police finds all the evidence that connect the official who poisons the Queen Dowager to the Queen. Although it is all a set up, the Queen's family and court ladies are arrested and questioned. Meanwhile, Dong Yi and Cheon Soo go out to investigate the matter more thoroughly.

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Episode 26
star
9.00
4 votes

#23 - Episode 26

Season 1 - Episode 26 - Aired 6/15/2010

Dong Yi is tied up and about to be killed by Jang Hee Jae. But Sir Shim saves her by saying that he has the security records. He tells him to release Dong Yi and he will reveal where the records are. Dong Yi is released and Shi Shim reveal where the records are. Then, he is locked up in a barn as Jang Hee Jae men search for the records. After that, Jang Hee Jae men come back to kill Sir Shim, but Dong Yi has already helped him to escape. Chief Seo and Cheon Soo finally arrive in town. But, Dong Yi is on her way to the capital with Seol Hee. Before they left, it is revealed that the records that Jang Hee Jae has found are fake. He gives Dong Yi the original records and to be taken back to the capital.

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Episode 27
star
9.00
4 votes

#24 - Episode 27

Season 1 - Episode 27 - Aired 6/21/2010

Jang Ok Jeong is worried because the King doesn't trust her anymore. So, she decides to poison herself at her own coronation and blame it on the dethroned Queen. She orders her court ladies to poison her. After that, she becomes seriously ill but she later recovers. Dong Yi meanwhile has return to the capital but the guards are on a lookout for her. Dress as a boy, she manages to sneak into the capital and takes a job as a water maid in order to see the King. She sees the King but as soon as she calls him out, she gets caught and dragged away.

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Episode 35
star
9.00
4 votes

#25 - Episode 35

Season 1 - Episode 35 - Aired 7/19/2010

Chief Seo has all the records of the Sword Fraternity. He still blames Dong Yi's father for his father's death. But then, Cheon Soo tells him the truth. Chief Soo then stops Dong Yi from telling the truth and gives the King fake papers about her past. While Jang Hee Jae is trying to find the security records, his sister tries to convince Oh Tae Seok to give the records to the Qing. The plan is not a success. Then, they decide to have a banquet for the Qing delegates so that they can search the palace and Dong Yi's residence for the security records. While she is at the banquet, Dong Yi is suspicious about something.

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