The WORST episodes of Jewel in the Crown
Every episode of Jewel in the Crown ever, ranked from worst to best by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The worst episodes of Jewel in the Crown!
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.
#1 - Episode 48
Season 1 - Episode 48 - Aired 8/31/2010
But then, it's decided that Prince Yeoning will be studying with a famous scholar and not with the Crown Prince. Furiously, Jang Ok Jeong's mother goes to see a shaman and wants to know the fortune of Dong Yi's son, but she is told that her family will have a bloody end. He then tries to frame Oh Ho Yang for the burning of Dong Yi's house by asking her assassin to hang him with a suicide not. But, the exiled Cheon Soo saves him. Jang Ok Jeong meanwhile knows that her son's condition is no longer a secret and she is ordered by the Queen to tell the King the truth. But the next day, the Queen collapses and Jang Ok Jeong is plotting to get rid of her.
#2 - Episode 5
Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 4/5/2010
Six years have gone by and Dong Yi is now a young woman. Then, a meteorite lands in the palace, a bad omen. Jang Ok Jeong's protesters blame this on her. Furthermore, the Western Faction is stronger than the Southern. Jang Ok Jeong is supported by the Southern Faction, but the Western Faction is supported by the Queen Dowager and Oh Tae Seok. They do not like her and plan a 'bad omen'. Later at the banquet, the orchestra can't play in tune and says that it is a bad omen. Dong Yi tries to find the lady with the butterfly accessory. But, she is found loitering around, and she is arrested and tied up in a barn with a dead man with the chimes earlier.
#3 - Episode 24
Season 1 - Episode 24 - Aired 6/8/2010
Jang Ok Jeong is now the Queen and although she believes that Dong Yi is dead, she also has nightmares about Dong Yi. Furthermore, Jang Ok Jeong is furious because she is not respected as the Queen by the Joseon citizens. Meanwhile, Dong Yi is being nursed back to health by a merchant in the north and because the merchant hasn't been sending her letters, she carves a message on a rock and passes it to another merchant. Chief Seo and Cheon Soo also have been fired and sent by the King on a mission to find Dong Yi. When on their way, they find the messages and now they finally know where Dong Yi is. But, because Dong Yi is worried that they haven't received the message, she tries to sneak into the capital when she sees Jang Hee Jae.
#4 - Episode 4
Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 3/30/2010
Chief Seo orders the city to be searched for members of Sword Fraternity. Dong Yi is still on the wanted list. So, when she takes her friend, Gae Doo La to the hospital, she is arrested by Chief Seo. Luckily, he lets her go and tells her about the hand signals. Dong Yi asks her brother's friend, Seol Hee to get her into the palace as a servant because she wants to find out what happened to her father. Meanwhile, a girl's body is found and Chief Seo confirms it although it is not her. Dong Yi enters the palace and starts working in the music department. She starts to play a sorrowful tune using a daegeum, which reminds her of her brother and father. Many years later and it's now the 19th year of King Sukjong and Dong Yi is now a young woman.
#5 - Episode 11
Season 1 - Episode 11 - Aired 4/26/2010
Dong Yi is saved by the King's guard. She tells him that she has evidence to prove Jang Ok Jeong is innocent. The King and Chief Seo gather in the morgue to watch the procedure again. Unaware of the new development, Queen Dowager and the Investigation Bureau are happy on the downfall of Jang Ok Jeong. Jang Ok Jeong's brother, Jang Hee Jae who is a criminal, arrives from Qing. Then, because of her help, Dong Yi finally gets her reward. She is going to be promoted to court lady in the inner palace and will work in the Investigation Bureau.
#6 - Episode 12
Season 1 - Episode 12 - Aired 4/27/2010
The court lady investigators don't want to accept Dong Yi because of her low class origin. But, the Queen who is the head of the inner court refuses to change her decision. Dong Yi arrives at the bureau and gets her new uniform. But, other court ladies are angry with her because they have studied for 10 years to get where they are now and she gets in because of the recommendation from Jang Ok Jeong. Then, she finds out that the investigators are studying for their midterm tests. An evil Investigator Yoo doesn't want Dong Yi in her department. So she tells Dong Yi that she must take the test and not to worry about not knowing anything. But, she does not explain to Dong Yi that she will be expelled from the bureau if she fails the test.
#7 - Episode 2
Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 3/23/2010
Oh Tae Seok wants to frame Sword Fraternity for the murders of Southern Faction and the police officer. Chief Seo asks his father to speak to the king about opening the investigation again. But, King Sukjong is at his father's grave. So, Chief Seo's father goes to visit him there. The Sword Fraternity realise that Oh Tae Seok is planning something. They rush to stop it, but all of them are dead. The corrupt police tries to frame them, but they manage to escape. Meanwhile, Dong Yi finds herself in a noble lady's house. Dong Yi prepares to do the greeting, but her father refuses to let her go. But Dong Yi sneaks away. She has to greet Oh Tae Seok. He then realises who she is and ask his men to kill her. But, Cheun Soo saves her. Then, a member of Sword Fraternity betrays them and leads to the arrest of Dong Yi's father and brother.
#8 - Episode 3
Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 3/29/2010
Dong Yi's father and brother are taken into custody. Dong Yi is taken to a fortune teller's place. He predicts she will be the leader of Sword Fraternity. Oh Tae Seok announces that Dong Yi's father and brother will be executed the next day. Some evidence has been found in the Sword Fraternity headquarters to prove that they are guilty. Cheun Soo and members of Sword Fraternity make plans to free Dong Yi's father and brother. Dong Yi sees a young aristocrat lady do the same hand signal that the dying official has showed at the riverside. The escape plan works, but they get chased and killed. Dong Yi hears that her father has escaped and runs to find her. But, she only sees corpses and the embroidered purse she has given to her father.
#9 - Episode 20
Season 1 - Episode 20 - Aired 5/25/2010
Dong Yi and Cheon Soo go into town to investigate. But, when Dong Yi is alone for a moment, she is captured by Jang Hee Jae's men. They tie her and later throw her into the river. But, Cheon Soo follows them and manages to save Dong Yi. Although she is still shaken from the incident, she wants to continue the investigation. Unfortunately, Jang Hee Jae has been busy killing all the witnesses. Furthermore, to complicate things, the Queen Dowager dies and Southern Faction pushing hard for the Queen to be removed. Then, by the order of the King, the Queen will be dethroned.
#10 - Episode 25
Season 1 - Episode 25 - Aired 6/14/2010
Jang Hee Jae arrives at the city to bribe the delegates from Qing. Sir Shim, an exiled nobleman who stays with the merchant is suspicious about Jang Hee Jae. So, he becomes the interpreter at the meeting and soon discovers that Jang Hee Jae intends to give the records of Joseon's national security to the delegates from Qing. Then, Jang Hee Jae orders the killing of Sir Shim, but he is saved by the Seol Hee men. Meanwhile, Jang Hee Jae knows that Dong Yi is alive and sends his assassins to kill her. As Dong Yi tries to sneak away again, Jang Hee Jae turns up at her location.
#11 - Episode 58
Season 1 - Episode 58 - Aired 10/5/2010
Jang Moo Yeol is now in charge of the army and he also has the Queen under his influence. He then persuades the Queen to move Dong Yi to her new residence while the King is away. Jang Moo Yeol's plan is to frame Dong Yi for the murder of the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince entourage are attacked but he is not harmed. Cheon Soo and his men, who are at the scene are arrested. Since the King is away, the Queen is in charge and she issues an emergency decree to get all of those who have involved in the conspiracy arrested. The guards surround Dong Yi's residence and but they are there not to arrest Dong Yi. They are there to arrest Jang Moo Yeol instead. This is because the Queen has discoverd what Jang Moo Yeol's plan is.
#12 - Episode 56
Season 1 - Episode 56 - Aired 9/28/2010
Dong Yi is shocked to hear that but manages to get the permission to choose her son's bride. She refuses all the candidates from Disciples' Faction family. In the end, she chooses a scholar that has no power in politics. But, the home of the scholar has 'wang gi' royal energy, in which previous Kings have stayed or live there. It also means that the prince will get some support from the public that he should also become a king. In the meantime, Cheon Soo find out that Jang Moo Yeol have been doing some illegal things. Then, the wedding of Prince Yeoning and his bride goes ahead as planned.
#13 - Episode 54
Season 1 - Episode 54 - Aired 9/21/2010
Dong Yi is seriously injured by the attack. The assassin tries to get out of the palace but they get caught by the soldiers. Then, it is revealed that the attack was ordered by Jang Hee Jae. He and Lady Yoo get arrested and tortured but they refuse to say that Jang Ok Jeong was involved in it. But later she is also arrested. The King takes his time to decide what the suitable punishment for Jang Ok Jeong is. The King tries to get Jang Ok Jeong to commit suicide because she is the Crown Prince mother and it is a sensitive issue to sentence her to death but she refuses to do it. Without a choice, the King sentences her, her mother and brother to death.
#14 - Episode 8
Season 1 - Episode 8 - Aired 4/13/2010
Dong Yi wants to take a look at Jang Ok Jeong's personal hanbok accessory as a reward for helping to prove that she is not the cause of the bad omen. Dong Yi is sent to bring medicine into the palace by Jang Ok Jeong's mother. Dong Yi gets back to the palace late and can't sneak in and she is helped to get back into the palace by the King. Jang Ok Jeong refuses to drink the medicine. Then, the word spreads that poisonous herbs have been found in Queen Inhyeon's medicine. Dong Yi goes to pay her respect on the 6th anniversary of her father's and brother's death. On her way back, she gets arrested on suspicion of trying to poison the Queen.
#15 - Episode 52
Season 1 - Episode 52 - Aired 9/14/2010
Everyone searches for the Crown Prince. He doesn't tell the police who he is because he is worried something bad will happen to him. Cheon Soo finally finds him and brings him back to the palace. He is very weak and ill. Jang Ok Jeong is furious and blames Prince Yeoning. Because of that, Southern and Disciples' faction want Dong Yi and her son to be exiled from the palace because they put Crown Prince's life in danger. When Crown Prince gets healthier, he tells his mother that he knows what his illness is and doesn't feel he is worthy of his position as Crown Prince. He then goes to meet the King and tells him the truth.
#16 - Episode 21
Season 1 - Episode 21 - Aired 5/31/2010
A ceremony for the Queen's dethronement is held. She wears all white and her accessories which symbolize her status, are removed. The Joseon citizens are not happy about the dethronement. Meanwhile, Dong Yi is assigned to work in the treasury with the eunuchs. Although it is a difficult job, she keeps working hard. Then, she investigates an issue about the copper shortage and she also notices some mismatch in the book-keeping. This leads her to the money trail that has found its way from the treasury to the team Jang Ok Jeong. She notifies Chief Seo to investigate the matter.
#17 - Episode 22
Season 1 - Episode 22 - Aired 6/1/2010
The eunuchs refuse to let the lady investigators do the audit. Then, the King decides that they shouldn't continue with the audit because he wants to investigate the copper shortage secretly. Dong Yi visits the Queen to assure her that they can find the proof of her innocence soon. When the King goes to visit his parent's grave, he brings most of the guards with him. Because of that, the palace is quite and Jang Ok Jeong with her brother decides to set the treasury on fire. They also send assassins to kill Dong Yi, but she is not in her bed. Dong Yi is in the treasury looking for the record books when the fire starts. She run away and chased by the assassins.
#18 - Episode 23
Season 1 - Episode 23 - Aired 6/7/2010
Dong Yi runs to the home of Chief Seo's colleague with the proof that Jang Ok Jeong and Jang Hee Jae are behind the bribe. But, the assassins arrive and kill everyone. Dong Yi manages to run away but a dart is shot into her shoulder. Because she is very injured, she staggers across the mountains in order to reach the King who is on his way back to the palace. But, because she is too weak, she collapses and lies motionless in the grass. Then, the King discovers that Dong Yi and Chief Seo secretly investigates Jang Ok Jeong role in the Queen's dethronement and also the poisoning of his mother. Furthermore, he is also worried about the disappearances of Dong Yi.
#19 - Episode 41
Season 1 - Episode 41 - Aired 8/9/2010
Sword Fraternity assassins nearly kill Dong Yi but then stop when she says that she is the daughter of the original Sword Fraternity leader. Dong Yi later meets Gae Doo La who refuses to stop what he's been doing. Jang Moo Yeol meanwhile informs the King that the exiled Namin leaders have given their wealth to the poor in order to atone for their mistakes. They are all invited back by the King. Jang Moo Yeol then realises that something is not right because Sword Fraternity assassins kill the guards but not Dong Yi. In the meantime, Dong Yi who has been working hard to investigate the hand signal finally gets her breakthrough. She realises that the signal uses music notes and it spells out Oh Tae Seok's name.
#20 - Episode 42
Season 1 - Episode 42 - Aired 8/10/2010
Dong Yi, Sir Shim and Chief Seo now realises that Oh Tae Seok and Jang Ok Jeong is behind the Namin official murder, framing of Sword Fraternity and the death of her father. When Oh Tae Seok knows about it, he is supposed to be taken to a safe house with Jang Moo Yeol's men but they kill him. Gae Doo La and his men who are following them are shocked when they see him killed. They end up fighting Jang Moo Yeol's men and are now being blamed for Oh Tae Seok's murder. When Jang Moo Yeol looks at the Swordsmen Society records, he notices that the leader has a daughter named Dong Yi. Then, Dong Yi sneaks out to help injured Gae Doo La to escape. But then, the King and his men turn up on only to see Dong Yi is helping a traitor.
#21 - Episode 43
Season 1 - Episode 43 - Aired 8/16/2010
Dong Yi finally tells the truth about her past. But, the King tries to help Dong Yi by seeing Gae Doo La who explains that her father doesn't kill Chief Seo's father. The King then announces that Dong Yi is innocent and knows nothing about the Swordsmen Society. But, she then hands herself to the police because she doesn't want to ruin the King's reputation. The King tries to stop her but to no avail. Chun Soo is also get arrested.
#22 - Episode 60
Season 1 - Episode 60 - Aired 10/12/2010
Dong Yi leaves the palace and set up her own citizen's advice bureau to help lowborn who have problems with corrupt nobleman. Then, she discovers that the Finance Minister and Police Chief are involved in corruption and they also frame a lowborn for the murder of an official. But, thanks to her investigation, the framed lowborn are released and the corrupt officials are caught. A few years later, the King and Dong Yi are both dead. Dong Yi's son, who becomes the new King of Joseon, visits his mother's grave with Cheon Soo and promises to be a good King.
#23 - Episode 57
Season 1 - Episode 57 - Aired 10/4/2010
The King then announces that Dong Yi is to live outside of the palace. But, the reason for this is, he wants to abdicate and live with Dong Yi. Then, the Crown Prince can become King and Prince Yeoning will replace him as the Crown Prince. But, Jang Moo Yeol discovers the King's plan and he asks the Disciples' Faction leader to help him stop it. Furthermore, He is also desperate to get rid of Dong Yi and her son. So, when the King is away, he prepares a plan to frame Dong Yi. The first step of the plan is, he gets himself put it charge of the army.
#24 - Episode 49
Season 1 - Episode 49 - Aired 9/6/2010
Since the Queen is sick, Jang Ok Jeong thinks that luck is on her side. She then orders a shaman to do some black magic near the Queen's residence because she wants her to die. But Jang Moo Yeol, who is suspicious about Jang Ok Jeong behaviour has discovered the secret about Crown Prince health. Back at the palace, Prince Yeoning finds the doll used by the shaman. But then, the Queen dies. As her last word, she wants the King to protect Prince Yeoning.
#25 - Episode 37
Season 1 - Episode 37 - Aired 7/26/2010
All the criminal are being arrested. Meanwhile, Dong Yi goes to see Jang Ok Jeong and reveals her plan on how to prove that she is guilty of stealing the records. Jang Ok Jeong is very angry and says that she and the Queen will suffer. As the King walks in, she pleads to the King that she is innocent but the King has listened to their conversation earlier. Then, Oh Tae Seok orders Lady Yu to tell Chief Seo that it is Jang Ok Jeong who has ordered them to search for the records. Jang Ok Jeong finally confesses to the King and he decides to dethrone her. All the lower ranking Namin is arrested and their leaders are stripped of their titles. Some are executed and others, including Jang Hee Jae are exiled.