Leveraging Go Nam-mu’s anecdote, Woo Hee leads her group to Ba’euitu, where she traps the White Tiger hunters by collapsing rocks on them. Only a few, including Nwe-eum, survive, but his son perishes. Grief-stricken, Nwe-eum vows to kill the queen. Woo Hee’s true goal is to secure an alliance with the vain Prince Go Yeon-woo through a levirate marriage, manipulating him with ease.
The queen’s sharp intellect quickly unravels her sister Woo Sun’s betrayal. Not only had Woo Sun exposed them to Go Bal-ki, but she had gone even further by leaving a torn piece of her skirt for the hunters to track. When that plan failed, she struck a deal with Nwe-eum, offering to lead them directly to Woo Hee.
A flashback reveals Woo Sun’s obsession with the king. Frustrated by her lack of power, she had been sent by their cunning family head, Woo Do, to seduce Go Nam-mu at his military camp. Under the influence of a drug administered by Sabi, the king mistook Woo Sun for his beloved Woo Hee, and she took full advantage. The next morning, the king, seething with quiet fury, dismissed Woo Sun, sparing her only out of respect for her sister.
In the present, Woo Hee sets a trap for her sister and confronts her. Woo Sun complains that everything Woo Hee now possesses should have been hers. Woo Hee, however, sees through her envy, pointing out that Woo Sun always discards things only to desire them once they belong to her sister. Backed into a corner, Woo Sun draws her bow, but Woo Hee is quicker. Both fire, but while Woo Sun misses, Woo Hee’s arrow strikes true.
Woo Hee’s retinue must return to the palace before dawn, even though the White Tiger hunters are waiting to ambush them. Trusting that Eul Pa-so is on the same page, she counts on him to follow her plan — and he does. Just as they reach the ferry docks, a rain of arrows, launched by Eul Pa-so’s command, showers down on the hunters. Safe at last, Woo Hee and her party set sail for the palace.
Once back at court, Woo Hee informs the ministers of the king’s death and announces that his final wish was for Go Yeon-woo to ascend the throne through levirate marriage. While not entirely true, it aligns with Go Nam-mu’s dying plea for Woo Hee to protect herself, making her claim feel justified. In a tense moment, Go Bal-ki storms in to challenge her, but the timid Go Yeon-woo hilariously cowers behind Woo Hee as Go Bal-ki draws his sword.
Although the court manages to temporarily drive away the aggressive third prince, Go Bal-ki soon seeks out the exiled crown prince, Go Pae-eui, in Liaodong. Enraged by his father’s death and seeking revenge, the disfigured Go Pae-eui dons an ornate mask and rallies his forces alongside Go Bal-ki’s warriors. Together, they prepare to march on the palace and seize the throne by force.
While Woo Hee was busy pursuing a marriageable prince, Eul Pa-so continued his investigation into the king’s poisoning. All clues pointed to Sabi, but when he tried to arrest her, they were attacked by a group of blade-wielding eunuchs. In the chaos, one managed to stab Sabi. Unfortunately, she died before revealing any useful information.
Eul Pa-so then turned his suspicions to the head secretary, Song Woo, who controlled the eunuchs. Using a clever strategy of swapping two carrier pigeons, he intercepted a secret letter meant for the mole, confirming that Song Woo had been leaking information. However, the true mastermind behind the poisoning remained elusive for the moment.
Beneath the surface, there is far more to Prime Minister Eul Pa-so than meets the eye. Flashing back to his youth, we learn that he once stumbled upon the decayed corpse of his grandfather hidden in the archives. The Eul clan had once been the royal family of Juna, but King Taejo of Goguryeo, threatened by their intelligence, destroyed their kingdom. He crippled Eul Pa-so’s grandfather, leaving him to wither away.
This discovery became the driving force behind Eul Pa-so’s intellectual pursuits, as he sharpened his mind to avenge his fallen clan. With Jolbon blood also running through his veins, he struck a deal with Yeon Bi, promising to reclaim stolen Jolbon lands in exchange for her military support. His secret plan was to ignite a rebellion through Go Bal-ki, with hopes that Go Nam-mu’s early death and a levirate marriage would push the princes into a deadly struggle for the throne—just as things have now unfolded.
Eul Pa-so watches from the shadows, biding his time. Yet Woo Hee is already several steps ahead. To outmaneuver him, she had written five chess moves in advance, anticipating every step Eul Pa-so might take, leading to a checkmate in her favor. Their ongoing chess match from childhood becomes a metaphor, showing that Woo Hee is no mere pawn but a strategist in her own right.
With a looming rebellion on the horizon, Woo Hee sets out to reunite the five tribes that had once sworn loyalty to the kingdom’s founder, King Chumo. Her determination pays off.
By strategically choosing to marry the weak Go Yeon-woo, Woo Hee not only gains the Great Priest’s powerful backing but also secures the loyalty of the Northern faction. With the steadfast support of Prince Go Gye-soo, who honors Go Nam-mu’s legacy, she gathers the strength needed to defend the realm from the rebellion. Donning her armor, bow, and arrows in hand, Woo Hee is prepared to stand and fight for her kingdom alongside her people.
The series has come to an end. I personally enjoyed the episode but the ending was definitely lacking. However, we do know that the queen won because we saw that in the beginning of the series. Despite this, Queen Woo is a gripping historical drama that blends political intrigue, family betrayal, and strong female leadership. The series follows Woo Hee, a sharp-witted and determined queen, navigating a treacherous royal court filled with power-hungry princes and manipulative allies. What sets Queen Woo apart is its focus on a woman who refuses to be a pawn in a man’s game, instead mastering the strategy herself. Woo Hee’s intelligence, combined with emotional depth, makes her a compelling and complex protagonist. With its high-stakes drama, stunning visuals, and layered characters, Queen Woo offers a refreshing take on palace politics.
My rating would be 8/10