[Jan 12] "Knight Flower" Ep. 1, "My Demon" Ep. 13: Recaps & Ratings

MBC has a new hit drama on its hands with "Knight Flower"!

The drama is a mix of action and comedy, set in the Joseon era. It features Honey Lee as Jo Yeo Hwa, who has been hiding her true identity for 15 years. By day, she is a humble and virtuous widow, but by night, she becomes a brave hero who helps the oppressed.

This drama made its debut on January 12, and it immediately topped the ratings chart. Nielsen Korea reported that the 1st episode of "Knight Flower" achieved an average nationwide rating of 7.9%, making it the most popular Friday-Saturday drama of the night.

Not only that, "Knight Flower" also set a new record for the highest premiere ratings of any MBC Friday-Saturday drama since 2021.

"Knight Flower" ep. 1 recap

The show began with the eventful story of Yeo-hwa (played by Honey Lee), a widow who is a petty widow during the day and appears in a mask at night to do righteous deeds. Yeo-hwa wore a mask and went to the fighting board to save the family of Kkot-nim (played by Jeong Ye-na), who was in trouble because her father attempted to fight by selling house documents. Yeo-hwa, who raided the scene, fought fiercely with the guards there, and her first chance encounter with Su-ho, who was undercover investigating, began. 

Su-ho unexpectedly got involved in a fight and was embarrassed to find out that Yeo-hwa was a woman. When the bell rings, Yeo-hwa, who is in danger of being found out by her mother-in-law Yoo Geum-ok (played by Kim Mi-kyung), quickly climbs over the wall to the family shrine and manages to get over the hump.

The appearance of Seok Ji-sung (played by Kim Sang-joong) also caught the eye. Jisung showed his loyalty in front of the king, his infinitely warm and gentle treatment of his daughter-in-law Yeohwa, and his affectionate side to his wife, Geum-ok. On the other hand, after being harassed and harshly spoken by her sister-in-law, she could not say anything in response. The passage in which she lamented her situation in front of her husband's plaque made even the viewers feel bitter.

A peony party, a gathering of the wives of dignitaries, was held, and at the recommendation of her mother-in-law, Yeohwa came to accompany her. Yeohwa couldn't hide her excitement at the thought of going out in broad daylight, but for a moment, she faced the crisis of her life. Under pressure to show off her skills, Yeo-hwa grabbed her trembling hands and vigorously struck the naan leaves, but in the end, Yeo-hwa's hidden helper Ji Ji-woon (played by Yoon Sa-bong), who was next to her, deliberately fried the food to defuse the situation.

At the end of episode 1, when she heard the news that Kkot-nim had been taken away instead of gambling debt, Yeohwa put on a gorgeous hanbok and a seul and went back to Pil Yeogak. Seeing Suho taking Kkot-nim away, Yeohwa misunderstood and scuffled over Kkot-nim. Meanwhile, Suho asked Yeohwa, "Haven't we seen you before?" The ending was full of tension for Yeo-hwa, who is in danger of being found out.

"Knight Flower" fascinated viewers at once with its non-stop comical development, a feast of colorful characters, and a production power that made the thrilling action more vivid. In particular, the performances of excellent actors such as Honey Lee, Lee Jong-won, Kim Sang-joong, and Lee Ki-woo enriched the drama even more.

With only twelve 12 episodes, "Knight Flower" is unlikely to overstay its welcome. The 1st episode is engaging, as it shows how the male and female leads meet. If you like historical dramas, you should check it out. Yet, one thing I find strange is that the female lead has been stealing from the rich and giving to the poor for a long time, but the police and the royal guards, where the male lead works, don't seem to care.

This drama, along with "The Story of Park's Marriage Contract," questions the old traditions that oppressed widows, such as fasting and cliff-jumping. These were often imposed on women by force. It makes sense to challenge these outdated practices, but, interestingly, they are appearing one after another. It could be a subtle way of criticizing and demanding change in Korea's male-dominated society. Otherwise, I'm trying to figure out what explains this sudden trend of similar themes.

“My Demon” ep. 13 recap

On the other hand, SBS’s “My Demon”, which competes with “Knight Flower” in the same time slot, only managed to get an average nationwide rating of 3.6% for the night.

Gu Won's love life and his deals

Gu Won's love for Do Hee has altered his way of making deals. He used to seek only desperate clients, but now he wants them to be evil and worthy of their doom. His options have become limited, but he can still find enough people to avoid burning up. His finger catches fire, and he finds a repeat offender who is an easy target for a deal. 

However, his secret is exposed when the gang that has been following him arrives. They are thrilled to learn that he is a demon, but they must have suspected something since they had witnessed him doing things that were beyond human. Maybe they're glad they picked him.

Gu Won tells them to mend their ways and thinks of his next move. He talks to God about keeping his happiness with Do Hee intact, but she gives him a vague answer. She says that happiness needs misfortune to be valued, and after he leaves, she remarks that too much happiness is harmful. 

But Gu Won is hopeful, and he gets someone to read his tarot cards, which shows a good outcome for him and Do Hee. That is all he wants. He enjoys his time with Do Hee, and he also gets along well with Ga Young, who is leaving the country happily. The couple looks forward to their first Christmas together, while Bok Gyu and Ms. Shin have a hard time hiding their relationship. They are madly in love, and people notice it, so they have to pretend to hate each other to conceal their secret.

Gu Won's support for Do Hee's healing

Gu Won sees that Do Hee is disturbed by an accident they witness on their way to work, and he respects her need for space. He asks Seok Hoon what Do Hee is going through, and he learns that Do Hee has always felt guilty for her parents' death. She also had a rough childhood, living with relatives who only cared about her money. She moved in with Cheon Suk after she ran out of money, and it took her a while to open up. She works hard to escape the feelings she can't cope with. 

That night, she falls asleep at her desk and dreams of searching for her parents and apologizing to them. In her dream, she meets Gu Won, who comforts her and shows her the love she has in her life. It is a scene where Gu Won helps Do Hee's inner child heal.

Was Cheon Suk responsible for Do Hee’s parents’ death?

Suk Min, who became the chairman after his mother’s death, tries to undo her philanthropic work and get rid of the division that helps the victims of industrial accidents. He needs the support of his family members, so he invites them to his house for dinner. Do Hee doesn't want to go, but she has no choice.

At the dinner, Gu Won sees a wound on Se Ra’s wrist. He learns that Se Ra had discovered a book on demons in Suk Min’s possession, but he caught her snooping around and decided to silence her. He sends her to the hospital and makes it look like she is crazy. Gu Won asks her for his book, and she tells him everything she knows, hoping to escape from Suk Min’s clutches.

Suk Min also asks his family members to give him their shares in the company, but they refuse. The next day, he fires Seok Hoon to weaken his influence in the company and establish his own monopoly. He accuses anyone who opposes him of being under Cheon Suk’s influence. When Do Hee challenges him, he compares himself to an egg that breaks out to rule the world. Do Hee realizes that he is the one who used the codename Abraxas on the killer’s phone, not Do Gyeong. He wanted to destroy Cheon Suk’s world.

Episode 13 ends with a cliffhanger, as Suk Min plays an audio recording of his mother and Do Hee’s parents, where they were blackmailing her for some misdeeds. He claims that Cheon Suk followed them and killed them. Do Hee can't believe it, but Suk Min doesn't care as he plans to kill her too.

• You may also like: My Favorite Quotes from "My Demon" Drama

 (Sources: naver.com (1), naver.com (2))