The Crowned Clown backdrop
Drama•Action & Adventure

The Best Episodes of The Crowned Clown Season 1

Every episode of The Crowned Clown Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of The Crowned Clown Season 1!

Binge this in 20h 12m•Peaking at 9.0/10

The story takes place at a time in Joseon history, when upheaval and power struggles surrounding the throne had reached extreme levels. In order to escape those who plan to assassinate him, the king puts

Airs on
tvN
BestEpisodes
WorstEpisodes
BestSeasons
AllEpisodes

Seasons1

All1

Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    The Crowned Clown Season 1 Episode 1 - The Monkey’s Hair
    8.1/10(43 votes)

    #1 - The Monkey’s Hair

    S1:E1

    Anxious about the traitors out there and haunted by the ghost of the brother he killed, Heon can never sleep in peace. He desperately asks the Chief Royal Secretary, Lee Kyu, to find a way to eliminate his fears. Like what the Monkey’s hair does in “Journey to the West”, a doppelganger of Heon appears before his eyes

    Director:Kim Hee-won
    Writers:Shin Ha-eun, Kim Seon-deok

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  2. The Crowned Clown Season 1 Episode 2 - For the Ways to Survive in the Palace
    8.8/10(41 votes)

    #2 - For the Ways to Survive in the Palace

    S1:E2

    As soon as Heon sees Ha Seon, he leaves the palace right away. Eunuch Cho and Lee Kyu try to train Ha Seon to perform a perfect double of the King. Ha Seon gradually realizes that he is needed in the palace to die instead of the king. To frightened Ha Seon, Kyu advises the ways to survive in the palace.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  3. The Crowned Clown Season 1 Episode 3 - The Hunt
    8.5/10(38 votes)

    #3 - The Hunt

    S1:E3

    Ha Seon returns to the palace to find the way to take his revenge on Shin Yi Gyum and those who give him power. Meanwhile, those who are after the King push ahead with the hunt to use this as a chance to kill the King. Lee Kyu and Eunuch Cho are worried that Ha Seon might get caught that he’s a disguise.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  4. The Crowned Clown Season 1 Episode 4 - The Price of Being a King
    8.6/10(36 votes)

    #4 - The Price of Being a King

    S1:E4

    Seon Hwa Dang falls ill after drinking tea with the Queen. This poisoning incident gets out of the Queen’s hands. Ha Seon tries his best to find the way to save his queen as he promised. Meanwhile, Shin Chi Soo carries out his plan to dethrone the Queen and the Queen Dowager.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  5. The Crowned Clown Season 1 Episode 5 - The Daedong Group
    8.2/10(34 votes)

    #5 - The Daedong Group

    S1:E5

    To solve the taxation issue, Lee Kyu and Ha Seon try to persuade Joo Ho Geol, who is known to be a calculation genius, to join them. Meanwhile, seeing how Ha Seon thinks to put the people before anything revives the dream Lee Kyu once had. With Woon Shim, Lee Kyu meets with Lord Gil’s followers.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  6. The Crowned Clown Season 1 Episode 6 - Mistaken
    8.4/10(34 votes)

    #6 - Mistaken

    S1:E6

    Despite the sweet words of the Queen, Ha Seon feels heartbroken as he knows her feelings are towards the real king, not him. Meanwhile, Lord Shin and his son, who were scheming against the investigation on tax embezzlement, in turn face some unexpected humiliation.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

    7. Trending NowTRENDING NOW

    The 20 BEST Episodes of The Crowned Clown

    READ
  7. The Crowned Clown Season 1 Episode 7 - The Return
    9.0/10(39 votes)

    #7 - The Return

    S1:E7

    With Dal Rae’s help, Heon escapes the temple and returns to the palace. He becomes furious to see how the Queen has changed and how his servants treat Ha Seon. To make sure his servants stay loyal, Heon orders Ha Seon to be killed and decides to spend a night with the Queen as soon as possible.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  8. The Crowned Clown Season 1 Episode 8 - The Power To Protect The People I Cherish
    8.8/10(35 votes)

    #8 - The Power To Protect The People I Cherish

    S1:E8

    Officer Jang finds out Ha Seon was not dead and reports it to Lee Kyu and Eunuch Cho. Meanwhile, Heon feels betrayed by the Queen and orders her to be deposed after failing to spend the night with her. When he collapses, Lee Kyu orders Officer Jang to take him away somewhere safe while Ha Seon gets ready to return to the palace as the real king.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  9. The Crowned Clown Season 1 Episode 9 - A Clown Knows How to Put a Play on Any Stage
    8.5/10(32 votes)

    #9 - A Clown Knows How to Put a Play on Any Stage

    S1:E9

    After being demoted, Lord Shin visits Lord Jinpyeong to suggest his plans. Lord Shin also becomes suspicious about Ha Seon’s identity and orders posters of Ha Seon’s face be put up in the marketplace. Meanwhile, Ha Seon cannot hide his feelings for the Queen any longer, and confesses his love for her.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  10. The Crowned Clown Season 1 Episode 10 - You Will Always be a Fake King to Her
    8.5/10(32 votes)

    #10 - You Will Always be a Fake King to Her

    S1:E10

    Lee Kyu is surprised to find out how close the Queen and Ha Seon have become. He tells Ha Seon to give up on his personal feelings to become the real king. Not knowing what’s on the King’s mind, So Woon decides to write a reply to Ha Seon’s love letter.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  11. The Crowned Clown Season 1 Episode 11 - The Queen Leave the Palace
    8.8/10(34 votes)

    #11 - The Queen Leave the Palace

    S1:E11

    Shocked to find out whom she has loved so far, So Woon decides to leave the palace. Ha Seon refuses to agree to deposing the Queen. Meanwhile, Lord Shin and Lord Jinpyeong seek to take advantage of the disorder in the palace.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  12. The Crowned Clown Season 1 Episode 12 - Procession
    8.7/10(32 votes)

    #12 - Procession

    S1:E12

    To check on the people, Ha Seon decides to visit the marketplace with the Queen. Dal Rae and Gab Soo hear from Ho Geol that the King looks exactly like the man in the poster and that he will visit the marketplace. While Ha Seon is talking to the people, Shin Yi Gyum is suddenly attacked and the attacker is taken to prison.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  13. The Crowned Clown Season 1 Episode 13 - The Flower Tea That Cause Infertility
    9.0/10(31 votes)

    #13 - The Flower Tea That Cause Infertility

    S1:E13

    Between the two ways to survive in the palace, Ha Seon who has become the King and has the king’s authorities chooses to trample on his enemies. To save those that he holds dear, he goes against the enemies one by one.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  14. The Crowned Clown Season 1 Episode 14 - The Deposition of Queen Dowager
    8.8/10(32 votes)

    #14 - The Deposition of Queen Dowager

    S1:E14

    After Ha Seon finds out about Lord Yoo’s death, he and Lee Kyu make the Queen Dowager confess her crimes in order to depose her. In the process, Ha Seon speaks with Shin Chi Soo and hears that Lee Kyu killed Heon. Will Ha Seon become suspicious of Lee Kyu and side with Shin Chi Soo?

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  15. The Crowned Clown Season 1 Episode 15 - Ignore Them for Good
    9.0/10(34 votes)

    #15 - Ignore Them for Good

    S1:E15

    To face the rebel forces head-on, Ha Seon orders them to come into the palace with Lee Kyu for a morning assembly. While Lee Kyu is locked up in a cell, Shin Chi Soo tries to talk him into persuading the King to give up the throne.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  16. The Crowned Clown Season 1 Episode 16 - I Will Come Back for You
    8.4/10(34 votes)

    #16 - I Will Come Back for You

    S1:E16

    With Lee Kyu’s sacrifice, Ha Seon successfully punishes those that tried to kill him. After he suppresses the rebels, like the sun, he takes care of his subjects and the people. When he decides to abdicate and leave the palace, he promises the Queen to meet her in a small village.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

Season 1 Ratings Summary

"The Monkey’s Hair" is the best rated episode of "The Crowned Clown" season 1. It scored 8.1/10 based on 43 votes. Directed by Kim Hee-won and written by Shin Ha-eun, Kim Seon-deok, it aired on 1/7/2019. This episode is rated 0.7 points higher than the second-best, "For the Ways to Survive in the Palace".