Episode guide

The Last Empress: Season 1

52 episodes · premiered Nov 21, 2018

In a modern-day monarchical Korea, a bright musical actress enters an unforgiving world of sinister secrets when she marries the emperor.

The Last Empress: cast and where to watch

Episode 1: A Luncheon with the Emperor Nov 21, 2018 · 33m In the present, mysterious skeletal remains are found on Ehwa Palace grounds with a necklace worth 2.2 million dollars thought to be a gift of the Emperor to the Empress. Jumping back one…
Episode 2: The Emperor’s Day Off Nov 21, 2018 · 27m After saving the Emperor's life, Sunny safely returns home. The assailant is apprehended, and the Emperor and the Empress Dowager learn that he is the brother of Kang Joon Sung, an…
Episode 3: A Hit-and-Run Nov 22, 2018 · 30m The Emperor hits and kills Wang Shik's mother with his car. With Wang Shik just behind him, the Emperor loads her body and escapes. Yu Ra convinces him to trust her and tells him to dump…
Episode 4: The Yellow Truck Nov 22, 2018 · 31m Yu Ra confesses to the hit-and-run accident and tries to stage her death, but the Emperor and his guards rescue her just in time. In the aftermath of securing his alibi, Sunny stands in…
Episode 5: The Empress Dowager Underestimates Ms. Min Nov 28, 2018 · 30m As the Imperial Family gathers to celebrate the Grand Empress Dowager's World Peace Award, Oh Sunny appears on behalf of the Empress Dowager's request to put on a show. But really, she's…
Episode 6: The Emperor Starts to Court Oh Sunny Nov 28, 2018 · 30m With substantial evidence of the hit-and-run accident in her hands, the Empress Dowager reclaims her power over the Emperor and blackmails him to marry Oh Sunny. Cornered and not wanting…
Episode 7: Wedding Preparations Nov 29, 2018 · 31m Transformed and well-trained, Na Wang Shik, who is now Chun Woo Bin, gets one step closer to fulfilling his revenge. The Emperor hires him as an Imperial Guard. Preparations for the…
Episode 8: The Wedding Nov 29, 2018 · 30m As the nation watches the extravagant wedding, the elevated platform Sunny stands on breaks and sets on fire. Just as the situation gets dire, the new Imperial guard, Woo Bin, saves her…
Episode 9: Tell Me It’s Not True Dec 5, 2018 · 31m Without knowing Yu Ra's devious ways, Wang Shik contacts her to meet face to face. When he approaches her, he gets a glimpse of Ma Pil and decides to abort for Yu Ra's sake. Later, his…
Episode 10: Wang Shik’s Rage Dec 5, 2018 · 30m After finding out the people involved, Wang Shik returns to Bichido and swears to kill Pil Joo, the Emperor, and Yu Ra. He also tries to abandon Dong Shik, Yo Ra's son, but doesn't have…
Episode 11: Betrayal in the Palace Dec 6, 2018 · 31m The Grand Empress Dowager overhears Yu Ra and the Emperor talking and learns of their secret. She forbids their love and demands Yu Ra to leave the palace. Later, the Empress tries her…
Episode 12: Pil Joo Finds Wang Shik Dec 6, 2018 · 30m Knowing how the Empress must feel, the Grand Empress Dowager spends the day with her and invites her father to the palace. Pil Joo searches through Woo Bin's quarters and finds out that he…
Episode 13: The Empress Finds Out About the Emperor and Yu Ra Dec 12, 2018 · 30m When the Empress sees the Emperor and Ms. Min together kissing on a cruise ship, she realizes she had been a fool but decides to hear him out. The Empress Dowager tracks down the Prince…
Episode 14: The Prince is in Town Dec 12, 2018 · 30m After talking to the Prince over the phone in after seven years, the Emperor starts to worry. Knowing that the presence of the Prince is a direct threat to his position, the Emperor…
Episode 15: Wang Shik Betrays the Empress Dec 13, 2018 · 30m While trying to catch the Emperor in the act, the Empress gets entangled in a predicament of her own, putting her loyalty to the Emperor in question. Wang Shik betrays her, and with the…
Episode 16: The Grand Empress Dowager’s Downfall Dec 13, 2018 · 31m Trying to uncover the truth behind the death of late Empress So Hyun, Sunny discovers that Ari is the Emperor's daughter and Kang Hee, the nanny, is her mother. Wang Shik plays both sides…
Episode 17: Who Killed the Grand Empress Dowager? Dec 19, 2018 · 31m The Grand Empress Dowager is found dead, and an investigation of her murder begins. The police question each member of the Imperial Family, but none of them confess to the crime…
Episode 18: The Empress is Arrested for Murder Dec 19, 2018 · 30m Ms. Hong takes the envelope given by the Grand Empress Dowager containing evidence of the Imperial Family's corruption to the Prime Minister, but it never reaches him. The autopsy of the…
Episode 19: Baek Ho Enlightens the Empress Dec 20, 2018 · 33m Trying to clear her name, the Empress returns to the palace to retrieve a recording device she had hidden in the Emperor's chamber. She barely escapes the Emperor and slips away with the…
Episode 20: Ms. Hong’s Confession Dec 20, 2018 · 27m Without knowing the authorities were tapping the phones, the Empress makes a call to her family and gets caught. But before she makes it into the police station, Ms. Hong confesses to the…
Episode 21: The Empress Returns to the Palace Dec 26, 2018 · 30m While the Emperor tries to restore his name to the people, Sunny appears boldly before him and forgives him publicly and asks to start again. Reluctantly, without an option, the Emperor…
Episode 22: The Empress Goes Live Dec 26, 2018 · 31m Prince Yoon gives Baek Ho the late Empress So Hyun's diary to help uncover the truth. The Empress starts to broadcast a live show and causes an uproar within the palace. Meanwhile, Wang…
Episode 23: Wang Shik Saves His Brother Dec 27, 2018 · 30m When Woo Bin arrives at the hospital, Baek Ho tells the Empress that Woo Bin is Wang Shik and that his true identity must stay a secret. Luckily, a contact within the hospital assists in…
Episode 24: Yu Ra’s Demise Dec 27, 2018 · 30m Wang Shik learns from So Jin that a court lady had tried the food made by the Empress for the Grand Empress Dowager before her death and is now missing. With this new information, Wang…
Episode 25: The Prince Returns Jan 2, 2019 · 30m When the Emperor tells the Empress Dowager that he had taken care of Yu Ra without her consent, she smiles and embraces him. She then tells him of her decision to dethrone the Crowned…
Episode 26: Where Is My Mother’s Corpse? Jan 2, 2019 · 30m Wang Shik begins to taunt the Emperor and Yu Ra and lets them know that he is alive and looking for his mother's corpse. The Empress discovers that the diary of the late Empress So Hyun is…
Episode 27: Yu Ra’s Cry for Mercy Jan 3, 2019 · 32m The Emperor brings back Yu Ra and forces her to make false statements accusing the Empress Dowager of murdering the Grand Empress Dowager. Sunny also confronts the Empress Dowager with…
Episode 28: Wang Shik Mourns at His Mother’s Side Jan 3, 2019 · 28m Wang Shik calls the Emperor again threatening to know where his mother's body is, and Woo Bin persuades the Emperor to make a deal with Yu Ra. Woo Bin releases Yu Ra from the hospital and…
Episode 29: The Emperor’s Jealousy Jan 9, 2019 · 38m Wang Shik recovers his mother's body and gives her a proper goodbye. He promises her that he will punish those who are responsible for her death. Sunny stays close by and consoles Wang…
Episode 30: An Antique Clock Jan 9, 2019 · 23m Prince Yoon charges into the Emperor's chamber and yells in disgust of the incident that took Sunny's mother's life to save the Emperor. After learning this fact, the Empress Dowager shows…
Episode 31: The Scandal Jan 10, 2019 · 33m The Empress recovers from the Empress Dowager's attempt to kill her, but it leaves her family outraged and wanting revenge. Sunny learns that Prince Yoon is helping to reveal Empress So…
Episode 32: Prince Yoon Lights the Powder Keg Jan 10, 2019 · 27m The hospital director kills himself to stop the truth from coming out, Prince Yoon publishes the second part of his novel depicting the death of Empress So Hyun, and Sunny finds out that…
Episode 33: Peanut Butter Cookies Jan 17, 2019 · 33m Chief Chun proclaims his desire for the Empress in front of the Emperor, but the Empress rebukes his words for his sake. The Empress Dowager swaps cookies made by the Empress with ones…
Episode 34: Yu Ra’s Escape Jan 17, 2019 · 27m After calling the Empress Dowager, Chief Joo helps Yu Ra escape from Sunil Mental Hospital. Yu Ra promises the Empress Dowager to give her Na Wang Shik and informs her of his little…
Episode 35: The Emperor Abandons the Empress Jan 23, 2019 · 35m As the Emperor reads from Vincent Lee's book, the Empress Dowager screams for him to stop. Soon after, Chief Byun enters the room and demands to know the truth behind her daughter's death…
Episode 36: Yu Ra Teams Up with the Empress Dowager Jan 23, 2019 · 26m Yu Ra intends to keep her promise to the Empress Dowager and fetches Dong Shik to the palace hoping to lure in Wang Shik. The Emperor finishes reading Vincent Lee's book and tracks down…
Episode 37: Princess Ari is Promised to Become the Empress Regnant Jan 24, 2019 · 34m Princess Ari jumps up and down in joy after being told by Kang Hee that she will be the empress regnant very soon. Princess Ari keeps her joy in secret but ends up narrating to the Empress…
Episode 38: Woo Bin Runs Away With the Empress Jan 24, 2019 · 27m The Empress Dowager orders Woo Bin to run away with the Empress in the middle of the night. Woo Bin tells the Empress of this, but she decides to play along with the Empress Dowager's…
Episode 39: The Empress Regains Control of the Palace Jan 30, 2019 · 32m When the Emperor is about to pull the trigger, Woo Bin promises to bring him Wang Shik. The Empress blackmails the Empress Dowager and regains command of the palace workers, and later, she…
Episode 40: The Prime Minister Loses His Edge Jan 30, 2019 · 29m To ensure the promise of Princess Ari becoming the empress regnant, Kang Hee gives her recorded testimony of seeing Emperor Lee Hyuk of killing Empress So Hyun to the Prime Minister…
Episode 41: Gifts From the Emperor Jan 31, 2019 · 34m Woo Bin reveals his true identity to Yu Ra, but he doesn't kill her. He takes her to Kang Joo Seung to help him remember the past. The Emperor, who is now free from his duties, continues…
Episode 42: Joo Seung Starts to Remember Jan 31, 2019 · 26m Joo Seung remembers the day he was supposed to meet Yu Ra and explains it to her in detail. Princess So Jin asks Woo Bin desperately to get back together, and later, begs the Empress…
Episode 43: An Investigation of Prince Yoon’s Attacker Feb 7, 2019 · 34m All the evidence found in the investigation of Prince Yoon's attacker points to the Emperor. However, the Empress suspects it was Kang Hee. But with Princess Ari as her alibi, she can't…
Episode 44: A Trap for Kang Hee Feb 7, 2019 · 26m The Empress and the Emperor set up a trap for Kang Hee. With so much on the line, Kang Hee takes the bait. When she couldn't look any guiltier of being Prince Yoon's attacker and of…
Episode 45: Wang Shik Starts His Revenge Feb 13, 2019 · 32m To save Dong Shik and the rest of the imperial guards' lives, Wang Shik withdraws his gun and submits to the Emperor's wishes. However, when taken away by the Emperor's guards, they…
Episode 46: The Emperor Returns to the Palace Feb 13, 2019 · 28m The Empress Dowager is shocked to hear of the Emperor's return unscathed. When she talks to him, she tells him to divorce the Empress immediately, but the Emperor tells her he'll resolve…
Episode 47: Michelle Arrives at the Palace Feb 14, 2019 · 33m Michelle, the former empress under Emperor Lee Jeong's rule 30 years ago, arrives at the palace to appoint the legal proxy for the Crown Princess, stunning everyone. Making things even…
Episode 48: Sunny Is Appointed as the Crown Prince Feb 14, 2019 · 27m The Emperor regrets getting mad at the Empress and begs her not to leave him as she sleeps. Michelle announces Empress Oh Sunny to be the Crown Princess' proxy and tells her about the…
Episode 49: Michelle Reinstates Hyuk As the Emperor Feb 20, 2019 · 32m The Emperor and Prince Yoon catch Kang Hee red-handed admitting to killing Joo Seung, but she reveals that it was the Empress Dowager's decree. Prince Yoon surprises the Empress Dowager in…
Episode 50: The Emperor’s 10-Year Anniversary Celebration Feb 20, 2019 · 29m Knowing that Sunny planned to reveal everything during his 10-year-anniversary as the emperor, he asks her for her forgiveness one last time before he locks her up. On the day of the…
Episode 51: The Emperor’s Vengeance Feb 21, 2019 · 34m Sunny recuperates from the blast with Hyuk at her side. When she wakes, he tells her that it was Na Wang Shik who was behind the attack. Later, at a press conference held at the palace…
Episode 52: The Fall of the Imperial Family Feb 21, 2019 · 27m With the Emperor dead, the Empress Dowager rushes to make her escape from the palace. As she is about to leave, Kang Hee confronts her. Unaware of the police and media waiting outside the…