REVIEW: ‘The First Night With The Duke’ Episodes 9-10

With only a couple of episodes left, The First Night With The Duke Episodes 9-10 speed runs its way to the finish line, leaving little room to breathe. Manipulating forces surround K/Cha Sun-chaek (Seohyun) and Duke Yi Beun (Taecyeon) initially, with the hope that the two’s relationship will fall apart. However, as political tides shift between the two brothers, the threat of something more permanent emerges. It brings to mind the question, can love conquer everything? 

Yi Beun has a lot to deal with in The First Night With The Duke Episodes 9-10. From trying to track down Sun-chaek’s kidnapper to interrogation to coping with an increasingly paranoid king (Joo Suk-tae), he never really catches a break. His one safe space to be himself is with Sun-chaek, but through manipulative rumors, well-placed dead bodies, and his role as the king’s sanctioned executioner, her growing doubt creates distance between them. 

This distance is necessary. Up to this point, the couple, after Sun-chaek’s initial resistance, mostly had external conflicts. There had been no disagreements or fights that would harm the relationship between the two. Mostly teasing and soft moments, which, while adorable, aren’t a great test of whether or not a couple can last. No, the doubt surrounding whether or not Yi Beun could give up killing. But in The First Night With The Duke Episodes 9-10, he fights against this image, breaking away from what he’s always done. 

Yi Beun may be a killer, but he’s ready to change, and his choices push him in a new direction.

This sign of vulnerability is the crack that Yi Beun’s enemies have been waiting for, particularly Prince Yi-gyu (Lee Tae-sun). With Yi-gyu’s sights on revenge and obtaining the throne for a rival clan, all of his actions in The First Night With The Duke Episodes 9-10 lead to a point of weakness in Yi Beun. One that Yi-gyu can happily exploit. With allies around every corner, Yi-gyu seems sure to succeed in his plan. One ally, in particular, turns out to be the most surprising – Jo Eun-ae (Kwon Han-sol).

While seeds have been planted in previous episodes that Eun-ae’s role had shifted from heroine to villain, in The First Night With The Duke Episodes 9-10, the mask is completely off. Eun-ae is in her villain era, and she’s quite okay with it. From murder to orchestrating kidnappings and whispering rumors in Sun-chaek’s ear, Eun-ae will stop at nothing to get what she desires. A series of flashbacks spelling out all her past misdeeds drives home the depth of her ambition. 

The only people who may be able to stop her are Yi-gyu, a witness to her murdering the kidnapper, Yi Beun, if he discovers her actions, and Jung Su-gyeom (Seo Bum-June), another witness. He also discovers her forged letters mimicking Yi Beun’s writing, implicating her involvement in Sun-chaek’s kidnapping. When Su-gyeom confronts her, it is truly a wonderful moment of acting from Kwon Han-sol, where she slips from her good-hearted mask and dons something more vindictive and cruel. This is the real Eun-ae, making for a fascinating change. 

Yi-gyu is the real MVP of The First Night With The Duke Episodes 9-10

It is also a moment where we watch Su-gyeom’s black and white view of the world come into view. As a character, he’s been lacking development, coming across as more one-dimensional compared to other characters. In The First Night With The Duke Episodes 9-10, what he knows of the world falls apart. The woman he loved and found so good and pure is not. The father he respected and thought to be loyal is not; he is a member of the rival clan Su-gyeom’s best friend, Yi Beun, has been fighting for years. All of it comes to a head at the end of Episode 10.

After Yi Beun goes against the king and refuses to kill a former prime minister, he is placed in a terrible position. Labeled a traitor, the enemies of the crown are eager to seize the opportunity to have him eliminated. As Yi Beun is led back to receive his punishment, he locks eyes with Su-gyeom, who stands alone, so small and alone next to the crowd of ministers crying for Yi Beun’s blood. A flashback shows Su-gyeom sobbing and confessing to Yi Beun about his father, fearing what he might have to do. It is a testament to their friendship that Yi Beun responds with forgiveness. As they lock eyes across the courtyard, we see its strength.

Yi Beun is ultimately sentenced to be sent out to the border to defend China against invading barbarians. It’s practically a death sentence, as no general has come back alive. This is a plan devised by Yi-gyu that, at least on paper, will appear to give Yi Beun a better deal. However, the plan helps Yi-gyu eliminate his rival for Sun-chaek and get rid of an obstacle in the way of the throne. The question ultimately remains: what will happen to the loving couple we’ve come to know and love? 

The mystery of how Sun-chaek switched with K still remains unknown.

Compared to everyone else, Seohyun is given more predictable things to do in The First Night with the Duke Episodes 9-10. Firmly planted in the heroine and damsel-in-distress position, Sun-chaek has almost lost the dimension that she inherited at the beginning of the series when K first switched. Compared to Eun-ae and even Do Hwa-seon (Ji Hye-won), who has been stripped of her wealth and privilege, it’s not as gripping. I say this while fully acknowledging that she managed to escape the kidnapper and made it easier for Yi Beun to find her.

Still, she has a big argument with Yi Beun, where they eventually reconcile after he’s been stripped of his title, and news of him potentially being executed places her in a position to plead with Yi-gyu. It’s unclear how he will cash in on the agreement they forged, but it buys Yi Beun some time—enough time for Sun-chaek to arrange a casual wedding ceremony between the two. This moment between the two is endearing and, again, showcases the maturity of their relationship, even if it happened quickly. 

The marriage is significant in terms of binding them together, but it also signals that the end is rapidly approaching. Marriage was a significant plot point in the original novel, but with the author changing things dramatically, will this also mean the ending will shift too? It remains to be seen. However, by the end of Episode 10, two things become clear – Yi Beun’s life is definitely at risk, and the mystery surrounding Sun-chaek and K looks like it will be addressed. Finally.

As it stands, The First Night With The Duke Episodes 9-10 are filled overwhelmingly to the brim with plot-moving points. Masks are off, political scheming has reached an absolute peak, and our two lovebirds, while separated, have at least had the honor of joining hands in matrimony. With only two episodes left, it’ll be interesting to see how this body-swapping romantic fantasy will end.  

The First Night With The Duke Episodes 1-10 are streaming now exclusively on Viki, with new episodes dropping on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

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