the empress season 1 episode 1 recap

Modern-day gamer Leo Kane dies suddenly after an all-night gaming session and wakes up in another world as Grecan's most feared assassin, Cipher. Upon awakening, he's hired by Imperial Guard officer Hugo Spence to kill a woman named Lady Brooks. Intending to take the money and slack off, Leo's plan collapses when he's captured by his target, Poppy Brooks, who discovers his assassination mission. After Leo bravely drives off a group of bandits, Poppy's view of him changes. When she later learns that Leo once saved her life, their relationship begins to thaw, sparking a bond neither expected in a world built on blades and secrets...

Hank Carver, a descendant of Tina Carver, falls for Wendy Shaw, but Kyle Leed, who secretly loves her, targets him—forcing him to drop out and work as a delivery courier. When his great-grandmother Tina returns, she reshuffles Xancent’s elite families, elevating the kind-hearted Hank. Through trials and revenge, justice is served, and Hank and Wendy finally unite as true lovers.

After the apocalypse, Felix Lynch awakens the Sect of Bliss System.Rebuilding the Sect makes him stronger, so he has no choice but to keep recruiting female disciples.

Rose Frost, a corporate slave, transmigrated into a tyrant queen, activated a system, survived crises, and rose to rule the galaxy as empress.

Dr. Finn Zale, a history PhD, accidentally falls during a field study and wakes up as an orphan in a remote village amid chaotic times. To survive, he sets aside his pen, takes up a hoe, and relies on his farming knowledge. Just when he resigns himself to a quiet life, he awakens a special system—using it, he gains allies, joins the military, and rises from humble farmer to legendary overlord!

Rose Frost, a corporate slave, transmigrated into a tyrant queen, activated a system, survived crises, and rose to rule the galaxy as empress.

Catherine Spence, the former Empress Dowager,was murdered, and the emperor’s stepson performed daily blood rituals to summon her spirit. Three years later, she is reborn—not as the empress, but as the emperor’s overlooked and unloved consort, giving her a second chance at life… and at reclaiming what was stolen from her.

In this episode of GoodChat: Adult Questions with Little Kid Logic, actors Faith Orta, Volodymyr Pielikh, and Sophie Leflèche share their acting journeys, reflect on their experiences working on our vertical dramas, and give a behind-the-scenes look at bringing their characters to life. The conversation mixes heartfelt insights with playful energy as the trio answers grown-up questions using little-kid logic, making for a fun, fast, and entertaining episode you won’t want to miss.

In the 262nd year of the Dragova Era, melting polar glaciers and rising seas swallow countless nations. Ancient sea beasts awaken, invading human lands. On January 1 of year 263, the Rank-10 beasts strike humanity’s last territory, Taelsky. Led by General Alaric Thorne, the elite Dragova Squad fights bravely—but by March 12, they are all annihilated.

To avenge her father, Vivian Gale disguises herself as a man and infiltrates the Imperial Medical Bureau, becoming the empress dowager's personal physician—while secretly plotting her downfall. Misunderstood as a foe, she faces repeated assassination attempts from Emperor Edmund Mortimer. Their clash of wits ignites unexpected feelings, until her identity is revealed. They eventually unite to overthrow the empress dowager's tyranny—and find love amidst vengeance.

Pet shop owner Vivien Jay accidentally ends up in a flash marriage with Shaun Gall, the No. 1 rich man in her city. Due to a misunderstanding, Shaun has to disguise his identity and keep his wealth a secret. What hilarious and unexpected stories will unfold between Vivien, who believes her husband is just an ordinary man, and Shaun, who is a real big shot?

Harvey, the lone Martial King who sealed the Demon Cave for ten years, is publicly stripped of rank by Empress Phoenix after she believes the slander. But the seal breaks, and three demon lords escape and butcher the Rosefinch Empire. The Empire pins the blame on Harvey, ruining him and issuing a manhunt. Facing the Empire's collapse, Harvey at first stays out of it. When the Demon Emperor arrives, Harvey's sister, Yvette, is threatened, and Empress Phoenix begs. Harvey answers, returns with thunderous might, routs the demons, and rescues the Rosefinch Empire.

Harvey, the lone Martial King who sealed the Demon Cave for ten years, is publicly stripped of rank by Empress Phoenix after she believes the slander. But the seal breaks, and three demon lords escape and butcher the Rosefinch Empire. The Empire pins the blame on Harvey, ruining him and issuing a manhunt. Facing the Empire's collapse, Harvey at first stays out of it. When the Demon Emperor arrives, Harvey's sister, Yvette, is threatened, and Empress Phoenix begs. Harvey answers, returns with thunderous might, routs the demons, and rescues the Rosefinch Empire.

An ancient female bandit transmigrates into the body of the eldest daughter of the Finch family, Giselle Finch, and her stepsister steals her engagement on day one!Never one to be robbed, Giselle storms City Hall and snatches her fiancé, Caleb Zeller, back by force. Even though he is Halton's top playboy, with just one punch from Giselle, he bends to her. By the end, the city's #1 flirt becomes the most obedient husband.

Five years ago, Charlotte Shaw, under the provocation of Eve Smith, had no choice but to break up with Yale Ball who was down and out by then. Soon after this break-up, Charlotte lost her memory and gave birth to her child with Yale later. Five years later, Yale returned to his motherland as the No. 1 rich person nationwide. Fate also brought him to Charlotte who was at the lowest point of her life. Somehow, their destines tangled together and composited a music full of twists and turns.

Regular guy Ethan unlocks an overpowered SSS-rank talent that lets him steal other people's talents when the Doomsday Game hits, only to get betrayed and killed by his girlfriend Cecilia and rival Tristan, who steal his talent for themselves. Reborn to day 1 of the game, he uses his future knowledge to save the doomed Rachel, takes Cecilia's fire talent for himself, and sets out for revenge.The two clash over a mind-stabilizing artifact, so Tristan frames him as a "talent-stealing devil" and sets a death trap in the final dungeon.

In this episode of GoodChat, Evan Gambardella and Greg Duffy take us behind the scenes of their newest project, Straight Until He Kissed Me. The conversation dives into their acting journeys and the world of vertical storytelling, exploring how they each found their voice on-screen.

Maid Hailey devotes her life to noble lady Natalie from childhood. The pair stand side by side through every hardship.Natalie rises to become empress of the Cafaro Empire, and Hailey becomes a high-ranking concubine who helps her rule the harem. At 60, Hailey suddenly travels to another era and becomes the Smith family's nanny's daughter.To her shock, Natalie Smith here, just brought home from the countryside, looks exactly like the empress she once served. Adopted girl Mila bullies Natalie cruelly, but Natalie cowers in fear, too timid to fight back. Hailey vows to help Natalie, take revenge on Mila and her unfair parents, and walk beside her into a new, bright life.