The legendary Joseon villainess is officially taking modern-day Seoul by storm. SBS and Netflix’s smash-hit fantasy romantic comedy My Royal Nemesis (also known as Wicked World) has taken the global streaming charts by storm.
Following the intense emotional cliffhangers of Episode 4—where history threatened to repeat itself on a modern modeling set—the fiery, chaotic dynamic between our displaced royal consort and her “monster of capitalism” heir is about to hit a turning point. Here is everything you need to know ahead of Episode 5.
My Royal Nemesis Episode 5: Where to Watch
South Korea: Catch it broadcasting live on SBS TV.
Global / International (including India, US, UK, and Canada): Stream it exclusively on Netflix. New episodes are added to the platform shortly after their original television broadcast in Korea.
Release Date and Time
My Royal Nemesis strictly adheres to a Friday–Saturday broadcast schedule.
Official Release Date: Friday, May 22, 2026.
Official Airing Time (SBS): 9:50 PM Korean Standard Time (KST).
Netflix Global Release Times:
Because the episodes are subbed and uploaded almost concurrently with the live broadcast, international viewers can expect the episode to drop around the following times on May 22:
India Standard Time: 6:50 PM IST
Eastern Time (US): 8:50 AM ET
Pacific Time (US): 5:50 AM PT
British Summer Time (UK): 1:50 PM BST
My Royal Nemesis Episode 5: What to Expect in Episode 5
Episodes 3 and 4 dramatically shifted the stakes. What started as a pure fish-out-of-water comedy turned deeply psychological when Kang Dan-sim (Lim Ji-yeon)—trapped in the body of struggling actress Shin Seo-ri—faced severe emotional trauma during a photoshoot, prompting Cha Se-gye (Heo Nam-jun) to step in and fiercely protect her.
Key plot lines and predictions for Episode 5 include:
- The Meaning Behind the Hug: The closing moments of Episode 4 saw a panicked Dan-sim desperately clinging to Se-gye after spotting Choi Moon-do (Jang Seung-jo), the man who looks identical to the Joseon King who sentenced her to death by poison centuries ago. Episode 5 will deal with the immediate aftermath of this embrace. While Se-gye’s cold outer armor is melting, his signature “monster of capitalism” ego will likely leave him hilariously misinterpreting her sheer terror as romantic affection.
- Using Se-gye as a “Spear and Shield”: Now aware that King Anjong’s lookalike (Moon-do) is a powerful modern player, Dan-sim realizes she cannot survive the modern corporate hierarchy alone. Expect her to lean fully into her tactical, villainous Joseon roots, explicitly declaring to Se-gye that she intends to use his immense wealth and chaebol status to protect her new life and conquer the entertainment industry.
- The Past Bleeds into the Present: Se-gye’s strange, intermittent visions of the Joseon era—specifically involving Grand Prince Cheongheon—are becoming more frequent and intense whenever he is around Dan-sim. Episode 5 is expected to dig deeper into these supernatural triggers, hinting that Se-gye isn’t just an accidental protector, but is cosmically tied to her past execution.
- The “National Actress” Grind: Despite living in a cramped, windowless goshiwon, Dan-sim refuses to play the victim. Armed with a vicious tongue and YouTube-honed combat skills, Episode 5 will see her continuing her ruthless ascent to become a top-tier modern actress, using any means necessary to secure auditions and humiliate anyone who stands in her path.
You can currently stream the first four episodes of My Royal Nemesis right now on Netflix. Be sure to tune in this Friday to watch the reincarnated villainess turn Se-gye’s highly corporate life completely upside down.