So, what are we all watching this week?
What kept you reaching for more (or agonizing when there was no more), and what made you want to throw your remote through the screen? Time to weigh in…
javabeans
Lovely Runner: Every time the plot twists to change up reality, I feel a twinge of resistance because I’m loath to thwart the current equilibrium (just when it’s starting to get enjoyable!) for more angst and tears — but every time, I end up loving the new twist and what it uncovers about our story and our characters. When Sol went back and erased their entire history together, my first reaction was vexed woe, but I did appreciate that it finally felt like they were making sacrifices on an equal scale, and it showed the depth of her feeling for him to give up his love in exchange for his life. (Even if, as Sun-jae points out, her decision isn’t automatically the better one.) But by this point I feel assured that there is a core essence to who they are as people that they will come back to each other and act in similar patterns — the details may differ, but the truth remains. I just hope they save enough time at the end to let us savor the resolution — haven’t we all earned it?
Secret Romantic Guesthouse: On the hunt for another light, fun watch. I’m not sure this is it, but I’ll give it a bit longer before deciding whether to stick it through or bail. Four episodes in, it’s pretty clear this isn’t a premium show, and as far as fusion sageuks go it feels kind of paint-by-numbers. The setups are obvious and the plot is telegraphed so surprises are few and far between, so the appeal lies mostly in the four main characters and their unlikely friendship/bromance. The plucky young woman oblivious to her three vastly disparate suitors is pretty standard story stuff, and we’ve seen it done better a million times before, but their chemistry is benign and inoffensive and sometimes we need something easy to watch that demands very little of us.
Moon in the Day: This definitely wasn’t it. I’m not sure why I finished this, to be honest. I suspect it’s because despite the many, many flaws and missteps, it did one thing well, which was ask a question that stuck with me, gnat-like in its refusal to stop buzzing in my ear: Why did she kill him?? Especially given that he was a loving and devoted husband, and she seemingly returned his ardor. There are a lot of elements here that can work together when handled skillfully — romance, fantasy, reincarnation, mystery, fish out of water, enemies to lovers — but ends up feeling like a hodgepodge of trope stew when handled clumsily. One guess as to which category this one falls into. Because this show didn’t have a lot of fancy tricks or clever directing or elevated production value, it really laid everything bare and was incredibly exposing — the acting had no witty lines to hide behind, the writing had no pretty camera work to mask its flatness. I find that Kim Young-dae has an endearing appeal despite his limited acting skills, but a drama has to really lean into the former to overcome the latter. This drama did not overcome, and highlighted his very narrow range. And yet, I was also struck by how charisma can sometimes be more powerful than skill, a truth that makes me sad but I cannot deny. Case in point: Pyo Ye-jin can act circles around Kim Young-dae and perform technically at a much higher level, and yet her presence felt muted while his flickered through, stilted emoting and woodenness notwithstanding. Hey, I didn’t make the rules.
mistyisles
Lovely Runner: Oof, this week was a sucker punch. I must have gone through all five stages of grief (and then some) for everything that was just erased in an instant. And yet, even as I’d like to turn back time and stop Sol from doing what she did, I can’t say I don’t get why she did it. Plus, as the episodes went on, I started to see where (I hope!) this is going, and if it does keep going that direction, I’ll be here for it. I just need our Sun-jae back, happy and alive with Sol in the same timeline (though I weep for all the other characters’ development that I guess didn’t happen for them now)! Also, I’m undecided on how much I think this Tae-sung knows, but in every timeline I’ve really enjoyed the more platonic side of his relationship with Sol — they have a great dynamic as friends, and I like that they’re able to maintain a friendship in spite of the not-so-platonic parts of their history.