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…
missvictrix
Currently covering: Crazy Love, Tomorrow
Twenty Five Twenty One: I was so unhappy with this ending, I legit wish I had stopped watching at Episode 14 like my gut told me to. It’s not that Hee-do and Yi-jin had to be together, it’s that something about how the story was wrapped up just didn’t give me what I needed. It’s almost as if the story couldn’t commit to what it wanted to do, or how it wanted to leave us feeling. One thing is for sure, though — when the Jaurim song was blasting in the New Year’s Eve scene, it was more than clear that the entire drama was built for that moment in time — the ages of the leads, that particular point in their story, and the overall bittersweetness. I only wish the ending felt as crisp and pulled together. If you’re gonna hurt me, don’t tease me. If you’re gonna tease me, do it right, dammit.
Business Proposal: Another ending that was only 80% of the way up the satisfaction bar. I thought 12 episodes would work in its favor, but now I’m wishing they had cut it at 10 or 11 and just gave us our couples double-dating, proposing, and getting married, with drama-watching Grandpa cheering from the sidelines. I didn’t really need any of the other stuff.
DaebakGrits
Twenty Five Twenty One: Sigh… I wanted to like the ending, but I was dissatisfied. Yes, the romantic in me would have enjoyed seeing Hee-do and Yi-jin end up together, but I actually felt the breakup was handled fairly well. After some time to think about why the ending left me feeling… meh, I came to the conclusion that my biggest issue with the finale — or the entire series — is that I didn’t really care about present-day Hee-do. In order to appreciate how the small — but beautiful — part of her past is only a piece of the whole, shouldn’t I also care about the whole? But I didn’t. Most of the 2024 scenes were dedicated to her daughter or were used to drop vague hints and red herrings, and when adult Hee-do was on screen she was hardly recognizable as the vibrant Hee-do that we all fell in love with — and I’m not saying that just because they are portrayed by different actresses. The Hee-do of the past felt more like a fictional character in a novel, not Min-chae’s mother, and given that Min-chae was rooting for this romance — even though she knew that they would have to break up in order for her to be born — it was hard not to root along with her, as though her mother and the Hee-do in the diary were two separate characters. Yes, adulthood and motherhood can mature and change a person, but traits — like one’s sense of humor — tend to remain consistent throughout time. So without more context and appreciation for who Hee-do was in 2024, the breakup felt more significant than it should have been in the greater context of Hee-do’s life, which seems to undermine the message the drama was telling us. Overall, it was an absolutely beautiful story, though.
Mr. Queen: Having just wrapped up Business Proposal it feels kind of weird seeing Seol In-ah as a royal concubine. Very different characters that demonstrate her range. I can’t wait to see more of her in future dramas!
solstices
Currently covering: Grid
Business Proposal: Aw, I’ll miss this show. *sad archaeopteryx noises* While I think its final episodes could have been better if it didn’t lean so heavily into the tropes it crammed in, I think this show’s strength ultimately lies in the earnest sincerity that undergirds all its hilarious absurdity. Hari won me over just as quickly as she captured Tae-mu’s heart, with her empathy, initiative, and determination. Her refreshing vivacity brought a winsome charm to the show, and her thoughtful tenderness in embracing and healing Tae-mu’s trauma was so lovely. Young-seo’s forthright confidence and free-spiritedness made her so enjoyable to root for, and gentle Sung-hoon was always so patient and considerate of her in a way that warms my heart. All in all, I’ll remember this show fondly for its best parts — the creative subversion of tropes, the mature and communicative relationships, the supportive coworkers, and of course, the endearingly adorable little brother.