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…
quirkycase
Uncle: I had hoped this would be a little more slice-of-life, but that’s not the direction it’s taken. I’m not sure if I like the family elements and character stuff enough to keep enduring the scheming rich people, so I might drop this one.
The Red Cuff Sleeve: This drama was a surprise for me. I expected a typical tragic romance, but it ended up being a memorable story about women and agency. I liked how the tone of the drama mirrored Deok-im’s journey – it started off rather light and fun, but it became melancholy the more trapped she felt. This might’ve been a romance, but it wasn’t a love-conquers-all story. Their love was always more beneficial to San than to Deok-im and felt weighted toward his side given the extreme power imbalance; the uncomfortable moments where he reminded her of his power over her made that clear. Junho and Lee Se-young were both great in their roles, and I’m so happy the drama stayed strong all the way through.
Our Beloved Summer: It’s one step forward, two steps back with these two. Woong and Yeon-su just need to have an honest conversation. They both hide their feelings to protect themselves and end up hurting each other and themselves. I’m rooting for them to learn from their past mistakes and communicate because it’s obvious they need to talk out their problems to move forward.
DaebakGrits
Currently weecapping: Moonshine, Ghost Doctor
Our Beloved Summer: This week’s episodes killed me. Ji-woong is my favorite character, and my heart broke for him. He’s such a loyal friend, and I appreciated how he intentionally put Woong before his crush when they were teenagers. He was someone on the outside looking in long before he became a director, so it was a huge step for him to break his “rules” and tell Yeon-su about his mother. Sadly, given Yeon-su is deep in crush-mode with Ji-woong, it seems unlikely that her feelings will shift this late in the series. My fingers are still crossed, though!
The One and Only: I’ve been busy, so once again I’m a week behind and will be watching episodes 5 and 6 later this weekend. I haven’t bailed yet, but that may change when things start turning sad. For now, though, the plot still has me interested, and I’m weirdly curious about Shi-young, the aloof police officer that’s tracking our killer(s). His styling/wardrobe makes him stand out and sets him up to play a big part as the series progresses, but so far…not so much. What’s his deal?!
Let Me Be Your Knight: We finally got to hear the song Tae-in was composing, but the song and the scene where he fell into the pool were the best parts of this week’s episode. Other than that, I was kind of bored. I was expecting a little more from Woo-yeon after he found out Yoon-joo isn’t a doctor. Instead, he just sat on that information, but it was kind of cute that his immediate concern was to figure out if he saw her or her twin at the bookstore.
What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim: Ugh, the brother being all mopey now that he knows the truth and making the poor butler move all of his belongings back to his old room. Dude! That room has been yours longer than it was Young-joon’s! Young-joon is an adult with his own house! Why would he care about his childhood bedroom? That’s not how you repair your relationship with your brother! End rant. On the plus side, teams Young-joon/Mi-so and Se-ra/Cheol were hella cute in the episodes my friend and I watched this week. I was especially looking forward to Cheol’s Coke bottle confession, and I had a good squee when we got to that part.
solstices
Currently recapping: Bad and Crazy
The King’s Affection: I managed to convince my friend to watch this drama, so I’ve been rewatching it with her — and it’s just as magical the second time around! Something that I really love about this drama is how it focuses on its characters’ emotions and motivations, allowing them to feel lived-in and believable. It makes their struggles all the more sympathetic and compelling, and even when I’m shaking my fists in frustration, I understand where they’re coming from. I particularly love how the drama both embraces familiar sageuk tropes while simultaneously subverting them. It feels so warm and comforting, while also being novel and refreshing. We’re only a couple episodes in so far, so I’m excited for the rest of our rewatch (and to see more of my favorite bodyguard!)
Bulgasal: Immortal Souls: Sometimes I wish the drama remained in the Goryeo era, because the cinematography was stunning and the characters felt so much more compelling. But then I remember that the present day has the maniacally charismatic Eul-tae, and the adorably naive Do-yoon, and suddenly I’m a little more okay with it. Eul-tae is such an intriguing enigma, and his unhinged unpredictability makes him so entertaining to watch. All the centuries of unresolved guilt and longing have coalesced into the many layers of Hwal and Si-ho’s relationship, and I hope it all unfolds in a satisfying manner. I’m a lot more invested in the characters than the plot, to be honest. (Please let Do-yoon get his hugs!)