I love this show!!

H*~%|!s^% That confession. Can he be any more smooth!! Girl, grab him. Grab him NOW!

I gotta say, I came to this show for Lee Da hee. I love her. But I am impressed with Siwon. He is just effortlessly swoony here.

Need more Kang PD!
Also, how awesome is the hoobae! The way he handled Kang PD and politely said ‘we aren’t that close’ was cheer worthy. I hope Kang PD sees value in people and makes some friends along the way.

Thank you for the recap @dramaddictally. I am actually surprised at myself since I am looking forward to the reality show hi-jinks. Only because I hope the social commentary stays and to see how it affects the relationship between our two friends.
I kind of adore our second female lead and I saw a side of PD that makes me think of Seo Do Yoen from IHYV (who was, in a funny coincidence, played by Lee Da Hee). Both actress are doing a brilliant job of making their characters likable even sympathetic, which is a tough job since usually the female character types of Love Rival and Professional Antagonist have been long been two dimensional roles.

Most of all though, I am a happy drama watcher because I can relate to BOTH leads and they are endearing to boot!

E5: Only Lee Da-hee could pull off that walk of dignity (instead of walk of shame) after announcing the cancellation of her own wedding. She walked the tallest here, and she’s literally tall.

lee dahee has no business being so pretty.

@dramaddictally I also really like Chae-ri!

I LOVE Yeo-reum and Jae-hoon and how they take care of each other. I HATE ‘Kingdom of Love.’ Dating shows are gross and I’m finding this one as hard to watch as I feared. I don’t know how I’m going to continue, since the show-within-the-show is integral to the development of the plot and the love geometry - maybe by treating it as a sociological study of how decent people deal with awful people in tight quarters? I do have to admire the pretexts for showcasing the highest concentration of bare male torsos I’ve seen in a kdrama. And Siwon in the Fright Wig of Emotional Breakdown was both sad and hilarious.

Secondary female characters who at first appeared sympathetic are getting less so for me. NY Woman didn’t tell In-woo about her pregnancy in good time because of her pride - so she gets to keep her pride at the expense of YR’s, even though YR is completely innocent and ignorant. I know NYW is in a hard situation, but that makes her seem nearly as self-centered as In-woo. And maybe I'm in a minority but I’m rapidly losing sympathy for Ji-yeon. She’s more deceptive and manipulative than she first appeared and doesn’t take ‘no’ for an answer - in stark contrast to Jae-hoon, who takes 'no' for an answer far too well. It’s a bad combination.

JH's confession was the extremely rare triple-twist understatement with forward swoon. High degree of difficulty, maximum points, 10/10.

@dramaddictally thank you for the weecap. This show is on point every week and has me desperately waiting for the weecap to discuss the content.

Quote of this week was Chaeri’s pep talk ‘Do you want to be Cinderella or an unloved carcus’😱 Chaeri is so manipulative she would get gold if it was an Olympic sport. When she said to Yeoreum that she was finally back to her old self. I realised she was not the cold harsh woman she likes to present herself as but was helping a sister out by providing an outlet for her to rant at to prevent Yeoreum falling into the depths of despair. From the vomiting scene I knew Chaeri had been deeply effected by her strained relationship with her mother figure so clearly has a soft side she keeps uncover by presenting as uncaring.

I loved the venue for the reality show with the night sounds of the crickets it presents as a holiday destination. I can’t believe Jiyeon’s character would choose to be on a show like that and then start to worry about the public humiliation of being rejected. Seriously, who goes on a show like that expecting to find a real life date. Anyone who signed up to that show after watching season one knew exactly what they were getting into, unlike the unsuspecting candidates from season one.

Is the chef John Jang so ego driven that he can’t handle any challenge to his number one status. He is the most experienced at being mic’d yet still didn’t think to turn it off for his chat with his female counterpart. Has he seriously forgotten that the reason he got into the war with Jaehoon was because he was caught on the mic chatting derogatorily about Yeoreum?

The blatant ‘get your abs out’ was just priceless. It reminded me of the fan service shower scenes heated discussion we had in the ‘unpopular K drama opinions’ post. I also loved the true to life women’s reaction when they were taken to the water dunking game😬

This show is doing a great job of showing real characters. Yeoreum’s parents’ genuine love for her and Sangwoo’s loyalty and care for his PD were spot on. The stages of Jaehoon’s depression were realistically portrayed and it was lovely to see how a true friend gets the balance right by standing alongside (knowing when to talk and when to listen and helping with basic human needs).

I might be in the minority but I'm not on board the OTP yet. FL and ML both have major life issues to sort out before they get together. I came for Lee Da-hee (and she's great!), but am staying more for Jo Soo-hyang / Kang Chae-ri PD. What an oddball but such fun!

So I'm in a love-hate relationship with Chae-ri. I love how good she is at her job and her midas touch on the ratings each week but her methods...I like her methods but don't like that she doesn't have a stop point to it. That's what I see at least. I'm not wanting her to rein it in, just don't go overboard.
Not to add that show of care she gave to Yoo-reum even if it was for a brief moment.

'Don't threaten me with my staff ever again'
I was waiting for when Yoo-reum would say something along this lines and she did. It should be a push and pull not a push and take-it-in. Moving forward, I want her to be more vocal to Chae-ri.

Jae-hoon's confession : I liked it. Understated is perfect to describe it. His consideration by asking her he's going to wait until she's ready, ✅. 'Just know that you have a man standing by to sweep you off your feet', ' I'll be waiting', ' Grieve. I'll wait for you to be done with it '. Another In-woo would have capitalized on it worked their way into Yoo-reum's heart by showering her with love - left, right, and center - but he didn't.

I was expecting some blame game whenever Yoo-reum gets to have the conversation with her parents and I was relieved to see how it turned out.

I like go-getters like In-woo especially when they share my sentiments and viewpoints on issues. But adding manipulation into the mix is a no-no. Not allowed. Honesty is of the essence and you missed it. Did he really bank on Yoo-reum staying with him peradventure his plan went well and he told her post-wedding? You can't change things so you'll have to leave with it. Even without saying it it can be smelt a mile away. For someone who knows what Yoo-reum needed at this stage in her life and offered it up without mincing words, I don't get his dishonesty nor do I understand it.

Is this the time where Yoo-reum is once again seeing Jae-hoon as a man? I don't want her to jump into him just yet. Sort your feelings out. Reciprocating Jae-hoon's feelings properly and without holds can come on later. I'd want to see little sneak peeks though.
And I like her work relationship with her assistant PD. They truly respect each other.

I understand being persistent when you have a goal in mind, but you also have to know when to stop. Ji-yeon is one of those people who just doesn't know. Ji-yeon, dear, Jae-hoon is just not into you! He's made that abundantly clear! Please stop! It doesn't make you look cute, or smart. It's embarrassing.

Another character who I wish could see the error of his ways is In-woo. Does he really think everything's ok and it'll all just blow over?? Ridiculous.

I'm totally into this show though!

I find funny that people are judging Ji-Yeon when she's in the same situation than Jae-Hoon with Yeo-Reum. Both are honest with their feelings, they want to stay with the person and are ok to be used waiting for the possibility of reciprocity.

I wonder and I'm kinda scared by how the past of Jae-Hoon will be made public. How he will live with it.

PD Chae-Ri is really good at doing her job. Sadly I really don't like this kind of show and the tactics used for it are pretty lame.

Jae SWOONY Hoon! That confession goes into the Hall of Fame of Confessions. It was a difficult one but the writer delivered. And there was no better time for it. YR needs to know what JH feels like now that JY is trying to pair up with him.

Speaking of JY, I'm not a fan. But now her and JH are together playing a dangerous game, so I can't blame her entirely.

Kang Chae Ri is vicious but boy is she competent. I can see her climbing the ladder easily and becoming the Variety Departments Head. YR is competent too but in another way. She is so sweet and is full of care. I feel that shows why her shows weren't a hit, she was not focused on making a hit but delivering the right emotion.
Nonetheless, I do not like KCR as much as everyone else here. We do know her sympathetic background but she chose to be mean to YR even if she cared behind her back. It's hard to value her slight care in comparison with her outrightly being mean upfront.

I firmly believe the (dating) show-within-a-show concept needed Lee Dahee as their female lead. And that's because Kingdom of Love is meant to be a Single's Inferno parody, and I cannot unsee it!

Man, Kang Chae-Ri is a hoot! Plus, she's great at her job! She's willing to do anything for those ratings, and I'm here for it!
I knew since day 1, Ji-yeon would turn out to be snake. Well, not the cheap villainous Second FL from Makjangs kind, but yeah, her clinginess, and unwillingness to take no for an answer makes me fume. I wish she can get eliminated, if there's a provision for that.
Oh, and can Chae-Ri please insert Yeo-Reum as a wildcard entry because she's bored and suddenly wishes to play cupid between Jae-Hoon and Yeo-Reum? Hahh!

The confession... a part of me thinks a grander one would have swept Yeo-Reum off her feet, and she'd kinda go with the flow and say yes (which is what we want at the end of the day) but then we've already seen how pressured she can feel because of those grand-gestures, and ultimately do something she regrets (In-Woo). So, while the slow-burn is agonizing, but I'll stick with it for now. I loved how her breath quietly hitched at the confession, indicating her heart isn't completely an immovable rock and that she does feel a little something for Jae-hoon, deep down, somehwere! :)

You guys... She. brought back. light. into his life!! Both figuratively and literally 🥺

What a fantastic pair of episodes imo. I loved loved loved the montage at the beggining of ep 5, and seeing YR care so much about her friend really brought tears to my eyes. Whenever she turned up at Jae-hoon's door, YR was bathed in light, so full of vitality and color and smiles - quite opposite of JH, who spends his days in the dark, wearing dark clothes, in his own grief and sadness. He doesn't let her in until she's smothering him with food and love and care, and when he finally does let her into his house, she pulls apart the drapes and lets light into his home. It was equally sweet seeing JH return the favor and care for her, he helped her "disappear" for a while. I love friends-to-lovers stories where the friends actually love and care for each other before they become a couple.

I really liked the confession. 10/10, no notes. I hope YR will heal soon and jump on that man-- uhh i mean the opportunity 😏

The Kingdom of Love stuff is fine for now, I hope it doesn't get too repetitive. Kang Chae-ri continues to be very fun, I like how she cares for YR but acts tough when called out 💃

After episode 4 left me with a slightly bitter aftertaste last week, I approached the two new episodes with some reluctance. But after the first fifteen minutes, I knew I was in for the ride.

I melted away at how Jae-hoon wordlessly followed Yeo-reum and was just there for her as she left her wedding .
In general, Jae-hoon is a gentleman, which the women in the dating show also seem to appreciate.

I found the glimpse behind the reality shows interesting, even though I don't watch them myself.

Ji-yeon is not taking no for an answer, is she? I do not hate her as much as I do In-woo- who is simply despicable, perhaps in part because I can sympathize with her to some extent. Partly because she did not come on the show for Jae-hoon (who was the last minute substitute) and after looking at the other four male contestants she is frankly right in seeing him as the best of the lot. Also, when she explained why she came on the show it rang true.

The two episodes were in stark contrast: Episode five was about what happened to the wedding and what happened in the past. Episode six begins our show within the show.

I know we are supposed to hate Chae-ri but just like Dramatictally I actually like her- to some extent. She may be obnoxious and arrogant, but you can also see that she is truly dedicated to making a truly entertaining show. When John Jang starts to upset the dynamics of her show by talking about his 'Fling" with Yeo-reum, etc. she is genuinely pissed off- and with good reason. Above all she may be cynical but she also believes in being truthful. There are things to dislike about her character but also things to like as well.

But what I really loved was the way Jae-hoon put the romantic ball in motion. "If you need a friend, I can be your friend, if you need a man I can be a man." What a perfect non-confession confession- truly no pressure, but he has now given Yeoreum a very real option for her future. Now the ball is in her court. Given her very vulnerable state that is perfect for her. It would be wrong to try to sweep her off her feet, but it is absolutely right to give her a truly free choice.

This show!!!!!! How can it do this to me???

Ep 5 was such a winner. It felt like a masterclass in how to balance swift plot movement and character development/revelation. So good.

I was very impressed by beanies’ prediction about In Woo not being the one to tell Yeo Reum about the pregnancy - your assessment of his character was spot on. I must confess that in YR’s shoes, I probably would have been swept up by IW’s reappearance and declarations of love, and said yes to his proposal too. I’m not sure I would have had her strength to cancel the wedding like that, but it was absolutely the right choice. How could you trust a cowardly dishonest person like that? Whilst I get why he acted that way, for me, it’s unforgivable.

I’m intrigued by Ji Yeon’s character and the different takes on her here. I think for me, the main difference between her and Jae Hoon is that JY and JH have no history. He is still very much a stranger to her and it’s not yet clear to me what she sees in him that makes her so determined and single-minded. It also doesn’t make sense that she would go on a show like this, and I see her as manipulative in offering to be used, whereas JH offering the same thing is about caring for YR in the way she needs and asks to be cared for. JH may not be awarded for that in the end (as viewers, we know he will, but his character wouldn’t), but he’s willing to put her first in a very honest and open way.

The fact that YR’s parents recognised their own role/influence in what happened with the wedding rather than merely feeling sorry for themselves sealed the deal on this show for me. I cried buckets. I love it when characters don’t just deflect their own role and responsibility in a difficult situation, seeing themselves as victims. Her parents understood and took responsibility for their part, and that is extremely admirable when you’re experiencing so much hurt yourself.

Sang Woo is an adorable and loyal friend - I love that YR keeps teasing him about being in love with her and he’s like, “Nope!”🙅🏻‍♂️🤣 They have a lovely, respectful relationship as colleagues and nascent friends. Chae Ri, on the other hand, continues to walk that fine line between goodie and baddie and I love it. She’s such a well-written multi-dimensional character, and I like how perceptive she is about people and their motivations. That’s why she’s so good at her job, and it’s both scary and impressive. I would run a mile from someone like that in real life, but she’s a fantastic character to have in a drama!😅

The one part of the show I’m struggling to withstand is the reality tv show element. It makes me want to crawl out of my skin, seeing people be blatantly self-serving and opportunistic in order to self-promote.🤢🤮 I can’t imagine being in an environment where there’s basically no one you can trust - this would be hell for me. Also, the horrible dating app developer using our webtoon artist is a disgusting cretin - at least the others are vaguely...

I love this show even more this week.
I can't believe Yeo Reum did not go all lovey eyes with that confession. Jae Hoon gave such a smooth and swoony speech!
I too am not worried that Jae Hoon will fall for Ji Yeon. But I am worried that Yeo Reum will not do anyrhing about it and just push JH away.
Chae Ri does have the personality to handle a show like Kingdom of Love. I like that Yeo Reum keeps her in check. But I get a feeling that Chae Ri is a closet fan of YR despite all she says and does.
My heart broke on all YR and her mom scenes. I love them too.
I worry that JH and JY will be the popular OTP of the show which may force their families to push even harder for them to work things out in reality.
Regardless, I wish that YR will not dawdle too much. I applaud her ending things with her ex. I do not particularly want to see In Woo anytime soon. I do look forward to the interrogation of their meddling friends next week.

I love the OTP and their story, but I'm with @elinor when it comes to the reality show aspect the drama. I really hate them IRL, so I found it really off-putting watching it in the drama to the extent that I was FF through a lot of it. If that aspect of the drama is heavily concentrated on in the next few episodes, I can see myself dropping this which is a pity because the main couple are great.
Separately, I loved how the FL dealt with IW and her relationship with her parents, and the confession was perfect. I also have no sympathy with the 2FL, she's way too manipulative.
Hopefully things improve in relation to emphasis on the friendship to relationship aspect of the OTP next week but I'm not optimistic.

On that confession -- last week I had thought it would be too soon or in bad taste for our ML to confess right after FL cancels her wedding. I thought the only option was for him to help her through another breakup, like he did the first time Yeo-reum and In-woo broke up. I just didn't see a way out of it.

But show managed to pull it off masterfully. I didn't get any off vibe from it, and I guess Yeo-reum was not totally shocked after seeing Jae-hoon asleep that morning in the beach house. Deep inside she already knew.

Jae Hoon is the best person for Yoo Reum. Period! I love how mature his thinking and how damn supportive the guy is. He is a total package. I love the confession, no bushing around, no further delays from his side and totally on point. Just realized that this simple confession is thousand times better than the the extravagant ones.

Yoo Reum calling of the wedding and then finally ending with the manipulative In Woo is the best decision she had taken. It was so so so brave of her .

Even though Kang Chaeri seems unapproachable person, but she does seem to care about people in her own way and she is best at her job. She is kinda growing on me and i really cant wait for her backstory.

Totally loving the show and its time to make Yoo Reum jealous and make her see the worth of Jae Hoon in her eyes. Cant Wait for next episodes!

I am still loving this show, although I hate that Jae Hoon is on this reality show. But it does serve to increase the drama. But I was confused as to what Chae-ri was warning (or threatening) Jae Hoon about. I got lost in that whole scene about the rules etc. Was she warning him not to date Yeo-reum?
Ji-yeon annoys me to no end (as a good second lead woman should). But I couldn't believe she revealed their private backstory on TV. And I wish he didn't believe her that she was okay with being used.

I've only got through episode 4 so far and I've concluded I just don't care what happens to these characters. I'm not invested at all. Marry, don't marry. I don't care.

Its all so... artificial. I don't buy the premise, I don't believe they're in the careers they're in, I don't believe these two have been platonic friends for 20-ish years. I especially don't believe they share that huge house 'because the rent's so cheap'. The show comes across as an inferior retelling of 'The Producers' but without the winking self-awareness.