King the Land: Episodes 3-4
by Dramaddictally
The adorable absurdity continues as King the Land kicks up the chemistry, delivering swoony stares, flustered fiascos, and even more suits for a certain lovestruck lead. While our heroine excels at her job, our inexperienced heir is more concerned with what he lacks in the dating department than in the hotel business. These episodes are just tried-and-true romantic fun that’ll have you smiling from ear to ear — without ever having to utter “Hermès.” *shudders*
EPISODES 3-4
The drama pulls off a lovely feat this week, creating a genuine connection between our leads. When we left them last time, they were headed into a live interview where Won’s sister was set to sabotage him with planted questions. Hwa-ran succeeds somewhat when Won hears the questions are about his mother and he walks off set while they’re filming. But Sa-rang saves the day by filling the air time with memories of her own mother until Won mellows out and returns.
Although it’s not her fault, Won is angry at Sa-rang for needling his sore spot and, once the shoot is over, she asks him if she did something wrong. He wonders how a “mere employee” can question him, and she retorts that a mere employee like her could get fired for the stunt he just pulled. And then she comes out with this beauty: “You might work at daddy’s company as a hobby, but some people work hard just to make ends meet.” Zing!
Last week I had my reservations about Sa-rang. We got to know what moves Won pretty well, but Sa-rang lacked some personality. From here on out, my concerns are calmed. Our heroine is sassy, smart-talking, and grounded in her own principles, and she’s not afraid to teach our male lead a thing or two about how the other half lives. In fact, his interest in trying to understand her perspective is part of her draw — and he listens when she drops little truth bombs about his privilege.
The first time we see these two get close, it’s after another full day of photoshoots on Jeju (with service to the fans as Junho pretends he can’t figure out how to make hearts with his hands. Just bite that circle!). After some improbable events involving a stalled boat, a photoshopped fish, and a scamming old couple who run a one-room hotel, our leads are finally alone, stranded for the night, and drinking far too much.
This is a delicious scene in many ways but it starts out with a battle to be equals, with Won and Sa-rang going bowl for bowl with the liquor. What’s great about it is that Won never dismisses Sa-rang as someone so far beneath him that she’s not even worth competing with. No way. Our hero treats her like a worthy adversary who might just be able to keep up with him — and, spoiler alert, she is.
As we quickly see, we’re not just talking about drinking either. Our girl Sa-rang can put Won in his place at the drop of a hat. Totally drunk, she smacks him in the head, and he complains that he’s not someone who can be mistreated like that. But she counters that people are equal: no one should be mistreated, not just him. This leads to them getting to know each other better, and while they keep it light and teasing (her calling him a snob and him calling her a phony), Won is developing anything but a light crush. He watches her smile her real smile and the man is a goner. And, frankly, so am I — watching Junho falling in love is just gah!
After some date-worthy scenes of the two on a bike the next morning, it’s not long before they’re back at the hotel and Sa-rang is being promoted. Her outstanding composure during the live broadcast has caught the attention of Won’s dad, King Group Chairman, GU IL-HOON (Sohn Byung-ho). Starting tomorrow, he wants Sa-rang to work in the obscenely expensive and highly rated VIP lounge, named “King the Land,” which constitutes an entire floor of the hotel. (I think the name is possibly meant to convey “King’s Land” — as in a place where you’re treated like a king.)
While Sa-rang is actually working, Won spends his time back at the office looking at pictures of Sa-rang and trying to discern how he feels. He thinks about her when she’s not around, and smiles when he sees her smile — it must be love! So, he buys her a gift and bravely marches out to tell her how he feels, only to see some guy run up and hug her as she’s leaving the hotel.
The guy is her boyfriend, GONG YOO-NAM (Ahn Woo-yeon), whom she’s already tried breaking up with, but he hasn’t taken the hint. Seeing the hug, Won is hurt and turns to leave, and so he’s not there when Sa-rang puts the kibosh on her relationship for good.
Independent of whether or not he thinks she’s dating someone else, the rest of our story this week is mainly a series of attempts by Won to try to get Sa-rang alone again. After their brief moment of connection that night on Jeju, it seems he’s going crazy trying to recreate that feeling. (Or is it just me going crazy wishing they would recreate that feeling?) Since he’s in charge of King the Land, he organizes a staff meeting where Sa-rang will also attend. There, while sneaking glances at the object of his affection, he also approves a plan to increase revenue at the lounge. His dad has tasked him with this while he and Hwa-ran compete for their inheritance (because, yeah, that’s still going on).
Won’s next attempt at seeing Sa-rang backfires when she doesn’t reply to his text or calls. He stares at his screen, distracts himself with push-ups (hello), and is generally baffled at the rebuff, until he falls asleep in his dress clothes and wakes determined to see her. He learns that she ignored his call because she didn’t know who it was, but she’s surprised he has her number at all. He writes it off, saying he got it from her personnel file, and then acts surprised because she doesn’t have his number. “I don’t have access to your personnel file,” she says, and I can’t get enough of these little jabs.
The outcome of this conversation is that he asks her to dinner, she turns it down, and he starts scheming a way to have dinner with her anyway. He tells Sang-shik to put together a celebratory dinner for her new position, thinking it’ll just be the two of them. But Sang-shik plans a proper welcome party with the entire staff, lol. Seeing Won repeatedly distressed is most of the fun of these episodes — but not having to see our female lead made uncomfortable with a forced dinner is even better. I love the drama’s MO, always undercutting our heir’s power.
We saw last week that Won and Sa-rang both go to the same lookout spot when they’re feeling blue. This week, when Won is upset while searching for the truth about his mother (it seems she was a hotel employee but her records have disappeared) and Sa-rang is distraught after a run-in with her ex, our leads end up in the same spot on the same night. It’s raining, he holds an umbrella over her head, and it’s lovely, until he says this is his spot and she starts to leave. But we end our episodes with a classic: Sa-rang stumbles and starts to fall — and Won catches her, holds tight, and they stare at each other under the umbrella for maximum heart flutters.
Oof. I didn’t know how badly I needed this show. Now that we’re in the groove, I’m loving it. The comedy duo of our leads grew on me this week, watching them play a time-honored routine where one is overly emotional and the other is straight-faced. But they go back and forth. Sometimes she’s over-the-top upbeat and he’s somber, and sometimes he’s completely exasperated and she’s serious. The more serious the straight-man, the funnier the other one becomes.
One thing I love is that not only is the show not backing down on its exposé of the service industry — it appears to be inherent to the story. This week we saw Pyung-hwa being weighed on the job as a means to save the company’s money, and then sexually harassed by a colleague (was that guy a pilot?). Sa-rang starts her new position at King the Land and there’s already a rumor that she got the job by getting too close to the chairman (nudge, nudge, wink, wink). And Da-eul gets home from work only to start her second shift, taking care of the house, groceries, kid, in-laws, etc. I might think all this was jammed in unrelatedly if not for the fact that our female lead is teaching our hero about how it feels to live her life — and he seems pretty interested to know about it.
This is the most unexpected and gratifying part of the drama for me. They’ve given our leads an actual reason to be attracted to each other, and I can see what we might be building towards. Sure, our OTP are technically boss and employee, but they already operate emotionally like equals. He tries to go on little power trips and she just shuts him down. And he’s interested and thinking about whatever she tells him. Won has his heart in the right place (and might even feel like a bit of an underdog himself within his family), and I’m looking forward to seeing him learn from her.
Episode 3 did a great job creating a connection between our leads, and I cannot wait to see more of it. These two have an obvious rapport and I think part of why this works is that we don’t believe even for a second that they don’t like each other. And so, it’s all the more fun waiting for them to catch up with us, realize they do, and give us the well-deserved happy ending we’ve been waiting all year for.
RELATED POSTS
- Premiere Watch: King the Land
- Junho falls for Yoon-ah’s smile in King the Land
- Yoon-ah discovers Junho’s identity in King the Land
- Junho fails to woo Yoon-ah in JTBC’s King the Land
- Enemies-to-lovers chemistry in King the Land teaser
- Junho and Yoon-ah invite us to stare in King the Land
- News bites: May 24, 2023
- News bites: May 22, 2023
- News bites: May 20, 2023
- News bites: May 16, 2023
- Junho and Yoon-ah cross paths at luxury hotel King the Land
Tags: Ahn Se-ha, Ahn Woo-yeon, Go Won-hee, Junho, Kim Ga-eun, Kim Jae-won (2), Kim Young-ok, King the Land, Yoon-ah
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1 Blue (@mayhemf)
June 26, 2023 at 4:14 PM
I barely survived episode 3, but episode 4 was much better. The best part of the two episodes was the scene with the traffic police. That scene was brilliant.
On paper everything works, but something about the execution doesn’t land for me.
Also, the sister is growing tiresome with the same tactics.
I like the underlying messages about the service industry and how hard it’s to bring by chance. Made me think of Women who suffer at the hands of their mother in laws end up being the same way to their daughter in laws when they grow older :)
So I am not sure how the ML is going to bring about a change because I see the resistance not just from management but from employees too.
Not sold on the romance. Not sure why he fell for her. I get their conversations and how he sees things in a new light. But I don’t see it as romance. Atleast it’s realistic that she has a boyfriend and is not some women who was waiting for the ML all her life.
That boyfriend is a piece of work. Hope we don’t see anymore of him.
I will probably continue just to see if it gets fun next two episodes.
The drama is clearly doing very well given the ratings!
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Elinor, Team Glasses team co-captain
June 26, 2023 at 4:50 PM
The police officer scene with Jin Sun-kyu was so funny it almost seemed to come from another drama, with Gu Won as a captive audience watching a master perform. Was that our first 2PM reference, with the cop saying he should have screamed, ‘I’m Your Man’? It’s not exactly the same phrase as in the song, though.
The pop-up love quiz is so 10 years ago. Who would actually be gullible enough to click on such a thing now? Where is corporate IT security?
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Blue (@mayhemf)
June 26, 2023 at 5:01 PM
I was screaming when he tried to click on an ad!! Dude!! this is 2023 - no one clicks on these ads, not even my 75 year old relatives.. even they know!!
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Kathryn51
June 26, 2023 at 6:51 PM
Jin Sun-kyu was hilarious (couldn't remember if he was a singer or actor). Can't wait to see him Uncanny Counter 2.
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Eazal
June 27, 2023 at 12:09 PM
I wish it were a line from the song, but it isn’t, either Korean or Japanese version, but even so, good catch!
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vienibenmio
June 27, 2023 at 3:10 PM
I don't even know why an ad popped up when he didn't seem to have an internet browser open?
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Blue (@mayhemf)
June 28, 2023 at 4:03 AM
It’s like the coffee that appeared out of nowhere when they finished cycling.
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zk
July 3, 2023 at 12:53 PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJW7_1DpxC4
i am glad i wasn't the only one screaming during the i'm your man line hahaha
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zk
July 3, 2023 at 12:54 PM
and the korean version
https://youtu.be/2iiBfZkuiEk
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Bunny Sonaki
June 26, 2023 at 4:55 PM
I hate the sister too. Her threats are repetitive and annoying. Can't we set ber scenes aside?
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Blue (@mayhemf)
June 26, 2023 at 5:08 PM
At this point, she has only one dialogue.. and his response is always the same. Its just repeat conversation. I guess they are 'building up' to him fighting back at her and reminding her that she brought this upon herself.
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Bunny Sonaki
June 26, 2023 at 11:18 PM
I have no problem with the build-up idea but we need a more solid one but I feel like I saw that dialogue at least 4-5 times. And I want him to stand up to her not just saying same line each single time.
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Kathryn51
June 26, 2023 at 6:38 PM
If not for the sister, this would be an 8-episode drama, maybe 10. And the "teen" version of her? She could be her daughter in real life (the teen actress in only 15 years old)
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Bunny Sonaki
June 26, 2023 at 11:19 PM
Actually I think the drama needs less episode count. I wonder how it will fill 16 episodes.
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Blue (@mayhemf)
June 27, 2023 at 9:17 AM
Yup! I could watch 16 ep of 19th life, but this one would have benefitted from 12 episodes. We are going to have lot of 'long stares to induce love' moments.
OldLawyer
June 26, 2023 at 4:58 PM
There is no reason for us to see ex-boyfriend again. At some point he needs to see that he is not at the right place to have a serious relationship- he would much rather spend time with his friends. Which is really OK. Someday this will change but that day is not this day.
The scene with the traffic police was absolutely golden. This is a romcom with actual comedy in it. We have not had that since the end of BUSINESS PROPOSAL.
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Kafiyah Bello
June 26, 2023 at 5:54 PM
I agree about the sister. Her villainy is so bizarre, it is as if the writer needed a villain but couldn't be bothered to develop her. Also, she seems to have always been trash, who throws away a child's keepsake like that.
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Blue (@mayhemf)
June 26, 2023 at 6:06 PM
She acts like she is a master of emotional harassment but she has just one tactic. 🙄
At this point I don’t expect any earth shattering reveal about his mom. She probably worked in the hotel and he was born out of wedlock. And they erased any sign of her existence.
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sakuradaydream
June 26, 2023 at 6:08 PM
holy moly the sister comes off as so weird to me my brain just tunes her out.
Honestly his whole family comes off as those typical villains who look so comical (especially the dad why is he acting like that lmao I've seen him perform better in his previous roles) to the point where I cant take any of them seriously
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Blue (@mayhemf)
June 26, 2023 at 6:10 PM
The actor who plays the dad looks so weird. I mean, his face looks like he has a mask. Or his eyebrows are done weirdly. Or he is botoxed. I can’t tell. He doesn’t look like how he usually does.
I don’t think he suits this role. On the other hand the father chairman in the other hotel drama is scary.
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Mrs Buckwheat
June 26, 2023 at 9:03 PM
The father feels like a cardboard cut out which they just drag around and then prop up in the needed scenes.
The actor says the required dialogue in a very cliched, one dimensional manner and there is something that feels very odd with his appearance. He looks miscast to me.
What a pity they didn't go down the Lee Sung-min (Reborn Rich) road where less is more, with just a glance or quietly spoken dialogue that has so much more impact than the normal noisy, shouty scenes. I think overall the father and sister are just meant to be caricature characters as the focus is on the rom com but this is the difference between an okay or fantastic show.
sakuradaydream
June 27, 2023 at 8:44 PM
honestly I just realized my brain mixed up the dad from See You In My 19th Life & from here my god SO many dads to keep up with.
I apologize that y'all accidentally got my view on the dad from SYIM19L. My take on the sister from King the Land still remains the same. The dad though is so unmemorable to the point where i was able to mix them up lmaooo
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Elinor, Team Glasses team co-captain
June 27, 2023 at 9:01 PM
😂 That is my opinion of the actor/dad in KTL so I didn't even notice a discrepancy. The 19th Life dad (Choi Jin-ho) has been so memorably evil in some other roles that he's much easier for me to recognize. It's the hotels I keep mixing up - I have to remind myself that King Hotel = Hyatt Regency, while MI Hotel is more like that older one past its glory days where I stayed in Slovenia that one time.
Blue (@mayhemf)
June 28, 2023 at 4:01 AM
Lol. Totally understand. I initially thought both hotel dramas had the same actor playing dad 😅
parkchuna 🍉
June 27, 2023 at 9:13 AM
I had such high hopes for the sister as a villain. Then they whipped out the mom-related interview questions and i was like that’s it?? You’re just gonna add mom in every question to inflict emotional damage? Though it did sort of work, it was hardly genius.
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hallyucinations
June 27, 2023 at 8:19 PM
I agree with you. Something is off about the romance and you are right its the lack of rationale behind it- why does he like her, so soon that too? I don't mind a good execution of a trope, but I found the cycling and even co-habitation scenes on the island to be really contrived. Again, too much too soon and not flowing naturally. They did not work for me. Junho will be keep me going though.
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2 Rachel2
June 26, 2023 at 4:25 PM
They had cute chemistry in episode 3, especially during the drinking scene. I am here for all of Gu Won's broody stares as he pines after Sa-rang.
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FlourPower
June 29, 2023 at 4:24 AM
I rarely find drinking scenes all that cute, especially when the main purpose just seems to be to get hammered. (I'm starting to understand why there are so many liver issues in SK medical dramas.) However, this one worked for me, both in terms of Lim Yoon-A's delivery and the extended focus on Lee Joon-Ho's gaze.
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3 MamaWantsDrama
June 26, 2023 at 4:35 PM
I have been eagerly waiting for this recap - and you didn’t disappoint! Well done!
I am loving literally everything about this show. It is a true delight - and like you, I didn’t realize just how much I needed it.
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4 Seon-ha
June 26, 2023 at 4:46 PM
👉 “watching Junho falling in love is just gah!”👈
If this doesn’t interest you, I can completely imagine why these episodes fell flat. But on the other hand, like @dramaddictally says, and I completely agree, GAH!
I also think she’s given reason for him to fall for her in the age old, “No one’s ever had the guts to talk to me straight” sort of way…
(And, finally, yeah, I assumed that guy was like the co-pilot or something, certainly not one of the flight attendants—different uniform.)
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KAddicted
June 26, 2023 at 7:15 PM
Agree about him being a pilot. Super cocky so he must have come from the cockpit. 😄
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Blue (@mayhemf)
June 27, 2023 at 9:19 AM
lol.. I see what you did there.
He probably was her batchmate or they dated. He acts entitled.
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skelly
June 27, 2023 at 7:01 PM
I am a sucker for a female lead who doesn't just give as good as she gets, but teaches the male lead a thing or two about life and people. She doesn't have to be named Elizabeth Bennet, I'm still here for it!
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5 Xococo
June 26, 2023 at 4:47 PM
For me, the best part of this show is that the ML isn’t trying to be a perfect chaebol, he’s just some rich dude trying to get his life together. He isn’t ambitious about the hotel business (yet), and he isn’t the smartest person on the planet. With that, the writers have managed to actually make the leads equals so that the story that brings them together resonates honestly.
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parkchuna 🍉
June 27, 2023 at 2:46 PM
Also love that whenever the sister offers him money to make him disappear, he always say “i have plenty of my own money, thanks” 😆
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Xococo
June 27, 2023 at 6:30 PM
Right. She is literally the worst character that I feel bad for the actress playing her.
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6 VanityFair
June 26, 2023 at 4:48 PM
Thank Goodness for episodes 3 and 4... much better chemistry as opposed to 1 and 2 - love the interaction between the leads. The ML is not a complete ass and the FL is not afraid to stand up for herself - am excited for what is to come. Need a fluffy rom com... NEED IT
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7 Bunny Sonaki
June 26, 2023 at 4:51 PM
I loved the scene with the. police officer. Our boy isa goner already. I hope we get the romcom we deserve this time.
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8 Asha13
June 26, 2023 at 5:02 PM
Ive been struggling to understand why I don’t like this show while I adored Business Proposal. Aside from the fact Kim Se-jeong is adorable and impossible to hate, I think it’s because of the unrelenting humiliation of one party. That’s what I hated about Bora so much I dropped it at episode 4, and I see hints of it here where Junho seems to be constantly looking bad. Everyone walks all over him, from his evil sister to his dad, his assistant, the FL. There is no Kim Se-jeong to distract me from this, I do not like the FL here. (I am sure she is lovely, I just can’t seem to like her. )I see that this show is popular, but I am getting close to dropping it. I am sticking around to see the ML start kicking butt. If it doesn’t happen soon, I am gone.
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Blue (@mayhemf)
June 26, 2023 at 5:14 PM
I agree! I went back and saw a few scenes of Business Proposal and I realized how much energy KSJ brings to the drama.
Yoona's character is written well, but yet it comes across as boring and I think its her acting.
Plus all these toxic work environments. - hotel, airline, is hard to watch. And added to that is domestic ill treatment on one of the friends.
Given all these arc's the romcom part is actually a small portion of the drama.
Like you, I want to see if Jun Ho will bring his charm in the next few episodes. I might not drop yet, will probably watch it in the background.
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Asha13
June 26, 2023 at 5:51 PM
“ Yoona's character is written well, but yet it comes across as boring and I think it’s her acting.” YES! Absolutely
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indyfan
June 26, 2023 at 6:29 PM
I don’t think the material is great. KSJ didn’t get to be exposed on a toilet. But I agree with you both. Yoona is OK but she just doesn’t have that extra zing that KSJ brought to the show. She made ABP IMHO.
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Blue (@mayhemf)
June 26, 2023 at 6:52 PM
Lol. No one is letting me forget about the toilet.
On paper she is a smart woman who is good at her job, has a good temperament and actually enjoys her job. She also has worked hard to acquire skills for her job. She has good friends and she had a life outside work.
So to me it’s not a female character written solely to be the chaebol’s love interest and I liked that.
But her acting doesn’t bring anything of this on screen.
Asha13
June 26, 2023 at 7:19 PM
@mayhemf that toilet scene is burned in my retina :D
Asha13
June 26, 2023 at 7:24 PM
@indyfan to be fair, she does get caught in the men's bathroom by the grandpa
indyfan
June 26, 2023 at 7:32 PM
@asha13 True. True. But a stall gives you quite a bit more coverage. Having said that, KSJ had her “Samantha & Rachel” and she made it work, and then some. So, KSJ still for the win.
Decraew
June 27, 2023 at 11:11 PM
Yoona is verrrry cute and has an amazing smile I think but it’s true that she’s not in the same league as KSJ. I think the latter is naturally more vivacious.
LucyM
June 27, 2023 at 9:59 AM
Definitely; I like her character fine. She's a professional, and I was actually impressed by the way she informed her inexperience boss of the way things are done in the hotel (with the actress who wanted a free upgrade).
However, it feels like the character could have been better off in the hands of a less bland actress.
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missjb
June 27, 2023 at 5:42 AM
Disagree about finding her acting boring. Yoona Giving so much depth to this character I actually shocking about her ability to infuss depth. She isn't treat it as romcom, more like slice of life genre with deep story. She might be not in the same level as Kim Seo Jeong, but she is doing a good job. IMO
the one who is underhelming actually JunHo. Quite shocking given his performances is so good in The Red Sleeve.
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Boyzmom
June 29, 2023 at 8:43 AM
Has no one seen the extremely popular movie Exit? It was even on my United flight recently. Yoona is amazing. She has actually done far more acting than KSJ, who is darling, I grant you, but still a very young, one-note actress in my book. Yoona has a subtlety in her acting that KSJ is just starting to learn. KSJ's character in Today's Webtoon was exactly the same as Business Proposal...same cutesy character, same one-note acting. I'll take Yoona's maturity any day.
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pogo - sailing HMS Queen of Tears and HMS Sailboat Lovely Runner🍉
July 12, 2023 at 5:34 AM
Kim Se-jeong, one-note? Is that an assessment formed after seeing Uncanny Counter and A Business Proposal, because if it is.....
That said, Yoona deserves all her praise for this drama - the role plays to her strengths as an actress, namely that she's very charming and natural onscreen when allowed to be, but now she also has the gravitas to carry her half of it, and great chemistry with the other actors (Junho yes, but also her besties - the three girls really feel like they've been best friends since girlhood). She's got good comic timing and delivery too, that drunk scene was fantastic and a harder feat than it looks considering how many actors - from any country - suck at playing drunk.
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9 hacja
June 26, 2023 at 5:16 PM
While like most rom-coms, this one is more rom than com, with amusing moments rather than hearty guffaws, the opening scene with the policeman giving romantic advice was genuinely funny, and while I didn't guffaw, I did chuckle.
As far as the romance, while its time for Junho's character to grow up, I really like Sa-Rang, and think Yoona's is portraying her really well. The joke is, of course, that she while Won calls her "phony" she's really genuine. I really have no idea what "chemistry" is, but the couple sure seems like they have it to me. The other men in this drama are pretty hard to take. Even Won's sidekick gets a little tiresome--I wish he'd just tell it like it is without always "comically" retreating.
As I said last week, I like the message about the service industry, and about the special burden it places on women. I'm not quite sure why so many fellow service workers are hostile to Sa-rang because of she "only" has a two year degree rather than a four year one. Coming from the U.S. its pretty amazing to me it would be standard to demand a full degree for hotel desk work--I would think the language or sommelier training you'd get at a 2 year college would be far more valuable. But I understand why, given the struggle Korean students apprently have to get into college, you might feel that even a desk job at a prestige hotel was somewhat beneath your degree and be resentful about it.
Overall, then I'm liking this show and hoping it continues without leaning too heavily into the noble idiocy, forced separation, and time skip tropes.
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KAddicted
June 26, 2023 at 7:22 PM
Completely agree about the 2 year degree nonsense. Hospitality is not brain surgery and when she got promoted upstairs and her colleagues were colluding to get rid of her because she didn't have a 4 year degree, I found myself shouting at them, "And what did you do with yours? Run around in a hotel like a servant bowing and scraping to people who also have 4 year degrees but actually achieved something with them!"
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Unaspirated
June 27, 2023 at 4:51 AM
I think it's just a general prejudice against people without college (or full college) educations in Korea. I read an article a few months ago and they were talking about the severe lack of tradespeople in Korea because it's so stigmatized not to go to college, even though you can make a great living by taking other options. So I assumed the lobby manager was just exhibiting that to an appropriately kdrama-exaggerated degree.
Totally agree that chemistry is a strange and nebulous creature, and they have plenty for me. And please, Show, if you have to have a time skip, can it just be a happy ever after one? Please?
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Eazal
June 27, 2023 at 9:37 AM
I agree with you about the prejudice against anyone not having a degree in SK, and it's not something from now but that comes back in time... we have seen all those sageuks in which someone is the "only hope" of their family because they need to pass the state exam. It's engraved in their culture, you need to have a paper that proves that you are someone to be someone.
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Gikata
June 27, 2023 at 4:21 PM
You think that's weird?))) I once seen with my own two eyes a recruiting ad demanding a full college diploma (aside of other very specific requirements - attractive females no older than 27 precisely). The vacancy in question? Salesperson in a TINY lingerie shop! Why the hell would anyone need a college degree to sell panties and bras - and why you absolutely cannot do that after 28 y.o. - is escaping me to this day. Maybe, just maybe it wasn't actually a lingerie shop that needed such applicants after all... Yikes.
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hacja
June 27, 2023 at 5:40 PM
Maybe, the shop owner thought intelligent women are sexy?
(Note-They really are, but I'm not suggesting that college degrees guarantee intelligence, nor am I condoning ads for attractive females to staff lingerie shops!)
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Gikata
June 27, 2023 at 6:13 PM
Now that's some high standards then)))
It was especially funny/weird since where I live it takes a serious effort to find a genuinely unattractive 20-something woman... We're sort of infamous for female beauty here, to the point of a heavy desensitization of local men (arguably most spoiled bunch ever) to all the pretty around. So that one requirement was like absolutely unnecessarily, ever more so than college degree one.
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10 Ruhi
June 26, 2023 at 5:31 PM
As someone in the middle management, I found the scenes with evil sister particularly triggering. All she did was walk around "looking competent" and just increased the targets for her departments. There were no ideas from her and there was nothing she brought to the table. Even our 'I am not interested in the company and will spend all the day giving moony looks at FL' Gu won was better. He spent literally half a minute on his job but still was better than the crazy step sister.
How adorable is Junho as the clueless chaebol !!! Can I pinch his cheek... I totally get why Sarang would be doing this in the next episodes(acc to initial teasers).
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indyfan
June 26, 2023 at 6:35 PM
It was kind of disappointing. I really liked her as the cold and calculating, but calm and competent villain in the first two episodes. Much better than the shouty over the top father (who just might sadly get a redemption arc). But now they’ve made her incompetent (whereas Junho was smart to actually listen to his employees). Worse, they’ve made her boring, as other beanies have said, by just repeating the same old interactions with Junho.
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Xococo
June 26, 2023 at 10:00 PM
Before episode four, I was hoping that the sister was just doling out some evil but for your own good medicine to little brother, and I was intrigued. I am disappointed that they chose to go with the stock villain sister instead. Fingers crossed I’m wrong on that. Maybe she’ll have a redemption.
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indyfan
June 26, 2023 at 10:28 PM
That would have been a nice change from a stock evil sister who's gonna get her comeuppance.
A part of her resentment seems legit to me. The only reason the ML, who neither knows nor cares for the business, seems to be getting a shot at it, is that he's a man. What if ML realizes the hotel business just isn't his calling and leaves it to her. He decides instead, oh I dunno, to open a chain of bespoke clothes shops, starting with the first one KTL. Clearly the man loves his suits. And we all love Junho in suits even more. Win-win.
OK, not gonna sell any scripts. But surely the writers can do something fresher than the story that seems to be building. Fingers crossed I'm wrong.
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skelly
June 27, 2023 at 7:08 PM
I don't see how a redemption arc is possible with the nasty sister, considering she was just as mean as a teenager, tossing Won's one precious memento out the window and letting out the evil cackle, junior version. During her business rounds I kept picturing her in a red dress and scepter, shouting "off with his head!"
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Eazal
June 27, 2023 at 9:39 AM
Get in the line to pinch Junho's cheek or any part of that body!
(yes, he is adorable!)
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11 Kafiyah Bello
June 26, 2023 at 5:52 PM
I laughed and I laughed at the traffic police scene. That was comedy gold. Yoona is a terrible emoter and crier. I did not believe she was sad, her terrible boyfriend sold me more on the end of the relationship than she did. She is fine when she doesn't have to work too hard. As for the romance, it isn't particularly believable. He just falls for her by staring at her, the writer at least seems to be trying to give her a reason to like him. I need more to understand why he likes her other than that she tells him the truth. His fall was very abrupt and the audience didn't earn it and neither did she.
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sakuradaydream
June 26, 2023 at 5:59 PM
I loved the traffic police scene too omg! I really thought he was Won's childhood friend or smth cuz the way he looked at him was like he knew him but it was just some random guy that made it even better lmaoo
I feel you on Yoona. She hasn't really left an impact on me as an actress from her previous works.
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KDramzFan
June 30, 2023 at 5:05 PM
I enjoyed Yoona when she slapped him on the head. Her emoting is better than some of the other shows I have seen (i.e K2....that was bad...no it was a travesty).
I did also like Yoona when she was sawing away at the steak and trying to consume it while hot. It definitely made me want to eat some steak! But I desisted.
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KDramaJoy
August 10, 2023 at 2:15 PM
I disliked the YoonA character in K2 because I don’t like damsels-in-distress whose role is confined to repeatedly being saved and then loved by the ML. Because I liked Ji Chang Wook so much in K2, I next watched The Healer. Its strong FL well-played by Park Min Young (IMO) makes Healer one of my favorites. One reason I am watching KtL is to see what YoonA can do with a different character.
IMO Jun Ho is a versatile actor. I prefer his tortured-soul dramas (especially Rain or Shine -- aka Just for Lovers) but I will watch him in most anything. I am not a fan of the trope: Chaebol heir falling in love with common folk. This is not meant as a criticism -- rather like -- I don’t like fresh raspberries but many discerning people do. So I'm watching KtL mostly because of Jun Ho.
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Elinor, Team Glasses team co-captain
June 26, 2023 at 6:07 PM
Junho is a pro. His only job on this lousy ship is to fall in love with Yoona, and no matter how stupid it is, he's going to do it.
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indyfan
June 26, 2023 at 6:46 PM
100%! But let’s be fair. He does that one job so well. Junho in love is a mighty fine creature indeed.
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Reply1988 -❣️Mother Bean❣️
June 27, 2023 at 12:58 AM
The link didn’t work and I am desperate to know what it is 😊
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Reply1988 -❣️Mother Bean❣️
June 27, 2023 at 6:49 AM
Ignore me saw the comment below retried the link it worked, not sure what I did wrong the last time. Loved it😆
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Kafiyah Bello
June 27, 2023 at 4:10 AM
Lol, I agree, I believe he is in love with her, it just wasn't earned.
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Mrs Buckwheat
June 27, 2023 at 6:11 AM
Elinor, 👏👏👏, well played with the link 👌
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skelly
June 27, 2023 at 7:12 PM
Not all idol actors/actresses are created equal. Some, like Junho, are pretty darn good. Others, like Yoona, can do a creditable, workmanlike job. Some, like Baekhyun, are just plain terrible.
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hlndncr
July 15, 2023 at 1:01 AM
Love the Galaxy Quest reference! *awkward hand hearts*
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bbstl 🧹
June 27, 2023 at 7:58 AM
He fell as if he’d never seen a girl before!
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Eazal
June 27, 2023 at 9:44 AM
You are right about Sarang and boyfriend scene. It was him the one who sold me that break up, not Yoona's acting. Anyway, that scene let me thinking how many women, just for the sake of having a boyfriend because that is what they should be doing (dating), have to stand a guy that thinks that giving you 10 minutes every now and the and not remembering anything you tell him is enough. The way he reacts when she wants to break up, not feeling sad or guilty, but blaming her because she doesn't appreciate him and is over reacting speaks about how selfish he is. Sarang should have broken with him ages ago.
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Kafiyah Bello
June 27, 2023 at 10:24 AM
Amen sister, he was really trash, and the fact that he didn't notice anything about her at all is wild. Why she stayed so long, seems to be what you said, just to have a boyfriend. Smh
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12 sakuradaydream
June 26, 2023 at 5:55 PM
I have to make a confession, past me was the biggest hypocrite & ass when this show first came out. I remember commenting on the first weecap expressing how it didn't really hook me with the tacky promo posters. (don't get me wrong the promo posters are still tacky)
Well i retract that statement cuz I decided to give it a shot over the weekend & safe to say it has me hooked (line + sinker too) I could've sworn I blinked once & saw Gu Won morph into Kang Taemu briefly.
This is my first lee junho drama (ive heard of him before) so I'm not too familiar on his acting range but so far he's doing well in his role.
I've seen Yoona in past dramas (still salty over her character's arc from Big Mouth) but she still has yet to leave an impact on me as an actress.
Apart from that, those two on screen together are adorable. It reminds me of those cheesy romcom dramas from 2016-2017 era.
I loved the camera angles during the drunk scene in ep3, it enhanced the way he looked at her but I am not a fan of the insta-love, I hope to see more conflict between them.
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Hohoho
June 28, 2023 at 1:45 PM
I have watched Junho since his Just between lover drama and I don’t regret at all on all his other works! His acting whips so damn good! No matter his role is poor or rich, cold or warm guy, with romance (most of his dramas) or without romance (Confession), he is really doing his great job and bless my eyes and my ears through brilliant acting!
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13 Unaspirated
June 26, 2023 at 6:00 PM
Thanks for the weecap @dramaddictally! I totally agree with everything you said, tbh. I love that we can already see Sa-rang's little comments and lessons having an effect on Won. And the scathing depiction of the service industry doesn't feel forced in to me, but rather really relevant to our characters' situations and motivations. One other thing I loved in that vein was the contrast between Won and his sister's strategy. She walked around making threatening comments about increasing sales, and Won sat down with the already competent employees and asked them what would really make a difference for them. When the manager told him honestly that increasing incentives would be the best way, he just implemented it. He didn't need to be made to feel like it was his idea, he didn't question her expertise, he just did it. Maybe it says something sad about me that what I find most attractive is a man who doesn't need to be the star of every meeting, but here we are. The suits aren't hurting either.
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darwi
June 27, 2023 at 12:07 AM
The sad part is that a manager who listen and doesn't need to the be the star of the meeting is a fantaisy.
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Dramaddictally
June 27, 2023 at 1:32 PM
Oh I loved that scene that you’re describing. When Won says he’s giving approval because the people on the ground know better than him, I fell completely in love with him.
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Unaspirated
June 27, 2023 at 1:50 PM
Yes exactly! I'm not sure if the drama meant that to be a swoony moment but that's certainly what they made!
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KDramaJoy
August 10, 2023 at 2:07 PM
I’m late to KtL, so I've read many comments from dramabeanies who clearly love the policeman scene. What I especially appreciated from that scene is Jun Ho the actor yielding the stage to Jin Seon-kyu as the traffic policeman. Jun Ho appears quietly engrossed -- just as we were (except we got to laugh). I want to think Jun Ho the actor was truly captivated by JSk’s comic but heartfelt monologue, for which he didn’t need to be the star.
It takes a really good actor to portray the strong quiet man who burns inside (Gary Cooper as the Marshall in classic 1950 Western High Noon has become an iconic western silent type).
Ah the suits! Jun Ho walking in a classy suit is the picture of grace. I think it’s the dancer in him. I recall a video of 2PM, all in suits, walking onto the stage to sing Like a Merry Go Round. Just wow. In Good Manager [2017] (well before his Baeksang), Jun Ho not only displayed exquisite, well-fitted suits but also held his own as a comic actor against Namkoong Min.
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14 indyfan
June 26, 2023 at 6:22 PM
Comment was deleted
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15 Kathryn51
June 26, 2023 at 6:25 PM
part of why this works is that we don’t believe even for a second that they don’t like each other.
He has a crush; I'm not sure that she likes him - she is fearful of how any attention - or negative feedback - from him could cause her to lose her job. I'm surprised that his feelings are front-and-center so quickly so I am assuming that NLT next weekend, he will sober up, admit defeat and return to searching for his mother. At which point - enter from stage right, our heroine who is somehow connected and-even-tho-I-dislike-childhood-tropes, this one might be ok.
I am enjoying this drama and I get up early Sat/Sun mornings to watch as soon as it drops on Netflix (Midnight KST and 8:00 am PDT [my time] for those who may be interested.
Also, great ratings - hope they can maintain for SIXTEEN episodes - there must be much more coming to sustain it that long.
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Tizzy
July 2, 2023 at 11:21 PM
Oh I didn't think about a possible childhood connection! Could it be that Sa-Rang's and Won's mother were friends? And Sa-Rang and her mom visited King Hotel to see Won's mom?
I also wondered about Sa-Rang's parents. What happened to them? Since this is drama, I wonder if their death and Won's mother's death is connected.
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16 Camelia
June 26, 2023 at 8:42 PM
I am loving the show so far. I have been watching dark shows, so watching King The Land is a nice change. I CAN'T GET USED TO THE TILE!!
These two episodes were much better. The show is doing a good job showing us how competent Sarang is at her job. Sarang's dream was to work at Hotel, and she is proving herself in the workplace. I am glad to see the show highlight that Won had nothing to do with her promotion. On the other hand, Won is staying true to his words that he is not there to interfere with the Hotel but is looking for his mother. Won's sister's threats are repetitive now, and it's getting annoying. I was intrigued by her in the first episode, but they need to do something with her character b/c making the same threats will be a waste of her character.
Sa-rang and her friends continue to be the show's highlight for me. Sa-rang's scenes with her grandmother were sweet, and I want to see more interaction between them. Don't you dare do anything to Halmoni show!!
Won and Sang-Sik's relationship is hilarious. I love that Sang-Sik is frank with Won. When Sang-Sik called out Won for his behavior towards Sa-rang and highlighted his shortcoming made me laugh.
I am glad that Sa-rang broke up with her boyfriend. He is a terrible boyfriend who doesn't seem to care about her and always prioritizes his friends over his girlfriend. When Sa-rang said, "My love is over, so do whatever you want with yours" I was like you go, girl!
Jin Seon-kyu's cameo was definitely one of the highlights of this episode for me. Yoona asked him to make a cameo in the drama, and I can't believe he did. His conversation with Won was funny, and Won bowing to him 90 degrees was hilarious.
I know many people complained about the chemistry, but I like the lead's chemistry. I think Yoona and Junho are doing a good job. When I started this show, I went to the mindset of not taking it seriously. I miss the old trope drama like this. I have too many heavy dramas airing now, so KTL is fresh air for me. Please keep it coming!!
Sorry for the long post :)
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Unaspirated
June 27, 2023 at 4:39 AM
I laughed so hard at the 90 degree bow! Won recognizes a teacher when he sees one hahaha!
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17 Mrs Buckwheat
June 26, 2023 at 8:44 PM
Ditto to what everyone else has mentioned.
I did not think the airhostess weighing scene was appropriate regardless of any of its intentions.
I'm here for Junho.
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bbstl 🧹
June 27, 2023 at 7:56 AM
That was beyond awful. This show is doing a good job of making female supervisors look like bitches from hell.
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Blue (@mayhemf)
June 27, 2023 at 9:24 AM
And the whole explanation about how weight is related to flight safety yet somehow men's weight don't matter?
50kg's is a ridiculous target to meet for most women, esp after your 30s.
The workplace bosses a super triggering. How does that lobby manager still have her job? I have not seen her do one thing so far.
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Eazal
June 27, 2023 at 9:51 AM
Somehow I feel this scene is too close to reality, surely the flight security is just the excuse, but the fact that you HAVE to be thin no matter what, and how you are blamed if you are over 50, it's crazy.
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vienibenmio
June 27, 2023 at 3:15 PM
My husband is a pilot so I asked him if it's really a thing, and he said US airlines used to do that but it is illegal now
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skelly
June 27, 2023 at 7:19 PM
True! In the US, "stewardesses" were not only weighed, but they were forced to quit when they married or became too "old" for the job. And of course they were expected to be cute.
bbstl 🧹
June 27, 2023 at 7:43 PM
Anyone who wants to see what it was like should look up Braniff stewardesses from the go-go 60s 😳
Blue (@mayhemf)
June 28, 2023 at 4:14 AM
I was just shocked that they still do it in 2023. Yeah, ‘looks’ were a key component in hiring airline hostesses back in those days.
18 pohonphee
June 26, 2023 at 8:53 PM
Watching this and remember the line from Love To Hate You: Rom com drama writer is a psycho 😅
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19 Kurama
June 26, 2023 at 11:55 PM
I have difficulties to warm up to the male lead. He's so childish and useless for now... The word "mum" and he just leaves like that? He was to busy to date when he never worked? And now, he has feelings for the FL, I mean I understand she's lovely, beautiful and competent but for someone who never fell in love before and who surely met competent women before, I think they should have built their relationship a little bit more before making them falling in love. And we got every cliché about the rich guy who doesn't understand the normal girl...
I like Sa-rang. I think she's better developped in her job, with her friend, with her jerk of boyfriend, with her family.
The sister in villain is disapointing. I didn't understand her little visit to everyone to put pressure, even the best shop... And why the airline team is in the same building? Or she went over there just to talk about duty free?
I'm ready for the noona romance of Pyung-hwa :P
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Mina00
June 27, 2023 at 1:04 AM
I also found that extremely silly. She is a kind of owner of the company and visits all the departments by herself !!!
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bbstl 🧹
June 27, 2023 at 4:32 PM
Right? This is standard business management in Kdrama: look stern and direct the staff to do everything better, as if they wouldn’t already know that was expected. It always makes me laugh because in the real world it would be like your boss telling you to breathe! Wow, thanks for the guidance, big boss! This will surely help us turn the corner toward success! 🤦🏼♀️
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Blue (@mayhemf)
June 27, 2023 at 9:27 AM
Do people still buy duty free items on airplanes? I don't even think crew bring out those duty free carts anymore.. It used to be a thing of the past and I was surprised to see it mentioned in 2023.
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Eazal
June 27, 2023 at 9:52 AM
You haven't flied with Ryanair, surely...
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Kurama
June 27, 2023 at 10:48 AM
I didn't fly by plane since the COVID and I don't remember what was my last fly. 😅
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Reply1988 -❣️Mother Bean❣️
June 27, 2023 at 12:17 PM
Duty free is very much a thing and it is a lot of ridiculous items that I don't know why anyone would be buying on a plane.
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Blue (@mayhemf)
June 27, 2023 at 4:25 PM
@eazal oh! I thought you were talking about some drama airline! this is real.
@reply1988 I guess its still a thing in Europe?
US airlines have completely eliminated them. and my last few international trips even on other airlines didn't have them.
https://www.paddleyourownkanoo.com/2023/02/02/bargain-hunting-travellers-have-fallen-out-of-love-with-inflight-duty-free-treats-and-finnair-has-given-up-trying-to-reverse-the-trend/
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Eazal
June 28, 2023 at 7:29 AM
Duty free goodies are not usually sold in European flights (which would be like domestic flights as you don't cross any frontier), as you only get discounts when you are out of the European space, but lowcost airlines tend to forget about it and some of them will spend the whole flight trying to sell you things, and Ryanair is one of those. Regular airlines will not sell anything during the flight unless, as I said, you fly out of the borders of European Union.
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Hohoho
June 28, 2023 at 1:53 PM
Haha you never know when you suddenly fall in love! I had quite a few competent male “friends” who I knew they wanted to approach me but for some reasons I was never interested until I suddenly fell in love with my husband (my one and only love)…I guess it is destiny and everything is possible dear!
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Kurama
June 28, 2023 at 2:14 PM
There is a difference between being interested and being in love. But my point is not that. It's the fact it's an 16 episodes dramas and I need to see their relationship evolving step by step to believe in their couple and not get bored in the middle. In this case, it was too fast for me.
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20 Nefret
June 27, 2023 at 2:29 AM
Of the episodes so far, I liked the fourth one best. At first I was a little worried that it would get boring quickly with Won falling in love so fast, but now I would have no problem at all watching several more episodes of him failing grandiosely to impress and win over Sa-rang.
I like the partially reversed roles (compared to many other rom-coms with chaebols). Sa-rang is not only extremely competent in her job, she also already has at least one relationship, while Won is extremely inexperienced relationship-wise.
I only knew Yoon-ah from THE K2 and I found her and her role boring. Here at least I find her okay, she is not a disturbing factor.
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21 Scottie
June 27, 2023 at 2:34 AM
The tacky humour (especially the flowery granny outfits) of ep 3 was rough, the exception being the police officer scene. Somewhat reluctantly I watched ep 4 which turned out to be ok. Yoon-ah is doing pretty well so far and I like how she questions why her boss is so interested in her, when all she wants is to be good at her work at the hotel.
I would have liked to see more of the friends, but the evil sister is as stale as a day-old-pizza.
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22 welh
June 27, 2023 at 4:40 AM
In the Trope Tarot Deck, we get the inevitable Awkward Stranded Overnight card was chosen for our leads. It played out pretty, well . . . as expected. Sa-Rang takes a more open, common sense approach while Gu Won maintains his grumpy self. Why does alcohol always leads to uncovering some truth? It reminds me of the great Homer Simpson quote: “Here’s to alcohol: the cause of, and solution to, all of life’s problems.” This sets the weak foundation of a relationship between the leads. However, Gun Won is still getting beaten down by his family about his missing mother . . . why was she erased from existence and how can he not remember? It could be as simple as his father took the infant from his affair since he wanted a son to inherit his company but to do so he had to buy and push away his mother so as not to “infect” his plans. But clearly Gu Won’s solution to turnaround the hotel is finding his lost mother and bring her back.
Episode 2 really laid it on thick with the idiot Korean male syndrome. Sa-Rang’s clueless, arrogant and selfish BF was like a vampire sucking any emotional support from her until she had no more to give. He was so dense that the term breaking up has no meaning in a relationship. His friends and popularity was more important than having a real relationship. Sa-Rang was a participation trophy in life. Sa-Rang begins to drift. Then the double umbrella/trip ending trope concludes a long episode of the misfortunes of Korean career women. Nothing in the episode makes Gu Won an endearing choice for Sa-Rang because he is just as childish and clueless as her last BF. But he does have the potential for growth.
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Mrs Buckwheat
June 27, 2023 at 5:56 AM
I didn’t really understand why they were supposedly stranded with the boat because you could clearly see they weren’t that far from shore in the shot, the buildings were obvious in the background. It also wasn’t implied that they had travelled a great distance on the boat for the shoot but they then had to randomly end up on a smaller Island. It was an obvious plot contrivance to get them to spend time together but logistically didn’t make sense.
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welh
June 27, 2023 at 6:24 AM
Worse, the second film boat was right along side. A quick call and the couple could have transferred boats. Sa-Rang speculated that the captain did it as a scam to overcharge them for their stay on the small island.
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kdramacurious
June 27, 2023 at 7:37 AM
My understanding re: the boat engine failure was it wasn't real at all — it was all part of the boatman's ploy to strand them on the island so they'd have to spend a night at his mother's place and they can charge them exorbitant rates. So you're right in that there wasn't actually any real boat trouble; they were being scammed.
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23 vienibenmio
June 27, 2023 at 5:25 AM
So I've kind of noticed this trend with a few recent rom coms where there is just a huge reliance on tropes and "swoony" scenes with very little emotional development between the leads. Overall I enjoy this drama, but I have no idea why Won likes Sa-rang. I love cheesy, dumb rom coms with tropes and cliches, but you need to give me a LITTLE something with the actual relationship to really be invested, otherwise it just feels empty.
Won also really annoys me with his privilege and being like "why do you put up with this?" Of course YOU can get away with it, dude, but she can't.
I also feel like the boyfriend was pointless.
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kdramacurious
June 27, 2023 at 7:43 AM
He was introduced to us as someone who is completely self-absorbed and likely bored with his life. So when Sa-rang comes along and fails to bow and scrape at his every request — and worse, actually challenges him and tells him he's wrong about things — he was so annoyed that he stopped to look and pay attention to the person. Before she came around, everyone else around him had been part of a nameless sea of indistinct faces. And to encounter someone with that much fire and drive when you've never paid attention to other people . . . well, it's like the moth is drawn to the flame. haha!
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vienibenmio
June 27, 2023 at 3:17 PM
See, I feel like you've put more thought into this than the writers have, lol. It's a good explanation and makes sense, but the drama itself isn't really doing a good job showing that imo. It's like telling not showing
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24 Reply1988 -❣️Mother Bean❣️
June 27, 2023 at 7:18 AM
Thanks for the weecap @dramaddictally.
I like that we are seeing that the female lead has taken her training in all areas seriously. When the mentor was showing her the ropes, he may as well have said ‘Do yourself a favour love; just stand there looking pretty’. He was so vague and unhelpful i would have been asking why he was there if I was the chairperson so it was great that she just answered the questions asked of her and let that speak for itself.
I love that the female lead’s training and hands on knowledge as she moves through the ranks and he male lead’s business management qualifications means he knows how to run a company, he just chooses not to apply his knowledge so they will be the ideal couple to run all elements of a hotel. The question will be whether his dad will give him The King hotel or the leads will set up a bespoke hotel that beats both the big names at their game.
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25 kdramacurious
June 27, 2023 at 8:12 AM
I enjoyed this second weekend more than the first weekend, which is saying something since I enjoyed the first weekend more than I expected. The scene with the police officer was so unexpected that I literally laughed out loud.
As early as the first half of the first episode, I had already been invested in Sa-rang as a character. This weekend's episodes keep me rooting for her. I admire her dedication to the job, how capable she is, and how she worked to overcome her not-quite-ivy-league credentials to land the job of her dreams and keep advancing there. She's not just smart; she works hard, she's loyal to her friends, and she's well aware of how some of her colleagues have their knives out for her, but she just soldiers on. If anything, she is too nice and perhaps somewhat naive about relationships, if her ex-boyfriend is any indication.
I'm not as invested in our male lead yet, because all he has going for him (for now) is a begrudging willingness to listen when Sa-rang is exasperated (or drunk) enough to lay the truth on him unfiltered. This story is clearly meant to be one where he learns to be a better person, and we're supposed to excuse all his current shortcomings because they're a byproduct of yet-to-be-revealed childhood trauma.
But while I'm all for Won's character having a growth arc, I do wish Sa-rang didn't have to be the one to help him grow — why does the woman in the relationship have to put in a disproportionate amount of emotional labor and serve as the guy's therapist/coach/mentor? In a way, it's like being his mother to help him "grow up".
Separately, I found it interesting that we're being primed to dislike Won's sister for the way she treats him, but at the same time, she's the one who gave Sa-rang the job and the promotion to the front desk, and it seems she was supportive when Sa-rang was promoted yet again to the VIP floor. So while she's terrible to her employees and her brother, she's been nothing but good for Sa-rang.
And yes, I found myself somewhat sympathetic to the sister early on because how would you feel if you'd spent more than seven years running the conglomerate only to have your father welcome your upstart younger brother like the prodigal son any time he deigns to show up in Korea? I'd be super annoyed too. However, I feel a lot less sympathy for her now after the flashback scene where they were kids and she tossed the watch out the window.
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kdramacurious
June 27, 2023 at 8:13 AM
Also — any thoughts on Won's mom? We know he believes his family's company employed her in 1989. It's suggested that his sister is only his half-sister and that they have different mothers. Since a memorial service was mentioned, I assume that means their father had married, had a daughter, and then subsequently died . . . ? Then years later, Won's mother gets pregnant with him, and then somehow, his mother 'disappeared' and perhaps his father had something to do with that (since her employment records can't be found)? Like, what's up with all that?
In any case, I'm happy to keep watching. I'm enjoying this show enough that I'm actually afraid it might just go downhill from here. I hope not!
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26 PYC
June 27, 2023 at 8:19 AM
Ep 3-4 are certainly better than Ep 1-2. I will continue watching but wonder how it will sustain 16 episodes. (May be we are now spoiled by the tighter-plotted 12 Ep run.)
With two concurrent hotel heir dramas, I can’t help but think what it’d be like if Junho is the other hotel heir. He did PTSD well in Just Between Lovers.
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Blue (@mayhemf)
June 27, 2023 at 9:31 AM
But. But I am loving Ahn Bo-hyun in the other drama! I cannot imagine anyone else in that role now.
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PYC
June 27, 2023 at 11:10 PM
I agree that Ahn Bo-Hyundai is settling in well as Seo-ha now that 4 episodes in. The tenderness in some scenes is praiseworthy.
My thought of Junho as Seo-ha is more a thought from Ep 1-2 and his subtle vulnerability in JBL is palpable enough to be a great Seo-ha too.
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Jingbee
June 30, 2023 at 8:04 PM
Jun ho does not seem to have the micro expressions needed for the Seo Ha role. So far, he has one expression in KTL. Maybe he was good in other shows but I just dont see him as Seo Ha.
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vienibenmio
June 27, 2023 at 3:18 PM
He looks more like Seo-ha is supposed to as well. I watch this the same day and keep thinking how perfect he would have been in that role
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27 LaurenSophie
June 27, 2023 at 8:34 AM
Although, as I admitted to @hacja last week, Junho may be a trifle overrated, he is still a really good actor, and he's elevating this drama for me. Watching him play an emotionally stunted man falling in love for what is likely the first time is a treat. Bigger surprise: Yoon-ah is doing very well, too. It helps that I just like Sa-rang as a person, but she also has funny and believable reactions to Won's boorishness and vulnerability. I completely see why his character would fall for hers (he clearly hasn't spent much time one-on-one with women, she's reacting to him with completely sincere exasperation yet kindness, and it doesn't hurt that she's very pretty) so it doesn't feel rushed to me at all. Now if Sa-rang had feelings for Won, *that* would feel rushed, but she doesn't yet. And even though he's a loser, I'm glad So-rang has/had a boyfriend at the start--a woman this competent, kind, and attractive certainly would.
I laughed a few times during these episodes--at Won's weird half-moon of a smile during the photo shoot, So-rang shutting down the attempted fraud at the inn, and the conversation with the police officer--but the humor isn't quite consistent enough yet. I also continue to feel that there are a lot of filler moments in the form of close-ups on the actor's faces that go on a beat too long and too many dialogue-free intervals where the score fills in for action. Their prevalence suggests that this would have been better as a 12 episode drama. Nevertheless, I'm still (mostly) paying attention to what's on screen, and even if sometimes that's due almost exclusively to Junho's performance and charisma, I don't have a problem with that.
I continue to like the friend group, although that scene where all the female flight attendants had to be weighed and fat shamed (even though most of them are probably underweight) took me out of the story because this is a trope I despise in all media. But I'm hopeful the burgeoning romance there will make up for it.
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hacja
June 27, 2023 at 9:24 AM
That weighing scene was painful, and I'm glad the show had the male flight attendant step up to challenge it. But it made me wonder--is this still a thing for Korean Air flight attendants? Although I don't know any flight attendants, I assumed that most U.S. airlines quit this practice by the 1980s, or at the very latest by the early 1990s, under threat of discrimination lawsuits.
One of the welcome developments in 21st century U.S. pop culture is a greater acceptance of different body shapes for women (not saying biases have disappeared.) But I still see a real issue in a lot of Korean shows. In fact, there are some actresses who are so thin that I worry about their health!
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LaurenSophie
June 27, 2023 at 11:42 AM
Based on a very cursory amount of research, it looks like the only physical requirements KA as conditions of hire relate to height and age, so there doesn't appear to be an explicit weight mandate as in days of overtly sexist yore. But apparently, it's extremely difficult to be hired at KA (they routinely have thousands of applicants for a few hundred spots) so I can easily see how many candidates are at least informally evaluated on their level of physical attractiveness, and that would definitely include weight.
I agree that there has been some progress on acceptance of various body types in the US, but we still have a long way to go. I've also noticed that although it's not like Western media is completely fat-shaming-free, there does at least seem to be an awareness now that wasn't there before (for example, if "Friends" were being made today, I very much doubt all the "Fat Monica" jokes would be a part of it). In kdramas, even those, like "Oh My Venus," which purport to be more body positive, there is still a lot of conflation of body weight with not just attractiveness but also, morality, high character, and overall health (the data on whether or not heavier people are more or less likely to acquire negative health conditions is more ambiguous than many people think). And like you said, it's particularly galling--and hard to dismiss--when nearly skeletal actresses are playing scenes where they talk about being on a diet or are told they need to.
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DancingEmma
June 27, 2023 at 2:25 PM
Thanks for all of this. I agree completely.
Also, the filler moments like walking past each other in slow mo, clearly save on costs, don’t tire the actors and the crew, create more trope lore and do fan service for a particular kind of fan.
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28 Eazal
June 27, 2023 at 9:26 AM
I really liked this week's episodes a lot, and I have to say I am falling for Sarang, so no wonder Won is also doing. Sarang is a hard working and efficient employee, and she proves it every time she is told... oh, you only studied two years in University, you don't have a degree. A degree is just a paper if you don't know `how to use it, like Sarang former supervisor, that tries so hard not to work...
Anyway, I like the pathing, and how the bond between them is being build. Both Sarang and Won have something in common: they listen to what they are told, and they both reflect on their words and actions. Please, be like this forever and don't give me a episode 14 noble idiocy, please (yes, I know I'm going ahead, hahahaha).
Last week I wasn't really convinced about Sarang's friends. Their friendship didn't dig deep in me, I felt something was missing, maybe some background... but this week it was different. I felt the connection, the struggles they had been through and how much their relation means to them, how they trust each other and how their friendship is the safe harbour they can always arrive.
A final word to our official baddie. I like her! I mean, I shouldn't like her, but I do. She's the kind of baddie that is well written. She's efficient in her job, she knows what must be done and yes, she's bad in the best way possible. I like a badass.
And finally, and in case you didn't know... I love Junho!!!!!
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29 DancingEmma
June 27, 2023 at 10:51 AM
I fell asleep watching ep 3(?) and woke up when the drunk scene was on. Maybe I was dreaming but for the first time, I liked Yoona’s acting as a drunk person. She was so likable as a drunk that I would watch that happily for a while. Junho didn’t come across as drunk - acting fail or meant be so uptight that couldn’t let his hair down.
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hacja
June 27, 2023 at 6:47 PM
@dncingemma You know that Junho doesn't have any vices like drinking--but when he does drink, he doesn't get drunk!
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DancingEmma
June 27, 2023 at 7:58 PM
Haha. I also think he has had work done on his face over the years but very very subtly as looking at his 19 year old pic and now, there is a refinement now to his features which wasn’t there before. I hope his keen Beanie fans won’t get mad at me for saying so!
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Elinor, Team Glasses team co-captain
June 27, 2023 at 8:05 PM
I think the same - his nose and possibly jawline, neither of which really needed "improvement," but it seems inescapable for Korean artists.
He's also known for not being much of a drinker - he's remarked on the irony of doing whisky commercials when he can't really handle alcohol.
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hacja
June 27, 2023 at 8:54 PM
If I found confirmation that Junho altered his God-given physiognomy, I don’t know I could watch him again. It would be the equivalent of discovering that he was dating someone. The scandal would derail his career.
DancingEmma
June 27, 2023 at 10:25 PM
@hacja: You’re enjoying taking the pi** so much. And, it is making me laugh so go at it again when you have time!
Seon-ha
June 28, 2023 at 6:11 AM
…'cause we're living in a world of fools
Break…ing…us…down
When they aaaall should let us beeee
We belong to you and me…
Na-na-na-na-na
Na-na-na-na, na-na-na-na-na
Na-na-na, na-na-na-na-na-na-na
Na-na-na, na-na-na-na
And you come to me on a SUmmer breeze
Keep me warm in your love, then you softly leave
And it's me you need to SHOW…
[it’s rent-free in my head, folks…]
hacja
June 28, 2023 at 7:33 AM
@dncingemma I have nothing but respect for Junho, who seems like a fine young man. That's why I'm in the process of shipping Junho and Yoona.
(P.S. Does anyone say "shipping" anymore? It seemed to be more commonplace about 10 years ago.)
Seon-ha
June 28, 2023 at 2:43 PM
Incidentally, the “Junho Eating All the Things in Chief Kim” super-cut I posted on the “Beanie Recs” just now is good visual comparanda for the possible “physique tweaks” you folks have been pondering.