King the Land: Episodes 13-14
by Dramaddictally
Easy resolutions abound as our conflict-free couple continues on their way. But they do hit a snag when the press gets wind of their relationship. Is it a scandal or a class-smashing love story? And what will it do to our hero’s bid for the hotel? In our penultimate week, the drama answers these questions and more, while tossing our OTP into pajama sets and high school uniforms because, well, why not?
EPISODES 13-14
Yoon-ah did such a bang-up job last week making me feel Sa-rang’s pain that I actually believed this show was headed for some conflict. Haha. Nope, not a chance. Sa-rang is over it so fast, she can’t believe Won is still thinking about it the next day. In fact, all the potential conflict is resolved so easily, it makes me wonder what we’re still doing here. And then I remember: we’ve only got a few days left to look at Junho in new outfits.
We come back to our story at the broken plate debacle, when Sa-rang overhears that Won is supposed to marry Yu-ri. This time we see Won’s expression and he’s as surprised as Sa-rang. He jumps from his seat and asks if Sa-rang is okay, saying he’ll clean up the mess. Before things get any more awkward, Sa-rang’s supervisor tells her to hightail it out of the room and doesn’t allow her to return.
After this, Won is very nervous about Sa-rang’s response. He makes it clear at the table that he loves someone else and he’s not going to marry Yu-ri. His three dining companions find this cute — what’s love got to do with marriage? When you’re rich, that’s not a thing.
Won excuses himself and seeks out Sa-rang to assure her that the marriage will never happen. Sa-rang has a stiff upper lip, but Won is still worried and wants to talk when she’s off the clock. She agrees to call him later, but then falls asleep when she gets home, leading Won to her house where he attempts to climb the gate. He’s stopped by police officers who can’t tell if he’s a stalker or a romantic (it’s a thin line), but either way, he’s thwarted from seeing Sa-rang.
The next day at King the Land, Sa-rang is professional and treats him like a guest. Before he can coax her into conversation, Yu-ri arrives and cuts them off. Yu-ri still wants to get married and reminds Won that he’ll be head of King Group if he marries her. Won brushes it off and tells her to find someone she’s in love with to marry. And that’s the end of Yu-ri and those pesky marriage talks. Easy-peasy.
That night, Sa-rang meets Won at the hibachi restaurant where they ate so many dates ago and he asks her to trust him, even though it might be hard. He hopes she’s not considering a breakup. Sa-rang is appalled. Why would he mention breaking up? Wait, is he still thinking about that forced marriage he’s supposed to have? She forgot about that already. Sure, she was shocked, but it’s not like she expected his dad to welcome her with open arms. Then they go back to their lovey-dovey selves, joking, smiling, and holding hands. Hmm, why do I feel like I’ve just been bamboozled?
For our next no-fuss resolution, Won and Hwa-ran present their proposals for the future of the hotel. Hwa-ran lays out a cost-cutting plan that would lower the employees’ quality of life and also risk the quality of the hotel’s service. In opposition to cutting corners, Won proposes to expand the hotel into a global chain that would earn more money. When Chairman Gu hears the bottom line, he names Won president of the hotel right then and there. Hwa-ran, of course, does not take this lying down and declares the war isn’t over.
With a dip in problems to solve, the drama decides to make Sa-rang the babysitter of Won’s nephew (Hwa-ran’s young son), who’s been living abroad until recently. The setup is a way to get Sa-rang into the bedroom quarters of Won’s house — and it works. Sa-rang ends up in Won’s room, glimpsing into his domestic life for the first time, after we’ve spent most of the drama with him getting to know how she lives.
The highlight of this sequence is when Won and Sa-rang take the nephew — who’s lonely and ignored by his mother — to a park. Won tells his nephew that even if he wants to be like his uncle when he grows up, there’s at least one thing he has to do differently. He shouldn’t hide his emotions because honesty is brave. The moment does two important things: cements Won’s character growth and shows off his fresh white socks.
New problems arise when Won and Sa-rang are caught on camera, hugging and kissing in matching jammies. It’s Hwa-ran who hired the photographer and her team that releases an article to the press. And no, Sang-shik isn’t involved — that thread went nowhere fast. He’s turned down Hwa-ran’s request to become a spy and later he gives Won the heads up.
Neither Won nor Sa-rang are initially fazed when their relationship goes public. They didn’t do anything wrong, so according to Won, it’s not a scandal, it’s a love story. But it gets a little tougher when some of the hotel staff turn on Sa-rang and make her out to be an opportunist. Won defends Sa-rang, clarifying that he pursued her first (although, Hwa-ran wants to spin it so Won sounds like a sleazy guy who hits on his employees).
Chairman Gu has a few responses to this whole ordeal. First, when an article is released that asks if Won’s “Cinderella-style affair” will end like his father’s, the chairman takes it personally. The article is referring to the fact that Chairman Gu married an “ordinary” woman (Won’s mom) and she ultimately left him.
Second, when his personal history makes the news, he figures out Hwa-ran is behind it and confronts her. He asks what she hoped to gain and adds, “Politics suits you better than business management.” Then, in another clean sweep, he tells her to renounce all her positions in King Group and leave.
Third, the chairman initially says he won’t interfere with Won and Sa-rang, but then he reassigns Sa-rang to one of their budget hotels outside of Seoul. He thinks that once the lovebirds are separated, Sa-rang will come to her senses.
After the quintessential talk with her chaebol boyfriend’s father, Sa-rang doesn’t mention it to Won. He’s about to go on a business trip for three weeks and, as their final date before he leaves, he rents an amusement park for just the two of them. Magically, they’re wearing matching Chucks and student uniforms as they go on rides (how? Better yet, why?). Afterward, he’s on a plane and she’s arriving to the King Tourist Hotel — also known as the place of exile for King Hotel employees.
Three weeks later, Won returns — after having no communication with Sa-rang — and marches into King the Land ready to see her. He learns she was reappointed, and the news is delivered with a big fake smile, which triggers his abandonment trauma. But, he’s an adult this time — and the one in charge — so he’s able to retrieve Sa-rang’s whereabouts with no trouble. As he rushes out to rescue his lady love, his mother (Nam Ki-ae) appears at the hotel and introduces herself, stopping him in his tracks.
Can you have too much of a good thing? After these episodes, I’m changing my answer to yes. Right at the moment I wanted the drama to raise the stakes, it lowered them. Sending Sa-rang off to a not-so-distant location doesn’t scare me too much (or make me excited for next week) when all the other potential obstacles were disarmed without any friction.
On one hand, that’s the way this show has always operated — and I was happy with the conflict-free romance when it had no pretenses. But on the other, things changed for me with the emotional fake-out of the plate drop that turned out to mean nothing. They introduced the possibility of consequences, which got me all worked up, and now I’m disappointed. And it seems no amount of silent stares or accidental falls onto a bed can bring me back.
I understand that Sa-rang’s non-reaction to Won’s potential marriage was meant to convey how deep their bond is. But it’s hard to have a story about class conflict without any class consciousness. I don’t want Sa-rang to suddenly suffer some crazy inferiority complex, but we’ve seen Won learn and change via his experiences with her, and she deserves to have something of her own to overcome as well. We got greater emotional depth this week when Pyung-hwa walked away from Ro-woon, saying she was embarrassed and wanting to be left alone after he found out about her divorce. I would have liked at least that much internal conflict for our female lead.
The drama has made itself clear that it’s a Cinderella story, but I was vividly holding out hope that we’d have a Flower Boy Ramyun Shop situation where Won leaves his throne to go help Sa-rang run her grandma’s restaurant — and then they’d get all Itaewon Class and compete with King Group. Would it be too much to ask? Maybe. But the drama definitely makes me giddier when we’re hanging out in Sa-rang’s world more than Won’s.
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
Required fields are marked *
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
1 Seon-ha
July 31, 2023 at 2:04 PM
Oh, you better believe that I’m in it to win it now. I’ve spent too much of my energy watching this show. Sunk-cost-fallacy-schmunk-frost-callously. This Philosopher King marathon is almost over.
No, it’s not a marathon, it’s like an Iron Man Triathlon: swim through a turbulent sea of sloppily-implemented, overlapping tropes, bike through a terrain of cringey “did they actually just do/say that” discomfort and then run screaming for 20+ miles away from the fact that this show didn’t “jump the shark,” it, “helicoptered in and jumped off a cliff without first thinking about how it was going to save itself.”
What I am feeling is disappointment and betrayal. Or, perhaps as @dramaddictally says, “bamboozled.” I wanted so much better from this show. I wanted it really badly. It’s a soup of ugly feelings now, but it’s mine.
Here’s a positive thing, though, that I’ll offer for free: I’m ready to see the Halmeoni spin-off show entitled, Hurt My Family and I’ll KILL You, in which people do just that…and then she does just that. It must star this precise halmeoni (Kim Young-ok), and I would also suggest that she co-star with the halmeoni from Numbers (Sung Byoung-Sook) whose job it will be to shout uncomfortable truths about the nature of human experience, loudly and all the time.
Required fields are marked *
Elinor, Team Glasses team co-captain
July 31, 2023 at 2:46 PM
The school uniforms were horribly embarrassing, and have the writers ever been to an amusement park? What would be less fun than riding the rides all alone in a desolate, silent one?
I’ve never attempted @sicarius’s speed-hate-watching-and-finishing event and I’m not sure I have the skills or the stomach for it, but I’ll try it because I am determined to get this Bean of Cleansing Fury. (Yes, "sunk-cost fallacy" was exactly what I was thinking about, too.) I would 100% watch the Killer Halmeonis show, though - Kim Young-ok's sotto voce delivery of that line was BY FAR the best thing about these episodes.
Required fields are marked *
sakuradaydream
July 31, 2023 at 7:52 PM
"The school uniforms were horribly embarrassing, and have the writers ever been to an amusement park? What would be less fun than riding the rides all alone in a desolate, silent one?"
Yeah that whole amusement park scene was kinda off. Now that I think about it, I've never really seen chaebols renting out theme parks in kdramas before & more scenes where they hang out with other people around. (Take Business Proposal for instance)
And omg the school unis I saw the stills before the eps and I really thought they would suggest using their school unis for old times sake but they just decided to...randomly change into it with no plans or suggestions prior uhhhh
Required fields are marked *
Ruhi
July 31, 2023 at 9:28 PM
Wearing school uniforms in amusement parks is apparently a common in Korea. This is so popular that there are rental outlets at these parks that rent out the uniforms for adults.
Required fields are marked *
Reply1988 -❣️Mother Bean❣️
July 31, 2023 at 10:17 PM
Yes, I was going to say I have seen it in at least one other drama and they definitely did it as a photo shoot in one. I think it was for My Strange Hero so they would ‘graduate’ together as his girlfriend was in his year at school but he graduated years later than the rest of the year.
penny_pens
August 1, 2023 at 3:57 AM
I've seen the chaebol rents an amusement park set up before in What's Wrong with Secretary Kim. The uniforms I didn't quite understand but now that other beanies have explained that you can rent it, I have more context.
Required fields are marked *
welh
August 1, 2023 at 5:21 AM
What struck me about those scenes was ow do you run an amusement park without any employees? Magic?
Required fields are marked *
JKim
July 31, 2023 at 3:00 PM
Another spin off idea. A reality show where guys compete to win the hand of women who have crazy hard ass halmeoni's. In fact, I have to believe this was tried before in Korea.
Required fields are marked *
Reply1988 -❣️Mother Bean❣️
July 31, 2023 at 10:14 PM
I love the spin off show as that would be The Avengers Social Club the halmeoni edition! We already saw how all the grandmothers were all over Won once they knew his true identity and they must all have watched their Sarang grow up with her grandmother and will be quite protective of her. So they would be like the A team going on attack using their local resources to take down whoever they need to ensure the reputation and happiness of Sarang stay intact.
Required fields are marked *
Seon-ha
August 1, 2023 at 3:59 AM
Were the grandmothers “all over Won” or were they, ahem, Won over?????
I’ll be here all the week.
Required fields are marked *
2 vienibenmio
July 31, 2023 at 2:14 PM
I know there has been discussion on Gu Won being a weak character, but does anyone else feel like his personality also has been very inconsistent over the course of the drama? I feel like I really have no idea who he is as a person, or what his interests even are. Some episodes he seems to know very little about the hotel business, and the next he's citing statistics.
The sister is such a cardboard cutout. I'm glad that they tried to give her some development, but IMO it's too little, too late. Why not just have her kick a puppy at this point?
As I've mentioned, the fluff is boring me, and I think it's because I'm not invested in this couple at all. It's like a cake: delicious and sweet and everything I should want, but it's easy for the sugar or frosting to be off balance and make me feel sickened by the end of eating it.
Also I'm sorry but I cannot take the "trauma secondary to someone he loves leaving and people smiling politely at him" seriously.
Required fields are marked *
Firewife5
July 31, 2023 at 2:57 PM
Yes, I wondered where he had come up with his global expansion plan, and how he already had other companies onboard with it.
When we had the sister's flashback in episode 14 I hoped it wasn't a bid for sympathy for her, because my only thought was that she'd always been a jealous brat. Her jealousy seems to be her only personality trait.
Required fields are marked *
Blue (@mayhemf)
July 31, 2023 at 3:13 PM
I thought she was a classist. She hates Won because of his mothers social class.
And she would never accept him as family because he is different.
There was nothing more to her.
Required fields are marked *
welh
August 1, 2023 at 5:24 AM
Or Won got the golden spoon with no effort while she worked hard to get accomplishments but got the cold shoulder.
Required fields are marked *
Blue (@mayhemf)
August 1, 2023 at 5:32 AM
Not really. She purposefully kept him away from SK and made sure he never gets any opportunity to work in the company. She wanted him to not show his face. So, she can't really be mad that he is getting to be rich by not working. But she is mad that he is a heir inspite of his lowly status.
vienibenmio
July 31, 2023 at 5:03 PM
Right? I was like "just go in there and talk to him!" He can't know about her achievement if she doesn't tell him. Is he, like, not allowed to have fun with his other child?
Required fields are marked *
bbstl 🧹
July 31, 2023 at 7:25 PM
She can’t possibly enter a room with those two Mudbloods! Horrors!
😉
Required fields are marked *
bbstl 🧹
July 31, 2023 at 7:02 PM
Cake is exactly the description I came to for myself, this show is all frosting and there’s actually no cake under there to anchor it. I love me some (cream cheese) frosting but much prefer it with the carrot cake to make the frosting taste even more delicious. Otherwise, after a couple of mouthfuls it’s monotonous and cloying. 🎂🎂🎂
I hoped for more from this, that’s why I’m still here looking at a spoonful of frosting with a sour look on my face. Now it’s just about the Bean (and Beanie reactions!)
Thanks, @dramaddictally for a truly excellent recap that nails how I feel!
Required fields are marked *
3 panshel
July 31, 2023 at 2:36 PM
I want Pyung-hwa to quit King Air to get away from her toxic coworkers and "ex-husband" and work for another airline who will value her and promote her to a purser. Then one day at work, Pyung-hwa would introduce a new flight attendant to her cabin crew, and to her surprise, in walks Ro-woon. They catch up over dinner, and he congratulates her on her promotion and asks her if she still likes flying, and she answers, "Yes, now more than ever" to which he smiles and says, "Me too." End fanfiction.
I had prepared myself for Da-eul to never divorce her deadbeat husband because they have a daughter together, but I just wished that when her father-in-law told her, "You're no longer our daughter-in-law," he would've meant because Da-eul should divorce their good-for-nothing son. They could've really redeemed the husband by making him protest the divorce, apologize to his family, and promise he would change, but this show doesn't care about any of its characters except for Won and Sa-rang.
So Sa-rang was banished to a tourist hotel outside the city -- so what? She's lucky she didn't get fired for dropping that plate. What a wasted opportunity for the broken plate to not have been Sa-rang's imagination to prove that not only is she a consummate professional, but also that she trusts her chaebol boyfriend.
Required fields are marked *
Seon-ha
July 31, 2023 at 2:39 PM
Your fanfic is the bomb, @panshel. I’d watch it any old day!
Required fields are marked *
sakuradaydream
July 31, 2023 at 7:54 PM
Pyung-hwa & the "divorce" storyline was just stupid honestly
Required fields are marked *
RenOIshi
July 31, 2023 at 10:18 PM
I realised the only person I like in their entire drama is that friends little girl. She should have written the drama. Would have had a better storyline out of an 8 (?) year old!
Required fields are marked *
Reply1988 -❣️Mother Bean❣️
July 31, 2023 at 10:28 PM
The airline business is so competitive I do wonder if she would have any luck at her age getting into a rival airline. I agree that she needs a clean slate where she can just be without feeling that her history is going to be used as and when needed to undermine her competence.
It is a shame she does not feel she can have a relationship with someone who clearly respects her because she has no way of telling whether he will respond like everyone else does.
I think he is mature enough to think differently as he takes people as he finds them; we saw this with his treatment of Won once Won gave him the message they could be friends and forget the power dynamics. He was initially confused because he knew he had to follow his seniors who were modelling something really different to his natural response.
Required fields are marked *
4 Firewife5
July 31, 2023 at 2:49 PM
The two best things this week were:
1 - When Halmeoni gently took Won's hand, looked sweetly at his face and then threatened to kill him if he made Sa-rang cry. That's the kind of fake out I can appreciate.
2 - Chairman Gu telling Wha-ran that she's better suited to politics. I laughed out loud at that one.
As for the conflict that never was, I can't say I wasn't surprised that the show decided to have Sa-rang just blow over it, but I was disappointed. The differences in their upbringings and social status are obstacles for them, not insurmountable ones, but they do deserve some meaningful conversation at the very least.
Also I think I rolled my eyes at Chariman Gu banishing Sa-Rang to King Hotel's No-mans-land, and her not saying anything to Won. they're setting us up for another fake out, aren't they?
Required fields are marked *
kdramacurious
July 31, 2023 at 10:02 PM
I had assumed that Sa-rang opted to not say anything to Won about being reassigned so he wouldn't be distracted by her problems while he was on his important business trip. I can see myself doing the same thing if I considered his trip's success more important than the temporary inconvenience of being assigned elsewhere for three weeks.
Required fields are marked *
Seon-ha
August 1, 2023 at 4:03 AM
Frankly, I also got this decision from her character’s point of view, such as it is. Sa-rang was not only ordered to go by her highest boss (something we’re shown she’ll always obey) but she also wants to make a good impression on Won’s father, so she wouldn’t behave “poorly” from he outset (like telling Won).
Required fields are marked *
5 JKim
July 31, 2023 at 2:52 PM
This show is a light hearted comedy at its core and the infuriating thing is that it baits the viewer into thinking it's going to get deeper into an issue/problem but all gets resolved in what the producer/directors assume would be the most satisfying resolution. Instead of serving a complex and rich wine to sip and savor to the viewer, it feels like I'm getting quick hits of happy pills.
I get that its hard for a bubblegum rom com to introduce multiple dimensions of characters to show nuance but I for one think its more enjoyable to for a show like this to have its secondary characters to essentially one dimensional. Is the backstory to Won's sister where their father and Won's mom didn't pay attention to her, something that should make us feel sorry for her now and sets her up for some sort of redemption? I would rather her just be evil throughout. I hope that they don't change halmeoni to the same one she played in Hometown Cha Cha Cha and she remains a hard ass till the end.
I love Go Won Hee as a perennial flight attendant but the character she plays, Pyung-hwa, needs some serious therapy, as she bounces from over the top happy to serious depression from scene to scene.
Lastly, fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. The preview for the next show at the end would have you believe that [SPOILER]... Anyways, I'm still enjoying the show and have to remind myself not to take this show too seriously...
Required fields are marked *
Seon-ha
July 31, 2023 at 3:02 PM
Oh, well, now that you bring it up…they harm one hair on halmeoni’s head…to paraphrase @daebakgrits, I will go full John Wick on these writers.
Required fields are marked *
JKim
July 31, 2023 at 3:15 PM
I was half expecting halmeoni to pass away, a la Hometown but i doubt it now. They better not do this...
Required fields are marked *
6 Unaspirated
July 31, 2023 at 2:57 PM
Here’s my hot take: I like the cartoonish villainy of Hwa-ran. She is a condescending spouse and a disinterested mother. She is incredibly classist, including against her younger brother, and in keeping with that philosophy she has always been cruel to him and the people she sees as beneath her, which is almost everyone. This extends to her management practices, which are exploitative and value short-term gains over meaningful progress. Most if not all of her successes can be chalked up to sucking up to those in power and threatening those with lower positions than hers. She lacks imagination and is constantly on the defensive. No one forced her to be this way, there is no trauma in her past. If anything, we can attribute her behavior to jealousy - of Won’s mother and of Won himself. This week in flashback we saw her storming off, not after her father rejected her, but after she saw him happy with Won and his mother in a way that didn’t include her. There wasn’t even a slight, just an imagined one. She has more agency than almost any other character in this entire show and she chooses to use it for personal gain and personal revenge. Her pettiness is her choice, and who am I to rob her of her choices? I love a nuanced portrayal of female antagonism, I do, but this is not that drama. King the Land is not here for nuanced portrayals, but I (for one) am here for it.
Required fields are marked *
Firewife5
July 31, 2023 at 3:02 PM
I love your take on her! I'll have to remember this when I watch next week and start getting frustrated with this character in particular.
Required fields are marked *
Unaspirated
August 1, 2023 at 5:35 AM
If you let yourself gently slide into a love-to-hate-you attitude about her, she becomes so fun to watch!
Required fields are marked *
Seon-ha
July 31, 2023 at 3:04 PM
@vienibenmio suggested that the half-sister should be given a Snidely Whiplash moustache. That would be a real mood, and lighten the awkward stereotyping, turning it into farce.
Required fields are marked *
Reply1988 -❣️Mother Bean❣️
July 31, 2023 at 10:46 PM
I agree that people make choices from a young age because of their perception of the world and their place in it. I am watching an older drama, The Queen’s Classroom and the children in the class are all subjected to the same messages from the teacher but choose to respond according to their core values. Hwaran has always been entitled in her approach to life and even with her limited interaction with her child he has been given the impression this is the way to behave hence the staff not wanting to cater to his needs. I can not understand why his dad has not been interacting with him or are all the men in the family unable to do anything other than focus on the women they are interested in?
Also Won had clearly never been in his nephew’s bedroom even though they live in the same house. I get they were away from each other before but how did he and Hwaran act as if they didn’t know he was even there. I get the house is large but seriously!
Required fields are marked *
Unaspirated
August 1, 2023 at 5:33 AM
With the amount contact Hwa-ran and her husband have, I wouldn't be surprised if the husband does not even know his son is in the country. Maybe his dad is just as disinterested, or maybe his son is too much of a reminder of his failed relationship and he'd rather be rid of the whole family altogether.
I think that Won knew his nephew was there, but felt awkward around him and so probably didn't seek him out. I would probably feel a little weird about my nephew too, if I had almost never met him before and his mother had been a bully to me my whole life. I think Hwa-ran legit didn't know her son had not gone back to America, but that's in keeping with her whole persona.
Required fields are marked *
penny_pens
August 1, 2023 at 4:13 AM
I agree, it was completely an imagined slight! If Hwa-Ran was a teen or in her twenties I could understand the immaturity but she is a big woman in her late thirties /early forties. When I saw her back story, my first thought was "Is that all it was and you are still that bitter? To the point that your imagined slight from your father is making you genuinely damage your own child?"
Like @firewife5, I will also hold on to your interpretation because I wanted shake sense into her.
Required fields are marked *
Unaspirated
August 1, 2023 at 5:22 AM
I'm actually glad her backstory was nothing more serious. To me, she has always been the kind of villain who is just shy of parody, and I find that really fun and entertaining. If now, towards the end, they gave her some "reason" for why she is the way she is, it would seem like they felt they needed to "explain" her (something almost no one feels the need to do with male villains) and I sort of feel like that robs her of some of her power. This way she can just be her petty villainous self!
Required fields are marked *
nfabjoy
August 7, 2023 at 5:01 PM
You have characterized Hwaran so well. This is exactly it.
Required fields are marked *
Mimimil
October 10, 2024 at 10:57 AM
Also, I don’t even think her villainy is that cartoonish cause a lot of multibillionaires think like that; constantly prioritizing profit over people. And because of that selfishness climate change has accelerated yet they don’t care about their contributions to it because they won’t be immediately impacted. The people who are already being impacted are non factors for them. There’s no way to be an ethical billionaire so anytime I see a villain like this in kdramas I’m upset; not because I find it unrealistic, but because it is unfortunately the reality. I remember some politicians talking about trying to push back average retirement to 70 yrs old or when Kellogg’s (could be the wrong brand) responded to people’s pleas about the inflation crisis and the rising cost of food by telling them to have cereal for dinner. It always amazes me because we live in a world where some of the most evil, apathetic, greedy, and selfish people are at the top and we’re all in a rat race, running on the false hope that one day we’ll be as rich or powerful as them.
Required fields are marked *
Mimimil
October 10, 2024 at 10:59 AM
I know this is properly way serious for such an unserious drama so I don’t need anyone trying to come at me for making it “too deep” or whatever else. I just wanted to rent cause from penthouse to crash course in romance; I find myself irrationally angry at the portrayed wealthy since I know it’s not too far from reality
Required fields are marked *
7 Kurama
July 31, 2023 at 3:01 PM
Time does not seem to move at the same speed in the family... Won can make an offer to 170 hotels, getting 30 of them signing with King Hotel without anybody knowing about it, doing PPL for Nespresso, dating, spending time with his nephew but Hwa-ran can't spend one minute with her son..
I was disapointed by Oh Pyeong-Hwa and Gang Da-Eul's arc. Pyeong-Hwa's selfpity about her divorce doesn't make sense now. Da-Eul should just divorce, she agreed people won't change and she want to be married to a guy who lied to her during Months and took a loan. She will get to pay his debts at this point...
Required fields are marked *
Firewife5
July 31, 2023 at 3:08 PM
Female empowerment is not on this drama's agenda, lol. I hoped for more for Pyeong-hwa and Da-eul too, but I have decided to give up expecting more than romantic fluff from this drama, and am just going to enjoy it for what it is.
Required fields are marked *
RenOIshi
July 31, 2023 at 10:23 PM
Yeah you see even the romantic fluff is not palatable. Let’s go to an amusement park wearing school uniforms and pretend to laugh at the ML because he is scared of riding some stupid ride. Umm okay…
Required fields are marked *
Blue (@mayhemf)
July 31, 2023 at 3:08 PM
Da Eul - I don’t get her. So basically she is doing his job by taking care of his family while he is golfing. /she works her ass off and the husband is not even contributing financially?? He demands her to buy better food for his parents?
Totally calls for a rage quitting.
Even a temporary separation to see if he comes to his senses will be a good starting point. She needs to abandon his family of leeches asap.
Required fields are marked *
panshel
July 31, 2023 at 3:35 PM
I know that you'd dropped after ep 13, but Da-eul's in-laws have a turnaround in ep 14 where they switch sides abruptly. It is incredibly unrealistic, but what do we expect from this drama where everything's unrealistic?
Required fields are marked *
Blue (@mayhemf)
July 31, 2023 at 5:09 PM
Eh???? Well, if things were making sense then we would be watching a different drama.
Required fields are marked *
RenOIshi
July 31, 2023 at 10:25 PM
Yeah I was like ‘wtf’! That was a complete 360 degree turnaround
Required fields are marked *
8 Blue (@mayhemf)
July 31, 2023 at 3:05 PM
I am dropping this drama after ep 13. I dozed off in between.
I don’t think anything is going to happen. Each episode is a new format for a date. Thailand to picnics.
It’s like watching two people who are acting like textbook perfect people. Sorry. I never met such people. And I don’t watch dramas to show me unreal people. Both leads lack any personality.
How is Sa Rang ok with everything. She smiles for everything. Boyfriend’s engagement talk, she is ok. She smiles.
She went from hotel employee to maid to baby sitter. And she smiles.
Now, I have smile trauma.
Required fields are marked *
Blue (@mayhemf)
July 31, 2023 at 3:10 PM
Don’t even get me started about the contract signing!!
Wow! A company signed contracts internationally without their legal team being involved. And in under 3 weeks??
Do people have any idea how long it takes to get contracts finalized??
Required fields are marked *
Toodlepip
July 31, 2023 at 3:14 PM
I just presumed they were all old school friends of Wons...😃
Required fields are marked *
Blue (@mayhemf)
July 31, 2023 at 3:17 PM
😂😂
All hotel conglomerate heirs go to the same school in UK. makes logical sense 🙃
Required fields are marked *
JKim
July 31, 2023 at 3:20 PM
The Dubai deal WAS probably his buddy Samir.
Required fields are marked *
Blue (@mayhemf)
July 31, 2023 at 3:33 PM
Lol. The rest were ‘friend of friend’
Minnie🫘👩🏻🚀Pioneer and Teacher 👩🏻🏫🌱🏹
July 31, 2023 at 5:23 PM
This drama contract alone must have taken two years to finalize. What are the writers smoking?
I guess they heard all the complaints about Won not working and outsourced the idea of his work progression to someone like Won himself.
Junho is here for the suits. I am now convinced.
Required fields are marked *
Minnie🫘👩🏻🚀Pioneer and Teacher 👩🏻🏫🌱🏹
July 31, 2023 at 5:19 PM
I am shamelessly here for comments and I promised myself I won't be a naysayer anymore because I stopped watching 4 episodes ago, but this seriously cracked me up hahahahahaha!!!! Smile trauma. lololol! Did Won not have it when this started? I guess the show wanted everyone to feel his pain in real time.......
Required fields are marked *
Mrs Buckwheat
July 31, 2023 at 8:00 PM
We all knew she would be the one taking the fallout from dating Won but to go "from hotel employee to maid to baby sitter. And she smiles" -where is the Sarang from the earlier episodes who wouldn't of put up with this? Does HR or any kind of union not exist in Korea?
Required fields are marked *
9 DancingEmma
July 31, 2023 at 3:22 PM
I have become so indifferent to this drama that the only thing that surprised me was that the King Group has a crappy hotel/chain of them in the sticks. Does it make any sense to ‘taint’ your luxury brand by using the ‘King’ name for a budget hotel if it is meant to denote exclusivity? And, that area clearly doesn’t have any cell phone coverage so the SK Govt should investigate that!
Required fields are marked *
Minnie🫘👩🏻🚀Pioneer and Teacher 👩🏻🏫🌱🏹
July 31, 2023 at 7:14 PM
kkkkkkk!!! LOL! You guys are so funny haha!
Required fields are marked *
Reply1988 -❣️Mother Bean❣️
July 31, 2023 at 10:55 PM
It’s true hotel groups tend to have variations sometimes including the brand and sometimes not to distinguish the different star ratings within the group. I think keeping the King in the title is not that unusual in the hotel market.
Required fields are marked *
10 DancingEmma
July 31, 2023 at 3:54 PM
I have a few questions: Apart from the remunerative dimension, is it likely that being in this drama will have a critical blowback of some length for Junho if he wants to be regarded as a serious actor? Does he want to be considered a serious actor? Is there industry snobbery among the top film directors regarding who they cast in their films?
Required fields are marked *
Minnie🫘👩🏻🚀Pioneer and Teacher 👩🏻🏫🌱🏹
July 31, 2023 at 5:26 PM
Judging by the ratings, I don't think Junho will suffer any serious damage. TRS will probably tide him over for quite some time into the near future. But I am indeed curious to know about the snobbery too. I know Idols face it a lot.
Required fields are marked *
penny_pens
August 1, 2023 at 4:23 AM
I will be guided by persons from Korea, but good actors often have a mix of commercially successful projects and critically successful projects (and if they are really good or lucky they will have some that are both). Given the critical success of the TRS and the commercial success of KTL, I am certain he will have the world of options to choose from next.
Required fields are marked *
Doppelganger
August 1, 2023 at 1:31 PM
>> Does he want to be considered a serious actor?
I don't actually think he does. His choice of script says a lot about his career ambitions, which is pointed squarely at commercial popularity. He chose this script out of hundreds after The Red Sleeve...
Required fields are marked *
Qingdao: likes scented candles
August 2, 2023 at 7:44 AM
I hope this doesn't have "critical blowback." I think of this Kdrama as Junho's step to getting to the same level as Park Seo Joon and Ji Chang Wook, plus he's a Kpop idol. Red Sleeve was his serious actor award, and quite a big step after his military service. Plus, it is another step for his place on the world stage since this is on Netflix.
Required fields are marked *
nfabjoy
August 7, 2023 at 5:09 PM
Interesting comment . I see that he has allegedly chosen to be a superhero in a Netflix drama so I think he is aiming for commercial popularity. He also has a youtube channel where he vlogs much like Park Min Young.
As someone mentioned in the comments- I do think he is going for Park Seo Joon balance but with that hint of seriousness, he was after all in Just Between Lovers which was quite somber in tone. If anything - this shows his versatility like Kim So Hyun with My Love From The Star.If anything - I think him and his team are following the Kim So Hyun playbook. Only thing he needs to do now is the 8 eps drama
I think he will fare well.
Required fields are marked *
11 FormAnOrderlyQueue
July 31, 2023 at 6:26 PM
Thanks @dramaddictally for your pains. And let's be honest, it's painful. But, like you, at least I got a laugh out of the socks. Our ML has to be faultless even to the state of his feet on a picnic...
Several things annoyed me or made me cringe. But most of all was the old "out of contact for three weeks". It's so ridiculous. And it was made even more so by the 180 in Sarang's character. Earlier she's brushing off wedding discussions because she's absolutely certain of the strength of their relationship; then she's withholding information about her "demotion" - um, why? Surely the consistent thing to do is tell him what happened, laugh about it, and carry on - as she has done when every other "crisis" (read "minor blip") has come along. Is she embarrassed to admit this? Does she think he'll go off on one if she lets him know? Is she playing the noble idiot so that he doesn't get distracted when working out his international deal? No idea what's going on in her head - because I just don't really know her.
Not enough Ro-un this week :( I want @panshel 's fanfic and I want it now. Their story is going to be wrapped up so fast next weekend I'm going to be miffed.
Required fields are marked *
Beebop
July 31, 2023 at 8:03 PM
I wouldn't say that there was no contact for 3 weeks. When Won has returned and is texting Sa Rang at the airport, you can see they've been exchanging texts at the very least and even an apology from Sa Rang for missing his call. I agree that the fact that Sa Rang withholds information from Won at this point is very out of character considering the way the drama has repeatedly reminded us that this couple will talk and clear things up ASAP and the trope fake out teases. Hoping for a good explanation next episode on this front.
Required fields are marked *
Reply1988 -❣️Mother Bean❣️
July 31, 2023 at 10:00 PM
This is the second time she has done something that appears to be out of character but they showed that she kept her worries away from her friends as well and they described that as typical of her. With the busyness of their schedules they were not able to check in on her either.
She didn’t tell Won when she was moved to the Dream team or that she was assigned to babysit his nephew. Most partners discuss work and especially if it’s in your partners house so that just seems ridiculous that she didn’t mention it. However, I do think that a lot of dramas would end early if they just had simple conversations.
‘Your dad treated me to a meal today and banished me to no man’s land. I am happy to go. If you make a big deal out of it, it shows that I get special treatment as your girlfriend and that means working for the company will be hard for me. Please focus on your work so we can prove we can maintain our relationship as a distance relationship and I will see you when you get back’.
Required fields are marked *
Firewife5
August 1, 2023 at 3:19 PM
Yes! If their problems are going to be so quickly resolved could it please be through mature conversation like you just described, rather then Sa-rang just smiling and saying, "I'm fine, don't worry" before they jump into their matching jammies.
Required fields are marked *
Dramaforever
August 1, 2023 at 7:34 AM
I read on reddit that they were infact communicating the whole time. Through texts and calls (someone had posted translation of the texts - it shows that he texted her right before he boarded the plane to Seoul and before that she had even apologized for missing his call once as she was working). So I think there is a misunderstanding by viewers because of lack of translation of texts. They were talking/ texting the whole time, she just didn't tell him that she was transferred. Which IMO she should have but I think she knew he would take the next flight and fly home immediately if she did, so she wanted to wait.
Required fields are marked *
12 sakuradaydream
July 31, 2023 at 7:44 PM
"so no conflict?" *smashes phone & skateboard*
Can't believe we got Dispatch in a kdrama! talk about representation.
I don't know about y'all but even though I agree that its nice to see a Kdrama not follow the regular kdrama operating guidelines, I still would like to see them grow from SOME conflict.
How can people just not face any hurdles in life? Unless they're gods favourite but apart from that cmon.
Apart from that I loved the scene in Won's room, it was so intimate and just made me feel all warm & tingly inside ACK
Required fields are marked *
Decraew
August 1, 2023 at 6:32 AM
I agree I’d like to see some conflict or hardship … but during which they keep believing in each other and work together to get out of whichever situation.
Required fields are marked *
Firewife5
August 1, 2023 at 3:22 PM
That's the healthy way to handle conflict! No brushing it aside, no none idiocy, no miscommunication or non-communication. I love it when a drama goes this route, but it's really rare that it does.
Required fields are marked *
13 bbstl 🧹
July 31, 2023 at 9:11 PM
Magic! Our leads appear wearing black tie.
Magic! Our leads appear wearing school uniforms.
Will there be 15-16 Magic! and they’ll appear wearing no clothes?
Required fields are marked *
Seon-ha
August 1, 2023 at 4:08 AM
Or MOAR white, white socks…
Required fields are marked *
Firewife5
August 1, 2023 at 3:24 PM
I laughed out loud at this!
Required fields are marked *
bbstl 🧹
August 1, 2023 at 6:37 PM
Now, THAT would make it a memorable drama! 😜
Required fields are marked *
14 kdramacurious
July 31, 2023 at 10:25 PM
Strangely enough, I actually enjoyed this weekend's episodes and watched them at normal speed — this after barely tolerating the two prior weekends and watching them at 1.25x speed. Maybe my expectations have finally adjusted enough that I've now joined the target audience for this show? (Please do not pelt me with rotten tomatoes. ✌🏼)
I do agree with the Beanies who found the amusement park scenes slightly off. It gave me "Do you believe in magic?" vibes at first, especially when the place lit up on command, but it just got rather sad real quick.
I'm glad the cat is out of the bag with Pyeong-hwa's divorce so they can move past it, because Ro-un isn't going to let that stop him, I'm sure. Cattily, I also wish we'd find out what questionable things the newly-promoted purser had to do to get her promotion . . . with luck, they'll be things she would be embarrassed to admit doing.
I hope they bring back Ji-ho in some meaningful way so that the time Sa-rang spent with him counts for something with his mother or grandfather. Otherwise, what's the point of introducing that side plot (other than giving Won a picnic moment to show us how much he's grown)?
Da-eul not getting a divorce and having her in-laws come to her defense . . . I'm still on the fence on this one. Even if she were to maintain the upper hand going forward, it would still be an unhappy marriage and not one where you have a real partnership with your spouse. They'd need to get to a proper repentance/resolution/reconciliation of some kind, otherwise, their marriage will just be one of convenience, and Da-eul really deserves more happiness than that, IMHO.
Required fields are marked *
15 hacja
July 31, 2023 at 10:59 PM
I have to admit, I'm a bit disappointed in the commentary above mainly because its the 14th episode and almost everyone above is acting as if the drama has been excellent so far, and these last two episodes some sort of huge let down. The 13th episode brought forward the "treat workers as humans" pretty well. The 14th was okay for its "treat scandals as nothing" idea which I wish more kdramas would follow.
In fact, I've been enjoying it as a "joke watch", and now for many its a "hate watch." Why? @elinor even wants to kill off the nation's grandmother, Kim Young-Ok! Brutal!! Please stop before you advocate the kdrama death of the nation's boyfriend, the nation's little sister, and the nation's first love!
Let me say that the female lead has been about the most underwritten of any kdrama rom-com I've ever watched. We know Sa-rang was raised by her grandmother, is accomplished, likes hotels, and has fallen in love with Won. What else do we know about her? Nothing whatsoever.
Given this, let me make a point that I know only I hold. (Yes, I'm a courageous, my own man, so I'm used to taking the tough stand.) Faced with a role that is probably the most underwritten female I've ever seen in a kdrama rom-com, Yoona is doing a very good job of acting, much better than Junho, who is just strutting around.
I know that I am alone, standing tall, in my interpretation that in claiming to not be bothered at all by the marriage talk, Yoona portrayed Sa-rang as clearly in fact bothered by it, especially given her too quick dismissal, and then by her noble idiocy in leaving for the King the Land vacation hotel. I guess I was the only one who thought Yoona conveyed this very well, in the restaurant, then with her ready acquiescence in the assignment, and the sad packing of her suitcase, plus her scanning of the shabby uniforms in her new assignment which also her resignation when she was waiting on the obnoxious old men, which I thought was well portrayed. So I'm not blaming Yoona for this one.
But also, let me make a key point: although I am not so strange as to suggest that my wife and I wear school uniforms when I rent us an amusement park, which I try to do frequently, I did once get us matching pajamas. So for me, this drama is slice of life. Go ahead, all you rich Chaebol heiresses and heirs--sneer at a poor man's dream that workers get treated with the incidental gifts they deserve!
Required fields are marked *
Seon-ha
August 1, 2023 at 4:13 AM
@elinor did no such thing :)
I’m with you on Yoona. She’s doing great.
Required fields are marked *
missjb
August 1, 2023 at 5:07 AM
Agree with you on Yoona, she is at least trying to act out this underdevelop character.she is improve alot imo. I think she has something to prove. Even then she can't do so much given the material
Meanwhile Jun Hoo feels so soulless in this. It seems he is aware the material it's not worth it. So I can't blame him.
Required fields are marked *
bbstl 🧹
August 1, 2023 at 8:26 AM
I agree about Yoona. She’s doing well here.
Oh, and we also know she’s a good friend and has been hurt by at least one jerk boyfriend in the past.
Required fields are marked *
Firewife5
August 1, 2023 at 3:41 PM
For me I think it's a matter of disappointed hopes more than anything. I knew going in that the drama was not going to provide any thought-provoking depth, but at least I felt it was good at what it was - a light romantic comedy with great chemistry between the leads. Somewhere around Thailand the sheen began to wear off for me. The chemistry is still there, and there are scenes I definitely still enjoy, but I find myself wishing it was more somehow.
I'm also with you regarding Yoona. I've never been a fan, but she's exceeded my expectations. Junho, however has been a bit of a disappointment. I feel like this drama is somewhat of a vanity project for him, or a good chance to kiss Yoona - a lot! JK, maybe...maybe not.
Required fields are marked *
Mimimil
October 10, 2024 at 11:44 AM
I really like this comment because even if she is underwritten and what not, you can still fill in the gaps with your imagination cause everything’s up for interpretation. I’m sure some books we were made to read and analyze during grade school and high school had underdeveloped characters but that didn’t stop the teacher from making you find meaning in the meaningless. Also based on what I’ve gathered, South Korea is not necessarily a pro feminist country and is still very much conservative so I don’t expect strong outspoken female leads that go about conflict the way it would be depicted in western media. Furthermore, the situation with the storyline of Sa-Rang’s two female friends are definitely disappointing but sometimes life is just disappointing ; and given that some of the endings people are suggesting would leave them worse off, they’re doing what they can. People talk about some dramas being disappointing with how they ended but while I get accept I can rationalize and accept it cause life can just be that disappointing. People are not great communicators and many would rather avoid confrontation than face it straightforward. I’ve had friendships that ended with a passive agressive argument and then just end without any chance to even try and reconcile. I know people who are in loveless marriages that stay instead of getting a divorce that many people suggest to them. And lots of other disappointing things that are mirrored in some of these less acclaimed or nuanced kdramas. Sometimes a creative can make something with little to no thought or a completely different reason or meaning than what many assume, but the work does not just stop there. The audience can add to it, form their own stories and hypotheses and even be inspired to write something similar but in a way that reflects what they would’ve liked to see in the media. I love seeing people theorize and stuff and I love a good hate watch but some of the negativity feels like people complaining just to complain. (I hope there’s no typos in this but I don’t wanna read it back to find them, I just like to talk and brain dump)
Required fields are marked *
Mimimil
October 10, 2024 at 11:46 AM
I feel like a jumped topics a lot in this but I often do that cause of my adhd so I’m so sorry if it reads choppy😭
Required fields are marked *
16 Decraew
July 31, 2023 at 11:08 PM
Let face it folks, the great chemistry between the leads is no longer enough to compensate for the lack of good script writing. Why create an interesting problem for the leads that requires them working together for a solution when you can just have another ‘amusement park rented out by rich chaebol’ instead ?
Required fields are marked *
bbstl 🧹
August 1, 2023 at 8:30 AM
😄 the only thing surprising about the amusement park scene was that he didn’t say “oh, I own it!”
Well, and the inexplicable change into school uniforms.
And how the rides start and stop without any personnel working them.
Required fields are marked *
17 Reply1988 -❣️Mother Bean❣️
July 31, 2023 at 11:20 PM
Thanks @dramaddictally for the weecap.
The thing that I don’t understand with this drama it does a great job of showing people talking about issues so they don’t become issues but then when it is essential they talk to present a united front they choose not to share.
Exhibit one: Sangsik get’s a ridiculous offer from the sister from hell, he knows she is dangerous and isn’t going to let it go when he rejects her but rather than mention it he leaves it until she uses plan B to attack Won then he casually brings it up.
Exhibit two: Sarang gets invited to lunch with her potential father in law and is assigned somewhere random. She does not mention it because she doesn’t want Won to be distracted while he is actually working. No issues there, but surely she would leave him a message when she knew he was on his way home so it doesn’t look like he is out the loop when he turns up at the hotel and has to ask his staff for her location.
Exhibit three: When Pyunghwa walked away from Rowoon he could see she was emotionally overwhelmed so used actions rather than words; he literally reached out to her to show she was not dealing with the shame and humiliation alone. She missed the cue and it looks like there has not been and opportunity for a follow up discussion to avoid assumptions being made.
I am looking forward to a tie up of the mother issue, and a wedding. This is the drama that will have read the memo; rom coms need a wedding. I am thinking they will do a Hugo’s Love and She was pretty and have a life after marriage montage re Halmeoni, their children and their work life.
Required fields are marked *
sonai
July 31, 2023 at 11:46 PM
I agree with you about the “talk about and resolve situations quickly” approach of the characters. This way, they stay clear of misunderstandings and ensuing drama. Which is why the story feels really smooth all the time.
If all situations you mentioned were resolved in the same way, there would almost nothing be left to work with in the next episodes. With this, we can still look forward to a sweet resolution for Pyeong-hwa & Ro-woon; or have the slightest cliffhanger feeling that Sang-shik might be tempted by the sister’s offer… (this was resolved quickly either way!) So… I suppose these were necessary setups for the final episodes?
Required fields are marked *
Reply1988 -❣️Mother Bean❣️
August 1, 2023 at 12:02 AM
The cliff hanger with Sangsik could have stayed with us not knowing the outcome and the only change would have been once they were having the conversation about the photos to focus on the sister because he refused to sign up with her. They couldn’t have foreseen that she would go that low or override the dad’s attempts to shut it down so no change in that storyline would have been needed.
With the airline love birds we would have have seen them walk away together and been intrigued as to what happens next with two episodes free to focus on their relationship with her shinning and everyone else powerless to say or do anything to get her down any more more. She stood up for herself and he is consistent in the messages he gives so the rest of the team would have to pull their weight with getting the duty free results and stop intimidating her.
Required fields are marked *
Qingdao: likes scented candles
August 2, 2023 at 7:55 AM
YES, rom-coms need a wedding, especially when the plot centers around a hotel (wedding venue). Love this, Reply 1988! I also like an epilogue where they show the happy family, like Secret Garden or Fated to Love You. After all, we go through so much development at the beginning of a drama, we deserve a decent conclusion! I'm not an open-ending kind of viewer.
I want to see Yoona and Junho in wedding attire, with the Bangkok gang supporting them.
Required fields are marked *
18 sonai
July 31, 2023 at 11:33 PM
Oooh, I don’t know, I still enjoyed watching these episodes! But I admit instead of binging two (like I did up to ep 10), I saved these to two sittings, watching another show for the rest of the evening. It’s really very fluffy, and I can’t overdo it with that strategy… 😅
I was able to adore Junho’s outfits (and white socks, lol); loved Da-Eul’s daughter’s sarcasm; cheered for Ro-woon stating a divorce should be nothing to be ashamed about (just get together with Pyeong-hwa, only two episodes left! D’uh!); cackled at halemoni’s perfectly sweetly delivered threat; marveled at the true friendship between the three women.
Under the carpet, I’ve swept all the stuff that was unrealistic from front to back (the fickleness of the chairman, as if someone would lead a company like that; the sister; the unbelievable smile-trauma) - and there it can stay. I’d still rewatch this drama if I needed a sweet pick me up.
Required fields are marked *
19 Mina00
August 1, 2023 at 12:06 AM
Why they need to dressed in school uniform ? It is very often to see in K dramas. I remember Gangam Beauty had that kind of part but it was much more logical there . Also what is wrong being divorcee !!!How come his mom still alive and comes back years later!!! I hope they are not going to make her sins washed up like other dramas !!!I caught up 2 weeks episodes last night . Everything goes as predicted :)
Required fields are marked *
vienibenmio
August 1, 2023 at 10:11 AM
I've seen it in Taiwanese and Chinese dramas too, and I just really do not get it
Required fields are marked *
Qingdao: likes scented candles
August 2, 2023 at 7:57 AM
For the same reason they have to wear headbands?
Required fields are marked *
20 fr3akyPotato0
August 1, 2023 at 1:15 AM
So... after Won not so intentionally trying to find his mom, she suddenly shows up? Am I the only one who screamedddd at the matching pajamas LMAO! Ngl, I just stopped wathcing this show after like episode 11 because of how unendingly inconsistent the plot was becoming. We still almost nothing about Sa-rang outside of the fact that she's an orphan, and is a little bit too optimistic for the average person like... I can't believe they just covered up the plate breaking scene like it never happened. I have a Notion board where I track and rate K dramas I've watched, and this is definitely getting 2 stars from me.
Required fields are marked *
Reply1988 -❣️Mother Bean❣️
August 1, 2023 at 3:32 AM
Is your rating out of 5 or 10 stars? Did you list and rate them all from the start?
Required fields are marked *
fr3akyPotato0
August 1, 2023 at 4:18 AM
Oh, it's out of 5 stars. After every drama I watch I write whatever thoughts I had, then I give a rating, and then I mark the drama as "done" or "discontinued" if I dropped it halfway. Unfortunately, this is going to the "discontinued" pile with a 2.5/5 rating hahaha It's just me, I know others will disagree.
Required fields are marked *
Reply1988 -❣️Mother Bean❣️
August 1, 2023 at 6:33 AM
The reason I was asking if it’s out of 5 or 10 is that I am interested in what leads to a drop. I have a really limited range of dramas available so I am ok with a 2.5 as I don’t expect to have many 4 or 5 as they are the stand out dramas of the year or classics from back in the day; 25,21, Reply 1988 and Shooting Stars. The 5’s are the ones that are fighting for the top ten of all time. What is a 4 or 5 for you? Have you had been able to watch one this year?
Required fields are marked *
fr3akyPotato0
August 1, 2023 at 7:15 AM
omg Reply 1988 and 25,21 are sooo good! I noticed your pfp but didn't mention it hahah.
It's not very easy to say off the top of my head what I would rate a 4/5, but I generally like to rate a drama based on character development, chemistry between characters, the plot, and how much overall emotion it evokes in me. I definitely rate Reply 1988 for example as a 5, because it encompasses all of these things. I also recently saw Celebrity and it has also gone up as one of the cool dramas in my book because of all the tension the plot comes with. You can also see the main lead's internal struggles as she kind of stops at certain steps and compares how much she's changed. And then there are dramas like Hotel Del Luna which got positive reviews from a lot people, but I didn't really like it because I couldn't bring myself to connect with the characters or the plot for some reason. To me it felt like some kind of remake of Goblin, I don't know.
So, I guess I don't have any particular standard to rate dramas, it's just based on how the drama and the characters make me feel. If my rant makes sense.
I only started being interested in the whole "korean experience" this year (watching dramas, and listening to kpop), but I'd like to think I've seen some of the popular dramas. So, as for my faves of this year, it's definitely Crash Landing on You. Nothing has been able to live up to it hahah
21 Ruhi
August 1, 2023 at 4:27 AM
The writer is trolling us! Who is writing these...
Won(steps close): Since we can't meet for a while, don't go home tonight.
Sarang: What are we going to do?
Won(gets even more closer to her lips and whispers in her ears): Let's go somewhere(Damn Junho is smirking)
Sarang: At this hour, where?
me: squeee
Then the scene cuts to an amusement park of all things. I am even ok with their school uniforms (Junho is so fine in that). Just the location is arghh !!!! I will take the uniforms as role playing - some people are into that. But someone (may be police officers again) please teach Wonnie that if he is going to be away from his girlfriend for 3 weeks, its ok to plan for some alone time - just not in an amusement park.
Required fields are marked *
Blue (@mayhemf)
August 1, 2023 at 4:47 AM
The amusement park was empty(?) so technically they were alone. May be Won has an outdoor kink 😂😂🤷🏽♀️
Required fields are marked *
fr3akyPotato0
August 1, 2023 at 4:51 AM
In an amusement park. At night. Alone. Did the writer never see a horror movie? Them being alone made the scene really strange
Required fields are marked *
Ruhi
August 1, 2023 at 5:02 AM
This may be the reason he was having way too much fun riding that horse on the carousel. Sarang had to close her eyes and turn away being shy.
Wonnie boy is too naughty.
Required fields are marked *
Reply1988 -❣️Mother Bean❣️
August 1, 2023 at 6:35 AM
They are alone…apart from the staff running the rides and sorting the lights etc.
Required fields are marked *
vienibenmio
August 1, 2023 at 10:12 AM
I'm also tired of their intimate moments constantly getting interrupted. I get they have to hold out on us, but like I don't even get my hopes up anymore, I'm just like "someone's gonna walk in"
Required fields are marked *
bbstl 🧹
August 1, 2023 at 6:41 PM
Wait, do we think they haven’t gotten it on yet? I thought that for sure happened the Night of the Pajama Set PPL 🫣
Required fields are marked *
vienibenmio
August 1, 2023 at 8:18 PM
Asian dramas have taught me that sex doesn't happen unless you see it strongly hinted at
Required fields are marked *
bbstl 🧹
August 1, 2023 at 8:29 PM
Dang, I thought that WAS a strong hint! I must be slipping!
22 bewitched
August 1, 2023 at 4:46 AM
Is Nam Ki-ae really Won's mother? Not someone Hwa-ran hired to pose as his mother? Seriously I think her smile is not loving and it must be by choice since Nam Ki-ae is a very good actress. I hope their interaction will be good in the last 2 episodes, I really like them together in Confession.
Required fields are marked *
fr3akyPotato0
August 1, 2023 at 4:53 AM
I'm expecting Won to be a little angry at her though. She did leave and not call for years. Let's see if the writer's just cover it up like they've been covering up any scene that could actually lead the plot somewhere
Required fields are marked *
bewitched
August 1, 2023 at 5:39 AM
He should have a lot of pent-up anger towards his mother. Maybe the anger should be directed toward the writer because I don’t think we will find any plot with 2 episodes to go😂.
Required fields are marked *
fr3akyPotato0
August 1, 2023 at 6:55 AM
haha I can't wait to see what they really pull off this time lmao. Saturday please come quickkk pali pali LOL
Required fields are marked *
kdramacurious
August 1, 2023 at 6:09 AM
Since it was his mother's close friend who sent Won the personnel record of his mother, I assumed that it was his mother's way of trying to reach out to him or to signal that she'd like to get in touch with him.
When Won finally sat down to talk to the longstanding employee who is also his mother's friend, that friend straight up said she'd been waiting for him to talk to her about his mother. She was clearly disappointed when Won said he had no interest in seeing her.
Maybe that's finally what prompted her to show up in person.
Required fields are marked *
Decraew
August 1, 2023 at 6:36 AM
Nam Ki ae might be a good actress, but most if not all roles I saw her in she played very unsympathetic characters 😏
Let’s see how they portray her here …
Required fields are marked *
23 welh
August 1, 2023 at 5:14 AM
I know a lot of viewers are enjoying the show just for the romance. The focus on gallantry and romance is fine, but if the series adds plot elements it should deal with them properly. The relationship boundaries are still a mess. Gu Won WON’T LET SA-RANG DO HER JOB! It is intolerable at this point. Gu Won is so clingy and needing to control her it is impossible to see a future for them. She is turning into a pouty school girl from a competent, successful career woman. Yuri is taking a practical approach: in their social circle marriage is a business transaction with secondary love on the side. Gu Won refuses to accept his position or status or respect the boundaries of his title. Charm and infatuation are not solid foundation pieces for a serious relationship. Also, as the BOSS of King the Land, how did Gu Won NOT know Sa-Rang was assigned to the Dream Team?! Gu Won is not protecting Sa-Rang from criticism, doubt or termination - - real reasons for Sa-Rang to break up with him to keep at least some of her pride. She tells him “It is up to me to decide my future.” About time common sense entered the picture. The Dream team to her is just being a maid to a wealthy family, which ironically, is the same for a future daughter-in-law.
Next, Sa-Rang is turned into a babysitter. Can’t she realize that the Gu family is not for her? When GuWon becomes an active uncle for his nephew, it seems like the beginning of a “found family” trope; but also the back door to derail Hwa-Ran’s plans to take over the conglomerate. But that plot point quickly evaporates.
Now, the problem with GuWon’s profit plan is that he claimed to sign deals with 30 hotels, which is outside his authority (board approval would be needed for such a transaction outside the normal course of business). Also, a chairman does not waive his hand to approve such a sweeping change of business operations, including appointing Gu Won to president, without a vote in basic corporate governance. (But legal practicalities interfere with quick, snappy story lines.) Further, the sweeping away by the chairman of Hwa-Ran’s role in the company was too swift and jarring. It made no sense even though the chairman said it was traditional paternal nepotism. How can Gu Won’s lax work ethic now run two other and larger divisions? I think the snap-of-a-finger resolution to these serious problems in itself is a real storytelling problem.
The chairman’s business split of our OTP after the scandal was a way to softly punish them and let them reflect on their situation. Gu Won is oblivious to this but Sa-Rang quickly learns as she is exiled to the tourist hotel. The chairman is telling her he can make her life miserable. I don’t think he is worried about Sa-Rang turning into Won’s mother but Won turning into himself. We learned that chairman married a lowly hotel employee, got married, had a son who he doted on, but divorced and erased his mother from his life. He probably does not want that to happen to...
Required fields are marked *
welh
August 1, 2023 at 5:15 AM
... Won.
But to make the break up plan work, he puts Won’s mother back in the picture, to tell her painful story of how she could not be accepted nor never fit into chaebol class, i.e. Sa-Rang’s bitter fate.
This sets up for a finale crossroads. Does Gu Won play the noble idiocy card? Does Sa-Rang? Can they stay together and have it all against the god-like decision maker, the chairman? Does the fitting ending involve Hwa-Ran returning with dynamite to blow up the hotel killing her entire family? At this point, anything goes . . . towards a happy ending because all the past serious issues have been easily brushed aside.
Required fields are marked *
Beebop
August 1, 2023 at 11:51 PM
Hmm, I don't agree that Won is getting in the way of Sa-rang doing her job... For a chaebol ML, he's actually coming across with beta traits. When they run into each other in the corridor of his home after he leaves the dining room, he backs off when she reminds him that she's working and he asks her to call him once she finishes. He defers to her wishes when it comes to her watching Ji-hu, even though he was opposed at first. Actually the first time I detected a departure from the controlling ML was when he confronted her ex after Sa-rang had gone home. He didn't warn him not to see her again, instead he told the ex that he needed to ask Sa-rang if he wanted to see her. Also, I'm sure his permission kiss needs no reminders... I feel like Won's come a long way since the beginning of the drama, he does demonstrate respect for her passion for her job, especially through his preparation for the 100th anniversary event. I sensed a turning point after he was inadvertently forced to briefly serve Samir during his visit. I just wish we're able to see some character development for Sa-rang, as likeable as she is already.
Required fields are marked *
24 penny_pens
August 1, 2023 at 5:29 AM
Thanks @dramaddictally for the weecap. I know you feel bummed so hopefully it gets better for you at the end.
I enjoyed myself but as I said, I watch this show to laugh and smile. I appreciated the writers consistency in staying true to that approach as well. I don't want any prolonged angst in this show, here I want rainbows and butterflies.
My thoughts:
I will move to Seoul for the police force at this point. Laughed so much at the police couple that they inspired me to go back to watch the scene with the first police officer singing (which is officially a timeless comedic scene for me now).
Halmeoni steals the show in whatever scene she's in. I adore her. The young actor who played JiHu also won my heart. I honestly don't think there is any redemption for his mother though, so I am hoping he can find happiness with his Dad eventually.
You guys know that I am about the sunshine and unicorns, but I wanted to snatch that purser's hair and drag her across that airport. I know Ro Woon won't let that non-scandal keep him from his love so looking out for that happy ending for Pyeong-hwa.
Also, I know others were happy for Da-Eul but in my mind Da-Eul didn't beat her husband enough! I was livid. I would have beaten him into a coffin and then beat the body in the coffin at the funeral. He was the true villain for me these episodes. I am not satisfied with her ending mainly because he doesn't see what he did wrong. He is man-child and Da-Eul deserves better.
But on a happier note 😁 loved loved loved that scene between Won and Sa-rang in his bedroom. Whenever he lowers his voice to that deep register,I stop thinking. Also loved how he properly put SuMi in her place at the elevator.
And yes @hacja, Yoona's acting is growing on me more and more especially in scenes where she questions her future career. When she put on that King Tourist Hotel uniform, I felt the dejection and sadness coupled with the determination not to complain and give her best.
As for Won's mum's appearance at the end, calling him Won-ah and softly smiling, I hollered lady you have to earn calling him Won-ah and don't smile at him when you've been missing for years! I really want to hear her explanation though.
I will miss my little weekend dose of happy after next week and though opinions differed, I also enjoyed these entertaining conversations about the show. You guys made me laugh as much as the show.
Required fields are marked *
sonai
August 1, 2023 at 6:22 AM
Ooh, yes: Sa-Rang actually realizing that „if I want to go a step further in my career, I end up as a personal maid for the chairman‘s family“ (ergo: not an option) was one of the favorite outcomes of ep 13 for me! So where will she go from here? Marry Won & end up running the King group with him, or inherit halmeoni’s restaurant? Found a start-up with freshly divorced Da-Eul and Pyeong-haw (who by then is happily dating Ro-woon)? Something else entirely?
Also agree on these recaps & discussion threads being another highlight tied to the show! 😆
Required fields are marked *
penny_pens
August 1, 2023 at 6:51 AM
Definitely, she worked hard to be the best and reach the top, only to realise the top is not aligned to her professional vision and she will be increasingly subjected the personal whims of the hotel's leadership.
I like that her "struggle" is figuring out what's next for her professionally. And with the material she has been given YoonA is portraying the struggle well.
Required fields are marked *
Reply1988 -❣️Mother Bean❣️
August 1, 2023 at 6:51 AM
‘Also, I know others were happy for Da-Eul but in my mind Da-Eul didn't beat her husband enough! I was livid. I would have beaten him into a coffin and then beat the body in the coffin at the funeral. He was the true villain for me these episodes. I am not satisfied with her ending mainly because he doesn't see what he did wrong. He is man-child and Da-Eul deserves better’ 👈🏾🤣 I have to award you the 🫘Beansprout🌱 for best visual.
I too was livid seeing her struggling with the shopping in those biodegradable bags that start degrading before they even complete their one job of making the trip from shop to home.
He has no sense of shame and even if he was tired from the grind of working stupid hours, a full year off and spending the severance pay on treats for himself while his wife was breaking her back was just beyond bad. I really thought his parents were giving her the free pass to divorce him as they were too ashamed. But they were shameless for most of the series so it is a small win they acknowledged her need for care. But basically their approach is one person should be overworked in the house based on finances alone.
Required fields are marked *
penny_pens
August 1, 2023 at 7:34 AM
Lol! Thank you @reply1988!
Honestly if I were Da-Eul, at best we'd have to separate for a few months because everytime I'd see his face, I would remember everything and jump to beat him again. My favourite police officers would be working overtime 😂
And you are right, his family is just a shameless as him though in this case, they took her side. She still needs some hard boundaries with them too.
Required fields are marked *
vienibenmio
August 1, 2023 at 10:14 AM
And he wasn't even helping out with housework! Dude has no shame?
Required fields are marked *
Ruhi
August 1, 2023 at 1:46 PM
Da-Eul not divorcing her husband seems consistent with her character. Given she had not stood her ground against her awful boss, Yoo Sang shik in Thailand, her terrible in-laws, that sister in-law. In each of these situations we see people taking advantage of her and she indulges them with patience. Hope she realizes that making him do the housework is not revenge when he should already be doing that. I wish for her to realize that her husband is not a good person to have as partner and definitely not a good father for her child despite the stigma with divorce like we see in her friend's case.
Required fields are marked *
Beebop
August 1, 2023 at 9:39 PM
I completely share your sentiments about this drama. While I'll not deny that there is a part of me that wishes the script could make more effort to be compelling so as not to waste the casting of Junho and Yoona, it's obvious that the "script" as it is was written to showcase Junho and Yoona, watch them falling in love and deliver onscreen sparkles and fluff. I'm enjoying it for what it is as I love this pairing and the Netflix viewership alone speaks volumes - we're not alone in enjoying this drama for what it is, despite all the shortcomings and missed opportunities to delve deeper. As it is, the trope checklisting and subsequent fakeouts are so evident that I'm almost getting satire vibes. I'll also be missing this weekly dose of happiness after it ends this weekend - I can understand why so many Beanies are so meh about the execution of this drama, however for me, I didn't realise how much I missed the straight up rom com K drama which lured me to K dramaland in the first place.
Required fields are marked *
Mimimil
October 10, 2024 at 12:36 PM
Omg yes, some recent kdramas that have been marketed as romance have so many unnecessary murder plots and trauma that doesn’t add much to story. It also is emotionally exhausting sometimes watching those sad stories and backgrounds all for a few scenes of the actual romance and two episodes of the couple being together. And also if you have and ptsd, anxiety, depression and stuff like that even if it’s not very graphic, you don’t really want to watch it, you just want an escape.
Required fields are marked *
Qingdao: likes scented candles
August 2, 2023 at 8:03 AM
Yes...rainbows! This is a rom-com, and a fluffy one at that, and I love it. JunHo is suits....I will be be missing it Monday and place it on my re-watch to cheer up list.
Required fields are marked *
25 Miss_elly
August 1, 2023 at 9:49 AM
I was pleasantly surprised by her fellow king the land colleagues. They seemed to be the only ones who were happy for her and didn’t think anything differently about her. Saul g they are a family and would protect her. I thought they would turn.
Required fields are marked *
26 Sifimoyo
August 1, 2023 at 1:23 PM
This drama is extraordinarily irritating, and it doesn't seem to know whether it is a light-hearted bit of froth or a serious, character-developing thought-provoking piece of theatre, and most of the time it doesn't achieve either. I was completely bewildered by them prancing around in an otherwise-empty amusement park - HOW BORING - in school uniforms, but just assumed it could equally have been a theme outfit of another type - dressed up as cuddly toys/josean dynasty characters/ghosts. Junho is a brilliant actor and in previous dramas has moved me to tears on more than one occasion - what is he DOING in this lazily-written drama? I'm as willing as anybody to suspend disbelief in the interests of pure enjoyment, but sometimes the stretches in the story-line are too much, even for me. When and How, for example, with NO experience of hotels, did our hero manage to sew up a deal with 30 other companies, what with all the onion-peeling, holiday in Thailand and dating activities?
I do think Yoona is doing a good job, I've hated her in everything else she was in but she really does this part very well. And the vibe between the two of them is very convincing. The Ugly sister is too awful to be convincing.
Oh yes - matching Jimjams? And why are they always plain colours with piped edging?? I don't know what Korean women normally wear in bed outside a drama, but if that is standard bedwear I'm not surprised the birthrate is declining!
Required fields are marked *
bbstl 🧹
August 1, 2023 at 6:50 PM
Thank you for this! For reminding me to be publicly annoyed about another detail, that is: WTH that Won is a super gourmet cook (as part of his knows-everything persona) but he couldn’t peel an onion?
Good point about the jammy set. I’ve always thought (based 100% on kdrama watching) that Koreans sleep in their street clothes! Generally, with the lights on. 🤔
Required fields are marked *
Reply1988 -❣️Mother Bean❣️
August 1, 2023 at 9:41 PM
He admitted that after the onion shame, he asked the chef from the hotel to sort him out for the romantic I will cook for you date.
Required fields are marked *
bbstl 🧹
August 2, 2023 at 7:41 AM
Really? I guess we didn’t see that because it would have looked too much like work? 😁
Thanks, I totally missed that!
Required fields are marked *
Qingdao: likes scented candles
August 2, 2023 at 8:06 AM
Is "onion shame" a nod to his role as chef in Wok of Love--where he berates a kitchen worker for the way the onions were sliced? We've already had nods to TRS.
Required fields are marked *
bbstl 🧹
August 2, 2023 at 8:08 AM
Oh, good one! Maybe so!
Ruhi
August 2, 2023 at 11:26 AM
They show the leads have a literal conversation about the cooking. lol
Required fields are marked *
bbstl 🧹
August 2, 2023 at 12:43 PM
Thanks for pointing that out. I must have mentally checked out even earlier than I thought.
Reply1988 -❣️Mother Bean❣️
August 1, 2023 at 9:45 PM
‘I don't know what Korean women normally wear in bed outside a drama, but if that is standard bedwear I'm not surprised the birthrate is declining!’👈🏾 Usually the women with long hair wear all white floor length nighties so when they go walking at night they can scare the male lead who is staying over on the sofa into thinking they are a ghost😆
Required fields are marked *
Beebop
August 3, 2023 at 1:30 AM
LOL, your comment literally gave me It's Okay to Be Not Okay flashback - the FL was pure gothic queen in her floaty nightgowns!
Required fields are marked *
Reply1988 -❣️Mother Bean❣️
August 3, 2023 at 1:38 AM
🤣 I think they had it Backstreet rookie and Weightlifting fairy too.
Required fields are marked *
27 Dramaforever
August 2, 2023 at 12:10 AM
To all those wondering how Jun Ho's career will be after this. I am thinking his career moves were 100% intentional and it is exactly going as per his plan.
He chose this over hundred plus scripts because he knew he was lacking the "hallyu" effect. In fact, in spite of all the critical acclaim he got from TRS, he still wasn't in the league of actors who you generally see quoted in all those silly IG reels for example (K drama leads to swoon for etc.). He needed another commercial success to become an A list actor who can demand certain types of scripts and KTL gave him just that. Love it or hate it, KTL has definitely increased his popularity a whole lot, both domestically and internationally. I saw that he had mentioned in an interview a decade back that he chose JYP because they were the only agent to have an international office. He always had confidence in his ability and his goal was international fame, but he has had to fight for his space every step, both as an idol and as an actor.
Thanks to KTL, he was able to make his first English captioned post on IG (which I am pretty sure was one of his small goals (joy)).
Going by the news, he is likely to take a lead role in a Netflix original next. Another fun / not acting heavy project. His intention again might be to cement his brand internationally. I am fairly certain that he's going to pick a serious / character based role after these to bring his career right where he wants it - A serious actor with excellent brand value, who both critics and masses love.
I remember Hyun Bin mentioning how he wanted to do a rom com with SYJ after The Negotiation. When he got CLOY script I am sure he had some role in getting SYJ as the lead (they were dating right after TN, despite what records say). To have that kind of power, the power to control the narrative of your life to some extent, it takes a whole lot. KTL was a necessary evil in Jun Ho's path to that power IMO. And I love KTL for the record. I had zero expectations going in and I laugh out loud watching it.
PS - I am a HB and SYJ Stan, so don't come at me for saying HB got her the role. I discovered SYJ through CLOY and since then have watched every single show / movie she's ever done. So I know how talented she is.
Required fields are marked *
bbstl 🧹
August 2, 2023 at 7:44 AM
Thanks, that’s all very interesting to think about!
Required fields are marked *
Qingdao: likes scented candles
August 2, 2023 at 8:09 AM
Totally agree with you take on Junho's career.
Hoping for a real life romance between Yoona and Junho, like HB & SYJ...but only if that is what they want.