Lee Mi-sook is absolutely fabulous (and hilarious) in this drama, her line delivery, body language and facial expressions are always perfectly timed.

Her character seems like a subversion of the longstanding evil-mother-in-law trope that exists in most makjang dramas.

She even had a great scene this week where she admits she let her son suffer out of fear of being branded as the evil step mother towards his older brother.

That last screencap is just as perfect as the entire scene was.

Yi-joo's mom: The whole world will say "Stepmothers are going to be stepmothers after all."
Do-gook's mom: Are you introducing yourself right now?

The way I howled!! Such delicious burn. Do-gook's mom was the MVP of the week.

I keep seeing "makjang" used when talking about this show. I don't 100% understand what that means. Are Boys over Flowers and Coffee Prince also examples of makjang?

What I liked this most was the heroes kept beating the bad guys at their own game. It's almost crazy how blatant the bad guys are with their deeds and yet they think *after* screwing people over, they would remain loyal to them. Like Yura literally said something like "handle your own issues. People always look out for themselves" and then was blindsided that the people she used looked out for themselves and had receipts to back it up haha. (Man I wish more people had that much forethought). The older brother is a shady businessman and just an all around asshat. How is he gonna be like "my leg, my leg. It's ruined my life and prospects! I remember it clear as day how Do Guk ruined my life" and then when he's presented with potential evidence of him not only being a liar but causing his own accident, he's like "oh, it was so long ago, who can remember such things? Why dwell on the past?" Are you serious?! During the same freaking dinner haha

On the bride's side, sometimes it's like how did they not see this coming (such as not seeing the grandfather deemed incompetent. I'm surprised that hadn't been done before). I feel kinda bad for everytime a new revelation is revealed. Her relatives suck so much.

Getting to these eps now!

Does anyone know the name of the theme song? I'm googling the soundtrack but for some reason I can't find it!

I think Halmeoni was wrong to not watch with the family the video of the accident. During 20 years, Do-Gook had to live as the person who caused his brother's disability. And Jung-Wook can still live like he was innocent. He really needs to confront the reality, in every decision he takes, he sinks even more.

The consequences of the characters' decisions don't last, they already pass to the next problem/intrigue.

The main couple is cute :)

감히 (gamhi) is the new 왜(wae) for me. Why do the actors in this drama pronounce the words so gracefully and stylishly?

Can't believe there would come a day where the OTP in a makjang drama is written in a supreme manner to the normal sane kdramas. I was here for the kisses between the OTP (still looking forward to those which Sung Hoon can deliver deliciously with little to no effort), but now I am loving the emotional and meaningful bonding between the leads.

The one on one between the two MILs was LOL. "Are you introducing yourself?" had me guffawing.

I like all the unexpected scenes in this drama like the FL slapping the bad-mouthed lady in the cooking class, her teasing the spec secretary etc.,

Will there be any redemption arc for any of the evil characters? I feel that Yoo Ra would get one because she actually sounded nice when she fake pleaded with the FL by calling her "unni". She is the typical character who could have turned nice with a good mom. Also, Jin Ji Hee is actually killing it in this role. Hope she gets more diverse characters in future dramas.

The grandma's annoying me. How can the sons get along when one is a psychopath? Is she really not able to see it?

The meeting of the mothers! Their wardrobe, hair, music, the tension, the writing - just brilliant.

This show really moves fast and I love how we have both the teams one upping each other. It’s makes for an interesting watch.

The women in Do-Guk’s family are awesome. Love them all. Grandma getting confession out of our leads was such a nice thing to do. They don’t care about press or such but about how the children felt and why they did what they did.
After the awkward family dining Do Guk’s mom asked him if he was alright checking on his feelings first.
They seem like such a fun chaebol family except that brother. Sigh.

I love the show. Can’t wait for next weekend.

This show is deviating a bit from the webtoon. Can’t say I hate it though. It is hard to keep the two separate however, and I keep confusing them. This is prolly the last time I read the webtoon while also watching the drama. Lol

I fell head over heels in love with ML’s mom at the end of episode 7. No other way to describe it. Yi Joo is very lucky to have an ally like her.

I loved seeing YuRa being exposed but they turned it all around so quickly. Can’t wait to see how that ends.

@missvictrix, thank you so much for this hilarious recap of this amazing drama for the ages. Unfortunately, though, I’m having trouble following sometimes because you keep using the characters’ actual names. It took me a good five read-throughs to realize what name-syllables corresponded to “Punchable Face,” “Vegetable MIL,” and “Hot Sexretary.” I wonder if we could come to some compromise somehow?

In other news, who—like me—can be recruited to Team Character Rehabilitation for Punchable Face???

He got to me this week, there on his knees apologizing…and then helpfully talking shit on the interwebs. It all started as Evil Sis totally “kissed”-and-ditched him last week—causing many of us to have actual sympathy for this guy—and then, this week, when Do-gook had to give him the news about all that…ouch…but THEN they gave him better clothes (than Sung Hoon, even?) and more adult hairstyling, and well, I saw the writing on the wall for his rehabilitation.

I’m down. Let’s see what you can do, Punchable Face. Let’s see what role you play in that car accident. Or, frankly, it could be that he’s done what he needs to do for this plot, and we’ll never see him again…

Grandma not watching the video makes perfect sense to me? Yes I’m on the side of our ML and want his vindication but from Grandma’s POV one of the brothers tried to push the other of the boat. Do-gook took the blame initially and his consequence was not being a successor?? The family covered it up for Do-gook, so of course they are going to cover up for Jung-wook. The battle of succession actually seems fair and very low stakes imo. No one’s going to jail in that family (unless evil bro commits murder or something)

@missvictrix, thanks for the recap.
What a show.
Our OTP in their love nest ❤️.
Love the back and forth between good and evil .
The show is fast paced and the end is zooming closer 😟
The Battle of the (Step)Moms is drama gold.
Yoo Ra & Jung Wook off to a rocky start. 😂 Tells her she has to work.
I could see Jung Wook and Jung Hye teaming up 🫢

The cooking teacher is clearly the FL's biological mother right?

What can you comment about greatness, nothing, you just let it be great. The fact that the drama is almost over is the negative for me. Everything is glorious in this drama, pitch perfect from start to almost finish.

I love how much heart this show has in the midst of the plots and counterplots. That's what makes it a rewarding and not merely addictive watch.

In addition, everything's connected -- it's a filler-free zone. In Ep. 7, Do-guk kneels in front of his mom and asks her for a favor for only the second time, and says he hopes this time she'll say yes. Then in Ep. 8, we learn that the truth of the boat/near-drowning incident was kept hidden because his mom didn't want to seem like an evil stepmother. So it seems this was the first favor she denied him, when as a child he asked her to clear his name.

Just four episodes left for the good guys to win control of the family businesses and reveal Yi-joo's complete history, including what happened in the fire and who (evil stepmom, ahem) was responsible. No wonder they're busy! So busy I nearly forgot: (1) we still don't know how/why Do-guk met and fell for Yi-joo first; and (2) their matching expiration dates which neither knows the other has.

Weekends are generally a good thing, but PMR makes them so much better!

I watched this late last night so had a little trouble keeping up with the financial details. What was Yi-joo going to do with her grandpa's 30% of shares, and why was the stock plunging of the Dad's company? Still, although the evil Mom's financial machinations were a little too complex for this viewer to follow, I deeply admire her murdering skill around the hospital bed. In the first episode, she shrewdly unplugs the life support system, and then, this last episode, by distracting her husband, she gets him to overdose on pills! Brilliant!

In fact she, her evil daughter, and the evil brother form a formidable trio of sneerers. The looks of contempt from Team Sneer is going to be hard for our loving couple to overcome.

But meanwhile, what has happened to Yi-joo's art? In episode 7 she promised a larger canvas and a new concept, was shown sketching and buying paints, but the only thing we saw in episode 8 was the same small easel we saw in previous episodes, and she seemed to be doing some sort of impressionist sunset, of the type that earned me the artistic merit badge in the boy scouts.

I just hope the show doesn't show her neglecting her talent to cook her husband bland rice, even if she was taught that skill by her true mother (who, by the way, really should reveal herself to Yi-joo--not sure why she is holding back.) If Yi-joo is really not going to be painting seriously anymore, the least she can do is spend some more time with her husband canoodling on the couch! Less time acquiring shares and more time unbuttoning (overly large) shirts please!

omg thank you for this recap. made me chuckle out loud a few times but i share all your feelings and musings 😂 love the cheesiness and the emotional bonding of our OTP 🥹

This show keeps slaying. Yes, it would be nice if it could be a tad slower at times, but being only a 12 episode drama (so sad), the drama, like the OTP, is living on limited time and going full throttle with no regrets. And unlike many dramas, there is no filler in terms on repeated naive stupidity or blind trust in the bad people by the OTP or silly separations. After Part II of My Dearest, which was a lot of slow rinse and repeat, forget and then do it again, it's nice to have things move forward even if sometimes it leaves us a little breathless.

But what really is great about PMR is in the midst of the fast moving action, there is heart. It is completely believable how the couple is becoming closer through not only attraction with off the charts chemistry but through trust. That trust and sense of home have been developed beautiful through sincere and thoughtful actions (like Do Guk's deliberate actions to make her feel safe about something fundamental as eating) and through honesty. There is no gruff tseundre posturing though putdowns or denials of feelings; instead, there is straightforward honest statements and softness. Wow. As fast as the action is, the OTP tender moments go straight to the heart.

I realized one thing I like so much about this drama is related to the adage that light is the greatest disinfectant. The OTP is not getting revenge through violent retribution; instead, one way or the other they each bring out the truth of the situation whether it be about who is the true artist or who pushed whom in the boat accident. The truth is their greatest weapon against the villainy and also their path to each other's heart. In this world where many of those in power have been deliberate about lying, it is so satisfying to see truth prevail and be the antidote to evil.

I think this show is smart--it knows what it wants to do with the makjang and the romance. The show never seems like it is talking down to the viewers; instead, the creators and viewers are on all in on the joke, on the side of good, and in the romance. Let's go!

The two mothers duking it out was awesome!

See Hyu being all *boo hoo she married someone else* was pathetic. After all, he didn't even like her - he is forbidden to act heartbroken!!

I think the actress that plays Yi Joos's mom looks too young to be her mother? She looks more like her eonni. Literally the cliché "But you look young enough to be sisters!" Oy vey.

I love Do Guk and his female family members. Yi Joo is lucky to have them in her life. Well most importantly they found a home with each other. Yi Joo trusting and feeling safe with Do Guk. Do Guk finding his haven with Yi Joo is just *chef's kiss*

I enjoyed that conversation between Halmeoni and Do Guk. She knows her grandson so well and support him in all aspects. She was sweet to Yi Joo even if her cooking left a lot to be desired.

I like this writer even if she breezes through the storylines. She knows her audience are smart and well-versed in the drama tropes so just shows enough for us to understand.

Yeon Hwa facing off with evil stepmom is the best. I would like to see more of it next week.

Dear Missvictrix,

I don't know what you actually do for a living, but I am so very much enjoying your spirited, oftentimes hilarious, and kindly recaps of this insanely entertaining series. Thank you so much for brightening our day!

I'd just like to add one thing: to all those in dramaland who view Sung Hoon as an actor who doesn't have the talent to bring an "A" game to a performance -- have you seen his "mother's abalone porridge/sobbing/crying" scene My Secret Romance? Not many actors are willing to lay themselves bare like that. It's pretty raw, and it's there forever.

Also, that would make a great weekly topic "Rawest, most unexpected K-drama actor's sobbing scenes that stuck with you."

Boo I wanted more OTP screen time

Punchable Face and his family as well as Evil Sis can go to be trapped on a deserted island for fifteen years

Teacher/Bio Mum probably has amnesia, that’s why she can’t recognise Yi-joo. Yes I’m only saying this so I can cross amnesia on my Makjang bingo card

Sexy Secretary should get the requisite shower scene for ‘plot’ purposes…

Yep! this is my go to drama for now! It's so fun and I love to stare at Hung Soon's eye lashes!

3 little words for this drama: I,LOVE.IT!

@missvictrix your recap was amazing! Thank you!

Someone said it in an earlier chat - the one liners that this show brings (and the actors' mic drop delivery) are giving me life
-are you introducing yourself right now?
- don't call me mother. It's unpleasant
-stop putting your attention on someone else's wife.
- how will you change public opinion Mr vice president
- you find out what happens when you mess with my wife

Additionally, I am trying to figure out how I can be adopted into the Taeja group. I knew those Taeja ladies would close ranks to protect Yi Joo alongside Du Gok. And look at our Yi Joo, talking back, standing up for her new family and even slapping back. She's grown into a full Taeja now guys 🥹

I loved all the revenge. ALL OF IT.
I did miss the romance though because the chemistry between Du Gok and Yi Joo is out of this world. And still, somehow, the show managed to give me one of the most sincere expressions of love and trust I have ever seen - Yi Joo effortlessly eating Du Gok's food. Wasn't that one of the sweetest, most meaningful moments? I think my jaw dropped lower than Du Gok's. While I do wish they had more lovey-dovey screen time, that made me feel all the feels possible.

I usually complain when a show goes much longer than an hour per episode that it displays weak editing skills, dragging things out. But this show is under an hour and I always find myself yearning for more. I get jitters waiting for the next weekend. I dunno if they are proving me right or proving me wrong! But well done to the actors, director and writer for a fantastic show!

Yeon-hwa is such a fabulous character. 
Thank you to the writer for her brilliant dialogue which the actress delivers with great panache.
My only gripe would be we didn't have enough screen time with our main couple over these episodes. 
This will be one of the few shows from this year that I will be sad to see end.

Guys I do have a question though. Is slapping really a thing in Korea? When I started watching k-dramas, I thought it was an exaggeration and maybe the shows were using it for dramatic effect. But I see it so frequently that it makes me wonder. Is it something that happens; that seniors can slap juniors or employers/bosses hitting lower ranked employees? Please tell me it's a tv trope!

Is it just me or is it really weird how little Yi-joo's father is in this drama considering he's at the crux of problem for their family? I'm so curious how much, or little, he actually knows about the things going on. Does he even realize Yi-joo is his daughter? Did I miss them making that clear? And he seems reasonable if detached and business-like from how he interact with the women in his life, but he had to know what his wife was up to in her abuse of Yi-Joo, doesn't he? Yi-joo mentioned getting revenge on him too, but her focus always turns back to the step-mom and she has yet to have a one-on-one conversation with him. (Not to mention the fact that she knew her step-mom poisoned him so he couldn't come to the wedding, but Yi-joo never even tried to give him a heads-up about what step-mom was doing...) It strikes me as an odd blind-spot. Maybe because too much would be solved otherwise?

What more does one have to say about perfection? Nothing much except that it keeps being bejewelled and I have confidence that it will keep doing until the very end. That's very rare praise in dramaland. I'm already mourning how few episodes we have left, but nothing great lasts forever, I suppose.

"there’s so much plot movement you could get whiplash"
So true!
I was expecting the truth reveal of what happened on the ship to be the main draw in the final episode, but I saw it thrown away without a consequence! No one so much as lifted an eye brow, well maybe they did that, for a point of contention from years! The assumed reason behind all the aggression between brothers.
Nobody even spoke about it later!
I was really not expecting that.
But we have more exciting things to contend with, a possible murder. Many possible murders in fact. Mother reveal.
I have indeed forgotten about the time travel.
So waiting for Park's Marriage contract to add time travel to the general revelry these days.
Besides, I love this drama. I love to see how quick plot changes can be written. So many dramas could have benefitted with even a little bit of this one's pace!
Real unexpected find, so much fun!

Rewatching the episodes, and I have to say, I think the writer is very much a feminist. I love the way the show revels in the 'female of the species' trope, i.e., 'more deadly than the male' according to Rudyard Kipling.

Halmeoni Tae-Ja is supreme and a bit fearsome in her imperious anger, and seeing Yeon-Hwa and Jung-Hye go at it (dressed in white like angels or ingenues, no less ... the irony is thick) like mama bears protecting their cubs was riveting. The scenes between YiJoo and YooRa are hilarious as well. Between, JungHye, YeonHwa, YiJoo, YooRa, DaHee (journalist), and SeHee (SeHyeok's younger sister), it seems the females are the only ones either taking decisive, manipulative, or downright criminal action to achieve their ends. I absolutely love it!!