Just for the sheer beauty, please let me offer you some timestamps to revisit from these episodes. This show has so many utterly captivating--and long!--sequences that can simply be admired repeatedly. First, the "Fox Rain" sequence in episode 10, from around minute 2 to minute 5. Second, the "Drowning in Emotions" sequence in episode 11, from around minute 41 to minute 43.

The match between the feelings, the imagery, and the orchestral music in these passages is simply masterful.

Because of the lingering camera shots and the active participation of the soundtrack--plus the excellent work of the entire ensemble cast--the empathy I feel for these characters is so intense, that I know, when I press play, that my heart will leap and sting, my stomach will flutter and ache, and will cry for sure both tears of sadness and happiness. The longing that all of the new couples feel--both those who are well-fated and those who are ill-fated--is my longing. Their pain becomes my pain. Their joy, only ever so fleetingly, mine too.

This drama is a thing of beauty so far, and right now, I don't even need it to stick the landing because it has already given us so much.

Up to this point I am so in awe of the writing of this show, and it grows with each episode. This is so carefully crafted that it takes my breath away. I really, really hope it stays that way to the end!
The other wonderful thing about this show is that it's not only keeping your brain cells occupied but delivers all the feelings as well. You yearn and you ache and you grieve and you laugh with these characters.
And the third wonderful thing is that it does some things other dramas don't - kudos to this drama for giving us gay characters who are not used as a comic relief or belittled or made fun of. And for striving away from your first love as the only one relationship that's allowed to happen in your life.
I really love how much this show is carrying without giving away its heart! In my opinion we will face a few more reveals in the next episodes because many things we think we have learned about our beloved characters are just others people's tellings or speculations or rumours, so thoroughly weaved into the narrative fabric that we only see it when it comes apart. Like the reveal that Jung Woo actually loved his wife. Or for Soon Deok's brother the reveal that his sister wanted to marry and wasn't forced (I just loved that he lost no time after hearing this and went to set things right and proposed to Sam-Soon!). Or the believe that it's Soon Deok who is the matchmaker, but in fact it's Jung Woo. So much in this show is about what others think and say that we forget to ask how things really are, and here is another question: what happened to Jung Woo's brother after he asked for help? And what will Lady Park do when she faces the truth, and did she know about her son? I can't wait to find out what I don't know yet!

Sam-soon-gu has my heart, and the scene of Sam-soon crying over the failed matches was hilarious and heart-felt.
I didn't expect to like lady Park but I am really rooting for her to get back on her husband and brother, on this whole stupid faction.

Oh how much I love this drama! I keep questioning my love for this, is it real? am I being a rebel and loving a drama just because it seems like an underdog at the moment amongst all the dramas that are ongoing? But no, I love the drama for what it is. Most organic love that grew very slowly, much like all the love stories in the drama itself. This will go down as one of my top 10 favorite shows and like @Seon-ha mentioned, they don't even have to stick the landing, it is already great. A quiet, poetic and beautiful story, wonderfully done.

As far the story itself, I love how our OTP's love is being developed. They are treading on a very thin rope here, they cannot rush their relationship, lest it ends up disrespecting the Joseon values that widows and widowers had, at the same time they cannot go too slow too, because we do want to see them in love. The conflict in their hearts is clearly shown and I loved how they had SD's child answer it too - When you miss the people who are dead, you just miss them, you go through the emotions and acknowledge them.

I was the one who initially raised the point about CP and Ha Na. I am still not sure about their relationship, but I am thinking that they are going to use their 'soul mate connection' to say that not all soul mates are romantic loves. Our Matchmakers think that they should be, because JW feels their connection, but it might be a learning for them too.

I also think they're going with the concept of one person can have several soul mates concept with JW and SD and I can't wait for SD to realize that.

I want episode 12 now.. I absolutely cannot wait..

This show is so great!

Our characters grieved differently. Jung-Woo was indifferent to his wife at all. He loved her and tried to find her murderer since the beginning. But he still tried to get his life back, he doesn't like to be useless. Soon-Deok carried her husband and didn't let him go. For her, he's the only one. It was touching to see ung-Woo telling her she didn't need to forget.

So many couples!
- Soon-Goo and Sam-Soon : Done !
- Boo-Gyeom and Ye-Jin : One of them was finally honest with his feelings and won't marry the wrong girl.
- Shi-Yeol and Du-Ri : both are stubborn.
- 23 found his love.
- 12 found his love too.
- Our main couple... the road is long for them... But they gave so many poignant moments. How may times a ML can confess and get rejected? 😅 But his letter was beautiful 🥰
- For Ha-Na and the Crown Prince, I don't think it's love between them but respect and friendship, kinda like soulmate but as friends.

For the politics, the revelation about the first son's death will change Lady Park's support to her husband. She loves her family, she respects Jung-Woo, so I hope she will make the right choice.

The humor is still present. O Bong's reactions were priceless! He's so cute because he wants his master to be free to marry again.

Jung-Woo learning swimming, wrestling and sword fighting in books. He's lucky to have long arms! But he clearly has strong abs to to go to bed and get up from bed like he did :p

"It’s hard to believe that the honor of the family was more important to Lord Jo than his son’s life."

Is it, though? I don't mean that in a snippy way, but this seems to be in line with Joseon-era thinking and is still present in a lot of modern day kdramas as well. Utterly awful and tragic, but not a surprise.

"I know this is set in historical times, but a ten-year gap where one of the parties is a 14-year-old? Come on!"

Word. It doesn't help that the 14-year-old looks 10, either.

Other Thoughts:

--I didn't really like the reveal that Jung-woo actually did love the princess. For one thing, from what we saw, he barely knew her (did they ever have a real conversation?) and for another, it goes against what the show appeared to delineate through his obvious reluctance to marry her in the opening scenes. I understand that kdramas save certain reveals for later, but this one didn't ring true to me at all and wasn't necessary either. I get that maybe Soon-deok is more likely to take his words to heart if he, too, still loves his dead spouse, but the story didn't demand such a revision.

--I'm embarrassed to admit this, because it shows that I didn't pay close enough attention to the story at the start of this drama, but I don't understand why a) Soon-deok and Jung-woo can't be together if she's a noblewoman (doesn't that solve the first reason--her being a peddler--that he thought meant they couldn't marry?) and b) why Jung-woo could research and find her noble origins but doesn't realize who she's related to through marriage. I don't get it.

Finally, didn't Lady Yeo-ju send that false message to the CP that he thought was from Ha-Na? So isn't she just as bad as the two men she's scheming with to prevent the CP from marrying? (And why again don't they want him to marry anyone? I'm confused).

--All that said, I continue to love this show. It's not just beautifully written but also shot in a lovely, immersive way (that scene of Soon-deok sitting and reading Jung-woo's proposal with the sun streaming in what breathtaking).

I guess I am only one not in awe of this drama. It is mostly just fine for me. I'm in it mostly for Obong's snarky comments. I am glad that Jung Woo now understands what his stomach pains are about. I am also glad Oraboni got it together for Soon gu. I love them together. The OTP I can take or leave, but those two have my heart. as for the prince and the eldest sister, weird choice that, especially for a fantasy fusion drama, so no comment.

"Sam-soon initially tries to ignore Soon-gu but when she falls into the stream and he jumps in to rescue her, she re-falls in love with him."

I thought it looked like she was "drowning" in water shallow enough to stand up in.

Our OTP is aware that their love is returned, but there are barriers, which lead to all that longing. I want them to be giddy and happy together, raising SD's cute son, so I hope the writer finds a way.

Love this drama, love the writing, love the cinematography, love the costumes, love the music, love the actors! SO MUCH love!
The plot by itself is so good. I mean, in typical sageuk style, there is a palace power struggle. But I love how that is relegated to the background and in the forefront, the stakes are about a man and woman's struggles to have a career and to find and keep love. And in the sides are all these beautiful people finding themselves in the process of finding love, realizing what they think they want is probably not what they actually want. There are some murders, but the focus is on the heartbreaks and fallouts from those deaths. And the plot does not depend on people's stupidity to move forward. The humor is situational, evoking laughter because we understand these adorable goofballs. Hoping the writing holds it together till the end!
These two episodes.
Jon Woo and the princess - I don't know what to think - did he over-act in the first few episodes, just to hide his liking for the princess? Or did he retroactively convince himself he actually loved her, just to compensate for his lack of agency? Or is he just saying this to equate himself with SD? Are we going to be shown any more or are we going to be left to speculate?
Mama Park - she is the stand out character, the most satisfyingly complex one in this drama filled with layered characters. I love how both the moron brother and a**h*** husband are actually afraid of her. She follows her own advice "If you scare people and provide them benefits, they will be on your side". I am waiting for her to find out all SD has been up to and then find some solution.
Hana and the prince. Well, dunno what to say - 20 and 30 does not seem bad, but 14 and 24 is, well, not something I can root for. Can we do a timeslip, please, just for this? Because I feel Hana will make a brilliant queen.
I cant help feeling, despite JW's aching heart, ShiYeol and Ye Jin are a better match and so are BoGeyom and DuRi. Oh well.

I don't believe Jung-woo was actually in love with the Princess. He said that to make room for Soon-deuk that she was allowed to still love her dead husband, while also loving Jung-woo. He asked so fervently to please not get married to her, and predicted that his brother would be corrupt, since he was already selling his brother (JW) to get a position.
He also didn't actually seem heartbroken at her death; more like "Poor girl" and much more "Poor me, who will not get the life I wanted, much less the other kind of life that goes with marriage. I will be a shelved ware."
Not "Oh! My love! My life!"

I am falling more and more in love with this show with every passing week. Every couple here makes me giddy (well, except HaNa and the CP). I love them for adding a gay couple too here. Though their story was tragic and short-lived, it tied in seamlessly with the overall story. I'm also happy to see a Kdrama not use a gay couple as comic relief, like SGNS did recently. Hope the bookseller and the monk end up together 🤞🏻

So one sister is off the list. And what a way to go! I squealed when our stoic policeman jumped into the river 😍 The middle sister's man has got moves too! What the show does so well is that even the suitors who don't make it get their happily ever after.

About HaNa and the CP, I trust the show to not make it yucky. Even if they get married, nothing romantic is going to happen between them till the CP comes of age. Child marriages were a reality of those times and the show is showing that.

And finally, our main couple is moving along. In the most organic way too. Their conversations are so honest and self aware ❤️

I love this show so much, it surprises me! A huge part of what makes this show great is how every single character is fleshed out and has a personality distinct from all other characters. Oh and don't even get me started on the abundance of love stories, they're all so cute and fluffy. Also love how everyone including the king, the innkeeper, O-Bong, and even the ex-minister of defense, all have amazing comedic moments and I just love it all so much omggg, definitely going in my top 3 2023 shows!

Thank you for the recap! So much is happening and we have this wonderful cast of characters that it must be incredibly difficult to be so succinct, but also reflect the energy of the drama!

Drama gods - please protect the hot monk!

"Why do you blurt out things without thinking?” - someone should screenshot this and have it be used every time a character says something stupid.

I'm so jealous of everyone who got to go to Dano. Love in the air left and right! Jump off a swing, fall into your match's arms!

Samsoon gave Soon-gu the highest praise - he was better than any romance novel male lead. And I loved how he confirmed that he actually really did enjoy her books. I LOLed wondering if raged at her volume 1 cliffhanger like so many of her readers in this drama.

I side-eyed Soon-deok matching Hana and the prince. I can see arranging an engagement that would be fulfilled a few years from now, but Hana needs to get married by the end of the month. Don't let your desperation to score a win cloud your judgment!

I agree with you about how none of the minor characters are wasted. It's part of storytelling to have main characters and minor characters, and shafting your minor characters means shafting your viewers as we have to sit through their scenes. I love how this drama make all the moments fun and interesting to watch.

I love Maeng Hana's jump off the swing. It's totally the male-lead-of-an-action-scene move. And her later comment how all she did was get off the swing to save the country for a moment and #12 went ahead and fell in love with someone else. Put it like that, it does seem like the guy was fickle! LOL.

Couldn't help but laugh at Samsoon crying at how her sisters are so oblivoius to her marriage predicament.

Confucian-Guy buying his fiance AND his crush the same hair accessory...*facepalm* But his smiles are totally dreamy. He's being so obvious in his crush that I'm surprised it hasn't caused any rumors.
And he has fallen to the ground like 4 times since this drama began! Will it be a running joke?

Soon-deok and Jung-woo are just so sweet and heartbreaking. The yearning is palpable. I had to hold my breath in some of those scenes as the emotions just come out. I love how they can be heartbroken and also hilarious while being heartbroken. I have mixed feelings about Jung-woo's revelation about the princes, but I do appreciate how the princess, in her last moments of life, wasn't some selfish princess.

I am all for Lady Park to exact her own revenge to her husband. I can't believe he killed his own son. I was actually glad that she opposed their plan to kill off Jung Woo. Lady Park needs the information he knows about what happened to her eldest.
I feel for Sam Soon being frustrated with her older sisters. If she only knew that they already found their soulmate and the agent of love need only to make their union possible.
Sam Soon and Soon Gu feelings for each other is now out. Yey!

I find this show really relaxing to watch which I appreciate mid-week. I really enjoyed these episodes but it did kind of feel to me like they were suggesting finding a husband/wife is basically like going shopping and picking the item of clothing that suits you best. But on the other hand they were starting to explore the contradiction between on the one hand having matchmakers find your perfect match and on the other hand the two leads finding love for the second time. So I'm interested to see whether they take that any further.

Matchmakers is hands-down my favourite live drama -- the frontrunner amidst all the horses

To the point that I was furiously hitting the 'refresh' button yesterday (like, "Where is the recap? We need to discuss the bombshells dropped this week in group therapy!") I suspect rabies.

My highlights / conspiracy theories / burning questions -

1) Running theme of upending gender tropes / roles / stereotypes / couple dynamics continues unabated like a furious river: love the role inversion of Sam-soon-gu OTP in his confession of love (esp the part about how much he enjoys her shonen novel as a male fan 🤣) that's an outing from the closet of sorts lol.

2) Solving the mystery of angina: Finally JW puts two and two together and the penny dropped. I love that priceless line where he seized Hana's prospective match and exhorted: "Bachelor No 12. You hold on to this woman and don't let her go!" That line signals a tonal shift not just for his own love story, but the whole drama as we enter the last-third leg of the racecourse. There is an epiphany, a recognition, and a resolve.

3) The seldom-explored drama-land territory of second chances at love / moving past bereavement and finding life after love: For this reason, while I am initially surprised by the revelation that JW actually loves the Princess, YET intuitively it sits very well with my spirit. With this new revelation, his behaviour, history, rage, and reputation takes on a different albeit sympathetic tincture.

(p.s. to answer some Beanies queries: the flashback of his memories imply they got to know each other after he was unwillingly pimped out as Princess Consort, and before they actually got married. In that brief interim, he got to know her and in his words, " I love her enough to give up my dreams of becoming the premier.")

I loved this episode as much as everyone else in this community did. The proposal in a letter was touching. Then when Soon Deok stood alone waiting for Jung Woo in her noblewomen outfit, I almost shed a tear. I'm happy she was the one to tell him, and he didn't have to find out through someone else. I hope the reveal of her family is fun next week!

About Jung Woo and the princess: Near the beginning of the drama, I was a bit disappointed that someone as intelligent, wise, and cunning as Jung Woo would be forced into a political marriage that would completely cut off his wings. He seemed like the kind of idealistic young man who fight for his beliefs. So I'm glad to learn that he had fallen in love with her. As others mentioned, he likely met her organically in the time between the proposal and the wedding, and fell in love. I doubt they had that much time to fall deeply in love, but I hope he was truthful that there was something meaningful enough for him to voluntarily follow through with his father's plans. Regarding why he seemed grumpy on the day of the wedding, perhaps he had fallen in love but still not forgiven his family.

The matchmaking shenanigans are so much fun! All that planning, but it only took a second for the bachelors to find their real match! The three sisters are so funny together! And Soon-Gu, can we all squeal together! He's just perfect and so so sweet. I loved the reason for him swearing off of marriage, and his misunderstanding kept him single until he found the right one! Fate and Destiny is so well done in this drama.

Okay, I needed that detective wall so much so now I actually went and made a copy of The Prince, our Jung-woo's secret detective wall.
You can see it, learn from it, and correct it, here: https://www.dramabeans.com/members/CecilieDK/activity/1500744/

Now we are talking about murders: Have people noticed how much the Defence Minister hates people just approaching the corner of not-very-strict-cis-het performance? He wanted to draw his sword on Prince Jong-woo just for seeing him on the swings, trying to teach that young nobleman how to swing (Yes, yes, I do hear it now, and that wasn't what I meant, but even if it was, each to their own, right? As long as they're honest about it).

@unit Thanks for the recap. I enjoyed reading the beanie discussion here after watching the episodes.

I am surpisingly ok with a marriage between the Crown Prince and eldest sister. A testament to this writer as I am unequivocally against child marriage. This is the rare, first instance where I can foresee this particular relationship come out well. Let me explain.

In an historical setting like this drama, it's accurate to show marriages between younger people than the current norm. And having the man ten years younger than the woman fits with the super way this drama is turning stereotypical gender roles on their heads. It would of course feel more palatable had the directors and writers chosen an older actor; we've seen plenty of adult actors play teenage roles - so they could have had an 18 or 20 year old play the CP. Instead they chose a 12 year old actor to play a 14 year old character (yes I looked him up, he's 12 so perhaps he was even 11 during filming?). I'm guessing a deliberate decision to highlight this gender inversion.

Secondly, theirs is a relationship built not from passion but rather a platonic partnership between two intelligent people who love and respect one another. In a few years that relationship could develop into one of romantic love, and if so what better foundation than having these first years to get to know one another as friends, and in a way, colleagues? And if they never develop feelings for one another he's in a position to take a concubine and continue with his queen as advisor or even set her aside to a peaceful place of her own.

The families here will not push this couple into anything they're not ready for. No power trips demanding an heir from oldest sister's caring mom, the kind queen, or THE most AWESOME king EVER. So, no pressure from political or family machinations.

And finally, there's no stereotypical older man with a young girl bride, with all its awful power imbalance and implied rape. Here it's the youth, the Crown Prince, who has more power! So they balance each other. She's older and more mature and he is the future king. Like the well crafted writing so far, I am trusting that this storyline will end tastefully and well. Please don't let me down, show.