LIVE WATCHES
The Matchmakers
It's over, but I know I'll be watching it beginning to end again if only to watch Sam-soon-gu fall in love one more time. And I'm also gaining respect for the middle Maeng sister whose foul mouth belies a tender heart that simply knows what it wants but doesn't feel it deserves the happiness. Or maybe I'll be watching for Jo Han-chul and Park So-hyun: his king, for all his faults, was always on the side of love while her Lady Park...not so much. Literally a classic this one. A generation ruiner. In five years I'll be here on Dramabeans declaiming, "They don't make them like Matchmakers anymore!!" because it has set the standard for right now.

My Demon
Is fine. It's just fine. Why is it that I now WANT Lee Sang-yi to end up being the bad guy? It looks like he's going to turn bad, but that's not what I want. I want him to always have been the baddie, because that would attract my attention.

The Story of Park's Marriage Contract
Or the story of the adorable aegyo? I'm not prone to falling for just dimples...buuuuut...no, I'm standing strong. Yeon-woo's robot vacuum is my guidestar.

Welcome to Samdal-ri
Uh, also still liking this fine, folks. It's just a show, with some tropes, and some famous people pandering for the audience. It's totes fine.

Between Him and Her
Ah. The youth these days are noticing that being in a relationship for 7+ years means things change ;). Don't fret folks. It changes every 7 years. Just roll with it. Or don't. But don't think it's ever gonna stay the same for long.

FROM THE RESERVES
Stealer: The Treasure Keeper
There's a Fan Wall Community Watch starting for Stealer tomorrow, December 31st on Ye Olde Fan Wall. I will be the first host (the gifs are prepared!!!), and then three others will take over in each of the subsequent three weeks. But you don't need to host to participate, AT ALL. Come one, come all! We'll be watching three episodes per week, and all commentary is welcome. The drama not only promises more Jo Han-chul, and a brilliant Hacker Ajumma, but there's Prince Flight Attendant!!!!

My Liberation Notes
I'm now firmly in the pro-LMR camp, even if/although I know it ends in tears. I'm a bit less than half of the way through, and I am frankly incredibly glad that we have this weekend's break in live-watches, because it's quite clear that I'm going to be binging the last 9 episodes before the year is up. And, yes, I do mean that I'll be watching all of this by tomorrow night. I have a New Year's party to go to and everything, so there's a firm deadline.

I don't quite know how to express this, but I am loving hating Lee Min-ki. I've never had the opportunity to hate his character like this when I've actually been encouraged to do so, and I have to say...I find it, um, liberating?? Seriously. He's doing...

Wishing everyone a very happy new year in advance. Hope the world is a slightly kinder place for everyone next year 🥺.

COMPLETED
The Matchmakers - I had such a stupid smile on my face watching the last 3 episodes. So so good, so cute, so loving, so smart. One of the best written dramas of the year.

ONGOING
A Good Day to Be a Dog - Once again, what is the POINT?? I read about the changes from the webcomic and they're all such bad choices.

Like Flowers in Sand - I found the police interrogation scene pretty troubling. Jin-su's mom is right - it's impossible to dislike Baek-du.

My Man is Cupid - The information mismatch between the characters is so frustrating.

My Demon - That was such a satisfying denouement to the whole 'only one can live' nonsense.

The Story of Park's Marriage Contract - I was right about the 'yeolnyeo' thing 💅. What exactly is the point of the time travel though 🤔?

Welcome to Samdal-ri - Well it did my least favourite thing - parents interfering in their adult children's relationships. They're almost 40! 🤦‍♀️

What I'm Watching

The Matchmakers: 🦆❤️🦆(1-4) (*LOTS OF THOUGHTS*) I am overcome by the sheer beauty of how scenes are framed and lit. I love how the writing is carefully embroidering the plot. I am so impressed by the cast. This drama makes it clear that not only is Rowoon a good actor, he's also gifted at physical comedy, and the PD seems to have really brought this out in the characterization. "I am not the type of man who will disappoint you;" and the skill of "first sight" completely throwing the ML for a loop - so many moments that are literally perfect in their loveliness. ❤️ I also love the FL, and the fact that she loves love. The actress is so young, but there's a gentleness and nuance in her portrayal that is often missing when similarly-young actresses tackle "matronly" roles. When she thinks of her husband and cries, I tear up. I love that while the ML and FL got off on the wrong foot, they're not truly antagonistic - they've already found things they like and admire in each other - and he obviously finds her delightful, much to his surprise, poor boy. 😂 The three sisters are a hoot. I like the mystery. I like the shadow government of women. There's an absolute magic to how the writing, directing, and acting are all clicking together. I'm consistently feeling teary just from the beauty, gentleness, and just-right-ness of it all ❤️

The Crowned Clown: I made it through episode 7 and now I'm taking a break because it's giving me anxiety 😬 Eegad, Yeo Jin-goo is scary and convincing as the mad king. The politics and personal feelings are COMPLICATED, and I'm not even over the halfway mark!

Stealer: (1-3) started a rewatch for a fanwall community watch! It's a perfect rewatch, and maybe more fun the second time?? It's essentially the Korean version of National Treasure, which I adore. I love how much the team likes each other and their jobs, how Jo Han-chul is such a good boss, Kim Jae-won is such a cute maknae, and Lee Joo-woo is so all-in with this new world she's been thrown into. And I love that Skunk is such a dork 😂 🦨💨

Miscellaneous
● Waiting for The Story of Park's Marriage Contract to finish up, and for Knight Flower and <Captivating the King to start.
● Enjoying the Percy Jackson series on Disney+ - y'all, it's really good!!!

WELCOME TO SAMDAL-RI (Ep 7-8) I really do not the Alcoholic Sisters, with their strong personalities, are only drawn to weak, dumb men. And, apparently, dumb guys are drawn to them because they need their strength in personality to overcome their issues. That is a terrible message for relationship dynamics. Even little Haa-Yul knows this when she lies about being her mom’s niece in front of the Dolphin Chaser.

I also dislike the aspect of Samdal “having to find herself.” She found herself in her Seoul career and success based upon her passion that she developed in Jeju. Why does she need to be punished for the small-minded cancel culture behavior of strangers?

The show keeps pounding the same plot over and over like waves crashing on the breakwater.

TELL ME THAT YOU LOVE ME (Ep 9-10) I came to this show with no expectations. t continues to hit all the right notes in harmony with underplayed but strong acting and believable characters. In Korean dating culture, a man’s protection is directly tied to a woman’s view of her security in love. When JW states that he has nightmares about not being able to protect her because he is deaf, she severs that traditional way of thinking about protection = love. ME continues to be the mover in the couple relationship when she said she does not need his protection when she loves him. Communication, caring, concern and confession are the perfect blueprint for this story. This is a refreshing change from normal story telling.

A GOOD DAY TO BE A DOG (Ep. 12) I don’t know if this series is off-the-rails because it never was on any because of the schedule pre-exemptions and once a week drop. The backstory of the Curse gets dumber by the week. The show could have been SO MUCH better if it stayed with the OTP, and HA return to “normalcy” contained the dog traits that the uncle had upon his return, such as having a lovely walk then HA suddenly chases after a passing car. How would SW overcome his fear of dogs if he was dating one?

LIVE YOUR OWN LIFE (26-27) Still lurking around this bad weekender. It may turn the corner but I doubt it. The series is just a FF time killer now. This Makjang is not even good Makjang.

Tell Me That You Love - Okay. I take by a little bit of my displeasure at Mo-eun's dad. His private moments with his wife is the reason for my step by step forgiveness.
Overall, I loved how her parents respected, understood and stood by her decision. Even though it isn't their expectations. Ae-sook asking whether it is alright to send Jin-woo kimchi gladdened me.
Yo-han is game. I like how he subtly not so subtly let the drama boss guy know that Mo-eun is the reason why he's signing up for his drama.
Why do I feel like that obnoxious man is gonna cause another drama again. Why would he repeat his name as if he knows something or is trying to jog his memory.

Song Seo-kyung deserves an award for the best opposition second female lead in the romance category. Outside of the romance, we see a full-fledged fleshed-out individual with the utmost professionalism. Even the coworkers who talked bad about her the day she resumed have formed a different opinion about her. I'm guessing so because of the easygoing dynamic that exists between them.

And the boy who joined Jin-woo's class. What a way to cause a ripple amongst his students. I have to give credit to Jin-woo's students. The trio I mean. These people may not be able to speak, but they are a chaotic bunch. A very very chaotic one.

Mr. Queen Special Episodes - So I had seen a version say a year ago and I thought that was the said special. Until i stumbled on this full two 20-30-minute episode special and it was a ride. It brought a whole lot of the 20 episodes to recollection. And equally spinned off some plots from the original episodes. I didn't think I'd see the Queen Dowager, Kim Tae-woo and Queen Cheorin's father in the same space and be greeted with such comedy and laughter from the trio.

Welcome to Samdalri Ep 4½ - What's up with Yong-pil's father. Get a grip and sort out your issues man.
Jin-dal's interaction with her ex-husband, and the little flashback to their past as a couple...they are an adorable bunch. I need him to get freedom off the clutches of his father. Jin-dal to the rescue.

To pick up My Happy Ending today.

I have not been able to put my thoughts together, everything has stayed in scattered draft notes from (and since) Thursday when the news first hit me. I'm still shocked... and so sad.

So... here just goes my list of shows I had watched till then.

- Park's Marriage Contract
- My 91 Demon
- Live (Finally!) Your Own Life
- Welcome to Samdal-ri
- Tell Me That You Love Me
- Derailment
- Unpredictable Family

Hugs to all.

Live watches:

Between him and her
A good start to the season looking forward to seeing how this one goes.

Worst to First: A teen baseball miracle - Japanese
Waiting impatiently for the final episode subs to drop. This has been a great watch seeing the boys and the coach team grow through adversity to turn a far fetched dream into their reality.

Welcome to Salmadari
It seems I am one of the few beanies enjoying this small town finding yourself drama. I just want to relax while watching dramas because the world is very bleak for a lot of people these days so if alcohol misuse or gossiping neighbours are my only bug bears while watching a drama I am happy.

It’s a good day to be a dog
Finally, remembered that its strengths were in the funny light movements. Whilst there was always a dark element to the story I am not sure why they stretched it out when two episodes worth of darkness would have been sufficient in a shorter drama.

Fermat’s cuisine - Japanese
The first five episodes introduce the main lead a maths genius who loses his way when he fails a maths Olympiad in his last year at school. He is rescued by a chef from a two star Michelin restaurant who sees his natural talent of using maths principles to create unusual dishes and wants to mentor him. The harsh approach to helping him grow is quite frustrating to watch as he is a sweet young man keen to learn and hard working. We see glimpses of him being transformed into a copy of his cruel mentor but have to wait for the second batch of episodes to drop in early January to discover what led to the change.

Binge watch corner -
On a starry night -Japanese
A female doctor meets a deaf younger man while out camping he has no respect for personal space and appropriate norms. However over time his attention to detail and kindness in his work with the distribution of personal items after a death leads to an opportunity for them to get to know each other in a more conventional way. The female leads allows an aggressive grieving man to wander around her rather than letting the police deal with it which results in her friends and boyfriend, work colleagues and vulnerable patients all getting exposed to the physical and emotional fallout.

Plus sized misadventures in love - Japanese
They tried to address the impact of body shaming in the office environment but because it’s a drama they still fell into using stereotypes as part of the character’s personality. Let’s hope this is part of changing the narratives so hopefully this will lead to other dramas using a range of characters as main leads.

One page love - Japanese
A man and woman meet by chance in a small town known for stargazing shooting stars. They begin a brief relationship and agree to meet there again in four years but he fails to appear. She has never got over him and draws their story as part of a one page online manga after he rejects her coldly when they meet by chance in Tokyo.

Castaway Diva
Finally...

Tell Me you love me: Mo Eun and Jin Woo are just so precious. The way their relationship clearly makes them both happy is so nice to watch.

The Matchmakers: It ended in a predictable and fine way. Soon Gu and Sam Soon, my faves, were great until the end, so I am content.

Between Him and Her: Miscommunication is the word of the day.

Like Flowers in Sand: Baek Du is the living embodiment of sweet summer child. He is so adorable, sweet, and just slow enough that it is endearing. The fact that he still thinks Du Shik is married is so precious, lol. Watching ssierum matches are so interesting. As for Du Shik, hopefully she tells him she isn’t married to that man.

A Good Day to be a Dog: WHY?

Welcome to Samdal Ri: Hopefully nothing happens to mom, because all the previews looked to be flashbacks.

The Story of Park’s Marriage Contract: This is probably my favorite OTP and 2nd lead couple in a long time. The fact that the rest of the drama is shenanigans is irrelevant, because the couples give me so much joy.

My Demon: Well, that was easy. I am very happy they resolved the she must die in order to get my powers back nonsense. On to the next episodes

My Happy Ending: Excited for Jang Nara

Maestra Strings of Truth: Everyone just let Se Eum be GREAT and leave her BE.

My man is Cupid: Continues to be an utterly, nonsensical, and ridiculous drama. However, it isn’t because the acting is bad, but the writer obviously has no idea what they are doing or writing about. Is it a supernatural show, a past life show, a murder mystery, or a romance. No one knows, so each actor is acting according to their specific genre. Nana is in a romcom with past life instances. Jand Dong Yeon is a murder mystery/ supernatural drama. Park Ki Woong is in a police show.

This is the last What we are watching of the year. To all the recappers and beanies THANK YOU. A thousand times THANK YOU. For the laughter, the fan walls, the heartbreak, the revenge, the squees, the hate, the likes, the cries and the loves. I look forward to another year watching with the best online community. Gomawo to you all, a happy new year, and much happiness.

I had a few days off this week so I decided to give myself a belated birthday gift and treated myself to some Park Hyung-sik (as one does).

Park Hyung-sik, who is his own category
Two Lights Relimino: Best ad I’ve seen in a while! I was expecting it to be solid, since it made so many Beanies’ list of top web dramas, but I was surprised how many things it did well in only 30 minutes. The representation of visual impairment as a wide spectrum of conditions and severity, the way that well meaning people can do more harm than good, and the depiction of technology as something that helps but is not the only means of getting around in the world. And of course, the sweet little love story itself was just great!

Juror 8: This was such a fun retelling of 12 Angry Men! PHS was playing maybe the most “normal” character I’ve ever seen him play - just a regular guy who is struggling to start a business, looks like an average person (as much as PHS can ever look like an average person with his stunning face), and just wants to do a good job. I liked that they used plenty of plot points from the original play but turned them on their heads a bit when the jury members made different discoveries. And it was quite a satisfying ending during a week when it does not at all feel like justice normally prevails.

Soundtrack #1: I know a lot of people found this boring, but so far I do not. More like comfy. I like how much it’s two normal people in a situation that anyone might actually find themselves in, but also that it’s enough of a kdrama that I can trust it will all work out.

Live Watches
The Matchmakers: One of if not the best drama of the year. Beautiful start to finish, great OTP, amazing side couples, a chilling and sympathetic villain, and a writer who knew what they were about. I’m so excited to rewatch and pick up on lots of the things I missed the first time.

My Demon: *trying to wait patiently*

Older Dramas
Twinkling Watermelon: Such a lovely drama. The ending was a bit rushed for sure (I also wanted to know what changes happened with Eun-yoo and her family) but what they did get right they got really really right, and I had a blast watching this drama.

Stealer: The Treasure Keeper: And speaking of blasts - this is so much fun. I love that it’s taking itself approximately 0% seriously, from calling out Dae-myeong lowering his voice whenever he’s in the suit, to him being totally fine with the gas coming out of his bum if it makes it look a little extra good, this feels like a parody of all my favorite heist movies in the best way.

Like Flowers in Sand (Episode 1-4) - Mood: C / C
Hmm, now that I’ve watched all 4 episodes at once, I think the show would’ve been better without Du Sik in the picture. Her being there brought about the childhood connection fated love trope and soured what could’ve potentially been a very nice growth arc from frenemies to friends between Baek Du and Jin Su, not to mention all the extraneous plot with the murder or match-fixing nonsense? There was more potential in Baek Du’s arc as an athlete who’s never lived up to their potential and who now finds himself navigating through an identity crisis after retirement. But not all hope is lost with the characters, yet.

The Story of Park’s Marriage Contract (Episode 9-10) - Mood: D+
Well, that turned makjang pretty quickly. I guess we at least had the proposal from Sung Pyo to lighten things up, even if he might lose Sa Wol soon if she chooses to return back to Joseon with Yeon Woo. But technically she doesn’t have to, right? I would be happy if that twist happened during the finale! Not to say I don’t like the OTP but them dimples are carrying hard.

Welcome to Samdal-ri (Episode 7-8) - Mood: D
Not the leeching family trope for the 2ML? Like come on, I’ve already seen this actor play a horrible sibling in My Lovely Liar (let’s pray he doesn’t start brandishing a knife in here), so this is just double sadness with the typecasting. I’m not sure about the other two sisters’ arcs: it feels like romance for the sake of romance? Then again, the OTP isn’t much better.

My Man Is Cupid (Episode 7-8) - Mood: D
The juxtaposition of Sang Hyuk’s sturdy love sniper rifle against the cop’s teeny revolver in the cliffhanger was mildly funny, I’ll give the show that. Somehow, the female lead seems to vacillate from one heavy emotion to another which gives me the horrifying thought that she might try to attempt to bait out the killer when sober. Speaking of which, it’s prosthetics again?!

Between Him and Her (Episode 1) - Mood: D-
Ok, so the show’s saying we have drama in the form of a long-term relationship couple both possibly having cheated at the same time, the guy more likely than the girl? That’s terrible drama. And it’s also one episode a week.

My Demon (Episode 9-10) - Mood: D-
We start off the second half of the show with the second leads doing their thing and achieving nothing in the process, also, the mastermind reveal was as predictable and pathetic as they come? I’m sure they’ll find some way to explain the deus ex machina in the cliffhanger next week (whatever God wants, I guess) but nothing will explain the atrocious characterisation.

A Good Day to Be a Dog (Episode 12) - Mood: D-
Yul is back in the show but at what cost? Just how many weeks are we dragging this revenge out when it’s so clear that the whole thing is just stupid narrative conflict to pad out the 14 episodes?

Happy New Year, everyone! Here’s hoping for a wonderful new year of dramas. I for one can’t wait for JOL 2! Which drama are you anticipating most?

LIKE FLOWERS IN THE SAND—(ep 3) I am hooked. The pacing is deliberate like enjoying a cup of tea one swallow at a time, and the storytelling is character-centric. Really my style when it comes to dramas. Plus, you know. Jang Dong Yoon.

I AM NOBODY (CH)— I must have a soft spot for “shameless” heroes. I so happy I stumbled on this! This is a typical wuxia drama with one BIG exception—it is set in modern times. The characters also don’t quite follow the expected either, from the Celestial Master wearing sunglasses and kicks to the FL solving problems with a shovel.

The comic timing and humor reminds me of JOY OF LIFE (speaking of shameless heroes): even tense and horrific parts are broken up by levity and it never feels disjointed. The characters are just plain fun, and I find myself head-banging to the intro song every episode. All the actors who play the four young roles are new to me and they are all impressive. I don’t think I have seen any man as pretty as Neo Hou—and he can act!

MY MAN IS CUPID (ep 3)—I am still watching (episode 3) for NaNa and Jang Dong Yoon. I will give it a couple more episodes. At the very least it could stave off the long wait between episodes for Like Flowers in the Sand.

99.9 CRIMINAL LAWYER (JP)—Sometimes I just need the Japanese drama sensibility, which embraces oddball characters and stylized cinematography. I can see why this would not be for everyone, but the absurd humor and lawyers with heart are hitting the sweet spot.

MY DEMON and PARK’S STORY and Disney Plus—Someone else said this and I agree—I am tired of our main leads being punished by “fate”. I will wait to see how these conclude before picking them back up. As for D+: once again I am cursing while bemoaning the unavailability of Tell Me That You Love Me.

Otherwise:
MANGA:
APOTHECARY DIARIES—the premise is fascinating and it is so easy to root for our heroine who loves her unusual work.

SPY x FAMILY —the best spoofs poke fun while keeping the heart of what we love so much about the genre (á la Princess Bride). The most famous spy has a new mission that can only be successful by putting together a fake family. It just happens that everyone in this family—even the dog!—has their own secret identity and the humor comes in everyone trying to keep their identity secret while doing their best to work together for the success of the mission, which will benefit each one for their own reasons. And of course they are a found family in the making.

BOOKS:
WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR IS IN THE LIBRARY by Michiko Aoyama — I would recommend this to anyone who has lost hope in relationships, in the goodness of people, or who is stuck in life.
I come form a family of bibliophiles and my mother is a librarian so it may seem a no-brainer that I adored this book. It is an ode to libraries...

Gyeongseong Creature: 7.0 (ep 3 / 7) Pulse-pounding --- pointlessness, but getting some use out of leftover tentacles from Duty After School. Not sure why the monster hates nitrogen so much since our atmosphere is mostly nitrogen. Hmmm....

My Demon: 7.5

Park's Marriage Contract: 7.0

Goryeo Kitan War: 4.0 With decent subs it would have been 6.5 for the week, but it seems their subber was on vacation and they decided to demonstrate how deficient computer translations can be. Then their proofreader ran away screaming.

Matchmakers: 6.5 for the final day, 7.5 for the series.

Good Day to Be a Dog: 6.5

Today, I will just talk about the 2 cdramas I am watching.

Derailment:
Watched till episode 13.
I wish they did not show the physical aggression of the ML on the FL once he found out she wasn’t the original. I understand that he is angry that someone else possessed his friend/ex lover. But the way he went about it was so wrong. It makes it hard for me to root for them if it turns romantic. Yes he did apologize for his attitude but I think he needed to work harder to earn her kindness.
I do like how the female lead is trying to prove herself in the new world but it’s also a bit frustrating to see her constantly cry. I get it that she is seeing him as the only friend and also has distrust, but they can go easy on the crying.
Having said all that I am still liking it enough to continue. I hope there is another universe travel soon.
Also, I hate the salon ladies and their politics. So annoying.
The manager friend is wonderful!

Heaven Officials Blessibg S2:
Watch Ep 4
Its amazing! Watching HC and XL together is perfect. Love the anime and how ghost city was shown. The gambling den, HC’s home etc. all the feels from reading the novel came back.

Traveling...

COMPLETED
The Matchmakers: This drama was, for me, utterly delightful. Every single element was given special attention and loving care. One of the very few that will be on re-watch in 2024 so I can savor every little detail again!

LIVE WATCHING UP-TO-DATE
The Story of Park's Marriage Contract: The twist with the stepmother is fine but it felt presaged, so it wasn't really a surprise. This drama has become very average imo.

ON HOLD DURING THE HOLIDAY WEEK
My Demon: Finished up to episode 9
Welcome to Samdal-ri: Still at episode 5

BINGED
A Journey to Love (C-Drama): Out of the blue I decided to binge watch this while I'm traveling (my first C-drama!) and I loved it. I'll post more later on my fan wall.

Happy New Year Beanies!

Gyeongseong Creature : It is just okay for me. It’s not gripping, but not entirely bad. Took me 1 week to finish 5 episodes and right now I haven’t have enough desire to continue yet. I have a problem with the lack of seriousness the ML shows in almost every scenes given his dire situation. I suppose his character suppose to be that way, but the comedy weren’t shown at proper timing. PSJ’s delivery was funny, but it made the urgency of the whole problem and great sacrificed it said it requires looks like a joke. Also, to the fact he was the big figure in Gyeongseong, they made him look so easy to be threatened and robbed of. I wonder how come he accumulated all those wealth if with the amount of power and money he has right now it is so easily taken. Also I think the problem that I have with the lack of love chemistry is because there weren’t enough build up. It was love at first sight, I get it, but given the emergency situation the ML has that love is too premature to worth a bargain with his goal of finding that pregnant lady. And I think the PD also realized it and change the direction midway. At first they made as if the ML didn’t want the FL to put herself too much at risk even though he is the one who hired her. He also kind of wanted to enter the hospital because the FL. But, later they made him insist to enter because he genuinely wanted to protect everything he has from being taken from him. And after they were reunited from there the show add bit by bit additional moments like saving each other life. And those added moments created much stronger bond between them that I believe it will lead to them see each other as someone worth to die for. I would say at episode 5, the romance between them isn’t something petty anymore.

Vigilante : I just found my mood to watch this and voila, I’m pleasantly surprised because it was great! I finished everything in one seating. Plot wise, I don’t think it’s perfect. Plot holes everywhere, or maybe something more like gaps. For examples, the characters entered guarded or secluded places so easily. Also at many moments the cops showed up so late. The crime happened and reported or ongoing at daylight, the next scene when the cops arrived it already dark and of course the commotions already over. But I don’t mind those all because it weren’t too significant to tampered with the strength point of the show which is its characters. I think the show is dealing with 4 antiheroes who some are against each other, but also all of them protect each other. Oh, I love the fact that they were all nutcases in different ways.

The characters writing is brilliant. The Reporter was cruel in her reporting to the “victims” but also couldn’t be compromised by any power. The Police is a polite legal vigilante, always give beating after a proper warning. The Vigilante himself is the classic case of antihero that cause dilemma between what is right and what is wrong. He did everything to someone who deserves it. Only...

Tell Me That You Love Me I don't know who is the music producer but not releasing the opening song is very mean and stupid! I wonder if the story can last for another 6 episodes.

The Matchmakers I will miss it! But it's why I will rewatch it. They were very cute Agents of Love and they deserved their own love!

Between Him and Her The first episode was like the other shows/movies with the theme and didn't bring anything new...

Like Flowers in Sand I didn't like the fact it became a cop show and not about the difficulty to find a new path after the end of a sportive career.

A Good Day to Be a Dog Boring story, bad character, meh acting... this show doesn't have a lot for itself.

Welcome to Samdal-ri Nothing feels natural but just very cliché. JCW just comes to the WMO, Geneva is a nice town 😁

The Story of Park's Marriage Contract The title doesn't really correspond to the whole drama but just a very little part of it. Defy the rules of logic by changing the present to change the past seems more adapted.

My Demon I really wonder what Madame Jung did in the past. But her lack of communication with her son caused a lot of harm.

Gyeongseong Creature I watched the first episode and not sure to watch the rest...

My Man is Cupid or The show that Dramabeans loves to ignore The story goes in cirlces... We doesn't know anything more about the murderers or the past...

I haven´t mentioned something important on My Demon. The way he de traumatised her. How does a demon know trauma therapy when even psychologists in dramas are useless. exposure therapy and rewriting that code. having her avoid and sympathize with fear would etch the fear deeper.
it still feels rushed. it had to be a short drama but could have used 2 ep for 11

Welcome to Samdalri: Please let the mom be okay! The episodes go by quickly and I want to see the characters through their journey. But it's unexpectedly melancholic, even before what happens with Samdalri's mom. She better live, but given the drama's tone, I'm not sure.
The Matchmakers: OMG, the drama landed the ending along with every episode of its 16 episode run. It gave me the guffaws, the warm fuzzies, the thrills, and the huzzahs! I could feel the love and care and teamwork the entire production has for the drama. The story had to juggle a lot of balls and thread the needle several times and did it successfully.
Story of Park's Marriage: Still a very charming drama, but the cracks are getting bigger, particularly on the fantasy end. So 12 episodes seem to be the right number of episodes. I feel bad for that Tae-ha has been gaslit by grandpa for 2 decades.
Ripe Town: Binged. I had a lot of trouble keeping up with all the characters and their identities. Eventually, I realized the intent was not for the audience to solve the mystery with the lead, but to understand the themes, so I just sat back and watch the tragic story unfold. Cinematography and art direction are top notch and appropriately dark and grimy to reflect the seedier side of the era.

MATCHMAKERS: I had no doubt they'd stick the landing . . . but I also had no doubt "Heartbeart" would end happily, so I'm glad my gut was right this time around. Can I say, though, that I'm still a little salty that in an otherwise perfect and perfectly romantic show the kisses were lame? At the same time, I remain astounded that I loved two Rowoon dramas--and him in them--in one year. This one was smart without being showy, and progressed smoothly towards the just-right ending for all characters without sudden, inexplicable magic to solve everything. That said, I'm not *entirely* convinced these two could go on, be matchmakers, and even get married with the world believing they are dead (seems like the FL's secret in particular would get out very fast and lead to the Joseon freeze-out-for-fallen-women we know so well). But still, this was a very successful drama by most anyone's standards and although I doubt I'll re-watch, I'm so thankful to @seon-ha and others that I stuck around after the first two episodes failed to grab me.

MY DEMON: Despite my enduring and somewhat inexplicable affection for this show, I was underwhelmed by the end of the last episode because I expected a much grander twist and resolution than the tattoo migrating from one wrist to the other (again). I get that this was supposed to be an epic true love moment where both attempted to sacrifice their own safety for that of the other person, but I couldn't stop wondering where the poor gas station clerk was during the explosion, and think Gu-won should have saved them, too. I also thought there was going to be a reveal that Noh Seok-min is actually Gu-won's boss, AKA the Real SatanTM. When that didn't happen, the whole ending montage fell flat for me. But these two continue to be criminally cute together so I'll be back tuning in next week.

FLOWERS IN THE SAND: This is hitting all the right notes for me and is like icy sorbet after a rich main course (aka "My Demon"). Sometimes I get a little preoccupied wondering where all these people work in such a small town (we have a couple of policemen and restaurant and market stall owners, but what else?), but I love the atmosphere. The mystery is surprisingly compelling, and the romance (such as it is so far) is fun and unconventional in that it's not following the typical first-loves-reunited arc. One thing I didn't get: why the blonde cafe owner told Baek-du he owes her when all she did was cause unnecessary trouble for him that ended with her telling the exonerating truth anyway. Even if her goal is just to get his attention, her tactics were odd and roundabout at best.

PARK'S MARRIAGE: Cute, dimple-y sweetness even though I know I'm going to forget about this one 10 minutes after watching the last episode.

What I'm watching:.

_ Shining for one thing (8/24). A nice c-drama about time-travelling back to the highschool years. This is the first drama starred by Qu Chuxiao I watch. I find he is quite charismatic.

_ Castaway Diva (2/12). The first episode was really really good. I was impressed by the actings, the music, the cinematography... The second episode fell short, but Park Eun Bin shines as always.

_ Between him and her (I have only watched the first half of the first episode. So far I like it).

_ Park's show (10/12). Waiting for the ending. I'm glad this drama is only twelve episodes. This way it doesn't drag and there is minimum filler content.

_ Korean documentary A nation of broth (2/3).

What I finished:

_ The Matchmakers. One of the gems of 2023. I'll miss these characters.

My wife was still not up to reading subtitles this week following her second (and final) cataract surgery. The shows that we would watch together are on hold including THE MATCHMAKERS, MY DEMON and THE STORY OF PARK’S MARRIAGE CONTRACT. However, she has been able to watch shows that a dubbed into English, like SNOWDROP on Disney+ which she found to be really good- and really disturbing. She also enjoyed SOUNDTRACK #1.

Also dubbed is DELICACIES DESTINY a C-drama that has a similar vibe to A NEW LIFE, although it is not quite as good. We have watched that too.

Our weekender, LIVE YOUR OWN LIFE, has definitely turned a corner dramatically. Our FL is actually started to do that while our 2ML appears to be even more trapped than before- except that much of his prison is self-created and an objective examination of his life would lead him to a different understanding of his situation. But the key point is that the plot is truly moving forward. As often happens in a Weekender the story of the main couple may not be what is driving my interest at this time so much as the potential enemies to lovers story of our 2ML and the 2FL- who just got married. Although it was great to actually finally see UEE smiling.

My very favorite show right now is still the daily UNPREDICTABLE FAMILY. That said, this week the story got more serious as the half-siblings are now aware of each other, birth secrets are hinted at and our FL has left her job to become a real actress. Her friend now knows that she is dating her friends Oppa while her own Oppa was just stood up by the 2FL thanks to interference by our ML’s mother who is the bio-mom of the 2ML. We now also have a birth secret hinted at- that Min-gook’s son is not really his- but the baby momma still has not shown up.

Wishing everyone a happy new year.