RemmyB

It's plot driven but it is also centrally a romance. Sometimes the show leans more fantasy sometimes it leans more romance, the first few episodes are all plot, at some point it teeters into heavily romance territory, this episode (12) it's more plot driven once again

Yes the 4th episodes always show up in a big way and cap off these fortnight's with an excellent, emotional and action packed conclusion. So happy to see this episode pick back up to a great place

This is a pathetic and disappointing thing for me to see you say. Criticism is completely valid when it is backed up with reasoning and not whining for the sake of it. This site isn't exclusively for unanimous and uncontested praise. Honest feedback shouldn't ever be dismissed as 'bitching', this is something that only a rabid fan can say.

I think it did. This episode feels so much better in comparison

I'm just glad the story is flowing and characters are progressing again.

Enjoyed this episode once again. Really enjoyed the reintroduction of the looming petrification/'running wild' threat. The show needs that urgency to justify everything else in it - it makes the romance far more powerful when there is a rhythm and rhyme to everything the leads are willing to put on the line for each other and the reemergence of danger and uncertainties for our main characters makes everything flow more naturally and more interestingly.

I will say this much even still - as cute as the scene was, I think it was a misfire by the Hong sisters to have UK confess to naksu. I think especially since both parties were already quietly aware of each other's feelings by that scene we could have the same story right now without that open confession no problem. The chemistry hits hardest when there is a subtext of romance beneath their words and deeds with each other, it feels a little more flat when they speak it out loud. It also feels much more natural that way. This episode I thought was much better in that sense because like I said, they are aware of these feelings and even without the confession scene this episode could run as smooth as it does with it. But last episode alot of the dialogue felt inorganic in comparison and it takes up space that can be spent developing plot and romance at the same time rather than just the romance by itself.

Overall great episode, great action sequences (I have to say I enjoyed Seo yuls character so much more this episode - now we actually explore the philosophical reckonings he is struggling underneath and he is compelling as a foil to UK's differing
beliefs. Plus the acting and the choreography was much stronger today), great ending and especially the preview has me excited because the cogs of the machine are finally turning again. I thought by episode 10 the halfway point the whole mudeok is naksu reveal would have already been half underway but it's still good to see after episode 13 that chapter of the narrative has finally been seriously breached. Satisfying episode.

I actually think episode 8 was fantastic and the crux of the show thus far (either episode 8 or episode 2 were both real highlights). But there is definitely a jarring shift in too many different aspects of the show after episode 8, the plot drive, the 'interest' of the show is not as obvious past that point. Since there is an endgame for our protagonists I am not worried about a disappointing ending I think part 1 is sure to end on a dramatic high note, but if I am concerned it's that this show was split into a part 1 and 2 because the material was too much for a 20 episode run - retrospectively I hope this doesn't turn out to me a critical mistake.

Here's to praying that episode 12 will bounce back to the form of the earlier episodes, and hopefully the ratings on tv and on streaming services will reflect a resurgence of quality. What I am personally looking for is a refocus for our main leads on the dangers they face and progression toward their current goals, a movement in the scenery (perhaps a departure from songrim), notable character developments for all characters especially Seo Yul and perhaps more insight into the endgame of the antagonists.

Sure individually I think plenty of people enjoyed these 'filler' episodes and wouldn't change a thing but overall reception to these past episodes has been underwhelming compared to the fantastic quality of the opening 8. Can some people enjoy this more comedy leaning, romance focused, lower stakes tempo of these past 3? Absolutely. But definitely more people enjoy the dangerous and more tonally balanced high fantasy of the previous 4 weeks. Let's hope tonight's episode will showcase once again what many people have been missing.

Actually I think this drama would work better as a slower burn. Kind of like Vincenzo if they kept the overt romance to the end of this part 1 and instead doubled down on the plot, naksu and UK already have so much understated chemistry as caring master/pupil and maid/master. They have so much chemistry in the moments they care for each other and lay it on the line for each other instead of speaking it out loud

His character is likeable but I don't think his purpose in the drama so far has justified the time spent on him. Especially because the dynamic between him and mudeok (which to this point is his entire character) hasn't really progressed. The interesting way the Hong sisters seem to be taking him is the conflict between his duty as a songrim mage and his love for naksu, but I think other characters can already exemplify this conflict. I feel like keeping Seo Yul in the story he should have had more dimensions to him, his loyalty to UK and songrim perhaps could be expanded upon instead.

Her acting is much stronger when her character is naksu the ruthless assassin, rather than mudeok the love poisoned. I think the character has just reached a different phase of her personality now, perhaps somin is not quite as believable at this dimension of the character

Haha, the meta music use, it reminds me of how Vincenzo used their music in the song Joong Ki shower scene.

I think this drama would be so much better without seo yul tbh. Could be a 20 episode drama without that and the love triangle of lee/Kim/park is much more enjoyable than yuls place in his love quadrilateral. I think the crown prince and his more comical position love triangle makes more sense for this drama since it's so clear that naksu/UK are the endgame regardless, the hours of screentime spent on yul/naksu going in circles feels a bit needless. I would really love to see some big movements in the story for our ML and FL instead. Would be great to see Jang Gang appear in the current story soon

:l unfortunately the weakest episode for me to date. I don't think I'm alone either since the ratings went from the highest it's been last week to a drop down to its lowest for today.

I have to echo some other people's sentiments here in that - yes, it's a fantasy ROMANCE, but it doesn't mean that it should be. People were really sold on this drama in the first few episodes where romance was an undercurrent that naturally accompanies the rhythm of the storyline. The tensions threatening our protagonists pushed them into a compelling chemistry but now the major driving tensions of the first 8 episodes is gone (a) Jang UK getting his power unlocked and b) the duel, there's a bit more aimlessness to the romance, for the past 3 episodes it's been the main focus which hasn't been as strong.

I wouldn't even say the episodes are filler, as has been pointed out many plot developments have occured. The issue is they haven't really reached our protagonists yet but occurred in the background so for viewers who are mostly invested for the leads those developments aren't felt so strongly. Secondly, the sense of filler is because there is no strong unidirectional urgency in the narrative right now, at least no urgency that is being brought to the forefront. Naksu is supposed to fear petrification very soon and UK is worried about that - except these episodes have been about love triangle complications that are a bit too trivial feeling in comparison. Lastly, it feels fillery even though it is not because of the shift from being a fantasy with romance elements to a romance with fantasy elements. If an audience perceives the romance to inherently be filler because of what was delivered in the first 4 weeks of the series it will seem fillery when it gets inverted like that.

I still enjoy this show but I think this show is alot stronger when it can bring back that sense of urgency focus onto the fantasy narrative. Especially the SEO Yul storyline - at this point it feels like a bit of a dead horse, perhaps it will have a strong payoff but for now it feels needlessly cyclical and yuls character has yet to bypass the one dimensional 'yearning lover' mould.