3GGG

At this point, I'm more invested in the secondary couple (the office one, not the ML's friends one) than on the overload of fluff I've been getting from the main couple (though I know and respect my opinion is probably unpopular).

Having said that, it's not an understatement to say I was looking forward to getting a real antagonist and exploring the stalker arc… Partly to get a break from the fluff and mostly to see the FL's character grow. Except, that was done and over within record time! So much buildup for nothing really!

Worst, the writers opted to create more romance-related drama in the form of the overused and unoriginal "noble idiocy" trope. My rating for this drama will keep getting lower and lower, I guess.

Well that other drama you're talking about just had a tremendous plot twist. Let's just say, the story just got A LOT more interesting and sophisticated!

I agree and of course respect that this may not be everyone's cup of tea. After all, if we all liked the same shows then we wouldn't get variety! :) As evident by my dropped list, which proves not because a show is popular does it mean one has to like it ;).

And don't forget all that hair pulling and face slapping ;).

I LOVED FGTD (as attested by the fact that I wrote an article for it lol), but I'm loving this one as well. Yes, they are both satires so the sense of humor is very similar as well as their message. And yes, I'll agree that the ML in FGTD was much more lovable. However, I'd also say that this one surpasses FGTD in certain things, such as:

1. We get a MUCH better 2ML. Kang Ki Suk not only incredibly complex, but he also has his own story which doesn't revolve around the FL.
2. Seo Jae In is an AMAZING female lead. I'm loving that she's given growth with each passing episode and she's complex, active and interesting in her own right! I'd say she's much more interesting than the ML, tbh.
3. While the supporting cast in both shows is awesome, they get more agency in this show vs FGTD. I'm loving them and their side stories, especially Yoon Sang Goo's. He was a dark horse for me. I didn't expect to love his character so much! He's also getting a lot of growth.

Thank you for your comment, Paradoxchild01! Yes, I enjoyed TLE despite its lukewarm ending! And it provided a lot of examples for the dutch angle.

I just picked up the Umbrella Academy (have only watched 3 episodes) but yes, I've also picked up several cues. Though they aren't as prevalent (ratio-wise) in comparison to K-dramas.

Indeed, crystalstars! That's why I mentioned that the extension did more harm than good. NWS was definitely mistreated and disrespected by the writer. There would've been better ways to still have him in even without the actor present. Heck, he could've simply gotten worse with the bullet in his head (maybe he would hit his hear real bad) and would need to be rushed to the hospital for an operation. Then everything could go down the same, because we wouldn't need to see NWS anymore.

At the very end, we could've just had a scene where Oh Sunny enters a hospital room and smiles. That's it! An open ending that would make more sense given the friendship the two characters developed. As it stands, she didn't even remember NWS at all! It was like he had never existed. The characters could've at least gathered at his grave or something!

The emperor was frustrating to me precisely because he was so easily controlled by his mother. I didn't think he and NWS could work together once the truth came out simply because of what the Emperor had done (run over his mom). Although, NWS shouldn't have been able to work with Min Yu Ra either, since she also killed his mom.

As to the Empress Dowager, I agree. That's why I added in the article in things to consider (though hidden by a spoiler tag):

There's a reveal towards the end involving a character (Grand Empress Dowager Jo's "murder") that I hated because it wasn't properly thought out.

Why did she kill herself to "open the family up to investigation" when she could've just followed her own plan and out her daughter's & grandson's crimes? So many things could've been avoided that way, which makes her death not only useless but irrational. And let's not forget that several innocent people had to pay for her absurd decision with their lives. This made me deduct points...

This was a series that was very hard to rate. Based on the last few episodes I thought about rating it with a 7 or 7.5. But prior to the extension, I had it rated at 9. So I figured I would settle for an 8, just because it was so good before the final four episodes.

Finally something happened. I needed conflict because I was starting to feel bored with the overload of fluff.

Having said that, I am shipping the two ukulele co-workers!

Thank you! It's a really scale-down and way more PG-13 version of it, but yeah. Basically you have more than five women trying to get their hands on the throne, all for different reasons :).

Oh, that would be awesome, actually!

Yes it is! I love it when the framing seems to "drown" the characters, it helps create this sense of hopelessness. Which is then reinforced by colors.

Bright green = life/hopeful
Withering/toxic green = lifelessness
Bright red = love
Faded red = fading love
Pink = sweetness

I tagged it yesterday as such, lol. Just so other people know what they are getting into. And yes, I agree, this drama feels subpar to me. The only reason why I'm still watching is for some of the framing and shot composition (art direction).

It is very entertaining. The actresses are doing a great job! I'm on episode 8 right now. The only character that rubs me the wrong way is Bom Sam.

BTW, Legal High is also extremely enjoyable and very underrated. Though it's a satire, so you have to be on the right mood!

Just started watching this one and I LOVE IT! Thank you for recommending it, I would've missed it otherwise!

Hahaha I thought the same XD.

My pleasure, I'm happy you enjoyed them!

Thank you!

Haha then I agree with you in that I also didn't like the Emperor too much. Or rather, I felt the writer was wishy-washy with him. Didn't commit to making him a true villain so he ended up feeling half-baked and unhinged instead.

My sentiments exactly. I don't know how to feel about the drama, it's a hot mess really, but for some reason I can't stop watching. Maybe it's just my curiosity egging me on, wanting to see if the writers will manage to tie all those loose ends into a tight knot...

Well said!