YouToon

So many of us do. Really hope its more interesting than that.

Agreed. Our FL is an excellent example: very attracted to him but her feelings are nowhere near love yet.

I didnt feel like it was a true love triangle. The story starts with her traveling to find out why her ex isnt keeping his promise to marry her. She trusted him enough to find out face to face what happened. Once she found out, they were over. He was annoying and present throughout the drama. But he’s more a villain from episode 1 all the way to the end. She and the ML have other issues to overcome that are more important to both of them than her skeevy ex. And when she does ultimately face off against the villain ex the ML supports her but its her awesome bravery that wins the day. Honestly the biggest love triangle is when her little sister develops a crush on the ML. But even that didnt bug me because its part of the youngergirl growing up.

It is fairly censored. It also approaches the story as a more family centric affair than the books. However, it isnt as homophobic as others make it out to be. While specific sex and non cheek kiss scenes are not shown on screen and there is no definitive “we are together conversation” their relationship is pretty obvious. And its also clear its sexual from episodes 19 onwards. I think one thing to really like about this is it isnt depicting a toxic relationship like the books. It shows their growing friendship turned to love as a very healthy thing that makes them both better versions of themselves. Still if you want a show that is more upfront on their relationship, this may frustrate you.

Actually until the moment she saves him in episode 4, I wouldnt describe anything he felt as romantic. At best she was becoming a human pet like his butler or fangirl: a human he didnt despise but wouldnt particularly care about if she wasnt useful to him. The nice things he did were because he’s not a monster. However, her whole “Im my bodyguard’s bodyguard” moment saving him did seem to be a lightbulb moment for him. Im expecting him to start developing feelings he doesnt know how to process now.

Lets cross our fingers its a double bluff. He’s the obvious “hidden” bad guy. Maybe they’ll surprise us with someone else.

??? The caste system is an illusion. The whole drama is about her breaking the chains of the illusions and lies that bound her. And she does it. She’s not weak. And she does grow. If she’d started out a total badass there would have been no story worth telling cause she’d have been poisoned to death in her teens.

I recommend it. Its not slow burn because events really pick up from episode 2 after she’s reborn. BUT! The evolution of their relationship does feel earned and well supported. FL is dealing with a ton more trauma than episode 1 explained and ML’s support of her and her revenge is very satisfying. The tone, plot and cliches used feel like throwbacks to a weekend melo from the early teens. But nothing in this is cliche because they pace it so well. Its like every bit of filler that bloats other dramas was surgically removed leaving a healthy streamlined rush. I read a comment that said this was what a makjang would be if the writer was more interested in writing a romantic comedy. And its true.

Writer posted contracts signed for S2. We wait.

No worries. Its fun to see your comments but dont pressure yourself. :)

I think her parents disapproving a little inevitable. But hopefully they get over it quick .

There is definitly some questionable stalkerish behavior from both of them. The wall is the worst she does and I think they meant it to be a clear indicator to the audience the depth and devotion of her crush. But it did read weird. She’s actually very insecure but grounded because she thinks he’s amazing so when she finally musters up the courage to confess and he rejects her, she mourns appropriately and takes steps to remove herself from his orbit and move on. She isnt crazy stalkerish levels like a stereotypical SFL. Of course as she vacates his world he starts to realize how much he likes her. He doesn’t have any idea how much or long she really liked him, so he is hurt that her feelings seem shallow cause she rebounded so fast. So he sets out to pursue her and make her love him. And she thinks he’s turned into a crazy person and is insulted by what seem like insincere tactics on his part. He even moves into an apartment nearby her. It sounds exhausting and the stalkerish stuff is not okay, but the drama never shows a scene where either of them is afraid or feels unsafe because of the other person. The FL is just annoyed, hurt and dealing with the contrary desires of wanting to get over him but still being drawn to him. Its pretty fun to watch.

He tried to manipulate her for his own convenience and it did not work.

You have now witnessed the primary conflict of this drama which is weirdly true to life: both of them are more focused on their own feelings and desires which causes them to keep forcing interaction and demands for affection on each other at the wrong time for the other person which keeps them in proximity until they at last learn to listen to and respect each other in order to positively stay beside the one they love. This is truly the show that proves timing is everything.

I didnt read it as forgetting. It felt like she took her time to say goodbye and could move forward in her life because of the experience. She finally knew what it was like to have a family that cares about her and a person who truly loved her. Notice her comments on the characters was just a big heart around all of them? Still if you need confirmation she didnt want to let them go so much as had to let them go because it was a game, watch the special episode. She was very happy to find someone at the end.

Happy but leaves some mixed feelings cause it leaves an open ending kind of feeling.

Actually they cut a ton out to keep it to 40. This show rightfully should have been 60 or more episodes if they’d done all arcs from the book. It was never supposed to be strictly a romance. The book is mainly a coming of age political kingdom building adventure.

Im sorry this wasnt your cup of tea. I loved it. Maybe you can avoid shows you wont enjoy if you dont watch dramas with the tags strong female lead or sismance. Especially if you think feminism is a criticism. This show was not misandrist. Plenty of male characters were developed and awesome. As for the FL not being a one woman wrecking ball trying to resolve all problems as if she doesnt have such a good friend and eventual love interest in the ML: she’s not stupid? She stood up for herself and the promises made to her by her ex. She let go when she realized her ex was not the honorable man she thought he was. She saved herself plenty of times without the ML but he still got to be a typical OP ML who saves the day more. This drama was smart in that it showed her partnership with him as an organic growth of his injuries and her pragmaticness recognizing she could use a male shield in a place where woman had very little power or protections. She was awesome using her brains and having her own principles. The melo moments later in the drama were frustrating but true to her character and his. They both had to grow.

By your standard, kind of. She was betrothed to and in love with someone else at the beginning. But he totally betrayed her. She and ML are awesome together.

Well said