bloomingtide

Lol @ kdrama and calling 39,5C fever an hospital worthy emergency. Just take some fever reducing meds and go to sleep instead ffs

Not to mention the overinflated rating of both shows. It only showcases how much of a joke and meaningless MDL ratings are these days. When all it needs is enough rabid stans and dummy accounts to inflate it like that.

They were all bribed with white jade to skew the selection process. Bringing up Lady Woo who is far away from the palace is just their tactics to divert and prolong the investigation so it cannot interfere in the rigged selection process anymore.

Honestly, no one says it is a storytelling masterpiece, but fact is it does not try to be one in the first place. What it does it does well, easy as. It is a well-paced drama genre mix where the character's actions make sense and are in line with their established "traits/characteristics." Their development is done logically too in a satisfying way (SW recognizing his mistakes made, Heon not falling back into grief but into action, seeing what SR did was for his betterment, and SR finally stop running away and claiming what is hers) and it even finds time to give some time to the minor side-characters and their arcs prior built up.

12 episodes feels exactly right for the story arc and beats they have build up here tbh.

I really love how supportive/understanding they are of each other (aka heon who instead to steam in anger understood SR's actions ultimately helped him) and that against all odds thrown at them. Very sweet.

Yes. It is sooooo pretty. The animation and music, everything.

I expect a lotta crucial plot things to happen, most of all Sorang taking back her name and reelaim the rights/title stolen from her. Let’s go (future) queen

Starting after the obligatory cliffhanger ending of eps 9, we actually see the reason for heon telling his wifey to not return to the palace, Which is, surprise, a grand queen being annoying and threatening SR’s safety. So he says it to protect her, aww. And we are back where we left off, and it is not all noble intent. Heon is understandable hurt for real atm. Aww my babies are both crying I don’t want this, take it baaaaack. (Their theme song is still one of my most favorite ones in recent kdrama btw, so beautiful and on repeat in my spotify ngl) “When did it all go wrong?” Well as you recognized Sorang it was when you started lying to him, indeed, without coming clean as you grew closer tbh. The road to hell is paved with good intentions etc Shinwoo wonders the same, but I actually don’t care, lol. Nice little talk between them tho, if a depressing one. She apologized to him… maybe continue that for Heon as well, huh?

Artist DS is artist-ing or rather tries to. He is like me when writing, many attempts but very little progress, lol. Oh he made a dating advice book. I really hope it is good dating advice and not Joseon’s version of pick up artist bs hahaaha. Oh is this the glow up of the prior bandits? Try saying beetlejuice 3x times in a mirror, lol. But can we move along, I am really not interested in these guys atm.

Btw why does evil minister always talks as if he is holding in his piss and on 0,75x speed at that? It is so frikkin weird xD They told on Sorang being a fraud…. Wow look who is talking lmao. I am so tired of these assholes, so lets move on.

Pops however never fails to crack me up. He probs foresees SR to be chased as we have seen in the preview and thus tells her to flee to the mountains with lots of water. Hmm I guess we get a repeat of her “killing scene” then? Off the cliff you go, Sorang. Again. Yeeep it is exactly that, as assassins attack, but our bois do good good work in protecting her like the king commanded. Ruuuuuun guuurl ruuuuuun. Six against her? Are you frikkin serious? Bit of an overkill (pun intended) It is good that she is used to a lotta running tho. Shinwon once more gonna save her I bet. I mean… you still have an arm left so do your thing, lol.

Those assassins are really no track and field runner tho, lmao Why does she always run up a cliff tho? It is this by instinct? For dramatic effect? But yeah whatever the reason, she gotta go cliff-diving once more, I bet. Ah, tis a storytelling mirror. To draw parallels between her former self and now, I get it now. Cool cool. Hope you can swim, love. SW finds her first while our two member idol group The Bois™ is still searching for her. Not ideal, but as said hope you learned swimming in the meanwhile. Welp and there she goes. SW this is not the time to stop, she is not dead. She is the FL and thus has thick thick plot armor that extends to water, but you are also a crucial part of that, so go go go. Who knew that these waters below them have magical healing powers? Bc his hand suddenly works again and this before I could make any clap if you are happy shinwon jokes, aww.

The Bois™ finally arrive from their fan-meeting but can do nothing but look a bit sad down the cliff and into the camera. Bummer. OH GOD NOOOOOOOOOOOO. Ofc they gonna report back to Heon and ofc they think Sorang is dead and so does heon now too. My heartuuuu, I cannot take this. KYD does act the devastation really heartbreakingly well, without any words.

New sidecouple unlocked. Shinwon’s future bride finally makes her entrance. No more sad puppy boi any longer, nice. Guess it makes sense due to the queen selection but still it is quite late in the show. Lol okay I am no expert but I doubt a shock could revive/repair a nerve-damaged hand like ttat, but I take it. Dramaland logic and all. Good for him, he can return to his old post and maybe try to be a better friend this time lol. I know you just woke up and all, but COULD YOU PLS TELL HEON HIS WIFE IS NOT DEAD? That would be great, thanks. Sorang woke up at last. Pls someone think of poor Heon? “What happened to your arm?” Kdrama magic, baby, that is what lmao. CAN ANYONE PLS TELL HEON I AM GOING NUTS HERE.

Heon, such a royal green flag <3 Instead to be angry with Sorang he understands why she did it, it was to help him. However twisted the whole thing was or became, in the end she helped him and she acted as his quasi grief consultant/therapist. Poong poong who is there? Sorang, bullshitting you in order to heal your mind (kudos to you if you get the reference haha) I think such a roleplay technique is even a thing in therapy, aka letting the other tell everything to that “person” they were unable to before in order to process their stuck emotions, such as grief. Excellent showcasing of character development and maturing of the king btw. “Every action of Sorang contained her earnest feelings toward me. I knew that and this is why I fell in love with her.” I am not crying you are crying. Okay I AM crying awwwww, this man. FINALLY A LETTER. THANK FUCK NOW HE KNOWS SHE IS NOT DEAD. Hwa Yaan is such a cute bean tho I ship her with Shinwoo hehe.

And back to the annoying dating book subplot. I could not care less tbh

Oh, how much time has passed after the incident, though? Feels like a couple of weeks with the change of seasons. And Heon is drinking but his secretary does not think he looks bad enough and gives him a goth makeover before meeting the grand queen. Lmao I love these two working together. Heon is totally faking having lost it so that his enemies let their guards down, clever. And Secretary is laying thick on the guilt on GQ, hell yeah. It is super effective hahaha. Yes go feel bad for trusting the evil assholes muahahaha.

All part of the plan, of course. And Heon looks ready to kill anyone standing between him and his wifey and I am here for this. They also figured out how the selection is skewed? Wow all in a days work.

PLEASE TALK QUICKER I AM FALLING ASLEEP HERE, FOR FUCKS SAKE. It is so very amusing to see how smugly sure they are of their victory tho. The other dude is now regretting his bad life choices bc ofc they are going to get rid of him as soon he has outlived his purpose. It is still a sageuk after all, they always do that.

Shinwon is back to old strength and task but followed by a suspicious figure, which is totally Heon haha. Yes, hand is shocked-healed still, thanks for checking once more. “I am the one who betrayed you.” Do I smell character development here with SW? Woah. “Even until the end you don’t consider my feelings” Lol, what a burn, heon, but so so true. They finally talk and it is a much needed one.

Aww Sorang misses Heon but does not think she deserves to see him again due to her lies. Still the heart wants what it wants and it is the royal dork. I like her talk with HY, she is a kind bean and sorta friend SR needs now. She also tells her what she needs to hear, to not blame herself too much. Oh Shinwon I love this song, this recognition of how much up your own ass you were, disregarding everyone else around you. Good stuff. Yes a friend and a person caring for another should always pay heed to where they are happiest and for SR it is the palace. Good thinking SW, I think I can start liking you now haha.”Let us be friends again.” Awwww.

Pops is better, yay and out to give love advice to HY. Guess she likes artist DS after all.

They stole her name in order to be selected as queen, the hell? “I am the real Ye Hyeon Seon.” Hell yeah, time to stop running and take it back from this kidnapping murderous biatches, my queen. A date is set for the selection, well technically YHS is no maiden anymore thanks to that tent night, but she will arrive with them nonetheless I bet xD HELL YEAH that expression of bitch daughter was it all worth alone. No she is not dead and you are going down you brat. Love the queen level of mindgame Sorang/YHS is doing here hahahahaha. Nah, not everyone will be dazed and amazed being in the palace tbh. For Sorang/YHS it is hometurf tbh. Oh stfu you fakeass biatch. Exactly it is not her fault but Joseon loves to blame women for everything we know, ugh. But well played HY. Lmao, SR played the uno reverse card on that maid, bless.

Ofc the selection is rigged but in the end it only serves for Ye Hyeon Seon to be selected as queen, so this is big brain energy right here, since the real YHS is back in the house and ready to reclaim her name lmao. Ack, so close and yet so far. Look at the maid you dork, you are just passing by your wife here.

Palace court ladies are cheap af if they can be bribed with food. At least shell out some coins, geez. Oh nvm, it is white jade, much better lol. Yes Shinwon returns as captain of the guard to uncover the bribery, hell yeah.

Lmao at GQ being pressed for an heir, i think that problem is already solved, mr. queen, one-shot sniper style. Ahem. And with fakeass biatch progressing further, the real YHS will become queen without even having to lift a finger.

Oh the Joseon avengers are back in action and scheming. I love heon's talk with GQ, bc she is delusional if she thinks it is a fair process. LOL, how you like your white jade now, you losers? I like Shinwon's new, no nonsense investigation buddy. What? Court Lady Woo gave you this? Sure and i am the selected queen. It is all tactics to divert and draw out the investigation so it cannot interfere with the selection. Normally it should be halted but GQ does not have such guts i fear.

Heon brings back SR into the palace, yes. And their theme song plays so it is gotta be good. "Will he punish me?" Nah, rather kiss you senseless, tbh. The door opens and gosh this is a man on a mission right here. His purposeful stride toward her to... hug... nope he goes right in for the kill, which means a kiss of the starving man sort. WOAH. Not losing any time here. Best reassurance he could give her tbh. But lol at the poor actors who need to freeze in the kissing pose for a hot moment since it is credit roll time xD

Next week, last week and of course it all comes to light. GQ remains ultimately stupid, but thankfully Heon isn't. And they are back together, bless. Now I am so ready for their wedding in eps 12, hehe.

Long episode 10 recap/thoughts thingie under spoilers. We are getting closer to the finish line now and it shows. Nice going and pacing with satisfying character moments and development. (finished now)

Cool. This drama however is not Red Sleeve 2 nor does it tries to be that, so i dunno why these comparisons are needed or even are made.

"Tis but a scratch." 😂 😂 😂

they confuse comedy with sitcom, i guess. A well-developed story cannot live from hilarity alone. It needs other elements to have some substance and depth. Even as light as TFM is, the characters in it went through some bad shit and it needs to have some character development/obstacles to reach their eventual happiness and have conflicts/opponents to stay interesting for 12 eps. So it is obviously not gonna be 24/7 laughter and jokes bc this would get old very fast on its own.

Sometimes i wish people would learn about the basics of storytelling so we get less of these nonsense complains, tbh.

Ikr? King Heon is one of the most animated characters in the drama, very lively through KDY's comedic acting.

Yeah there is not much plot in the later episodes of it and it loses a bit of steam, but it is still a cute fluffy watch. Especially after a heavier kdrama. I really liked the leads and their chemistry but that is always gonna be subjective whether you see it or not

oof, these are big boi length episodes. I am so used to 1 hour lengths episodes dramas by now, that this feels like an extra time commitment to make, lol. I gotta make it soon tho, since it will be leaving netflix in feb 2 (for me/in my country) and it has been on my PTW for ages already.

i mean given they have three children (in the webtoon) they gotta start *somewhere* and soon hahaha

Funny tho, for me it is exactly the other way around.

This is how i understood it too, tbh.

imo, KYD shines in comedy and lively roles best. He has a very good grasp for physical comedy and its timing plus can use his "crazy" expression range there (especially the bulging eyes haha), hence why Sh**ting Stars was so enjoyable, imo. I am not sure how he would fare in completely serious roles tho, but maybe the future will tell. He is still young and has already an impressive list of filmography. So enough room and time for him to further develop as an actor. We will see.

Aww thank you. I am finally home and watching, so it is in the works atm heh.

Okay buckle up, here we go, people. Saheon dating era has begun.

Sad music, sad parting. Yeah, I get it, SW leaving is tragic. Can we move on? Speaking of moving on, another, much cuter duo is about to part. Our head eunuch and head court lady. This makes me sad for realsies. Heon checks up on Sorang in her sparse maid quarter, in full kingly robe at that. “Lean on me when you are struggling.” Ah, this dork is such a royal green flag, bless him.

Head palace lady and eunuch have almost what looks like a lover’s quarrel. Cutie Eunuch is upset about the news but she wants to find her family outside the palace. Understandable, but I would love for her to wait until heon and sorang have tied the knot tbh.

Ah yes, it ain’t kdrama without the fate and destiny talk, lol. “Getting lost and wandering is part of the process.” HY is still grieving about the death of soldier boy (I am notoriously bad with names, so we call him just that for now lmao)

Look at them bickering like a married couple already. Lol at Heon wanting to stay in her quarters to sleep, bc she is there, not in his quarters due to her off day. He wants to put her to sleep and I am cackling at Sorang’s mind being instantly in the gutter. “Promise me that nothing will happen.” Heon is so scandalized about her insinuation and I just love KYD’s face journey here. We are just about 8 minutes in and they already kill me with cuteness. “Come back later when you are sorry.” Lmao, this man has his priorities straight. Ruling a country? Nah. Putting his love to bed and watch her sleep? YES PLS.

The boys are back indeed and looking pretty. Are they gonna be important enough characters that I need to learn their names? Meh, we call them the bois for now and wait/see xD EBM is boring me with her usual evil shit, so lets move along. No news of Shiwon on either side. Whatever. I don’t get why EBM is so keen on killing him off still, the man can no longer work as captain, so leave him be. We get it you are evil, blah blah blah. Yeah your rotten daughter will still not be queen no matter how much you “dance” Eff off.

Ofc Heon is not keen on taking a queen if it isn’t Sorang, but there is a way to make her queen in spite of all. “For her to be pregnant I first have to…” Yes, Heon, glad you paid attention what it requires, lmao. Look at him panicking because he wants to take things slow. Ah, such a romantic, this royal dork. His secretary is still the biggest Soheon shipper in the palace tho. “I am gonna create opportunities for you to get closer.” YES DO SO PLEASE. That hand movement, lol.

Oh it is a market date. How adorable. Sorang is more practical about it, or rather, capitalistic? Haha. Aww their cute little market stall, selling simple knot ornaments. “Isn’t it a scam?” Oh Heon, my sweet summer child, you are in for a rude awakening if you think THIS is a scam. Welp. Heon is totally me with handicraft, i.e. as hopeless and untalented lmao. His little wave tho and the way he looks at Sorang, so adorable. She has turned him into a capitalist as well, lmao. Aaaand now it is a market date for real. Oh boy if this peddler knew he was teasing the king. “Off with his limbs.” xD You see KYD totally trying to hold his laughter in in that scene btw xD That is a really nice portrait of them both tho. She ties the knot together with him, how very symbolic, given how the drama is bound to end. This man is so in love tho aaaaaaaaaah. Omg, he has to invade his own made rules, oh sweet poetic irony xD My chaotic royal couple, I love them.

Chemistry is on 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 … the scene is full of it. “You smell nice.” Glad that not only my mind is in the gutter with the mood it is setting, haha. Heon wants that royal baby I see. Damn this whole scene is really well made in its subtle sensuality, without any bits of naked skin, except the way he holds her wrists, which should be 19+ already. “Do you not want me too.” I AM SCREAMING. The way he opens his robe and crawls over to her…. Daaaaaaaaamn. IS IT WINTER WHERE I LIVE BUT IT GOT LIKE 10 DEGREES WARMER ALL THE SUDDEN.

I take it back when I said I like the grand queen, she kinda annoys me rn. “The queen will be someone else.” [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHC1230OpOg] Does your majesty know my name?” Well Sorang it would be helpful IF YOU WOULD TELL HIM, but this would take away from the cliffhanger shock reveal at the end of the episode, I guess. Sigh. Why are you lying? WHY ARE YOU LYING? I get she is afraid but she makes it more complicated than it needs to be.

Aww artist DS is confessing to HY. It is really cute how he is telling his own story to her with his drawn pictures. HY.exe has stopped working lmao

Court lady Woo has a really bad timing for leaving as it takes away yet another person Sorang knew and trusted after Shiwon left .“The king is your lover. You cannot be happier about it.” “I don’t think this love will end in happiness.” Sorang, I hate this depressing song. Stop singing it. Eunuch is watching Woo from a distance. Aww, I love these lovebirds and hate to see them parting 😭 Heon even comes to say goodbye to Woo, omg. "To me you were like a mother. Thanks to you i wasn't lonely in the palace." Such a good good man. Yes hug it out. I am not crying you are crying.

The bois are back, once more. Shiwon does not want to be found, but was found. Okay then. Heon is sad, Sorang is sad… time to make a new family, you two. Literally hahaha, bu i digress. Arttist DS finds SW as well, so he really sucks in hiding i guess. Do we get a new bromance between the two, inclusive informal usage of language? Lets see if SW is a better friend to him than he was to the king, which is saying it only takes the bare minimum to achieve that, whoops. Aww HY rejected DS, saaaaaaad. But that is life, eh.
I feel SW is the wrong person to turn to for love advice given how MANY REJECTIONS it took him to get that Sorang does not love him back. Manage your own feelings and don’t burden others with it (if they are unwanted), bc your feelings are NOT their responsibility nor have they an obligation to like you back. There, that is my (much better) advice. For free even. "There is hope in your heart, you have not given up completely." NO NO I REFUSE. I REBUKE YOU DEVIL OF UNWANTED AFFECTION. Be like elsa and let it go, Shiwon.

Lmao, the secretary is so effin extra, going all out in setting the mood for the two. His "small present" is a whole tent village basically. THE CAPTAIN OF OUR SHIP, YALL 😂

Omo, did Heon leave flowers at Sorang’s door? Is this why he is so nervous? If so this is too endearing for words. Awwwwww. He diiiiiiiiid and it had to be perfect. Bless his sweet little romantic heart. Earnestness always is the best way and it worked here, Sorang is really elated about the flowers. Look at her happy bouncy run into his arms, awwww. His face after the peck on his cheek 🤭 HE WAS TOO STUNNED TO SPEAK xD I see how she is turning the tables on him here, cheeky cheeky gurl. Lmao, he is basically fleeing his own chambers.... to cool off. 😂

Not Lady Woo giving the bandits a glow up for their blind group date in exchange for infos about her hubby’s whereabouts, lol. More dead hand walking from Shiwon as well, going home to his parents. He is such a mood killer in this episode, sorry. Dude you are still alive, make the best out of it instead.

Hahahaaha the porn books make an unexpected return. "I thought you were pure." lmao, not really. Well dude you still have one good hand left, so yeah 😏 SW's servant oh so inconspicuously takes one with him when leaving, of course. Mysterious box is mysterious and probs the reason SW ends up visiting the palace again.

Speaking of palace, time for another date. This time, camping,joseon style, heh. Heon’s expression when Sorang goes straight for the drinks… and the bed, lmao. KYD’s eyes expression game never disappoints xD Secretary is shipping them SO HARD. I love him. 🤭 Why is there a mattress? In case you get tired when drinking you can rest there.” Hahahahaahaha sure sure sure. YES FALL IN HIS ARMS. I loved their little talk over drinks but it is time they *stop* talking now tbh 😏Woah, but in the end it is Sorang who is tempting him first? Noice. "I can't hold back" SCREAMING HERE. Those kisses, this is as clear as kdrama gets in its implication. YES ROYAL BABY TIME WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOO, LEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEETS FUCKING GOOOOOOOOO 🎉

Mysterious box is holding conveniently all the plot devices needed for Sorang to reclaim her old name/noble status. I am not complaining. Yes dude she knew you were the dude she was about to marry, we all did. Sorry you are the last to find out. Fortune teller pops is sick/dying. Goooooodddd writers stop killing off every character Sorang knows. I was joking with her needing to build a new family, but she really has to now. And well, given the last scene it is in the works lol.

Ooooooh Heon made her very happy I see. Well given he is an attentive man where it matters…i am not surprised lmao. Her sweaty face never made more sense than it does here 🤭 Ofc bad news await instantly since she cannot enjoy the glow for longer than the cruelness of writers requires. That hug is sweet and intimate, tho, aww. Heon says adoption is an option, just wanted to write this sentence lol

And here comes Shiwon to ruin everything, once more. Yes good idea to go to EBM, it is not as tho she still wants to kill you, sigh. Please take your one good hand and put a stake thru the witches heart. I am so damn tired of her.

Sorang leaves for a bit to visit pops. The bois are her guards, noice. “I’ll be back.” Yeah Sorang I doubt it will be so easy as here comes SW outing you soon, I bet. Heon will be royally pissed (pun intended) and rightfully so. Should have come clean when you had the chance tbh.

Not pops already addressing SR as queen tho. Haha, I love him. Caring for him takes a while, so Heon is missing his girlfriend, aww, guess we know now how he ends up at her current place then. Shinwon appears first tho and all is set up for the dun dun dun dramatic reveal, how very unsurprising.

"I am not fit to be a consort." Yes, because you are going to be QUEEN, my sweet summer child. Dude if it were a contest who has had it worse, it is Sorang, hands down. Or hand down? *hides* Yes, you never got the wife you saw for five minutes tops but she LOST EVERYTHING. Aaaand now we are getting to the part Heon is going to be royally upset about. Her lying about the divine powers. Lol ofc he is RIGHT BEHIND YOU GUYS. It ain't kdrama if he were not. "Was this all a lie?" Welp, u dun fucked up, Sorang. Yikes. What an intense staring contest until the credits roll, whoa xD

Tomorrow's episode gonna be SPICY. 🔥 🔥 🔥 GO GO GO RECLAIM YOUR NAME AND TITLE, QUEEN 👑 👑 👑