interregnum

Yes! The first ep scene had me assuming they were exes, just like the hosts did--in no small part because he couldn't look at her, yet absolutely lit up when DH arrived. So, at the time, I assumed the scene was there just to hint at the could-be-exes angle, like you mentioned. But, yeah, with hindsight, there is absolutely a chance they're hinting at them AT LEAST being in the mix for each other. (Though their smiles in their interviews were...I mean, say "friend" all you like, DJ.) To say nothing of how much I'm reading into the new poster for the show. Whatever else people might think of this season, there's no denying that it has been very focused on telling a consistent story from the start, planting seeds early and then cultivating them with each new episode. And I hope that's what this is, because these two are not only my individual favorites but also giving us the cutest moments so far, in my eyes...aside from HW and DH hugging whenever they come home...and then coordinating their outfits for girls' night.

I dont know anything about spoilers, but I absolutely clocked the change in the titles immediately, especially after weeks of wondering why SK and HH were in the same position in the previous version. (I'm all for it, for the record--even if there's a vague possibility it hurts the DH/HW friendship I like so much.)

I noticed the wine bit, too. Because YJ bricking KT is my new favorite subplot. 😁

My opinion is that the editing scheme for this season is much more focused on a smooth arc from start to finish rather than a more detailed account of what's happening, so it's maybe less about favoritism than it is about including the things that really reinforce the endgame.

So, specific to SK and her interviews, I wonder if it's a combination of things: A) her interviews may be calmer and more even-handed (or, as I see it, full of perhaps too-careful answers) than JW's mild tantrums, so she might be too hard for the audience to get a read on and, as such, not be great for clear story-progression purposes; and B) they might actually want her thoughts to seem a bit more of a mystery, like she might be the big decision of the season and don't want to tip their hand.

I'm just saying...Hye-won and Dong-jin are cute together--but are they as cute as Hye-won and Da-hye together?

I know! I was watching the clip for this one and said, "Heh, that looks like Seul-ki, that's funny." And, lo and behold, it's actually her! The whole bullying genre isn't my bag, but I feel weirdly compelled to check this out, now.

Yeah, when the love story for your leads has enough material to fill a two-hour movie, but then you try to stretch it to cover about 11 hours, it's no wonder I ended up only paying attention when they weren't on screen. I mean, I've got a massive crush on Mina, but I don't think that would make me want to blow past a chance to watch Shin Hye-sun do literally anything. Which is to say, yeah, I pretty much agree with your review.

And it's interesting that you brought up Our Beloved Summer, because I've been comparing the two shows' used-to-be-lovers-maybe-again plots when talking to people about the show. I didn't buy the relationship in that series either, personally, but it did the concept way better than it was handled in Samdal-ri. At least the leads in Our Beloved Summer didn't need outside forces to contrive why they were apart. (Unless they did. It's been a while. I really only remember the NJ parts. NJ was rad.)

Completely agree. This was 100% message over story, which—especially if this is a real issue it’s shining light on—is a shame. I was shocked at how badly written the giant divide into first half/second half turned out to be. There’s no excuse for not even trying to blend the two parts of the story—or for even just focusing on the first part alone.

I don't know about being the cutest out of all seasons (So-e is and will forever be my girl), but she's darn close. I don't care what kind of wild-eyed nonsense the internet wants to yell at her about; I loved her...minus that giant red flag where she liked Gwan-hee. (Oh, if not for Min-young, what might have been!)

...do we?

I mean, I dislike her less, in these last couple of episodes, now that she's not wasting her energy on whatever shtick she walked onto the show doing. But I can't say I'm as yet a fan.

Though I was legit begging her to show up and interrupt Min-ji/Gwan-hee time--which she did, like a total hero.

Oh, it’s definitely been a highlight, I agree. Given the amount of, um, honest reaction they’ve been getting (particularly—and hilariously—from the ladies on the panel), the production would really have to have put its thumb on the scale to make their reactions less critical of what they’re seeing. But it’s great to see them get worked up over the good and bad in equal measure. The contestants really have to earn their benefit of the doubt, this year.

I think Sang-do is a far more interesting character than Young-pil, at this point, so I can't imagine anyone being upset about him. That said, if they're not going to let him influence the story at all (since it is painfully obvious that this is about the main duo becoming a couple again), it is a little bit silly to have him be in love with her--though no more silly than any other slice of life aspect of the story that has no plot significance.

That said, Sam-dal has two friends who are single and two lovely assistants back in Seoul who are also single.

I'm on the fence leaning towards no. For me, it comes down to thinking the "old loves reunite" aspect doesn't work, here. I don't feel like I want them to be together--because the story hasn't (for me) justified thinking these two were some great love that I want to see reignited. Everything else is enjoyable enough, but that romantic element gets a thumbs down from me.

test

Honestly, I was hoping they were throwing a few jabs his way, but I don't think they were. If I were to guess, I'd say they were probably just very sure of what they were observing. And either they or the translator got very colloquial with how to describe her attention. Because there are two versions of English subtitles on Netflix, and the one I use says "likes" and "focuses on" rather than "obsessed."

I don't think they knew they were wrong. The show never highlights them (which is why the hosts are confused), but we see it in one of the deleted scenes on YouTube: Hye-seon and Won-ik are definitely flirty, and I would guess that the issue is that she seems to talk to Won-ik more readily than Gwan-hee.

I agree. Though I think both leads have been miscast. (I also don't think the script is giving them much to work with.)

I continue to be stunned and amazed that this show is genuinely excellent. It has no right to be this good in all directions. (I mean, okay, the acting isn't brilliant, but it's more than adequate, given the strength of the script.) It's in the running for my favorite show of the year, at this point. Which I would never have guessed when I started it.

At the moment, we are absolutely headed towards a Goblin-style ending, if the homeless lady (God) is to be taken at her word. And given the likely reason for the tattoo transfer, a bittersweet ending (that would require a time jump to be happy) seems inevitable.

Great catch on the two sword dancers in the painting. And, as such, I think we can say their standoff in front of it will probably end up being more than just an amusing moment between blunted swords and an uncharged stun gun.

As far as the connections to the past go...we still don’t know how Gu-won became a demon—or, perhaps, who tempted him (or otherwise made him want/need) to make the deal to become one.

I’m just sayin’: maybe that tattoo jumping to Do-hee is less unexplainable than it is, y’know, going back where it came from.

And then we’ll find out Madame Ju made a deal with a demon that killed Do-hee’s parents and that the friendly nephew is the one who killed Madame Ju and that, in the end, the jerkface son she swiped the chairmanship from was secretly trying to keep Do-hee safe from herself. There’s all kinds of twists coming! Who knows?

Oh, absolutely. I'm half-convinced she's the sword dancer for his past and Do-hee's past life did something to come between them, rather than the much more obvious option of Do-hee being the girl from his memory.

THAT SAID...this show is very deliberately using a black/white color scheme for just about everything (outifts, cars...a third example I can't think of), and though I can't quite figure out a pattern to when it's used (assuming there is one) or for what symbolic purpose (assuming there is one), I will point out this: the sword dancer in the past is in white, and our Beyonce of Traditional Korean Dance is always in black.

...which, again, who knows what that means, since Do-hee seems to alternate between black and white outfits.