my_happy_place

If you're in need of a lighthearted, pleasant watch, this should be on your list. I had no expectations because I simply had not heard anyone in my drama circles ever mention it, which is a shame. It is exactly what I would hope for when looking for something with a lovely love story and minimal angst. The story between the two leads takes center stage from the get-go, and the progression in their relationship is such an enjoyable journey. They are so at ease with each other, and I adored their long, meaningful conversations as well as their playfulness. Add in a BFF whose love advice is helpful rather than counterproductive, parents who are not a hinderance, and a ML who just knows how to look at his leading lady. This happens to be my ideal type of drama, and if it's yours too, I strongly recommend it.

She was his type from a physical standpoint and based on fleeting glimpses of her personality, since that's all he got to see of her at first. That attraction carried him through several days before he actually got to spend any meaningful time with her. But there is more to a person than their appearance, and once he started getting to know her, he recognized that they would have difficulty connecting on a personal level based on different values and priorities. Unfortunately, production chose to go for the shock value and showed us this only as bits of flashbacks, so it seemed more abrupt than it really was. Nevertheless, he never said she was a bad person because of this. From what we were shown, he never made any judgments about it at all other than understanding what it meant in terms of trying to develop a lasting connection. His flaw was in not being honest with her in the end.

I was the same when I saw the guy taking pics at the pool party. I had to ask myself who he was. Legitimately forgot about both of them.

Well said all around

I definitely do not judge him for recognizing the incompatibility with YiDo. Actually, I give him credit for that. A lot of people get hung up on looks, but he recognized their disconnect pretty quickly. He claimed he was confused, but I think he was really just struggling with how to communicate his change of heart to YiDo. I think he wanted to let her down easy by subtly showing his increased disinterest, but when that didn't work, I think he panicked and ended up reassuring her again because he didn't want to hurt her or be the reason for her disappointment. Ultimately, his change of heart was going to hurt her not matter what, and unfortunately, he handled it badly. It's understandable to be disappointed in how he handled that, but learning how to reject someone is just as much a part of gaining dating experience as learning how to connect with someone. I, for one, will not be hating JM for any of it. I refrain from hating any participant in a dating show. That's too harsh a judgment to make about someone based on snippets of moments in their lives.

Well, that was a ride. I think the moral of this season has been that saying the wrong thing or being dishonest in the hopes of sparing someone's feelings just ends up making things worse. I give everyone on this show so much grace because their inexperience is really showing, and I can only hope they will all take lessons from this experience and find happiness in their real lives. Unfortunately, for some, I fear this will only exacerbate whatever issues they were already having. Honestly, there was a point during these latest episodes where I felt bad for finding entertainment value in this when in reality, it started to feel like exploiting their struggles.

These were my thoughts exactly. Both parties had their flaws in how things went down, and, as per usual with a dating show, I blame editing and production as well. They only showed us bits of JM's change of heart through flashbacks after the shift had already happened. Those clips showed us that signs had started showing far earlier, but they kept it from us for the shock factor.

When Seung Chan showed up taking photos at the pool party, I legitimately had to stop and think about who he was. I had forgotten about him completely. And they didn't even show us who either of them chose on the secret date day, did they? I've never seen two participants on a dating show disappear into the background like these two.

Gosh, the second batch of three episodes was rough - emotions flying everywhere. There were a few bright moments, but then they left us on that emotional cliffhanger.

Min Hong was giving me the "three fools/idiots" from Heart Signal 6 vibes - always misreading signals and situations. The secondhand embarrassment was strong.

It got me thinking about how the public reactions to these participants might have a unique impact on these individuals who already struggle so much with their social interactions. I can't lie - there were some moments when I felt bad for laughing at their struggle, so I can only imagine what it must feel like for them to see and hear what people are saying. Maybe they understood the risk they were taking by putting themselves out there, but something tells me some of them may not have fully grasped it. I hope none of them regret it in the end.

This drama should have easily gone straight to number one on my list. It has everything I dream of in my ideal drama - and none of the things that inevitably ruin a perfectly good drama. No dictator parents, no manipulative exes or rival love interests, no betrayal, no unnecessary misunderstandings or pointless breakups. Just a great group of friends living their best lives, being supportive, with people falling in love along the way. Unfortunately, I just could not buy into the main couple as romantic partners. They seemed relaxed and at ease with each other, but I was just not feeling any romantic chemistry or sexual tension, so their love story fell flat for me and didn't come across as authentic. I was really into the secondary couple, and I wish there was more of their story. I also loved all the scenery I got to see. They traveled to some gorgeous places. I'm sure I'm in the minority when it comes to my take on the main couple, so I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this to anyone who enjoys a slower-paced, angst-free journey with good friends and good food.

Here I am addicted to another Kdating show. This premise is so painfully awkward but so entertaining. And in a big Kdating twist, I am really enjoying the panel reactions. I have a tendency to be drawn to one or two participants right off the bat, so it's refreshing that a favorite has not yet emerged. I am a socially awkward introvert myself, so I relate to so many of the situations, and I find myself rooting for all these people, at least for now.

For me, being over the moon about the Jijeyeon ship and feeling like the show format was a mess are not mutually exclusive. I disliked how the dating was arranged, making it difficult for people with mutual feelings to actually meet up sometimes. And the panel overreacted constantly. I would prefer that they be a little more objective, but apparently production doesn't agree. And are catfishes introduced more than halfway through really meant to be sincere candidates for someone's heart? None of these complaints change just because a couple I rooted for made it through in the end. I would argue that all the end couples made it DESPITE how the show was actually produced. I'd say that's a testament to the participants and not the show itself, per se.

There is a lot of great chemistry, and not just romantic. The group dynamic is really good too. The cast was full of outstanding people.

It must be nice for them to finally be able to go about their lives like normal without worrying about revealing any secrets. Of course, their "normal" will be a new normal from now on, with eyes on them everywhere, but hopefully they won't let this affect them. I wish them nothing but happiness. That goes for both couples that have been revealed, by the way.

Jimin was such a joy (when he wasn't stressing over the process). His sense of humor is right in my wheelhouse, so I just loved watching him week after week. As for IG updates, I've seen some fairly decent arguments suggesting that JM/JY were dropping hints about dating on their IGs during airing, but it would be great to get any sort of official announcement from any of them.

It did feel sort of rushed and weird. CE and CH gave off blind-date energy or seeing each other after a long time apart and not quite sure how to act with each other anymore. Not at all what I expected. And I just know that Jimin has been dying to give Jeyeon a proper hug for a whole darn month, but they just hurried off into the restaurant. Even if they were all completely certain about everything, I guess I still thought they'd at least feel a kind of excited relief. Maybe it was just too cold. Who knows?

"Online in-laws" had me spitting my drink at my laptop. LOL But you're right. How do you have a show supposedly geared toward marriage, that ended up with three couples in the end, and not have any after-show updates? I will wish for a proper After Pairing, but I probably shouldn't hold my breath.

I get what you're saying, and it's certainly a possibility. It's probably even a contributing factor as to why I couldn't stay focused during their dates. It never really felt like anything was at stake.

I really wanted to invest in this couple. First, I really like Jiwon. I see a lot of myself in her. Second, their relationship most closely resembles my own - two introverts who value a quieter pace of life without a lot of "flash." However, this style of relationship, my own included, does not make for compelling television. I just could not get into their dates. They sometimes felt like watching paint dry. I can't judge how deep or shallow their pairing is based on this small sample size of interactions, but I will say that this type of relationship can very easily stand the test of time. Mine is going on 30 years. If stable and content is what they strive for, I have no reason to believe they won't make it in the end.