Reviews

Humor filled episode

The comic timing of Jisoo is impeccable, Loved this episode. It's just episode 4 but we get to see why FL is more attached to virtual realm instead of real world. She is getting her fantasy fulfilled, but gradually we can see it is affecting her real life too to some extent. We might soon be able to see the repercussions in her reality.All the cameos of her Virtual BFs were memorable. But I have to say her chemistry with Virtual BF 2 (Seo Kang Joon) is so good, that I want a full feature dram in future with just him and Jisoo,But I hope we get more interactions of her with Seo In Guk, because he is suppose to be ML but has less screen time. Overall a very good episode.

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Tables Break, Secrets Grow

First ImpressionThis episode gives us a tense stalemate between ML and Lord Li, an ambush that nearly costs the FL her life, and a whole new layer of court politics. Also… apparently ML can break tables without even trying.🪷Episode ThoughtsThe episode opens with ML and Lord Li at a stalemate. Neither one trusts the other and both are clearly testing each other’s limits.🪷ML says his piece and leaves with the little sister, but not before proving exactly why people shouldn’t underestimate him. Lord Li’s bodyguard mutters that ML only broke a cup… and then the entire table snaps in half.🪷Yeah… he’s definitely not someone to mess with.🪷And that’s with him not even at full strength.🪷Meanwhile our FL and Manager Yu are ambushed on the way home. FL manages to fight off most of them (our butcher girl is not helpless), but Butcher Guo throws something in her face and she passes out.🪷Thankfully ML happens to be nearby for a secret meeting in the woods and hears the cry for help. He arrives just in time and knocks Butcher Guo out.🪷Back home things get intense.🪷ML demands answers from Butcher Guo and is absolutely furious. He beats him brutally and is dangerously close to killing him. No one can stop him until the FL gently asks him to stop.🪷Not because Guo deserves mercy… but because ML going to prison for murder isn’t worth it.🪷Their care for each other is growing stronger with every episode.🪷Meanwhile at the academy we finally get a little more background on the Headmaster and Mr An — who we now know is actually Princess Royal in disguise.🪷Turns out she’s had a crush on the Headmaster ever since they played Go together from afar.🪷The Headmaster figures out her identity and writes to the Dowager Empress telling her the Princess is at the academy. At first it feels like a bit of a betrayal… but there’s clearly more going on.🪷Before she’s forced back to the palace, the Princess runs to the Headmaster hoping he doesn’t know who she really is and that things might change.🪷But he turns her away.🪷It’s hard to tell if he’s doing it to protect her because he thinks he’s not good enough… or if he truly wants distance.🪷Either way, the Dowager Empress decides to shut down the Princess’ feelings completely by arranging a blind date for her.🪷With Lord Li.🪷Yeah… I did not see that coming.🪷And honestly, the court politics are becoming more confusing by the episode. I still can’t tell who the real villain is.🪷Just when you think the episode is winding down, a new mysterious man appears at the restaurant.🪷Manager Yu immediately looks terrified.🪷She’s clearly hiding something — and the way her home is locked up suggests she’s trying to keep someone out.🪷But who?🪷And why is she so afraid for her child?🪷Favourite MomentML casually breaking a table after already cracking a cup. Subtle intimidation level: expert.🪷Trope Check • Protective ML • Ambush attack • Almost revenge killing • Hidden royal identity • Court politics • Mysterious new villain

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first couple fight

Jun Ho and Hye Jin have fought before, but I think this is their first real confrontation after they became a couple. As always, it was a good episode. If the previous episodes were more about Hye Jin and her personality, this one did a good job at reminding the viewer about Jun Ho's. We know that he is a very confident character who has a lot of pride in his work ethic and ability to achieve the things he wants. We have never seen him fail in the context of the story. Everything he's taken on has worked out for him. So his anger at his parents and then later at Hye Jin makes sense. This is someone who doesn't understand why everyone around him can't believe in him and take his words at face value. He feels belittled by both which makes him even more stubborn about sticking to his guns. Not only that, but we've seen him wish for Hye Jin to confide in him more, so he's hurt by the way she shuts him out.The thing is, I can also understand the fight from Hye Jin's point of view. This came out of left field for her, and honestly, out of left field for the audience as well. I did not expect Jun Ho to throw out his study book and pivot his teaching strategy entirely, so I felt just as confused as Hye Jin was when she found out. Throwing out an entire reference book days before the new semester starts is a risk no one would ever take, which is why Hye Jin and Sang Mi were horrified. Not only that, but Jun Ho suddenly going off about how he'll teach students to really learn, rather than how the academies teach them to memorize and retain sounded very idealistic. Sang Mi and Hye Jin have been part of the academy scene for a while. They're weathered in their expectations and understand how things go. In contrast, Jun Ho is completely new to all of this, not only to the Academy but also to teaching in general. He wants to change things and doesn't understand why Hye Jin can't support him. I think he is also afraid that she still thinks of him as someone to support, rather than someone who can support her.I think Hye Jin loves Jun Ho, but she doesn't really think of him as an equal. Which, I can't blame her for, considering how he reacted last episode, and how she admitted that she thinks he represents the worst parts of herself. This is demonstrated when she speaks with Pyo Sang Seob, who is also someone who has butted heads with before. She sees him as an equal. Even though he's not an Academy instructor, he has years of teaching experience that Jun Ho doesn't have. So when Sang Seob says he'll handle things his way, she lets him do so. I felt like the most emotional scene in the episode was not the fight between Hye Jin and Jun Ho, but the scene with Sang Seob and his student, when she asks him to review her material. You could tell that he was moved by the fact that she listened, and also bitterly regretted that he can no longer move his students in that way. I felt for him as a character, and I respected him more when he told Hye Jin about how the vice director of her own academy had betrayed her. Ten years of teaching materials??? I would cause a scene if I were here.Maybe she will cause a scene in the next episode? We shall see.

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Easily the Best Episode so far!

#As the headline implies, yes, that's exactly how I felt. Jisoo is so natural over here and her chemistry with Seo Kang Joon (2nd Virtual BF) is so good. Loved the acting in this episode. #It made me laugh and towards the end I almost shed a tear. The 2nd Virtual BF parallels with her ex, was so good and it seems it was required so that finally she could get her closure. I will be honest, the first two episodes were okay but this episode have solidified my stance and perhaps I will continue watching next episode immediately.###PS: I like when the contestants from Single's inferno are given chance in acting. In this drama so far we have seen two as well as the third one (Dex) when she was watching TV. Similarly watched another contestant "Yuk Jun Seo" on different drama yesterday.

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Rumours, Lies & A Shard at the Throat

Episode ThoughtsThis episode really shows how cruel rumours can be.🪷The village gossip mill goes into full force against the FL. People whisper, judge, and even throw water at her. She can’t exactly fight the whole village, so she just bites her lip and endures it.🪷Things escalate when a particularly nasty granny storms over demanding an apology because her grandson lost his front teeth after causing trouble. The woman clearly enjoys bullying the FL, pushing the situation as far as she can.🪷Thankfully karma comes knocking… although not quite naturally. As the granny storms off she trips on her way out — courtesy of the ML getting a little revenge for his girls.🪷Honestly, deserved.🪷With tensions rising, the FL thinks it would be best for the ML to leave before things get worse for him. But their heart-to-heart conversation reveals something important: neither of them really wants to be apart anymore.🪷Little by little, these two are falling for each other.🪷Meanwhile in court, the political drama continues. The Prime Minister and the Grand Tutor are arguing like an old married couple, and it becomes clear that the case from 16 years ago is far from resolved.🪷The Prime Minister receives the letter from General He and claims the FL’s father was a traitor.🪷Personally? I’m not buying it.🪷We still haven’t seen enough evidence to believe that version of events.🪷Lord Li returns and tells the FL that her parents’ murder case has been closed, blaming bandits and rumours. It feels suspiciously convenient.🪷Even the ML clearly doesn’t believe it.🪷Because in the shadows he basically calls bullshit.🪷The FL decides to move forward and focus on rebuilding her life. She opens her new shop and begins working closely with Manager Yu, which feels like the start of something positive.🪷But Manager Yu senses something watching them.🪷Someone lurking.🪷Friend… or foe?🪷The episode ends on a tense note when Lord Li and the ML finally sit down together. Both men are clearly trying to read the other’s intentions.🪷The scene ends with the ML holding a broken shard to Lord Li’s neck.🪷Trust is definitely in short supply.🪷Favourite MomentML subtly tripping the bullying granny. Petty justice but completely deserved.🪷Trope Check • Gossip ruining reputations • Protective ML • Slow burn romance • Political intrigue • Hidden enemies • Trust no one

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It get's so complicated!

I am so happy our lovebirds finally kissed!! It was such a sweet, tender moment. The way Yan Zheng lured her into bed, his embrace... uff! 👌It’s a pity they got interrupted, though. As for the rest of the episode... my mind is blown by the schemes, hidden agendas, and secrets. I still don't understand who is on whose side!I’m biased toward the Wei family being among those who want the Marquis dead, but what about the Li family? I’m not clear on them yet. And what was in the box General He sent to Chancellor Wei? Were the "daughters" he mentioned the Fan sisters—Fan Erniu’s daughters?Maybe the Fan sisters are originally from the Dayin region, and Zheng is from the Yanzhou region, making them potential rivals or enemies? Then there’s Prince Changxin of Changzhou... so many characters, factions, and names, all wrapped in a political game linked to events from 16 years ago. My head is exploding! I need to start understanding what happened and why. Did Zheng’s mother also kill herself 16 years ago? 🤯

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Possibilities

This episode did a good job with personal growth. Noa is getting ready to claim her life, Rin is in work competition and Taiga has applied for the sports nutritionist training. It was pretty clear Rin’s submission at the contest wasn’t accepted and they were trying to give her a soft landing. Taiga gets asked tough questions on his motivation and purpose in seeking this type of work and Rin’s mother shows up to find the new bf in her daughter’s place. The mom’s acting was a bit over the top but overall this was a heartwarming scene where mother and daughter had better understanding thanks to the interceding of the boyfriend who understood the situation but needed help translating. Taiga won her over with the family recipe and an honest heart. Good news for both as Taiga was accepted into the program and Rin received an offer. What is unclear is if this offer will result in Rin returning to Korea. I am optimistic because Taiga’s job had overseas offerings. Maybe it’s his turn to travel to the job to be close to gf. 😁

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