#the story of park's marriage contract spoilers

[fake-married-my-dead-fiance]

Okay... does anyone else feel a bit sorry for past Kang Tae-ha, who had this wife who loved him, but then she time-travelled and came back in love with someone else, and then he just had to die unloved because there was really no way to fix that?

The poor man did nothing wrong! He got SML-ed HARD by his own identical twin/reincarnation! And honestly, he was way nicer to Park Yeon-woo than future Kang Tae-ha.

[whenthegoldrays]

Anyway Park's Marriage Contract gets a 5/10. The ending was a mess. I don’t mind that she came back, per se, I just hate how dirty they did Joseon!Tae Ha. What do you mean she married CEO Kang because he reminded her of Young Master but she wouldn’t marry Young Master when it came to it? Even though she had liked him first??

[swiftletinthecloud]

Now that I’ve had some time to reflect on the end of The Story of Park’s Marriage Contract, just a couple of thoughts I want to share.

There are certainly some conflicted responses to how the drama ended, particularly regarding the tragic fate of Joseon!Tae Ha. And while I do agree that there are some plot holes that were magically handwaved for us to end on a happy ending for Yeon Woo and modern!Tae Ha, I just wanted to comment specifically on the character driven moments right now.

***Spoilers warning*** ***Also fair warning of long post below. This was like 2 and a half page on my google doc, so yeah ****

I absolutely love Joseon!Tae Ha from the beginning and I probably love him a little more than modern!Tae Ha.  I know that some ppls probably feel the same as well.  But here’s the thing, Yeon Woo didn’t love him romantically, not even pre-time travel. Pre-time travel!Yeon Woo and Joseon!Tae Ha was never this epic love story with mutual love from both sides to start with before tragedy struck, and I think a lot of us forgot that.

Joseon!Tae Ha might have secretly loved and admired Yeon Woo from when they met as children because she left such an impact on him, but that was not the case for pre-time travel!Yeon Woo.  She met a boy and spent maybe an afternoon playing with him near the rivers when she was child and then maybe never really gave him much thought after that. I’m not sure of the timeline for the beginning, but definitely 10+ days before her wedding, she met a handsome man named Tae Ha, who definitely caught her initial interest, while she was trying to get a glimpse of her would-be groom. She ran into Tae Ha again in the streets a few days later, and maybe her heart sped up from their running away from the guards together and the forced close proximity to this handsome man as they hid. There might even be a budding affection after their unplanned stroll together during the bridge firework show after he caught her running away again. But whatever Yeon Woo’s growing feelings for Tae Ha might be, she was ready after that to go through with her marriage to her UNKNOWN groom, not to Tae Ha.

It was good luck for Yeon Woo that her UNKNOWN groom turned out to be the handsome guy she met recently. If Joseon!Tae Ha hadn’t died prematurely in that first time line, perhaps Yeon Woo would have grown to love him and reciprocate romantically in the way we all wished.  And Yeon Woo would have been lucky in her arranged marriage to a stranger, that, again, she did not know was Tae Ha, when she committed herself to him as a result of her societal obligation. But fate was not kind to them and Joseon!Tae Ha died and Yeon Woo was thrusted into the 21st century with only the familiar face of her late husband in front of her as an anchor. 

Yeon Woo was alone in a strange place without her loving parents and Sa Wol. She just went through two traumatic events back to back, the death of her husband in her arms on her wedding day and the attack on her that resulted in her being thrown into a well.  Her anchor was the man with her late husband’s face, the face of a person that in the brief time she got to know him was warm and kind, the man who she was ready to face obligated married life with, only modern!Tae Ha was not Joseon!Tae Ha, who was immediately open and kind to Yeon Woo because he had been secretly loving her since they were children. 

Yeon Woo and modern!Tae Ha experienced trials and tribulations together that changed their feelings for each other and they grew to love each other, and it was very much a growth from both sides. Their specific experiences are ones that CANNOT be replicated in Joseon or with a reincarnated 21st century native Yeon Woo because their very specific circumstances led to those shared experiences together. Yeon Woo in Joseon never experiencing 21st century Korea would never be able to experience the freedom that she craved in living her life with her own name.  Joseon!Tae Ha would not have the ability to show her the freedom and choices that modern!Tae Ha and modern Korea showed Yeon Woo because Joseon!Tae Ha was also a product of his time.  The same opportunity of creating a clothing label in her own name would not have the same impact on a reincarnated 21st century native Yeon Woo as it did to Joseon!Yeon Woo. If she grew up as the daughter of Lee Mi Dam, she would have already been exposed to that world and that privilege, and even if she didn’t, as a modern 21st century woman, she would still have privileges that Joseon!Yeon Woo didn’t.  It was also the wonder, curiosity, and, in a way, innocence of Joseon!Yeon Woo and also his own curiosity and wonder about her that got modern!Tae Ha to open up and be vulnerable.  The same case would not have happened with a 21st century native Yeon Woo for those asking why we can’t have a Joseon! Tae Ha & Joseon!Yeon Woo and modern!Tae Ha & reincarnated!Yeon Woo happy endings.  In fact, if it did end with a modern!Tae Ha and a reincarnated Yeon Woo, I would have felt cheated for sure because everything that we went through together was with Joseon!Yeon Woo and what do you mean all those moments were erased and a reincarnated!Yeon Woo who we have no connection with got that happy ending with modern!Tae Ha? (side note: it was a plot hole but I’m so very glad the writers didn’t make everyone in modern Korea forget about Yeon Woo when she went back to Joseon because her presence left an impact on everyone she encountered, as it should be). 

As for Joseon!Tae Ha’s fate, I love him, I really do, but just because he loved and was committed to Yeon Woo throughout his life did not mean that Yeon Woo owed him anything like some of the responses to his ending either outright or subtly hinted at. And Joseon!Tae Ha knew and respected this, so if you love him, you shouldn’t be insulting or criticizing the woman he had been secretly loving and protecting!  It was Joseon!Tae Ha’s choice to give his heart to Yeon Woo; she didn’t have to accept it and he didn’t force it.  In their year of married life together before his second death, they lived in content platonic companionship and that was enough for Joseon!Tae Ha in that life. He still yearned and longed for her romantic love and wished that he could be reborn in the next life to receive it, but he didn’t force the issue as a man of his time period could have since they were still legally married. 

I saw responses that were like “Yeon Woo was able to marry and love modern!Tae Ha because he looked like her late husband so why couldn’t she love Joseon!Tae Ha later? She was able to move on from Joseon!Tae Ha the first time pretty quickly.”  And again, that goes back to the fact that she was never in love with Joseon!Tae Ha in the first place before meeting modern!Tae Ha.  I think some audiences have this assumption that Joseon!Tae Ha in the first timeline was Yeon Woo’s first love, and I initially did as well, but that’s not true if you look back carefully.  Modern!Tae Ha is Yeon Woo’s first love. She didn’t get a chance to love Joseon!Tae Ha yet before he died the first time.

If Yeon Woo had never been able to return to modern Korea and Joseon!Tae Ha didn’t die again after their first year of marriage, maybe slowly in their shared life together as first friends and life companions, post-time travel!Yeon Woo could have grown to love Joseon!Tae Ha romantically, but it would never be in the same way that she loved modern!Tae Ha.  But again, fate was not kind to them and Joseon!Tae Ha died and Yeon Woo, as his friend, was left mourning him once more.

(side note: I’ve read a comment that was like why couldn’t Yeon Woo just try to matchmake Joseon!Tae Ha to someone else in Joseon so he could have a happy ending too, and like, I’m sorry but do you not understand Kang Tae Ha, Joseon or modern at all? Tae Ha, Joseon and modern, loved Yeon Woo, and it was Joseon!Tae Ha’s enduring longing and love for her that transversed time and space and echoed in modern!Tae Ha. If Joseon!Tae Ha could have easily moved on to love someone else, we wouldn’t have this epic love story from Tae Ha’s side of the equation.) 

Another thing that I think is really important to consider that the drama really wanted us to acknowledge was that Joseon!Tae Ha and modern!Tae Ha were two different people. And no, the drama didn’t write themselves into a box by stressing that they were different people but also highlighting their similarities. Yes, they both had the same soul since modern!Tae Ha was undoubtedly the reincarnation of Joseon!Tae Ha, and we know that in the ways they echoed and parallelled with each other.  At the same time, however, they were both different individual people with different life experiences that shaped who they are.  They parallelled in their enduring love for Yeon Woo, their heart conditions, and their unfortunate family situations, but they were also different too.  They were not carbon copies of each other and their situations weren’t carbon copies either. They both had the same soul grandpa, stepmom, and half-brother, but Joseon and modern Tae Ha’s dynamics with each were different because of their unique time circumstances. Modern!Tae Ha was a lot closer to his grandpa who personally raised him in almost conflict with stepmom and Tae Min, but Joseon!Tae Ha was closer to his stepmom, the person who actually raised him in Joseon as expected of her during her time. Joseon!grandpa was perhaps a more distant elder since a man of his status and time period wouldn’t be obligated to raise his grandson when there was a woman right there for that purpose. Tae Ha and Tae Min’s relationships were also different in both time periods too. Modern!them were more distant with each other with Tae Ha raised to resent Ms. Min and so he probably saw Tae Min as an extension of her who he didn’t care for.  Modern!Tae Min revealed to Yeon Woo that he grew up in an environment with very little love from the people around him and saw modern!Tae Ha as the brother who was loved by their grandpa and always outshone him. Their relationship didn’t improve until after both met Yeon Woo.  On the other hand, Joseon!Tae Ha and Tae Min were good brothers with each other. They were close enough for Joseon!Tae Ha to leave Tae Min his diaries and the drawing of his crush so that Tae Min could pass them on to Yeon Woo.  When Yeon Woo asked Joseon!Tae Min who Tae Ha was to him, Tae Min replied that he was the best older brother. So, yes, while both Tae Ha shared the same soul and we see the echoes and similarities in their fates, they were still two distinctive different people in different situations. They were two different people who both fell in love with Yeon Woo, and Yeon Woo had every right to have and hold different feelings for each man.

And so to me, Joseon!Tae Ha’s fate was tragic and I would have absolutely loved for him to have a happy ending with Yeon Woo, but that would have meant a tragic fate for Yeon Woo and modern!Tae Ha.  We could only have 1 couple happy.  I’m glad that we at least have 1 happy ending and it was the relationship we were invested in for the majority of the drama (or again, I would have felt very cheated!).  I so very much want it, and in another timeline, Joseon!Tae Ha and pre-time travel!Yeon Woo could have had it all together, but that was never going to happen post-time travel because what was done can’t be undone.  We loved and we lost and we should very well respect Yeon Woo’s choice like Joseon!Tae Ha did. And despite its flaws, The Story of Park’s Marriage Contract delivered in the romance story area and the relationship and dynamics between Yeon Woo and both Tae Has. There was no unnecessary drama in their relationship with clear communications from both sides. I’m going to miss my ParkHa couple so much and the lighthearted fun and all the emotions that this drama gave us.

[murderousthighs]

Writers of a kdrama fantasy about fate and time travel trying to figure out a happy ending after promising nothing but painful yearning and death for the last 6 episodes: “Well maybe they just missed each other so much that one of them just shows up in the last 10 minutes” 🤷‍♀️

[psalm40speakstome]

Three times! I watched Bae In Hyuk die THREE times!

[leekimdramas]

The Story of Park's Marriage Contract Review

This is the first drama of the year where I fell asleep while watching it...

Park Yeon Woo is a lady from the 19th century, who wishes to make clothes for people but instead, her parents wed her to Kang Tae Ha.

The marriage does not last long as Tae Ha dies, but before Yeon Woo can mourn him. She is thrown into a well and wakes up in the 21st century.

I don't think this drama is terrible. It made me laugh from time to time but most of the time I just felt bored.

It might also be because we have so many airing dramas with similar plots that it did not really stand out.

I do think the plot is interesting, especially who is responsible for trying to murder Yeon Woo and how history is slowly repeating.

But, I believe, my main issue was with the characters and their portrayal.

A lot of times I was just left confused because a character would change 180 without any explanation. The viewers just have to deal with that now the person they came to like is apparently evil.

It does get explained later on but instead of turning a good character evil within a few minutes, they could've shown us some clues of it.

The main characters are okay and they are a very nice couple, the secondary couple are also great. I was just not keen on any other characters.

Overall, this is an okay drama. Nothing much to say about it and I feel like it will fall out of my memory pretty quickly.

6/10

[afza147]

Watching spoiler for both drama

On my demon side thank God he did not kill do hee..that's what I wanted to know

On the story of park marriage story..just pain and both tae ha not die.

Ok done

[simply-whump]

The Story of Park's Marriage Contract (열녀 박씨 계약 결혼뎐) - Whump List

Whumpee : Kang Tae Ha played by Bae In Hyuk

Synopsis : In the 19th century, on the night of her wedding day, Park Yeon Woo's husband died after revealing that he had suffered from a heart condition for a long time. She is devastated, but before she can even mourn her husband, a man kidnaps her and throws her in a well. She is now in present-day Seoul, South Korea, and the man who saves her from the swimming pool is Kang Tae Ha, who looks a lot like her dead husband from the 19th century. He is the successor of SH Seoul Corporation. He does not like opening himself up to others due to his heart disease and the trauma that he endured in his childhood. (MDL)

Genres : Historical, Mystery, Romance, Fantasy

Warning! Possible spoilers below!

Kang Tae Ha

Ep 1 : (Past Life) Suddenly in pain, holding his chest, coughing up blood, collapses, concern for him, dies

Ep 2 : (Present Life) (42:00) Wakes up from a nightmare (comedic) — (48:52) Headbutted, puts some ice on his chin — (58:18) Scared, passes out, concern for him, slapped (comedic) — (01:06:18) Something in his car breaks, has a car accident

Ep 3 : (00:38) Ha a car accident, bleeding slightly from his forehead, stumbling — (14:40) Pushed down underwater (comedic) — (25:22) Taking pills — (27:34) Getting tested at the hospital, scar on his chest — (36:01) Trips, falls to the floor (comedic) — (01:03:40) Falls to the ground, wincing

Ep 4 : (16:20) Remembering traumatic memories, panic attack, heavy breathing, concern for him, slides down to the ground — (23:16) Having a nightmare, sweating, calmed down — (01:01:45) Worried for someone, holding his chest, falls down a hill, unconscious

Ep 5 : (01:25) Wakes up, wincing in pain, worried for someone, small cut on his face — (07:30) Cut treated — (25:49) Falls — (01:02:20) Heart condition acting up, in pain, holding his chest, collapses

Ep 6 : (04:01) Repeat of the previous scene, in pain, has to pretend he is okay, collapses, concern for him, heavy breathing — (01:04:37) Going to a place linked to his trauma, anxious, worried for someone, holding his chest, heavy breathing, panic attack, concern for him, scar on his chest revealed

Ep 7 : (Previous scene continues) (01:33) Panic attack, heavy breathing, scar reveal — (02:26) Sleeping in bed — (04:35) Teary-eyed, hugged, crying — (58:55) Heart disease acting up, holding his chest, groaning in pain — (19:52) Heart disease acting up, groaning in pain, holding his chest, taking medication — (23:02) Distancing himself from his loved one because of his heart condition, crying — (25:04) Told his pacemaker is not working and that he will experience heart failure 

Ep 8 : None

Ep 9 : (18:34) Hit with a cane — (01:01:08) Learns a shocking truth, remembering painful memories, crying

Ep 10 : (03:28) Shocked, panicked, crying, heavy breathing, held — (22:36) Slapped, crying — (23:52) Heart disease acting up, holding his chest, concern for him, heavy breathing — (24:56) Sleeping, examined — (01:04:56) In a dangerous situation, pushed

Ep 11 : (01:43) Pushed out of harms way, worried for someone, emotional, crying, hugged — (24:45) Teary-eyed — (27:15) Begging the doctor to fix his heart, emotional — (01:07:29) (Past life) Suddenly in pain, holding his chest, coughing up blood, collapses, concern for him, dies

Ep 12 : (Repeat of previous scene) — (Present Life) (03:10) Crying — (Past Life) (43:29) Heart condition acting up, in pain, concern for him, in bed, pulse taken

>> More Whump List

>> Another Whump List with Bae In Hyuk

[love-me-a-lotta-whump]

열녀 박씨 계약 결혼뎐 - The Story of Park’s Marriage Contract - Whump List - 🇰🇷

Whumpee: 강태하 (Kang Tae Ha) played by 배인혁 (Bae In Hyuk)

Synopsis: Park Yeon Woo's husband tragically died on the night of their wedding, but before she could mourn her husband, a man kidnaps her and throws her in a well. The moment she opened her eyes, she saw her him standing before her, now in present-day Seoul, South Korea. However, the man is not her husband, rather Kang Tae Ha. Kang Tae Ha is the successor of SH Seoul Corporation. He does not like opening himself up to others due to his heart disease and the trauma that he endured in his childhood but his ill grandfather tells him that he wishes to see his wedding before he dies. To make his grandfather's wish come true, Kang Tae Ha asks Park Yeon Woo to enter into a contract marriage with him. (MDL)

Genre/Tags: Chronic/Terminal Illness, Romance, Fantasy, Office/Workplace, Period, Scar Reveal, Constant Whump, Trauma

Watch On: Viki (Original), DramaCool, KissAsian

WARNING: POSSIBLE SPOILERS BELOW

1.01 : (in Joseon: fell to his knees, coughing up blood, concern for him, weak, held in wife’s arms, dying, died, mourned)

1.02 : (comical: startled, passed out) ::: panicked, in a wreck

1.03 : in a wreck, in pain, groaning, wincing, stumbling ::: angry ::: stressed, upset ::: momentary chest pain ::: examined by a doctor, scar reveal ::: scar reveal ::: upset ::: concerned for someone

1.04 : traumatic memories surface, panic attack, struggling to breathe, chest pain, leaving against a wall for support, concern for him, held ::: in bed, concern for him ::: having a nightmare ::: concerned for someone, using himself as a human shield, fell, unconscious

1.05 : unconscious, woke up, concerned for someone ::: cut on his face ::: chest pain, fell to his knees

1.06 : chest pain, fell to his knees, angry, sent a rescue request to a loved one ::: collapsed, concern for him, saved, heavy breathing ::: traumatic memories surface ::: traumatic memories triggered, concerned for someone, protecting someone, having a panic attack, concern for him, heavy breathing, sweating, chest pain, scar reveal

1.07 : having a panic attack, hyperventilating, concern for him, saved ::: asleep, looked after, woke up ::: talking about his traumatic past, crying, held, comforted ::: in pain, bending over from the pain

1.08 : emotional

1.09 : emotional ::: crying, in shock

1.10 : chest pain, nearly collapsed, concern for him ::: looked after while asleep ::: emotional ::: threatened, collapsed

1.11 : emotional, trying to save someone, saved, concerned for someone, angry, crying, held ::: emotional, crying ::: emotional, crying ::: emotional, crying ::: (in Joseon: chest pain, coughing up blood, collapsed, held, heavily lidded eyes, concern for him, passed out)

1.12 : (in Joseon: chest pain, coughing up blood, collapsed, held, heavily lidded eyes, concern for him, passed out) ::: sobbing ::: (in Joseon: chest pain, concern for him ::: treated ::: weak, groaning, coughing, heavy breathing) ::: (I’m Joseon: crying, emotional, died) ::: crying

———+———

MORE WHUMP LISTS >>> {x}

[alloveydovey]

Dramas I watched this past month! The month of the rewatch. (Also spoilers!)

Crush (cdrama) 6.5

This had such a strong start and then went downhill bad (like really bad).

Psychology student decides to sort of intern (? at a special education school and meets a blind braille teacher there. There’s also music involved.

Like in most cdramas I’ve watched, everyone behaves like a twelve-year-old, and the conflict starts out of things that an adult should be able to prevent. The main couple drastically changes in the second half, and it’s like you are watching a whole other drama.

Into the Ring (kdrama) (rewatch) 10 ⭐️

My eternal love to Nana in this (and in general. I’m in love with her). Se Ra is probably my favorite FL from all the dramas I’ve watched.

I remember being very skeptical the first time I saw this (because politics, kinda boring?) but it was so worth it.

Park Sung Hoon is also such an excellent companion to all of her craziness. His and Nana's chemistry was one of the best ones. The awkward but somehow very comfortable atmosphere you feel while watching them is next level. Still one of my favorite dramas. 10/10, I adore it.

Doona! (kdrama) 8

I still have mixed feelings about this one. The sort of angst romance was on point. Actors were good, narrative was fast-paced and kept me entertained. Doona is presented as a complex character and so the story even with happy moments, feels very bittersweet. But even with all that, I feel like I'd have to watch it again because there’s something that puts me off but I can’t quite decide what it is exactly.

I also want to know why they had her wearing tiny tank tops and shorts in snowy winter lol…

A Business Proposal (kdrama) (rewatch) 8.5

The first time I watched a business proposal I didn’t really like it. I thought it was way too cliche and absurd and dropped it after the third episode. It was the fourth kdrama I had watched after Crash Landing on You, Hometown Cha Cha Cha, and Twenty-Five Twenty-One so like… it had big shoes to fill in. I came back to it eventually and finished it.

Now after rewatching… I think learned to appreciate a good over-the-top rom-com (they became my favorites lol) and this definetly hits all the boxes. It feels like an instant classic. Also music 10/10.

Usokon (jdrama) 7

If it is marriage contract/fake dating then sign me the fuck up!!! Usokon started strong but at some point (around episode 8/9) I started getting frustrated. We know that there are feelings involved, but nobody is doing anything about it. The ML (even though he absolutely steals the show) doesn’t do anything to move forward, and the FL is too clueless to make a move. And so there’s not enough romance in a drama that is primarily romantic since the main focus is their fake marriage/ relationship. Also, it had such a frustrating ending!!!

My Girlfriend is a Gumiho (kdrama) 7,5 ⭐️

Nothing beats old kdramas, they have such a particular nostalgic vibe that makes you unable to stop watching. My girlfriend is a gumiho was so sooo stupid, childish, and even cringe, but so cute!!! Every time Shin Min Ah and Lee Seung Gi were together on screen I couldn’t stop smiling. I can totally see this one becoming a comfort drama. Another one with soundtrack 10/10.

Daily Dose of Sunshine (kdrama) 9

I read somewhere that this was like a mental health for dummies book, and to be honest, it’s kind of like that, but it works so well! The way they visualized mental disorders was so creative, I was impressed.

All the characters were intriguing enough to keep me going. Everyone had something to offer here. Even the patients from each episode.

Watching this felt deeply sad yet deeply comforting as well. Park Bo Young absolutely kills it (as usual. QUEEN).

Twinkling Watermelon (kdrama) 9.5

This one was pure gold. Time travel to meet the younger version of your parents? Sign me fuck up. The idea of sending Eun Gyeol back in time to try to understand his family and live his youth is such a cool (and emotional af) premise. It had the ideal balance of comedy and emotion. I feel like sixteen episodes weren’t enough. I could have sat there for another twenty episodes watching those teenagers being silly lol.

[theadusa]

Everything I watch in Jan 2024

I was going to post my annual everything I watched in 2023 post but I feel like I missed my opportunity, so here is my everything I watched in January 2024... (Be Warned there are some spoilers, I do try to mark them throughout the review)

My Lovely Boxer (2023, Kim Min-joo)

Main leads: Lee Sang-yeob, Kim So-hye, Park Ji-hwan, Kim Hyung-mook, Kim Jin-woo, Ha Seung-ri, Chae Won-bin

Country: S. Korea

Run: August 21 to Oct 2, 2023 (KBS2, Monday and Tuesday @21:45 (KST))

Episodes: 12, 70 min

Thoughts: Lee Kwon-sook (Kim So-hye) is a boxer who is forcibly thrown back into the world boxing that she has retired from by a sports agent Kim Tae-young (Lee Sang-yeob). I really liked how they balanced the characters. Lee Kwon-sook is a cheerful girl who is constantly haunted by her past. And she is allowed agency to do what she can do, despite the efforts of others. And the relationship between Lee Kwon-sook and Kim Tae-young, though slightly toxic, works in an odd way. I did have problems with how they reconnected her with her father.I personally wouldn’t have forgiven him. However, I loved the relationship with Han Ah-reum, and just how that story ends. I thought it was done very well. Overall I have really enjoyed this drama. Rating: 

Unlock My Boss (2022-2023, Kim Hyung-min)

Main leads: Chae Jong-hyeop, Seo Eun-soo, Park Sung-woong

Country: S. Korea

Run: Dec 7, 2022 to Jan 12, 2023 (ENA, Wednesday and Thursday @21:00 (KST))

Episodes: 12, 60 min

Thoughts: Oh wow, this is more enjoyable than I imagined. Chase Jong-hyeop as Park In-seong is so fun. He is adorable, down to earth but capable. Jun Se-yeon (Seo Eun-soo) was amazing and I loved her complexities as a character. And the trio of Kim Seon-joo (Park Sung-woong), Park In-seong, and Jun Se-yeon, was so fun and I loved the little family they formed. I literally cried so much during this show for no reason. Like the zoom into the phone literally made me sob each time for no reason. Rating: Who knew electronics can have that much range?

Night Has Come (2023, Kang Min-Ji)

Main leads: Lee Jae-In, Kim Woo-Seok, Choi Ye-Bin, Cha Woo-Min, Ahn Ji-Ho, Jung So-Ri

Country: S. Korea

Run: Dec 4,, 2023 ( U+mobiletv)

Episodes: 12, 35 to 40 min

Thoughts: This started off really good. A class gets thrust into a mafia game to the death. You along with the characters are wondering who is the mafia among the students and who is forcing this game. It is really interesting, but the episodes follow the same pattern. The end you find everything out, and it's kind of stupied. They had a classmate who committed sucide due to a badly edited image of herself on a skimply clad woman’s body. Which is yeah bad. Then her parents take revenge on the whole class. They are placed in this mafia simulator to repeat the game over and over again. It ends with Lee Yoon-seo able to remember everything, but still trapped in the simulator. Like where their parents are. People must be concerned right. Rating: Sisphyus boulder, I guess…

The Story of Park’s Marriage Contract (2023-2024, Go Nam-jeong)

Main leads: Lee Se-young, Bae In-hyuk, Joo Hyun-young, Yoo Seon-ho, Jo Bok-rae

Country: S. Korea

Run: Nov 24, 2023 to Jan 6, 2024 (MBC TV Friday and Saturday @21:50 (KST))

Episodes: 12, 70 min

Thoughts: This was a cute drama. It starts off with a cute romance between a progressive woman in Joseon and a sick scholar. However, it quickly becomes a tragedy and she is sent to the year 2023 with her hand maid Sa-wol (Joo Hyun-young). It quickly becomes a fish out of water for Park Yeon-woo (Lee Se-young), but luckly she meets the recacrante of her late husband Kang Tae-ha (Bae In-hyuk) and they make a deal. It is a cute drama and I loved the cast of characters. Yeon-woo is easy to root for. Sa-wol is adorable, and adapts quickly. Kang Tae-ha is prickly but has a heart of gold. It's dramatic and fun. It's nothing special, but oh is it so good. My favorite part is Yeon-woo and Sa-wol’s relationship. Literally there is a scene with those two that reflects a romantic scene in Perfect Marriage Revenage (2023) which I can’t stop thinking about. Overall I just really enjoyed my time. Rating: butterflies everytime I think about you…

Joseon Attorney: A Morality (2023,Choi Jin-young)

Main leads: Woo Do-hwan, Bona, Cha Hak-yeon

Country: S. Korea

Run: March 31 to May 5, 2023 (MBC TV Friday and Saturday @21:50 (KST))

Episodes: 16, 70 min

Thoughts:  This was a lot like Taxi Driver. In the way you have an episodic feel with a charismatic male lead seeking revenge and helping people. I had a lot of fun with this show, and I don’t use the comparison lightly either. I really had fun with it. The romance was okay, but I liked the different stories, and the main revenge plot was easy to follow along with. Woo Do-hwan is a great actor and meant to be a leading man. It's definitely  not my favorite and there are a few things that needed changing but it was fun overall! Rating: Who do you call?... Joseon Attorney!!!

KBS Drama Special 14 (2023, Choi Ja-won, Yun Tae-woo, Cho Il-yeon, Choi Yi-kyung, Wi Jae-hwa, Kwon Oh-joo,Park Eun-seo, Jo Soo-yeong, Kim Ik-hyun)

Main leads: Lee Jae-won, Choi Seong-won, and Kim Kang-hyeon,  Kim Won-hae, Min Ji-ah, Ahn Se-bin and Park Ji-ah, Lee Min-jae, Kim Hyun-soo, and Kang Na-eon,  Moon Woo-jin, Park Seo-kyung, Park Ha-sun, Kim Joo-heon, Kim Do-hoon, Chae Won-bin, Kim Dong-hwi, Jo A-ram, Shim Yi-young, Joo Seok-tae,  Ren, Park Sang-nam, Hong Seung-hee, Hahm Eun-jung,  Kim Kang-min, Yoon San-ha, Baek Sung-hyun

Country: S. Korea

Run: OCT 14 to Dec 16, 2023 (KBS, Saturday 21:50 to 22:50 (KST))

Episodes: 10, 60 to 80 min

Thoughts: This is a yearly anthogolgy series that follows various characters in various time periods with various goals. I thought a lot of them were really cool and interesting. “Love Attack” was by far one of my favorites, but I also really liked “The True Love of Madam” which was shocking for me.  It was also hard to find any subs for “Overlap, Knife, Knife” so I had to rely on visual cues and the small amount of Korean I know. But I thought this was a fun anthrologie series, and the stories are fun and fresh. Rating: I love getting short and quick stories like this, its the reason I love short films so much.

A Good Day to Be a Dog (2023-2024, Baek In-ah)

Main leads: Park Gyu-young, Cha Eun-woo, Lee Hyun-woo

Country: S. Korea

Run: Oct 11, 2023 to Jan 10, 2024 (MBC, Wednesday 21:00 (KST))

Episodes: 14, 70 min

Thoughts: Apparently it is very different from the webtoon ( which I have never read), but I found it entertaining. It is cute and lighthearted. I always like when its past lives, I think it adds a fun element to romances. Though I do think the schedule of the show hindered my enjoyment, because it would be so long between episodes. They also lost me at the end, I can not lie. Rating/Spoiler: Also I would be so angery if I found out my family curse passed down for generations was over a misunderstanding. I would want an apology, reparations, and revenge. On another note, I would also be so pissed if I killed myself to save my servant's baby; then my boyfriend finished off the dying father, then cursed the child and its offspring. I would be pissed, like my scarfice was for not. Go off mountain spirit I guess…

My 20th Twenty (2023, N/A)

Main leads: Choi Yu Ju , Jung Su Bin

Country: S. Korea

Run: April 21 to may 27, 2023 (Wavve, Friday and Saturday)

Episodes: 12, 15 min

Thoughts: This show was good for what it was. It has the vibe of a college student film with a mix of those youtube series made by middle schoolers back in 2009. And I mean that with the highest praise. The sound mixing was off, they had limited cast (background actors is what you are looking for), no interesting lighting (but very well light- i.e the student film vibes), and the actors new to the scene. I loved every motherfucking moment. It was so cheesy, the script was bad, and nothing made sense. But I knew that it was made with passion. Rating: It would be horrifying being 20 forever

Taxi Driver Season 2 (2023, Oh Sang-ho)

Main leads: Lee Je-hoon, Kim Eui-sung, Pyo Ye-jin, Jang Hyuk-jin, Bae Yoo-ram, Shin Jae-ha

Country: S. Korea

Run: Feb 17 to April 15, 2023 (SBS, TV Friday and Saturday @22:00 (KST))

Episodes: 16, 70 min

Thoughts: Back in action the second season is so much fun and entertaining. I actually like it better than the first. And I said this once and I’ll say it again Lee Je-hoon is made to be an action star. He’s as great as Kim Do-gi. I also liked that Ahn Go-eun (Pyo Ye-jin)  had a larger role this season. I also just love the friendship in the Rainbow Taxi service. Just so fun. Rating: imagine being taken down by a taxi service…

Taxi Driver Special (2023, SBS)

Main leads:  Lee Je-hoon, Kim Eui-sung, Pyo Ye-jin, Jang Hyuk-jin, Bae Yoo-ram, Shin Jae-ha

Country: S. Korea

Run: Feb 16 to March 4, 2023 ( KBS)

Episodes: 2, 60 -120 min

Thoughts: This was fun seeing the cast reflect on the episodes and their characters. Its also cool just seeing a reply of everything that happened. You could tell how much Lee Je-hoon loves playing Kim Do-gi. Rating: I am excited for the 3rd season…

Brain Works (2023, Park Kyung-seon)

Main leads: Jung Yong-hwa, Cha Tae-hyun, Kwak Sun-young, Ye Ji-won

Country: S. Korea

Run: Jan 2 to Fe 28, 2023 (KBS2 Monday and Tuesday @21:50 (KST))

Episodes: 16, 75 min

Thoughts:This show is weird. I think most cop shows are weird but this one especially. I did like the bromance in this, between Shin Ha-ru (Jung Yong-hwa) and Geum Myung-se (Ch Tae-hyun). I did think neuroscience was weird and defies logic. The only good thing about it was when they didn’t completely vilify Pyschopaths, because it tends to be more complicated than the mainstream likes to show. It still left a lot to be desired but it was there. Also when he lowkey kidnapped and torture that kid, oh my god, like he was a little punk and deserved to go to trail but my god. Rating: This is lowkey giving Minority Report tbh…

My Cuteness is about to expire!? (2022,  Tanabe Shigenori)

Main leads: Yamada Ryosuke, Yoshine Kyoko 

Country: Japan 

Run: April 16 to June 11, 2022 (TV Asahi, Saturday 23:30)

Episodes: 9, 23 to 47 min

Thoughts: Maruya is your typical male narcissist who works in sales. He uses his cuteness to stake by in life, to make up for his average skills. One day he is visited by his future self, whom he deems ugly, tells him that his cuteness is going to expire. He decides, after relizing his crush, the only way to prevent this is to date Sanada, a robotic newbie to the sales team. It is cute and Maruya and Sanada are fun as a couple, plus if you have the time you could watch this in a day. Rating: I’m Ichinose calling every single person every 10 seconds sobbing…

My Dearest Pt 1 (2023, Hwang Jin-young)

Main leads: Namkoong Min, Ahn Eun-jin, Lee Hak-joo, Lee Da-in, Kim Yoon-woo, Lee Chung-ah

Country: S. Korea

Run: August 4 to Sept 2, 2023 (MBC TV, Friday and Saturday 21:50 (KST))

Episodes: 10, 60 to 90 min

Thoughts:  I was not expecting to like this more than I did. The angst in every episode is so insane. Episode 10 was actually unbearable. I also want to take a moment and appreciate Yoo Gil-chae (Ahn Eun-jin), she is such a complicated  character. She would do anything for her friends, she is willing to do the things that no other women (noble) are willing to do even during times of war. She will stab the man assualting her friend and cover it up. She would cut the amicable cord, she would stab the mother’s hand. She isn’t pure of heart, she neveer claimed to be. I love her so much. And her relationship with Lee Jang-hyun. The ending of episode 10. I was sobbing. Rating: I am trying to hype myself up to watch the next 11 episodes, people had to wait inbetween…

The Escape of the Seven (2023, Kim Soon-ok)

Main leads: Um Ki-joon, Hwang Jung-eum, Lee Joon, Lee Yu-bi, Shin Eun-kyung, Yoon Jong-hoon, Jo Yoon-hee, Jo Jae-yoon

Country: S. Korea

Run: Sept 15 to Nov 17, 2023 (SBS TV Friday and Saturday 22:00 (KST))

Episodes: 17, 70 to 80 min

Thoughts: This was an insane ride. Literally no one in this likeable except for a few, like I didn’t think Min Do-hyuk (Lee Joon) was as bad as the others but oh lordy. It is so melodramatic, which took me off graud for some reason. Going into it I thought it was going to be a serious thriller, but oh boy was I wrong. It was Makjang. Which is fine, and also coming back in style apparently. I’m sat for season 2, but not with much hope. Rating: I actually don’t know the timeline of any of these events, does it expand years months, idk…

My Demon (2023-2024, Choi Ah-il)

Main leads: Kim Yoo-jung, Song Kang, Lee Sang-yi, Kim Hae-sook

Country: S. Korea

Run: Nov 24, 2023 to Jan 20, 2024 (SBS TV,  Friday and Saturday @22:00 (KST))

Episodes: 16, 70 min

Thoughts: I was excited for this drama. I really liked Doom at Your Service which promised to have a similar vibe. Which it did to an extent. I actually hate Song Kang in romances and only really like him in nonromance shows. However I think he did really well as Jeong Gu-won. I liked the overall Romance in the show. But I did think the revenge plot got uninteresting and confusing after a while. I do like the ending, I was pretty satisfied with where everyone ended up, which has been a long time since I’ve been this satisfied. 

Welcome to Samdal-ri (2023-2024, Kwon Hye-joo)

Main leads: Ji Chang-wook, Shin Hye-sun

Country: S. Korea

Run: Dec 2, 2023 ti Jan 21, 2024 (JTBC, Saturday and Sunday 22:30 (KST))

Episodes: 16, 70 min

Thoughts: This was cute and was far above my expectations. I am always uneasy with Ji Chang Wook, I can’t forgive him for the Melting My Heart drama a few years back, but I would do anything for Shin Hye-sun. So I gave this drama a go, and I liked it. I loved the vibes, and I didn’t mind that revenge wasn’t the main plot. It's like the one line “my enemies will take themselves out before you get a chance to swing.” It was heartwarming and I’m glad that Cho Sam-dal was able to find peace in her hometown. I loved the feel of community. I loved all the Friendships. It was very lovely. And I’m happy at the ending. I will also give my entire heart to Cho Hae-dal and Cha Ha-yul. I loved their mother-daughter relationship. I wanted more screen time for both. Rating: I’m glad there is a little piece of heaven…

 Game of Witches ( 2022-2023, Lee Do-Hyun)

Main leads: Jang Seo-Hee, Kim Kyu-Seon, Lee Hyun-Seok, Oh Chang-Suk. Han Ji-Wan, Ban Hyo-Jung

Country: S. Korea

Run: Oct 11, 2022 to April 14, 2023 (MBC, Monday to Friday 19:15 (KST))

Episodes: 119, 25 to 28 min

Thoughts: *Major Spoilers+ Rant ahead.* This show makes me unneccsarly angery. It is a daily drama and a Makjang to boot, so literally put any and all expectations in the gutter. Everything is nonsensical, and drawn out to reach the 119 mark. Storylines get dropped or move way too fast. It has a strange family tree and for a moment every single person was supposbly related. They have so much evidence agsaint the scheming Kang Ji-ho (Oh Chang-suk) and Joo Se-young (Han Ji-wan) but it goes nowhere. Speaking of Kang Ji-ho, he was just straight up dispicable. I would say more than Se-ypung of Ma Hyun-Deok (Ban Hyo-Jung). He was a terrible partner and father from the start. He literally tossed his entire family out the door for Se-young and eventual power. He only paid attention to his daughter Kang Han-Byeol (Kwon Dan-A) when she was able to benefit him. He was at best neglectful and at worst abusive towards her. Han-byeol was the true victim. Hye-soo (Kim Kyu-Seon) actually had a motive in the beginning. She was just pathetic and weak but once she returned they weirdly sidelined her. Also I don’t know why Kang Ji-ho never got prosecuted for trying to kill Hye-soo. Like I find that to be one of his more egregious crimes. Like that is the mother of your child. You gave your child so much trauma, for what? Power? Like when they tried to redeem him at the end I was just fed up. You can’t make hime out to be the big bad guy for 118 episodes, and then have him do one good thing. He is a bad father, and when Han Byeol grows up she will resent him. Rating: Fuck this show, like actually.

 My Dearest Part 2(2023, Hwang Jin-young)

Main leads: Namkoong Min, Ahn Eun-jin, Lee Hak-joo, Lee Da-in, Kim Yoon-woo, Lee Chung-ah

Country: S. Korea

Run: Oct 13 to Nov 18, 2023 (MBC TV, Friday and Saturday 21:50 (KST))

Episodes: 11, 60 to 90 min

Thoughts: More devastating than the first part. Gil-chae is probably my favorite character I have watched. Her journey in this part is absolutely devastating but she survives. I enjoyed the refutement from blame, that people who experienced the worst horrors known are somehow blamed. Gil Chae pushes back on this sentiment herself. This entire time I just wanted Jang-hyun and Gil Chea together. Which took the entire part for them to finally be happy. I do think the ending was kind of wobbly, and they only really needed 10  episodes not the 11. But who am I to say? Anyways I enjoyed the show overall. Rating: My Dear Husband… 

Kokdu: Season of Diety (2023, Kang Yi-heon, Heo Jun-woo)

Main leads: Kim Jung-hyun, Im Soo-hyang, Kim Da-som, Ahn Woo-yeon, Kim In-kwon, Cha Chung-hwa

Country: S. Korea

Run: Jan 27 to March 24, 2023 (MBC TV Fridays and Saturdays @21:50 (KST))

Episodes: 16, 70 min

Thoughts: You must be wondering why did you watch this? It only has bad reviews- which is a lie, it is actually a polarizing show. And I can understand. If you go into this show with the lowest expectations imaginable and it might be fun. The scenery is pretty and they make decent use of it. Main Romance is actually not good, I felt no chemistry between Kim Jung-Hyun and Im Soo-hyang. I did like the romance between Tae Jeong-won (Kim Da-som) and Han Cheol (Ahn Woo-yeon) other than that The show overall fell flat. I did like the scenery and the setting. I thought it was fun. Also episode 16 was the most enjoyable episode, which is good for an ending. Rating: I would skip…

I am currently watching:

Marry My Husband

Doctor Slump

Because of Love

Do You Like Brahms?

The Real Has Come!

If you have any kdrama recommendations, please let me know!

[fake-married-my-dead-fiance]

The Story of Park's Marriage Contract: girl travels through space and time so she can finally have sex with her husband.

[rughydrangea]

2023 drama year in review

Okay, this year I'm really late. But better late than never, right?

Joining the pantheon of my favorites:

The Glory--The highs of this drama made me feel like I'd taken a hit of whatever not-found-in-nature strain of pot Sa Ra was on.

Maiko-san Chi no Makanai-san--Sweet, heart-warming, gentle. Its kindness made me cry!

Revenant--Just a satisfying, scary, sad, immaculately produced, wonderfully acted ghost story. In terms of sheer quality it may be the drama of the year.

Quite good:

Bad Mom--I loved how complex the character dynamics were here and wish the show would have gone more in-depth into them? Like, this mother gave her son an eating disorder (and was overall incredibly emotionally abusive), and by the end all is forgiven. Mi Joo hides from Kang Ho that he is a father, telling their kids all sorts of lies about their dad, and ultimately everything's okay and they're going to live happily ever after (we didn't even get the scene of them telling the kids, which was truly all I wanted). I'm glad for these characters that love was able to triumph over everything for them, but the genuine darkness of the beginning (especially that first episode, yikes!) primed me for something that was perhaps a bit more messy that this ultimately was. Still, a really enjoyable watch.

The Matchmakers--This one snuck up on me! Fun, funny, and disarmingly sweet.

Moon in the Day--Persuasively makes the argument that dating a corpse reanimated by a 1500-year-old ghost is a great life choice.

Moving--A great show about how dads are hot. I can't believe I spent the whole show waiting for JIS to be reunited with his family and meet his grown up son and the minute he does the camera zooms out and that's it and we see nothing.

My Dearest--"How much amnesia is too much?" is, it would seem, a question this writer has never asked. And yet, it was still pretty incredible. I just wish the last few episodes had lived up to everything that came before.

Perfect Marriage Revenge--I love a drama that knows exactly what it is and is determined to have fun with it.

Not bad:

Crash Course in Romance--There's simply nothing better than grown-up romance. And nothing worse than pointless serial killer plots.

The Forbidden Marriage--Ridiculously charming when it didn't pretend to care about the plot.

My Lovely Liar--"Spoiler" really was a banger.

The Story of Park's Marriage Contract--Poor Joseon Tae Ha really got a raw deal, huh?

WHY??!?!?

Joseon Attorney--I liked the part where the king decided to kill WDH's sister and never apologized for it and everybody, including WDH, was totally cool with it.

Lady Durian--Every episode was an out of body experience in terms of pure, glorious weirdness.

Our Blooming Youth--Every episode felt very long and yet also like nothing had happened. Which is also what the drama felt like.

Romantic Doctor Teacher Kim 3--So bad. So dumb. But Kim Sabu continues to have a smile that keeps me coming back for more.

Secret Romantic Guesthouse--It's certainly a bold choice to have your male lead be your least compelling character and performance. Kang Hoon is a star and a half and it's time for him level out of supporting roles.

See You in My 19th Life--It was okay (SHS great as always), but once I read the synopsis of the webtoon, I couldn't understand why that wasn't the plot of the drama.

[swiftletinthecloud]

I was so worried that Joseon! Tae Ha was going to die again, but seeing him in the preview for Ep 12 means he'll be okay🥹

But seriously I want Joseon! Tae Ha to be happy with pre-time travel Yeon Woo and modern! Tae Ha to be happy with current Yeon Woo and that fact that Yeon Woo returns to Joseon 10 days before her wedding/time travel event is such a tease. Bc no matter what happens, one of those relationships will not be a happy one.

I love modern Tae Ha because of the journey we've been on with him, but I also love and feel for Joseon!Tae Ha 🥹😭

[bepractical]

Kin: Season 1, Episode 2, Part 2

Welcome to part 2 of the second episode recap of Kin. When last we left the Kinsellas, Frank had been threatened by Eamon, given a big bag of blood money from Caolan Moore, and left alone in an abandoned parking lot to stew. Regular reminder that these recaps are spoiler filled for the entire first season. BEWARE! GO BACK WHILE YOU CAN!

See the masterlist here.

Let's kick off the post with Anna, who’s happily eating her cereal and hasn’t yet been (re)traumatized by Kinsella bullshit.

Anna’s hanging in her grandmother’s kitchen when a text pops up on her phone with a link to an article about the shooting.

Anna secrets off to her room to listen to a news story that mentions two male relatives were with Jamie when he died, including one who just got released from prison. I’m aghast that this is how she finds out her dad was out of prison.

Michael and Jimmy meet at a bar. Jimmy reaches out for Michael but Michael doesn’t reach back. I am so sad now that I’ve noticed that Michael never instigates physical comfort. Give that man a hug, Michael! It'll be good for you both!

Michael gives his condolences and mentions he spoke with Amanda, which stops Jimmy in his tracks. Michael tells the truth, that they spoke about the shooting and nothing more, but Jimmy doesn’t believe him. He can’t stop himself from questioning Michael and Amanda’s relationship and testing them both, even when he’s grieving his son. Poor Jimmy. Michael’s lost for words but Jimmy cuts him off before he can spit something out by ordering drinks for them both. Michael, who hasn’t drank since his release from prison, tries to object, but Jimmy shuts him down. Jimmy looks ready to burst into tears at any minute, so Michael doesn’t fight him on it.

The conversation that follows is awkward and terrible. Michael tries to convince Jimmy to go home to Amanda, but Jimmy is still smarting from their argument earlier. Michael tries to convince Jimmy to give Amanda a break, but Amanda doesn’t have the monopoly on grief and Jamie was Jimmy’s son, too and anyway, Michael needs to stay the fuck out of Jimmy and Amanda’s marriage. They talk about the shooting and Caolan Moore. Jimmy is itching to take him out but Michael can’t be a part of it, not if he wants to see Anna. 

Jimmy: What about Jamie? Doesn’t he count? Fuck you, Michael. You’ve done it before for money, do it for family.

So here’s our confirmation that Michael was a contract killer. 

At the compound, Amanda is talking to her parents about Jimmy’s absence and funeral arrangements. After beating around the bush a bit, her mother correctly points out that Jamie is dead because of his association with the Kinsellas. Amanda does not react well to that. She hightails it out of there for a bout of reckless driving.

First she drives to the crime scene, where someone is washing away the blood. That’s not great. 

She drives away crying, and while she’s trying to pull herself together at a light, she almost misses when it turns green. The guy behind her beeps aggressively, then pulls alongside her to cuss her out some before driving away. Grief now converted to anger, Amanda follows the guy and slams into him at the next light. 

At the hospital, Frank arrives to bitch out a now awake Eric and Nikki for lying. Eric still hasn’t cottoned on that he’s the one who’s ultimately responsible for all of this. He wants Frank to go after Moore and get off his back, but Frank shuts him down hard. Frank and Eric have a terrible relationship built on toxic masculinity and feelings of inferiority, with Frank using Eric as an outlet for his anger because he’s too chickenshit to take it out on anyone else. More on that in future eps. 

Frank warns Eric not to tell anyone he was involved ‘especially Jimmy’ but Eric still doesn’t understand why that may be a problem. Eric is an idiot. Frank also tells him not to go after Caolan Moore, or offer his assistance to Jimmy for anything. 

At the accident site, Jimmy picks up Amanda, who looks like death. She tells him on the ride home that she doesn’t want anyone but family and close friends at the funeral. Jimmy acquiesces, having caught on that Amanda’s snapped completely, and maybe taking some of Michael’s advice. Then Frank calls and asks Jimmy and Michael to come over to Birdy’s for a talk. 

Once there, Frank tells them both that Caolan Moore is off limits. Jimmy is furious and Michael slowly inches away from him like he’s a bomb about to go off. I’ll take my moments of levity where I can. 

Frank is trying to be reasonable but really, when you murder a member of a violent crime family, you get murdered back, right? You gotta check your morals at the door when you watch this show. When Frank fails to calm Jimmy, Birdy steps in and promises that they’ll get Moore eventually. That’s not good enough for Jimmy. And then Frank, the dumbass, brings out Moore’s bag of money and says it’s from Eamon. It’s 150,000 Euro. Sounds like a reasonable amount for the death of Jimmy’s eldest son, right? Oi.

Jimmy: What am I supposed to do with this, Frank? Buy a fucking boat?

Birdy tries to argue that Frank’s doing what’s best for everyone. Behind Jimmy, Michael’s doing his best not to make it too obvious he thinks that’s a load of crap. And then Jimmy does what any loving father would do when presented with blood money for his beloved son. He pisses directly in the bag, shakes it over Birdy’s floor and leaves. Birdy tries to convince Michael they have no choice and it seems like Michael is firmly staying out of it.

At home, Jimmy skirts telling Amanda about what happened at Frank’s. Anthony sees his mom is injured and freaks out, so she runs over to comfort him. She tells him it’s alright to be sad, and angry. She pulls Anthony in for a hug while Jimmy looks ready to drink himself to death in the other room.

Anna walks past Michael’s house unaware that just inside he's staring at the bullet hole of doom.

Anna arrives home to find her case worker talking with her grandmother about Michael’s release. They ask her to tell her grandmother if Michael tries to reach out to her. 

I appreciate these adults trying to look after Anna’s welfare, really, but Anna is a teenager. She’s past the age where they can prevent her from seeing her dad if that’s what she wants. Has anyone asked her what she wants? Have they thought about trying to facilitate monitored visits? I get it from the grandmother’s side- he did presumably kill her daughter (tossing that presumably in there without comment for now, we’ll get to it)- but making these decisions without Anna’s input just encourages her to be secretive. 

Back at Michael’s, Frank shows up for a talk. Michael finally tells Frank what he’s thinking, that it’s wrong to let Moore get away. Michael asks what Frank would be doing if Eric was the one killed.

Frank: I’d be saying the exact same thing. But it wasn’t Eric, and Jamie’s not your kid either.

Low blow, Frank. Frank brings up Anna, as starting a feud would ruin Michael’s chances of seeing her. Then we get to the purpose of this meeting; Frank wants Michael to help wrangle Jimmy. Michael hmms his agreement, but this talk did not seem like a success. 

Frank is really desperate to get Michael on his side AND put him in his place. Frank is the head of the family, Michael has already refused to come back to work. Michael and Jimmy together (we haven’t even gotten to Amanda!) could easily threaten Frank’s authority. Most importantly, Michael is the killer in the family. If anyone is going to kill Moore, it’s gonna be him. Frank treats him like a threat that needs to be neutralized. Putting him in charge of his volatile brother doesn’t help matters.

At the hospital, Eric tells Fudge and Kem to let the thing with Moore go. He’s miserable about it and Fudge and Kem both openly question the decision so much that Eric has to shut them down. I’m pretty sure this is the moment Kem decides to jump ship. 

At the compound, Jimmy sleeps while Amanda stares at the ceiling. She instigates some grief sex. Simultaneously, Frank finds relief with a male bartender. This is the first confirmation we get of Frank’s sexuality. It’s complicated, we’ll get to it.

The next morning, the family liaison is back and ready to take Amanda and Jimmy to Jamie. 

Meanwhile, Michael has hooked up with a family lawyer to figure out what he needs to do to see Anna. She’s as honest as possible, to sum up: Michael hasn’t seen Anna in over eight years, Michael could be a danger to Anna, Michael was responsible for her mother’s death (presumably), Michael’s family is dangerous, Michael’s been questioned in numerous murder investigations (though never charged). In closing, it’s not going to be easy and it’s not going to happen anytime soon. Michael is crushed.

At the morgue, Jimmy and Amanda go to see Jamie’s body. In an episode full of difficult scenes, this is one of the worst. Amanda panics. She finds a tattoo she didn’t know Jamie had and tries to convince herself it’s not him. She leans down to kiss his cheek but the body doesn’t smell like Jamie. Maybe it’s not him, after all? Jimmy comforts her as much as possible but they’re both verklempt, as am I, and anyone else watching this show. 

We cut to the two of them outside the morgue. Amanda is back on the revenge wagon, converting that grief to anger at lightning speed, and Jimmy’s forced to tell her Frank wants him to stand down. He says no one will go against Frank to help him. Amanda knows better and tells him to talk to Michael again, to tell Michael he needs him. 

I’ve seen a lot of speculation about what this means, to Jimmy and to Michael. For Jimmy, I think it means swallowing his pride and admitting he can’t do this without Michael. Mixed in his and Michael’s reactions is the reality that Jamie was Michael’s son, and that Michael has some measure of responsibility for him, whether he admits it or not. For Michael, what Jimmy is invoking here is the sense of family loyalty that is essential to the Kinsellas. Michael may not be wild about the family hierarchy but he believes in family loyalty and if Jimmy comes to him and begs for help he’s not going to turn him away easily. We, as an audience, also know that Michael just had a terrible meeting with his lawyer, which definitely doesn’t help his continued resistance. My two cents.

Back at home, Amanda gives Jimmy a death stare until he agrees to talk to Michael.

At Michael’s, Jimmy gives his pitch. He really goes for it. “I was Jamie’s dad, Michael,” he says, “not you.” Jimmy is so insecure about his role as Jamie’s dad, despite Michael never challenging it. Jimmy wants to know what Michael would do, if it was Anna. If Jimmy can’t avenge Jamie’s death, what kind of father is he? Michael’s face during this whole conversation is very open; he’s made his decision. I think he was halfway there after the second conversation with Frank, but the lawyer pushed him over. He’ll help Jimmy after all.

For the next episode, go here.

[kawaikith]

m.list ; of all things I love.

(basically everything that I want to talk to a friend, but have no one, so I decided to write it all here).

Updated. Jan 7, 2024.

Note : includes spoilers.

↬my thoughts on a business proposal .

↬ my thoughts on a good day to be a dog .

↬my thoughts on coffee & vanilla . (Japanese drama) .

↬my thoughts on destined to be with you .

↬my thoughts on extraordinary attorney woo .

↬my thoughts on fireworks in my heart . (chinese drama) .

↬my thoughts on happiness .

↬my thoughts on king the land .

↬my thoughts on my ID is gagnum beauty .

↬my thoughts on she would never know .

↬my thoughts on the king : eternal monarch .

↬my thoughts on true beauty .

↬my thoughts on two worlds or W .

↬my thoughts on while you were sleeping .

↬my views on all of us are dead . (season one)

↬my views on cheer up .

↬my views on at a distance, spring is green .

↬my views on drink first, work later .

↬my views on flower of evil .

↬my views on forecasting love & weather .

↬my views on forever love . (chinese drama)

↬my views on a gentleman & a lady .

↬my views on goblin .

↬my views on hometown cha cha cha .

↬my views on hotel del luna .

↬my views on i’m not a robot .

↬my views on inspector koo .

↬my views on island (season one + two) .

↬my views on link : eat, love, kill .

↬my views on little women .

↬my views on love 020 . (Chinese drama)

↬my views on love alarm (season one + two) .

↬my views on marry my husband + appreciation posts one // two // three // four // five .

↬my views on my demon .

↬my views on my lovely liar .

↬my views on my name .

↬my views on nevertheless .

↬my views on reborn rich .

↬my views on rookie cops .

↬my views on rookie historian : goo hae ryung .

↬my views on scarlet heart ryeo .

↬my views on shooting star .

↬ my views on strong girl : namsoon .

↬ my views on sweet home . (season one)

↬my views on sweet home (season two) .

↬my views on the fabulous (movie) .

↬my views on the good bad mother .

↬my views on the glory (season one + two) .

↬my views on the good detective .

↬my views on the story of park’s marriage contract .

↬my views on the tale of nokdu .

↬my views on the world of the married .

↬my views on the worst of evil .

↬ my views on what’s wrong with secretary kim ?

↬my views on tomorrow .

↬my views on vigilante .

↬my views on vincenzo .

↬my views on weightlifting fairy kim bok joo .

↬my views on when the camellia blooms .

↬my views on youth of may .

↬my views on yumi’s cells . (season one + two)

↬my views on 20th century girl .

© 2024 kawaikith. Please do not copy, translate, or repost my reviews.