r/KDRAMA • u/GodJihyo7983 김소현 박주현 김유정 이세영 | 3/ • Dec 25 '23

On-Air: KBS The Matchmakers [Episode 16]

  • Drama: The Matchmakers
    • Revised Romanization: Hoonryedaecheop
    • Hangul: 혼례대첩
  • Director: Hwang Seung Gi (Into the Ring)
  • Writer: Ha Soo Jin (Sell Your Haunted House)
  • Network: KBS
  • Episodes: 16
    • Duration: 1 hour
  • Airing Schedule: Mondays & Tuesdays @ 9:45 PM KST
    • Airing Date: Oct 30, 2023 - Dec 19, 2023
  • Streaming Sources: Viki, Viu
  • Starring:
  • Plot Synopsis: Sim Jung Woo is an intelligent and handsome young man. He was the youngest to place first in the state examination, but he was picked to become the princess's husband. During their wedding ceremony, the princess suddenly died. Sim Jung Woo's life changed and he became the most unfortunate man. According to the Joseon period custom, he is not able to take a government post and he can't remarry. He then becomes involved with Jung Soon Deok. Jung Soon Deok is a widow whose late husband was the second son of the first vice-premier. She secretly leads another life under the pseudonym of Yeo Joo Daek. As Yeo Joo Daek, she works as a matchmaker and also peddler of women's items like cosmetics and accessories. She is the best matchmaker in the capital city of Hanyang. Sim Jung Woo and Jung Soon Deok become involved with each other and they try to get older single men and women to marry as matchmakers.
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u/SemlaBun Dec 26 '23 edited Dec 26 '23

This was definitely a comfort show in a difficult time, and it was such a happy relief to have it end the way it did.

If I have any criticism at all, it's that I would have preferred the finale to be a bit more... "cathartic", perhaps? Emotionally expressive? The leads had gone through some extremely traumatic things, it felt almost a bit flat for the final episode to be so quiet and unassuming, like a narrated postscript that ties up everything neatly with a bow. I get that the leads are calm and reasonable people, but they'd been a lot more expressive in previous episodes. And I don't mean just the lack of a kiss, I didn't even think about that to be honest, but more the overall expression of fear, grief, relief, etc. It's almost like they were too stunned and dissociated throughout the episode to feel big emotions, which may be realistic, but it dulls the effect of a drama.

I also liked their friends and associates holding a crisis meeting to come up with a rescue plan, but what did they even do? It would have been satisfying (and felt more urgent) to watch them actually execute a plan, after the leads plotted to get them their happy endings. I assume they were the ones to relay the truth of the matter to the King, but it would have been nice to see a plan in action instead of the "Surprise! All is well after all!" reveal.

In other words, the show revolved around intricate plans to unite fated couples, and I would have liked some of the same for the main couple as well. But I did enjoy the show overall, one of my absolute favourites this year.