The Matchmakers

I really liked the production in the beginning. All characters had an amazing developemnt and growing arches, but little things began to occur, like several sudden costume jumps in scenes/ situations which are happening temporarily just a while after the other, on the same day. Then appeared the breaks in the continuity of the story itself and it was difficult to know why something simply occurred. There were plenty of examples, but the most irritating was the one within the evolution of the love story of the protagonists. Also the little, but super fast after credit snipets were not included in the next episodes and things just came to be without further explanation. Maybe there was too much to tell and screen time was not enough.

The way this kdrama's potential and momentum was wasted leaves me dumbfounded.

They got Rowoon perfectly cast and yet didn't properly use his comedic timing, nor the comedy of errors narrative. That's when The Matchmakers shined. Sadly, it took another route.

The stories between the couples the leads were interesting enough but so underwhelming, underdeveloped and unfinished, I can't help but feel we didn't spend enough time with them to engage or care.

The wildest part was when, somehow, the scriptwriter thought it a good idea to match a literal underage child with a grown woman. I don't care how historically accurate this is, ew. They marry and we don't see anything happen but she's literal a older sister/mother figure.

And the resolution for the leads... I can't. Just, wow.

Humour, romance and palace intrigue all come together beautifully in this well-crafted K-Drama that almost gives you the feel of a Shakespearean Comedy! I started watching this drama with no expectations. And my oh my this show turned out to be a gem! Had to keep rewatching many scenes many times, not just for their entertainment value but also sometimes to decipher some witty Korean dialogue and social banter.

The locations, sets and interiors are so aesthetically pleasing and the entire ensemble of cast members did a fabulous job. Special mention: the BGM!

The FL character has the right mix of spunkiness and sweetness and Choi Yi-Hyun nailed it. However, I have to hand it to Rowoon for being outstanding in this drama. He is brilliant as the Nerdy Scholar who cannot even run properly, let alone hold a sword. He and his butler played by actor Kim Hyun-mok display great comedic timing. Rowoon is a treat to watch as the conceited resentful grouch, especially in the scenes when his psychosomatic symptoms flare up. Just his body language, facial expressions and awkwardness are guaranteed to give you quite a few laughs.

Kudos to the writer for making Lady Park such an interesting character. With just last couple of episodes left to air, I sincerely hope that this drama gives us a happy ending, please!

The script is well crafted. The dialogues and twists are what makes it worth watching - probably the main leads' popularity. But I am personally not a fan of romantic novels with cliches for young girls entering puberty, which was for me a million years ago. What was missed was in developing the supporting bachelors' feelings and their predicaments' ambiguities. Let's not forget that they are supposed to enter unwillingly in traditional arranged family unions, and so they should have been more realistically conflicted. But it is a light comedy after all. Thanksfully, Rowoon saves the day between his cute smirks by dwelling into the emotional part of his unsavoury character, a widower turned matchmaker on a mission to save the prince's life.

Love costume period dramas set during the Joseon period. There's always something evil afoot that needs fixing. But this one didn't check the boxes I prefer.

While Rowoon isn't who I'd think as a good match for this role he was spectacular. His acting skills are top notch. To think he can make a less than perfect male character believable and also attractive. He's incredibly smart and has used his time as a widower to study and research why his bride died. So basically he's lacking in the macho qualities you expect gorgeous Rowoon to have in any role he plays. Quite surprising and it makes this rather underwhelming drama bearable to watch.

One reason this isn't a great drama could be the lead female (both her character and the actress who played the role). I Had a real hard time caring about her. How could a character be so unappealing? So the romance part was dull because there wasn't any chemistry there at all. That's my opinion.

The story itself was interesting but I really can't pinpoint why it fell flat. Except for how the lead female character was written or that the actress in lead was the wrong choice, or badly directed for her part in this drama.

For me this was disappointing to watch because I had wanted to see it for a long time and was only available to me through Viki. I'm sure other viewers will find this meets their needs. Outside of the visuals from costumes and scenery -- it didn't do much for my enjoyment.

But go ahead & watch it. You might enjoy it. I didn't.