thislovelyvoid

YES YES to both!! I've been waiting for the new seasons for both Signal and esp Kingdom for yearsss

THIS 100%. You said everything that's been stewing in my mind that I've been trying (unsuccessfully) to push to the back burner so I can make it through the series. The show has it's thrilling moments, but it doesn't make up for the frustratingly stupid self-righteousness of the leads. I'm on ep7 and had to stop to take a break because I cannot comprehend how wanting to test someone for the antibodies to a possible cure would be something to fight against??? I feel so ambivalent towards these characters—sometimes they're decent but then turn around and become so annoying with how stubbornly they want to do things their way instead of the experts' way.
Han Tae Sook is the best character hands down. The leads are too nonsensical in their self-righteousness for me to care about them and fully root for them. I was so excited to start this (especially after my 2nd watch through of both Kingdom seasons)...but I'm needing to take breaks because of how frustrated these characters are making me. And don't even get me started on the stupidity of the residents... Anyways, hopefully the rest of the series justifies that 8.9 rating, because at the rate the characters and storyline are going, this may be a DNF for me (which would be so unfortunate!).

I'm LOVING this drama! This sucked me in from the beginning, and I've been binging the episodes and put other dramas/anime on hold for this. I personally enjoy the dynamic between these two characters a lot, and though some may find it slow, I really like how the story is more focused on the main leads as characters and their blooming relationship. I'm usually very picky with dramas, and I didn't even plan on watching this—I was in the middle of other shows when I randomly decided to click on this and check out the first episode. I'm totally hooked, and wholly on board this ship between the leads. I also really enjoy the ex-close friend's character and an totally rooting for him! This is a comfort drama with a dash of intrigue to satisfy my usual propensity for darker shows. Definitely would recommend!

In of itself is a good set-up movie/special for S3, but unfortunately where it loses the impact it could've had for me is with the lack of connection with Ashin. I just can't sympathize enough with Ashin in order to compensate for her villain arc. I feel awful for what happened to her, but I was never made to actually *care* about her enough to root for her. Even when we learn the truth about what happened with her village, I just didn't care enough to side with her actions afterward completely—especially with her new goal at the end of the movie. (In fact, it pissed me off how she was so callous and self-focused on her revenge that she doesn't bat an eye at the millions of innocents she wants to destroy along with Joseon). For me, that crosses too many lines, which means I'm gonna care absolutely nothing about her or her past or what bad things happen to her throughout S3 (and therefore won't experience that internal struggle of wanting both hero and villain to win). It's really unfortunate, because I was so hyped for Ashin after S2 and there was potential for her to be a sympathetic villain you can't help but also root for. But Ashin just didn't make me care about or connect enough with her.

I guess she's just going to be another antagonist I care as little about as I did the Queen and her father—albeit a more interesting one to watch considering her knowledge of the Resurrection plant and physical abilities.

To each their own. I get Ashin wanting revenge because what happened to her was truly heartbreaking and a travesty. However, to want to subject millions of innocent lives (Jose on) to your revenge lust? Especially after seeing the tragedy wreaked throughout S1-2?

To everyone sympathizing with that, I just don't get *you* at all. But again, to each their own.

My feelings exactly! In of itself is a good set-up movie/special for S3, but unfortunately where it loses the impact it could've have for me is that I just can't sympathize enough with Ashin in order to care about her in S3 (and therefore experience that internal struggle of wanting both hero and villain to win). I totally get her wanting revenge, but to desire to destroy an entire country filled with 50x more innocent lives then guilty? Nah, even if I didn't bond with the main cast in the previous seasons, I couldn't sympathize with Ashin's motivation. But maybe she's not meant to be a complex villain that we also root for, maybe she's meant to just be plain evil and crazy...and this movie merely shows why.