[Jan 13] “Knight Flower” ep. 2, "My Demon" ep. 14 & more: Recaps & ratings

“Knight Flower” and “Welcome to Samdalri” hit new highs. And...

“Knight Flower” ep. 2 recap

MBC's new action-comedy series "Knight Flower" has increased its popularity with its second episode. The drama, which stars Honey Lee and Lee Jong Won, recorded an average rating of 8.2% nationwide on January 13, according to Nielsen Korea. It was the highest-rated program of any genre on MBC that Saturday.

In the first episode, the drama opened with a dazzling start, depicting the accidental first encounter between Yeohwa and Park Suho (played by Lee Jong-won) and Yeohwa's comical double life.

In the second episode, Yeohwa's struggle to save Ggotnim (played by Jung Yena), who was captured instead of her debt, was portrayed. Yeohwa, who entered the gambling den, found Ggotnim being dragged by Suho and had a close fight with him. Suho then asked Yeohwa, "Have we met somewhere before?" and made her flustered. He also noticed a clue from the wound on her wrist. The thrilling story continued as Suho chased after Yeohwa, who managed to take Ggotnim away after a tug-of-war.

Suho was bothered by Yeohwa, whose name and face he didn't know. Yeohwa also felt uneasy as she recalled the moments when she collided with Suho while grooming herself. Her flashy and fierce grooming scene made us laugh out loud.

Meanwhile, the tension rose as a slave working at the noble house was beaten with a wooden stick. It was because Yeom Heung-jip (played by Kim Hyung-mook) threw away and beat his prized mountain tiger painting because some water splashed on it. Yeohwa, who learned of this, sneaked into the noble house at night and replaced the mountain tiger painting with a ridiculous drawing, provoking Yeom Heung-jip's anger.

On the way to offer a sacrifice to Orabi, Yeohwa met some people who pretended to be bandits and stole rice. She noticed their trick and gave them some rice. Suho, who passed by, rushed in without knowing the truth. Yeohwa showed her wit and pointed a hoe at herself, trying to divert his attention. When Suho came to rescue her, Yeohwa let go of the hoe and pushed the bandits away. The ending scene of Yeohwa and Suho's eye contact as she hugged him added more excitement.

Thus, the second episode of "Knight Flower" captivated the viewers' taste with its humorous code in Yeohwa's tense double play. In the meantime, the fateful encounter between Yeohwa, who tries to hide her identity, and Suho, who chases after her, continues, making the future development more anticipated.

"My Demon" ep. 14 recap

Another drama that airs at the same time as "Knight Flower" is SBS's "My Demon". The show, which is nearing its end, saw a slight increase in its ratings to 3.7% nationwide.

Noh Seok-min (played by Kim Tae-hoon) went missing. Gu-won (played by Song Kang) subdued Noh Seok-min, who was choking Do-hee (played by Kim Yoo-jung) in a rampage, in an instant. As the situation turned around, Seok-min, who was in a crisis, threw himself off the building. 

Kim Se-ra (played by Jo Yeon-hee) went to the police station and reported all of Noh Seok-min's misdeeds. The truth that Seok-min was the murderer who killed Chairman Joo Chun-sook (played by Kim Hae-sook) was revealed to the world, and his body was never found.

Do-hee was suspicious of Noh Seok-min's death, but Gu-won reassured her that his teleportation ability didn't work where Seok-min was. However, the words that Seok-min left behind confused her mind. The person who killed Do-hee's parents was Chun-sook. Do-hee couldn't easily shake off that word, and Gu-won's heart was uneasy as he looked at Do-hee, who was confused.

Do-hee grew more and more suspicious of Joo Chun-sook. She wondered about the sight of Chun-sook leaning on a cane in the 'Future Electronics' article around when her parents passed away and the picture of herself that Seok-min brought her. She asked Shin, the secretary who worked for Joo Chun-sook (played by Seo Jung-yeon) when Chun-sook started using a cane, and her answer that it was around the time of Do-hee's parents' funeral shook Do-hee's heart. She was seized by anxiety, thinking that the world she believed in might have been all a lie.

Do-hee and Gu-won followed Chun-sook's whereabouts and headed to the church. There, she heard an unbelievable story from Father Michael (played by Seo Sang-won). In the past, Chun-sook, who was blinded by greed, committed corruption to grow the company and suffered from guilt after an accident that occurred in a quarrel with Do-hee's father, who tried to stop her. And the fact that Do-hee's father was the 'devil' Gu-won's contractor was followed by an unstoppable shock.

Do-hee hid her complex emotions and faced Gu-won. He went home and shed tears in silence where Gu-won couldn't see. Gu-won, who noticed her unusual atmosphere, visited the church again. The priest wasn't surprised. He told Gu-won, "Leave Do-hee's side. You're a dangerous being." He also revealed that Chun-sook had met Gu-won in the past. Gu-won, who recalled his memories of contracting with Do-hee's father, was also engulfed in sorrow and confusion.

Do-hee hoped that Gu-won might have saved her father's life and visited Seonwol Foundation. But she faced another shocking scene. She witnessed Gu-won collecting the souls of the contractors who begged him to save them. Do-hee ran out of there in horror. 

Gu-won, who found out later, followed her, but he couldn't approach Do-hee, who was backing away. The distance between the two and Do-hee's despairing words, "The people I love have become a hell to me," made the heartache.

Do-hee, who calmed down her emotions and left the company, found Gu-won waiting for her. He reached out his hand and asked her to walk with him and Do Do-hee silently held his hand. As Gu-won tried to say the words he had held back, Do-hee pretended to be bright and brought up the Christmas story first. But Gu-won said that he might not be able to spend Christmas with her and stopped at the spot. Gu-won let go of her hand and said, "I'll save you from hell." 

Do-hee turned around and confirmed his empty spot, and shed tears endlessly. Following Do-hee's narration, "That's how my salvation disappeared," the street trees filled with light as if Gu-won had given her a Christmas tree that he hadn't completed for her, adding to the poignancy.

"Welcome to Samdalri" ep. 13

On the other hand, JTBC's romance series "Welcome to Samdalri" reached its best ratings ever for a Saturday episode. The show, which usually performs better on Sundays, scored an average rating of 9.3% nationwide. It was the most-watched miniseries of the night.

On the 13th episode, Samdal (Shin Hye-sun) realized once again that she could never defeat the 'huge wall' state (Yoo Oh-sung). Samdal had parents and siblings, but Yongpil (Ji Chang-wook) only had his father. Knowing that well, she couldn't keep Yongpil by her side. Samdal, who couldn't bear to see his relationship with his only father, who only had Yongpil, fall apart, finally backed off painfully, saying, "I'll just have a crush on him until I die."

When Yongpil found out that Samdal's breakup notice was because of his dad, he decided to confront the problem that the father and son had to solve head-on. So he said, "I'm not going to do it again. That damn crush," and packed his things and went back home. And he took out a picture of him with Samdal's family when he was young and put it in a place where he could see it well. He put it back even if his dad threw it away. He was going to turn the father's mind upside down and upside down like this. It was a way to protect everyone, including his dad who was trapped on the day his mother Bumija died, his 'mother' Gomija (Kim Mi-kyung) and Samdal who lived like sinners, and himself who endured thinking that everyone would be okay if he was the only one who suffered.

Yongpil took advantage of the complaint to summon his lifelong crush 'Two Mijas' to the Samdal Gallery, where a photo of her young woman smiling brightly. He reminded him that he knew better than anyone else the deep friendship between the two Mijas, and that while Bumija was his only wife, she was a friend, a daughter, and a mother to some. It wasn't just to complain that he was sick, but that everyone who had known her was having a hard time. For the time to pass again, he had to know how much his only son had been in pain and how much he had endured it, how much he loved Samdal, and how hard it was for Gomija to worry about his condition.

Samdal's mother Mija, who was upset to see the two children who didn't like each other because of her, also woke up. Youngpil's dad was furious. Mija said, "Wouldn't it be upsetting if Bumija found out that Yongpil was hurting?" and "dared" to say his wife's name. Throwing everything she could get her hands on, Mija didn't hold back this time. "You're the only one who is sick, and you're the only one who has sent Bumija? I'm just as sick as you are," and "I miss my friend too!!"  Tears welled up in his eyes as he saw the grief she had endured all these years. It was a moment when the desperate pain of the two was conveyed. I also had a sense of anticipation to see if there would be a change in his heart as I saw everyone's pain with his own eyes.

Enlightenment came to Samdal as well. I followed my mom's check-up and found out that the day Mija was diagnosed with heart disease was the same day Yongpil said goodbye. Yongpil had parted ways with Samdal not because of the opposition of his dad, but for the sake of the sick Mija. She also learned about Yongpil's heart, which hasn't changed for the past eight years. 

Samdal, who was filming in the Four Seasons, happened to find traces of Yongpil in the materials from the last exhibition sent by his assistants. The poem "Love Smokes, Bloom in Silence" that Yongpil told when they were lovers was left in the visitor review, and the name 'Cho Yong-pil' was in the guest book of the photo exhibition that couldn't be opened due to controversy. 

Yongpil rushed to Samdal through the rising water. It was the high tide of the high tide on the day Samdal came there, and he wanted to save Samdal, who didn't know that the water was already up to her ankles because she was immersed in her work. But for Samdal, all she could see was Yongpil. Samdal, who was looking at Yongpil endlessly for the deep and wide love that words couldn't describe, hugged him tightly. It was a daunting ending that made me realize that no wave would be able to hit that solid love.

"Korea-Khitan War" ep. 17

KBS 2TV's historical drama "Korea-Khitan War" maintained its lead in its time slot with an average rating of 9.8% nationwide. 

Hyunjong began to push for local reform in earnest to break free from the endless cycle of tragedy. However, Kang Gam-chan, Yoo-jin (Cho Hee-bong), Choi Jil (Jin Jin-tae), Kim Hoon (Ryu Sung-hyun), and other courtiers came out against it.

Gam-chan said that he agrees with the party's desire to build a strong Goryeo, but that now is not the time, saying, "If we defeat them with all our might, the day will surely come when the Georan will become weaker. That's when we have the opportunity to reform the country and increase our national strength," he said, pleading with the government to postpone the reform of the province for a while. Despite Gam-chan's persuasion, Hyunjong said, "I will do it even if I take a risk. We can't give up on the future of the country while thinking only about today's crisis."

Hyunjong was deeply hurt by Kang Gam-chan's opposition, which he trusted. Kim Eun-bu (Cho Seung-yeon) said that he would meet with Gam-chan and try to persuade him, but if he finally disobeyed the emperor's wishes, he should throw him out of the royal family. In addition, he insisted on meeting and persuading his courtiers to follow the will of local reform, and increasing his allies one by one to take control of the court.

Park Jin (Lee Jae-yong), who carried out a campaign to murder Hyeonjong during the Emperor's Mongjin, was furious when he heard that the emperor had declared war on all the clans of Goryeo, and decided to confront the emperor by informing the generals of various places about it. Park Jin turned to the generals gathered at the mansion and said that he must defeat the emperor no matter what, and assured them that he would take the lead.

On the other hand, Guran began his skirmishes and planned to re-invade Goryeo. So Bae-ab (Kim Joon-bae) announced that if King Goryeo, who asked for his condolences, didn't come as promised, he would use it as an excuse to requisition soldiers. When Hyunjong heard from Yu Yu (Jung Ho-bin) that the skirmishers of the Golan had begun to mobilize again, he ordered them to repair the walls and reorganize the soldiers of the six ranks.

Meanwhile, Hyun Jong accepted Eun-bu's advice and asked his son-in-law Choi (Park Yoo-seung) and Chae Chung-soon (Han Seung-hyun), who had traveled to Mongjin with him, as well as Hwang Ji-ui (played by Jang Ji-seop), Jang Yeon-woo (Lee Ji-hoon), Kim Jong-hyun (Seo Jae-woo), and Jo Ja-gi (Park Jang-ho) to be on his side. After gaining allies, Hyunjong ordered a plan for reforming the administration and strictly supervising officials who deliberately obstructed the matter.

Gam-chan, who was watching this, once again disobeyed the emperor's will while his servants watched. Eun-bu went to Gam-chan and asked him to help him, but it wasn't enough to change his hardened heart. In response, Eun-bu said, "His Majesty is suffering because of the ball. If you can't comply, please step down," he said, recommending his resignation.

The arrangement quickly collapsed, with all the officials of the Ministry of Preparation and the Ministry of Military Affairs resigning. Faced with a crisis, Hyunjong once again went to Gam-chan and begged him to help him. However, once he made up his mind, Gam-chan once again disobeyed the emperor's wishes, and at the end of the episode, he was even dismissed from his job by Hyunjong, which gave him a lot of tension.

The 17th episode added to "Korea-Khitan War" as the political confrontation between Hyeonjong, who started reforming the local system to solidify the cohesiveness of Goryeo, and Kang Gam-chan and his courtiers, who opposed it, was formed.

"Maestra: Strings of Truth" ep. 11

tvN's mystery thriller "Maestra: Strings of Truth" matched its highest rating of 6.0% nationwide before its final episode.

Cha Se-eum (Lee Young-ae) was horrified to learn that her husband Kim Pil (Kim Young-jae), who was attacked by a stranger, had the same poison scopolamine detected in him as she did. She also felt a strong fear of the hidden culprit around her when she confirmed that her perfume, which she carried every day, was laced with poison.

The police suspected that the B-type woman in the orchestra who was the culprit was the conductor Lee Ru-na (Hwang Bo-reum-byeol), the mistress Lee Ah-jin (Lee Si-won), and the deputy conductor Kwon Su-jin (Jin So-yeon), and the only person who had an alibi on the day of the incident was the deputy conductor Su-jin. The police focused on Ru-na and Ah-jin, and Yu Jeong-jae, who secretly dug up the truth, also searched for the data of the scopolamine handling laboratories and tracked down the culprit.

Meanwhile, Ru-na, who was shocked by Se-eum's words of leaving, confided her past and held onto Se-eum. She said that she couldn't let go of her precious person who helped her through the hard times, and her desperate sincerity was conveyed to Se-eum. Se-eum understood the actions that Ru-na had shown her so far and comforted her warmly with her bitter story.

In the meantime, a clue to the source of scopolamine was captured. Both the police and Yu Jeong-jae paid attention to a person named Kim Jin-young from Hyunin Pharmaceutical, and they noticed that the amount of the drug decreased every time he researched. There was a strong possibility that Kim Jin-young provided the poison to the culprit.

When Jeong-jae asked Se-eum about Hyunin Pharmaceutical and Kim Jin-young, Se-eum, who didn't know anything, suddenly remembered something from the logo of Deo Han-gang-pil. The day she took Ru-na, who was drunk, home, the calendar she glimpsed in the room was Hyunin Pharmaceutical's calendar.

As the evidence and suspicion that Ru-na was the culprit became certain, the inside story of the incident where she secured scopolamine in exchange for turning a blind eye to her prospective brother-in-law's affair was revealed, and it turned out that the culprit was Ru-na and Kim Jin-young was her prospective brother-in-law.

At the time when Se-eum and Jeong-jae secured the drugs hidden in the conductor's room, Ru-na even attacked the secretary Kim Tae-ho (Kim Min-kyu) who came to help her and showed the killer instinct hidden in her hardened face. The 11th episode ended with Ru-na's appearance.

"My Happy Ending" ep. 5

TV Chosun's new drama "My Happy Ending" also improved its ratings to 2.5 % nationwide for its 5th episode.

See more: "My Happy Ending" ep. 5 recap: Jang Nara warns of a fierce revenge against Ho-jun & Yi-hyun

"Live Your Own Life" ep. 32

Lastly, KBS 2TV's family drama "Live Your Own Life" remained the most-watched program on Saturday, reaching an average rating of 18.3% nationwide.

• You may also like: "Live Your Own Life" Kdrama Review: Because Uee Stars There, I'm "In"

Tae-ho (Ha Jun) was furious to find out that his uncle Kim Kyu-chul was a prime suspect who might have killed his parents. His fierce eyes exploded with tension as he shouted at his cousin Go Ju-won, "Did my uncle kill my father?"

Tae-ho went to see the detective who was in charge of the investigation of his parents' Daegwallyeong crash. He persuaded the detective, who was already closing his cafe and preparing to leave, to tell him the truth for the last time, saying, "I'm not Kang Tae-ho, the director, but the poor son of the victims who changed their fate by that accident. I'm a child who wants to know the truth of my parents' death."

Meanwhile, Hyosim (Uee) said, "I won't get married as long as I have a mother." Tae-ho reached out her hand and said, "Don't you trust me?" He then became a reliable hill that could balance the line between Hyosim and her mother Sun-soon. He then took Hyosim, who had put on makeup and dressed up for the first time in a long time, to the gallery that his father had founded and his mother had managed. In the place where his parents' souls were, Tae-ho said, "I have someone who protects me by my side. Please relax your mind," and spoke to his parents in heaven. Hyosim looked at Tae-ho, who had been lonely and hard after losing his parents, with a sad heart.

On his way back from seeing his parents with his beloved girlfriend, Tae-ho received a phone call. It was the detective he had visited before. He said that on the day of the accident, there was a car that followed Kang Jun-beom's car through the toll gate at the entrance of Daegwallyeong, and it was Kang Jin-beom (Kim Kyu-chul)'s car, and that he was the most likely suspect at that time. He also asked him not to look for him anymore.

Tae-ho, who couldn't stand the boiling anger, went to his cousin Tae-min (Go Ju-won). He vented his anger with a furious voice, saying, "Did my uncle kill my father?" Tae-min was frozen by the fact that Tae-ho found out the secret he wanted to hide until the end, and Tae-ho glared at him as if he wanted to kill him. The tension was swirling between the two brothers who were facing each other.

Meanwhile, Myung-hee (Jung Young-sook), who saw Tae-ho, her grandson who became Hyosim's lover, in front of Ui-cheon Villa, decided that she couldn't hide any longer. She called her confidants, Jeong-isa and Seo-madam, to the columbarium where she disguised herself as dead while she was alive. She then persuaded the directors and instructed them to leak the fact that she was alive if necessary. She was determined to protect her grandsons who were being exploited for embezzling company money. The curiosity was amplified as to what kind of impact Myung-hee, who started to move quietly, would bring to the Taesan family.

(Sources: Nielsen Korea, naver.com (1), naver.com (2), naver.com (3), naver.com (4), naver.com (5), edaily.co.kr)