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Globe and Mail
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Globe and Mail
Unpredictable but half-cocked thriller Weapons is guilty of assault with a blunt object
Weapons Written and directed by Zach Cregger Starring Josh Brolin, Julia Garner and Alden Ehrenreich Classification 14A; 128 minutes Opens in theatres Aug. 8 Watching Zach Cregger's thriller-cum-fairy tale Weapons is like biting into a poisoned apple – it's at first crisp and refreshing, but it only takes a moment for the pleasure to curdle into something wicked and somewhat rotten. Of course, any bouts of nausea are to be expected given that Weapons is the much anticipated follow-up to Cregger's sleeper hit Barbarian, a gory bit of business which found new and inventive ways to make basements terrifying again. In that 2022 film, the blighted outskirts of Detroit played host to a particularly suburban kind of horror, one passed down from generation to generation until it was monstrously mutated enough to gobble your soul straight up (or, more accurately, crush your head like it was a ripe cantaloupe). In Weapons, Cregger is playing with a similar kind of hiding-in-plain-sight bedroom community dread (the obvious metaphor is the school shooting epidemic in the U.S.). But either because he caved to the pressure of levelling up in scale, or simply because he had a great hook but no way to make the means justify the end, the film's thematic arsenal feels half-cocked. Equal parts Grimm (as in brothers Jacob and Wilhelm) and Anderson (as in Paul Thomas, whose Magnolia is an undeniable influence), Weapons is an ambitious ensemble piece that opens with a young girl narrating in full once-upon-a-time mode. So, as she tells it: One night in the sleepy Anywhere, USA, town of Maybrook, 17 grade three students suddenly wake up at 2:17 a.m., walk out of their homes, cross their front lawns, and vanish into the night, never to be seen again. Predictably, the disappearances have ripped the community apart, with many parents directing their confusion and rage toward the students' young teacher, Justine (Julia Garner), who doesn't help deter suspicion with her meek demeanour and penchant for late-night booze runs. Leading the witch hunt against her is Archer (Josh Brolin), whose son is among the missing and who decides to make his mission all the more blunt by painting the word 'witch' in scarlet red letters across Justine's car. To be fair, Archer is in a tough spot. Why, he reasonably asks, haven't the cops thoroughly investigated Justine's past? Or even engaged in the kind of amateur sleuthing that he's been up to, such as triangulating the kids' apparent destination? The police have their own problems, though, up to and including Justine's ex Paul (Alden Ehrenreich), a beat cop who might have given up alcohol but hasn't yet cracked the case of his on-the-job incompetence. And what about the suspiciously quiet Alex (Cary Christopher), the only student from Justine's class who didn't disappear that night? Quickly and efficiently, Cregger sets up his world and its impossibly high stakes with style to burn. Finally, we have a horror movie director who knows how to properly light a nighttime scene. But once Cregger's narrative threads are laid out, the writer-director has a helluva time stitching them together. Every time that the story builds to a moment of what-in-the-world shock, Cregger hits the pause button, rewinding the story to explore the perspective of a different character. The chapter-by-chapter structure might have seemed cute on the page, but it unintentionally reveals that Weapons is shooting blanks. When the film's many and frequent fake-out scares are more haunting and effective than the actual nightmare at the heart of the tale, there is little to do but shut up and laugh. Not that Cregger is above or disinterested in comedy. Just as in Barbarian – during which Justin Long delivered a punchline so perfect that it split as many sides as the film's monster did heads – Weapons proves that the director has a killer instinct when it comes to gags. The trouble is that the film's big third-act joke feels like one being played on the audience instead of its characters. Many of whom, it should be noted, come off as exceptionally stupid, far past the point that Cregger seems to be making about the general delusion and ignorance afflicting authority figures in small-town America. The cops failing to keep the peace in Stephen King's horror hamlet of Derry, Maine, have got nothing on the Keystone Kops patrolling Maybrook. The final stretch is all the more frustrating given that every member of the cast is doing exceptional work, from Garner (who must've breathed a sigh of relief to act without metallic makeup following her Silver Surfer duties in Fantastic Four) to Ehrenreich (playing the most Magnolia-coded character, his cop in full John C. Reilly mode). Brolin is also particularly strong as the tormented and desperate father, his performance so sturdy that it anchors the increasingly zany madness that surrounds him. The very last shot of the film almost compensates for its missteps and miscalculations. It also marks the return of the young girl whose voiceover opened the film – and confirms her to be a rather unreliable narrator. But the nagging problem with Weapons is it concludes without clear evidence that Cregger is aware that, as a storyteller, he is just as untrustworthy, even reckless. Shoot first, I guess, ask questions later.
The Australian
06-08-2025
- Sport
- The Australian
Vixens win Super Netball title with first Australian team
The three finals games from the Melbourne Vixens have to be seen to be believed. How did they do it? What that team has managed is quite the unfathomable fairy tale. The timing couldn't be more telling. With conversations getting fierce as recruiting season is underway, the floodgates have been opened to New Zealand players and the ongoing conversation around how many imports are too many continues. How are we going to continue to create future Diamonds if the key positions are filled by internationals? Enter Melbourne Vixens. Whether you view the grand final as an upset or inevitable triumph doesn't matter. One thing that the Simone McKinnis-led Melbourne side did, that is quite the aberration in Super Netball, is win the whole damn thing without one international player in their side. A squad brimming with Diamonds and emerging Australian talent, spanning ages 19 to 32. Every single one of their contracted 11 players was Australian. It is a stat that nobody would have predicted, me included, when assessing which team list was going to win the competition at the start of the season. While other teams have been investing in tall, athletic internationals - particularly those holding shooters and dynamic defenders who can dominate in the circle - the Vixens doubled down on the traditional Australian approach. What makes this even more interesting is that it challenges the assumption that internationals will clog the lists to win Super Netball and a fair portion of Australian talent will be left without a home. Some of the best players in the competition are from other countries, that is without question. Latanya Wilson, Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard, Shamera Sterling-Humphrey and Romelda Aiken- George have all been sensational for this competition, and I think we have all been envious of the teams that get to have these players on their lists. But perhaps the Vixens' winning formula may start to influence future recruitment strategies across the league. Does it prove that the Australian way is still the winning way? Or perhaps is it a combination of the Vixens having exceptional depth in Australian talent, a recruiting policy that dates back to 2008 that Victorians have to make up a majority of the team? Then add in the culture-creating formula of a team that has key personnel that have been together for a number of years, always hovering somewhere around that top 4. The irony is that this approach — which some critics worry might be diluted by too many imports — actually proved to be the most effective formula when it mattered most. The Vixens' grand final performance was a masterclass in why Australian netball has been so successful on the world stage for decades. I for one am not at all wanting to diminish the contribution of internationals who play our game. I say whoever fits in, let them come. I just think it's some food for thought that perhaps we shouldn't be so worried about the future of the competition. Perhaps the Australian talent will continue to rise to the occasion when it matters most. As we now enter the chaotic recruiting season, it is timely to assess where each team is at. Expect the signings to come through thick and fast this week. MELBOURNE MAVERICKS We now know that Eleanor Cardwell has left, as well as Liv Lewis. Jessie Grenvold for me will be a player that will be hot property for a lot of teams; perhaps with Lewis leaving, this is a spot they are hoping Grenvold will take up. Assuming Jaimee-Lee Price may end up signing here, they need a ready-made goal attack/shooter to play a key role with Shimona Jok. Unsure if Sascha Glasgow is the player - talk is she is ready for a change. QUEENSLAND FIREBIRDS It would make sense that if New Zealand players had a destination, it would be with one of their own, under Kiri Wills in Queensland. With some spots up for grabs, a defender like Karin Burger or Kelly Jackson will fit right in, and I can't help but think with extra New Zealand talent in one team, perhaps that's where the rise of the NZ style of play will really take hold. SUNSHINE COAST LIGHTNING Another team that are packed with Aussie talent if you look at their 2025 list. Stoked to see Ash Ervin sign - an important talent to have on court. Courtney Bruce has another year on her contract, they need her fit for a season. Down the shooting end, I think we may see some changes. Steph Fretwell in their season ending round 14 match didn't seem convinced she would be in the mix, and the only shooter confirmed for 2026 so far is Cara Koenan. Could this be an opportunity for Reilly Bacheldor or will the Lightning be looking for something different? MELBOURNE VIXENS From all reports, they are locked and loaded for 2026. The biggest question mark is over who will be coaching this premiership-winning team. With plenty of speculation and a recruiting process that is still ongoing, we all wait to see who nails down this role. Can't help but think about the pressure coming in after Simone, now they have managed the ultimate glory. GIANTS Another team looking for a coach, and a few players to fill key roles. There have been plenty of rumours around a shooter for this side to replace Jo Harten. You would think they will be looking for a tall, more holding type to partner with Dwyer and Leatherbarrow. Perhaps this is where an international shooter could fill this void? Jamie-Lee Price leaving is a huge hole to fill, but with plenty of midcourt options around, will one of the Swifts midcourters move across to gain some consistent court time? WEST COAST FEVER After their incredible winning run this season, it's hard to fault their side. They would be pretty quick to sign Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard I would have thought, Sunday Aryang is a lock, and if fit, Ruth Aryang needs to come back in; the only question would be if Shanice Beckford is staying in the goal attack position. They could look to mix it up and see what else is out there - Olivia Wilkinson still on contract till 2026. Otherwise, you can only imagine what this side is capable of in 2026. ADELAIDE THUNDERBIRDS We will now see a new shooting line for this side with Romelda Aiken-George announcing her retirement and Lucy Austin leaving for other opportunities. Who will be the target under the post? I feel this will definitely be an international brought in - whispers are that one of the UK Super League shooters is on their way. Hannah Petty retiring will leave a gap for possibly Tyler Orr to return from the Super League. One thing Thunderbirds will be wrapped about – they have all 3 defenders signed, and Georgie Horjus is not going anywhere. NSW SWIFTS For me, the Swifts need to go all in on Teigan O'Shannassy. With Sarah Klau and Maddy Turner already signed for 2026, a fit O'Shannessy will add huge value. Interestingly, Grace Nweke isn't signed as yet – but you get the feeling this is just a timing thing. Her second season in SSN, plenty of learnings under her belt, next season could really be the launch pad for this Kiwi superstar. And in their midcourt, if Maddy Proud decides to return, where does that leave Allie Smith, Verity Simmonds and Sharni Lambden? You'd think Lambden would be signed shortly. The coach killers that sabotaged Super Netball's bottom four Bianca Chatfield Contributor Debuting for the Diamonds at just 18, Bianca established herself as one of the toughest defenders in netball, winning gold and silver medals at the Commonwealth Games, a World Championship and six titles with Melbourne Phoenix/Vixens. Netball The Vixens have celebrated their Super Netball title in the best way possible - by locking away a trio of in-demand stars. See all the latest moves in our Super Netball trade special inside. Netball Liz Ellis ramped up the push for netball to become an Olympic sport within minutes of Melbourne Vixens' title win. Now, more than 15,000 fans have joined the push — and you can to.
CTV News
02-08-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
‘A beautiful Winnipeg charm': A journey inside the enchanted history of the Witch's Hut
Nestled beneath century-old Elm trees in Winnipeg's Kildonan Park sits a cottage that looks plucked from the pages of a fairy tale – 'Hansel and Gretel,' to be exact. Any seasoned Winnipegger worth their salmon 1999 Pan-Am Games jacket knows exactly the place I describe. A cherished local attraction, the Witch's Hut has enchanted visitors of all ages for over 50 years. A volunteer named Jim Zacharkiw opens its doors each May. 'It's fun to watch the kids come in. Some are okay and brave. The younger ones can get very scared,' he said. And for good reason. The Witch's Hut The open, red door to the Witch's Hut in Kildonan Park invites visitors inside on July 30, 2025. (Katherine Dow/CTV News Winnipeg) 'Next to a great forest there lived a poor woodcutter with his wife and two children' The story comes to life inside the conical roofed, fieldstone-walled cottage adorned with faux gingerbread cookies. Visitors big and small step inside to find terra cotta panels lining the walls, illustrating the classic Brothers Grimm folk tale of starvation, survival, and sugar. The Witch's Hut Terra cotta panels in the Witch's Hut are pictured on July 30, 2025. They were created by sculptor Elfriede Leopoldine Geier Berger and depict the story of 'Hansel and Gretel.' (Katherine Dow/CTV News Winnipeg) From there, they pass a barred cell beneath a log staircase, where a little Hansel mannequin is trapped inside. They climb the stairs to find the evil mannequin Witch herself, perennially tending to a magical brew on her faux wood stove, as mannequin Gretel sweeps the floor, plotting her escape. 'I used to take my daughter here when she was a kid. It looks exactly the same,' said a man named Bobby who visited the hut on a hot July day. 'This has become a little tradition,' he said, gesturing to the little girl and boy clinging to him – his grandkids. Fittingly, the Witch's Hut was built with just this tradition in mind. The Witch's Hut The menacing Witch mannequin tends to a pot over her stove as Gretel sweeps the floor inside the Witch's Hut on July 30, 2025. (Katherine Dow/CTV News Winnipeg) 'Then all together they set forth into the woods' The Witch's Hut first opened its wooden doors in 1970. Built by the German-Manitoban community, the hut was a gift to the children of Winnipeg to celebrate the city's centennial. 'It was also a way to advise people that some of these Disney World fairy tales that they show are all based on the stories that came from Germany,' explained Carola Lange, a past president of the German-Canadian Congress. 'Some of the fairy tales are a little bit scary from way back when, when they were first written.' The Witch's Hut Hansel is trapped in a barred cell in the Witch's Hut at Kildonan Park on July 30, 2025. (Katherine Dow/CTV News Winnipeg) 'Who is nibbling at my house?' That's because folk tales like 'Hansel and Gretel' were not exclusively written with children in mind, explained Pauline Greenhill, a professor in the University of Winnipeg's women's and gender studies department and an expert in folklore, folk tales and fairy tale depictions in media. It's believed the German-born Brothers Grimm first popularized 'Hansel and Gretel' in an 1812 book of collected folk tales, though the story can be traced back even further to many countries all around the world. The Brothers Grimm The Brothers Grimm in 1847. (daguerreotype) Unlike some of the other Grimm tales, like 'Snow White' and 'Cinderella,' 'Hansel and Gretel' never got the full Disney treatment, Greenhill notes. 'Disney is not going to make a movie about a mother who sends her children out to starve in the woods,' she said. 'The traditional tale is not nice and sweet.' Still, the story of babes lost in the woods has held a certain cultural fascination, Greenhill said, even without the almighty House of Mouse engine powering it. 'People have definitely focused on the whole idea of it being a story about hunger and starvation historically. More recently, there have been quite a few horror films that are based on 'Hansel and Gretel.' Hansel and Gretel Illustration of Hansel and Gretel, a well-known German folktale from the Brothers Grimm, by Arthur Rackham, 1909. 'She grabbed Hansel with her withered hand and carried him to a little stall' Grim as the source material may be, the hut was designed by German-Manitoban architect Hans Peter Langes, who immigrated from Datteln to Winnipeg in 1951, encountering plenty of post-Second World War vitriol as he opened his own architecture firm. 'In business, sure, it was difficult for him, and there were times where contractors would not want to do business with him because he was from Germany,' his daughter Jane Langes said. Hans Peter Langes Hans Peter Langes is pictured in Winnipeg in 1951. (Jane Langes) Still, he did not hesitate when asked to design the hut as a nod to his German heritage, she recalled. He remained equally steadfast when he presented his design for the earth-toned, rounded structure to the hut's planning committee, one that expected a more rainbow, candy-coated cottage. More Hans Christian Andersen and less Grimm. Still, his vision won out and construction began in 1967. The $18,000 price tag was mainly bankrolled by donations, city records say. The Witch's Hut Hans Peter Langes' original design for the Witch's Hut is shown in a 1967 rendering. (Jane Lange) Jane, then five years old, shared the committee's initial displeasure when her father took her and her siblings to see the finished cottage in 1970. 'I was furious. I looked at it, and I said, 'why is it round?' Because in my mind, I was wanting to see what I saw in storybooks, right? Kind of that swooped roof with the icing icicles hanging off,' she recalled. 'I was a critic.' The Witch's Hut The Witch's Hut in Kildonan Park is pictured on a summer day circa 1970. (City of Winnipeg Archives, Witch's Hut at Kildonan Park in summer, Item i04582) 'Hansel, stick out your finger, so I can feel if you are fat yet' The structure has had some improvements in the decades since. The cedar shake roof was replaced by the city in 2014. Archival photos show a particularly menacing former version of the witch – a wart-nosed sorceress atop a broomstick, suspended from the ceiling with a cat on her back. The Witch's Hut The Witch flies on her broomstick inside Kildonan Park's the Witch's Hut on Oct. 25, 1970. It was then called the Fairy Tale Cottage. (City of Winnipeg Archives) Zacharkiw tells me the original faux gingerbread cookies, which were a grayish brown to match the roof, were traded in for more colourful, more durable ones that could stand up to Winnipeg's notoriously wicked winters. 'They take quite the beating from the hale,' he said. The Witch's Hut The gingerbread embellished roof of the Witch's Hut in Kildonan Park on July 30 , 2025. (Katherine Dow) 'Gretel gave her a shove, causing her to fall in the oven' Meanwhile, there has been one constant at the hut over the last 19 years in its ever-devoted volunteer. After growing up blocks away from Kildonan Park, Zacharkiw went to work for the city in its arenas. The kids he saw every day, either inching shakily across the ice like Bambis on skates or zipping around with a hockey stick in hand, became the highlight. He then moved on to work at the very park where he spent his childhood, tending to the machinery and working as a foreman. He fell in love with the place, especially the Witch's Hut. 'I'm not a man of the world where I've seen lots of different things. From the building itself to the inside to the displays, - I like it all,' he said. The Witch's Hut The roof of the Witch's Hut peeks out above the shrubbery at Kildonan Park in Winnipeg, Man. on July 30, 2025. (Katherine Dow/CTV News Winnipeg) When it came time to retire, he worried there wouldn't be anyone around to care for the hut, so he volunteered to run it. Every May for the past 19 years, he has opened its doors. He's there seven days a week, unless it's raining, as he worries kids would slip on the split-log staircase. He closes up for the season in September. A caretaker through and through, Zacharkiw has painted the fading coloured glass windows on the roof, created new gingerbread ornaments to hang inside, and greeted the many families who come to visit. 'I'm a big kid fan,' he said. 'It's fun to watch them come in and see the Witch. I just enjoy the reaction and the interaction with the kids.' A bench outside bears his name – the city's recognition for his volunteer hours and dedication to the Witch's Hut. The Witch's Hut A bench dedicated to longtime volunteer Jim Zacharkiw sits outside the Witch's Hut in Kildonan Park on July 30, 2025. (Katherine Dow/CTV News Winnipeg) 'Hansel we are saved' Over the years, the hut has played host to countless storybook hours, the Fairy Tales Festival, and plenty of photo shoots, as a favourite backdrop for shutterbugs, professional and aspiring. A 2015 estimate had over 1,000 people visiting the hut weekly during the summer months, the city report said. 'I used to bring Tal (Bachman) here when he was about two years of age. Every day we rode here on our bikes,' Randy Bachman said in a 2021 Instagram video taken inside the Witch's Hut. Standing next to him, son Tal takes the camera on a tour of the cottage, most of the figures covered by garbage bags as the facility was shut down at the time. 'I haven't been back since I was two or three years old. I still remember this place vividly,' Bachman said. 'Now all their cares were at an end, and they lived happily together' Back on that hot July day, Bobby and his grandkids make their way back down the staircase. Having had their fill of the spooky Witch, they set off to feed the ducks that swim in the stream outside. Zacharkiw waves goodbye to them, as more kids make their way inside, slightly hesitant to step into the story unfolding in front of them. 'It's been a bit smoky, so less busy, but they're starting to come now, which is good,' he said. 'It was built for kids but everyone loves coming.' The Witch's Hut The winding, split-wood staircase leading to the second floor of the Witch's Hut in Kildonan Park in Winnipeg, Man. on July 30, 2025. (Katherine Dow/CTV News Winnipeg) It's a sentiment echoed by scholar Donald Haase, Professor Greenhill tells me. 'Fairy tales are for everyone,' she said, paraphrasing him. 'We all make our own versions of fairy tales, sometimes from our recollections of fairy tales, and that is perfectly legitimate.' The Witch's Hut A terra cotta panel made by sculptor Elfriede Leopoldine Geier Berger shows the Witch visits a caged Hansel. The piece is on display at the Witch's Hut in Winnipeg's Kildonan Park on July 30, 2025. (Katherine Dow/CTV News Winnipeg) Despite her harsh initial criticism, Jane came to love her father's version of the Witch's Hut and the legacy it left behind. He passed away in 2008 of cancer. In his final days, he told Jane he would love her to recreate the design on a beach somewhere – her own summer abode. The Witch's Hut Jane Langes (centre) poses with friends at the Witch's Hut in Kildonan Park on Aug. 1, 2025. (Jane Langes) 'There are these edifices of my dad sort of sprinkled throughout the province that are still there, but the claim to fame is really the Witch's Hut,' she said. 'It's such a beautiful Winnipeg charm, and I think it brings a lot of happiness to a lot of people.' - With files from CTV's Kayla Rosen
The Review Geek
14-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Review Geek
The First Night With The Duke – K-drama Episode 1 Recap & Review
Reading a Book is Like Living Someone's Life Episode 1 of The First Night With The Duke begins with a woman narrating the story of a young orphan in the Joseon era. The orphan goes through many tribulations until one fateful day when she is adopted by the richest merchant in the land. Soon, she meets with a prince, and they fall madly in love. As with all fairy tales, there is a villain who hates the woman for her beauty and luck. Obviously, there is also a second male lead who falls for the woman. The prince and the fair lady are about to get married when the story is cut short before we get to the juicy parts. Presently, we are introduced to a woman reading the book. She loses it when she learns the author is discontinuing the story. She takes to social media to curse the author and declares she could write a better book. As she gets up from her bed, she slips and wakes up as a character in her favourite book, The Obsessive Tyrant. She finds herself in the Joseon era, playing the role of Cha Sun-chaek. In the book, she is a supportive character and the only daughter of the Chief State Minister. She lives a spoilt life as her parents and three brothers pamper her. By her side is her trusted maid, Wool-yi, who struggles to understand Sun-chaek's new mannerism. The family enjoys a luxurious breakfast. They all notice that Sun-chaek is acting weird, but choose to overlook it. They assume that she has finally grown up and is ready for marriage. Meanwhile, Sun-chaek tries to remember the details in the books to figure out how to survive in this new world. Her brother mentions an upcoming event for the unmarried noble women and asks Sun-chaek to attend. Her father gives her a lot of money to go shopping ahead of the event. As the day progresses, Sun-chaek decides to enjoy being a supportive character in her favourite book and watching everything in person. She realises she is just at the beginning of the book and excitedly gets ready to see her favourite characters get together. While shopping, she has the unfortunate opportunity to run into the main villain of the story, Do Hwa-seon. Hwa-seon insists on getting the clothes Sun-chaek had already ordered from China. To avoid getting the villain's attention, Sun-chaek agrees to give up her beautiful new dresses. Hwa-seon invites her to tea, but changes her mind when Cho Eun-ae shows up. It turns out Cho Eun-ae is the main lead and the adopted daughter of the richest merchant. As expected, Hwa-seon hates Eun-ae and feels she has no noble blood. It peeves her that everyone loves and praises Eun-ae for her beauty and kindness. In fact, Hwa-seon plans to teach Eun-ae a lesson during the event later that night. Hwa-seon's mood shifts after seeing Eun-ae, and she postpones her tea date with Sun-chaek. As the day drags on, Sun-chaek uses her binoculars to watch the capital. She sees the handsome main lead, Prince Yi-beon, arrive on a horse. As expected, Prince Yi-beon oozes charisma and has a mysterious aura around him. He is rumoured to be heartless and the king's beloved assassin. No one dares to look him in the eye. There is also a rumour that the women who sleep with him are forced to be nuns. As the villagers go on and on about Prince Yi-beon, the second lead, Jung Su-gyeom comes to his defence. He joins Prince Yi-beon as he rides his horse around the capital. On the way, Hwa-seon has an accident and is nearly run over by the prince's horse. However, Prince Yi-beon didn't even notice her. On the other hand, Su-gyeom is drawn to the beautiful Eun-ae. Soon, nightfall arrives, and the unmarried noble women meet to socialise. As planned, Hwa-seon leads the other girls to mock Eun-ae. They even go as far as to allude that she is her adopted father's mistress. Hwa-seon intentionally drops her glass and asks Eun-ae to clean up after her. In the process, Eun-ae gets a cut on her fingers. Sun-chaek cleverly comes to her aid without Hwa-seon noticing. To help Eun-ae and prevent the night from getting worse, Sun-chaek suggests that the ladies enjoy some alcohol. The other ladies agree, and Eun-ae has her servants bring the alcohol. Sun-chaek becomes the star of the night as she introduces cocktails to the group, and they drink without a care in the world. As the ladies get rowdy, Prince Yi-beon chases after a man suspected of planning treason. The man offers to give Prince Yi-beon his freedom from the king and the crown if he joins them. However, the prince has no desire to steal the crown and kills the man. He walks to the river to clean himself up and agonise over killing someone. Back at the town centre, the loud, drunk ladies draw a crowd. Everyone comes to see what the fuss is all about. Su-geyom is intrigued as he watches Sun-chaek mix the cocktails. As the night deepens, Sun-chaek gets drunker. She excuses herself to get some fresh air and runs into Prince Yi-beon. The next thing she knows is waking up in Prince Yi-beon's bed. He is surprised by her shocked look and tells her about the passionate night they had. Of course, Sun-chaek doesn't remember how she ended up in his bed and his arms. The Episode Review OMG! This episode was a lot of fun. It is nice to see Ok Taecyeon and Seohyun back on our screens. The plot is nothing new, but it is still refreshing to watch. Sun Chaek was only supposed to be a spectator, but now she has ended up in the main lead's bed. She must have been extremely drunk to forget such a night, but more importantly, what happens now? This might only be the first episode, but things are looking promising. Ok Taecyeon flawlessly portrays Prince Yi-beon so well. Seohyun also holds her own as the cheerful female lead who finds herself living inside her favourite book. The supporting cast adds more depth to the story. The cinematography is effortlessly beautiful, and we look forward to seeing more of this fantasy world. Next Episode Expect A Full Season Write-Up When This Season Concludes!
