While MBC is preempting both episodes of Empress Ki and SBS is doing the same for Warm Words, KBS is the sole network airing a new episode of its Mon-Tues drama Prime Minister and I. But only one episode 7 will air tonight and thus the broadcast schedule will be disrupted. KBS has decided to add one more episode to the drama so PM will now end at 17 episodes. I’ve seen plenty of dramas get its schedule disrupted without any extension or even episode count shaving so I think PM may actually need the extra episode rather than necessitated by ratings or airing schedule. Normally I HATE extensions with a passion and it’s not based on principle but actually seeing so many dramas get destroyed by extensions that ruin its narrative pace and stretch conflicts thin. However, and this is a big what if, those are always extensions of 2-episodes or more and I recollect 1-episode extensions being by-and-large rather negligible in impact. I also think PM is in good shape since only 6-episodes have aired so far with the extension already being factored into the drama so early on. This is one case I really want to be optimistic because I love this drama so damn much.

I’ve also been saying for episodes now that this drama has so much built into issues to overcome even after Da Jung and Yul fall in love with each other. This is a case where the falling in love isn’t the end all be all of whether the couple gets a happily ever after, they need to weather slings and arrows from within the family with Yul’s three kids accepting Da Jung as their step-mother in their hearts and from the outside with Joon Ki forever gunning to take down Yul and now with the added bonus of whatever In Ho is plotting. I’ve come to like Hye Joo so I hope she doesn’t let any bitterness or jealousy taint her loyalty to Yul. It’s only a few hours away from episode 7 but seeing the first new stills of Yul and Da Jung running hand-in-hand through the night streets of Seoul make me smile cheek to cheek. They are just such a stirring and heartwarming couple, this determined and optimistic girl and this weathered and closed off man sparking in ways emotional, intellectual, and physical. I hope episode 7 doesn’t end on a monster of a cliffhanger because I’ll be dying for next week to arrive so much that I could care about celebrating the new year.