The Matchmakers (2023) K Drama Episode 13

Episode 13 of The Matchmakers begins with the Chief Magistrate thinking that both Jo and Park are So-hyun’s puppets. Meanwhile, Park thinks Jung-woo is controlled by So-hyun. He also adds that they always meant to kill the Crown Prince by poisoning his food during the Princess’ wedding to Jung-woo, and doesn’t know why she died instead.

At present, Park tells So-hyun that Jung-woo is looking into the silkworm poison. He also shows her the portrait and claims that Jung-woo and Soon-deok are having an affair. At that moment, Soon-gu and the royal guards arrive and arrest Park and Jo as per the King’s command. Soon-deok reaches home just to see them leave. An upset So-hyun locks her in, saying she cannot trust Soon-deok anymore.

In the dungeons, Jung-woo and the King give Jo and Park two choices – to be charged with the murder of Lady Yoo and Lee Cho-ok or treason. Park immediately admits to murdering Lee Cho-ok while Jo is silent. Meanwhile, Soon-deok keeps writing to Jung-woo, assuring him that she is fine. All seems to be going smoothly as the King and Jung-woo plan to exile Park and Jo while protecting Prince Jin-sung and Soon-deok.

That is till the poisoned court lady wakes up and the Chief Royal Secretary finds the female shaman. Both testify against Jo and it becomes public. The Namjang Faction calls for the death of Royal Consort Park and her son, Prince Jin-sung, and for the Jos to be charged with treason for the attempted murder of the Crown Prince and the murder of the Princess. 

Dongro Faction is in chaos but So-hyun easily manipulates them. She makes Jung-woo their leader and declares he will sort it out. Alone, she strikes a deal with him and the King. She will co-operate with them as she too wants to keep Jin-sung alive. But she has some clauses.

Elsewhere, Sam-soon is brainstorming for a new writer nickname when Soon-gu tries to call off their marriage because his reputation is tarnished. She refuses, promising to support him. As for Ye-jin, she confesses to Bu-kyum that she is scared. He wants to comfort her but doesn’t. So-hyun confronts Jo about In-hyun’s death. He comes up with excuses and she rages that before her, he was nothing and she made him.

As for Soon-deok, she is freed and told to push Ye-jin’s marriage with Lee Shi-yeol but his mother is unhappy. Soon-deok then meets Jung-woo and tries to comfort him that So-hyun will sort out everything. However, in a flashback, So-hyun threatens Jung-woo if he continues to see Soon-deok. He tries to warn Soon-deok that So-hyun is dangerous but she trusts her.

At home, Soon-deok is told to cook a meal for Park and add a pill (the silkworm poison). So-hyun gives it to him and he dies. Next, she visits Jo with her sister. He is given a chance to clear their name by taking his life. He tries to make an excuse but her sister and maid kill him. He is hanged and So-hyun writes a fake note — In-hyun tried to poison the Crown Prince and out of loyalty to the King, he killed his own son. He has taken his life to prove his innocence.

The King is forced to acquit Jo of all charges and their name is cleared. However, Soon-deok is upset that So-hyun killed her family. So-hyun points out that if she hadn’t, they would all be killed for treason. And whether Soon-deok likes it or not, she is an accomplice as she made the poisoned meal which shocks her.

A conflicted Jung-woo asks Madam Maeng if Agents of Love can recognise their own soulmate. She says yes but his power makes it faulty as his heart can race from fear or even lust. Since Maeng also saw Soon-deok’s fate with her late husband, she is not Jung-woo’s.

Meanwhile, the court is in chaos as So-hyun’s clauses are revealed. The King calls for an immediate funeral for Jo so Ye-jin can marry soon. Her wedding is also to take place with the Maengs’ as the Jos care deeply about the spinster issue. The King and Jung-woo are impressed as this will paint So-hyun as influential and kind. 

As for his annulment, Jung-woo changes his mind. He reveals that he only petitioned as the Princess’ last wish was for him to be an officer and help the King. That night, Jung-woo and Soon-deok meet with the latter thinking that it is because they both missed each other. However, he suddenly says that his feelings for her have died down at the end of The Matchmakers episode 13.

The Episode Review

We absolutely called it and The Matchmakers episode 13 has pretty much solidified it – Sohyun is the true mastermind. She is behind it all and all of the times she has not been consulted, Jo and Park’s plans have failed. She is just that powerful. This whole episode was hers.

But in contrast to her, Soon-deok comes off as naive and bothersome. What do you mean you did not realise that the suspicious-looking pill you helped give Park was not poison? And why is it even a big deal for her if the men are dead? So-hyun isn’t losing any sleep over it, and she is Jo’s wife and Park’s sister.

This whole episode completely switched up Soon-deok’s character from the matchmaker we saw in the beginning who would use deception and sly tactics to get her way. It also makes us want to go back to the Jung-woo and Ha-na ship. The Crown Prince is too young for her and it all just seems to be going wrong with the romantic pairings. 

And honestly, while this episode was fun, it just proves that the K-drama would have done better had it been separated into two different shows – one of a fun and lighthearted matchmaking rom-com and another of a thrilling and mysterious political intrigue. That way we wouldn’t have kept wishing for the rom-com aspects in this episode which is clearly all about the Jos vs the Crown sub-plot.