City Hall: Episode 6

63 July 17, 2009January 24, 2016

by samsooki

(written by Samsooki, editing, layout, design and CH obsession by 0timelost, cleown, and mead33)

City Hall: Episode 6 – One Woman’s Protest, One City’s Hope

The battle is on, between City Council Member Joo Hwa, and the lowest ranking Civil Servant and junior secretary Mi Rae. Joo Hwa has just demanded that the Mayor fire Mi Rae. Mi Rae is not in an accepting mood, and retorts that Joo Hwa is abusing her power. Joo Hwa’s reply is honest, if not a little coarse, “this is why people are so eager to grab power in the first place – for one reason alone – so that they can abuse.” (Note: if I had some steel wool and personal genie that could transport me to that scene, I would take the steel wool and wipe that smirk from Mrs. Perky Evil’s face.)

With that, Mi Rae is literally bum-rushed out of City Hall, and as a parting gift, all of her belongings are tossed out with her like garbage. Jo Gook witnesses the whole incident.

Mi Rae has just been humiliated and physically assaulted in front of everyone at City Hall, but she doesn’t shrink away. Instead she gets up right away and tries to barge into City Hall. The Mayor’s aides block her entrance, shocked that she would have the audacity to return! Who does she think she is, anyway! Mi Rae’s response is heart-warming and even tear-inducing:

Mi Rae: You say you processed my resignation? You say that I no longer work in the secretary’s office? Do you know who I become when you removed my ID badge? I become a taxpaying citizen of Inju and who are you, a civil servant, to block my entrance? I am here to see the Deputy Mayor, and if he agrees, then you have no reason to block me!

Mi Rae then looks to Jo Gook, who is standing there quietly, and asks whether she can have a moment with him.

But Jo Gook smiles, almost like this is all a joke, and tells Mi Rae to stop trying to use him – it is getting tiring. With that, he turns and leaves. Even Soo In is shocked at Jo Gook’s really harsh response. (Note: is this another Jo Gook lesson to be learned? What does he gain by being a jerk?) Mi Rae is left with an upturned mess on the ground, no job, no prize money, and no support from anyone.

But knowing what we know about the definition of the word, ‘resilience’ and how there is a picture of Shin Mi Rae next to the definition, we can almost predict Mi Rae’s response:

Mi Rae: Alright then. An ordinary person will now become a fighter.

Mi Rae’s first effort – Get the newspapers involved! This effort fails, however, when the wily slimy Joo Hwa coaxes the newspapers from reporting the incident. The lack of newspaper coverage to Mi Rae’s press conference did not escape the notice of Jo Gook and Soo In, who acknowledge that they seem to have some skill at controlling the press.

Jo Gook is finally ready to make his first move – he is holding the documents that will undoubtedly spell the end of the current Mayor. But Jo Gook wonders whether the information that he has should be given to Mi Rae, since she hasn’t yet proven she can actually do something with it. Would Mi Rae be able to use the information effectively?

Jo Gook jokingly refers to Mi Rae again as King Kong, but this time Soo In objects, saying, ”Mi Rae actually is cute and charming in a naïve sort of way.” Jo Gook grins, asking if Soo In is interested in King Kong. Soo In nods, “yes.” Jo Gook’s smile immediately fades, realizing that Soo In is serious. Is there a hint of jealousy in Jo Gook’s face? (And if so, why? How can Jo Gook still have any claim over Mi Rae at all, given how he has treated her?)

Jo Gook gets a call from BB, and Jo Gook leaves his assistant at City Hall. Jo Gook is off to make a personal and private report on Inju to BB. Brimming with confidence, Jo Gook gives a smug report on how things are going. But BB is not happy at all. All he sees is a complete lack of progress from Jo Gook, and the smug look on Jo Gook’s face is just the face of a person who has no idea whether he is doing a good job or a poor job. Why has Jo Gook not gotten rid of the mayor yet? What exactly has Jo Gook been doing down in Inju all this time?

In an effort to show exactly how disappointed he is in Jo Gook, BB smashes a recently-made pottery piece. BB notes that in this batch of pottery, the one pottery that BB had the most hope for, that piece came out the worst. BB ends the conversation with crushing statement: he doesn’t believe or trust in Jo Gook at all.

As BB is leading Jo Gook around the compound, they walk past BB’s retainers. BB stops to talk to one of them. Jo Gook cannot believe who he sees: It is Ha Soo In! BB orders Soo In to join him, and a stunned Jo Gook follows both of them to the garden gazebo.

Jo Gook watches as Soo In pours tea for BB, a task that the favored Jo Gook likely once did. Is he being replaced by the younger Soo In because BB no longer has faith in him? BB orders Soo In recite what Jo Gook has been doing in Inju. Soo In doesn’t miss a thing, giving a detailed history of what Jo Gook has done.

Soo In and Jo Gook leave the compound, but immediately outside, Jo Gook explodes at Soo In, demanding to know how long it has been since he started spying for BB. It has been 4 years.

Soo In, his words laced with irony, remarks that he has the same dreams as Jo Gook, and that, he may not get another chance to say it, but he has learned many things from Jo Gook. Jo Gook reaches back to deck Soo In but stops, perhaps realizing that Soo In is correct – Soo In is a mirror of what Jo Gook has done and what Jo Gook has taught him. A sobering lesson.

Jo Gook tells Soo In to get out of his sight. Jo Gook then heads back inside to get some answers from his father, BB.

Jo Gook: You have never had faith in me? I…I have always believed in you.
BB: For that, thank you.

Jo Gook: And even if the whole world doesn’t, I thought that you would always have faith in me.
BB: With that, you would be mistaken. And, when have I ever given you reason to have faith in me? You are a politician, but it seems that you are stupid in every way. Didn’t I teach you that being truthful to other people will destroy your cause? In politics, there are two kinds of people. The kind who walks to the top, and the kind who are stepped on. And now you are like this (a slobbering mess) because someone who worked for you has betrayed you, how can I have any use for you?

Jo Gook: No, you are mistaken. It is fine if the reason is betrayal, but it is jealousy. I don’t think there is any reason now not to hate you.

Struggling to contain his tears, Jo Gook walks away after announcing he will not be visiting for a while and bidding BB to take care of himself. But, what does Jo Gook mean when he says, “I don’t think there is any reason NOW not to hate you?”

Meanwhile, back in Inju, Mi Rae has made up her mind. She will fight back with a one-woman protest. The reaction of her friends is not that encouraging, but if there is anything we know about Mi Rae, it is that she fights to the end. Mi Rae fighting!

Protest Day 1

Mi Rae has her placards and she starts off with a cute message: “If my fortunes are good, next year I’ll date one of these guys.”

And she ends her cards with this: “If the prize money isn’t given to me, I will chase you until you look like this.” Mi Rae’s clever placards draw attention to her one-woman protest, but the Mayor and his staff are not amused.

The Mayor orders his staff to remove Mi Rae, and the protest turns ugly. But even against four guys, Mi Rae won’t budge and in the struggle to get her to move, her dress is torn. (It makes me angry to even recap this part.) Jo Gook, watching from a distance, finally steps in and stops them.

Jo Gook slowly picks up the dropped placards and gently hands them back to a Mi Rae, and then starts to walk back towards City Hall as Mi Rae doesn’t say a word.

An eternity in a few seconds later, Jo Gook stops, turns around, and then takes off his jacket and gently wraps it around Mi Rae, hiding the large tear in her dress. No words are needed.

Does Jo Gook feel responsible in some way, since if he hadn’t intervened as he had during the contest, then Mi Rae would not have won? Or was it the fact that he ignored her when she asked for help as she was fired? Why help her now? This, like a lot of questions about Jo Gook, is a debatable point. But what isn’t debatable is that Jo Gook has feelings for Mi Rae now, and both of them know it.

Back in the Mayor’s office, Joo Hwa continues her sociopathy and promises to get rid of Shin Mi Rae, but in exchange for her husband Jung Do’s job being safely returned to him. Mi Rae’s closest friend and mother of three kids, Boo Mi, is to be fired next.

Joo Hwa hails Boo Mi to a conference room and threatens her. If Mi Rae does not stop her protest, then Boo Mi would be fired. Boo Mi rushes over to find Mi Rae and then tells her what happened. Mi Rae asks if Boo Mi did anything that was illegal or against procedures. Apparently, Boo Mi, like everyone else at City Hall, is tainted. Mi Rae doesn’t know how to respond. If she gives in now, nothing will change. It is an impossible situation.

Protest Day 2

As Joo Hwa promised, Boo Mi is fired. She leaves City Hall, carrying her box of things and walks past Mi Rae who is holding her second day of protest. Mi Rae is heartbroken. But before she can try to work things out with Boo Mi, Joo Hwa’s second surprise comes. Eggs came pelting at Mi Rae. Apparently, they hired a bunch of goons to throw dozens and dozens of eggs at her. This is just so awful to watch.

But someone IS watching. Jo Gook watches from his window, with a pained look on his face. What is he thinking? Why is he not doing anything? Do something!!

Late that evening, Jung Do meets with a bruised Mi Rae, and asks for her reason in doing this. Mi Rae answers that in the beginning it was for the money, but day by day, other reasons kept forming. Jung Do asks if he can get back everyone’s jobs and the prize money, will Mi Rae stop the protest? Can Mi Rae agree to return to the status quo, where she would make coffee for everyone, and Jung Do would continue diligently working on corrupt activities?

Mi Rae’s answer is a single word: no. Mi Rae has seen to much, and now this isn’t just about money or someone’s job. This is about what is right. Impressed by her utter fearlessness, Jung Do encourages Mi Rae to continue her protest.

Meanwhile, Jo Gook is at the restaurant where Mi Rae’s friends work. Jo Gook can only think back to the events of the last few days. He then recalls the moment when he stopped by Mi Rae’s house after the Day 1 protest. We see that Jo Gook was there at Mi Rae’s house after the protest, watching Mi Rae from afar, and he saw Mi Rae carefully hanging the jacket that he had wrapped around her waist to hide the ripped dress after the assault. And also, we see that Jo Gook was watching as Mi Rae appears to drift into another place and into another time, as she begins to dance with his jacket.

It is a touching and beautiful scene, as both Mi Rae and Jo Gook are re-living the intimate dance that they had during the Baendaengi Contest – Mi Rae, with the jacket, and Jo Gook, watching Mi Rae. Jo Gook’s face reveals only sadness though, as he can sense that his heart is in danger of being caught in the rising typhoon that is Shin Mi Rae, and he knows that nothing good will come from this. But does that justify being on the sidelines and not even trying to stop Mi Rae from being assaulted by a gang of low-lifes?

Unlike a certain Jo Gook we know who may be wallowing in self-pity, Mi Rae’s friends aren’t ones to sit still while their friend is being abused! To help Mi Rae, they make a video blog of Mi Rae’s protest and post it online. The video blog spreads like wildfire across the internet and encouragement posts from people reading internet portals, popular and very awesomely stylish blogs like Dramabeans.com, popular culture community pages like Soompi forums, come pouring in!

And even Boo Mi, jobless at home due to Mi Rae’s protest, with a family of her own to feed, and still angry enough to not take Mi Rae’s phone calls, sees the video blog and begins to realize exactly what Mi Rae has been up against – being unjustly fired, humiliated, and having the Mayor’s men physically assaulting her, ripping her clothing, and some paid goons whipping dozens of eggs at her.

Boo Mi starts to write a snide comment, but then deletes it, and then swallows as she gets emotional and writes something else:

“This girl is a friend of mine. She makes me so proud… Brat, fighting!”

(Note: If you aren’t tearing up as you watch this scene, you don’t have a heart. Seriously.)

Protest Day 3

The third day of protesting brings supporters! Mi Rae is so surprised! Her friends’ video blog has created a web sensation with over 3,000 visitors in a single day! Shin Mi Rae fighting!!

The next morning, Jo Gook is waiting for Mi Rae outside her house. Jo Gook offers Mi Rae his help (finally!), but only if her goal is the same as his (pff… I knew it, jerk.). Mi Rae asks what Jo Gook’s goal is, and Jo Gook answers plainly: oust the current mayor and have a secondary election held to replace him.

Mi Rae is shocked. Her protest to be treated fairly and to get others treated fairly has now reached a critical level.

Comments –

What a powerful episode. Even recapping this had me wiping away tears. And what a fascinating switch from Episode 5. This episode marks an absolute change in the drama series. Now, we have a clear / steady / solid (choose one?) plot! And instead of straight comedy with slight political undertones, now we have an awesome love-story brewing, with compelling story lines to follow, mixed together with a larger idea of what and who political corruption ends up hurting. Mi Rae is now fighting, not just against Joo Hwa, but against a corrupt political machine. Mi Rae is now standing against the abuse of power and against those that wield it. The bigger the enemy, the bigger the heroine. And Mi Rae has just taken a courageous step towards becoming a very big heroine.

And on the other side, we see that Jo Gook has serious feelings for Mi Rae, but he knows that those feelings could lead to disaster for him and his ambitions to reach the Blue House. He knows that he likely cannot have both, and if he indulges in his feelings even for a short time with Mi Rae, he will hurt her very badly. And what about Go Hae? How will Mi Rae be able to fight everyone at the same time, if Jo Gook has to remain on the sidelines and just watch, like he did when Mi Rae was being assaulted by egg throwers?

But sometimes, there are no answers. Jo Gook and Mi Rae are falling for each other, and things are happening now that neither can control. Jo Gook’s goals and Shin Mi Rae’s goals are likely not the same, and yet they need each other. I feel like this could end very badly for everybody.

With a single episode, City Hall has become a drama series that cannot be missed. Seriously.

The ones to watch for in this Episode: Jo Gook and Shin Mi Rae, independently and together.

Jo Gook’s scenes with BB are really special, and we are finally getting to see the acting range of Cha Seung Won. Really powerful scenes with him and Choi Il Hwa (as BB), and Cha Seung Won’s eyes blaze with intensity that is scary. But not to be outshone, Kim Sun Ah has reached deep in this episode and brought her “A” game to the table.

And it doesn’t hurt that this episode puts on an absolute clinic on what it means to be a hero.

It is interesting to note here is the striking difference between Shin Mi Rae and Jo Gook. Both suffer tremendously in this episode. Shin Mi Rae, being both physically abused and having her closest friend’s family seriously harmed because of her. And Jo Gook, with the betrayal of his closest confidant and with the realization that his father never once trusted him, never once believed in him. But while we see the mettle that Mi Rae brings, I can’t really say the same thing about Jo Gook. He has yet to find a source of strength that will allow him to overcome his own doubts and emotional trauma. For all Jo Gook’s brilliance, he is still just a shell of a person, and that shell has been cracked.

Finally, after six episodes, City Hall has begun in earnest.

On To Episode 7!

Required fields are marked *

1 langdon813

July 17, 2009 at 4:37 PM

Aw man, I didn't cry ONCE today...until reading this. Damn it. Now I'll just have to go watch it again and cry some more. :-(

**shakes fist at Samsooki**

I read an interview (posted at Soompi) where Kim Sun-ah described how she felt as the egg-throwing scene was being filmed, and I'm telling you, her description of how she felt in that moment will break your heart (as if it weren't already almost impossible to watch).

**sniff**

Required fields are marked *

2 ockoala

July 17, 2009 at 4:53 PM

Durr....heart constricting.....can't breathe.....blinking back tears.....thinking about the glory and grandeur of City Hall. Samsooki and recap team, you have OUTDONE yourselves. Best recap so far!!! Seriously, you have captured the rising waves drama and plot and tension so well in your recap.

Soo In's "betrayal" is a shock to JG (he really shouldn't be, shouldn't he be used to the backstabbing political world by now), and BB's harshness is a rude awakening that was long coming for JG. While I have been captivated by JG since the beginning (a combination of how suave and hot CSW looks as JG, and my tendre for arrogant, jack-ass men in my drama's in general), my sister isn't so easily won over, and she remarked that thus far, JG doesn't seem like a "good" politician - and she's right. He's not "good", he's got an ultimate goal in mind, the Blue House. And in this episode, you can see how torn and conflicted watching MR deal with her protest is for him. CSW's eyes, his eyes, my god, the man has expressive eyes, it's blinding to watch!

Anyways, I still cringe during the scene when MR is tossed out of City Hall and each time she is assualted by the three musketeers and by the egg throwers, my poor KSA.

But the jacket dance scene, so well-executed, captivating, the lyrical tenderness of watching JG watching MR dancing with the jacket.

Required fields are marked *

3 epyc

July 17, 2009 at 5:16 PM

Yes, this is the one episode that seals the deal for me! I watched the first six episodes in one go and enjoyed it through and through. It is however after watching Ep 6 that I thought this is the best drama I've seen this year, and the rest is history.

Thanks, Team Samsooki, for another wonderful re-cap! Got to go and will be back here later to read the comments from City Hallers!

Required fields are marked *

4 Snikki

July 17, 2009 at 5:19 PM

Awww, episode 6 recap is already here. I'm jealous! TMWCGM only has 1 so far. :(

Required fields are marked *

5 mzpakipot

July 17, 2009 at 5:29 PM

I cried when Mi Rae getting pelted by eggs, especially when Jo Guk watching her from afar and he did flinch for Mi Rae, that's when I knew( my own confirmation) that He really does have feelings for her.

I don't think this question of mine hasn't been answered yet (soompi). When Jo Guk said "It is fine if the reason is betrayal, but it is jealousy. I don’t think there is any reason now not to hate you."

What does he mean by jealousy? Is he referring to So In?

Oh goshhhhhh, the jacket scenes (in front of the city hall and the dance scene), those scenes were the highlights for me. It was beautifully done, and the way he looks at Mi-rae (*le sigh*).

"Jo Gook’s face reveals only sadness though, as he can sense that his heart is in danger of being caught in the rising typhoon that is Shin Mi Rae, and he knows that nothing good will come from this."

I never thought of this before, thank you (Samsooki) for making me understand more about the story behind his look (in this scene).

THANK YOU SO MUCH SAMSOOKI AND TEAM; and JAVABEANS!
I love reading everyone's comment on each episodes, really nice to know how each and everyone's feeling about certain scenes and in that process I'm also learning new things about CIty Hall. Thank you City Hallers!

Required fields are marked *

6 Linda

July 17, 2009 at 5:30 PM

Thanks so much! Keep them coming! =D

Required fields are marked *

7 amhrancas

July 17, 2009 at 6:07 PM

ok, now I definitely have to add this to my "to watch" list. *sigh* so many dramas, so little time...

excellent re-caps, by the way!! thanks very much to all who put these together! XD

Required fields are marked *

8 j_d_b

July 17, 2009 at 6:07 PM

I do agree with your assumptions with Chap. 5. It was powerful and awesome chapter for CT. The scene in which Shin Rae got ditched in front city hall and Jo Guk watching without hint of sympathy breaks my heart.

Thanks for the impressive and brilliant recap.

Required fields are marked *

9 mzpakipot

July 17, 2009 at 6:14 PM

btw, when Jo Guk said something in reference to Jealousy, my initial thought was Jo Guk is jealous of Soo-in, from the way BB talks to Soo-in is more nicer than the way BB talks to Jo Guk (like the part where Soo In serving tea to BB, it's like Soo In and BB have special relationship.) *sweating bullets* Hope that made any sense. keke!

off topic: I just watched KSA new's Max Beer CF..she used the CH famous line, Ne ga yo?! Ye ga yo?!? LOL I love KSA much, she's so different from all the pretty kactresses. She's looking skinny and I hope she doesn't lose any more weight. :(

Required fields are marked *

10 tombrady

July 17, 2009 at 6:30 PM

Epi 6 is when i really fell in love with CH and the lead actors!!!

I have to mention CSW simply took my breath away in this episode. Just plain awesome! Most of the pivotal scenes in this episode felt so real because he was just so believably convincing.

.....From the heatbreak he felt at BB's lack of faith in him and Soo-in's betrayal and BB's actions...the pain he felt watching Mi-rae get abused....his confusion and a mixture of hesitation and regret upon his realization that he now has feelings for Mi-rae and what that could mean to his life (side note: hehehe, an upheaval for sure)

It's very difficult to choose a fave scene as there's plenty of choices. I have to say the writers did a great job here and took me thru a rollercoaster ride. Check out the range of emotions it invoked:

- outrage and heartbreak at that egg-pelting and push & shove scene with Mi-rae (when her dress was torn)
- joy at seeing Jo Guk wordlessless cover Mirae's torn dress
- hopeful at watching Mirae dance with Jo Guk's jacket
- excited when Jo Guk was watching Mirae and remembering that dance (No going back now! He is falling for her!)
- dislike when BB was crushing Jo Guk with his words (How can a father act this way).

I should stop now! I know it gets better.... and better...

Can't wait for the rest of the recaps. I am eagerly awaiting the DVD too!

Required fields are marked *

11 Janie

July 17, 2009 at 7:03 PM

Eeww... so that's how awful eggs-throwing is like... I've witnessed people throwing rotten eggs at nasty people's houses but never such scene... how humiliating... poor Mirae, poor KSA :( (if there is such award as to the most humiliated actress -- KSW deserved it)

Hehee, every time I thought of MR, it's MR and her sensational bandengi outfit, pretty enchanted by that purple robe thus here's some tidbits from Kate Smith on the color purple...

Purple usually stands for royalty, justice, power or hope and it may connotes sorrow and suffering (as in mourning widows in Thailand).

The "Purple Heart" given to a wounded soldier surviving in battlefield signifies power to survive.

The novel The Color Purple shows feeling of human hope, despite misery, is a miracle of the human spirit.

The poem "Warning" by English poet Jenny Joseph begins with the line "When I am an old woman I shall wear purple...", with its famous purple line has become a tongue-in-cheek reference to a woman's struggle with aging...
In this case, how fitting it is for over-age Mirae entering the Baedaengi competition among the youngsters. Since many have said that the script writer is brilliant and creative in her scripts and symbolisms, just wondering if Ms Kim has put much thought to the color purple on Mirae -- to show her fiesty and courageous spirit fighting for justice and hope in the midst of all the miseries she is encountering... Mirae fighting!

Glad that you guys brought Boomi's blogging to attention, very moving indeed, Brat fighting!

Love the video blog jamming, so heartwarming. The highlight in this episode to me is the love and humongous support that MR received from her restaurant chingus, friendship fighting!

Thanks! Recapping team fighting!

BTW, what's that MR chewing on the first cap, is it dog bone, plastic fork or lolly... me trying to figure it out, me couldn't stand that chewing, a lil bit irritated ;p

Required fields are marked *

12 vrosemarie

July 17, 2009 at 7:05 PM

I can't believe I teared up at the Boo Mi commenting part, only to read...

(Note: If you aren’t tearing up as you watch this scene, you don’t have a heart. Seriously.)

Gawd, I'm predictable.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE RECAPS! I REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO THEM!!! :-)

Required fields are marked *

13 sallycc

July 17, 2009 at 7:09 PM

another great recap (as usual), big THANK YOU to Samsooki & Co. ... not sure if anyone has mentioned this, but when they were shooting the egg-throwing scene, the staff members had to first crack the eggs in order to minimize the impact on Suna~~but according to Suna, it still hurt VERY badly (it took a month or so for the bruises to go away), and the worst part was the fear of not knowing where the eggs were coming from...Suna is surely a very dedicated & professional actress!

and OMG the dancing-with-the-jacket scene~~this is one of my favorite scenes in the entire series! even though neither Mirae nor Jo Guk shed any tears in this scene, each time i watch it, i can't help but wiping away mine...it's such a touching and powerful scene...filled with emotions!

keep up with the great work & thanks again for these excellent essays!

Required fields are marked *

14 Nom_Kitteh

July 17, 2009 at 7:14 PM

This is such a great episode! Just reading it makes me wish I had the DVD set so I could rewatch it now.

This episode sets up a very intriguing theme: that of MiRae as a fighter and that of JG as the power broker.

That is, just as MR is standing up for herself in a relatively small-scale fight for her contest money, JG is standing up for himself in a proportionally massive fight for the presidency, or least for self determinacy.

The episode presents both characters as awakening with a snap, but the magnitude of what each is seeing is disproportionate. MR is seeing a small piece of the political game while JG is seeing its magnitude. Although both appear to be on parallel paths, in their awakening states they are actually walking in opposite directions: MR is starting to see the corruption and wants to fight against it while JG sees the corruption and wants to excel at it.

The question then is will their paths curve around the river and come together and toward a common goal or will they have to fight each other if both are still standing in the cesspool that is politics?

And then add to that mixture raw sexual tension, and you have the makings of an incredible love story!

----

About JG's harsh treatment of MR: It's a common romantic ploy to make one character mean so that the love that comes is that much sweeter. Maybe it reminds us of those first gestures of romance when the boy who liked us would pull our ponytails to show his love!

But interestingly, JG doesn't seem particularly harsh just to MR! He is a harsh man in general. He is brusque and rude to everyone, really, so his behavior is in keeping with his overall character. IN FACT, rather than his harshness, it is his gestures of kindness -- tying his jacket around MR or watching her dance -- that are discombobulating. We can tell that these kinds of tenderness are just not his thing. Even he seems to be surprised by them evidenced by his watching MR from a distance, savoring her dreamlike state as if it were his own.

It is great that the jacket-dance scene is in contrasted spaces. She is in an open yard, openly dancing, and he is in a closed space of his car, surreptitiously watching. I openly gasped at this scene.

Required fields are marked *

15 mememomo

July 17, 2009 at 7:14 PM

Thanks Samsooki & team and Javabeans!

You have out done yourselves...this is the best recap so far . The pace in this episode is definitely faster and there is plenty of action.

The pelting part was very hard to watch and watching KSA talk about filming that scene was very heartbreaking. Kudos to her professionalism.

CSW was equally good when he was disappointed with BB. Must have been really hard for a son, whom all his life is trying to please his father, finds out that his father didn't even once trusted him.

The dancing with the jacket scene was very nicely done and well written. One of the things I love about this drama is that there are so many moments that words were not necessary.

Required fields are marked *

16 samsooki

July 17, 2009 at 7:34 PM

@11 Janie -

The thing that she's chewing on is dried squired (cuttlefish) strips. It's tasty. Sort of like beef jerky.

Required fields are marked *

17 Janie

July 17, 2009 at 7:59 PM

Oh I see..., so it's the dried squid; my favorite..., very tasty indeed, cattlefish is best when eat with spicy chilly sauce... am salivating now :)

Required fields are marked *

18 Nea

July 17, 2009 at 8:14 PM

Samsooki!
I am so elated that it is you that decided to pick up the recaps for this show! I just finished it and it was better than expected. I am now waiting for your recaps to read your comments... And with this:

"With a single episode, City Hall has become a drama series that cannot be missed. Seriously."

I have to say you are absolutely right!

Required fields are marked *

19 birdscout

July 17, 2009 at 8:24 PM

Wow! Another great re-cap...so much thoughtful analysis. It makes me realize how much I overlooked watching this the first time all by myself without the benefit of other City Hall lovers' insights. Thank you, Samsooki & crew and everyone who posts.

On a superficial note, many people have commented how Soo In is like a mini-JG and a close-up of Soo In in this episode shows his five o'clock shadow is identical to JG's. LOL! (They both look HOT!)

Required fields are marked *

20 jessie b

July 17, 2009 at 8:50 PM

Hahahahaha...well done Samsooki! and the rest of the Cityhallers who are helping in the recap. Thanks for the recaps and Javabeans for 'hosting' the recaps.

Thanks for letting me relive City Hall, again and again...and again. Your writing is very dramatic, I'm almost tempted to copy it and make it into a book! ...But the think-out-loud statements about Jo Gook's actions, we know he's slowly being smitten by Mirae. His cold responses are how he would normally react to 'a simple girl he thought he could use and throw away' (heh.) but he's melting.......

I also love the sneaks about Dramabeans and Soompi blogs/forums when refering to what Mirae's friends did...it's great!

Love it! Love it! Love it! I'm watching the BTS on viikii.....

Required fields are marked *

21 sari

July 17, 2009 at 8:55 PM

@11Janie What a colour is purple,thanx for sharing the knowledge.And many THANX for Samsooki and the teams for a great recap as always.

Required fields are marked *

22 celestialorigin

July 17, 2009 at 9:04 PM

Thank you for the great recap again! Now I know exactly where to go to revisit my favorite scenes! By the way, might I ask where can I read?watch? the interview with KSA talking about this program? Is it possible to post the link, please?

Required fields are marked *

23 MEIKO**** ^-^

July 17, 2009 at 9:16 PM

omo! have been missing a lot these past few days..... ^-^

mmm.... know what... I dont really know if in reality people would do such things....GGGRRRRR!!!!! Or else, I would give them some kicks and hand maneuvers(in a classy way...)!!!!

i havent been in the workforce for a long time...so far i havent experienced bullying of this kind... the worst i can say that i have experienced is gossips...

i cannot believe that such public servants would act that way! (GGrrrrr!!!!!) That reminded me of high school....in other words, they were trying to fix the problem in a very immature way.... (wth??!!!How old are they??!!they look pretty old to go and do that...hmp, narrowminded peeps!!)

Anyway....back to the ep.... JoGook is soooo wonderful, isnt he?!!! Yeah, trying to be nonchalant.....but...hahaha......he is feeling it.....

and I WOULD DEFINITELY DIE OF EMBARRASSMENT if JoGook would find me tenderly, lovingly dancing with his jacket!!!!! *I was literally holding my pillow on my face when i saw JoGook was actually there, looking at MiRae!!! Oh Shh*#T!!

thanks Samsookie!!! and company!!

Required fields are marked *

24 nycgrl

July 17, 2009 at 9:18 PM

For me episode 6 is where the fun picks up though it is not flawless. Episode 5 and its predecessors were not as enjoyable save for some relationship set up scenes.

I love all the JG/BB scenes but this episode with JG and BB is one of my all time favorite. Not only due to the great acting but the struggle between these two is almost mythical in the way it is written--I'm totally thinking Star Wars. The struggle with the father, breaking away from the father and eventually beating the father to become your own man is a mythical oedipal step to growth as a hero. If JG is going to be the future president he needs to be his own master.

I also love how CSW uses his amazing eyes to act. His eyes look so betrayed, hurt, vulnerable, angry all at the same time. JG has no one in his life he is close to. And there is always this air about him like he is an lonely outsider looking in. His closest friend appears to be SooIn and his biggest goal besides being president is to have his dad trust/acknowledge him. In one moment he loses his best friend and the premise of his relationship with his dad. I think personally this is a pivotal scene in the setup of why someone like Mirae makes sense for JB to fall in love with. He gets no warmth from his fiancee or mom, his dad basically uses him like a pawn and the closest person to him stabs him in the back.

The other scene that I love, though it is reminds me of sleeping beauty, is when Mirae dances with the jacket while JG watches on (BTW does anybody else thinks he is the biggest voyeur. It would be downright creepy if he wasn't so sexy). Watching her dance with his jacket, he knows at this point how much he means to her and though he has been intrigued by her before perhaps this is where his heart moves towards her because the love is there for him unconditionally when he needs it most.

Two things I'm going to be nitpicky about:

1) I wish her protest signs were wittier or funnier especially given some of the city hall worker's facial expressions. To me there seems to be a imbalance of facial response to the what is actually there.
2) How did her friends create that video montage? I didn't think they were around to get all that footage.

Required fields are marked *

25 theleenbean

July 17, 2009 at 9:51 PM

thanks for the recap, samsooki ~ you write beautifully!

Required fields are marked *

26 ockoala

July 17, 2009 at 10:28 PM

I have two words for the chemistry between Mirae and Jo Gook in this episode: "slow burn." When he ties the jacket around her waist, and when he reminisces about watching her dance, it's like this intensity surrounds each of their interactions, and it's really potent to us viewers because of how CSW and KSA portray their attraction to each other. They are attracted to each other, and it makes senses to the viewers, as @24 epyc says, Mirae represents the honesty, openess, and integrity that Jo Gook has not been surrounded with.

The recap of this episode is truly spectacular, I hope more casual viewers will take up City Hall from now onward and watch it as well, because while Samsooki's recaps are 100% satisfying and complete for me, nothing beats watching Jo Gook and Mirae look at each other, it melts my insides.

Required fields are marked *

27 jusash

July 17, 2009 at 10:52 PM

WHOA!!!

This is a powerful emotionally-charged episode indeed with so many intense morsels for us to devour, and you guys did an equally powerful recap if it. Loved all your spot on insights!

>>> For all Jo Gook’s brilliance, he is still just a shell of a person, and that shell has been cracked.
Absolutely ! That was the first chink in Ji Gook's shell of an armour. And it's simply delish to see how he keeps growing and growing ==> gathering strength (fr Mirae + within himself) to the final showdown, from here.

>>> Jo Gook’s scenes with BB are really special, and we are finally getting to see the acting range of Cha Seung Won. Really powerful scenes with him and Choi Il Hwa (as BB), and Cha Seung Won’s eyes blaze with intensity that is scary.

Yes .... blazing intensity (complete with cheek clenching sometimes) ... to that hurt, betrayal, vulnerability ... to pensiveness and sadness ... or soft melting when he sees Mirae etc etc
The changing myriad of expressions this guy can project with just his eyes alone is intriguing to watch.

The eye power in this episode where those gazes alone spoke so much with no words neccessary - eg jacket scene, looking out on her being pelted (the telling wince) ...

GREAT JOB ==== THANKS yet again!

Required fields are marked *

28

July 17, 2009 at 11:00 PM

All I can say about scenes like this in K-Dramas is there seems an underlining bully in every Korean..not sure if it the school system or the older younger thing where if you younger you have to submit, and given a chance to bully someone they go all out. Also don't they have laws against assault? lol in k-drama such laws are only for the bad people it seems, the good guys never sue. Anyway I buzzed through most of it, just like I did with the same sort of scenes in boys before flowers. it not funny it just very unpleasant and ugly.

Required fields are marked *

29 bspanda

July 18, 2009 at 1:04 AM

Samsooki and team - you win. That's it - I am getting my DVD out right now and watching it. And please please please let the subs be decent. *fingers crossed*

Keep up the awesome recaps guys. Thank god it's the weekend. (Alias season 5 you'll just have to wait, besides I know S5 was not the best. You can't seem to compare to THIS.)

Required fields are marked *

30 doug

July 18, 2009 at 3:10 AM

Mi Rae is in no hurry to give that coat back,either. You'll see it in at least three more episodes in her posession.

Required fields are marked *

31 alodia

July 18, 2009 at 3:23 AM

Samsooki, I love your nicknames.
We have the "Baendaengis" and now we officially have "Mrs. Perky Evil " hahaha

------------------

"Note: is this another Jo Gook lesson to be learned? What does he gain by being a jerk?"

With all his jerk-iness on ep5, add this one and I so want to belive how deserving he is getting hit by Mi Rae on episode 4. But I think this is just one of his ways to gauge and see what more can Mi Rae do if she'll be pushed more and more.

------------------

While watching this episode (prior to Guk trying his jacket on Mi Rae's waist) I was so into Mi Rae - Soo In. Again, our Gukie has been a big jerk to Mi Rae since Ep5. And Soo In just made a very sweet comment about Mi Rae.

------------------
"Mi Rae asks if Boo Mi did anything that was illegal or against procedures. Apparently, Boo Mi, like everyone else at City Hall, is tainted."

Okay, okay. I agree. She's tainted as well - technically.
But damn Mrs. Perky Evil Joo Hwa!
Boo Mi might have skipped some procedures (in order to process Mi Rae's requests that the Public Service Center ignored - reference: Episode 1 - no spoiler right?). And received "thank you gifts" from the people she and Mi Rae helped. Apples from Kyung Hee's grandmother and milk from the owner of the grocery store. Damn Joo Hwa asking Boo Mi how much money was enclosed on the apple cases and milk cartons! She thinks everyone's like her (look out for Joo Hwa's actions in Episode 7)

------------------
"But someone IS watching. Jo Gook watches from his window, with a pained look on his face. What is he thinking? Why is he not doing anything? Do something!!"

Haha! Exactly! I was almost screaming "Do something!!!! For God's sake!"

++++++++++++++++++

In summary, on ep1 we decided to give this roller coaster a try and we line up for the tickets entertained by some funny posters they put up along the ticket booth. On ep 2 we started finding seats on the coasters - it looks like the roller coaster is nothing special, but let's try it anyway, we're here already. ep3 is when we fasten ourseatbelts and we heard the engine started (but god! it's getting boring, come on!), ep4 is when the roller coaster started moving. Thank God! Finally! Ep5 it started to pick up speed, those little kids who are easy to please are delighted already with the speed, the more experienced rider still looks for more. But it cannot be denied that ep6 is the first major loop for us in our roller coaster ride. It's beginning to be a fun ride. And while completing our major loop we were able to glimpse that a lot more complicated loops are on our way! More to come! Yey!

------------------

About the egg thing. It makes me sad evertime i re-watch this episode. But I'm telling myself this is just a drama.
However after watching the behind the scene and knowing what my dear dear Suna Unnie felt and seeing how she can't even move, I pity her so much it breaks my heart. I never had the courage to watch the BTS video again.

------------------

@11 Janie
"BTW, what’s that MR chewing on the first cap, is it dog bone, plastic fork or lolly… me trying to figure it out, me couldn’t stand that chewing, a lil bit irritated ;p"

It's dried squid - stripped.

EDIT: Oops Samsooki answered it already

------------------
@15 mememomo

"The dancing with the jacket scene was very nicely done and well written. One of the things I love about this drama is that there are so many moments that words were not necessary."

Agree! I think it's actually the reason why cityhallers love to analyse this drama so much.

"Bad Love" is being broadcasted in our country. My excuses to any Bad Love / KSW fans here. But we just love bashing it every night. What made me hate it are the never ending voice overs of the character's thoughts and feelings. Yeah right, thank you for spoon-feeding, I don't need to think anymore.

What I like with writer Kim Eun Sook is that she never spoon-fed us. She lets the actors express the emotions without the aid of dialogues (well if your actors are CSW and KSA, use them to your advantage my dear!). And she lets us, the viewers, discover things on our own. I like the way that she plotted things here and there, yet she never gave them away until the timing is right. I think that's clever.

------------------

@20 jessie b
"I'm almost tempted to copy it and make it into a book!"
- aigoo! no stealing of ideas! lol i already thought of doing that. :P

------------------

@22 celestialorigin

They are referring to Good Morning show (2009.07.08) It hasn't been subbed yet. I don't know if it's being streamed. Links to download the MQ/LQ video is in soompi (both city hall and kim sun ah thread). A dear cityhaller, szeying89, from city hall thread at soompi translated the interview from CH subbed to english. You can check that at the last pages of the city hall thread.

------------------

@23 meiko
"and I WOULD DEFINITELY DIE OF EMBARRASSMENT if JoGook would find me tenderly, lovingly dancing with his jacket!!!!! *I was literally holding my pillow on my face when i saw JoGook was actually there, looking at MiRae!!! Oh Shh*#T!!"

- Which reminds me, Mi Rae never found out that Jo Guk was watching her right?

------------------

@24 nycgirl
"2) How did her friends create that video montage? I didn't think they were around to get all that footage."

- that's a little loophole for nitpickers (like us hehe)...
dang! if her friends were there when she was being pelted with eggs, i'd rather have them rescue her than continue recording everything on camera - but then the result will be different. so i just let it pass. kekeke

------------------

I also like the part when she called the newspaper to inform them she'll be holding a press conference. When she said she is Ms.Baendaengi, the newspaper thought she's selling them Baendaengi. lol KSA's reaction was so Mi Rae.

-------------
Again thanks to Samsooki, plus 0timelost, cleown, and mead33's obsessions... hahaha (i like your credits on every episode Samsooki. You must come up with 14 more. I'm also looking forward to them - it makes me smile before reading the recaps proper)

Required fields are marked *

32 jastinel

July 18, 2009 at 3:24 AM

This is the episode that made me cried so many times and I fell in love with GUMI couple when JG was wrapping his jacket at MR waist, MR dancing with JG jacket.
The egg throwing scene makes me hate those men and I can`t watch the NG of that scene. It breaks my heart watching Suna getting hurt.

Required fields are marked *

33 simplesim

July 18, 2009 at 6:33 AM

GREAT recap! Thanks so much Samsooki, 0timelost, cleown, and mead33. Your insight and comments at the end is so goood! Also loved all the cityhallers views, all echoing how I feel but don't know how to put in words. I am so glad I am not the only one obsessed, I can't think of anything else. Practically living in CH thread. Thanks to Alodia and also JB.

Required fields are marked *

34 katwoman

July 18, 2009 at 8:10 AM

Thank you so much for your recap.

I guess I'm one of the few people who enjoyed myself throughout the first 5 episodes. Lots of giggles....since I love KSA and her sassiness.

Aaah...the jacket scenes...so romantic w/o being over the top.

@23 meiko
“and I WOULD DEFINITELY DIE OF EMBARRASSMENT if JoGook would find me tenderly, lovingly dancing with his jacket!!!!! *I was literally holding my pillow on my face when i saw JoGook was actually there, looking at MiRae!!! Oh Shh*#T!!”

Yes...exactly. But then the look in JG's eyes while he's watching is just to die for. CSW has the most expressive eyes.

Required fields are marked *

35 Janie

July 18, 2009 at 9:20 AM

@#31
alodia, we used to have the analogy of "firework" and now another one... love this down to earth analogy on the process of roller coaster ride, it's so fitting :) I am taking my time enjoying the ride... watching CH with BON sub - epi by epi in step with this recapping and everyone's fabulous insight!
Agree that this manuscript is a keeper.

As for the mouth watering cattlefish..., isn't kdrama usually associate it with soju, but where's the soju in MR's room, aish... no wonder I couldn't figure that chewy thing out ;p

Required fields are marked *

36 nycgrl

July 18, 2009 at 10:34 AM

@Alodia
- that’s a little loophole for nitpickers (like us hehe)…
dang! if her friends were there when she was being pelted with eggs, i’d rather have them rescue her than continue recording everything on camera

I agree that I prefer it to be a loophole since I would hate to think she had friends who were witnessing the bullying without helping her. However, little things like that tend to bother me because, though I can suspend reality when I'm engrossed in a story, it is the little things like that, that jerks me out of the story arc and I start analyzing the execution.

@Janie
As for the mouth watering cattlefish…

haha. I was totally stumped on what cattlefish was. A type of herring perhaps? maybe she meant catfish? Do koreans eat catfish? I don't remember any catfish scenes and then it hit me. Oh Cuttlefish!!! Haha so cute. I usually associate cuttlefish with beer but a lot of people chew on it when they are home and bored.

Required fields are marked *

37 pongs

July 18, 2009 at 10:38 AM

just to share my observation: soo-in's goatee bears a large resemblance to jo gook's goatee! was it done intentionally too?

Required fields are marked *

38 langdon813

July 18, 2009 at 10:53 AM

@alodia and nycgrl

****

“2) How did her friends create that video montage? I didn’t think they were around to get all that footage.”

- that’s a little loophole for nitpickers (like us hehe)…
dang! if her friends were there when she was being pelted with eggs, i’d rather have them rescue her than continue recording everything on camera – but then the result will be different. so i just let it pass. kekeke

****

I just fanwank that to Mi-rae's friends having obtained video footage at some point (from various other onlookers) to use in their vlog.

Required fields are marked *

39 Molly

July 18, 2009 at 5:16 PM

This is somewhat unrelated, but I was wondering if anyone knew where to find the opening sequence for City Hall - like, the part of the episode when the cast is introduced, theme song is played, etc. Thanks!

Required fields are marked *

40 MEIKO**** ^-^

July 18, 2009 at 5:31 PM

@36 nycgrl

re: cattlefish

LMAO! ^-^

Required fields are marked *

41 MEIKO**** ^-^

July 18, 2009 at 5:36 PM

@34 katwoman

LOL!!! I know...I saw his expression after I rewinded to that scene again.... and i was like, "aawwww..... look at the baby....wants to cry....."

Required fields are marked *

42 MEIKO**** ^-^

July 18, 2009 at 5:45 PM

@31 alodia

mmm.... nope she didnt find out.... too busy daydreaming to notice that obviously gleaming cool of a car parked behind that "sparse" bushes...... lol!!!!

....nor heard the ignition turning off and on (bet it's one of those with LOUD ignition...)....lol!!!!

Required fields are marked *

43 mzpakipot

July 18, 2009 at 6:00 PM

@Molly, here you go. Sorry, it's not HQ.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnGPzU1Nmmc

US version
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b68k56QUCpc

Required fields are marked *

44 alodia

July 18, 2009 at 6:16 PM

@42 meiko
no, i mean on later episodes. no right?

Required fields are marked *

45 katwoman

July 18, 2009 at 8:00 PM

@42 and @44
But she did notice the car drive by when Boo Mi pulled up in front of her house. She watched it go out of sight, so I think she suspects he was there, ne?

Required fields are marked *

46 omo

July 18, 2009 at 8:26 PM

Thanks Recap team.

Seriously, this is as good as watching the episode itself. I meant to watch Ep 6 before I post here, but my mom was admitted to the A&E, so I'll just have to post after reading the recaps without re-watching Ep 6.

Samsooki, I like your reference to Dramabeans.com. Wow, major brownie points. Not that that's going to get you anywhere closer to her Kang Jihwan. LOL!

I have said this before but I need to say it again. Jo Gook-BB scenes are so fascinating to watch. And you have to really read between the lines to figure out what each of them is thinking. And about the betrayal-jealousy bit, I'm wondering if BB is jealous of JG. BB sees that JG has everything going for him and might even beat BB to the Blue House. Something tells me it's not jealousy between JG-SooIn.

The egg throwing scene. JG was watching from the window with a pained look. A few seconds later, he, too, had to turn away because he could not continue watching. I thought those few seconds after he turned away were priceless. It was as though he was trying to find a way to get MR out of this mess. This was the moment where I thought I was going to reach into my screen to wring JG's neck! Anyway, with such a scene in his mind, I am sure it tormented him to no end. It's sweet revenge for being so mean to MR.

Oh. When MR was chewing on the cuttlefish, there was a post from anonymous asking if he/she (sounds more like a guy) could shelter MR from the "storms in her life". Dare I hope that the anonymous post was from JG?

“This girl is a friend of mine. She makes me so proud… Brat, fighting!”

(Note: If you aren’t tearing up as you watch this scene, you don’t have a heart. Seriously.)
Yep. Cried at least a bucket.

I'll come back to read some more as I'll have to head for the hospital in a bit. This is one of the ways I can give myself some ME time.

Required fields are marked *

47 dalisay

July 18, 2009 at 10:08 PM

thanks again for the recap... my eyes started to well up after reading this episode's summary... when i watched this episode, i already knew that she was going to be pelted with eggs so i thought it wouldn't affect me as much seeing as though i already knew what was going to happen.. boy, was i wrong... numerous scenes in this episode killed me... i've watched alot of dramas and none of them have moved to tears in the same way that this drama has... KSA and CSW both did brilliantly in this series...

Required fields are marked *

48 lot2x

July 19, 2009 at 1:01 AM

i really love your recap java!!!
excited to read your summary and all the cast of city hall ....

Required fields are marked *

49 Sueyip

July 19, 2009 at 2:44 AM

This is yet another beautifully written recap. Thanks samsooki and team. I really look forward to reading your fine work. You really moved me to tears. I do wonder
why JoGuk can be such a jerk - I really want to wipe away that smile on that face
when he refused to help Mirae. BUT, all were forgiven when he tied his jacket
around Mirae. I then wanted to give him a hug. That scene was so beautifully
filmed - boy, their eye contact speaks volumes. You can also notice the heavy
breathing from Mirae - her heart must be beating so fast then .... what fine acting
from both Suna and CSW - and that background music ..... wow!