Joseon Gunman: Episode 22 (Final)
by javabeans
Didja think yesterday mostly wrapped up the story, and today’s finale episode would merely be an epilogue? Well you’d be wrong, given how jam-packed with plot this hour is, providing us with a number of twists, turns, and noble sacrifices before we ultimately arrive at our conclusion. It feels good to reach the end of this turbulent road with a resolution that feels satisfying, in character, and hopeful all at once. Yoon-kang’s tenure with the coup may have been marked by sadness and setbacks, but there’s a reason he isn’t a political hero but a populist one.
Ratings-wise, the drama maintained a first-place ranking for almost all of its episodes and ended on a high point with 12.8%. It’s strange to think of 12.8% being a series high for a first-place show, but ratings, they ain’t what they once were. (Fated To Love You also wrapped up its run on MBC, drawing a 10.5% rating, while It’s Okay, It’s Love brought home a 9.4% for SBS.)
SONG OF THE DAY
Sohn Jin-young – “I’m Sorry” [ Download ]
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FINAL EPISODE RECAP
Yoon-kang and Soo-in finally have their peaceful reunion and look forward to their new lives together. Is it wrong of me to expect calamity at any moment? It’s too happy.
News spreads of the reforms with posted notices and flyers alerting the commoners that they no longer need to bow down to the aristocracy, and that their rice debts to the government have been canceled. The town storyteller regales excited crowds with his recounting: “All of the citizens are now the owners of Joseon!”
And then, an ominous sight appears in the distance: soldiers riding into town bearing Japanese flags. Yoon-kang and Soo-in race to the palace, only to find more troops stationed outside it.
Inside, they confront Kim Ok-kyun, who tells them this was arranged in advance. This is maddening, because he’d lied to them and gone behind their backs in negotiating with the Japanese. Kim reasons that it wasn’t a lie so much as a backup plan, for the good of the country.
Yoon-kang points out exactly what he’d pointed out when he opposed the idea the first time: When you involve foreign power in establishing a new government, your new government becomes beholden to that power. Hence, they’ve put themselves in Japan’s debt. Kim Ok-kyun replies (with shocking naivety—although perhaps it only seems naive in hindsight?) that Japan is merely helping them make progress.
Yoon-kang also makes the practical argument that the once the people hear that the revolution was dependent on Japanese might, the people will reject the new regime. Kim is tone-deaf to his concerns, so Yoon-kang has no choice but to decide, “Then I will leave. I will not work with you any further. This is not what I wanted.”
Kim Ok-kyun protests—the troops trust Yoon-kang as their leader, and his departure would spur theirs. He calls his choice an inevitable one, necessary to block the Chinese troops (who would have been called to support the old regime), and urges Yoon-kang to look past justifications to the reality of setting up their world. Which sounds like something Machiavelli would say.
But right away, a threat arises: The Japanese minister has acquiesced to the queen’s demands to be moved back to the old palace. They don’t have the manpower to fight off an attack at that palace, which is much more open than this one, and thus this is a huge risk to their coup. The Japanese minister tells them they’ll handle everything, but it’s hardly reassuring.
Kim Ok-kyun tries to damage-control by putting the king and queen in the palace’s smallest building. That sort of feels like plugging up a leaking dam with gum, doesn’t it? In this state of emergency, he pleads with Yoon-kang to stick around at least until the danger passes.
The king and queen receive a visit from the prime minister, to whom the queen gives a “gift.” Based on the way the queen tenses when a subordinate checks the gift, I’m betting there’s much more to this than a mere ornament.
As soon as the prime minister leaves, the queen tells Gojong that the Chinese armies will be on their way soon—she slipped a message inside requesting aid. Gojong is shocked at her maneuver, but she argues that they cannot leave the country to be taken over by rebels.
Choi Won-shin sits numbly at his daughter’s funeral altar, listening stoically to the report on the aftermath of the coup. He orders Sung-gil to send out messages that those who don’t pay a condolence visit for Hye-won will be endangering their own lives. But he seems more lost than angry.
Understanding his frustration with the coup’s handling, Soo-in tells Yoon-kang that if he chooses to leave, she will follow. Yoon-kang replies that he wants to leave, but it would feel as though nothing changed if he did so now. So he’ll stay just until the situation stabilizes, and then leave. Soo-in takes his hand and promises to wait with him.
As feared, it doesn’t take long for the people to feel disgust over the situation and reject the reforms. Soon Chinese troops arrive in the city as well, and the queen haughtily informs Soo-in that their revolution ends today.
The Japanese soldiers face off against the approaching Chinese forces, and initial gunfire breaks out. Yet out of nowhere the Japanese minister orders a retreat, leaving the Koreans flabbergasted. Orders from Japan have changed, and now the army is withdrawing.
With their leaders stunned speechless, the Joseon troops look around in confusion, and some soldiers bolt along with the retreating Japanese army. Yoon-kang takes the lead and starts issuing orders, then identifies their priority as guarding the king and queen. Ho-kyung takes command of the front line just as the Chinese army begins its assault.
The defense is pathetic, however, and the Kaehwa rebels are far outnumbered. Ho-kyung has to order a retreat, and the Chinese army advances inside the palace walls.
Yoon-kang urges Sang-chu to seek shelter, but Sang-chu refuses to leave him, saying that he needs to fight for a better world for his family’s sake. Oh no, he’s gonna die, isn’t he? He argues that he would have died back in Japan anyway, if not for Yoon-kang saving him. Therefore it’s his fate to stay with him till the end.
By the time Ho-kyung joins them, their numbers have dwindled to almost nothing—it’s only a matter of time before the Chinese reach the king and queen. If they don’t flee now, they’ll all die. Yoon-kang assents, heading back inside to retrieve Soo-in.
On the way in, he encounters his two Kaehwa leaders, who have decided to flee to Japan and urge Yoon-kang to accompany them. Yoon-kang is horrified that Kim Ok-kyun would abandon the soldiers fighting outside on his orders, but Kim declares the rebellion a failure and beats a hasty retreat. What a crushing disillusionment for one you’ve called Teacher all these years.
Yoon-kang collects Soo-in and they rejoin their friends outside, but their escape is interrupted when Sang-chu gets shot in the leg. Urging the other two on first, Yoon-kang insists on staying behind, even when Sang-chu tells Yoon-kang to go on without him lest they both die.
Sang-chu asks Yoon-kang for a favor in naming his child. Yoon-kang doesn’t like hearing him talk that way and urges him to talk about it once they’ve both escaped, then turns to face the wall of incoming soldiers, ready to single-handedly take them on. Sang-chu knows that his friend will never give up on him and makes up his mind. Before Yoon-kang can stop him, he charges straight toward the enemy line, gun blazing.
Sang-chu takes down several soldiers before he’s shot down himself, riddled with bullets.
Enraged, Yoon-kang fires furiously at the enemy, aided by Ho-kyung, who returns to back him up. The two of them do an admirable job holding back the enemy, enough to give Yoon-kang time to retrieve Sang-chu’s body, but it’s a losing battle. Ho-kyung forces him to make their escape before they’re trapped.
Soon afterward, it’s all over. The Chinese general reports to the king and queen, who sigh in relief.
Outside, Yoon-kang is still reeling from the shock of everything. I’m glad they have Ho-kyung to be the level head, and he tells them that Soo-in’s family will be in danger now that the coup failed, so going there is their first concern.
Thankfully, they get there before any authorities do. Her mother takes the news in stride, saying that she was happy for a brief moment to see the world Soo-in and her father dreamed of. She sends Soo-in off with her blessing, telling her that she can take this opportunity to go to China and see the world. “Do not worry about me,” her mother says. “I will live on, wherever I go. So you must stay alive, too. Live on, and one day return to me as my daughter.”
Choi Won-shin receives word of the failed rebellion, which revives him—he heads out immediately, determined to claim his payback.
Our fugitive trio makes it as far as the city wall, but find their exit blocked by soldiers, who are on high alert for the rebels. Making things worse, they spot Choi patrolling with his men, and in running away, Choi spots them and fires.
The bullet lands in Soo-in’s shoulder, and she goes down. Yoon-kang manages to carry Soo-in out of the line of fire and they seek shelter inside a house, which is quickly surrounded by Choi’s men and soldiers. Our guys know that the situation is looking grim, and Yoon-kang decides he’ll play decoy to let them escape. Ho-kyung stops him, though, saying that he’ll do it. And knowing that they’ll protest, he uses the only logic that would work: that if the goal is to save Soo-in, then Yoon-kang is the only one who can do it.
“I have nothing more to lose,” Ho-kyung says. “My father, the new world—there is nothing more for me to protect. I came this far for you two, so leave this to me.”
When Yoon-kang stubbornly argues that they should escape together, Ho-kyung says, “I’m asking you as a favor. Take Soo-in away. And the dream I could not fulfill—the two of you must do it. I know too well that in this kind of situation, remaining alive is even harder than dying. But the two of you must live on. That alone will be a great solace to me.”
Choi Won-shin bursts through the gates and leads his men in, searching the house for sign of Yoon-kang. Ho-kyung shoots his way out of the courtyard and makes his way out to the street. Soldiers spot him and chase him through the city, and while Ho-kyung fends them off with gunfire for a while, ultimately he’s trapped. Bullets rip into him, and he goes down.
With everyone chasing Ho-kyung, Yoon-kang slips out of the unguarded house carrying Soo-in. Hearing the gunfight in the distance, they pause and shed a tear, knowing Ho-kyung has fallen.
Choi Won-shin sees that the corpse is not who he’s looking for, returns to the house, and sees that Yoon-kang was there. But he’s gone now, and Choi howls in frustration.
Yoon-kang has difficulty navigating the streets because of all the officers on patrol, but thankfully it’s the friendly ones who find him: Officer Moon and Jung-hoon clear his path, providing escort to the city gates with the explanation that the king has given the order to allow them to leave.
That allows them to exit, but Yoon-kang is confused at the change of heart. Officer Moon replies that he is no longer the king’s man, having realized Yoon-kang was right about the king not protecting Joseon. Jung-hoon hands him his gun and asks him to survive.
Yoon-kang and Soo-in travel on foot to the cave where they’d once spent the night, and pause to rest. Soo-in is in bad shape and appears to be fading, so Yoon-kang is forced to dig out the bullet with a knife, which is excruciating work. He manages to fish it out, but Soo-in asks tearfully, “Will we be able to survive? To live enough for everyone who died for us?”
He holds her close and says, “We will. It will be difficult, but we must live on till the end, enough for them as well.” I would say this isn’t quite the time for a makeout session, but given their dire circumstances, maybe they should take what they can, while they can.
Soo-in makes it through the night, and in the morning is improved enough to be cause for relief. They decide to drop by the temple to check on Yeon-ha and Je-mi, but when they arrive they hear that troops forced their way in and dragged everybody off, including the monks. Eep!
Yoon-kang tells Soo-in to stay here while he rescues the others. But there are only fifteen minutes left!
Maybe he’s feeling impatient too, because Yoon-kang charges right into the path of a troop transporting the captives, and fires away. Some fall and others run away, and as he frees the people, the little boy he rescued picks up weapons from a fallen soldier. It’s his turn to protect his noonas, he says.
The party makes it back to the temple safe and sound in the morning, and the reunion is happy. It’s a sadder moment, though, when Yoon-kang has to tell Je-mi of Sang-chu’s fate, and how he died fighting for the better world he wanted for his family.
This also gives his enemies another clue; Choi Won-shin hears of the gunman who showed up in the middle of the night and races to track him down. This takes him all the way to the temple, just in time to see Yoon-kang’s group heading away, and they give chase. Yoon-kang sees them off in the distance and speeds their pace, but they can hear Choi screaming threats after him.
Yoon-kang pauses when Choi issues a challenge to meet one-on-one, with the promise to let his people go unharmed in exchange. Soo-in pleads with him not to leave, and Yoon-kang agrees despite being torn.
But that night, an arrow flies into Choi’s camp with a note tied to it. In the morning, the ladies wake up to find him gone, with a note left in his place. In it, he apologizes for breaking his promise and going off alone, but explains that this is a fight he cannot avoid—it’s necessary in finally ending his and Choi’s tie of misfortune.
“I will not leave you to endure pain or loneliness on your own anymore,” he writes. “I will return to your side. So please, wait for me. Without any worry, without any sadness, let us meet again.”
Yoon-kang meets Choi Won-shin in the appointed spot. They face off with their guns in hand, out in the open, and slowly prepare to begin the gunfight. Choi is first to cock his gun, but Yoon-kang shoots faster, nailing him in the leg.
In pain but not out, Choi musters his strength, then reloads and goes for another shot. Again Yoon-kang is faster, his bullet landing in the shoulder this time. Choi falls down, and Yoon-kang walks right up to him, this time pointing the gun at his head.
“Shoot,” Choi spits at him. Yoon-kang hesitates. Choi asks if he’s afraid, taunting him even at the last.
“How pitiful your life is,” Yoon-kang says. “And how very futile.” Choi screams at him to shoot, but Yoon-kang asks, “What does killing you now change? The dead won’t come back to life, and time that has passed cannot be turned back.”
He lowers his gun and declares, almost fiercely, “I will forgive you now. I will no longer live thinking of you. Revenge only leaves you empty in the end—you will realize this.”
And with that, Yoon-kang turns around and walks away.
Raging futilely, Choi Won-shin pulls out a small gun—Hye-won’s pistol—and lifts it to his temple. Yoon-kang hears the shot, and continues forward.
He makes it back to his family, finally free.
A few years later.
It’s a peaceful day in a mountain village, where several women (including Soo-in and Je-mi) are serving food to a line of people. Soo-in is offered a small bouquet of flowers, and looks up in surprise—it’s Yoon-kang, all growed up and sporting facial hair, who pays her a compliment and shares a flirty moment with her. It’s sweet how they haven’t lost that lovin’ feelin’.
He’s heading out on yet another mission to fight on behalf of mistreated farmers; it appears that he’s become a vigilante hero in the years we’ve missed (dare I say, an Iljimae?).
Soo-in asks him to be careful, and he reminds her that he’s no longer alone in the fight. We see that he now commands a small army of citizens, who rally behind him as he speaks of the corrupt officials they must punish next.
He smiles up at Je-mi, her son, and Soo-in, and then embarks on his next rescue mission. His target receives warning that “that man, the people’s gunman, the Black Gunman of the Full Moon” is on his way, and that strikes terror into his heart, as well as hope into the hearts of those suffering abuse at his hands.
And the fight goes on.
COMMENTS
So much dying! At least this is the kind of story where deaths mean something, and every loss we suffered today had its place in the bigger picture, culminating in our heroes’ existential questioning of whether they would be able to live up to those sacrifices.
So it’s fitting that everyone on our heroes’ team died for their cause, either for the Big Ideological Cause such as the coup, or a personal one, or a mixture of the two. They were all affecting in their own ways, such as Sang-chu going down even though he had every reason to run and save his neck, as Yoon-kang wanted him to do. But in a lovely harking back to their backstory, Sang-chu essentially delivers his life into Yoon-kang’s hands because Yoon-kang was the one to win it back in the first place. It’s an echo of Kanemaru’s sacrifice as well, and one side effect of these sacrifices is to highlight Yoon-kang’s own nobility—he’s the leader who could inspire such devotion, even when he’s arguing against it.
Of the deaths, Ho-kyung’s struck me the most today (although Choi Won-shin also had a moving moment of despair), and not just because he made a noble sacrifice. His character was never as active as I wanted it to be, but he was a steadfast emblem of tragic idealism, always caught between the two sides that meant the most to him, and ultimately losing both. (His father and his dream, that is.) He had long since given up hope of winning Soo-in’s love, so it’s fitting that he go out protecting hers—and entrusting the tatters of his dream to people who might have a chance of seeing it bear fruit.
I’m not surprised that the Kaehwa leaders turned tail and escaped to save their own necks, but I am satisfied with the way this was worked into Yoon-kang’s development as a tool in the coup and then rejecter of it. I was pleased with the way the drama has skillfully woven history into its narrative and maintained a nice balance between hitting the main factual points without losing focus of the fact that this drama has its own narrative throughline, and that it should take care not to depart too far from our hero’s trajectory. It was rather clever how the show made Yoon-kang the driver of the coup’s good ideas, while absolving him of responsibility for its failure because he was undermined by his own cohorts.
You get the sense that had he and Soo-in been able to plan the thing themselves, they would have prevailed—or, to see it from the flipside, if they were going to fail either way, at least this way you have somebody to blame for it. It’s ironic that the Kaehwa scholars were so full of righteous nobility against the corrupt Sugu officials, but in trying to play the game, they compromised part of their ideals—and the thing is, you can’t compromise just a little part and still get to claim you’re completely noble. Once you play dirty, you give up the right to stand on your high horse, and Yoon-kang doesn’t cut anybody any slack for being mostly well-intentioned.
So I’m happy—impressed, even—with the way the writing played with the coup and built it into Yoon-kang’s story, and preserved his character’s moral code while pitting him with the failed rebels’ side. It’s a tricky thing when you put your hero on the losing team, but Yoon-kang was never as entrenched in the Kaehwa politics as the others, not even as much as Soo-in was. That’s why I enjoy his resolution, where he’s most effective as the vigilante hero of the people, completely divorced from court or philosophy or politics. He’s best being apolitical, delivering justice by the one code that matters to him: Do you treat people fairly or don’t you?
Overall, Joseon Gunman wasn’t quite the exciting thrill ride I was hoping it would be, because it never quite hit its beats as sharply and smartly as it could have. That’s too bad, because it really had the potential to be an extraordinary show, rather than one that was merely good. And I recognize that being “merely good” is a lot better than a lot of shows, and that there’s unfairness in holding it to a higher standard than lesser-quality stuff out there just because it had a higher ceiling for potential. But you can’t help it when you’re so ready to love something wholeheartedly and only half of your heart makes it.
That said, once I got past my disappointed hopes—and you really have to let that go, at a certain point—Joseon Gunman was an entertaining experience, and I felt like this was an instance where recapping the show enhanced my enjoyment of it. It allowed me to see how the writing was building on itself, and I appreciated where it was going even when I felt like it wasted some moments in being plodding when it didn’t need to be. At the end of the day, though, you’ve gotta judge a show for what it was, rather than what you wanted it to be, and even on those merits I feel pretty satisfied. You can’t deny it was a gorgeous show to look at, every frame of the way, with lovely scoring and nuanced villains and solid acting from most of the cast, most of the time. (Yes, I do think there were some gaps.) But as a whole, it was a solid ride—maybe a cut below exciting, but it gets points for consistency and character. And Lee Jun-ki.
RELATED POSTS
- Joseon Gunman: Episode 21
- Joseon Gunman: Episode 20
- Joseon Gunman: Episode 19
- Joseon Gunman: Episode 18
- Joseon Gunman: Episode 17
- Joseon Gunman: Episode 16
- Joseon Gunman: Episode 15
- Joseon Gunman: Episode 14
- Joseon Gunman: Episode 13
- Joseon Gunman: Episode 12
- Joseon Gunman: Episode 11
- Joseon Gunman: Episode 10
- Joseon Gunman: Episode 9
- Joseon Gunman: Episode 8
- Joseon Gunman: Episode 7
- Joseon Gunman: Episode 6
- Joseon Gunman: Episode 5
- Joseon Gunman: Episode 4
- Joseon Gunman: Episode 3
- Joseon Gunman: Episode 2
- Joseon Gunman: Episode 1
Tags: featured, Joseon Gunman, Lee Jun-ki, Nam Sang-mi
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1 liny
September 4, 2014 at 8:37 PM
Thanks a lot for the recaps, Javabeans! To my surprise, Lee JUN KI's kiss scene suddenly improved a lot, haha...
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Camille
September 5, 2014 at 3:37 AM
I watched this until all episodes were uploaded and went on marathon viewing just so I could follow through with the story. I don't need to analyze or mull over what ifs and what nots, I just let it entertain me afterall, I watched this for Lee jun Ki, yes, Lee Jun Ki with his beautiful eyes and most charming smile. Everything else about this kdrama is just a sidedish. Props to Choi won shin (played by actor Yu Oh Seoung) he should be this year's Best Villain.
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Awe
September 5, 2014 at 7:17 PM
anyone else glad this drama is over? i really can't understand the high ratings. such a frustrating yawn-fest of quite a few rookie actors.
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AweAwe
September 6, 2014 at 5:33 AM
I really can't understand the negative comment. Such an exciting visual treat with fantastic fighting scenes and excellent acting all round.
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Fun-Lugha
September 5, 2014 at 10:28 PM
Gawsh he is such a bad kisser! He should take lessons from his hoobaes...Kim Soo Hyun, Joo Won-heck even that little boy Yoo Seung Ho kisses way better! Still love u LJK!
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August
September 16, 2014 at 6:25 AM
Lee Jun Ki Reminisces Kiss Scene With Nam Sang Mi on “The Joseon Gunman”
http://www.soompi.com/2014/09/16/lee-jun-ki-reminisces-kiss-scene-with-nam-sang-mi-on-joseon-gunman/
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2 Patoi
September 4, 2014 at 8:47 PM
Thank you Javabeans for recapping Joseon Gunman. I love this drama very much with its flaws and everything.
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nisa
September 4, 2014 at 9:25 PM
yes... i agree with you. i love the show just as it is. when there are more average quality dramas (be it in writing, directing, and acting) out there, JG is a show which has its own standard. i think this show approach the viewers with its own way, this is the story that makes you feel grow along with them, none of the characters is perfect but in the end i understand why they're not written to be perfect. Even Yoon Kang has his flaws. This show makes me learn more about human characters. They make Yoon Kang a hero, a hero for people but not superhero. This is well written, well directed, and well acted show. Thank you Lee Jun-ki for choosing this drama.
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liny
September 4, 2014 at 9:59 PM
Agree! Yoon-gang is in the losing team, but he didn't lose his luster at the end. He is grown to be a real hero not just a super hero! What a happy, curing and thoughtful ending! It really make a difference... Love it!
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3 jwspazz
September 4, 2014 at 8:51 PM
And Lee Jun-ki. enough said ! :D
goodbye Joseon Gunman.. :(
and welcome Iron Man.. errr.. errr..
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4 laraffinee
September 4, 2014 at 9:05 PM
Meh....an ok ending. The last scene with Choi was so out of character. Choi is a survivor- no way he would take his own life, even if he is grieving for his daughter. He would have shot Yoon-Kang, just because. The writer just decided to sweeten it up and do a lazy out of character move. Oh, yeah..the writer did that a lot in this drama......
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fgb4877
September 4, 2014 at 9:12 PM
He was a survivor because he had someone precious to look for. Once he lost that precious person, everything turned futile.
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D
September 5, 2014 at 4:31 AM
yea, his entire battle was to rise up and high standard life with his daughter. he would do anything to maintain his status and wealth after all the things he and his daughter went through. but when he lost his daughter, his fight became meaningless. and i think even he realizes at that point that killing yoon kang wouldnt mean anything, cause either way he wouldnt be able to continue living.
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laraffinee
September 5, 2014 at 10:22 AM
I think it would be much more in character if Choi shot Yoon-Kang, perhaps even non-fatally, before shooting himself. Of course he was devastated by the death of this daughter and his role in it, but he hates Yoon-Kang so much..no way that he wouldn't have taken at least a gratuitous shot at him.
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Awe
September 5, 2014 at 7:22 PM
well said. invested a lot of time in this drama and the ending was a warp speed mash-up of questionable behavior.
...all this for Lee Jun Ki's kiss? i want my 22+ hours back.
wah.
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Christina
September 6, 2014 at 2:33 AM
too bad for u then.
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mm
September 5, 2014 at 10:41 PM
The words Yoon Kang delivered to Choi at the end were more hurtful and meaningful for him than getting a shot in the head. He had nothing, shooting Yoon Kang wouldn't get his beloved daughter back so he chose to end his own misery instead.
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August
September 9, 2014 at 10:20 AM
I agree with you about their final meeting and the dialogue of words exchanged between them:
Choi Won-Shin: Shoot me now. Why? Are you afraid? Does it hurt you to kill me?
Park Yoon-Kang: Your life is...pitiful. It's all vain...
Won-Shin: Enough with the nonsense and just shoot me. I don't want your pity.
Yoon-Kang: You're also a pitiful man who was born in the wrong time. Tragedy created in the country of Joseon...
Won-Shin: Shoot!
Yoon-Kang: What's going to change if I kill you now? The dead won't come back alive...and the time that has passed can't be turned back. I'm going to forgive you now. I won't keep you in my heart anymore. You'll also realize...that revenge only leaves behind futility.
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5 cupkate
September 4, 2014 at 9:07 PM
Aww thank you javabeans for sticking to the show till the end. I would not have enjoyed Joseon Gunman without your recaps, with the shows flaws and all here we are to the conclusion which felt really really satisfying. I was so afraid Yoon Kang and Soo In would not be able to get out of this alive but thankfully, they did. Argh..next week no more Lee Jun Ki?
And yes, that was one hot kiss.
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6 fgb4877
September 4, 2014 at 9:10 PM
I think it was good, but the antagonists were way more developed than the heroes. On the other part, it was as I expected: Yoon-Kang got a happy ending, but the country stayed all the same (Kaenwha idealists lost the opportunity to change the country, and Korea was developed by outsiders in the form of a still hurting invasion). The Sugus won in the short therm, and in doing so, they lost in the long run, as Korean monarchy did.
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love ur ddong
September 22, 2015 at 7:53 PM
Well, the writers can't do anything about that because if they made it as a happy ending for the whole country, people will start complaining about how it's not really realistic. So then they will be criticized from the people in Korea...
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7 Arhazivory
September 4, 2014 at 9:16 PM
Thanks for the great recaps. I found the ending very satisfying and overall I enjoyed this drama. Jun Ki being hot was a definite plus too.....hmmmm, he needs to rest up then come back on my screen.
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8 mysterious
September 4, 2014 at 9:20 PM
Well Kim Ok-kyun's character turned out to be a total jerk and spineless. And they made the queen seem power-hungry, like all she cared about was her own power, but reading the history it seemed like she had a better reputation than that. Gojong was just pathetic. I knew from history that the coup had failed but I was concerned that Yoon-kang and Soo-in would die for being traitors. I'm glad they survived and got their happy ending (marriage, too, considering Soo-in's hairstyle). So all in all a satisfactory ending. And OMG Lee Jun-ki looked so good with the long hair. Then again he's Lee Jun-ki so he pretty much looks good ALL the time.
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Cheryl
September 6, 2014 at 12:01 AM
Far too many historical dramas commit the sin of making history and historical figures conform to their whims and desires, rather than the other way around. It's one of my biggest pet peeves.
I'm glad there was a happy ending as well, and I concur wholheartedly with everything you said about LJK. He could make a filthy wrinkled burlap sack look like high fashion.
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9 Cocoboo
September 4, 2014 at 9:23 PM
The show's over and now I'm left wanting to see Lee Jun Ki act in another drama. ;-;
My tears fell when Ho Kyung told Soo In and Yoon Kang to escape while he lured the soldiers away. We all knew he wasn't going to make it.
His speech about having nothing left and only wanting SI + YK to stay alive broke me.
I was nervous when Yoon Kang turned his back and walked away from a still living Choi Won Shin, but I'm relieved about the outcome.
Choi Won Shin's suicide didn't even stir me except for the fact that he used Hye Won's gun.
In the end, I'm glad that Soo In and Yoon Kang survived.
They have gathered a new community of people, fighting for justice and punishing the corrupt nobles. (Reminded me of the bandits in Mandate of Heaven... ^^)
Oh, and it was cool seeing Lee Jun Ki in so many different looks! I chuckled when I saw him with his long hair. He looked awesome.
I feel content about the show overall, but it didn't have a thrilling end.
However, your analysis of this episode and of this whole drama was thought-provoking and insightful, javabeans. Thank you.
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10 mysterious
September 4, 2014 at 9:28 PM
Oh I forgot to mention: I'm glad they took the little orphan boy (from the mines) with them. He didn't have a major role but I liked how he became one of them. And Choi was one of the most complex villains I have seen in a long time. He was one of those characters you just love to hate and yet felt pity for at times as well. Great acting from Yoo Oh-sung. He and LJK were the best.
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11 Pearl~ai88
September 4, 2014 at 9:38 PM
Just dropped in to see how well the ending resolved everything (haven't been watching for a while) and had my mind blown by bearded, mane of glory LJK. It's a totally new look for him and really awesomely epic :D Sooo... yeah that's what I got out of this show, lol!
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12 Jira Panmanee
September 4, 2014 at 10:04 PM
Thank you very much for the recap. I enjoy this drama from the beginning and has gotten to like LJK a lot. You recap help me to understand a lot more about Korean Drama as a new comer. Will always follow your work. All the best.
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13 Lulla
September 4, 2014 at 10:07 PM
Thx Javabeans for the recaps!
I agree.with u that JG has high potential to become extraordinary, sadly it's just good. And being 'good' is definitely better than being average. A satisfying ending makes up for lots of flaws that it has and the things that I especially enjoy are the characters and story consistencies, and how it includes real history and make some twist out of it. In those case, JG has done really well. The story is creative but maintains itself from the original framework.
I praise YK as the hot headed fighter who grows from a regular young man into a noble, wiser, heroic, and still emotional guy. I salute LJK a lot for this, and dunno whether other actor can make YK's alive as electric as he does. Other characters are also well-played. All problems are solved, even SI's mother gets a satisfactionary ending. If only..if only the writers could have done better on the flaws and the repeitive plots in the middle part of the show.
Well, for me, JG is one show that I will gladly rewatch. Despite everything, LJK himself is a big plus and help me overcome the parts that I dont like in the show.
Thans Javabeans for the recaps. It's been a tough ride :)
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14 Lin_K
September 4, 2014 at 10:32 PM
Thank you Javabeans for recapping this series!! I enjoyed this drama!! I am glad it ended well. At the same time, I'm sad I will have to wait another year to see LJK again :(
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15 sher
September 4, 2014 at 11:28 PM
What happend with Yeon Ha?
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Arhazivory
September 5, 2014 at 12:12 AM
She's somewhere in the background because they couldn't 'age' her.
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16 dfwkimchi
September 5, 2014 at 3:54 AM
Thanks for recapping this series JB!
This is one show that i found quite a few episodes that are so tension filled that i had a hard time watching as it retches up my pulse!
It was interesting and after just watching KUNDO: The age of rampange movie this past weekend - I see a recurring pattern of the downtrotten raising up in rebellion in Josean history.
Enjoyed the characters - cast n crew - thank u!
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17 Diy
September 5, 2014 at 4:43 AM
i like how the writer successfully embedded the historical aspect into the storyline. i was at first worried how they are going to write yoon kang character after putting him in the 'coup' team.
and unexpectedly ho kyung death managed to make me shed tears T.T
and lee jun ki always and forever best actor!
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18 Wag_a_Muffin
September 5, 2014 at 5:08 AM
Yes. Thank you for the recaps. I stopped watching early, just because this show frustrated me so much. (I wanted it to be too good, I guess.) But I did come here and read what was happening. And if they made a sequel about what happened to him afterwards--living as a "hero," I'd watch that one. (Or at least try to.)
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19 Thursdaynexxt
September 5, 2014 at 8:15 AM
Thanks for the finale recaps, jb!
Overall, I think they did a good job and didn't go overboard with the distraction of politics or delving into too many side characters' stories.
That said, I'm so thankful that Officer Moon and Jung-hoon survived! (but oh, poor Ho-kyung...)
I'll remember this drama most for Choi Won Shin, the most intriguing villain I've seen in a long time, and Best Bad Daddy of the year!
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20 Christina
September 5, 2014 at 8:31 AM
LEE. JOON. GI.
S.U.P.E.R.B.
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21 Bellina
September 5, 2014 at 8:35 AM
LJK are truly a great, great actor. I really think he has a strong chance on winning the Daesang at Kbs Drama Awards!
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22 CaroleMcDonnell
September 5, 2014 at 9:06 AM
Thans so much for recapping this. I really liked this drama. Glad I committed and stuck with it.
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23 Thursdaynexxt
September 5, 2014 at 6:35 PM
It was just what I needed after Sword and Flower! Honestly, for a while, I thought I was allergic to sageuks!
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24 August
September 5, 2014 at 7:37 PM
Thanks for recapping Javabeans! Your final thoughts are a perfect summation of Joseon Gunman - Right on! :)
Yes indeed, overall the strengths (cinematography, nuanced villians, interweaving of history and the era with the drama's characters and narrative, and strong performances by the actors) of Joseon Gunman far outweigh its weaknesses (plodding and assured excitement week in and week out).
The Father/Daughter relationship of Choi Won-Shin and Choi Hye-Won and the backstory of their journey from former slaves to merchants was compelling, movingly poignant, and tragic.
Loyalty & Self-Sacrifice:
* Sang-chu (1) aware of how important the fight for freedom (from slavery and basic human rights) is and what it means for future generations (2) devoted to the cause he believed in - Joseon's New World of possibilities (3) died heroically before the birth of his unborn son.
* Kim Ho-Kyung (1) lonely life filled with idealism (2) strained father/son relationship due to illegitimacy and opposing beliefs (2) father killed (3) disillusionment with the cause (coup).
*A certain amount of solace in the fact that at least Han Jung-Hoon and Moon Il-Do survived.
Not Good Enough?
"You will never be good enough for everybody, but you will always be good enough for someone who really appreciates you." ~Unknown
“Failure after long perseverance is much grander than never to have a striving good enough to be called a failure.” ~George Eliot
"Sometimes your best isn't good enough." ~Kersten Hamilton
"Some times your best effort just isn't good enough." ~Lebron James
Lee Jun Ki and Nam Sang Mi give their farewell greetings to viewers of 'Joseon Gunman'
http://www.allkpop.com/article/2014/09/lee-jun-ki-and-nam-sang-mi-give-their-farewell-greetings-to-viewers-of-joseon-gunman
The Joseon Gunman [aka The Joseon Gunman, The Joseon/Chosun Shooter, Gunfighter of Joseon, & Gunman in Joseon]
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mm
September 5, 2014 at 10:54 PM
I love your "not good enough?" section. Or course there were flaws, and I think those were more a product of the infamous live shoot system and the lack of TV time (only 22 episodes weren't enough); for instance, I wanted to watch Soo In learning how to handle explosives and preparing a bomb in the mine (she was actually in charge but that never got a single scene), how she became a scholar; how Yoon Kang learnt to shoot... so many good stories that will remain in my imagination.
Despite those things the story was very well managed and I love the main characters. Yoon Kang wasn't the perfect hero and Soo In wasn't the perfect lady just waiting for her master to come, on that I'm glad the story didn't follow the two stereotype roles for women: damsel in distress or tomboy; she wasn't none and that actually made me happy. And of course, watching Lee Joon Gi is always a pleasure, at least for me.
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25 cyan
September 6, 2014 at 12:35 AM
I was praying throughout that Soo In will not die. My heart dropped when she got shot. All the dying scenes were heartbreaking- Hye Won, Sang Chu, Ho Kyung, and Choi Won Shin.
I'm quite satisfied with the ending and the drama overall. There were some boring moments, but the this episode was filled with intensity and it totally made up for it.
Thanks DB for recapping this! :D :D :D Time to find a new drama to watch wheeeee~
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26 maymay
September 7, 2014 at 6:53 AM
Ah..so much deaths in this episode. I will gladly admit that I liked JG but didn't actually loved it. But I am happy that the pretty and the plot were consistent from beginning to end. Kudos to JunKi for selecting another solid outing. And well till the next good sageuk comes along then.
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27 Alyssa
September 8, 2014 at 12:16 AM
HO-KYUNGGGGGGG.
/flips table
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28 Yllejord
September 8, 2014 at 3:34 PM
I agrre with the last two paragraphs of your commends.
I thought this was a great last episode. It did made watching the series worth it. It wasn't what the posters and the teasers made me expect, perhaps, but I enjoyed it.
I'm going to miss it.
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29 Yllejord
September 9, 2014 at 1:47 AM
Oh, oh, and I want a Joseon Gunman II ^_^
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30 Mercy
September 9, 2014 at 3:46 PM
I so much love u lee jun ki and nam sang mi...best couple of d year...kisses, can't wait to c u in anoda movie lee jun ki...My best actor.
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31 kaiaraia
September 11, 2014 at 3:53 PM
Thanks for the recaps JB! Im so with you when you said it had so much potential to be great. Such as the "pathethic" defense you mentioned. Which reminded me of an earlier question I had. Was this show low budget? Two glaring instances: (1) the king's hall was so small only 1-2 rows of officials and their backs are already near the wall. The Sugus secret was far wider they could sit. :-) and (2) too few an army, even if they were speaking of just hundreds you only see a handful. What a pity. Anyways, I still enjoyed the story and the acting, and the cinematography too. :-)
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32 donna
September 13, 2014 at 8:32 AM
I love leejunki. Watch this drama because of him. He never disappointed me. Thanks for recaps.
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33 gasenadi
September 15, 2014 at 8:50 PM
Thanks, javabeans, for completing this drama's recaps. Always a joy to read what dramabeans has to say about a drama.
I marathoned JG and do not regret it. I appreciated the more recent bit of Joseon history (I swear, I'm reading more about Korean history than about my own, and NOT only on the internet - BOOKS!) Just fascinating. I almost couldn't watch the last two episodes because of the "crushing disillusion" I felt with the failed coup - sort of par for the course in sageuks. Whenever a kdrama character wants to "change the world for the better", you can bet it will fail. I know this but that doesn't make it easier to stomach, for me.
In general, LJK's dramas are solid pieces that hold my interest throughout. Here, the supporting cast was GREAT! The last episodes, every time Sang Choo or Ho Kyung had scenes, I'd choke up. Of course, the father/mother team was superbly handled by superb actors.
The scene I'll never forget, tho, is when Gojong "requests" that YK work with his father's murderer "for the good of Joseon". GAAAH! I had to pause and pace around the house for awhile, sobbing. It still brings tears of indignation to my eyes.
Oh! I almost forgot! KUDOS to Lee Min Woo as the Wimpy King. I sooo loved him in Princess' Man. He really owned this character, right down to his stooped body unable to carry the weight of his crown and his vacant expression of defeat.
Now, if only Queen Insoo would get subtitled so I could see (and understand) Jun Hye Bin again. *sigh*
Gracias, javabeans!
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34 Ennayra
September 27, 2014 at 2:45 PM
So I wasn't super attached to Ho-kyung until this last episode where I really didn't want him to die. And then he did. Sadness.
Lee Jun-ki's mane of glory in that last shot was blowing in the wind all majestically...
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35 sweetnothings
November 26, 2014 at 6:39 AM
‘THE JOSEON GUNMAN’ is the MOST FANTASTIC DRAMA of the YEAR (2014). The hero played by LEE JOON KI is so masculine, dashing and sexy. The musical score is so thrilling. The plot is riveting. Top Marks for: SUPERB LEADING ACTOR, UNPARALLELED ACTING SKILLS, ASTOUNDING STUNTS BY LEADING ACTOR, UNEQUALLED JAW-DROPPING ACTION SCENES, TOUCHING ROMANCE, BRILLIANT CINEMATOGRAPHIC TECHNIQUES, GREAT STORYTELLING, HEARTWARMING LOVE SCENES & MUCH, MUCH MORE! I VOTE LEE JOON KI AS THE BEST ACTOR of 2014. His sterling performance should be REWARDED. LEE JOON KI is such a CHARISMATIC ACTOR! The Korean Entertainment World cannot do without such a talented, passionate and committed ACTOR like LEE JOON KI! LEE JOON KI, thank you for such an IMPRESSIVE PERFORMANCE in the "THE JOSEON GUNMAN". BEST ACTOR: LEE JOON KI
BEST DRAMA: THE JOSEON GUNMAN
BEST COUPLE: LEE JOON KI & NAM SANG MI
BEST KISS: LEE JOON KI & NAM SANG MI
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36 jhon
November 27, 2014 at 2:56 PM
this movie has no use for the end did not understand or do not understand nimik fought for something and then terminq happy endless shame that the show was beautiful I did not expect to end so badly
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37 Moonmissy
September 6, 2015 at 6:57 AM
I liked the show very much until the last few episodes. It kinda fizzle out at the end and the ending with LJK character becomes the hero is so cliche for him. I would rather see that they try to live a peaceful life after all that blood and death then him risking his life again for her to worry. It doesn't really fit with LJK character from the beginning. He only had one simple dream of living with his love and has no desires to change the world like her.
Although I like LJK acting but ... Yes he is still a bad kisser in this drama. He seemed to improved a lot with Arang and the Magistrate and got better with Scholar Who Walks the Night (He had plenty of chances to practice in that one. The characters are constantly kissing even though that's dangerous for a Vampire LOL). Maybe his dating with Shin Min Ah helps and she showed him a few tricks hahahaha...
Overall, Joseon Gunman was fun and exciting to watch for the most part and better written than The previous drama he was in. I still thinks Arang and the Magistrate was the best drama TV show he acted in.
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38 Harriet
September 6, 2015 at 7:05 AM
Kudos to LJK acting. Kissing scene still needs a little work. Watching a few Korean drama thus far, I thought Korean men are bad at kissing... Until I kissed one recently LOL.
I guess Hollywood movies make kissing so hot and natural with its open attitude towards dating and sex that it is hard for asian drama to rival that.
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39 Moonshard
December 21, 2015 at 11:07 PM
Nam Sang Mi looks horrible and awful. Her appearance and acting are too dull for a leading role. It is sickening to watch. Here to find out if she dies in the end. It is not worth it for me to finish the show. Thank you for the recap and keep up the great work.
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40 Min
March 6, 2016 at 11:31 PM
I'm in a LJK marathon right now, so after watching Hero and 3 weeks it was time for this drama. I really enjoyed it although as many people mentions it had potential to be even better. Small details count. I would have appreciate if Soo in and Ho-Kyung were more complex characters and had more weight in the story. For instance, the last scene, considering Soo In is smart and scholar, wouldn't it be better if instead of giving food to people she was teaching kids so their future is brighter? Did she study so much just to feed people?? That is just an example of what JG could have been. But still I liked the drama a lot and it's full of great performances and moments. LJK, fighting!!
Time to start a new LJK drama or movie in my marathon. kk
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41 ame
February 28, 2017 at 4:41 PM
When I watched the first episode,I thought I got it all predicted,which is to expect one of the leading characters dead,cause that's how most korean series are,but surprisingly that's not what happened,which I'm happy about and for Choi,I don't see any fault in his death because the daughter he loves most is gone,which is exactly the toppest reason he is fighting to stay alive and suppose he didn't kill himself what do you think will happen to him,he just wouldn't be able to live with himself with the pain of his daughter's death and I'm sure yoon kang refused to kill him not just because he wouldn't get anything out of revenge but because he knows eventually Choi will kill himself.All of us know how Choi is,Seriously did you expect him to leave and come back after years of plotting another conflict?/I don't think so.
Anyways joseon gunman was an awesome series and I'm looking forward to more lee jun gi series.
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