Yong-pal: Episode 16

198 September 26, 2015January 23, 2016

by gummimochi

With war brewing outside of Hanshin’s walls, no one imagined that the newest chairwoman could arrange such a mean call to arms. There’s trouble both in the battlefield and at home, with our heroine up against an imposing enemy and our hero struggling with his own internal conflict. With Hanshin entering the war zone, it’s time for everybody to wake up and stop smelling the lavender.

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EPISODE 16 RECAP

Following that tense conversation with Chairman Choi, Yeo-jin leaves her own party on the grounds that there’s work to be done. When Tae-hyun asks what that is, she simply replies: “War.”

While Yeo-jin orders Secretary Min to assemble the troops, Tae-hyun is told that Daejung is a formidable enemy, but is no way stronger than Hanshin. Because nothing is… or his bodyguard believes that it’s because he can easily beat those puny guys at Daejung in a fight any day. Ha.

He chooses this time to confess that he’s actually younger than Tae-hyun (who’d been calling him “hyung”), to which the latter immediately switches to banmal: “Wanna die?” Hee, I love these two.

Yeo-jin’s inner circle is busy discussing whether if they should try to dissuade their inexperienced chairwoman from going to war against Chairman Choi when she walks in, knowing exactly what they were thinking.

Her first order of business is to call for some more comfortable clothes ’cause ain’t nobody gonna prepare for a battle wearing heels. Next she tells them that anyone who’s against war is free to leave, making them all quake in their shoes and voice their support for her decision.

It’ll be the end if they let Hanshin push them around, Yeo-jin says. Handing over Do-joon’s body like Chairman Choi wants isn’t that big of a deal, but allowing the other rivaling conglomerates to see a weak point in Hanshin is. The hierarchy will change in an instant, and they’ll be done for.

Marching into the war room, she scolds the strategy team members for their business attire. Since they’re going to get nice and cozy in here for the next three days, they’re free to act however they like, save for insulting her, the one in charge. Cue chorused chuckles.

The goal: Find Daejung’s weakness or they’ll be working elsewhere.

Tae-hyun, meanwhile, is left to wait at home with a modest breakfast versus the usual feast. He doesn’t like being told the saying that one should remain quiet while a war is brewing outside the home, so he enlists the staff to help plant flowers in the overgrown greenhouse. That’s a nice gesture, though it puzzles the head maid.

D-1. Yeo-jin and her team are getting nowhere, so she asks the quiet guy in the corner to offer something. Her interest is piqued when he says he’s been analyzing Dae-jung’s email traffic, but then another guy shouts that that’s considered hacking. Oh I’m sorry, were you all planning to go about all this the noble way?

Since all’s fair in love and war, she’s told that Daejung has been using a code word in their correspondences to hide something important. She rises out of her seat when she hears the word—lavender—and immediately knows that her late fiancé Sung-hoon was involved.

The aforementioned code word appeared most in an exchange with a biotech company overseas, and Yeo-jin can’t help but be impressed when the quiet guy tracks it down right away. The discovery gives them a second wind and they all get to work.

After thinking back to Yeo-jin’s vow to kill Do-joon by her hand (which makes me wonder how much Tae-hyun overheard of that conversation), Tae-hyun manages to obtain his bodyguard’s help by telling him that Hanshin’s in trouble.

His plan is to release Do-joon because that will ease the burden on the chairwoman’s shoulders and on Hanshin. He also reaches out to Chief Lee for help.

It’s D-Day, and Yeo-jin tells her inner circle to simmer down because they’re about to buy up a new company today. She declares that Hanshin will pour its total assets into this acquisition because she figures it will take all of their funds to go head to head with Daejung.

No one will be allowed to leave this room, and tells her team to get to work to slowly buy up the biotech company’s stocks. Chairman Choi doesn’t appear worried at first since he’s planted someone in Yeo-jin’s team, but once he gets wind that someone’s buying up those biotech company’s stocks, he angrily demands that the perpetrators be found.

Everyone jumps when Yeo-jin tells her team to let their work go public, ready to face Chairman Choi head on. The old man is also prepared to go to battle and pour all of his available funds into this war.

And to this, Yeo-jin continues to raise the stakes, much to everyone’s shock. “I haven’t even begun,” she tells them. “Soon, the whale will appear.”

Back in the VIP suite, Chief Lee ponders over Tae-hyun’s plea before injecting something into Do-joon’s IV. It triggers a seizure, and Chief Lee orders the incompetent nurse to go and prep the operating room.

At the same time, Yeo-jin and Chairman Choi continue to up the stakes. Their back-and-forth turns into a bidding war, and Chairman Choi chuckles confidently when the market momentarily quiets down after he doubles the offer.

But then there’s a huge spike… because Yeo-jin has seen that offer and raised it by another 10 percent. Refusing to lose to the young lady, Chairman Choi calls out an even higher amount.

Remember when Tae-hyun’s bodyguard boasted about his awesome fighting skills? He uses it to take down the security guards escorting Do-joon, then helps Chief Lee and Tae-hyun down the hallway.

The head of security catches them on camera and calls it in, only to be told by Secretary Min to leave them be.

Both Yeo-jin and Chairman Choi’s people grow worried when their fellow CEOs up the ante yet again. That’s when Chairman Choi’s secretary gets a call from their mole…

… and it’s Secretary Min. Oooh. Yeo-jin has noticed Secretary Min temporarily leave the room, and when she hears Chairman Choi’s latest bid, she retracts her own. Upon hearing about Do-joon’s escape from the hospital, Chairman Choi wonders if it’s a deliberate diversion, but soon he’s grinning because Hanshin has backed down.

At that, he orders that Daejung retract their offer as well. Problem is, they’re unable to because the deal has closed. Chairman Choi staggers and half-jokes that Do-joon’s body comes with a pricey tag before looking stern once more.

Letting Daejung be the highest bidder was all part of Yeo-jin’s plan to teach Chairman Choi a lesson since Dajung has spent trillions of won more than anticipated in the deal. If the old man has lost that much cash, he ought to stay quiet for some time, she muses. Her success is met with rousing applause.

Tae-hyun calls Chae-young to let her know that they’re on their way. She has a helicopter and a boat waiting to transport her and her husband overseas. Speaking of whom, Do-joon wakes inside the ambulance and doesn’t know why he has to run and leave the country.

When Secretary Min brings up the call he received in the car, Yeo-jin supposes it’s about how Do-joon has escaped with Tae-hyun’s help. It’s likely that Daejung is chasing after them right about now, she continues, which makes Secretary Min uneasy.

When he opens his mouth again, Yeo-jin tells him to shut it—she knows he was feeding intel to the enemy. “I was just protecting Hanshin… and betrayed my husband.”

Do-joon is surprisingly sharp for a guy who recently underwent brain surgery and was unconscious just five minutes prior. He takes offense with Tae-hyun’s boldness and couldn’t care less about the many lives at risk just to save him.

The assassination threat from Daejung doesn’t bother Do-joon either—he’ll just exchange Hanshin intel for mercy. Anddd that’s why you’re the guy with the bandaged head.

In her car, Yeo-jin puts on her shades to hide the tears she’s shed.

Tae-hyun grabs a fistful of Do-joon’s robe to spell out the grave danger he faces: Daejung knows that Do-joon ordered Sung-hoon’s death. Do-joon cries out that he erased all the evidence regarding that incident.

Tae-hyun climbs on top of him, his hand around Do-joon’s neck, but the latter pushes Tae-hyun off and punches him. After knocking both Tae-hyun and his bodyguard out with an oxygen tank, Do-joon climbs out of the ambulance and waves to the black cars approaching him. He’s gonna die, isn’t he?

Chae-young watches this unfold out on the tarmac as the car crashes into Do-joon, sending his body flying before falling to the ground again. The masked man climbs out and reaches into his pocket to pull out… a phone? Oh, so he can speak with Chairman Choi face to face.

Chairman Choi laughs in return, at which point the masked man pulls out a knife and stabs Do-joon with it. By the time Chae-young runs to his side, the cars have driven away. Do-joon smiles at Chae-young one last time before he closes his eyes for the last time. Heartbroken, Chae-young sobs over his body.

Having finally come to, Tae-hyun emerges from the ambulance, only to discover that it’s too late.

Yeo-jin is eating dinner when Tae-hyun returns home that night. He’s initially denied entry, but allowed inside with Yeo-jin’s permission. And finally Tae-hyun questions if Yeo-jin has gone too far, asking if she ordered Do-joon’s death.

When she says she did, Tae-hyun tells her not to lie. But she isn’t the type to lie, she says—she knew Tae-hyun would try to rescue Do-joon and that Secretary Min would let Daejung know of that. “So I did order it,” she finishes.

“Were you… using me then?” Tae-hyun asks. In a matter-of-fact voice, Yeo-jin says she needed a figure to hand Do-joon over to Daejung without getting her hands dirty. “You were perfect for that role.”

No one would ever doubt his good intentions because of his naively righteous ways. Tae-hyun embodies those qualities to a T, and now Daejung doesn’t even know exactly how Do-joon ended up in their hands.

Yeo-jin rises from her seat but stops at the door to ask, “Do you regret it? Saving me from the 12th floor?

“Yeah… I do.” Tae-hyun replies haltingly, his body tense. Yeo-jin lets that answer sink in before answering that she figures as much since she was responsible for his mother’s death and walking out.

Both Yeo-jin and Tae-hyun sit in the darkness within their respective quarters, reflecting upon all the time (and I mean allll the time—it’s a long montage of flashbacks) spent together.

Tae-hyun goes out for a morning stroll and sees Yeo-jin out in the garden. She’s the first to break the silence, asking if he’s still angry. In a calm voice, Tae-hyun wonders if it’s more like ruefulness. To that, Yeo-jin apologizes and promises never to make him feel that way again.

But Tae-hyun shakes his head—he’s talking about her. She asks him not to leave her then, lest she fall back into the darkness. “So don’t go.”

She knows that Tae-hyun must feel resentful towards her, but Tae-hyun cuts her off to say that he doesn’t because it’s not Yeo-jin’s fault that his mother died. Moreover, he won’t blame himself for her death either.

Instead he blames this tragedy on the greed for power that one develops by being on the VIP floor at Hanshin. He wants to go back to being just a surgeon, but Yeo-jin says he can stay up here in a seat of power and do whatever he likes whether that’s destroying the VIP floor or rebuilding Hanshin.

Tae-hyun shakes his head again, saying that they’re on the thirteenth floor, and by dismantling the VIP floor beneath them, they’ll destroy themselves as well. While Yeo-jin can enjoy the view from the top, there’s an entire world waiting down below, including the windy hill they once went to.

Everything that can make them happy is waiting down below. “So do you want to come with me?” Tae-hyun asks. He figures it would be hard for her to give up her throne to run away with him, thinking the idea a crazy one.

But Yeo-jin says it isn’t nuts—a rich world of fresh water and windy wills, those are precious things that can’t be traded with a CEO position. She’s back where she belongs with the crocodiles. Her eyes fill with tears as she says the field trip is over.

His eyes are wet too as he says they’ll get another chance, and when they do, she can always come back to him because he’ll be waiting. He plans to leave before breakfast, adding that he never ate breakfast anyway.

She tells him to take care then, and Tae-hyun gathers her in an embrace. He sheds a tear while wishing her well. He lets go a few moments later and walks off, leaving Yeo-jin alone with her tears.

Yeo-jin strolls the grounds and enters the greenhouse which houses a lavender patch once more. She’s told that it was Tae-hyun’s doing, but Yeo-jin doesn’t need anyone to tell her to know and breaks down in tears.

After packing up his things, Tae-hyun takes one last look at the manor before walking off.

He doesn’t get far when his bodyguard drives up to him, having been dismissed from his position to take care of Tae-hyun. He asks if Tae-hyun’s got a house to go back to, not because he’s worried for him but because he needs a place to crash. LOL.

At the crematorium, Chae-young watches her husband’s coffin slowly enter the incinerator. As the flames consume the rectangular box, her eyes remain trained on the last of Do-joon.

COMMENTS

I wasn’t sure whether I’d be looking forward to finale week, but if Yong-pal is setting us up for Chae-young to dip into the revenge pool too, then it’d be a triumphant welcome for her character. I fear getting my hopes up though, because this show has taken us some odd turns ever since the story has spent more time outside of the hospital than in it.

Still, I found myself enjoying this episode despite the dips in time where I really just wanted to throw a pillow at Tae-hyun. It truly is incredible that he could be filled with such betrayal after Yeo-jin used his good nature for her own revenge… and then be there to comfort her the next day and act like a saint in saying that he doesn’t resent her. Yes, he admitted that a part of him regretted saving her, and yet he still doesn’t harbor any ill feelings towards her in the end.

While there’s remorse in Yeo-jin orchestrating the situation that would lead to her having a hand in Do-joon’s death, it still means she counted on Tae-hyun to feel bad for Do-joon and try to spring him out of there. If she placed her half-brother in the VIP suite for that reason isn’t exactly clear or evident, but if she did, I’d say that kind of decision screams more evil-crazy than evil genius because that’s banking on uncontrollable factors. Perhaps it’s because I still find it hard to buy Yeo-jin as a character sometimes when she seems like two different people to me: one who is coldhearted and calculative with her enemies and the other who is teary and cares for Tae-hyun. It’s only more confusing when Tae-hyun has seen both of those faces and still responds the same way no matter which face he’s faced with. Please oh please Tae-hyun—I don’t want to have to look at you, knowing that you were once Yong-pal and now say, “Wow, he dummmbbb.”

Though I must give credit where credit is due, because I found the very quick war between Chairman Choi and Yeo-jin quite entertaining. Aside from the fact that the numbers they were tossing back and forth seemed arbitrary, it was smart of Yeo-jin to tap into the old man’s pride and then use it against him as a lesson to mess with her. I know this isn’t a drama circled around the stock market, but I wish we’d also seen a little more variety than “No, I’ll see your x amount of money and add y!” When it comes to this area of fighting over company stocks, you can say that I’ve been ruined by Story of a Man which tackled these battle of wits with finesse.

While I didn’t expect anyone to mourn Do-joon’s death (though there hardly is anyone left to attend funerals these days), the thought that nobody but Chae-young was there to send him off is saddening. His temporary heightened consciousness in the ambulance was a sight to behold really, but now that he’s gone, Yeo-jin’s reasons for revenge is all but gone with him. It’s a dangerous place to be in narrative-wise, with your heroine finishing off her revenge against one of her ultimate targets and the interim enemy in the form of Chairman Choi taken care of for the time being. Which is why I’m hoping that it’s Chae-young who steps in and shakes things up or else we spend two episodes working on getting the lovebirds back together somehow.

Even if Chae-young has been out of the spotlight, she still feels more involved than Tae-hyun has. So I hope that his return to the hospital means we get to see a bit more Tae-hyun. I hope you got some rest during that break, Joo-won, because it’s time to get back into the game.

198

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1 Linda Palapala

September 26, 2015 at 12:07 PM

Maybe she has a split personality. I'm very curious how in the world they are going to resolve these issues between the brilliant CEO crocodile, aka sweet loving person that Tae-hyun knows, and his naive humanism, without being cliched. The writers have done a really good job so far keeping us guessing. And I appreciate your recap and comments because they are a little different from my subtitles. I wish I could learn enough Korean to not use subtitles! Last, his bodyguard, so glad he adds a much needed sense of humor, but what did she mean when she told him to "take care of him", because whenever the bodyguard was told that before he thought it meant to kill somebody. Either he's going to save her again or she's going to save him (isn't he in danger by being her heir?).

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Miky

September 26, 2015 at 12:36 PM

She meant to protect him,even if he leaves the house or her he is still her husband on paper and the heir and we could say her weak point and people who would want to harm her will try to harm him or use him to make their pointa cross...we know Taehyun can protect himself quite well but even if he doesn't like it his life did change as he became her husband like it or not and Yeo Jin knows it,so he told the bodyguard to take care of him and protect him,my guess is he is udercover as we all know Taehyun doens't want a bodyguard and will be hard for him to do it from a distance,so he used the i'm fired take care of me excuse and his good nature to do it without him knowing it,at least yet...as long as he is her husband his status is not the same like it or not just as i'm half half in his stance for her letting go and live with him a middle class life to name it like that,he knew from the begging she was from another class to name it like that and enter her world,is it really fair to ask her to let go of everything now that he accepted it when he did marry her,he knew it and still went on with it,don't know how i should feel about this

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QueenBi

September 26, 2015 at 7:16 PM

@Miki
Chingu...I agree with you...but you need to breath...exhale :D :D

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Affie

September 27, 2015 at 1:11 AM

Lol@QueenBi... But when I try reading @Miky's comment really quickly... It's such a thrill!

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Miky

September 27, 2015 at 8:38 AM

hahha i was on a coffee spree so forgive the essay jajja

Affie

September 27, 2015 at 10:22 AM

@Miky. I lurve the essay! No worries. :)

Affie

September 27, 2015 at 1:20 PM

@Miky. Plus... I also couldn't believe he wanted her to give up her bona fide inheritance. That's such a k-drama sexist trope. And I hope it doesn't become a reality.

QueenBi

September 27, 2015 at 8:14 PM

@Miky
Me too enjoyed the essay. It's awesome! You remind me to the Jejudo lady divers. Really productive while holding their breath :D :D : D

Sera The Ms Temper

September 27, 2015 at 11:27 PM

haha i also cant breath when i read Miky comments.

SS

September 27, 2015 at 2:23 AM

:D:D:D

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Rainehart

September 28, 2015 at 10:12 PM

I'm not sure if YJ's intention in having his bodyguard to follow is only to protect him. Well maybe so, but more to me TH is a liability and can also be use against her. And i follow TH state of mind why he's not that hateful towards YJ, cause he knows by accepting the marriage proposal he's gonna be part of her quest for vengeance. He just didn't expect that YJ is gonna go that far as to deliberately deceiving him and used him. In fact i thought it was very inconsiderate on part of YJ, she did not even consider that TH could have been hurt in the crossfire when she fed DJ to Daejung goons. If that was to happen maybe she would have a change of heart about the whole vengeance thing.

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JanuaryBlues

September 28, 2015 at 11:18 PM

@Rainehart

I find it puzzling as well that YJ did not even considered the possibility that TH could get hurt by the Daejung goons chasing after DJ. It's a blessing that both TH and his bodyguard were knocked out by DJ. I dont think TH bodyguard alone would be able to fend off all the goons. Perhaps the goons would have been instructed not to harm anyone else except DJ but still.... TH wont have just sit around and let DJ be taken or killed would he? He could still have gotten hurt in the ensuing melee.

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sea

September 26, 2015 at 1:03 PM

I don't really see it as a split personality. I see it as a normal personality. The people she hates are the the ones who tried to kill her. The person she loves is the one who saved her life. Wouldn't most people feel the same in her situation?

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noure

September 26, 2015 at 1:09 PM

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I like strawberries

September 26, 2015 at 1:42 PM

lol ikr?

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Gwinna

September 26, 2015 at 2:26 PM

Seriously. In real life, isn't hating your enemies and loving your friends the most normal attitude? Don't understand why people are having trouble with this.

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Affie

September 27, 2015 at 1:15 AM

@Gwinna. Ikr. All this is the natural reaction. I think it's because its two extremes that people are having trouble.

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buddhahead

September 30, 2015 at 1:01 AM

Hating is one thing. Murdering or attempting to murder all of them is quite another. That is not normal.

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Shuerei

September 27, 2015 at 11:23 AM

@ sea
Agreed. YJ's handling of the current situations is not due to having PTSD or split personality.

While she did have occasional flashbacks of her ex bf's death, it does not result in any personality change or irrational decision making. All her moves were calculated and thorough. Unlike the sexually assaulted girl in earlier episodes, YJ was perfectly rational in her strategies and implementations.

While she appeared to adopt different personalities, she was merely putting a facade of ruthlessness and determination so that she wont appear weak to her enemies and people around her. In front of TH, she would switch on the angry and icy princess mode to justify her vengeance but whenever his warmth melts away the coldness, she is left with only her true and vulnerable self.

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Shuerei

September 27, 2015 at 11:55 AM

I forgot to add that we were to analyze her behavior from MBTI, YJ might fit into INTJ profile. Intense, intelligent...

TH might be more of INFJ / ENFJ ... More intuitive, perceptive...
I dunno - just guessing....

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Affie

September 27, 2015 at 1:12 PM

@Shuerei. Hiii... So nice to read you! As per usual, you've given an excellent analysis! Wow. I love it!

YJ is putting up a no. Of fronts. She's needs someone to understand the situation and help her. That's why JMO, TH needed to be more "there" for her. Anyway... Most people think he had done enough already and YJ went too far so I get him and won't hold it against him at all.

Just hoping for a satisfactory resolution!

QueenBi

September 28, 2015 at 7:42 AM

@Shuerei
What can more the profile tell us? Are their profile conflicting or complement each other?

Sera The Ms Temper

September 27, 2015 at 11:24 PM

It really takes a big heart if we can love someone who tried to do a bad thing to us.

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kalel

September 26, 2015 at 1:49 PM

Psychopathy no...PTSD, on the other hand, is quite possible. I don't know whether it was intentional or not, however, there are quite a few clinical signs and symptoms consistent with this Syndrome. Perhaps, because TH is a surgeon, he missed them somehow, who knows? Nevertheless, I find it possible for any man or a woman who has suffered an extremely traumatic experience to behave irrationally and be on an emotional roller coaster for quite some time (especially, without proper medication).

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Linda Palapala

September 26, 2015 at 7:17 PM

I like your PTSD analysis. I'm not having trouble with this really, the split personality was just a possibility, thinking in terms of kdrama. Isn't it most common in kdramas to have someone push the loved one away to protect them? Can hardly wait to see where the writers take this. I can't imagine an unhappy ending, it just doesn't seem to fit what they written thus far.

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2 Miky

September 26, 2015 at 12:20 PM

Might be crazy but i don't see Yeo Jin as the full one who ordered Do Joon being killed but she did use all the information she had and knew to her advantage and didn't do anything letting the course of action like a person watching from outside...Gonna admit i really find ficinating her way of predicting the moves 2-3 times before they are actually done,she is in this aspect quite brilliant...She knew all along that the Secretary was the one informing Daejung CEO and let him do it pretending he has the upper hand while she also knew Taehyun will eventually rescue Do Joon because he knew him well enough to know he will do it just as i don't see her putting Do Joon in that VIP room for that plan as Daejung wasn't involved by that time and she did want to make him pay exactly as her,put to sleep etc.,The Sectertary contacted the Dejung CEO and let him in the info about his son murder to get rid of him after he saw her having doubts and 3 years being too much..so it's again a grey situation were some might see her as the one doing it and some being only half in it...I also am curious if they will use Chaeyong as the last one to seek revenge and come to Taehyun say"that one revenge will add another one to it" when he told Yeo Jin past episodes to forgive and let go of her revenge...I for one don't think the bodyguard was fired from what Yeo Jin told him,to take care of him well,i think he is just undercover and he made the pretext of being fired to keep on eye on him without him knowing he is protected....Do Joon still died by his own arogance and foolishness,if he listened to Taehyun he would have bordered the helicopter and be safe as he had time but insted he choose to die...This later part of teh show really has that Empire of Gold vibe somehow so i'm really curious if the writer will choose to end it with both of them parying ways and Taehyun having a normal life meeting a women of his own background while Yeo Jin will be let alone in her castle,something sad but not weird at this point,well i would welcome a happy endig for them being a sucker for happy endings in dramas

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KDaddict?JCW

September 26, 2015 at 9:40 PM

But, If Do Joon didn't go and attack TH and driver, walk out of their van, stand there to wave and wait for the men in black, he could have boarded the helicopter w his wife, who was going to take him out of the country, right?

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Affie

September 27, 2015 at 1:26 AM

@KDaddict...JCW. Yup. I totally think that is a distinct possibility. He could have gotten away. This guy. Instead... He couldn't and wouldn't swallow his pride and admit defeat. Sad.

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SS

September 27, 2015 at 2:26 AM

Yes, it was close. This is why I think YJ left DJ to fate.

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Alessar

September 28, 2015 at 9:11 AM

I actually thought ... the way she did it was fair. She gave him a legit chance. TH's plan with Chae-young was solid. She had the helicopter fired up, it could have taken off the second he was onboard. They knew assassins would be on the trail and might only have seconds to spare. Do Joon totally screwed himself.

I have to say, I am impressed with the actor. His character was such a slime yet I was sympathetic when he was standing there looking at his wife from across the road... I started following him on instagram and he seems really nice. I mean, who can hate a dude who has a tiny white poodle with a ribbon in her hair as his pet?

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9dragonkings

September 27, 2015 at 7:43 PM

The issue being she was confident that DJ won't make it out alive. I'm betting the bodyguard disclosed the time of rescue and location TH was heading to YJ. Thus if the bodyguard wasn't knocked out there is no guarantee he wouldn't sabotage the situation out of loyalty for YJ.

She timed everything perfectly in the stock market battle. She backed out of the stock contract order the moment she knew DJ's news had reach Dae Jung, she looked at the chief of staff who walk out and step back into the room and than gave the order to back out, tricking Dae Jung to waste over a billion. She used TH as a distraction for Daejung to lose most of their assets.

In order to know the exact time of rescue and the destination she had to had info of TH's plan.

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Affie

September 27, 2015 at 1:19 AM

@Miky. Lol. You are so awesome. Not crazy at all. You are totally on point! Loving everything you are putting across breathlessly. :)

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Sera The Ms Temper

September 27, 2015 at 7:24 PM

You are definitely not crazy. i am agreed with all your points, and i also felt Empire of Gold vibes while watching the later part of Yong Pal.

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3 katasu1996

September 26, 2015 at 12:29 PM

Honestly, isn't this writer on drugs? I totally think she plagiarized that City Conquest manhwa, because up until episode 9 the show was not what I thought it would be but still relatively okay, and then it took a REALLY sharp turn in plot. Also, the director isn't doing her any favors. Since I know Kim Tae Hee and Joo Won decided to do this project based on the first two script, I know for a fact they had NOOOO idea what they were getting into. Basically, this writer conned them, and now they have to stick it out till the end, sleepless and crazy and all. Idk when Tae Hyun became such a saint, because in the beginning he was pretty ambitious and stuff too, but he's softened out wayyyyy too much to say it was just change. This show also needs another title, because the focus is not Yong Pal and his night life medical job at all, it's about Yeo Jin and her power struggle. What annoys me is that's now how the show promoted at all, and so I feel like I was conned by the production team. I'm also swearing off this writer forever. She obviously doesn't know how to create story. Most of the recent episodes have been flashback. If she belongs to a station, they should fire her, and if she's independent, she needs to quit her job and find her calling because this is not it.

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Miky

September 26, 2015 at 12:41 PM

I'm really curious if the reason for the flashback gallore this show has is due to the realtime filming,there are way too many flashback and tiresome scenes played again and again...for some reason i think half of it is because of that and the fault of time on their hands somehow...And indeed i also think Taehyun is now shown a little too soft and good and maybe that's why people see Yeo Jin sooo bad and even hate her as now they are like yin&yang...

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SS

September 26, 2015 at 7:21 PM

I am blaming the extension for some prolonged scenes like flashbacks. Then again, it might be the PD's style. I don't know because I have never watched this PD's projects before.

Flashbacks can achieve the right results if they get the viewers's emotions and bring them to high. There must be some clever editing to get the right effect, here I see the major weakness in the editing.

In terms of flashbacks, one drama made a lasting impression on me in the way they used flashbacks to tell the story. It's really quite extraordinary. The drama is My Beautiful Bride. It's kind of confusing at first but when I got it, I was quite in awe.

There's actually viewers out there who think Yeo Jin is the good one and TH the bad, primarily for being weak and leaving YJ.

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QueenBi

September 26, 2015 at 8:40 PM

Agree...
They put TH's dream into YJ's imaginary (while she's walking on the bridge barefoot followed by TH). But, to me the flashback is still necessary..minus the false imaginary.

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SS

September 26, 2015 at 8:53 PM

I never thought the flashbacks were unnecessary in itself.

I found the one which Tae Hyun had when he was trying to resuscitate YJ in ep 7 to be meaningful. However I can also understand why viewers complained that it was long and therefore unnecessary. Execution makes all the difference. If it had been done properly, just like this flashback in ep 16, not only will the flashbacks tugged at viewers' hearts but also help in the storytelling.

QueenBi

September 27, 2015 at 2:03 AM

Thank you @SS
Now I understand as you mention that flashback in this eps as the proper one, especially when we compare it with the one in eps 7. Yeah it was overly draggy, yet may be still meaningful for describing the growing of TH's affection to YJ. Eps 16's flashback let me cry a river lol

There's no reply button for your post so i hope you get this post right. Thank you again..

SS

September 27, 2015 at 2:32 AM

Hi @QueenBi :D

Actually, I meant ep 7 was meaningful to me. There was reference to YJ telling TH not to leave her in darkness, then TH thought of how he risked his life numerous times for the sake of his sister whose fate lies in YJ's survival and so on. Those flashbacks alternated with Tae Hyun's desperate cries(superbly acted by Joo Won) elevated the scene. What was lacking in that and this episode's flashback was the finesse. Even as as layman, I would think the flashbacks could be improved just by cutting a little off each scene. Maybe it's lazy editing?

Don't worry about the reply buttons. Never suffice for us, LOL.

no name #6

September 26, 2015 at 1:43 PM

Tae Hyun was never ambitious except when it would result in money. Or when not being ambitious would result in loss of income. And all of that was because of his sister. Sis is taken care of now, so money's not an issue for him anymore. Now, I wish the doctor side of Tae Hyun would come back too, and I think that has to be part of the resolution of the story, but that's completely separate from the shadier Yong Pal dealings.

Also, Jang Hyuk Rin (writer) = man. Plagiarism accusations were debunked pretty solidly. You may not agree with the direction the story has taken, but there's no need to accuse the guy of stealing because of it.

And the promotional materials were clear that Yeo Jin would be the focus of the later episodes. What were they going to have Kim Tae Hee do? Lie there for 18 episodes? Obviously she was going to be the focus at some point.

As @Miky said, the flashbacks probably have a lot more to do with live shooting than anything else. I don't like them either, but at least they try to make them serve some sort of narrative purpose. I'm inclined to forgive them for it if I imagine the actors getting to take a nap instead of shooting the scene that would have gone there, lol.

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coffeeboysgirl

September 28, 2015 at 7:58 AM

thank god!!somebody got it!!!! Tae HYun always put up a front in front of his colleagues. he let them assume he was always in for the money. Only the head nurse knew his real personality. Rem that guy he performed surgery in secret. Tae Hyun wanted him to transfer hospital so that he would receive surgery. About Tae Hyun going too soft...geez there were no such situations for him to use his amazing medical skills...actually at one point i felt like it would have been quite unrealistic to perform surgery anywhere else but in a operation room....i mean operating on Dr Lee at airport...ok kind of make sense but the quick operation using a shard of glass on the policeman made me cringe a bit...i mean without X ray MRI CT scan...even if i agree he is a genius..just based on breathing or assumption to perform a surgery...ouch...anw personally i would have found any more of such surgery off putting. i was cringing thinking of the possibility of Tae Hyun performing surgery on DJ. But thank god that didnt happen. It was pretty intense that DJ died due to his pride and foolishness. I almost cried when Yeojin heart brokenly said..' the field trip is over...'

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kalel

September 26, 2015 at 2:15 PM

I've watched the writer's first work Reset on OCN and it was obvious he's very promising. SBS is not cable, though. Too many parameters to consider whether it's cast or crew.
Episode 14 was the ultimate turning point in terms of plot and, while ep.15 was mostly a filler, this one explained more things about our heroes' characters.
BTW, in comparison with Reset, this show is way toned down, - less disturbing story makes it more appealing...

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Affie

September 26, 2015 at 3:23 PM

Wut? @Katasu1996... You need to palli and take your words back cos you have obviously done ZERO research in making your submission!

The writer is a man, first off. And the plagiarism claims were yellow journalism at best! If the first whatever eps. Looked like City Conquest its still insufficient grounds to accuse this show and its writer for plagiarism. What a claim! Do you have any official concrete information that this show was plagiarised apart from blogs?

If you don't like the show, don't watch it. It's on you of course, since clearly majority of Korean drama viewers and many others such as myself are enjoying it immensely.

Don't give the writer the wrong gender and wish that the person would quit his job! Even if a writer has done a shoddy job of a project, there's always room for improvement! Second chances exist for a reason.

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SS

September 26, 2015 at 7:11 PM

Thank you @Affie for taking the words out of my mouth :D

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Audrey

September 26, 2015 at 11:43 PM

Thank you @Affie---you rock!

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Affie

September 27, 2015 at 1:46 AM

@SS, Audrey. Hahaha! Thanks ladies! I really hate baseless accusations. If you are going to say something you should take pains to know what you are saying and not project with such a certainty that is fickle at best and whimsical at worst.

Speaking on the the so-called 'conning' @katasu1996 talked about... I wonder who told her the actors feel conned. What is the definitive source? I especially like to read DB for drama info and on this very site I read that Yong Pal was going to be about a rogue doc who gets involved with an heiress who has been deliberately put in coma. If people didn't think the story was going to develop beyond that, they need to get a new perspective cos the one they have currently has expired!

But nothing annoyed me more than the choice of words and declarations that the person must be on drugs, should be fired or quit his job and find his calling in something else. Who are you to make that call? What a usurpation of authority! Very obnoxious and presumptuous!

For all the drama snobbery on DB, I would love respect and tact to still be employed in relaying opinions.

People need to get it figured that liking dramas is very subjective and is constantly a matter of a person's taste and preference. For all your snootiness, you can easily not watch something you don't like without being so judgemental about it.

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Audrey

September 27, 2015 at 9:24 AM

Gotta add this @Affie---you are a true gem!
And doing a ++++ wouldn't convey enough: especially loved: "If people didn't think the story was going to develop beyond that, they need to get a new perspective cos the one they have currently has expired!" I'm still grinning over that one...

And more seriously, thank you for the sincerity of your response---it was needed and I very much appreciate everybody who posted comments in the same vein. And lastly: "For all the drama snobbery on DB, I would love respect and tact to still be employed in relaying opinions." Just one word from me on that: Amen.

SS

September 26, 2015 at 7:48 PM

If you have seen the manhwa, I doubt you would use plagiarism to throw dirt on the writer. If you have just said you disagree with how the writer writes the drama, no one can argue with you.

Yong Pal ambitious? That's the last thing I had in my mind when I watched the drama. From the very beginning, Yong Pal was portrayed as a doctor who cannot not save anyone in need of his help. He never asked for glory, position or riches. He only worked for money to save his sister.

He was tough in some ways like how he survived the system as an underdog and strove to make the right decisions as much as he can. But he was also soft when it comes to helping people. If you want to call that a weakness, well then. Besides, is it any wrong for Tae Hyun to be soft when it comes to his love - Yeo Jin? Although he spoke to her nicely in the departure scene, he's obviously not condoning her actions or willing to stay in the world of crocodiles. His action spoke louder than words, he walked out.

Again, I don't see why people place so much emphasis on the promotional trailers. It is reasonable to want to watch the first or maybe a few episodes because of it. But to continue watching a show for a good half or to the end and feel conned by the teasers? I don't buy that.

You can watch the other dramas in this time slot but there's no need to put down the writer so harshly especially when statistics show that he has what it takes to create a hit drama and viewers like what they are watching.

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Audrey

September 26, 2015 at 11:41 PM

Right on! @SS; tell it like it is!!!

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Shuerei

September 27, 2015 at 12:35 PM

Affie, SS, noname, Audrey

Enjoyed reading your thoughtful inputs. Overall I think this episode is a bit somber and depressing, hence, some comments are not very enthusiastic.

Aside from yongpal, the PD's portfolio dramas: goddess of marriage, miss ahjumma, modern farmer ...so perhaps he naturally toned down on the actions. However, I enjoy the show. At the same time, I do agree that they could use more relevant flashbacks for some scenes.

For instance, if the flashbacks were to depict YJ's risking her life to rescue TH and his sister and to retrieve her dad's last message - then as viewers, we would understand why TH is forgiving and gentle with her. Also, we can appreciate that regardless of the angry words exchanged and methods deployed, TH can't entirely blame YJ as he understood that all these need not happen if there's no 12th floor, a place which breeds evil. Yet without the 12th floor, his sister may not get the expensive treatment as he may not get to know YJ... referring to the 13th floor. Hence, despite him being upset about YJ's methods and DJ's death, he also accepted that the root of evil is greed and power, not YJ.

We definitely have to credit the writer that he is writing intelligent, perceptive and mature characters who are struggling with life and death issues. Too often in KDramas we see OTPs who misunderstand each other and hold grudges for a prolonged period. But in yongpal, we see another Biblical verse in action; do not let the sun go down while you are still angry. The OTPs got over their anger pretty quickly because in love, one is not easily angered.

So I don't think TH lost his brains and wits when dealing with YJ. While I think TH's role has taken a backseat to YJ in recent episodes, I think it's necessary to the plot and so far, the writing has been faithful to the characters of TH and YJ. These are two individuals with differing personalities and approaches in dealing with the crisis in their lives and I think the writer captured that pretty well.

The part I find most touching about this episode is the quiet moment that YJ sent the bodyguard to look after TH. She allowed him to leave her because she is not DJ who kept people against their wills. But that does not mean she needs to leave him. Getting the bodyguard to be with TH is her silent care and love for him, to ensure he is protected.

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Audrey

September 30, 2015 at 7:39 AM

Thanks, @Shuerei, for your words; very on point and well put!

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fay17

September 27, 2015 at 1:10 AM

@Katasu1996 love your post

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4 see

September 26, 2015 at 12:38 PM

poor Jo hyun Jae...what kind of unimportant and small role for him here... :(

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kalel

September 26, 2015 at 2:28 PM

His last(?) scene in this episode was epic...one of the best I've seen in Yong Pal so far. Great cinematography and directing with the least possible dialogue! Not very often do we watch a scene in k-dramas where the actors don't talk everything to death. A scene right from a cable channel, I loved it..!

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SS

September 26, 2015 at 7:50 PM

I am quite impressed that they put much effort in filming that scene in view of the live shoot and adjustments to accommodate the extension. Yeah, I laughed hard but agree that this is one rare one which the actor didn't talk everything to death. I have been so conditioned that I went like "Huh? You got to say something Do Joon!" LOL

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Audrey

September 26, 2015 at 9:37 PM

Hey, @SS, I kinda thought Do Joon's manner of death was really very appropriate: didn't he rather die the same way he had lived? Fitting end, I'd say...

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SS

September 27, 2015 at 2:41 AM

You are so right!

Just like how he could escape and live with the woman he loved, we cannot say he wasn't given those chances in life. Yet, he threw them all away just like how he threw this last chance.

no name #6

September 26, 2015 at 8:46 PM

Lol, you guys. "Talk everything to death". Hahahaha.

I read that one way the first time, like "to talk too much and to simultaneously not say anything of substance, despite talking for a long time." Then I read @SS's comment, and read it as "the long-winded speech that one gives when one is dying, of course". :)

I think both meanings do apply here, though. And I'm glad they resisted the temptation. That scene saved episode 16 for me. Far and away my favorite of the episode.

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Affie

September 27, 2015 at 2:08 AM

@No name. The vista of that scene was breathtaking :)

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Daphne

September 26, 2015 at 5:12 PM

Yeah, he was absolutely wasted here. :-( Hope to see him in something that puts his talent to use soon.

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SS

September 27, 2015 at 2:44 AM

Jo Hyun Jae is awesome in romance. That short scene in ep 14 when he spoke to Chae Young was so convincing that viewers started to want this couple to make up and make babies, LOL. It's a testament to both his and Chae Jung Ahn's acting skills.

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Alessar

September 28, 2015 at 9:13 AM

TRUE WORDS here. I really want to see him in something else now. But I think with this show's high ratings and the quality performance, some good offers will roll in.

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Sera The Ms Temper

September 27, 2015 at 7:32 PM

His role is not that unimportant, maybe if they made him smarter villain, it will be better. But after all, it was his choice to be in this drama. As an actor, he may wanted to do a role that he never did before, shouldnt you praised him a bit for his choice this time? Even i love him play nice guy, but he did a good job played a villain one. :)

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5 sea

September 26, 2015 at 12:47 PM

I actually think Yeo Jin was willing to let Do Joon escape. She knew Tae Hyun was going to take him away, and didn't do anything to stop that. It was Do Joon who was so blinded by hate that it killed him. His rescuers were rushing him to the helicopter. If he had done nothing, he would have escaped. Instead, he wanted to attack Yeo Jin and tell Dae Jung about the Hanshin secrets, and that's what led to his death.

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no name #6

September 26, 2015 at 1:30 PM

I understood it similarly. She was aware of all the pieces (TH helping DJ to escape, and the Daejung guys coming after them), calculated, and just sat back and let it happen. I think she would have found a way to work with it no matter which way it went. She was not directly involved in killing DJ, but she let it happen.

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QueenBi

September 26, 2015 at 7:25 PM

This!...what make her truly eviiiiil in my opinion. Didn't she calculate that her husband might get killed during the process since she used him as the bait for Daejung?? I don't understand what kind of love she has for Tae-Hyun. But, people seem cursing on Tae-Hyun motives more badly than hers. Ackkkk...

OTP separate or not, doesn't matter to me anymore. Honestly. But I will keep watching till the end. For the cute bodyguard ...haha!

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no name #6

September 26, 2015 at 7:40 PM

Lol, you're right about that. If the ambulance had been slower, the guys from Daejung could have decided it was easier to take out Do Joon by causing a car accident, thereby killing everyone inside, including Tae Hyun (and cute bodyguard!). I didn't even think of that. I don't quite think of it as using him as bait, though.

Maybe the Daejung thugs have a stricter code of honor that that though. They can only hurt the target, or something like that. :)

I almost feel like she might have been totally leaving it up to "fate". She probably does want Do Joon dead, realistically. But she also heard what Tae Hyun said, and has tried to temper her destructive tendencies before (Chief Lee), so she probably doesn't want to be responsible in any way for him dying, either, deep down (good Catholic girl that she is, lol).

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QueenBi

September 26, 2015 at 8:24 PM

When it comes to faith...I can say no more lol

For what she did in this case, it's understandable if WR-nim keep YJ character into dark and evil as a true crocodile. Then...TH will finally give up his love for YJ and return to fight the crocodiles some/his way.

Would that sound like a twist to the story?? Not good for most viewers though lol

Affie

September 27, 2015 at 2:05 AM

@QueenBi. YJ is constantly a step ahead. I'll bet she knew there was no way Daejung would hurt TH. They might have attacked him to get to Do Joon... But not kill.

Those thugs only wanted Do Joon. They even did the video call and showed Do Joon to Chairman Choi before finishing him off. TH was helpless in the ambulance, Chae Young was rushing towards them and yet, they sat in their vehicles and sped off. They just wanted DJ and he delivered himself to them on a silver platter.

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QueenBi

September 27, 2015 at 2:23 AM

@affie
alright. so some code of conduct between ganks?? Gotta watch more movies or dramas with thugs and ganks to understand them better lol

9dragonkings

September 27, 2015 at 8:00 PM

Yeo Jin couldn't have known what the killer thugs would do to Tae Hyun. Hence, she was crying in the car stating, "I have protected the company while betrayed my husband."

If Tae Hyun didn't rescue DJ she wouldn't have won the stock market battle. She needed DJ out of the hospital for the news to disrupt Dae Jung enough so that they couldn't pull out of the deal before she did.

Affie

September 28, 2015 at 6:50 AM

@QueenBi... ganks, lol... short for gangsters? :)

QueenBi

September 28, 2015 at 7:36 AM

Very true @Affie
I guess there's no such word in English... haha!

SS

September 27, 2015 at 2:47 AM

I think Chairman Choi won't dare to kill Tae Hyun. He had a deal with Yeo Jin for his pound of flesh. If he takes more, I am sure Yeo Jin will make sure he goes through hell.

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bebebe

September 26, 2015 at 2:15 PM

That's what I understood too. Even though knowing DJ's personality, YJ had guessed DJ would do what he did (begging to exchange Hanshin info for Daejung mercy), she was willing to let DJ escape, as you said. I saw her as someone still hoping that perhaps her brother she once admired would change no matter how little and perhaps, he would understand she'd let him run away for good. The woman he's loved all these years was there. With the heli for heaven's sake. I will never understand DJ.

But you know what? Before the crematorium was shown, I was almost sure, like 80% sure, that Yongpal-i saved him. That they'll show us in the end he'll survive&live with CY.

Just to save YJ from having heart-ache/ regret/ vengeful feelings eating her up and let her forgive as she had promised in to the priest a while back. Also for the sake that our OTP get together in the end, without (more) bitter feelings. I hate the idea that YJ used TH :'(

I thought Yongpal was FINALLY back in action again then. What was I thinking? :(

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bebebe

September 26, 2015 at 2:20 PM

(Lots of grammatical errors, I'm sorry. I don't use English daily. Kekee.. I just finished reading the recap and was in a rush replying to your comment :D )

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SS

September 26, 2015 at 7:55 PM

@bebebe, don't worry about grammar. I have heaps of mistakes but I am more eager to put down my thoughts :D

I don't know if YJ had guessed DJ's action. It's a far stretch. I am more inclined to think she left it to fate. She just wants to take DJ out of her hands. Whether he escapes or die.

Yup, we are all so used to seeing Yong Pal save everyone. Isn't it funny that in this show, we keep wondering if people really die?

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6 annflln

September 26, 2015 at 12:50 PM

What with the Han Doo-joon story troupe? I find it not done properly. Wish it was written differently. I'm shaking my head at the ambulance's actions.
I hope they will give us a good if not great finale week. Otherwise, I will remember Yongpal as a drama where Joo-won underutilized.

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7 Jiji

September 26, 2015 at 12:52 PM

So let me get this straight: Tae Hyun put his life, his sister's life, and his career on the line to save Yeo Jin and the thanks he gets is to become Yeo Jin's patsy in her plot to kill someone else? I want him to burn that greenhouse to the ground and fly off to be with Cynthia.

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Linda Palapala

September 26, 2015 at 1:03 PM

She's supposed to be in the last episode, but I don't like her that much and really hope she doesn't end up with him. This story has totally been about how much Tae-hyun has loved Yeo-jin.

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Affie

September 27, 2015 at 8:05 AM

@pala2. I'm totally with you on this. Tae Hyun agreed to help YJ tear down the 12th floor not kill people. And he's by no means her Patsy. Lol.

I just think TH slightly underestimated YJ'S pain when he left her and I definitely want them back together by the finale.

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susan

September 26, 2015 at 1:30 PM

:-) cute!

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I like strawberries

September 26, 2015 at 1:46 PM

Technically, the only reason he woke her up was to agree to become her patsy....

but she was ready to give everything up for him. It was her brother threatening to kill him that forced her to come back and move forward (again) with his revenge.

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I like strawberries

September 26, 2015 at 1:47 PM

with her revenge to save him/them both****

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SS

September 26, 2015 at 8:01 PM

LOL. Sadly, there are viewers who want to kick TH's ass for not staying with YJ. He's still not good enough apparently after all those things he did.

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Affie

September 27, 2015 at 8:30 AM

@SS. Aww. No no. I don't think people think TH is no longer 'good enough' ... I think we believe he's underestimating YJ'S emotions towards her enemies.

In the poignant dinner scene... Yeo Jin told him she could never forgive these people. She said in a deadpan voice she can't forgive these people so what gives? TH should clue in and not blame her so much for how stuff has turned out.

I still want them together and this is all just a misunderstanding between them really. Lol.

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Dot

September 26, 2015 at 8:55 PM

Lol let's not pretend he had any noble intentions by doing that. He did it for money simple as that. And she told him exactly who she was on the get go. Just because he was too ignorant to see it isn't her problem really.

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Affie

September 28, 2015 at 7:05 AM

Unintentional prince...

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8 noure

September 26, 2015 at 1:01 PM

Cynthia hhhhhh

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9 I like strawberries

September 26, 2015 at 1:25 PM

Tae Hyun isn't dumb... Yeo Jin is just smarter -- or is that hard to buy because she's a woman? :)

And we shouldn't forget that Tae Hyun moonlighting as Yong Pal wasn't some sort of alternative to the police force or vigilante justice. He was complicit in a lot of criminal activity. That fact that he's Yong Pal should make him understand and empathize with Yeo Jin more than anyone because he recognizes she's a victim/reflection of her circumstance. If anything, I think he's too wise beyond his years... even to an idealistic fault. He is correct, but the world does not share his moral compass. I also like that he isn't sanctimonious towards Yeo Jin.

I also don't find Yeo Jin's duality difficult to reconcile. I mean who has been on the receiving end of her revenge? People who've wronged her... other crocodiles... other people in power. She is genuine with the nurses who took care of her, genuine with the people she met at the orphanage, and genuine with the powerless union of laborers who work under her company... she once loved her brother and loved someone enough to give up her life for him. It's really not all that out of character and I can see why Tae Hyun isn't disillusioned by her. He just loves her unconditionally. He doesn't want her to change, he more or less doesn't want to see her get hurt and vice versa. I find Yeo Jin a lot more credible as character than Shunji's transformation in GAKSITAL, which I don't remember DB having trouble accepting.

Anyway, I'm glad there's a character like Yeo Jin in dramaland. She's what Moon Chae Wo'sn and Song Hye Kyo's characters in NICE GUY and THAT WINTER, THE WIND BLOWS could have been had they not fallen into sexist tropes. I love that they went out of their way to SHOW how scary and competent Yeo Jin as a woman with power without sacrificing her feminity.

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ohnodaisuki

September 26, 2015 at 2:13 PM

+1,000,0000 agree on all points!

I was so sad seeing Yeo Jin and Tae Hyun struggle while accepting each others' courses of actions towards their situation. Now that's a mature and honest couple for a smart audience!

Good bye DJ and somehow, with him leaving that way, confused--still trying to pathetically save his pride and position so desperately alone as if he didn't learn his lesson at all-- no remorse and just reaching the end that way---I did feel DJ's character encompasses the darkness of tragedy.

Can't wait to see how their story will get wrapped up! Congrats to the writer, director, producers and actors! It's been refreshing, compelling and thought-provoking this whole time!

It's been great my fellow Yong Pal admirers!

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Gwinna

September 26, 2015 at 2:30 PM

Everything you said is exactly what I've been thinking (including the parts about other dramas, even). Yeojin is possibly my favorite kdrama heroine of all time. I just hope they let her remain a crocodile until the end, because she's awesome at it.

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fgb4877

September 26, 2015 at 8:10 PM

Hello, Ms. Strawberries, how are you?.

Yeo-Jin is a strategist, a general commanding troops to battle. Tae-Hyun is an idealistic man who tried to act as dictated by his conscience. I can't say one is smarter than the other, just that she is as strategist, he is mostly an incredible improviser.

I guess she really wanted to let her husband save Doo-Joon if only to prove him she listens and is able to give in if just a little, but she had a very powerful enemy she had to face. By letting the dices roll she gave the two sides an opportunity: for Tae-Hyun to have his way and save a life, or Daejung Chairman to kill Doo-Joon and hence removing the motive for the whole conflict (with Hanshin Group's strenght intact). The latter prevailed.

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SS

September 27, 2015 at 2:49 AM

Awesome! I liked this "she is a strategist" and "he..an incredible improviser." How apt!

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celine

September 26, 2015 at 8:14 PM

Agree on what you said about Yeojin! I was worried that she'll turn all softy on her enemies just because Taehyun was telling her not to. Thank goodness she did not!

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Dot

September 26, 2015 at 9:00 PM

Yes to all of this!! I don't get people's confusion about Yeo Jin at all. Is it because she's a woman? Or is it the weird whitewashing of the yongpal character as some righteous man when he is just as morally shady as the rest? She is amazing! Smart, cunning and quick. Watching her prove herself the biggest, baddest crocodile in the swamp is excellent television and I'm so glad I didn't throw in the towel on the show when she was just sleeping and Yongpal was running around on ludicrous medical missions. There were so many good touches too that made me applaud the writer, like having her ditch the uncomfortable shoes while she led the troops. She's one of my fave female characters in kdrama ever.

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SS

September 27, 2015 at 2:51 AM

Tae Hyun has never been portrayed as righteous. He said so himself that he's as shady as the rest of them on the 12th floor.

I am not confused by Yeo Jin's character. I am all for smart, pragmatic, kickass women as long as she doesn't murder.

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Affie

September 28, 2015 at 6:46 AM

I love everything you said! Wooow. Will watch TWTWB soon @i like strawberries :)

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esjpx

September 28, 2015 at 7:45 AM

I find Yeo Jin a lot more credible as character than Shunji’s transformation in GAKSITAL...

Oh, Gaksital. Those abrupt personality changes were the main reason I couldn't enjoy it. I didn't buy Gang To's either.

I agree with you in that I'm glad there is a heroine like Yeo Jin in dramaland, despite all this show's flaws.

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9dragonkings

September 29, 2015 at 12:41 AM

The issue with Yeo Jin is at one point she stopped being the victim and became the assailant. It's interesting to watch. I enjoy that she has such layers, but I don't personally agree with her ways. What is the point to all that power if the only way you can rid of your enemies is to kill them. She literally can bend the law to her will . She certainly had alot more alternatives such as drawing up false charges or uncover actual dirt on her opponents. Going straight for the kill and threaten people with death isolate her to a small circle of allies. In a big swamp it's best to swim with a bigger herd.

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August

September 29, 2015 at 12:13 PM

I agree with your sentiments.

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August

September 29, 2015 at 12:23 PM

Yeo-Jin - Strategist, a formidable opponent, and a woman with power that didn't have to sacrifice her femininity. :)

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10 shane

September 26, 2015 at 1:36 PM

The show is still tempting but i didn't understand where it going.I think the writer decide to end it with sad ending. But the extention for two episode make this show more grumpy. Still i love dramabeans for ur recap.

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11 Aigoooo

September 26, 2015 at 1:45 PM

My theory is Do Joon is not dead. Yong Pal is nearby and, with an ambulance full of medical supplies, the guy can practically revive the dead. Plus, YJ is not cruel enough (or is she) to not give him a proper funeral. All I know is, he got stabbed, was lying there and next thing we know his coffin is being cremated. I am suspicious.

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no name #6

September 26, 2015 at 1:46 PM

Yeah, I kept waiting for the scene where Yong Pal swoops in to the rescue, haha. Maybe it happened and we won't see it until later. I'm also suspicious that he's still alive.

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fgb4877

September 26, 2015 at 8:15 PM

Nope, I guess Doo-Joon received a fatal wound. One even Yong-Pal couldn't attend (or couldn't attend on time, he was knocked out). No crazy man at the end of the run.

I guess the last two episodes will be about Yeo-Jin cleaning her pond and making ammends with Tae-Hyun.

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Audrey

September 26, 2015 at 11:23 PM

Re: your last comment @FGB4877: "I guess the last two episodes will be about Yeo-Jin cleaning her pond and making amends with Tae-Hyun." Hmmm, if such a scenario were to ensue, that would make the extended last two episodes the "filler" ones, from the way I'm reading your comment. So, let me think about this concept for a minute: Chief Lee---unresolved crazy person wandering around, Chae Young---unresolved, unfulfilled, "grief-stricken" person wandering around, gangsters with some sort of "gift" for Tae Hyun wandering around, Chairman Choi who backed off from blustering and bullying Yeo-Jin at the mention of important information she holds, Secretary Min (wandering around who knows where at this point, but not dead or disappeared, I think), Chief Prosecutor with smiling hidden agendas...I go actually go on, wandering around. Doncha think, maybe, that there's whole lot more to be said and done on Yong Pal besides pond cleaning and arranging a neato keen love amending ending? The items mentioned (among others) are not just loose plot threads that can be ignored: remember, this is actually an "intelligent drama", which has always majored and rejoiced in the unexpected. Expect the unexpected...

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Audrey

September 27, 2015 at 12:09 AM

Have to add one last thing for @FGB4877---please do not take my comments as sarcasm directed at you; yes, I was expressing some irony, which was not meant as a personal attack, but a chance to put out there all this stuff that some people seem to have conveniently swept under the rug. My main point is that this is a complex drama, and the last two episodes will not end up being simplistic; this is not the track record for this drama and I think the writers will keep the faith and not disappoint us.

SS

September 27, 2015 at 2:58 AM

I honestly wonder how are they going to tie up so many issues in 2 episodes.

Chief Lee is not finished yet. I am sure he will play an important part. My prediction based purely on Jung Woong In's spoiler.

Gangster's gift has already been presented. Remember Doo Chul bounded Scarface and put him in Detective Lee's boot. There was a ribbon and a sheet of paper bearing the words "Gift" in Hangul. I read elsewhere that DC wrote one character wrongly thus the joke between his right hand man and TH during the party.

I think Chairman Choi is almost done. He seemed to be largely coming on to revenge his son. With DJ dead and his arsenal diminished, I think his role might be over.

SS

September 27, 2015 at 3:04 AM

I am most curious about Secretary Min because I want to know when did he started double crossing and what was his role in all the deaths of Go or attack on DJ.

So far, the writer has no loose threads. So I am hoping I will find some answers to the questions I have in the last 2 episodes.

I just hope they can squeeze in some nice OTP time together. I feel breathless whenever I watch this drama.

12 Matt

September 26, 2015 at 1:56 PM

Chaeyoung on fire.
I think this is the only thing writer can do to keep up momentum and give us some action in the last week to be honest. The last scene seems to indicate it, so I'm ready for some vengeful Chaeyoung this time.

Also, I know that Taehyun and Yeojin will eventually get back together, but the last scenes of episode 16 were really really heartbreaking. They suffered enough, writer, let them be happy at last.

Is it only me or there is 'some time later' on the horizon though? I get they both need time for recovery, but at the same time the time skip is one of the clichest and overused drama tools of all time.

Let's see how it all wraps up.

PS. Still waiting for Joo Won's OST....

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ohnodaisuki

September 26, 2015 at 2:17 PM

nope, not only you!

'some time later' just might be used--I think so too.

And yes, waiting for the OST! <3

See you Matt and your thoughts next week!

This episode was really heartbreaking-- one of them cries and I cry too!

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SS

September 26, 2015 at 8:43 PM

Oh @Matt, sorry to disappoint you. As of last week, fan accounts say that Joo Won does not have time to record an OST. Not sure if anything has been changed.

I am all for Chae Young to wreck revenge on Yeo Jin. I need closure on this issue of "an eye for an eye" Of course, it puts our OTP in danger but I cannot reconcile this whole revenge thing if it's not being properly addressed.

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13 no name #6

September 26, 2015 at 2:00 PM

And this: "When it comes to this area of fighting over company stocks, you can say that I’ve been ruined by Story of a Man which tackled these battle of wits with finesse."

Yesss. I was thinking the same thing while I was watching. That drama actually got me sucked into stock trading scenes! Never before, never since. And especially not this scene, lol. Even though it was nice to see Yeo Jin getting to flex her business muscles and leave aside the revenge checklist per se for a bit.

Now, if we could just achieve some sort of resolution for that checklist that pleased both Yeo Jin and Tae Hyun...although the list is getting pretty short if Do Joon really is dead.

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14 Affie

September 26, 2015 at 3:52 PM

Thanks for the recap Gummimochi!

I looooove your recaps of this show!

I'm attached to TH's interactions with his bodyguard! Hehehe! They are like breaths of fresh air in the intensity of this show!

I don't miss Yong Pal's doctoring action one bit cos this show is intense enough as it is! And the trajectory this show is taking is sure enough proof to me that this writer is not listening to anyone. If he was the following ridiculous hijinks would ensue...

Yong Pal would only be a show with a format like a serial, that would focus on treating gangsters and shady rich people and dodging the police. Maybe throw his sister's illness in there and have it be his whole motivation throughout the drama. Tch!

Yeo Jin wakes up from her coma. But everyone still wants her dead and YP has to save her over and over and over and over... Cos he has to leap over buildings to save the damsel in distress and fit in a couple of gangsters here and there. Ha!

Let YP fall in love with Cynthia so we can have a show with an amoral doctor who will do anything for money and finds a girlfriend that kindà thinks the exact same way. They can become a tag team and be at it for 18 eps. Ow!

Make YJ a villainess who gave ALL the kill orders. Gets away with the murders and lives happily ever after with TH. Plain wrong!

I hope someone sees what I'm getting at here... All these are legit permises! You betcha! But I also ask myself....
Would I enjoy this show that much if ONLY one of these was the plot? My answer is an empathic NO.

Hence, I love Yong Pal JUST THE WAY IT IS.

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SS

September 26, 2015 at 8:46 PM

Awesome post @Affie!

Only thing I differ is that I would actually like more Yong Pal in action. Rather, I had in mind interesting cases which Yong Pal could have tended to.

But I do enjoy the show as it is so perhaps the answer is having this story planned for like 20 episodes from the beginning instead of 16?

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15 Affie

September 26, 2015 at 4:01 PM

Oh yeah. I did cry buckets of tears on this ep. This level of waterworks from me on a k-drama can only be compared to Ep.19 of Rooftop Prince where I effectively lost my mind and bawled like a lost whale! :)

I loved everything. Everything was on point. YJ'S crying. TH's anger and crying. The genius in the war room! ALL! *the montage was a bit excessive hehe... The show just wanted to push us off the ledge and into the canyon! But I enjoyed it alllllllllllllllllll!

Bring on the final eps! Yong Pal fighting!

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16 Mysterious

September 26, 2015 at 4:12 PM

I dont think do joon dead.I think YJ and TH and CY Make His death like fake to save him from daejung group..You know Like Final episode Healer (: i guess yong pal save him in ambulance.and In this episode Writer Not Give us moment yong pal save him or Do joon Dead. writer only give us Dojoon get hit by car Thats it..

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Affie

September 28, 2015 at 6:48 AM

Cant wait to find out!

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17 Curious

September 26, 2015 at 4:42 PM

I feel that mostly people are having trouble accepting Yeo-jin as she is now because they wanted a heroine who they wish had taken the high road and had taken her revenge by destroying her enemies by only out-smarting them, taking what was rightfully hers and eventually tearing floor 12 down. But what we got instead was a heroine who is taking revenge by outsmarting some as well as indirectly killing those who wronged her. And quite frankly, i think that is a more realistic reaction for someone who, like her, had been imprisoned in her own mind for THREE years. With no one else but crazy obsessed nurse lady who treated her like a living doll and a brother who absolutely betrayed her. Only to wake up and find out her lover, whose death had been a recurring nightmare for her for three years had also betrayed her. I think it makes sense that she is completely messed up and believing that only death of all those who tortured her would bring her peace.
She knows she is no different from all the others who imprisioned her. She has never denied that which is why she always referred to herself as a crocodile as well. But the main problem I had was with Tae-hyun's very calm reaction to the roll his wife played in the death of President Go and her plan to kill Chief Lee. While he can understand why she would want to do that, it was hard for me to accept he could carry on seeing her in the same light as before. I had a feeling that had their marriage carried on, eventually it would become similar to Do-Joon and Cha-young's marriage where overtimeTaehyun couldnt love Jeo-jin back no matter how long they stayed together.

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SS

September 26, 2015 at 10:35 PM

I am not sure about Yeo Jin's complicity in President Go's death. Even if she was the one who sent the note, it was President Go's choice to commit suicide. I expected him to be more shrewd and find a way out. But perhaps the big bosses he was alluding to are too formidable for him.

As for Chief Lee, I will accept that Yeo Jin was too crazed with hatred and vengeance but thankfully she still had the presence of mind to heed TH's advice. YJ needs to see a psychiatrist or professional help to get over her current state.

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Curious

September 27, 2015 at 12:09 AM

Agreed. She does need some professional help. I think the lack of sadness and remorse she showed over her half-BROTHER's death is telling of her messed psyche. I mean, regardless of the betrayal and the treatment her brother showed her in the last three years, they were still blood relatives.
Although, it could just be that the writers didn't have appropriate time in this episode to display this yet (but then again she was very calmly having a meal when Tae-hyun came home to see her after Do-yoon's death) so we don't actually know her complete feelings yet. Additionally, having never been betrayed so badly perhaps I just don't understand her and she may have just found some twisted peace after his death. Which leads us back to her really needing to make an urgent appointment with the very best psychiatrist in town.

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Audrey

September 30, 2015 at 9:24 PM

Hmmm, I really didn't see Yeo Jin enjoying her meal; it rather felt like she was going through the motions of eating, but her heart wasn't in it. Thought so at the time and after watching the episode twice, still think so.

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18 greenanne

September 26, 2015 at 5:32 PM

amazing. love this episode to bits. Yongpal doesn't disappoint me!

Yeo Jin is a very fresh character, not belonging to the female norm in Korean drama. She is just terrific. I enjoy how smart she is, and how she scares the hell out of all the directors that look down on her because she is young and a FEMALE. AMAZING. Like this writer knows what he is doing!!! He makes me look at this drama in such a serious way (before I look at it because of Joowon haha).

I loveeee the relationship between Tae Hyun and Yeo Jin. I actually don’t find any chemistry between them, but the husband and wife relationship is very real. We don’t have to deal with the third-person or parents-don’t-agree-crap. We get to see the conflicts between husband and wife, and how they try to resolve those.

Tae Hyun character is a little less human and believable than Yeo Jin. If it weren’t for Joowon’s excellent performance, I wouldn’t be interested in him at all. Like where is my badass and mysterious yongpal???? Can you bring him back????

Kim Tae Hee creeps me out when she acts as an adorable, cute lady besides Tae Hyun. BUT, she is terrific when she portrays the other side of Yeo Jin. Kim Tae Hee fits her role so much! I really love how she acts as a powerful, vengeful, ambitious and intelligent woman. Just amazing.

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Sera The Ms Temper

September 27, 2015 at 11:19 PM

Kim Tae Hee actually belongs to this type of character. This can be considered as her best character and acting for her years of acting.

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August

September 29, 2015 at 11:42 AM

"We get to see the conflicts between husband and wife, and how they try to resolve those."

The kdrama norm is to end with a happily ever after image of the OTP or we witness them saying 'I Do.' However with Yong Pal, writer Jang Hyeok-Rin surprised us by showing TH & YJ's having to deal with the ins & outs of marriage. In hindsight now we know that their laid back dreamy courtship & approach to romance/romantic ideals happened in the early episodes and the realities of their postnuptial existence were saved for the latter part of the series.

What happens to Kim Tae-Hyun & Han Yeo-Jin after they say I Do? From the difference between one's romantic ideals and the realities of marriage; differing backgrounds socially and economically; accepting one another as they really are & adjusting to personality & habits not noticed or ignored instead of idolizing a spouse maybe to unrealistically; re-examining expectations; to communicating and sharing feelings of adjustment & disappointment with one another in a way that's not destructive but done with consideration.

A successful relationship and strengthening marital commitment is a choice that requires deliberate investment.

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19 QueenBi

September 26, 2015 at 7:40 PM

Should the police put their hands in this case, is it going to be TH who put the blame? For kidnapping, putting one helpless patient into danger, and got the patient killed. Unless, DJ's existence in the hospital has never been admitted by anyone. Anyway...the killing is in public area. Police can still make a fuss on it.

Yeo Jin-aahhh...what did you do to your husband (aka love ones)?

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QueenBi

September 26, 2015 at 7:41 PM

sorry...TH took the blame

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shirayukihime

September 26, 2015 at 11:12 PM

Are you sure??? Th's good intentions are always clear. He wants to help people. TH wants to save Dj but what did he do to TH? attacked his savior. seriously is that the right thing to do? well the way his brain works, I don't think so.. Dj problem is his lack of trust... If he only listen to TH's explanation then there will be no problem...seriously that guy is stupid.. he attacked Th .. omg!! he injured Th's head.. something might happen because of that.. head trauma injury???
I don't like Dj.. I didn't watch the scene with his wife cause It will only cause problems for me.. Oh god!! he started everything so why would I pity him??? he deserve to be tortured to death and burn at stake.. but it will cause problems for Yj in the future.. a victim turned into a murderer..

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QueenBi

September 27, 2015 at 1:03 AM

Hello @shirayukihime
I think your interpretation to my post was a bit of a mistake. I know my post is a little out of topic from our current discussion.

I also think DJ's death in the hand of Daejung is his 'best' faith for being the most unforgiven soul in this drama. Yet, i do understand TH's motivation in saving lives. It is just that..this will consider as a murder scene. When a murder happened (be it to good or bad people like Do Joon) the law (the police) will/shall not let this go easily. Apparently someone must take the responsibility. My question is who will be blame by the police? lol

Let us think that the law (in this K-drama world) has been 'taken care' by both Hanshin and Daejung (omoo they have the secret account book, right?).

Give it a rest, since it is quite irrelevant.

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20 celine

September 26, 2015 at 8:37 PM

Like some, I also do not find it difficult to reconcile the "duality" of Yeojin. Like what were explained earlier, she's acting that way towards her enemies because they are her enemies. Wouldn't it be much weirder (and waaayyyyy more stupid) if she turned all softy and forgiving towards those who did her wrong, especially if it were only because Taehyun told her to do so? She was locked up for three years!!! Not to mention, she was "awake" and aware all those years and was in so much grief she wished to just die! Who wouldn't want to kill their enemies given her situation??? On the other hand, she is genuinely nice/kind to others like the nurses, the people from church, etc. because they are not her enemies. They are people she interacted with and people who helped her recover. Therefore, the way she acts is not mind-boggling at all.

I'm glad that she's firm in her decisions no matter what other people were saying. Yes, Taehyun is someone special to her, but she had to make a choice and she chose to save Hanshin. She may truly love Taehyun, but she's someone in power and has responsibilities. Their separation (temporary I'm guessing) is okay. Quite frankly, I wouldn't mind if they do not end up together at all or maybe the show will use time to move things forward and the two eventually finding each other.

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21 ZENITH

September 26, 2015 at 9:14 PM

I don't know why people have problems with this show. I'll give credit to writer for not using the same crapy conventional k drama flow.

A fighting heroine is much welcomed anyday than a novice heroine . Was it only me that felt saying "you go girl" the way YJ handled secretory min and chairman Choi. She is smart enough know everyone's move before head than just crying for being backstabed .

I think she was thinking of stopping her revenge after TH long speech in last episode (remember sec min saying that YJ was wavering ) but was forced to make a choice between hanshin and DJ(father's last wish or evil brother) hmm she made the right decision

Yong pal basic attitude is to save people in danger without thinking who they are which exactly what he did which was well used by YJ(how could you do that to TH which is sad )

His reaction was actually more realistic his anger when he said he regrets saving was enough to hurt YJ. And later to leave her like that was best punishment that he could give her. Silence speaks 100 words. No yelling is good for your ears (hmm she was pretty has given me way too much hearing problem)

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SS

September 26, 2015 at 10:23 PM

Yes, I applaud the writer for taking the drama this far and not afraid to test the limits. So much that I am afraid Yeo Jin becomes irredeemable. I can accept a badass Yeo Jin as long as she does not outright kills someone no matter how valid the reason is.

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Audrey

September 26, 2015 at 10:44 PM

@Susan, cannot let what you said about Tae Hyun trying to punish Yeo Jin go without comment: he was most definitely not going for punishment---the very concept goes against all that we know of his character and his love for Yeo Jin, which has not changed, not will it ever. Not only that, but he left the door open for a future with her---he will be waiting for her, but knows it must come on terms that fit them both; he clearly sees that the time is not ripe or ready yet for that to happen. He has not abandoned her, but rather has given her space to work out her own inner demons---there is no way one person can do that for another---Yeo Jin has to work it through herself, to figure out what priorities will rule her life; she has to figure out what matters most to her in the overall plan for her life, and right now she is not planning or acting, but merely "reacting". And no, I am not postulating an icky version of "noble sacrifice"; the very concept sucks majorly to the core! For either one of these two characters to even consider such an outcome, would be a travesty, a betrayal of love and caring. So, let's look at Tae Hyun and his actions and words in that final scene in the garden with Yeo Jin: his actions, regardless of the pain it gave them both, were made because of his love for her, not to "punish" her. He really had no other course of action open to him at that point. These are not the actions of a "weak" man, but of a man who is strong because he loves, and is willing to wait, in hope and in faith. And please don't even think for a single minute that he packed that ring case and took it with him: it's waiting in that drawer for Yeo Jin.

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QueenBi

September 27, 2015 at 1:29 AM

@Susan,
Imo, Yeo Jin must be feel badly betrayed by TH to let the rescue happen. One DB chingu told me that YJ leave it to ‘fate’ –if she should notice earlier that Daejung is after them (Do Joon and rescuers) on the street, then she ‘care less’ for TH's safety by let it happen. I think Daejung’s chase has nothing to do with the bidding right? No matter who wins.

The following plot confused me a lot. I would like your say to enlightened me if you dont mind. Because later on it is YJ who say she has betrayed her husband. First, i thought it was me who lost in translation, but after reading today's recap, i was right. Do you think she give up on TH far earlier already? Just seeking for good timing to let it happen? If not, why bother letting TH misunderstood by saying she ordered DJ's murder (which is not). But telling him the next day, that she want TH to stay with her?? Is this somekind of her wishful thinking because she know what he will answer after all. She knows her love can not do much for him in her situation.

Half of me think that YJ did had a plan to push TH away since the day TH prevented her for continuing revenge. My other half is still floating.. lol.

What is Yeo-Jin really want exactly??

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9dragonkings

September 29, 2015 at 1:01 AM

Yeo Jin never wanted to push him away. She was literally begging him to stay even til the last moment of the conversation. "Leave after you had breakfeast." --YJ
"I don't eat break feat...I almost died trying to eat breakfast here." --TH

Yeo Jin needed the rescue to happen because her company was being targeted by DaeJung. She needed the rescue to distract DaeJung so she can pull the stock order before DaeJung did, letting DaeJung complete a inflated contract. She wanted to make DaeJung waste assets to weaken their corporate offensive capabilities. This sums up why she said. "I have protected the company while I betrayed my husband." The consequence was killers tailing TH.

Killers manage to find TH's destination when the chief of staff could not possible know where TH was headed. He did not expect TH to rescue DJ that moment nor did he ask his men to follow TH. This meant someone who took part to save DJ leaked the rendezvous place. At end we can still see the bodyguard being called upon by Yeo Jin after he supposedly betrayed her. This make him the prime suspect.

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QueenBi

September 29, 2015 at 5:05 AM

Hi@9dragonkings -thank you :D
May I say that all YJ need is ANYTHING to distract Dae Jung from targeting her company? So it is merely a coincidence that she find one when TH make a scene by saving DJ? Hmm...i thought it was always Do Joon they have been after since Daejung found out about who caused SH's accident. I too cant understand your point of view in other thread. Why do you think the rescue is related with YJ's winning the Stock battle? Because it seems chronologically impossible. WR-nim really put YJ as the most complicated creature in Kdrama land imho.

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22 jinx

September 26, 2015 at 9:16 PM

Doesn't anyone remember that Daejung actually has Do Joon's body??? Then what is Chae Young doing, watching Do Joon's coffin being cremated? Did she just burned an empty coffin? How can everyone miss this out?
Plus, I think that Tae Hyun, being in his current circumstance, where he doesn't have to be all badass and aggressive to earn money he needs to pay for his sister's medical fees and especially being surrounded by crocodiles, it is his method of treating them and opposing them by being soft and gentle. He can just spread the love everywhere, since he doesn't have so much pressure on him anymore. All he has to focus on is Yeo Jin, which he is trying to soften up, to get her to understand that love, patience and giving in is actually more powerful. That was how he chose to deal with Yeo Jin.
The fact that he is understanding and not being more aggressive is totally understandable as this would only provoke Yeo Jin even more and he has been in the same situation where he is an accomplice, so he thoroughly understands how it is like to be in a situation where you are standing with the more powerful people but not actually be able to do what you want.
I also think that Yeo Jin admitted that she was the one who ordered Do Joon to be killed quite indirect. She used someone else's hands to kill her brother and she allowed him to escape, knowing that he has 50% chances of surviving. Either he manages to escape or he will be killed by Daejung. However, in both situations, she used Tae Hyun.
This drama is killing me so much. I am guessing that we will get to see Chae Young's revenge and I hope she won't hurt Tae Hyun in the process when she lashes out. So excited to know the ending.

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greenanne

September 26, 2015 at 10:15 PM

wait, when did Daejung have Do Joon's body? I thought on the last scene Chae Yong was holding him. Then we have the funeral scene. Did I miss out something?

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Audrey

September 26, 2015 at 10:58 PM

Nope, @LA, you saw the same scene I did: the two black cars split, mentioned accomplished. Chae Young was there with dear, dead Do Joon. And then the plot thickens...

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Audrey

September 26, 2015 at 11:37 PM

Make that "mission accomplished"---I, of course, would never have typed such a phrase as "mentioned accomplished"; the word suggest genie did it---that's my story and I'm sticking to it (ahem, yeah)...

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greenanne

September 27, 2015 at 9:01 AM

Lol a typo is fine :))

23 cheekbones

September 26, 2015 at 9:23 PM

This drama is full with strong and smart women. And that's a rarity in kdramaland.

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jean

September 26, 2015 at 9:41 PM

agree... refreshing!

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greenanne

September 27, 2015 at 9:00 AM

Right???? I agree too!!

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Affie

September 28, 2015 at 6:56 AM

Ditto!

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August

September 29, 2015 at 9:35 AM

Thumbs up (way up) to strong smart women demonstrating intelligence, a sense of awareness of what's around and the situation one is in, and reasoning through a matter of common sense in kdramaland!

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24 Nania

September 26, 2015 at 10:35 PM

I love this episode so damn much. And I truthfully cried at the separation scene. I realized how much they love each other but they can't find a way to be together now.

Somehow I feel so sad with yeojin, the perks of being the smart one (I'm not saying taehyun isn't smart tho). She knew it will happen, TH will bring dojoon out, sec min will contact daejung, daejung will try to catch him, also the possibility of dojoon fly away with his wife while hanshin will face a scary war in tge future. and ofcourse another possibility, dojoon being killed bcs he's so greedy and the moment taehyun will left her bcs of that. I assume she predicted this would happen. I just feel sad that yeojin cannot do anything about this. She should and have to protect hanshin since she is the only family member left, but she knew that wouldn't be easy because what dojoon have done to daejung and how hanshin actually not as strong as before. In the other hand she wants to keep taehyun beside her but she already did something that Taehyun hate. So... She's all alone for now.

2 episodes left and I hope the writer could give us an acceptable ending. After what he's done to us, with so many twists, I hope he could give us a proper yet so realistic ending. If not.... I don't know what will happen to me, I can't be moved on from this drama for a loooong time

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Mo

September 29, 2015 at 7:17 PM

Is there a possibility that Sec Min is Chae Young's lover before DJ? These two can join forces against Yeojin...and eventually succeed ....leaving Yeojin to scamper to the mountain where YP is waiting with the ring...my storyline....

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25 Justme

September 26, 2015 at 11:00 PM

Can we have something like this as the finale:

Chae yong, right after she killed yong pal :
and now, back to this b*tch who had a lot to say about killing my husband. Yeo jin, what's good?!

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Affie

September 27, 2015 at 2:28 AM

@justme! Hahaha! Girl-on-girl freaking showdown! Go Nicki! Lol!

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SS

September 27, 2015 at 3:12 AM

You gals are hilarious :D

How about YJ and CY cat fight and Cynthia swoops in and brings TH out?

On a more serious note, I hope Yeo Jin learns that revenge begets more revenge. It's a never ending cycle.

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greenanne

September 27, 2015 at 9:00 AM

LMAOOOOOOO this is hilarious lol. but totally a possible ending :|

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QueenBi

September 28, 2015 at 6:56 AM

@justme
Hmm...after reading you I have very much guess that CY will after YJ for that reason. An eye for an eye premise. But, CY will not have the heart to execute TH in the end.

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QueenBi

September 28, 2015 at 7:02 AM

Sorry...CY will after YP

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26 shirayukihime

September 26, 2015 at 11:49 PM

Let's hope Th save Dj in the last minute,. I want Dj pay for his crimes but don't think that he really needs to die. Dying is an easy way out for the criminals.. he needs to suffer more and realize what he had done...
I kind of expected that Cyntia will be cming back from the states in the last ep. coz she will deliver So hyun to Th. she has been taking care of her secretly in the states.
but I didn't think she has another role in the last ep aside from that... There's an info from the drama insider that there will be an unexpected reversal in the story line..i wonder what is that??
i like Yj but I want Th fall in love with another girl.. Now I want Th and Cynthia together..but i don't know if that's possible.
I just want Th to stay as Yj's doctor and that's it... i am okay with them together but still hoping Th might end up with someone..

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QueenBi

September 27, 2015 at 1:44 AM

Hi
Unexpected plot such as Cynthia is Yeo-Jin's minion all along..?? lol

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greenanne

September 27, 2015 at 9:00 AM

Oh my god that would be craaaazy but totally possible.

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SS

September 27, 2015 at 3:13 AM

unexpected reversal? omo.....I don't think I can take it!

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Audrey

September 27, 2015 at 10:48 AM

Me neither @SS---so much already up in the air and now the added "unexpected reversal"---nnnnooooo, more unexpected on top of already unexpected plot twists for the entire show?! Okay, writer nim, I've been with you the entire time and have totally enjoyed this awesome ride, but I gotta ask a wee small favor: please don't hurt me/us!

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QueenBi

September 28, 2015 at 7:24 AM

Yaiii @SS @Audrey
Expect only the unexpected from this writer. His briliantly crazy :D Bring it on, WR-nim..

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27 jean

September 27, 2015 at 12:18 AM

still routing for happy ending for our lead couple, i cried many tears in ep 16.. pls writernim

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Affie

September 27, 2015 at 1:32 PM

I loved NICE GUY! The ending was a bit meh. Seo Eungi gave up everything for Kang Maru. They had the same faces 7 years later... And they both suffered from amnesia at some point... Oh man. But I loved it.

I need to watch THAT WINTER THE WIND BLOWS... I'll keep in mind to watch out for the sexist trope..lol.

Thx YP for not falling victim thus far...

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jean

September 27, 2015 at 5:49 PM

I loved Innocent man too. if my memory serves me right, i think MCW's company is doing corrupt practices..her fathers doing.IDK. thats why at the end she gave that up and lived a simple life with kangmaru. its different from Hanyeojin though

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Affie

September 28, 2015 at 6:41 AM

@jean... yes... you're correct :)! But I thought she would clean it up and take over it... lol. But it was okay... she grew softer towards the end and was just crazy about her love for Kang Maru so their ending madesense to me.

I really cant make up any guesses for the final eps of Yong Pal but im preparing myself for three main things:

If they go separate ways - accept it, be sad about it a little bit, rationalize it and move on...lol

if they end up together but Yeo Jin gives up everything for TH - accept, be happy they are together, love this show still

if they end up together and Yeo Jin doesn't have to give up Hanshin... but fixes it up- be deliriously happy and love this drama forever and ever! :)

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jean

September 28, 2015 at 6:43 PM

yeah :) , her love to Kangmaru is over the top, she let him made the smart desicions for her company and gave up everything for kangmaru still (sigh) unlyk Hanyeojin who is strong and smart to rule Hanshin herself. but drifts them apart more with taehyun. Hope they can meet halfway. :D

I'll go for this:
"if they end up together and Yeo Jin doesn’t have to give up Hanshin… but fixes it up"

unexpected reversal? i dont care as long as it is a happy ending for YP and YJ. pretty pls writernim.

August

September 29, 2015 at 9:22 AM

Unexpected reversal...hope so too.

if they end up together and Yeo Jin doesn’t have to give up Hanshin…but fixes it up - be deliriously happy and love this drama forever and ever!"

We can be 100% certain that Young Pal will continue being a Doctor and won't have to give it up.

Affie

September 28, 2015 at 7:08 AM

And thanks for replying ;) @jean

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jean

September 28, 2015 at 6:44 PM

;)

28 Curious

September 27, 2015 at 12:23 AM

Can someone kindly explain to me why Daddy Hanshin (really don't remember his name) thought it was a good idea to put his daughter to sleep without any insurances of her EVER waking up again e.g. some sort of well-paid-thus-loyal-because-money kind of security or some other trusty lacky to take care of his daughter for six months (?) until he dies and then to wake her up? Why did he leave her in that state knowing full well that her brother would not wake her up (as he says in that exposition video in the hospital scene)? It's just so strange that he left his beloved daughter's future to chance. On top of that, he was aware of what Do-joon was up to with Jeo-jin's boyfriend. Why would you keep quiet? He said he trusted her choices but really dude, why would you carry on tolerating your nutty as son doing crazy things like that and not warn him off while you are alive?

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SS

September 27, 2015 at 3:28 AM

Good question! He actually said in the video that he thinks Do Joon may not wake her up but he had no choice except try. Eh...like you said, he could have some backup plan. Or he did and those people were bought over by DJ? I mean when the old man died, no one is going to see if you keep to your end of the deal. Still, that's rather speculative.

I think he was aware of Do Joon's involvement only after the accident. When the accident happened, Chairman Han(yup, Yeo Jin's Dad) was left with a little more than 6 months to live. In his last days, I think he was discovering all these things and not having the best capacity to act on it.

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Affie

September 27, 2015 at 10:46 AM

@SS. You're right on. I Really think Chairman Han found out much, much later what Do Joon did.

Apart from that @Curious... I think the Chairman hoped DJ would do the right thing and wake up YJ. I agree he left too much to chance when he chose to trust such a dastardly son.

Annnnnd he won't win Father of the Year!

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29 Affie

September 27, 2015 at 12:30 PM

I really appreciate this show.

I really and truly hope everyone saying they don't mind if our OTP is split forever will really and truly not mind if that happens.

As for me... I want them to be together ... But let's wait and see. Hehe.

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Sera The Ms Temper

September 27, 2015 at 6:21 PM

I am ready for them to be split forever (even i am not sure how ready I am since they are in love, if they are connected not because of love, i may not really mind..sobs).

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30 Sera The Ms Temper

September 27, 2015 at 7:14 PM

I have a mixed feeling. I cant wait for this week episode, but at the same time feel really sad to say goodbye with this drama. There are not much dramas that requires our intelligence, and our brain so much. I remember among the best drama that I used our brain for whole drama were Empire Of Gold, and Liar Game. Now Yong Pal also required my brain to work.

My thoughts :

1) I believe YJ is not only do her revenge, and I believe she is not totally blinded by her revenge. She is the chairwoman of a big corporation that she cannot think about her own self, and she may feel indebted to her father thats why she will do everything she can to save Hanshin. But she has no means to protect Hanshin and her brother at the same time. Her brother has committed many sins. Even she predicted that TH will try to save DJ and Daejung will chase them, she need to choose between two.

2) I wanted to feel bad for DJ but i cant, until the end he still a bad person. However, this is not what i wanted for him. Even he will be died, i hoped he will die in the arm of his sister. Wouldn't it be more touching scene ?They seriously need to reconcile, at least.

3) I dont feel bad for CY. i kinda like her in the beginning, but not anymore.

4) I have a little hope that DJ still alive, i dunno why but i wish TH's magic hand is useful at this time. It is not that i feel bad for him, but I want him to reconcile with his sister, and he repented. Yes, he was treated badly when he grew up, but he should not forget that his sister loved him so much. But he betrayed her first because of his greedy.

5) I almost forgot about Cynthia, lol. But i dont think she has much significant on the last episodes. I dont want her to end up with TH but i want them to stay best buddies. I cant picture them in a lovey dovey scene, but they rockin it as a best friend. I predict Cyntia taking care of TH's sister in US, or becoming a great doctor.

But...... how about if she has connection with either Hanshin Group? or Daejung Group? She may have a final battle with YJ.

6) This drama has many smart and intelligent women, who are not a boring type which is very rare in kdramaland. I wished they will make CY at least smarter than she is now.

7) TH is kind hearted and naive, but as Cynthia said before, that was his charm. He is not stupid, and that is the best thing. Normally, in kdramaland, if hero is smart one, a heroine will be weak/kind/naive but quite stupid (not all). But in this drama, both hero and heroine are smart, in their own way.

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31 Yahya

September 27, 2015 at 7:48 PM

Its so hard to understand Yeo Jin mainstream, but she deserve to revenge to her brother and absolutetly to protect Hanshin Group. But she has gone too far...especially after she made up to collapsing Daejung Finance, I mean why she need to kill her brother after Daejung doesn't have power anymore againts Hanshin. She could just imprison her brother in restricted area, he will suffer as Yeo Jin feel in the last three years.

But after Do Joon weak up, he's not regreet at all and he still want to kill his sister, at this point he deserve to die, so sad and so heartbreaking cause he died in front of CY when they love is raising. Now, in the last two episode i'm so afraid that this show will never get happy ending. CY must be wont to revenge with the every single power she have last, she will attack YJ desperately, maybe she will attack TH too and even if this too far I'm afraid CY will attack TH's sister in states.

If CY can't kill YJ & TH, but she succed kill TH's Sister...so this is GAME OVER, TH will blame everything to YJ, they will broke the marriage, TH will leave YJ forever and YJ will be so painfull.

But I hope the writer doesn't end this show like that, TH, YJ, TH Sister even CY absolutely deserve a happy ending, I Hope TH & YJ get married in the best way, and then they have kids, and then TH will always with YJ to lead Hanshin Group in wisely.

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32 9dragonkings

September 27, 2015 at 8:01 PM

Yeo Jin couldn’t have known what the killer thugs would do to Tae Hyun. Hence, she was crying in the car stating, “I have protected the company while betrayed my husband.”

If Tae Hyun didn’t rescue DJ she wouldn’t have won the stock market battle. She needed DJ out of the hospital for the news to disrupt Dae Jung enough so that they couldn’t pull out of the deal before she did. So yes she used him knowing killers will tail her husband afterwards.

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no name #6

September 27, 2015 at 10:57 PM

I think the "betrayal" was the fact that she was using him, not that he might have been in danger. She knows about his plans (from spying on him, to add insult to injury), and then uses them to her advantage without telling him. All of which she knows would hurt him. I don't think that she thought about him potentially being in danger as a consequence of her actions. Maybe I'm wrong, and if so, that does make it much worse.

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QueenBi

September 29, 2015 at 1:23 AM

@9dragonkings
you said: "if TH didnt rescue, YJ would not have won the stock battle"

Why do you think these related? Because it seems that YJ already know about TH's plan even before she decided to bid with Daejung. It took 4 days for them to find out Daejung weakness until they continue buying the initiate company.

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33 Fiona

September 27, 2015 at 8:33 PM

Who is the artist/song at 33:13?

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no name #6

September 27, 2015 at 10:46 PM

Junhyung (BEAST) & Heo Gayoon (4Minute) – “악몽 (Nightmare)”...you can check the episode 5 recap if you want to listen to the whole song :)

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Sera The Ms Temper

September 27, 2015 at 11:22 PM

haha i actually love Heo Gayoon's part only. :D

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34 E.S

September 27, 2015 at 9:05 PM

If someone tells you who they are and you don't believe them that's on you. Yeo Jin told Tae Hyun she was a crocodile. She's been raised as a crocodile. Acting like something other than a crocodile had her in a coma for 3 years and on her death bed.

Honestly, as far as the rules that have been set forth in the dramaverse, DJ not only deserve to die, he needed to die. The man woke up from a coma with the intent to betray--and likely kill--Yeo Jin. DJ tried to have his own sister killed. Do joon was going to rape his wife. DJ broke a glass on Secretary Min's forehead. DJ was evil and not very smart. There was no good. It's not noble or righteous to look evil in the face and release it. It's stupid.

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35 bb

September 27, 2015 at 11:48 PM

taehyun didn't give the ring to yeo jin yet, right? you know what i'm hoping for.

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36 Yahya

September 28, 2015 at 2:24 AM

After rewatching the episode, i'm realize that DJ could be still alive if he didn't act like that (puch TH and the guard), he could be still alive if he made it to the chopper with his wife. I Think YJ didn't want to kill DJ either if TH made it hand over DJ to CY.

And YJ feels sad because if DJ still alive, TH still will be with her as always.

This drama entertaining our brain, make us thingking so many possibilities...and I dont believe that is just 2 episode left.

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9dragonkings

September 29, 2015 at 1:04 AM

Yeo Jin was pretty certain DJ was going to die. I was guessing the bodyguard might have sabotage his escape if DJ didn't knock him out. It was obvious that the bodyguard's remain loyal to YJ.

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37 BA

September 28, 2015 at 10:40 AM

Gave up on silly show many weeks ago and I just read the recap and grin. ??

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9dragonkings

September 29, 2015 at 1:05 AM

Good to know of your silly habits.

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greenanne

September 30, 2015 at 9:10 AM

lol

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38 Sera The Ms Temper

September 29, 2015 at 7:53 PM

after watching preview for epi 17, i feel so anxious @_@ i didnt live streaming before, but for this last week maybe i will live streaming.

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Yahya

September 29, 2015 at 8:43 PM

where is the preview, i didn't find it on youtube, give me the link please...

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Sera The Ms Temper

September 30, 2015 at 11:34 PM

My apology for the late reply.. It seems like epi 17 with subs already out

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39 annie

September 29, 2015 at 8:29 PM

If I were Yeo jin, I will also take a revenge with those people who want to kill me. Not all people are born to be saint or an angel. Stop hating Yeo jin for what she is doing.

Her brother is really the evil one. He deserves to die.

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40 QueenBi

September 30, 2015 at 12:59 AM

After seeing what happen from another YP discussion room, ...I feel the story will end up bitter sweet. YJ and YP will be together in the end, but YJ will be paralized by her disease/illness. YP then helping her managing HanShin as her only heir. Will he be the next croc??

Dam**t Yong Pal-ii..

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41 Audrey

September 30, 2015 at 8:54 PM

I am so sincerely going to miss Yong Pal--this has been a wonderful adventure and I have very much enjoyed a different "take" on a woman's "role" in a K-Drama. I have enjoyed the twisty turns of plot and enjoyed so much the character development. Yong Pal, you have set the standard high for future dramas, and I relish that fact. You have proven that different can be better, and that the tropes don't have to be followed to make a good story, nor yet to garner good ratings. Although I will truly miss you Yong Pal, I so hope that you have shown the drama world, that there IS another way to make a good drama and have it succeed; yes, without unnecessary tropes, but based solely on good character and plot development! Ooohhh, novel concept, but we drama viewers have shown via Yong Pal, we welcome and enjoy this. Please follow through with more "Yong Pals".

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Sera The Ms Temper

September 30, 2015 at 11:36 PM

Agreed. Yong Pal brought us to the next level.

TQ very much for YP team, esp its director and writer because gave a different take on woman's role.

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42 Sera The Ms Temper

September 30, 2015 at 11:42 PM

I just hope YJ will not die, not after I watched epi 17. cant wait to see how it ends. still hope that TH and YJ will have their happy ending.

It is truly saddened me to see the pains suffered by YJ. Finally she understood the pain and loneliness of her father, especially when she was in comatose. :(

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