Signal: Episode 11
by gummimochi
O Signal, how you continue to capture my heart each week. We wrap up the Hongwon-dong case in this episode, and finally dive into the case Hae-young has a personal investment in. What lies ahead is an intricate web of secrets initially spun by a mystery source. It’ll be up to Jae-han to get to the bottom of the truth, not only on Hae-young’s request, but also because he’s just awesome that way.
At least we can rest assured in the idea that our detectives are getting smarter as time passes. Well, for the most part—uncovering secrets in the crime scene may be one challenge, but it’s quite another when tackling matters of the heart.
SONG OF THE DAY
Kim Yoon-ah – “길 (The Road)” for the OST [ Download ]
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EPISODE 11 RECAP
Hae-young obtains the name of the killer: KIM JIN-WOO, a man of few words who seemed especially strange today. Learning that Jin-woo took some cardboard and packing strip with him, he realizes that Jin-woo plans to kill again tonight.
Soo-hyun ventures inside the home, gun in hand. She feels around in the darkness, and every surface she touches brings back memories of the harrowing night of her escape. Breathing heavily, she reaches for the closet door.
She freezes at the sound of approaching footsteps and whirls around when a hand reaches for her shoulder. It’s Hae-young, but Soo-hyun is so alarmed that she doesn’t recognize him and keeps her gun trained on him.
Her guard is still up when he slowly reaches out to her, and she protests instinctively when he touches her. Once he has hold of her, Hae-young instructs her to breathe deeply, and lets out a relieved sigh when she finally recognizes him.
He tells her that she shouldn’t have come here alone, even if she’s a veteran detective. He fills her in on the details of the killer and stops her from acting on her own again because help is on the way. But Soo-hyun is determined to catch her former kidnapper by her own hands because that’s the only surefire way to put an end to this hellish nightmare.
Once the task force arrives, Soo-hyun shows them a box tucked in the closet packed with the victims’ belongings. Hae-young realizes that there isn’t anything here that belongs to their last known victim, Seung-yeon.
According to Kim Jin-woo’s family history, he lived with his mother following his parents’ divorce at a young age. Furthermore, the residence is listed under the mother’s name. Hae-young finds that odd since there isn’t any trace that a woman lives here, but he does open up a cupboard to find a pair of child-sized ratty shoes.
If that wasn’t strange enough, Heon-ki discovers a human bone. Oh shit, did Jin-woo kill his own mother too?
A neighboring car’s black box captures Jin-woo traveling uphill in the direction of the burial site late last night. Hae-young calls just then to confirm that Soo-hyun’s claims to have touched a cold, dead hand in the closet may be right. Hiding a body in the home suggests that the victim’s identity needed to remain a secret—what if Jin-woo was harboring his mother’s body?
As Jin-woo pats down a fresh grave, Hae-young admits he doesn’t know why the killer would bury that body now, but what’s important is that something about Jin-woo has changed. A crime scene investigator accidentally turns on the boombox, and Hae-young recognizes the tune—it’s the same music Seung-yeon enjoyed.
As Soo-hyun and the other detectives scour the mountain, Jin-woo takes out a black plastic bag and places it over his own head. He’s planning to take his own life, as he places the noose around his neck, then kicks the wooden stump underneath him.
Suddenly a series of shots ring out, and the detectives run over to the noise. It’s Soo-hyun who has shot Jin-woo down from the branch. Removing the bag from his head, she softly says, “This time… I’ll help you.”
She then grabs his hair and sticks her gun at his neck. Shaking, she tells him that he won’t be able to end this on his own terms that easily.
Once they return to the precinct, it’s confirmed that the skeletal remains belong to Jin-woo’s mother, who died of unknown causes before the first murder in 1997 took place. Since there were no signs of trauma, the police believe he didn’t kill her.
As to why Jin-woo killed all those other women, Soo-hyun believes that his murderous acts is a product of being a child of divorce often neglected and abused by a mother suffering from depression. Hae-young doesn’t miss how Director Kim instantly judges a man who turned to murder because of his rough childhood as “crazy piece of trash”, and the team is told to wrap up the case.
Once he’s alone, Hae-young steps inside the interrogation room with the boombox. He presses the play button to start the music, then asks if this song is what Jin-woo kept of his last victim, Seung-yeon.
He heard Jin-woo had it on replay—did he constantly listen to it for the past year? There was something different about Seung-yeon, wasn’t there?
We flash back to that night about a year ago: Seung-yeon is tied up and has a plastic bag over her head just like the others. The song plays from her CD player as Jin-woo first approaches to strangle her from the front, but then hesitates.
Gathering her to him, he promises to help her. He holds her tightly from behind, and she writhes in his arms until her body finally goes limp. A tear falls, and Jin-woo wipes away the others. He catches his teary reflection in the mirror and chokes back another sob.
As Jin-woo is led away, Hae-young explains that the killer probably didn’t understand his own growing affection towards the woman he murdered, since no one taught him what those feelings meant. That may be why Jin-woo didn’t kill again after that time, and why he tried to take his own life. “Because if he can’t kill… then he has no reason to live.”
Hae-young asks if she considers Jin-woo as a piece of trash like Director Kim does. Soo-hyun replies that Jin-woo’s rough childhood doesn’t absolve him for the multiple murders he committed; she has no sympathy for him.
“There are those who are born monsters,” Hae-young says, his mind jumping to thoughts of his hyung. “And those whom people turn into monsters. If someone… just one person had held out a helping hand, who knows? Kim Jin-woo, the dead victims could’ve all been saved.”
When the walkie-talkie comes alive that night, Hae-young tells Jae-han that they caught the Hongwon-dong killer. He’s reluctant to share who it is because it isn’t up to them to lay judgment on other people’s lives. Recalling the consequences of their previous meddling, Hae-young says they could easily end up accidentally ruining the wrong person’s life.
When Jae-han asks if they should stand back and watch people die then, Hae-young says Jae-han once told him to never give up. These cold cases exist because someone did, so he entreats upon Jae-han not to. With that, the transmission ends.
Just like the reports in 2015 state, Jae-han learns that Director Kim has closed the case. The good news is that Soo-hyun has reported back to work.
Over in the present, a gust of wind preludes another change—on the note found in Jae-han’s notebook, the 1997 Hongwon-dong case disappears, then reappears again, to Hae-young’s surprise.
Jae-han takes Soo-hyun down to the morgue so that she can confirm that what she felt in the closet was indeed a corpse. With his encouragement, she touches the body on the slab and nods that she got the same feeling that night.
Jae-han ruminates in his car over why that particular body wasn’t disposed of. Could that corpse’s discovery compromise the killer’s identity? That has him wonder if the killer didn’t live alone after all, and follows up with two-person residences.
He stops at a manhole right outside of Jin-woo’s home, and coincidentally happens to catch him leaving his house.
Hae-young, on the other hand, is still staring at the note, which now has no indication of the 1997 Hongwon-dong case. Omo, did Jae-han solve it? Or did something go horribly wrong? He rushes back into the interrogation room, only to find it empty.
So Hae-young looks up the case files and reads that Kim Jin-woo was arrested at his home on January 20, 1998. He follows up on one of the previous victim who is now alive and well, which suggests that every victim post-2000 is alive as well.
As for Jin-woo, he’s currently detained in a psychiatric ward, serving a life sentence given to him in 1998. A group of volunteers pass by as Hae-young steps away… Seung-yeon among them.
Unbeknownst to him, Jin-woo catches a glimpse of her. Hae-young narrates, “In exchange for the lives reclaimed, I may not know what kind of misfortune has started for someone else. But as long as they’re alive… as long as they’re alive somehow, there’s at least a small chance for hope.”
Time for a PPL break: Soo-hyun sits at her vanity while her mother insists that she dress properly—and use specific makeup brands—for her seon. And Hae-young orders a club sandwich at Subway. Hey, whatever pays the bills.
Both, however, rush to the NFS building upon hearing word of the newest skeletal remains. As Hae-young tries taking in the sight of Soo-hyun in her pink outfit, they’re told that it’s possible these remains could be the ones Soo-hyun has been looking for.
February 12, 1999. Soo-hyun has found her footing as a detective, scolding a man for deceiving multiple women into sleeping with him. She accidentally drops a box out of her bag while trying to pull out some tissues for a crying victim. Thankfully, it seems no one has noticed.
That is, until she leaves the room with the suspect, and all the detectives collectively gossip about the box of chocolates. Everyone but Jae-han knows about Soo-hyun’s crush on him, and none of them can understand what she sees in him.
Cue Jae-han, who looks disheveled and half-awake. Since Valentine’s Day is coming up, his partner asks if there’s anyone who plans to give Jae-han chocolates (in Korea, the women give sweets to men on Valentine’s Day in hopes that the men will reciprocate the gesture [and their feelings] on White Day, March 14).
Jae-han hates the whole idea, and you can see the awkwardness plainly written on Soo-hyun’s face.
Soo-hyun kicks her sister away when she’s asked if she finally confessed her feelings to her crush, and remains tight-lipped about who that special someone is.
Jae-han gets needlessly upset when he finds the entire precinct cleaning for a special visit, and particularly about how a coughing Soo-hyun is resorted to fetching coffee just because she’s a woman. Right on.
So imagine everyone’s surprise when it’s Jae-han who walks in with a tray of coffee and a bright smile. Hahahaha, that’s awesome.
By the time Soo-hyun wakes and runs to the meeting room, Jae-han exits the room. She’s touched, and Jae-han takes another opportunity to scold her for always doing people’s bidding. When she looks up at him with big, apologetic eyes, Jae-han shouts, “There you go with those big, pretty eyes again!” Omo.
He blames her frailness for falling ill whereas no one else in their unit ever falls ill, and there’s a big knowing smile on his partner’s face. Jae-han sends her one last look, and Soo-hyun’s cheek flush pink. Aw.
This is the memory that makes her smile again, as she giddily rolls around in her bed. In the present, Soo-hyun is told the unfortunate news that this skeleton isn’t Jae-han’s.
Soo-hyun isn’t in the mood when Hae-young inquires about her outfit and whether that means she has marriage on her mind. She turns that right around and asks why he’s here on his day off—what is it about Jae-han that makes Hae-young so curious?
She won’t have any of his excuses today, to which Hae-young asks if she’ll actually believe him if he tells her why. “Do you think you can believe it when I have trouble believing it myself?”
Instead of telling her, Hae-young advises her not to be so callous with men, lest they all run away.
When the radio connection opens up that night, Hae-young asks if Jae-han was the one to arrest Kim Jin-woo. Jae-han, in turn, asks about any future repercussions, and is relieved to learn that there were none.
Now they only have one more case ahead of them, words that confuse Jae-han. He confirms that it is 1999 where he is, and listens as Hae-young tells him that he’ll work on a case about a female high school student in Inju that same year.
Hae-young doesn’t share the details of the case, and instead asks for a favor: to get to the bottom of the truth because this case means a lot to him. Jae-han gets as far as saying that Inju isn’t in his precinct’s jurisdiction before the connection ends.
February 1999. Inju. A post pops up on the Inju High School forum about a girl who was gang raped. It all started at the Willow Tree House, and names one at first, then seven humans, and finally ten “devils”. We only see the back of the author, and the stated location rings a bell to a pair of male students.
Hae-young’s hyung, Sun-woo, receives a call and rushes out, leaving his little brother at home. The post’s contents about how evil is in their midst and that none of the perpetrators have been punished spread like wildfire throughout the school.
At the same time, one girl flies through the halls and climbs to the roof. She steps to the ledge, and takes another step off…
Director Kim is led to a secret meeting with Senator Jang Young-chul, whom we last saw in Episode 7. He swears fealty to the senator, who drops enough subtle, fear-inducing hints that Director Kim better not screw up this case.
So while Director Kim puts in a call, Jae-han is brought up to speed on the Inju gang rape case, which now has over ten perpetrators. Director Kim enlists a special task force to handle the case with him, but that doesn’t include Jae-han, so he pulls one of them aside.
That’s how Jae-han ends up in the van with Director Kim, who doesn’t have a good enough reason to refuse him. Ah, so this is how Jae-han meets Section Chief Ahn, a detective in the Inju precinct, who keeps the curious reporters at bay so the cops can come inside.
The precinct itself is in an uproar, thanks to the irate parents of the boys accused as perpetrators. Section Chief Ahn isn’t surprised at the ones they’ve rounded up so far, since they’re the usual troublemakers. When Jae-han asks about what the reporters’ inquiries about whether this investigation will be scaled down or not, Section Chief Ahn simply brushes it off.
Director Kim berates the Inju detective in charge for creating more noise by deleting the original post rather than letting it stay up. Telling him to release it to the press, he explains that there are dregs of society that must be dealt with by nipping the problem in the bud.
Inju may as well take the opportunity to clean the city out of the worthless trash that taints its image, Director Kim suggests. That gets the detective to comply, and so Director Kim has him find out who uploaded this post.
After Director Kim delegates tasks to the team, Section Chief Ahn officially introduces himself to Jae-han. That moment in 1999 blends into 2015, where Section Chief Ahn is told that the prognosis for his sickly daughter, Hyun-kyung, isn’t good.
It isn’t long before Director Kim hears of the bleak news himself, asking Section Chief Ahn if that’s the cause for his recent act of defiance. Slamming the man into the wall, Director Kim demands to know why Section Chief Ahn didn’t mention that Hae-young’s hyung was Sun-woo, whose name was involved in the 1999 Inju case.
Pushing the director off of him, Section Chief Ahn tenders his resignation. “It’s all over.”
Once he arrives at Inju, Section Chief Ahn puts in a call to Hae-young and shares that he knows about his personal connection to the 1999 Inju case. He warns Hae-young against learning the truth, because knowing it will only put him in danger.
But Hae-young is prepared to risk his life if it means knowing why his hyung died, so Section Chief Ahn invites him to Inju. He’ll tell Hae-young exactly what went wrong… because he was responsible in tampering with the case.
Section Chief Ahn is at Inju Hospital, which is also where the 1999 Section Chief Ahn escorts Jae-han to meet with the victim, KANG HYE-SEUNG. At the same time, a student leaves the hospital carrying a bag with a red scarf.
Section Chief Ahn explains that Hye-seung knew her accused perpetrators, and attempted suicide when the news broke out. Her father stands outside her hospital room and confirms the contents of the post as true, showing them a list of eighteen names the victim wrote out herself. Jae-han requests to speak with her directly, but that gets quickly shot down.
Jae-han calls Hye-seung’s father out for drinking, which only irritates him further. He gets a glimpse of Hye-seung when her father returns to the room, then barges in to leave her his business card. She shrieks in terror, and Section Chief Ahn drags Jae-han out, telling him that they have something to go on now.
Hye-seung’s father tosses out Jae-han’s business card, then barks at Sun-woo—who still lingering in the hall—to get lost. Meanwhile, the police pinpoint the crime scene location to an abandoned restaurant which the young hooligans have turned into their hangout spot and called it Willow Tree House.
There’s no CCTV footage, but there are some residents who saw the high schoolers hanging around often. Those witnesses identify a few faces in the precinct and assert that there was a girl who also hung out with the boys.
That was Hye-seung (who wore a red scarf), whom the other girls at school claim didn’t have many friends nor attended school regularly. These girls also identify a few faces as troublemakers.
Although the number of identified faces matches with Hye-seung’s list, it still bothers Jae-han that all they have is circumstantial evidence. His partner insists that he gets some rest, and when he arrives at his lodgings, there’s an envelope waiting for him.
In it is a group picture of the seven student council members at Inju High School. Remembering that the online post listen seven of the perpetrators as “human”, Jae-han circles the characters on the caption. Hmm.
In 2015, Hae-young pulls up to Inju Hospital. Hm, were we meant to notice the car leaving? He tries calling Section Chief Ahn, and then hears a phone ringing nearby. Oh no, that can’t be good.
Hae-young runs over to the sound, only to find Section Chief Ahn slumped to the ground, clutching his bloody abdomen.
COMMENTS
There’s no doubt Section Chief Ahn put himself in danger’s way the moment he tendered his resignation, but man, nothing could’ve prepared me to see him bleeding before our eyes. A part of me wonders why he waited until he arrived at Inju to call Hae-young instead of calling him sooner, since he basically placed a huge target on his back by defying Director Kim. And then the other part of me says it’s partly for the dramatic factor and to bring Hae-young back to Inju.
Speaking of which, I’m glad that we’re finally at the point in the timeline where we’ll finally be tackling one of our central mysteries—Sun-woo. As far as I can tell, his name wasn’t included in Hye-seung’s list nor identified by eyewitnesses or acquaintances. I wouldn’t be surprised if he turned out to be the mysterious author of the online post, which could serve to explain his concern for Hye-seung and the rebuff from her father. And if Sun-woo is our author, what other roles did he play in this case, and how did his name end up included with the other perpetrators?
My mind is filled with other questions as well including the significance of the red scarf, the clue hidden in the group pictures, as well as skepticism to the list Jae-han was given. Like Jae-han mentioned, the information he has so far is circumstantial, and we’ve only yet scratched the surface. It’s also interesting how the time loop comes into play this episode, with Jae-han hopping on the case thanks to Hae-young’s mention that he was listed as a task force member. It’s these kinds of decisions that make me wonder if history will repeat itself or if things can be changed.
We’ve seen how the butterfly effect has changed certain key events in the ongoing timelines thus far, but we’ve yet to see any event that was meant to have happened regardless of their meddling. Now I’m dabbling in fate and destiny territory, but hear me out when I say that while Hae-young and Jae-han’s previous interventions has led to different outcomes so far, sometimes for the better or worse, they’ve yet to encounter a situation that no matter the route they take, the end result remains unchanged. As much as it pains me to say, it would be a daring narrative decision to take Hae-young and Jae-han’s involvement in the 1999 Inju case that somehow still ended in Sun-woo’s death.
Curiously, Hae-young doesn’t ask for Jae-han to save his brother; instead he asks for the truth buried in the case. It’s possible that Hae-young’s intentions may change once he hears what Section Chief Ahn has to say (if he gets the chance), and then may wish for Jae-han to do what he can to save Hyung’s life. But then we’re back to the same question—what if Sun-woo’s life wasn’t meant to be saved?
Some of these questions can never be answered of course, since life can take so many different outcomes depending on the choices one makes. It’s impossible for anyone to understand the full scope of what favor or misfortune will fall upon someone in their lifetime, and what effect that will have on them. But that’s when holding onto the small hope that each life is worth saving is what makes the difference because a person is far too complex to be written off so easily.
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Tags: featured, Jo Jin-woong, Kim Hye-soo, Lee Je-hoon, Signal
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1 Saner
February 28, 2016 at 12:06 PM
*settles down squealing in anticipation of thrilling awesomeness*
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samantha1
February 29, 2016 at 3:06 AM
* Turns off the lights and turns up the volume for another movie-like watching experience*
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Saner
February 29, 2016 at 10:23 AM
*makes popcorn, snacks and drinks in spill-proof containers*
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2 Heartstrings
February 28, 2016 at 12:30 PM
Finally, more Sunwoo. Please be alive.
Kang Chanii doing great.
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3 Peach
February 28, 2016 at 12:34 PM
Signal got its highest ratings this week!
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Yui
February 28, 2016 at 7:21 PM
very well-deserved. it deserves moreeeee. hope it'll get higher rating before it ends.
acting, chemistry, story and cinematography... signal is my EVERYTHING *seungri's style* :D
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samantha1
February 29, 2016 at 3:07 AM
Here's to hoping they'll be able to at least break 15% at the finale!
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4 lunatic4kd
February 28, 2016 at 12:40 PM
Signal may be taking over the top #1 spot in my long list of over 150 dramas watched in the past three+ years. It is beyond perfect…so perfect in every way it takes my breath away. The only moments of annoyance I experience are the blatant insertions of Subway as a sponsor – but I’ll even forgive that because sponsors are what have made this awesome drama possible.
The end of episode 12 just tore my heart out, as did the scene where Lee Jae-Han’s first love was crying in the theater after his first love died. WOW.
I think our hearts may not be able to take the ending – whatever it is. I have no idea how they will end it – and doubtful it will be my desire to have Lee Jae-Han brought back to life so he and Cha Soo-Hyun can get married and have adorable babies. Whatever the ending is, it’s bound to be magnificent.
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news
February 28, 2016 at 1:22 PM
The Subway scene was so random and therefore funny, but I guess they have to eat too.
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Miranda
February 28, 2016 at 1:28 PM
When Mom brought a Subway sandwich and PAPER CUP out from the kitchen on a tray I lost it. You store branded soda cups at home?!? Do you live upstairs from a Subway?! How long were you gone? Did no one notice you left to go to the store?
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snailshell
February 28, 2016 at 5:06 PM
It's Korea, they deliver! At the speed of PPL!
Gotta say, it does work. I always crave Subway every time they show up. And it always bugs me that they choose such boring sandwiches. Pretty sure I bug out every time I'm in a shop because I can't choose which damn sandwich I want.
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Jeanie
February 28, 2016 at 7:20 PM
Haha!! And same with me and the Subway cravings everytime I see them in dramas! I never really like eating sandwiches but after so much PPL in Misaeng, I started eating them weekly!! Lol. Same PD, haha.
Kween Ramyeon
February 28, 2016 at 7:22 PM
Seems like Subway's doing a big push. It showed up most gratuitously in Descendants of the Sun too!
PeepsLeAwesomePotato
February 28, 2016 at 6:04 PM
Lol, given the extreme care for details this director has a reputation for (I heard that many of his Misaeng staff didn't join this drama, lol), I have a feeling that he was so annoyed at having to put in PPL that he just went the other extreme and made it super obvious to say "so there! You happy?" The PPL made me giggle.
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Jeanie
February 28, 2016 at 7:21 PM
Lol, you just might be right in that assessment! Love this PD!
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avenus
February 29, 2016 at 8:48 AM
I'm probably one of the few who love PPL showing up on dramas. Yes, it is pretty obvious and at time jarring with no context whatsoever. Or trying too hard to get it into the story. But I find them really funny and refreshing like oh here's real life showing up in the midst of whatever it is that's going on. Hahahaha! I love it. I also admire the writers for putting them in. It must be difficult swallowing your artistic integrity. But, these dramas survive and exist because of businesses who advertise in them.
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Wag-a-muffin
February 29, 2016 at 6:45 AM
These past 2 Subway PPL's remind me so much of GAG concert's King of Ratings. I wish it was still current and could do a parody of Signal's insane Subway placements.
I STILL LOVE THIS SHOW, though.)
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Alessar
February 29, 2016 at 7:13 AM
I could write that scene. It would involve advice to the past that caused Subway's menu to change in the present.
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Miranda
February 28, 2016 at 6:51 PM
What unexpectedly broke my heart this time round was the realization that as lightweight as he can seem, Hae Young's history shows how he ended up this way.
If you watch the start of the first episode again with the 2000-2015 montage, Hae Young's life comes more into focus. He was dragged off to Seoul with his dad as soon as Sun Woo was arrested, but by the time Kim Yoon Jung is abducted, Sun Woo has only been dead for about five months - that playground kid isn't just grumpy, he's heartbroken. And Hae Young overcomes all of his distrust of police to go into that station again and again and again, for at least five years, to try and get ANYONE to believe him about the red-shoe woman. He starts getting into fights in 2006, and in 2008 he gets into the epic pool-hall fight when he discovers the detectives framed Sun Woo. I'm sure we'll find out more about the rest of those years before the show ends, but good god. That child was a straight arrow.
At the start of the show I thought Hae Young was a self-satisfied little upstart, but getting to know more about his background makes it clear he's a much stronger person than he sometimes appears.
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KDaddict?JCW
February 28, 2016 at 7:48 PM
"...but good god. That child was a straight arrow."
And good God, Jae Han was a straight arrow.
So the two of them are soul mates in that sense. The child was first driven by seeking justice for his brother, who was his arrogate parent when the real ones were away, and it grew to protecting others who couldn't protect themselves, like his brother. The detective is driven by seeking justice for those who are too insignificant to seek it for themselves, the likes of Sun Woo.
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snailshell
February 29, 2016 at 5:31 AM
"Hae Young’s history shows how he ended up this way"
Precisely -- you notice that quiet take when Kim, on hearing murderer Jin-woo's childhood abuse, dismisses him as trash. And the word clings to Hae-young, and it's like he's scared of what Soo-hyun will say when he asks. He sees enough of himself to feel for how Jin-woo ended up, even though his outcome is basically the opposite.
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Alessar
February 29, 2016 at 7:16 AM
Yes, and here's the thing: if his brother's tragedy is averted it's likely that almost everything that drove him to be the person he is will unspool, creating a tremendous paradox. Of course, we don't know what is actually causing the link in the timelines but they are on really really dangerous, almost Donnie Darko-level dangerous ground.
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Pearl~ai88
February 29, 2016 at 11:51 AM
Exactly! I'm thinking his hyung really won't be saved, because then HY won't have any motivation to become a profiler and join the cold case squad, and then he won't even find the radio and nothing that's happened so far will be possible anymore. That kind of time paradox would explode the plot. I think it's more likely that the Injoo case is the fixed point that all the transmissions are tied to.
It would be extremely daring if they actually did go the other route and one day HY wakes up with a completely different life while remembering what happened before. That would be crazy!
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5 Beverly A
February 28, 2016 at 12:51 PM
I'm holding my breath a lot watching this show. Amazing concept, acting, production and OST, I haven't liked a show as much as this in a while.
Go! Signal!
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6 Rach
February 28, 2016 at 12:54 PM
I feel like instead of SunWoo, JaeHan's gonna be the one to remain dead regardless of the changes. Sigh.
Also, since I'm only reading the recaps for this show, is Kim HyeSu getting enough screen time in this drama? I wouldn't kmow by recaps but I thought to myself that KHS isnt shown as much as LJH or JJW. Shame, since you don't cast KHY and relegate her to a side character, can someone clarify that for me?
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Nads
February 28, 2016 at 1:07 PM
First: consider watching it! It's one of those shows that sucks you in completely and keeps you at the edge of your seat throughout each episode. The recaps give you enough, but the excellent directing/writing/OST are worth watching for.
As for KHS, I don't know what you mean by 'enough.' Her character is pretty central, but the heart of the sorry is the connection between jae-han and hae-young, so there are times when her character takes a back seat. But I don't see why that'd be a problem - she's nailing that role, and even with the screen time she has, she's still my fav character next to jae-han.
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Miranda
February 28, 2016 at 1:26 PM
KHS is incredible. Each episode I'm more impressed by how totally different she makes her character across timelines, but also totally believable.
And at no point is she not the boss, which is so, so important - so frequently the female lead takes a backseat as the drama goes on, but she is sharp and smart and completely in control, but in the past she's completely pitch-perfect for her rookie position and the sexism of the time. She's amazing.
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Chaos17
February 29, 2016 at 3:56 AM
I will be really disapointed if he still die, specialy after all he is doing alone in the past. That man deserve a happy ending :(
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Miranda
February 28, 2016 at 1:20 PM
Me too. I love him, but I feel like he's going to die either way. Possibly in a different way, like in the line of duty - but it would so drastically change everything to have both Sun Woo and JaeHan live.
It's kind of great that the show's been so damn GOOD that I truly believe they could make any timeline work. The only one I would find unrealistic is the everyone-lives-happily-ever-after, mostly because the tone of the show has been so gritty.
Such a good show. SUCH a good show.
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KDaddict?JCW
February 28, 2016 at 7:53 PM
I fear you may be right, tho I've to admit I keep waiting for the past to change the future, so that Jae Han could come back alive, so that Soo Hyun wouldn't have to be so heart broken all those years. But even more than that, I'm waiting for Kim Bong Joo to eat shit.
I was surprised when I saw Kim Bong Joo literally kneeling down and kowtowing to the Senator. Wow! That's low. Is SK really like that?
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Annie
March 1, 2016 at 12:29 PM
Maybe if Jae Han dies but in another way - possibly as a hero who remains in the memory of all policemen - Soo Hyun will have closure - and in the present she knows and accepts that Jae Han is dead, and so she is available for a new love story. Too much romanticism, right?
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news
February 28, 2016 at 1:21 PM
They all have equal screen time. Love KHS. She's great past and present.
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Lindy
February 28, 2016 at 1:28 PM
I wouldn't say she's been relegated to a side character at all but is, rather, the heart of the whole drama in that she has a relationship with both male protagonists. Signal seems to be more of an ensemble piece and has a very cinematic quality to me especially the use of filters and muted colours to indicate an earlier time. It's just a quality production over all. Certainly one of the best K-dramas I've ever seen.
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Miranda
February 28, 2016 at 1:32 PM
It feels like the senior-junior relationship is repeating itself a bit, only KHS is the sunbae crush this time around.
Because there's no way Hae Young doesn't have a bit of a crush on her. She's too awesome. It might just be a work crush, but it's there.
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snailshell
February 28, 2016 at 5:11 PM
Agreed -- it's the kind of unattainable crush that makes him really admire and respect her without reeeally intending to do anything about it (too busy working) or asking anything from her. But it's part of what makes it so good. Undemanding devotion is not always good, but here, it's absolutely perfect. And Hae-young's not a jerk, you've got to love that, too.
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Miranda
February 28, 2016 at 5:16 PM
I do love that. I also love that he's kind of a dork, and she definitely knows he's kind of a dork, but there's potential there so she'll casually try to keep him on-track and see how it goes. And sometimes kick him.
I also like that any time there's any remote hint of a crush, it's not because Hae Young finds her pretty or sexy or any of that (in fact the pink outfit weirds him out), but she's just so competent and awesome that he wants to be involved with whatever she's doing.
It also cracks me up how INCREDIBLY uncomfortable he is around her nephews, and how her mother is exploiting this entire situation to the hilt.
TransientState
February 28, 2016 at 8:46 PM
I feel that Jae-Han will end up staying dead too. The payoff of Kim Bum Joo's downfall will, to me, feel lessened if Jae-Han reveals everything in 2000. I wonder if he hides the proof and tells Hae-young where it's located.
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7 Jenev-Eva15
February 28, 2016 at 1:01 PM
Incredible drama!just perfect! I'm watching dramas for about 7 years and I can say, that Signal is one of the most interesting and perfectly written. Just can't wait for next weekend!
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8 Z
February 28, 2016 at 1:05 PM
This show continues to be amazing... every. single. episode.
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9 news
February 28, 2016 at 1:15 PM
Finally, only good things happened when Jae-han arrested Kim Jin-woo. Sigh of relief!
Ah, the coffee scene! Who would not fall in love with Jae-han. He's everybody's hero.
And thanks for the song :-) I was looking for it.
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10 erika04
February 28, 2016 at 1:29 PM
This drama is way good. It makes e anxious for what next on the scene that I ffwrd a bit and back again.if this on major tv channel I doubt it will be this good but they will break 20% ratings. Anxious to wait thus week episode
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11 drawde2000
February 28, 2016 at 1:29 PM
This episode for me was all about that backhug. I've never seen backhug done that way before. I will never look at it again as just purely romantic. I give credit to the director for filming it that way. I give props to the actor as well. He was go good in that scene.
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fay17
February 28, 2016 at 1:34 PM
The actor was tremendous.Never watched him in anything but definitely he definitely pulled off his character brilliantly.It was haunting and sad.
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fay17
February 28, 2016 at 1:34 PM
*Lol sorry for the typo.
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news
February 28, 2016 at 1:52 PM
He's talented. He and LJH have a similar vibe and look. I feel like they could've played each other's role.
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Waiting
February 28, 2016 at 3:32 PM
Lee Sang Yeob is wonderful. I tend to like him in all things...he is talented and endearing. He has a smile that can light a room but can clearly play a cold-blooded angle with a sympathetic aspect. I was surprised to see him take this role, but he smashed it and grew from this experience. I am so glad to see actors taking on roles that let them stretch. So many of them are doing really well! :)
Kudos to the director as well for a great scene which allowed the actor to show how conflicted he was about these seemingly new feelings but ultimately his sickness proved too strong to stop the momentum.
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news
February 28, 2016 at 4:49 PM
Absolutely! I saw him in The Flu and it was also for a small role, but he was very good and memorable.
KDaddict?JCW
February 28, 2016 at 7:59 PM
Lee Sang Yeob may not have a lot of acting credits under his belt, but he handles himself well, with certainty and quiet confidence, such that you feel he knows what he is doing in the roles he plays. He doesn't let you see him sweat or Trying to act.
Pearl~ai88
February 29, 2016 at 11:55 AM
Indeed! He is one of my mom's favorite actors, from that family drama A Little Love Never Hurts (an extremely ironic title, let me tell you XD) The drama ended up being disappointing, but he was adorable as the lead guy and really made me feel for his never ending paiiiii~n X3
Moony
February 28, 2016 at 2:22 PM
That whole scene was just so powerful, SY sitting there in complete terror ,her song playing , his hesitation in killing her as he usually does , that back hug and her last moments , him being confused by his own reaction and tears .
Everything is just so sad in this case :(
Though the last scene in this chapter gave me mixed feelings , I was glad SY is alive but it's unfortunate due to the change in the past their interactions never happened , and JW is still as lonely as ever with no knowledge of love :(
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news
February 28, 2016 at 4:44 PM
Actually, there's a high chance that SY and JW will meet again, but this time under very different circumstances. After all, she volunteers at the psychiatric ward where he's detained. Even though he's serving a life sentence, maybe this time they'll meet and he'll get the chance to learn what love is. At least this is what I hope will happen in this alternate timeline.
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JayW
February 28, 2016 at 9:17 PM
That was the highlight of this episode for me, the scene where SY appeared as one of the volunteers and JW turned right at the moment she passed by. It points to the notion that love lives on no matter the time or space and if two persons are meant for each other, they will find each other again. So yes, I believe both JW and SY will have a happier ending in this new alternate reality.
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blueribbon
February 28, 2016 at 6:08 PM
Completely agree, I will never see backhugs as just purely romantic. Those were my thoughts exactly, a twist on the backhug.
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Jeanie
February 28, 2016 at 7:18 PM
Lee Sang Yeob was so perfect for that role. I was teared up watching that scene. Powerful.
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12 aly
February 28, 2016 at 2:00 PM
Watched ep 12 today and was the best ep to date. I really cried you guys prepare yourself. I especially feel so connected to lee jae han to the point I thought about him a lot today after I watched ep 12. I just want him to be alive again and be happy. The inju case made me so mad and hurt. Surprised this amazing drama isn't getting more comments
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KDaddict?JCW
February 28, 2016 at 8:06 PM
I love this series, but watching it also depresses me, in that it depicts the underbelly of a society so well, the rampant corruption, the greed for power and money, the collaboration across departments. It exists in every society, however glitzy its exterior.
It's hard to watch Jae Han trying to buck the system single-handedly, being blocked at every turn. There are always those among his colleagues who need extra money beyond the meagre pay for cops, and are willing to turn a blind eye, or sell out the easiest victim. JH fights them And the system tooth and nail. I very much want him to be alive, but fear that it's the fate of a martyr that awaits him.
I totally understand why Soo Hyun has carried that crush all those years. My heart bleeds just watching him on screen!
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snailshell
February 29, 2016 at 5:37 AM
re: not getting more comments, I always feel like it's because it's so damn good that it sort of leaves us speechless. That's how I feel every time I finish an episode. It's the kind of show where even speculation (i.e. the stuff of comments) doesn't get you far, you can only wait and see (while you're dying inside). When I see the recap, I'm determined to jump in and rail in fiery love, but I just don't have anything to add. Only "omgomgomg SO. GOOD."
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13 niyati
February 28, 2016 at 2:15 PM
Ok this has been on my mind for a while and I have GOT to get it out. We've seen in the first couple of episodes how after Jae-Han died in 2000, the radio kinda reset the transmission timeline to 1989. And while I loved the whole non-linear aspect of it, it's got me wondering. Did the timeline reset to 1989 because the Jae-Han of 2000 was no longer alive to continue the transmissions? And if so, well looking at it from Jae-Han's perspective, something similar happened to him too didn't it? The frequency of transitions is more sporadic in his case, but he too received a couple of transmissions with Past Hae-Young. I'm wondering if this is because future Hae-Young is no longer alive to continue talking with him! GASP!
Am I the only one who feels this way? Am I over thinking this?
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Miranda
February 28, 2016 at 4:31 PM
That's possible... Hunh. I'd never thought of it that way.
Though Jae Han doesn't seem to know at first that he's talking to the rookie version of Hae Young, when the transmissions start. He talks like he's just continuing a conversation - he refers specifically to being "at the place you told me about". I'm not even sure how much of Hae Young's "who are you?" stammering gets through during that transmission.
It's only after he's been injured that Jae Han starts talking to Hae Young like he wouldn't know anything - possibly because Hae Young talks enough to make it clear he has no idea what's going on.
It's difficult to untangle. For some reason Hae Young specifically told Jae Han NOT to go to the psych hospital (and we don't know how detailed that instruction was - Jae Han is definitely smart enough to figure out an exact address from some accidental hints). So at the time of that last transmission, Jae Han has probably figured out this is exactly why he was given that warning: because if he goes, he dies. So he's got enough information to piece all of that together, and to give a coherent final message, knowing this rookie Hae Young will most definitely be talking to 1989 Jae Han. Bottom line: I don't think he's got any information or suspicion that Hae Young is dead.
What I find interesting about all of this is they may have been repeating this loop for a while. When the loops started things might have been much, much much worse - this could be a gradual improvement process with the universe trying to correct a specific error.
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Lindy
February 28, 2016 at 5:04 PM
I think the time loops have been repeating for awhile. Jae-han says in his last transmission to Hae-young something like," this is going to happen again" and "you have to convince the me you are going to talk to that it is for real". Then the next transmission is right back at the beginning with the Hwaseong serial murders and a young rookie Jae-han.
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KDaddict?JCW
February 28, 2016 at 8:13 PM
Good question!
At this pt, we don't know if there is any rhyme or reason to the timing of the transmissions.
If there is, I think @snailshell's comment #18 should come closest to it, that some gross injustice happened, and the universe is offended that it's offering up a way to rectify it; if that's true, I suppose it'll only be revealed in the last ep.
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niyati
February 29, 2016 at 9:25 AM
Hi Guys, sorry for the late response...
So Just let me address a few points here.
Hi @Miranda, I didn't mean to imply that 2000 Jae Han, in his last conversation, knows that Hae Young is dead, or I think he would have warned 2015 Hae Young about it in his dying message, as it seems Hae Young has done (not necessarily in a dying message, just in a previous one). I'm just wondering if future Hae Young's death is the reason behind the communications' chronology being off by a couple of steps across times.
Also I agree with you about the two 2000 transmissions we saw across episodes 1-2. Right at the beginning itself I got the impression, that there was some communication, maybe an stray transmission that was not shown to the viewers, because chronology wise we follow Hae Young, so things happen as we see them happen to him, and Jae Han's scenes are the flashbacks. So maybe between the two transmissions we did see there was atleast one more that served as an AHA moment for Jae Han.
I'm also on board with the idea that maybe these loops have been going on for a while, "the universe righting a wrong" as you put it. That feeling intensified when I saw the 1999 case disappear from Jae Han's list. Like maybe once upon a time that list had been longer.
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14 Jien
February 28, 2016 at 2:49 PM
Team Subway marketing surely do their job. I can see Subway PPL in 3 dramas I'm currently watching (and maybe more in the future)...
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15 Waiting
February 28, 2016 at 3:25 PM
Gah! I love this show! Each episode and the actors are bringing their A-game.
I agree with a few of the Beanies...this show has worked itself int o my top 10 all time favorites and if the good continues, it will likely be in my top 5.
Crossing fingers for more good stuff ahead and I love that they are working with the actual police department to provide some benefits to the victims of violent crimes. What a great way to give back!
Love, love, LOVE! <3
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16 Mini Roo
February 28, 2016 at 3:25 PM
I hesitate to romanticize a serial killer but it was a really bittersweet ending to their "love" story. I love that the present was able to change in that way
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Lindy
February 28, 2016 at 4:20 PM
I guess romanticize isn't the right word as well but bittersweet ending describes it perfectly. Not only is a seriously abused and mentally ill man stopped right at the beginning of his serial killing but 7 (or is it 8) of his victims are now still alive. The man who would have been their killer is securely locked up in a psychiatric hospital where, it's hoped, he's getting the help he so desperately needs. But his last victim, the woman he liked but was too abused and ill to recognize the feeling, is obviously doing something positive with her life as well. She's volunteering and helping other people in need and I guess the romantic in me wants one of those people to be the man who was her killer in a previous timeline.
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Alessar
February 29, 2016 at 7:19 AM
It does sort of play on the idea they had some kind of destined connection, but this is a non-creepy way of expressing it.
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kafanyu
March 2, 2016 at 12:27 PM
+1. Awesome comment.
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Adal
February 28, 2016 at 7:06 PM
The way the scene was shot when Hae young paid a visit to the psych hospital hints at the possiblity of them meeting again in the psych ward and forming a romantic connection there. So, though the ending is bittersweet, I am quite satisfied that Jae han interfered and prevented him from killing nine more women, including what would have been the love of his life.
I believe that the reason why there were no negative consequences when Jae han solved the murder this time is because for the first time Jae han received no outside help fom Hae young in solving this case . There were no tips from Hae young, no clues about the future, only a word of encouragement never to give up. Since Jae han had no knowledge at all about the future events, the timeline wasn't messed up and so there were no obvious ripple effects to solving that case and catching the murderer.
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17 Melleit
February 28, 2016 at 4:21 PM
Best acting/writing/cinematography I've seen in a very long time!! Kudos to all involved. It feels very authentic. I am so impressed with this cast!!
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18 snailshell
February 28, 2016 at 5:03 PM
I've been pondering the question of Fate's hand ever since this show began, especially since Signal lends itself so easily to comparisons with God's Gift--14 Days (the good parts, i.e. excluding the ending).
Early on, there were a lot of theories - all sound at that point - for things like 'life for a life', etc., but what is really fascinating and exciting about Signal so far is that it hasn't taken a Fate route. Instead, it's basic causality: when the action changes, the effect changes as a consequence of it, in line with and in proportion to it, NOT to align with a preset outcome no matter the action, as would be characteristic in a fate-driven framework.
At the same time, there are still certain paths that cross (i.e. murderer Jin-woo and Seung-yeon). There are also certain actions that happen in both timelines (the robber-dad killing the other dad, in the bridge-disaster eps) -- but the reason it happens is because he's driven by the same motivations. In the timeline where his daughter doesn't die that way (i.e. the original timeline where he wasn't framed for the job), *that's* when the other father stops being a target.
I also noticed (last episode, I think), when Hae-young asked Jae-han if he didn't want to know his own future, Jae-han actually switched the radio off, it didn't just cut out. I rewatched it several times to make sure! Because this: Jae-han doesn't want to know. He knows himself well enough, I'm sure he has a fairly good idea that he might not make it - he's too straight, too fighting. Someone like him isn't really meant to live long and die quietly. He's not a play-it-safe person. But all the same, he'd rather get to the end on his own strength. That's how he lives. In the present, and as fully as rightly as he can.
So all that...I'm not so sure that the "point" of the show is that he avoids getting killed. The point is...something went so deeply wrong in the universe they exist in that something extraordinary is happening as a way to rectify it. His survival isn't the ultimate objective - justice is.
In a way, I think the best way to end, at least for Hae-young's character, is that the resolution of Sun-woo's case changes everything in his life. Sun-woo lives, Hae-young never becomes a police officer at all. The ending scene is sharp young lawyer Hae-young goes on a seon...and meets Cha Soo-hyun. He's happy and successful, she's at peace although she'll always carry Jae-han in a part of her heart. They warm to each other slowly. Jae-han looks down from heaven and sighs, content. The world is put to rights.
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growingbeautifully
February 28, 2016 at 7:20 PM
+10
And I like your ending! :)
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KDaddict?JCW
February 28, 2016 at 8:18 PM
@snailshell,
I love your idea that the universe is so offended at some grow injustice that it's offering a special way to deal with it. It'd be in sync with the notion of a just and benevolent universe, and that we are not all just tumbling in chaos.
As for the ending scene, I know it's prbly futile, but like Soo Hyun, I haven't entirely given up hope, however faint it may be, that Jae Han will come back alive. ?
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snailshell
February 29, 2016 at 5:42 AM
I think we'll get something to compensate. Like...Jae-han meets the Hae-young of his own timeline. The kid. Jae-han will recognise him, know who he is and who he becomes. And that will be a kind of turning point for him, too, in making his final stand against Kim and the corruption rings. He'll go down, but it will be worthy, and it will be a memory Hae-young will carry.
Getting teary thinking about it. Sob.
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bil
February 28, 2016 at 9:02 PM
yess! i love your ending story. even though it will be sad if jae han didn't make it alive but if they still try to save jae han with changing the past, somebody maybe dead in the present and maybe it's hae young?
so jae han prefer his death rather than making hae young die
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Jeaniee
February 28, 2016 at 9:24 PM
"So all that…I’m not so sure that the “point” of the show is that he avoids getting killed. The point is…something went so deeply wrong in the universe they exist in that something extraordinary is happening as a way to rectify it. His survival isn’t the ultimate objective – justice is."
I like this!! Something to ponder on and you just might be right with this take on the bizarre situation.
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endzkim
February 29, 2016 at 9:40 AM
So you are saying that The story will end as if the transmissions never happened? Good Ending. But what about JaeHan's end? HY can forget because he was in the future. But i don't think JH will.
My version would be: HY's brother lives. HY will forget about the transmissions. May or may not be a Police Officer. And will cross paths with still-alive JH. With only him remembering their communications.
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snailshell
February 29, 2016 at 5:39 PM
"But what about JaeHan’s end?"
Honestly, I don't think he'll be alive. It solves the paradox problem, heartbreaking though it is.
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graey
March 21, 2016 at 1:13 AM
Oh great, now your ending will stick to my mind and never leave lol. It sounds great but I feel like Hae Young would end up as a dispatch reporter snooping around instead of a lawyer lol.
I'm still conflicted whether I want Jae Han to be alive or not. I love him but I don't know... it doesn't sound right? I just want him to be honored for all the things he'd done.
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19 Rey..
February 28, 2016 at 5:22 PM
Does anyone know where I can watch this drama??
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Adal
February 28, 2016 at 7:07 PM
It's on Dramafever in the US.
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growingbeautifully
February 28, 2016 at 9:18 PM
@ Rey
It depends on where you are. If you're not in the US and some other countries, you may need to go to other sites like
http://dramanice.to/
or dramacool.to
or myasiantv.se
and there are more.
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20 gadis
February 28, 2016 at 5:59 PM
Finally, this writer gave me a slight hope that changing the past doesn't always mean a horrible loss and dire consequences. Seems like as long as HY doesn't actively change the past and let JH figure it out himself, they can rest assured that they don't need to pay any retribution for the change.
Inju case is on another whole level of horribleness. 18 people? You must be kidding. To think that those guys could do that to their own friend... But seems like this case is beyond a rape case. I sense lots of more horrible things to uncover for JH and HY.
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earthna
February 28, 2016 at 7:50 PM
My dear, the real case behind it is more horrifying. You can look up Miryang Gang Rape Case if you want to know more.
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p3rk3le
April 7, 2016 at 9:14 PM
I am watching signal now, and I immediately thought of this case when this storyline started playing. Is it true that this is based on that case? And does that mean that all previous storylines were based on real cases as well?
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KDaddict?JCW
February 28, 2016 at 11:47 PM
You can read about the real Miryang gang rape case on which this and the movie Han Gong Ju was based on NetizenBuzz.
It was only 2003, not that long ago. It was in S Korea, not that remote a country. Boggles the mind and offends our sensibilities.
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21 blueribbon
February 28, 2016 at 6:39 PM
This show reminds me a lot of "Nine Times Time Travel" at least the aspect, and I wouldn't be surprised if it had a similar ending. *MIGHT CONTAIN SPOILER IF YOU HAVEN'T WATCHED NINE*
In Nine the main character doesn't measure the consequences of his interference with time in the beginning. It isn't until later that he realizes it, but by then it is too late as fate has been set in motion. He fixes all the mistakes he made and he even punishes the bad guy however he pays with his life.
I kind of feel the same thing is happening in here, while we want to admit it or not they are responsible for the innocent deaths of a couple of people. Our heroes have ruined the life of others, even if it came with good intentions, and their punishment in the end might be death. Mess with fate and she messes with you.
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22 Adal
February 28, 2016 at 6:49 PM
Jae Han is such a sweetheart! When he handed over those cups of coffee, I was cheering for him and laughing my head off! For all his brash ways, he was the only cop in the precinct to speak out against the sexism of the time. And he gave his admirer a huge compliment about her huge, pretty eyes! I just wonder why he never saw her as a romantic interest, it was obvious to every one else in the precinct that she was crushing hard on him. He must've been burnt pretty badly by the death of his first love. Looks like he never got over her.
Love, love, love Signal. I say this each week, but damn, this drama is sooo good!
The chemistry between KHS and LJS is amazing and very intense. If this was any other genre I'd be rooting for them to get together, despite Jae han being Soo Hoon's love interest.
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earthna
February 28, 2016 at 7:50 PM
Miss Lee~! /swoons
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anabear
February 28, 2016 at 9:01 PM
haha! I was laughing so hard too, especially in the scene where he entered the office with his messy hair and all, and everyone was like: what did Soo-Hyun see in this guy? man, he's cute alright.
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23 growingbeautifully
February 28, 2016 at 7:15 PM
Thanks gummimochi!
I'm always so happy to have watched a Signal episode. I was totally sucked in, riveted and strung up with the suspense LOL! Such good stress!
My favourite scene and what makes me love this show even more... how it inserts the hilarious in the rather gloomy, gritty atmosphere and does it so well it fits right in perfectly... My fave was "Miss" Lee Jae Han coming in brightly with tray and the expressions on everyone's face... and he did NOT make coffee for them, oh no... he told them he'd put the coffee and stuff there for them and they could help themselves LOLOL! It was perfect!
And that followed up by his scolding Soo Hyun for blinking at him with her big, pretty eyes! I was just rolling around!
Aah, just love this show!
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24 Jeanie
February 28, 2016 at 7:17 PM
I share the same sentiments with the posters here. This drama is just a winner!! It wouldn't turn God's Gift 14Days on us, right?!! *knocks on wood* Though I trust this PD, I'm sure him, and everyone involved in this, will deliver.
Chills (I keep saying this every episode lol) and slack jawed by the end of this episode! Wow. I don't even think and theorize much when I watch Signal. I just let it lead me through this awesome adventure! This week's episodes deserved those very high ratings!! Hoping it'll just increase in the final 4 episodes!! At this rate, I would accept any ending as long as it was thematically satisfying.
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snailshell
February 29, 2016 at 5:48 AM
This show consistently nails its episode endings -- that's SKILL and brilliant intuition on the part of the PD.
The other thing I've been noticing (with delight) is that creeping lengthening of the episode, the last two clocking in at 1h17. I want them to just go all out and give us 90min episodes! In this show, every extra minute is like gold and it never feels long *enough*.
And the reason I could barely bring myself to start R88 is because the 90 min episodes were just too much.
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25 Kween Ramyeon
February 28, 2016 at 7:28 PM
I really love how clever this drama is, and that it presumes its audience will pay attention, pick up hints and clues too. It's so refreshing that events are cued in obviously and details aren't so clumsily highlighted you could miss it if you tripped over it. Just love the mood and colour palette too.
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26 earthna
February 28, 2016 at 7:57 PM
If someone… just one person had held out a helping hand, who knows?
This makes me think of the very first case with Kim Yoonjung's kidnapping and murder. If only Haeyoung shared his umbrella with her, she wouldn't be left there alone and probably not get killed. Let me just cry here in a corner.
Aw. Whatever's fated will always be fated. A lot has changed but Jinwoo and Sunyoung are still fated to meet. Imagine how many people in this world are becoming monsters because of the lack of love and a helping hand. Anyway, I'm glad there were no bad side effects to the change. I was screaming for Jaehan to just leave the case alone. HAHA.
...please save Jaehan in any way possible, please... After that cute scene they showed us, I know we're heading towards heartbreak land but drama gods, pleaseeeeeee
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Adal
February 28, 2016 at 8:29 PM
I had that same thought myself. Did he ever regret not sharing his umbrella with her and striking up a conversation? Did he ever blame himself for not doing more to prevent it? Apparently not, because at this time he was already dealing with his own demons of his brother's arrest and suicide.
It's sad, really. Just so sad, so many tragic things happening in our world.
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karen
February 28, 2016 at 11:20 PM
it really wasn't his fault for her death tho. Yeah, he probably should have shared to be nice, but him blaming himself for her death is too much. That woman probably would have come by another day or kidnapped someone else. It's like blaming yourself for a friend's death because you asked them to go dinner and they died along the way. It's not his fault, and I'm glad he doesn't blame himself for it.
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earthna
February 29, 2016 at 12:36 AM
I think he felt quite responsible for it considering how he went to the police station saying he witnessed the kidnapping. He also didn't give up because we saw him going back to the police station when he was in high school. He did everything he could and after finding the killer, he also found closure. It was shown when he went back and offered a flower to Yoonjung at the front of their school
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Jane
February 28, 2016 at 9:04 PM
Is it wrong for me to hope that Lee jae Han, park sun woo, and little yoon Jung all somehow make it alive in the end? I've been hoping since the first episode that yoon Jung would be saved.
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earthna
February 29, 2016 at 12:37 AM
I actually don't hope for much. Just Jaehan. Changing the past also changes the future and I really don't want the time line to get all messed up. Jaehan though... Can't Jo Jin Woong just have a successful love line for once? ;A;
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CaroleMcDonnell
February 29, 2016 at 5:20 AM
I'm not a big bigger in "whatever will be will be." And you're so right about the power of love. Or even loving choice. Because we've seen that there are moments when little things have large repercussions. Of course our hero's brother wouldn't have gotten in trouble if he hadn't done one small loving action. So love can get you into trouble as well as help others.
I'm kinda assuming that there is some kind of present evil that also needs to be thwarted. We've been so focused on fixing the past that we don't realize the universe might also -- in addition to fixing the past-- be preventing some horror in the present. Those horrible rich chaebols and government officials are still around doing horrible stuff.
I want Jae Han saved. I suspect if he saves Sun Woo in the past, it's possible both our heroes will know each other from childhood. Will see.
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27 Lilly
February 28, 2016 at 8:36 PM
I just loved this episode.
I just love this show.
It has been everything I hoped for and more.
This show is the kind that makes Kdrama so good.
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28 Niz
February 28, 2016 at 9:06 PM
Oh how this show manages to stress me out! In a good way, of course-- kept me on my toes.
Now, I do wonder the same thing, Gummimochi, if there was a time where Jae Han and Hae young did everything they could, but the end result remained the same...
In my opinion, if the results change with SunWoo, they might break our hearts by not changing Jae Han's death.
I would expect it, in a way, because writers like to make their audiences cry, but at the same time I hope there might be a happy ending for our detectives.
Sigh.
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29 lunatic4kd
February 28, 2016 at 10:07 PM
The sublime power of this drama indicates to me that whatever ending the writer and PD have in store for us will be magnificent and satisfying. I don't think we will be disappointed because the story will be wrapped up as eloquently as all the episodes have been. Simply. WOW. I cannot find a flaw - nor have I looked for one. I seem to inhale and consume each moment just as it is presented to me...like the finest meal prepared by the most loving mother.
This is pure art - the highest and best example of creativity and ingenuity and sheer hard work. I am in awe of Signal.
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30 blueribbon
February 28, 2016 at 11:38 PM
Also does anybody know the name of the song that is playing when she blushes? I need that song, I have been replaying that scene over and over for the song and because of LJH's and SH's cuteness. No but seriously I would buy the full soundtrack of the show. I have been listening to it on repeat.
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lovekdrama
February 29, 2016 at 12:30 AM
seriously, the one second look LJH gives SH in that scene had me feeling the same exact way as SH! oooh butterflies! I love me some Cho Jin Woong. But just as well I like the dynamic between SH and JH too.
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blueribbon
February 29, 2016 at 2:06 AM
I know, right?!?! I have been developing a major crush on that ajusshi, him and Lee Sung-Min are among my favorite veteran actors.
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Pearl~ai88
February 29, 2016 at 12:05 PM
Mmmm, he was similarly adorable as the swordsman in Tree and he was so compelling as the sleazy hyung in Full Sun. Such a great actor! <3
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31 samantha1
February 29, 2016 at 2:59 AM
Signal , I've said it many many times before but I wouldn't mind saying it again..You're incredibly awesome!!!
I just noticed in the main poster of the drama that CSH and LJH were looking at each other and PHY was looking at the clicking glasses (and it's shown that he clearly is the one connecting the two together)..Does this mean that he will be successful in saving LJH and reuniting him with CSH?
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snailshell
February 29, 2016 at 5:54 AM
If you look at the poster again, you'll also see that HY and SH are divided from JH by an intersecting line -- although it's a single poster, they're not all in the same space/time, matching eyelines or no. Note the difference in the colours -- the warmer brown tones that mark the past, vs the cooler bluer tones of the present.
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32 CaroleMcDonnell
February 29, 2016 at 3:23 AM
This show is sooooooo stressing. I'm actually fearing for my blood pressure!!!! What will I do after it's finished?
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Chaos17
February 29, 2016 at 3:47 AM
I personaly fear to have some withdrawal effect :x
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33 Ga
February 29, 2016 at 3:49 AM
“There are those who are born monsters,”...“And those whom people turn into monsters".
My mind immediately goes to another profiler. Lee Hyun.
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Namu_
March 1, 2016 at 6:01 AM
Me too xD
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kafanyu
March 2, 2016 at 12:31 PM
Oh, I miss that drama as well.
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34 vongole
February 29, 2016 at 4:08 AM
Is it just me or anyone else here too scared/stressed to watch episode 12?!!
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lunatic4kd
February 29, 2016 at 5:41 AM
Watch it! You will love it...and you will cry.
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vongole
February 29, 2016 at 7:05 AM
I will try! :)
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35 Laila
February 29, 2016 at 9:37 AM
I watched EP 12. This drama is crazy good. Like that food you just want to keep eating and the taste just becomes better, or should i say wine.
Anyway, the back hug in ep 11. It was soo heart breaking, especially as he was crying and doing it at the same time.
Director,Writer,PD,Actors. You deserve a standing ovation.
One of the best dramas i have watched in Kdramaland.
I know EP13 will even be worse in our emotions.
I think Jae Han will remain dead, but HJ will solve his murder and the Inju case, that's why the transmission will stop cause justice has been achieved, if not it will keep happening till they get it right.
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36 Pearl~ai88
February 29, 2016 at 12:31 PM
This show succeeded so well in this episode, balancing an extremely delicate topic. I felt so sad for Jin Woo and at the same time absolutely despised the choices he made. I'm glad he ended up paying for what he did, but his character is just so tragic and clearly emotionally and mentally damaged. Unlike the two other serial killers we've seen in this series, Jin Woo's motivation was not inherently selfish. He just literally did not know how else to deal with his own pain and the pain of others. I think the trigger for his murders was actually pity for his victims. Misplaced, twisted pity, but none the less I believe he truly was trying to "help" them in a way. His mother was so miserable and always seeking death for herself and her son to escape her own pain. When she did die it must have seemed to Jin Woo that she was finally free of her pain and he was finally free from the abuse that was a result of that pain. So when he saw other people that he equated with his mother, he believed the only way out for them was also death. When he killed the girl with a crush on him, I think he considered for the first time ever that another ending may have been a possibility for both of them. What Hae Young said about how one person's kindness could have saved him and all the victims was so spot on- in fact Seo-young's love did "save" him in a way. It allowed him to finally get a glimpse of his own guilt and see that what he had been doing might have been wrong. And the break in pattern she caused is what allowed the HY to find him. Unfortunately, his only way to deal with his regret was suicide, but fortunately in the new timeline a different ending is a possibility for him. Man, this whole case was just so twisted, complex, and heartbreaking. Applause!
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37 ela1023
February 29, 2016 at 1:50 PM
I looked at the first pic of Lee Je-hoon and thought he looked so much like Uhm Tae-woong, completely forgetting that LJH played the young version of UTW in Architecture 101.
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38 Novita
March 17, 2016 at 1:38 AM
Helloo everyone, I am sorry for barge in into this thread, but may I know what's the title song played in Yoo Seung Yeon's CD player? I'm curious about it, I can't found the song anywhere.. TT TT
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Melda Yoo
August 23, 2016 at 11:53 AM
It's Fly Chick by N.E.X.T
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-X41UVzR1qI
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39 Ayu
April 2, 2016 at 11:48 PM
Can you say to me ,who is the real name from kim jin woo....?
Sorry my english so bad
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40 m33
April 3, 2016 at 9:43 AM
In the post it was written that "Over in the present, a gust of wind preludes another change—on the note found in Jae-han’s notebook, the 1997 Hongwon-dong case disappears, then reappears again, to Hae-young’s surprise"
I re-watch that part, the Hong won-dong case disappeared but did NOT reappear as per what was in the post. Or did I miss out on something ?
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