City Hunter: Episode 10
by javabeans
City Hunter, why do I love you so? I can’t help myself, even though I fear that you’re just gonna love me and leave me in another month. What am I going to do when you’re over? Can’t Korea finally make the leap into multi-season programming and do this sucker for, oh, five seasons? I won’t be greedy and ask for forever — just until Lee Min-ho goes off to the army! Pretty please? What do I have to do to MAKE THIS HAPPEN?
SONG OF THE DAY
City Hunter OST – “Cupid” (Acoustic version) by Girl’s Day [ Download ]
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EPISODE 10 RECAP
Both Yoon-sung and Young-ju arrive at the hospital at the same time. The prosecutor confirms Lee Kyung-wan’s dead body, while Yoon-sung spots his father glowering at him, still dressed up as a doctor, and heads out.
First off, I have to say I freaking LOVE that Jin-pyo went all badass revenge-seeker and killed Lee Kyung-wan. I get Yoon-sung’s aversion to the eye-for-an-eye vengeance spree, but it’s totally fitting that Jin-pyo’s bloodlust spurs him to act. Plus, it heightens some already steep stakes between father and son, and hammers in the whole Nana’s-in-danger worry — because Dad is not above a little collateral damage, and anybody could be next.
Young-ju and his partner Pil-jae follow Yoon-sung’s car, puzzled when it pulls up outside Dad’s hi-tech lair.
You’d think the slick City Hunter might have noticed the car on his tail, but perhaps he’s too upset over the deaths to focus on that; he beelines for Dad and asks incredulously why he had to kill two cops in addition to the target.
Dad has a chilly response: “Because that’s my method.” Damn, can’t argue with that, when the father-son battle had been about winning the right to handle the case however he saw fit. Jin-pyo adds that he hears the sound of that maritime massacre every day of his life, and that his sole purpose for surviving is to mete out revenge.
Yoon-sung challenges, “Whose revenge is that? I’m suddenly curious, whether it’s for the country’s betrayal of your comrades — or whether it’s self-inflicted torture over your survivor’s guilt.” Dayum. He may have a point, but making that point? Balls of steel.
Yoon-sung adds that the two dead cops also have families that have been left behind: “This is no longer revenge. It’s just murder.”
Dad ups the badass-crazy quotient by a factor of, oh, a thousand by warning grimly, “If you fight me, you may even die by my hand.” He’s not so much threatening to kill Yoon-sung, as he is telling him very clearly that even he could become collateral damage.
Yoon-sung replies, “I won’t avoid it — because I’m the only one who can stop you. I’ll stake my life to stop you.” Fuuuuuuck. I mean, yay for heroism and fearlessness in the name of justice, blah blah blah, but noooooooo, you can’t take my Yoon-sung!
As he exits, Yoon-sung comes face to face with Young-ju, waiting outside smugly: “You said you didn’t know Steve Lee.” Impressive how Yoon-sung turns on that flippant charm like a light switch, saying that he was just introduced to him today through an MIT colleague, regarding some investments in Steve Lee’s agricultural enterprise.
But Young-ju is not to be thus distracted, and points out that he’s entirely capable of tracking Yoon-sung’s whereabouts for the times corresponding to Lee Kyung-wan’s delivery to his front steps, Seo Yong-hak’s sniper incident, Seo’s kidnapping, the broadcast debate…
And then Young-ju goes back to his office to the upsetting news: “Lee Yoon-sung has a perfect alibi?!” Ha! Nana’s aunt confirms that Yoon-sung used hotel keycards on the nights in question, and those card entries correspond perfectly to the CCTVs in the elevators. The video shows him with a different woman each time, HAHA. Keeping up alibis and your image? Whatta multi-tasker. The only day missing an alibi, however, is the day of the sniper attack.
But our smart prosecutor connects more dots, realizing that each hotel is located mere minutes from each incident. Guessing the City Hunter had orchestrated this to solidify his alibi, it’s time to bust out the big guns: DNA testing. How to get a sample from Yoon-sung?
Yoon-sung understands that Dad is going to kill Target No. 3, Kim Jong-shik, as soon as the man returns to Korea from his business trip. Calling Jin-pyo a vehicle whose brakes have gone out, he says that the only way to stop it is to crash into it: “I’ll have to crash him.”
Ajusshi asks, “What if you die?” Yoon-sung: “I’m preparing myself.”
Shik-joong wants to run away and live in the mountains somewhere, but Yoon-sung still thinks those baddies have to pay for their crimes, and he’s still in it for his revenge. Yoon-sung’s also wary of Young-ju sniffing around him, particularly since the prosecutors have samples of the City Hunter’s blood from two locations.
Nana hears the news report about Lee’s murder, with many speculating that the City Hunter did it. That shakes her, and she tells herself that there’s no way Yoon-sung would have committed the murder.
This is when she spies the photo dropped by Shik-joong as he was packing up Yoon-sung’s things — the torn-up, taped-together photo of Yoon-sung’s biological parents.
She recognizes two of the faces: Kyung-hee and Jin-pyo. And that’s enough to get her brain whirling, as Nana recalls Yoon-sung’s reactions regarding his mother, and draws the connections. Thank goodness for a drama heroine who isn’t too dumb to put together two and two!
We don’t get far into Target No. 3 Takedown Plan today, so for now Team City Hunter is in research mode. Yoon-sung looks over the accounting records of top universities (Target No. 3 was the education minister), and notes that they rake in enormous amounts of money.
Adorably, he jumps to keep Shik-joong from drinking his energy tonic — the one given to him by Kyung-hee — warning him not to touch it, not clarifying even when Shik-joong assumes that Nana gave it to him.
Kyung-hee sees a doctor for a bruise on her arm, and already I’m not liking the looks of this, especially as she explains that she didn’t even know she had it until she changed her shirt. The doctor looks worried to see that she has no guarantors or children to help her, and tells her that her bloodwork came back with bad news: leukemia. She needs to be admitted immediately.
(OH OH OH this is brilliant! ‘Cause she’s gonna need a bone marrow transplant…and there’s no better match than a blood relative…like her long-lost son…and this may just be the thing to push him over the edge and approach her, misconceptions-about-abandonment be damned… AHHHHHHHHH so prematurely excited!)
The doctor tells her she has to begin cancer treatments immediately, and they’ll start looking for a bone marrow donor. Kyung-hee is so rattled that she asks to be allowed to return to her store first to close up shop before admitting herself, which makes me fear that she won’t return for treatment after all.
At home, Kyung-hee takes out her baby’s old clothing, telling it sadly, “I’ve just been surviving, waiting to meet you. Will I be able to live and meet you?” She sobs clutching the baby clothes: “I miss you…”
Yoon-sung arrives outside the cafe where Nana works now, telling himself he’s only here because of Kim Jong-shik. Suuuure. Tell yourself that, Captain Denial. He asks Nana to chat, and the impatient guy next in line taps Yoon-sung’s shoulder to ask him rudely to get out of the way if he’s done ordering. Nana bursts out unthinkingly, “Sir, be careful! You shouldn’t hit someone that…hard.” Which makes sense to no one, not even Nana, who can’t think of a better excuse to cover up her worry for his injury.
Yoon-sung hands over Nana’s file on Kim Jong-shik, saying that he found it in his luggage, and asks who the guy is. Nana answers that he’s the man who caused the car crash that killed her mother and turned her father into a vegetable, and that she’d been collecting information hoping to reopen the investigation. However, it turns out that the national identification number of the crucial witness, Bae Man-deok, had been erased — a feat taking some doing, since you’ve essentially wiped a person’s existence from all public record.
Nana says she saw Man-deok at the noraebang a few days ago, which gets the wheels turning in Yoon-sung’s head. He asks for a physical description, and recognizes that she means Shik-joong.
Yoon-sung asks what she’d like done to Kim Jong-shik, and she answers that she doesn’t want a death for a death: “But I’d like for the City Hunter to catch him and deliver him to Prosecutor Kim Young-ju.” She wants Kim’s true nature revealed to the world, because her research on him has shown that he has a number of skeletons in his corrupted closet.
You know what makes this great? She’s dropping this info purposely, much like Sae-hee did, knowing he’s the City Hunter — yet here he is thinking his secret identity is safe and sound, so he’s asking questions AS the City Hunter, posing as Yoon-sung.
Then Nana screws up the courage to ask hesitantly, half-afraid of his answer, “The City Hunter…probably isn’t someone who kills people, right?”
He answers noncommittally, “How would I know?” She replies, “I believe he won’t.” Yoon-sung: “Then you’re probably right.”
Yoon-sung goes straight home and confronts Shik-joong about being Bae Man-deok, demanding to know the full story. Scared and sorry, he explains.
Flashback: Shik-joong/Man-deok had been on the sidewalk when he saw a car swerving wildly into the wrong lane, slamming into Nana’s parents’ car. The man behind the wheel was Kim Jong-shik, and by the time Nana had gotten there, she’d seen Shik-joong giving his statement.
Shik-joong had been called by Kim Jong-shik and told to change his story. Using Shik-joong’s gambling history as blackmail, Kim warned that he was powerful enough to have Shik-joong imprisoned, falsely if necessary. In exchange for his revised witness account, he’d make sure he’d be well compensated.
Shik-joong admits that he was foolish and weak, too cowardly to even die, wracked with guilt at the thought of Nana. He says he’s glad Yoon-sung uncovered the truth, and vows to help him fully to nail Kim Jong-shik: “And after I help you, I’ll turn myself in and receive my punishment.” Awww. He’s a coward for what he did, but his resolve brings tears to my eyes and surely makes up for it, at least to the extent that I can respect him now without feeling guilty about it.
Nana is called back to the Blue House, and because of her good work during the sniper incident and the kidnapping of Seo Yong-hak, she’s not fired. However, she’s relegated to Da-hae duty, which I think seems fair; she’s not exactly the best bodyguard anyway, despite her few key saves. I’m sure most people would rather be guarded by someone with a consistent record, rather than someone with a few spectacular saves mixed in with some gross negligence.
During judo practice, Ki-joon congratulates Nana on her good luck for facing probation twice and escaping firing. She retorts that she’d had two commendations, too, then purposely fiddles with her bullet necklace as she adds, “Thanks to somebody.”
Eun-ah and Ki-joon engage in more of their judo-as-flirtation before we turn to Nana and Yoon-sung for their…well, judo-as-flirtation. Seriously, how anybody gets properly trained in this place is a wonder.
Yoon-sung waits expectantly for Nana to begin, but she’s wary of hurting him and begins a few throws, but pulls back each time. So he pulls her down to the mat, hovering over her for a few charged moments (*whzzzzrp!* rewind), before he pulls back and walks out.
Nana finds Yoon-sung at his favorite bench and offers him coffee, reminding him that they were still supposed to be friendly at work. He gives her the cold shoulder while she keeps up a cheery stream of chatter, explaining her coffee-making technique, until he impatiently shoves her hand away and sends her coffee to the ground.
He asks if she has no pride — why does she keep approaching him?
Nana replies, “Because I like you.” Eeeeeep!
He goes through the whole rigamarole again, telling her he didn’t mean anything by the kiss, that she’s not his type, that if every woman he kissed clung to him, blah blah blahhhh. She says that she likes him anyway, and misses him.
She admits that she feels pathetic, “But I want to be faithful to my feelings.”
All he can do is turn the rejection dial to full-blast, and he mutters that he’d better ignore her entirely from now on, stalking off. I do love how this puts him in a strained spot, since it was hard enough denying his own feelings — but to turn hers away? Yeah, good luck with that, buddy.
Nana tears up, but tells herself she did the right thing: “Liking him is a good thing.”
Ki-joon sees his expression and guesses that he’s had a spat with his girlfriend, and offers to give him a few lessons at the art of the romantic push-and-pull, of which he is (reportedly) a pro. Ha.
Da-hae visits a university campus, clinging to Yoon-sung’s arm, pouting when his eyes stray to the girls on campus. They happen upon a student demonstration, demanding that Kim Jong-shik stick to his word of half-price tuitions, because those students came to school believing that promise and now have difficulty remaining enrolled. Basically, if Kim reneges on his promise, he sends the message that (1) Only the rich deserve education, and/or (2) If you want schooling, you’ll stay poor.
In the cafeteria, a rich spoiled brat gives a cleaning lady hell for not properly doing her job, at which point Yoon-sung steps in to deliver a setdown about cleaning up her own mess, which he learned in kindergarten: “Or did you not even make it that far?” He says that if she spent all that money to be thus educated and has this crappy character to show for it, her personality can’t afford the half-price version.
That night, Yoon-sung flips through his books looking for something — that missing photo — and comes up empty. When he sits down for dinner, he sees that Shik-joong has prepared his favorite — that japchae dish without vegetables — which makes him think of Nana.
He sends Nana a text requesting her driver services, and she heads out with excitement (stopping at a makeup store to freshen up with their samples first, hee). Only…when she gets there, he’s got some new floozy on his arm. Aw, you bastid. I totally get why you’re doing this…but it doesn’t make me like it any!
Then Nana has to sit there stewing while he flirts outrageously with the girl, and he tosses out the barely veiled insult that short, dumb, inexperienced girls do nothing for him — the kind “who overreact and think you like them if you treat them the least bit nicely.”
Nana gets fed up watching Yoon-sung sucking face with the girl and pulls over, and I do love how perfectly this mirrors their first encounter in Episode 2. Only, this time she grabs the girl out of the car and hails a taxi, sending her off in it.
Yoon-sung asks if she’s jealous, and Nana replies, “No. That woman isn’t even worth getting jealous about. If you’re doing this to push me away, you don’t have to. My feelings are my own — I never forced them on you. If you still want to push me away, then at least date someone good enough that I can accept it. I’ll get properly jealous then. But don’t waste precious time and money like this! And don’t call a designated driver when you haven’t drunk, either. Acting like this — your parents wouldn’t like it.”
With that, she returns his photo, and walks off.
Aw, looks like someone’s onto you, smooth operator. At home, he sighs, “Kim Nana, don’t like me. You have to be happy.”
Young-ju reviews the facts of the hospital murders: All three victims were taken out with one efficient blade. CCTVs were obscured by spray, as in the sniper incident, and Yoon-sung was right there with him at the hospital. He orders his co-worker Pil-jae to have Yoon-sung followed again.
Kyung-hee’s back at work, as feared, where her health is not holding up well. When she gets up to fix Nana some food, she collapses, breathing heavily.
Nana calls Yoon-sung, who feigns indifference when she tells him the snack shop ajumma is at the hospital emergency room. But she tells him to come anyway: “Because she’s your mother.”
(Omo! This is even BETTER! ‘Cause Nana knows, and she’ll be the one to push him to donate his bone marrow…My mind’s running wild with all the fantastic dramatic possibilities.)
So Yoon-sung heads to the hospital, unaware that he’s being tailed by Pil-jae, although that tandem illegal U-turn really shoulda been a clue. You sure do stalk people really well, but you suck at detecting stalkers of your own. Good thing Daddy’s got your back. Even if he may be the one to ultimately stick a knife in it.
Yoon-sung arrives at Mom’s bedside, where Nana introduces him to the doctors as Kyung-hee’s guarantor and son, despite his protests. (Mom’s unconscious and doesn’t hear this.) He’s shaken badly by the diagnosis, especially when the doctor informs them that she’ll need to receive cancer treatment immediately. He also advises Yoon-sung to test his bone marrow for transplant right away.
This has thrown him for a loop, and Nana admits that she doesn’t know their family circumstances — but he’s ajumma’s son, and should get tested. Yoon-sung finally bursts out, “And why should I?! After she abandoned me?”
Nana’s surprised, but she entreats him to remember that he’d longed for her anyway, that he’d kept that photo: “If you hate her, say so. If you miss her, say so. You have a mother you can say that too.” Ooooof. And that’s why Nana’s the perfect person to do this, because he knows she doesn’t have her mother, and this juxtaposition highlights that his reaction, while understandable, is something he ought to overcome while he can still appreciate having a mother who’s alive.
Nana hammers that nail in: “Or, you know, you can just watch her die.”
That does it. Yoon-sung signs forms as Kyung-hee’s guarantor and pulls out his credit card to request “the very best room.” He doesn’t see that he’s being followed by Pil-jae… and Pil-jae doesn’t see that he’s being followed in turn, by Bad Daddy’s cohort Sang-gook. HAHA. It’s both hilarious — this is like 49 Days, where even stalkers had stalkers — and worrisome, since you know that means Jin-pyo’s on the scent. Ahhh, crap.
Both minions report to both bosses, leading to a few conclusions: (1) If Yoon-sung is related to the patient, the prosecutor’s office may be able to get their grubby hands on a blood sample, and (2) Dad now knows that Yoon-sung is “a weak little boy” AND that the prosecutor is on his tail. Young-ju orders Minion to get that blood no matter what, and Dad orders Other Minion to prevent Yoon-sung from giving blood no matter what.
I just love this. It’s such a perfect setup on both sides, but it’s not just dropped from the sky into our laps out of nowhere; it’s laid into the plotting so well that when it all clicks into place, it just makes the suspense richer.
Kyung-hee protests to Nana that she’s not in a position to receive medical care right now (meaning: she can’t afford it), to which Yoon-sung counters that taking time to think about it won’t change her circumstances. Kyung-hee doesn’t understand why he’s speaking to her so harshly all of a sudden, while Nana urges him to soften his words, to no avail: Yoon-sung continues, “You say you have no family. Why don’t you just obey [the doctor]?”
Nana assures Kyung-hee that despite his mean words, he’s not a bad person, and this also happens to be the first time that Mom hears Yoon-sung’s name.
Yoon-sung stomps up the stairs to the rooftop, where he yells in frustration. He asks Shik-joong, “Does this make sense? She abandoned me to live happily on her own. Then she should be living proudly, and well! But why is she sick?!”
With that, he tells the doctor that he’s not family after all, and that it was a misunderstanding. The doctor worries that this means her situation is dire, and that in a worst-case scenario, Kyung-hee could die while waiting for a donor match. She doesn’t have much time.
Yoon-sung asks if he can donate if he’s a match, which requires a simple blood test. Eee! Do it! No, don’t do it! Do it! Don’t do it! You’re driving me mad, drama!
For once I’m relieved to see Jin-pyo there, since that takes care of the dilemma. Yoon-sung says that he can donate the bone marrow if he has to, despite Mom’s abandonment. Jin-pyo tells Yoon-sung that until their revenge is complete, Yoon-sung doesn’t have the freedom to do whatever he wishes with even a hair or drop of blood. Yeesh. That’s taking the term “possessive parent” to extremes.
Yoon-sung says that even if she abandoned him, a mother is still a mother: “And if she dies now, I can’t even hate her freely.”
Jin-pyo warns that the instant his blood is drawn, his identity will be revealed, and their revenge is kaput. Plus, if the prosecutor followed him this far, he should be able to connect him to Kyung-hee as well: “I’m warning you: Your life rests on your choice.”
Yoon-sung tells Shik-joong he’ll do the blood test anyway, because otherwise his mother might die. Shik-joong reminds him that he might die instead, but Yoon-sung says, “It’s okay.” (Ughhh, I’m feeling mighty uneasy with this episode’s constant reminders that Yoon-sung may be facing death… This is a red herring, right? They’re just trying to surprise us later, RIGHT?!)
That’s when Minion Sang-gook (who has just come from locking Minion Pil-jae in the bathroom, heh) stops Yoon-sung, saying, “The Boss says NO.”
Throwdown!
They relocate to a shady basement area to duke it out. It’s three to one, but our City Hunter knocks ’em all down. Shedding blood so he can go shed blood…that’s deep, man. (LOL.)
Yoon-sung gives blood for the test, only to be joined by the prosecutor duo, who have him just where they want him. Pil-jae’s looking mighty smug for someone who’s just had to be liberated from the bathroom by his boss, I’m thinking.
Yoon-sung smirks, “Someone might misunderstand, and think you like me.” Oh, don’t I WISH that were the case. He tells Young-ju to pick a number and wait his turn, so as not to upset the others waiting in line. HA.
Young-ju answers that he needs his blood, and Yoon-sung quips, “Are we playing vampire now? I hope it’s fun!”
Young-ju produces a warrant and demands the blood, and rather than balking, Yoon-sung gives his okay like it’s no concern of his. The nurses hand over the vial, and Yoon-sung maintains his careless attitude until he’s out of there, and then it’s a race to get that vial before Young-ju can get it tested by the forensics lab.
Pil-jae is sent back to stalker duty, but as he’s about to follow Yoon-sung from the hospital, he’s stopped by Nana. She’d spotted the prosecutors leaving the hospital and understands, partially, that they’re after Yoon-sung, so now she races in front of Pil-jae’s car with a trumped-up excuse about the reinvestigation, ensuring that Yoon-sung gets away. Atta girl.
Yoon-sung is, at the moment, busy following Young-ju, who remains unaware since his tail’s tail has lost the trail.
Yoon-sung waits as two ambulances are stopped at the security point of the National Forensic Service, and oh-so-casually ambles his way over to the one in the rear. He slips inside and disguises himself in a body bag among the other dead bodies being delivered here to the morgue. *Shudder* Also, ballsy.
From there, it’s an easy matter to exit his vault and walk out, leaving the slab open and bound to freak out some coroner tomorrow.
A senior lab technician is insulted at the prosecutor’s high-and-mighty demands, waltzing in with one teeny vial and insisting on instant analysis when they’re up to their eyeballs in materials awaiting processing. She storms out to give Young-ju a piece of her mind…but one sight of his charming, polite face has her smitten, and suddenly she’s all understanding and smiles.
This gives Yoon-sung the chance to spot the lab tech holding his vial, and he seizes his opportunity — by stepping off the rooftop, freefalling a full story, and catching himself on the window ledge below with his fingertips. JEEZUS, Mr. Death Wish.
And then he does it again, down another story, and this time manages to catch himself with ONE HAND. Holy shit, Balls of Steel. That’s your new nickname, I swear.
He hoists himself inside the lab, watching as Ms. Lab Tech moons over the hottie prosecutor (“He’s exactly my type!”). She waxes poetic about his shining eyes, perfectly chiseled features, physique like Michelangelo’s David… Get a grip, lady! It’s not like he’s Lee Min-ho.
Yoon-sung is smart enough to swap in a false vial for his, so that she’s none the wiser when she takes it to test. Young-ju, alas, is just as sharp as he is, and he notices the open window, out of which Yoon-sung has just leaped, where he dangles by his fingertips.
Suspicions firing, Young-ju approaches the window and looks down — and sees nothing.
City Hunter, why so cool? He struts down to the lobby, mission accomplished, not seeing that he’s not out of the woods yet — because Young-ju is just half a flight of stairs behind him.
He hasn’t been seen yet, but he’s in imminent danger of it — just as an arm grabs Yoon-sung and yanks him out of view. Young-ju walks out, none the wiser.
Meanwhile, Yoon-sung instinctively grabs a hidden blade and whirls his assailant/assistant against the wall. Nana.
COMMENTS
Goddammit, City Hunter, I love you so hard it hurts a little. You’re cool and exciting, but you’ve also got a soft underbelly of sweetness to counter the bloodlust and revengey bits. Mmm, revengey bits…
It’s not a perfect drama, no, but it serves up such a perfectly balanced plate of intrigue, action, romance, moody ambiance, suspense, hero suffering and inner conflict, and superhigh stakes that I’m left feeling satisfied and craving more. There’s just so much more to be pleased with than to nitpick here. It’s been a while since a drama has got me so hooked, and so assured of its continued delivery of the goods — the last time was Joseon X-Files, and the time before that probably Story of a Man. That’s pretty good company.
When you see a drama with really poor writing, or really poor directing, it’s easy to declare that the deficiency is really THE key ingredient in making a drama work. Crap directing in the presence of decent writing makes you sigh, “If only this drama looked as good as its story is written — it could have been elevated so much higher!” (For instance, I’m imagining Miss Ripley with Bad Guy’s music director and cinematographer.) And then you see a decently directed drama with insane or inane writing and you think, “You can’t make a silk purse out of a cow’s ear.” And really, it’s a little bit of both, because the exact same story, expressed visually in a different (less arresting, more pedestrian) way wouldn’t have nearly the same effect. It’s just the nature of the beast in this visual medium.
But those extremes aside, it’s when you’ve got a solid handle on both that I’m happiest. Addicted. Drooling a little at every one of Lee Min-ho’s perfect angles. (Hey, I’m screencapping this sucker — you really notice it when you end up with a folder containing hundreds of almost-identical frames of his face. Swoon.)
No, really — can’t we have another season or four?
RELATED POSTS
- City Hunter: Episode 9
- City Hunter: Episode 8
- City Hunter: Episode 7
- Lee Min-ho gets into a car accident, escapes injury
- City Hunter: Episode 6
- City Hunter: Episode 5
- Lee Jun-hyuk for Bazaar
- Behind the scenes with City Hunter
- City Hunter: Episode 4
- City Hunter: Episode 3
- City Hunter: Episode 2
- City Hunter: Episode 1
Tags: City Hunter, featured, Lee Min-ho, Park Min-young
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1 Dodo
June 24, 2011 at 8:08 PM
first
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Dodo
June 24, 2011 at 8:14 PM
I know it is annoying to write first but I have wanted to do this for along time and thanks for the recep. And for the last five months I did not have time to watch any drama but thanks to DB I could read the receps...relly relly thank you.
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kangling
June 24, 2011 at 9:53 PM
Good for you. since you finally get to be the first. Hopefully you're satisfied with the feeling and won't be a repeat first offender again. :) Congrats.
Back to This drama. I suffered so much last week. don't know what to do while waiting for the week to passed, so I rewatch Boys Over Flower. and finished right on time to catch ep 9 and 10. now I'm rewatching P. Taste. Sniff...snif.. I want Lee Min Ho sooooo badly. argh!!!
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joyofpiano
June 25, 2011 at 3:46 AM
I'm super worried about what's going to happen after this series ends because I'm pretty sure I'm going to be lying in bed for a good two weeks as I rewatch BOF, P. Taste, and City Hunter
If there is to be a season 2....please still have LMH :)
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Ace
June 25, 2011 at 5:41 AM
I'd say it's a good drama if it makes me watch the actors' any and all previous works, variety shows and interviews included. Like Yoon Kye-sang from Best Love, I started watching Who Are You? and that second female lead from Miss Ripley made me want to watch Flowers For My Life. And it's really a bad drama for me if I want to chuck out my DVD of an actor I liked so much before (Goong & CP is on the verge of being thrown out).
With that said, City Hunter I LOVE YOU and hope you show me that you love me too by being as good during your second half. I'm gonna be faithful to my feelings / my feelings are also my own - not forcing them on you!
Thanks JB for the wonderful recap!
Ace
June 25, 2011 at 6:05 AM
If they won't do a season 2, what about a film instead? The Japanese do it with their successful Jdramas...
Oh wait, I won't be able to watch it until it's available online which would be several months waiting. Unless they release it worldwide and be shown in my city. Or a made-for-tv-movie? But then that would make me want more. Argh! Just make it 5 seasons as JB said!
peony
June 25, 2011 at 9:18 PM
LMAO. I've done that before.
firstfirstfirst
June 25, 2011 at 8:13 AM
This "first" thing is SUPER ANNOYING! And pointless.
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2 suppiechan369
June 24, 2011 at 8:08 PM
yay first!! :D
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Dee
June 26, 2011 at 6:07 PM
No no no ur second xD
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aww
June 28, 2011 at 9:27 AM
Awww the times were exactly the same!!
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3 Cap Rice
June 24, 2011 at 8:09 PM
Lee Min-ho is such a good actor. I love his face. I see a bright future for him.
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kangling
June 24, 2011 at 9:41 PM
I love his face too, his nose specially. and his smile and his teeth and his eyes. and his hair and his MOANING!!! I see a bright future for him as well. cause I have a huge poster of him hanging on my room with a special headlight showring his face. ::)
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Dayan
June 25, 2011 at 4:50 AM
Oh, oh, his lips too!
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sandra
June 25, 2011 at 6:46 AM
lol from your description he could be a great pornstar too LOL
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Haru
June 25, 2011 at 7:21 AM
My thoughts exactly :O
Though... i would rather he live a healthy life without STI's :<
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Verónica
June 24, 2011 at 11:32 PM
Does anyone else see some kind of resemblance to Gong Yoo, or is it me? Not physically as well, but his voice and his way of acting? To me he looks a lot like him, but like a softer version. Yoo is more masculine...
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Haru
June 25, 2011 at 7:27 AM
Someone has been sniffing one too many paint tins ;<
I guess if you close one eye and squint the other you can see a little bit of Gong Yoo in Lee Min-Ho, but they are both very different & lovely in their own aspects <3
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kangling
June 25, 2011 at 9:33 AM
Agreed. hehehehehe..
this is what I always think:
* good at acting but not good in camera therefore can only be at certain point and get certain part like "the ajusshi."
* perfect/ok face andbody but not good in acting just for eye candy.
* an actor who grew in you after you watch their work and find his charming side. This kind of actor doesn't always have a perfect package. look a bit weird in some angle etx. like Gong Yoo ( I always think that he is hiding boiled eggs in his cheeck.
* an actor who just attract you in any aspect right at the first moment. complete perfect package like Lee Min Ho. Yipeeee
I sniffed more and many nailed polish remover *_^
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vere
June 25, 2011 at 1:42 PM
I think he looks a lot like Onew from SHINee. A stretched out version.
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4 3sha
June 24, 2011 at 8:10 PM
Thank you very much unnie :)
dear Wednesday, please come quickly!!!
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3sha
June 24, 2011 at 8:46 PM
Done reading and I must agree with you on
"It’s not a perfect drama, no, but it serves up such a perfectly balanced plate of intrigue, action, romance, moody ambiance, suspense, hero suffering and inner conflict, and superhigh stakes that I’m left feeling satisfied and craving more."
exact explanation of why I <3 this drama!
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Pookie
June 25, 2011 at 4:32 PM
i totally agree... i LOVE this drama...hehe. =)
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5 rumba lumba
June 24, 2011 at 8:17 PM
too much focus on Nana. just give me some damn action! good gawd i hate those moments of 'do i love you or not?' cheesiness crap. everything about this drama is kick-ass except the love part.
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Chintu
June 24, 2011 at 10:37 PM
wel, beyon d reveng plan, e's human,& a yungster dat 2, ful of testosteron, so bound 2 hav sum feelns of lov & lust, u no... dos scens mak im mo humn rathr dan an action robot... :)
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Cap Rice
June 26, 2011 at 4:45 PM
typing on a cell phone? Just asking.
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Verónica
June 24, 2011 at 11:54 PM
Ahhhhhh THANK YOU!!! I thought I was the only one!!! I've loved every ep on this series so far except for ep 10, there was little to no action and the love plotline being covered almost the entire hour just bored me a little. I know it's needed, but let's play it balanced like they've done for the first 9 eps, which have been awesome!!!
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NazrinZa
June 26, 2011 at 12:10 AM
Nana is fine. In fact she's not this over clingy female or too pathetic character. Her reaction knowing that LYS is city hunter proved it. She hides her knowledge to save him instead of "i cant believe this, stay away from me". She's the epitome of behind every successful city hunter lies a dependable woman =p
what is crap is prosecutor Yeong Ju. Too ambitious and rude for me.
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Ju Ina-sshi
June 26, 2011 at 5:04 AM
I just can't hate the prosecutor. Since he was so cute in City Hall I just can't. In City Hunter he has a rather...lame role... well his charisma doesn't show at all.
CH and CH ...haha just realised that
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6 Mic
June 24, 2011 at 8:18 PM
I am always smiling & stifling my scream while reading your recaps. awesome. can't waitttttttttt!!! 10 more epis!
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kangling
June 24, 2011 at 10:19 PM
10 more epsidoes to go... This is one of those drama that doesn't need to end. I'll be happy just to see LMH walk and run and eat and moan and laugh and.....
and please. no sour ending. T_T
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7 geee
June 24, 2011 at 8:19 PM
I've been waiting for this! Thank youuu!~
Off to read! :>
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8 ringo
June 24, 2011 at 8:23 PM
This show makes me craaaazy.
I watched this episode 3 times and I don't even think it's the best episode!!!
And when I read your recaps, I can't stop smiling because we get excited over the same parts. And the story's good enough that reading it again is still good. XD
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9 letmeeatcake
June 24, 2011 at 8:27 PM
Yay! City Hunter is my favourite drama out of all the May ones. :D
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10 melin
June 24, 2011 at 8:28 PM
LOVE the recaps - I'm always torn about whether to wait for the episodes to be subbed first or read the fabulous recap first. Totally episodes first for this one!
.... and how much for the folder of Lee Min Ho screencaps???
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girlfriday
June 25, 2011 at 1:46 PM
You can't put a price on perfection.
Did anyone else die laughing when Yoon-sung and Sang-gook relocated their fight to the basement? Did they all four ride the elevator down together, all silent and awkward and civil, with muzak playing? Did they greet the doctors and nurses like nice boys? And then they arrive in the basement... NOW FIGHT!
I literally had to pause the fight because I couldn't stop laughing at that scene playing in my head. Because how did they get there??
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beggar1015
June 25, 2011 at 3:42 PM
I was wondering who the other guys were. They'd never shown up before. It was usually just Psycho Daddy and Hot Minion.
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mochi2000
June 25, 2011 at 5:54 PM
lol i found it funny too
it's like a street fighter moment LOL
seriously if i was yoon sung, i'd just run away or something
do they really have that much time? LOL.
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koreandramalover/kay
June 25, 2011 at 6:36 PM
Girlfriday, you are too precious! ;)
now that you mentioned it, yes!
it WAS hilarious thinking of how they ended up
down there...LOL!
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scarlet
June 25, 2011 at 6:59 PM
haha that was hilarious!!!
When the scene switched, i was like WTH?!
And then the camera zoomed in to LMH's one on one fight with Daddy's helper, then i saw LMH's face and his moves, then I forgot about everything!
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jubilantia
June 26, 2011 at 12:08 AM
RIGHT? Because all awesome fights must take place in a basement! And where did the flunkies come from? Are they, like, on call in case The Captain's Son gets uppity and they have to have a showdown with him? Did he say "hang on, I have to call my back up"... and Yoon-sung actually waited? BWAAAAHAHAHHAAHAHHAAHA
Mind you, all the hilarity did not cut down on Lee Min-ho's hotness AT ALL.
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78446
June 26, 2011 at 8:09 PM
wahahahahaha
not to mention that the place of the fight was NOWHERE near the elevator. so . . . when they got there they probably looked around the basement, decided that this place with all the pipes was the best for the badass showdown and umm . . . started going at it?
Minion to 2 lackeys: okay, imma go at him first while the two of you stand there and watch. if i get my ass kicked, then you can attack him. got it?
gah. why is this show my new crack?
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samgetang
June 27, 2011 at 5:08 AM
78446, LOL! its even funnier the way u imagine it, haha! i was wondering how did this one get overlooked by the continuity editor/s? it must be a she and she must be too mesmerized with LMH as well...like so many of us, haha!
blurry
June 26, 2011 at 8:18 AM
I lol'ed, paused, tweeted about it, then continued to watch with a huge smile on my face. It was ridiculous xD
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Mandelbrotr
June 26, 2011 at 2:48 PM
I agree! Poor fight scene shoe-horned into the plot without continuity of its own. I could imagine the production conversation in my head, "How are we going to fit more action in this episode? I know have them relocate to an industrial looking location."
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jomo143
June 27, 2011 at 11:27 AM
"And take the steam machine with you!
We paid like 50K for that and haven't used it once!."
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Anne
June 27, 2011 at 2:54 AM
Yes, I found that so funny, cause it like there is a missing link. So i was wonder if they have poor editing here. Cause it's like too weird.
But anyway, this story and LMH always make me feel so damn good. And when this City Hunter end. I think I have to buy DVD, and watch it every day until LMH have another drama or movie.
I think I got addicted of LMH, and to be honest I don't want to be cured hahahaha......
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samgetang
June 27, 2011 at 5:04 AM
hahahaha! GF, I caught that one, too! I was laughing so hard!!! Though we tend to forget these things when we are faced with the next scenes of LMH hehe... but it was as ridiculous as the way u described it. It's like a flaw that you want to freeze in time and go back again when you want to have some belly-deep laughter :-)
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Celexa
June 27, 2011 at 8:53 AM
What??? There was a scenery change?
;)
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11 obivia
June 24, 2011 at 8:31 PM
Hot damn!
Is all I can say. I'm all tense reading the recap--I feel like watching it won't lessen my jitters one bit. But I'm with you--I feel like Nana's snafus up to this point totally get canceled out by this episode's awesomeness.
Thanks for the recap!!!
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12 meenuby
June 24, 2011 at 8:33 PM
This week's episodes and recaps = PURE LOVE.
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meenuby
June 24, 2011 at 8:43 PM
What I loved about eps 9 and 10 (besides pretty much every darn second):
-How many times can I watch LMH biting his lip when Daddy's at Nana's place? Countless.
-Our heroine's wisened up these past couple of episodes, and I am so glad. Loved her confession, loved when she yanked the girl outta the car and took no BS from Yoon-sung, loved that she's bringing him closer to his mother, and totally loved the ending. I'm hoping she goes all badass with him to bring down Kim Jong Shik- them working together would be awesome.
-Am I the only one who thought the verbal showdowns b/w Yoon-sung and Young-ju were hot? The potential bromance! With 10 more eppies left, I hope we get to see them team up and kick ass.
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oreocrush
June 24, 2011 at 9:18 PM
I sense the potential bromance too! in ep 10, when YS said to YJ that he's in trouble, if others see that will misunderstand YJ liking YS. HA. So witty City hunter.
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meenuby
June 24, 2011 at 9:23 PM
LOL - I loved that moment! I can foresee amazing youtube videos dedicated to this bromance a la Cha Seung Won and The Voice. Hee hee hee.
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meenuby
June 24, 2011 at 9:20 PM
"They relocate to a shady basement area to duke it out. It’s three to one, but our City Hunter knocks ‘em all down. Shedding blood so he can go shed blood…that’s deep, man. (LOL.)"
Puahahaha! I cracked up like a lunatic reading this. Love your recaps and sense of humor, JB (and GF)!
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Verónica
June 24, 2011 at 11:48 PM
That's my main theory for this show, they'll end up "bromancing" or at least joining forces to hunt down the bad guys...
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13 Joy
June 24, 2011 at 8:34 PM
Thanks JB . I've watched without sub for 3 times but i keep on coming back to check your recap. City hunter is really awesome.
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14 okitokki
June 24, 2011 at 8:35 PM
God, it'd be amazing if Korea kept this show around for another season or more... I feel like they could, you know, just be like a really badass and hot Batman character wiping out corruption. Because obvs the corruption doesn't end with the big 5.
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15 PFT.
June 24, 2011 at 8:37 PM
Yay! JB is BACCCK! Imissyourwittywordshey! (:
LOVE YOUR RECAPS! Love, love, love yuu <3
Why this drama is So Freaking Intense?
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16 Yasmin
June 24, 2011 at 8:39 PM
Thanks so much!! It's 4:30am here and just finished reading this recap! Gotta say that I am totally in love with this drama at the moment, not to mention the pure sexiness of Lee Min Ho is just sizzling <3 even though there were moments when i wanted to hit him for trying to push nana away by being an ass, i still understood why and the fact that she didnt fall for it made the couple so suited for eachother!! I am really liking thr fact that everyone keeps finding out stuff and now everyone knows who the city hunter is!! Finally we are getting a drama where the audience and characters' intelligence isnt played with!! gah, can't wait for next week, even though I will be on holiday in a place of limited Internet access I WILL find a way to continue watching this!!
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17 Alexio
June 24, 2011 at 8:41 PM
Unpredictable and additive
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18 Panra
June 24, 2011 at 8:41 PM
This is my first post! I just wanted to thank you for recapping this wonderful drama. Of course I have to admit I watched this drama for the lead actors, after BOF and SKKS. But they have so much chemistry. Yes, I agree with you! This drama has a little bit for everyone; romance action etc. ... That's why I'm so intrigued and am on the edge of my seat after every episode. Thank You so much!
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Celexa
June 25, 2011 at 6:58 AM
Welcome Panra,
Jump into the game! We love to hear from everyone. :)
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19 Yuki
June 24, 2011 at 8:41 PM
"He doesn’t see that he’s being followed by Pil-joo…"
Best Love meets City Hunter!! XDD
Thanks for the recap, javabeans :D
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jyyjc
June 24, 2011 at 10:56 PM
It's actually pil-jae....
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20 engl
June 24, 2011 at 8:42 PM
I am loving this drama... but wonder what excuse Yoon Sung is going to give Nana this time ... I mean, normal people don't just whirl out switchblades in the blink of an eye...
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oreocrush
June 24, 2011 at 9:20 PM
i'm also thinking how's YS going to explain to Nana about this.
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Auntiemame
June 24, 2011 at 10:52 PM
Easy to explain ... "Nana, your specialty is Judo. Mine is the switchblade. Now, you know why I don't need Judo lessons." LOL
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rosesarered
June 24, 2011 at 11:08 PM
perfect! :)
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Cherry
June 24, 2011 at 11:44 PM
More like "You were trained to Judo, I was trained to become an assassin"
End of story.
But thinking of it as a K-drama he isn't gonna say a thing & she's just gonna understand him without asking ^__^
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seoulmusic
June 24, 2011 at 10:54 PM
Nana has explaining to do, too, like why SHE's there, dragging him into some shady area
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Verónica
June 25, 2011 at 12:06 AM
And I think he's gonna use that little fact to his advantage to avoid explaining his abrupt switchblade frenzy!
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Venus
June 25, 2011 at 7:42 AM
actually no need for explanation just jump each other bones ...that fine by me... :P :D....
Pookie
June 25, 2011 at 4:39 PM
why doesn't she just say ' i know you're the city hunter n i want to help u?' it'd be soooo much easier.... n YS cn still date her, while protecting her, rite?
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21 grace
June 24, 2011 at 8:42 PM
thanks for the recap!! cant wait for episode 11 :DD
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22 crazedlu
June 24, 2011 at 8:42 PM
this show is only very okay.
fireballs welcome. =D
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23 Duh-duh
June 24, 2011 at 8:43 PM
I think the director is excellent. Look at the last shot ! I was at the edge of my chair as it was thrilling and so artful.
Not to mention, LMH looks extra dreamy with his camera lense. Director, thank you.
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missjb
June 24, 2011 at 9:31 PM
yess the director is good, I LOVE HIM since brilliant legacy ^^
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Raine
June 24, 2011 at 9:53 PM
I want to thank the director too :) I love his choice of camera angles, music, etc... this drama feels like it's filmed like a movie <3
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intern
June 24, 2011 at 10:15 PM
yes! totally agree with you on that :) :) i was like 'OMO. YJ and YS are going to run into each other. aaaaaaaaa. Then YS gets pulled by Nana. whew. Then YS grabs a blade to Nana's neck. oh shiiiiit.'
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24 Noonawholoveskdramas
June 24, 2011 at 8:44 PM
I love your re-caps - I love the show....Lee Min Ho is hawt....
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25 Lidia
June 24, 2011 at 8:45 PM
thanks for the recap :) I totally love how Nana knows Yoon-Sung is the City Hunter, and is now trying to give him hints, stall for him, and pull him out of tough situations. I'd love to see them work as a team, but I don't really know if that would acutally happen, because that would kind of throw a kink in keeping-Nana-at-a-distance-to-protect-her-from-crazy-dad. Wishful thinking...
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Lidia
June 24, 2011 at 8:50 PM
I forgot to add my thoughts about multiple seasons of City Hunter. In a way, it would be awesome to keep the epic-ness alive, but personally, one of the reasons I love k-dramas so much is because most actually don't have multiple seasons. I'm the kind of person who needs an ending, a resolution, a nice neat bow tying up the whole package. To me, shows that go on for seaons and seasons never have that sense of resolution, and thus the show ends up falling flat. For me at least.
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Verónica
June 24, 2011 at 11:34 PM
I am 100% with you. The reason I watch kdramas is because I know I won't have to invest years to know the ending. I don't have the patience, the time, and my awful ADD wouldn't allow me to sit for too long...
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hanabi
June 25, 2011 at 12:13 AM
I have the same thoughts. It's one reason I have a hard time getting into American tv shows. They're too darn long and take forever for any kind of resolution. That and they tend to be too episodic for my tastes.
Yeah, CH is awesome, but if it was multi-season it would be too draggy. I think it has good pacing as it is. I just hope it has a better wrap up than SKKS. Not that the two are very similar, just that SKKS had good momentum and was given a rush ending that was less than satisfying. Please please please let CH have a decent, logical ending.
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26 Melpomene
June 24, 2011 at 8:49 PM
Oi! This is a tantalizingly wonderful drama. And I am with you on having more seasons. Please?
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NazrinZa
June 26, 2011 at 12:22 AM
yuppie yup! please.
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27 Raine
June 24, 2011 at 8:49 PM
The episode in which Nana redeems herself! :)
Also, the part where Nana confessed her feelings to YS totally got to me... her forced smile after YS walks off even though she's hurting inside... props to PMY for making me feel that way (the choice of music and the timing of it adds to it too).. it's like I want to jump in there and give the girl a hug *sighz*
Even though I've watched this episode like 3 times already (and rewatching all of my fav scenes like x times haha) I enjoy reading your recaps JB~! :D Thanks!
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Mandelbrotr
June 24, 2011 at 9:11 PM
To me this was Nana's episode. I'm glad that she's not withholding what she knows but being forthright. So we don't have any stupid plot moments because she's holding back. Things I liked about her here:
- throwing information to YS that she thinks the City Hunter should know about target #3.
- Telling YS she like him and then pep talking herself that she did the right thing
- Goes straight for the heart that his mother is sick
- Gets in the way at the right time with the prosecutor's assistant.
- Is the rescuing arm from out of no where.
I like that she's not in the dark anymore. She doesn't know that he is pushing her away out of protection. But I was wondering if YS was going to gain any additional helpers. Even though he feels the need to protect others will he enlists Nana'a help? Will he ever openly elicit Young-ju's help?
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Arhazivory
June 25, 2011 at 4:53 AM
I agree with those points. She's not snivelling in a corner because he 'rejected' her. She pin-pointed right away that he's trying to push her away in a terrible way. Man...it was so sweet how she chucked the girl in a taxi. lol.
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28 lizq
June 24, 2011 at 8:49 PM
I can't help feeling Nana's discovery of CH is a little anti-climatic... I was imagining the massive guilt she would have felt at realizing she not only SHOT yoon sung but also could have ruined his shoulder when he saved her. So far we only got the cafe and judo scenes as indicators of her feelings, which feel rather weak. I was at least expecting to see similar nightmares for her... This is probably why some of us can't emotionally connect as well to the Nana character, when she seems to have accepted the turn of events quite blandly. Maybe we'll see more when she comes to be more and more involved in CH's work...?
+) LOVED all the father-son scenes in this ep. I'm beginning to be addicted to badass daddy's sexy growly voice and danger glares [those brows]
++) "Get a grip, lady! It’s not like he’s Lee Min-ho." HAHAHAHA
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crazedlu
June 24, 2011 at 8:58 PM
totally agree. i'm just not feeling nana.. and park minyoung's portrayal of nana. if it hadn't been for her, i think i might actually like this drama the way i wanted to like it. i like everything else.. just not pmy and her nana.
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Melissa
June 24, 2011 at 9:49 PM
this is a case where it's not park minyoung's fault. it's the writer's fault for not throwing some scenes in to show nana's guilt at hurting yoon sung
--> and I agree...i do think that her discovery that yoo sung is the City Hunter was anti-climatic...but other than that this show is still just as good as ever
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Birdie
June 24, 2011 at 10:19 PM
I think PMY does not have enough range in her acting yet to pull off the complex reactions she should have portrayed in the discovery. Perhaps the director knows it and just making use of what he got. You do see that range and the deep felt emotions from the veteran actors and sometimes from LMH. The transition of Nana character from being cute, sweet and incompetent to cool and smart is a little sudden ,although necessary for the plot as City Hunter is a little careless and could use some help.
On another note, LMH looks really, really tired. Seems like the schedule is getting tighter. And we are only half-way through the drama.
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Miss Independent
June 26, 2011 at 2:01 AM
He looks tired because the makeup artists did a great job making him look exhausted. He got shot in the freakin shoulder for pete's sake and it was infected. He's just doing a wonderful job portraying his part.
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caramenilla
June 25, 2011 at 4:21 AM
Yeah, after thinking about it again, it's true that it seems that nana's discovery about city hunter is not that dramatic. But I gotta say I was too immersed with everything else that I miss that point.
So...I don't really have anything to be complaint about. And I love pmy's chemistry with lee min ho :D
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geee
June 24, 2011 at 9:04 PM
I totally forgot about that. No guilt after all? Tsss. I feel you, lizq.
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lizq
June 24, 2011 at 9:42 PM
Eh now I'm thinking maybe there's a deliberate difference in the portrayal of how the two view their r/s... Yoonsung gets TWO nightmares involving him causing/seeing her death. Previously there was a possibility of hurting her in his work but it was like, purely hypothetical and only cos she was working as target 2's bodyguard. Still he's set on pushing her away out of fear [now mostly from Daddy?]. Nana on the other hand seems determined to simply love him as a secret savior/ superhero...Hrmm wonder if there's anymore danger in store for her or if she gets to save him instead, which would be awesome :D
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intern
June 24, 2011 at 10:29 PM
it was probably due to PMY's acting. but Nana helped Yoon-sung throughout this episode. yes, she likes him but also due to the fact she's returning the favor of YS saving her and Nana shooting him. i don't know just what i think :D
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seoulmusic
June 24, 2011 at 10:59 PM
Wow, good point, didn't even think about Nana's discovery. You're right, they handled it pretty weak. I was just so distracted by all the other badassery going on :D
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Chintu
June 25, 2011 at 6:35 AM
i tink she hs nt had enuf tim 2 feel guilty, wat vt hs movin on 2 d nex trgt & hs mom faintin & youngju followin, etc etc... mayb wen tings r a bit quietr OR wen yoonsung s bak hom vt er & she hs a run-in vt toples yoonsung nursin hs wounds.... mmmm... dats my mind n d gutter :)
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Silver
June 25, 2011 at 8:32 AM
I think Nana's guilt didn't show up quite as prominently as YS's because Nana's emotions were very different from what YS was feeling, and with good reason. YS was certain Nana was the one involved in the shooting and everything else, but Nana has 3 people contending for her emotions. The City Hunter that saved her life, the caring, goofy, adorable roomie and the shameless playboy that keeps asking her to drive him and random women around. He happens to be the same guy, and Nana suspects as much, but she isn't certain. It's hard to show an enormous amount of guilt when you are being pulled in several directions, emotionally. The reason why she hasn't had a chance to properly express her guilt is because she is still, at least partly, in the dark. Now that the ending of episode 10 happened, I think she will finally be able to express her full emotions towards YS. I also think they will join forces to catch the guy who was responsible for her parent's accident, for one thing because it's only right for her to see justice done at her own hands, for another because she's not the type to stay put even if YS wants to keep her out of harm's way, and last but not least, because YS is a softie at heart and won't be able to say no to her :P
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merlyunho
June 25, 2011 at 6:34 PM
gah you said the exact words out of my mouth. i ttly agree with you. i, too, wonder how come she dsn't feel a bit more regretful slash grateful to yoonsung since she found out that he was CH and he also saved her ass from the sniper accident. But that is, she's still trying to deal with her feelings, all with being swept aside and thrown like a trash by yoonsung. I guess it's pretty hard for her, too. And to top it all off the guy who used to joke and smile with her is now gone, replaced by the fake-playboy YS. To put it simply, the man you love saved your life once but then you shot him right in his shoulder. after you realize that you actually love him, he toss you to the trashcan like some used, unimportant toy. man that's just freaking messed up.
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ladida
June 25, 2011 at 9:43 AM
I'm not sure I want Nana to have any serious guilt for shooting Yoon-sung. She didn't know it was him when she did it, and she was doing her job competently, for once. I mean, if she hadn't shot him, that would only be another reason to complain about how bad she is at her job. Also, I suspect Yoon-sung's nightmare's come s much from his fear of hurting Nana as from the fact that he watched his mother figure being murdered and he was raised by a vengeful, violent drug lord. Nana did have one nightmare, and while that wasn't as graphic as Yoon-sung's, they did address her relationship to her parents' death.
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ladida
June 25, 2011 at 9:48 AM
As for how she's accepted that Yoon-sung is City Hunter, it may be anti-climactic, but I like that it is: no tortured emotions over what she should do, no angst over who she should be loyal to. She knows her mind, she knows what she wants, and she knows that she can help protect him, just like he protected her. My hope is that the Nana character can evolve into someone who can help Yoon-sung in his bad-ass revenge quest. How awesome would it be if there were a fight scene where they were BOTH fighting off bad guys?
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lizq
June 26, 2011 at 7:49 AM
Awesome point (:
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mars
June 26, 2011 at 9:47 AM
THIS. Plus why should Nana feel guilty? She shot him while he was trying to kidnap the guy she was protecting. I'd feel bad (which she obviously does) but YS kept the truth from HER and so it was really his fault he got shot.
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29 Cinnamon23
June 24, 2011 at 8:51 PM
The best recap ever! My sentiments exactly with your opening paragraph! Keep up the good work!
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30 elaineD
June 24, 2011 at 8:51 PM
if the lovebirds both stay alive for the remainder of the show, then I will starting catching up from episode 9 again and actually ENJOY the show, haha, instead of constantly wondering whether he'll die. the last picture. oh so perfect. can i be her for JUST, ONE, DAY? pleeeeeaaase??
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geee
June 24, 2011 at 9:00 PM
YEAH ME TOO. She's just so lucky. Hahahahaha. I hope he won't die and I have a strong feeling that he won't. Let's keep our fingers crossed.
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caramenilla
June 25, 2011 at 4:24 AM
Please please, writer, don't let yoon sung die T__T
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31 loveencounter
June 24, 2011 at 8:53 PM
thanks for the recap....
I don't like the prosecutor...he's obsessing over catching the City Hunter who help him to do his job rather than catching the actual bad guys...
wondering how objective he will be when he had to prosecute his own father
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Oh-oh-okk...
June 25, 2011 at 1:53 AM
I know right? The prosecutor is friggin' annoying! He's so hell-bent (may the Lord forgive me) on pursuing the CH and not focusing on the 1983 case! If it wasn't for the CH...he would have diddley-dum-di-da-da jack!
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bananajam
June 25, 2011 at 10:26 AM
Totally agree with you.
I am so tired of the prosecutor. ==
I am just waiting for him to finally tumble!
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NazrinZa
June 26, 2011 at 12:27 AM
like daddy steve lee said "arms will always bend inward".
prosecutor is really annoying. always, always in the picture.
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32 notimeforsleep
June 24, 2011 at 8:54 PM
up to now, i'm still kinda surprised that i'm enjoying this drama as much as i am.:)
the drama really gets me through all the emotions. one minute, i'm crying for yoon sung's mom, then i'm cheering on nana for being so awesome then i'm back to nail biting when yoon sung does all his action-y stuff. and by the end of the episode, i just want moooooore.
i also like that as of right now, i can't still definitively map out where the plot's gonna take us. but at the same time i know it's going to take us somewhere. woot! can't wait for next week!
thanks for the recap jb!
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33 olsen
June 24, 2011 at 8:55 PM
Thank u JB!
Gonna read the recap first, then comment later:)
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34 stars4u
June 24, 2011 at 8:56 PM
So much stuff going on for just an hour and it's so good it's just not enough....
the last scene had me almost jump off my seat!!!
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35 geee
June 24, 2011 at 8:56 PM
Done reading. Hoho. Balls of steel. LOL That one's perfect. The scene in the windows are awesome. I can't help my self but to scream during those times. Hahaha.
"She waxes poetic about his shining eyes, perfectly chiseled features, physique like Michelangelo’s David… Get a grip, lady! It’s not like he’s Lee Min-ho."
OMO, SO TRUE. HAHAHAHAHA. Maybe that ahjumma haven't seen Lee Min-ho yet. Gawd. He so hot. I wanna see your folder of screencaps, JB. =))))
I've been so attached to this drama and I really like everything about it. I also like the fact that NaNa isn't useless like some other leading ladies out there. That last scene was perfect. I can't wait for the next episodes!!!
PS. Javabeans, you're awesome! You never fail to make laugh by your comments and all that. Keep up the good work! To you as well, GirlFriday! :D
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36 Chewy
June 24, 2011 at 8:59 PM
"She waxes poetic about his shining eyes, perfectly chiseled features, physique like Michelangelo’s David… Get a grip, lady! It’s not like he’s Lee Min-ho."
I couldn't have said better myself.
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DKM
June 24, 2011 at 9:37 PM
Yeah, I love that too. Poor YJ, he can never win. He got upstaged when JB wrote the article on him for Bazaar and now this! LOL
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lizq
June 24, 2011 at 9:48 PM
HAHA that's so true. All the time I was watching that lady gush over YJ I was thinking, you haven't seen the City Hunter yet.
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37 Mandelbrotr
June 24, 2011 at 8:59 PM
I'll have more to say later but right now, "Get a grip, lady! It’s not like he’s Lee Min-ho." LOL
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38 Liinus
June 24, 2011 at 9:01 PM
Personally, I don't think buddy's dad killed bad dude #1 or those policemen. I think it was baddie #4 to silence the first guy. They didn't actually show the killings, and I think the dad is just using the situation to his advantage to scare the main guy. This way he can be somewhat redeemed at the end, whereas if he did murder 2 innocent ppl, it would be increasingly difficult to salvage his character later on. It's just a cracked out theory, but at least I can be all like...HA, I told you so...if it turns out I'm right.
You're right, there are flaws in this drama, but damn is it ever addicting! It's the first drama I ever watched raw eps of just to find out what happened next. The girl is fine as hell, and I like most of the characters, even if they can be inconsistent at times. This show is pure money.
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beggar1015
June 25, 2011 at 3:55 PM
Personally, I don’t think buddy’s dad killed bad dude #1 or those policemen. I think it was baddie #4 to silence the first guy.
Interesting theory. But then I remember back in the Golden Triangle days when Dad shot that one guy who had stolen drugs from him. He's more than capable of killing two innocent cops. There's no redeeming his character. We can only watch as he destroys himself and everyone around him.
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39 Irish J
June 24, 2011 at 9:03 PM
I love Nana. She's not slow, helpless or useless (like some female leads in other shows). This show is so good!!!
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40 Quinze
June 24, 2011 at 9:04 PM
JB
It's like you're in my head. I swear I've had the same reaction you've had to every scene this episode. Especially with regards to Dad who's fast becoming my favorite villain to both love/hate/fear.
This drama is delicious!
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41 eevee
June 24, 2011 at 9:04 PM
OMG this recap is hilarious! There is like a bizillion jokes/puns!
"He doesn’t see that he’s being followed by Pil-joo… and Pil-jae doesn’t see that he’s being followed in turn, by Bad Daddy’s cohort Sang-gook. HAHA. It’s both hilarious — this is like 49 Days, where even stalkers had stalkers"
"They relocate to a shady basement area to duke it out. It’s three to one, but our City Hunter knocks ‘em all down. Shedding blood so he can go shed blood…that’s deep, man."
"Yoon-sung is, at the moment, busy following Young-ju, who remains unaware since his tail’s tail has lost the trail."
"She waxes poetic about his shining eyes, perfectly chiseled features, physique like Michelangelo’s David… Get a grip, lady! It’s not like he’s Lee Min-ho."
I love you javabeans!! You always make me smile! Keep up the good work!!
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42 Tottoro
June 24, 2011 at 9:08 PM
"stick a knife in it" has never became so clear before the existence of Intense Dad. Thank you so much for making this the best Saturday morning! Reading your review after watching completes my craving, at least until next Wednesday.
Ps. Can't wait until city hunter works with nana... Though I doubt he'll let her.
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43 girl
June 24, 2011 at 9:08 PM
Thanks JB ~ !! I want seasons of this drama not just 20 episodes :( i'm going to have major withdrawal when it's over gahhh
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44 sandra
June 24, 2011 at 9:11 PM
i think that this can be a series with lots of seasons though.
lol the superhero combating crime? i love comic book enough already ;D
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45 Tottoro
June 24, 2011 at 9:12 PM
By the way, we readers wouldn't mind if your next post simply composes of screencaps of lee min ho. Or better have them numbered so we can fight over the best angle :)
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tomboy26
June 24, 2011 at 9:14 PM
Second this motion!!! :)
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girl
June 24, 2011 at 9:15 PM
third~ lol
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DKM
June 24, 2011 at 9:41 PM
Me four!
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ellewu
June 24, 2011 at 9:57 PM
fifth :) ... JB is it possible to put up a poll? LMH's best angle, wait i think that's almost impossible, we probably have to bust out our mathematical equations to conclusively determine which angle is the best, lol.
geee
June 24, 2011 at 9:26 PM
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE HAHAHAHA
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Melissa
June 24, 2011 at 10:11 PM
this would be AMAZING! please do it JB or GF!
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leesan
June 25, 2011 at 4:33 AM
Sixth.....OMG, this is the best suggestion ever. Iam so there.
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divyrus
June 25, 2011 at 10:39 AM
BEST SUGGESTION EVER!!!
Pretty please JB????
WHAT DO WE HAVE TO DO TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN??!?
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Lulai
June 25, 2011 at 5:20 PM
So what about it GF? Can we peek at your LMH screencaps? Pretty please? I'd give you a big hug. But since I can't go to you, what about a cyber hug? I'm sure with all that LMH hotness, I'll be swooning again and again and again....=)
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thameryst
June 27, 2011 at 9:33 AM
totally agree.
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46 whysee
June 24, 2011 at 9:12 PM
I read every recap to elevate my love for this drama to a whole new INTENSE level.
NEXT WEDNESDAY, WHERE YOU AT.
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47 tomboy26
June 24, 2011 at 9:13 PM
I've always liked Nana's character so having her be completely awesome in this episode makes things so much sweeter.
I literally can't think of anything else to say because I'm so hyped for next week I can't even type correctly. (I deleted so many times cause of misspellings it's not even funny lol)
The only other thing I want to say is that Lee Min-Ho is making me swoon big time and I love it :D
Oh .. is there a petition for this to be more than one season? Where do I sign?!!! lol
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48 Cynthia
June 24, 2011 at 9:18 PM
Geez - I've been waiting for this recap all day. It goes up but I'm not here when it happens? Why?
Oh, yeah. Maybe because I was watching ep.10 FOR THE THIRD TIME.
:)
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Cynthia
June 24, 2011 at 10:15 PM
Excellent recap, JB! The love-fest for LMH runneth over.
Your wish for an extended season (or 5!) for CH is duly noted, but you know it's not gonna happen.
We were like that for Alias being extended and it was wonderful - until it wasn't and ended up being a cracktastic mess. (Floaty red ball of doom, anybody? Guess you had to be there...).
While I was mooning over LMH, it dawned on me that he now has had the two WORST parents, EVER!
MaMa Gu (the bestest evil villainess ever written) in BOF and now StepDaddy Evil-Eyes in CH.
Those two could be the next Boris & Natasha.
Superlative performances from these seasoned actors add so much enjoyment. Just love to hate 'em!
And just a silly note to add to this dreamy dream of a drama - just who DOESN'T know who the City Hunter really is at this point?!
YS should have "City Hunter" tattooed on his forehead after this episode.
I giggled inappropriately listening to JP telling YS not to give blood because his identity would be revealed. Really? That horse left the barn, mister.
:)
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caramenilla
June 25, 2011 at 4:30 AM
LOL SO TRUE. I think THAT'S his fate
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49 B
June 24, 2011 at 9:20 PM
I have no words, since when did K-dramas have gotten sooo good?? First 49 days exceed my expectations, and now City Hunter too! Wow, my standards for good K-dramas have now been kicked up a notch!
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50 mskololia
June 24, 2011 at 9:22 PM
I'm all for another season too.
Thanks a million for the recap.
If you want to provide a link to your LMH screencaps, we won't mind :)
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