Myung-wol the Spy: Episode 16

106 September 5, 2011January 24, 2016

by javabeans

Yay for the first episode in weeks that I’ve enjoyed all the way through. This episode has a lot of the cute, light, funny moments that made early Myung-wol the Spy so enjoyable for me, and lightened up on the gloom and angst. The stakes are still high, but we can get that across without all that denial and frustration, and that makes for a much more watchable hour. Phew!

SONG OF THE DAY

Hwayobi – “Bye Bye Bye” [ Download ]

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EPISODE 16 RECAP

Kang-woo says he can’t live without Myung-wol, so she should turn herself in, marry him, and live here. Ryu steps out of hiding and holds Kang-woo at gunpoint, telling him to leave while he has the chance. Kang-woo: “Can’t you see I’m proposing?” Ryu: “Can’t you see I’ve got a gun to your head?” One point, Ryu.

Kang-woo declares that he won’t give Myung-wol up, and Ryu lets him leave. He tells Myung-wol that since he held up his part of the bargain not to kill Kang-woo, it’s time for her to return home.

Broody time. The three leads separate in order to mope, with Kang-woo heading back to his house, Myung-wol sitting in her empty studio apartment, and Ryu in…an abandoned warehouse? Ha, why is that so funny?

Spy Mom and Dad come home from their failed attempt to head North. Ok-soon is crankier than Hee-bok, and asks suspiciously if perhaps he’s happy to stay. They find that Dae-kang has taken advantage of their planned absence to play landlord and lie about his supposed wealth. He brags to idol starlet Kyung-joo that he doesn’t have to work, but it’s character-building and all that. Hee-bok ruins his illusion and sends the huffy idol stalking out.

Chairman Joo orders his minion to locate Ryu and the books, thinking that if he gets them back first, he can regain the upper hand with Kang-woo. He hasn’t quite unraveled the secrets contained therein, and Ryu busily gets to work assembling the books to decode them. What he comes up with are coordinates for several locations on the Korean peninsula.

Ryu arranges to meet Myung-wol to divulge what he’s learned, but he gets there moments too late; Kang-woo comes roaring up in his car and takes Myung-wol away, reminding her that he won’t give her up.

Learning about the reason for their aborted trip home, Ok-soon and Hee-bok wonder what would have driven Myung-wol to let Kang-woo go. Ok-soon wonders if this means she loves Kang-woo, and Hee-bok sighs that it sure is complicated, with Ryu loving Myung-wol and all. She’s startled to hear it, but he points out that it’s as obvious as day to anybody who so much as looks at them.

Kang-woo takes Myung-wol to observe the way ordinary people live, appealing to the part of her that wishes for this life for herself. He asks if she wants to continue living her strictly regimented life: “Don’t you want to learn how people love each other?”

As they watch couples and families out on dates, Myung-wol wistfully imagines the two of them engaging in everyday activities like jogging together and playing with children. He takes out a ring and proposes, then takes her back home with the request to think it over.

Ryu waits till Myung-wol is gone, then approaches Kang-woo angrily to ask what the hell he’s doing, insisting that he leave her alone. Kang-woo replies that he’s encouraging Myung-wol to choose herself, and challenges Ryu to think of her happiness.

Ryu drinks, then shows up at Myung-wol’s door, this time to do the talking. He opens up about his own childhood, and how he was saved from starvation by a man who took him in. That man had a pretty daughter who used to say she’d be a special agent just like Dad. He’d liked her but couldn’t say so, thinking it wasn’t appropriate behavior toward his savior. Then when the man died, he’d asked Ryu to look after his child and he’d decided that protecting her was his duty — “I thought that was my way of loving her.”

She’s stunned speechless. He asks, “Return to our country, and be with me.”

Is it bad of me that I want her to say yes? It’s just a shame this conversation didn’t happen earlier, because that would’ve totally ramped up this love triangle for me. Placed here, it comes too late to interfere with her feelings for Kang-woo, and even if she did choose Ryu, it would always be linked with a sense of duty and family, rather than love. Poor, hot Ryu.

Myung-wol shows up at Kang-woo’s house to return the ring. He urges her to reconsider, but she says there are too many walls between them. Aside from their cultural differences, she can’t betray her comrades or her country, and has decided to return home. She leaves the house in tears.

Chairman Joo finds out where Ryu is squatting and sends his minions to retrieve the books. In-ah overhears this conversation and frets, wondering if she should do anything, and ends up sending Ryu a text from an unknown number warning him to escape. Thus when the minions arrive, they find the rundown building empty.

In-ah hears this and sigh with relief, and it’s only now that she realizes she might have feelings for Ryu. Well, she could never be accused of being knife-sharp, could she? Maybe sharp like a spoon.

That night, Myung-wol meets Ryu on the roof of their headquarters, and while he’s content to pass, she stops him by taking his hand. Ackkk, I cringe for Ryu, because surely that’ll get his hopes up when we know she’ll have to choose Kang-woo in the end.

She tells him she’ll prepare to head North, and in response he grasps her hand more tightly and just barely lets out a smile of relief.

Ryu convenes the team to plan their exit, and this time there’s the added worry that Kang-woo might turn them in to the authorities. True, Myung-wol’s involvement acts as a sort of insurance since he won’t want to harm her, but they plan on moving quickly all the same, and paring down their luggage to deflect suspicion.

Ryu can’t hide his happiness, and his wide grin both warms my heart and hurts it. That night when he drops her off at her apartment, he thanks Myung-wol for her decision, watching with loving eyes as she heads inside…where Kang-woo waits.

Kang-woo insists that Myung-wol be honest about her true feelings, knowing that she’s forcing this separation. She bursts out that this is the only choice she can make, which Ryu overhears as he arrives. Sigh. It seems that a whole lotta angsty moments could be avoided if she just started taking herself home. Just sayin’…

Dae-kang finds a flyer touting awareness for spy and terrorist activity, and tells Hee-bok that the reward money for turning in a spy has recently increased. He supposes that if he were a spy, he’d turn himself in and live off the stipend they’d provide, then turn in his former colleagues for the reward. And that lack of fidelity is why we should all be glad he’s a lowly road manager instead.

But suggestible Hee-bok entertains this fantasy, and imagines what he’d do if he became an overnight millionaire. His first fantasy scenario (stuffing himself on delicacies) gets panned for being too weak, and Dae-kang also decries his second, which involves Kang-woo being ogled by hotties at a bar. Dae-kang: “What does Kang-woo have to do with this?” Hee-bok: “If I had a billion won, do you think I’d keep living with this face?” HAHA. Oh, I wish this drama had kept up this sense of humor throughout. The next time he sees Ok-soon, he pictures her as (literal) riches.

With bag packed on departure day, Myung-wol thinks over Kang-woo’s words about being honest with herself. Ryu fetches her, and they leave just as Kang-woo arrives at her empty apartment.

The spies head to the harbor, but find their exit thwarted by guard presence at the docks, who’ve been tipped off by Chairman Joo. Spotted, they scatter in two teams and hide from the guards who scour the pier.

Ryu acts as diversion to give Myung-wol the chance to run back to their boat, but she’s intercepted by Kang-woo, who asks, “Where do you think you’re going, dummy? You can’t go anywhere now.” He hugs her, and she cries.

Ryu doubles back after ditching the guards, just in time for his heart to go breaky. *craaaaack* He thinks over Kang-woo’s words about wanting Myung-wol to be happy above all else.

Thus, another escape attempt is stymied. The spies (minus Myung-wol) return to headquarters, worrying that they’ve hit a dead end. Ok-soon asks if they’ve been abandoned by their country, and Ryu tells the other two that he’ll leave them to decide their own futures, saying that right now his comrades are more important than his country. He, however, will return to the North — without Myung-wol. He’s decided that he’s the only one who needs to go back. Awww.

Ryu finds Myung-wol to assure her that everything is fine. Acting as though he expects her to return to the North on their next attempt in another week, he asks for her to spare tomorrow for him. He cuts her off before she can say anything, perhaps suspecting that she’s going to tell him she’s changed her mind, and asks that she save that for a future date.

Kang-woo confronts Chairman Joo, angry that he intervened at the harbor. Driven by impatient greed, the chairman is dying to get his hands on those books and orders Kang-woo to bring them to him immediately.

Ryu takes Myung-wol on a date, requesting that she follow his lead today. He takes her to a mountain stream, fishing with boyish enjoyment and grinning widely, which just kills me. As they sit down to eat their catch, she tells him that she’d never seen him so smiley before, having previously thought him scary.

He explains that his sternness with her was because he’d always wished for her to live a normal life, not dangerously as an agent. He’d imagined that she’d marry a man, have children, and be loved: “And I wished that would be with me.”

He asks for a souvenir photo, and to get him to smile wider, she tickles him. Oh, why does this make me so sad? Maybe it’s better after all that this episode didn’t come earlier, because then my heart would’ve had to break for yet another poor, unloved second lead and his unfulfilled romance.

He takes her home that night, except he pulls up to Kang-woo’s house instead of hers and tells her, “Today, I was truly happy. But more than anything, I wish for you to be happy. I thought I could make you happy, but I don’t think I can.”

She realizes what he means and starts to protest, eyes filling with tears, but he slaps on a happy face and assures her that he has the books to ensure his safety. “So now, seek your own happiness.” And why couldn’t this be our main couple again? Oh right, I guess she loves someone or something. Sigh.

Overwhelmed at his sacrifice, Myung-wol hugs Ryu and thanks him. He holds back his pain and puts on a brave face until she leaves the car. He drives away with tears running down his face, watching Myung-wol throw herself into Kang-woo’s waiting arms in the rearview mirror.

With that relationship back on track, news of Kang-woo’s impending wedding hits the media. The spies worry that this puts too much attention on Myung-wol, and Ryu says that’s why he’ll have to return and handle their superiors.

In-ah shocks them all by arriving unannounced at spy central, and takes Ryu with her to a bar. She says that she’s letting go of her feelings for Kang-woo, basically setting the stage to pursue a relationship with Ryu, except that he misses all her signs. Heh.

He thanks her for her warning text, and adds that he knows she’s soft-hearted on the inside. Citing drunkenness and dizziness, In-ah hitches a piggyback ride with Ryu, vastly exaggerating her condition so she can stay close. Ha. For once, I like this girl. She suggests prolonging the night with some coffee, but Ryu declines and notices that she seems sober now and bids her good night.

Our main couple is happy once again, and this time when Kang-woo suggests turning herself in after their wedding, she agrees. Kang-woo shares his fantasy of married life, which consists of the mundane daily joys of waking up alongside a wife who makes breakfast and sees him out the door, alongside their son. He likes that idea, and suggests having a whole brood of kids — say, ten or more? — which makes her hiccup nervously. Ha.

But if there’s a dark cloud hanging over his head, it’s his last-ditch partnership with Chairman Joo, who warns that if Kang-woo doesn’t deliver him the books by tomorrow, he’s taking the story of Myung-wol’s true identity to the press.

Kang-woo goes to Ryu to ask for the books, saying that he’s worried about Myung-wol. Ryu tells him he’ll take care of it, and advises him to focus on keeping her happy. Ryu declines Kang-woo’s gratitude, saying that thanks aren’t quite appropriate because he doesn’t want her hurt, either. A bit sadly, he offers his congratulations on their wedding.

Ryu walks right into the Joo mansion to hand over the books to the chairman, telling him not to lay a finger on Myung-wol. But before he relinquishes the books, he has one additional condition to ask of Chairman Joo: to find Ryu a safe flight to the North, since Joo has interfered with his exit route.

In-ah eavesdrops, wondering what all this talk about the north means. Two plus two, girl, two plus two…

As Ryu leaves, we see that he hadn’t quite handed over his only card, because before giving the physical books up, he’d cracked the code and recorded the information on a data drive.

Wedding day. Myung-wol in her wedding dress literally has Kang-woo gaping at her with slack jaw.

Ryu is at the airport about to catch his flight when he receives an alarming phone call, and it sends him racing out of the airport and for a taxi. He charges into the wedding venue and pushes pasts security, just as we see what has him in such a state:

While the happy couple poses for photographs, a sniper takes aim from a nearby building, trying to get a clear shot of Myung-wol.

He fires, and in the split-second it takes the bullet to travel, Kang-woo senses that something’s wrong and leaps in front of her. The bullet lands in his back, and he collapses.

COMMENTS

A note: Myung-wol the Spy will be airing both of its remaining two episodes tomorrow. This comes as a result of its extension to 18 episodes, and then the whole Han Ye-seul kerfuffle that delayed one broadcast. Since there’ll be two hours to cover, we’ll do our best to have recaps out for 17 and 18 in a timely manner, just in case you were wondering what the plan was!

The ending of the episode’s a little City Hunter for my tastes, not that that’s the only drama to have ever employed this I’ll-take-a-bullet-for-you maneuver. It’s the most recent, though, and let’s just say that comparing this drama to that one doesn’t do Myung-wol any favors. That aside, though, we can choose to look favorably on the appearance of the sniper, since all series long we’ve been told these spies are in mortal danger, only to have that claim supported by nothing in the plot. So if Myung-wol’s defection really does get her into some danger, I welcome the plot complications that brings up. I can’t help but wish they’d done it sooner, though, since I can’t get too worried about characters being thrust into mortal peril when I know they’re also getting their happy ending tomorrow.

Speaking of things that could have come earlier, I’m a little bummed that they waited so long to factor in the Ryu loveline, because now it’s not so much a loveline as it is a pityline. I sort of understand why they would want to keep his confession to Myung-wol till later (to shape Myung-wol’s decision for going, and then staying), but I would have much preferred this angle to have been played earlier, if only for the fact that it’s so much more compelling than anything else we’ve seen in recent episodes.

I really liked Myung-wol’s reaction to both Ryu’s confession and his decision to let her go, because you could see that she does have a lot of love for him, even if it’s not the kind of love he has for her. I could believe that she would have returned with him, and even maybe married him and lived in a state of semi-melancholy semi-contentment, if he hadn’t made that decision for her. On that score it’s a little irritating that she’s not the one making the decisions while the men push and pull here about, but in this case the emotional reactions made up for that. If Ryu had just been more of a romantic foil earlier…before she’d fallen totally in love with Kang-woo…. sigh. The what-ifs about this drama, they kill me.

106

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1 Fasiris Fay

September 5, 2011 at 7:55 PM

this show just gets stranger and stranger! -_-

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2 Stardust

September 5, 2011 at 8:05 PM

oh man...so the extension did happen? I thought , with some relief, that its finished by ep 16... The storyline has been running on dregs and not as enjoyable as the earlier eps.

Maybe In-ah will defect to the North with Ryu lol... She seemed quite popular before in the South, though its waning now, perhaps she can find renewed popularity in the north. Also, she gets hottie Ryu! heheh...

once again, thanks so much for the lovely recap!

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ar_arguably romantic

September 5, 2011 at 8:18 PM

that would be a great ending! For most of the series, i hated In-ah with a passion and was planning to bury the writers alive if they set In-ah with Ryu...but I've started to like her these past few episodes and hope that Ryu will find love after Myung-wol gets with Kang-woo.

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Big Unni

September 5, 2011 at 8:22 PM

Bury the writers...ha...ha...ha...so should I put down the shovel? lol :)
But I agree I did not like her but I am warming or defecting to her....lol

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Birthday Girl

September 8, 2011 at 12:51 AM

Haha--In Ah with Ryu--RYUUUUUUUUUUUUU for the win

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3 kdramaFrenzy

September 5, 2011 at 8:08 PM

I've stopped watching this show since a couple episodes back. Not saying that I'm not going to watch it, but going by my new rule of thumb, i'll watch the last 10 mins of the last episode to see if the show is worth me watching it in it's entirety. We all remember "Lie to Me."

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polly

September 5, 2011 at 11:07 PM

Same here...d show has kinda lost it! I stopped watching it long time back. Infact I think the recaps are interesting than the show :P But I ve to say 'Lie to Me' was better than this one, amean atleast the OTP was pretty awesome and they had loads of cute scenes to make up for the bad story!

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4 Fairy Tale

September 5, 2011 at 8:09 PM

What will happen next i wonder

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5 babyfat

September 5, 2011 at 8:12 PM

awww!! the ending of ep. 16 was so unexpected - wow ! my mouth still open - can't wait for tomorrow . Anyway , when Kang Woo tell Myung wol of his dream of their future together - how she cooks - sending him off to work with a kiss and a loving hug from their son - the lime green jacket get all my attention - got to fire the show's stylist . lol

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6 Yer Vang

September 5, 2011 at 8:14 PM

Thanks for the recap. Off to read :)

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Yer Vang

September 5, 2011 at 9:18 PM

Doesnt Ryu just break every fan girl's heart? Where can we order some Ryus? Lol.

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7 obivia

September 5, 2011 at 8:14 PM

"Poor, hot Ryu."

Hahahaha... so true, so true. I did find your recap of his storyline sweet (note that I am only paying attention to your recaps and not the actual drama). It sounded like a good episode--too bad it came so late in the game. As always, thanks for the recap!

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8 6th

September 5, 2011 at 8:14 PM

Anytime somebody points the gun to someone's head s/he should squeeze the trigger..that'd be fun to see.

This guy Ryu going after MyungWol seems pathetic. And he should go easy on the way he likes to twitch his ears...

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9 ar_arguably romantic

September 5, 2011 at 8:16 PM

Thanks for the recap! I know Kang-woo is the one who got shot here (I'm pretty sure he'll live), but my heart can't help but cry from Ryu! Now that they have upped the danger, I'm afraid Ryu may get hurt or die!

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10 Big Unni

September 5, 2011 at 8:18 PM

I am thrid !

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Big Unni

September 5, 2011 at 8:20 PM

Where did you all come from?!lol:) I was almost thrid! almost thrid...*sobs uncontrollby*

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Ani

September 5, 2011 at 8:24 PM

*third

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Big Unni

September 5, 2011 at 8:27 PM

sorry in a bit of a rush...for nothing apparently cause I still didn't get third:(

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Ani

September 5, 2011 at 8:34 PM

Hahaha. Why are you apologizing? I was just pulling your leg for kicks. XD

vic

September 6, 2011 at 3:47 AM

hahahah freakin hilarious !!!

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jomo143

September 6, 2011 at 6:22 AM

tneth

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birdscout

September 6, 2011 at 8:27 PM

LOL!!!!Jomo, I enjoy your sense of humour! (I've read many of your comments with a smile on my face:)

11 Ani

September 5, 2011 at 8:22 PM

Anyone else disgruntled about Kang-woo's dream marriage where the wife makes him breakfast and sees him out the door? I mean I have great respect for housewife-moms, but for a dude to actively put me into the role of housewife pisses me off a bit. What? Couldn't he dream of making his wife breakfast or just eating together and walking out the door together to go to their respective jobs? I'm just saying. Whatever Kangwoo. I still like Ryu over you at this point.

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YY Chats with Toast Between Bites

September 5, 2011 at 8:50 PM

Yeah me too....I was expecting her to karatechop him after he proferred his cheek for a good wifey kiss.

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snow

September 5, 2011 at 8:52 PM

yeah it's a bit annoying, but kang-woo's been an alpha male all this while, so it's not surprising.

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msim

September 6, 2011 at 10:54 AM

On all accounts, that man belongs in a cave.
It most be the least progressive male lead I have seen in a long time. Blimey, he makes the sexist Pasta chep look like a feminist!

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shiku

September 6, 2011 at 2:16 PM

It didn't piss me off as it is a dream sequence, in real drama life she can choose whether to be one or not so no need to be offended.

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Len

September 8, 2011 at 9:37 PM

I agree wholeheartedly. But did anyone notice Ryu's whole: "That's because I've always thought it was too dangerous for you and THE OTHER FEMALE comrades. I wanted you to settle down and get married and have kids etc." I was just like, NO! Ryu! You had just won me over! What is UP with the male characters in this show!?

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12 Tieu

September 5, 2011 at 8:37 PM

Although I know it's not possible, maybe the series will go Athena on our ass. You know how Kim So Yeon's family was killed, maybe Myung-wol will have a killing spree with the North. Although again, it would be highly unlikely. It's just an awesome thought to see her as the butt-kicking, revengeful spy.

Reference to Athena: http://www.dramabeans.com/2011/04/athena-episodes-19-20-final/

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13 laya

September 5, 2011 at 8:40 PM

Thank you for the recap!

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14 YY Chats with Toast Between Bites

September 5, 2011 at 8:54 PM

The preview for the next ep scares me....SPOILER.....why is MW pointing a gun at poor Ryu? She thinks he engineered the sniper thing?

Other fears:

Will Kang Woo become paralysed?
Will his career be halted?
Will he become blind?
Will he develop amnesia?
Will he change his hair again?

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Ani

September 5, 2011 at 9:44 PM

YY: Will Kang Woo become paralysed?
Me: I don't think they'll go the X-Men: First Class route

YY: Will his career be halted?
Me: Heart surgery didn't stop Dokko Jin

YY: Will he become blind? Will he develop amnesia?
Me: Let's no go there.

YY: Will he change his hair again?
Me: Ha... haha... HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

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aX

September 5, 2011 at 10:41 PM

@ani,

Your response is simply EPIC.

My night is now complete.

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YY Chats with Toast Between Bites

September 5, 2011 at 10:43 PM

Ani, Answerer of Questions, so tell me, are they married or not? I don't see any vows being recited or cake being cut, just photo taking. Help me, O Great One, I'm confused. This show confuses me....only Kang Woo makes sense with his cool shades and cool strut...kang wooooooooooooooooo

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Ani

September 5, 2011 at 11:31 PM

Now where's the fun in me revealing the answers to everything? ^_~

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N Rogers

September 5, 2011 at 11:53 PM

...and have you noticed how LOW Kang Woo sits in the driver's seat? I guess it is to look cool, too, but it is sometimes funny. As for confusion, truly. I just call it a farce and do like a lot of us and rely on the recaps! LOL Thank goodness I am enjoying Scent of a Woman.

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polly

September 5, 2011 at 11:14 PM

'Heart surgery didn’t stop Dokko Jin'
Ani: U cant possibly compare Kang Woo to 'THE DOKKO JIN'!
Kang woo is a normal human being, Dokko Jin on the other hand is a Special Person amean he is from another planet. Dokko Jin does MInd COntrol and he's got his own live recharger!

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Syreolli

September 6, 2011 at 4:16 AM

Simply Excellent!!

My Heart is still for Ryu even though I know he'll miss out in the end

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Stardust

September 5, 2011 at 9:58 PM

Maybe Kang woo has to go US for some experimental surgery and Myung Wol can go with him and stay there forever and build his career lol...

Heck, maybe all of them can go over. They can stay in one of Inah's hotels? HAHA...

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YY Chats with Toast Between Bites

September 5, 2011 at 10:45 PM

Kang Woo, you can come to me anytime....unlike SOMEONE, I'm not going anywhere.....*smirking*

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15 kooriyuki

September 5, 2011 at 9:04 PM

i wonder if i can watch this strange drama at one go, since i stopped at ep 6, or was it 5? i hope watching more than 10 episodes together wouldn't make my head spin too much

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16 kytes

September 5, 2011 at 9:17 PM

out of point but, what kind of sniper aims at a person chest than head?

chairman has been ripped off. bogus sniperman.

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snow

September 5, 2011 at 9:22 PM

well, myung-wol is shorter than kang-woo, so it'd have hit her head if kang-woo hadn't leapt in front of her.

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YY Chats with Toast Between Bites

September 5, 2011 at 9:28 PM

The sniper is from North Korea, sent to hunt down Myung Wol. He's obviously related to the chairman's useless goons. Heck, even the guards at the pier are related to the goons.

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17 Lisa Purba

September 5, 2011 at 9:23 PM

I'm torn between Ryu and Kangwoo! I want both of them get Myungwol! I don't want either of them sad! =(

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18 Milaiski

September 5, 2011 at 9:31 PM

Ryu, ryu, ryu. I bet you're still going to be the hero at the end. :(

Sorry. Kang woo. For all I care. :P

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19 Phi

September 5, 2011 at 9:36 PM

What a surprise at the end of the episode.

Looks like KW will live but I'm not sure what the writers will have in store for him when he wakes up (paralyzed, memory lost or fully recovered....)

At the end of this episodes, I had a weird feeling something bad might happens CR, I'm afraid he might die but after watching the preview of EP.17 I don't know what to think.... aaack

btw, how did Chairman Joo knew about the spies' run-away plan at the harbor to tip off the polices? If the polices got the spies, he would not get his hands on the books either.....

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20 mae

September 5, 2011 at 9:38 PM

i'd choose ryu in a heartbeat.. anytime..

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21 cv

September 5, 2011 at 9:44 PM

Thank you for the recap! :)

Oh my gosh! I can't believe he didn't knocked her down so both of them would survive, he had to be the hero and take the hit! I dont' want him to die! No! Next episode better have him A-okay!

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22 Inseparable_gemini

September 5, 2011 at 9:54 PM

awwww... My heart bleeds for Ryu. I hope he will have future kdramas where he will be able to smile a lot.. he is so adorable when he smiles... =P

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YY Chats with Toast Between Bites

September 5, 2011 at 10:48 PM

He acted in "Smile Again" as the second lead. Sad to say, contrary to the title, he didn't smile much. In fact towards the end he kept scowling. Poor guy, destined never to smile.

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23 ajewell

September 5, 2011 at 10:06 PM

"The ending of the episode’s a little City Hunter for my tastes, not that that’s the only drama to have ever employed this I’ll-take-a-bullet-for-you maneuver. It’s the most recent, though"

It's funny, because just last week, a similar cliff-hanger ended Episode 13 of The Princess's Man, lol. Only, in that case, it was an arrow, not a bullet. And that drama has been toted a tragedy since the beginning, so it didn't feel out of place in the slightest.

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ajewell

September 5, 2011 at 10:23 PM

whoops, meant Episode 14, lol.

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24 aX

September 5, 2011 at 10:38 PM

"Two plus two, girl. Two plus two."

LMFAO!

I absolutely adore In Ah. She's a character you'd love to hate but you love her anyway.

Everytime she raises her voice, I imagine fireworks firing off into the mid-air. I loved that scene in Singapore. hahahah

Anyway, at some point I do agree regarding this episode should've happened maybe a few episodes before. That or if they extended at least another two more episodes. With that said, I have no problem with Myung Wol ending up with Kang Woo.

I never thought she saw anything in Choi Ryu anyway. In fact, I liked Choi Ryu & In Ah pairing more--they're so unmatched that it may just work. hahah

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Alvina

September 6, 2011 at 8:12 AM

I'd definitely watch a sequel drama series featured those two. It has the makings of a good romance.

Both of them nursing broken hearts for loves that got together, fatefully meeting in a forbidden bodyguard/heiress romance.

He's the strong silent type with a sense of honour and duty, secretly a spy for the North but falls for her charms.

She's, on the surface a spoiled brat and rich heiress, nursing a soft-heart and daddy issues.

Ack! I would watch it lol.

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aX

September 6, 2011 at 3:58 PM

You & me both and I always thought they had great chemistry since they ran into each other in Singapore! Ever since them, I've been awaiting for them to get together. After watching the end of episode 18, I guess I'm content but I would SOOo watch a sequel with these two!

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25 darknesseyes

September 5, 2011 at 11:20 PM

finally... something worth while... this show had gotten REALLY boring for a while and nothing interesting was happening. Thank god somebody gets shot finally. Took for ever. Now let's go on to actual important part of the plot.

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26 YY Chats with Toast Between Bites

September 5, 2011 at 11:33 PM

This is a story about a spy
Who does anything but spy
All she does is sigh and cry
Over Kang Woo a funny-haired guy

She decides to marry her funny-haired guy
A sniper shoots at her from the sky
He aims low instead of high
Don't ask me I've no idea why

So now Kang Woo the funny-haired guy
All pale and still with tubes does he lie
Will he live or will he die
Gee I hope it's not goodbye

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N Rogers

September 6, 2011 at 12:05 AM

Oh that's good...It could go and on. This show has really been a wild ride. The comments and recaps have made it better, believe me. LOL

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Stardust

September 6, 2011 at 2:50 AM

LOL LOL Kudos!! =D lovely poem! ROFL

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YY Chats with Toast Between Bites

September 6, 2011 at 4:41 AM

Ryu Ryu Ryu
This is my tribute to you you you
We've come a long way Mr Spy
Soon it'll be time for us to say goodbye

Ryu Ryu Ryu
Part man part zombie
Since when did you become a hottie
Provoking cries of second lead oh what a pity!

You sail through the air
Punching and kicking with flair
Our man of honour and integrity
You stand tall in Korean drama history

A knight in shining armour
A stony face masking your ardour
A heart that loves in vain
Fists clenched to hide the pain

The true hero of this strange story
Is Choi Ryu noble man of mystery
What will happen to you my sad Ryu
I fear a lonely tragic end for you

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Veredith

September 6, 2011 at 6:27 AM

OMG HILARIOUS! MADE MY NIGHT! YOU'RE REALLY TALENTED!!!!!!

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jomo143

September 6, 2011 at 6:30 AM

This is perfect:

A knight in shining armour
A stony face masking your ardour
A heart that loves in vain
Fists clenched to hide the pain

So sad, uri Ryu.*

*almost a palindrome.

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jomo143

September 6, 2011 at 6:48 AM

Here's mine:

She's the one. Don't say she's not
He's loved her since she was a tot.

Then she grew and headed south.
She kissed another on the mouth

She fell in love, but not with Ryu.
(He should have reddeded up a hue)

His smile, too late. His laugh so cute.
Why did he spend his live on mute?

He gave her up and broke our hearts
on the ground are all the parts.

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YY Chats with Toast Between Bites

September 6, 2011 at 7:12 AM

Aw, Jomo,that's sad....

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jomo143

September 6, 2011 at 7:23 AM

There is a light! I see it!

In-ha is our only hope
(Even though she's such a dope.)
I think she'll love with all her might
Once she sets him in her sight.

In-ha, lose the selfish bit.
Please go get your sewing kit
Put back together part by part
the pieces of our Ryu's heart

27 tiaaaaa

September 5, 2011 at 11:34 PM

"The ending of the episode’s a little City Hunter for my tastes" --- my exact sentiments!

The first thing that came to mind was that if Lee MinHo and Park MinYoung can both survive bullets to the back, so can Eric! Hahaha!

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28 nana

September 5, 2011 at 11:57 PM

i enjoyed last night episode. finally, i'm smiling after few weeks seem i forgot to smile ^^

i'm really sad that the drama will end tonight. i'm so into it untill now despite all plots they've gone through.

i know KW will die, but definitely no amnesia since the bullet hit his back not his head?

my hurt bleed for hot Ryu too, but i still hope for a appy ending for KW-MW.

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29 steph

September 5, 2011 at 11:58 PM

Poor Ryu :( The scriptwriters should've made him more smiley and loving. LOL. if only he acted earlier, he might have gotten MW ;(

“And I wished that would be with me.” It should be him!!

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30 Jen

September 6, 2011 at 12:12 AM

Sadly, I stopped watching this drama due to the recent issues that tarnished the professionalism of Han Ye Seul. But after reading the recent episodes' recaps, I'd like to reconsider it again. Thanks dramabeans!

By the way, I was convinced by the wide-grin smiles of Choi Ryu. Poor him, he needs a warm hugs!

Is it me or Kang Woo losses his attractiveness in the recent episodes?

I demand for another set of drama with Choi ryu and Han Ye Seul as a lead actors. Same what happened in You're Beautiful. While it was airing, many watchers would like to see Park Shin hye with Jung Yong hwa together as both had a good chemistry in that said drama. Later on, they were paired in Heartstrings that satisfy the viewers a lot though the plot and ratings were not as good compared to the former series.

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31 kandii

September 6, 2011 at 12:23 AM

I don't think Ryu should pull a proposal with Myungwol since he would either be rejected or making her to marry him when he knows all along her heart is clearly with someone else is just WRONG!

Hope for a happy ending for Kangwoo-Myunngwol as well as other couple mates CR-IA, spy parents, Daekung & IA's ex-stylist XD

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32 sally_b

September 6, 2011 at 12:35 AM

~ ~ ~ microphone squelch sounds~ ~ ~ sqwerrrk ~ (audio to the back of the room)

"RYUuuuuuuuuuuuuu...come to ME!"

that is all. thank you.

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33 ineedmoredrama

September 6, 2011 at 12:43 AM

OMG ep 17 and 18 tomorrow? I'm not sure there'll be anything left of my heart after this. It's shattered so many times for Ryu. Sigh. I'll have to say though that as much as I loved this series initially, I'm glad it's ending now as it's become a bit too gloomy for me. Also it feels like we've been going in circles! What a 180 from the 1st 10 eps or so.

And is it wrong to hope that In A doesn't end up with Ryu? Cos erm, Ryu's mine. :p

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sally_b

September 6, 2011 at 12:54 AM

I'd be totally on-board for a spin-off ....."The Adventures of Ryu".

Even if only a 2-hour special - (grabs popcorn)
(♥‿♥)

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ineedmoredrama

September 6, 2011 at 7:19 PM

Oooo "The Adventures of Ryu"... pass the popcorn pls!

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34 mermaid

September 6, 2011 at 1:18 AM

how can a drama tagged as romantic comedy end up in tragedy? oh well, still hoping for a happy ending...

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35 pinkblush

September 6, 2011 at 1:46 AM

I was relieved that Kang-Woo got shot instead of Ryu.

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36 Cilla

September 6, 2011 at 2:10 AM

Anybody else wishing they kill off kang-woo & make her end up w/ ryu after all? ...... No? I'm all alone here?
Well, I guess In-ah will be there for him if he ever starts seeing her more clearly lol

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Veredith

September 6, 2011 at 8:15 AM

you ain't alone! when Myung Wol's face was contorted in shock as KW got shot i was like YES YES YES YES YES PLEASE DIE!!!!!! hahaaahahha

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37 cynthiamarie

September 6, 2011 at 5:11 AM

Ryu always had the serious face in this drama. It was refreshing to see him all smiles in this episode. He really looked handsome! :)

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38 dalene

September 6, 2011 at 5:14 AM

Youre line "I'll -take-a-bullet-for-you maneuver" cannot only be seen in City Hunter. It's extremely famous down here in the Philippines.LOL

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39 glencorajane

September 6, 2011 at 5:45 AM

well I guess the extension happened because it was already factored into the actor's contract but when they sell the show, the more eps leads to more revenue. So they must as well do it since Japan has confirmed the order.

Yeah the Ryu love line shd hv come earlier, they are so sweet. I genuinely think HYS has chemistry with both male leads.

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40 Yoo_R

September 6, 2011 at 6:04 AM

if KW died, I'll be so angry. i don't care whether he has amnesia, paralyzed or something along the story but please, not DEAD. I hate tragic ending

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41 Bien

September 6, 2011 at 6:55 AM

Javabeans you just de-stressed my life!

"she could never be accused of being knife-sharp, could she? Maybe sharp like a spoon."

"In-ah eavesdrops, wondering what all this talk about the north means. Two plus two, girl, two plus two…"

I really rolled over reading those! You're really funny!!

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42 Han

September 6, 2011 at 7:13 AM

How is it now? Ep 17 & 18 are airing now, are KW & MW together? What is the happening? Ya can't wait...

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43 Anna

September 6, 2011 at 7:28 AM

The spy thing is getting old and draggy.
I just want to see a happy ending NOW!
And some extra scenes like the ones in Coffee House that CONFIRMS their togetherness. ARG!

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44 Alvina

September 6, 2011 at 8:16 AM

Honestly, I dont know where the tide turned. I was utterly charmed by Kang-woo's character in the first couple of episodes, with his anal ways and his jerk attitude that hinted at something deeper....

It would've been honestly interesting if they kept up with the Dr. Strangelove vibe, and introduced the South intelligence agent (the girl and her dad) a bit earlier on.

It seems like they had a solid plot at the start but decided to make it more conventional at the end due to to ratings? :(

Aww, I miss the glory days of this drama...

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45 Veredith

September 6, 2011 at 8:22 AM

ugh, i actually cried watching the part when MW and Ryu were in the car and by the time Ryu drove off i was BAWLING and i was watching it raw! which equals to me just staring at the chiseled planes of his face while he pours his heart out to MW lol.

AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH I WANT KW TO DIE. or if he doesn't die, somehow get amnesia and forget MW! :) usually in shows, even though i support the second lead (this ALWAYS happens, which makes me lose my patience in K-dramas, CAN A GIRL GET A LIL SATISFACTION FOR ONCE???!!!!) i still feel torn at times because both the second lead and the lead males are perfect for the girl. however, in Spy MW, i positively dislike KW. he's immature, needy, a diva and is just... dare i say it... annoying!

i actually quite liked MW and KW together during ep 12 or so, but after that ep when KW got drunk consistently and started getting on my nerves, Ryu's the guy for me! c'mon, he's SO FREAKIN' HOT. smiling or scowling, the guy's practically a Greek God!!!! and when MW and Ryu were on the date, damn it they were so cute and my heart just shattered for Ryu...

KW, please die. PD, do read these comments! it's obvious that nearly everyone's on the MW-Ryu ship! MAKE A GIRL HAPPY!

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46 Kiara

September 6, 2011 at 8:37 AM

Love the "poor HOT Ryu" coment lol.

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47 MeiMei

September 6, 2011 at 8:41 AM

I am currently speechless about this drama... which, I can tell you, is not to be taken lightly! I really do not have an idea how to respond... because how can that one-hell-of-a cliff hanger in episode 10 dwindle to this OTT run up to the ending.

Plus, having been following Scent of a Woman, in which the OTP and many of the side characters have acted their socks off (and LDW raising his post-army acting cred but showing some seriously timely and believable microexpressions)... SMW just seems so non-sensical and poorly acted.

Is it time to jump up and yell at the writers/ PD/ Director yet?! Because I've seen both Eric and Lee Jin-wook act better in past dramas, so it ain't them... (Nothing against Han Ye-seul, just not seen any of her past projects)!!

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48 Elena

September 6, 2011 at 10:20 AM

@ Mei Mei, I kind of agree.

I've noticed the energy is lagging. Eric looks rung out. Big black bags under his eyes that make up is not hiding well. Poor script and direction. How many times doRyu and Kang Wo grab each other by the lapels? How many times do they use the same gags throughout ... spy parents were the best diversion and maybe they might pull this together before the end :) the sister flunky and secretary flunky are wasted effort and tiring.

But! I like the show, it has been entertaining... but great work? no. I thought it would be better. And I do not think its from the actors.

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49 Auntiemame

September 6, 2011 at 12:19 PM

Thank you for the recap. I love the 'editorial' comments about 2+2, sharp like a spoon, etc.

I wished they had continued the zaniness and comedy of this drama. It seem like, around ep. 4, this drama had an identity melt-down, which is when they started giving more emphasis to the books and especially Chairman Joo. Way too much screen time spent on this character. BTW, he and his goons make me think of "Fearless Leader, with Boris and Natasha". Equal competency between the two groups.

As for Ryu and Myung Wol, I think Myung Wol loved him waaay back when. I remember thinking Myung Wol was wistful when she explained to Spy Parents that Ryu didn't like her. And, love that is not reciprocated eventually fades and die.

As for those ancient books, they should have disintegrated by now from being tossed back and forth like 'hot potatoes'. Yeah, and I still say that the 'treasure' is the recipe for making ddobokki or something, which was no longer relevant in the 20th c., let alone the 21st c. (Industrialization make the 'treasure' obsolete'.)

I still like my ending better:
Here's my solution: Based on the fact that both the North and Chairman Joo want those darn books, Ryu should offer the North a deal to trade the books in exchange for their freedom. However, Ryu makes the same deal with Chairman Joo. He'll trade the books for their freedom. :phew:

THEN, he throws Chairman Joo and the books into a crate and sends it North. :D

Voila! Everybody gets what they want. The North gets the books plus an added bonus of a new comrade, i.e. Chairman Joo. Chairman Joo gets what he wants, i.e. the books. Minor detail being that he has to be in the North, in order to have the books. But, that's okay because if he had stayed in the South, he would have been in prison for killing KW's father, anyway. After all, there's only a slight difference being in prison and being in a restricted society. :P

And, everybody else is safe and sound, in the South, living life as usual.
The End! :w00t:

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firsttimenewbie

September 6, 2011 at 12:59 PM

I agree that MV might have felt something for Ryu as well. The scene I go to is the car scene where he pulled her into a hug to avoid the South spies.

She wasn't exactly, "What are you doing" and creeped out. In fact what she said was "you (or was it we) can't do this, I'm on a mission."

And when we see her after the hug, she was affected. It wasn't awkward "ummm" affected but the jittery affected. And then he explained about the car, and her expression was "oh."

Sigh. Oh well.