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Yong-pal: Episode 15

by HeadsNo2

Our heroine assumes full control of her empire after dishing out a taste of what she had to go through at her brother’s hands, leaving it up to Tae-hyun to remind her that with great power comes great responsibility to not be such a terrible person. It’s surprising what Tae-hyun’s willing to tolerate in his significant other, and short of murdering his family and eating his sandwich, I don’t think there’s much Yeo-jin can do at this point to change his opinion. Lucky her.

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VIXX – “Beautiful Liar” [ Download ]

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EPISODE 15 RECAP

Tae-hyun and Yeo-jin spend a restless night in their respective rooms, each thinking of what the other said—Yeo-jin with her talk of revenge, Tae-hyun with his reason and compassion.

He glances at the rings he bought and considers texting her but doesn’t, while Yeo-jin hesitates before dialing his number, unable to get what he said about stopping her revenge against underlings like Chief Lee out of her mind. But her call goes straight to his voicemail, since Tae-hyun’s just taken another call.

It’s Chae-young on the other line, calling him from the hospital and begging him to help her. Yeo-jin is pissed that Tae-young didn’t answer his phone, and calls up a lackey to find out who he was on the phone with. She must have his phone tapped, and is not happy to find out that he left after getting a call from Chae-young.

Tae-hyun finds Chae-young sobbing and alone in the most desolate hospital waiting room ever (we all know Hanshin isn’t a real hospital, even in this fictional world), sobbing as she asks him to save her husband, who’s currently undergoing some macabre brain surgery in the operating room.

After watching the procedure from the observation deck, Tae-hyun assures Chae-young that her husband will be fine: “This isn’t like you. Cheer up.” But all that does is give Chae-young an existential crisis: she doesn’t know who she is anymore.

She thought she was herself when she was the shallow chairwoman’s wife, but now that everything’s changed, she realizes she feels bad for Do-joon. She swears under her breath that if anything happens to him, she’ll never forgive Yeo-jin, which doesn’t register with Tae-hyun until she says more directly, “Yeo-jin did this.”

At first Tae-hyun doesn’t believe it, even when Chae-young says that Yeo-jin was the only other person who knew where Do-joon would be. Still, Tae-hyun tries to make excuses, only for Chae-young to look him dead in the eye and tell him that she saw it herself. It wasn’t just a random attack, it was planned.

While Secretary Min updates Yeo-jin on the goings-on with her husband and sister-in-law, Do-joon’s doctor addresses the two of them on how the surgery went. Everything should be okay, even though Do-joon has a hole in his skull the size of an irradiated softball.

But during the transfer from recovery to ICU, Tae-hyun and Chae-young lose track of Do-joon, since Hanshin is where people go to die. They finally figure out that there’s only one place where he could be: Yeo-jin’s old room. And they’re not allowed inside.

Out of the hospital room comes the chief of security, and a suddenly healthy-looking Chief Lee, now overseeing Do-joon’s care. They’re keeping him the same way they kept Yeo-jin, with no visits allowed. Claiming to speak for Do-joon, the chief of security tells Chae-young that her husband has agreed to grant her the divorce she wanted.

Tae-hyun catches her when she faints in despair, which is exactly how Yeo-jin sees them when she and her retinue come up to the restricted area. Yeo-jin spares a hard glance toward her husband before marching into Do-joon’s new prison and ordering Chief Lee to lessen the coma-inducing drug’s dosage so her brother will be conscious enough to hear her.

Yeo-jin waits until she’s sure Do-joon can hear before she leans over his prone body much like he once did to her with an eerie smile on her face. She mentions how Chae-young is causing a scene outside in an attempt to see him, musing that she must’ve come to love her husband now that he’s in here. For whatever reason, that thought is very, very funny to Yeo-jin.

Satisfied now that Do-joon is experiencing the same pain he once put her through, Yeo-jin says she’ll keep him there for a term of three years—and then she’ll slit his carotid artery like he did to her. Chief Lee, who wielded the glass shard that almost killed her, bows from across the bed: “I’m sorry, Chairwoman. I deserve to die.”

Yeo-jin just levels a terrible smile at him as she tells him to thank Tae-hyun, not her. But as she leaves the VIP floor, she sees Tae-hyun at Chae-young’s bedside and just glares at him before marching onward.

Chief Lee does end up pulling Tae-hyun aside to thank him for putting a good word in with Yeo-jin and thus saving his life. Having learned nothing from the past, Chief Lee also promises to be like a loyal dog to both him and Yeo-jin from this moment forward.

Yeo-jin attends the shareholder’s meeting that will decide whether she officially takes Do-joon’s place as CEO of Hanshin Group, which of course is met with resounding support. As she’s sworn into her new position of power, Tae-hyun sneaks in the back and watches the last of the ceremony.

He accompanies Yeo-jin to her fancy new office, for the most part seemingly in denial that he’s married to a monster. He does allude to the struggle with morality when he talks about his time spent on the VIP floor of Hanshin, a floor he describes as an ongoing crime scene.

Listing off the terrible things that happen on that floor in the name of money, Tae-hyun doesn’t release himself from blame for taking part in those crimes as the hospital’s pawn. When Yeo-jin says he could’ve quit if he hated it so much, he doesn’t deny it, and says it was his choice to stay.

Instead of losing his medical license and having his sister die, he says, he chose to stay. Yeo-jin knows what he’s getting at and insists that he and Chief Lee are not the same because Chief Lee did what he did for himself, but Tae-hyun disagrees—his choices were for his own benefit too.

And besides, Chief Lee and the late hospital director are probably the biggest reasons why Yeo-jin is still alive today. He tells her the story of her hospital admittance the way it was told to him, and how every resource the hospital had was used to save her. Without the hospital director overseeing the surgery, he doesn’t think she would have lived.

At the time, Chief Lee was embroiled in a medical malpractice suit that wasn’t going in his favor, and wasn’t welcome in most operating rooms because of it. He was almost sent away from Yeo-jin’s room, only to be called in at the last moment by the hospital director, who knew that Chief Lee had the skill to save her despite his reputation.

We’re walked through Tae-hyun’s story in flashback as he tells it, watching as Chief Lee was directed to perform a difficult procedure on Yeo-jin, and how she lived because of his success. But despite the historic surgery he performed, he had to go back to court the next day, too tired and too unprepared for what would be thrown his way.

Just when the case was looking bad for Chief Lee, Hanshin sent a team of lawyers to defend him. “A lifeline was tossed down to a man in hell,” as Tae-hyun describes it. Chief Lee was so happy he cried and cried in court, though he was also sad knowing that he’d be forever indebted to Hanshin and thus under their control. (Why are we in Fuzzyvision when the camera’s back on Tae-hyun and Yeo-jin?)

Therefore, Tae-hyun adds, the situation Chief Lee was in when he put her into a coma and the situation he was in when he went into her room weren’t so different. “He was as desperate as I was,” he says, but mentions how Chief Lee fought to keep him away from the VIP floor, knowing what it could do to him.

This is all to remind Yeo-jin that while her father’s money played a part in saving her, all the doctors who took part in her surgery—even at the expense of other patients who died without treatment—are to thank for her sitting in front of him now. Specifically, Chief Lee was imprisoned on the VIP floor just like she was—but now she wants to kill his spirit too?

Tae-hyun pleads for her pity on Chief Lee, claiming he’s more a shell of a human being than a doctor anymore, but Yeo-jin fires back that he wasn’t a doctor the day he locked her up. If he was forced into it, that was the price he paid for his sins.

“Then… what price will you pay for the sins you’re committing now?” Tae-hyun asks. That gets Yeo-jin thinking, especially when Tae-hyun reminds her that she’d once told him she would destroy the prison that is the VIP floor of Hanshin. That’s why he wanted to help her get back to her throne, and why he said that day that he’d found a reason to do so.

“That place was also a prison to me,” Tae-hyun adds emphatically. “Now release your brother from that prison.” He’s already lost everything and has no hope of gathering allies to fight against her, so anywhere he goes will be like a prison to him.

Tears well up in Yeo-jin’s eyes as she says that she isn’t imprisoning him because she’s afraid he might lash out at her, but because she can’t ever forgive him for what he did to her. “Yeo-jin-ah,” Tae-hyun says softly. “Stop your revenge and come back to me. Back to the Han Yeo-jin I love.”

Yeo-jin doesn’t agree that she’s gone anywhere, but Tae-hyun says her anger is pushing him away. She thinks for a moment before deciding, “You should give in.” He won’t, and urges her to give in as the one with power. He trusts her to do the right thing. Hopefully that isn’t a mistake.

Secretary Min, who may have overheard their whole conversation, reminds Tae-hyun outside that he’s not to be weak to anyone except Yeo-jin. When Tae-hyun replies that he won’t be weak to anyone, Secretary Min whispers his goodbye after Tae-hyun’s gone. (Uh oh.) Meanwhile, Yeo-jin tasks Min with finding out if anyone died at the hospital on the day she was brought in for surgery.

Tae-hyun visits Chae-young in her hospital room to tell her that he’s talked to Yeo-jin, and that she needs time to get over her anger. He’s confident that she’ll change her mind, though. Chae-young admits that she found it hard to forgive her husband at first, but that she feels pity for him now. She hopes Tae-hyun can find it in his heart to forgive him, too.

Meanwhile, Secretary Min worries that Yeo-jin may lose her resolve when it comes to Do-joon, and doesn’t even like that she’d wait three years to kill him. He wants Do-joon dead, but plans to use someone else to do it.

Tae-hyun fights against the idea that he has to attend Yeo-jin’s inauguration celebration party that night, but in the end relents—the head maid tells him to invite some friends if he’s nervous, so he invites his nurse buddies from the hospital.

But that’s not all, since a tuxedo’d Tae-hyun and his well-dressed wife welcome the priest, nun, and the child they bonded the most with from the church. Good Yeo-jin is all smiles when she’s on Tae-hyun’s arm, telling him that she’s glad he invited who he did.

Nurse Oh tsks at Tae-hyun for being so lovestruck, and even more so when he admits he hasn’t given Yeo-jin the ring he bought her yet. And much to my happiness, Tae-hyun’s also invited Doo-chul and his lackey, who hand him an envelope of money as a belated wedding present.

The party is crashed when CHAIRMAN CHOI of Daejung Group shows up, all fake niceties as he congratulates his almost daughter-in-law on becoming chairwoman before he pulls her close enough to whisper menacingly, “My child, we have much to talk about, don’t we?”

Tae-hyun is refused entry to the private meeting between Evil Yeo-jin and Chairman Choi, where she reveals that she knows he used his son to mock her and steal confidential information, while he reveals that he knows Do-joon conspired to kill his son. Therefore, he wants her to turn Do-joon over to him.

She refuses, and Chairman Choi becomes more and more enraged as he talks about how she lived while his son died, and how his wife went insane because of it. If she still refuses, it’ll be war between them—and Hanshin isn’t what it used to be, not after three years under Do-joon’s control.

But Yeo-jin claims it’s because he didn’t have the One USB that business was bad, and just her mentioning that she now has it changes Chairman Choi’s tune. “Han Do-joon must die by my hand,” Yeo-jin grits, and suddenly the chairman agrees wholeheartedly on the basis that he be allowed to extract his pound of flesh from Do-joon’s hide.

Also, he wants Do-joon dead within three days. If not, Chairman Choi threatens, there really will be a war between their companies. He leaves like that, passing Tae-hyun up in the hallway.

Inside, Yeo-jin clenches her jaw and kicks something.

 
COMMENTS

I remember being worried last week that the story wouldn’t know what to do with Tae-hyun once it switched the focus to Yeo-jin and her affairs, and this episode didn’t do much to allay those concerns. While he performed the same duty he’s been relegated to since Evil Yeo-jin reared her head—playing the voice of reason for one long conversation before backing off—it does seem like a waste of the cunning he displayed much earlier in the series. Where’s the Yong-pal who’d take action to help the helpless even when the risk was great? Where would this show be if he’d started out just being the guy who makes moral recommendations in a lilting and totally low-pressure voice instead of the hero who takes action?

I’m not 100% on this, but if I found out I was married to someone who indirectly caused the death of one man and chemically incapacitated another, I’d be a bit more freaked out than Tae-hyun is. It’s hard to get a good peek into his thoughts when it comes to Yeo-jin, though it seems like we’re to take it on faith that he loves her so much he’s willing to look past what’s essentially become the two-faced nature of Yeo-jin. Maybe her turnaround wouldn’t be so hard to swallow most times if she wasn’t sending stone cold glares toward her husband in one scene only to be smiling like an innocent child the next—the shifts between the two radically different sides of herself end up coming off as jarring, and at times mildly confusing.

Of course Yeo-jin has a right to her vengeful feelings, and what strikes a bizarre note with me as a viewer is why I don’t feel more for her plight in taking down those who’ve wronged her. There’s never been any doubt that she was wronged in more ways than a person should ever be wronged, yet her quest for vengeance feels oddly juvenile when it theoretically shouldn’t. However flawlessly(?) she’s been able to pull off the death of Chairman Go and her brother’s comatose state, the Yeo-jin who stomped/kicked/punched something when she didn’t get her way in that final scene seems to be the Yeo-jin making all the dangerous decisions as of late. The same way she took vengeance on her father with the tennis racket is how she’s handling her current affairs, though I’m not sure if she realizes that ending lives is a lot different than ending her father’s ability to watch her hit a ball with a fancy stick.

That being said, Tae-hyun is handling Yeo-jin’s shift toward bloodthirstiness almost too well, and while he’s not doing much about it, at least he’s reminding her that morality exists. He knows the revenge she seeks is empty, that the people she’s trying to destroy have already destroyed themselves from within, but getting Yeo-jin to see things the same way is a tall order. I don’t know if spending so much time on Chief Lee’s life story was strictly necessary, but part of the flaw in Tae-hyun’s moralizing is that he’s telling her not to do something without giving her another plan of action that she finds even remotely acceptable. Yeo-jin may be many things, but easy to please is not one of them.

Yeo-jin doesn’t seem keen to take it on Tae-hyun’s word that Chief Lee would live out the rest of his life suffering in a prison of his own making, as would her brother, supposedly. It’s definitely a sticky spot to be in when it comes to doing what’s right versus what’s just, and neither side so far has come up with a solution that satisfies both. It’s up to Yeo-jin to decide whether she’ll be the bigger person, and up to Tae-hyun to decide whether he’ll make bigger decisions. With any luck, we’ll see more of the latter. Alternatively, more tuxedos would suffice.

 
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Tags: featured, Jo Hyun-jae, Joo-won, Kim Tae-hee, Yong-pal

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Yeaaa Chief Lee's life story seemed unnecessary.. I need badass yongpal and his trusty sidekicks back in action

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Lol. Yong Pal in 'action' was treating baddies and treating chaebols. In a way, with this YJ arc, he's still doing that... taking care of Chae-young can count. I don't think he's too much in the background of this story. I think he's been on an even keel with YJ.

watching YP only treat baddies and chaebols for the entirety of this series would've gotten old real fast.

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I agree with you. What can we expect Yong Pal to do? Turn in his wife? In terms of cunning and bravery he is superior to YJ, but in terms of tactical mindset and cruelty YJ has Yong pal beat. The issue is she is cruel and tactical. This means she has no reserves when it comes to acting out her plans while he doesn't have that luxury as a humanistic doctor.

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@9dragons. Exactly! This is where Yeo Jin was brilliantly written. Every word out of her mouth has been tactical and unyielding as far as her revenge is concerned. Tae Hyun, probably in these moments, is to be a healing well for her. I think it's okay for the kind of story we are being told now.

Tae Hyun had to have a personal life too. Dogged by a variety of stuff. Not just taking risks to take care of people. Especially now that his sis is safe.

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Chief Lee's life story is necessary to reinforce the idea that we are all not without flaw or merit. This man in time of crisis was skilled enough to save YJ when he faced a bleak future. He was prepared to lose his medical license and likely face prison. He was saved and forever indebted to the higher ups of Hanshin, becoming their puppet.

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I agree with this.

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I want more Yongpa!!!:(

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+alpha

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Such an interesting episode. Thank you for the recap!

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Looks like the Drama Fairy got a toothache this episode and left her duties to the Exposition Troll and the CF Leprechaun.

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I think the Drama Fairy is delayed by the Extension Ghoul.

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Guys, it's 'Exposition Goblin' remember? lol

http://www.dramabeans.com/2010/09/my-girlfriend-is-a-gumiho-episode-12/

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:-) I didn't, but I do now!

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I feel like the show should have been called Yeo-jin rather than Yong-pal.

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It seems to be leaning that way

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Bigned watched all the episodes at a stretch upto 15, yayy. I liked the show's initial setting. Something went wrong in the middle and I don't buy the romance. I miss Yong Pal in action. I don't think I signed up for watching Trophy husband and the revenge of Yeo Jin.

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Yes, I wish the show had made up its mind from the beginning about whether it was going to be about a night doctor who hangs out with gangsters and leaps over buildings or whether it was going to be about a slightly-murderous woman on a revenge trip. The change in pace, focus and central conflict was jarring. Also, I don't buy the romance either but the show keeps insiting that Jong-pal is just looking at his wife through some THICK as rose-coloured glasses.

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Hahaha! I think this show should be called 'Yong Pal & Yeo Jin' (No matter how cheesy it sounds) with no apologies cos its very much a show with both characters extremely central to it. Like i said prior, I don't think Yong Pal has been relegated to the background... Yeo Jin is at the forefront now cos she's also been crafted as a complex character who the show's central character happens to get involved with.

I knew before coming into this show that it wasn't going to be all about Yong Pal 'leaping off buildings', treating gangsters and rich people with secrets on the downlow. The synopsis said... this was what he was doing UNTIL he got himself involved with a rich heiress who had been deliberately put to sleep by her family.

So I knew shenanigans would ensue. The show hasn't done anything it didnt promise.

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Some people don't buy the romance because it breaks through the cliche of two people playing the does he or she love me game, no misunderstandings that split the two apart, and no one sided decision making when it comes to couple issues. YJ and TH always talk it out like a mature couple when they have couple problems and the two has unwavering faith with each other.

When two people meet as strangers that used each other then ended up as a couple that can put their lives on the line for each other. They skip the whole cliche development pattern. This was one of my favorite depiction of a mature couple, knowing what they want and getting it.

The fact that he rejected president go's funds to secure YJ safety shows that in a way she is above his dying sister in terms of priority. YJ was willing to forgive those people til they target TH.

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It really should and it's been better for it.

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Yaaaas at that beautiful liar song choice

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Not to spoiler but yeah next episode (16) is heartbreaking for Yong Pal true lines and for all supporting actror/actress

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Vague - yes.
Spoiler - yes.
Necessary - no.

I prefer to start watching with no preconceptions.

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Finished watching this a few hours ago. Yeo Jin....I get what you mean in not being able to empathize with her in that way. No matter how you spin it, she has blood on her hands.

I suppose Yong Pal doesn't feel outright repulsed by her because he sees her as being pitiful and he himself has dabbled in illegalities. He said it too that they're all criminals on the 12th floor. His hands are tied by his status and he's out of his league in this harsh business world so I can understand why he's taking this approach. It's not like he can Yong Pal his way into the business meetings and take over. He's appealing to her in the best way he can and I admire the fact that he still lifts a hand to help the Chairman's wife which shows that he's still well in control of his own actions.

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Yeah, I agree. He's doing what he can. The point may be that he's limited in what he can actually accomplish.

But I do feel like Tae Hyun should be allowed to express some frustration or something other than gentle prodding to give up revenge. I mean, he does it well, and she's going to take that sort of thing better from him than anyone, but he should be more annoyed given his situation, I think. Just a scene here or there, and it doesn't even have to be with Yeo Jin present. It would make me feel better about his character.

It's like he's walking on thin ice, and he knows it, and behaves accordingly around her, but he needs a sounding board to let us hear the other side of things. He doesn't have that as a character right now. Taking him out of the hospital took away his nurse noonas. Maybe bodyguard can be his confidant. :)

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@No Name #6

I feel like TaeHyun has sort of transferred his cunning to understanding YeoJin's personality. He took heed of Min's warning to be weak to his wife and although he disagreed, he may have realized that get through to her shouting or forcing her won't work anymore. So yes, he appears to be walking on thin ice, it's all for good reason.

I like the idea of him having a sounding board, but I think he's a little too savvy to allow himself to confide in anyone, whether it's his nurse noona's or his bodyguard. If he did that, it would cause his lady love to at best lose face and at worst open her up to punishment under the law.

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Have to be contradictory here: since when does Tae Hyun need help expressing his feelings---they are all hanging out there for the whole dumb world to see! "Gentle prodding"? Every glance, every word expresses so much---it's all there and he doesn't need an expository companion to convey what he directly shows. There is no need to "tell about it"; he's living it!

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Arhazivory

"I suppose Yong Pal doesn’t feel outright repulsed by her because he sees her as being pitiful and he himself has dabbled in illegalities."

I especially like this phrase and you are right on all the points.

- he was appreciative of YJ's decision in keeping chief lee alive even though he noted she has yet to forgive her enemies.

- even as he pleaded with her to forgive, he doesn't see himself as more righteous than her.

- when he was saving YJ, he was a key player but now this corporate setup is totally out of his league, so he can only appeal to her that being meek and forgiving isn't necessarily weak and powerless.

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I wonder how HYJ will react once she finds out she was the reason for his mothers death

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I'll tell you what... its in ep. 16 and it's a sight to behold.

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I've liked this drama from the start. In particular, I like that it is part action, part medical drama, part romance, part chaebol war, etc., w/o boring me w however many eps of it just being one genre. I've been entertained by all the turns it takes, tho many have been disappointed by its changing nature.

All the supporting chars are great, except for Min. Haven't seen that actor before, and find him to be stiff and way too obvious. The OTP is winsome. The 2nd couple is also perfectly cast. I enjoy their acting.

So Hanshin is not believable as a hospital, the innards look like dry sausages when they operate, and Lee has a miraculous recovery. I can laugh those moments off and still like the show, cos they in no way affect the foundation of this fictional universe of the drama.

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I agree that this has different genres thrown into it and yet the writer pulled it off.

You didn't like Min? I enjoyed watching him, he has this inscrutable face which only reveals his true emotion when pushed to the extreme. I think years of working in this job might have made Min poker face but it's quite funny to see him side by side with Do Joon's dramatics. Perhaps I am wrong because this actor was even more stiff when he was in My Beautiful Bride. He has a bigger role here.

I was imagining the Koreans watching the surgical scenes and eating their blood sausages, ewww.

Chief Lee probably was physically well for a while, just that he kind of lost his marbles. After watching this and next ep, I still think he's not his normal self. But then, I think he has been losing his sanity for some time already.

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@SS---I'm starting to think we might have a mutual admiration society thing going on here---or just maybe, like minds enjoying---cause Secretary Min has been way cool this entire time! And I really don't think he's done yet, by a long shot---

As for Chief Lee: at first I kinda wondered if he was "over the top" in his portrayal, but now, nope---the "marbles" have definitely scattered---and I feel he did very well in his portrayal of a once idealistic, yet egotistical Doctor who couldn't bear the burden of guilt his betrayal of his ideals entailed. And he did try to warn Tae Hyun off---and here comes the BUT---right now he is a loose cannon and I'm really not sure of the part he'll end up playing in the last two episodes.

There are some very important variables at play as we come to the last two episodes: Secretary Min, Chief Lee, Detective Lee, CY, the gangsters, assorted chaebols...this is going to be interesting down to the last minute!

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LOL! yeah I like that :D

I think Jung Woong In carried his role well. The guilt, self-disgust and a man reduced to a shadow of himself were evident all along. When I watched raw, I thought Chief Lee's backstory was a filler they inserted for extension. But when I watched with subtitles and comprehend, I found it interesting. Even if it was a filler, I am glad the writer took the opportunity to show how people like Director Byung and Chief Lee weren't always men with no substance or value. Sometimes life throws you a curve ball or you make a misstep and it changes your life forever.

There were viewers who felt that TH was overly sympathetic to Chief Lee. TH has always been the type who blames the circumstances rather than the person. Moreover, TH must have seen Chief Lee as his future self if he continues to work on the 12th Floor. A once talented surgeon who becomes a shell and no longer a doctor.

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Well, ditto to all of this @KAddict...JCW. lol!

+100000000000

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Thanks Heads! I enjoyed reading you.

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Hi there @GB,
Cheer up and have a wonderful weekend. Happy Mid-Autumn Fes! Enjoy your mooncakes, eh?
See u on the 20Again thread.

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:)

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I'm done watching epi 16, but I won't give any spoiler here. I just want this dama ends nicely, definitely not because it is boring but too many heartbreaking that I dunno it is bearable or not.

The most interesting and weird thing is how ppl turn to empathize on HDJ and CY. Mybe we don't really see how bad HDJ was actually, he is really bad but not a smart villain. The other interesting thing is how ppl see YJ as a bitch or bad woman because she is seeking her revenge now in her own way. I am still with YJ and her vengeance,no matter what. It is not easy to forgive and maybe it is not a time to forgive, yet.

Anyway I still enjoying this as much as from the beginning. Our Yongpal sure is a kindhearted . Well, a doctor s need a kind heart, right? But I just hope TH would not thinking so negatively about YJ.

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It's funny you say that because I do find myself empathizing for Dojoon and Chaeyoung despite myself and their machinations (though Chaeyoung didn't necessarily wrong Yeojin). I think it is the fact that Dojoon had evil intentions, but was terrible at executing them. He wasn't an evil mastermind and he doesn't seem beyond redemption, especially after getting released. And technically, he hasn't actually killed anyone by this point.

I don't like when people criticize female characters as "a bitch" when they decide to take matters into their own hands, but Yeojin is straight up killing people to satisfy her anger so in that sense I find it difficult to continue supporting her in her cause because there are other ways to get back at people.

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@cmak : Do Joon technically succeed killing one man. Yeo Jin's ex.

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Oh yes, totally forgot about that. How did I manage to do that when they showed that car accident scene at least 3 times per episode in the first 10 episodes ...

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huh hwang nurse and the director??? he technically killed Yeojin too or at least he thought so...before realising she was alive. He also rejoiced in the fact that she was dead....

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U shouldn't be sure about YJ killing all ppl, yet. I agreed for her to be do the same thing towards her brother i.e lock him in 12th floor. Not everyone will have a pure n kind heart that easy to forgive. Yes she has other means e.g to leave it in law, but this story unlike some other stories already telling us how easy their law to be manipulated and how ppl with power can do . up to 16th epi, I still want to believe she didn't do the killing despite of her admission to it , when TH asked about it.
DJ and CY for me are similar to YJ, just they are not holding power as much as CY.

But each character has their own stories that we will sympathize with, regardless how good and bad they are.

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I don't understand how can you doubt that she is notstraight up killing people. She even admitted she was ordering deaths to her husband. I like the fact that she knows that TY isn't repulsed by her because she is indescribably confident that she is number one in his heart. Yes even above his sister. Recall, TH chose to give up president go's funds to secure YJ safety leading YJ to be awestruck when she heard the news.

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One most important lesson we got from Yong-Pal :
"If you one of noble heirs, relatively closed either have any affliation or affair with gigantic group's squad, or maybe simply you are chaebol yourself, just try to get fit and healthy all the time, don't get sick, save drive 20km/h, don't go around in the street without protection, don't use public telephone, just don't go to hospital. "

Then you are safe.

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Ok... This made me hahahahahahahaha! :D

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I guess that now because Taehyun doesn't have anything to worry about anymore (his sister's medical fees) he doesn't need to move around and/or do crazy things anymore. He seems more subtle and refined now. Like at this point, I honestly think he's TOO forgiving towards Yeo Jin... (I almost wish he would fight back against her at some point or do SOMETHING) but I guess, this just shows that he loves her THAT much that he's willing to oversee all her evil doings. Idk I'm not really feeling it though, their love seems a bit... rushed?

I miss the desperate and somewhat reckless Yong Pal in the beginning, I mean at least it kept me on the edge of my seat. :/

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I definitely agree that the loveline doesn't feel as organic as it should be. He's saying all the right words, but I can't feel the emotion or weight behind them. Their relationship developed so abruptly and now they're married wuht?

I guess it's a serious case of "love is blind" because he clearly cannot see she is a straight up murderer ...

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I don't think their love was rushed. There's no rule to determine the speed at which one must fall in love.

If anything, I think this drama is a lot more realistic than any drama out there. You have these 2 people who are attracted to each other and started their friendship out of loneliness, inter-dependency and finding some common grounds. Then being thrown into a crisis where one saves the other's life, that friendship quickly blossomed into love. We can't judge whether it's true love or not but given the circumstances, it certainly went far beyond infatuation. That was all fine when they were holed up in a safe haven, far away from the real world.

Now that they are back to reality and have to face some major obstacles, their love is tested. The fact that they stayed true to themselves and not give up everything for love, is quite refreshing.

The writer doesn't give fairy tales or easy solutions. I find TH and YJ's relationship to be more real than contrived.

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@SS

+ 1,000,0000
Indeed major testing. I must admit that while I was rather disturbed at the twists, turns, moods and progress, I appreciate that they are all grounded in reality. So we get a rich and complex landscape of motivations and desires.

The show gives us Biblical fundamentals about forgiving your enemies. At the same, it is transparent about human emotion which is more unpredictable than storms when they are faced with greed and mercy.

Love blooms like lavender for our couple but relationship is not a bed full of lavenders and roses all the time and especially when challenges and truths are harsher than one could possibly bear.

I want to reflect on the debate that the love was rushed and contrived. For me, I am convinced with @ SS on everything about the romance. In a world full of clandestine relationships, one night stands, adulterous affairs, bickering marriages, in contrast, our OTP is taking it as slow and as chaste as they could.

I think viewers hoping to see redemption arcs throughout the show would be disappointed but that's the fact of life. Those who want to see a revengeful heroine glorified in her pursuits will be let down. Others who wanna see more of YongPal's sister are tuning to the wrong show. Some who are not convinced by the love story or pace would best stick to a typical rom-com. And if one expects TH to deliver non-stop actions, then yongpal is not the right show.

This is a show about yongpal. An ordinary man who is not a hero by design or default and yet made the choice to save. A charming doctor who fell in love with his beautiful patient, vice versa. A loving husband who struggles with a wife and marriage beyond his dreams and nightmare. And a woman who strived to claim all that was lost to her and in doing so, may sacrifice and lose the most important things in life.

Like TH, I trust the writer and hope that the ending would be a beginning for the characters and a lesson for the viewers about treasuring what is most important in our lives.

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Good points @Shuerei!

Honestly, I don't know how the writer is going to do it but going by all the clues and setups, I am hopeful for a happy ending.

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@Shuerei...SS. Oh I wish I could tell Yeo Jin, Yeo Jin-ah, youve had a really intense and painful couple of years but now, right here, may you find pleasure everywhere, and may every moment you spend with TH make you smile. I hope your days are filled with laughter, giggles, chuckles, guffaws and chortles. Don’t ruin your happi ess with a frown, rude word or dark clouds.
May your deepest and wildest dreams come true each oday and every day.

May the words of love people say to you from here on out bring never ending smiles to your face :). Cheer up.

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@Affie

How I wish too! But this drama never cop out. Otherwise, they should be making babies to fill the empty rooms of Han Manor already.

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Yessss!!! This is your post that I wanted to come back to later and savor---wish I could have said it so well! So true, although I have to say that at first I think he was more into her---and I still want to see the max in Yeo Jin's caring love; this really and truly must be put out there. Go for it, writers, and KTH---keep the faith!

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Thx Audrey!

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Very well said @SS---can't really add a thing to what you expressed cause it was just perfect. Thanks for putting it out there for all of us!

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"Of course Yeo-jin has a right to her vengeful feelings, and what strikes a bizarre note with me as a viewer is why I don’t feel more for her plight in taking down those who’ve wronged her. There’s never been any doubt that she was wronged in more ways than a person should ever be wronged, yet her quest for vengeance feels oddly juvenile when it theoretically shouldn’t. "

This is EXACTLY how I feel watching these past few episodes. Ended up marathoning the last 4 episodes because I was on the fence about continuing with the show, but figured I might as well finish since the end is so near.

I very much understand Yeojin's situation and am all for a good revenge drama (City Hunter, anyone?), but it's really hard to root for someone when she decides to stoop to the same low level as her enemies. She's fighting tooth for tooth, literal blood for blood. There are certain shows/movies that call for blood vengeance because thematically it fits (e.g. Kill Bill), but I wasn't expecting such dead-on-the-head revenge from Yeojin. Kill all those who wronged her basically.

I miss the action and high intensity of the first few episodes. Definitely thought it'd be more house call action fighting doctor than coma awoken woman hellbent on payback. At least it's bringing back the ratings of yesteryear. Here's hoping for the next one!

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exactly..this has become an in house drama with yeo jin mainly on the leash with her blood thirsty revenge plot now..it just seems like she's slowly becoming a shadow of her brother...and I miss the yongpal from the first several episodes too...was't it about yongpal who makes house call each night into rich clients anonymously? Where did that plot sink into?

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Right?! I feel like the drama has completely submerged into Yeo Jin's side of the story. I don't mind really but at least make it worth it!

Don't toss away such a good character (Yong Pal) to the side for another character (Yeo jin) that's just gonna disappoint or bore us.

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I wish they went a little more into the fact that Yeo Jin is basically in the same state as a prisoner who was in solitary confinement for three years. Not just solitary, but being actively tormented by Weird Nurse and Evil Brother. And if she was able to feel them touching her... That's terrible, knowing that someone's not just got total control over you, but is free to actually manipulate your body.

The way Yeo Jin is being acted doesn't have that layer, it's just straight bloodthirsty chaebol, which is weird because I think that Tae Hyun's storyline is meant to be supporting the idea that she needs mental healing. So... Yeah. I think Kim Tae Hee might be missing an element of the story here.

I wish we had Parkour Rooftop Stealth Doctor back.

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+1

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Good comment @Miranda about the need for more dimension from KTH, although I don't strictly agree that she is playing "just straight bloodthirsty chaebol"; I do think she needs to add a more elemental way of conveying her character.

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@Audrey... I like what you said... Guess what I think though...:) I think KTH is fine. It's Joo Won I have a slight disagreement with. Lol. KTH is playing YJ as a pained, hurt and misunderstood woman who has been mistreated by her fiance, father and brother. She loves TH but you have got to understand how cautious she might unconsciously want to be in expressing the full extent of her love

TH has been so understanding and I've had no qualms about him standing by her thus far. But I still think he doesn't really see the full magnitude of her emotional scars...

I really really really love how KTH is playing YJ. But of cos...would I mind if she dug deeper into the character? Of course and absolutely not!

:)

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I had lost all hope for this show around midway, but this episode and the next(ep 16) got me interested again. Yong pal could have been such a great show. Instead, we just got splashes of greatness amidst things gone wrong.

I really didn't get the romance. The start of their love was rather abrupt(specially from Yeo Jin's side) and their relationship has remained vague. Maybe that's what the writers were going for(in which case, congrats to them), but that has made me not care much about the lead pair.

The main leads and supporting actors are amazing but I don't understand the characters fully. They aren't fully fleshed out. At one moment I feel bursts of empathy for some characters, and the very next moment, I feel like I couldn't care less! Ah! My confused mind!

Confusion aside, I am now looking forward to the last two episodes.

On a side note, someone ('confused') said above that this drama should have been called YEO JIN instead of YONG PAL! So true :P.. I miss the bad-ass doctor moments!

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+1

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to be able to fully empathize with such characters, one must've gone through the same - or similar - circumstances as them, or at least try to live with the mindset of such character.

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@papercutss I haven't had such an interesting life- yet! :P.. So no, I don't empathize with them because I have gone through such situation myself or even have the same mindset. Its most probably because the actors did a good job or the writers wrote a particular scene brilliantly. I just wish the brilliance was a consistent feature though! :)

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I just need to comment on the romance even though the thought didn't fully hit me until ep. 16 (which I just finished). Will try really hard not to give away any SPOILERS though!

This may be the first drama where I wish the main characters don't end up together. After watching episode 16, I REALLY did not get any romance at all from the two leads. Maybe it's the age difference or the serious lack of chemistry, but I just don't believe them selling themselves as a viable couple. I can totally see the "they're better off on their own paths" direction working in the last two episodes, and would fully support this because that would seem more natural than giving them a happy ending. Whenever they're in the same scene I feel zero emotion for the two, which makes me sad because they're both good individually.

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I watched episode 16 before I posted my comments below and have carefully refrained from any spoilers because I hate that; I suggest you re-watch episode 16, because I must respectfully suggest that you missed the import of the whole final scene.

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I actually not really mind if they don't end up together. But definitely not because of lack of chemistry. the issue on chemistry is up to our own imterest and preference. Here,the plot seems to going that way, they love each other but they may need to choose their own path. Still, I pray they will still end up together.

I am getting the similar vibe watching this (esp the second half of drama) with Empire of Gold.

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I was also thinking exactly of Empire of Gold as Vibe in the later part something that i dind't mind at all because i loved that show and minority to have a lead women smart and even revengeful in contarst with all the dormats leading ladies dramalands usually present us,from time to time i really really welcome and even as evil as Yeo Jin is i still like her rather than mopping,i'll take the smart,scary one all the time...while watching it i was really curious if the writer will take the same direction to the final as the one from the other mentioned,aka both parting ways in a definitive matter with divorce and all with Taehyun continuing his carrer and living a normal life and finidng love with a person of his own background while Yeo Jin will be let alone as the Head of Hanshin and living alone in her own castle as she can't leave now being the sole hair and toss her identity away to live a middle class type life,for some reason i think at this point this might be the final intention even if i find it very sad myself as i want a happy ending for both of them even if it's too good to be like that,i'm a sucker for happy endings

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I honestly don't miss the bad ass doctor moments. So many of those were ridiculously unbelievable to the point of stupidity. But I do miss when Yongpal had a purpose and was doing shady things to achieve it.

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I just want to say go watch epi 16. The recap here took quite sometime but not blaming the recapper, definitely appreciate it. Maybe u will see that YJ is not that evil..she is not the usual type of heroine that will make u comfortable to see, she Is not likeable either. But deep in her heart, she is still have a heart. She is not only doing the revenge, but she is now taking down the real enemy. Don't forget she is the chairwoman in a big corporation. I still believe her heart. If I were in her shoes, if i need to choose between my lover and my company, I will no doubt choose my company. This is a responsibility that u can't neglect for your own sweet life, not only because to protect your own power but it is more than that.

The thing is mybe this drama is unexpectedly went to revenge plot which are too depth. I will be more than happy if this drama is based on life in corporation,and all the battle of power. Actually I am enjoying this revenge plot much better than the first half of drama which was mostly about Yong pal's life. i dont like medical drama for my own preference.

Maybe just maybe, the title should be Yong Pal and His Queen of Crocodile. ?

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@sera : couldn't agree more.

I also have said this but, watching Yeo Jin as giant group's chairwoman, how she makes decision even betrayed her heart, willing to sacrifice her loved ones and put blood in her hands even she doesn't want it, for the sake of HanShin, so much alike Gwanghee (CSW) in Hwajung : he said " I'm this kind of man, I will leave you alone even u put ur life for me, bretrayed you over and over again just for the sake of my Joseon".

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I miss a lot Gwanghae and watched Hwajung because of him. After he was dethroned I didn't watch Hwajung coz I already knows the plot that will be, since I watched Cruel Palace.

I know right, she can't choose what she wants to do. She may lost her loved ones, but she will still do what she needs to do. Similar to Gwanghae. And to add, similar to Lee yo won character in Empire of Gold.

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The writing of this drama is incredibly well written. The lines, they're so raw and real. In a real world, you cannot always be forgiving, especially to those who destroyed part of your life. I find Yeo-Jin's character a lot more human than Tae-Hyun's. Of course, it doesn't mean that I adore his character any less. If I was imprisoned for 3 years in a state of conscious coma, I will be just as revengeful, maybe even more, as Yeo-Jin. I will make sure to punish those who punished me. An eye for an eye.
I can fully empathize with Yeo-Jin's character, I can also understand why Tae-Hyun is trying to persuade Yeo-Jin from carrying out her revenge. Nonetheless, idk why some of the viewers are complaining about the plot, It seems fine and very well developed in my eyes.

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I love the lines too. Not a word wasted!

Some dramas you can just kind of tuned out but this one, you really want to peel your ears when they talk.

Viewers are complaining about plot for various reasons but the main reason or the one which may be behind all the grouses is that this drama is just not what they expect. And it's actually an awesome thing.

After years of drama watching, I can more or less guess what's going to happen next. I even buy into unrealistic stuff so much all in the name of drama. Not saying that this drama does not have parts which stretches your imagination like the miraculous recoveries or high tech VVIP room but where it matters, this drama is as realistic as it can get.

The writer is also one step ahead of the viewers, you can see comments in other forums guessing what's going to happen next. Often, we got what we did not expect.

So if one prefers the usual melodrama or mostly action or romance, you may not like this.

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I'll give you +1M for that! Haha

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In this specific episode, there is some tension in the beginning as a carryover from Do-Joon's "accident" in the previous scene. Well, maybe not "too" much tension because we know beforehand that he will most definitely survive and end up ensconced in THE room. It's probably important in the overall scheme of things, that CY blames YJ but, hey, we knew this would be the case. Big duh there. And Tae Hyun wouldn't be himself if he didn't try to turn Yeo Jin aside from her path of destruction---again all necessary stuff and well worth the verbiage to get it all out there. Then we have the celebratory party, where Tae Hyun brings his "friends"' who are all a reminder of an earlier time shared with Yeo Jin (well, except for Doo Chul and lackey, but they are still part of the plot exposition, I'm thinking). Then the tension gets way cranked up with Chairman Choi and his ultimatums---nice end of episode and very attention getting to say the least---and also, very necessary plot wise; like, were we actually going to have a three year time lapse in this drama, anticipating a later vindictive death scenario? Wasn't ever going to happen. So, what's my point in all my meandering comments? This is an intelligent drama and everything done and said, leads inevitably to the next concept and idea, and get this: it all hangs together as a whole, with every type of scene, be it chaebol conflict, romance, doctoring, Yong Pal-ing, all of it is necessary for the execution of the whole story. And watch for this: by story's end we will have come full circle, back to Yong Pal.

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I love what you said, Audrey. This writer has not failed me so far, and I am looking forward for next week!

I don't know what people are thinking when they complain about Yong pal show turning Yeojin show, but there really is a need to get a closer look on her, in order to know the depth of Tae Hyun's love for her - beyond green hills, back hugs and kisses. I am actually laughing when people complain about too much yeojin AND complain about too little soo hyun.

Watching Yong Pal is like going to a good doctor that your friends recommend, sometimes you just have to wait a little to see that the medication works. Switching doctor or stop medication all at once will not do any good to you but being half way cured. Besides, it won't be recommended in the first place if it is no good. We are in ep 15-16, people. Even if we have detour, it is only necessary for us to get where we want to be. Two more episode and we are there.

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Hey, @Bunny, I really like what you said: "...there is really a need to get a closer look on her, in order to know the depth of Tae Hyun's love for her..."; well put!

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I can't repeat myself enough. I just love reading your comments @Audrey :D

Honestly I was concerned about the extension which I felt was forced upon the writer. Now that we have seen eps 15 & 16, I must say that he handled it as well as anyone possibly could given the situation. I can't agree more with you that Yong Pal is an intelligent drama. Everything that is done and said can be linked to something suggested or said in the past or lead to a development in future eps.

I have tried to analyse dramas before and often it ends in frustration because there were so many dead ends, inconsistencies and plot holes. The worst of all being those of character and plot inconsistencies. Although it's hard to watch YJ and TH suffer in these recent episodes, I like that they are truly consistent as characters.

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Thanks @SS! Been enjoying your input immensely, as always, and will go back and re-read all once I've read through all available comments.

Got something that's been bothering me for awhile and it has to do somewhat with character consistency and Kim Tae-Hee: I think she's doing a bang-up job and has honestly put paid to her nay-sayers about her acting ability. BUT, yes, big "but", and here's why: as @Bunny said by focusing on her we see more clearly the depth of love Tae Hyun has for her---what has to be conveyed, expressed more vividly by Kim Tae-Hee is her feelings for Tae Hyun. I'm not talking about over-the-top acting because that would be bogus and never fit this story with its subtle nuances (which Joo Son is totally expert at conveying, like Wow---he is just so amazing!). Kim Tae-Hee needs to dig deep, way down inside of her and match in her character, the quality of emoting that we're getting from Joo Won. This is so crucial for the last two episodes, for ultimate believability of the relationship between them. She is honestly going to have to crank it up a notch, without doing maudlin, contrived acting. We need to SEE her love in play. And all I gotta say is: "C'mon, Kim Tae-Hee, you're doing great---now just reach for outstanding!"

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Make that "Joo Won" please---sorry, mea culpa---dumb fingers!

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I,for one, enjoy immensely where the story changing into a smart revenge story. Then again, I admit, I haven't watch many revenge drama. I like a lot the conversation between Tae Hyun with Chairwoman, especially the part where "The one with power is capable giving in. While the one without power is surrender"

True, the drama transform from Yong-pal who could save the whole hospital or whole town from radiation ( i was rolling my eyes on this episode) to Tae Hyun, the 'wife' of the Chairwoman who can just preach moral ramifications of her actions.

I, for one, eager to see how the writers gonna resolve the finales. I love the twists and turns all lately episodes.

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I agree with you how I wanted so bad this drama can wrap up nicely and peacefully. Put the plot aside, I do feel all people in this drama (in ep 5/6 recaps someone already mention it that how this drama has so many sad/lonely/full of torturing soul in their own) haven't found the peace they looking for .

Yong-Pal : he victim-blamed himself for his sister disease, his mom's death, and being yong-pal himself solely all bcs he has no power. He's lonely, always fight alone for his own. :(

Yeo Jin : since she's born, she's fated to be alone standing to her crown, liking or not she has to have the ice cold crocodile shelter to protect her, which ironically, also set her apart from her loved one.

Do Joon : another sad tragic issue of abandoned child, so pitiful and lack of acknowledgement of his existence, hunger for power to kick out his loved ones from his life . He is the total opposite of Yong Pal, where Tae Hyun hunger for power to protect his loved ones (Tae Hyun didn't hold grudge, he won't using his power to hurt people he cares but those betrayed him, current exp : Yeo Jin )

Chae Young : I think she's the most tragic in this issue. Having a weak followers Dad, she's bcm trading-goods for her family, lost her lovers, trapped in living hell which she doesn't even know what she wants, power/love, lost her own identity who she is. She's just a pion in this game of giants.

Dr. Lee : as ep15 clears it out, he is a downgrade version of Tae Hyun who doesn't have too much choice to be a hero like TH.

Of cz all another side characters also not having bright upbringing, like YJ's Dad, even YJ's ex's Dad also still very sad how his son died and willing to put ups for revenge, creepy nurse, etc.

The only positive charc : TH's bodyguard, Do Chul, and Ssintia.

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You are right on all these points. I can't wait to see if next week s eps will give everyone a positive ending!

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I'm leaning towards wanting a tragic ending for this show. I think it would be more poetic that way. Yong Pal dies and Queen Yeong Jin lives alone in her empty house for the rest of her life.

Much like Michael Corleone at the end of Godfather 3.

I mean, Yeong Jin can't be the ruthless queen of crocodiles and still have her cake, right?

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Uhhh, that was on EoG ending too.. with infidelity by male lead in between.
*groann*
*pleasenotagain*

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Maybe because Plagiarism issue make the writer and the director "change" the yong pal true line...all the awkward romance moment, misplot, mispace start from episode 7 is hard to accept.

Shit i was very exciting for the first 6 episodes, but that issue is ruin this great show !

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Ahh, is that what really happen? No wonder I get lost since ep 7 or 8 due to the story rhythm changes.

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In Korea, almost all hit dramas will be hit(pun intended) by accusations of plagiarism. We don't need the official rebuttals , not that there were none, but if anyone read that webtoon and watch this drama, they will have a good laugh. It's a cheap shot at publicity by the people behind the webstoon or worse a stunt often used by rival parties to discredit the drama.

I think it's perfectly alright not to enjoy this drama. If you think the writer has gone crazy, that's still your right to an opinion. There's just no need to blame it on something which was dubious to say the least.

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@SS

You're right about plagiarism in K-ent, it's a never-ending issue. But, there is no pruduction team anywhere on this planet who's not afraid of lawsuits brought against them by anyone, even if it's an absurd and far-fetched case. Possible restraining order, however, obtained by any individual/company (a rightful owner of royalties or not) is the actual death of the whole project,
Who can be absolutely certain that something like that did not happen here, considering the fact that this is an on-going series after all? There was a distinctive adjustment to the plot/pace/direction/editing, you name it, which seemed off and unexpected. K-dramaland is full with people who are after successful projects in the name of free publicity, as you stated, but I'm sure there are insiders who are ready to do anything for money and fame as well,- I don't have YP in mind though, I only speak in general terms on this matter.

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I didn't keep the link but I read that SBS made an announcement denying plagiarism and talked about suing the party who brought about the accusation.

I don't see any disconnect in the plot. It's just that the drama didn't go the way some people expect. Because of the emphasis on the character Yong Pal in the first few episodes, YJ being in coma and all, viewers think it's a medical cum action drama. But if you read the synopsis on various sites, it has been described as medical human, melo, romance and DB used the word dark. So we had all that, right? Before it aired, the official SBS website even gave story outline on how YP would save a heiress imprisoned in a coma who's bent on vengeance. I guess no one took it seriously then :D

In ep 5, YJ said to TH she will destroy the VVIP room/12th floor place. Along with the people who locked her up. So YJ in full gear on her revenge path now is not plucked out of nowhere. It has always been there.

The thing that was off to me was the tone between the first 6 episodes and the following 3. But those episodes were essential to the whole story. I said this many times and won't repeat.

I agree they could have done a better job at editing.

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..Where’s the Yong-pal who’d take action to help the helpless even when the risk was great?..

I miss the old Yong-pal too. Not that I say the current Yong-pal changed completely, but he seems more tone down on his action, more contemplative. He's more YJ keeper, her moral keeper, but still not the same old YP I miss.

2 more to go, and I still hope the writer will end it with a bang, just like the opening.

Heads, thank you for voicing the questions and the recaps..

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It's impossible to please everybody. In the earlier episodes when the story focus on yong pal, people ask and complain when will yeo jin wake up from her comatose, up to the point they mocked that the actress didn't deserve her pay check. When yeo jin wake up, people are still complaining, asking when she'll start her revenge. When she finally up on her revenge mode, now they say they didn't want her revenge story and wants the story to be back to yong pal. *sigh*

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+1000

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LOL! Maybe different people were saying those things at different times? LOL.

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That's why pleasing everyone in entertainment business is practically impossible. Creators need to have focus on their projects and ignore several factors,- especially, too young viewers who, by using the Social media, viciously attack on anything and anyone for any reasonable but, mostly, unreasonable purpose.

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I agree!

Whatever a drama sets out to be, I hate it when the writer pays too much attention to what's popular and destroy his creation in the process. Worse are those dramas where they bring in a new writer to salvage. They never turned out well, do they? If we let the writer do his/her job, at least it would please some people although it may not please all. Those who dislike can always choose not to watch.

Attacks on social media are incomprehensible but I heard that some are actually paid to do so. Rivalry? Then, you have those fandoms who are way too obsessed with their bias or drama fans who need to thumbed down other dramas.

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That's the difference between a theme park and a television drama. You can always add a new major attraction to a theme park, but in a drama, you need to consider the story, the characters and the narration when you try to make major changes in your concept.

Or, as Neil Young put it: "Never ever listen to your fan base."

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@Justme...SS. omg. Looooooooooooooool! You are completely and absolutely right! +100000000000

I want everyone who was wishing YJ would turn dark on this thread tocome back on here and hail the hell out of her! Cos she is hitting it out of the park!

Plus... I don't think the writers, producers or anyone changed this show concept AT ALL. They have done to AWESOME a job thus far for me to think its all a fluke.

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