My Secret Terrius: Episodes 31-32 (Final)

76 November 17, 2018November 17, 2018

by Helcat

Well, it’s time to say goodbye folks. I know that I for one will miss all the silly capers and sweet relationships this show brought every week but at least all the characters we know and love get a send-off today. And it doesn’t hurt that a whole boatload of fun is crammed in, reminding us of what this show did best as we leave it behind for good.

EPISODE 31

In the van carrying Director Shim, double agent Park Do-hoon orders the getaway plan into motion. The unsuspecting agents in the cars behind are blocked from following, and methodically executed by Park Do-Hoon’s men.

At King’s Bag headquarters, Bon and Do-woo lose sight of the van as it enters a tunnel—and the SWAT team find it empty when they open it. With no surveillance cameras to follow them, it’s a clean escape.

In a secure hideout, Director Shim reconvenes with Yoon Chun-sang and they plot their disappearance from the country—in four hours, they will leave from Incheon harbor.

Bon knows that once the pair have left Korea, there will be no way to catch them. He rings Yong-tae to ask him to chase any of his Cornerstone leads that could help. On the official spy side, Chief Kwon brings in NIS resident gadget inventor, the exuberant Dr. Park… who might have the answer to their problem because he gave Director Shim a location-tracking pen before and forgot to tell him what it was.

Director Shim might still have it, but there’s only one problem—he will need to click the pen to activate it before the King’s Bag team can use it to hunt him down.

At the hospital, Ae-rin gently cares for the still-unconscious Ji-yeon and entreats her to wake up.

Meanwhile, Yong-tae receives a concerning call—from Yoon Chun-sang. He wants Yong-tae to join him so they can finish what they started with Bon’s secret safe. Afterwards, a confused Yong-tae wonders if Yoon Chun-sang doesn’t know that he was betrayed.

Bon warily tells Yong-tae that it’s too dangerous to go since it might be a trap. Visibly nervous, but committed to his change of heart, Yong-tae persuasively argues that if he doesn’t go now, NIS will never catch the fugitives—and Chief Kwon agrees.

The only thing that Yong-tae can take with him is one of the listening device stickers. Bon isn’t happy, but Yong-tae smiles, “Brother, I know you’ll protect me. Am I wrong?”

Yong-tae waits outside in a busy, crowded area for the Cornerstone agents to pick him up. As the clock ticks closer, Bon grows suspicious—the area is so open, that Yong-tae could be shot from anywhere.

He realizes it’s a trap and runs towards Yong-tae, trying to warn him. Yong-tae turns to Bon, and the sniper takes his shot. Yong-tae collapses in Bon’s arms, blood pouring from his chest. He looks up at Bon and gasps, “Brother, did we fail?”

Bon urges him to stay awake, Yong-tae’s faith in him ringing in his ears, but Yong-tae’s hand falls limp. His blood runs across the heart sticker stuck to his palm.

From the safety of his getaway car, Yoon Chun-sang scoffs, “That punk. How dare he try to play with me?” A flashback to the night he and Yong-tae were supposed to fly to Switzerland reveals that Yoon Chun-sang’s driver actually had seen Yong-tae’s traitorous text. Director Shim muses that Yong-tae did give them a diversion for their escape… and hands Yoon Chun-sang the tracker pen for him to use.

Do-woo runs to tell the team that the pen has been activated, and the NIS agents catch up with the fugitives at Incheon harbor.

Bon spots their car, and angrily rams them from behind. While Director Shim and Yoon Chun-sang flee on foot, their men provide back-up and shoot wildly at Bon and Do-woo. Through his expert shooting and agile manoeuvring, Bon singlehandedly takes out the men, and reassures Do-woo that he can stay behind. But Do-woo steps up, and shoots one last man that Bon missed.

Unstoppable, Bon races after Director Shim and Yoon Chun-sang, catching up to them just at the entrance of the ferry. Director Shim turns his gun on Yoon Chun-sang, and warns Bon that if he dies, so does all the Cornerstone evidence.

Disgusted at the treachery, Bon says, “To you, a colleague is just someone you use for your own benefit.” Director Shim points out that he lived solely for the organization, and Bon sighs that it was a pity that organization couldn’t have been NIS.

Bon coolly shoots Director Shim in the arm, and Shim’s gun clatters harmlessly to the ground.

Chief Kwon and her team swarm on the scene, securing the two criminals. Chief Kwon lays one hand on Bon’s shoulder, and gets into the van to personally escort Director Shim and Yoon Chun-sang to their new prison.

One month later

Bon and Ae-rin visit Yong-tae… where his ashes lie in a resting place. Ae-rin gently says, “How have you been Yong-tae? You’re no longer being chased. Rest in pease.”

Outside, Ae-rin asks what was really in that safe in Switzerland. With a small smile, Bon says, “What else? One of the great tricks of the con-man Jung In-soo.” Ae-rin shakes her head affectionately to hear that Yong-tae fabricated the safe when he realized Yoon Chun-sang’s plan was to kill him.

In a return to normality, Bon goes back to the school run… and the mothers all swoon as he strolls towards them (this time, to “Sexbomb”). Sang-ryul gets shot down when he suggests he would look that good in a suit, ha.

The Joon-Joon twins hop out of the bus into Bon’s waiting arms, and it’s tough to say who looks happier. All three dash off together, as Sun-mi sighs that every household should have a sitter like Bon. Sun-mi has been running her own shop—successfully—and we come full circle as Eun-ha offers to find a sitter for her. The KIS trio clap excitedly for Sun-mi’s new job.

In domestic bliss, Bon looks after the Joon-Joon twins. He plays hair stylist with Joon-hee (giving her a “princess hair-do”, doctor with Joon-soo, gets paid in nose-nose kisses and it’s all too cute. Excuse me while I rewind.

Bon reads to the Joon-Joon twins, but they struggle to stay awake… and he asks if his storytelling is too boring and they nod. So Bon turns to technology and ice cream instead, which they much prefer. The twins put on their cutest faces, and ask if they can play at his apartment.

Bon smiles fondly as the twins stand enthralled before the fish—and asks them to look after them while he’s away. The twins are downcast that Bon is going away again, but they promise to look after their mom until he comes back.

Ae-rin is on the job hunt once more—but gets suspicious when she ends up in a completely empty office. A mysterious woman sits with her back to Ae-rin as she approaches… and the chair wheels round to reveal Chief Kwon.

EPISODE 32

Bon and the Joon-Joon twins congratulate Sun-mi on her new career—as an owner of her own Quiznos—and Ae-rin meets up with them for lunch. Aww, it’s like they’re a real family. Ae-rin proudly tells Bon that her interview went well.

At home that night, the twins brush their teeth without complaint, and Ae-rin grins at Bon’s trick to get them to comply—which involves the exchange of lots of ice cream.

KIS—with Bon as their newest member—meet up for their routine chat, and Eun-ha tells Ae-rin she’s actually glad she was fired from Yoon Chun-sang’s kitchen, since she heard that household has fallen apart now.

Excited about their other news, KIS tell Ae-rin and Bon they caught Joon-Joon’s kidnapper (assassin K) last month—but he escaped from under the cop’s eyes. Eun-ha sighs they will just have to catch him again, but Bon jumps in to warn them to just call the police if they find him.

Although Eun-ha is surprised at how much of a coward Bon is (ha) she agrees he has reason to be after Ji-yeon’s “hit-and-run” accident—which reminds KIS to make plans to visit her in hospital.

With a flourish, Eun-ha pulls out an early Christmas gift for Bon, since he will be going to the USA soon. Bon looks touched as he takes out the framed photo of the KIS crew and a scarf they all hand knitted together for him in four different colors.

Sang-ryul breaks the sweet moment and makes it weird by asking Bon for a nose kiss—but Bon obliges, and Sang-ryul flops over in delight. I love it.

In the hospital, Ji-yeon is frustrated because she can’t walk yet and Do-woo refuses to wheel her outside. She notices the red leaf stuck to the window, and Do-woo tells her that he caught it in her hair last time and put it up so she would wake up. Ji-yeon smiles that he’s more mature than she thought, to Do-woo’s pleasure.

Bon comes to say goodbye to Ji-yeon, and promises to see her when he gets back. Although Do- woo is puzzled by Bon’s (unfashionable) scarf, Bon sweetly defends it, “It’s ajumma style, I like it.”

Outside, Bon asks Ae-rin to drive with him to the airport, and she jokes that there better be something in it for her. Bon tells her that if she gets in, she will find out. Ae-rin cheekily asks, “Is it that difficult to ask me to see you off?”

As they say goodbye for an unknown length of time, Ae-rin asks Bon to be safe and not get hurt. Bon answers, “I won’t. I’m Kim Bon.”

One Year Later, Poland

K walks the streets of Poland freely, and ruthlessly kills a security guard so that he can set up the perfect spot to shoot his new target. Elsewhere, Bon readies his own sniper gun.

K lines up his shot, but a panicked voice in his ear tells him to abort because he has been spotted. K furtively looks around… and spots Bon across from him, a laser trained on his forehead.

K has no time to move, and Bon pulls the trigger. K falls over, dead.

Mr. Park got his dream come true, and happily tends to his plants. A package arrives for him, containing coffee-making supplies. Mr. Park laughs to see the sender is “The Handsome Man’s Cafe.”

It’s true! Yong-tae is alive! And he is running the appropriately named café—where there’s no menu to choose from because he selects the beans for the customer. Oh, Yong-tae.

A year ago, Yong-tae actually recovered from his gunshot wound, and Bon gave him the new identity he was promised—as Wang Mi-nam (minam means “handsome man”), Wang Jeong-nam’s little brother. Aww. Yong-tae vowed to live an ordinary life from then on.

Which is exactly what he’s doing in the present, as he watches over his happy customers (mostly) in satisfaction. He admits to himself, “It is a bit boring. But this kind of life isn’t bad either.”

At NIS, Chief Kwon—now Director Kwon—laughs at Ae-rin’s diligence in selling products when she doesn’t need to (classic) and welcomes back Ji-yeon and Do-woo from their travels.

Ji-yeon is totally mended, and the pair smile bashfully when Director Kwon asks why they went travelling to Iceland together. Director Kwon explains that King’s Bag is still open to use as a secret office whenever they need it.

And at the moment, it’s being used as a base for our other spies, the KIS. Sun-mi comments that time has flown by, because her daughter is nearly ready for school, and Sang-ryul has had another baby. To thank his wife, Sang-ryul bought her a new pair of red shoes, which are her favorite style.

Director Kwon stops by King’s Bag—and the tables are turned on her when KIS sit down and tell her that they know she’s moved into King Castle Apartments. Eun-ha offers her a spot on the KIS committee and, taken aback, Director Kwon asks for time to think about it.

KIS rush off to pick up the kids, and Director Kwon cuts to the chase with Ae-rin: she has an important mission for “Alice.”

Ae-rin receives a package from another agent—and with the Mission Impossible theme tune playing—dons some classic spy gear and goes to the designated locker to pick up her orders. Inside the locker is a briefcase and a slip of paper with a time and location co-ordinates.

The co-ordinates lead Ae-rin to Namsan Tower, where she stands alone. A waiter comes over with two mojitos. Ae-rin remembers Bon’s promise a split second before she sees him standing in the distance.

Bon walks up, and asks, “Did you miss me?” With tears in her eyes, Ae-rin replies, “I did. So, so much.” Neither of them can stop smiling (and neither can I).

Ae-rin jokes that it was so hard living without a sitter, and is pleased to hear that Bon has finally finished the job he set out to do. Bon answers that he’s just glad they could finally come for mojitos at Namsan Tower.

Bon asks what the briefcase is about, and Ae-rin tells him that it’s her directive from Director Kwon. Inside, there are two plane tickets and the instructions read “Operation: Breakfast at Tiffany’s.” Their mission is to fly to New York and pretend to be a married couple.

Ae-rin opens the jewelry box to find matching wedding rings. Ae-rin and Bon exchange a look. Bon asks her, “Should we put them on?”

The rings fit perfectly. Bon smiles down at his and says, “This mission should be exciting.” Ae-rin admits that she feels nervous, but Bon reassures her, “Don’t worry. Terrius is behind you.”

Bon and Ae-rin clink their mojito glasses in cheers and grin at each other in delight.

COMMENTS

Don’t mind me, my heart is just bursting over here.

Bon and Ae-rin’s last scene got me right in the feels—it was so charming, heartwarming, and it referenced their history together. I don’t even mind that we didn’t get a kiss in the end (too much) because these two have so much chemistry together that a look can convey a lifetime. I love the idea that they are heading off to have big adventures together—from saving the country to becoming a proper family. In a way, it makes sense that Ae-rin would be nervous about the start of their family—she has been through an unhappy marriage before and knows all the ways it can go wrong. Bon has the luxury of innocence—but he’s also not worried because he knows that he’s fully committed to making the Joon-Joon twins and Ae-rin happy. Bon and Ae-rin have seen each other at their worst, and their best, and they have chosen in all the meaningful ways to be there for one another. Plus, we got that adorably corny line from Bon, which was the perfect last line for such a corny show.

I don’t think I need to belabor the point, but the spy side of this drama was always seriously lame—and I was worried after the previous episode that we wouldn’t get the sweet fluff that we’re all here for. By the end of the show, it didn’t even feel like Bon was exacting vengeance, because it was a paint-by-numbers resolution. I did enjoy Bon pursuing K, just because of how low-tension it was—and clearly a manufactured reason for the time jump—with a great payoff when Bon got the drop on K. Yes, this episode did have loose ends to tie up on the spy front, and yes, I would have preferred seeing less Director Shim in favor of Joon-Joon—but we ended on the right note, which is what counts. And Ae-rin got her own cool-spy moment, sunglasses and trench-coat included—she took a circuitous route to finally get a good job that fits, but our girl was tenacious and got there in the end.

For one mad moment I believed that the show had fallen for its own hype and actually killed off Yong-tae in a misguided attempt at jerking tears from us (the overwrought symbolism of the bleeding heart sticker was almost too much for me). But thankfully, the old rule of “no body, no death” held true, and our handsome, preening, ridiculous con-man made it through alive. With extra-gooey “brother” love between him and Bon as well, so I’m sitting over here very satisfied indeed. Yong-tae’s ending did have shades of melancholy to it, as he was cut off from his tentative newly-found family, presumably never to see them again in case Cornerstone realizes he’s alive. He does have penance to pay after all those years working as a bad guy though—maybe a boring, honest life is exactly what Yong-tae needs to prove to himself that he became a better person. His one heroic act was a start, but now Yong-tae has to do the hard work of actually living as a good person. I think he’ll be all right—he even has his sweet little pen-pal relationship with Mr. Park.

I’ll be sad to say goodbye to everyone else on the team as well, who all got their moment to shine in this episode. We had classic KIS crew making a return, who are the most genuine, supportive, and goofy set of friends any spy-in-training could want. They are there to cheerlead you—from Sun-mi’s job to Sang-ryul’s husbanding skills—as much as they will be there for you when times are rough. And Ji-yeon finally realized how swoony Do-woo really is. Even Director Kwon gained a sense of humor, and actually welcomed Ae-rin into the NIS organization officially. I firmly believe that Director Kwon goes on to become part of KIS—maybe that was even the reason she moved in—and uses their Mommy Cop skills and network to avert several national crises in the future.

There were flaws in this drama, don’t get me wrong, but at the end of the day this finale offered up everything that I loved about it. It stayed true to itself—as a breezy, effervescent slice of fun that used any excuse to get So Ji-sub into a suit and have him play with two adorable children. And that was enough for me.

Required fields are marked *

1 ryunami

November 17, 2018 at 11:31 PM

Thank you @helcat for the final recap of Terius! 👏👏👏

I love the happy ending for all the good guys, and i dont need a 2nd season unless it involved my ship agents 😋

Required fields are marked *

2 LT is Irresistibly Indifferent and reminded of the slow march of death

November 17, 2018 at 11:34 PM

This is where I could pick holes in this drama. But from the minute the silly spy stuff was resolved, I just grinned ear-to-ear through the whole thing.

I said it before but I could honestly watch another 50 episodes of Joon-Joon, and KIS, and Bon's Great Bromances, nose kisses and found family, and NIS agents being annoyed at Ae-Rin selling handbags. Not even the extraordinary volume of PPL in this episode could drag it down - if anything, the show's determination to sell me everything from handbags to cars to children's toys, BB cream, coffee drinks and Quiznos only added to the show's sense of fun in the end.

While I've been an enthusiastic proponent of dealing with the husband elephant so I can get Hot Spy Nooky I'm not going to complain about where Bon and Ae-rin ended up. And whether we get a Season 2: Breakfast at Tiffany's edition or not, we can all have a lot of fun imagining the spy hijinks and happy family time of this couple.

Final rating: 8/10

Required fields are marked *

tsutsuloo

November 18, 2018 at 7:33 PM

When one of the twins became constipated (from eating too much at Quiznos?), I stopped going to my local submarine sandwich store. Can't look at another foot-long for the rest of the year. ;)

Required fields are marked *

LT is Irresistibly Indifferent and reminded of the slow march of death

November 18, 2018 at 7:50 PM

Quiznos: It will give you chronic constipation
and
Quiznos: Only the homeless and starving will eat it

Are the two advertising taglines the company is now considering after this drama. I haven't laughed so much since the K2 told us that Subway caused diarrhoea.

Required fields are marked *

tsutsuloo

November 18, 2018 at 8:39 PM

😂😂😂

Required fields are marked *

3 seoul_searcher

November 17, 2018 at 11:36 PM

That ending is perfect for a second season “Two spies go on a mission undercover under the pretense of marriage and end up falling for each” that’s something I’d watch.

I’m pretty satisfied with the ending as everyone’s stories wrapped up nicely and even the KIS lives on with maybe a new member. It was a fun and enjoyable ride and the spy squad and KIS family will be missed ♥️

Required fields are marked *

Goryeo princess

November 18, 2018 at 7:27 AM

We definitely need a second season. With Aerin full spy and joon-joon having a sibling too (or two)... Maybe.

Required fields are marked *

larelle79

November 18, 2018 at 10:06 AM

I guess I am the only one who think Ae Rin was/is horrible as a spy/agent. She does not listen and over reaches to the point of annoyance. I never find that cute about a woman in her mid 30's and if you want to add some realism, she would be dead.

Required fields are marked *

pickledplumtree

November 18, 2018 at 12:53 PM

I think Director Kwon should have jumped right on joining KIS and know what an asset their network is! :D

Required fields are marked *

Greys

November 20, 2018 at 6:55 AM

Comment was deleted

Required fields are marked *

Greys

November 20, 2018 at 6:58 AM

Agents falling in love is an interesting plot. It somehow reminds me of that American series, Alias.

And yes, i'm all in for Season 2!

Required fields are marked *

4 T

November 17, 2018 at 11:44 PM

will miss this show for:

- Bon and Joon-Joon
- KIS outsmarting NIS
- Ae-Rin ahjumma turned spy
- Yong-tae's hilarious antics
- Bon's jealousy
- Do-woo and Ji-yeon

wasn't perfect but loved it!

Required fields are marked *

5 capt_blackdog is dirty but pretty

November 17, 2018 at 11:47 PM

It was a lovely show full of nose kisses and adorableness. I loved the characters and! And the twins! And all the meta they crammed in! And I liked that the show wasn't heavy on the romance, instead choosing loving and longing glances to convey their emotions. All in all, it was hella cute! ^_^

Required fields are marked *

6 purebristles

November 17, 2018 at 11:48 PM

I'm so pleased at the ending! I was on the ship right from the get-go, but I did think along the way that jumping into a relationship after your husband was just murdered might not be really healthy.

But the show made it sensible - Ae Rin has always been tenacious (her mom said so herself); she couldn't fall apart because of Joon-Joon; then Bon died and she took a break to regroup and heal at Jeju; then a month to resolve the events of the showdown in the finale before Bon left on his Poland Find K mission, and then finally about 1yrs' break before that final meeting at Namsan for mojitos. That's probably a good 2ish years of recovery, and I think she's be in a good headspace for a healthy relationship with SexBon... I mean, Kim Bon.

Required fields are marked *

purebristles

November 18, 2018 at 12:14 AM

And I also thought it was very telling and very symbolic the way they put their own wedding rings on in the final scene. Bon asked / proposed -- "Shall we put them on?" - consultative and collaborative and not pushing her; and them both wearing their rings - a commitment to each other, but also made to themselves.

I love this couple.

Required fields are marked *

pickledplumtree

November 18, 2018 at 12:58 PM

I thought it was interesting that they put it on themselves, too. Not sure how I feel about it though. I almost feel trolled that they presented the box like it'd be something romantic but they were actually being sent on a mission and there wasn't a more final-feeling nod to a relationship or them voicing their feelings. I mean I get it, we all know how it's going to go...but I wanted moooore!

Required fields are marked *

PakalanaPikake

November 18, 2018 at 4:25 PM

@purebristles,

I liked the proposal, too. A very low-key invitation. With built-in plausible deniability. Not that I think either of them would ever use it. ;-)

Required fields are marked *

PakalanaPikake

November 18, 2018 at 4:10 PM

@purebristles,

The rationale for the time jump at the end is one of the better ones I've seen in Kdramas. I'm going to assume that during the time Terius is away, Ae-rin told Joon-Joon that Dad died in an accident while overseas on a business trip. Otherwise those little cuties will be in therapy for the rest of their lives.

It occurs to me that even better camouflage for Bon and Ae-rin's assignment in New York would be taking the twins with them to get a leg up on learning English. On the other hand, the kids couldn't keep calling Bon "ahjussi." Hmmm. I'll bet that Operation: Breakfast at Tiffany’s is a relatively short maiden outing, and the kiddos will be staying with their classmates' families.

Required fields are marked *

Heather Gier

November 24, 2018 at 12:37 PM

I'm totally confused. Was it actually a proposal from Bon? I thought it was just the spy thing????

Required fields are marked *

purebristles

November 25, 2018 at 6:45 AM

I believe the line was written and meant to be ambiguous - i.e. that Ae Rin COULD consider it as a proposal if she wanted to, and if she wasn't open to it, Bon COULD deny it and say it was "just" an invitation to put on the rings for the mission.

Plausible deniability

Required fields are marked *

7 purebristles

November 17, 2018 at 11:51 PM

Also, I am so proud of Jung In Sun for holding fort against the juggernaut that is So Ji Sub! She's always had supporting parts and knocked them out of the park, so with Naked Fireman (where she was lead) and as a core part of the ensemble cast Waikiki, and now with Terrius, I am really looking forward to seeing more of her!

Required fields are marked *

beantown

November 18, 2018 at 10:38 AM

Absolutely loved her in Whoohoo Waikiki, she has a gift for heartfelt comedy.

Required fields are marked *

Ashes2Ashes

November 19, 2018 at 12:17 AM

From the first shot,she was super convincing as a devoted, if a little harried mum of two. Even when the show had her do things that would get her fired or killed in real life settings, Jung In Sun kept the character likable,warm and sincere. She had most of us rooting for Ae-Rin the way Eun-Ha unnie did throughout the show run. She certainly is an young actress I'll be keeping an eye out for.

Required fields are marked *

8 javinne

November 18, 2018 at 1:02 AM

One small comment, because I am busy: I didn't like the fact that Bon went to Poland expresso to kill K. And that he succeeded!!!!!
Honestly, that makes him a killer himself. And I know... I know he had a grudge and even good reasons to get rid of K.
K wouldn't be mourned, for apparently he had no family, no friends, nothing... He was there simply to work I suppose for money, killing innocent people that went on the way of the trebol organization. He is trash. But still... This trope made Bon a killer at the end, and I hated that.
It would have been better if he, for instance, would have killed K in a fight, trying to save himself, self defense. I would understand that way better, and even applaud the writer for that solution. Because K going to jail... He would have gotten free, thanks to his corrupted sponsors... He had to die.
But then again, I didnt like how.

Required fields are marked *

Kay

November 18, 2018 at 1:14 AM

They probably ran out of time (for the PPLs haha), and decide to make a quick end for K.

Required fields are marked *

lemoncello

November 18, 2018 at 6:37 AM

they put PPLs so randomly, LoL. Ae-rin's putting the cleanser is the most hilarious one. Quiznoz has been there for a while, so no surprise if Sun-mi opened one.

Required fields are marked *

LT is Irresistibly Indifferent and reminded of the slow march of death

November 18, 2018 at 1:15 AM

Oh my comment below was supposed to be here. I have no idea why it's there.

Required fields are marked *

shach

November 18, 2018 at 1:26 AM

But he is part of some kind of NIS black ops, so it probably wasn't his first time. And although he has personal agenda, it was part of his mission, saving K target by eliminating him.

Required fields are marked *

growingbeautifully

November 18, 2018 at 6:05 AM

@javinne I feel the same about the way K was killed. Not the right note for this show and definitely not for Kim Bon.

Required fields are marked *

javinne

November 18, 2018 at 8:28 AM

Exactly, even though we know that he was a Spy, and like @shach said, it might had been part of his job, to save the important guy K was about to kill, etc... (he surely has done it before, killing some people, I mean... But), still... I feel it was not right for the character, and not right for the type of drama that it had been, with children involved and so on...
Let's take Healer as an example to compare. The Healer was like a spy, somehow... He was doing all these jobs underground. But he never, never killed anybody or would accept a job where he had to. In the drama many people die, and some even made us cry, how or why they die, but the healer himself never killed anybody, and that is why we still love him.

Required fields are marked *

AlexDanno

November 18, 2018 at 10:23 AM

In his line of work, he's definitely killed before. I think the show's spoofy tone and the way it made us view the characters made it easy to forget that Bon's line of work would make him a morally grey character and a skilled killer.

And I hear in movies and shows that after the first few times you kill, it gets as easy as walking, so I can see how Bon might be able to compartmentalise between being a good role model for little children and being able to blast someone's brains out. The scene seemed a little graphic for a show like this, though, I was surprised they showed as much as they did.

Required fields are marked *

pickledplumtree

November 18, 2018 at 1:01 PM

I felt the same! I mean KB killed a bunch of guys in the final showdown too but that was in a serious gunfight. This felt wrong. He's not a hit man!

Required fields are marked *

Greys

November 20, 2018 at 7:12 AM

I have no complaints of Bon killing K. It's just that i preferred if he had been shot right in the heart and not on the head. It feels like it's more violent to show someone being shot in the head. Just my thought.

Required fields are marked *

Heather Gier

November 24, 2018 at 12:39 PM

I totally agree. I hated that he was a cold-blooded assassin, even with the evil K. It would've been better to have some sort of confrontation/battle where he kills him through self-defense.

Required fields are marked *

9 Kay

November 18, 2018 at 1:07 AM

So many cute moments , and perfect endings.

One of the very rare dramas where the OTP (and second OTP) didn't kiss, and it is perfectly fine. The great cast can convey so much more emotions with just looks.

And isn't Tiffany one of the PPL ? It carried the show right to the final scene LOL.

Required fields are marked *

10 LT is Irresistibly Indifferent and reminded of the slow march of death

November 18, 2018 at 1:09 AM

Well, he's a spy so he's killed lot of people. It's part of the job. He killed several people earlier in the episode as well as did a lot of other people.

I admit I was quite stunned at the level of graphic violence in this for a kdrama. They usually blur out knives and this had people getting graphically shot in the head. I wasn't sure how I felt about it actually. There are some parts of this genre they didn't really need to channel.

Required fields are marked *

javinne

November 18, 2018 at 3:46 AM

Yeah... as I said, I felt uncomfortable and it makes this show one I will never watch again nor recommend to anybody. I cannot agree with killing people unless it is self defense, and even if I may be in such situation, must likely I would be killed instead, because I cannot believe I would take a weapon to hurt anybody. If there were a war situation, I would be a victim. So, although unrealistic I rather have a show with sloopy action scenes where no one dies, and here we have sloppy spy and actions scenes with people dying... 😠
I know I know... the reality of life is that some people kill others, but there is no way I can agree with that.
No one has the right to kill, although there are so many bad people in the world that they definitively should not be alive, but there is a creator in heavens and only he has the right to give or take away life. My humble opinion.

Required fields are marked *

11 superwhopotterlock

November 18, 2018 at 1:21 AM

I'm so glad that YT is alive! It started as a light hearted show and glad that it stayed that way. Very happy with where they left us with regards to bon and aerin's relationship.

Required fields are marked *

12 liar song #PuppyNotPuppyLeeJaeWookIsBack

November 18, 2018 at 1:38 AM

That was a perfect ending for this fun and cute show, with possible hints for a second season here and there (which I don't mind). My only concern is that if a second season happens, will they be able to secure the second leads, the ahjumma casts, and most especially the kids because they are the heart of this show.

Required fields are marked *

13 cherry 🍒

November 18, 2018 at 1:46 AM

If the show focused more on Bon with the twins, I’d be less grumpy right now. The last four episodes were heavy on spy stuff which was pitifully lame. And I’m still bitter that we didn’t get a kiss 🤨

Nevertheless, I’ll cherish those sweet moments of SJS with the twins in my heart. I also became a fan of JIS and definitely watch out for her next project.

Required fields are marked *

14 spazmo

November 18, 2018 at 3:59 AM

i just loved seeing So Ji Sub in this role... with the twins especially. he and his sweet, tender personality and badass spy persona...

Required fields are marked *

15 growingbeautifully

November 18, 2018 at 6:01 AM

Thanks @helcat for a great recap and review.
All the good stuff I agree with. However other thoughts came up as I watched and read.

Outside, Bon asks Ae-rin to drive with him to the airport, and she jokes that there better be something in it for her. Bon tells her that if she gets in, she will find out.

However, nothing happened except words of farewell!!! I felt cheated. Did show intend to have Bon give Ae Rin at least a nose-nose farewell, but they edited it?

I was bothered by some stuff: That pen was somewhat deus ex machina. It was extremely convenient that gadget man had given it to Dir Shim and did not tell hims what it was. And that Shim had brought it along with him and that it got activated.

Sour note: I know Killer K was a bad guy and all and was about to kill someone, but it's hard to swallow the outright killing of Killer K by Terius. I'd have preferred a Disney ending ie bad guy accidentally offs himself, rather than good guy offs bad guy. He could have been seriously hurt and taken into custody, maybe?

I mentioned elsewhere - this episode had overly obvious PPL, and such long sequences of them, all with the twins.

I was aghast at Yong Tae's seeming death, as it seemed so unnecessary and out of show's character, but I guess they had to 'kill him off' so that he could start anew. Looks like Ae Rin herself may not have been aware that Yong Tae was not dead. I was heartily relieved to see him still looking so handsome and able to keep contact with Park.

Thanks to the production crew and everyone involved. This show despite everything, was still loads of fun and great for unwinding with, since nothing could be taken seriously. A perfect antidote to RL!

Required fields are marked *

growingbeautifully

November 18, 2018 at 6:20 AM

I am amused that there was more bromantic and brotherly skinship this episode than any romance at all! Sang Ryul asking for nose-nose with Bon totally came out of left-field! I know he did like to 'hand hold', but really, when did he crave Eskimo greetings? 😂

Required fields are marked *

javinne

November 18, 2018 at 8:33 AM

Sang ryul asking for those nose-nose was for me very awkward and I fast forwarded that part. Not that I thought it had to do with them being less masculine. It was simply very random and even childish. I simply couldn't put up with such an immature "act" between two adults. It was like out of place.

Required fields are marked *

growingbeautifully

November 18, 2018 at 5:41 PM

Yes @javinne same feeling here. What was that out of the blue and so out of place! It was probably just fan-service or to pander to viewers requests. 😖

Required fields are marked *

16 beantown

November 18, 2018 at 6:02 AM

This was a lovely fluffernutter of a drama, and I looked forward to my weekly sweet overdose of straight-faced humor and nose kisses, all wrapped up and tied with an absurdist bow of over the top PPL. Well done to all!

Required fields are marked *

17 lemoncello

November 18, 2018 at 6:11 AM

I watched the final episode live and it was fun as the netizen grumbled almost the whole episode because the show didn't even give a skinship between Bon and Ae-rin... :))). But it was fun. Here are some highlights of the final showdown:

- Ahhh... When Wang Mi-nam brewed the coffee, I could see Son Hojun did that! In Life Bar ep 96, YYS revealed that he learned how to make beer while Hojun learned to be a barista... Ah, I hope there Mi-Nam Cafe in my neighbourhood.
- I'm happy that the final episode gave us a lot of Bon and Joon-Joon scene.
- The ending has a possibility of Season 2. I can't wait with "Breakfast at Tiffany's" Operation.
-The best thing of this episode is SR asked for nose-to-nose kiss to Bon. I wanna see the BTS, LoL.

Well, anyways, it was a fun show even though with holes here and there.

Required fields are marked *

growingbeautifully

November 18, 2018 at 6:24 AM

@lemoncello Aah... that nose-nose BTS with Sang Ryul ... I wonder if it'll be posted! I'm dying to watch it too!!!

Required fields are marked *

lemoncello

November 18, 2018 at 6:26 AM

Me too! I saw some people posted some BTS on YT, but no nose-to-nose between Bon and SR. I can't imagine how SJS and KKY hold their laughter...

Required fields are marked *

lemoncello

November 18, 2018 at 6:25 AM

Ah, I forgot to say... Bon and Yong-tae might be cats in their previous lives! Both of them had been survived from "death." Bon from gun shot in Poland, shot & jumped the river, and his van was blown. While Yong-tae: he survived from plastic surgery, being stabbed, and then shot! ah, happy they became "brothers." Two handsome men who had been cats in their previous lives LoL.

Required fields are marked *

18 osmanthustea

November 18, 2018 at 6:27 AM

awww I didn't love every moment of this show - like I can't get over Chief Kwon's lopsided fake smile, and the NIS spy stuff was boring - but I think the whole cast really made this such a heartwarming watch. This is also among the few shows I think with a somewhat satisfying wrap-up, delivered with enough humour and character-appropriate trajections to feel weighty rather than mere filler. Yong-tae's new identity for instance, is so appropriate, I love how tables are turned on chief Kwon after her move into King's Castle, and I like that little detail about Sang-ryul's wife's penchant for red heels.

Thanks for the final recap, @helcat! And for capturing all the heartwarming bits. so well (=

Required fields are marked *

19 CharmingKey

November 18, 2018 at 6:47 AM

AHHHH the nose kiss scene with Sang Ryul! I succumbed to fits of giggles at that part. Such a great ending to a great show.

Can we talk about Im Se-Mi's character for a second? I haven't been a huge fan of the characters she has played in other dramas, but I absolutely love her here. It's obvious she loves Bon, but instead of falling into the jealous act like so many other dramas, she supported Bon and Ae Rin. She understood how much they cared about each other and protected them both. I loved the scene where she mentioned someone needing to pick up Joon-Joon since Ae Rin was unavailable. Such a mature, warm character. I was rooting for her the whole show!

Required fields are marked *

Kay

November 18, 2018 at 7:07 AM

I am particularly impressed with her performance when Kim Bon's car exploded, when she had to convey the shocking news to Ae Rin and Yong Tae, I can really feel her grief, almost bring tears to my eyes even when we know he did not die.

Required fields are marked *

Greys

November 20, 2018 at 8:25 AM

I absolutely loved her! And not to mention she's pretty too. She has this sunny and happy aura when she smile.

Required fields are marked *

osmanthustea

November 20, 2018 at 11:07 AM

This! I didn't bank on liking her - she seemed a bit of the annoying jealous type at the beginning - but she proved to be very mature about it. I liked that she was upfront about her crush on Bon, without harping on it constantly. And I liked that she was genuinely happy for Bon and Ae Rin, and truly respects Ae Rin's intelligence and work ethics. Like that scene where she snuck Ae Rin as a nurse to see Bon - in some lesser show, the second lead would have used the opportunity to keep her rival away! I think because of this, I was even more happy that she found happiness with Do-won.

Required fields are marked *

20 Ok

November 18, 2018 at 8:01 AM

So, did i miss who sangryul's wife is? What is the significance of her red shoes? Was she not the other assassin?

Required fields are marked *

javinne

November 18, 2018 at 8:42 AM

The red shoes were obviously kind of a distraction from our writer-nim, in order to confuse us when the terrorist woman was doing her cameo in the serie. And she/he wanted to show us again that there were a valid reason why she had red shoes before (I.e. showing us the shoes in Sanh ryul's house). So, mentioning the red shoes again tried to be a closure for this tiny contribution to the plot, except that, like many things in this show, it felt flat.
The writer obviously forgot to give closure to many other things, so that we were still left out with many plot holes.

Note: all my critics are simply facts I see here and there. It doesn't mean I hate the show... I didn't hate it, but I won't praise it for things I don't believe were done right. 😂😂😂😂

Required fields are marked *

21 larelle79

November 18, 2018 at 10:01 AM

The one thing I am glad about is this show showed that Bon was trained and was very good at killing people. Not to take away from the cuteness of his interaction, but dude was well rounded but also will turn it on in a blink of a eye, as he should.

Required fields are marked *

22 Ayan

November 18, 2018 at 12:09 PM

Thank you for all the recaps Helcat!

Part of me wishes there was a season two for joon-joon and bon, I could watch that alllll day!
Maybe they go on holiday and encounter another cornerstone branch?
I'm glad that they left room for possibilities for all the characters and they didn't rush into a romance for aerin and bon.

I just wished there could have been a scene where aerin had told the kids what happened to their dad. The uncle goldfish passing would have been a good opportunity to mention it.

I couldn't believe how many product ads they crammed in. Does anyone remember the name of a recent drama which did a parody of ppl in the last 10 minutes?
I would have liked to have seen a product for K's hair, that hairstyle was locked down no matter what happened; bullets, KIS man hunt, they missed a trick there.

Required fields are marked *

osmanthustea

November 20, 2018 at 11:09 AM

I don't know if you're talking about the same show... but in Because It's Our First Lives (http://www.dramabeans.com/2017/10/because-this-life-is-our-first-episode-1/) the female lead was like an assistant script writer and tasked with the unenviable job of squeezing in PPLs. I can't remember who, but someone remarked that there are more PPLs in the last few episodes because the writers would typically procrastinate putting them in, then scramble at the last minute.

Required fields are marked *

Ayan

November 20, 2018 at 1:37 PM

Yes this is it!!!! Thank you so much, I was racking my brain trying to find out where it was from. I can't believe it's been a year since BTIOFL aired! :)

Required fields are marked *

23 pickledplumtree

November 18, 2018 at 12:49 PM

This drama was an absolute delight. I thought it'd be an intense thriller-drama and instead it was a jolly romcom!

Thoughts at the end:
This drama had a lot to love. The characters were some of my all time faves.
~I actually enjoyed the spy bits, but what I most enjoyed was how KIS put NIS to shame so often. What a hoot.
~Loved that they even addressed Kim Sang Ryeol's wife's love of red shoes as a red herring.
~Loved how Kim Bon had to be in his snazzy black suit before doing any (even emergency) spy work, even calling Ji Yeon when she was in danger (okay well that was a little much).
~Couldn't Ji Yeon have looked both ways come ON!
~Love how so many super secret conversations happened in public or in places that would obviously be likely tapped.
~Unsolved mystery: How did the fish stay alive when they all went away for that long period?
~Didn't particularly love seeing KB kill someone with 12 minutes to go. Not like that. I'd rather they arrested him or something. Dunno that kind of vindication isn't my cup of tea.
~LOL to the tracker pen that they somehow let Shim Woo Choel carry out when they were transporting him. And SWC was a little suspicious at times, huh? I guess it's good they didn't fill him in on everything!
~I AM SO HAPPY ABOUT DIRECTOR KWON because in the very first seen when she and Ji Yeon were hissing at each other I thought she was fabulous and even when I thought she was a baddie I thought she was a fantastic baddie. The way she talked when she was serious and angry with her teeth clenched just tickled me.
~I wonder if in that year she told her children that their dad passed away?
~I love all the music that was played at Kim Bon's entrances.
~While the story wasn't romance-focused I wish there was a little more at the end. A mission to pretend they're married? Okay cool but a nod that they wanted to begin a relationship together would have at least been great if not a kiss.
~Overall, So much fun!

Required fields are marked *

pickledplumtree

November 18, 2018 at 12:51 PM

~Oh yes and I didn't mention my one other thought...that was some of the most gratuitous product placement for Quiznos...from that first extended trip there for pizza and sandwiches to the last. I guess they have to linger on it longer since it's finally not Subway! :D

Required fields are marked *

pickledplumtree

November 18, 2018 at 1:09 PM

Oh! I keep thinking of more!
~I was SO HAPPY about Jin Tae's end! I really thought he was gone for a second then I was like...wait a second...and when it was confirmed he had his new identity I felt so glad.

Required fields are marked *

24 PakalanaPikake

November 18, 2018 at 1:11 PM

Part 1 of 2

Thank you for recapping the final episode of TERIUS BEHIND ME, @helcat. It has been a pleasure reading your recaps while live-watching the show. You and collaborator @abirdword have enhanced my enjoyment of the drama, which at times has had too much collateral damage for a rom-com. Overall, however, the tale of Ae-rin and Joon-Joon's adventures with KIS, NIS, and their hunktastically domestic neighbor across the hall has been a delight.

The spy stuff has often veered between ridiculous and tragic. I got whiplash from the murder of Ae-rin's husband in the opening episode, and was appalled. Considering the mayhem and suffering of characters in some of the other shows I've been watching (THE THIRD CHARM(!!), ROOM NO. 9, GUEST, PLAYER, BAD PAPA), the cartoonish quality of TERIUS has been a relief. TERIUS has never taken itself too seriously, and for that I have been grateful. Thus I have been willing to suspend my disbelief in return for squee-inducing babysitting interludes accented with nose nuzzles, and Kim Bon's touching bromances with Yong-tae and stay-at-home dad Sang-ryul. My astonishment at the latter's request for a nose kiss from Bon was exceeded only by my amazement at the matter-of-fact way with which our hero delivered it. ROFLMAO at Kang Ki-young's depiction of fanboying to the max – and So Ji-sub's palpable noblesse oblige.

Another favorite bit is the som-com (comically sleep-inducing) aspect of Terius's borrrring reading of fairy tails to the kiddos. I loved how he cut loose with all the verve of a recitation of the NIS procedure for field-stripping his sniper rifle. It was the vocal equivalent of So Ji-sub's magnificently deadpan expressions.

Speaking of which, I'm glad that TERIUS has been my memorable introduction to So Ji-sub's acting. He has been having as much fun with this role as Song Seung-heon in PLAYER and Shin Dong-wook in DAE JANG-GEUM IS WATCHING. I love it when a little glee shows through in a performance.

I thought this was my first time seeing Jung In-sun, but I'm floored to realize I've already watched several of her shows: WILD CHIVES AND SOY BEAN SOUP: 12 YEARS REUNION, MIRROR OF THE WITCH / SECRET HEALER (in which she played the manshin used to conceive a royal heir via black magic), CIRCLE, and the film GYEONGJU. Surprise, surprise. I'll keep my eyes open for her now. I really enjoyed her performance as Ae-rin.

- Continued -

Required fields are marked *

PakalanaPikake

November 18, 2018 at 1:12 PM

Part 2 of 2

Do-woo started out as nerdy and seemingly inept for an NIS agent. It was great fun to watch Sung Joo's performance as he realized he was enamored of Ji-yeon, who only had eyes for Terius. He did a nice job of gradually ramping up Do-woo's besottedness in a believable way. The scenes with the red leaf were very touching, especially the one in Ji-yeon's hospital room. I've posted a link to the O. Henry short story “The Last Leaf” that Do-woo mentioned, and in the comment below it, to a treasure trove of more stories. I've been a fan of the writer since I was young. You may already be familiar with one of his classics, “The Gift of the Magi.”
http://www.dramabeans.com/members/pakalanapikake/activity/649883/

Linguistic Trivia: O. Henry coined the term “banana republic” while himself on the lam as an embezzler. Which makes him practically a patron saint of Yong-tae. ;-)
https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/banana-republic-word-history

Speaking of Yong-tae, Show really had me going there for a moment when it appeared that K had gunned him down in the street. Then I recalled Terius's promise to give him a new identity – and the surefire method to ensure its success. As soon as I saw his urn at the columbarium, I suspected that Yong-tae had lived to vainly preen another day, but was relieved when I saw him at his new coffee shop with my own eyes. Thank you, Writer-nim, for a memorable villain who came in from the cold – and Son Ho-jun for bringing him to life in all his spiffily bromantic vainglory. Well done!

I've looked forward to every episode of TERIUS, and will remember it for the sweet and uplifting relationships that bloomed amidst the madcap spy escapades. Ji-yeon and Do-woo got to Iceland after all. Even the prickly Director Kwon came around and moved into King's Castle Apartments. LOL. The fact that Kim Bon returned to drink a mojito with Ae-rin at Namsan Tower was the icing on the cake. Better yet was their deployment to New York complete with matching wedding rings. I can almost hear them saying at some future date in a second season, “We'll always have New York.” Until that sequel materializes, I know that Terius has everyone's back. ;-)

Thanks again to our recappers and all the Beanies whose comments and insights added to my enjoyment of TERIUS BEHIND ME. – Wishing all Beanies in the USA a preemptive “Happy Thanksgiving!” ;-)

-30-

Required fields are marked *

PakalanaPikake

November 18, 2018 at 1:29 PM

Nearly forgot: I loved the new identity Brother Bon supplied Yong-tae, in the guise of Wang Jeong-nam's dongsaeng: Wang Mi-nam. It perfectly explains the business name of the sole-proprietorship "Handsome Man's Coffee Shop." At least according to his surname, he is a king in exile. It sure beats the sageuk bowl of poison, which I suddenly realized looks like black coffee. What a disturbing thought. ;-)

Required fields are marked *

25 Islander north

November 18, 2018 at 4:14 PM

Yong-Tae "I wonder what they're doing" seems to me that he'd like to be back in the game with them a bit...just love his character!

Required fields are marked *

26 BdxPelik

November 18, 2018 at 6:06 PM

Now I know why So Ji Sub + kids is such an iconic combination (this is my first drama with him). Thanks for all the great recaps!

Required fields are marked *

27 Ashes2Ashes

November 19, 2018 at 12:48 AM

A big thanks @helcat and @abirdword for recapping this drama. Your comments and snappy recaps provided an extra layer of appreciation to this fun ride.
This drama was a welcome break among-st the recent drama landscape and stood out for its warmth and cute despite making many (oh,soo manyy missteps with the spy genre). At the end of the show,I am pleased with the motley crew we are left with and the actualized and implied growth in their stories.
Highlights on the final ep:
*Soo Ae-Rin and Bon are got their namsan-tower mojito and are apparently gonna be spying together. I can almost buy them being a spy family with Joon-Joon twins providing ample distraction during missions by being their gleefully cute,destructive selves :)
*Joo-Yeon and Do Woo are a couple, yayy..She is the kind of second female lead more shows need and am glad for their HEA. May be they can double-date during missions with our newly minted spy couple? ;)
*Speaking of villian turned-second lead(for a hot second) turned reformed Bon fan boy Ji Young Tae :) I was about to have words with the show when it looked like they were killing off this popular character, but thank you writer-nim for using your WTF spy twists for good this time,and giving him brand new (albeit a bit lonely) turn in life. Min-nam coffee for the win :)
*KIS stayed KIS--Sun-Mi finally growing up and taking control of her life, and Sang Ryul having a brand new baby were nice touches. Eun-ha obviously stayed the way she is. I thought it would have been nice if she was shown to take secret English lessons but she really doesn't need any improvements coz she is queen ;)
*The only time,the show had me shook.Was wondering how show would(if at all) depict skinship between Bon and Ae-Rin since it they have already done the ko-ko kisses but the show went and did it with Sang Ryul-Bon. The scene I didn't know I needed. :d
*The mind-numbing array of PPLs that the show hit us with was no joke. But since you gave us the cute,we will forgive you (psst that fairy tale reader app with 'immersive' story telling is kinda neat ;) )
All in all, it was a fun show with a lot of heart that gave a lot of us joy. Until next time :)

Required fields are marked *

28 neener ~ Inside the Magic Shop ~

November 19, 2018 at 9:51 PM

I'm just happy Yong-tae was alive and living his normal life with his Minam cafe!

Required fields are marked *

29 Lala

December 18, 2018 at 10:02 PM

Young tae is alive! Im so glad, so i much that im more happy than when kim bon survived from that car explosion

Required fields are marked *

30 lady cosmos

February 13, 2019 at 4:15 PM

did anyone realise in ep 31 where Kim Bon was tending as hairstylist and doctor to the twins, he called them Ms Kim and Mr Kim??? (WAS THIS A HUGE HINT??? but we all didnt really pay attention to)

Required fields are marked *

31 Janice

September 26, 2019 at 5:51 PM

Everyone asking for season 2,but I doubt it. Korean drama seldom for season 2.And a lot of kdrama has been requested for a season 2 but still no season 2.👍