Mixed-up Investigative Agency: Case 14
Seriously, just when I think there isn’t room for any more twists, Mixed-up Investigative Agency throws another one in. I’ve never seen such a tightly plotted series before, not even Veronica Mars. Here, it seems like not only are many clues peppered throughout all the episodes from the beginning, not one clue is wasted.
SONG OF THE DAY
Kite – “Insomnia for the Cake.” Kite is a modern-rock band that I haven’t quite made up my mind about yet. Their first album is half meh average rock, but there are a few tracks I quite like. This is one of them, for its interesting melody and laid-back rhythm. [ Download ]
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© javabeans for Dramabeans, 2007. |
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Post tags: Lee Eun-sung, Lee Min-ki, Mixed-up Investigative Agency, Ryu Seung-soo, Yeh Ji-won
i’m loving the end skits more and more. hilarious yet touching also. this drama is such a gem~ love it to pieces
Thanks javabeans. Your summaries are always anticipated.
Sounds like a hilarious episode. Can’t wait to watch it. I knew the antiques grandpa was one of the men on the roof because I recognized his voice in one of Eun-jae’s flashbacks.
As always, thank you for the recap. *muah!* I refer to them all the time when I’m working on the subs.
I’m really enjoying this series. Thanks for recapping them.
the ending is really right, all those minor characters are major characters in their lives.
I was fully entertained by this series all the way until the end – this ep. 14 – was a breakthrough in the bonding of the group of 4 – her combined surrogate brother, sister, father, mother – bits and pieces from all 3 of them – to make their unit complete.
This series (more than any Kdramas I’ve seen) had such significant universal moments – moments that transcede and overcome language – i.e. puppy love, heartbreak, grief, humiliation, sorrow, loss, jubilation…. there were so many scenes without dialogue that communicated perfectly – walking along the water’s edge, hiding in the bushes, dancing in the streets, force feeding a lonely young lady glass noodles on Chuseok…bubble baths, fear, looking at the moon, looking at a sad man who is looking at the moon…. a father watching a child in a hospital bed, 2 sons watching their mothers failing – one from dementia, one from the loss of the other son….the “better” son that disappeared…
your summaries filled in the gaps from my limited knowledge of Korean – but I was able to watch and enjoy this series without the summaries – which is meant to applaud the PD, actors and writer’s et al on creating a series that was not limited to knowledge of the language – and this in no way is meant to suggest that I don’t need your summaries – i only found it remarkable that this series was so well done that much of it could be understood by watching it…
Have the ratings picked up at all?
A pity…
i think i misunderstood and thought that this would be the last post (how silly, what drama has 14 episodes?)… Alas! i was wrong! and never so happy to be wrong…
Awww, that was my favorite ending so far. Couldn’t wait till the subs are out and have been spoiling myself by reading your summaries. I totally adore this series. It exceeded my expectations by far.
@canyayasis, i too find lots of humanity in this drama. I admit the plot is very clever. However, what stood out for me is the emphasis the writers placed on how these characters handle their relationships. The audience see how the group handle their ups and downs, losses and gains, heartbreaks and joys, friendship and betrayal… It’s real and relatable. And was handled delicately and thoughtfully. I love Yong-su. I also love the fact that a lot of characters (either major or minor) were included in the storyline. That ending skit reminded me that everyone is an important person to at least someone else in this world (if not, to him/herself). Such a sweet ensemble series.
I hope that despite the ratings, this drama will inspire similar works in the future. MIA ranks as one of 2007’s best. Thank you for the recaps, javabeans.
as strange as this may sound – i preferred E.I.A. to Coffee Prince –
- for whatever its particular subtleties,
- i found it more believable that four misfits find each other and go on a treasure hunt, (Evasive Investigative Agency)
than one rich good looking guy, thinking a girl was a guy and having an identity crisis – (Coffee Prince)
i mean, come on,
if you’re going to surrender your critical thinking
and commit to 16 plus hours for watching a series,
then i’ll go with the treasure hunt !
Although I enjoyed Coffee Prince immensely, I would have to agree with canyayasis. EIA could very well be the best kdrama I’ve ever seen. Still Soulmate and SamSoon are formidable rivals for that spot.
It’s still early for me to tell without seeing the ending (cause some endings are just so WTF?). I feel that this series is notable more for the story/writing than anything else (although acting was also top notch). MIA is great because it seeked out to be different. And i think it succeeded nicely. Coffee Prince, Soulmate, and MNIKSS are great romantic dramedies (with awesome music); so the comparison may not be apt cause they are in a different genre. But if we’re judging on the merit of storytelling alone, MIA is the sentimental favorite. I’m curious to know how javabeans would rate this drama.
The endings are really great!
I’ve always thought it would be funny if they did a drama based on the side-characters of another really famous drama, like a Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead k-drama
I agree with saying i think EIA is such a wonderfully written drama. Its has this sense of reality of everyone’s lives. How we all are parts of little stories or a even bigger picture. Not that we may know it yet. I like how the chracters arent so perfect, but they have little knacks too.
I know there are talks of season 2. the pD says he will do it if its the same cast.
my only hope that for a sequel the writers and the crew has another plot line stored through that will be a poignant if not more tight that this one. I love the cast of this drama cause they feel as if they were made for the parts. Im glad u took this on sarah. Thanks!
And I am so late and no one will read this but I just HAVE TO GUSH. This is one of my top five dramas ever. When I first read “treasure hunt” I was afraid the plot was going to take over the show and the characters were going to be uninteresting as happens to a lot of series where plot takes center stage….they’re so focused on developing the plot, character development kind of gets shafted. But not in EIA. THe characters are absolutely loveable. Airtight plot AND larger-than-life, flawed, perfectly developed characters????????? I am just too impressed and incredibly sad that its so underrated.
Ter I am just like you. Started watching this drama rather late, but totally absolutely love it completely.
I also noticed something noone has mentioned, someone on the production side must have a thing for british entertainment. 1) the song playing when Mu-yeol confesses to Eun at the hospital is the PM’s Love Theme from the british rom-com Love Actually, 2) during the date with Min Chul the background song is Perhaps Perhaps Perhaps — the theme from british sitcom Coupling 3) the montage at the end of case 14 is exactly like the heathrow airport montage in Love Actually. When I rewatch this drama, and it will be re-watched lol. I am gonna try and scope our more hidden gems.