City Hall: Episode 20 (Final)

180 January 25, 2010January 24, 2016

by samsooki

(written by samsooki, with mead33, 0timelost and cleown)

Episode 20 – The Greatest Ending Ever.

Last episode, Mayor Shin Mi Rae faced BB’s awesome threat of literally destroying Inju City and everyone in it. And so Mi Rae had no choice but to sign the MOU and Authorization, the documents that would allow the building of a toxic waste recycling plant in Inju City – an act condemning the city to a slow death rather than a quick one. Mi Rae worked out a deal prior to the signing however, resigning her position as Mayor and only going through the motions of signing even though she had no authority to sign anything. This allowed Jo Gook the time he needed to secure hard evidence of the Dae Han Group’s intentions as well as getting legislation passed to prevent future toxic waste recycling plants from being built on Korean soil. The combined actions of Mi Rae and Jo Gook have saved Inju City, but the cost was steep. Mi Rae is no longer Mayor and is probably going to jail for fraud, losing everything she owns including her freedom.

Jo Gook looks at Mi Rae with profound sadness. Why couldn’t she have just hung on for just a little while longer? Mi Rae notes, eyeing Go Hae, that she had no choice as there were too many lives on the line. She had to act.

SONG OF THE DAY

Park Sang-woo – “사랑하고 사랑합니다” (I love you and I love you) [ Download ]

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Go Hae might be beaten, but she is not through. She swears that she will follow through with the criminal complaint, and make sure that Mi Rae will pay dearly for her actions. Jo Gook stops Go Hae and tells her to stop; if she doesn’t stop, then he will have to continue as well, and ultimately, the Dae Han Group will be forced to take responsibility. This makes Go Hae flip out.

Go Hae: Responsibility?! Responsibility??! I may not know what is inside these documents, but you should damn well know that this isn’t yet the time for those kinds of words. Don’t you know that I haven’t confirmed anything yet? You should have waited and given me a chance to find out what is going on!

Go Hae is actually right. Jo Gook said that he would not let go of her hand until she let go of his hand. Saying those words means something. If you hold someone’s hand, you better well mean it, and that means that Jo Gook has to take responsibility for Go Hae. Not only did he fail to do that, but he outright betrayed her, all the while, holding her hand. If Go Hae files the criminal complaint and Mi Rae goes to jail, will Jo Gook still hold Mi Rae’s hand through the jail cell during visiting hours?

And yet, through it all, Mi Rae has won. Despite not having an education, despite having no money, despite being attacked at every turn, Mi Rae has beaten every single opponent she has faced. Just look at everyone she had to overcome:

All of the younger women at the Miss Baendaengi Pageant. Then Joo Hwa. Then the Bureau Directors, the Secretariat and fellow assistant. A bunch of thugs throwing eggs. Then the corrupt Mayor Go. Then she had to overcome her own lack of confidence in herself.

Then Mi Rae had to beat all of the candidates for the mayoral by-election, including more gangsters assaulting her. Then the Deputy Mayor, Joo Hwa, and the Bureau Directors again. Then the landowners opposing her. And then BB and Go Hae…

What does Mi Rae want, now that the end is here? Mi Rae still wants an expensive handbag from Jo Gook. Jo Gook might see it as an attempt at humor, but I see this as both an attempt at humor, and something that touches on truth. After all, getting a brand name handbag from a boyfriend who cares about her is the only thing that Mi Rae hasn’t done yet in her life. In less than a year, Mi Rae has done more than most people do in a lifetime, except she still hasn’t gotten that name brand handbag that every other girl has gotten from their beaus. Jo Gook, you idiot, you could have at least gotten her a bag!

It’s time to get back to City Hall and say goodbye. Mi Rae waves bravely and starts to walk away but Jo Gook grabs her and holds her tight. At last, Mi Rae loses her composure and weeps in Jo Gook’s arms. Jo Gook is out of bright ideas, and the only thing he can do is just hold a sobbing Mi Rae.

Mi Rae appears before the entire staff of City Hall, stating only that she has tendered her resignation. Her entire staff, all of whom are now behind her, cannot believe their ears. Resign? Why? Boo Mi, Jung Do, all the Bureau Directors, everyone who has finally seen the light and supported Mi Rae, they all feel the huge loss that this is.

But Mi Rae won’t get into the details about how everyone’s very livelihoods were threatened by BB and how she had no choice, but merely states that this is the best thing she has ever done. She merely asks that they give her a cool send-off, but before she can finish the thought, the tears again come unbidden. She cannot finish her thought.

The next day, Mi Rae speaks before the landowners and announces that there will be no purchase. Most of the landowners are angry and depart without listening to the reasoning, but a few remain behind and cheer for Mi Rae… including, I really REALLY hate to say it, but the two shop-keeper “friends” who betrayed Mi Rae by signing affidavits charging her of corruption. They apologize to Mi Rae, saying they had no idea of how much burden that all of this had caused her. I am less than moved. In fact, I am angered. Are they trying to excuse their felony perjury because they weren’t aware of what a teensy charge of corruption would do? I won’t spend any more time thinking about them, they are a waste of breath to talk about. But they and many others stand and cheer for Mi Rae, knowing in their hearts that whatever it was that Mi Rae did, she did to protect them.

Miles away, Go Hae has finally confronted her father, showing him the contracts that Jo Gook brought back from Europe. The contracts detail the toxic waste to be imported into Korea. Go Hae’s father, the chairman of the Dae Han Group, doesn’t even look. He ignores the question completely, saying that his company will be just fine – a few “The Environment is Important to the Dae Han Group” commercials and all will be better.

Go Hae is horrified. What about everything she learned from him, about business ethics, fairness, responsibility and morality? Were they just lies? Go Hae’s father ignores her questions, arguing instead that he and the Dae Han Group have been feeding Korea for decades, and now it is time for Korea to spoon-feed the Dae Han Group a little. Isn’t THAT what is fair? Go Hae cannot believe what she is hearing.

The biggest loser in this whole drama, since about mid-way through, has been Go Hae. She was played by Jo Gook from the start, but at least she knew that it was him using her and vice versa. That was the deal. And while she was played by BB, she could tolerate this since it meant having a man like Jo Gook. Again, that was the deal. But then Jo Gook betrays Go Hae for “true love,” and breaks the bargain they had struck and deep-sixes the arrangement with BB. And now, Go Hae learns that her own father had betrayed her and her principles for mere money. Chairman Go shrugs off Go Hae’s emotional response and tells her to go get married to Jo Gook, to solidify the deal with BB. Go Hae responds.

Go Hae: No, that won’t ever happen. I can’t go now. I can’t go to that man. Even if I wanted to, I can’t go now. Because of you, I cannot go!

Actually, Go Hae is mistaken here, since Jo Gook wouldn’t take Go Hae even if the Dae Han Group was going to build an environmentally sound rainforest populated entirely by cute baby pandas in Inju City. But Go Hae is physically unable to see beyond her frame of reference, and that frame of reference has never included “love” as a reason to do anything. This last part is perhaps the biggest betrayal of a father to a daughter, as Chairman Go never taught his own daughter that love can mean more than all the money and power in the world. BB never taught his son that you can climb high while protecting others, like a true man. And likewise, Chairman Go never taught his daughter that living can be about more than accumulating, be it money, power or people.

And again, we find ourselves in BB’s office. Jo Gook has given BB one last chance to change his ways and try to be a father to his son, but BB refuses to consider it. He has never once lived his life as a father, only as a leader. And so, Jo Gook can be BB’s successor, but he will never be BB’s son.

Jo Gook: No, you are mistaken. You will not live as a legend or as a leader, but only as a father!

Jo Gook turns around and calls in the press, and announces that he is the son of BB, and BB is retiring from public service to devote his time to learning to become a father to his estranged son, whom he had fathered but never raised. It is a death blow to BB, who sees his entire career evaporate before his eyes. BB never saw it coming. In the beginning, I just thought that BB was amoral. But BB turned out to be worse than amoral – he turned out to be immoral. With his intelligence and work ethic, BB could have been a great father and husband. He could have been President. And in the end, he gets nothing. It is a fitting end.

As her last act, Mi Rae writes a letter to the next Mayor, a tradition for politicians that crosses all cultures and history. The letter finished, she gathers up Boo Mi and Jung Do to escort her to the police station. It is time to go, but Shin Mi Rae lingers for just a little bit, looking around at this office of hers that she held so briefly, where she accomplished so much but left unfinished so many of her dreams to make Inju City into a great place to live and work.

As they head out, they are surprised to be met by a group of Mi Rae supporters holding signs, asking her to stay on. It is a tender moment, indeed. Mi Rae is overcome by emotion, as her supporters literally cheer her to stay and continue to protect them as she promised that she would. They chant various slogans in unison, pumping their fists in the air, as Mi Rae watches with tears in her eyes.

Eraser and Cat: Wonder Woman Shin Mi Rae! Take care of our Inju City!

Honey and Jessica: Shade of a rose, Shin Mi Rae, you are our only Mayor!

(Note: Korea, after the Korean War, had a series of increasingly corrupt governments that did not represent the people nor follow the rule of law. But as a reflexive response, Korean citizens developed an obsession with mass protests to effect democratic change. These protests proved effective, even as many were brutally put down. At one point, unified and synchronized demonstrations were so popular that they were called the “national sport” of Korea. These days, however, Korea tends to be much more relaxed, maybe sedated by relative wealth, comfort and technology. I think City Hall, with its heart-breaking one-woman protest all the way to this little gathering of Inju City’s citizens, is a little reminder of that legacy – that ordinary people can change their destiny, and change their world.)

At that moment, Go Hae appears. In a surprise move, perhaps, Go Hae announces that she and Dae Han Group are not going to sue! She gives back the MOU to Mi Rae. Mi Rae stares at the document and then at Go Hae. Go Hae has a response waiting for Mi Rae:

Go Hae: I cannot lose to you, Shin Mi Rae. In my whole life, I’ve never lost to anyone. It would be a terrible thing, if I had to lose to a person like you. And so, you should give me the victory. Let’s start over from the beginning…. We aren’t going to import toxic waste from Europe. Rather, we will build you a great factory which will use only our own country’s recycled products. And of course, there still will be the municipal hospital. The only thing that I have left to protect is my pride.

Go Hae’s determination to see a positive project through, complete with a factory and a hospital, is noteworthy. Go Hae’s action here is undoubtedly against what her father would have wished to have happen, and so it actually completes and ends the cycle of betrayal. Go Hae has “betrayed” her father’s principles, destroying what is left of Dae Han Group’s ambition for profit at the expense of innocents. Go Hae has learned that she alone can protect her own pride – nobody else can do it for her, not Jo Gook, not BB, and certainly not her father.

Mi Rae responds that this kind of good news should be given to the deputy Mayor of Inju City, since she had resigned. But in a surprise, the deputy Mayor also appears out of nowhere, and rips up Mi Rae’s resignation! And the weasel of a secretariat has even washed the mayor’s car for transport back to City Hall! (Again, I’m not moved. You mistreated Mi Rae from the beginning and you think a car-wash is going to make up for it? Still, it’s a start…)

Woo-hoo! Shin Mi Rae is Mayor of Inju City again!!

Epilogues –

Mi Rae and Go Hae!

Mi Rae and Go Hae sign their new agreement, and then they shake hands. This is the second time we’ve seen Mi Rae offer her hand in mutual respect. First it was to Jo Gook, as one politician to another as equals, when she was elected Mayor. And now, to Go Hae, it is as one woman to another, again as equals. By offering her hand first, Mi Rae is proclaiming that she is no one’s pawn and no one’s inferior. By accepting Mi Rae’s hand, Go Hae (and Jo Gook, way back when) is acknowledging this truth. Way to go, Mi Rae!

Joo Hwa and Jung Do!

And the Mi Rae / Go Hae relationship isn’t the only one being mended. Thanks to Mi Rae’s remarkable sacrifice, career criminal Joo Hwa has finally understood what it means to be a public servant. And with that realization, she has understood why Jung Do had worked so hard for Mi Rae. Joo Hwa shows up at the government center to process her divorce documentation, but inside her folder, she finds a love letter written by Jung Do.

Jung Do expresses his deep love for her, acknowledging his own faults and hopes that whatever happens, she must be happy. It is enough to turn a reformed career criminal like Joo Hwa into a bucket of tears.

Joo Hwa doesn’t file divorce papers, and instead goes to a batting cage where she goes when she is sad. It looks like she has finally started seeing things as they really are, and she realizes how hollow her life has been. Jung Do finds her, though, and brings her back home. In a symbolic moment, Jung Do cleans Joo Hwa, scrubbing away all of Joo Hwa’s mis-deeds from her, and then they have the best make-up sex in the history of k-drama.

It is so good, that the next day, Jung Do is still smiling and chuckling about it the next day, grinning like a fool.

Months later, Jung Do is running the Miss Baedaengi pageant again, and this time he finds that his own wife is there submitting her entrance form! LOL! Jung Do is VERY surprised, but Joo Hwa is game. She has brought food… and the delicious aroma…. *urk*

*urk*

In a k-drama staple (what IS it about a throw-up face that indicates “I’m preggers!” to Korean people? see also Goong, Full House), Joo Hwa who had been unable to conceive, is nauseated by the smell… omg? A jubilant Jung Do then announces that his wife is preggers to everyone within earshot (extremely presumptively, I might add). I was going to ignore this part, but I include it for Jung Do’s sake. He deserves to be happy.

Jo Rang and Jo Yong Hee (Jo Gook’s son and mom)!

Jo Gook visits the flower shop in Inju City that he bought for his mom. With BB’s dreams shattered, Jo Gook’s mom feels more at peace knowing at least that her pain that BB did not ultimately profit from the pain that he caused her. Jo Gook is glowing with happiness, and Jo Gook’s mom is apparently naturally perky, so unlike her dour self throughout the series.

Jo Gook gets a pink rose to give to Mi Rae from the cutie Rang, no charge. Jo Gook, in turn, takes a white rose and gives it to Rang for him to give it to that girl…

Rang: Oh, you mean Kyung Hee? Dad, didn’t I already tell you that she’s not my style?

Jo Gook: Ahh, is that so… but you even know her name!

Caught by Dad! Rang gives a small smirk. Ah, the smitten kitten…

Jo Yong Hee, the woman who gave birth to an illegitimate son named Jo Gook, and had to live her entire life as a whore with no surname of a father to give to her son, smiles as well. Being in this place, freed from the stigma by BB’s resignation (which acknowledged that BB is the father), and watching her own son grow up to be nothing like BB, now… she can breathe a little. Now, she can live a little.

And Rang and Kyung Hee? Could they be the next cute couple?

Mi Rae and Her City Hall!

Mayor Mi Rae learns from Jung Do of a World Cities Festival being held in Korea. The Festival hosts a talent competition and first place is a new car! Mi Rae leaps to action, recruiting all Bureau Directors and Joo Hwa.

They do their interpretation of the “Sorry, Sorry” music video dance by the Korean boy-band group, Super Junior.

And then winner is announced: it is Inju City’s City Hall!

Here’s Mayor Shin Mi Rae making the “sarang hamnida” (“I lub you”) pose with her hand.

(Rating their performances, Mi Rae looked outstanding! Most impressive! However, I am very sorry to say that Boo Mi did not keep the beat the entire time. Joo Hwa’s complete lack of coordination, I can understand, but Boo Mi is a Republic of Korea Ahjumma, and she should have been able to do it. I know, I know, let’s see how well I can dance if I give birth to three kids… but I’m not buying it. Boo Mi just isn’t a very good dancer.)

At the celebration dinner at Mexico and the Chicken, everyone is there, except for Soo In (glaring absence! grrrrrr.) Jo Gook gets up early, however, he has stuff he must attend to, telling Mi Rae not to stay too late. And Mi Rae surveys the table. These are her people now. It is good to be Mayor.

And lastly, Mi Rae and Jo Gook!

Mi Rae walks home from the Mexico and the Chicken dinner, singing and happy. She turns off the street lamps one by one as they flip on as she nears. But as one of the lamps turns on, she sees a sign hanging from the post.

The sign says, “I am someone who pays rent to live in Shin Mi Rae’s heart.” And then, the next lamp turns on as she nears, and this one says, “But instead of paying overdue rent, please accept this brand-name bag instead.”

Another lamp turns on, and Mi Rae sees the biggest bouquet of roses, wrapped up in a bow.

Mi Rae carries her huge “bag” to her house, but there is another surprise waiting for her. Jo Gook is there, with a candle-lit table in the yard. They look at each other, with smiling eyes, in the darkness.

But then Jo Gook flips the switch. This is so cool.

Jo Gook, okay. I didn’t support you for 19 episodes. But I think this is the most romantic thing I’ve ever seen, and so in all fairness, I have to change my mind. You rock.

Jo Gook has brought a stereo system, and plays “Moon River” as he dances with Mi Rae.

Jo Gook: I have had a dream form inside of me. I want to become President of Korea one day. And on my inauguration day when I become President, just like tonight, I will be dancing with my wife…

Mi Rae (unsure where this is going): …

Jo Gook: On that inauguration day… won’t you dance with me?

How awesome is that!!

In Korean dramas, there tends to be a recurrent theme of fate, about how people who are charged to meet, will meet, and those who are destined to never be together, will go their whole lives never being whole. In this instance, we learn of events that happened 8 years prior to Mi Rae being Mayor, when Jo Gook and Jung Do were still in school. On that night when Jung Do had carried a wasted Jo Gook to Jung Do’s bedroom, their phones were switched and Jo Gook thought he was calling BB, but ended up calling Mi Rae, both of whom were #5 on the speed dial.

And so, from that chance “meeting,” we are finally at the end of the episode. With the wedding between Jo Gook and Shin Mi Rae. If there is a more beautiful and elegant bride than Mi Rae, I’ve not yet seen it. After all the buckets of tears and heartache, after all of the struggles and the breakup, after everything that these two had to go through, we have the happiest ending in a k-drama ever.

Last Comments –

First off, I’d like to thank javabeans for graciously giving space for me to have fun with these recaps and to share that fun with you. And I’d like to thank everyone for being patient with me, as I had to take a break from recapping to attend to a preggers wife of my own (and no, she didn’t make throw-up faces like Joo-Hwa! But if I were living in k-drama land, how could I tell if she were pregnant?! Out pops a baby, and I would be like, “where did that baby come from, you never made the throw-up face…?”). Also, I am so thankful for mead33, 0timelost and cleown, who have helped me with these recaps, editing, commenting and writing, and without whom I would not have been able to start or finish.

City Hall turned out to be an unusual drama for me. I only started watching it after I heard some buzz about it from dramabeans Open Thread, and the beginning was a little bit rough. But starting with about Episode 4 or 5, I really started getting into it, and I couldn’t watch it in the same manner as I had watched most of the other k-dramas that I had seen. Instead of just watching the drama, as the episodes came and went, I basically lived the drama, one hour episode at a time. I lived and died with Mi Rae, and with every obstacle that she faced and overcame, with every stab in her heart, and with every victory she won for herself and for her people, I felt like I was right there with her. And all praise must go to Kim Sun Ah, who made this drama into an experience to had to be lived, and not just watched. And that’s really why I picked this drama as my Dramabeans 2009 Drama of the Year, and that’s why, despite issues with directing and editing and some choppiness, I have no hesitation putting this near the top of my list of favorite dramas ever.

Lastly, I know I said that I wanted to do a special section for the “Best Of” City Hall, but going through each episode, one at a time, picking out the best scenes… in the end, I had about 24 awesome scenes (The Proposal, The Kiss, Jo Gook Eating Alone At The Porridge Shop, The Gazebo, The Taxi Scene After The Gazebo, Mi Rae’s Bedroom After The Gazebo, Dancing With The Jacket, The Seawall, The Staircase Breakup, The First Time They Hug, The Tango Dance, The Tent Sleeping Scene, The Back Of The Head Slap, BB’s Threat To Destroy Inju City, among many others), and I couldn’t pick just 5. And so, in the end, I think the way to end this recap series is just to say thank you. I really hope you all enjoyed this Cityhall Journey with me, and on behalf of mead33, 0timelost and cleown, I want to thank everyone for watching the series and following along with Soompi City Hall and these recaps! *wave*

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101 deannadsc

January 27, 2010 at 4:18 AM

Samsooki...you wrote one hell of a CH-RECAP!!! with your very 'detailed' descriptions & story-telling technique...you've managed to make me re-live ALL the wonderful highlights & unforgettable scenes of CH...all over again!!! From that beautifully-woven -script of love & politics & intrigues...to the roller-coaster-ride of emotions...you've expressly conveyed to us, your readers...exactly WHY CH has emerged as the best drama for 2009!!!
I most especially loved this part of your comment!!!Because I too felt that way, while watching & re-watching(5 times) this series!!!

Instead of just watching the drama, as the episodes came and went, I basically lived the drama, one hour episode at a time. I lived and died with Mi Rae, and with every obstacle that she faced and overcame, with every stab in her heart, and with every victory she won for herself and for her people, I felt like I was right there with her. And all praise must go to Kim Sun Ah, who made this drama into an experience to had to be lived, and not just watched.

Thanks, Samsooki & am looking out for your Chuno recaps, as well!!!
P.S. Cha Seung Won was pretty awesome here, too!!!

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102 samsooki

January 27, 2010 at 6:55 AM

@97, arhe -

What I meant is that you will often find stories of destiny in k-dramas, but not just in k-dramas, I guess.

Part of this is the idea that certain people are linked together, and again and again, as they are reborn and live their lives, they will always find their paths crossing, even if they don't recognize each other at first. And so, each life they lead, at some point perhaps, they are able to recognize the fate and destiny that they have... and either choose to fight it or choose to live it.

Like in Delightful Girl Choon Hyang, Mong Ryong and Choon Hyang are just meant to be together, and despite all efforts for Choon Hyang to hide and try to protect Mong Ryong, in the end, she is part of that cycle and faces it.

And sometimes, it is not to be, like in the HK movie, The Killer (with Chow Yun Fat and Sally Yeh), individuals are destined to come close, but never get together.

In City Hall, the idea is that Mi Rae and Jo Gook were ALWAYS, from the very start, destined to be together. Mi Rae didn't hang up the phone when she got a wrong call. And there was a reason why she was #5 of Jung Do's speed dial, and how she became Candidate #5, and then Jo Gook was Candidate #5 for the National Assembly seat, and again for President at the end.

Jo Gook was never right for Go Hae, but, if you think about it, Go Hae needed Jo Gook / Mi Rae to teach her about love, since Go Hae never learned it from her own dad. :)

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103 eiko

January 27, 2010 at 9:17 AM

@ Samsooki: Great explanation and share! A great way to start my morning by seeing something from you!

"karmic ties".....and whether we believe in it or not....it does make something go click or even THUD in the memory bank! Or even "ring a bell"! hmmmm....when thou doesn't believe...it doesn't connect! :-)

You know...it's really nice to know you read the responses....

Mahalo!

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104 frac

January 27, 2010 at 1:47 PM

A big thank you to Samsooki and the entire team.
It was a treat to enjoy your very personal recaps. They allowed me to relive the emotions provoked by the show while wondering about my perception of events.

As some have shared their favorite moments, I would like to mention one that I believe has not been put forward: the last Mi Rae’s speech before the elections, in the park (eleventh episode).
After the speech she is taken to task by two machos. Surprised and hurt, she does not respond. And then she is rescued by the crowd of her supporters, singing, chanting her name and their hopes : “Wonder Woman Shin Mi-Rae, please take care of Inju city. Baendaengi Shin Mi-Rae, give me a clean city! Wonder Woman Shin Mi-Rae, please take care of Inju city. Baendaengi Shin Mi-Rae, give me a clean city!”…

I absolutely love this moment and the song. For the first time maybe Mi Rae is really aware of the kind of hopes and faith she has given birth to. Her eyes at that time are a window into her soul.
This might be the birth of Shin Mi-Rae the protector.

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105 shin mi rae

January 30, 2010 at 9:47 PM

@samsooki and the recapping team, thank you so much for giving us a new dimension to this city hall journey. thank you for the insights to korean culture and history that allowed us to understand the underlyings of this drama. thank you so very much for sharing the joy of this drama with us. iam so very grateful.

@ dramabeans, thank you for giving the space to the cityhallers. we are one crazy bunch indeed.

i love this drama so much. to me, it is beyond watching 16 episodes of city hall... it is living shin mi rae's life for 16 hours. i felt her joy, her pain, her fears, her sadness and her victories. i invested not just my time but my heart as well as i rode this roller coaster of emotions...

congratulations to kim sun ah and cha seung won for giving us the most unforgettable kdrama experience ever.

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106 Fenita

February 2, 2010 at 6:54 PM

I LOVE......CITY HALL..!!!

I fall in love with both Jo Gook n Shin Mi-Rae. Their chemistry is soooo great. And I also agree with others, that their kissing scene is the best. I felt the emotion when they are kissing. It's not just a scene but deep kissing (I wonder, was Cha Seung-Won's wife very jealous on seeing the scene?? :) )

I love the OST sooo much...so perfect for each magical n deeply moments on City Hall. I heard it over and over again.

I love how this k-drama taught me a lot on how to love someone, be a good politician with conscience, and I love how Jo Gook and Shin Mi-Rae looked at each other, how their eyes speak louder than words in some scenes.

Overall, I would like to thank Saamsoki and team for recapping us the whole episode of City Hall. Your personal interpretation made me understand how things are going in the City Hall.

I LOVE CITY HALL! I LOVE KIM SUN AH n CHA SEUNG WON!

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107 YoYoYo

February 4, 2010 at 12:55 PM

Thanks for the recaps!

one question though....

in the ending...they showed that Jo Gook called Mi Rae years ago....before they met...and i believe that Mi Rae did say her name right before Jo Gook passed out/fell asleep. Does that mean that Jo Gook knew who Mi Rae was all along?

Recall from the very beginning of the first episode that Jo Gook hid from Mi Rae's view when he first saw her at the voting place when he visited Inju.

So i was wondering if he liked her all along. because through the first watch...i find it odd that he was following Mi Rae around if he didn't have feelings for her.

Agree with the notion that it's the GREATEST ENDING EVER!!!

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108 simplesim

February 6, 2010 at 7:22 AM

Congratulations and heartfelt thanks samsooki, mead33, 0timelost and cleown for completing the recaps written with so much love and sacrifice. Your dedication and the superb recaps is so fitting for THIS epic drama and compliments it to perfection!

I have put off reading the final recap and commenting as I’m finding it hard with many things going in my life but the arrival of my CH dvds is starting to make me get addicted again! Lol

Regarding how you write about Jo Gook’s mom. So understanding of her pain etc…

Well, I just went thru the Director’s cut on this particular scene (just love Rang) in the flower shop and I am so happy she also has a beautiful ending. There’s an added scene (which was edited from what we saw) of the Chairman (of the City Council of Inju City) bringing a congratulatory basket of flowers for her first day opening. So sweet and she was so happy and that is the beginning of her new love life...

I wish it wasn’t edited out, after all its less than a minute and it puts such a nice touch. :-)

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109 mai

February 6, 2010 at 11:42 PM

Oh my gosh.. I heard of this drama multiple times, but I wasn't convince on how good it would be since, argh, I hate the crazy dramatic kdramas and to me it seemed like it would be one of those. But then as I was rewatching 'Goong' I saw a comment about the kissing scene. Haha, I sound so perverted. But no, the comment was talking about how great the kissing scene in 'City Hall' was and just how that was the best of all. So I was like 'oh' okay, so I went looked up 'City Hall' then started watching music videos and stuff and it looked like it was good, and I must say, I just think Cha Seung Won is BEAUTIFUL, haha. Man, even when he cries he's beautiful. Haha. ;p I mean I think Kim Sunah's great but the only work I've seen of hers is her character "Kim Samsoon" so this was a good drama to watch, to see something different. I would say its typical but a nice different taste to it. I just love the cast, they all have great chemistry together and that's what makes this drama so GOOD!! Oh my gosh, I still hate myself for not watching this sooner. But nevertheless I'm still glad I watched this. I discovered it on Tuesday night so I spent the rest of the week not doing anything but that. Haha, I'm so behind in school now. But I'm making up for it. OKAY, soo now I'm just gonna give my thoughts on characters..

Jo Guk: I think his character is quite complex, I expected him to be more serious and uptight but instead I got a serious but funny character. Of course he is still uptight in certain ways, but he is still funny and his humor goes along with Mirae's. ;) But I just fell in love with him, he's funny, cute, charming, romantic, and helpful.. Lol, I can't help but think about all the romantic things he did for her, it made me want to be her.[AND OH MY GOSSH! The proposal was so CUTE! Politically that is.. ;D) I mean it was expected from a character in a kdrama but I thought Cha Seung Won portrayed Jo Guk well. ;) Him and Sunah had such great chemistry, I actually kinda wished they were real. ;D

Shin Mirae: I liked her, but then I didn't really like the way how she changed so dramatically. From being naiive, innocent Shin Mirae to serious, cleverally cute Mayor Shin. I'm not saying its a bad thing, I just think the shift was a bit quick. But I guess its also Mirae adapting to the political world and also with Jo Guk. I thought Sunah was really pretty, I mean compared to her image in 'Samsoon' she was a swan. ;) I like the fact that she's still not the stick thin actress acting like she's the biggest girl out of the rest. Haha, but she's still very beautiful and thin as well. ;) But, I gotta say I liked the way she expressed the emotions of Mirae, like you said I actually felt what she felt. I felt like I lived each moment and painful experience with her. ;)

Go Gohae: Oh man, this girl is hardcore, she's a woman with ambition alright. She goes all the way in getting what she wants. She constantly speaks with a smile and its scary.. Haha, especially when she's being evil.. But the only people who can make her frown for longer than a couple of seconds is Jo Guk and Shin Mirae.. Haha, I gotta say I was quite surprised at the end when we get to see how genuine she really is.. I mean I knew they had to make her stop her craziness somehow and they did it this way, showing us that she has good intentions in her work although she's willing to go all the way to get what she wants, she has good work ethics. ;)

Lee Jungdo: Aw.. I liked him from the very beginning.. He's such a loving man stuck in a awful situation. His wife has gone nuts in the political world and he can't do anything about it. I mean, oh my gosh sleeping in separate rooms, for two years? That is crazy.. But the man's got a good heart. ;)

Joo Hwa: She's sweet and cute even when she's being evil. I don't know why but, I just can't hate her. Maybe its because she's so cute.. Idk.. Haha, but I guess we see why Jungdo loves her so much. I don't really have much to say about her, she plays an important role but that role kinda dies down to being more subtle, it does come back but it comes back for Jungdo. ;)

Sooin: I thought he was one cute assistant! Lol. ;D But we all trusted him although a little suspicious.. But when we find out he turned his back on Jo Guk it was heartbreaking but I guess we should be glad Jo Guk kept him around, brought him back to his senses. ;) I loved the input Sooin put in this drama with the relationship between Jo Guk and Mirae. Lol, there was the one scene that made me laugh. When Jo Guk misses Mirae and is looking at the Inju homepage to see her picture, right when Sooin walks in he tries to pretend like he wasn't doing anything, but Sooin bluntly replies "I saw everything" Lol, and gives him the clearer picture of Mirae.. With this Jo Guk knows that Sooin isn't falling for his act of not caring about Mirae and he tells Sooin his true thoughts and feelings.. Ahh.. I love Sooin. ;)

BB: He is one ambitious, bitter old man.. He's scary and when he actually smiles, its even scarier. He makes Jo Guk's love and devotion to him look like nothing and its so sad.. Although we see a little improvement later, throughout the drama he was always the one intervening and almost torturing Jo Guk..? Idk, my opinion. ;) But I think the only reason he treated Jo Guk the way he did was because Jo Guk is his son.. Although he denies it and doesn't say it.. He acknowledges Jo Guk. But him being a man of ambition, he does it in a not so good way, that Jo Guk can't see. Hmm.. But the actor sure played this character well. ;)

The rest of the cast was great, I thought they all brought something big to the drama that made it great also. ;) Ah.. I really liked this drama, it was such a perfect balance. ;)

OKAY, I'm done. ;)

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110 kbo

February 7, 2010 at 1:38 AM

I just love the movie! Have watched it countless of time. Love the chemistry between SMR and JK. What a coupl. The way JK looks at SMR expresses his emotion and love for her without words was unbelieveble.
Felt SMR pains when JK had to leave her during the park scene and in the taxi where fingers were touch. Words were not needed to express the feeling. They were

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111 alodia

February 9, 2010 at 2:53 AM

This is very very late...
but with all my might...
here's an standing ovation to samsooki, along with the wonderful girls: mead33, 0timelost and cleown!

*Applause! Applause! Applause!*

I really don't know how else I can thank Samsooki for doing this recap!
First a whole bunch of Cityhallers were born because of Samsooki and his recaps! This makes a lot of reluctant viewers to watch it. And it also became another wonderful journey among Cityhallers!

And I enjoy every bit and pieces of it. It was beautifully written, I feel that simply saying that the recaps gave justice to the drama seems like an understatement.

And just like City Hall, I will surely come back here to read and re-read and re-read the recaps.... I don't think i'll ever get tired of it.

Again, will all my heart, thanks Samsooki! *hugs*
Till next time... *sniffs*

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112 takekane

February 19, 2010 at 6:40 AM

I love your recap Samsooki!
Never thought that a drama with a title like "City Hall" could end as the best k-drama as far as I can remember, with a perfect ending...
and I never thought that an ahjussi (a lawyer ahjussi at that) could write like this...thank you for all the fun and feelings revoked by reading your recaps.

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113 animedork101

February 20, 2010 at 11:23 PM

To Samsooki and the City Hall Team,

I avoided City Hall until I read your recaps. I enjoyed watching the drama side-by-side with these recaps. I just wanted to praise the fact that the writer behind these recaps is a man. I grew up around guys who lived under the hoods of cars and so I learned the "macho" aspects of men from them. I know guys are just as romantic as women (sometimes more-so than not), but boy was I shocked to find out it was a man (a married - lawyer? - nonetheless) wrote these in ways that brought out the emotional aspects so well (than again, some of the best romantic novelists out there are men). I'm going to stop rambling before I embarrass myself and insult someone, but really. Thank You for these awesome recaps (I don't really have time for watching dramas so for the most part I would just visit dramabeans to find out what happens)! Hopefully I get to read more recaps from you and this lovely team.

Aja! Fighting!

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114 Dodomummim

March 29, 2010 at 2:49 AM

Thanks so much Samsooki. In fact, I have disliked the form of Korean dramas which are full of tears, cancer, broken hearts, etc. for long time. So I have not watched any Korean dramas thought they are launched anytime when I turn TV on. But fortunately, when I read this recaps, I started searching in youtube this drama with vietsub, so I have been attracted by this film and its couple.

I only knew Kim Sun Ah in the drama "I am Kim Sam Soon " and I liked her so much but in City Hall, I love her most and they are really the best couple in my eyes. Cha Seung Woo played the role quite well. I have been addicted time to time with his romantic attitude and his manly beauty both in his face and his characteristic.

Thanks again Samsooki and City Hall recap team. Hope to read more wonderful recaps from you and from nice Korean Drama like City Hall.

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115 Belinda

March 29, 2010 at 9:13 PM

I'm rewatching "City Hall" the third time because it's so awesome <3

rating: THE STARS ARE ENDLESS. =]

Kim Sun Ah- I watched her in "My Kim Sam Soon" and she became my idol then and there, wonderful acting and is so damn natural at what she does..she's definetely one of the best actresses in Korea, whether in comedy, romance or even action, she'd totally dominate all those areas individually with her amazing talent. In "City Hall" her talent of acting continues to shine and is so loveable, I don't know how else to describe her. When she cried, I had to search around for my own box of tissues, when she laughed or did something funny, I was laughing along right by her. She plays her character very well and I see a very headstrong part in her character and her chemistry with Cha Seung Won is <3.

Cha Seung Won- Wow, first off, to my dismay and deep regret, I've never heard of him before. Now that I've watched him on "City Hall", I'm wondering why I didn't know who he was in the first place! As new sources say that he came back after a six year absence and I'm SO SO SO glad he did. His expressions and emotions from his eyes--just kills me right in the spot. Even when he smiles, gets angry and when he's sad...wow, Cha Seung Won is all natural with his acting. What surprised me was that he can be naturally funny too, I figured with his character, Kim sun Ah would be doing all the jokes, but he's definetely humorous as well. Oh god, and when he cried...;_; he got me right there again.

Jo Gok's father- WOW, this actor who plays him scares the living crap out of me. He plays his character so well and when he gets mad, I seriously do not want to be in the same room with him. xD

Jo Gok's fiancee- Yeah this woman is one scary woman that I don't think I'd ever mess with, but she plays her character really well to the point where like Shin Mi Rae, I'm frustrated with her xD

I love all the other characters as well, from the story, to the plot, to mixing love and politics...wow. This drama tops my list of all the kdramas I've seen so far and I hope to see more of Kim Sun Ah and Cha Seung Wa on screen, their chemistry is undeniable. <3
i'm hoping for a season 2 ^^

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116 Jen Neri

April 8, 2010 at 9:49 AM

I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to Samsooki , mead33, 0timelost and cleown, (and Mrs. Samsooki for providing support) for giving us these astounding recaps. Thank you, thank you! :)

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117 giddygirl108

May 15, 2010 at 7:33 PM

I finally finished reading this today, which is sad since I had read the other episodes right after you had posted them. Great job with covering this drama :) It was extremely enjoyable to read and in all honesty, it's just so great to read a dude's perspective on this whole crazy world of K-dramas. Thanks!!!!

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118 ggirl26

June 16, 2010 at 10:18 AM

I didnt like anything about this drama whatsoever, I struggled to get through each episode and by episode 6, I took my last breath and struggled no more!

I dont understand all the hype, I couldnt find any appeal whatsover in this drama.

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119 Amanda

August 5, 2010 at 1:59 AM

Thank you all for making this drama experience so beautiful ^o^
The ending was just perfect.
After all the character's heartache...
after MY heartache..
we can all walk away in smiles.

Such a good feeling...
to live and breathe a drama that's so worth it..
I hope there are many more to come that I can enjoy.

But..
City Hall will always be a parenthesis in my Kdrama journey!

Thanks again,
manda~

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120 Menci

August 9, 2010 at 10:51 AM

Samsooki, add my thanks to all others. I was a lurker and enjoyed your recaps and the comments generated by them. Today, as I'm trying to navigate around Dramabeans in its new format, I've decided to check out my previous haunts; and... What do we have here? @118 ggirl26!

I checked out City Hall out of curiousity because KSA was in it. The first episode or two gave me the impression that the drama had social relevance, where the social commentaries were presented in ways that made me think while I laughed, and I didn't (still does not) see that often. Meantime I got to see Cha Seung Won act, then started seeing the other characters, as well. Without my knowing it City Hall got me hooked.

I guess those who fail to appreciate City Hall start with well-defined what-to-watch-in-the- story/characters/characterization list. I have a friend who told me: I don't care how expressive CSW's eyes are, I just hate his hair, period!

Anyway, thanks again, Samsooki, and thanks to your team.

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121 Menci

August 9, 2010 at 11:01 AM

P.S. Would you consider recapping My Name Is Kim Sam Soon? Could you at least suggest it to Javabeans?

Thanks. Bless you, your family, and your team.

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122 sari

August 18, 2010 at 4:34 AM

I just saw this movie last week and with 1 week I rewatched it about 3 times. Love the kissing scene, the scene when mirae dancing with jo guk suit, when JG ask MR for camping under the sakura, the hug, the proposal, the couple shoes, my favorite one you can see how comfortable JG with MR yahhh... Everything make me in love with cha seung won and kim sun ah, such a lovely couple

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123 GreenTea

October 17, 2010 at 8:42 PM

Thanks for the awesome recap Samsookie! I just finished watching this drama, and am so glad to stumble upon you recap. I really really really enjoyed this drama!

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124 city hall lover's

November 15, 2010 at 3:10 AM

thank's yaa udah kasih tau fel !
thank's

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125 felicia

November 15, 2010 at 3:13 AM

ohh , iya ( CITY HALL LOVER'S ) kalau eps terakhirnya tgl 18-november-2010 , hari kamis

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126 Awan

November 15, 2010 at 10:21 AM

CITY HALL has just aired in Indonesia! I got the chance to do the subtitles and boooooy did I have fun with it! What at first seemed only like a frequent job, turns out to be one heck of an experience!

I started watching from the 11th episode and couldn't wait for the rest, so I finished watching it all the way to satisfy myself, not just for the sake of finishing my work. And I couldn't get enough so I watched it over and over and over again... Oh Jo-Gook.. Mi-Rae.. And everything in between them!

Thank you samsooki for the splendid reviews! And for all the comments from everyone afterwords. You all helped me get through the hollowy empty weird feeling after watching the last episode. You know, how you don't want to believe that it's all over and you need to know more stuff about them ;) I can't read Korean so I have to translate every article about them using online translation device, but still, I can't quite understand because the English gets really strange.

So thank you all once again for the reviews and comments! How I would miss them.. Hope I can get through this sad feeling fast enough.

It's November, almost a year since this review came out. But right now I'm feeling just the same as everyone here has ;')

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127 Awan

November 15, 2010 at 10:25 AM

Hi [felicia] and [city hall lover] ;)
Glad to know someone in the same country also enjoyed it. It's great isn't it! ^^ Bikin klepek2 bgt deh.. hehe..

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128 felicia

November 17, 2010 at 5:38 PM

hi ! [ awan ] thank's you for you comment

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129 arianni

November 18, 2010 at 12:53 AM

someone please tell me where i can watch this drama online?

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130 tooizzy

November 18, 2010 at 12:19 PM

You can watch this drama at mysoju.com or dramafever.com or net.

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131 thefunofit

November 19, 2010 at 12:51 PM

Ayn Rand, anyone?

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132 Mari

November 24, 2010 at 1:00 AM

I watched the drama for the fourth time and read your recap for the third time -- and still mesmerized by all of them!

I could not concentrate at work because I want to repeat the scenes again and again on screen, and when I turned it off...I still could not work because I would repeat them again and again in my head.

The best kdrama for me! I still flutter inside whenever I watch it, or think of it. How to stop myself from melting away? Help!!!!

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133 Msles59130

December 14, 2010 at 10:34 PM

This goes to the top of my list of dramas. Truly amazing and magical!

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134 epyc

December 16, 2010 at 8:03 AM

With the current craze in Secret Garden, I can't help but come back to this City Hall thread. I love Secret Garden but with much less intensity than I did with CH - not sure why. Perhaps SG is purely a love story whereas CH is, to me, much more than just a love story.

Then I find out what sets CH apart in Samsooki's observation that "I lived and died with Mi Rae, and with every obstacle that she faced and overcame, with every stab in her heart, and with every victory she won for herself and for her people, I felt like I was right there with her. And all praise must go to Kim Sun Ah, who made this drama into an experience to had to be lived, and not just watched."

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135 Titin Asriani

December 19, 2010 at 4:19 AM

wow... very2 love it.....

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136 Egy

December 22, 2010 at 7:14 PM

i like city hall ..
the story it's so romantic....
and the actor cha seung won it's so coll ...
i'am very like his so much .. <3

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137 acha

December 23, 2010 at 11:48 PM

this drama is the best drama i've ever watch. every episode fills with love and tense. .

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138 Free

December 28, 2010 at 8:21 AM

Samsooki & team, thanks for the great recap and excellent insights!

Samsooki, where are you and how are you? We dramabeaners miss you A LOT. Please do drop by and let us know how you are doing once in a while. We really miss you.

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139 Mira Delbiron

January 4, 2011 at 6:09 AM

thank you for RECAP...i want to watch this ..Great ending really makes the drama became popular

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140 Lovers

February 3, 2011 at 12:33 AM

ohh...
I'm the CityHallers.
and I want to watch City Hall eps. 20 again.
:)

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141 Lovers

February 3, 2011 at 3:44 AM

the best ending of all K-Drama.!

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142 KBC12

February 3, 2011 at 7:44 AM

Still the Best Drama....Cityhall....!!!!

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143 So3

March 5, 2011 at 6:59 AM

A very late salute to Mr. Samsooki, King of recap for City Hall!!!

Seriously, I have read numerous Chinese recaps but this whole series of recaps done by Samsooki, is just THE BEST.

KSA, CSW and Samsooki are my idols now haha

"When I grow up, I want to marry a man who can write good recaps on City Hall. period." LOL

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144 ahjummabunny

March 7, 2011 at 7:28 AM

ahm,
I know this is laate but this is my second time finishing the recap and I just had a few thoughts. Dramas post city hall have all been trying to make a mentor-mentee relationship like mi rae and gookie's and it is always disappointing because the actors just don't have the same chemistry. Also, it's shows like this that makes me sad sometimes that Korean drama screen writers have so much output and we don't get years of the same drama ( like in american tv). I remember reading somewhere that our wonderful kim sun ah was at one time connected to I am legend, it makes me wonder how different that show would've been.

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145 arina

March 17, 2011 at 9:46 AM

i've watched CH repeatedly and still i enjoyed it..the drama is awesome.The actors esp KSH n CSW were the best..i love the dialogues between them..sexy and witty...one of KD best drama ever!!!

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146 samgetang

March 23, 2011 at 11:41 AM

I have decided that this is now one of my TOP KDRAMA of all time after finishing episode 20 just a few minutes ago! Excellent! Brilliant! Not one aspect of it was astray. Not one episode of it was boring. Not one scene was indispensable. Not one of the characters were unnecessary or disappointing. From the first scene to the last, the whole story flowed effortlessly and fluidly. THE VERY VERY VERY BEST! Kim Sun Ah and Cha Seung Won are absolutely and perfectly amazing in the lead roles! While Shin Mi Rae and Jo Guk are the most astounding and authentic kdrama lead characters Ive met in a long, long while!

There are so many memorable and insightful scenes and dialogues in this series, I dont knpw where to begin. Maybe in the next Open Thread I will have to thank the people who made me watch CH. For now, I simply want to soak in the beauty, power, and wisdom that is CH!

To samsooki and team...kamsahamnida for an equally brilliant and beautiful recap of the series! No one could've done a better job than what you've done with all the passion and wonderful insights. Simply amazing!
Thanks to Javabeans for enriching her site with your presence and fantastic work.

I'm now a certified City Haller! Politics will never be the same for me after this. This is kdrama at its finest! And samsooki, you rock our world!

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amberscube

March 30, 2011 at 8:20 AM

Samgetang, im giving you credit for finally making me convinced to watch this drama. I have seen your post about City Hall in Open Thread. I have read all the raves about this drama before but somehow never really found the drive to watch it.

Thanks!

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147 amberscube

March 30, 2011 at 8:15 AM

City Hall is another drama that i can add to my "Best Drama of All Time List". Thank you for all the great recaps.

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148 antonia

March 30, 2011 at 9:28 AM

I don’t know what to say. Loooooove this drama. Loooooooove KSA and CSW. Loooooooove all your recaps
My head is still dizzy after finishing CH
Many Thanks

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149 mika163

May 29, 2011 at 11:45 AM

i watched this or rather read your recaps since i have not finished downloading all the episodes because of best love. i only discovered csw through best love and there were lots of mention of city hall. i am glad i decided to watch this. to me city hall equals politics which i am not fond of and would have not watched this even though ksa was one of the leads (didn't know of csw then).

it was most refreshing to watch a story revolving around older leads rather than the usual younger ones. i like that ksa's character was a strong woman as in character, rather rare in kdramas. ksa looks quite good here compared with mnikss (her other drama that i have watched). she is slimmer and her figure is not bad. in fact for her tango dance, she looked stunning. great performance from her for this drama. i have to say this - her wedding dress is awful! But those two looked great together.

now the reason for watching this - csw. if one had only watched athena, one can be forgiven for thinking that csw only does action and serious dramas. i was rather taken aback to find him doing comedy in best love and city hall (the early episodes). i must say he is pretty good at it. csw seems quite a versatile actor and he is now one of my favourite actors. now to track down his other works.

to samsooki and company, many thanks! i have greatly enjoyed reading your recaps.