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ATHENA: Episode 13

Ack! Jung Woo knows! He knows! I’m so proud – our Jung Woo is not as dumb as we think he is!

Or is he? I felt that this episode was a step back from the build-up of the previous three. When you have so much plot and excitement going into this episode, the writers decided to pause, and add some side stories. Really, drama? Really?

Jung Woo confronts Hye In/Yu Jin for being the mole within NTS, for kidnapping the doctor to save Son Hyuk, and for being the little girl in the picture. He wants the TRUTH, girl! But she remains silent (perhaps thinking “You can’t HANDLE the truth!”), frustrating him even more. He knows that she just might kill herself if he arrests her, and he wants to believe that she’s capable of good. Therefore he gives her the chance to run and never come back. If he finds her, he’ll treat her as the terrorist that she is. Hye In takes it to heart and leaves.

Good ole’ boy – still a sap, but at least this makes you let go of your puppy love. He opts for some boxing; he and Jae Hee are a perfect couple – at least they release their stresses the same way.

Chul Hwan receives ‘official’ word of Son Hyuk’s escape and calls for an emergency meeting. Of course Hye In is notified, but she’s in the middle of ‘disappearing’. Chul Hwan puts Jung Woo on the investigation team with Joon Ho and Jae Hee, but they’re not given access to the crime scene because of DIS. Jae Hee, ever the voice of Obviousness, wonders why Hye In isn’t around, and Jung Woo uncomfortably stays silent. She picks up on it – she knows him too well.

The Athenians start prepping for their next plan of action, and Son Hyuk finds himself unable to reach Hye In too. He worries that they might have already figured out that she’s Yu Jin, which is confirmed when two of his agents report that Jung Woo was seen outside her apartment building (no doubt wondering if she truly left). Son Hyuk opens up the emergency network communications, but it’s futile. She’s ignoring all of his calls and has gone to a remote seaside town.

Hye In is approached by a young teenager who immediately pegs her as a tourist and recommends that she stay in a nearby home for a low rate – her home. The girl’s aggressive, proudly telling her grandmother that she’s brought a paying guest and that Hye In would love to have just some of grandma’s old cooking. Hye In is amused by the bright and cheerful (but I say pushy and talkative) girl.

Secretary Choi informs the President that North Korea has agreed to publicize the new nuclear technology. The President is pleased and sets up a date to give the North Korean envoys a tour of the nuclear plant. Kwon asks him to reconsider that plan, but the President is always stubborn and wants to go forth – even if NTS can’t provide the necessary security and Son Hyuk is still roaming free. For the President, this tour is a way to show North Korea that the South is just as capable – if not more – in terms of nuclear technology.

Director Han Jeong Pil overhears all this, having bugged the President’s office. He meets with Son Hyuk and expresses his worry about being discovered soon. He hands off information about the finalized itinerary for the President’s tour with the North Koreans, as well as Kim Myung Guk’s last bit of information about North Korea’s massive collection of nuclear weapons.

Chul Hwan has the whole team assigned to the President’s security detail for the tour. Jung Woo, Jae Hee, and Joon Ho (the Three J’s) are told to keep investigating Son Hyuk’s whereabouts while the rest of the team can prep on the security detail. In his office, Chul Hwan tells the Three J’s that Internal Investigations is looking into Hye In. Joon Ho suggests she was kidnapped, but Jae Hee thinks otherwise – that Hye In is working with Son Hyuk. Jung Woo’s only suggestion is to tread carefully with the investigation, which tips off Jae Hee. She knows he knows why Hye In is gone, but Jung Woo keeps his mouth shut and leaves, causing Jae Hee to shed a tear. (Man, so many ladies cry around him.) I won’t call him dumb for not telling her, since he’d be in big trouble if others found out he let go of a criminal, buuuuuuuuut…. he’s dumb.

Hye In is enjoying the brisk weather and chats with the young girl. She bonds with her since both lost their parents at a young age. Pushy Girl becomes Nosy Girl when she notices Hye In’s smartphone and wishes to look at it. Is speed dial number 1 her boyfriend’s number? ‘Cause number 1 is usually saved for the person you like. Hye In doesn’t answer, and Nosy Girl shares that she has a boyfriend, but no cellphone to put him as speed dial number 1.

Ki Soo reports to Chul Young that South Korea now has the details on North Korea’s nuclear arsenal. This is bad news for the North. Meanwhile the Athenians are hard at work, planning to prevent a smooth meeting between the North and South at the nuclear plant.

Just as Son Hyuk and his agents are prepping for their attack, they receive word from Hye In. Jung Woo receives a voice mail as well from her. She somberly tells him about having heard a story about jumping off a cliff so that one’s soul may return to his/her hometown in peace. She thanks him for the memories and apologizes for betraying his faith in her, because now she’s going to “jump off” her cliff. To Son Hyuk, she apologizes for making him dwell on the past, and reminds him that if they continue on their path, they’ll never be able to escape their crimes. With that being Hye In’s last message, Son Hyuk puts a hold on their mission.

Pushy Girl visits Hye In in her room and notices her sleeping…with a bunch of pills scattered on the floor. She tries to wake up an overdosed Hye In, and then presses speed dial number 1 on Hye In’s phone. It connects her to Jung Woo, and she desperately calls for his help.

Now both Jung Woo and Son Hyuk are racing to the same seaside town where Hye In is, and Jung Woo arrives first. Son Hyuk arrives in time to see Jung Woo take Hye In to the hospital.

The tour set up, the President leads Kim Ho Gyun and the North Korean envoys through the plant, showing off the powerful reactor improved upon by Kim Myung Guk, and reminding North Korea how lucky they are to be able to see this super secretive plant. Kim Ho Gyun has no choice but to be impressed by the scale and scope of the project, and Chul Young acknowledges that the energy produced by the plant will help their citizens.

Jung Woo sits by Hye In’s hospital bed, where he witnesses her suffering from nightmares. She awakens, shocked to find Jung Woo there. He scolds her for trying to kill herself – when he told her to leave, he meant for her to go back to Athena and be his enemy. Hye In: “Oh sorry Jung Woo – I kinda missed that part of the message. I didn’t know you’d be more hurt by my death than by my betrayal. As an Athenian, I only know one way out: suicide.”

(I SO wish she said that!)

Hye In tells Jung Woo that Son Hyuk is her savior; he saved her from a fire and raised her when she was orphaned. She would do anything for him, but Jung Woo misinterprets that to mean she was forced to work for Athena.

When Jung Woo goes to talk to her doctor, Son Hyuk arrives at the hospital with two of his agents. Hye In is actually scared to see him there, and when he orders her to get up and leave, she refuses. Son Hyuk opts for force: one of his agents drugs her with chloroform and they wheel the entire bed out of the hospital. Really guys? Wheeling a gurney out of the hospital? You’re so not conspicuous at all, uh-uh.

Jung Woo comes back to an empty room and immediately races to the CCTV room. He scans through all the cameras and finally sees Son Hyuk – who looks up at the camera for just a moment, making eye contact, and then walking away.

Son Hyuk pretty much puts Hye In in house arrest at the Athena headquarters. He excuses her actions before by blaming it on exhaustion, but she begs him to leave Athena behind with her. He refuses – he doesn’t want his life’s work to become absolutely meaningless, although he regrets involving her at all.

Jung Woo comes clean to Kwon about Hye In’s true identity and letting her go. He admits that he wanted to give her the chance to leave Athena on her own, and that he loved her. Kwon’s a little displeased but merely says, “I hope you made the right decision.” He agrees to keep this matter a secret, although what’s the point? Jae Hee already has an idea.

Son Hyuk calls Director Han for some help – he wants a meeting with the North Koreans. That’s an immensely risky move that could reveal Director Han’s affiliation with Athena, but Son Hyuk doesn’t care – he just wants it done. Director Han takes Kim Ho Gyun and Chul Young out for a private drink, and then invites Son Hyuk in. Chul Young’s not too happy to see him at all and is suspicious as to why he’s here. Apparently, Son Hyuk’s got THE information that might lead US to wage war against the North Koreans. Chul Young wonders if he’s threatening them, but Son Hyuk says he no longer works for DIS. Rather, he wants to make sure North Korea is not swayed by the South.

Since South Korea has detailed information about North Korea’s nuclear weapons, they decided to share information about the nuclear reactors. They will use Dr. Kim’s information as a sort of blackmail to get North Korea to do whatever they want. Son Hyuk is here to offer them a solution that will reveal what the South’s true, ulterior motives are. Kim Ho Gyun is interested, which actually alarms Chul Young.

Chul Young thinks Son Hyuk’s plans (of which we aren’t told) are risky, but Kim Ho Gyun does not want to risk losing their nuclear weapons. Chul Young is rightfully suspicious though; Son Hyuk’s only intention is to instigate a fight between the North and the South, nothing more.

Meanwhile, Secretary Choi mentions that a partnership with Saudi Arabia in sharing the nuclear technology is going well, and so the President arranges for time to meet with them. Director Han takes that information to Son Hyuk and says that it will be his last favor for a while. He doesn’t want to see Son Hyuk for some time, to which he agrees to.

The Three J’s have a meeting with Kwon; they’ve narrowed down the number of suspects who could be moles for Athena within Blue House. Joon Ho had discovered that there was some wiretapping within the Blue House and he can trace where the device is located. Kwon orders them to go, and the Three J’s dispatch with a small team of agents.

As Jae Hee crosses the grounds between buildings, she bumps into her father. He’s surprised to find that she’s here for work, but she’s too busy to explain what work she’s doing. The Three J’s regroup when Joon Ho has located the wiretapping device. The call in the other agents and convene outside of Director Han’s building.

Director Han turns on the wiretapping device, in hopes of catching another private meeting. Joon Ho narrows it down to the West Wing, room 201 – which Jae Hee recognizes as her father’s office. She approaches Jung Woo slowly, and he immediately understands that this might be her father they are arresting. He orders everyone to stop, and gently prevents Jae Hee from going in.

Jung Woo slowly enters the room to find Director Han working on his laptop, wiretapping device gone, and announces that he’s there to arrest him for treason. Director Han is quiet and resigned. He asks if Jae Hee’s outside, and then slowly gets up to grab his coat. But as he does so, he reaches for the poison in his pocket.

Jung Woo runs up to Director Han and grabs the suicide pills from him. Jae Hee hears the ruckus inside and bursts into the room, yelling “Dad!” That’s enough to stop Director Han from doing anything and he drops the pills.

Son Hyuk is informed that Director Han has just been arrested, so he has one of his agents Cheol Gi to “take care of it.” Hye In overhears Cheol Gi say that he’ll take care of Lee Jung Woo, and that immediately raises her concern.

Jae Hee sits in the car next to her handcuffed father as they take him to NTS. “You were selfish to the end,” she says. “What do you expect me to do now? It’s not too late to tell me what you’ve done, so that I wouldn’t be in pain thinking about you, but that I can hate you for the rest of my life.” Director Han has no words but, “I’m sorry.”

Cheol Gi sets up on the overpass and aims his gun at the NTS vans passing by below. He aims for Jung Woo, but his gun is pushed out of the way and accidentally hits Director Han instead. It’s Hye In, and she tells Cheol Gi that finishing Jung Woo is her matter to deal with.

The vans all come to a halt and the NTS agents come out in search of the sniper. Another bullet is fired, from another sniper, and it hits Director Han right in the chest. As Hye In locates the other sniper with her scope, Jung Woo spots her figure from afar. He dashes up to the overpass, thinking that that sniper is the one who killed Director Han. Jae Hee drags her father’s lifeless body out of the car and sobs.

Jung Woo runs and aims his gun at the sniper. Hye In turns to look at him, the rifle in her hand. He stands there, shell-shocked, and Hye In realizes just how incriminating it looks to be standing there with the gun. Cheol Gi pulls her into their getaway car, and they race off, melting in to the traffic. Jung Woo is frozen. He can’t shoot. He watches as he lets her get away again, but this time, there is an icy resolve in his eyes.

Comments:

And just when it was getting so good! I’m usually more optimistic about this drama, but this episode was a bit of a step back for me. It delved more into Hye In’s personal issues, and frankly, I don’t really give a crap about her. I know she’s all guilty and conflicted, but she doesn’t try very hard to run away. She just goes to a seaside town. If I were her and were given the opportunity to escape, I would run away to Europe or Australia, or join Kim So Yeon in New Zealand and raise sheep with her. That was the only moment of pure what-the-hell for me. It was as if Jung Woo’s Pathetic Syndrome rubbed off on her, and me no likey.

Also – I have decided that Jae Hee and Jung Woo have the weirdest relationship ever. They’re exes that don’t hate each other but can’t get along with each other; they know each other too well and yet refuse to tell each other anything; they love each other and that’s why they hurt each other. Like really – how much more does this girl have to suffer?! Plus, I have now expected every other line out of her mouth to be, “Where’s Hye In? You know, Hye In’s kinda suspicious…” And then Jung Woo’s comeback is, “You’re looking at things the wrong way!”

There’s not much else to say about this episode – it felt like it was all build-up for what’s coming ahead. More pieces are being put into play because now North Korea is getting involved in the whole nuclear game, enabled by Son Hyuk. We now know Hye In would rather save Jung Woo than listen to Son Hyuk, and we now know that Son Hyuk is becoming more desperate by the hour. And now, Jae Hee has added fuel to hate on Hye In, or Athena in general, because of her father’s death.

Move it, Plot, because you better tie up the storyline well in your last seven episodes! There’s plenty of revenge, misunderstandings, and issues that need to be cleared up.

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I love your look on the Jae Hee and Jung Woo relationship. I lol'd at the " Where’s Hye In? "

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Hmmm, I'm still debating whether to watch Athena or not. /scared of being letdown.

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why is ATHENA's plot so slow like a snail? it's frustrating! and they're planning for a second season?? pfft.

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i gave up watching like 2 episodes ago. sigh

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"or join Kim So Yeon in New Zealand and raise sheep with her"

LOL

Everyone would want to do that. Perhaps it'd be too obvious for a spy?

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I'm actually becoming some sort of crazy fan of Athena's insane plot (or lack of). I mean, you just can't help loving a story that can be told in one episode and a half, but has been dragging for 13.

As an A+ is something awesome, an F- is too. Because you wonder, how could things go this wrong? How can't it even randomly get it right in at least one department?

Athena, I wub you in a sick, Stockholmistic way <3

@phoenix: run away from this, and never look back. Unless you enjoy non scripted dramas and staying hours in front of your computer thinking that looking for worms in a dessert would be more interesting and make more sense.

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Y'know, I think I'm with you on this. I'm really not sure what kept me watching Athena for the first 8 or so episodes, when the show literally put me to sleep -- I guess it was partly Son Hyuk and partly the hope that things would have to get interesting at some point. (And why ARE the villains/non-leads the only likable and interesting characters in both IRIS and Athena, by the way?)

But I think once the show stopped being about just chasing around and capturing/recapturing Dr. Kim and that damn SNC (SRC? SVC? whatever...) and started being about, well... I'm not sure what, besides capturing and recapturing Son Hyuk and Hye In... it somehow got a lot more interesting, and I'm suddenly really loving it. Jung Woo isn't pissing me off quite as much with his puerile, lovesick behavior and I don't hate Hye In quite as much. I think the main strength of this drama (besides Son Hyuk... did I mention him?) is exactly the fact that there's no particular plot. Because there's no coherent story, I have absolutely no idea what's going to happen at any time, and I'm finding that pretty exciting. So for right now, I'm loving Athena!

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that's why i liked athena better than iris - i'm not saying that athena is a better drama than iris, but i like that the plot is always changing - they've got one goal (the nuclear technology) but chasing it in different ways with several different obstacles (some created by the characters themselves). in iris - it was one plotline - the nuclear bomb - the entire time, and once that was done, everything else felt like a rushed, tacked on storyline just to make it to 20 episodes. at least in athena there's SOME thread that's stringing it all together.

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So annoying.

AND IT GETS WORSE.

May I say, it is no longer worth watching. You know until ep 17. But that's thanks to Kim So Yeon. Yeah, she makes Athena's lifeless plot body pump two beats.

But then it dies again.

Even so, I think anyone who still supports Athena should continue watching it. I honestly believe even though it's not worth watching, there is actually still hope that it will get better. All thanks to Kim So Yeon.

Frankly though, I'm on the edge.

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Honestly, What's Kim So Yeon got to do with Athena's story? It's completely unrelated. Her screen time should have better used to explore more on Ki Soo's past . Just because she's popular and they want the rating? too lame!

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I'm still watching....watched for Siwon. The action parts are great....but the romance is nil. I can't find myself rooting for any of the main pairings.

...and....NOT enough Siwon. His character is smart, dedicated, and kick-ass.

I love Jung Woo Sung, but watching him moon over Hye In like a lovesick calfing is unsettling. He's half super-agent and half lovesick idiotic baby. Does not compute.

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Yes! I'm watching for Kim Min Jong and Siwon. I used to look forward to this because of JungWoo but... ugh! I'd have been sooo happy if he was secretly badass. But, all cannot be as we wish.

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Really, is Hye In the only athena agent who doesn't carry cyanide pills which practically kill you instantly? She carries around that needle full of poison that only black agents use, and she's like some super killing machine, but she can't even commit suicide right.

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jjbird, you are so right! Can't she just pop the pills and die!

Agree with Lacus, there's TOO LITTLE Siwon. What a waste of talent! And I too don't feel for any of the pairings. Jung Woo is still stupid agent!

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Being a spy and specially a terrorist spy, do you think you can actually run away to hide somewhere and be safe and live happily ever after? Which universe are we talking about?

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I am watching for Siwon but I also watched Iris and this genre is usually what I like to watch (Alias, 24 etc.) but the lead guy's lovesick behavior...seriously *rolls eyes*.

I am getting strong vibes from Jun Hoo that he has feelings for Jae Hee that is beyond the sunbae-hoobae relationship. :)

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They need to do a Korean version of Alias or Nikita.

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also guilty.
watching for siwon even though he has such little screen time. and poor guy. he has feelings for a girl with such a complicated love history :/

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Athena frustrates the hell outta me yet for some reason I still watch..."sigh"...

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This show is so damn frustrating but i am only holding on for CSW. I still don't see how the writers can make Hye In remorseful. I mean are they gonna be like LOVE saves you. Seriously I need to see a smackdown between Jae Hee & Hye In since technically she was the one who made JH dad got shot.

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Yeah, I started watching for CSW, and he's what's kept me going when the show's been at its most frustrating.

Here's what I'm (delusionally, no doubt) hoping will happen at the end: Jae Hee kills Hye In, which breaks poor little Jung Woo's poor little puppy dog heart. Jung Woo can die or not -- I don't really care -- and Son Hyuk, whose heart (?) will also be broken by Hye In's death, will find solace in a hate-and-passion-filled, mutually-using-each-other relationship with Jae Hee. (Yeah, I'm a romantic like that :) )

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Love your Jae Hee & Son Hyuk idea.

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I seriously love your idea. I also don't really care for Jung Woo or Hye In

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Ah...that would be awesome Soo Ae vs Lee Ji Ah on that note has there been a smackdown between Jung Woo and Son Hyuk? Also how I wish they would have made Hye In more heartless and evil.

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I disagreed! Since when HI make JH's dad died? I thought She wanted to save the man, wasn't she trying to located the other sniper? If she had found him a bit quicker, she might have taken him down herself ! Can't you see she doesn't want anymore bloods on either her or SH's hands?

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I wonder what was the misunderstanding btwn Jae Hee & Jung Woo, she seem to have sacrificed the relationship to save him, at least that was what was hinted at the first 2 episodes.

Why is it taking so long to reveal their history? I still don't know what the heck happened btwn them. This show's plot is really slow for an action themed drama.

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i watched up to 18 & i've been screaming with frustation
to the writer : please please give us the viewers more beliaveable storyline in remaining 2's

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Thanks kaedejun

You know, actually Jung Woo should be put on trial for being an accomplice - that is hiding black rose identity in NTS as an athenian ,
he betray his country for hiding the truth and his director KWON also go along with keeping it a SECRET !! lousy director who don't care about his staff safety !!.

I ALSO wished that Jae hee and hye in would have a showdown in the end -bitter sweet revenge but then now that she is trying to commit suicide and of course no other than loverboy must safe her !! so most probably she will live in the end.

Jae hee always got that sadness look in her eyes because jung don't care a damn for her. Jae Hee's father stopped Jung woo from courting his daughter and
Jung Woo got no guts to say NO to jae hee's father.

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join Kim So Yeon in New Zealand and raise sheep with her. That was the only moment of pure what-the-hell for me. It was as if Jung Woo’s Pathetic Syndrome rubbed off on her, and me no likey.

LMAO im dying with that one!!!! this show seriously stinks!

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Just watched the final episode. DISAPPOINTED!!!!

Dislike what you did to my favorite character. :'(

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Based on Episode 19, I'm bracing myself for disappointment. I became pretty sure a while ago that I probably wouldn't like the ending, but I'm a little reluctant to watch the last episode and find out exactly how much and in what way I won't like what they do to the only characters (OK, character) I actually care about.

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I was contemplating if I should even watch after the 5th episode or so. I'm sad that it let me down so much. I HATE the ending.

I hope you aren't disappointed as much as I was. :/

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You know, I didn't hate it. Subjectively, it didn't make me at all happy (based on what I wished would happen to the character I cared about), but objectively I think it was pretty appropriate as an overall resolution.

I'm still sad, though :(

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Can anyone explain to me Kim Seung Woo's character (The North Korean guy that came out in Iris)? I'm so confused about him!

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I feel bad for this drama. It's a mess from beginning to end, from the cast to the storyline. The only interesting is "It's the only drama that I finish even though I think it's bad". It's intriguing enough for me to find out how bad can it be.

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I don't give a crap about this drama. As long as I can watch CSW in action-Can't get him out of my head after watching City Hall !

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wish Hye In die, don't give a crap about her too.
i wonder how is it CSW looks better in every episode. wish he would have more screep time
looking forward episode 14!!!!
thanks for the recap
i'm still enjoying athena!!!! cause it is exciting!!!!!

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What is the teenager girls name?

Anyone please?

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