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City Hunter: Episode 18

Woo, final stretch ahead! Yoon-sung says it in this episode, and as I viewer I can feel it: The end is in sight. The romance is a little less prevalent, but for the best possible reason, which is a return of our crusading hero and his action-packed missions to take down baddies. Phew. For some reason it feels like it’s been a while since we had that satisfaction — there’s plenty of other payoffs the drama has delivered regularly (and thanks for that), but I’ve been champing at the bit for some Bad Guy Takedowns.

So, what this episode gives us is a wrap-up of some of the looser threads, to propel us toward the final conflict. I can’t wait.

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EPISODE 18 RECAP

Jin-pyo gets ambushed at home by eight of Chun’s minions, a number too large to fend off single-handedly even for a man of his badassery.

As girlfriday noted, there’s something so strangely sad about seeing Jin-pyo knocked to the ground, fumbling for his cane, and having it kicked out of his hand. He’s Bad Daddy! He’s the all-knowing, ten-steps-ahead-of-everybody mastermind! It’s dissonant and weird, like coming to the moment in your adulthood when you realize your parents are just people, flawed and fallible.

Yoon-sung quickly fights his way to Dad’s side, and the men stand back-to-back as the gang encircles them. (Ack! It’s a pose that kills me, every single time — so symbolic, so us-versus-the-world.) Dad growls, “Why did you come?” Yoon-sung points out, “This isn’t the time to say that.”

McCreepy takes in the scene and deduces, “So you were the City Hunter.”

What ensues is a knock-down drag-out fight between the ten men, with Team City Hunter holding their own, but just barely. A minion takes hold of Jin-pyo’s sword-cane — just a sword now — and comes at him with it, and Jin-pyo actually stops the blade between the pages of a book. Gives new meaning to the saying, The pen is mightier than the sword.

He loses ground, though, and is in imminent danger of getting an eye poked out when Yoon-sung races to Dad’s aid. The sword glances off Dad’s arm rather than his face, and now McCreepy calls in his boys for a quick retreat.

McCreepy tries to contact McBossy with his news about the City Hunter’s true identity, but Chun Jae-man is tied up at the moment with his financial concerns, so the phone call doesn’t get through. Chun is desperately trying to convince the bank that Haewon is still afloat despite the amount Jin-pyo pulled, but hears to his shock that they’re at a 500% debt ratio. Meaning, they owe waaaaay more than they’re worth.

At work, a very confused Eun-ah and Ki-joon puzzle over Yoon-sung’s overnight mastery of judo. Nana tries to cover for him, saying he’s actually a fast learner, and he had a great teacher… which unfortunately insults Eun-ah, who pouts, “Then am I incompetent, that my student is how he is?” with a pointed look at Ki-joon.

That makes Ki-joon hurriedly suggest that perhaps Yoon-sung took his time off to enroll in some fighting classes, and grumbles about Yoon-sung’s “lack of loyalty” for not taking him along. Hee!

The reason I love these Blue House scenes is because there’s always about a half-dozen conversations happening within one conversation, and it’s hilarious. Nana’s covering up for Yoon-sung’s secret identity, Eun-ah’s taking this as an affront to her pride and professionalism, and Ki-joon is trying to smooth over her ruffled feathers while also excusing his own poor skills.

Nana goes home worrying about Yoon-sung and is attacked by McCreepy, who has been lying in wait for her.

Yoon-sung gets a call from Nana’s phone while he’s with Dad in the hospital — Jin-pyo’s injured and bruised, but not in life-threatening shape. He hears Creepster on the line, saying that Nana sure put up a struggle and that he’s mighty tempted to just kill her now. He’s got her tied up at Haewon Sea World, and suggests that Yoon-sung show up to say his last goodbye. Nana yells for him not to come, but that’s a futile request and Yoon-sung goes speeding to the aquarium.

Nana floats in a large tank, hands and feet bound, her body tied to weights. A rope holds her up to keep her head above the waterline, but it’s only a matter of time before she, uh, swims with the fishies.

Mr. Creepy arrives and shows Yoon-sung a remote trigger, which will drop Nana into the water the second he presses it. He orders Yoon-sung to slap on a pair of handcuffs, and Yoon-sung complies readily. Thus bound, Creepy starts to beat him, and Yoon-sung just takes it.

Creepy holds trigger in one hand, switchblade in other, and strikes — just as Yoon-sung lunges for him and knocks them both down, but Creepy grabs the remote and hits the trigger. Nana drops into the tank, which is just about my worst nightmare. Deep water, darkness, oversize fish swimming all around. Gulp.

This puts Yoon-sung in that classic hero dilemma: Save the girl, or defeat the bad guy? Or, in his case, how to do them both, and quickly? Clock’s ticking and Nana’s sinking. Arms still restrained, he kicks McCreepy to the ground hard enough to knock him out, then unlocks his cuffs and races upstairs to pull her out of the tank.

In the aftermath, Yoon-sung worries over her condition, but she tells him curtly that she’s fine, and rejects his touch. Aw, you didn’t even know what you were asking when you told her to reject you even if you came begging later, did you?

Nana tells him he shouldn’t have come, but that’s just the hurt talking; she adds, “Do you think that because you won’t answer, I won’t wait? I’ll wait — I’ll wait for you for the rest of my life.”

Yoon-sung puts up a (weak) protest, but she entreats, “Let’s do this together. I don’t know where the end is, but if we do this together, it won’t be lonely. I won’t leave you to be lonely anymore. I don’t think there’s anyone for me but you.”

He finally says, “Just a little — wait for me just a little while. I see the end now.”

At home alone, Nana tells herself, “I’ll wait. Because he said he’d come back — he said he’d come back after it’s all over.”

Yoon-sung tells himself that he’ll survive and make it back to her, a marked turnaround from his resigned-to-die attitude of late. And thank heavens for that. I like my heroes badass, hot, and most of all alive.

Yoon-sung arrives home with a little extra something in tow: Mr. Creepy, whom he entrusts to Shik-joong’s care. It’s not a task that the timid ajusshi looks forward to, but is made more palatable by the promise to unfreeze his credit cards asap. Heh. He is so easily bribed with pretty things.

Chun Jae-man’s call comes through on the henchman’s phone, and Yoo-sung picks up to assure him he’ll take good care of his little minion. But Chun has no use for the guy, and in fact would prefer if City Hunter killed him for him, to keep that mouth forever shut.

McCreepy hears this, and Yoon-sung makes the point that if evil incarnate Chun were so quick to turn on his friends of 30 years, what chance stood he?

Hilariously, Shik-joong asks their hostage what kind of food he likes, so he can prepare it for him. Oh, you are so in the wrong line of work, Mr. Softy.

Shik-joong also hands Yoon-sung the embroidered handkerchief from his mother, and agrees to check in on Dad in the hospital. Again Shik-joong’s initial reaction is to wonder about what to cook him — ha, he is such a mom.

Yoon-sung deduces that Chun must have cottoned on to Jin-pyo’s real plan, and a review of Haewon Construction’s accounts confirms his suspicions.

Young-ju returns to his office and tells his assistant Pil-jae that he lost track of Yoon-sung. Pil-jae: “Again? Again, again, again?” Young-ju glares.

Young-ju reviews the list of Haewon Chemical employees who’ve given up their claim to sue the company, and notes a connection: They’re all in the hospital.

He finds one woman on her way out: Choi Myung-sook, the mother of the boy Yoon-shik who was coerced into signing that contract. She explains that she’s being kicked out of her hospital room because she changed her mind and returned her settlement money. After hearing about how the City Hunter came to the aid of the protesters, she became determined to fight and win the suit. Better yet, she’d thought to record McCreepy’s threats on her cell phone, giving them evidence of Haewon’s underhanded tactics.

Yoon-shik asks how he can meet his “City Hunter hyung,” because he wants the City Hunter to help his mom, just like he helped all those people at the company protest. He gives one of his precious 100 won coins to Young-ju, asking him to give it to the City Hunter when he meets him, along with his request to help Mom.

Young-ju puts in another request to issue an arrest warrant for Chun Jae-man, but his boss refuses, knowing the possible blowback of going after someone that powerful. He tells our hotheaded DA that he needs to learn how to wait for the right moment, which is advice sorely needed. I actually really love Young-ju’s intensity and single-minded doggedness — it’s a consistent part of his character — but it’s both his asset and his liability.

Young-ju says he’s sick of seeing the weak law wilt under those in power, a feeling that only intensifies when he hears that the Haewon Chemical employees lost their suit, even with Myung-sook’s evidence. Adding to their concerns is that if the City Hunter once again shows up and metes out his brand of vigilante justice, the prosecutors (and the law) will look even more ineffectual. Their already battered reputation would take yet another beating.

Young-ju vows that he won’t lose to the City Hunter this time. He’ll achieve their goal — winning that lawsuit, capturing Chun — and do it legally, dammit.

Jin-pyo attempts to get back to work, despite his injuries. Sang-gook holds him back, urging him to let Yoon-sung take care of Target No. 4, reminding him that he has to recover if he wants to fulfill his revenge. Jin-pyo sees his point and relents, though he keeps a close watch on Haewon Group, which is well on its way to ruin. They’ve already done a good job of paralyzing the corporation’s finances, and now Jin-pyo orders Sang-gook to contact all the players — bank employees, senators, businessmen.

As a result, Haewon falls into initial bankruptcy, with all its smaller subsidiaries on the brink of failure as well, just as Young-ju had predicted with the tower of stacked blocks. Chun plays the avoidance game and books a plane ticket to LA.

Eun-ah worries about her brother, who works for Haewon and is about to be married, since it would be quite the trial to find yourself newlywed and unemployed. Ki-joon speaks up, accidentally using the word meaning “wife’s brother” (hee — that’s counting chickens before you even have the eggs), and asserts that the Blue House is a stable, secure employer. Perhaps Eun-ah ought to look close by when seeking a marriage partner. Which, sadly for him, results in another crossed wire since she’s thinking of another co-worker.

Speak of the devil: Yoon-sung’s arrival at work that morning is greeted with lots of curious questions about his fighting skills and relationship with that prosecutor. To distract Eun-ah from examining his fighting technique too closely, Yoon-sung asks her about the green tea he (Shik-joong, really) had sent her, and she preens. Ki-joon jealously blurts out that it makes her face bloat, ha.

In the hallway, Yoon-sung is stopped by Nana’s boss, the supervisor on the bodyguard team, who tells him pointedly that they can’t let the Blue House be rocked by someone operating on ulterior motives.

Yoon-sung plays dumb, but the bodyguard has sharp eyes — unlike the bumbling IT crew — and has clued in to the oddities surrounding Yoon-sung. He leaves with a warning alluding to a hypothetical situation where a person might gain entree into the Blue House using a false identity.

Chun Jae-man tries to rustle up the necessary funds to stop the bankruptcy, which he must secure by the end of the workday. The amount isn’t very much in the big scheme of things — approximately $25 million USD — but given Haewon’s inflated value and its amount of debt, this is a daunting task. Made worse, of course, by the fact that Jin-pyo gets to all Chun’s contacts first.

By now, Haewon’s name is thoroughly mud, and Chun is stonewalled at every turn. Finally, he gets through to a dinner gathering where Jin-pyo entertains all their powerful business contacts.

Chun actually falls to his knees and begs for rescue, offering up the confidential book he’d stolen from Jin-pyo in exchange. But that has no effect; Jin-pyo plays ignorant and has Chun thrown out.

As a thank-you gesture, President Choi takes Yoon-sung fishing, explaining that his father taught him how as a child. He’d wanted to take his son fishing, but he’s currently serving in the military, and thanks Yoon-sung for making the trip with him. Aw, the dramatic irony in this scene — palpable and sad. Okay, also a little heavy-handed, but no less moving for all that.

The president takes a call from Chun Jae-man, who begs him to help stop the bankruptcy. The president tells him calmly that he can’t help. His reasoning is one more demonstration of his idealistic beliefs, as he says that numerous companies go bankrupt every day in this country, and it isn’t fair that one would collapse while another survives merely because of a connection to the president.

Chun actually uses the “Countless people will lose jobs!” line — a desperate grab if there ever was one, since we know that the only way he’d care about those people is if they came to him with money stapled to their foreheads. And even then, he’d probably just take the money and toss ’em back to the wolves.

President Choi knows this, and reminds Chun that that’s why he advised him to acknowledge the hazardous factory. He ends the call and sighs to himself, “Jae-man, why were you so greedy?”

Yoon-sung offers to buy beverages, and while he’s away, Nana’s bodyguard boss senses potential threat in the air. Tensing, he reaches slowly for his gun, then whirls around and levels it…at Yoon-sung.

Everyone looks at him in puzzlement, and he puts the gun away, feeling rattled. Nana tells him that he’s wound up tight today, and the boss mumbles to himself, “I couldn’t hear his footsteps.” Ah, he’s a smart cookie, that one. He’s not quite sure of Yoon-sung’s caped crusader routine, but he’s wary enough to realize that things don’t add up.

Haewon Group misses its deadline, and bankruptcy is declared. Yoon-sung decides that since Dad’s plan has been completed, it’s time for him to step in. Shik-joong worries for the numerous employees now out of jobs, and Yoon-sung agrees, “That can’t happen.”

Another downside to the bankruptcy is the plight of Haewon Chemical, the next subsidiary to be facing collapse. The workers’ bitter fight for legal recognition of their working conditions all becomes moot if the company dies.

Young-ju anticipates the flight risk and orders a flight ban put on Chun Jae-man. Since the easiest way to get an arrest is on tax evasion charges, he decides to go for that.

He then tracks down Yoon-sung — so good at finding him, less good at keeping him — and acknowledges Jin-pyo’s clever plan to undermine Chun. But what about the workers? He’s pretty sure that the City Hunter would share his concern for their futures. Yoon-sung comments, “How would I know? I’m not him.”

Young-ju pulls out Yoon-shik’s 100 won coin and gives it to Yoon-sung, asking him to pass it along to the City Hunter. He says that it’s from a young boy who’d asked the City Hunter for help, then vows that he’ll help those people using the law. What, are you going to tie up the villains in miles of red tape? ‘Cause, really, that’s the most I think the law can do for you at this point.

In his hour of need, Chun Jae-man is visited by a fund manager from New York — a dorked-up and metrosexualized Yoon-sung, presenting himself under a different name. I suppose he ought to be grateful that the ditzy secretary doesn’t recognize him after their almost-one-night-stand, although she does look at him curiously.

Yoon-sung (or “Ha Tae-sung”) says he’s thinking of acquiring Haewon Chemical, although he’s wary of its debts. He lays out enough facts of Haewon’s seedy underbelly — its illegal loans, misappropriation of funds, and other shady practices that make Chun fidget uneasily in his seat. So: If Chun wants to lessen his burden as he faces possible prison time, he’d best unload some of that debt. Sell Haewon Chemical.

The price? Yoon-sung pulls out Yoon-shik’s dime and places it on the table.

Booyah! I love that. In response to Chun’s sputtering outrage, he says, “Given your tremendous debts, shouldn’t you be thankful that we’re willing to assume them?” Yoon-sung shrugs, saying he can forget the deal if he wants, and gets up to go — and Chun hastily declares, “Let’s do it.”

Ahhh, sweet justice. Not just making Chun face the indignity of being brought thus low, but that it should be Yoon-shik’s 100 won coin to seal this deal.

And so, 51% of Haewon Chemical’s shares are transferred to its employees. In exchange, the employees are responsible for paying back the debt with a portion of its revenues. The company acknowledges its hazardous working conditions and agrees to foot the bill for all medical and insurance related claims.

Team Bad Daddy watches the news, knowing that Yoon-sung’s behind it. Bloodthirsty still, Jin-pyo declares that these guys deserve far more justice than the law can mete: “They must die.”

Yoon-sung and Young-ju both see that Chun is scheduled for a flight out of the country, and some pulling of strings has kept the flight ban from being issued. Young-ju orders his team to call the airport and ground the flight, while Yoon-sung arrives in person. He calls in a message to Young-ju to be at the front of his office by 4pm.

Yoon-sung follows Chun through the terminal and into an elevator, waiting till the glass box is between levels to knock them all out. By the time the elevator reaches the destination, all the men are unconscious, and Yoon-sung drives away with Chun.

Young-ju calls in the SWAT team to anticipate the City Hunter’s 4pm drop. Spotting the black-clad, masked man climbing the steps to the building, they rush him — only to find a stranger, who explains nervously that the City Hunter had sent a message saying that if he wanted to meet him, he was to arrive here at 4pm wearing a black mask. Hee! Clever boy.

The SWAT members spot another arrival and turn their guns that-away… only to find more black-masked looky-loos making the approach, eager to meet their hero. HA!

In fact, Shik-joong had posted a message onto the internet issuing the offer/challenge to meet the City Hunter in person. From the turnout, it looks like our crime-fighting hero has amassed quite the fanbase of young adolescents, with some elderly folks sprinkled therein. Aw. You’re never too old to love Lee Min-ho.

Mightily frustrated, Young-ju orders all the masked fans apprehended, but thankfully for the innocent netizens (who ever thought those words would go together?), a figure is spotted off in the distance. It’s a body, tied up and slumped on the ground.

Chun Jae-man lies unconscious, wearing yet more dog tags and the banner that reads sarcastically, “In Korea I trust.”

Yoon-sung is already zooming off in his car, but the determined prosecutor rides his tail. And why oh WHY is there a handgun in your passenger’s seat? Gulp.

After a brief back-and-forth race, where the two cars zoom in front of each other and cut the other car off, Young-ju pulls ahead and screeches to a stop. Yoon-sung is forced to halt to avoid collision, then quickly backs up to turn around — and Young-ju pulls out the gun and shoots his tire flat. Ooh. Bad. Ass.

Go, Yoon-sung, go! You can still drive a car with a flat! I’ve seen the high-speed chases on the evening news!

But no, Yoon-sung steps out of the car and coolly faces Young-ju, who levels his gun at him. With his cat-like reflexes, Yoon-sung grabs the gun out of Young-ju’s hand, and whirls it right back on the prosecutor.

Separated by a car’s length, Young-ju steps forward slowly, gradually, and Yoon-sung keeps the handgun fixed at him, not advancing or retreating.

Young-ju comes practically eye-to-barrel with the gun, and reaches up slowly — and whips off the mask.

 
COMMENTS

More interesting than the reveal — since we’ve been flirting with that for weeks — is Yoon-sung’s stoic reaction to it. At this point, they both know, and they both know that the other knows that they know… The only thing they lack is a direct, caught-in-the-act confirmation. And it’s almost like Yoon-sung is challenging Young-ju to do it, because if he’d wanted he could’ve been off like a shot. Or knocked Young-ju unconscious. Or resisted in the least.

I’ve read some comments that questioned why Young-ju is so intent on apprehending the City Hunter when he should be working on catching the bad guys. Just for clarification: The City Hunter is, technically, also one of the bad guys — at least in the eyes of the law. We know what motivates him, and the public loves him for rooting out corrupt officials where nobody else can, but there’s a reason vigilantism is illegal. You may trust the guy to break laws when he’s helping out, but it’s an all-too-slippery slope once you start asking what exactly constitutes help, what’s a justifiable breach of laws, and what’s going too far.

Plus, there’s the whole “He’s making us look bad” argument for the prosecutors wanting City Hunter gone. But Young-ju’s not that petty, and I give him more credit than that, because he’s the kind of guy who wants to win the “right” way — using the law, as he vowed in this episode — rather than just getting to the goal through any means necessary. It’s what separates him from Yoon-sung, and what makes him admirable yet also aggravating, and is why he’s not our hero. Yoon-sung is not above the law, but the City Hunter operates as though he is. Of course the lawman’s gonna be peeved to have his precious law treated like an etiquette guideline.

You know, I think the drama has faltered a bit in the last couple episodes, in that it spent too much time on Target No. 4 and drew out that conflict a bit too long. (Hey, I can be in love with a drama and find it magical and acknowledge that it has flaws. Really.)

I’ve still loved every episode and found gripping moments in each one, but the Chun Jae-man stuff, in my opinion, seemed like a collection of technicalities obscuring the stuff we love about this show — the badass conflicts, the punch-me-in-the-gut reversals and thrills. For a guy whose perfidy operates on a mostly cerebral level — no heart-twisting or gut-wrenching involved — Chun got a lot of screentime compared to opponents with more emotional weight — Kim Jong-shik and President Choi, namely.

That said, the last part of this episode brought back some of that early excitement, with the delivery (and wrap-up, thankfully) of the target and the Young-ju-versus-Yoon-sung standoff. When that gun came out, I was surprised (and worried — had Young-ju finally let his frustration drive him over the brink?), but excited at where the scene went. Not so much about the unmasking itself, as I said, but in the way these two guys reacted to it. Where do they go from here?

So I’m glad we’re finally at the last target now, and hope the finale episodes amp up the tension from here on out. I think the last two episodes sort of labored over the plot and forgot the Joss Whedon mantra for storytelling: Moments, not moves. It’s why Joss Whedon rocks — because while his plots are tight, the core of the story is always rooted in an emotional moment, rather than a lot of fancy moves on a chessboard. I want — I hope — the finale to bring those moments back. I think it will. *crosses fingers*

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NOOOOOOOOOO!!! CITY HUNTER IS COMING TO AN END!

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I totally share your feeling...with only a few days left, my anxiety level is climbing higher.

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Dude ending was awesome!!! I hope YJ doesn't create unnecessary problems for the City Hunter from here on though. Also anyone think Nana's boss is going to be a pain-in-the-**** in the end? I envision a scene where he'll be the one to stupidly shoot Yeong Sun b/c he doesn't know what's going on and Nana will block that bullet? How useless would her death be if that were the case.

Anyways, I'm so scared that YS or Nana will die! I mean he actually wants happiness now and he sees light at the end of the tunnel? And Nana thinks he'll come back alive after it's all finished? We all know promises like that are just material for tear-jacking memory scenes in the last few moments before one of them dies in the other's arms!

Overall, I thought the last few episodes did a good job of setting up the whole three-daddy plot line even if we saw a bit more of Target #4 than we would have liked. It also evolved the YS/Nana love story just enough to heart-breaking tear-jacking level in prep for the ultimate death scene.

As for Nana's character taking a backseat, it's totally good writing b/c this show is about Yeong Sun's tragic journey and the way he changes throughout this process. Nana is a necessary part of his transformation but by no means is romance the point of this drama. It's the other relationships, namely Jin Pyo/YS and YJ/YS that are far more captivating. Also a huge reason why I love this drama, this is not your traditional romance-centered piece, but a kick-ass Count of Monte Cristo style revenge tale! XD

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i totally thought nana's boss would be the one who shoots him at the end of the series.

usually when i watch these shows with the die for revenge plot the protagonist ends up dying after he's found a reason to live. i hope that doesnt happen though!

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Wait...but didn't Nana's boss say earlier that he thought the City Hunter was in the right? He said he supported City Hunter. :O

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but i don't think he sees Yun Seong as the city hunter though. To him, YS is more like someone who's infiltrated the Blue House and a threat to the President and frankly, though that was not YS's original intention, that's exactly what it's going to look like in the end :/

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Oh, I sincerely hope there will not be a tragic ending. I know people say that a sad ending makes the drama more memorable, but after the shocking ending of 49 Days, I don't think my heart can take another tragedy.

This is why I only watch rom-com.

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Yes, Nana's boss is going to be trouble especially since he is already suspicious of YS.

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YAY of the Joss Whedon shout out. My favorite of his "products" is the Firefly and Serenity franchise (which also happens to be the least popular of his stuff, yet with a strong AND GROWING following - underground and otherwise).... That, and the original film version of Buffy (what can I say? I have weird taste.)

Anyways, I wonder if we're going to see a McManus Brothers/Agent Smecker relationship between Young-ju and Yoon-sung.... Than again, Young-ju is not, uh, as eccentric as Smecker. XD

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Huh? I don't recognize the reference. Who is McManus Brothers/Agent Smecker?

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Wow, I really love the ending, superb!

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Whoo O__O he unmasked himself ..

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Yes, that unmasking of CH was quite a surprise. I did not expect that at all but I like it. It is time to reveal his identity to YJ and stop playing games. They need to work together seriously now.

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Awsome! I can't believe there is only two episodes left! I hope Yoon Sung survive to be with Kim na na. :)

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I was so expecting a mouth to mouth resuscitation after YS rescued Na Na from the giant fish tank. To my pleasant surprise, it didn't happen. Show, you get all my respect for not following the footsteps of the other million dramas out there that fabricate such moment just to get the female and male leads touch lips (flashback to Jan Di doing it to Jun Pyo in BOF). Show, thank you, thank you so much for breaking out of the mold! You rock!!!

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Agreed. this drama is definitely breaking out of the mold !

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Haha! I was waiting for a CPR scene too.

I guess I'm glad it didn't happen because people will continue to compare CH to BOF.

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As soon as YJ pulled YS' mask, I yelled aloud "Go kiss him, kiss him!" at the screen.

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Haha! OMG NO!!!!!!!!!!

I want bromance, but not like that....hehehe.

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OMG,...I love this drama sooooo much,..
<3
Very good drama,..I hope they will become together,..nana you are so honest,..

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Yes, one of the reasons why I love Nana character so much, she is very honest about everything.

YS's world is filled with deception and manipulation that Nana must be like a breath of fresh air to him.

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FUCK.
the ending was so intense!
well we ALL knew that Young-ju knew the "City Hunter"
was Yoon-sung but I didn't expect for him to rip off the mask. :o
thanks for recapping! :)
this is why I LOVE City Hunter! they always keep you wanting more in each episode! :D

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the leopard/zevra/whatever animal print pants were back in this episode. so damn sexy on LMH.

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i want those pants LOL

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All I can say is that YS has some very interesting pajamas. It's such a good thing that LMH looks good in anything in my eyes.

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this won't get much popular votes but after ep18, i think its time to kill off nana. (..i mean like how many times does he need to save her?) theres no scarring of a hero than the death of his first love. i could go with her getting seriously injured or going into a coma to set the suspense for season 2 (and to keep my sanity, in all honestly they are so good together). but there are just too many people in comas already for this drama, its getting old.

too bad show, should have just killed more earlier, now it seems that the only way to reach a climax to end off is someone important have to die. They cant kill YS (whats city hunter without city hunter), too late for ahjussi (hero needs a sidekick), prosecutor is impt for season 2 (his cat dog chase/love hate line with YS is more compelling than romance), evil dad can die but its not shocking enough, and honestly who cares about the president..leaves only Nana. Have some balls and DO it!!! (although it will most definately sadden me)

For me the series will end beautifully if they link back to YS nightmare in the earlier episodes.. eventually Ys will be compelled to kill the president and nana will be aiming her gun at him (kick ass girl sure loves her job). Who shots first or who gets shot...that will make a great finale.

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I've never thought the plot should use Nana, whose suppose to be a badass presidential bodyguard (!), as a damsel-in-distress plot device, but I don't think they should "kill her off" just for the sake of killing somebody off. Plus Nana promised to wait for YS and he accepted her doing that sooo unless they are going to meet in death...

Today was the worst most gratuitous use of the Nana as damsel-in-distress plot device just to get her and YS relationship out of a stalemate. I say this because after Jae man went and tried to kill Nana, Yoon Sung did NOT go after Jae man with the riteous indignation over the woman he loves, YS just kept to his plan. Nana could not have been kidnapped and nothing YS did would have changed...

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While early on I wanted some blood to spill and got it when JP killed a target and POs, but now, not so much.

Since we are squarely into the making of who YS is as the CH, it would probably shock the hell out of me to see any of the "main characters" die. He has proven that the revenge plan can be done without bloodshed.
Besides, there are a lot of main characters in my mind at this point so that pretty much leaves the remaining cast of characters have to stay alive until the end.... :)

Show will probably reach a climax without killing someone off. Hurting them, yes, killing no. It's too late for me. I do not know about others.

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I still can't decide who I want to die yet. Definitely not YS though. This is one drama where you absolutely cannot kill off your main character.

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I firmly believe that it will be revealed that JP did NOT kill the 1st target. It was creepy minion!

I've said it all along and I stand by it... JP was disguised as a Dr. he didnt have to kill the cops to kill target #1.

I believe he went to the hospital to kill target #1 dressed as a Dr. to get by the guards but he arrived to late. Creepy minion got to him first because target #1 was ready to talk and target #4 wanted to get rid of him to begin with.

CREEPY MINION KILLED TARGET # 1 and the police officers :)

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"Yoon-sung tells himself that he’ll survive and make it back to her". FINALLY, some senses.

Thanks for the recaps, JB :D

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Yes, I'm glad YS got his common sense back in this episode. He'll need it to finish his mission.

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Am so sad it ends next week. I am going into City Hunter rehab but will still try to inject my Minho doze by re-watching this and stalking him on line. O EM GEE! I am going to be sad when it ends.

Thank you, JB, for the recap!

City Hunter ROCKS!!! Min Ho is hot! I know...I know...you know he's hot! Gaaaadddd! I wish they'd do a CH2.

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We all know LMH is HOT!!!! Please join our gushing club!

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JB, Really enjoy your recaps a lot. I started reading this blog when I tried to follow through shows that I had no time to watch.

Even though I watch Cityhunter episodes once it gets streamed online (I really couldn't wait. I wake up at 4 am secretly to catch it online when my kids and husband are sleeping. shhhhh ) Your comments are really funny and insightful for someone whose not in the known-how for korean culture.

Very few shows capture my attention like CityHunter do.. usually only hits like SG, SKKS, BOF. But I felt so compelled to rave because CityHunter is really surprisingly fun to watch. Great directing, cliff hanger, scriptwriting + such eye candy and great stress reliever for my hectic life juggling work and family.

Its really odd for someone my age to go ga-ga over handsome actors decade younger or more but Hey.. that's what watching Kdrama is for right ?

I will so miss it when it ends.. and can't wait for next week.

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thank you for the recap!

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Thank you so much for your reviews! I always look forward to skimming them before I watch the episode (and then reading them after). I absolutely love City Hunter but I can't stomach much violence and blood so your synopses are great previews for me so I can anticipate the violent parts (if any) that are to come and skim over it :)

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Don't worry, CH is not violent at all. If anything, we want more characters to die.

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1st of all, Thank you for the recaps through these 18 eps.
Back to speculation... It is almost evident that JP will die, reason being, during the beginning where they were fighting against the 8, JP was distracted when he caught YS attacked and later Ahjussi saying, a father is a father, which may signify JP dying for YS in the finale. Also, anyone noticed the significance of the handkerchieves & YS the sudden frequent visit to the Prez office which may lay the story line where YS realised that the Prez and his mother is more than meets the eye. This may allow YS to realise the 5th target himself before JP discloses to YS.
Also, revealing himself to YJ completes the CH team- YS, YS, NN & Ahjussi paving the way for 2nd season.

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Well, it never occur to me that YJ will join the CH team. More like he will keep their secret identities and uses their helps when he needs it.

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wow. you are fast. thks. i read epi 17 & 18 without watching yet. i have read most of the conversation in JB and i guess you CH sisters had predicted accurately quite a bit. the president as daddy, mum as bar hostess and many more. i kindda sad and happy to know that CH is coming to an end. sad-to leave LMH and happy that i do not need to go online practically everyday to read comments and preview and prediction here and there to quench my CH-LMH thrist. there are only 2 more episodes, but there are still so many unresolved issues, like
1. nana's dad,
2. jin-pyo-yung sung daddy issue,
3. the revelation of CH to the "korea" citizen
4. whether to capture or to thank CH for "saving" the people in the country.
5. CH future in the Blue House

with this episode, my dislike to nana's boss has increased tremendously. he is so nosy. never like him from the very first episode.

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I don't know if Nana's father is an issue that will be address. They never really focus on him much.

As for Nana's boss, yes he is annoying, but he is also doing his job as the presidential bodyguard. He has to be suspicious of anything and be on constant alert for any threats on the President.

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further unresolved issues:
6. the recognition of the perished warriors in Nampo sea.
7. will mum live with jin-pyo or the president?
8. target no 5.
they took quite a lot of episodes for target 4 and left so little time for target 5?!

i wonder what yong ju will do to yong sung since he managed to catch him red handed. capture him? oh noooooooo.

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"6. the recognition of the perished warriors in Nampo sea."

To me, this is the most important issue that need to be address satisfactory. These young men need to be recognize by their country.

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Ohhh crap. ><

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I've always thought that Nana will die at the end of this series. And, I find that fitting in the overall narrative. It just so so so sad to think YS finally asking her to wait for him as he will try his damnest to make it back to Nana alive, except this time Nana is the one doomed to die.

It is an Origins story of a hero after all.

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I hope Nana doesn't die at the end cause that would suck on many levels, one of which being her dad is still in a comma in the hospital.

I say do NOT kill Nana just to define the destiny/fate of the City Hunter as our tragic hero. (In general just stop killing off women to define the lives of the men they love. That ish is played out) I think the whole 3 Daddies issue should be enough angst, drama, tragedy and conflict for a lifetime and then some.

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Clark has his Lois.
Spidey has his chick, as does Ironman...

CH can have his Nana.

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Agree! Or, let Nana have her City Hunter! I mean, they are so cute together.

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"Spidey has his chick"

Haha! So true...

CH needs his Girlfriday!!!!

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Well, it seems like Nana has nine lives so maybe she will survive at the end.

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Enjoyed your recaps. Thank you, JB. Great episode. This is more like the CH I had been hoping to see. Love the standoff between YJ and YS- great chemistry and acting.

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I wonder who has better chemistry with YS:

YS vs JP
YS vs YJ
YS and Ajusshi

Can't pick...I love all their dynamics.

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Thanks for the recaps, JB and GF!

I agree that the previous couple of episodes (esp 15 and 16) have been middling at best. I was so glad episode 17 and 18 picked up the pace and drama is now back to its best!

But all that talk about YS surviving and going back to Nana kinda makes me feel like they're going to kill off YS or Nana. Just the kind of ending for a drama with a tortured hero eh? I do hope they don't ruin the series squeezing everything and anything into the last 2 episodes. That would so ruin it for me.

Annnnnd, OMG.. LHM's legs!! I mean, when he was kicking McCreepy? Those legs were LOOOOONNNNGGGG. He looks so damn good.

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Sigh...Don't you just love those long, long, slender legs. His kicks are so lethal, it is a weapon in its own right.

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City Hunter is the bomb. the end.
This drama is sooooooo good, this may be the worst case of after-drama depression that i'm going to get after city hunter ends.

Despite a lot of people wanting a Nana-dies ending (which would be totally EPIC), I just want her and Yoonsung and shikjoong ahjussi to have a happy ending.

Yoonsung has suffered through SO MUCH so far in his life, and he's had a REALLY sucky life (no matter how awsome of a person he is), so at least he should get to be with Nana. in my opinion.

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I get what you're saying. Nana dying would make for a deliciously dark ending, but I really want Yoonsung to be happy too :)

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Ditto!
I mean, how many times does NaNa have to put herself in harm's way? And now viewers want to see her killed off?!

Nu-uh. NaNa's paid her dues BIG TIME to Show - she deserves to get some (or, A LOT) hot bed action with our hunky Hero. Someplace where we can SEE it! And smile and squee for her.

NaNa needs to be the soft place for our City Hunter. He's worked hard for us and now deserves his reward.

:)

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I agree. No killing Nana! No damsel-in-distress syndrome!

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"Nu-uh. NaNa’s paid her dues BIG TIME to Show – she deserves to get some (or, A LOT) hot bed action with our hunky Hero. Someplace where we can SEE it! And smile and squee for her."

I agree with everything you mention especially a hot bed action where we can see.

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Am i mentally deranged to say the last picture of lee min ho is HOT? I personally find him only average but that look is.... smoldering (boiling-point-of-metal) hot!! reading the recaps has made me procrastinate watching city hunter... but i'll start now!!!! thanks javabeans;)

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There is no return to "average" once you see LMH asCity Hunter... he will forever be ingrained as "smoldering (boiling-point-of-metal) hot". You will be assimilated with the legions of LMH fangirls ;)

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Nope, you're not deranged. Many of us LMH fangirls think so too. Sooo HoTTT!

To me, it is his mesmerizing eyes and disarming smile that captivate me the most.

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maybe I'm the only one, but I honestly love the director/writers give 4th target more screen time. Maybe It's because I really admire the actor. I have love him in Prosecutor Princess as Hyeri's dad and 49 days as ji hyun's dad. ^^

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I like the actor too, especially in 49 Days. It is just that there is no emotional pull with his character.

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I know that many viewers are hoping for, or ok with, Nana dying in the end because it would be 'epic', 'ballsy' and whatever other synonyms, but I am seriously SO TOTALLY AGAINST THIS emotionally and physically. It's getting to the point that I dream about Nana dying.

I really, really, really hope they don't do this. This series has been light for the most part, but YS and NN's relationship of late has been so incredibly frustrating, and I will be EXTREMELY disappointed if they kill her off in a cliché 'save YS moment'

Why is it that a strong female lead has to die, and those weak heroines from other dramas manage to scrape by? Pisses me off...

And I guess the reason this is bothering me so much is because I am 80% sure they're going there. One of the promotional posters, the one where YS is floating down toward the dark city, and Nana is floating in white above *screams* that she will die and he will return to the city, being the lonely City Hunter as per usual.

And not to mention that leak from the Baidu forum! These leaks are inevitably right, and it sounds to logical for it to be made up.

gaaaaahhh, I'm so upset............ :'(

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Lala... what leak are you talking about?

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It was posted on Soompi I think, here's what was written:

"Rough English translation by me (happy22qt) using Google Translate:
South Korea‘s City Hunter now airing, He ran into the enemy fell in love with his daughter Nana, Nana’s father finally woke up from a coma and tells the truth, that he is involved in the attack of the submarine 28 years ago, fired a gun to kill his father run into a sniper, and later five people came to help him conceal the truth for fear that it will leak so decided to let Kim grow and car killed him to silence, and Nana finally run into the tangled love will take the fall that will end her life! The tragedy is a beautiful piece ……….. posted at Sinamicro-blogging, don’t know if it’s accurate or not… Please click here for the original post."

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Sina microblog is filled with rumours about CH endings, starting from a month back. CH is huge in China, you'll see tonnes of CH news and so called 'leaks' once you enter the microblog. That's no escape. Take all those 'leaks' with a pinch of salt.

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Agree. Additionally, isn't City Hunter filming in real time now? It's kinda hard to leak the ending that probably isn't filmed to completion yet, plus, the company must be under super-tight scrutiny to make sure that leaks don't occur. If Lee Min-ho can give an interview where he warns that no one will guess the ending, I'll have to take the leap and believe that it's going to be extraordinary story-telling.

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Thanks for the leak info...

so they're worse in China than here in DB with speculations of possible ending for CH lol... :D

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Girls, I really hope you're right. It's just weird that this leak has this detailed info about Nana's father which just gets me nervous, because it seems like the type of unexpected twist LMH was referring to. Maybe that's why we've seen nothing about Nana's father for most of the series, just to come in at the last minute for a big shock.

I just don't want Nana to die... I want them both to be happy ;____; I just don't trust these writers...

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I agree with all you ladies....the CH team has been running a very very tight ship here..I mean we got those behind the scene pics vids but after ep 15 things went on lock down mode.....and I think that great it keep us more on edge..

@Nana I don't think she is dying....she IS a very important character that has so much pontetial to grow and expand...hey she is not City Hunter Girlfriday yet!...

I think that 2 people might die that JP or the President..and both could die by protecting the YS at the end.

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If Nana dies my love for the show will surely grow bitter. I've already had to seek counseling, mostly from my sister, to deal with the whole president-is-daddy turn of events. I've come to accept that part of the plot so Nana dying on top of that?! No f-ing way Show!

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While I do not expect the Show to kill of the remaining cast in the end, KNN's father being in a coma still makes me a bit mad at Show.

Will she let him go or will he wake up or should we just forget about him? lol

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I feel the same way malta, it will leave a very bitter aftertaste, and I really hope they don't because I love the series so far...strong women FTW!

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good gawd they should just ditch Nana and just get on with the story!

it's far more interesting watching the 5 suspects crumble rather than watching the Shitty Hunter go back and forth with 'i love you, i hate you, get away from me, i'll protect you' crap with Nana.

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I would think the answer to this would be for their relationship to develop in a more engaging manner, for the writers to make an effort to write conversations between them that build upon one another and are not circular, not to sacrifice a character because they insist on writing a scenario that has been shown to death. Also, the conversations with Young Ju are just as repetitive (and possibly tiring for some viewers), as others have pointed out.

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Well, the show does try to incorporate every genre so there is no way they can satisfy everyone.

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Thank you so much for the super-swift recap, Javabeans! ;)

What stood out for me in your comment is about Young-ju...

I agree that YS, is technically, one of the bad guys for the obvious reasons and YJ is justified in his effort in trying to catch YS. But that is not what is troubling me about YJ. What troubles me is how YJ's characterisation is more focused on what he does which goes against the very law and order that he is supposed to uphold.

As a Prosecutor, he has to know there are ways in which to achieve his goal and which ways he has to steer well away from BUT instead, he resorted to childish, one-upmanship instead of sticking to the rule of the law. If YJ thinks that YS is one of the bad guys BECAUSE YS goes against the rule of the law, WHY then does YJ resort to doing EXACTLY what he is fighting against by confronting YS one-to-one, to the extent of stalking YS? Which Prosecutor in is his right mind would resort to such a means?

But I guess the difference between YJ and the real prosecutors out there is that there is a personal connection between YJ and YS courtesy of YJ's father and so YJ's actions are very much motivated by emotions and personal vendetta, more than the motivation in a professional capacity - which what irks me the most. The writers chose to portray YJ as much too emotionally-motivated, instead of keeping his cool and his head and acting solely from a professional perspective. That is how YJ can come out of this whole twisted and tragic affair with his pride firmly in place and becoming a kick-ass, awesome example of a man.

I mentioned this before about JP's murderous-revenge-seeking premise as unacceptable because THE END DOES NOT AND SHOULD NOT JUSTIFY THE MEANS...

The same goes for YJ's means to achieving his ultimate goal - bringing YJ to justice. We all know YS has never pretended to be someone who wishes to follow the rule of the law and thus we can understand, if not accept, his actions but the same cannot be said about YJ. We cannot simply accept that his actions are emotionally motivated precisely because he should be the one who shows YS the right way to achieving lofty ambitions, not the one who makes a mockery of everything he has vowed to uphold - and thus coming up short of the potential that he can be - a true hero. So for now, YS is the hero for being true to himself, while YJ comes across as too wishy-washy and his actions too questionable for him to be the hero we all hope to see and acknowledge.

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Oh, I never see YJ as a hero. He is too obsess with his work to be one. If he can push the thought of saving Nana (an innocent) aside to chase after the bad guy, then he is no hero. YS, on the other hand, is definitely a hero. He cares more about the victims and tries to help them as best as he can.

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@Maymay ;)

yes!!! you are so right, Maymay, dear!! Yoon-sung is ironically, THE HERO, despite being essentially a vigilante because he has shown that he has a heart for even the worst of people, despite having a touch-as-nails 'father' who brought him up to ultimately become the 'father's killing machine AND YET, Yoon-sung could still retain his HUMANITY and come out of this whole tragic mess of a fate/destiny with A HEART...

but Young-ju, despite being in the ideal position of becoming a hero, LEAVES ME COLD...*shivers*

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ooopss, a typo : a TOUGH-as-nails, not touch-as-nails

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Javabeans, i see and accept your argument for YJ and his actions but i guess i am not as forgiving of YJ''s trangressions as YS's trangressions PRECISELY because of his professional capacity which should be what keeps YJ in line...

i have to disagree with you about YJ NOT being petty because that is precisely what i think of YJ's actions in his interaction with YS, so i guess we have the typical situation between opposing sides - we have to agree to disagree ;)

and because YJ has to be a better man/person than YS but has yet to become that through his actions so far, i am not so enamoured of him and it would take a lot more admirable things for him to do for my opinion of him to change - or if and when the writers/PDs decide to write him in such a way... ;)

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@kaye

No matter how awesome YJ may become in the future, there is no way he can take away my admiration for our cool YS. Never!!!!

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@Maymay darling!!! ;)

HOW perfectly you put my exact thoughts into words, Maymay dear!! ;)

it is like you are in my head!!! hahahaha!!! ;)

i cannot agree with you more on these wonderful words of yours :

"No matter how awesome YJ may become in the future, there is no way he can take away my admiration for our cool YS. Never!!!!"

HEAR, HEAR!!! ;)

A THOUSAND, MILLION, BILLION TIMES HEAR, HEAR!!! ;)

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I felt the whole scenario with Kim Nana and Creeps McCreepy was oddly abrupt. I barely had time to think "Oh no, Nana!" before it was "Oh, you're alright. Never mind, then." It was like the show was trying to find some reason to give Nana's character some screen time, because she really didn't have much to do with the story this episode.

From left field, I'm beginning to wonder about this as-yet unseen son the President keeps mentioning. There's got to be a reason why this character that hasn't been in the show before is now being brought up. I sense he'll be a big surprise/plot twist. I'm wondering if the big Secret Chun Jae-man has over the President actually has to do with this son and not YS. (I'm still not happy about the whole City Hunter is the President's son story angle, but what can I do.)

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I just thought of something right after I hit the submit button. What if it turns out YS's mom did have the President's son, but she gave it to him and his family to raise under the condition she never reveal she's his mother. That way YS is still Moo Yul's son, with a half brother he never knew about, and the Secret is that the President's son is the son of a bar girl (big scandal in the political world, plus shock to the son who didn't know the truth of his birth.)

I know it can't happen, but it's just a thought.

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What about the handkerchief given by KH to YS which is similar to the presidents handkerchief?

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Oh KH, how many more inanimate objects are you going to hand out to people that will cause so much angst?

First, the ring and now the embroidered handkerchief...

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Yes, I like this version - otherwise, why does the president even mention the son in the army?

I really like this twist!

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Yeah, what's up with that?

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I thought he said the son was currently serving in the army. I don't think he will appear.

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Hmm...That's an interesting scenario. It could work I guess.
But then why JP needs YS to carry out the revenge himself?

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i thought that sene was arubpt too, but oh well i'm glad YS and NaNa got some screen time together

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I think the kidnapping was purely there to give Nana and YS a chance to promise to be together when it all ends...and to get rid of creeper. I didn't like it though. Nana and YS could have just had a heartfelt convo and some moody flashbacks and come to the same conclusion OR better yet have YS get shaken up about the attack on Jin pyo and seek out Nana for comfort and then have those two promise to get together when everything is over.

But alas...Nana was randomly kidnapped

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@malta ;)

actually, NN was not randomly kidnapped...i believe the Creepy guy knew the connection between YS and NN and so to get to YS, one way is to get NN...

and i guess in order to get YS NOT to give up on NN, and for NN not to give up waiting for YS, the writers and PDs made that scene to be the trigger to MAKE YS admit that he cannot give up NN...and thus the kidnapping scene and almost losing NN... ;)

nothing works better to wake people up to what matters to them, the person they love, than the threat of losing that person... ;)

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Actually that a great observation....we have never seen even a pic of this other son...but how twisted can it be that at the end YS truly turns out to be MY true son after all...but my other logic tells me that YS is Choi's son...I wasn't so keen on this issue, but now I'm sort on board.

In a way JP saved YS life since he was an baby, cause I'm sure that without MY around to protect mother and baby, CJM might have arrage to either kill them off or send them to another country in order to keep YS birth a secret from the public and Choi's, we have to remember that Choi's doesn't have no clue that he has another son.

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Beans.
It's the beans.

I don't know how many other dramas have beans in them.

So, I think City Hunter has the first Drama beans.
*
*
In a Dory voice:
Where have I heard that before?

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@Jomo ;)

you are sooooo funnnyyy!!! ;)

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Haha!!!

Jomo, you are always ready with a witty remark.

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@Venus ;)

great analysis, @Venus dear ;)

so many possibilities...i am so amazed that CH is that great a drama that it makes us analyse and speculate about its plot endlessly...but its so much fun to do it!!! ;)

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Yes, CH is great because it manages to inspire so many speculations and different point of view on so many matters. It's really make us think.

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@Maymay ;)

we are so in agreement with how CH makes us THINK!! now, if that is not a GREAT drama, then i don't know which drama is... ;)

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I'm not keen on the president either and I like your plot twist.

Alas, YS is probably the president's son since they spent more time on that point and had DH change her affections rather abruptly. Incest. Eww!

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Whoa!!! I like this idea of the other son being the biological son! Not that we get to vote, or anything...

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What about the son in the army is just a replacement son of target no. 4. Remember when target no. 4 wanted KH to have an abortion, what if he agreed to make the child be borne in exchange of she will hide the truth to the president. Target no. 4 made a story to make KH became bad to the eye of the president and tell the president that she left their child.

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Javabeans... the song you picked as the lead in for episode 18 recaps ominously foretells Nana's death... because I refuse to accept City Hunter's death.

It is a beautifully poignant song about separation... it tears me apart knowing that this episode set up a painful loss for City Hunter.

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Since I do not understand Korean, I'll probably have to find English translation for the song. I like the song but did not understand its meaning. So it is a sad song about loss. Gosh, I hope that is not true for City Hunter.

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Maymay... here's a link to the lyrics... very sorrowful last wish :(

http://lyricalmovement.livejournal.com/55774.html

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Thank you Celexa!

OMG!!! That is just the saddest song ever.

The lyrics to this song...it is like YS last message to Nana.
I'm sooo crying my heart out if this is true.

OH JB...why did you pick such a sad song?

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thanks for the recap!

aha! the aquarium! like the poster with the water....?

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except Yoon-Sung is the one sinking in the poster, not Nana. oops :)

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Everything in this show has symbolism.

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Ugh, I am not a fan of the Young-ju. The more they show of him, the more I hate him.

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I like his character. The Show needs him. :)

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Me, too.
I don't understand where all the hate is coming from.
All anti heroes hae to have a good guy on the inside to fight with or there would be no anti.
That would be so boring.

Plus, he is HOT! and earnest and honest and sweet and damaged and lovely!

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Uh! I have to disagree with you on the 'honest' part. He kept so many secrets from Nana.

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I don't hate his character, but I do find him annoying at times. Hopefully he will redeem himself in the last two episodes.

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@Maymay ;)

"Hopefully he will redeem himself in the last two episodes."

You and me both, Maymay dear!! ;)

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"I’ve read some comments that questioned why Young-ju is so intent on apprehending the City Hunter when he should be working on catching the bad guys. Just for clarification: The City Hunter is, technically, also one of the bad guys — at least in the eyes of the law. We know what motivates him, and the public loves him for rooting out corrupt officials where nobody else can, but there’s a reason vigilantism is illegal. You may trust the guy to break laws when he’s helping out, but it’s an all-too-slippery slope once you start asking what exactly constitutes help, what’s a justifiable breach of law, and what’s going too far."

Javabeans, I concur with you with regard to the slippery slope which YS has been on as a vigilante and I agree that taking the law into our own hands should not be taken lightly or dismissively.

However, with the same argument, a Prosecutor can also be on a slippery slope once he disregard the letter of the law and takes action based solely on his prerogative alone, because he is in a powerful position to do so, which is what YJ has been doing with his confrontations with YS all along. Absolute power corrupts absolutely. And any professional in a position of power has to wield that power with the utmost care and consideration in order not to fall into the trap, or be on the slippery slope of, abuse of power, which is something too easy to do.

A Prosecutor should not view his badge as a weapon to be flashed around to intimidate others or be used as the green light to walk all over suspects or to act as he pleases on the pretext of carrying out his professional duties and responsibilities as a prosecutor. By all means, a prosecutor can be as passionate in his work as he wishes to be, but he should never be emotional to the point of irrationality. However emotional the situation may be, he has to bear in mind that BECAUSE he is in a position of power, he has to be more in control of his emotions than others and - this is the key – ALWAYS, without exception, be PROFESSIONAL in his actions. He has to act with the highest level of professionalism and decorum and moral character precisely because his vocation is one which deals with the transgressions by those who discard, disregard, dismiss or do not demonstrate those very professionalism, decorum or moral character.

Now, looking at YJ’s actions, I am hard pressed to see most of his actions in his interaction with YS as anything close to being professional. In fact if his actions are more motivated by him FEELING PEEVED that YS can so easily get away with what he has done, and thus run roughshod over the precious law that YJ works so hard to uphold, and thus motivating YJ to take the actions that he has taken with regard to his interaction with YS, then that is NOT being professional but entirely emotional and egoistical. Under no circumstances can a prosecutor act on his emotions but only on rational, sensible and intelligent thinking based on the letter of the law. A prosecutor must always keep his emotions in check and seek always to take action based on the intellect and the law. Once he disregards this practice, then he runs the risk of being on the slippery slope once again. And the way YJ's characterisation has been written, he is already on that slippery slope and has, in my humble opinion, fallen on that slope more times than i care to count or remember.

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Kdl I love love your accuracy on this issue....cause it so true. YJ has cross the professional lines so many times that I think I just got dizzy thinking about it.

" A prosecutor must always keep his emotions in check and seek always to take action based on the intellect and the law. Once he disregards this practice, then he runs the risk of being on the slippery slope once again. And the way YJ’s characterisation has been written, he is already on that slippery slope and has, in my humble opinion, fallen on that slope more times than i care to count or remember."

I love your insight here cause it captures so well how YJ is not thinking properly at all, he is just beyond obsses with YS/CH that he is blind to anything else. Actually, when I was watching YJ on this episode I had a Harvey Dent moment when he was playing/flipping the coin the little kid gave him, I was like OMG don't tell me he is going to become "Two Face" at the end.....O_o....

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@Venus darling! ;)

"YJ has cross the professional lines so many times that I think I just got dizzy thinking about it."

i can't agree with you more, @Venus dear!! ;)

...

"Actually, when I was watching YJ on this episode I had a Harvey Dent moment when he was playing/flipping the coin the little kid gave him, I was like OMG don’t tell me he is going to become “Two Face” at the end."

EXACTLY!!! you said it!!! thank you so much for pointing it out!!! haha!!! the parallels with my favourite movies of all time - Batman Begins and The Dark Knight - are just beyond awesome!!! ;)

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@Venus

OMG! Good catch! I totally forgot about that coin thing. You are right, there are moments when I thought YJ will turn into Two-Faced.

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I agree with your assessment, BUT do remember...this is, after all, a Korean drama--where there are situations that are presented that don't make any sense, everyone is absent of peripheral vision, where characters that are misunderstood don't defend themselves and stay mute, reflexes are slow, businesses allow their employees to take endless breaks and be off premises (instead of working). It is what it is and I am a big fan of K-dramas because it is a form of escapism, where I can check reality at the door, settle in front of my computer (or TV) on my own, with my girlfriends, with my sons or even my hubby (who is enjoying the CH ride and also watched 49 Days with me and loved it) and just enjoy the moment (as well as drool over my growing list of K-drama boyfriends--LOL!).

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@Princess61

thank you for the comment...but if you had read my earliest comment abt YJ's characterisation as a Prosecutor, you would have seen that i acknowledge that CH is a DRAMA in Kdramaland....and so i understand its portrayal is only meant for entertainment and not meant to be a documentary..

however, i believe that the writers could have chosen to take the path which portrays MORE believably and accurately what a prosecutor does which would then make YJ's characterisation a lot more palatable and worthy of admiration...sadly that is not the case, and thus i am disappointed for that reason... ;)

i have watched so many Kdramas to know NOT to take them too seriously but i take exception when the dramas partake on portraying people in real-life vocations because it is a fine line between fantasy and reality and believability because i prefer to watch dramas with my mind and heart and not just with my heart... ;)

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I just want to know, What's the different between prosecutor in korea and to prosecutor in USA or nay other country? I think there is a different. SInce Prosecutor in Korea have duty to investigate a suspect, they even can investigate in the field

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Here is a post I find on soompi that explain the duties of a prosecutor in Korea.

"You can't compare Korean prosecutors to western or for that matter ANY other country. I would say that they are a cross between judges, prosecutors, police, FBI and CIA.
Also they seldom use weapons so their bodies have to be trained and viewed as a weapon.

This is a part of a document in English on Korean prosecutors obligations and rights. Sorry that its long but since its a pdf doc I could not make a link for it.

.THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE KOREAN PROSECUTION SYSTEM AND THE PROSECUTOR’S DIRECT INVESTIGATION

II. CHARACTERISTICS OF THE KOREAN PROSECUTION SYSTEM

* Lee, Jung-Soo *

A. Two Faces of the Prosecutors’ Organization The authority of prosecutors is basically similar to the executive power because the ultimate purpose of the prosecutors’ organization is the imposition of appropriate punishment upon criminals.

On the other hand, it also has a judicial character since indictment and participation in the trial process has much to do with judgments. Therefore, these two are the most representative features of the Korea prosecution system. Under the Korean laws, each prosecutor has independent authority free from any pressure in exercising his/her power, for example, in the investigation of crime, participation in the trial process and the execution of judgments. In this respect, prosecutors have the same independence in performing their works as judges have. On the other hand, to enable prosecutors to effectively achieve their purpose (which is to maintain national order and peace), prosecutors form a pyramid organization, at the top of which is the Prosecutor- General. In this respect, the Korean prosecution system has an executive character.

The Prosecutors’ Office is under the Ministry of Justice which is one of the executive departments.

B. Leader of Criminal Investigation The most remarkable characteristic of the Korean prosecution system is that prosecutors play a leading role in the criminal investigation. Prosecutors not only conduct direct investigation, but also give instructions to the police in connection with a criminal investigation. Prosecutors are legally entitled to control and supervise the police regarding criminal investigations. Accordingly, police obey prosecutors’ instructions as far as criminal investigations are concerned. Thus, prosecutors are the supreme and ultimate authority in criminal investigation, and the police serve as assistants to the prosecutors. Our system differs from that of the United States of America in that American prosecutors have no authority to investigate crimes. It also differs from the Japanese prosecution system in that prosecutors and police in Japan are in a cooperative relationship, whereas Korean prosecutors and police are in an order-abeyance relationship. In this respect, the Korean prosecution system is similar to that of France or Germany.

III. AUTHORITY OF KOREAN PUBLIC PROSECUTORS

A. Criminal Investigation Korean prosecutors have the authority and duty to investigate all crimes. Investigation authority is an inevitable premise of indictment and the starting point in imposing punishment upon criminals. Under Korean law, the authority to investigate crimes is vested in the prosecutors. Consequently, prosecutors, as the leaders or main players of criminal investigation, control and direct the police who are the assistants to the prosecutors.

END

For smaller crimes the prosecutors can pass judgment without a trial if the criminal after everything is done agrees to the judgment."

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Hmm...here's the thing with Young-ju. I get where he's coming from. Evidence-gathering to prepare for prosecution is wicked hard, yo, and I'm saying this from personal experience. If I were in his shoes, and I'm trying to gather evidence to prosecute the bad guys and coming up with dead ends, while the City Hunter operates below the radar and succeeds where I keep coming up short, I'd be incredibly frustrated, too. I'd be screaming "but that's not how it's done!" to everyone in my office. Prosecutors (or all lawyers for that matter) operate within certain boundaries of the law, and it's those boundaries that we live on and breathe on. It's what they pound into our heads day in and day out from the moment we enter law school. To see it disregarded so easily, even for the noblest of purposes, can get under your skin. Believe me.

You cannot choose who to mete justice to (unless you're a judge), just like you cannot choose who gets to be entitled to human rights. It applies to all, or to none at all. So to the custodians of the law, the rights that apply to the sick workers in the hospital are the same rights that apply to the evil Chairman that caused their sickness, now lying unconscious in the curb of the Prosecutor's Office. That's the reason why Lady Justice is blind. And that's why I get why Young-ju is so pissed at Yoon-sung. I would be, too.

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@78446

"And that’s why I get why Young-ju is so pissed at Yoon-sung. I would be, too."

The key word in your comment above being "pissed", which is an emotional reaction, which is NOT wrong for anyone who cares about law and order to feel, and we cannot control how we feel BUT we HAVE to CONTROL our ACTIONS pertaining to our feelings, especially for someone who is in the position of power like a prosecutor or judge.

Believe me, i understand fully how pissed an officer of the law can feel in the face of the blatant disregard for the letter of the law by certain people through their actions because i hear it from my husband, a public prosecutor, every single day, through 10 years of marriage plus 2 years of courtship.

My husband told me that the very first thing a prosecutor has to be in control of in order to carry out his duties and responsibilities successfully is to be in control of his emotions, stay cool-headed, and focused on gathering evidence to prove the guilt of the accused. However, he is a normal human being and he cannot count the number of times he feels so angry at the things that people do criminally BUT - and this is the key - he never SHOWS his feelings, EVER, in front of his superiors, his peers, subordinates, or the public whom he serves - and of course, he NEVER acts on his feelings especially when he is out in the field. He keeps his emotions in check at work and only lets off steam and shows his deep-seated emotions at home, with me. And that is how he is so successful at what he does.

What he told me once, before we even got married, is this :
A Prosecutor has to be whiter than white, cleaner and than clean, purer than pure. And he has to be in complete control of his emotions at work at all times. No ifs, ands, or buts. He has no choice. Because anything less and he feels that he is not deserving of, firstly the position he is in, with the attendant power and authority, as well as, the trust and belief of the public placed in people of his position to fulfil their duties and responsibilities to the best of their ability. Nothing a prosecutor does in the line of duty should or can ever be used to discredit him because of the ramifications it can have on the lives of those accused and the victims, as well as, their respective families and so a prosecutor CANNOT do anything remotely shady, questionable or less than acceptable in the eyes of the law, much less anything that is outrightly against the law that he is supposed to protect and uphold every single day.

My husband is especially strict with himself because he says he has to be his own harshest critic and he is most unforgiving of his own faults (not that he has any, in my humble opinion). And so having such an example in my husband makes me look at YJ's characterisation as very questionable and less than acceptable.

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@koreandramalover / kdl / kaye - Overall, I agree with you. I do get frustrated when I find that writers go down a path that makes you feel as though they are insulting your intelligence. Some of the situations portrayed, especially in today's world, would never happen in real life--a person would not be able to get away with such apalling behavior or actions.

"I have watched so many Kdramas to know NOT to take them too seriously but i take exception when the dramas partake on portraying people in real-life vocations because it is a fine line between fantasy and reality and believability because i prefer to watch dramas with my mind and heart and not just with my heart…" I couldn't have said it any better myself! BTW, I enjoy your feedback and commentaries. Keep it up! :)

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@Princess61 ;)

thank you so much for your honest, fair and heartwarming comment ;)

"Overall, I agree with you. I do get frustrated when I find that writers go down a path that makes you feel as though they are insulting your intelligence. Some of the situations portrayed, especially in today’s world, would never happen in real life–a person would not be able to get away with such apalling behavior or actions."

Just perfect, Princess61!!! Thank you so much for articulating what has been on my mind!!! ;)
I couldn't have said it any better!! ;)

I would like to also say how wonderful to read your clear and honest comment and hope you continue to post your comments because it has been a joy reading your take on dramas in general and on CH in particular. ;)

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Hmmm...K-drama boyfriends!!!!

Yes, Korea seems to be producing 'pretty boys' everyday because I constantly have to add more 'boyfriends' to my growing list of hot Korean actors.

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LEE MIN HO
so.HOT.

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HE IS. I'm going to miss seeing his face on my computer screen when this drama's over :(

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girl... i have his face as my desktop picture...the last screen shot. that may keep you from missing him for a little while :)

is it possible to be smoldering hot and dripping wet at the same time??

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dear celexa

"is it possible to be smoldering hot and dripping wet at the same time??"

The hottie just proved that that's possible!

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Join the club my friend!!! We have been gushing non-stop here on DB.

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Who kidnaps someone and brings them to Sea World?... abandoned factory? Nope. Secret hidaway? Nope. Junkyard by the river? A basement somewhere? Nope. Maritime animals themed Amusement park/zoo?!!! Yes!!!!

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Kdrama's are Korea's travel advertisers, hence showing off the Sea World Aquarium... got to work that into the itinerary when you travel to Korea. :)

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....I wanna go to Sea World

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.....me too!! :D

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Lets go to Seoul, Korea Sea World!! :D

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I thought that was a very clever to do an advertisement for the Sea World/Aquarium place.

Now every time I visit an aquarium, I'm going to be thinking of Nana drowning and YS to the rescue.

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A Tribute To LEE MIN-HO…
(Compiled from various pages of Dramabeans)

THE MAKING OF A GEM

Meet your Korean F4
by javabeans | October 1, 2008

Lee Min-ho takes the lead as “Doumyouji Tsukasa,” renamed for the drama as “Gu Jun-pyo”:
Lee Min-ho, born in 1987, has a decent amount of work behind him, having done several TV shows and a couple films, including I Don’t Know Either, Run! Mackerel, Public Enemy Returns, and the recent Our School E.T.
A least they gave Doumyouji to a “real” actor instead of the crossover newbie in his acting debut. Not that that’s bad (we all have to start somewhere?) but considering that he’s the most crucial F4 role, he’d damn well better know how to act.

Hmm..JB,doubtful?

Boys Before Flowers: Episode 1 Recap[Korean Hana Yori Dango]
by javabeans | January 5, 2009

THE GOOD
The casting, hands down.
Surprisingly, the best part of Boys Before Flowers (for me) was Lee Min-ho. I was worried about him the most, but ended up totally relieved. He — unlike Gu Hye-sun, the Tarty Trio, Jan-di’s parents — did not overact. Also, he — unlike Kim Hyun-joong — seems to embody his character more than as a mere imitation of the Japanese Hanadan. He’s great playing the snide, arrogant leader of F4, but he’s also showing real promise at the character’s thick-headed, slightly ignorant side — he doesn’t play the character’s dumbness as overtly as Matsumoto Jun did, but it’s enough to be pretty funny. He totally looks the part, and acts the part, but so far isn’t just copying Matsumoto’s interpretation.”

There you are JB!

Duds and Delights of 2009 [Year In Review, Part 1]
by Dahee_Fanel | December 28, 2009

And I know Lee Min Ho is beloved by all BBF fans, and that everyone considers him to be this great actor or something, but I was deeply unimpressed. Then again, could anyone shine, when they’re given that kind of material to work with? If he chooses a good project next time, where one can really see if he has talent or not, I may change my mind.”

Well.. have you, now?

All Told, A Pretty Fun Year [Year In Review, Part 4]
by javabeans | December 29, 2009

The year kicked off with a bang when Boys Before Flowers came onto the scene and a wholly unknown new face took the nation by storm with his curly hair, haughty sneer, and surprisingly strong charisma for a rookie actor. The name Lee Min-ho shot to the top of internet searches overnight, he was flooded with CF offers within days of the drama’s premiere, and new fans quickly scoured the web for old info, which had the ancillary effect of reviving two of his old shows, both teen-centered, lower-budget affairs that he’d done soon after his official debut (Secret Campus and Mackerel Run were both re-aired on television).
By all rights, Boys Before Flowers is not a good drama. It is at best mediocre, and at its worst moments nearly painful to watch
To allow it some credit, there are some shining actorly moments — Lee Min-ho’s invested portrayal of a misunderstood bully anchors the show, Lee Hye-young plays his gleefully vicious mother with aplomb.

That is what a gem is: no matter where you put, it DOES SHINE!

Finding Hidden Gems And Lumps of Coal in 2009 [Year In Review, Part 5]
by hjkomo | December 30, 2009

I was impressed by Lee Min Ho’s performance. He’s got natural talent and it shone.”

Hear,hear!

A year of surprises and disappointments [Year In Review, Part 1]
by javabeans | December 22, 2010

What saved Personal Taste from being a total disappointment is its wacky humor (chainsaws, gay-not-gay misunderstandings) and heartfelt acting. Sohn Ye-jin breathed life and spirit into her Kae-in character, bringing her vulnerability alive with painful clarity, and ultimately it was Sohn who was most wasted by the underdeveloped plot. Lee Min-ho had wonderful chemistry with her, and thankfully didn’t overdo the feigned gay act, which could have been uncomfortable at best, offensive at worst.”

He sure knows what he’s doing,mate!

Objects in mirror are closer than they appear [Year In Review, Part 4]
by girlfriday | December 25, 2010

Personal Taste was as cute as it was infuriating. It’s actually quite equal in those respects, because on one end of the spectrum, you have uneven directing and really screwy writing; but then on the other end, you have Lee Min-ho and Sohn Ye-jin. And Lee Min-ho. Did I mention Lee Min-ho?”

Oh GF, you saw it right away!

City Hunter: Episode 1
by javabeans | May 26, 2011

A strong first episode. I’ll admit it, my first thought upon finishing (other than Lee Min-ho so hot) was, “Aw, dammit! NOW WHAT?” Because of the whole limited-time-in-which-to-eat-sleep-and-recap-dramas thing, that is. Something’s gotta give, and I’m in a state of paralysis trying to decide what.
Example: Yoon-sung is nothing like Ryo Saeba, which may be a good thing since I thought Lee Min-ho was miscast for that character. But for the young man born and bred to mete out vengeance? Lee is perfect — emotive, vulnerable, fierce, and totally immersed in that character. Oh, right, he’s also insanely hot. But really, that’s icing on the cake for me — wonderfully delicious stuff, but made better by his insane charisma onscreen and emotional connection with the camera. Swoon.”

Finally, JB!

Now what next??

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@newbie ;)

WOW!!! just WOW!!!! so great of you to compile the information on everything mentioned by anybody on LMH...

for the longest time (well, at least since BOF) i have said that LMH is like an unpolished gem and just needs a vehicle to truly shine so brilliantly such that his brilliance will outshine every other actor in his generation...and i believe that City Hunter might just be THE vehicle for his true talent to shine through... ;)

all i can say now is - IT'S ABOUT TIME!!! Lee Min Ho is the undisputed gem of an actor!!! ;)

He has succeeded to blow all his critics out of the water!! Once and for all!!! Anyone still disagrees that Lee Min Ho CAN act is either blind or deaf or dead!!! Period.

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LMAOOOOOOOOOOO omg Kdl hugsss you crack me up!!!

"He has succeeded to blow all his critics out of the water!! Once and for all!!! Anyone still disagrees that Lee Min Ho CAN act is either blind or deaf or dead!!! Period"

SOOOOOO true!!!!... :D

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@Venus ;)

hehehe...thanks so much for appreciating my insane love for LMH!! hehehe ;)

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@Venus darling!! sorry i forgot to give you my *hugs and kisses* ;)

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hugss hugss ...:D ohhh Kdl what are we going to do once CH ends?..I just can't process that though yet....I mean not seeing LMH in all his Glory is going to drive me crazy.....

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@Venus sweetie!! ;)

i so agree with you about going crazy!!! i can't even begin to digest the thought of not having LMH's hotter-than-hot looks smoking up my tv and laptop screens every night....arrrggghhh...

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I'm so going to miss LMHot when CH is over. I don't know how I will survive this.

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@Maymay dear! ;)

i am sooo with you!!! how ARE we going to move on without our LMH fix????? arrrggghhh...

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"He has succeeded to blow all his critics out of the water!! Once and for all!!! Anyone still disagrees that Lee Min Ho CAN act is either blind or deaf or dead!!! Period."

kdl, I loved that part of your rant quoted because the boy can act!

This is my first LMH project and I think I chose wisely.
:)

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@mskololia ;)

thank you so much for appreciating my crazy ranting because i just can't stand people saying that LMH cannot act when it is all out there for them to see and acknowledge...hehehe...

and i congratulate you for your choice in watching CH for LMH and hope that you continue looking out for LMH in his future projects...i believe he will continue to WOW you... ;)

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Wouah ! so much arrogance from LMH fan !
And if I tell you that in episode 1 his crying scene was pretty bad, in episode 2 his playboy act felt stiff, In episode 3 he had same face in almost every scenes and at last his character is pretty much nothing compared to the original one... ?

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@preetam

what is your problem? does giving credit where credit is due - LMH's hard work and talent in acting - qualify as being arrogant?

have you never heard of the saying :
it takes one to know one?

i think you are the arrogant one because you have then audacity to criticise others when what do you have to show that you any right to criticise? are you a director? an award-winning actor?

anyhow, i have already waste my time responding to your nonsensical whining and i do not wish to waste any more time doing something so unpleasant and distasteful

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oh wow @newbie, i'm impressed at how you put two and two together and find this compilation from DB about JB and GF's perpective to Lee Min Ho....

And to echo you...

"That is what a gem is: no matter where you put, it DOES SHINE!'

Totally....

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Totally...LMH is a gem alright. A rare one too. I'm just glad I finally found him.

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haha awesome compilation

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WOW WOW ...Newbie you totally ROCK!!!! this is just awesome thank you.....my Love for LMH has just grown out of this world.... :D

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awww..thank u newbie (I know it has been dayssss!)

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@newbie

OMG! That must be some digging you've done.

LMH caught my eyes back in his BOF days. Now with CH, he has cemented my undying love for him forever. Can't wait to see what his next project will be. I really hope he will do a movie soon.

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You’re never too old to love Lee Min-ho.

LOL

so true - said this lee min ho loving ahjumma.

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my mom who's also an ahjumma is following this show religiously as well ^^

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I went home last weekend for a family reunion and brought CH along to kill time. Who would have thought CH became a hit with my whole family. It was so funny to have all the female relatives gushing with me over how hot LMH is. I think all my male relatives were gagging even though they enjoy the show too.

Believe me, no one is too old to love LMH.

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@Maymay!!! ;)

HAHAHAHAHA!!! thanks so much for sharing!!!! i am so tickled by your family's reaction - both male and female members!!! so precious!!! ;)

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Yes, my family reunion turns into family movie nights. It was really fun watching CH with my entire family. Imagine a little more than 40 people crowding around the big screen TV...aah good times.

It was a slow watching process though because we had to pause every few minutes because the older generations could not read the sub fast enough.

It was so much fun to 'Oooh' and 'Aaah' with all the girls whenever LMH appeared on screen. So the boys retaliated by 'wolf-whistling' whenever Nana or SH appeared.

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I very much excited to see whose embroidered handkerchief will be bloodstained.

it's gonna be squeeky and sad.

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ooohhh wicked thinking *thumbs up*

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thanks.. but whose hanky do you think will it be?

my handkerchief is very much ready next week to be stained/ wet with tears.....

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@diw... i have my roll of tissue paper ready :)

when i started watching kdramas i thought it was weird to see toilet paper rolls in rooms other than the bathroom... but now i have one in my nightstand instead of a box of tissues :)

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Yes, those toilet papers are really handy. Cost less too!!

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Well, hopefully it is the President's hanky and not YS or Nana. By the way, Mom needs to make another one for JP and herself. Then we can have as many 'bloody' handkerchiefs as we want.

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I've been wondering how deliberate Mom's giving of handkerchiefs is? Did she give the latest one to YS in order to get the President to recognize him as connected to her?

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I was wondering about how many she gave away too. lol
Well, since she did not want KNN to tell the president who she was, I would think she does not want the two to meet. Sighs.

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JB's LAST SCREENSHOT OF LMH/YS TOTALLY BLEW ME AWAY....

SIMPLY BECAUSE LMH'S WET LOOK IS FLAMING HOT!!

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@smashingalou ;)

i so agree with you!!! ;)

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Smash! hugsss :D you are soooooooo rite!! when LMH was all wet ....my thoughts just wonder to other places... :P

But truly JB nailed it with her opening and closing screenshots cause those 2 looks are to die for!!!

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Just when I think he cannot get any HOTTER, there it was, right on the screen, he gives us the wet look along with that pair of vulnerable eyes. Seriously, there needs to be a new word to describe his HOTNESS because HOT is just not enough.

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@corn tea

you are so right...we have to find another word for His-Hotness...'HOT' just does not truly reflect how HOT LMH is...

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Here is a few synonyms for HOT:

calefacient
blistering
fiery
scorching
sizzling
sultry
sweltry
blazing
calescent
feverous

Gosh, LMH is definitely all of these.

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@Maymay darling!! ;)

THANK YOU SO MUCH for finding so many many words that perfectly illustrate how HOT Lee Min Ho really is!!! ;)

WELL DONE, DEAR!! ;)

and you are so right - LMH IS ALL OF THAT AND MORE!!! ;)

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@smashingalou

"FLAMING HOT!!"

I concur!!!! Hahaha...JB really knows how to pick the right pictures.

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I've been searching for the dramatic music they played at almost every action scene before wrapping up one episode. ....

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If you are looking for the instrumental piece, then it is not release yet I believe. I really hope they will release all the musics use in the drama.

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Holy shizznizzles.....City Hunter...you really are magical.

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Ok I got one question what happened to McCreepy? I mean did he end up in jail, is he still living in the basement, is Ajussi feeding him, did he died of boredom watching the shopping channel with Ajussi?...I mean wouldn't have been cool if YS dropped CJM and McCreepy together at the Prosecutors office? that would have been the logic thing to do. Unless McCreepy is going to come back....

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@Venus ;)

yeah, great question!!! i want to know what happened to McCreepy too... ;)

i just want him to disappear forever from our YS's and NN's lives...

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Kdl I was going "omo what happened to Creepy?"...it just left me wonder.....unless he is like the Terminator that keeps just coming back..... :D

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@Venus ;)

"unless he is like the Terminator that keeps just coming back..."

hehehe...you are so funnnyy... ;)

but...oh noooo...i really hope that's not the case...
our YS and NN really deserve the peace of mind to be together without the threat of being killed by McCreepy or any other McNot-Welcomed creatures envisioned by the writers/PDs to test our patience... ;)

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I feel like we should create a Protect-Our-OTP fanclub just to protect YS and Nana from any unwelcome characters or creatures that will do them harm.

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@Maymay ;)

what a terrific idea!!! you are so right!!! we really need to do as you have so perfectly put it :

"...we should create a Protect-Our-OTP fanclub just to protect YS and Nana from any unwelcome characters or creatures that will do them harm." ;)

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Creepy reminded me of the Terminator the way he twisted his neck right before he grabbed Na Na's neck in her apartment.

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Nope, Creepy reminds me more of the skinny, creepy dude in Charlie Angels (the movie not the series).

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@Maymay ;)

i absolutely agree with you!!! he is exactly like the pale-faced, skinny, creepy fellow with a fetish for female hair in Charlie's Angels first movie...*shivers*

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Good question, Venus!

I personally believe that McCreepy is getting his just deserts, he's being tortured by Ajusshi 24/7, his eyes taped open, plopped in front of the TV which is tuned to either QVC or HSN while Ajusshi natters on and on about the comparisons between stick and non-stick cookware.
McCreepy begs to be put to death but Ajusshi now considers him to be his BFF, albeit a gagged and tied up one.
:)

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@Cynthia

hahaha! I think that is exactly what happen in YS basement. Ajusshi is torturing McCreepy by making him watch the HSN with him. That would be the best punishment for the Creepster.

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Episode 18 was epic for me and I can't wait to see how the drama finally unfolds in its final two episodes. With respect to the "quiet" standoff in the last scene and the mask coming off, the dilemma for both on "what happens next" has now elevated the stakes. I think that YJ will somehow, give him a "get out of jail free" card since YS/CH did save his life--I'd love to see these two forge a partnership together. Knowing that the 5th target is YS's biological father (unbeknownst to them) and more upstanding (for lack of a better word) than targets one through four (he is a flawed human--aren't we all? and his flaws are forgiveable), I hope that YJ and YS can work TOGETHER help save the President--in more ways than just saving his life and that YJ keeps the CH's identify a secret.

As far as Nana, I'm torn whether I want her to live or die. The romantic in me wants her to live and be with YS (she's a strong woman; she can handle him). But then, with her death, it might make for an interesting dynamic if there is a Season 2, especially if she sacrifices her life in order for him to live. I think I'm fine with whatever outcome the writer gives us with respect to her character.

If there is a Season 2, I hope LMH continues in the role (I can't imagine anyone else playing CH). It would be cool to see YS trying to use his good looks and charms become ineffective with FEMALE badasses that he'd have to go after, very much in the same fashion with the bad guys in Season 1.

City Hunter...FIGHTING! Thanks JV for the speedy recap!

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"If there is a Season 2, I hope LMH continues in the role (I can’t imagine anyone else playing CH). It would be cool to see YS trying to use his good looks and charms become ineffective with FEMALE badasses that he’d have to go after, very much in the same fashion with the bad guys in Season 1."

If they go for a S2, I would love for the enemies to be all women.

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Like the women he used in S1 get together and plot to share him for themselves and have his babies.....lol.

Revenge of the pleasurable kind. :)

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hahaha!!! You have a very dark mind...I like. So can we include CH fangirls in there too. I think I saw a few fangirls there when people wearing masks show up to meet CH.

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That was so hilarious--there were ahjummas and ahjussis mixed in with the fangirls and fanboys! Haha!

But seriously, it would be so cool to have FEMALE badasses who are immune to the City Hunters charms. What would YS/CH do then? Would he actually hit a woman? Or drag them by the wrist all over the city (haha!).

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and how much hotter can LMH look in the brown/grey jacket when he was with the President fishing??? it suits him so well that i think its one of the best jackets he's worn in CH so far...*swooon*

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@kaye

I love all his clothes. I keep on changing my mind as to which is my favorite.

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@Maymay ;)

actually, now that i think it...YOU ARE SO RIGHT!!!! ;)

i LOVE all his clothes too!!! OMG!!! i am seriously going mad over this hottie of a man!!! hahahaha!!!

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oooopss, a typo : now that i think ABOUT it... ;)

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me frust! subs crap! really bad! no good! me no understand! how this?

Thanks for the recap, javabeans. :)

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hahaha!!! @tuqaz!!! ;) you cracked me up!!! ;)

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@tuqaz

have you tried this website for ep 18 with subs?

http://www.kimchidramas.net/2011/07/city-hunter-episode-18.html

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Haha! I totally understand your frustration. Waiting for sub was unbearable but not as much as waiting for new episodes.

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Ugh. What is going to replace the massive amount of time I've spent watching City Hunter, reading about City Hunter, and analyzing/commenting ad nauseum about City Hunter?....Giant vacuum in my life is coming.... :(

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I feel the same way. What to do after next week when it is over? I propose JB/GF start a CH rerun thread.

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CH rerun thread??

YES PLEEEEAAAASEEEEEE

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@corn tea, @olsen ;)

i echo both your proposals - PLEEEEEEAAASSSEE!!! ;)

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Yes please and with a lot of drinking and drunken gushing involve.

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Oops! This was suppose to be a reply to corn tea, olsen, and kaye pleas for a CH rerun thread.

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@Maymay ;)

thanks for the joining us in our pleas for a CH rerun thread!!! ;)

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Considering all of the possible conclusions
to the surprise ending of City Hunter that
we BRILLIANT people here have thought up,
either LMH never reads http://www.dramabeans.com
or the surprise ending isn't among the many
ideas that we've had. Is this making anybody
else (beside me) very, very crazy?

PS.....To koreandramalover/kdl

While drinking my wake-up coffee this morning,
I thought of ANOTHER connection between CH
and Boys Over Flowers: COFFEE
* "Delicious" when personally made by Na Na. :)
* "Expensive" when from a vending machine. :)

*

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Grace, you are so right about the coffee discovery. Thank you!

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While worrying about the future safety of
Yoon-sung (LMH) not to die in the upcoming
final battle of good against evil, I'm waiting
to see Na Na eat some of those delicious
~ Pancakes of Sadness ~ with possibly
a nice dessert of unusually-shaped
APPLE COOKIES? :) :)

Then I think that this BoF topic will be
completely sewn up!!! Ha, ha, ha.
(Laughing at my own warped sense of humor.)

*

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Grace, can we add some egg roll-ups on Na Na's plate?

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They have to be SQUARE egg roll-ups....

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@grace

OMG grace! You and your love for CH/BOF parallels is really too hilarious.
I still prefer the Nana's coffee though. Maybe Nana could try baking some CH cookies with masks or caps on.

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@my dearest grace!! ;)

HAHAHAHAHA!!!! you really cracked me up!!! LOL!!!

you are so right abt the parallels between CH and BOF...

including the pancakes of sadness and apple cookies!!! ;)

thanks so much for the comic relief, after all the stress of thinking of missing LMH and CH after CH wraps up...

and btw, grace, don't you worry your head over your warped sense of humour, because i can't imagine you without it and i LOVE you just the way you are... ;)

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