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Joseon Gunman: Episode 16

You know, just because you decide to become a hero doesn’t mean you automatically become one. That’s something that’ll be challenging our guy as he ups his game in working for a higher goal, while finding himself stymied by the baddies. ‘Cause sure, maybe killing a bad guy won’t change the world, but at least it would be satisfying for a hot minute, whereas waiting for laws to work and uphold justice is a much tougher game to play. But I guess that’s why it ain’t easy being a hero—it’s not all flying high kicks and well-placed bullets. Though those certainly help.

SONG OF THE DAY

Jo Jang-hyuk – “무한지애” from the Joseon Gunman OST [ Download ]

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EPISODE 16 RECAP

Hye-won pulls her gun on Soo-in, saying that since Yoon-kang stole the most precious person to her, she’ll now steal the most precious person to him. I actually believe she would pull the trigger, and Soo-in braces for the end, but Yoon-kang reacts quickly to shoot the pistol out of her hand. It’s a risky move, but it works in defusing the situation with both assailants now disarmed.

Yoon-kang turns his gun to Hye-won, who just tells him to shoot. Instead, Yoon-kang lowers his weapon and tells her to leave, because he understands the pain of having your father taken away. But this is a one-time reprieve, and he warns that the next time he won’t let her go. “Forget it now,” he advises. “It’s too late. Nothing can be turned back now.”

As they walk back, Soo-in sighs in dismay over Hye-won’s change and wishes for a quick end to everybody’s turmoil. Yoon-kang tells her that the end is in sight, and that he’s keeping tabs on Lord Kim. She’s encouraged to hear him say that he plans to deal with him via the law rather than with the gun, since his vigilante brand of justice puts him in such danger.

Choi Won-shin awakens in Lord Kim’s home, and while I believe he’s grateful to have been rescued, he is not ignorant of his indebtedness to Kim. And just when he’d been so close to extricating himself! Lord Kim offers magnanimously to forget all their past conflicts and to make Choi the most dominant merchant of Joseon—in exchange for one thing, which he doesn’t name just yet. He also tells Choi to forget about joining forces with Minister Kim, which alarms Choi a little; he hadn’t realized Lord Kim had been aware of his maneuverings.

Lord Kim grants his permission to Choi to inform his daughter that he is alive. And not a moment too soon, as Hye-won has lost all hope and is ready to end her own life with her pistol. Sung-gil just barely manages to wrest the gun out of her hands while she exclaims that she has nothing left to live for, and then Choi appears.

Sternly, he takes the gun and reminds a stunned Hye-won that people like them have nothing but their lives. Even if he had died, she should live on and have all the things her poor mother never had a chance to have. “Do not do anything so foolish again,” he says. “You cannot die this way. Our lives are not to be lost so easily.”

Choi explains how he was rescued by Lord Kim, and tells her to keep his return a secret. When she asks what he’ll do about Yoon-kang, he answers, “I’ll kill him. No matter what.”

Next, Choi Won-shin visits Minister Kim, who is greatly relieved to see him alive and well. He lies to Minister Kim about recovering in a hideout and seeking him first and not having seen Lord Kim yet, which indicates that he has decided to obey Lord Kim’s dictate—he’s pretending that their secret alliance is still going, but working for the other guy. And yet, Choi is genuinely shocked when Minister Kim tells him what Lord Kim is planning—to replace the king. That’s big stuff, and Minister Kim tells him they are to both play along and outwardly follow Lord Kim—but to prepare for his plan to fail. And when that happens, it’ll be their moment, and they mustn’t hesitate, as their lives are on the line.

It’s a fascinating opportunity for Choi to play both sides of the coin, because as of this moment I don’t actually know if he’s being a double agent or a triple agent. Where is his loyalty?

Dressed in his ridiculous Chaplin getup again, Yoon-kang impersonates Yamamoto and takes another meeting with Lord Kim. They discuss the deal wherein Yamamoto would be given exclusive mining rights and Lord Kim would reap a hefty portion of his profits, but really it’s an excuse for Yoon-kang to look around and get the lay of the land, as well as noting who comes and goes.

Lord Kim asks for more time to think it over, and Yoon-kang agrees. He’s on his way out when Minister Kim arrives, and turns his face away quickly to avoid being recognized. The minister catches enough of a glimpse to want a closer look, but for now Lord Kim insists on heading inside, buying Yoon-kang a little more time in this ruse.

The surveillance provides valuable clues, as Yoon-kang reports to Officer Moon, and after realizing which parties are often visiting Lord Kim (various heads of state and military leaders), they deduce that Lord Kim may be plotting an armed coup. Yoon-kang decides to go on a recon mission tomorrow, as there will be an important meeting held at Lord Kim’s estate. Officer Moon offers himself as backup.

In the Suhogye inner circle, Lord Kim prepares a document calling for the replacement of the king for the sake of a better Joseon, and each of his followers adds his name and thumbprint of blood. And hidden behind the screen is Yoon-kang, taking this all in.

The meeting adjourns and the Suhogye members exit, leaving Lord Kim with his damning document. That’s when Yoon-kang steps forward, holding his gun to Kim’s head. He takes the document, tucking it away (thankfully) seconds before guards burst into the room with swords drawn.

Lord Kim goes along with Yoon-kang’s demands, leading him outside, where even more guards join in and attempt to take him down. Yoon-kang shoots one and knocks aside another, and Lord Kim does a little quaking in his boots as he orders them to attack. Yoon-kang fights his way through them and heads for the exit, and for the briefest second he locks eyes with Choi Won-shin.

Thanks to Officer Moon’s backup, Yoon-kang has a getaway horse waiting for him and the two men ride off safely.

Lord Kim frantically orders his men to move out, since he’s royally screwed with that document on the loose. Yoon-kang delivers it straight to the king, who is grateful and ready to act swiftly. He orders Officer Moon to arrest everyone involved and have them tried at high court, and Yoon-kang is moved to hear that his father’s dishonored name will finally be set to rights (…in six more episodes).

Gojong informs his advisers of his plans to take down those members of Suhogye… only to hear that armed rebels are already on their way to the palace. If the king is overthrown militarily, the crime of conspiring to take him down becomes moot, since his opposition will have assumed power. Unfortunately, he is, as ever, a little too late to be effective.

The rebels storm the palace and send the court into a screaming terror. Yoon-kang catches a glimpse of Soo-in, who is about to be cut down by one of the rebels, and leaps into the fray in time to take down her attackers and grab her to safety. He urges her to escape immediately, but hearing that this is an insurrection, Soo-in insists on informing the queen. She can’t run away while leaving the queen to die.

They arrive at the queen’s residence just as she is being escorted to safety, with Ho-kyung commanding her guards. Yoon-kang argues that escorting her with her full royal retinue will only make her an easy target, and insists on taking a different approach. Soo-in thinks of a plan to get her out of the palace, and queen agrees to it.

So Yoon-kang leads a small party across the palace grounds, and when the rebels insist on stopping the queen’s conveyance, they find Soo-in inside instead. It’s royalty they want, so they continue on their search and allow the entourage to continue, failing to notice that the queen is disguised as a court lady.

Interpreter Jung is picked out as a target of the rebels’ ire, and they surround him and charge him with manipulating the king to assume control of that new military bureau as a power grab for himself. There is somebody who wants his life, the leader says.

Interpreter Jung guesses that person is Lord Kim, and gives these soldiers a message to take back to him: “There is nothing you can stop with cruel violence. Even if you enact this coup and take the lives of all the Kaehwa scholars, His Majesty will never submit to you.” More scholars will rise up to protect the king, he says, and thus their revolt is meaningless.

His words stir their anger, but he doesn’t back down an inch. He vows to stay faithful to the king through the end, then awaits his death. It comes quickly, and he is struck down by the rebel leader.

The queen makes it safely outside the palace, at which point she changes places with Soo-in for the remainder of her journey.

Interestingly, Lord Kim pays a visit to Heungseon Daewongun—aka Gojong’s father, who had served as regent for the first decade of Gojong’s tenure as king. Hm, so is he actively involved in a plot against his son? Lord Kim strikes a deal with him to spare the king’s life, though he fully intends to take the queen’s. He calls it a necessary move to quell the public’s ire—the ire he has so skillfully built and manipulated to justify his own actions.

Next Lord Kim gives Choi Won-shin the order to locate the runaway queen and assassinate her. He reminds Choi of all he stands to gain once he has accomplished that—he’ll be Joseon’s king of commerce.

Hye-won is by now fully on her father’s side, which includes supporting his assassin’s activities, and aids in hunting down the queen’s whereabouts. Her concerns aren’t over the morality of his actions anymore, but over whether his gamble is too risky in teaming up with Lord Kim. He answers that he has a backup alliance in place to use in case this first one fails him: “Whether it succeeds or fails, ultimately your father wins.” He tells Hye-won to speak with Minister Kim and follow his instructions, and heads out on his mission.

Gojong falls to his knees upon seeing the corpse of Interpreter Jung, feeling a terrible blow to lose one so faithful. When his father arrives at court, regarding Gojong with sympathy, the mood is heavy and desolate.

Choi Won-shin collects enough eyewitness accounts of the queen’s entourage through the countryside to narrow down her likely destination of Yeoju, and heads in that direction. The party hasn’t yet made it there, pausing to rest for the night at an abandoned house in the mountains.

Yoon-kang remains on guard duty, and Soo-in reminisces on that long-ago night that they’d hidden in a similar house, running away from the gunman. She admits that she’s still scared now, but much less so than before because he’s with her, noting that he’s always protected her.

Yoon-kang is more concerned about Soo-in, asking why she always charges into dangerous situations rather than away. She could have escaped the palace first, but went back instead—does she consider the king and queen more important than her own life?

Soo-in nods, though her answer isn’t perhaps the one he was expecting: The king and queen must remain safe in order for Yoon-kang’s name to be cleared. He needs the king to uncover Lord Kim’s conspiracy, and therefore Soo-in will do everything to keep them safe.

It isn’t until morning that Choi Won-shin tracks them down to the house and sees the signs of their stay there, but he’s moving fast and catching up. Only a short while later, his gunman come upon the queen’s entourage and open fire, necessitating an escape on foot while Yoon-kang holds them off with gunfire.

Choi Won-shin clocks the ladies’ escape and cuts them off, giving Soo-in a chance to step aside to spare her life. But Soo-in refuses, of course, and he’s not too torn up about taking her out first. He prepares his shot… just as Ho-kyung and his troop arrive to intervene, having caught up to take over her escort. They’re armed with the newest guns as well, and form a barrier in front of the queen while Choi makes his getaway. But first, he recognizes Ho-kyung as Minister Kim’s son and files away this information.

Ho-kyung scans through the terrain with his gun ready, while Yoon-kyung does the same, and end up briefly in each other’s sights before recognizing each other in relief. Is it too much to ask for a hug here? I swear the emotion calls for it!

Instead of hugs, they exchange information and express relief to find each other safe. With the gunmen deflected for now, the entourage manages to make it all the way to the queen’s family home in Yeosu, which the queen assures is safe.

The queen asks Soo-in a favor in conveying a letter to the king to apprise him of her circumstances. Soo-in readily agrees, but Yoon-kang balks—it’s too dangerous to make the trip all the way back to the palace, after having just gone through all this to escape it. Soo-in
insists that it will be a short and necessary trip to the palace and back, and upon seeing her determination, Yoon-kang offers himself for the task instead. Furthermore, he has unfinished business in the city and must return anyway—that’s where Lord Kim is.

So Yoon-kang entrusts the women’s safety to Ho-kyung and rides back to the capital… just as Choi Won-shin leads his assassins to the Yeoju residence. Ack! What we really need is an army of Yoon-kangs everywhere. What, like that’s hard?

Yoon-kang makes it back to the city, where he learns that everyone believes the queen to have died, with her father-in-law the Daewongun already in mourning. He asks Jung-hoon to deliver the queen’s letter to the palace, and I cannot be the only one tensing up at the thought of Jung-hoon being tasked with anything that crucial. The guy is all good intentions, but not so much on the follow-through.

Gojong is a nervous wreck at the lack of confirmation of the queen’s state, and also fraught with frustration over having all his hard-won advancements being so easily overthrown in the span of a day. “What have I done all this for?” he laments.

Thankfully, the letter makes its way to the king, providing a beacon of hope. For now.

Choi Won-shin prepares to make his move, gathering information about the queen’s guards and readying himself for attack.

At the palace, Gojong deliberates over the two conflicting arguments presented to him by two of his advisors. Min Yeong-ik takes the more conservative stance, advising that they appeal to China to lend them military strength to suppress the rebellion, citing that as the only way for them to prevail. Kaehwa faithful Kim Ok-kyun, however, argues that they would be courting their own demise if they were to involve China, which might help them in the short term but would never allow Joseon to be free of that obligation.

A court lady eavesdrops outside the king’s chamber and reports this to Minister Kim, who takes it to Hye-won. Although Gojong has yet to decide, Minister Kim understands that in the end, to save the queen, it’s quite likely that Gojong will opt to ask for Chinese assistance. And that is good for Minister Kim and the Chois, because it will mark the coup as a failure, and down goes Lord Kim. He instructs Hye-won to send a message to her father: Stop what he’s doing for Lord Kim and return to the city.

In Yeoju, Soo-in and Ho-kyung regain a bit of their old warmth as they talk. She apologizes for her reaction to finding out about his father, both because of who his father is and because she’d felt he’d lied to her. But she realized the pain he’d endured by being abandoned by his father and being forced to send him into exile, and she invites him to move back with her family.

And then, their conversation is cut short by the arrival of intruders, who face them with guns drawn. Ho-kyung stands up to them, but it’s one against four, and there’s no way he could hold them off.

Back in the city, Yoon-kang infiltrates Lord Kim’s estate and walks right into his chamber, revealing his face and his identity. He informs him of the signed petition being in the king’s hands, but Lord Kim isn’t worried. Yoon-kang declares that even if that isn’t enough to punish Kim under the law, he can kill him now, and draws his gun.

But first, he has a question he needs answered: “Why did you kill my father? Why did you fabricate his death as treason?”

Lord Kim replies, “For the safety of this country. If nobody is sacrificed, order cannot be preserved.”

Yoon-kang scoffs, “Order? What is this order you speak of? Lining your pockets? Filling the bowls of the wealthy aristocracy?”

Betraying little fear or remorse, Lord Kim says, “I am sorry. Forgive me. If you let me live now, I will restore your father’s name.”

Is that a flicker of hesitation on Yoon-kang’s face? But he says, “I will not forgive any more. I will not be abused by the likes of you. Now I will deliver judgment upon you. I will put and end to you and your Suhogye!”

He cocks his gun. Lord Kim flinches. The episode ends.

 
COMMENTS

The story takes a philosophical turn, which is evident in the final scene but also runs through the rest of the episode in various threads. It’s interesting that our hero is actually the slowest on the uptake in this regard, because he’s still struggling with the question of his personal fight versus the one at large, while many of those around him (Soo-in, Ho-kyung, Officer Moon) are farther along on that path in serving a greater good. I don’t think this detracts from his character, and to the contrary it seems fitting, because you want to be on this journey alongside Yoon-kang.

Ho-kyung, for all his wonderful qualities, would make the must annoying hero ever because he’s just too perfect, and where’s the fun in seeing a perfect, principled hero who always does The Right Thing? Now, I say this with love because I am quite endeared to Ho-kyung as a character and appreciate the pathos of the acting performance. I just mean that he’d be all wrong for this hero’s tale, and there’s a reason we’re rooting for the other guy despite the fact that half the time I’m also yelling at him to be smarter (or get better disguises. C’mon, who can take that Yamamoto getup seriously?).

I will still contend that the Choi father-daughter duo are perhaps a more skillful rendering of that idealism-pragmatism dichotomy, although Hye-won’s shift to her father’s side has made them the poster children for defensive self-interest. I say that not as a criticism—in fact, I respect them for figuring out the way to survive and realizing that in their positions, they cannot afford to be idealists. Morality is a luxury in their position, since survival rarely abides a moral code. That dovetails nicely with their profession, since business operates in much the same way, and that parallelism is a nice touch.

But it’s because Yoon-kang is as impulsive as he is that I think it works to have him surrounded by idealists like Soo-in—idealists who, on their own, could be just as irritating if not for the fact that they balance nicely with the hotheaded vigilantes of the world. I do wish Soo-in showed a little more complexity since she’s just so good at this point, a carbon copy of her father, but at least her principles have a positive effect by steering our hero along on his path. He’s still such an emotional livewire that I think he’ll be struggling to contain his passionate gut response at every step of the way—that’s not something you just unlearn because you decide to become a hero—and her steadfastness will prove to be an asset for him. It’s just, you know, it would be nice if she had more spark. Not that he needs anybody to supply him with more spark—he’s so fiery all on his own. But isn’t that why we love him?

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Loved the recap! Thank you for your hard work :)

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i just wish there was less talk when he is aiming at the enemies...
how many episodes is this? i'm not sure if i'll keep watching, there'is too many good dramas right now and more are coming!!

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Is it worth continuing to watch? I couldn't even finish episode 15 and I wasn't even interested in episode 16 today..i mostly go to where people have many opinions and comments in the recaps and it usually is an indicator how many people are still enjoying the show..say trot lover had a lot of comments but when people stop giving opinions and the numbers slide then that's also when I stop watching..but even this recap and yeaterday there are hardly even anyone giving any input..from what I read it pretty all the same with each recap..soo in doesn't do anything, yoon kang is hotheaded, they get caught somehow by the bad guy and escape jus the same then a pointed gun at someone's head at the end..might have to wait till it finishes but that's usually when I don't even bother anymore..plus the extended the show so more melodramatic acne se for 6 more episodes..should of jus made this a weekend drama

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The PD and writers lured Lee Jun Ki to accept their offer to grab the prime time slot. This drama wouldn't be a weekend drama just because of him, whether the script is good or not. There were many incidents in the kdrama industry that such big name stars involved in messy productions. The PDs do it only to benefit them big profit in selling their products.
This industry is such chaotic with these live-scripting, live-shooting, and doing many problems. The victims are actually the actors who have to choose an offer based on the synopsis or maybe a first few written episodes.

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This is a KBS production. It's one of their major projects. Why shouldn't it get a prime time slot? Lee Joon-gi wasn't lured into anything.

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The PD is a famed director and the script won an award. What is not to like and how is it not worthy of Lee Joon-gi?

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So then, this is the pd lured LJK to his major KBS production. I didn't read about this joseon gunman script is an awarded one, one of the writers is an awarded one for a drama-special. I'm still watching it becoz I respect LJK as an impressive actor due to his most other previous fantastic shows, and other actors are also good. How I prefer this show to become better than this.
If the pd didn't work with such rookie writers, the drama could have been much better with more suspense and twists than putting many emotional scenes which is like wasting the actors' talents.

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I'm sorry I wronged the timing the production was first announced as a major one.
Right, Lee Jun Ki is an actor always starring in prime-time dramas. He deserves all the better treatment as a great actor but I meant I mad at PD and writers. Because of the writers, the drama won't be a stood-out one like his other action dramas.

I want this hottie talented Lee Jun Ki in another more thrilling action drama like Two Weeks!!

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I'm used to watching LJK's quick and too brainy characters in other his dramas. This is the first time I'm wanting him to be smarter.

Me too, I want to blame those PD and rookie writers attracted to accept their production.

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Is there a prime time drama that KBS does not call a major project? You say it as if the drama comes with a seal of approval by the Queen of England. Well, KBS is a party to this commercial endeavor with its own vested interests.

I don't know if actors can or cannot be lured into anything. But the point made here is that, unless an actor can review the entire script before singing up for the drama, all he has to go by is a bunch of hopes, promises, ideas and staff's past records. And if the drama turns out to be a major dud, like this one has, then the actor loses his bet. That's the peril of live scripting/shooting, a.k.a. making up as you go.

The picture becomes a bit more cloudy when you consider the fact that the actor himself has not been exactly thrilling to watch in this drama. I don't think his heart is in it.

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Some negative comments are so fishy when written furiously upon a matter no need to respond like that, such as about Prime-time dramas. The bitterness is that big?.. even pulled the actor's acting in the end to the unrelated conversation.

Some comments call this drama a major production, and yes it is among other kbs prime time dramas this year.
Kbs started promote the drama early this year as their year second-half's major drama before the cast are announced. They also promote by hanging its big poster on their broadcast building.

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An anti to the actor and drama like @Dr. Hwata should calm down the unpleasant words.

Mainland China is a place with big population. Its popularity news of massive views there proves many ppl enjoy it. There is also its audience aside from China.

Viewers have different tastes. The script may have flaws but there are still many quality elements, a sure one is the admirable talented lead actor, for viewers to attract.
Calling this drama as dud is just a plain hate.

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Agree @Berbielove, the Korean viewers are also sharing their love equally to all Wed-Thu dramas currently airing. Such negative comments cringe me how their bitter feelings are invested to something or someone unimportant in their real lives.

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@Berbielove Yes, I heard JG is the most popular K-drama now in mainland china. Haha....they're getting the love they deserve. I am so happy for them.

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Life is short, watch a drama because you enjoy it, not how many people are commenting on it.

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This is what I'm saying, I don't let anyone affect me when it comes to liking a drama or following a drama, and comments are not always the actual interpretation of the dramas, I've had countless experiences when I've read the comments criticising the dramas but when I watched the actual drama later on I find myself enjoying it and thinking wow I nearly was about to miss on a very good drama, same thing with the drama recaps, I totally love reading other people's comments and all but I've learned to take it with a grain of salt, anyway I'm still enjoying this drama.

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If I come off as thinking reviews are what keeps me watching a drama that's my faukt..I usually read reviews if a drama has alrwady ended to continue but when I start noticing a drop in story or acting then I will gradually stay away from the drama and read the recaps and comments jus to see how it is holding up..same with joseon gunman and trot lovers..I was very much into both but as the story continue the drop and slide in the story as well so then when I started focusing more on comments and few and few people comment then I feel more people are leaning towards my views..dramabeans has good comments overall but I feel the comments are too generous to the show jus like dramafever..I rather hear both sides of the coin like on mydramalist..and for it to be main in China does China even have good shows? Isn't that why they keep importing shows from Korea cause I don't think I have seen a single Chinese drama but I have seen many taiwanese drama..and rating wise I'd u look at what dramabeans.com has been putting up everything is a neck race and that's only because the big cables can't compare rating wise to paid cable since the audience is different..to say it's in a prime time slot is weird to me cause don't they have like 4 shows throughout the year since everything end so quickly and 3 big stations so they are saying min of 12 prime time shows when I can only count on one hand shows that have been great this year..seems the writing and story is fantastic for paid cable since the budget is cheaper but the big stations have higher budgets so they go more in for special effects then the actual script

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Whatever it's weird or not for a drama as a cable or prime-time, the fact can't be changed. The viewer rating news in China of some Kdramas are watched live from their sites, not importing. Most kshows in cable are still not much better than of big station prime-time shows in my opinion. Big station ones are still more captivating due to using better actors in acting to worth-watching even the scripts may have few flaws. This drama is also still like that to plenty of viewers outside db.

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The fact of being a prime-time drama maybe weird for some with much hate on a particular actor/character though.

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The problem is many people, including me, hardly come to this blog anymore. It's frustrating to read negative comments and it's getting worse

It looks like there's a certain conspiracy from some people who may support other dramas or hold a grudge against some leads

And since I can't reply directly to comment 2.1.1.1.5, I was wondering if that user name refers to Dr. Hwata from Faith ? Hope that this isn't the bitterness that LJK's Arang was so head & shoulder above that drama

The kind of
"I like the actor but can't stand that actress ... " or
"Since you trash my actress, I'm gonna put down your actor too ... "
It's getting tiresome really

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Yes, i know right! I smell something fishy going on here. Grrrr.... it's sooooooo annoying....

Me as well, i am hardly ever here anymore, but I still peek in.

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i just wish there was less talk when he is about to shot people...

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double post... my bad.

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C'mon he just wants to know the reason why his father was killed by that bastard, I would have asked the same questions like YK if I had the similar experience, no matter what if your loved ones die a sudden death or is murdered you want to know the when, how and why, that's just normal human behaviour.

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Yes, at first I just wanted Yoon-kang to shoot Lord Kim, but then I understood why he asked why his father was killed. That said, I hope he shoots him the second the next episode starts, but I accept that that's probably not going to happen.

I'm enjoying this drama!

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More screen time for Ho Kyung would be nice...hopefully he gets that in the final six episodes.

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Thank you javabeans for your wonderful recaps. After every episode, I have to read your recaps before going back to watch raw again. The drama is going at the right pace for me. Love the storyline and all the actors so much. Performances are above par and cinematography is excellently done. Love everything about Joseon Gunman.

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I like this drama too! When Yoon-kang hugged Soo-in when they were sitting by the campfire, I was thinking "I bet he smells nice." I can't be the only one, right? Lol.

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Thanks for the excellent recaps! I love your commentaries, which add so much to the enjoyment of the dramas you recap. Javabeans, you are the best! Thank you very kamsa.

"He’s still such an emotional livewire that I think he’ll be struggling to contain his passionate gut response at every step of the way—that’s not something you just unlearn because you decide to become a hero—and her steadfastness will prove to be an asset for him."

Exactly. I want him to be more strategic and less impulsive. Will Soo In's calm demeanor help him in this regard? YK somewhat reminded me of the faux-father in City Hunter (without the evil, calculating streak) in that he only sees revenge as his goal. Only in the last two episodes do we
see YK question whether revenge is the way to go. One reason why City Hunter is one of my all-time favorite revenge/action dramas (besides having a truly awesome, hot, badass LMH of course) is that the hero meted out revenge using the rule of law. Revenge and justice stood side by side.

In joseon gunman, whenever YK even contemplates acting out his revenge by shooting the bad guy, he is a hotbed of raw vengeful rage mixed with doubt and even remorse (e.g., when the henchman gunman kills himself before YK can get the truth out of him about who killed dad, after shooting CWS, and now as he threatens Lord Kim). He doesn't even look for the rule of law as a means to justice and punishment, and can't really with a weak, ineffective monarch at the helm. I think what I want to see is a shift to badass justice instead of revenge. Personally shooting everyone who was responsible for his dad's death takes too much of a toll on YK's chRacter. I want to see the bad guys get their comeuppance without YK losing himself to the revenge demon. Is that too much to ask?

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Tbh with you I don't think he'll be able to get justice by playing within the rules of the law, the villains are too much powerful than everyone including the King, when the King who is supposed to help YK get justice can get wiped out in a few hours by the opposition how can one believe the justice can be met? I don't see what YK can do at this point, I think the best he can do is somehow make the big bads turn against each other so that they end up killing each other. CWS is already playing double agent so if YK is able to somehow alert both Lord Kim and Minister Kim of CWS role play he'll be able to pit them against each other.

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Thanks for the recap!I can't help but smile when I read
"to hear that his father’s dishonored name will finally be set to rights (…in six more episodes)"

It certainly seems that way, but can we ave that earlier so we can move on to some fan service?

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Thanks for the recap, and I always appreciate the commentary.

I think I'm getting frustrated with the lack of progress for the Kaehwas and for Yoon Kang. Just as we see progress, it does feel like something always drags the two back ten steps. I was devastated to see Interpreter Jung die. His dying speech was so sad. He felt such loyalty to the King, and yet I find it hard sometimes to see why he deserves so much loyalty.

Speaking of loyalty, I will say I was a little disappointed in Soo-In. I've been enjoying the growth in her character and her stronger moral stance in recent episodes, but her reasoning to keep the King and Queen alive was sorely disappointing. I understand that the writers need to retain the love line, but I wanted to see Soo-In take an even stronger stance, saying something like, "because only the King can establish the equality we seek..." or something like that. Her love for Yoon-Kang seemed a bit cliche and felt flat... but that might be just me. I loved the moments where she stood up for the Queen and was willing to take a bullet for her. Her strength as a woman definitely shone in those moments.

As to Hye-Won, I still love Jeon Hye-bin's performances, though I'm not a big fan of the route the writers are taking with her character. While I understand why she is taking the actions she does, I wish the writers would draw her less as the woman scorned and as a woman who rose above her losses. She is a survivor certainly, so it's disheartening to see her give up on life so easily. Granted, a big part of me still harbors hope that Hye-won and Yoon-Kang would have a chance together, but alas.... I'm just kidding myself.

Still looking forward to how things tie up. :)

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I have never thought I would end up disliking Hye Won so much, and I’m somewhat surprised at the strength of my response to her.

I was never her fan, though I did find her admirable in the beginning – so dignified and graceful. It was no secret that she would become a villain eventually, so I expected her to keep acting smooth and graceful and be a smart villain, but what I got instead was a shallow, hysterical diva. Why?!

Her change was very subtle in the beginning – first she gives Soo-in the gun out of genuine concern, but later it’s a favor for a price. Then she lies to Soo-in and more importantly – doesn’t stop her father from selling Yeon-ha. When she admits to falling for Hanjo and realizing that he is actually YK, her behavior becomes rather pathetic. She tries to get Yoon-kang for herself even though she has no reason to believe he feels anything for her, and being YK wouldn’t he naturally love Soo-in?

I could still understand her decision to fight for Yoon-kang’s feelings if she did it in a fair way, but she tries to buy and threaten him simultaneously… and expects to get love in return? Really?! Then she continues to manipulate and lie at the same time criticizing her father for his wrong deeds…. To finally switch to father’s side committing perjury (though this at least I somewhat understand – he IS her father after all. Still why talk big about morals if you throw them away so easily?).
I found her suicide attempt completely out of character, bcs. come on – she experienced a true horror as a young girl, but still she pulled through and matured to a capable, intelligent young lady. But when faced with a crisis in her adult life what she comes up with is… a suicide?!? How mature, really.

What did it for me in the end was Hye Won running around in a manner of attention-seeking 5-year-old, inserting herself dramatically in other people’s business as if only to remind them how hurt she feels. Well, duh, both Daddy and you made your choices, did you not expect consequences?

And the final merry-go-round of attempted killings is just ridiculous:
I’m gonna kill myself.
No, I’m gonna kill Yoon-kang…
No? Ok, then I’m gonna kill Soo-in…
No? Ok, then Yoon-kang, you kill me..
No? Well, ok, then I’m gonna kill myself after all…

From what seemed like an interesting character with a potential for a complex villain, she went down to hysterics and hypocrisy. In the end I disagree with javabeans, bcs it seems to me that at the basis Hye-won is motivated only by her selfishness.
Also, I disagree with javabeans a little on Soo-in – she did risk her life to save the queen.
She also balances Yoon-kang perfectly, and its so clear she is his safe haven. Every time he meets her and finds a little peace feels so gratifying!

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(Lol, exceeded the limit :D)

While I appreciate how the two girls are presented: Hye-won being all about herself and Soo-in worrying so much about others, the only thing I wish would change about Soo-in is her response to Hye-won. Enough is enough, Soo-in, and that slap has been left unanswered and is still echoing in the air. Use your hands, girl!

Javabeans, thanks for another great recap & comments. Can’t wait for your next piece :D

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You're comment is awesome - exactly my thought process too.

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*Your

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Soo in keep calling Hye Won unnie but she look older than Hye Won ...that's how I think

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oooh, loved this:

"I will still contend that the Choi father-daughter duo are perhaps a more skillful rendering of that idealism-pragmatism dichotomy, although Hye-won’s shift to her father’s side has made them the poster children for defensive self-interest. I say that not as a criticism—in fact, I respect them for figuring out the way to survive and realizing that in their positions, they cannot afford to be idealists. Morality is a luxury in their position, since survival rarely abides a moral code. That dovetails nicely with their profession, since business operates in much the same way, and that parallelism is a nice touch."

I had totally missed this. Thanks for the insight an the recap.

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You spoke my mind, exactly. I was REALLY feeling the dullness Soo-in in this episode-wishing for more complexity. From the earlier episodes, I thought they'd give Nam Sang-mi more material to work with. I'm sligtly disappointed. Soo-in's spark pales in comparison to Hye-won's character. Jung Hye-bin is doing a wonderful job portraying her character. Kudos to her. I haven't seen her in anything after Sang-doo, Let's go to School and the episode of Running Man. It's nice to see her in this drama.

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I fell like the actors are trying their best but there is just something that isn't letting the story reach what I feel is its full potential. The script maybe? I am not sure. But I still like the show and I will watch it. I hope the ending is a satisfying one!

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I hate to say this but this episode totally turned me away from HW. I liked her a lot better when she felt conflicted between her father's agenda and that of YK. I'm also kind of shocked that she seemed to be completely on board with just killing the Queen, even if it was for the betterment of her and her father. they're so complacent as well still and I'm expecting one of these days that her father is going to rain rise up against sugu are there going to do something that's going to completely betray him. and I mean CW is a fucking gunman and a really good one at that he can just ask anybody that pisses him off, be it Yoon Kang or his masters.

as much as the suspense is thrilling me, I feel like the story is really lacking in terms of actual village people opinions and interactions. There seems to be a vacuum where the only opinion in action that matter or that of the characters we see and not of a general consensus or belief among populations. I mean I would feel that the majority of the poor and the peasants in the village would be totally okay with the Enlightenment or at least getting better treatment and therefore would support the King, so I'm completely baffled as to how sugu can get around without any major consequences. I understand that they have control of the nobility and the army but the nobility in the army are small and the poor in Joseon are many. So in that regard I wish that there would be more scenes in action taking place in the village and not just in thongs house or the palace or somewhere in between or in the forest or over a waterfall or wherever anyone's going to die next.

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wow phone you've out done yourself with these mistakes... sorry about that.

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I really enjoyed the episode!

I liked how the political turn is becoming a reality with rebels in the palace and PYK getting mixed up in it.

I also agree with JB's analysis that characters like Soo-In provide a sense of peace, logical thinking and stability to PYK but boy do I wish for a more natural chemistry between the two of them - that weird side hug was just weird. And on the side.

Otherwise, I'm super surprised HW didn't even bat an eyelid when talking to her father about killing the queen - I mean seriously? A few episodes before she was all ready to walk out on him because of what happened to PYK. I'd like some more conflict with her as now she's just following whatever.

Finally, I hope PYK offs smirky-I-have-bad-evil-old-man-posture Lord Kim. WEEEEELLLL he probably won't shoot him. Nah, he won't do it. It will be a great performance of conflict if he doesn't but a hell to the yeah if he does (revenge-wise and politically).

Am looking forward to next week's episode! Only 4 more to go!!!

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I think regarding Hye Won, since experiencing the death of her father and him coming back from the dead, it looks like she realised that after all her father is more important than her morals or whatever ideals she has, at this point in time it looks like she has made up her mind to help him achieve that powerful status he's craved for, and somehow her father has talked her into it because he genuinely believes he's doing it for the both of them and she seems to be understanding of it.

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Yes, I can also see what drives this duo, and I can understand (even though I don't like what this means for our good guys).

Hye-won means everything to Choi, and they both know he would do anything to protect her. They both survived the horrors of slavery (even though it hasn't really been shown to the viewers), so they know they're dispensable, and know the stakes involved if they lose.

I agree with jb's comment that "morality is a luxury in their position". If you were faced between supporting What's Right, and never seeing your Dad again... I'd say that's a pretty easy choice.

He's the only person in the world who's unconditionally on her side, so why wouldn't she do as much for him?

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Soo-in continues to frustrate me, because she serves pretty much no real purpose in the story despite multiple attempts to weave her into storylines (she dabbles in guns! she dabbles in explosives! she got tortured for it! she’s now working for the Queen!), those attempts never feel organic.

Her purported awesomeness for being able to handle guns and being enlightened is largely a case of ‘tell, not show’ when she needs rescuing virtually every time she’s in a situation, even one she SHOULD have in hand (like pulling a gun on someone to protect Yeon-ha, only to have it knocked out….after how many years of handling guns, again?).

I don’t exactly find her romance with Yoon-kang believably developed either, because it just has nothing driving it once she’s rumbled his Hanjo identity and he’s outed himself. Both she and Ho-kyung are insipid as hell, if principled(but seriously, they're nice but dull), and in fact literally the first time I saw her display something other than girlish petulance or saintly acceptance was in her disbelief over Ho-kyung’s dad’s identity.

God, this turned into one long Soo-in rant but she’s just so insipid and some places seem to believe that we’re only criticising her because she’s ‘feminine’ while the far more interesting and driven Hye-won has ‘masculine’ traits. (if viewers don’t like gently bred ‘feminine’ women, then how do you explain the universal love for Jang Nara’s character in Fated To Love You?)

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From what I've seen here not many enjoying this drama. Well, it's a mater of taste! JG is a good drama,i dont get some of the complains. All i can say is people love typical rom-com even its "Meh". -.-

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Yoon-Kang is a man of action instead of words, which is far from rash and hotheaded. During his every action, he is brave, witty, alert, physically agile, and reacts quickly as circumstance changed. Soo-in is thoughtful, scholastic, and apt to accept new thoughts. I think the character settings is reasonable in the transition of Jeoson Era. Aren't they perfectly complement each other? Good couple, haha...

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Thank you javabeans for the recap! Although I still enjoy the show my interest has waned for many of the reasons mentioned above. Thanks to the insight of the recaps I do enjoy the show more than I would have otherwise.
Something felt off and I have finally figured it out in the last few episodes. The directing is a little awkward at times and scenes end up unintentionally hilarious to me. Like the way people slide into the frame then do almost a double take whenever they react to surprising news.
The actors do it across the board whether its a serious or humorous scene and it seems a weird choice to use so often.
I realize I'm being nit picky but I guess I wanted this show to be so much better!

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LEE JOON GI ROCKSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!

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SI is boring character , being naïve is equal being stupid .

HW character is more interesting .

YK is confusing character , less brain , more compulsive ,
especially he disguise as Mr Yamamoto , is this a joke ?

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Wah wah wah... there's so many trolls here. I just want to say good job to y'all, keep on trollin!!! Clap!Clap!

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IKR..i'm still surprised of how so many people bashing not only drama characters,but also the actors. Guess some people don't have better things to do nowadays. I salute JG for not taking makjang route,when so many sageuks chose to do so, and ironically viewers tend to love them more.

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This episode got me interested about the part of Korea History. The Imo Incident really happened and the Queen was forced to fled to her relative’s villa.

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Thanks for the recaps, jb - loved the little insights. Hope you've recovered from KCON!

While I partly agree with the comments about Soo-in being kinda passive, and the pace feeling slow, and the directing/editing being choppy and abrupt - despite all that, I like where all the characters have ended up right now.

Soo-in has found her place in the royal household, as an advocate for the Kaehwa movement and as her father's daughter (no more dabbling, Soo-in!). Ho-kyung is slowly solidifying his standing as a Kaewha heavyweight, soldier, and loyal friend (take some shooting lessons, so you can help YK out!). And the rest have already been covered by other beanies here.

It's nice to have all our characters at an important cross-roads, with 6 episodes to go. There's still time to wrap up with a nice satisfying ending - fingers crossed!

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Thanks for the recap! I swear, this show make me so bloodthirsty. I can't stand to hear Lord Kim's voice any more. I can't stand to look at his face on the screen. And for the whole final scene when Yoon Kang was alone with Lord Kim and a gun, I kept whisper-yelling at the screen for a head shot. What is with all the talking? Head shot! Or a shoulder shot so Lord Kim dies slowly from gangrene, which is apparently not a thing in this show's universe.

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