@purpleteapot and I have been buddy watching Gaksital. This week we watched eps 3 and 4. I’ll put my ep 3 thoughts below. If anyone else wants to discuss it, you’re welcome to 🙂

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    I could NOT believe that Kang To was kicking his own brother repeatedly! I hated him so much in that scene. But it also seems really inconsistent with his character. Before he was saying that he wanted to make enough money to buy his mom a house and get his brother treatment at a good hospital. It seemed like he was doing what he’s doing because he cares anout his family but in this ep, it seemed like he actually believes he is doing the right thing by helping the Japanese and wants to be Japanese, even taking a Japanese name.
    I had the same question that Esther had for Shunji. How is he friends with Kang To? Does he know what Kang To does? I doubt he would approve. Shunji and Kang To are similar in some ways though. They both are taking a stance against their country to their families’ bitter disapproval. I really love Shunji but I’m worried about getting attached to him because he seems too sweet and defenseless. I’m worried he’s not going to survive to the end.
    That ending! It seemed like Kang To finally realized that Gaksital was protecting him and started to get suspicious about his identity! I wonder what he will do when he finds out though? Where does his heart truly lie: family or duty?

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      I think Shunji was well aware of what Kangto’s position required him to do. I always thought that Shunji was one of the few, if not only, who saw through Kangto? But more on that later because I don’t want to accidentally spoil anything.

      Re: hitting his brother. Gosh it was so difficult to watch. He does other things that had me 😱. But goodness. Talk about character development.

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        Their friendship is so sweet.
        I’m actually on ep 10 right now because I have a lot of free time+this drama is total crack+purpleteapot said it was ok if I watch it faster than her= me watching it as quickly as possible 😄

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          Woah! Nah I marathoned away one of my winter breaks for it so I feel ya. I had such panda eyes because I stayed up super late watching it. You still have 18 more episodes of thrills and feels though.

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          After I clear my Secretary Kim review, I don’t think I’ll be able to stick to 2 episodes a week, the conflicts just keep mounting!!

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      First off: This show is not good for my heart. I should totally exercise more these couple of weeks to strengthen it. I was so worried about the closet scene that I had to read the recap to make sure Mok-dan got away before going back to watch 😅

      How did everyone who live-watched stand that cliffhanger?! AHHH. Going to watch the first part of the episode after I post this comment.

      My biggest question for this episode is the same as yours. I wonder if it’s the pressure that Kang-to is under causing him to cave. I believe he did start out with wanting to save his brother and earn a living to support his mother, but he’s all backed up against a wall because of his Korean blood, the Kimura father-son duo out to get him, and the hate he gets from other Koreans for selling out. And it seems he sees patriots as naive, because they aren’t really doing anything for Joseon. So that’s probably why he is able to channel his frustration and resentment at his own countrymen and his brother.

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        I’m at ep 17 now and the cliffhangers just get more and more intense!!!! I don’t know how you’re managing to hold back from watching all of it. I keep pressing “play next episode”. It’s so addicting!

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