City Hunter: Episode 19

762 July 27, 2011January 24, 2016

by girlfriday

Not like you didn’t own me before, Show, but this finale-lead-in? Kicks so much ass. I honestly didn’t think City Hunter was going to go out as strong as it came in, but I’m happy to be wrong. So giddy. I knew my love was not for naught.

EPISODE 19 RECAP

Young-ju manages to stop the City Hunter and then pulls a gun on him. Yeah that lasts about two seconds, as Yoon-sung swipes the gun and turns it right around on him. But the prosecutor doesn’t even flinch as he inches forward, head to barrel. Damn, it looks like Young-ju’s the one with the balls of steel.

He uses this one chance to unmask the City Hunter…

…and he finally gets his confirmation, as Yoon-sung stands there looking back at him, gun still trained at Young-ju’s head. Yoon-sung: “Are you satisfied now?”

Sirens wail as the SWAT team descends on them quickly. Young-ju has seconds to decide the City Hunter’s fate… Young-ju: “Go.”

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! Epic swoon.

I cannot believe how long I’ve been waiting for this moment. Bromance for the win! They both act the part and Yoon-sung manages to get away, swiftly shedding his jacket and mask to walk by the SWAT team unnoticed.

Target No. 4 Chun Jae-man sits literally with his hands tied, waiting for questioning at the prosecutor’s office, but someone he recognizes comes in to rescue him. Oooooh, I wonder who it is? It’s not McCreepy because he’s presumably still tied up in Yoon-sung’s basement.

Young-ju comes back to find Chun already gone, and figures that he must’ve gotten help, and from someone on the inside as well. Ruh-roh. Dirty prosecutor maybe? Poor Young-ju. Guy can’t catch a break.

Meanwhile Ajusshi keeps his hostage McCreepy company, reading to him from a self-help book entitled I Am Precious to Me. HA. He’s trying to rehabilitate the guy? That cracks me up. He keeps waving a cane at him too, probably because it makes him feel more in control (mimicking Dad maybe?) but I have a feeling that stick is going to end up in Creepy’s hands.

Yoon-sung comes home and tells him that Young-ju made him, and Ajusshi freaks out. He rattles off a list of things to do – get a plane ticket, send Yoon-sung abroad, then gather Nana and Mom and meet him…

Yoon-sung tells him that it’s okay, but there’s no calming Ajusshi down when it might mean he’ll be separated from Yoon-sung. But he assures him that Young-ju won’t be coming for him. Ajusshi doesn’t understand—he’s been running all over town on a witch hunt because of what he did to his father.

Yoon-sung: “He let me go.” Ajusshi: “Wha~ He let you go? He saw your face and he let you go? Really? Really really?” He smiles. Is that an I-love-Young-ju smile? Is it a my-BFF-Young-ju-and-I-will-fight-crime-together-forever-and-ever smile?

News breaks of Chun’s delivery via City Hunter and his subsequent escape. Nana worries all day as she watches the news and then looks longingly at her photo with Yoon-sung in a new frame.

He sits at home and does the same, his still in the broken frame. They each pick up their phones to call the other… and then put them back down. Nana: “He’ll come back. Soon.” Yoon-sung: “I’ll stay alive and return to you.”

Young-ju gets his ass chewed out by his boss for losing Chun Jae-man, and then totally lies that he didn’t get a good look at the City Hunter’s face because he was busy getting his gun stolen. Wow, you’re even sacrificing your pride? I love this.

Yoon-sung comes to find him.

Yoon-sung: Why did you let me go?
Young-ju: Why do you think I did? As Kim Jong-shik’s son Kim Young-ju, I should have thrown you in jail immediately. But when I thought about it, the things that the law couldn’t get done, the City Hunter could. I didn’t have the right to catch you. Because you won the law.
Yoon-sung: Just like Kim Young-ju. Naïve and humorless. Kim Young-ju, the next time this happens, don’t be messy, and do what you need to do as a prosecutor.
Young-ju: And you? Why are you keeping me alive?
Yoon-sung: The same reason as you.

Yes! Because he can do what you can’t, and vice versa, inside and outside of the law! I love that Young-ju remains humorless and that Yoon-sung keeps his distance (No matter how much I’d love to see them be all, Wonder Twins, Activate! that would be out of character for both).

What intrigues me is that Young-ju still resents Yoon-sung for his father’s near-death, but his debilitating objective nature wins out. Logic wins over his heart, which makes for SUCH an interesting character, and the perfect foil for Yoon-sung.

Yoon-sung complains that it looks like he’s going to have to pull an all-nighter because someone lost Chun Jae-man. Young-ju asks about 1983 and the top-secret record book, and Yoon-sung just tells him to figure it out for himself. Or yunno, you could pull an all-nighter together. Mm?

Chun Jae-man calls looking for the City Hunter, presumably on McCreepy’s phone. He offers a trade: the super-secret book if the City Hunter stops dogging him. Yoon-sung turns him down cold.

This whole exchange goes down with McCreepy by his side in the basement, and he offers up what he knows – that there’s no way Chun destroyed the book, because he was intent on finding a good hiding place for it, and that he can guess where he’s going next.

He asks Yoon-sung to finish off Chun properly if he gives him the information. Yoon-sung promises, though I’m thinking these two have a very different idea of “finish off.” Creepy tells him that after every recent visit with President Choi, Chun was obsessed with finding a woman, who he claimed was his hidden card…

Her name is Lee. Kyung. Hee.

Yoon-sung’s eyes widen, as he repeats the name in shock. Eeep! So excited at his first big hint that Mom is a bigger part of this whole conspiracy.

He calls Sang-gook, who tells him that he thinks Jin-pyo didn’t show him the secret book on purpose. He recounts Dad’s words that he’d rather have it destroyed than land in Yoon-sung’s hands.

Young-ju’s team starts burrowing through all of Chun Jae-man’s files, confiscated from his office. He comes across something old called “Sunflower,” and finds a painting marked with a signature – a different name for the same flower.

And then in that file, he finds a hospital record for Lee Kyung-hee, from her OB-GYN. Oh, this is getting so good! Is it wrong if I want Young-ju to find out first?

Then we see someone painting the exact same painting in the present… it’s President Choi. He marks it with the same seal, which Nana sees as she stands guard. He completes it and decides he should put it up on his blog. No! Don’t do that! Wait… do I want him to do that? Argh, I don’t know!

Chun Jae-man calls the president to ask for his help getting out of the country. President Choi refuses and tells him to surrender, but of course Chun plays his final hand – he threatens to tell the world about his extramarital affair with Lee Kyung-hee, and their child.

His reaction makes me wonder if he actually doesn’t know that his child survived. Was he maybe told that she had an abortion even though she refused to? Did he assume that the child she was speaking of was Mu-yeol’s son, after the fact?

He calls Nana back into his office and asks about the woman who gave her the handkerchief. He says that he thinks she might be someone he owes a great debt to, and asks where he can find her.

She hesitates, knowing that she’s not supposed to tell anyone about Mom’s whereabouts. So President Choi takes out his own handkerchief, identical to hers. “Will you still not tell me?”

Yoon-sung goes to see Mom in the hospital and starts to ask about her involvement, but ends up letting it go. She happily notes that he’s carrying the handkerchief she gave him, and she tells him that it’s a gift she gives to people she likes.

He asks very innocently if she also gave one to Dad, and she awkwardly says “Yes…” And then she stops him to ask, “Maybe, just maybe, if your father were still alive, that would be a good thing for you, wouldn’t it?”

Yeah, that’s a big fat maybe, is what.

He just dismisses it as wistful talk and outside, he wonders why Chun Jae-man was looking for her. Why can’t you just ask her? Aaaargh.

He decides to track down another source, the woman that Ajusshi found when he looked for Mom the first time. They worked together way back when, and Yoon-sung pays her to find out what she knows.

She tells him that Kyung-hee had a hard life, struggling to pay for her father’s hospital bills, and then she got pregnant with one man’s child and then another man married her, knowing all that.

He stumbles out in a daze, knowing now for certain that his father isn’t his father. Man, that’s twice already: one, Jin-pyo, not the daddy, two, Mu-yeol, not the daddy. Just then, Nana calls to tell him about the sunflower handkerchief – the president has one just like theirs, and he’s looking for Mom. She didn’t tell him where to find her, and Yoon-sung tells her to keep it that way.

He thinks back to the beans (his habit of picking beans out of rice, which President Choi and Da-hae both do), the very thing that clinched it for us as viewers, only he’s now catching up to all the arrows pointing toward the president.

Thankfully, he goes right away to ask Mom directly. Oh Drama, I love you so.

He tells her that he’s not upset at her, but he’s found out the truth about his real father. She confirms it, and also the key fact that President Choi doesn’t even know that she was ever pregnant with his child.

She tells him that he already had a family when she became pregnant, and when Chun Jae-man found out, he threatened her to protect Choi Eun-chan’s future.

She asks if he’s disappointed to find out what kind of woman she was, and he just hugs her tenderly, “I’m not disappointed. I’m not resentful. I’m just grateful that you’re alive.” She cries in his arms.

And then trembling, he asks if the father who raised him knew all this. Mom: “Jin-pyo-sshi? Yes. He knew.” Ack!

Oh no. THIS. This right here is the betrayal that stings the most. The look in his eyes! The fact that the president is his father doesn’t matter half as much as the father he loves, the one who raised him, keeping him in the dark all this time. Heart. Breaaaaaaaaak.

What kills me is that this is the moment when he realizes that Dad really only considers him a weapon for revenge, and doesn’t love him as a son. I’d venture to say that somewhere in the deep dark recesses of his used-to-be-a-heart, Jin-pyo does love him, but now Yoon-sung will never believe it.

He comes to see Dad to tell him that he knows everything. Dad says nothing, but he flinches when Yoon-sung says Choi Eun-chan’s name. He slams the bullet necklace down on the table. “I will find out everything. And you’ll pay the price for twisting my life.”

Waaaah, are you breaking up with Daddy? He turns to walk out, and Jin-pyo clutches the only thing he has left — Mu-yeol’s bullet.

Yoon-sung sits in the Blue House parking lot, lost in thought, and Ki-joon pulls up next to him after showing off his new car to Nana and Eun-ah. It’s so adorably transparent why he bought the same car as Yoon-sung. Hee.

They try to say hello, but he just stalks off without a word.

Meanwhile Young-ju goes to see Sae-hee and asks about Yoon-sung as the City Hunter, saying outright that he knows she patched up his bullet wound. She refuses to tell him anything, and asks why he’s pursuing the City Hunter so hard, if it’s because of his father.

Young-ju: It hurts my pride as a prosecutor. I keep having to acknowledge it. I keep thinking that his methods are right. It makes me angry and it wounds my pride, but there’s nothing I can do. The law has lost. To that guy.

Sae-hee: You should’ve shown me this side of you sooner. I left because you were so perfect, but today I feel like I want to be by your side. He’s a lot like you, Lee Yoon-sung. He seemed really lonely too. How he must’ve grown up… his back was covered in scars, and as he dug a bullet out of his own back… I felt really bad for him. You know I can’t stand to see a dog that’s lost its way. You’re like that too, aren’t you?

She changes the subject to the sunflowers she bought, and suddenly they trigger Young-ju’s memory. He rushes to his office to look at the president’s blog, and finds a series of the same paintings as the one in Chun’s file.

He calls to meet Yoon-sung for coffee, and asks for curiosity’s sake if he would have become the City Hunter, fighting for truth and justice and all that, if it weren’t for his revenge. I like that this matters to Young-ju.

Yoon-sung tells him that it’s something he risks his life for, and asks if Young-ju wouldn’t do the same, for poor defenseless people in pain. Young-ju smiles, satisfied at the Lee-Yoon-sung-esque answer.

He goes straight to Jin-pyo afterwards, to confront him straight-on about his own twisted revenge. Okay, seriously, Young-ju is rocking the big guns in this episode. He unflinchingly tells Jin-pyo that Yoon-sung doesn’t regret becoming the City Hunter because he couldn’t just stand aside and watch people in pain. HUCK! What if he slits your throat on the spot for knowing Yoon-sung’s identity?

He says that he liked that answer from Yoon-sung, who differs so greatly from someone else’s revenge plot that reeks of bloodlust. He says that Yoon-sung’s revenge may be forgiven, but Jin-pyo’s cannot.

And then he lays down the gauntlet: “You must have known. That Lee Yoon-sung is not Park Mu-yeol’s biological son.” Oh crap. He adds that he doesn’t care how Jin-pyo managed to survive in ’83, but what he really wants to know is why he stole Yoon-sung and raised him as another man’s son.

Jin-pyo: “If you want to know so badly, ask your father.” Oof. Poor Young-ju. The daddy drama never ends for you either, huh? Jin-pyo tells him that it’s all in the top-secret report, so he can find it himself to know the truth.

Jin-pyo tells him that it’s his job as a prosecutor to put a man on trial for murder. But what about a government that murders twenty of its own and then erases their existence to cover up its crime?

Jin-pyo: You think my revenge is for blood alone? The country I trusted to protect me – how it exploited, deceived, and slaughtered the lives of twenty people… What unspeakable acts they did in the name of country… what your father did!

Young-ju tells him that he will uncover the truth, and that Jin-pyo will have to face judgment. Jin-pyo doesn’t balk at facing his due punishment, but adds that he’ll have to put the nation on trial as well.

Young-ju is nothing if not exact about the letter of the law. He swears to put the country on trial, and even his father, to receive judgment for their actions. He tells Jin-pyo that the next time they meet it’ll be as prosecutor to criminal, on the stand.

So goddamn heroic, it kills me.

Yoon-sung, meanwhile, listens obsessively to his recording of Chun Jae-man’s phone call, trying to suss out where he is from the background noises. Ajusshi comes in, nagging incessantly about how he’s not eating, and what are they going to do about McCreepy downstairs who has to be fed, taken to the bathroom, and read-to…

Yoon-sung snaps and yells angrily at Ajusshi that he’s trying to find Chun Jae-man, scaring the living daylights out of him. Aw. *whimper* Don’t be mean to Ajusshi! He just loves you!

He realizes that he’s reached the end of his nerves, and apologizes. Ajusshi says he’s sorry and says that he’s worried about him is all, and scoots away before he gets yelled at again. Aw, poor Ajusshi, but I do appreciate the palpable sense that the City Hunter is down to the wire.

Chun Jae-man is still hiding out, and sends his new minions to retrieve a package that he sent to Young-ju. He vows to win this. “Let’s see who remains… the persistent one or the strong one.”

Young-ju drives along and gets a call from Sae-hee, over at his place to pick up a jacket she left behind last time. He asks if she has time to eat, so he heads over to meet her. Oh, I have a bad feeling about this. Why do I have a bad feeling about this?

While they’re still on the phone, she hears a doorbell, so she goes to answer the door… Eeep, I’m watching this with my hands over my eyes…

It’s a deliveryman, with a package for Young-ju, no sender. Oh whew. He tells her to open up the package, so she does, and finds the top-secret record book inside. Whoa. So Chun Jae-man must’ve originally sent it to him, planning to air the president’s dirty laundry. He tells her to keep it safe and heads home to meet her. But then a second doorbell rings. Ack! It’s the gas man. NO!

Nonononononono, don’t answer the door!

She answers it, and Chun’s new minions back her against the wall and knock her to the ground, laughing at her threats. They retrieve the book. Is he changing his mind because he wants to deal directly with the president? Or with the City Hunter?

Young-ju comes home, passing by the thugs on his way in. Something doesn’t feel right so he rushes upstairs…

He calls out her name over and over, checking every room, but there’s no response. Aaaauuugh, did they kill her? IS SHE DEAD?

He finally finds her, tied up and still alive. Gah. My nerves. She’s beaten up but okay, and she tells him to hurry and go. He just hugs her tight and says he’s sorry for putting her through this. Aw. He finally learned to put her first! That alone is worth the scare.

Yoon-sung finally figures out one of the background noises in the recording as a tow truck, hauling up a car. He realizes that Chun Jae-man used the accident outside the prosecutor’s office to escape in the car that was totaled. He replays the news footage to track down the car to the junkyard.

Young-ju takes Sae-hee to the hospital, and she tells him that she’s okay so he should go. He looks up at her, now realizing that she always said, “It’s okay. Go,” but I think it only now occurs to him that he shouldn’t have gone.

But that’s just Young-ju, and she knows it, even admires that it’s who he is. He tells her that he’s sorry. She smiles at him, “If I give you a second chance to repay that regret, will you do well?”

Aw, the way he looks up at her, like a puppy… it just kills me. She tells him that it’s what she wants. Yay, I’m so happy for them. But it also makes me re-scared for their lives all over again. Gah.

Chun gets word that he’s got the book back, which he plans to use against the City Hunter first, putting his original president plan on the backburner. He still thinks that Jin-pyo is the City Hunter, and declares that he should’ve died back in ’83.

He sends Jin-pyo a text to meet him at the junkyard if he wants the book. Jin-pyo in turn sends the message to Young-ju, posing as the City Hunter.

Sae-hee sees it written on his face that he has to get back to work, and laughs at his lack of a poker face. She tells him she’ll be safe in the hospital, and tells him to go. He puts his hand on hers, “Your offer of a second chance… that’s a promise, okay?” AW.

She tells him not to forget it either, and they promise to talk about it later. OHGOD. There’s not gonna be a later, is there? Is he gonna die? Show, are you trying to kill me? He gets the slow-motion hero walk out the door. OH NO. Frack.

Nana goes to see Mom and asks why the president has the same handkerchief as her. She asks if what she’s suspecting is right, and Mom tells her the truth.

Young-ju arrives at the junkyard first, and Chun Jae-man is surprised to see him there when he called Jin-pyo. He tells him that the book is being destroyed right this second, so he’s never going to get his hands on it.

Young-ju realizes that it’s serving as bait for the City Hunter, and turns back to try and retrieve it. But Chun and his henchmen beat him to a bloody pulp.

Yoon-sung arrives at the same junkyard, having tracked down the car that Chun escaped in. He takes out the thugs sent out to meet him in some outrageously badass moves, including one where he jumps through a car meant to squash him.

He gets closer and Chun jumps at the sound, “Is it the City Hunter?” Young-ju realizes what he has to do, and so he quickly locks the door behind him and sends Yoon-sung a text to find the book in the car crusher.

And then he buys him time by giving the henchmen a fight. Oh god, it’s his last stand, isn’t it?

Yoon-sung gets the message and turns around. The machine is rigged to keep going so he only has a few seconds to search the car before it gets pulverized with him in it. He digs around and finally finds the book hidden under the floormat, and gets out just in time not to get squashed to death.

Chun’s men finally beat Young-ju down to the ground, but he does everything to try and keep him there, grabbing his leg and refusing to let go. Chun sighs that it’s too bad he’s not more like his father. And then like a proper evil villain, he mentions that he’s headed to port to catch his boat, because Young-ju’s blocked all the airways.

Young-ju grits his teeth and uses all his remaining strength to pull himself up, as he lays out Chun Jae-man’s crimes against the people, as Prosecutor Kim Young-ju addressing the court.

And that’s when the final blow comes, straight to the back of his head. Blood streams down his face as he falls to the ground.

Yoon-sung makes his way up to Chun and his men, knocking down the ones sent at him, while Chun slips away. He’s about to go after him when he realizes that Young-ju is nowhere to be found.

He runs upstairs…

And there he finds Young-ju, lying bloody on the ground. He shakes him awake and Young-ju comes to, asking if he found it. He says yes. He tells Yoon-sung to uncover the truth.

He tells him to go catch Chun Jae-man at the port, “I don’t think I can go right now.” Augh, why is that sentence breaking my heart?

Yoon-sung: “Kim Young-ju, catch him with your own hands.” He coughs up more blood as he struggles to speak. He reaches out his hand and Yoon-sung takes it in his.

Young-ju: “City Hunter. Lee Yoon-sung. Forgive my father.” Oh my gooooooood. You’re asking for forgiveness in your father’s place? *WAIL*

A tear rolls down his face as he says, “I’m sorry,” and then he falls to the ground, dead.

Yoon-sung shakes him over and over, “Kim Young-ju. Kim Young-ju! KIM YOUNG-JU!”

COMMENTS

Oh my god, they killed Young-ju! I know, we complained that no one died, and then they killed off Young-ju! Grawr! Can I go back in time and trade some of the others for him? Puhleeeeease? Sigh.

But what a heroic send-off, for the upright prosecutor, to die defending justice and truth. And the City Hunter! I can’t believe it. It kills me, but in the best way possible. I mean, he was maybe the ONE character I didn’t want to see die under any circumstance… which is what makes it PERFECT. It’s the death that gets me in the gut, and rips out my insides. I have such a love-hate relationship with a show that does that. Respect, but angry bitter respect. Like it knows exactly whom I love and then kills him bloody. Gah.

I can’t believe they finally gave me the begrudging partnership between Yoon-sung and Young-ju, the one thing I’ve been dying for, just to yank it out from under me. It’s like waking up thinking it’s Christmas and then finding out it’s April Fool’s. It’s a cruel, sick joke. Props, Show. You fucking bastard.

You win.

762

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101 pumpzzz

July 27, 2011 at 10:04 PM

Prosecuter is not dead. He's in coma. PLEASEEEE!!!!

What a great episode that was! Every intense scene is making me scream!!!

Gah, it's going to end tonight. I still can't believe it.

Thanks GF for this awesome recap!

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102 letmeeatcake

July 27, 2011 at 10:05 PM

OMG!!! Last episode!!!!

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103 olsen

July 27, 2011 at 10:07 PM

must not read

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olsen

July 27, 2011 at 11:40 PM

oh.my.gosh.

I died
I died
I died

and again died a lil more.

Seriously show, why?
Still have to wait for the subs
I don't know how I'm going to survive till tonight

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tuqaz

July 28, 2011 at 12:20 AM

@olsen... you're not the only one. still waiting for subs now. the wait is killing me!

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104 theedie

July 27, 2011 at 10:11 PM

Wasn't one of the plot lines that GF & JB came up with for potential future seasons involve Nana running around with Young-ju? I guess those plans are scrapped.

I am so depressed. I haven't started watching the series because I plan on doing a full marathon once subtitles are out because I know this will be like crack and I don't want to go through weekly withdrawal, so I've been reading the re-caps here and I gotta say I did not see Young-ju's passing coming at all. I was looking forward to when he and the City Hunter were finally going to work together and I'm pissed it only lasted for barely an episode. Wonderful story telling, but I love my bromances. Also, he was so very, very hot. I am going to miss the eye candy. *bawl*

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Maymay

August 2, 2011 at 3:25 PM

"Wasn’t one of the plot lines that GF & JB came up with for potential future seasons involve Nana running around with Young-ju? I guess those plans are scrapped."

LOL. I was actually thinking the same thing. Wonder how this will change their storyline now.

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105 Mg

July 27, 2011 at 10:12 PM

That. Hurt. My. Heart.

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106 CourtingChaos

July 27, 2011 at 10:14 PM

Half of me prays that we'll enter into the next episode with Young Ju in a coma like everyone else who we think has died in this show...... and the other part of me is almost dreading that they wimp out and go that route. I'm so conflicted.

Kim Young Ju..... one of the best second male leads EVER. Heck, forget the "second" and just call him a lead. Period.

The character was incredibly well-acted and insanely noble, smart, and decent down to his bones.

Loved him, and will sorely miss seeing the passionately dedicated Kim Young Ju in the finale.

On a side note... poor Sae Hee! Just when she'd really started to understand him and was finally ready to give the marriage another shot..... heartbreaking.

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Maymay

August 2, 2011 at 3:31 PM

Yes, with the amount of screen time and the complex development for his character, YJ almost rival YS for the leading role.

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107 Xtooline

July 27, 2011 at 10:16 PM

Waaaahhhh! NOOOOOO! I'd love to say something intelligent, but I'm still flabbergasted that they killed off Young Ju. It just can't be right. Well, ok, it's SO right. But I don't like it. Now I'm wondering what other horrors are in store for us tomorrow.

Thank you for the speedy recap, and for the lovely last screen cap of our dead hero.

This is really a kick-ass excellent show.

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108 MadDino

July 27, 2011 at 10:19 PM

Ah the recap clarifies everything. I wasn't paying close attention and thought Yoon Soo had the text, which made no sense and I was kinda angry at him. Jin Pyo sending Young Ju into the trap set for him makes sense and lead me to new levels of hatred for him, even if he is such an interesting character. I'd curse at him if I cursed at all. You can curse Jin Pyo in my place if you want :)

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Maymay

August 2, 2011 at 3:32 PM

LOL

OK, I'll do the dirty work for you.

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109 pea

July 27, 2011 at 10:19 PM

nooooooo...Young Ju CANNOT die...TT_TT

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110 sleepaddict

July 27, 2011 at 10:21 PM

only one reaction come to my mind: "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!" (ToT)

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111 zoey0881

July 27, 2011 at 10:22 PM

I have a nagging feeling that the person who let Chun Jae escape from the Prosecutor's office was Young Ju's boss... not sure why I feel that way :D
anyway, so sad for Young Ju :( He's quite annoying at times but now that he & City Hunter has this bromance... they killed him off just like that!
Oh well, still one of the best shows I've seen in a while :)

Kudos to the whole City Hunter Team! so sad that tonight's episode will be the last...

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112 b

July 27, 2011 at 10:26 PM

My first reaction to seeing a seriously injured Young-ju would be, "Fuck, I gotta call an ambulance!", and not waste precious seconds to wax poetic about duty and justice. Then maybe perform CPR. But I'm guessing that's what happens at the beginning of the finale. I don't believe Young-ju is dead. This scene was perhaps done as a dramatic lead-in to the last episode, and a cliffhanger to this one. But of course, I'm 0 for 25 at guessing drama endings. So what do I know?

When Lee Min-ho issued that challenged that no one would be able to guess the ending, I was going to take a stab at it (and make my record 0 for 26). Young-ju dying wasn't one of my predictions, though. For the final resolution to this drama, I was thinking the President would take a bullet for Yoon-sung. I don't envision the Prez confessing to his crimes and then being incarcerated. That would be so anti-climactic. City Hunter deserves an awesome ending. What would be a more super grand send off than the Prez himself performing the ultimate sacrifice to atone for his sins. And it would be an awesome ironic twist to have the president, perhaps accustomed to the idea of others using themselves as body shields to protect him would himself become one. And to save his own son, no less.

I admit I didn't like the idea of Young-ju dying for selfish reasons. First, because he's my second favorite character of this show (McCreepy being the first. Just kidding). Second, that would kill the cottage industry of Prosecutor and Yoon-sung dialogue parodies, which I'm invested in. That would totally suck especially if Show were to decide to do Season 2. I actually have an alternate dialogue written, but seeing Young-ju getting beaten to a pulp like that sort of killed the mood. Damn you, Show.

In any case, please do a Season 2. Pretty please?

girlfriday, awesome recap once again. Thanks so much!

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Maymay

August 2, 2011 at 3:36 PM

Aw...b

Will miss your awesome dialogue.

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113 okitokki

July 27, 2011 at 10:27 PM

Oh. My. God. I blame anyone who wanted people in those show to die for Young-ju's death. ARE YOU HAPPY NOW?! hah. just kidding. ~~but not really~~

I kinda wonder if all those others had died instead of just being Very Very Injured, would Young-ju's death have as much impact? I mean, it would be a huge "OH MY GOD SHOW WHAT THE HELL" moment no matter what, but this way there's also a veil of "WHY IS IT THAT THE ONE PERSON TO DIE IS THE ONE WHO DESERVED IT THE LEAST?! WHYY DRAMA GODS WHYYYYYYYYYY" thrown into the mix...

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Maymay

August 2, 2011 at 3:39 PM

So true.

Sorry to say, but I am one of those guilty people. No, I'm not happy at all.

You're right, the impact is much bigger because they have not kill anyone until now.

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114 Mg

July 27, 2011 at 10:28 PM

Jin pyo knew what would happen, evil evil evil, and smart. Jin pyo is going to go after the president himself, and either get killed by YS protecting pres & nana (city hunter will have to end up with only one father) accidentally kill mom when he tries to take out YS (I will kill anyone who gets in the way of my revenge) or Nana takes out psycho dad protecting president/biodad. there are soo many possibilities. But these 3 I thought of first. Jin pyo is the only major link to his past of anger, brutality, and pain, he has to go as it's the only way YS can move on from that life and live in the present with nana, ajusshi, and mom possibly dad since his time in office is up soon.

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Mg

July 27, 2011 at 10:30 PM

Ps ajusshi may be from his past too but that was ALLLLLLLL love, puppy eyes, and food, so he doesn't count as part of the past life darkness

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Mg

July 27, 2011 at 10:49 PM

I made up my mind. YJ HAS to take out JP. It's the closure needed for the both of them. Yj ending his old life, and jp repenting for his sins against YJ. If jp is going to let ANYONE kill him, it's going to be his son that he tragically ended being the only person he loves in his dark world. And when jp is bleeding out, I bet the monologue is going to be along the lines of "Please forgive me/do you understand why and to me you are my son." Leaving the conflicted yj a HUGE fucking mess, as after all he still calls him father. Sorry for all the add ons, my mind is a flurry of anticipation of what the finale will actually be!

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Maymay

August 2, 2011 at 3:42 PM

I'm actually having fun reading all your theories.
:)

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115 Lexington

July 27, 2011 at 10:28 PM

I'm crying at work. Actual tears and it's taking a lot of effort not to sob, drop to my knees and yell "WHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY???" And he finally partnered up with Yoon Sung! And he finally got back together with Sae Hee! And and and... WHY??

*sniff* Young Ju

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116 crazedlu

July 27, 2011 at 10:30 PM

i don't know why you all are complaining about the female roles in this story. it's like you've never watched an action flick before in your life. if the story centers around a dude, YEAH, the females (and the romance lines) are their to get the heroes to the end of their stories, unless the female is the main character herself.

sheesh.

the writers finally did what they should've all along, and it's only NOW that the complaints come piling in.

how did you all manage to disregard the many flaws of the show before young ju's death and the increasing abscences of the female characters??

come on, finale!

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crazedlu

July 27, 2011 at 10:44 PM

urgh! freakin typed a "their" instead of a "there". i promise i do know how to read and write in english.

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malta

July 27, 2011 at 11:16 PM

Much respect and all, but actually read the comments on the past episodes and you will see the constructive criticism of this show that has been going on all along.

Maybe you're the one whose "never watched an action flick before in your life." You need a movie/TV marathon night cause no where did God give Moses a tablet saying "Action Flick = Sausage Fest"

Please consult:
The Terminator series especially Terminator 2
Alien series
Underworld
The Fifth Element
Resident Evil
Kill Bill
G.I. Jane
Aeon Flux
Dark Angel
Alias
The X-files
La Femme Nikita (the 90's version)
Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon
Sector 7 (wt Ha Ji won, haven't seen this, but I'm sure the men she's surrounded by will get plenty of screen time)

...and the list goes on and on. The male characters in these movies and TV shows were strong and complete despite having female leads. I also happen to recommend all of these movies as bonafide action blockbusters. I LOVE action movies which is one of the reasons I first got interested in City Hunter since aren't nearly as many action kdramas as there are rom-coms.

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crazedlu

July 27, 2011 at 11:27 PM

uhh.. i'm not saying all guys need a woman to come off macho in an action production. all i'm saying is that when there are female characters involved in a story centered around a guy, and there's action, typically, it's okay that they sit in passengers and occassionally the backseat.

same goes for girls leading the show.

and actually, i've seen a bunch of those.

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SafetySuit

July 27, 2011 at 11:38 PM

I haven't seen a lot of this list but from what I have seen, the male leads were definitely not that compelling and were even sometimes sacrificed into the background so the female leads could shine, just like it is this other way with City Hunter.

Alias - come on' you can't tell me Michael was just as strong and effective as Sydney. As the show went on he became lamer and more protective of Sydney and in Season 4 was it? He literally disappeared the entire season and got resurrected at the very end.

Resident Evil - no offense but the plots of resident evil movies are sorely lacking no? I mean aside from the action and "mind-bending" sci-fi stuff too much of it is so cliche and so story-line-purely for the purpose of showcasing a kickass heroine that everything else is relegated to the background also.

La Femme Nikita - Yes this Michael is definitely very strong and well-written, well acted! But Peta Wilson's Nikita definitely dominated the story and Michael's stories were often there to make her character even more compelling. But this one, of course is the closet to an even-partnership greatness.

Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon - okay the men, namely Chou Renfat got screentime b/c he was WAY more famous than anyone else (maybe with the exception of Michelle Yeon) in that movie so of course he got screen time and the movie was as much about Zhang Ziyi's character as it was about him!

So in short, I don't think it's screentime that matters as much as a great storyline that really enables the character to make a difference in the story. Though I agree Nana and Seahee were definitely relegated to the background in the last few episodes, just ask yourself this, if Nana or Saehee dies in the final episode would you fee nothing? Would you be like oh cool let's move on? If not, then the writers have succeeded in at least providing enough material to make their characters worth it. If you couldn't give a damn either of these female characters died, then I agree, the writers have utterly failed :)

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malta

July 27, 2011 at 11:43 PM

I just think the best stories don't divide plot lines by gender. Either secondary characterizations matter or they don't. Either both women and men's perspectives matter in stories or they don't.

For me, now and always, to make a good compelling story, secondary characterizations and both men's and women's perspectives matter.

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crazedlu

July 27, 2011 at 11:54 PM

now there's no point in the girls dying, so i really hope they don't. it's not that i don't feel for their characters, i just didn't like how they were written, and portrayed (nana at least.. and i've been okay with park minyoung's acting before this drama), from the start.

this is all my personal preference and taste.

the show's been good entertainment. i just didn't enjoy it as much as i wanted to.

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Cynthia

July 28, 2011 at 12:03 AM

Agree with your list.
Here's another big one.
Angelina Jolie and her Laura Croft Tomb Raider movies (and practically anything else she's ever done.)

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ladida

July 27, 2011 at 11:20 PM

I'm confused. Are you saying that it's ok that females are being used as mere devices in these men's stories and you're using the fallacy of "hey it's happened before/it's just how it is, so it's not a problem" to justify it, (naturalistic fallacy) or are you saying that it is a real and disturbing problem that needs to be adressed and fixed and you're surprised people hadn't noticed it before now?

If it's the former, well, then, that's seriously fucked up and I don't know if I can respond without using angered/mocking language, and if it's the latter, then I and others have pointed out since last week that Nana and Sae hee and Kyung Hee have disappeared/pop up only when it's convenient to use them to further Yoon Sung's and Young Ju's emotional development. Some of us called that ish out the minute we saw it. And we discussed how problematic the whole Yoon Sung's money and wealth is DRUG money and there is o way he could get a Phd from MIT in 7 years when the show first began airing. So.

But let me try to address the first idea you brought up. I have watched action flicks before. That's why I'm sick and tired of lazy story lines that introduce a woman, only to either displace her from the immediate action of the story until the hero can return to her or just kill her off so that the writers don't have to deal with sitting their asses down and writing something intelligent for their female actors. How infuriating must it be for actresses to have to go through the same things over and over again? I'm just a viewer and it angers me. What boggles the mind is that City Hunter seems to be a vehicle for women, entertainment that attracts women viewers (LMH, basically) and yet the writers feel no obligation to those women viewers - or men viewers who care about good writing - to present coherent and well written female characters. Furthermore, if any character that is not the main character is only their in service to that main character, then why develop such a great story line for Young Ju and Jin Pyo. Why not just make them as weak as Sae Hee and Nana? Unless you mean that it's only natural for a woman, not just secondary characters, to be besides the point in a story with a male protagonist. And why would a romance be more important to the female characters than the male ones?

We are "complaining" (or, you know, critiquing/calling out/just having an engaging online discussion with people who share our interests) because it's so obvious that this is related to some kind of ingrained sexism (gasp!) and because we don't want this show that we started out loving to turn into something that's been done to death, all the while having people cheering it on for being exciting and new.

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crazedlu

July 27, 2011 at 11:37 PM

what you wrote is exactly why i don't care that nana or any other girl is in the picture here much at the end. they were weakly written characters in the first place. i have no complaints about their lack of screen time.

yeah. actually i do think that secondary characters are there to service main characters. it's up to the writers to give them good, compelling stories.

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ladida

July 28, 2011 at 6:36 AM

I understand not caring about the Nana character because she was written incoherently and weakly: that's totally valid.

I guess I just wish that she wasn't written that way and am curious as to why she was, whether that has anything to do with gender, and whether it's just something that is an issue with that character, or a surprising number of female characters. I'm tempted to think time is an issue here, in that the writers only have 20 episodes to tell this story, and the scope of what they started out with in the first few episodes is just too large for that time frame.

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okitokki

July 28, 2011 at 12:59 AM

There are a lot of threads in this post about the treatment of female characters, and while I agree with pretty much all that's been said about Se-hee, I have to wonder why it's so problematic that Nana isn't a main character anymore. This is a drama about Yoon-sung's revenge on behalf of his 'father' Jin-pyo. So they're automatically very central characters. Everyone else in the show is extra. Young-ju is there because you need a foil to Yoon-sung. Se-hee's existence serves the dual purpose of providing a bit of back story for Young-ju and helping Yoon-sung in the beginning. Ajusshi exists to occasionally assist Yoon-sung and to give him an initial connection to Nana. Nana is there to give viewers the possibility of a happy ending for Yoon-sung, because dude's life is fucked up. Her main story line, in my opinion, isn't her romance with Yoon-sung, but the stuff with her father (what ever happened to him?) and Young-ju's father (what ever happened to him?). After Young-ju's father was 'avenged,' her main story line ended. And people are calling her lack of presence problematic? And assuming that it's solely because she's a woman? I don't know about that. Look at the character of Ki-joon, who had a large role in one of City Hunter's targets, and after that arc ended, Ki-joon's character once again took a step back and became a peripheral character with no bearing on the story. They could have done this with Nana's character, and reduced her role to a few throwaway unsubstantial scenes, except that if they reduced her role that much, she doesn't serve the purpose of offering that possibility of a happy later-on... I don't know. I.. As much as I like Nana, I'm not as bothered as others seem to be about her character's development (or lack thereof). After revenge has been taken on the man who personally affected her, she has no reason to fight alongside Yoon-sung. I might have been annoyed if she HAD become his side-kick, because other than "She loves him a LOT" there's not a logical explanation for that, especially because she has, on several occasions, asked Yoon-sung if he can't just give up his revenge.

I'm not going to completely rule out sexism, because that very well may be part of it. But I don't think you should act as if it's the only driving force. The way I see it is that this is a story centering around Yoon-sung avenging those soldiers who died in the 1983 cover-up, and how this journey has changed him from the carefree youth he was in episode 1 to a person who wants justice and equality and an end to corruption. So I still can't help but think it's natural that Nana, who I've always considered more of a plot device than a central character (in the same way that Yoon-sung is a main character), to have less development and presence after target #3. But this, again, is just because I think of this drama primarily as a story about Yoon-sung's development, which makes everyone else (even Jin-pyo) only present in their service to the main character (I think you made an excellent point refuting this sentiment, by the way. But honestly? Nana doesn't have any tie to the other 4 targets. Sae-hee was never set up as a main character, in my opinion. Young-ju is a prosecutor who was originally on the City Hunter case, and Jin-pyo was the origin of the revenge plot. This gives the two of them a plausible reason for being developed, because they have a stake in each of the City Hunter targets, not just one. So, just out of curiosity, would you have been happier if Young-ju's prosecutor role was a female, instead?).

Don't mistake this for ranting by one of those people who is "cheering it on for being exciting and new." I wouldn't use exciting or new to describe City Hunter, and, though it may not sound like it, I do accept that there is some element of sexism at play here. Maybe I'm being naive, but I'd just like to suggest that misogyny and sexism don't have to be the only reasons for Nana's lack of development.

Please excuse me if in writing this, I've basically repeated myself over and over. I don't generally like my writing to be meandering like that, but hey, it's late and it's not like I sat down to outline an argument and you know what? I'm only a teenager. It's okay if I'm not eloquent.

Also, I don't see why one shouldn't be able to get a PhD in 7 years. Based on people I've known, a bachelor's degree can be earned in less than 4 years. I know several people who completed their PhD coursework in 2-3 years (what could take significantly more time is the dissertation process). This can be further reduced if you have a Master's in your field, although (depending on the field of study) you can be accepted into doctorate programs with only a Bachelor's. And this isn't even taking into account dual degree programs. A PhD in 7 years would by no means be an easy thing to achieve, nor do I think it is extraordinarily common, but I wouldn't call it impossible. It's improbable, at best. :)

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ladida

July 28, 2011 at 7:02 AM

No need to apologize for anything, your writing was clear and insightful.

I find it problematic that Nana isn't a main character anymore because they set her up as one and then just ignored her. The writers are not delivering on what they themselves presented in the first place. They didn't introduce her as a tertiary character like they did with Ajusshi (same goes with Ki Joon and his brother, as well as the targets themselves), they explicitly made her out to be an integral part of the story in the establishing episodes and now they have abandoned her, which messes with the story. (Is romance important to his development or not? If not, then that's fine, but be consistent about it. I don't like the president as father story line at all, but at least it addresses his daddy issues; if they had abandoned that story line altogether - which they kind of have so far, what with Yoon Sung not really reacting to the revelation - then I'd still point that out.) I noted above that this may be because of time constrictions, but excuses aside, it still remains a problem, and it would be even if Nana were not a woman/female.

I feel that we have very differing standpoints on how a story should be executed. You seem to have no problem with characters being used as devices for the hero, regardless of gender. I come from the standpoint that characters, male, female, or anything in between, should not be tools at all, but fully developed and engaging. First because using characters as tools means using tired cliches, tropes, and stereotypes, and second (perhaps most importantly) it disengages the viewer from the story. It weakens the story. The story becomes something stagnant, which isn't a story at all, but a machine.

If secondary characters are tools, then how authentic can the main character and his/her relationship to those secondary characters be? A story is not a chess match, riveting as those may be. How much of a tool can secondary characters be before the main character becomes a tool her/himself? Why should a viewer care at all about a story if all the characters are these cardboard pieces made to exist to fulfill a strategic purpose, not create organically and fully to enrich a story? If characters are tools, then what are actual tools (foreshadowing, etc.) for?

But let me adopt the stance that characters should be tools in a story and only used in relation to the main character, as opposed to being used to enhance the story itself (although, how would this work in ensemble dramas?) If that is the case, then the main character here is not at all Yoon Sung, but Jin Pyo, because Jin Pyo is the one who has all the knowledge from the beginning and has used it to manipulate everyone else around him. Everyone has been a tool in Jin Pyo's hands, so far, with him playing god. I speculated about Jin Pyo being the real City Hunter before, but I suppose that's just me having fun with random ideas.

As for the Phd in 7 years at MIT, then, well, I guess we'll just have to accept Yoon Sung as an incredibly hard working genius. (Or maybe he's a robot? Now that would be a twist! Lol.)

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malta

July 28, 2011 at 9:08 AM

I agree. We don't know anything about Sae hee and her family so although I wanted to see more of her, I can accept that we don't, but Nana we have backstory for, filled with flashbacks and an unresolved conflict which is tied in with the City Hunter's revenge quest - Nana's parent's car accident. Also her dad is still in a comma, unless he died and the show forgot to tell us....why present all that info if you're not going to flesh it out? Now I'm sitting around wondering about Nana's father!...

They managed to flesh out the story for Young ju who had the same situation as Nana. For Young ju they gave us a backstory filled with flashbacks and an unresolved conflict which is tied in with the City Hunter's revenge quest - Young ju's dad is one of the 5 and his money laundering scandal. The difference is they resolved Young ju's story.

Why not the same for Nana?...Am I paranoid for thinking maybe it's because somebody thought, however innocently, that Nana's a woman and women are not as interesting or relatable as men or as easy to write bhal, bhal, bhal, whatever - fill in the blanks?

$20 bucks says we end the series with no idea what the fate of Nana's dad is. There are 80 bagillion things left for this series to resolve in 1 episode! I don't even think YS understands that the president, dear Daddy, is one of the 5 yet. How is this and all the other things going on gonna get resolved properly in 1 episode?... They won't be.

Yes, my name is Debbie Downer. City Hunter did this to me.

malta

July 28, 2011 at 9:14 AM

Also all this stuff you wrote above is really well written. I too hate characters as devices. It makes me think the writer is not genuine or sincere and is just using the audience like an evil mastermind.

I really love this part of what you wrote, especially the last line.

"First because using characters as tools means using tired cliches, tropes, and stereotypes, and second (perhaps most importantly) it disengages the viewer from the story. It weakens the story. The story becomes something stagnant, which isn’t a story at all, but a machine."

I love everything human and detest life as a machine!

okitokki

July 28, 2011 at 7:18 PM

I don't apply opinions like this freely to every drama ever. It's not really a concrete, one or the other "I don't mind characters as tools, so it's ok if that's how it happens sometimes," or "I absolutely hate characters as tools and they should never be used." I don't like living in absolutes. Every drama is going to different. Of course an ensemble drama would have to be different; it'd be a lot more disappointing for a drama with an ensemble cast to not develop all the characters well. This isn't really an ensemble drama, though. For a story like this, while it'd be nice if every character were well-developed and given a satisfying story line (that's the kind of thing that can make a drama go from, say, 'pretty good' to 'amazing'), I'm not going to decide I hate the show because it didn't do that. I like City hunter for what it is, and try not to wish it were more than that. Could it be better? Yeah. Do I wish we had another episode or so to do justice to all the story lines? Maybe. But am I going to hate on City Hunter for what it could have been? Nah. It was easy to watch and I didn't walk away from episodes feeling like I had wasted my time. 'Good enough' is good enough for me, I guess.

And hey! Thanks for taking the time to reply :D This has been a really interesting discussion! I like reading threads on this site because they sometimes go deeper than what I see on other sites (namely, "omgg i luv city hunter! lee min ho is so hot unfff" etc. not that there's anything wrong with a little fan-girling once in awhile. But it's nice to have substance, too, you know? :)

missjb

July 28, 2011 at 8:34 AM

I really thing Nana's story, conflict and character were poorly written. Their conflict is too easy to be resolved. After for years, They just resolve it, like that? Too simplicity!
I don't like it! Since I'm so much invested with Nana and Ajushi['s conflict before. So when Their issues not detailed and resolved them but with so many issues hasn't been resolved at all.

just like I'm bothered with Nana's reaction after meet ajusshi, who are the one make her family broken! But her reaction after meet the eyes with him was so FLAT! It's like his fault not to be taken seriously! WHAT??? yeahhhh actually I hate ajusshi character after knowing his fault for Nana and the drama forgive his fault easily and it's like his fault is not BIG.

but still I forgive that element, I just dissapoint, they make a conflict, but as if they forget it after that!

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117 nali2

July 27, 2011 at 10:35 PM

OMG!!! Show you're AWESOME but you killed me! Young-ju why??!!! I knew from the slo-mo shot he wasn't coming back but still WHY????!!!!! All I gotta say now is the Finale better EPIC if you went all out and killed Young Ju for it! CAN'T WAIT!!!

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nali2

July 27, 2011 at 10:37 PM

*better be

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118 ColoradoSky

July 27, 2011 at 10:36 PM

I think young ju will go into a coma like evryone else so far and wake up for season two:)

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119 Bluefyre

July 27, 2011 at 10:37 PM

I'm hoping they're gonna pull a Nana and resurrect Young-ju tomorrow! LMAO. But still. Show, I applaud you. You killed off the one I didn't want to lose and I don't like you for it, but still *applause*

Thank you GF!!

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120 f1yh1gh10

July 27, 2011 at 10:38 PM

i cried so much my whole shirt was soaked with tears... youngju--my heart breaks for you... :( i wanted you and sae hee to have a happy ending..but sadly, i'll admit that if nana or yoonsung died, my room would be flooded.

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Maymay

August 2, 2011 at 3:55 PM

One of my regret, YJ and SH did not get back together.
If YS and NN died too, now I will be very mad.
You cannot destroyed both couples. If one couple must end in tragedy, the other couple should have at least a happy ending.

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121 ilovebinderclips

July 27, 2011 at 10:39 PM

i haven't seen this drama and have only followed the recaps, but.... yeah, this was surprising in some ways. Honestly, if anyone had to die, I think I would have preferred Nana, if only because I like Saehee more and think she's a better match for Yoon-sung (sacrilege on this site, I know...). But the rivalry/bromance between Yoon-sung and Youngju was too good, too intense to keep up. There's something very Asian philosophically about their relationship (such as it is) not being fated for this world.

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Maymay

August 2, 2011 at 3:56 PM

How could SH end up with YS, she is still very much in love with her ex-husband.

There was never a love triangle or love square in this show.

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122 saranga

July 27, 2011 at 10:40 PM

i'm still holding out a scrap of hope that young-ju didn't actually die... but even in my heart i know that it's probably not the case.

i'm not the type to get emotionally invested into kdrama characters. yes, i prefer happy endings over sad ones. but isn't the end of the world to me if the hero and heroine don't end up together in the end, or if other pairings don't happen.

i've seen lee jun-hyuk in most of his works and he was always great and memorable, but this was the drama where he really got to shine. he BECAME kim young-ju. he took what i think could have been a very bland and common character in kdramaland, dug into it, and really molded it into his own. good acting like this, paired with a charming actor, is when i go into fangirl mode. i think it all started with the episode where young-ju's father fell from the bridge...

basically what i'm trying to say up there is that his death was devastating to me personally. screw the storyline, i want him back. alive and kicking.

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123 saranga

July 27, 2011 at 10:43 PM

ps. this is one drama where i really really want an extension. i don't know how they're going to wrap up everything into a single episode tomorrow.

it kind of reminds me of the end of harry potter book 6. there seemed to be such a VAST amount of mysteries left for the trio to solve in just a single book. as a result i've always felt that book 7 was a bit cram-packed with info and developments, though i loved it all the same.

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124 Einna

July 27, 2011 at 10:45 PM

SO. EPIC.

*excuse me while I grieve*

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125 Daniela

July 27, 2011 at 10:46 PM

This episode killed me. I cried and cried, real cry.I was a fountain. I didnt see this coming, but when he left the hospital I knew.
In the middle of my crying I love how, even beaten up, he got up, looked Chun Jae-man in the eyes and told him his sentence. He gained time for Yoon-sung, he was the great, intelligent persecutor till the end.
Oh, I would love the bromance, it was so quick! But, although briefly, we could see it.
On other thing, I also believe that down and deep,Jin-pyo loves Yoon-sung like a son. And yes he trained him to be the revenge machine, but I like to see that in the end we can see Jin-pyo telling to Yoon-sung that he is more to him than just a tool.
Maybe Im seeing things where they are not, but I now he loves him, right? Even if he is not his friend's son?
Because, really,the president might be his dad and all, but for 28 years there was no bond between them, except the blood one. I dont know if Yoon-sung is going to punish him,just give me my scene (haha I'm demanding now).

Thank you for the recap! Oh just one more this will end! so excited! And in pain for Young-ju.

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Maymay

August 2, 2011 at 4:02 PM

I, too, think JP really loves YS. For his revenge mission though, I think he tries really hard to suppress all his emotions.

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126 bettinagurl

July 27, 2011 at 10:53 PM

just reading the recap made me cry! T_______T youngjuuuu! andwae! i cant wait for the subs hahaha... thank you for the recap... i was bawling just reading youngju's death!!

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127 Dream

July 27, 2011 at 10:56 PM

I DON'T UNDERSTAND!!! - Why WhY WHY the rating for Ep 19 had dropped to 18.7 (3rd)??? Who beat my BELOVED drama!! NO WAY!! I am too obsessed..... This ought to be #1!!!

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Raine

July 27, 2011 at 11:38 PM

probably because of the flood in Seoul
lots of people watching the news since it's a natural disaster in their own city

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Maymay

August 5, 2011 at 2:14 PM

It's pretty sad that a great drama like City Hunter never crossed the 20% mark. National disaster...can't compete against that.

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128 dramaqueenssi

July 27, 2011 at 11:00 PM

oh no why did they kill Yong Ju? I was expecting Jin-pyo will be one the die in this story.
nooooooooo.....he is not dead yet he'll going to survive and team up with Yoon Sung to get those bastards.

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129 fran

July 27, 2011 at 11:05 PM

Chun Jae-man is sooooo dead. President Choi told him expressly not to touch Kim Young-ju...

Thanks for the recaps!

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130 jyyjc

July 27, 2011 at 11:08 PM

That's it. Lee junhyuk, you have impressed me to no end. I didn't think much of you from I am Legend but this....you better get leading roles from now on!!!!

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malta

July 27, 2011 at 11:21 PM

Definitely needs a leading role now!!!!

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SafetySuit

July 27, 2011 at 11:43 PM

I know I'd totally watch him in a leading role, but he needs to pick good scripts with range! And pls don't go off to the army any time soon, 'cause isn't he near that age too?!

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Maymay

August 5, 2011 at 2:21 PM

Definitely was not impressed with him in I am Legend, but he was great here.

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131 omo_omo

July 27, 2011 at 11:09 PM

just reading the recap (thank you very much) made me already cry TT__TT (and i wasn't even a fan of young-ju) but damn!

*can't wait for later*

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132 kdj

July 27, 2011 at 11:09 PM

OH SHIT!! WHYYYYYY??? I'm bawling my eyes right now, so gut wrenching!! This is what it feels to love & hate a person at the same time. Yes. You mr. Writer. I HATE YOU!!!!

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Maymay

August 5, 2011 at 2:23 PM

Yes, this is the first show where I learn to love and hate something at the same time.

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133 snowangel715

July 27, 2011 at 11:16 PM

I normally read the recap first before watching the episode since it takes a while for subbed videos to be available. After I read this, it's the first time that I felt "I should've watched it first". Thank you for the quick recap....

I love where City Hunter has taken us. How complex the characters are but they still take on life as transparently as it looks. I also think this is the only drama where I haven't screamed at the screen for someone to tell someone else something since they tackled the twists in the plot really well.

I am torn... I can't wait for ep20, but I don't want it to end.

Lee Min Ho... This is the drama where you stole my heart... I now know that I will watch whatever you take part in coz DAMN BOY... YOU REALLY GOOD AT WHAT YOU DO...

I hope you choose your next project really well :-)

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134 bunny

July 27, 2011 at 11:17 PM

omg. the last two episodes were so good...

is YoungJu really dead....? in another drama, I would say he was dead for sure but this show faked death twice (Jin Pyo and NaNa) so I'm hoping that this is one of those situations... I want him to be happy with SaeHee!!! *sobs*

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135 niza

July 27, 2011 at 11:20 PM

City hunter rating drop,why?

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Cynthia

July 28, 2011 at 12:11 AM

Seoul is underwater.

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Maymay

August 5, 2011 at 2:28 PM

"Seoul is underwater."

LOL

I'm sorry, I know it is not funny but reading that sentence just make me laugh.

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136 Yvonne

July 27, 2011 at 11:25 PM

*faints*
Show, you are giving me a heart attack! I can't wait until tomorrow! Sad CH is ending! *sobbing*

OH EM GEE! I love you MinHo! I love you CH!

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137 Cabbage

July 27, 2011 at 11:25 PM

Gah! I should never never never "glimpse" at the recap before watching the episode...

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138 Lizette

July 27, 2011 at 11:28 PM

Excellent K-drama! I want a season 2 already! Love it! Never fails to surprise me! WOW!

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Maymay

August 5, 2011 at 2:31 PM

Yes, good or bad, flawed or not, this show never fails to surprise me at every turns.

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139 bananamilk

July 27, 2011 at 11:30 PM

NOOOOOOOO!!!! when their bromance comes along and you kill him off!!!!! sigh. this show just kills me! i love it so much it kills me!!

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140 Raine

July 27, 2011 at 11:35 PM

I can't believe it's all coming to an end with tonight's episode T_T this sadness... it feels as if I'm parting ways with the love of my life... I need a good closure (and that means a HAPPY ENDING for YS+NN please!) for me to be at peace

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141 HeadsNo.2

July 27, 2011 at 11:36 PM

As soon as I saw the slow-motion hero walk I knew it was all over... and I have not cried so hard at a drama, EVER. When Young Ju stuck to his principles until the end, crawling to face Cheon Jae Man and to cite his crimes against the nation... ever the prosecutor until the end, and ever the character we knew him to be. It was a beautiful performance, beautifully timed, beautifully acted.

I had been disappointed that Sae Hee wasn't killed, once again thinking, "they don't kill anyone in this drama!", but it just proves superior writing/directing/acting in this drama, as it kept us on edge and relaxed us when she was fine, only to move on to Young Ju. Truly one of the greatest moments committed to television.

I hate the show for doing this to me but love it because it resonated so emotionally, so heart wrenchingly, and gave him such a heroic sendoff. They paid all the respect in the world and more to Young Ju. I admire your balls, City Hunter. But I want to hate you so bad for them.

Unlike other readers, though, I definitely do not hope that Young Ju just falls into a coma and is alive the next episode. It kills the dramatic tension. I would be VERY disappointed if next episode he turned out to be alive. Let's leave him with that awesome sendoff. RIP, character Kim Young Ju!

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luci8le

July 28, 2011 at 12:11 AM

well even if he falls into a coma... with that blow... well he might never wake up or end up in a wheel chair because of the subdural hematoma.
I think they finally killed someone in that show. strangely I'm satisfied they did but... I would have prefered it to be someone else. nana. jin-pyo. anyone but not KYJ....

and anyone noticed that we nearly didn't see nana in the two last ep? Is that because of the "ost covers incident"?? (here : http://en.korea.com/leeminho/board/city-hunter-park-min-young-becomes-an-object-of-hatred-of-lee-min-hos-fans-due-to-ost-covers/ ) If so... LMH's fan can be quite scary ^^

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HeadsNo.2

July 28, 2011 at 12:16 AM

I think it's because the romantic storyline had to take the back burner because the writers left a LOT of loose ends to tie up in the final episode. With all the action coming to a climax, taking time for the romance is the last thing we have time for! Cheon Jae Man is still on the loose (which, honestly, is a bit annoying since I want the finale to have time to properly deal with the President as Target No. 5) and there's a lot the City Hunter needs to do. Na Na knows she has to wait, that Yoon Sung is coming back, and so I think we'll get a reunion in the end. But right now... action, action, action! :)

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olsen

July 28, 2011 at 7:39 AM

oh gosh!

These fans really need to chill
I'm not talking about LMH alone

If they want their idols to become more famous or successful
they need to start treating their co-stars or the people in their idols' life better
I remember Park Shin hye voicing concern (read: afraid) about her 'pretend kiss' with Kim Hyun Joong
And that was a pretend kiss!

What if it really gets to the point that some superstar might not want to work with their idols 'coz they are afraid of being thrown acid on the face or something?

So, fans, think about that huh?

Okay, so, even I love love love LMH to death
But, I don't sit in front of my laptop all day hunting down every female in his life!

Forgive me for my ranting
but I really hope that the korean fans would just
CHILLAX!

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malta

July 28, 2011 at 9:21 AM

Oh go to hell psycho fans.

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Maymay

August 5, 2011 at 2:36 PM

Fans are scary!!!!!!

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142 seeyathecat

July 27, 2011 at 11:41 PM

could he just go into a comma

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143 letseatbulgogi

July 27, 2011 at 11:44 PM

It's about time....for evil daddy Jin Pyo to die!!

And omg yong-ju nooooooo......a friend told me in school today and i was like NO WAY SHOCK HORROR...... this show is too smart. And too heart-wrenching. And i expect the last episode to be smashing.
If there is a season 2, i fully back it. Except i feel so bad for sae-hee, poor girl.
pleasepleaseplease dont kill ahjusshi either , CH writers.....i would FLIP OUT if that happened.

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144 yong in

July 27, 2011 at 11:44 PM

WHATTTTT????? HE DIED?????? ~faints~

aigoo, aigoo, aigoo....

maybe he'll manage to live in the final episode? Please, kdramagod!!!!

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145 Quinze

July 27, 2011 at 11:50 PM

Oh God My heart stopped when that blow came! I don't think I've ever been as shocked about something that happens in a show until now.
I kept thinking, they won't go there right? I kept ignoring all those warning signs.
Reading this makes me realize how subtly they were setting him up to die. It's genius AND cruel.
But they did it, and like you said, I love these bastards for breaking my heart in order to make this show that much more badass.

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146 miniejungle

July 27, 2011 at 11:52 PM

with proper understanding this show can just walk straight out and receive the Baeksang for this year, really. THis is the best show ever for Kdrama for me!!!! thanks for the recaping!

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147 Lemon

July 27, 2011 at 11:56 PM

I cried just by reading the recap, and walked home in a daze.

I just can't believe Young Ju died! City Hunter + upright prosecuter = perfect team!! SO HOW CAN THEY KILL HIM OFF??!! WHYYYYYYYYYYYYY????

Terribly upsetting. The last episode better be darn good.

For now, Yoon Sung fighting!

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148 tuqaz

July 28, 2011 at 12:06 AM

OMG!! OMG!! Quick! Take him to the vet for a dose of that animal medicine. No, wait, the vet is in the hospital, too!

Thanks for the awesome recap, Girlfriday!

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Maymay

August 5, 2011 at 2:41 PM

LOL

True, you can't take him to the vet because she is at the hospital for her own injuries.

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149 kit

July 28, 2011 at 12:08 AM

Oh.

God.

Oh. My. God.

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150 Noelle

July 28, 2011 at 12:08 AM

I hope to drama gods that this doesn't end with YS and the president being all close and crap. This point of "blood" was brought up earlier and I wouldn't be able to swallow that and not vomit if they did that. No matter what Jin Pyo might be he is YS's dad. Not some guy in a photo or a man who happens to share blood with him. I hope the president never finds out who YS is and I hope that everyone who knows will keep it that way.

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kunai

July 28, 2011 at 12:39 AM

I think that it's a great twist. It's like Jin-Pyo's nightmare happening all over again - the good guy dies all over again and for what? YS is really in a moral dilemma and it's the same one that made Jin Pyo become such an amoral character. Who is City Hunter going to be? It's amazing that the build-up is really so effective and that YJ is really an instrumental player in it (the potential ally for good, not the potential lover, which in a weird way is so much more tragic in a public way rather than just a hugely private loss).

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