Gaksital: Episode 26

156 August 30, 2012January 24, 2016

by girlfriday

Is it safe to open my eyes? After yesterday, I’m a big ol’ scaredy… What if they hurt Kang-to again? Or worse? This close to the finale on a drama like this, I’m pretty much just clutching my heart and waiting for the other shoe to drop. Why is loving a hero such a painful thing? It’s the question of the day, and it’s on a collision course with our heroine, whether we like it or not.

As the tension ratchets up, so do the ratings, reaching yet another series high for the fifth episode in a row, clocking in at 21.4%.

SONG OF THE DAY

Gaksital OST – Joo Won “Love and Love” [ Download ]

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EPISODE 26 RECAP

Comrades Jin and Ahn break into the police station with their death squad elite, and free Kang-to from his box. Even from the tiny window to his standing coffin prison, nobody gives stare-down like Kang-to.

Shunji and Koiso go down, and they manage to barely make it to the getaway truck. Kang-to says they have to get the tailor out too, but they argue that there isn’t time.

They’re right, ’cause Shunji is nipping at their heels, and shoots as they load Kang-to onto the truck. They have to dodge bullets, but manage to get away.

Whew. I’m amazed they succeed, but mostly I’m just relieved they got him out before I had to recap any Kang-to torture. *whimper*

Shunji screams in their wake: “LEE KANG-TOOOOOOOOO!” Haha, now that we’ve unmasked him, are we changing the yell?

Thankfully, they were smart enough to bring Kang-to up into the mountains, where Dong-jin and Reporter Song tend to him. They worry about Yang Baek making it out of Kyungsung, because they’re clamping down on security—no one leaves the city, on account of the Gaksital jailbreak.

Shunji has of course moved on to his next target, and stands by as Koiso beats the living crap out of the tailor. And that’s not even a euphemism this time, because Shunji gets close to question him, and finds that he’s already dead. Damn.

Koiso worries that they got nothing out of him (Really, this is what worries you?) and Shunji decides to head to the tailor shop himself. Uh-ohs. Please tell me you guys moved somewhere else in the night…

And you’re SITTING RIGHT THERE? Arrrrgh. The good guys on this show sometimes! This is no time to be calmly packing your suitcases like you’re goin’ to the Poconos!

Comrade Ahn returns from his stakeout to say that getting the tailor out is impossible now. I hate to add useless, but you guys need to leave the dead behind and haul some ass. They worry that they’re sitting ducks, and Damsari is the first to speak up: he’ll divert them, while they get Teacher Yang Baek out.

It’s actually a good plan, because clumped together, they’re not getting far. Mok Dan looks over at Dad with worried eyes, and Comrade Ahn says he’ll go too. Circus boss Jo even says he’ll go in his place.

But Damsari argues that they have to protect Yang Baek, and he has to be the one to go, to give them the best chance. He’s right, which makes me really sad. I know Damsari is good, but alone against all those cops?

Yang Baek refuses to let him go, with tears in his eyes. But Damsari says when he was imprisoned at the age of nineteen and starving to death, Teacher was the one who sneaked him food, carrying it in his mouth like a mommy bird. “I was already supposed to die then, but you saved me.”

He says because of Teacher he got to live, have a beautiful daughter, and fight for the Independence. Okay, why does everything start sounding like a death speech when we’re this close to the finale? Stop making me so nervous!

Mok Dan turns to Dad, but he reassures her with a big smile, talking about it like running from the cops is a hobby of his, and he’ll punch his Break Out of Jail card for an even ten. She does the best thing she can do, and matches his positive attitude: “Of course. You’re the Independence General Damsari.”

He asks Yang Baek to be allowed to go, “And I’ll follow right behind you.” Crap. Daaaad! Don’t die! Or Gaksital’s girlfriend will never forgive you!

He gets up to bow to Teacher, who grabs his hand to say goodbye. This is bad… very bad…

Comrade Ahn insists on going with him, which is a huge relief. They prepare to go, and then Mok Dan runs in to give Dad a tearful hug. He tells her to hurry and go—someone’s waiting for her. He says Kang-to will need her care now more than ever, and she asks again, “You promise to return, right?” STOP ASKING THAT. The more times you say it, the more my stomach falls towards my knees.

“Boon-ah, I want you to be safe, and comfortable. The reason I fight to reclaim my country is for you. So that you can live freely and happily.” They embrace one last time, and Dad fights his tears.

Shunji arrives just outside the tailor shop… when Damsari and Comrade Ahn zoom past them in a car. They scramble after him. Trap set.

Mok Dan and the others lead Yang Baek safely out, disguised as two wealthy women and their servants.

But things start to get dicey for Damsari really fast, as Shunji catches up to him on a mountain road, and shoots his tire to stop him in a tunnel. They try to make a break for it, but Shunji shoots again, and Damsari gets hit in the leg. Aaaack!

He tells Comrade Ahn to go and leave him here. What? They argue, but Damsari tells him his job is to take Teacher Yang Baek to safety, and Ahn can’t argue with his general. He goes.

Shunji and his men come around the car with their guns raised. He lifts Damsari’s hat…

He laughs, “Because of you, I will have lied to Boon-yi.” Dad, don’t say that! Why are you saying that?

Damsari: Do you think this hide-and-seek will end if you capture Yang Baek and Dong-jin, and Gaksital? In Joseon, there are countless Yang Baeks, and Dong-jins… and as many grains of sand as there are on a beach, there are Gaksitals.

Oof, nobody’s speeches make me cry like Dad’s. He tells Shunji he’s wasting his effort, but Shunji sneers back at him that they’re the ones wasting their time dying for a ruined nation. Damsari just laughs with his knowing smile…

And then he raises his gun to his temple. WHAT. Dad… no…

He shoots and falls dead at Shunji’s feet.

Noooooooooooooooo!

Couldn’t you have waited… till they came back for you… which I know they can’t…. aaaaaaaugh. Damnit.

Mok Dan turns back one last time and lingers, but the others urge her onwards. They arrive at Dong-jin’s camp safely. Well at least they managed that.

Deuk-soo takes Mok Dan to see Kang-to, who’s up now, but can’t move without buckling in pain. She rushes to his side and he says he’s fine, and Deuk-soo tattles that he’s not fine—he pretty much died and came back to life. He toots his own horn, saying that he’s been tortured too, yunno, and I just love that he gets to be friends with Gaksital now.

Kang-to even sends him on a personal mission, to go retrieve Baek Gun. Thank goodness someone remembered him.

Mok Dan urges Kang-to not to pretend he’s fine around her—if he’s in pain, he should say so, because he can just lay it all down when he’s with her. I half expect him to just be like, really, ’cause I can’t feel my ass, but he’s a big ol’ hero and says he really is okay.

He says his body’s in some pain, but his heart feels free now that he doesn’t have to worry about keeping his cover all the time, always looking over his shoulder. He asks after Yang Baek and Damsari, and she says Dad’s on his way.

He hugs her and says he was so worried for all of them, and she doesn’t betray her fears.

Shunji and his men storm into the tailor shop looking for clues, and they discover the secret door, left ajar. As he steps down into the room covered with Korean flags, Damsari’s last words ring in his ears.

He shakes them out, “No, no, no, if I just catch the three of them, it ends. Yang Baek, Dong-jin, Gaksital. If I just kill them, it ends. It ends!” He tears the room apart, ripping the flags down in a rage.

Dong-jin finds out how they escaped the city, and they worry as they wait for Damsari’s arrival. Comrade Ahn finally arrives at basecamp, head hanging low. Yang Baek stands up in anticipation.

Comrade Ahn delivers the news—Damsari got shot, pushed him to go on, and then shot himself once he was captured. They stumble in shock. Boss Jo turns to Yang Baek, “How… will we tell Mok Dan?”

But she comes right into the tent with Kang-to… and one look at their faces tells them everything. Oof.

She stands there, numb, taking it in. Kang-to turns and hugs her before the tears come, like a shield. It’s so moving, that one gesture. She falls apart and cries on his shoulder.

Shunji kneels before Chairman Ueno, who is so livid with another failure that he immediately calls for Kinpei to draw his sword. But Shunji, balls of steel that he is, refuses to apologize or admit any fault.

He says he’s always done his best, and everyone gapes. Kimura urges him to beg for his life, but Shunji won’t, even with that samurai blade grazing the hairs on the back of his neck. Damn.

He simply says that he’s found Yang Baek’s hideout, and he’s the best man they have for the job. Ueno can’t really argue, and he gives him another chance, adding that the cost of failure will be his life. And that’s different from the past how?

I really do love that Shunji doesn’t give a rat’s behind about Kishokai. They’re as much a tool for him as the other way around, which makes their dynamic really interesting.

Rie finds him afterwards and says he’s a surprising man, to go up against the chairman like that. She asks how a person can find courage like that.

She suggests that perhaps it’s time they both give up. She tells him about Mok Dan coming to her for help, and that she offered her passports to run away with Kang-to.

Rie: “I didn’t understand why she turned me down, but then when I saw the woman who knelt before me, I knew. That woman not only loves Lee Kang-to, but Gaksital too.”

Well duh, she actually loved Gaksital first, technically. Though I guess it goes more like Young Master, then Gaksital, then Kang-to. So many loves, for just the one man.

She says she only loved the ambitious policeman Lee Kang-to. Shunji: “What if in the end I can’t catch the two of them? And Yang Baek, and Dong-jin? What if… my life were to end in wasted effort?”

She turns to him, surprised, and I wonder if maybe there’s a sliver of a chance in hell that they might walk away from this… but he shakes it off, convincing himself that a life dedicated to the Empire isn’t futile. He swears to end them. It’s like he’s still fighting Damsari from beyond the grave.

Shunji meets with Kimura and Murayama to discuss their next move. They start by putting a price on Kang-to’s head. Kimura guesses that the two leaders have joined up at Dong-jin’s headquarters, if Yang Baek’s camp was cleaned out.

Murayama starts putting all the pieces together—the burning of records, the money, the weapons—they must be planning an armed demonstration, which he calls a terrorist attack. Shunji guesses that the family records are being destroyed to stop the drafting of Koreans, which… I thought they already figured out.

Kimura says all they need to do is draw Yang Baek and Dong-jin out. Yes, but how? He says they just have to spread the word that if they don’t show themselves by a certain date, they’ll slaughter every single person who’s blacklisted. So anyone who has anything to do with the independence will get hauled out for a massacre. Whoa.

And then in the meantime, Kimura meets with the count’s friends—the ones who run the university—in order to fill the draft roster starting with registered students. Oh crud.

It goes into effect immediately, because Kye-soon goes to see her little brother, who says he got a scholarship this semester and wanted to buy his noona a meal. And then he delivers the news… that he’s been drafted, and so has every Korean at the university.

They’re already keeping the students under surveillance, and he says as brightly as he can that he’ll come back alive. He’s so young! Kye-soon tamps down her tears, as she says he was their family’s big hope, but what will she tell Mom and Dad?

He takes her hand and promises to return safely, and that he’ll graduate and get a great job, and give noona a comfortable life. He leaves their family in her care while he’s gone. I… can’t stop crying.

They can’t even afford more than one bowl of soup, and Kye-soon tells him she’s not hungry so he can eat. He calls her a liar and pleads, “I just want to buy the noona who’s going to take care of our family in my place, one bowl of soup.” Now I’m just a blubbering mess. Must you have all my tears, Show?

Wanted posters go up all over town with Kang-to’s face on them, offering a reward for a tip-off. The townspeople are happy to help with Kang-to’s demise. But Deuk-soo shows up and shouts, “Lee Kang-to isn’t a bad person!” They all look at him like he’s crazy, as he rips the notices off the wall.

He sees Sun-hwa passing through and runs after her with a huge smile, but she turns away, frightened by everything. He looks down at her little brother, who’s sporting bruises on his face.

He finds out that the kid’s new teacher hit him because he wouldn’t change his surname (therefore putting him back in the official registry) and said he couldn’t go back to school unless he changed it.

Deuk-soo stops them, insisting that all they’ll do is send him off to war when he’s old enough. He tells the kid he doesn’t have to go to school anymore, and Little Bro declares his approval of Deuk-soo, making Sun-hwa blush.

He tells her Mok Dan wants to see her and they skip away. He brings them up to camp and Mok Dan hugs Sun-hwa brightly.

Kang-to and Yang Baek watch from a distance and wonder how Mok Dan is keeping it together. Kang-to says he doesn’t know how to offer any comfort, knowing that she’s now lost both her parents. He worries that if something happens to him, she won’t be able to endure it. “I wonder if she’ll be better off if I leave her.”

Oh no you di’n’t. Kang-to-ya! Imma slap you!

Yang Baek: What do you think is the one thing in a grown man’s life so precious that he must protect it with his life? I believe it’s love. I love Joseon, I love my hometown, I love my mother, my wife, my son. Watching those that I love be violated by the Japanese, how could I not feel rage? If you truly love Mok Dan, you put your life on the line to stay by her side and protect her, and fight the ones who would torment her.

Goddamn, that’s a moving speech. And thank ye drama gods for someone who tells the hero that noble idiocy is for idiots.

Teacher turns to Kang-to to say that his wife was dying in a hospital not ten minutes from where he was, but he couldn’t go to her because of the Japanese. He swore he would never let his children, and the young people of Joseon suffer the same fate.

“And that’s why I fight to the death. But to hear you say such weak words…” Kang-to hangs his head, eyes brimming with tears, “I’m sorry, Teacher.” He pats Kang-to on the shoulder with a warm smile.

Mok Dan keeps her brave face on, but suddenly starts to cry and runs into a tent to hide. Kang-to follows her inside and sits down next to her, taking her hand in his.

He turns her words right back on her: “In front of me… you don’t have to pretend you’re not hurting, that you’re not having a hard time.” Damnit, will I ever stop crying?

She says she knows she can’t be weak, not now, but doesn’t know if they can do it anymore. Her resolve finally starts to break. Can they really fight Japan and win?

He repeats what her father once told him—that an egg can break a rock, and that a rock, no matter how strong, is dead and will turn to dust. But the egg is alive and someday will hatch a chick to walk upon that dust.

Kang-to: Be strong. You have to be strong. My strength to fight comes from you.

Beautiful. Ten points for Apt Pupil Boy. I’m crying again, by the way.

He holds her close.

At the station, Koiso beats poor Abe, accusing him of being in on Kang-to’s secret identity. Abe swears he didn’t know, raising his arms to yell, “Bansai! Bansai!” to the Empire.

Koiso asks where Kang-to sleeps, and Abe says sometimes here, and other times at a relative’s house in the mountains, but he doesn’t know where. But they get a tip-off from someone else who saw Kang-to leave a mountain house, and Koiso runs out to chase the lead.

Abe crumples in tears as soon as they leave. Aw, poor sweet pathetic Abe.

Deuk-soo marvels at his superhero’s hideout, as Baek Gun packs herbs for Kang-to’s recovery. Of course as soon as they’re ready to walk out the door, they hear someone approach.

Baek Gun grabs a chair and hurls it into the window, and they leap out head-first. I just hope that’s not a cliffside house.

Shunji and his men burst in just behind them, and they give chase. Shunji stops to look inside the house, and his eyes narrow at the Wall of Baddies, strung up with familiar faces. He flashes back to each of their deaths.

He brings everything to Dad, who finally puts the last piece of the puzzle in place: “Ah, so Gaksital is the son of Lee Sun.”

Seriously, I almost forgot about that storyline ’cause things had gotten so big. Shunji looks at him quizzically, as Kimura says it won’t be long before Gaksital comes for him. I’ll admit; it’s certainly in my calendar under “Things I’m Looking Forward To.”

Dong-jin says he has about 70,000 men trained in death squads around the country, at the ready. Yang Baek proposes that after the first armed uprising, he’ll go back to Shanghai and gather forces overseas.

The plan is for Dong-jin to work his way out from within and Yang Baek to work his way in from the outside. “Let’s rewrite an unlikely history.”

Everyone’s in good spirits except for Reporter Song, who hides a worried look. He finds an excuse to speak to Kang-to alone, and tells him what he found out: that if Yang Baek and Dong-jin don’t turn themselves in by the month’s end, Kimura has ordered the slaughter of every blacklisted comrade they have in custody.

Reporter Song knows that the teachers won’t stand idly by to let their comrades die in their place, but doesn’t know what to do to keep the news from them. Kang-to: “The time has come for me to deal with Kimura Taro.” Awwww yeah.

Reporter Song gasps—he’s going to take out the director of police? And how does he know that they won’t kill the independence agents anyway? Kang-to says that governor Wada doesn’t have the stones for this kind of thing—it’s Kimura who’s pulling the strings.

Deuk-soo arrives with Baek Gun, and Kang-to ribs him sarcastically, “You sure did bring him quickly,” and Deuk-soo shoots back, “I brought him, didn’t I?” I do love their friendship so.

Ajusshi asks if Kang-to’s okay, and has some bad news—Shunji has found their hideout, meaning he knows that Lee Kang-to is Lee Young. He worries that they’ll come after him. You mean as opposed to the coming after they’re already doing because he’s Gaksital, or Lee Kang-to? I think being pursued for all three identities doesn’t work cumulatively, which is frankly a relief.

Kang-to says he has to fight: “This was always a fight to the death, whether them or me.” Stop with the jinxy death talk!

Baek Gun tells him not to argue because from now on, he’s going to follow young master like a shadow. I like that idea. Reporter Song chimes in that he wants to help too. But Kang-to tells them both that he’ll go it alone. BAH. WHY? This is no time to play lone ranger.

Mok Dan tells Boss Jo that she’s okay, and he suggests that any time she and Kang-to want to run, they should. She tells him about Rie’s getaway offer and her refusal. “But when I heard that Father died… I regretted it. What if we’re fighting a losing battle? What if we all die this way? I should have said I’d leave… I should have left. But now, I’ve folded those thoughts. Father knew he might die but went anyway. And even if we lose, even if we have no chance of success, I too will live right here and do everything that I can.”

The next day, Deuk-soo jumps in to introduce Sun-hwa to his mother (aw) and tells Mok Dan to stop Kang-to from going into the city. It’s a death trap if he goes.

She sighs and walks up to him, and he says he’s just going to make a quick run into the city. She asks cautiously why, and he just says, “There’s something I have to do.”

Urg, first Dad, now you too? I guess this is what happens when you date someone who’s just like your father. I just want to like, tie him up, for her sake.

But she puts on her bravest smile and tells him to go. “I’ll wait for you.” She asks him to be back by dinner, and he promises. He gives her a kiss on the forehead and she watches him go with a stricken look.

Kimura gives Murayama and Shunji the full backstory, and says the same thing as Kang-to: “Whether him or me, this is a fight that ends in death.” Shunji tells him he’s put his two best swordsmen on protective detail, and Dad rests assured.

Governor Wada bursts in and kicks up a fuss about Yang Baek operating right under their noses, and Kimura just treats him like the pompous puppet that he is, noting that it’s not like anyone who works for the government went to tailor shop regularly, and never caught on. Ha. Wada blubbers and they walk out, ignoring him.

Kimura goes home and just sits stoically in front of his sword, preparing for battle. Kang-to hops the wall and sneaks into the house, and Kimura lowers his hand to his sword…

The doors open, and Kang-to approaches. But Kimura isn’t about to fight fair, and the two bodyguards appear on either side of Kang-to, swords drawn. He fights them with his throwing daggers, and quickly disarms them.

The last one goes down, and then Kang-to is left holding his sword. Nice. Properly armed Gaksital!

At the same time, Shunji races home…

Kang-to takes out the final punishment dagger and walks up to Kimura, who draws his sword and readies for battle…

The end. Aw, damnit, I wanna see the fiiiiiiiiiight!

COMMENTS

Augh, I can’t believe I have to wait another week to see Kimura meet his grisly death! That is what’s going to happen, right? RIGHT? I’m scared that Shunji will come home in time to muck it up, but with two episodes left, Kimura has to die. I feel like they’re doing the right thing in having the personal vendetta end with him, because the finale has to be about the larger movement, and not about avenging the family. By now it’s actually sort of a loose end rather than a driving force for the hero, which makes me feel like maybe they mishandled the whole revenge aspect of the story. But in the end it’s the less important thread, so I won’t cry over it, but I do feel like there’s a lot left to be desired in the father-hyung-Kang-to family honor vendetta because mostly, we’re left to fill in the pieces ourselves. It’s an aspect of Kang-to’s character that gets fleshed out the least, though I certainly wouldn’t trade it for any of the A-mazing nine thousand other aspects of the character that do get explored.

Let’s face it: we knew Damsari wouldn’t make it out of this drama alive. There was just no way. If there’s one thing they really got right with this character, it was his heroic speeches at pivotal moments in the story—he embodied the mission and the hope of the country in a way that brought Kang-to out from his very small world and into the bigger picture. And he was inspirational till the very end, even making Shunji question what he was fighting for all this time. To see Shunji’s moment of crumbling self-doubt was great too, because even till the bitter end we see the flicker of humanity that he purposely tamps down.

I do wish they had done a better job with Damsari’s chase, which to me seemed too quick and easy, and not befitting the death of an independence general. I wanted more fight from him, and I wish they could’ve plotted the getaway more intricately. It’s one of the show’s bigger flaws that maneuvers are very direct and lacking in twists and surprises, or heck, even some much-needed logic. But what they do get right is the big picture—he sacrifices himself for his teacher, for the movement, and gets to tell his daughter that he does all this for her.

I nearly throttled my screen when Kang-to mentioned being a noble idiot to save Mok Dan the grief of losing him too, and was SO relieved that he still has a good teacher in Yang Baek. Because can’t you imagine Damsari just turning over in his grave, all I died to send my daughter to you and that’s your friggin’ answer, boy? I love what Yang Baek tells him—that love extends from your family to your country, and you have to have that attachment in order to keep fighting.

A hero detached from everything is just one step closer to losing his humanity and becoming a monster, and I’m glad that what Yang Baek teaches him is that HE needs Mok Dan, and not the other way around. It’s a beautiful way to look at the relationship between a hero and the woman he loves—yes, you could see her as just the bait who gets used by his adversaries, and he could be noble and forsake his love. But the idea that she is the source of his fighting spirit, and the reason he goes on—the same way Damsari saw Mok Dan as his sole reason for fighting—when he understands that, it feels like we’re watching him mature in leaps and bounds on his hero’s journey, and it gives me hope that there’s future to be had for them. Ya hear me, Universe? A future! A long one! With babies! Or Damsari will never forgive youuuuuuuu!

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51 somewhere

August 31, 2012 at 5:12 AM

sorry, I can't accept the fact if this drama has happy ending. I believe there is no one black and white in this drama. There is no one's wrong and no one's right. each one of them fight for something they thing right. It's not okay to kill someone when someone in japanese side, but is it okay to kill someone who are in korean side? Double standard much? Killing people still a sin whether is an innocent one, or a sinner. When you kill someone, there will some people who will avenge our wrong doing. It will have never ending story, u have to pay for what you have done, even when u feel to fight something right, but when your action harm the innocent one, or make the innocent one become avenger, your action no longer appropiate.

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52 Ace

August 31, 2012 at 5:47 AM

What I really loved about this episode was that after soooo many episodes of Mok Dan just being there, we finally have a significance for her character. I mean yes she's the heroine, but now we see the writer's purpose for her.
She's not just a one dimentional character that our hero ends up with, no she represents more than that.
She represents the "cause", everyman's (our hero) drive to fight. Like mentor said, Love its what keeps him going on, and Mok Dan is just that for our hero (her father included).

On a side note, its also interesting how she represents the fighting spirit for our heros, YET she is also (indirectly) the cause of what turned Shunji. I mean yes this was pointed out previously but now we see the contrast. Kang-to realizing Mok Dan is his strength, and Shunji the source of his obsession.

In my perspective it was kind of genius of the writers to use a character not just to drain out their personal development, cause lets face it we have enough complicated character development in most of our other characters [understatement], but to use this character to draw out the ripple effect on the people (Genius!). Some might view her as simple, one dimentional, misplaced in the story, of no use, but to discredit her value is to discredit all that happened because of her. (even if those events were indirect). So Yay for Mok Dan!

~THEY DESERVE THEIR HAPPY ENDING!

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qmiwook

September 5, 2012 at 7:37 AM

thank you for your comment! Well said.
Yes, I love watching dramas (as opposed to a 2-hr movie) for their character developments--to feel with them, to see them grow--and this show does it SO well, and like you said, it's in most of our characters, which I really appreciate.

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53 somewhere

August 31, 2012 at 6:46 AM

no... I still feel they don't deserve happy ending. The way both Kang TO and Mok Dan saw Shunji as their enemy right now, though they are the one that makes him choose the wrong path, without feeling remorse.
Yes, Shunji's transformation went to the dark side was his choice, but there is a driven force that led him to choose that path except his father. First, It's the way Mok Dan Neglecting him nomurous of times. Call Him oh yeah he is a japanese after all, she is so racist, saying they are different and can't be friend, when he still a teacher and want to help her! and I BELIEVE Mok Dan's words hit Shun Ji Hard. Because after that words, That's makes him choose to served his own country and cacthing gaksital.
Second, KT push SJ indirectly to become police officer, push him to catch gaksital as his father's order, so Mok Dan can be saved. KT KIlled his own brother without thinking of Shunji's feeling first. Yet, after bicycle scene and roomates scene, there was no remorse or feel guilty by KT or MD. And all of sudden they see Shunji as their enemy. Use him to bring japanese down. I just still can't accept this pairing because of this fact. Many people here want if Shunji want to be redeemed, at least he has to feel remorse for KT's cause and understand him or sacrifice for KT. Really, how can u expected Shunji to accept K. Does KT ever consider Shunji and saw what he has been through after him killing his brother ? He no longer have a freedom life like before. That's I'm so surprise, Shunji still care KT after all though he didn't want to admit it.
I believe SJ redeeming quality Shown from the way SJ's feel remorse to people he has been tortured, or
he has been killed. When he feel conflicted when watching someone suicide in front of him, or dies because of his gun, that's when a redeeming quality from Shunji shown. NOt SJ's feeling to KT. Because i still believe that feeling has not dissapear yet from the start.

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edge

September 2, 2012 at 6:47 AM

They deserve a happy ending!

It's not MD's fault she doesn't like SJ very much. You have to be cruel to be kind. Obviously, she had to reject him straight on- that't much better than leading him.

He's Japanese, and the Japanese have colonised Korea, arrested and tortured her dad, and done many other horrible things. I believe her aversion to the Japanese is justified. Also, she ends up liking him as a friend anyway, that is, until he turns darn right evil.

And about him turning evil, there was no need to SLAP poor innocent Sun Hwa when he was chasing after MD, was there? Ok, he wanted to capture Gaksital because Gaksital killed his brother. Well, Kenji killed KT's mother, and I think that even in the real world, if a son killed his innocent mother's cold-blooded, unremorseful killer to avenge her, there'd be more supporters than nay-sayers. And if SJ hates the person who killed his brother that much, how much would KT hate himself, for killing his own brother? How much has KT been through? And capturing Gaksital was all for curing his brother and buying his mother a better place.

I don't believe KT and MD were responsible for SJ's descent into darkness. It was his choice to become a police officer, even though it was for MD. It's not like she asked him to. And if wearing the uniform, whipping MD, and vowing to kill Gaksital is not enough to turn both KT and MD against him, I don't know what is.

And I'm thinking no, SJ does not care as much as an ant's behind about KT anymore. I mean, you don't shoot at someone you care for. There was also that time when he faked concern over KT's head with the icepack, and thought, 'You bastard'. Also, I don't believe he feels remorse for anyone he hurt/killed. The tailor man is an exception but I think that was more about getting info out of him. Furthermore, there's slapping Kye soon, torturing Kye soon, torturing Boss Jo, torturing Damsari, torturing Deuksoo, torturing KT, shooting Dong nyun, stabbing the comrade with that crazy big needle, slapping Sun Hwa, punishing Sun Hwa's little brother when he asked why they were learning Japanese songs and many others.

He did regret shooting Dong nyun, but I'm pretty sure that was only because of her connection with MD- he didn't feel bad about it though. Also, he did feel scared over his growing psychological problems after he stabbed that comrade, but if that happened again, I'm sure he'd do the same thing. And all the other things- he only faked concern or didn't even acknowledge it at all. In other words, I am of the opinion that he has no redeeming quality.

KT and MD, on the other hand, are fighting for their country. They want to take back what is rightfully theirs and I don't see how that is so bad. Only by thinking of the torture they've been through, I think they need some serious rooting for by us viewers (and readers)!

Also, I believe SJ looks conflicted when someone commits suicide in front of him because he's unsure of whether he'll succeed in killing Gaksital or not. Not because he feels bad or anything.

So there, KT and MD need a happy ending!

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edge

September 2, 2012 at 6:49 AM

Oof! Sorry! That reply was crazy long :L

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somewhere

September 2, 2012 at 3:32 PM

COOL! Trying to justify protagonist wrong doing

You must be not paid attention to little detailed from beginning, did you? Trying to justify Protagonist wrong doing, overlook their mistake and claim them deserved happy ending. If you said it, you must be not fully paid attention watching this show, want to see what they want to saw.

PLease Watch again epi 1-10 with open mind and try to look Shunji's Point of view. Mok Dan and Kang To, is like Oh Seung Ha did to people around Kang Oh So's life in THE DEVIL MAWANG. Toying with human psychology and say he didn't do anything wrong because they said it's his choice.

Before, Shunji never force Mok Dan to liked him, he just want to HELP her. but it doesn't mean she can belittle him. Well I can see why Mok Dan never saw her not doing anything wrong...

I hate it the way writers did to SHunji's character
Screw his character make him totally evil so they think they can justify their hero and heroine's wrong doing.

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edge

September 6, 2012 at 3:45 AM

COOL!
Trying to justify the antagonist's wrongdoing? As you said, the character has now been screwed and made totally evil by the writers. So yeah, I guess he's totally evil then? Though I do find it really pitiful this week how he still thinks Mok Dan will cure his inhumanity. :C

And if killing the murderer of your mother is not justifiable, then killing the murderer of your brother isn't either.

I don't remember Kang To and Mok Dan toying with Shunji's psychology... :L Yeah, I only read the recaps- I'm underage... But I'm sure the lovely recappers on this site wouldn't take anything out ^^ (this isn't related, but thank you javabeans and girlfriday for sacrificing your precious time to recap all these dramas <3 Oh! and this is pretty late but, I love your renovation of the site!)

Ok-please excuse my wandering mind- back to the topic!

No matter how pure Shunji's mind was for Mok Dan at the beginning, it would have been even more unbelievable if Mok Dan trusted the Japanese Shunji.

But! I now acknowledge that Shunji's descent into darkness isn't all his own fault. But I still don't believe Mok Dan and Kang To had that big a part in it. Maybe guilty by association? But otherwise, no.

Will anyone see my late and lonely reply? D:
I don't think so :'(

Happy ending! Happy ending! Happy ending! yaaaaay!

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edge

September 6, 2012 at 4:29 AM

@ somewhere

I have finally (embarrassingly) realised I have acted in an extremely disrespectful way by arguing with someone who is probably older than me... I sincerely apologise but cannot say that I have changed my opinion. ><

Thank you for replying to my comments! :3

54 $t!tcH Hsu

August 31, 2012 at 9:27 AM

ahhh!now it's the climax!!!can't wait another week to watch it.to say the truth,can't wait to read!ke ke XD

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55 MsB

August 31, 2012 at 1:41 PM

Before I read the comments, I want to put this out there! I want Granny to have poisoned Kimura with that tea and he falls down dead before the fight! That's what I am hoping for! I want that poor woman to get some justice for her granddaughter who if she did come back will never be the same! *crosses fingers, hoping*

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56 question

August 31, 2012 at 1:57 PM

How many episodes will this drama have?

It's so good!

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Anabanana

August 31, 2012 at 4:06 PM

next week the last two episodes are airing. Now I wish this drama were 30 episodes like was originally planned.
But all good things come to an end.

We just finished 26. Tune in for 27 and 28!!! You can't miss it!

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57 Anabanana

August 31, 2012 at 4:05 PM

OMG. DAMN IT DAMN IT DAMN IT

Realization WHAT Taro really wants:

Taro seemed far too unconcerned and suspiciously at ease at the thought of KangTo coming after him.
I think he WANTS KangTo to kill him. He senses Shunji still has a soft spot for his KangTo, so if KangTo kills Taro... then it'd definitely give Shunji the final push that's needed for him to kill Lee Gangto, former best friend and ally, without hesitation. DAMN IT DAMN IT DAMN IT
We're revisiting Episode 14 all over again. Only this time, Taro is held at sword point and WILL die and Shunji will have no choice but to retaliate and go insane...

*heart broken* Sorry, I just have a soft spot for Shunji (just a little, because it's PKW).

But I also don't want to see scary Shunji emerge again and kill or try to kill KangTo so....

:( :( :(

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Anabanana

August 31, 2012 at 4:12 PM

Actually we're also revisting the Kenji episode again -- the one where Shunji witnessed his hyung's death. Only this time he will watch Gaksital deal a final death blow -- to his father.

Oh, Show -- must you be so cruel?
I demand a wedding and some light-hearted moments. I demand... Shunji! Running off to cry in Rie's arms. After the way he treated her -- well, actually I think she likes him a little, so she'll comfort him...

I have a list of demands, Show!!!

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missjb

September 1, 2012 at 6:43 PM

there is no way Rie can save Shunji.... Chairman Euno has stated Rie has to give his neck if One of Kishokai Member died. Taro is one of Kishokai member, right?

What if they run together avoiding Kishokai's organization?
I felt bad for these two.. Though It's their fault joining this organization in the first place

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58 mb

August 31, 2012 at 7:10 PM

I got kinda bored during the middle of the series because it got too long for me... but picked it up again two episodes ago. (Thanks dramabeans for the extremely helpful recaps! :P)

Even though it got draggy in the middle, I think this drama did a really good job in character development. We see all (or most) of the main characters in this plot as people, not just drama characters... because they have stories and emotion. I think a lot of Korean dramas lack good character development these days!! And not to mention, watching this makes me feel like I need to rise up and defend my nation with the independence fighters!! Oh wait, this is just a drama, it's just a drama, it's just a drama...

But anyway, thanks girlfriday!

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59 crazyjnx

August 31, 2012 at 8:48 PM

thank for this! yes! show down! in one corner kimura, in another Kangto, and in the third is shunji....either way there is going to be tragedy because that is just too many men for the few leading women in this show. By the way girlfriday, have you been watching arang? because you are starting to talk to the universe...even maybe yell at it a little?

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60 missjb

August 31, 2012 at 10:41 PM

So glad I'm not the only one. So many Shunji haters (I know it's reasonable to hate him so much. He is the villain)
I just have a soft spot for villain character who have awsome character development. Some people say his transformation was absurb. At first i agree with them. But when I rewatch gaksital and try to seeing Shunji's point of view, Can i just say, his transformation actually makes sense?
Like you, I'm so guilty to find myself rooting for him and pity him so much. I'm not rooting for his happy ending, but I rooting for him to find something meaning full, what's is wrong and what's right. Realizing his father's atrocities, etc... He just a japanese who has been misguided by his father and his hyung. He think with him devote his life to his family is the right thing to do. Shut down his humanity feeling to served his country in korea to maintain their occupation. He feel guilty he ever opposing his father.

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61 Pat

August 31, 2012 at 10:48 PM

I never cry at dramas or movies. Even ones as good as this.
I do feelthat shunji's acting is a bit hammy, but I like the characterizations.

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62 missjb

August 31, 2012 at 10:49 PM

I'm abit dissapoint with Kang To though based on the way what he has done to Shunji. Makes me questioning if he really ever see Shunji as his best friend, or is he saw Shunji as someone who he feels obligated with. It's seems always one side love.

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63 blendedcarrot

August 31, 2012 at 11:14 PM

LOL. The kid was reading "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine" in English in the 1940s. Some parts of this drama are just plain non-sense.

And how lame is the portrayal of all Japanese people as evil villains. That's a very one-sided plot even though this is a manhwa adaptation.

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64 Bengbeng

September 1, 2012 at 12:57 AM

Gaksital opened my eyes on a lot of things. I thought only the Philippines took it hard during the japanese occupation for 3 years, which a movie made even called it "3 years without God" because of the hardship we suffered. But because of Gaksital, i learned that the Koreans suffered way longer. i'm able to connect now that Korea's Japanese occupation even started when they assasinated empress Myseongseing which is around the late 1800's, even before WW1. Oh wow, no wonder Koreans will never forget such hardships. It was also because of those wars that their country got divided =(.

I just pray that we will not experience WW3, as what my father used to pray.

Thanks so much for the recaps GF and JB, i always love your very knowledgeable and witty side comments =).

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65 missaisohee

September 1, 2012 at 5:31 AM

i think we won't have a chance seeing Joo Won, struggling to take off a facial pack, shouting “LEE KANG-TOOO~ oo~ OOO~~!”

LOL

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66 missjb

September 1, 2012 at 5:19 PM

just want to add:
another hint that Shunji still love Kang To was when he unmask him for the first time, his hand without hestitate tried to shoot fake gaksital who have harm KT, even he knows KT's identity, the third time when he confess to Rie if he fail to catch Dong Yi and Yang Baek, but he didn't mention Gaksital / Kang To, lol... But Rie is clearly talk about KT and MD. But so little hint that indicated KT still care for Shunji.
I'm not demand the screenwriters to make Kang To has to paid what he has done to Shunji. It will be too much for KT since he has been went through the most horrible thing in his life. I love Kang To's character (though I admit I'm biased more towards Shunji) and admire him as a hero. I just want the writers shown to us viewers actually Kang To still care for Shunji, and start to see Shunji's point of view. If KT want Shunji understand him, he has to do the same thing for Shunji. I'm abit dissapointed not even once a hint KT felt conflicted and think about Shunji's feeling when he plan to face Taro. He knew losing a whole family is a horrible thing. Writers, must you be so cruel? I know Shunji is the villain, but it doesn't mean the protagonist has to ignoring him!

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67 lemonysnicket

September 2, 2012 at 1:36 AM

could i clarify the backstory with kangto and taro? i never quite got that part - from what i understand, kangto's father was murdered by korean kishokai members and those same kishokai members were traitors, who pretended they were protecting the joseon emperor when they actually assassinated him.

is that correct?

i will never forgive Show if mok dan and kangto don't get away !!

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68 ajj

September 2, 2012 at 10:04 PM

No drama gets me like Gaksital..Im always on the edge of my seat reading the recaps.Im both excited and scared of the ending.

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69 Lindiriel

September 4, 2012 at 7:42 AM

Thanks for the fast and fabulous recap, girlfriday (and javabeans)! I discovered this website when I was watching Coffee Prince for the first time last year, and now I can't bear to go through a drama without your wonderful recaps. I can't believe in just two days Gaksital will be over.

I was glad to see some people mention the lack of English fanfiction about Gaksital so far. On Fanfiction.net in particular. Maybe we're all waiting to see how it ends before starting fanfics. ;) If there's no happy ending (I reeeeeally can't tell how this is going to end!), I hope someone'll get to work on some AU endings. Though it sounds like a few people would be more interested in Kang-to h/c fanfics. *wink*

I've got a question for anyone more familiar with Kdramas than I am (this is only my 4th Kdrama to watch). How long is it between filming and airing these kinds of shows? I'm reading the translations of the stars' Twitter accounts and it looks like they're just yesterday or today finishing the filming for Thursday's finale??

This is why I'm wondering--In the fabulous build-up to Kang-to approaching Taro's house for their showdown, the atmosphere outside is absolutely stunning. The trees and wind look and sound angry and full of foreboding promise for the coming violence, and the sky is so dark. Was this possibly filmed the day (last Tuesday) of typhoon Bolaven? Could the timing have been any more perfect for the making of the drama? (Though, I do realize... real lives were lost in the typhoon. I don't want to make light of that).

*sigh* Do I want to watch these last two episodes "live" when airing, before recaps, with my terribly limited grasp of the language? Decisions, decisions.

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70 Ennayra

September 12, 2012 at 9:30 PM

Thanks for the recap! I was so relieved when the noble idiocy issue was addressed and didn't happen. Go show!

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71 blo

April 29, 2013 at 8:08 PM

I was imagining Shunji screaming Lee Kang-toooooooo! And then he really did it! haha

Shunji-yaaaaaaa~...understand Kang-to. Jaebal!

It's like how in every kdrama, it's the messed up family that creates this mess (or in this case, the messed up Kishokai).

Nevertheless, I gave up on redeeming Shunji, about the time he was torturing the tailor guy. Yes, I know that was after torturing Kang-to. I am hoping that his realization of the whole story of Lee Seon moved him a little, since obviously, the knowledge that Kenji killed Kang-to's mother didn't. If there had been no Taro and his misdeeds, Shunji wouldn't have to have been so heavily involved in this. And possibly, Kenji would still be alive. Shunji, you see the chain reaction? I know you have to protect your family. So you of all people should understand why Kang-to would kill your brother like that.

After seeing the superb crying by Kang-to, I was a little unimpressed by Mok Dan's. Flashback to when I lost my father, I did not simply weep. I cried like there was no tomorrow, with no sense of who was around me.

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blo

April 29, 2013 at 9:07 PM

And to add to that.
Shunji seems to have fallen into a black hole of darkness, but I feel like there is still that good in him. The way I see it, he justifies what he is doing as a fight against terrorists. And honestly, I can't argue with him.

I tried to put it into a modern day perspective. Me being a Korean-American, how many times do I put this black and white spin on war. In fact, most of us do that, regardless of which side of the line we are on, even subconsciously. Even the people we call "them" consider "us" as being evil.

Sure some of the things he does is a bit extreme. I think the drama took him a bit too far. But for most of it, I assume it's something that was widely accepted in that time (the torture). Kinda like how there was slavery in US history, which was deemed perfectly normal during its time. Or even today, how would the US deal with a terrorist? Death penalty? Are we much different from them, simply because it's not our own hands dealing the death blow? Point is, I can't really judge him for it when it doesn't go against his conscience, can I? The more I think about it, that's how I feel.

Anyways, when it comes to the relationship between Kang-to and Shunji, it's a bit different given the history. Shunji must still care, or why would Kang-to still be alive? I think "to catch the others" is just an excuse. Shunji may even believe the excuse himself, but I'm hoping that their relationship is still hanging together even by a small thread.
But agh, I hope the recent events will chip away at the ice. I really, really hope that they can show that at the end. That despite the turmoil that's going on and everything the 2 went through... they're both human and can care for each other despite where they are from. I see the two being more the product of their environment. It would be a more healing end than a duel, which would leave me with the taste of a "us vs them". Kang-to has to give a bit too.
I liked the revisit of the bicycle scene...when Shunji already knew Kang-to was crying without having to see his face. :( That is how close they were!

I wrote so much but had to get that out. Waiting for tomorrow to finish the last two eps.

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72 2016

December 19, 2016 at 2:45 PM

Is reading all this on 2016. Is that Bogummy??? ♡♡♡

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Babycakes

March 25, 2017 at 7:07 AM

I totally agree! I just rewatched this drama and found it amusing that he had such a tiny role. I'm sure he must look back now and be glad to have been part of such awesomeness

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Gaksital