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Come Here and Hug Me: Episodes 17-18

Ah, to be young and in love… is a bad thing in dramaland. Or maybe it’s just a bad thing to be anything this week as the show creates fresh problems for everyone, angels and psychopaths alike. Do-jin will need lots of hugs and an extra pint of blood to deal with everything that’s coming his family’s way because believe it or not, things can get worse than just having a psychopath murderer for a father.

 
EPISODES 17-18 RECAP

We pick up where we left off: the two brothers wrestling over a hammer in Jae-yi’s garage. Do-jin is hard-pressed trying to defend himself, block the door, and talk Hyun-moo out of a murderous rage all at the same time.

Hyun-moo ups the pressure by describing all the evil things he’s been up to lately, like paying off a perp to hurt Do-jin and setting up that Christmas present for Jae-yi. Do-jin sees through his lie of attacking Jae-yi the other night but that’s easily remedied because he’s here now to hurt Jae-yi for being the reason Do-jin sent Dad to jail. Do-jin explains to his hyung that he did it because Dad’s a freaking murderer, but Hyun-moo thinks he should’ve let the killings go for their dad’s sake. Do-jin cries that it’s exactly because he’s their father that it’s harder to excuse him for committing atrocities and hurting his own family in the process.

In a flashback, we see just how un-father-ish Dad can be as he watched three boys beat up a young Hyun-moo. Instead of lifting a hand or telling the boys to scat, he stared down at his son and ordered him to win and stop being an embarrassment to his father.

Back in the present, Do-jin reminds Hyun-moo that his real family is Mom and Do-jin who never stopped reaching out to him, even in prison. They can be a family if he’d only stop rejecting them. Hyun-moo hesitates before lashing out that he can’t trust them because they already betrayed Dad.

Just then, Jae-yi arrives on the other side of the door, making Do-jin panic as the sound of her voice drives Hyun-moo so mad, he starts tearing the door down. Do-jin holds him back, reminding him that they used to look out for each other. In another flashback, we see that Hyun-moo found his little brother’s hammer and called him a weird kid before throwing it away. Do-jin wonders what happened for Hyung to pick up the Hammer of Violence now?

Dad happened, is what. In another flashback, Hyung talked to Dad in jail, asking for permission to kill Na-moo. Dad laughed in his face for trying so hard to get his approval. He tells him not to bother as he’s useless and will never beat his younger brother anyway.

The memory tips Hyung towards the dark side. He drops the hammer and takes out a knife, diving for the door. Do-jin blocks him and gets stabbed instead. Gah! Does he think he’s actually a tree?! Hyun-moo stares, horrified at the blood on his hands. He remembers Moo-won’s words that murder is disgusting and it will haunt you forever. He stumbles out of the garage, bumping into the Yoon Hee-jae fanboy from a previous episode. Fanboy scoffs at him and surveys the scene, laughing to himself as Jae-yi fights the urge to faint at the sight of such violence. She manages to stay conscious enough to call an ambulance and render first aid on Do-jin until help arrived.

Watch the video

 

Park Hee-young is currently on a mission to get a statement from the tight-lipped Moo-won. She ambush interviews him, bringing up his connection to Hyun-moo, then Jae-yi’s PTSD, until Moo-won grabs her collar and finally offers a “statement”: she’s nothing but a Yoon Hee-jae using a pen to destroy people’s lives.

Park explains that her actions are a social good since she sacrificed Jae-yi to get compensation and publicity for the other victims, but Moo-won steps on that self-assurance by referring to her work as “picking up Yoon Hee-jae’s shit.” Park one-ups him by calling out his real name, Lim Tae-kyung, and the fact that he killed his parents’ killer at such a young age. She wonders how it feels to be a murderer at twelve and if having a criminal’s mind is his secret to being a successful prosecutor. Moo-won isn’t even fazed as he agrees that he’s a monster… just like her and Yoon Hee-jae. She’s offended to be lumped together with murderers, but Moo-won calls what she does a different form of killing.

As surgeons operate on Do-jin, we get another glimpse of Christmas Eve 2006. Na-moo looks spent as Nak-won is dragged away. He screams in frustration at why his father has to be a monster but Dad just repeats he has to get rid of Na-moo’s weaknesses like some sick killerbot.

Mom and So-jin are in the hospital waiting for the surgery to end while hearing the details from Jae-yi. During a quiet moment, Mom kneels before Jae-yi and wipes the blood off her hands while apologizing for what happened twelve years ago with her husband and tonight with Hyun-moo. Jae-yi kindly but firmly turns her down, “I’ll take that apology from the people who need to apologize.” When Do-jin wakes up, Mom promises to catch Hyun-moo to make him pay for what he did and stop him from causing more trouble. Do-jin asks to bring Hyun-moo in himself, confident that his hyung wouldn’t go too far. (So can’t you, with that stab wound!)

Do-jin is right though. So-jin finds Hyun-moo lurking at home. She fearlessly beats his chest, scolding him for hurting Do-jin Oppa. He silently takes her abuse until he realizes that Do-jin is still alive. So-jin notes the relief in Hyun-moo’s face. She tells him she’ll call the cops now so he can snap out of whatever’s gotten into him. He says he’s doing this revenge thing for Dad and leaves after warning her not to call the cops lest he ends up hurting her too. So-jin reports what happened to Mom who also notes how Hyun-moo showed a teensy bit of concern for Do-jin.

The next morning, Dad happily greets a visitor. It’s Mom. She looks terrified to be there but curses Dad out anyway for pitting the boys against each other. She warns him not to talk to any of her sons ever again. Dad is genuinely surprised and impressed that Hyun-moo was able to cause enough trouble to make her finally visit him after twelve years of silence.

He must’ve been dying to ask her the next question, “You saw what I did to the woman at the dog farm, right?” Dad guessed it was the reason Mom ran away without a word. He points out that she’s partially responsible for what happened to Nak-won’s family. If she reported him instead of hiding, he would’ve been caught sooner. We know Mom already feels the burden of her inaction, but it’s disturbing to hear the actual murderer gleefully point it out.

To ease her guilt (or not), Dad shares what a nun taught him about repentance: God will forgive, you only have to ask. Dad takes that logic and runs with it: if getting forgiveness is easy, then you can sin again and just repent again.

Not that Dad plans to sin anytime soon. Only when he doesn’t get what he wants. Like more visits from Mom, So-jin, and Na-moo. Oh, and for Mom to stay away from other men. He also assures her he’s not entirely powerless in prison. Mom is trembling with fear and anger by the end of Dad’s wishlist threats. She vows to tear him into pieces and eat all of them if he ever comes near her three children again. Of course, such display of inner strength just excites Dad as he pronounces Mom his ideal woman.

That night, Park Hee-young airs a preview of her upcoming documentary, updated with details of Jae-yi’s and Do-jin’s ongoing tragic love story and the hyung who won’t leave them in peace. She wonders how Nak-won and Na-moo can stay close friends twelve years after they survived the attack—unless they shared a terrible secret, something that was covered up in police records and court hearings. Something the kids did that made it easier for the cops to catch the strong Yoon Hee-jae.

Park ends the segment by promising to dig for the full truth as part of the process of “cutting the evil” out of Yoon Hee-jae’s family. Her staff cheers as they watch the ratings rise. I hate them. Where’s a World Cup pre-emption when you need one?

Meanwhile, Hyun-moo is trying to psych himself back on the murdering train as he follows a drunk man into a dark alley. He doesn’t notice that Dad’s fanboy is stalking him until Fanboy runs forward to bash the drunk guy’s head in. Fanboy introduces himself as the real guy behind the recent hammer attacks. He stepped in when Hyun-moo chickened out, unable to kill his first victim. Fanboy also reveals that he’s been in contact with Dad who described Hyun-moo perfectly: a weakling not worthy to be Yoon Hee-jae’s son. Nooo! Stop breaking his murderer-wannabe heart!

Dad is in a foul mood after watching Park Hee-young’s broadcast. He hauls a guard inside his cell and strangles him, wondering if he’ll be his thirteenth—no, fourteenth kill. In the end, he decides to let go because the guard isn’t worth breaking his twelve-year no-kill streak for. (Wait, can we rewind to the part where he said fourteenth kill?!)

Jae-yi doesn’t even listen to the rest of Park’s trashy show. She leaves her hotel room and ignores people’s stares to go visit Do-jin. She finds him exactly as she feared, worrying about her and the documentary instead of resting. She wonders why the world keeps making them suffer when they were just kids who liked each other. Do-jin just stares at her like a puppy as she asks if they can stop being sorry all the time and try being happy for once.

Watch the video

Let’s stop being sorry

 
COMMENTS

You can’t disagree with her. What’s the point of being merciful and putting off your happiness when everyone else won’t leave you in peace anyway? Story-wise, I also want them to just get together already. It doesn’t matter if it causes them more pain or a bit of happiness or both. I just want something to happen to them because all the other problems have already moved along and given birth to new problems. Even Dad and Hyun-moo have fresh enemies now. When your show’s source of conflict gets its own source conflict, it makes the weepy love story look insignificant in comparison.

Also, I just love confrontations. They blow secrets out in the open so we can move forward with the consequences, and this week we were spoiled with meaty ones. In Do-jin’s and Hyun-moo’s encounter, I didn’t like that Do-jin was stabbed but I love that it bared Hyun-moo’s real feelings toward his little brother and murder in general. Now the family has confirmation that there’s a part of Hyun-moo that isn’t fully controlled by Dad. And it’ll be much harder for him to follow in Dad’s footsteps after he’s had a taste of that “disgusting feeling” of killing someone.

Then there’s Hyun-moo’s introduction to Dad’s fanboy who’s everything Hyun-moo wishes he could be. Will the fanboy’s closeness to Dad be the pressure Hyun-moo needs to kill someone for real? It’s one thing to compete with a brother who tries to redeem you at every turn, it’s another to compete with a soulless stranger who taunts you with intel straight from your Dad.

There’s also Mom’s visit with Dad. We know she’s strong to step up to Dad and protect the kids, but having Dad expose her wrongs and applaud them was painful to watch. I’ve always wondered if Dad was faking his overtures to Mom so he can stab her when she gets too close, but the reveal that he’s “in love” with Mom for keeping his terrible secret was disgusting. It’s like the most abhorrent compliment ever.

Murders aside, Yoon Hee-jae’s obsession with strength is fascinating because he actually has a good eye for it. Mom and Na-moo have never shown any tendency towards violence, yet he was able to pinpoint and admire them as strong people. That means when he gushes about strength, he’s referring to the mental more than the physical kind. But then he showcases his strength by murdering people, which is really just an exercise in physical prowess. Or does he count overcoming that emotional block of killing a person as an exercise in mental strength? If that’s the case, then he probably thinks Mom and Na-moo are capable of murder too, under the right circumstances.

I’m thinking it’s the same reason he tolerated or even had a chatty relationship with Park Hee-young. He sees through her and knows she has the guts to destroy people’s lives. Other reporters (like the one Do-jin threatened in earlier episodes) would back down or feel a bit of guilt when confronted with what they’ve done, but not Park Hee-young. I don’t even think she’s bluffing when she didn’t understand what Moo-won meant about killing people with her pen. She really believes she’s not in the wrong. Everyone else is just too weak to chase after an “interesting” story.

It’s the kind of logic that makes you think repentance is a Get Out of Hell Free Card. The same kind of logic that gives you the confidence to backstab your psychopath friend with a tiny psychopath fanclub in front of national television. It looks like a power move but it doesn’t seem smart to me. Maybe intelligence isn’t Park Hee-young’s strongest suit. If she’s not careful, someone will be writing her name in the headlines soon with a number fourteen attached to it.

 
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I've fallen back but still reading your recaps. Your side comments are Insightful and funny.
I really hope that the reporter becomes no.14. Or maybe the fan boy can do us a favour.
Or HM can finally achieve his dream of getting dad's approval.
I don't really care who does it.please just disappear!
P. S- I'm not a psycho. I hope so. So I really need her gone.

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LOL when it comes to thinking of Reporter Park’s comeuppance, I have to remind myself not to get too bloodthirsty too. 😂 Poor Hyun-moo if he does manage to kill Park, I don’t think he’ll enjoy it at all.

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Yes, Writer-nim, please use YOUR pen to kill off this character.

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I wonder who is the main villain dad or Reporter park? 🤣

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Atleast dad owns upto it. Whereas that female...ARGH!

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Maybe it was Dad for the first half, and now Park is acting double-duty as the new villain and Dad's personal karma.

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Same! Disappear already! Her smirk after the broadcast is disgusting.

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Not since Mirror of the Witch have I hated a villain this much.

Writer-nim has done an excellent job of making the villains in this show totally despicable (and in dad’s case, totally creepy too.) My stomach gets in a knot every episode. Their comeuppance will be so sweet.

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And my dislike for that reporter only rivaled by umbridge

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Could someone Avada Kedavra her out of here?

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Not without a generous dose of crucio.

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I'm not sure about the stabbing scene, for a super cop, he was not so smart with the " I block of knife with my body" move. If he's dead how can he protect the woman he loves ?

The power that people give to the father is very frustrating. He still has influence on people event if he's prison. Indifference is the best weapon with this kind of guy.

I feel like all the characters evolve in the present except the main characters even their conversations are always the same...

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True... Dad is great at manipulating people (typical psychopath?) If it were up to Mom and Do-jin, they’d never visit him again. But Mom has to get a bit closer to pull Hyun-moo away from Dad’s clutches. :(

It’s Park and Fanboy who had no business getting involved with Dad and giving him more influence outside prison.

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I desperately want Mom to pull Hyun-moo away from Dad. You can tell Hyun-moo cares about her and his siblings, if he could just stop listening to his father, there might be hope for him. Hyun-moo needs a hug, and some serious therapy.

On another note, what did Dad mean when he said if he killed the guard it would be his 14th kill? He's in prison for 12 murders so that means he's got another murder people don't know about. He was investigated for a fire that killed one of his wives. Is that what he is referring to? Or is there a completely different incident that no one knows about? So many questions. And is creepy fanboy responsible for all the incidents that Do-jin is attributing to Hyun-moo? If so, how will Hyun-moo clear his name? Oh the agony of this show is so gut-wrenching, but so good.

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There was a scene of Moo-won squinting at the grainy photos of "Hyun-moo" on CCTV. And he's supposed to be a star prosecutor. That would be a great twist, if Moo-won cleared Hyun-moo's name (at least of the murders he didn't do).

I wanna know who's Dad's 13th too! This show is such a tease >____<

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I think Do-jin was very shook when confronted with the depth of his brother’s resentment and blame towards him. The brothers were never close despite sharing a dysfuctional up-bringing. Growing up in an environment of fear and violence, they reacted differently; Do-jin turning inward and his brother, striking out his rage. It must be devestating to have a person you care about desire your suffering and death. It would be hard to be a rational, effective fighter in that moment.

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I also think he's not being in cop mode during that confrontation. It seems Do-jin was trying his best to stop his brother without hurting him so Do-jin is limited to defensive moves like holding hyung's arm back, clinging to hyung's leg, pushing him away from the door, blocking with the body, etc.

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Reporter Park makes my blood's boiling more and more in each episode. I agree with Moo-won who told Park that she's no different with Dad - only they have different face. Dad, for sure, he's a serial killer, while Reporter Park is an evil disguise in the face of a reporter.

I'm wondering if Dad will break from the jail and make Reporter Park his 14/15....

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Namu-ya, Nak-won ah... Just let me hug you.... :)

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I was waiting for this finally it's here. Thank you @mary :)
Now off to read.

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Is it me but dad seem more and more like an Hannibal Lecter. He is clearly a very scary manipulator and know how to get to peoples inner scars. no wonder people cant move on as he is in the shadow... I feel he is using reporter park to get information from outside of the prison.
I hope they can save HM. but i feel his redemption is gonna be in some kind of sacrifice... oddly I like is relationship with sister. we could sew from their childhood that he actually cared for her.

So happy for JY word at the end. our girl is the active one of the OTP. who says a girl need to wait for the boy to take action. finally the romance can take a leap!

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As usual a beautiful poignant, sad, intense episode.
I feel sympathy for Hyun Moo he had a tough life he has conscience and deep down cares for family it's just he wants approval from worse dad. He and Na Moo both deserve better, they have endured far too much for too long.
I love Na Moo and Nak Won's relationship it's deep, pure and loving. All I want for them is to be happy and seeing them suffer is so sad.
The scene when the mother confronts him in prison sent chills down my spine, it was so creepy, repulsive and hats off to the actors in this show even the ones to hate they're doing a amazing job.
No matter how much I'm against murder, I'm willing to turn a blind eye to retribution of that repulsive reporter.

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Na Moo seems to have just a good, compassionate soul, but I often wonder how much of who he is was shaped by the confidence that came from having approval of his father. Yes, his father is evil, and Na Moo has pure conviction against that evil, but it's clear that from the very beginning Papa treated Na Moo as if he had value. Hyun Moo was treated as if he did not have value. That does a lot to create a personality and motivations. Had the attention and love they received been reversed would Na Moo have gone down a violent, angry path the same as Hyun Moo? Would Hyun Moo have fought against his father as Na Moo? Also, had Hyun Moo had his own Nak Won would he have been stopped in his violent tracks as a teen? Who knows, but it's not clear cut and it's a nice way to highlight the nature vs. nurture debate.

I was spellbound during the Mom prison scene. The acting was so dead on--that way her face contorted with tremors of rage. Blown away.

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Honestly?
So on board with this drama. Fully invested.
It's mostly the acting that's got me in love, though. Dead-eyed stares that somehow emit so much emotion, an angelic woman who's strong and kind, I could go on and on...
JKY, JKJ, this is GREAT.

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One of my favorite scenes this hour is of Nak-won and Mom seeing each other in the hospital for the first time after 12 years. Nak-won eases mom's guilt by telling her that she is not the person to blame. The goodness of her soul enables her to survive the horrific past.

But Nak-won-ah, next time please don't ever sit in an empty stairway by yourself especially knowing there is a murderer on the loose who is out there to get you. We all know that stairways in Dramaland are full of CCTV blind spots!! I am happy that you survived, but my worry for your safety took minutes off my life.

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Don't worry! NM will rise from his surgery to save her. After all, what's another stab wound for him?

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LOL!
But I am dreading to see what he will do in the future to protect the people he loves.

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Because getting stabbed by blurry knives don't hurt as much, right?

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Hahhaha! I had to laugh at that 😂

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This show should've been called Come Here and Plug Me.

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oh no, my dirty mind went somewhere else...

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.________.

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My favorite scene is Moo-won and Park's fight. He was awesome. There's less fakecest vibes from him now.

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He told her what she really needs to hear(or should I say understand) but that Reporter park is so evil and full of her self that she can't see her faults in the name of real Journalism.

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I loved that scene! I felt a bit satisfied at the surprise look on her face when he told her she’s no different from his father.

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When she said "I'm hurt you compare me to a psychopath," I'm like REALLY??? REALLY, GIRL???

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Her response is genuinely believable since it is from a psychopath who is mimicking emotions!

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And she actually looked like she’s genuinely offended! Goodness! She should go to a shrink and have her sanity checked.

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I've always seen Reporter Park as having a House-like "Everyone lies" kind of mentality. Like she does not trust that anyone is inherently good--she only sees layers of good to rip away to expose the true human nature underneath. And she prides how she wears her ambition and motivations on her sleeve and so I think that's part of why the comparison bothered her.

Something I have a hard time telling, is you often get such hints of self-loathing from her, but I'm unsure how self-aware reporter Park is of this. Does she stuff it down and pretend it's just part of her ambition, does she accept it as just part of the inherent bad nature of people in general? Idk. Sometimes the actress portrayal is a bit uneven for me, and we're missing those truly vulnerable moments that would make this a character we love to hate rather than just hate.

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😂 I usually dislike cesty plots in the vein of "I know I am your Oppa but I really want to be the other kind of Oppa" but surprisingly I don't think I mind it too much. Maybe because the "fakecest" angst pales in comparison to "my father killed your parents" angst?

I am happy though for the actor Yoon Jong-Hoon who deserves a really meaty role after enjoying seeing him in so many dramas as tertiary characters.

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I didn't mind his fakecest too much because he's a good angst-er and I love me some angst heehee but it was almost non-existent this week that I wonder if I was just imagining it the past 16 episodes.

Or maybe it's not meant to be part of the story and the PD asked him not to make melo eyes at Jae-yi at some point.

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Oppa's melo eyes started even in the very first scene of them as children in the car. Maybe Writer-nim realized in the 16th episode that she would not have time to address the fakecest angst after dialing up many old and new characters' psycho meter?

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Kkkk true true~ all the kids are well-casted, even young Moo-won with his young melo eyes XD

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I only like faux-cest when it's not the OTP. Because we know nothing will ever really come of it, so it's only a little squicky but the kind of dark squicky we watch melos for, right? One sided love that cannot be because the love is your faux-sister? Fun! Two-sided love that cannot be because you just kissed your sister? Now I feel uncomfortable.

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The way they stare at each other tugs at my heart strings! I commend Nak Won on being such a strong strong character. I wonder if I personally would have been ‘still in love’ if I was in her place! What an impossible situation to be under.

Can we all vote to kill off the reporter? HATE her beyond anything! PURE EVIL!!

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Ah, they should start airing four episodes a week, two are too less and as worldcup is over (who cares Germany is not playing anymore ;P )
Jokes aside: @mary i love your side remarks and deep sarcasm!
My fav scene was mother telling NM that he is a gift to her.
And second NW telling NM lets take rest and forget all about it. Exactly, just go to Jeju or a country nearby, others won't get a visa anyways!! Oh i realised South koreans don't need a visa to visit many countries but you get what i mean you can always find one which does!

And our super duper rating crazy reporter, haha she will soon witness what she created, a psycho fan boy. Great work!

Hmm, i did not understand why the father was so upset. Maybe later i will get it.

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Probably because he was bested by a person he thought he was just manipulating for his benefit. Now that person is using him to hurt Na-moo. I get this weird vibe from Dad like he thinks Na-moo is the best of his family/genetic line... like he'd pave the way for Na-moo's success as much as he could. That's why going to prison because of Na-moo didn't offend him that much, as long as Na-moo got to show how strong he is.

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Ah, I see! Thank you :)

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Yeah it relates to what you pointed out about how he loves Mom because she stands up to him. I think even though he tried to kill a girl to keep Na Moo on the path to evil, he actually respects Na Moo more for not being like him at all, because that shows more strength of character. And he kind of gravy trains off of Na Moo's strength of character as just another sign of his own strength. It's very twisted, in the best way.

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Ah, you described Dad so well. It's why Do-jin's and Mom's life are a living hell. If Dad beats you, he wins. If you outsmart him, he'll proudly point out that you're just like him, making you hate yourself. :(

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That first 15 minutes of the episode though so many feels and emotion that you HAVE to witness that. I mean @mary did such a great job pinpointing stuffs sometimes I didn't even catch (lol) but that confrontation with Hyunmoo and Jaeyi trying hard to help bleeding Namoo while trying NOT to faint akjhdjahdjhf

Ugh, I love mom so much and that talk with Dad just gave me chills so much that I am totally sure we're gonna get somebody killed someday. Is it Mom, is it Sojin, is it hyunmoo, is it Police Captain Ahjusshi, is it Dojin's Hoobaes, but tbh my money is on Hyunmoo. Don't thriller drama tend to do that?

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Not Chief Go please T_____T I know I don't talk about him much but I like him huhu he deserves to be happy and nagged by the whole family.

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Hardwood flooring, full access to live television, nice shelving units, personal library, generously sized window, not to mention personal attendant and regularly scheduled cooked meals....why is Psychopath Abuji's prison cell more luxurious than any of the Noryangjin rooms in Dramaland?

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Maybe the warden is a secret softy like Lt. Paeng XD

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Perks of being in a deathrow? :D*

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"Fattening up before the kill?"

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Haha Yes! He considers himself as animal anyway.

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Let’s not forget all of the lit candles whenever someone comes visit. I mean, seriously, mood-lighting?? What kind of prison is this??

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Let's just pretend the candle is the only source of heat in a prison where terrible electrical wiring causes regular blackouts.

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A nun visits him regularly so maybe she also told him to light candles when someone visits him. Like they’re in the Church. He’s allowed to do that since he’s a privileged inmate.

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Speaking of the nun, I need to have words with her for teaching Dad about "repentance."

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Haha Right?
He’s a psychopath and she should know that his brain does not work like how sane people brains do.

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it's the same type of prison like Prison Playbook that featured numerous designer Nelson Benches in the guards' lockeroom...

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Maybe, At least in India they really exist, you can even keep cellphones and they are called VVIP prisons! You can go in and out as you please I guess! (Just know the right people and its not hard to do that :P)
So Prison is so normal here.

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So theoretically inmates in India can make comments on Dramabeans? 😱

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Yes, you did not know that! XD
Maybe we should wait for another confirmation, with (more) experience!

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Thank you, Mary!
I love you for that “don’t break his murderer-wannabe heart” side comment. Lol.

Can the writer please let Do-jin & Jae-yi happy already? They’ve suffered enough and I think it’s about for them to be together. Let him move in with her too, for safety purposes. ^^

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Yes, cohabitation, please! It's not entirely shallow too. From a thriller aspect, it'll be more convenient for the killers if everyone important is in one place.

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He’s assigned as her bodyguard after all so why not let him live with her. And let it happen in the same place where her parents were murdered. Good idea!

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Is Christmas coming up yet? Let's stack up the presents underneath the good ol' family portrait.
Lucky II better comes to the rescue if someone feels stabby.

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wow! priorities and convenience!

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Would the tonal shift be too jarring if we get some Boy Next Door-esque cohabitation hijinks in this drama, @mary?

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What to make of the unexplained wound on dad’s head 12 years ago, and his counting of murders being +1. Any speculations?

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I think Na-moo hit Dad with a hammer. In one of the flashbacks, Dad was proudly wiping away his own blood and telling Na-moo something like, "good job, you should've done this earlier."

As for the +1... I have no idea. We haven't got any clues yet. :O A farfetched theory is the guy Moo-won killed? Maybe Moo-won just stabbed the killer but Dad gave the killing stroke. It's a long shot and a way to "redeem" Moo-won's guilt but I don't want it to happen! I like Moo-won as is. He's the counter-argument to Reporter Park's definition of a monster.

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I like the theory of Na-moo against his character physically fighting back Dad. That explains why the hammer is being brought back so many times.

Was it the same Christmas song playing on the drama set as it was in the murder scene 12 years ago? If so, was Moo-won present at Nak-won's house so he is able to get someone to replicate the scene with so much details?

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Yes, it was the same song playing. I admit i'm also reserving a bit of suspicion for where Moo-won was that night. Though it's possible he was just out studying on Christmas Eve, big nerd that he is.

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Now I am confused! What does Moo-won has to do with the murder scene and its recreation? Wasn't it just psycho fan boy's doing and then he sent the pictures to Hyun-moo ?

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@rket593 sorry, we're just being extra twisty-minded!

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I have wondered from the beginning what part, if any, Moo-won might play in all of this. I missed the reveal that Moo-won killed his parent’s killer, so until recently I wondered if he had killed them himself.

I could see him attacking dad to protect Nak-won, but again, it doesn’t seem like that would need to be hidden from everyone.

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I think Na Moo hit Dad too, but if so, it annoys me that it was indeed covered up and Reporter Park is now speculating on the terrible secret. Given the circumstances, if NM got a couple licks in I fail to see what's so terrible about it or why it needed to be covered up. So he didn't get labeled as a psychopath like his father? Didn't keep people from talking about bad blood.

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I’m with you on questioning why it would be a big secret. It would have totally been a defensive move and it isn’t like he killed him - dad was hardly hurt by it at all.

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Did Moo-won & his real parents used to live near where Na-moo lived? Maybe that +1 is his wife?

Plot twist: It’s Nak-woon who injured Dad and not Na-moo!

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I am up for your plot twist, this one is cool!

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@mary - I originally assumed it would be that Na-moo hit dad but why would this be something everyone, including the police, would feel compelled to hide (if what Park said is true). It just doesn’t quite jive with me but I guess time will tell.

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+1 could be Na Moo's or Hyun Moo's mother...I remember in the first couple of episodes when Do Jin was in Police school, the prof talked about how it was rumored that Dad killed his 3rd(?) wife.

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I hate Park Hae Young
Yes, she create another killer, she destroy and kill the victims family
Can't they sue her for privacy invasion?
Can't Mowon use his position to jail Park Hae Young and her media?
Thanks @mary for the recap. I really want to hug Dojin and Jaeyi. One episode every week really hard to take 😭😭

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I don’t understand why it would be a deep dark secret to defend yourself when someone is trying to kill you or the person next to you? I am referring to both Moo-won and Na-Moo. It isn’t as if it were a mere suspicion that their lives were in danger. Other people had just been murdered in the vicinity and the person is raising a weapon against you. Defending yourself is understandable and justifiable response and not an indication of repressed murderous impulses.

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We know that because we're sane, unlike a certain Reporter... (but also I think she likes to write these kinds of stories for her show because it's a different angle and the public likes to gossip, including me hehe)

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That's called TV rating games, you have to make it sensous to cell. I have seen people (read: reporters) doing even worse because they lack something obvious ....

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*sell

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Agree! In the real world it will be termed self defence. I also fail to understand why they think it is such a big deal for it to be ‘covered up’!

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Lets just have na moo and nak won move into another show like wreck-it ralph does! This new show cud be about them, puppies, candies and rainbow!

Its just saddening to watch two people who love each other not be able to live freely without guilt or under the watchful eye of stupid people.

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I screamed when I saw in my email that this show was being recap.😁😊💕😁😁.: the drama gods heard my prayers and decided to answer. I’ve watched and rewatched it on odk for the past month
Now I’m going to start praying for ‘goodbye to goodbye’

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Loved your comments.
I kind of hope the reporter IS #14 because I hate her so much. I may even hate her more than psychopath, murdering Dad.

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Gahh, Psycho Dad is despicable. I feel like part of the reason he undermines Hyun Moo is to fuel his animosity towards Na Moo. Dad's manipulation knows no bounds. His conversation with Mom was so creepy, especially the part where he says he never killed her because of her scent *shivers*

Reporter Park is such an interesting character. Too bad I can't wait till someone throws a hammer at her. There's one too many psycho in the show right now, someone's gotta go.

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That scent comment was creeptastic and Dad knew it too. I'm sad that Mom will forever feel dirty by associating with him.

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wow, after reading comments and mary's replies to comments, i've realized that i'd forgotten so much of the details from previous episodes being fed at such a slow pace... i'm going to have to go back and restart from the beginning to refresh my very bad memory.

oh darn... must rewatch all the beautiful angsty staring scenes...
; )

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So temped to talk about today's episode here, but I know I must not!

But I bear good news, it looks like Come and Hug Me might be back to two episodes a week starting next week!

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thanks for not spoiling!!!
*runs off to watch*

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Thanks, V! :D

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Beware of Spoilers and Rampant Speculation

Part 1 of 2

Thank you for your recap, Mary. It feels like a dog's age since I watched the episodes, so I rewatched them to refresh my memory.

Owing to preemptions, not only have we viewers most recently been cheated out of two episodes (last week and this week), but the show's rhythm has been knocked into a cocked hat as the usual overnight cliffhanger has dragged on for a week. Besides being cruel and unusual punishment for Kdrama fans, it is messing with the narrative's timing. After this week's episodes 19 & 20, we should be back to Writer-nim's intended rhythm and timing.

Why do I make such a big deal about this issue? Because I've noticed over several years of Kdrama watching that such disruptions can kill the momentum of a show. Given COME HERE AND HUG ME's plot and diabolically-twisted villains, it is difficult enough to witness their machinations and wait for the shoe to drop. My nerves are already shot. Having to withstand the tension for a longer period of time than the writer intended just adds to the struggle.

That said, I'm still tuning in to see what's in store for the characters, and I don't mean only the OTP. Given Evil Dad's sociopathic bent (and I do mean bent, in the sense of “warped”), everyone around Na-moo is a potential target. Mom & So-jin, Jae-yi and her manager, stylist, and driver, mentor Detective Go and fellow officers... Heck, if Na-moo had a pet, I'd worry about it, too.

I'll admit that I'm awaiting Reporter Park's day of reckoning. She's finally gone too far with her televised persecution, and has managed to provoke Evil Dad's wrath. She obviously never learned to refrain from tormenting zoo animals, especially predators. She's nuts enough to provoke a serial killer in person and on his own turf. The woman is certifiable.

Now I'm beginning to wonder what made Reporter Park Hee-young such a nutcase. Just as Evil Dad has been lovingly recreating the dysfunction of his own family of origin by brutalizing his sons and pitting them against each other since they were small, I have a feeling that Reporter Park might be from a whacked-out family as well. Methinks she's more than just an idealist who went off the deep end. She takes too much self-righteous, sadistic pleasure in publicly harassing the subjects targets of her “reporting.”

We're barely past the show's half-way point. At last we're getting provocative insights into what makes hyung Hyun-moo tick. Reporter Park has thrown Jae-yi's Orabeoni's tragic past in his face. Stay tuned for Prosecutor Gil Moo-won's long-overdue backstory. I have a feeling that we'll be seeing an examination of the Spectrum Of Evil, ranging from 12-year-old Moo-won killing his parents' murderer to hyper-bully/murderer-wannabe Hyun-moo, to Evil Dad himself. I'm tempted to assign Reporter Park to the spectrum, too.

- Continued -

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Beware of Spoilers and Rampant Speculation

Part 2 of 2

I'm concerned that Dad is finally going to push someone over the edge. It could well be Moo-won who does whatever it takes to permanently ensure his sister's safety by killing Dad and/or Hyun-moo. I can imagine his becoming thoroughly disillusioned with the limits of protection afforded by the law. He has been troubled by the effect of committing murder on the state of his soul. It would not surprise me if he feels he is beyond redemption, a la Prosecutor Jang Do-han in LOOKOUT.

Hyun-moo's reaction to stabbing Na-moo in Jae-yi's garage tells me that he is not cut out to be a murderer. Although the circumstantial evidence, and Na-moo's profiling, points to him as the perpetrator of the recent attacks, especially when it comes to intimate knowledge of the crime scene at Jae-yi's family home as replicated at the film studio, Hyun-moo was too horrified to be a killer. Murderer-wannabe, yes. But he lacks Dad's finely-honed killer instinct. As they grappled in the garage, at several junctures I could see Na-moo's words – and tears – almost getting through to him.

Even more telling was Hyun-moo's (non-)reaction to his fearless little sister's browbeating and finger pokes. He still has a soft spot for So-jin in what's left of his heart. I think that Na-moo's words found their mark after all, and that there might yet be hope for Hyun-moo. That sense was reinforced by his shock and revulsion at the attack he witnessed in the street. It's one thing to hire a hitman and another thing to be present when the attacker strikes. I'm hoping for redemption for him. I'm also fearful that, should he cease to attempt to gain Psycho Dad's approval, he may become a red shirt himself.

Dad has 13 victims, not 12?! Did he kill one more after Stepmom left and before he attacked Nak-won's family? Did he switch his modus operandi, thus evading detection? Or might it be one of his early kills? I'm bracing for a flashback. And still getting over his attack on the prison guard who missed becoming #14 by a hair's breadth.

The revelation that there's an actual Murderous Acolyte/Fanboy conducting his own killing streak doesn't come as a surprise. I have been expecting something along this line. Copycat killers are a dime a dozen in Kdramaland. However, the young guy comes across as just as deranged as Dad. The way he taunts Hyun-moo for being unable to make his first kill is unnerving. I'm afraid he'll whack Hyun-moo. Seriously. Or maybe Hyun-moo will get himself killed defending Stepmom and So-jin when Murderous Acolyte/Fanboy goes after them.

-30-

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Seo Jung-yeon's portrayal of Stepmom has really grown on me. She held her own against Heo Jin-ho in the prison visitation scene – no mean feat when facing an actor of his caliber. While she spewed righteous maternal indignation in that scene, elsewhere she projected noteworthy tenderness with Na-moo, affectionate domestic nagging towards Detective Go, and abject remorse to Jae-yi. The character has gone from being a hardbitten, abusive woman who's had a very difficult life to a tenacious survivor who has been coaxed out of her armor by the kindness, compassion, and selflessness of her younger stepson. Na-moo's generosity of spirit has rubbed off on her to the point that she has invited Hyun-moo to cast his lot with his former family. She didn't have to do that, but she's willing to take a chance on him. She's also welcomed Detective Go to the fold. I would like nothing better than for them to continue to have a comfortable relationship while running their own private Na-moo Fanclub with So-jin.

That scene of Stepmom visiting Psycho Dad in jail had me cheering because she told him to leave her kids, including Hyun-moo, alone. Then it curled my toes, especially when he indicated that he was aware that she saw what he did to that poor woman at the dog farm. I just about lost it when he blamed her for the death of Nak-won's parents. True, she could have ratted him out to the cops and possibly put an earlier end to his killing spree. He is so cagey, he could have eluded them. I give her the benefit of the doubt for managing to save her daughter and herself. Dad told Na-moo that the reason why he was killing Nak-won and her family was to remove weaknesses from Na-moo. (How many other “weaknesses” does he intend to remove from his son in the future?) The onus is completely on batcrap-crazy Dad.

Dad's declaration of affection – that he hadn't killed Stepmom because he likes her scent – made my skin crawl. His warning her to stay away from other men raised a red flag. As did his twisted logic regarding divine forgiveness. He obviously did not get the memo from a certain carpenter who hung out with tax collectors to repent and sin no more. I was ready to throw my Baltimore Catechism at him. Heo Jun-ho is doing a fabulous job portraying the murderous narcissist.

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I cannot wait for you to watch/comment on the most recent episode.

I am really enjoying the Mom as well and I did not even realize she was the woman Manager in Pretty Noona until TheKThree pointed it out to me! She is amazing.

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@veeee,

I've been biting my tongue while awaiting the next recap. We'll be able to discuss it all in good time. ;-)

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HyunMoo is getting more and more pitiful but I’m so glad SoJin and Mom and NaMoo see right through him and embrace him.
HyunMoo: *threatens SoJin*
SoJin to Mom: HyunMoo asked about DoJin

HyunMoo: *ramsacks store* *stabs NaMoo*
Mom: They’re MY SONS not yours

It’s only a matter of time before he realizes the love he’s been receiving. Can’t wait to see him realize, deny, then hopefully walk into this loving family’s embrace.

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Preferably before he does something irreparable :O

I love how we're all cheering for Hyun-moo to step away from the dark side.

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Re: cheering for Hyun-moo

He's just like Mori in REBEL, another "bad" boy from a screwed-up family who had been treated like dirt his whole life. Mori's throwing in with the Noisy Hongs prompted delirious Beanie rejoicing in the recap comments. ;-)

Crossing my fingers that Hyun-moo hits bottom and eschews the Dark Side before he does something drastic. We've already been trolled with Murderous Acolyte/Fanboy. Who's to say he's only copycat?

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Thank you @mary for picking up this series. I stopped watching on ep 15, its too much for my hearts hehehe. But, I'm curious on how this show unfold. Na-moo and Nak-won are such unfortunate person, they should move on with their life but instead whatever happen that night bound them for life. Unfortunately, I'm not seeing chemistry between Do-jin and Jae-yi, especially from JY part. Maybe I'm wrong, but lets hope they do better.
From beginning, I think Hyung could be a better person. I still remember how he used to protect little So-jin in his own gruffly way. Like @mary said, he's not mentally strong enough to get out from his father shadow. At least NM didn't need his father approval in his life. That's what differentiate HM and NM.

as for "Does he think he’s actually a tree?!" He is Na-moo (tree) anyway lol

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I really like it they finally dig Moo WOn's character a little more. And Finally Hyun Moo's character can shine. love the reveal of his character, which he is appear as not ruthless as he want to believe.

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I think copycat is related to the reporter. Maybe her son? Would be an interesting twist.

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I wish I could record Mom's conversation with Yoon Hee-jae and force Hyun-moo to listen to it. Because here is a parent's love and acceptance that he has craved for as long as he remembers, if only he would learn to accept it. I hope he'll stop listening to Dad's twisted words soon before he did something unforgiveable.

As if I need another reason to love Mom, she bravely told Yoon Hee-jae that he has no right to call himself a Dad and gave him ultimatum to stop bothering her children and stop pitting her sons (yes, Hyun-moo, you included) against each other. She is such a superwoman with endless capability of love. And it brought tears to my eyes when she told Do-jin that he is a gift for her. Only her loving and sincere words could stop our hero from feeling guilty over every little happiness he get.

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