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Psychopath Diary: Episodes 13-14 Open Thread

The tables are turning for our hero this week, and it’s just about everything wrapped in one: hilarious, satisfying, and shocking. With his memory back, and armed with the truth, our jailbreaking hero doesn’t have much time to bring the real serial killer to justice — and it’s going to take everything he’s got.

 
EPISODES 13-14 WEECAP

Dong-shik whittles some (hilarious) time away in prison before he comes to the conclusion that using the secret toilet passageway is his only recourse. As his confidant tells him in a bit of philosophical wisdom, “If you want freedom, the smell of poop is inevitable.”

With knock on the head number two, a conveniently intercepted phone call to Bo-kyung by In-woo, and Bo-kyung in danger, Dong-shik is through the tunnel and out of the prison before you can say Jack Robinson.

Once he’s back in the city, that’s when the real mayhem begins. In order to save Bo-kyung from In-woo, he calls the cops and pretends he’s the one that’s after her. He’s fake-playing the psycho this time, and ends his maniacal laugher in a giant choking fit (this is one of my favorite bits of comedy that Yoon Shi-yoon uses throughout the show — it never gets old!).

However, the consequences of his fake death threat to Bo-kyung run through the whole week’s episodes: befuddled cops are forever trying to find Dong-shik and protect Bo-kyung, but all the while they’re meeting secretly and hatching a plan to trap the real killer.

Hooray, it’s the wonderful Chil-sung’s time to shine this week. Out of the trunk and into the driver’s seat, he drives perfectly timed getaway cars, and is so ridiculously funny that I can’t deal with him and Dong-shik together onscreen sometimes.

But the funniest part of Psychopath Diary for me this week was Dong-shik trading his prison uniform for the best ajumma garb EVER. I literally could not stop cracking up with him in that outfit. Thank goodness that in addition to a) saving him from the manhunt and b) providing him a nice block of tofu, Chil-sung also c) brings Dong-shik a change of clothes.

Now that Dong-shik has full awareness of everything that’s happened, and how he’s been played, I love him all the more. And in his little track pants and big fleecy top, determined to prove his innocence, I just want to give him a hug! However, the hugs were exchanged with his family, who he sorely missed.

With the help of a frying pan — and the well-rooted theory that all Dong-shik needed was a third blunt force trauma — his father whacks him upside the head with the pan. And when Dong-shik wakes up, he remembers everything.

Now that Dong-shik (and the rest of our good guys) know that In-woo is the real killer, they have to get tricky in order to outwit him. While Dong-shik has to come to terms with the fact that In-woo has played him like a fiddle over and over, to his credit, he uses this to his advantage. He runs to In-woo, sobbing and fussing, and begging him to help… and slipping some serious knock-out drugs into his scotch.

It’s an excellent bit of poetic justice — In-woo, for a change, realizes that he was played. And Dong-shikkie, perhaps for the first time ever, stands there with the upper hand, watching him lose consciousness. It’s eerie for a second — and then Dong-shik gives him an utterly cheesy wink. Hah.

However, that upper hand doesn’t last long, and things get crazy fast. It’s then that we learn how far Dong-shik is willing to go to reveal In-woo as the serial killer: he’s willing to be his final victim. But before that can happen, In-woo’s brother is back on the scene, and runs off with Dong-shik and delivers him to their father.

The father is a man I can’t understand; he doesn’t seem to mind that his son is a lunatic — his only concern is him not getting caught. So, he tries to ship Dong-shik out of the country with the blame for the killings, and a brand new life as payment. But before this has a chance to escalate, In-woo bangs in, and he’s got evil in his eyes and a shotgun in his hands. Things get violent fast, and In-woo shoots his father point-blank. My oh my, that entire family needs some serious therapy. And so will Dong-shikkie after this whole ordeal is over.

 
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I watch this, but randomly, meaning: while playing games, read social media. But, when the part gets really interesting, I put everything aside.

I salute Yoon Shi Yoon here. He is able to emote those crazy behaviors, that would be so cringey if played by not so able actor. Sometimes, he can be over the top too, however a second later he just show his sane-self or vice versa, that's hard.

At first, I don't look up to Park Sung Hoon. But, he definitely changes my mind here. I hope his vein back to normal after taking all scenes :)

I don't know where it gets a bit wrong, though. The twists and humour may not intertwined flawlessly or is it dragging? If, this drama weren't played by two strong male leads, I might dropped it long ago.

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I love this drama, but I agree about the male leads being strong. I don't think the drama could be pulling it off as well as it is doing now without those two. They really fit their roles, especially Yoon Shi Yoon.

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I honestly can't think of another actor who suits and can do Dong Shik better than he can

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Thanks for your weecap, @missvictrix. I honestly didn't see In-woo's trigger-happy interlude with his father and brother coming. I was convinced that PsychoDad was a total sociopath, and was amazed when he folded like a house of cards. The plot zigged when I expected it to zag, and that's why I keep watching. The unpredictability has been a lot of fun.

It was inevitable that Dong-shik would end up sporting ajumma pants filched from a clothes line because he's had the requisite ajumma perm since day one. He looked positively fetching in that raspberry vest and coordinated mauve pullover. I had flashbacks to Lee Min-ki making kimchi in BECAUSE THIS LIFE IS OUR FIRST. I was also reminded that Yoon Si-yoon and Choi Sung-won, as Heo Jun and his faithful assistant Dong-rae, had transformed themselves into Joseon's homeliest Avon Ladies in MIRROR OF THE WITCH -- in which Jung In-sun portrayed a tragic mudang.

Dad Yook's expert rebooting of Dong-shik's memory via frying pan makes me think that uri hero better have an ACME-brand anvil handy for the final act. I'm sure that Chil-sung already has one stashed in the trunk. He thinks of everything, and has good taste in duds for his boss, too. I love their sappy bromance.

It was great fun to watch the worm turn as Dong-shik slipped that Mickey Finn to In-woo. And yes, that cheesy wink was epic. He returned the wink In-woo gave him in ep. 4 when he had said he'd kill Dong-shik if he rejected him again. It was so satisfying to see the expression on In-woo's face as he realized that he'd been bested by the kind of sniveling, timid weakling he so despises. Dong-shik doesn't have the upper hand for long, but while he does, there is nothing doubtful about his victory. ;-)

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I was also surprised by psycho dad, but not in a good way. Daddy Yook is simply the best!

Dong-Shikkie's ahjumma outfit is so great that I kinda want one for myself. Kudos to YSY cuz not even Jung Ji Hyun or Jang Man Wol (IU) managed to do that. 🤣

Oooh.... thanks for Mirror of The Witch reference. I totally didn't remember that!

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That ahjumma clothes was so funny. He really looked like an ahjumma when you look at Dongshik on the back because of the way he walks and his hair LOL. That wink though, DS made fun of Inwoo for winking at him in the first few epi LMAO. YDS character was really made for YSY. He did so well for bringing his character into life.

For Inwoo's father, I didn't feel any sympathy. That was how he brought up Inwoo. Inwoo had psychopathic tendencies as a child, but instead of counseling - the father condoned it.

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Writers seem to be indicating some kind of psychopathic tendencies of Inwoo's father but not developing that part properly

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his dad doesn't seem like a psychopath. he just lacks empathy and is manipulative. his love for his son shows that he's not a psychopath, cause a psychopath can't love and won't even be fazed if they see their loved ones about to die.

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The father seems like a psychopath himself and probably thought that trait meant strength. And Inwoo was weak for letting it get him into trouble. It's sad that with the resources that family has, if his father was a better man, Inwoo would not have grown up this way. I'm glad Inwoo shot his father. That dad was terrible. I almost felt bad for Inwoo when the father actually got on his knees to plea for his other useless son.

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Though I was disappointed with earlier episode; I see things are back on track sort of. Still feel that the writers lost the tight grip they had in initial episodes. This drama also ended up "could have been so good"

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I just love how Dong-Shikkie is more convincing as psychopath now that he's faking it! His acting is top notch. He should really get into show business instead of being office worker. 🤭😁

Gotta give it to this show. One minute I was laughing my head off with Dong Shik in that ahjumma outfit and Chil Sung (!!), the next I was bawling at DS' family reunion. 😭😭

I feel the same about psycho dad. I just don't get him. 🤷‍♀️

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Yes indeed Yoon Shi-yoon is surely fantastic action. His switching between two extremes of the character along with normal confused personality is excellent.
The balance between comedy and thriller aspect of the drama is also really good.
Writers seem to be quite good despite losing plot in-between with judge giving judgement on Dong-Shik without even getting into details of all crimes and its proof that he only did all of them. Dong Shik escaping also wasn't interesting plot. I think writers should avoid plots where they make police look silly. It might bring a few laughs but loosens the plot.
anyways, if we skip those, the current part of Dong shik faking is good. Also how In Woo does a come back even after Dong shik drugs him. The killing of In Woo's father is also surprise twist. Let's see how the story turns.

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Yea. Writing isn't stellar all the time. And I think In Woo now is more like a serial killer than actual psychopath. But overall the series is certainly watchable for the leads, Dong Shikkie's family and Chil Sung! 🥰

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2020 just started but Chil-sung is already being the best sidekick he could ever be. 😂

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He has all the swoony-ness of a second lead! 😉

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His interactions with Dong-shik's family are the cutest. GIVE HIM A HAPPY ENDING, SHOW.

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Lately I've been touting Psychopath Diary to the wider world as a reason to get interested in K-dramas (some great comic clips are up on Youtube). Every year there's a handful of series that you want to tell people 'You're missing out if you're not watching this stuff!' Sometime's its 'Misty' or 'Reply 1988', sometimes its 'Be Melodramatic' or 'Psychopath Diary'.

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My brother doesn't watch kdramas, but he did get interested in Psychopath Diary. Also in Chief Kim too. I think we need more comedy dramas that are light on the romance.

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I actually thought id miss the romancd, but i like it more this way!

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I likes the latest episode better than the previous one. Even if it's not for long it was fun seeing Dong Shik gain the upper hand over In Woo for once. DS didn't gave IW the crazy look cause he believed himself to be the Psychopath this time and it was extremely satisfying. And that wink, heh. I actually expected IW to kill his father sometime but was somehow still surprised with the way it happened.

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This week was Dong Shik's week without any doubts...From deciding right away escaping prison while sensing Bo Kyung is in huge danger and very well stoping In Woo from killing her in a matter of hours to being able to have the upper hand fooling Inwoo 2 times in just couple of hours in a one to one fight as well as genuiusly profile his steps and his behaviours making it possible to make all this traps in advance whitout problem fooling In Woo of his hogu status while this time being the one who hunted him,he looked way more like a psychopath when he pretended than when he believed and his tone ,stare and dialogue when he confronted In Woo were top notch and quite satisfying just as Inwoo spiriling and looking his ground even more against Dong Shik...Chairman Seo had it coming for what he nurtured all this time and even more when he did not know at all what his son wanted all along all the while DongShik actually warned him but being the type to think he knows best and is right and in control treated it as a unimportanat matter rather than the threat that it was while sealing his fate...On the other spectre we have DS family with a father than loves and never stopes believing in his son's inocence asking us what would have been In Woo's fate if he was part of a loving family,would he become the killer monster he is today or he could have lead a normal happy life with him actually forging bounds having the gene latent in him...I must say i love how the comedy and tension are interwined together making it such a fun watch adding as well with the BGM... Sad we didn't get a preview but i understand the reason and hope by Tuesday we'll get it

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Dong-shik is just so squishy!

I loved how Dong-shik's family and Chil-sung still believed in Dong-shik. Dong-shik's self-sacrificing nature and ridiculous generosity were his weaknesses at the start of the series, but now they're strengths. Those traits garnered the love and support of so many people during this dark period in his life.

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I actually didnt like this when it turned around the plot in the beginning, but ive come to like it more each episode again. Now Im intrigued seeing how dong shik tries to fix all of this, and its not even happening in all standard kdrama ways (I respect that, writers.)
Writing wise I think they should have made inwoo a bit more likeable than being a totally ununderstandable psychopath, would have given the drama more depth than just bad guy - good guy

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psychopaths are psychopaths because they're ununderstandable. and there is nothing to like about a serial killer no matter how likeable you make them.

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You know you're a loyal K-drama watcher when you know the prison/tofu connection without needing it explained to you.

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oh please do explain, I didn't get it.

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Giving tofu after the person gets out of prison is symbolic. Tofu is white, which symbolizes purity, a fresh new start. Tofu cannot be changed back into soybeans, so it represents a resolve not to return to previous bad behavior that got the person into prison. It's also a good nutritious source of protein to make up for a poor prison diet.

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Just watched episode 15. Fantastic !!!! Absolutely loved it.

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Watched episode 16. Perfect ending. I guess overall the drama was just awesome.

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