Kathryn_51

Thus far, I'm not getting much "comedy" out of this one. I finally gave up on Joseon "rom-coms" because although the rom was there with occasional funny moments, the violence/blood overtook the narrative. I fear the same here, but I'll watch until if/when that happens.

Yeah, but some of us are called misogynist for noticing these things - actual rape/sex w/out consent vs. attempt to kiss and backing off when consent is not given.

My list of bad continuity in this drama is very, very long but today - in what was supposed to be a touching scene with Jeong-won in her apartment, all I could think of was. . . . . what happened to the fish??

Just another example of the writer/director's "I don't give an ef about the story or the plot or the viewers; this is my little sandbox and I can erase the past whenever I wish."

I'm enjoying the roller coaster in the overall plot, but writer/director is overly fond of creating shock for the sake of shock than finding more creative ways of demonstrating manipulation and humiliation and for that reason, I'll be down-grading my rating.

The acting is incredible, but I think it's all a product of the actors themselves - I don't think the writer/director had anything to do with it.

So, desperation for power, money, status - we get that. We Get That It Is the overall theme but constantly hitting the viewer with a sledgehammer of shock while leaving ZERO humanity in the characters is not entertaining.

From the beginning, Yang-mi's hatred of Sang-ah was very clear and according to Yang-mi, it had existed for quite some time. So, for her to say that it was BTS all along doesn't make sense. But she's had the hots for him since Episode 2 and was upset that he never responded. Or, instead, responded in protective mode for Sang-ah, which made her jealous?

The facts as we know them would all point to Yang-mi's jealousy of Sang-ah's prior relationship with the Chairman - but the writer has never put those thoughts/words into Yang-mi's voice so viewer is left to go "huh???".

Predictions anyone?

Mine hasn't changed from the beginning: Bang Tae-seop and Sang-ah are still "partners" in the end. But I have a slight amendment - I think they are stuck with each other because BTS knows that Sang-ah was the one who initially stabbed Oh Gwang-jae. Just a crazy theory, but it fits with certain scenes.

Yang-mi loses her inheritance, but Madam Lee will return.

Jeong-won? I don't know but I kinda think she will try to divide and conquer (the main couple) but loses Sang-ah. Her future? - good, bad or dead, I don't care.

Kwon Jung-uk? His gay life is publicly revealed and his twin brother returns from wherever to take over WR group. Or, actually better theory: BTS threatens to reveal that he's gay (not to mention reveal all of the old files) and demands Kwon make him a VP of WR group.

Since the voice over says "What you are about to do is kill the dead a second time. But once you see this through, you'll rise to the top. . ." I thought it had something to do with Oh Gwang-jae. But that's primarily because I think Sang-ah was the first person to stab OGJ. However, as the above list demonstrates, the voice overs are frequently related to the scene we are watching.

There was a special provision in the Chairman's will and it said something like heirs would lose their inheritance if they leaked information that damaged the WR group. Because of the clause, Yang-mi backed off whatever her plans were against the Kwon son (I think? hard to keep all of the plots/counter-plots straight). Anyway that's what I was referring to -- it might still come into play assuming the Chairman soon dies.

At one time, I said that I hoped Yang-mi met her end at the end of the Doberman's mouth. 😂 But although she may not rule over WR group in the end, I'm hard-pressed to see how she can lose everything unless she loses the inheritance because she "leaks confidential info" to the media.

Such is life on MDL when a controversial drama airs. 😒😒

Time to revisit the 1st five minutes of the drama which appear to reflect the final climatic battles/breaking points and Bang Tae-seop’s betrayal of Sang-ah. The scenes are still to come but much of the dialogue was already heard in prior episodes. What does it all mean? I don’t know, but I smell a head fake. What writer would telegraph the final end (Tae-seop’s betrayal of Sang-ah) in the 1st few minutes of a drama??

Opening scene
It was a dark and stormy night. . . . . . . . 🤣🤣🤣
### Driving on a lonely road, Bang Tae-seop recalls various events and conversations...
. . . . .trying to kiss Sang-ah [Sang-ah’s voice over: “You just wanted to use me for your grand ambition.”] [Side note: this dialogue was actually in Ep. 4]
. . . . .Yang-mi squeezing his buttocks [Yang-mi: “Do you get it now? This is your last chance. You choose.” [Ep. 9 sneak peek]
### Jeong-won and Sang-ah in various micro scenes [Jeong-won: “Either you or me. . .if this goes any further, it won’t end with someone getting hurt”] (Ep. 9 preview)
### Sang-ah, on the floor sobbing [Bang Tae Seop voice: “I did everything I could to protect you, but maybe I chose the wrong way.”] (said in Ep. 6 and has nothing to do with her sobbing on the floor)
### Tae-seop at cemetery [Yang-mi: “Mr. Bang Tae Seop. What you’re about to do is kill the dead a second time. But once you see this through, you’ll rise all the way to the top, just like you wanted. But in return. . you’ll have to give up the one thing you value most. . . . . .Chu Sang Ah”]
### Sang-ah sitting in interrogation room, her hand, foot bruised, smoking a cigarette, blood stains(?) on clothes. (And as always, if it’s Sang-ah, is it a scene from a film? Fake injuries? Or, actual witness?) [Sang-ah: “Fine. Then I’ll be the one who dies.”]

Then BTS drives a stake into the ground (grave?).

I have a different take. She's trying to seduce him so that he will do what she wants. It's not "Ef me and I'll give you what you want" it's "Do what I want (presumably the grave yard scene) and then you will be at the top with me".

She's been offering herself to him all along and then gets upset when he's loyal to Sang-ah.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I checked into this because of Ji Ju-hoon (someone I know nothing about except I'm enjoying him right now in Climax) and the plot sounded intriguing. But a plot that doesn't tie up the loose ends isn't a plot - it's a shock-mobile. So, hard pass - thanks to your effort to warm other potential viewers. 😊

I'm not saying that BTS is gay (might be bi-sexual?), but it's clear - in Korean subtle nuanced speak, that Kwon is giving up major gay vibes (clothes, no children, the fingernails, etc). Did BTS already know this? Or. . . .did he somehow pick up on it during their first dinner? I will be VERY unhappy if we don't get an answer.

I would like to understand the significance of the diamond brooch that BTS gave to Kwon - to me it was giving off gay vibes.

According to Ju ji-hoon and Ha Ji-won, the "climax" (perhaps climatic scene???) is the last scene and it sounded as if they are both in it.

It's one reason I've believed that when we reach the finale of Bang Tae-seop's "fierce survival battle", Sang-ah will be there. Do they jump off a cliff together: off to jail at the same time? or sitting on the beach on a tropical island sipping cocktails plotting their next comeback (which would be anti-climatic, so probably not. 😊)

Sneak Peek for Episode 9 -

BTS, face bruised, walks up to the door and reminisces about the time he walked through the hotel door and filmed the Mayor. [He has no dialogue in this entire clip].
Yang-mi walks up and all dialogue is by her. “What are you doing if you don’t go in? You're thinking about where you went wrong right now. Don’t come in here then. Don’t use someone else’s dragon card [“credit card”]. Kwon Joong-ho? Don’t hold hands with that life.. . . . . .But Bang Tae-seop was wrong. Not there. The worst choice in your life [was] to marry “abstract Ah” [Sang-ah]. The best choice in my life was to marry Kwon Se-myung. Now do you understand? [She walks to the room door]. It’s your last chance. You choose.” She enters the room and tosses the room key to the hallway floor. BTS stares at the card.

THE END!!! Argghhhh.

https://x.com/Channel_ENA/status/2042392120615375076

The plot is still revolving around the man. Even the relationship with the two women is a sideshow intended to destroy the man. Many viewers came (and they are staying) because of Ji-won, but Ju Ji-hoon plays the main character and the story is about his rise and fall, the choices he has made and the consequences thereof.

Bang Tae-seop is the only character who is actually going through some character development - everyone else is static.

If I remember why I began this drama to begin with it's because Cha Joo young can chew up and spit out every single word - so I put it on my watchlist. I didn't expect character development, but I did expect a roller coaster of battles and a coherent story/plot that made sense in the end.

There have been too many unspoken actions/looks/stares that mean. . . . nothing, as far as I can tell. (those are the times when one needs a voice-over). Sang-ah going barefoot in many scenes - what does it mean?? To me, those barefoot scenes combined with other small tidbits might mean she is a drug addict. But nothing obvious, so I guess we will never know.

When asked in an interview when or how "THE" climax would be seen, Ji-hoon and Ji-won both said in unison "the last scene". So, just one more "shock" I guess??

Time to re-watch the intro - and I mean watch-every-second.

A woman in the spotlight.
Knife dripping with blood into a wine glass
A crown 주영훈 (Ju Ji Hoon)
A spinning wheel with people going up and down stairs [No name or text]
An Eye that blinks shut 하지원 (Ha Ji Won)
A rose that begins to burn 나나 (Nana)
A thorny bush that is electrified(?) 차주영 (Chae Joo Young)
A throne that cracks 오정세 (Oh Jung Se)

Maybe that woman-knife-blood dripping sequence means nothing but I still think it was Sang-ah that initially stabbed OKJ and he would have died even if Park and then the assassin never entered the room. And Bang Tae-seop knows it. 🤣🤣