With only three weeks worth of episodes left, things have certainly started to take a darker turn. But that’s as it should be at this point in a drama and I have no doubt that when all is said and done, all will be as it should. There were certainly some moments in these episodes when my heart faltered, just a bit, as Dal Po struggled to find just how far he’s willing to go to have his revenge.
Picking up where we left off last time, Dal Po, Bum Jo, In Ha and Yoo Rae were all working together to uncover the true story of what happened with the bus driver who died after being fired over stealing 600 won. (Which is about $0.54.) We were left believing Song Cha Ok fabricated and dramatized the story for her own gain and it really looked as if she’d finally been caught in her lies. But, of course, In Ha had to uncover the one piece of evidence that proved her mother was actually innocent (at least in this case) and Dal Po is forced to make a moral decision that will inevitably set the tone for the rest of this drama. I was more than a bit worried when Dal Po told In Ha to keep the truth hidden. At that moment you could see the darkness in him, the potential he has to become every bit as obsessed with revenge as his brother, and honestly, it scared me. I was afraid Dal Po was going to give in to his deep-rooted desire for revenge and give up on being the good guy. But when the time came, he not only saw the error of his ways, he corrected them and I heaved a gigantic sigh of relief.
It’s in moments like these where you can really see why it’s so important for Dal Po to stay connected to his adopted family. It’s because of Choi Gong Pil and the upbringing he provided that Dal Po has a moral compass to guide him. Dal Po needs to understand and appreciate that. I mean, where would Dal Po be if he hadn’t been brought up as a member of the Choi family? There’s more he owes this family than just his life which, let’s face it, is enough to be indebted to them for the rest of forever. The good news is, Dal Po does understand this, or it’s something he quickly learns. Being faced with the decision to bury the truth and seek revenge regardless of the facts made him realize there’s always more than one side to every story. It’s his job, as a reporter, to decide which way he presents a story and whether he’s going to expose one side or both. Now that Dal Po has learned his lessons, he’s being forced to put what he’s learned into practice. I have every faith and confidence that he will bring those to justice who deserve to pay for their crimes. But it’s not going to be an easy road.
Sadly, Dal Po isn’t the only one being forced to walk a difficult road. Poor Bum Jo! Never in his life has he even entertained the possibility that his mother might be more than the sweet and innocent woman he’s always believed her to be. Now, all of a sudden, she’s presented as a cold, cruel and calculating businesswoman. It’s no wonder he tries to take all his frustration and anger out on Dal Po. He’s got to vent somewhere so why not blame it on the guy he sees as his fiercest competition. What Bum Jo doesn’t realize just yet is that Dal Po isn’t really his competitor so much as he is a friend. Sure, these two bicker and squabble over In Ha but they both know where they stand with her has nothing to do with being there for each other at exactly the right moments. I adored the scene with Bum Jo and Dal Po in the car, after Bum Jo was hit with the realization that his mother wasn’t who he’s always believed her to be. If those two didn’t hate each other so much, they’d have a seriously fantastic bromance and who doesn’t love that? As it is, these two still find ways to help each other out, despite their feud over In Ha and I’m happy for both of them. They each need a good friend to lean on when times are tough. I could see good things for them in the future, if they could just be satisfied with the decision In Ha has already made concerning them.
I’m happy to see neither In Ha nor Dal Po have come to the place where they start pushing each other away. Sure, they’ve had moments when they had to walk away from each other but it’s not been forced. Instead, each one knows what the other is dealing with and they share a mutual respect for that decision. That’s what makes this forced separation so bearable. Both Dal Po and In Ha are giving space to the other without trying to cut off ties completely and I like that. I like that they’re able to support and help each other while still maintaining a reasonable distance. Of course I also like the fact that though they’re apart, they’re not really apart. Both In Ha and Dal Po have made it so painfully obvious that they’re still as much in love as they ever were. I love that more than anything. Between Dal Po’s dream that wasn’t a dream and In Ha’s stealing a button off Dal Po’s forgotten shirt, to make herself a new necklace, my heart was feeling all kinds of warm-fuzzies. Not gonna lie, the sappy side of me loves the way this love story is woven into a deeper plot.
Speaking of which, I wasn’t expecting Bum Jo’s mother and Song Cha Ok to be in cahoots any more than I was expecting them to have some bigger part in the disaster that ruined Dal Po’s life thirteen years ago. It’s beginning to look like Bum Jo’s mom has a much darker side than just a businesswoman out to make a profit and I’m not sure he nor I are ready to deal with that. Just how much power does this woman have that she’s able to buy off reporters and manipulate the news of an entire country? Talk about scary! Not too surprising is the fact that Song Cha Ok is beginning to be painted as the victim, or at least as a well-paid puppet of Park Ro Sa (Bum Jo’s mom). It seems to me Cha Ok is going to end up being just a pawn in a bigger game and I’m not so sure how I feel about that. She’s such a horrible person, I’m not ready to see her in a more positive light. I suppose this is how Dal Po felt as he was forced to accept the truth that Cha Ok was right about the bus driver’s suicide. It’s not a pleasant feeling but what can you do? Sometimes the truth is even more painful than a lie.
So where does this leave things for these characters? I know things are looking pretty grim for An Chan Soo but I’m choosing to believe Dal Po, In Ha, Yoo Rae and Bum Jo will work together to bring the truth to light and save their friend and his family. Things look pretty grim for Bum Jo as well, dealing with the truth about his mother’s dark side, but I have a feeling he’ll pull through and probably have a company to run the right way. Who knows? Maybe he’ll even have a spunky Yoo Rae around to cheer him up as they both wallow in the self-pity that will inevitably follow Dal Po and In Ha’s reunion. Of course all this is speculation but where’s the fun in writing a review if you can’t make a few predictions now and then?
Have any predictions you’d like to share, or anything else for that matter? Be sure to leave them in the comments below!
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