Gap Dong Episode 18 - This Drama has Offically Jumped the Shark

So this show has jumped the shark, gone and hunted the shark, took pictures with the shark, and stuffed the shark, mounting it upon a wall.  That is how utterly incomprehensible this episode is.  And since it has not gone down in a humorous ball of flames, but rather a drizzly smoldering moldy mess, I will be adding some humor in through comics and meme's.  So at least there is something worth checking out in this recap.

Moo Yeom might have called the two Gap Dongs together, but it is definitely Tae Oh who is running the show.  He mocks both of them for wanting to use him, but when he gets down to the nitty gritty and asks who out of the two, can save his life?  It is Moo Yeom who is forced to back down.  That is something I have always had a problem with in regards to the whole serial killer consultant situation.  

How does this actually benefit Tae Oh at all?  It is not as if Moo Yeom can release him from jail (or maybe he can in this crazy story) since he is already a confessed murderer.  But at the same time, how is DGD (Detective Gap Dong) going to save his life either?  Probably Dr Oh could take the death penalty off the table by her "professional" diagnosis (imagine sarcasm wrapping itself around the word professional) but I could see her recanting her offer of help the second he actually did what she wanted.  So around and around we go, trying to figure out who Tae Oh is eventually going to side with.

"He's a cornered monster, so he will take big risks."  This was a reference about DGD made by Yang Chul Gon.  And yet, I don't see DGD taking big risks quiet yet.  Probably because of the simple minds of his foes.  It is obviously not a huge problem into tricking them with the multiple disorder theory, the simplicity of the therapists questions is somewhat maddening to this viewer (at least it was not Dr Maria, doing the testing).

Therapy 101 with Ma Ji Wool continues with the use of the block of wood which is now full of nails.  Tae Oh comments that he was not aware there was this much anger and need to kill within him.  Ji Wool starts taking out all the nails and shows him the block now full of holes.  "These are the scars you have made with your hate and your killing."  She questions if he feels shame?  He just walks away and says that it is time to stop.  

Hmmmm  I wonder if anyone told her that you can't just easily cure a psychopath.  Especially by trying to create emotions, that he does not have.  I would give her kudos for trying, if the whole idea was not so stupid.  It's like throwing a tiger and a gazelle into a pit together and telling the tiger to not eat the gazelle, have this lettuce instead.  I can guarantee that the gazelle is going to be dinner 10 out of 10 times.

Did anyone else feel that the whole courtroom conviction of Dr Han scene was one huge hot mess?  From what I have had to piece together, they have to convict Dr Han of being an accomplice in order to have the length of time needed to loophole through the statute of limitations law.  Seeing how they know he is innocent of the crime, how is this any different than faking a lab result to convict DGD.  One of them would have been a conviction based on a lie, and the other...........would have been a conviction based on a lie, oh crap, there is a flaw in their thinking (what a surprise).  

And while we are discussing things I have problems with in regards to this scene, let's just lay it all out.  One, they are obviously putting DGD on trial and not Dr Han.  Two, why would this trial be televised all over the city.  I am pretty sure that would be violating DGD's civil rights since he has not been convicted of any crimes and they have outed him on national TV.  Three, what the heck is the monk doing, letting poor impressionable mini orphan monks, watch a serial killer murder trial.  I am pretty sure that is how people like Tae Oh are made.  And lastly, the Jekyll and Hyde performance on the witness stand was so over the top (along with everyone's reactions) that it made me cringe.

After the courtroom debacle we flash to a room with Dr Maria and her mother sobbing.  Dr Maria holds a small bottle in her hands, and sobs out "Mother, what were you going to do with this?"  Her mother, also heavily sobbing, replies that she was going to kill him.  WHAT?  Now even the 3rd range characters are turning homicidal.  If I thought this was really how society was, I would opt to become a shut in, living out my years on Domino's pizza and ramyun.  Maybe the writers were not loved enough as children, and that is why they are insisting in turning every character into a murderer.

After much scientific study (or at least one test and a replay of the courtroom tape) all of the medical professionals pat themselves on the back and agree that DGD is indeed suffering from a multiple personality disorder.  Something that seems to relieve Dr Maria (I don't know why since that does not change her victim status. She was still almost killed by a serial killer whether he was truly a psychopath or just the persona of a psychopath).  All of her new found peace is destroyed only a few minutes later as she realizes that DGD made a blunder on the timeline in his performance, meaning that he does NOT have multiple personality disorder.   Maybe they should have taken more than an hour to diagnose, then they would not have set free a mass murderer out into the population AGAIN.

The two Gap Dongs start having a conversation via instant message.  Tae Oh wants to know the secret to his freedom (being free of the urge to kill) and in turn will let DGD know what the police have planned.  DGD just wants to leave the country before he is convicted of any crimes.  Their banter goes back and forth until they jointly get their killing urges triggered and start thinking of "completion".  Completion of their murderous rampages under the guise of poor mental health.  I am not sure if this was bad translating or just bad writing (putting my money on the latter), but it seems that they are saying if they do a huge murder in front of everyone, and are designated "mentally challenged" then they escape from a lot of their punishment.  But don't quote me on that since this segment, like a lot of others this episode, is slightly disjointed in content.

Just as Tae Oh gets the go ahead to go kill someone in a public place (in order to get a mentally imbalanced diagnosis and escape death row) in walks ditzy little victim Ji Wool.  Oblivious to the murderous undertones, she blankly goes about "fixing" Tae Oh via balloon and art therapy.  

He suggests leaving (and just takes off the anklet) and travels to the hair salon for a mid episode hairstyle change (Something that I can always get behind, even if it does not make any flipping sense).  The police are actually following the couple, watching and plotting, some type of sting.  Although why they need to do some type of sting on Tae Oh who is almost on death row is beyond me.

Ji Wool had convinced Moo Yeom that she needed to prove that Tae Oh could indeed change.  So she would take him out and give him the chance to make her the 9th victim (Did I miss one somewhere?  I was pretty sure we never got an 8th murder) and Moo Yeom agrees.  He simply tells her that she will need to take responsibility for the situation.  HUH?  So to ease some twits mind, you are going to let loose a serial killer into the population to do a psychological study?  You know in those romantic vampire stories, where the 400 year old vampire (who you would assume has a lot of wisdom and life experience) gives into the teenager who is throwing a temper tantrum to get her way (usually about doing something life threatening and stupid)?  Yup, I feel like I am trapped in that type of a story right now.  Just without the hottie vampire distracting me from the females stupidity.  It is no surprise to anyone, except maybe Ji Wool, when Tae Oh has her tied up to a tree, waiting for Dr Maria to arrive.  Although there is hope since Tae Oh is blowing up is anti murder balloon and seeming to still be undecided as to what he is actually going to do.  

DGD goes to kill Moo Yeom at the pool, but instead finds a unexpectedly buxom detective instead (seriously who swims laps in that sexpot swimsuit, it looks like the neanderthal is coming out in the writers yet again, when it comes to women characters).  Moo Yeom comes out behind DGD and sends the swimming detective (with her gun) out of the room.  Moo Yeom then goads DGD into attacking and stealing his gun.  The two fight off screen and the silence is broken with a gunshot.  THANK GOODNESS THIS EPISODE IS OVER!

I do not understand most of the reasoning behind the last twenty minutes of this episode.  Why would they ever chance Tae Oh killing anyone when they already have him dead to rights.  It just does not make sense.  Also, how cruel is it to purposefully tempt him (when you know he is actively struggling with this mental illness) and push his triggers just to prove a point.  I am kind of sick with the writers way of thinking.  I am blaming the writers since they are the ones who are coming up with all this ethically sick plots that are cruel to people with mental illnesses, women, and promoting a kind of stupid brand of justice.  I am so thankful that the drama ends next week.  I am not sure how much of this nonsense I can put up with before going bald from grabbing my hair in angst (the this show sucks angst, not the good kind of drama angst).  So be sure to join me for what I assume is going to be one flipping mess of a finale.  We can all get through this if we hold hands and finish together.

Til next week, 
Kmuse

Follow us on Facebook for info on all our newest recaps, posts and to join in our kdrama discussions. https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-crazy-ahjummas/336988683021748?fref=ts 

Gap Dong Episode 17 - Stupidity Abounds

I swear that from now on I am just going to keep my blogging mouth shut.  Every time I mention a concept that I don't like, whether I am serious or as a joke, the writers seem to take it as a challenge.  Remember last week how I mentioned that I am not a fan of the whole psychological/redemption mumbo jumbo?  Well I think the writers were offended and decided to force me to watch a whole episode filled with that concept.  We still have a week to go and I just want this show to be over, or maybe murdered in a huge mass suicide pact.  At least then it would have a happy ending.

Gap Dong Episode 16 - Intergations and Nunchucks

I just don't understand the theory "everyone can find redemption" ideal that seems to be prevalent in Korean dramas (or if it is not that, then they go the other direction that everyone related to you including your dog should die because of your sins concept) it is such a culture of extremes.  I don't know if it is because I am an American so have a cultural disconnect, or if I am maybe not empathetic enough, but in my opinion if someone killed 9 people then they need to be persecuted for it, end of discussion.  There is no trying to reason with them and make them reflect upon their sins before they are brought to justice.  No, you just arrest them (if you can) and they suffer for what they did.  I don't see the need for a heart to heart with the killers.  Why?  Is it going to change anything?  Get over yourself and just do your job.  I don't want a cop that wants to empathize with the criminals and I think this is one of the biggest problems I have with Moo Yeom as a character. Whether it is a pickpocket, or a serial killer, he wants to understand them and somehow fix them.  This is not a bad trait, per say, but when it comes to a crime thriller, I don't really want to deal with this.  I just want less chatting about life choices and more action.

Detective Gap Dong rejects Moo Yeom's suggestion that he turn himself in in order to be redeemed and free of the guilt (WOW, what a shocker), and is arrested.  When he protests that the statute of limitations has already passed (even if he was Gap Dong) they have no reason to hold him.  Moo Yeom replies that they are arresting him because he is a "menace to the public" instead.  Hmmm maybe my annoying neighbor who lives down the street and plays his music to loud is a serial killer and can be arrested as a "menace to the public".  Weak reasoning on the part of the cops with this one.

It's always the little things that seem to screw over the criminals.  In this case it is the double passports that DGD (Detective Gap Dong) possesses.   One of the loopholes to the statute of limitations is if the suspect had left the country for a certain number of days it is as if he was fleeing persecution.  Due to being a few days short, this originally did not relate to Detective Gap Dong, but the discovery of a 2nd passport under a different name, fixed that.  Or it would have, if they had not still been 8 days short.  So close, yet so far away from success.

"How can you work with the mentally ill, when you are ill yourself?"  Tae Oh says what we have all been wondering for weeks?  How is Dr Maria qualified to work with anyone (mentally ill or not) when she needs so much therapy herself.  Tae Oh questions her abilities when she gives him a diagnosis labeling him as normal (hmmmm even an unqualified blogger like myself would be wondering about that one).  He adds another layer of doubt when he questions her ability to see anything, especially when she thinks that the chief is Gap Dong.  After all, a killer can recognize another killer.  At least we can thank Dr Maria for bringing back the fight within Tae Oh.  Before this he had been timid and confused (which personally was annoying me) but it looks like badass khottie killer is back!  At least for now.

I really enjoyed the interrogation scene between DGD and Moo Yeom for the most part.  It was properly intense, valid questions were asked (although I notice that it was a lot of talking on Moo Yeom's part with only eye twitches from our killer), and proper procedure was being upheld (no beatings and or improper use of hammers involved).  But I should have known it was to good to last.  It was only a matter of time til Moo Yeom brought out the nunchucks.  HEHEHEHE  I swear he is like a magician that can magically make nunchucks appear at a moments notice.  He tells DGD that he should just finish things now and commit a 10th murder and go to jail.  Placing the nunchucks beside his hand, Moo Yeom taunts him trying to instigate an attack.  DGD just looks at him and pushes the nunchucks back, telling him to stop joking.

Tae Oh lures our ditzy teen, Ji Wool,  to meet with him.  Cranky and sick of dealing with his games, she puts on a tough facade and denies him his plea to help him emotionally.  At this point I am not sure if he was actually sincere in his request, or just using her to push buttons.  Either way he sure pushed Dr Maria's buttons, which resulted in her hurling death threats and practically frothing at the mouth with rage.  He correctly guesses that she must associate Ji Wool with her dead friend and continues to taunt til she storms out of his cell.  Yet another breech in ethics since I am pretty sure you are not supposed to threaten to murder your patients. 

She obviously has not calmed down when she begins her interrogation of DGD (is it normal to have victims be part of an investigation?  Especially when they are not part of the police department).  Instead of being able to get him to admit anything, she instead ends up looking like an emotionally crippled crazy girl.  I suspect I would feel a lot more for this scene if Dr Maria had not spent the last 16 episode driving me crazy with her stupid antics and overly large doe expressions.  Whatever the case, chalk one up for DGD, and sign up Dr Maria for some therapy sessions because one of the two obviously has some mental problems.... and I am not sure if it is the serial killer.

I am pretty sure that identification by touching one's hands is still not a legally accepted.  I can't believe that they are expecting us to buy into the idea that Crazy Dr Maria can remember exactly how the killers hands felt (especially when she could not remember his face) and then identify so said hands twenty years later.  I don't know about you, but my hands are a far cry from the way they were twenty years ago.  It is one of those things that changes with age.  But recognize him he does and then he taunts her asking "how did you win rock, paper, scissors?" with a smirk.  This sends the unstable ditz off her rocker again as she attempts to strangle him.  It is at this point that I am wishing that someone would just put this girl in a corner and give her a timeout.  Preferably for the last four episodes of the show.

But nope, instead of a time out, we have to suffer through her poor acting for a while longer.  Showing her adeptness at poor decision making skills, Dr Maria decides that it is the perfect time for to go back to work.  And in the non-sane state that she is in, she goes to visit Tae Oh, because that is just the smartest thing to do right now.  She tells him that she has the ability to get him out of this jail (Really?  You can turn back time from before he confessed to seven murders?) or put him on death row depending on what he does for her.  He asks what she wants and she replies that she wants him to rip out his hero's throat for her.  Is he going to spend all his day's as a pathetic copycat?  Again, if this character had not spent the last 16 episodes being so so so annoying I would have applauded this twist.  We get a tough killer Tae Oh back, and Dr Maria does something somewhat interesting.  However, since I have my "don't agree with anything this stupid girl does" rule in play, I have to suspect that somehow this is just going to turn into another annoying Dr Maria stunt.  To bad, since this is the first time I have found her interesting, in forever.

I have to admit that when Dr Han piped up that he was an accomplice in the 4th murder, I screamed at my TV.  WHAT THE HECK WRITERS!  Stop throwing in killers!  But the sacrificing of himself in order to keep DGD locked up was actually pretty smart.   By outing himself as an accomplice (there were two DNA samples found at the crime scene) he is able to keep the investigation going, where without his confession, DGD would have been released.  Add to that the fact that he had been out of the country for several years (which is added onto DGD's days out of country) and the statute of limitations law is revoked.    They can now officially arrest DGD.  Sorry writers for my wish that the kdrama gods would strike you down.  I rescind that wish.....at least for now.

Random Thoughts

My favorite line of the episode was when Moo Yeom said "I might have died if it was not for my nunchucks".  Oh writers, how you delight me with your nunchuck flavored wit.  Can I suggest that for your next project you do a drama about the love between a boy and his nunchucks?  I promise to tune in.

This concludes a solid episode for this un-solid drama.  I really enjoyed seeing how the writers were able to utilize the police procedures to actually be successful for once.  I have gotten so used to the cops being bumbling idiots, that it is almost a shock to see things going in their favor.  However with four episodes left and the penchant for these writers to take things in weird directions, I suspect we still have some killing left to do.  Because let's all admit that we kind of want to see Dr Maria killed off about now.

Kmuse

 Follow us on Facebook for info on all our newest recaps, posts and to join in our kdrama discussions. https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-crazy-ahjummas/336988683021748?fref=ts 

Gap Dong Episode 15 - Is a secret really a secret if everyone knows it?

It's times like this that I regret that I do not drink alcohol.  I suspect that being slightly buzzed would have improved thing considerably when watching this episode.  I just don't know what it is.  All the elements one needs for a top crime thriller are present.  Captivating characters......check, Intelligent well thought out murders....check  Good vs Evil.....Check   Super dynamic bad guys.......Check.  And yet when all the elements are combined, things are still just slightly off.  It is as if the drama is a waltz, the characters are trying to dance the waltz, but the music is reggae.  The beats just don't match and turn into a hot mess.

Gap Dong Episode 14 - The Killer was Detective Gap Dong in the Study with a Nunchuck

I can't believe it.  We had a well written, mostly well acted, and logical (except for the ending) episode that actually kept my interest for the whole hour.  Not only that but I am actually looking forward to what happens next week.  I would grade this episode around a B-, but considering we have had some real failing episodes lately, a B is nothing to scoff at.

At the end of episode 13 I actually made a checklist of some of the things I would like to see in upcoming episodes.  And surprisingly some of them actually got marked off (and at least one of them looks like it will be checked off in episode 15) so YAY for positive thinking, obviously the writers have been reading my blog.  Of course several of them were just dream segments, but I will take what I can get.  And kudos on the writers for realizing that you can use a dream segment for those more outlandish kdrama moments.  It makes your final product a lot more cohesive and realistic for us viewers.

SERIAL KILLER WEDDING...........CHECK

I don't know about you, but my fantasy wedding would not be in a mental institution.  But we get flashed to a scene where twit Ji Wool is walking down the isle on Tae Oh's arm, the institute fancied up via wedding motif.  All of the inmates are cheering and Dr Maria is staring in concern with her freakishly large eyes.  But luckily for us this is just a daydream.  For once Ji-Wool is actually being sensible.  She turns down Tae Oh and his mothers marriage offer, saying that when it comes to having sympathy for others they are the poorest of the poor and that she does not need their offer. Of course she ruins any points I awarded her when she has a meltdown in the middle of the precinct yelling at Moo Yeom for not loving her.  If my daughter was yelling that she only lived for a man (especially if she was not even dating so said man) I would Korean mother slap her so hard she would not be able to even think of men for a year.  This girl needs to set some priorities and watch less dramas since basing your self worth on a man nicknamed the Mad Monk is not a good life choice.

How long is that letter going to be hanging out with on the death board, next to the picture of the girl nicknamed "crybaby" and remain unnoticed?  Even Detective Gap Dong (He will now also be called DGD since writing that name out all the time is tiring) himself randomly stares at that spot, constantly missing the all important note..

Why are the dots not being connected in this Gap Dong puzzle?  Clues are starting to pop up left and right screaming the identity of Gap Dong and yet all of them are being tossed to the side.  For an inspector who literally was suspicious of everyone, I find it surprising that Moo Yeom refuses to even think that his hyung might be involved.  If Moo Yeom grew up with Detective Gap Dong being his hyung and role model, why would he not recognize the sketch of the younger him? They were already hanging out at that time learning nunchucks, so he should have remembered. He now has the identity of the body and proof that she liked Detective Gap Dong, and yet instead of suspicion he actually tells the victim's mother that DGD will be sure to catch the killer. 

The same can be said of Dr Maria, you have an aged sketch of the killer that looks A LOT like Detective Gap Dong.  Detective Gap Dong is mocking you by saying the same phrases he told you 20 years earlier.  Let's use our brains and make the logical hypothesis already.  I have to admit that I am very surprised that DGD is purposefully taunting the one person who could put him at the scene of the crime.  There is a good chance (especially with the intelligence level of Dr Maria) that she would never make the connections if he had just stayed out of her way.  But begins to make the connection she does, of course it would take a total complete idiot not to figure this one out since he is practically yelling his identity from the rooftops.  I guess he is feeling safe since the statute of limitations has lapsed.

That feeling of security leaves as he discovers that Moo Yeom has been lying to him.  Detective Gap Dong begins to wonder if he had somehow been discovered?  Had Moo Yeom cracked the case?  Nope, the problem was that the 8th victims mother had asked Moo Yeom to deliver the love letter to the person it was meant for (Does anyone else think that is a little weird to send a letter to your daughters one sided love when 20 years had passed?).  Thinking that this would cause his hyung distress, he had lingered over the delivery. Unfortunately for DGD, his reactions were just slightly off when he discovered what Moo Yeom had been hiding from him.  Add in the fact that Moo Yeom sees DGD destroying the letter afterwords has his cop radar pinging and all the clues finally connect into one big DGD picture..

MORE NUNCHUCKS.......Check

Our Mad Monk finally has figured out who Gap Dong is, and goes to confront him right away.........with his nunchucks.   Oh writers, you sure did not disappoint, your nunchuck fetish always gets a chuckle out of me.  He rushes DGD and we see blood spray across the desk, and then Moo Yeom wakes up.

I guess I have to commend the writers for keeping their crazy within the dreamscape, but it says something that we viewers are not instantly aware what is the fantasy and what is the reality.  But now the big picture starts to settle into focus.  He knows who Gap Dong is and has considered him a friend for the past twenty years.  There is not going to be any type of jail time for him, even if he does get enough evidence to prove that he is indeed Gap Dong.  So what is one to do when justice seems to have failed in punishing the murderer? Karma has obviously not been swift in this case.

But never fear, since in true Kdrama fashion, when there is not a real logical way to get a conviction, then make one up.  Moo Yeom sends the prosecutor a note asking for them to help make an exception to the statute of limitations.  Because if someone is evil enough, don't they deserve to go to prison and the heck with legality.

Random Thoughts.
How much time did Dr Maria spend pacing, fretting, and angsting over things in her trailer.  It got to be a little boring for us viewers.  Can't she drive to the river front to brood like every other kdrama character?  Although seeing the old picture of DGD and coming to the realization that her search for Gap Dong was over, was by far the best acting she has done in the whole drama.

I like how we see DGD facade begin to crack over the love letter.  His extreme anger and overreaction really painted a psycho bullseye on his head.  The first time seeing the scene (without the extension) I was wondering what had made Moo Yeom so certain that he was Gap Dong.  Seeing the extending scene I think we have our answer.  The guy is a tad bit crazy.

So sad the plot seems to be ditching Tae Oh, who is still languishing in his jail cell.  Every twenty minutes or so they will do a quick shot of him sitting there, sad that he is not still the main focus of the drama.  Poor Tae Oh.... We miss you too. (oh wait I wrote too soon)  

BAD ASS TAE OH IS OUT OF PRISON............CHECK!!!! 

It looks like Moo Yeom is slapping a locator anklet on our favorite hottie killer and taking him out to help in catching DGD.  Because nothing is smarter than leading a leashed wild lion to hunt another wild lion.  It is bound to work out. 

Oh! Did I forget to mention the episode left off with a chicken race?  WHY?  WHY?  They were doing so well in keeping the crazy to a minimum.  Guess we will have to see who wins, and what exactly the winner gets, in episode 15. 

Til then,
Kmuse

Follow us on Facebook for info on all our newest recaps, posts and to join in our kdrama discussions. https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-crazy-ahjummas/336988683021748?fref=ts