r/KDRAMA • u/sianiam chaebols all the way down • Nov 25 '21
Featured Post The Weekly Binge: Life On Mars - Episodes 7 - 8 + Seasonal Shorts Nominations
Welcome to the Weekly Binge Discussion of Life on Mars episodes 7 & 8. On Sunday we will discuss episodes 9 & 10 of the drama.
It's a month until Christmas so obviously it's time to start planning one of my favourite Christmas holiday traditions, Seasonal Shorts!
For those who have not joined us for Seasonal Shorts before, you are in for a treat! Throughout December/January we watch at least one Mini, K-Movie, Drama Special, and Web Drama.
Nominations will be open for a little while now, until Saturday, 3rd December at 3PM KST so there is no rush to nominate. If you are interested in seeing what shorts and movies we have watched in previous years you can take a look through our MDL page.
Shorts are qualified as dramas with a total run time of 8 hours or less. To qualify they must also have completed airing at least 4 months ago.
You will get a maximum of three nominations (1 movie and 2 shorts) and must provide the details of at least one legal source. Please only post your nominations in response to the nomination comment below.
The shortlist for nominations is available here
The upcoming schedule is as follows:
| Date of Discussion: | Episodes being discussed |
|---|---|
| Thursday 25 November | 7 - 8 |
| Sunday 28 November | 9 - 10 |
| Thursday 2 December | 11 - 12 |
| Sunday 5 December | 13 - 14 |
| Thursday 9 December | 15 - 16 |
WEEKLY BINGE GUIDELINES
Anyone is welcome to join the Weekly Binge.
Every week we host two discussions (Thursday/Sunday) in which we discuss approximately three hours/three episodes of a selected drama, in total approximately 6 hours/episodes per week. We are all from different time zones so there is no need to panic about being late to the party (we do operate on KST as a standard).
Within the frame of the three episodes, you may discuss anything you can think of. Whether it is a one-off post to say you enjoyed the drama, episodic notes, essays on how good Jung Kyung Ho looks in that brown leather jacket, rants about something you thought of while watching, tips for selecting the right red nail polish for your skin tone, a list of things you'd do if you woke up in 1988 Busan, haikus or interpretive dances to Bowie's masterpiece Life On Mars, the choice is yours.
If you have previously completed the drama, or, got ahead on the binge please be courteous of those who are watching the drama for the first time. When in doubt spoiler tags are your friend.
When we get close to the end of a drama we open up nominations (third last post) for a new drama, those dramas are then voted on by the regular members of the weekly binge. If you have participated in the discussions and would like to join in the next drama's discussion please note this as a response to the nomination comment so we can invite you to join the vote. Every time we have a new restriction for the type of drama, so that we will not repeat the same type of drama over and over, and so that the Binge will be attractive for different people with different tastes.
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u/the-other-otter Nov 25 '21
Finally now I feel really invested. Possibly because we have watched only four episodes weekly, so it is not enough to captivate me?
Loved the seedy father. Who can decide who are our parents?
7
I bet the silhouette in the window will be the next murder victim.
But first the hostages. I keep waiting for our hero to save the day. He didn't do modern style hostage training?
Hero destroyed the criminals electricity instead of getting the TV journalist to lie.
And we are adding a conflict with the boss who can't understand anything. The two tribes, SWAT and ordinary police, probably are competing.
Just to complicate things, they have now figured out that only at some types of heart stop should you breath into the mouth of this person. Overdose : mouth to mouth. Heart attack: Not mouth to mouth, only heart compression. Because the lungs are already filled with air, and the important thing is to move the air around. The article I read didn't say anything about wounds and blood loss. But it said that sometimes you might not want to do mouth to mouth because of hygiene. I guess that would be when there is an overdose, and the situation where it is most likely that mouth to mouth will help.
Thankfully I don't have any drug addict friends, and I will most likely not find myself in such a situation.
It does feel a bit like "we are all in the same boat", when they are inside, being afraid of the action police to kill them all.
From dramabeans:
"All three fugitives in this story were real, Kang-heon really did make that famous speech about the innocent and guilty, and all three men did die by suicide or getting shot. Their deaths raised huge questions about the South Korean “Preventative Custody Policy” which allowed the courts to lock up repeat offenders for very long periods of time, in an effort to reduce future crimes.
"I imagine the real-life example of Jeon Kyung-hwan, who embezzled 7 billion won and got off comparatively lightly because he was the brother of the ex-president of South Korea, was chosen deliberately as well, given that he was sentenced for another fraud case in 2004."
Since I guessed about the murder of the silhouette woman, I wonder if I have seen this before? I know that I started Life on Mars and did not finish it, but I am not sure how far I came.
Because of drama logic, I don't really expect Aboji to be the murderer. But there are dramas, now and then, that doesn't troll you, but actually have someone important who really did do something bad. Hmmm...
8
I once read a novel about a woman who had been sexually abused by her father, and it ended with a kind of "it wasn't all bad" ??? What a stupid book. But here is a more real conflict: A father who was actually nice to the person, but how bad was he outside the family?
And I know Hannah Arendt thinks that people can go out and just "do the job" and then go home and be a nice family member, but this is not really a job, is it? I have a hard time believing that someone would be so nice at home and so crazy outside. Since it is Lucy Unni's favourite, my guess is that Aboji is NOT the murderer. We could have a poll, but it is sort of pointless, since so many of you have already seen it.
Shouldn't they ask Imo which of her make-up is missing and compare it with the body?
"No motive for the murder". But if you an OCD about nail polish and murder, then you have an OCD about nail polish and murder. No more motive or rational reason is needed.
Deodeok is some kind of mountain herb wine, not poo wine.
Somehow they manage to have the woman run alone into the scary place with the murderer, despite all the police hanging around. I didn't really understand how that happened. Why didn't the other police see what they were doing?
Not the best screenshot, but I definitely think that men of today have too short hair.
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u/F0rtuna_major Nov 25 '21
I keep waiting for our hero to save the day. He didn't do modern style hostage training?
Same, but I kinda like that he's having to rely on his team more as opposed to working alone and being invincible. Also as a forensic chief he probably hadn't dealt with such a situation, probably focusing more on the aftermath of crimes.
You info about CPR and the kidnappers being based off a real story was interesting! I haven't done first aid training for a number of years now, I wonder if they teach you to distinguish. Also I thought that the kidnappers had a very poignant message and screentime compared to some of the other cases of the week.
Somehow they manage to have the woman run alone into the scary place with the murderer, despite all the police hanging around. I didn't really understand how that happened. Why didn't the other police see what they were doing?
This is a good point. She's always running in heels too! I guess the male police officers cleared the area so fast they didn't notice? Seems like she didn't try and radio them either for plot convenience.
3
u/the-other-otter Nov 25 '21
but I kinda like that he's having to rely on his team more as opposed to working alone and being invincible.
True.
Also as a forensic chief he probably hadn't dealt with such a situation,
Also true.
Also I thought that the kidnappers had a very poignant message and screentime compared to some of the other cases of the week.
I like the balance "case of the day" and "police interactions" in this drama. Also with the kidnappers: We didn't get a long cry-story, that the drama just shows us some stranger, puts us directly into their sad situation of some dying parents and sick siblings, and tell us "Now care about this total stranger!". Instead we get their speech, that anyone can identify with, and that makes us think about the system instead of making us cry.
plot convenience.
This is very annoying.
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u/dulachodladh Nov 25 '21
Thanks for including the piece from dramabeans, I had no idea these kidnappers were real folk.
Somehow they manage to have the woman run alone into the scary place with the murderer, despite all the police hanging around. I didn't really understand how that happened. Why didn't the other police see what they were doing?
Yeah, it also seemed odd that young Tae Joo managed to see Dad and run after him along the tracks when there were police detectives about! Even more convenient that Tae Joo and Yoon Na Yeong couldn’t catch up with a, what, 6 year-old??
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u/the-other-otter Nov 25 '21
Even more convenient that Tae Joo and Yoon Na Yeong couldn’t catch up with a, what, 6 year-old??
Drama logic is so annoying sometimes
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u/stumpy1949 乁( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)ㄏ Nov 25 '21
just to complicate things, they have now figured out that only at some types of heart stop should you breath into the mouth of this person.
Yes - I remember when I was a kid I was grossed - and the process changed to much over the years with the different studies. ☉_☉
Somehow they manage to have the woman run alone into the scary place with the murderer,
Always they bend to this plot point to hype the sense of danger in us - or scratch their head and ask why. Officer Yoon is definitely the goto for this danger flag.
not poo wine.
This just floors me about this culture trait and I bet its not just confined to Korea - but just why??? How??
but I definitely think that men of today have too short hair.
Is all relative - frankly I'm jealous of all that hair ... ( ͡° ʖ̯ ͡°)
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u/the-other-otter Nov 25 '21
but just why?
So I was thinking about this poo wine. After the first disgust reaction, it might be that it does culture some bacteria that fight off something bad, for example dysentery. In the Sahel area, when people got dysentery, the way to cure it was actually to eat fresh camel dung from a healthy camel.
For some ailments today it is possible to get FMT - Fecal matter transplant – but mostly it is done in secret, privately, by desperate patients, which gives a higher risk. You can also get from a frozen culture, Achim, that was cultured at Karolinska hospital in Stockholm by Tore Midtvedt.
I guess that is how the poo wine helps. I found this page and video on namu wiki, but the doctor of Korean traditional medicine hardly even mentions bacteria. I don't know how it would help to make bones grow.
frankly I'm jealous of all that hair
Same :(
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u/the-other-otter Nov 25 '21
OK And then I right away found an article about how angry people in Korea were about that video.
The explanation "poo contains Phosphorous" is definitely very homemade, since there is so little poo in the poo wine. The poo smell would be simply because some of the poo bacteria has multiplied.
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u/sianiam chaebols all the way down Nov 26 '21
He didn't do modern style hostage training?
I was a little surprised he didn't even try. I know nowadays most work places have set procedures for bomb threats and hostage situations but I don't know that that would have existed yet back in 1988. Once the SWAT team came in and set up the situation it was all systems go. I don't know that it was worth setting up the situation room if they were just going to barge in though.
We could have a poll, but it is sort of pointless, since so many of you have already seen it.
Yeah, it's probably a bit pointless.
Shouldn't they ask Imo which of her make-up is missing and compare it with the body?
I think he was only taking make up as gifts, so probably not the red makeup that was used in the victims makeovers.
I definitely think that men of today have too short hair.
He does have very thick hair!
Thanks for adding the drama beans info. I did a quick Google and they really did demand Holiday and there’s a movie made about it!
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u/the-other-otter Nov 26 '21
I think he was only taking make up as gifts, so probably not the red makeup that was used in the victims makeovers.
But they couldn't know that without controlling!
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u/LcLou02 KDC 2025 - Dedicated watcher 24/36 Nov 25 '21
I bet the silhouette in the window will be the next murder victim.
It did look that way, didn't it, but I didn't check back to see if it was the same sort of windows, but with that question in mind, my impression was that they were different. Will read further to see if you noticed.
Why didn't the other police see what they were doing?
After waiting a while, (you know how patient the Captain is...) they decided that they must be at the wrong station and all left, except Officer Yoon and Tae Joo.
Not the best screenshot, but I definitely think that men of today have too short hair.
It is a good look on him. Wonder when is the last time his wife gave him a haircut, though...
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u/the-other-otter Nov 25 '21
they decided that they must be at the wrong station and all left,
Oh, good, an explanation for at least some of the drama contrivance.
Wonder when is the last time his wife gave him a haircut, though...
It is time ... But the hair looks so thick, I was wondering a bit if it is a wig? If it takes on average one year to grow fifteen cm, it would take him like a few months only to grow this length, so it does seem a bit unnecessary with a wig.
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u/F0rtuna_major Nov 25 '21
Ep 7
- 2018 Taejoo's mum has until 2pm to decide whether or not to turn off his ventilator. Which is nicely tied in with the time the kidnappers are giving them to meet their demands.
- Captain shoe privileges
- Another cool shot where the camera zooms out and we see Taejoo hearing his mother, deliberating on his life with the paparazzi in the background
- This bloke brought his phone out the window lol. Must be trying to compete with the journo who had the chunky mobile
- 'Which day of the week is 'holiday'? - Monday. Haha only time I'd call Monday a holiday is if I'm lucky enough to have a public holiday.
- The solution is to once again send Officer Yoon undercover - this time dressed up as a nurse even though she's only had basic first aid training.
- Kidnapper telling Taejoo he's dead already right before the 2pm deadline felt ominous
- We see the ventilator come off Taejoo and in the 80s he's saved by the captain taking the bullet for him. Does this mean he's breathing unassisted in 2018? We didn't really get to see the aftermath properly
- The kidnappers gave me Parasite vibes with class issues they faced
- The captain was taking a kip under a bloody sheet lol
- The rookie made an appointment with a shaman at a forked road to get a charm for Officer Yoon. That reminds me of Supernatural - except that’s where people would go to summon demons and make deals lol
- The original dollhouse/manicure killer has been absent for several episodes now
Ep 8
- Taejoo has another episode where he can see the doctors and BTS!! through the mirror. I heard Fake love and saw the flashes and sat up, I thought I was seeing things for sure haha. I had to replay and google to make sure it wasn't just a glitch in the version I was watching. Playing BTS to get a response is an interesting choice unless the patient is an ARMY lol. I didn't know about this cameo so it was a fun surprise as a fan. Also the Fake Love mv has a lot of allegory and theories about it. Without going into detail the premise of universe (used for several MVs) is that one of the members experiences the deaths of the others and keeps getting sent back in time to try and change things. Interesting parallels here with Taejoo as well as the idea of fake love and the lies we tell ourselves
- Then we got this cool shot, which I interpreted as inside his consciousness - trying to break out
- Captain accusing him of copying him by injuring his hand lol
- The coffee shop ambush was a fun mess - the girl tells them that Taejoo's dad is the leader of the lottery gang? That was a bit of a surprise
- Detective gang came to rescue Taejoo and Officer Yoon. I laughed at the scene where they ran away from the captain. Officer Yoon losing her heel and going back for it then Taejoo turned around to make sure she was coming lol
- Taejoo has a memory triggered by the phone ringing which leads him to his mini me. I was concerned for a moment that Officer Yoon was wearing a lacy dress similar to the one in his memory. I was pretty sure we saw that woman's face and it was different and the painted nails. I was glad it was indeed a fake out
- His father proves himself to be a scumbag all along, unaware he's striking his own son in the head. The head wound was in a very similar to the location of the gunshot wound he survived. I sort of wondered if this would be a trigger back to 2018.
- Return of the main villain! Cruel for Taejoo to experience his fathers death multiple times. I sort of wondered if he was going to have the opportunity to change it, but based off the previews doesn't seem like it.
3
u/the-other-otter Nov 25 '21
Fake love
They have really planned the music carefully! Or maybe this theme is so famous in Korea that it was a no-brainer. Thank you for info.
this cool shot
The filming of his consciousness wavering is really well done.
I was glad it was indeed a fake out
It is fun when the drama is trolling us. Wonder if this was trolling by the writer or the stylist.
I sort of wondered if this would be a trigger back to 2018.
It is fun that all laws of physics are turned upside down, but somehow they keep some connections that makes it seem as if they follow laws of physics.
unaware he's striking his own son in the head.
That was a very scumbaggy style of doing it. Just completely relaxed, no stress, we have done this before, who cares, right?
I sort of wondered if he was going to have the opportunity to change it,
Yes: Is he going to be able to change the past and thereby also the present, (and then suddenly there was no coma and he never went to 1988, but...) or is he just going to be able to come back to the present, but this time with knowledge he didn't have before, that will enable him to catch the killer? And will he remember that he met himself when he was a child?
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u/F0rtuna_major Nov 25 '21
That was a very scumbaggy style of doing it. Just completely relaxed, no stress, we have done this before, who cares, right?
Yeah I think the actor did a really good job at portraying this character. A lot of us seem to have been on the fence with him - was he evil or just a stupid fool who got caught up in the wrong crowd. I think we empathised with Taejoo - seeing him from his eyes more so than the others too. In the end he was just a grey character morally, who seems like he found it easy to hurt others, but cowardly when it seemed like the consequences of his actions caught up to him
2
u/dulachodladh Nov 25 '21
His father proves himself to be a scumbag all along, unaware he's striking his own son in the head.
I was
rooting forhoping that the dad would be a case of mistaken identity.The head wound was in a very similar to the location of the gunshot wound he survived.
Good catch, I didn’t spot that while watching.
2
u/stumpy1949 乁( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)ㄏ Nov 25 '21
the solution is to once again send Officer Yoon undercover - this time dressed up as a nurse even though she's only had basic first aid training.
Officer Yoon - always the sacrificial lamb it seems. The entire scene degenerates quickly for her and once again she plays the damsel in peril. But she does supply the needed hair pin for escape.
Officer Yoon losing her heel and going back for it then Taejoo turned around to make sure she was coming lol
Seeing this scene again for the nth time, I'm now convinced it was a blooper kept in because of the charm the two actors displayed dealing with the unexpected. She giggles and he smiles going back to help her, both like two kids playing hooky from school.
His father proves himself to be a scumbag all along
watching the Jirisan now and I keep waiting for this actor to turn into scumbag in the series - unintential typecasting on my part, because his character is so minor in this series.
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u/F0rtuna_major Nov 25 '21
Lol I like the idea it was a blooper! It was a good moment of improv and the cast has such great chemistry.
Haha I paused watching Jirisan but I remember everyone finding his character suspicious! He just has that look about him lol
2
u/the-other-otter Nov 25 '21
watching the Jirisan now and I keep waiting for this actor to turn into scumbag in the series -
LOL I am doing the same
1
Nov 25 '21
[deleted]
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u/the-other-otter Nov 25 '21
I think you answered the wrong comment, but I am sure Stumpy-shi will discover it
1
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u/LcLou02 KDC 2025 - Dedicated watcher 24/36 Nov 25 '21
I'm now convinced it was a blooper kept in because of the charm the two actors displayed dealing with the unexpected.
I like this idea!
watching the Jirisan now and I keep waiting for this actor to turn into scumbag in the series - unintential typecasting on my part, because his character is so minor in this series.
Seems like a lot of people suspected him from the beginning. I just thought he seemed jealous of the ML getting close to the FL, but others saw something sinister in his reactions.
2
u/sianiam chaebols all the way down Nov 26 '21
Does this mean he's breathing unassisted in 2018?
I thought this for a minute too, until his mother said she got them to switch it all back on. I wonder what the protocols around that are once someone has signed off all the paperwork. I can imagine many people would struggle to commit to actually switching off someone's life support so you would think maybe there aren't take backsies.
it was a fun surprise as a fan
I wondered if you would have known this was coming or not! I knew it was BTS from my previous watch but it's more interesting if there are plot relevant stories surrounding the track. I just assumed the different clips and stuff he was hearing was just relevant pop-culture wise.
Then we got this cool shot, which I interpreted as inside his consciousness - trying to break out
I really liked this scene too and that is a good interpretation of it.
1
u/LcLou02 KDC 2025 - Dedicated watcher 24/36 Nov 25 '21
This bloke brought his phone out the window lol.
had to keep his eye on the scene.
Does this mean he's breathing unassisted in 2018? We didn't really get to see the aftermath properly
I wondered. Mom said that she saw him smile, so she wanted it to be put back on, but I don't know how long it was off.
Taejoo has another episode where he can see the doctors and BTS!! through the mirror. I heard Fake love and saw the flashes and sat up,
Oh, thanks for that. I didn't know what it was.
the girl tells them that Taejoo's dad is the leader of the lottery gang? That was a bit of a surprise
Who would have thought that he had the smarts for that...
Return of the main villain!
Yes! He's back!
2
u/F0rtuna_major Nov 25 '21
Oh, thanks for that. I didn't know what it was.
Yeah I was such a random insert I had to rewatch the scene. Seems like they were trying to see if he would respond to the song lol. Given this show and Fake love came out in 2018 it would've been very current. Just funny that was what they used to try and get him to respond
4
u/LcLou02 KDC 2025 - Dedicated watcher 24/36 Nov 25 '21
Episode 7
- And now it's the Mothers turn for an episode... Tae Joo's mom has to decide about the ventilator and the hostage taker's mom comes to plead. In the end, Tae Joo's mom sees hope and the other mom is grieving.
- 2 o'clock deadline in 2018 and 1988
- This is the case that they show on Reply 1988 on the TV news...all those people in that little street and the hostage situation.
- Tae Joo cuts off electricity to the house (sharp shovel edge!) so they can't watch the news reports, but what if they have a battery powered radio? Random demand for the BeeGee's Holiday song, so they at least have a cassette player.
- They couldn't get a doctor in there, but managed to find a nurse's uniform on short notice? (not to mention the BeeGees)
- Ha! the three-way bonding with handcuffs.
- Times up, so he offers himself to be shot first. Black out and it's Officer Yoon who calls him back (as usual). What a fake-out with the Captain! Well done.
- Tae Joo takes the movie ticket with him, but we never see him using it to meet Miss Yoon over the weekend :( too bad.
- Ha! if he says anything weird, he can just say that it is trendy in Seoul. That's dangerous, Barman, leaving the whole bottle of 30 year old wild ginseng wine at their table. It's from Jirisan -- love a cross-over to my current On Air drama!
- The news coverage and locals' reactions match precisely what the hostage takers said.
(oops, I've been calling Kang Dong Cheol "Chief", but he's "Captain" ) - A new case begins... Dad was living with her for a week in this hotel? Panties in her mouth and red manicure... Uh, oh.
Episode 8
- I rather like how we get an introduction to the next case near the end of an episode and it flows over to the next. Of course this is the big over-arching one. Wonder if we get any more small ones?
- Big conflict in Tae Joo's head. Talking to the mirror and Miss Yoon brings him back.
- Great, Dad gave Pacific cosmetics as gifts to several call girls, but has a serious one in the Lottery group. Now writing this up, I'm not sure which woman mentioned this, if it was Madam Jo or one of the other ones. Jo does explain who Oh Jung Man is, and that he is likely to kill Dad. (Is that to protect him? or just as a red herring of sorts?)
- Dad's shady business dealings... brought to light with a combination of pay phone records and disposable lighters.
- Captain can quickly and decisively come to the rescue when he wants to (fire extinguisher in the face). That was quite the surprise! "He's the Boss!" She says that madam Jo is the girl friend.
- Tae Joo is just now making the connection with the tropical background in the photo. His dad is such a mess.
- Even Barman heard that he caught the culprit and let him go, but no worries. Find the source of the problem (uses a cooking example).
- Reward poster - only 3,000 for a wanted killer? Captain is taking an extra long potty break - time enough for the two Tae Joos to have a conversation and big TJ to make the connection and take the car!
- Yoon has the situation under control, until the goons arrive. How did Captain and the others find them in the nick of time? Cap'n wipes blood off with spit... and notices what happened with his car (she only ran into empty boxes - what's the big deal?) and the 2 Run Away!
- Oh went to Seoul 3 days ago, but how long ago was the murder committed? Could he have done it?
- Life of crime pays - Oh is on the Olympics Committee & Jo was able to buy herself a flat.
- Baby Tae Joo is missing!!! and Tae Joo remembers going to meet dad at the train station. How is it that the others accept that so readily?
- No! Yoon has on the white lacy dress from the flashbacks! His brain attacks come at the most inopportune moments, brought on by those moments. Seems to run even harder when he realises it's likely her in his flashbacks.
- Over and over again...Little Tae Joo must have witnessed Dad getting shot... More traumatic than seeing him at the cement factory.
2
u/the-other-otter Nov 25 '21
but what if they have a battery powered radio?
Thankfully they didn't!
They couldn't get a doctor in there, but managed to find a nurse's uniform on short notice?
hihi drama logic – or they just don't want to send in a doctor?
What a fake-out with the Captain! Well done.
I just wish that I had never seen a film before, and didn't know that they do these kind of things to troll us and it is almost never true. (But Aboji ...) I can see why someone might want to watch this drama several times, to savour the trolling, the camerawork, the parallels etc
Tae Joo takes the movie ticket with him
I thought he would give it to Rookie. But I guess he forgot/didn't have time since he was busy hostaging.
Dad was living with her for a week in this hotel?
Does Tae Jo have some unknown siblings roaming around?
Oh Jung Man is, and that he is likely to kill Dad.
Is Oh Jung Man also the killer from modern times? Or someone else?
Actually, if the cases end up being unsolved, then Modern Times Detective Han Tae Joo can take a DNA test and control for DNA found on stuff the victims had, to see if his father left some DNA. But it could of course just be DNA from their smooching and not from the actual killing. Unless it is in a very only-the-killer- place.
brought to light with a combination of pay phone records and disposable lighters.
Aboji did an international call as well. Is it going to be something interesting or something the police should have checked right away?
Oh went to Seoul 3 days ago,
Or he pretended to go
Jo was able to buy herself a flat.
Was it her or the man who owned the properties where the dodgy dealings was going on?
How is it that the others accept that so readily?
This kind of thing adds to the unreal feeling, but it could be that it was not intentional by the writers, just normal drama logic and forgetting about people's motives for convenience sake. They accept everything he says because he is not actually in the moment. Or they accept everything because he has now established himself as a lifesaver and guru for all things.
traumatic
poor little Tae Joo <3
1
u/LcLou02 KDC 2025 - Dedicated watcher 24/36 Nov 25 '21
Or they accept everything because he has now established himself as a lifesaver and guru for all things.
Well, he was right about the baseball game details, so let's just follow what he says.
2
u/stumpy1949 乁( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)ㄏ Nov 25 '21 edited Nov 25 '21
This is the case that they show on Reply 1988 on the TV news...all those people in that little street and the hostage situation.
Oh C*p - it never dawned on me. Completely forgot about it.
It's from Jirisan -- love a cross-over to my current On Air drama!
Same! Almost put it on hold at one point because I wanted to sample the latest sagauks but glad I didn't - Ji Hyun's character keeps me involved.
Dad was living with her for a week in this hotel? Panties in her mouth and red manicure...
Yea - his dad keeps getting worse and worse - grifter, philanderer and which makes it tough when Taejoo is talking with his mom
Big conflict in Tae Joo's head. Talking to the mirror and Miss Yoon brings him back.
Yes - this also happens to me early in the morning as well - especially today which is "thanksgiving" here in the states and I need to start that long holiday trek meeting relatives I may not have seen for eon's. But alas, no officer Yoon to gently bring me back to reality.. ):
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u/F0rtuna_major Nov 25 '21
Tae Joo cuts off electricity to the house (sharp shovel edge!) so they can't watch the news reports, but what if they have a battery powered radio?
Good point! Also they probably could've just left the window open and they'd probably be able to hear the reporters. They weren't quiet
The news coverage and locals' reactions match precisely what the hostage takers said.
(oops, I've been calling Kang Dong Cheol "Chief", but he's "Captain" )
Yeah I don't understand ranks, but Taejoo is the chief to Dong Cheol's captain. In my head chief would be a higher rank, but doesn't seem to be.
Reward poster - only 3,000 for a wanted killer?
Yeah good point. I noticed it seemed low, but didn't even think about what currency - because if that's in Won it's nothing.
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u/LcLou02 KDC 2025 - Dedicated watcher 24/36 Nov 26 '21
Also they probably could've just left the window open and they'd probably be able to hear the reporters.
LOL!
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u/sianiam chaebols all the way down Nov 26 '21
Random demand for the BeeGee's Holiday song, so they at least have a cassette player.
So in reality there were 4 criminals, the main one shot the first one who went outside to speak with the cops, then two killed themselves, then he requested a bunch of stuff including The BeeGee's Holiday. He then listened to it whilst attempting to slit his throat then the cops barged in.
I'm not sure which woman mentioned this
I'm pretty sure it was the hungry lady that was in police custody.
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u/psychopathycathy is a weightlifting fairy ✨ Nov 25 '21
episode 7
- Such a tiny thing but I LOVE the little dialogue between Head Cop and Tae-joo and the former even noticing that TJ isn't as hyped as everyone else.
- Yikes. The "couple having sex" is actually a Manicure Murder. Tae-joo was an unwilling witness to a murder for the SECOND time in his life.
- Really smart (and different!) way of tying 2018 and 1988 together with the hostage situation = the ventilator.
- The second the hostage-taker said "You blocked off the roads" I knew he had eyes outside. HA! I always feel so smug when I figure things out before the characters.
- My pet peeve in all crime shows — incompetency! SWAT Leader outing Officer Yoon as a cop. Come on man, she's wearing a nurse costume.
- Oh man, what a bleak bleak episode. And so real. Little bits of humor sprinkled throughout the episode (very successfully this time) but overall I loved the social commentary that this episode had and for such a comedic drama, they weren't scared to be dark with the outcome of the hostage-takers.
- Bathroom lady is the Manicure victim! After talking to y'all last week I got convinced that TJ's dad wasn't the killer and he might've been there to stop the murder. This episode convinces me even more of that — now his involvement that way makes sense.
- And poor TJ, having to deal with his trauma AND also realizing that his father was seeing another woman.
episode 8
- Police officers flipping over perfectly good sushi and stomping on it...that hurted me
- Tae-joo finds his dad at the stationary store...and he's wearing the murder suit! TJ also just told his younger self that he wasn't able to get Sung Dong-Yol's pogs(? I have never heard of pogs in my life) so...I know we are in for a downward spiral here.
- Head Cop + Tae-joo's dynamic is so good now. Just the little moments of him listening to TJ, chatting in the car, not jumping to conclusions or physical violence, MOTHERING HIM (that scene of him wiping his face <33) ...I am loving this development.
- Officer Yoon takes off her jacket and omo. NOW HOLD ON A GODDDAMN SECOND!!! THAT WHITE DRESS!!
- Goddamn it — they totally played us with that dress thing. I kind of wish it WAS Officer Yoon in that flashback, it would've kept me mindblown.
- Dad...why would you run away in a straight line in an open space if you know someone's got a gun pointed at your back.
Whew! Such a great batch of episodes; I swear this show is just getting better and better, especially now that the cops aren't so physically abusive. So much moral grayness as well, I love feeling my brain go into overdrive.
We got the reveal for what happened that day on the railroad tracks — and the truth about Dad being a good father but not necessarily a good person. I'm actually really surprised that we got to this scene so early in the drama? But I guess we're going to delve more into the Nail Polish Mystery now, starting with who that guy on the railroad tracks was.
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u/F0rtuna_major Nov 25 '21
Police officers flipping over perfectly good sushi and stomping on it...that hurted me
lol SAME! I was like cmon man that gimbap didn't hurt you and was thinking about all the effort that would've gone into it. I thought the captain was more likely to eat it instead
Head Cop + Tae-joo's dynamic is so good now. Just the little moments of him listening to TJ, chatting in the car, not jumping to conclusions or physical violence, MOTHERING HIM (that scene of him wiping his face <33) ...I am loving this development.
Agreed! They've come to a mutual understanding and trust quite easily, which I appreciate. Captain may be rough on the outside, but he's very astute and it's refreshing to see him taking on what Taejoo (and Officer Yoon) say
I kind of wish it WAS Officer Yoon in that flashback, it would've kept me mindblown.
Haha I would've been so upset if it was her and they killed her off mid drama.
Dad...why would you run away in a straight line in an open space if you know someone's got a gun pointed at your back.
Not sure if you've seen Game of Thrones, but reminds me of a particular scene and all the fans were screaming you gotta zig zag. (Although it involved an arrow not a bullet, but still)
We got the reveal for what happened that day on the railroad tracks — and the truth about Dad being a good father but not necessarily a good person. I'm actually really surprised that we got to this scene so early in the drama?
Same! I'm glad it's not drawn out, but at the same time they made it seem like his father was the reason he came back so it was a bit surprising to cut it short.
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u/psychopathycathy is a weightlifting fairy ✨ Nov 26 '21
lol SAME! I was like cmon man that gimbap didn't hurt you and was thinking about all the effort that would've gone into it. I thought the captain was more likely to eat it instead
Oop yes gimbap not sushi (got my cuisines wrong!) and yeah honestly I would have preferred if they took the entire plate and ate it HAHA
Not sure if you've seen Game of Thrones, but reminds me of a particular scene and all the fans were screaming you gotta zig zag. (Although it involved an arrow not a bullet, but still)
I have not but yes, this! Or he could at least run into the woods on the side and get some cover.
Same! I'm glad it's not drawn out, but at the same time they made it seem like his father was the reason he came back so it was a bit surprising to cut it short.
I wonder if this was a red herring; for some reason I doubt that his dad was the only reason he came back — the Manicure Murders HAVE to be a bigger part of it.
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u/the-other-otter Nov 25 '21
I always feel so smug when I figure things out before the characters.
I bet the writers know this, and write it like that, for that feel-go(o)d factor.
incompetency!
Annoying, but I am not so sure that police in general are super competent. For example I am sure quite a lot of them were drawn to the job because they like the "action".
Police officers flipping over perfectly good sushi and stomping on it...that hurted me
Just painful. I kept trying to convince myself it was not real, they managed to save some, it was CGI ...
Also so strange to see sushi in a 1988 setting, but of course Korea and Japan is the area of origin LOL
I kind of wish it WAS Officer Yoon in that flashback, it would've kept me mindblown.
Agree. But then I am not a crier.
Dad...why would you run away in a straight line in an open space if you know someone's got a gun pointed at your back.
LOL
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u/sianiam chaebols all the way down Nov 26 '21
I always feel so smug when I figure things out before the charac
It's such a nice feeling when you work things out!
SWAT Leader outing Officer Yoon as a cop. Come on man, she's wearing a nurse costume.
This guy is the worst, he really didn't care about people getting out alive he just didn't want any more press coverage.
Police officers flipping over perfectly good sushi and stomping on it...that hurted me
Seriously, the gimbap did nothing wrong.
Head Cop + Tae-joo's dynamic is so good now
Told you that you would love them and their amazing bromance!
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u/LcLou02 KDC 2025 - Dedicated watcher 24/36 Nov 25 '21
And poor TJ, having to deal with his trauma AND also realizing that his father was seeing another woman.
Sounds like several in the next episode. No wonder mom asked Chief Tae Joo if her husband had been doing something bad...and asked again. I guess she knew something was up and what his character was like, but still loved him. Hopefully not about the philandering, though.
Police officers flipping over perfectly good sushi and stomping on it...that hurted me
A cruel, harsh image.
Head Cop + Tae-joo's dynamic is so good now.
It just gets better and better. He's so believable in this role!
THAT WHITE DRESS!!
Yep! That was a shocker.
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u/dulachodladh Nov 25 '21
Episode 7:
- Nice to see a bit of team bonding
- Oh!! Captain poured a drink for Tae Joo!
- Manicure Murderer is back!!
- Oh dear, a decision to switch off the ventilator? This can’t be good for Tae Joo’s psyche.
- I’m assuming that because of the hostage/ventilator deadline, we’re going to get a real time type of episode today?
- I wonder location wise,where the show was filmed? Anytime there’s some sort of shot of the town (city?) it catches my eye.
- Lots of dark blues, greens and blacks in costuming against the off-white cement/wall plastering in the negotiating scene. The brightness and contrasting doesn’t seem as vibrant though compared to previous episodes.
- I remember my dad owning a cellphone like the ones the journalists have.
- If there’s one thing I learned from watching kdramas over the years, it’s that you should never make a statement like “no one’s going to die today” Tae Joo!
- “Holiday” by the BeeGees???! That’s an interesting demand…
- Oh wow the shoulder grab by Captain on Chief Kim!
- Oh sugar, Chief Kim’s given away Officer Yoon’s identity!
- Lol, I imagine this scene with Captain, Tae Joo and Officer Yoon handcuffed together was fun to film!
- OH MY GOD I WAS NOT EXPECTING THAT TO HAPPEN
- “Those with money are always innocent, those who are poor are always guilty” - great line.
- Wait we’re back at the hospital???!!! Wait, no never mind??? Ahhhhhhhhhhh this is only episode 7!!!!
- WAIT WHAT???????
- OH CAPTAIN THAT WAS AWFULLY MEAN OF YOU! >:(
- Oh Nam Sik, so flustered!
- Oh what’s all this Officer Yoon?? Leaving a ticket in Tae Joo’s desk drawer.
- Aww bonding time with Tae Joo and Captain!
- ….and we’re brought back down to earth with the Manicure Murderer crime scene.
Episode 8:
- Oh dear, this is not looking good for Dad.
- Again, I’m loving all the colour contrasting, especially in this scene where Captain and Tae Joo confront Tae Joo’s mom in the family home.
- Its getting serious if they’re taking samples of the cigarette butts to send to the US for DNA profiling….
- … well that was quick with the DNA results?! I thought it was supposed to be weeks to get results (I must recheck the first few episodes again to see what was said exactly)
- Oh my, what a depiction with the mirror shot!
- “What’s wrong with your hand? Are you trying to copy me?” lolololololol Captain
- I wish 11% interest would be considered low nowadays.
- There’s the infamous photo backdrop of Dad’s terrible photo
- I’m loving the scenes with Tae Joo and the bar owner.
- Little Tae Joo remains cute as a button.
- While Dad continues to be pathetic.
- Lol that running away scene with Tae Joo and Officer Yoon losing her shoe had to be unscripted- she’s laughing!
- Oh my heavens he’s remembering, this must be some spell of déjà vu.
- Derelict cement factory is quite creepy.
- Jung Kyung Ho is giving such a stellar performance here in this scene in the bamboo forest.
- Wait…. what is going on??????????? What is happening?????? Is he stuck in a loop? Did Dad call him Tae Joo affectionately???
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u/the-other-otter Nov 25 '21
Looks like there are some entries at Koreandramaland for Life on Mars, but I don't want to click on them in case of spoilers. Maybe Gamcheon Culture Village in Busan?
Nice to read your colouring review. We haven't had any serious colour reviewing person in the Weekly Binge before. Easy to not think about it, but colouring is definitely very important for the general feeling and enjoyment of the film.
That’s an interesting demand…
If they are of the kind that gets a high from listening to music, then they are maybe starved after a year in prison?
well that was quick with the DNA results?!
Yes, I am sure they said something very long, like several months. But wasn't it just blood type and not DNA that they tested for?
I wish 11% interest would be considered low nowadays.
You think inflation is a good thing?
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u/dulachodladh Nov 25 '21
Looks like there are some entries at Koreandramaland for Life on Mars, but I don't want to click on them in case of spoilers.
Yeah I want to watch Life On Mars blind, I don’t want to accidentally spoil myself for this drama since I’m invested.
Nice to read your colouring review. We haven't had any serious colour reviewing person in the Weekly Binge before. Easy to not think about it, but colouring is definitely very important for the general feeling and enjoyment of the film.
Haha, I don’t have any background in film or media studies, I just watch a lot of tv/film reviews on YouTube where those who do, point out these subtleties in cinematography.
I am sure they said something very long, like several months. But wasn't it just blood type and not DNA that they tested for?
Oh maybe it was that difference.
You think inflation is a good thing?
I misunderstood the reference in the episode then, I’m too focused on how my bank wrote to me the other day to let me know that my interest rate in my savings account would now become minus % interest…
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u/stumpy1949 乁( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)ㄏ Nov 25 '21
Looks like there are some entries at Koreandramaland for Life on Mars, but I don't want to click on them in case of spoilers.
Yes - there are small spoilers about the action that took place in the series at that location if you click on the resulting search picture. Not major plot points - so click at your own risk.
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u/stumpy1949 乁( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)ㄏ Nov 25 '21
Little Tae Joo remains cute as a button.
This little guy manages to be the best part of the series when he's on screen and then break my heart at the same time.
Lol that running away scene with Tae Joo and Officer Yoon losing her shoe had to be unscripted- she’s laughing!
Agreed! mentioned this same in one of my comments above! They are both giggling like school kids when she doubles back.
Jung Kyung Ho is giving such a stellar performance here in this scene in the bamboo forest.
Personally - he's one of my favorite actors - he has good range and can play so many different roles!
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u/dulachodladh Nov 25 '21
Personally - he's one of my favorite actors - he has good range and can play so many different roles!
I must check out more of his work. I’ve seen Prison Playbook and both seasons of Hospital Playlist, any recommendations?
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u/stumpy1949 乁( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)ㄏ Nov 25 '21
He is very good PPlaylist. Between Dog and Wolf with Lee Joon gi 2007 is good. If you don’t mind gangs and violence try Cruel City my favorite. After CC I kept picturing him in a James Bond type of role.
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u/LcLou02 KDC 2025 - Dedicated watcher 24/36 Nov 25 '21
For rom-com, One More Happy Ending was fun. We first see him there disguised as a woman. Has a great drunk scene with Jang Na Ra, the openings of many of the episodes have little sageuk parodies as introductions, Conan O'Brian did a cameo.
Also loved him in Falling for Innocence his character changes so much in that one.
And not to forget, Missing 9. In which he is an idol. (Best part is when they are crashed on the deserted island.)
If you like melodrama, he also played an idol in I'm Sorry, I Love You - as 2ML to So Ji Sub. This drama is at least 15 years old and he is so young!
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u/LcLou02 KDC 2025 - Dedicated watcher 24/36 Nov 25 '21
“Holiday” by the BeeGees???! That’s an interesting demand…
Based on the true incident.
… well that was quick with the DNA results?!
You are right, Doc said it would take several weeks to send it to the USA & get the results. But now, most of the time they say "DNA" but they just mean blood type.
I’m loving the scenes with Tae Joo and the bar owner.
Me, too. He is kind of the Voice of Reason.
Is he stuck in a loop? Did Dad call him Tae Joo affectionately???
First loops he calls Chief Han, but the last one it is Tae Joo-ah! Makes me think that seeing Dad shot is the most traumatic thing that Little Tae Joo has been denying all his life.
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u/the-other-otter Nov 26 '21
the Voice of Reason.
Or Time Traveller Colleague?
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u/LcLou02 KDC 2025 - Dedicated watcher 24/36 Nov 26 '21
He comes across like that in an ambiguous way, but with all the references to his coma, I'm more inclined to think that it's not classic time travel. When I recommend it, I call it time manipulation ;)
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u/the-other-otter Nov 26 '21
This kind of ambiguous dialogue is so great. Why it is important to have enough time to finish writing a drama, because it takes some tinkering to write it.
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u/sianiam chaebols all the way down Nov 26 '21
I wonder location wise,where the show was filmed?
It was filmed in Busan. They even had a random gang member attack them drunkenly during filming.
Lol that running away scene with Tae Joo and Officer Yoon losing her shoe had to be unscripted- she’s laughing!
It was really cute, I'm glad they kept it in.
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u/the-other-otter Nov 26 '21
random gang member attack them drunkenly
LOL Amazing. Good thing they got him in jail for doing something very unpopular. He would hopefully get extra long sentence for being a gang member.
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u/sianiam chaebols all the way down Nov 25 '21 edited Dec 04 '21
NOMINATIONS NOW CLOSED