I’m back in business!! I think this episode was great, but not super epic. It seems to be setting the stage for the finale and is already tying up a few loose ends.

Happy ending, anyone?

Hyun inhales in shock as his past memory hits him, “Your pulse remains unbeating.” “Lee Hyun-sshi, you remember.”

At that moment, Hyun has a strange feeling. After many twists and turns, it still comes to this day. He once did an interview in the States, where he pointed out that the ‘definitive point in life’ as written in his book was told to him by a particular person. It was none other than Lee Joon Young, who told him back in jail that the definitive point in life moulds a person’s soul.

Hyun: I came back just to see you. Joon Ho: Hyun ah, I know.

 

-weird zoom-out here which makes it look like Hyun is smiling at Joon Ho-

Ji Ahn tries to talk her way out of the house by claiming that she’s waiting for Joon Ho. Min tells her Joon Ho will eventually find out what she has taken, “You seem to be fearless of getting injured or disappearing from the world.”

Hyun tells Joon Ho that he initially wanted to meet Joon Ho because he wanted to know why his father called him a monster. But now that puzzle has been solved. “Now I’m curious as to why you killed my father, why did you take away my brother Min, why did you turn him into a monster like you, WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM US?”

Joon Ho/Joon Young is disappointed and sad that Hyun seems to hate him now. From his perspective, he took Min away because Hyun was so young and Min was a monster, just like him. “Would you have been able to bear that child when you were so young?” If he hadn’t taken Min away, would Hyun have gotten to the stage where he is now?

Lots of Nature v Nurture kind of talk which I love! Also, I really think that this show is great at making us sympathise with the evil characters. As I’ve mentioned before, shows that explore the personalities of villains aren’t few. A few notable, mainstream ones I can think of at the top of my mind are Once Upon A Time and Pretty Little Liars. I think Once Upon A Time did a wonderful job but that show is a bit different from this one here. There, lots of backstories are created and revealed to show us how misunderstood villains can be or how they may actually not have been bad. Granted, it’s a fairytale world there and this is why Regina Mills does not need to die even after killing thousands of people. However, in this drama, there’s a tension between understanding or sympathising with the villains and remembering that they are evil after all. We see their backstory, and we realise they are just humans BUT we must remember that this doesn’t mean they should get away scot free. More on this later!

Min wants Ji Ahn to turn over the photos and tells her this is the one and only kind act he will be granting towards her. Ji Ahn, in return, requests for Min to help them catch Joon Young.

Joon Young knows that Hyun is just trying to prolong the meeting time so that somebody can escape from his house.

He turns to leave, but Hyun grabs his arm in a last-ditch attempt.

Joon Young turns around with scary eyes, “I don’t want to be disappointed in you any longer. Because I thought at least you understand.”

Hyun immediately calls Ji Ahn, who shows the call to Min. Min eventually lets her go, even telling her which exit will be better. Too many scary faces in this episode!!

[Please please, if you are reading this on Zk Pop once again, please come to the correct website. This is not written by Zk Pop.]

Ji Ahn exits the house and meets Hyun, who like me, asks her why she’s so rash. She explains that she took the photos because the room was dark and she couldn’t take any photographs.

I know that this might not be a popular opinion, but I am irritated with Ji Ahn for putting herself in that sort of danger. I guess as from a third-person/plot device point of view, we do need this sort of increase in pace since it’s the second last episode. However, from a non-analytical, pure-emotions perspective, I think Ji Ahn is so rash! I feel like she sort of puts herself in danger because she has faith that no matter what happens, Hyun will save her.

Ji Ahn initially thinks that the photos of the children are of those whom Joon Young had killed, but after prompting by Hyun, she realises that they are photos of children whom Joon Young had ‘saved’. Ji Ahn’s character stands to remind us that even if Joon Young killed bad people like the parents of those children, he is ultimately a murderer still.

Hyun tells her that no matter what, she’s not to worry him like this again. Kya~

Min tells Joon Young about the taken photos but casually assure him that there’s nothing much Ji Ahn can find out from them. Joon Young happily tells Min that Hyun has remembered him, and Min replies, “I know that Hyung didn’t abandon me.”

Joon Young confesses that he didn’t plan to take Min at first, but after finding him in his car, he felt that this could be fate. I could tell what kind of child you are inside from one glance. 

He plants doubt in Min’s mind, “Look carefully at your brother’s expressions. Is he really happy after finding you? The things you have done, can your brother bear them? The future for the two of you, can it really be a happy ending?”

Min has no answer to that but knows for sure that there will be no happy ending between him and Joon Young.

Kang drowns his sorrow and guilt in soju and Myung Woo gets called along to console him haha. He eventually offers his arm for Kang to sob on. This bromance is quite funny, especially when Kang tells him that he has run away from home and needs a place to stay.

Hyun recalls his earlier conversation with Ji Ahn, who tells him that the twisted relationship between Min and Joon Young is stronger than they think. “I was kind of scared that he would harm me.” He remembers Joon Young’s words that some souls are just evil.

“No, I can take this, because you will change.”

He touches Min’s hair tenderly and leaves the room, not realising that Min is awake.

The next day, Hyun keeps up with his nagging hehe because Min is going to court. Min grumbles that he’s just like the old Hyun who followed behind him and Dad and nagged here and there. Hyun replies happily that the old Min also followed behind him and asked for help here and there.

Even though Min turns away and refuses Hyun’s help to tidy his tie, he relents and ahhhh this brotherly love moment is awesome. Look at him! He loves it that his brother is taking care of him awww.

Min smiles to himself after Hyun insists on fetching him to court. Hyun is even relieved that he doesn’t have to stand for too long in court and promises to fetch him after his hearing ends.

Ji Ahn returns to work but finds that everyone is evading her. She jokes that she must be too pretty, but pinpoints Kang to tell her the truth – the forensic reports are out and the body is confirmed to be her dad’s. Kang talks to her privately about his father’s involvement in making his father an accomplice.

“Even though I don’t know what I can do, what responsibilities I can take, I will try my very best to earn your forgiveness.”

Ji Ahn tells Hyun of the Chief Officer’s involvement and is angry because she now suspects everyone’s involvement with Joon Young. Hyun reminds her that she was a suspect initially too, to which she replies, “A complete mystery.”

Myung Woo airs his suspicion that the two are dating, and Ji Ahn leans in threateningly, “Don’t suspect people anyhow.” After she leaves, Hyun copies her. HAHA, it gives off that feel where the couple bullies someone together.

Ji Ahn puts up the photos of the young children and tells the team that the children are related to Joon Young, much to Eun Bok’s dismay.

Hyun picks up Min, and is introduced to his client, who was the victim’s boyfriend and has been cleared of the murder charge. Min intentionally calls a man standing in the near distance and introduces him as the victim’s uncle.

Hyun hacks into Myung Woo’s police-account right in front of him (this love-hate relationship is greaaat) and reads up on the case that Min just handled. He recalls that the uncle was wearing a ring with the same pattern as the necklace that the victim was wearing. The victim died from suffocation but there were signs of sexual assault.

Hyun is annoyed to find Joon Young in his house cooking, and Min comments that it seems like the morgue has very few bodies that day. They make it sound like a cafe or a business. During dinner, Hyun tells them about his observations – the uncle seemed to look at the boyfriend with guilt while the boyfriend was looking at the uncle with rage. The same pendant used on the ring and the necklace also symbolised that the uncle wanted to mark the victim as his own.

Min pushes for more observations and comments casually that the two men must be together now doing something. Hyun immediately realises that there could be a murder and sets Myung Woo on the case, but it is too late – the boyfriend had already murdered the uncle, who was actually the one who killed the victim, in revenge.

Hyun is angry and asks the duo if this is the kind of conversation topics they had during dinners. I think he’s angry at himself, more than at Min, because he realises that this is the kind of environment Min was brought up in. The kind where they discuss impending murders with cold calculation and perhaps slight fascination.

Hyun leaves the house and Joon Young later finds him to pass him his father’s diary. He reads his father’s words and doubts about himself being a monster. “I can understand Dad slightly now.” Through flashbacks, we see the times when his dad thought he was a monster and when he was devastated that his father treated him as a monster above a family member.

But he won’t be like that. He will face Min head-on.

Myung Woo wonders if Hyun is prophetic because he has started predicting murders hahaha. Ji Ahn guesses that Kang has been hiding in the investigation room the whole day and sits down to have a talk with him, “Please work with us to catch Lee Joon Young.” Although she cannot forgive the Chief Officer, she wants Kang to work hard with them if he feels sorry towards her. In addition, she has better tell him the truth. The forensic officer Lee Joon Ho is Lee Joon Young.

Oops. I don’t know whether I should feel embarrassment or just plain shock on Kang’s behalf.

Hyun keeps reading the diary and finds a page torn out. On the next, it says, “The things that happened that day, was it an accident or was it done by Hyun?” Hyun receives a call from Ji Ahn and smiles. He finds her near his house and although she claims to have passed by his house on the way home, he points out that this isn’t the way home for her HEH.

She asks about the murder case which Hyun had predicted and he intentionally leaves his brother out of it. I feel a bit worried that this couple is ultimately separated by her occupation as a police officer and his love for Min.

They take a stroll and as their hands touch, he casually and smoothly takes her hand.

YEAH YEAH YEAH. They lament about how tiring their day was, just like a couple.

They laugh about how Kang has found Lee Joon Young right in front of Lee Joon Young, a fact which I find rather funny too. That dinner table scene? Best Awkward Moment ever.

Hyun is thankful that Ji Ahn has ‘dropped by’ his house and she smiles. For every one time she does that, he has to casually drop by her house ‘on his way home’ three times.

Min ponders over Joon Young’s words and looks so devoid of hope:( He passes a parcel that was delivered from the States to Hyun and it contains all the presents from Min. Hyun explains that he has never taken a look at any of the boxes because he didn’t know they were from Min. Hyun says softly that if he knew, he could have stopped Min. Min still doesn’t want to tell Hyun about the picture cards, but after taking a close look at them, Hyun has a slight recollection. It’s there but out of reach.

I’m SO interested to see how it all ties back together. How does Prosecutor Shin know about this too?

Min promises Hyun that he will never kill anyone else in the future, “As long as Hyung wants me to do that, I will follow.”

“This way…can we have a happy ending?”

Hyun is relieved, thankful, happy that Min said that, but at the same time, he quietly worries about Min’s past murders. So many emotions in just two faces.

Min’s eyes tear up, “I guess not.”

But Hyun reminds him that they should at least try. What a heartbreaking scene:( A happy ending that is so out of reach right now.

Joon Young has already heard from Eun Bok that Ji Ahn is trying to find the children of the past. Ji Ahn wonders if all the children would feel grateful towards Joon Young for saving them. Surely, there would be one who bears a grudge towards Joon Young for taking his or her family away. She settles on the photograph of a girl, leading us to think that that girl is the key.

Resourceful Friend finds details of Eun Bok’s past but Hyun is unable to meet him because he’s sending Min to work. Min tells him that he can take the train but Hyun assures him that as a consultant, there’s pretty much nothing to do. Min jokes, “Seems like I will have to support you next time.” Hehe.

Resourceful Friend is asked to pass the information to Myung Woo and they recognise each other from the previous incident. Myung Woo insists that the art director is a fraud and giggolo LOL. Friend spies Eun Bok and clutches to the envelope tightly, leading Eun Bok to realise something is wrong. Eun Bok steals the file later when no one notices and reads through the information in the toilet.

He accidentally drops a photograph of his young self, and the photo gets picked up by Seung Joo outside of the cubicle. Seung Joo knocks on the door a few times, but when the person inside does not open up, he recalls that this photo corresponds to one of those that Ji Ahn had. He quickly drops the photo and leaves the toilet, but is actually spying on who leaves the cubicle.

Myung Woo defends himself very loudly to Hyun that he did put the file on his table.

Eun Bok casually passes them the file, claiming that it was accidentally placed on his table. Seung Joo finds Ji Ahn and asks her about the Planning Officer. Learning that the officer probably died because she had the original fingerprints, Seung Joo suddenly remembers that he was tasked to find out all details of the external personnel a while ago and that Eun Bok knew about that. He refuses to tell Ji Ahn what he is thinking and instead, INSTEAD, calls Eun Bok up to the roof for a talk.

When Eun Bok pretends that he doesn’t know what Seung Joo is talking about, he pulls the gun out. NOOO. Seung Joo, you cannot die!!

Hyun returns from opening the envelope that has only a single sheet of background check inside and tells the team, “It’s Eun Bok. Lee Joon Young’s child.” He’s the one who killed the Planning Officer. Ji Ahn knows that Seung Joo and Eun Book are up on the roof and the team quickly runs up.

Seung Joo cries and wants his hyung to own up, but Eun Bok only inches closer and the two start fighting. Thankfully, the team runs up and stops the duo, but the gun gets kicked to Hyun’s feet.

Hyun picks up the gun and a whole set of recollections flood his mind.

A ring pierces his mind and a tear escapes.

Ji Ahn rushes up to catch Hyun, who faints in her arms/on the floor.

-the end-

Nooo. How can this be the second last episode already?

I’m just going to throw my guesses out there as to whether there will really be a happy ending. Well, for there to be one, Min will have to confess and then, go to jail for a while. Seeing as he’s a capable lawyer, he could possibly argue for lesser years than the norm. On the other hand, there were nine murders. NINE. I would say that the usual way out is to let Min die. That’s the normal method that scriptwriters use to deal with those ex-murderers. Either that, or amnesia.

However, isn’t it a little of a double standard that we wish for Min and Hyun to have a happy ending, but no one really cares about whether Joon Young gets his happy ending? Technically, he became like that because of his environment while Min started out evil already. Joon Young has kind intentions, but he has a mind that does not match with the frequency of this world. It’s as what Min has pointed out – it’s the result of an evil one doing a kind deed. I think this drama is great on its focus and comparison between the two ‘villains’ right now. They are so complex that I can’t just describe them in one sentence. They are categorised as villains because they murdered someone. But how about that added layer of…say, that Min only wants to stop killing people not because he thinks it’s wrong but because he knows his brother doesn’t want him to? Food for thought.

I also like it that the romance is just a side story but important nevertheless. We are given at most two or three romantic scenes an episode, but this is just enough to fuel the relationship (but maybe not enough to fuel us crazy fangirls??) Who smiled crazily to herself/himself when Hyun took Ji Ahn’s hand? I’m sure it’s not just me!

On the second last note, I think Park Bo Gum is an AMAZING actor. He impresses me every episode with the acting in his eyes and the way he can convey a combination of emotions within one scene. I’m very excited to watch his future projects, although I think I will have very high expectations and that can suck.

On the last note, I think Jdramas are still superior in terms of police/mystery dramas. I know/think that this isn’t the focus of I Remember You, since they never bothered hiding the fact that Joon Ho is Joon Young and Jung is Min, but watching this just reminds me of the good old mystery series where almost every revelation is mind-blowing (think Kindaichi, which has possibly ruined me for life because almost nothing shocks me now).

<3thoughtsramble