Welcome to the Open Thread, everyone! I had to have this handhold headline our post today, because Eeeeeee!!!! 😱😱🤩🤩😍😍🥰🥰❤️❤️

SOME IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS, before we begin:

ZERO SPOILER POLICY

1. We will be adopting a ZERO SPOILER POLICY for this Open Thread, except for events that have happened in the show, up to this point.

We don’t want to spoil anyone’s watch experience with spoilers. The spoiler tags don’t work in email notifications, therefore, please take note that WE WILL NOT BE USING SPOILER TAGS FOR THIS OPEN THREAD. ANY AND ALL SPOILERS WILL BE REDACTED to protect first-time viewers in our midst (although, I’d appreciate it if you would save me the trouble of having to redact spoilers, heh 😅).

This includes, but is not limited to, how characters &/or relationships develop, later in the show.

We need to protect the innocent! 😉

SPOILER ZONE

2. HOWEVER!! If you’d like to discuss spoilers from a rewatcher’s point of view, I’ve created a SPOILER ZONE for you, where you can discuss all the spoilers you’d like, without the need for spoiler warnings. You can find it here!

Without further ado, here are my reactions to this set of episodes; have fun in the Open Thread, everyone! ❤️

My thoughts

Episode 11

Ahhh. What an episode this turned out to be.

THIS is why you should space out your rewatches as much as possible, because then the details fade in your mind, and you get to experience it all for the first time again (sort of), and with the surprises and the feels hitting you with equal potency. Slurp. 😋

For a start, I am really quite surprised at the development at the top of the episode, where Jung Hoo agrees to show his face to Moon Ho, in exchange for information on that group photo.

I mean, it makes narrative sense, because I can believe that Jung Hoo is that invested in finding out the truth about the murder that his father allegedly committed.

While some might argue that Jung Hoo would have calculated that Moon Ho would extend some measure of trust towards him, based on the fact that he’s his father’s son, I actually think that Jung Hoo doesn’t actually count on anything, from Moon Ho.

As Jung Hoo expresses a little later in the episode, he doesn’t trust Moon Ho. Therefore, I think Jung Hoo reveals his identity, based purely on the exchange that Moon Ho proposes.

That, and that fact that Moon Ho’s kinda-sorta already on to him, given that he’d found the broken pieces of Young Shin’s ancient mobile, in Bong Soo’s coat pocket.

This episode, we keep seeing Moon Ho trying to be friendly and chummy with Jung Hoo, by bringing up past memories, and we see that in response, Jung Hoo keeps pushing Moon Ho away.

I can understand Moon Ho’s desire to reconnect, since, from the flashback, it does appear that young Moon Ho had been fond of both Ji An and Jung Hoo.

At the same time, I can understand why Jung Hoo would reject all of this, upfront.

I feel like this scorn that Jung Hoo expresses, comes partly from a sardonic “I don’t need this human connection bull” sort of place, and partly from a place of insecurity, where he doesn’t want to let on that he’s had such a lonely life, that there hadn’t been anyone to tell him the stories of his childhood.

Jung Hoo’s wounded and defensive on the emotional front, is what I’m trying to say, and I think that’s why he’s reacting this way to all of Moon Ho’s efforts to connect.

I have to admit, I am not pleased with the fact that Moon Ho lies to Jung Hoo about Ji An, right after they’ve made an agreement where he promises to tell Healer what he wants to know, in exchange for seeing Healer’s face.

However, I rationalize that the main thing that Jung Hoo wants to know, isn’t actually about Ji An, so Moon Ho kind of gets a sideways pass on that, since he does actually tell Jung Hoo about his father, as promised.

Also, what is this nugget of information, that Moon Sik had been the witness to that alleged murder that Jung Hoo’s father had committed? So.. if Jung Hoo’s father had been innocent, this means that Moon Sik had lied, as a so-called witness..?

I mean, I wouldn’t put it past Moon Sik, but it’s just really awful, because if this is true, then he’d framed his own friend, for murder. 😬

I’m mollified that Moon Ho does tell Jung Hoo about having tipped off the police as to Healer’s whereabouts. And, I appreciate that Moon Ho explains his actions, saying that he’s been betrayed multiple times, and therefore doesn’t trust people easily.

Ok, fine. I’ll buy it. Although, I have to admit that I’m with Jung Hoo in not trusting Moon Ho, just yet.

I did find it a little odd that Bong Soo acts so indifferently towards Young Shin at the office, but I rationalize that Moon Ho’s keeping Bong Soo away from Young Shin, because of that tip off that he’d given Detective Yoon.

Plus, there’s also the thing where Jung Hoo’s apparently decided that he won’t take things with Young Shin any further, until he’s sorted out this thing about his father. We don’t hear him talk about this with Ahjumma, though Ahjumma does make reference to it, this episode.

What we do get, though, is that conversation between Ahjumma and Jung Hoo, where he sits on the roof, and muses about how he’d like to tell Young Shin the truth about himself; that he’s a thief, and that he wants her to go away with him, to a faraway island.

His reason for wanting to clear his father’s name is so simple, really; that it’d just be too much, to tell Young Shin that he’s a thief, AND that his father was a murderer.

Heh. Healer’s way of thinking about things can be so straightforward and simple sometimes, that it kinda vibes childlike. It’s endearing.

That contented look on his face, as he talks about how he feels safe with Young Shin, is also very endearing. It’s quite lovely, really, to see that he’s so at peace with the idea of sharing his true self with Young Shin.

It’s also cute, that he knows Young Shin well enough, to be able to predict exactly how she’d react, when he does tell her the truth. I love the details that he describes; that she’ll hit him for a while, and then sing a strange song, and dance a ridiculous dance, and then she won’t be mad anymore.

Aw. That pretty much sums it up, honestly. I feel like Jung Hoo’s quite spot-on, in his analysis of Young Shin.

I’m somewhat nervous at how Detective Yoon’s snooping around Young Shin, and asking questions about Healer, and casually accusing Healer of murder as if it’s a confirmed fact, and not police conjecture.

However, I appreciate that Young Shin’s first instinct is to protect Healer, regardless of the fact that Detective Yoon finds those recording devices planted in Dad’s office, and regardless of the casual “murder facts” that Detective Yoon drops.

In fact, this doesn’t deter Young Shin at all, from the date on which she’s invited Healer via email, and OMIGOSH, this truly is THE highlight of the episode, for me.

I just love how both Jung Hoo and Young Shin aren’t at all dissuaded from that date, even though Ahjumma does her best to talk Jung Hoo out of it, and even though Detective Yoon unknowingly does his part too, by saying that Healer’s a murderer.

It’s so sweetly poignant, how Young Shin puts thought and care into dressing up, even though she has no idea whether Healer will actually show up, or whether he’s even going to see her.

Also sweetly poignant, is the way she takes herself on that date, walking in a park, and eating at a snack cart, and then going to the movie theater, as though Healer’s there with her.

She honestly has no idea, whether he’s in the vicinity, or whether he can see her. She’s going on this date in good faith alone, pretty much, and that good faith, in all of its vulnerability, is what makes this feel so touching, to my eyes.

And, up until the point where the movie theater employee invites her to leave because it’s closing time, it does feel like maybe Young Shin’s faith has been misplaced. That is, until the revolving doors won’t stop revolving, in a silent invitation for Young Shin to come right back inside.

I love that Young Shin’s so tuned in to Healer’s way of doing things, that she immediately understands that this is Healer’s invitation to her.

And honestly, it does feel like Healer dates in style, what with the entire movie theater “booked” for their date alone, and with candles lining Young Shin’s path, and an endless slew of movies for her to choose from.

It’s all cool and fun, until the entire atmosphere changes, when Healer enters the movie theater. The way his footsteps echo in Young Shin’s ears, and causes the air to feel charged with electricity and promise, as he steps into the theater, is so thrilling. 🤩

I do love the detail, that Jung Hoo’s bored with the movie at first, but, as he takes his cue from Young Shin, he starts to enjoy the movie too.

How very poignant, though, that a shadow of melancholy comes over them both, as the movie draws to a close. This might be their only date ever, and it’s already coming to an end, and they still haven’t actually exchanged words, really.

Which is why I love – freaking LOVE! – the way Jung Hoo stealth reaches for Young Shin’s hand, just before she walks out the door.

Eeeeaaahhh!!!! That handhold!!! 😍😍😍

In the few long seconds that it lasts, that handhold communicates so much sincerity, longing, heartache and wistfulness, between them.

Gurgle. I’m flailing all over the floor; this is just so much, in the midst of so little.

I so appreciate the detail, that even though Young Shin must be dying to see Healer’s face, she doesn’t attempt to do so, even when she has Healer by the hand. She chooses to respect his anonymity, and she walks away, so as not to be burden.

It never really hit me in previous watches like it’s hitting me now; in walking away so simply, Young Shin is also demonstrating her love, trust and loyalty to Healer.

How troubling, though, that Moon Sik now decides that Healer is someone whom he’d like to own. Because, if I read him right, he’s going to do all he can to own Healer, but he’s not opposed to Secretary Oh getting rid of Healer, if these efforts fail. Gah.

Plus, we now get that tidbit of information from Jung Hoo’s mother, when she tells Myung Hee that it had been Moon Sik who’d threatened her back in the day, to stop investigating Dad’s case, if she wanted Jung Hoo to be safe.

AND, there’s that thing where Jung Hoo finds that his father’s case files are filled with dud sheets of blank paper.

And then, when he makes an official request to see the case files, as Dad’s family member, it’s Moon Sik who gets the call, that someone’s digging into the case.

Do all bad roads lead to Moon Sik, then?

The fact that Jung Hoo’s locked in what looks like an interrogation room, while Moon Sik approaches Young Shin oh-so-pleasantly, definitely makes me nervous.

This means that if Moon Sik were to do something to Young Shin, Healer won’t be able to come to her rescue – at least, not at long as he’s locked in that room?

Eep. This is getting nerve-wracking, when all I wanna do, is soak in that movie date and that tender handhold. 😅🤪😍

Episode 12

Guh. What a dramatic episode this turned out to be. This episode, for the first time, I am legitimately worried for Jung Hoo’s safety, and it’s all very unsettling.

For a start, I’m relieved that nothing bad happens to Young Shin, even though she meets with Moon Sik.

Although, I can’t exactly credit Moon Ho with anything, really, since all he does is get all upset in Moon Sik’s face, but is otherwise fairly ineffectual in stopping Moon Sik from doing what he wants to do, from what I can tell.

We do get a very interesting flashback, though, from Moon Sik’s point of view. It seems that Moon Sik hadn’t abandoned Ji An on purpose, but that Ji An had wandered off from the car, when Moon Sik had left her for a while, to get her a beverage?

Hrm.. If that’s true, then I’d wager that it was Secretary Oh (or his equivalent, working under the Elder’s orders) who had gotten rid of Ji An.

I have to wonder, though, that if Moon Sik hadn’t actively abandoned Ji An, then why hadn’t he managed to find her, after she’d gotten lost? Had he been instructed by Elder, to leave it alone, or else?

Also, what does Moon Sik mean now, when he tells Moon Ho that Young Shin is in danger, and therefore he’ll have to take her, in order to keep her safe?

Ack. I wouldn’t want anyone going anywhere under Moon Sik’s protection. As Moon Ho’s says, Moon Sik’s protective ways can be quite scary.

Although Jung Hoo outing himself as his father’s son, and going around with Moon Sik like that makes me nervous, I really did like the fact that he got to meet Myung Hee as his father’s son.

Kudos to Do Ji Won; the scenes of Myung Hee and Jung Hoo are just masterful.

All of Myung Hee’s pent-up emotion, rising to the surface, not in an effortless rush, but in a choked back, strangled sort of manner, makes me think that Myung Hee’s been holding back her emotions in a very big way, all these years.

Her tenderness with Jung Hoo is so many things. There are shades of wonder, regret, sorrow, joy and tenderness, all layered into one, and it’s really quite affecting to behold.

And then there’s the way Myung Hee insists on pushing through to talk with Jung Hoo about his father, even though she knows – and Moon Sik knows – that this is going to bring on a seizure.

That growing stranglehold in her voice and her features, as she ekes out the words to Jung Hoo, is so masterfully done.

Also, what a precious gift this is, to Jung Hoo. Finally, there’s someone who acknowledges his courage for wanting to know about his father, and who believes in his father’s innocence, unequivocally.

I feel that the fact that Jung Hoo responds to Myung Hee in the moment, essentially with the truth, by telling her that the reason he wants to know about his father, is because there’s a girl he likes, says a lot about how Jung Hoo feels towards Myung Hee.

Her reception of him has been so raw and honest, that it seems that it inspires an honest response from him too.

How very significant, that it’s during this conversation, that Jung Hoo makes the connection that Myung Hee’s daughter’s name had been Ji An, and that Moon Ho had addressed Young Shin by that very name, up on the roof, when he’d believed Young Shin to be in danger.

Ahhh! He knows!!

AND, thanks to Ahjumma’s sharp sleuthing, Jung Hoo now also knows that it had been Secretary Oh, who had attempted to kill Young Shin that day, by cutting the elevator cords.

It makes sense to me that the first thing Jung Hoo does, is confront Moon Ho for lying to him, that Ji An is dead.

When Moon Ho says that he will explain, I have to agree with Jung Hoo, that Moon Ho’s explanations, where he lies and distorts the truth as he sees fit, don’t inspire a great deal of confidence.

Personally, I don’t really trust Moon Ho all that much right now, either. I don’t know for sure, that he wouldn’t throw Jung Hoo under the bus, in order to save Young Shin, despite the fact that he now knows that Jung Hoo is Joon Seok’s son.

However, I do take the point that when Moon Sik confronts Moon Ho about Jung Hoo and the things that Jung Hoo knows, Moon Ho basically threatens Moon Sik, saying that he’s learned everything from Moon Sik, and is essentially just like him.

I take that to mean that if Moon Ho’s going to go after Jung Hoo, that Moon Ho would step in to protect him?

I know it’s a little frivolous, in the light of everything else that’s happening in our drama world, but I have to confess, I felt a nice good amount of squee, at the fact that Jung Hoo then heads straight to Young Shin, for a hug.

Eee!!!

And, again, he’s so instinctual about it all. When she pushes him away, it’s almost like he’s drunk, the way he rebounds and attempts to hug her a second time, saying, “Again.”

It feels like he’s never been hugged before, and this is his first taste of it, and since it’s Young Shin, whom he has feelings for, it’s all the more affecting and intoxicating, and he simply can’t get enough. 😋

It’s cute how Jung Hoo asks to stay the night, and then gets jealous of himself, when he asks Young Shin how she could hug another guy and let him stay over so easily, when she says that she already has someone whom she likes.

Hee hee. Jung Hoo really is in a love triangle with himself, and he’s not quite sure how to handle it. 😁

It’s really nice to see Jung Hoo having a nice cozy time with Young Shin, cooking and eating dinner together. He’s always such a loner, that these little things feel like so much, in his context.

The most thrilling part of this sleepover, however, is that moment when Young Shin and Jung Hoo both reach for the pajamas that Young Shin dropped, and their hands meet – much like how their hands had met, after their movie date.

Eeee!!! 😱🤩 WILL SHE KNOW HIM BY THE FEEL OF HIS HAND?!???

I mean, Young Shin does pause, and grab Jung Hoo’s hand a second time, because she picks up on the familiarity of his hand.

She shakes it off this time, but.. I can’t help hoping that she’ll put it together at some point, because – dang – how romantic is that idea, that she’d know him by his hand?? 🤩😍😍

I also really, really like that conversation between Jung Hoo and Ahjumma.

Ahjumma lays everything out for him, telling him how reckless he’s being with his identity, and how Young Shin’s basically his kryptonite.

And Jung Hoo answers by saying that he knows that Ahjumma likes him a lot, and that’s why she’s tried to keep him and Young Shin apart, because she knows about their fathers, and is afraid that he’ll get hurt.

There’s just something very personal about the tone of this conversation, which I feel we haven’t quite gotten before. It feels like such a rare and precious moment, where Jung Hoo shares his heart, and Ahjumma just listens. ❤️

These two are honestly my secondary OTP in this show. I luff them together, so much.

Ahjumma’s right, too, about Young Shin being Jung Hoo’s kryptonite. He ends the conversation, saying,

“I like Chae Young Shin.” … “So I’m preparing myself. Even if I get hurt, there’s nothing I can do. It’s okay even if she doesn’t know. I should be there for her. Don’t tell me to run away. I don’t know… how to run away.”

Augh. This feels like Jung Hoo preparing to sacrifice himself, if necessary, in order to protect Young Shin.

There’s something rather discombobulating about the idea that our mercenary night courier, who would do anything for money (well, except kill people), would put himself in danger willingly, if it means that he can save the ones whom he loves.

And that’s exactly where our last narrative arc takes us, this episode.

Now, with Moon Sik cluing in on Healer’s identity, his weaknesses become apparent, and that’s how Moon Sik successfully lures Healer into that trap, this episode.

It’s not that Jung Hoo doesn’t know it’s a trap. It’s that, even knowing that it’s a trap, he feels he has to go, because it’s his mother’s safety that’s at stake. There’s just no way that he could chance it, in good conscience.

I find it very touching that Jung Hoo cares about Mom so much, especially given how he basically had to grow up without her, for so many years. I think that made everything even harder to watch, somehow.

Knowing that Jung Hoo’s putting himself in harm’s way for his mother’s sake, even though his relationship with her is but a sliver of what could have been, if she hadn’t left him.

(Although, now it appears that a big reason that she left him, was to keep him safe from Moon Sik.)

This entire last arc was nerve-wracking to watch, with Jung Hoo basically thisclose to busting his cover, both in front of Young Shin, and in front of the Double S dudes.

Show isn’t clear about what’s causing the power / network failures for both Ahjumma and Detective Yoon, but I get the idea that this is unlikely to be a coincidence.

But.. if it’s not a mere coincidence, then does it mean that Moon Sik’s somehow on to Ahjumma too, even though her identity and location have been kept top secret all this time..? Gah. I hope that Ahjumma’s not in danger..? 😱

It’s so alarming to see Jung Hoo get shot with what looks to be tranquilizer, and then hurt by the Double S dude on top of it all.

It’s extra frustrating, because I know that if they hadn’t used a tranquilizer on Jung Hoo, all of the Double S dudes would’ve been no match for our Healer. But I suppose I can’t expect the Double S goons to play fair, now, can I?

I’m pretty sure it’s Sabu who’s come to Jung Hoo’s rescue, since Ahjumma had mentioned getting in touch with Sabu for help.

But, I’m still nervous about what’s going to happen.

What’s going to happen to Sabu, if that’s indeed him, subbing in for Jung Hoo? And what’s going to happen to Ahjumma; is she in danger after all?

And most of all, what’s going to happen to poor Jung Hoo, who’s passed out on the roof?

Can’t lie though; I’m kinda stoked that Ahjumma reaches out to Young Shin and asks her to look for Jung Hoo.

Will this be the moment when Young Shin finds out that Bong Sookie and Healer are one and the same..? 😱🤩