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E11. This is the point in my watch where I'm concluding that Show is, at its heart, a drama queen.

It might have introduced itself to us as a serious crime thriller, but now that we've gotten to know each other better, Show's decided to reveal its true makjang colors to us, and y'know.. I'm rather entertained, despite the necessary lens adjustments.

To be fair, the lens adjustment is really rather hefty, and I can see why there are two distinct camps of viewers, when it comes to this show.

Camp 1 is made up of folks who actually love heightened melodrama, and that's why they find the first 5 episodes on the weak side - because that's the portion of the show where the melodrama is tamped down to appear only as mere hints.

Camp 2 is made up of folks who actually really appreciate a good crime thriller, and that's why they really like the measured, analytical vibe of Show's initial episodes.

Right about here, at the episode 10-11 mark, is where Show is peeling off its crime thriller outer layer, to reveal the blithe makjang queen that it wants to be on the inside. And I can totally see why folks in Camp 2 might choose to bail, at this point.

At this point, Show is no longer the crime thriller that it had introduced itself as. At this point, you kinda hafta decide whether you are game to roll with Show, even though Show's doing something of a personality lobotomy.

This all makes me think that you really need to be very flexible with your viewing lens and your expectations of Show, if you want to be able to enjoy Show from start to finish.

So far, I'm doing pretty well, with Show's makjang turn, so I'm reasonably hopeful that I'll be able to enjoy this one right to the end.

However, it's true that my viewing lens has changed. With Show's turn into makjang-ville, it's become actually quite critical, for me to go light on my need for logic.

Where before, I'd expected Show to make sense every step of the way, now, I kinda expect Show to have a very loose handle on logic in general. And, I'm also prepared to laugh at all the bits that don't make sense, rather than shake my fist in aggravation.

The saving grace through all of this, for Camp 2 folks, is that our main quartet remain in the "straight guy" space.

It's mostly our baddies that are flagrantly dancing around in Makjang Land; our main quartet continue to be committed to their emotional journeys, and that helps to at least keep our emotional connection with our story, grounded.

Each of them continue to be believable in their pain and angst, and this helps me to not throw all logic out the window, just because we're getting strong makjang leanings in our story. In particular, I find my heart going out to Madam Jin and Do Hyun, whose pain and angst feel most acute, this episode.

I also really appreciate that this turn of events, that has Do Hyun representing Cho Ki Tak, doesn't actually drive Chun Ho and Do Hyun apart. That had actually been my primary concern, with Do Hyun agreeing to take on Cho Ki Tak's case.

Instead, we have Chun Ho still positioning himself as an ally. He understands why Do Hyun's choosing to do this, and recognizes that they are both after the truth. They're just approaching the truth in different ways, at the moment.

I love Chun Ho for being able to see that, even though he'd rather that Do Hyun doesn't take on the case.

I love even more, that Chun Ho even goes so far as to call Madam Jin, to speak on Do Hyun's behalf, and tell her that the path that Do Hyun's on, is likely the same one that her son, No Sun Hoo, had been on himself.

I'm so glad that Madam Jin soon officially offers her permission to Do Hyun, to carry on representing Cho Ki Tak. I know he's already representing Cho Ki Tak, but it's good to know that at least he has peace of mind, as far as Madam Jin is concerned.

We're beginning to see very clearly, that with the way the baddies work in this drama world, you're only safe with them, as long as they deem you useful.

Which is why I'm not sure why Cho Ki Tak's still hedging, when it comes to telling Do Hyun the truth.

Like, he does appear to be lying about not having further evidence of Secretary Hwang ordering him to commit murder. Why would he do that, though, since it's clear that Chairman Oh's side is casting him aside? I mean, aside from writer-nim wanting to use that to create dramatic tension?

The thing that made me laugh the most, this episode, is the way Jenny saves Secretary Hwang, after he's been attacked by men sent by Chairman Oh, to silence him for good.

I mean, the attackers drug him by forcing spiked whiskey down his throat, and then leave him on the floor, trusting that the drugs in his system will kill him.

And then, we have Jenny swooping in to save the day. When Secretary Hwang wakes up, she benevolently announces that if she'd arrived just 5 minutes later, he would've died.

But.. Apparently, all Jenny has done, is pick him up off the floor and put him on the couch?!?? Clearly, Secretary Hwang had needed to have his stomach pumped, if he'd been forced-fed a drug overdose.

And yet, here we have Jenny proudly announcing that she's saved him. By putting him on the couch. HAHAHAHAHA. I laughed so much at this, that I literally had to wipe the tears from my eyes. 😂😂😂

But, I'm glad that Secretary Hwang survives, because at least this way, he is still a potential witness against Chairman Oh. And now that he's been so clearly cast aside by Chairman Oh, perhaps he'd be that much more willing to take Chairman Oh down?

I'm also glad that Do Hyun finally gets to see his father this episode, even though Dad only summons him, to ask him to stop digging into his case. It's not ideal, sure, but it's the first time Do Hyun's managed to see his father in 10 years, and I think that counts for something.

Plus, I do think that Do Hyun's pretty sharp, to immediately recognize, that Dad couldn't have known what he was up to, if he didn't have someone watching over him, in prison.

Also, that thing that Cho Ki Tak says to Do Hyun, at the end of the episode, is so unbelievable.

As in, I believe that Cho Ki Tak had killed Yoo Ri's father, but I find it really hard to believe that Do Hyun's father had been the one to give the order. I mean, what kind of power or authority did Do Hyun's father have, to even give that order?

From everything that we've seen, Dad had been a low-ranking, powerless officer? Maybe Dad had relayed the order, which had been given by Chairman Oh..?

Through all of this, I have to say, I'm growing more and more concerned for Do Hyun's wellbeing.

There are so many stressful revelations and situations that he's dealing with, which is hard enough on his heart. And on top of that, he's been pulling all-nighters, which only increases the strain on his poor heart.

With how pale Show's been making Do Hyun lately, I wouldn't be surprised if Do Hyun collapses soon, and requires another heart transplant. Thankfully, though, in Makjang Land, that kind of thing is possible - and he'd be up and about, and back in court, without too much fuss? 😅


Next episode notes will be out on: Wednesday, 6 Apr 2022!

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