Early Access: Confession E12 (Patreon)

E12. This episode, it's coming together in my head just how precisely the music is applied, in this show. I feel like I'm watching a symphony, in a way.

It shows up most in our more dramatic scenes, like the one where Secretary Hwang bursts in the courtroom with makjang flair, and then is asked by Do Hyun on the stand, about who had actually been behind the order to have Kim Sun Hee killed.

The way the music swirls up to a crescendo, for the exact length of Secretary Hwang's dramatic pause, before the music pauses, to let his answer echo across our screens, is perfectly done. It's seamless, it's dramatic, it's got such flourish. I love it.

If there had been any indication at all, in Show's first 9 episodes, that Show's got a penchant for makjang at its heart, it would've been the music.

Watching this episode, I sometimes felt like Show was performing some kind of dramatic dance on my screen, and its music was part of the performance.

With this lens on - as well as with my makjang goggles at the ready - I actually find this show pretty enjoyable, even though its tone at this point, is so different from what we got, in our early stretch.

This episode, I feel most sorry for Do Hyun and Yoo Ri. They both are in really difficult positions, and it's over something so serious, that it could break most relationships.

I mean, Yoo Ri has to contend with the information, that her father had been murdered in cold blood, specifically to get him off the heart transplant waiting list, so that the transplant could go to Do Hyun instead.

Even though Yoo Ri understands that it's not Do Hyun's fault, and that he hadn't had any idea about this, I can imagine that it'd still be hard for Yoo Ri to deal with this, and it'd be hard for her to feel neutral towards Do Hyun, with this in mind.

On that note, though, I'm pretty sure that Yoo Ri's dad had been killed just because of the heart transplant.

I feel that they would have killed him anyway, for his intention to unveil the corruption in the Blue House. My guess is, it's just that his bad heart had turned out to be a convenient way to give Choi Pil Soo some kind of advantage, for taking the fall for a murder he didn't commit.

On Do Hyun's side of things, it must be such a shock to realize that the only reason he's alive, is because he'd been wrongfully given a heart transplant - that should have gone to someone else.

It's no wonder that Do Hyun loses it, and beats his chest like that. It's almost a form of self-hatred, because I'm sure that in his mind, if not for him, Yoo Ri's dad could have lived.

Which, like I said, is not a very sound train of thought, taking into account everything else that went down, in relation to Yoo Ri's dad and his report.

Still, I can see why Do Hyun would be so upset, and so thrown, by this reveal.

I'm just relieved that Show doesn't choose to make this rift between Do Hyun and Yoo Ri into A Thing, and instead, has them reconcile and make a pact to get to the bottom of the case, to get at the bad people who've done these things to them and their families.

On our baddies' side of things, things are getting shaken up, and people are moving in the shadows, to further their agendas.

One of those things is Do Hyun's dad getting attacked while in prison. That's definitely something that's been ordered by a big gun, and for now, I'm assuming that to be Chairman Oh, although I could be wrong.

I'm so relieved that Dad's got some self-defense moves up his sleeve, and manages to survive the attack - although, I only know that from watching the preview of the next episode. Show really kept us hanging on this one, with Dad out of the picture completely, after his stabbing.

That was a weird narrative choice, though keeping in mind that Show's leaning into the makjang, definitely helps.

Speaking of makjang, we get quite a few makjang touches, this episode.

Like Yoo Ri confronting Cho Ki Tak at the penitentiary, which wouldn't happen in real life.

And, like the way Secretary Hwang bursts into the courtroom in such a dramatic fashion, and proceeds to confess his crime - and then point the finger at Chairman Oh, as the mastermind. Ooh. So much drama, and so much flourish! This was truly quite makjanglicious.

I also really liked the way Jenny Song goes around so jauntily, taunting and poking at various people, to galvanize them into action on her chessboard.

I especially enjoyed that beat where Jenny goes to visit Park Si Yang, and tells him that she's just been to see Do Hyun.

After Park Si Yang sputters, "Who did you say you met?," I just love the way Jenny mutters to herself, as if genuinely perplexed, "Did you not hear me?" Tee hee. The sass! I kinda love her.

In terms of our main quartet, I really like the fact that they are still working together, in spite of everything that's happened, that could have put them on opposite sides.

This episode, I really liked that little scene, where Chun Ho goes to Do Hyun's office to get some perspective from the other 3, after getting all frustrated while trying to interrogate Chairman Oh. Ahh. The team spirit! That warms my heart very nicely. 🥰

I also really liked the fact that Do Hyun makes sure to call Chun Ho, to tell him that Jenny's asked to meet him alone, even though Jenny's made it clear that Do Hyun should come alone, without telling anyone else about the meeting.

I love how the intra-team trust trumps, even in a situation like this.

HOWEVER.

I can't make head or tail of the situation where Show leaves us, at the end of the episode, with Jenny shot, and Do Hyun holding a gun. How did we arrive here, is what I'd like to know.

Also, I'm kinda sad that it looks like we lose Jenny. I'd found her quite entertaining, in a makjang sort of way.

For the record, I don't believe that Do Hyun actually killed Jenny.

But if it had been Mark Choi who had killed Jenny, why would Do Hyun be holding a gun? And why would he just sit there, for the entire time since Jenny got shot, presumably by Mark? And some time should have passed, since Chun Ho spots Mark, while rushing to the scene.

I get that Show's gunning for a mirror effect, with Do Hyun being found in a situation just like his dad had been; at a murder scene, with a gun in his hand.

I am SO curious to see how Show explains this. But of course, since we're in Makjang Land, there are a ton of possibilities, none of which have to actually make logical sense.

I don't mind a nonsensical makjang explanation, as long as Show makes it entertaining, and as long as Show makes it clear that Do Hyun is innocent. Fingers crossed that Show delivers on both those points.

Next episode notes will be out on: Monday, 11 Apr 2022!