Kathryn_51

Re: the OKJ files - I meant that there wasn't anything specific in the files (photos) linking her to the Chairman - we really don't know the specifics of that relationship so I'm still holding onto my "theory" that she is the Chairman's illegitimate daughter. Yes, BTS erased the files - the only thing we really saw was a photo of her with a man sticking a needle into her arm.

Someone handed KJS a cell phone; likely a burner phone.

The writer definitely left a number of stories open: (i) Han-young's parents declining health in the future; (ii) the Gogin (?) chemical case; (iii) the planned re-beautification that will result in thousands of homeless pushed underground; and, most importantly, (iv) the potential romance with Yoo Su-hui.

The last scene with the chief justice could mean something (military coup) or simply a message that evil never ends. Regardless, the writer, director and the main actor Ji Sung want to do a 2nd season and MBC brass are reportedly positive about the idea since the ratings were so good for the time slot. Hopefully it will not take 5 years to put it together. 😊

Thanks for marking spoiler. 😊I commented a few days ago that I was getting "All About Eve" vibes - a classic movie about an understudy who sabotages the main star. It's not totally on point, but I felt the vibe was there. In this drama, it was the "star" (Sang-ah) that seduced Jeong-won and if JW did murder Park Sang-jae, then good for her if she is offered to take over the film. I don't think there is any way that Bang Tae-seop will prostitute his wife - but it makes you want to watch, doesn't it??

I keep changing my mind on how this end, but I'm sure they will be together. Maybe murder/suicide? falling off a cliff (ala War of the Roses)? Or, maybe BTS is on top of the world as he wanted - but saddled with a psycho wife? So many possibilities.

I've been thinking about your question and I guess I see it this way: Tae-seop manipulates evidence . Sang-ah manipulates people for murderous ends. Yang-mi and Kwon manipulate power but thus far neither of them have committed murder that we know of (unless it was Kwon who hired the assassin and I actually think he may have). As for Kwang Jeong-won? 😁😁

It's very, very messy. . . . plot, counter-plots, counter-counter plots. Noone is redeemable and it's time to start laying wagers on who survives (as in, alive and not in jail) and who does not.

I'm enjoying it thus far - it's fiction. But if writer/director takes it too far, then I won't hesitate to lower my rating.

If you watch with that question (is this woman psycho and a manipulator???), then you see it. I didn't start looking at her that way until I spotted the "Sunset Boulevard" poster and if someone has never seen the movie (or read the plot) then many of the small little details (about her manipulation and psychosis) aren't noticed.

What I noticed? When she was at Jeong-won's apartment, she looked around - noticed that Jeong-won seemed fascinated with the Ji-soo story; the photos on the desk; noticed the suicide (?) marks on her wrist. Then she ends up on the bed - not facing away, but facing the center - she intended to seduce Jeong-won if she could. Finally - she apparently called Jeong-won or somehow JW got word that she was in the hotel room and there would be a key. JW was supposed to be locating Park Jae-sang, but she took off like a bullet. And then the note was left for her.

Yeah, Sang-ah knew she would be found in time and she was hoping that JW would be sympathetic because of her apparent prior suicide attempt (not realizing that JW's mother had committed suicide).

I guess the question remains - was it Jeong-won that committed the murder? The Youtuber was also trying to find him. But if she isn't the culprit, then shame on the writer for tossing in that very, very big red herring.

I was stunned that Sang-ah pulled the exact same stunt with Jeong-won as she did with Park Jae-sang - the pills carefully spread out, the blood, the "unconscious" acting.

She is a psycho - and I'm not sure how much BTS realizes it - but once he knows (but maybe he never will? or won't realize until near the end?) that she duplicated the prior "attempted" suicide . . . . what then? One possible outcome on this drama is that BTS reaches the top - but he's stuck with a psycho wife.

How much do we really know/understand about Chu Sang-ah's early life??

Her mother died when she was young. Oh Kwang-jae prostituted her out when she was young, but she eventually became a star while all of the other young girls "faded away". Vague comments about her relationship with the Chairman, but there's nothing specific. No photos in the OKJ files. If she was his mistress in 2016, then why was he at a villa with Ji-soo???

After 6 episodes, it is clear that she is the Master Manipulator and everyone falls for her act except Bang Tae-seop, but he cares about her and it is one weak spot. More below under spoiler tag.

It's explained on the ENA web-site and shown in early scenes in Ep. 5 As a teen (?), she murdered her father and he was the prosecutor. He went easy on her and hoped she would have a clean life after her release. But she was a petty thief (maybe prostitute) when he saw her again. He took her to his sister's house for food and offered to hire her for unofficial investigations. There is no indication they had a sexual or romantic relationship.

There is not one single redeemable character in this drama although I kinda ❤️ the ML because he's not as manipulative or murderous as the other main characters.

Please edit your post to mark it as a spoiler. ❤️❤️ Thank you in advance.

Another small little factoid dropped in Ep. 5 that could - emphasis could - lead to Sang-ah being the Chairman's illegitimate daughter, namely Yang-mi's determination to get her daughter added to the Chairman's will.

The main protagonist continues to be Bang Tae-seop. With Sang-ah's "see ya around later babe" brush-off, I think we're done with the GL. But stay tuned for whatever is going on with what appears to be a closeted gay Kwon Jong Uk. As for the main couple, they either destroy each other (ala War of the Roses) or they end up on top of the world. One way or another, I think they'll be "together" (maybe falling over a cliff, lol) in the end. Which way would Koreans prefer - that they survive to the bitter end or destroy each other. I honestly don't know.

Ratings down today but then it's never clear if it's a holdover from prior episode (viewers didn't bother to return) or actually represents people turning the channel mid-watch.

55 minutes of pure melodrama and then 5 minutes of pure laugh-out-loud humiliation for Yang-mi. And I don't think the audience is supposed to feel sorry for her. 😂😂😂

Sneak Peek for Ep. 6 - Tae-seop and Jeong-won Blow-up

As always, translation is fuzzy but Tae-seop is (understandably) upset that JW overheard his convo with Sang-ah and used that - she crossed the line and better not do it again. JW says she doesn't need to work for him any more. And then - gets close to him and whispers that if it had been her, she would have killed Park Jae Sang. What is this writers? Butch city?? Anyway. . . . Ju Ji-hoon is fine as always and tells her to stop flirting with him.

I don't think Jeong-won comes out on top in this drama and after watching Sang-ah's non-stop manipulation of everyone around her, I'm beginning to wonder just how "pure" her relationship was with Ji-soo.

https://x.com/biskuitlemon/status/2038792733452878101

It's called "Recent Discussions" and then you can post s "new topic". Right above the "Comment" section

They could have easily shown the other twin at the BD party, even if just sitting at a table with his wife and daughter. So, maybe out of the country?

Same top she wore with BTS. Ji Won is the seductress.

I don't see it as a political thriller - those usually have winners and losers. This one is pure psychological thriller in a political/entertainment world. IMHO, of course.

And I also see Sang-ah as master manipulator - she listened to JW spill the whole story, looked at the entire wall of photos/news articles, somehow walked over to the bed (she could have simply rested on the sofa) and seduced her. And then walked away with a "see ya around maybe" before she pulled the same stunt with Jae-Sang's mother and jae-sang. I bet she knew he was watching the whole time.

Episode 5 ---- definitely not a favorite and my gawd, Sang-ah is Ultra Bitch who relies on her acting skills to manipulate everyone (except BTS who she admits, knows her better than she knows herself).