Gap Dong: Final Episodes Discussion Post

[atopworld.livejournal.com]

Watch here: GoodDrama || DramaFire || KDrama

Drama: Gap Dong
Revised romanization: Gapdongi
Hangul: 갑동이
Director: Jo Soo-Won
Writer:
Network: tvN
Episodes: 20
Release Date: April 11 - June 14, 2014
Runtime: Fri & Sat 20:50
Language: Korean
Country: South Korea

Drama series is inspired by the "Hwaseong serial murder case" which occurred from 1986 to 1991 in the Taean Neighborhood of Hwaseong, South Korea. Ten women were raped and murdered during that time period. The real life case also inspired 2003 movie "Memories of Murder".


20 years ago Moo-Yeom’s (Yoon Sang-Hyun) father was a suspect in the "Gap Dong” serial murder case. Because of the detectives’ oppressive investigation, Moo-Yeom’s father killed himself.

Now, Moo-Yeom is a detective and works to capture the killer Gap Dong. The statue of limitations has expired for the serial murder case and Moo-Yeom resigns to the belief that Gap Dong is dead. New clues though for Gap Dong appears in front of Moo-Yeom and he sets out to catch him once and for all.

Yoon Sang-Hyun: Ha Mu-Yum
Kim Min-Jung: Maria Oh
Sung Dong-Il: Yang Chul-Gon
Lee Joon: Ryu Tae-oh
Kim Ji Won: Ma Ji-Wool
Jung In-Gi: Cha Do-Hyuk
Kang Nam-Kil: Kang Sang-Hoon
Jang Gwang: Monk Jinjo
Jo Ji-Hwan: Lee Hyungnyun
Oh Young Ae: ?
Min Sung-Wook: Nam Gi-Ri
Jung Won-Joong: Park Joong-Goo
Jang Hee-Soo: Kim Young-Mi

Press Con BTS

Source: Asian Wiki, Yoon Sang Hyun, Couch-Kimchi, GreywithJoon0207, KCelebs, WithJoon

WHYYYYYYYY?! I'm so confused at how Tae Oh killed 450 people and was able to work back in the coffee shop. He did wrong, yes, but for Gap Dong to put out a hit on him? What was that? When did I start watching The Sopranos? Gap Dong is piece of shit and I"m GLAD somebody shanked him. I mean, I was yelling "FOR SPARTA!" when the inmate he pissed off started running toward him...lol. Seemed fitting.

The only reason I'm sad about Tae Oh is because it's Joon's face and it was difficult seeing him like that. Even worse, the scene when he was getting ready to be hung....I had to pause it so I could prepare. I was shocked that Jae Hee was that emotional? But I do have to admit, I feel a TAD pity for how his mother treated him. She had the funeral and didn't even go visit him....not once. The people whom he tormented were the ones to go see him. If that's not fucked up,  I don't know what is.

The best part, in my opinion, was the scene where the writers address victim blaming. I thought that was an awesome element to add to the story. Especially considering that Tae Oh was a good looking murderer and the potential to be glorified due to that. Also, WHAT do the writers know about Crips & Bloods? The LA in me was on the floor laughing for a such a long time because that caught me way off guard.

The ending was pretty good. Although I'm debating this Tae Oh death thing. I think overall the show was alright. I have to be honest though, it did not capture me FULLY the way God's Gift did. I felt myself always looking away and paying more attention to Tumblr and things like that. This was mainly due to things like Mu Yeom and Jae Hee's relationship and the TERRIBLE beyond terrible police work. Joon captured me in all of his scenes, he did SO well, and it's not even my obvious hard-on for him speaking. I'm not a person who get scared by things on television easily, like I LOVE crime shows and creepy is expected, but he REALLY did a number on me. If he doesn't get an Academy Award, I will send him something damn it.

Comments

[peacefulscream.livejournal.com]

GIVE LEE JOON ALL THE AWARDS.

Seriously, I'm hooked at how good he is. He was the main reason why I decided to stick to the show when it became too messy and boring at times. I hope he gets to be the main lead in another drama soon.


Ryu Tae Oh should pay for murdering so many people; one can even argue that he deserved to die. But the way he died came out of nowhere. They didn't even show who his other killer was.

The ending was just okay for me. It's good that the finale did not push Mu Yeom and Maria's non-chemistry too much.

[kittyboo17.livejournal.com]

If Lee Joon doesn't get any award for his acting, I'll go to SK and demand justice !!! He was so good and so convincing. Throughout the whole show, his character remained the most interesting one.

I found the ending a bit weird too and I was constantly asking myself how in the hell it was possible for Tae Oh to run around like a free man (even working in that same coffee shop again) after the nth time he did sth wrong. I hope this is just part of the drama and not of reality.
Even when Gapdong was discovered, it didn't invest me really. For me it felt like Tae Oh was the true antagonist of the show and not Gapdong. I found the mystery behind this man, more interesting than the man itself. Though a lot of credit should be given to the actor though. He played the creepy, manipulating character really well. In the beginning of the show I would have never thought he could have been 'the one'.

I don't know how it was possible but I actually felt a bit sad when Tae Oh died. He's the example of someone with a fucked up life that no one cares about. It was like for his mother, the real Tae Oh had died a long time ago. In his whole life he never received sth as real love I guess. I don't want to make him into a pitiful character who we should care about because he IS a monster. A monster that should rot in jail for eternity. On the other side, Cha was also a very 'pitiful' character but the show barely spend time on really showing us. Which probably made me a lot less invested in his character. He was a bit 'bland' in comparison to Tae Oh.

Imo, the drama was enjoyable, but nothing spectacular. The great acting made up for the sometimes lacking story. I also found it interesting how this drama wanted to delve into the psychopath's psyche since not many dramas would actually bother. As much as I was enjoying Joon's acting, I also thought that the drama was dragging and could have been shortened by a few episodes.

[kittyboo17.livejournal.com]

it's a bit OT but whatever, Lee Joon deserves this

[imprisoned27.livejournal.com]

I need to watch God's Gift (and a bazillion other shows). Ooh Ooh awards for Joonie please! Watching Ryu Tae Oh's nightmare & stabbing really made me feel so sick. I just couldn't deal with it. I feel annoyed with show for making so fascinated with a murder and attached to him. I didn't want him to die I just wanted him to go somewhere and stay there. I did like the show mentioning victim blaming (though mentioning a hood caught me off guard I didn't even know what he was talking about I was wondering if it was a mistranslation). The rock-paper-scissors scene was interesting. I wanted to know what Tae Oh was going to do but then that guy stabbed him. When/how did Gapdong meet the stabber I feel confused about it. Did he meet him in jail just before the stabber was leaving?

Also, Ryu Tae Oh has ruined frosting for me now I think of murder and odd things when I eat it....

Joonie's haircut is so handsome.....

[shintotchi.livejournal.com]

In reference to the hood, they were saying you shouldn't blame a person walking into the Bloods' territory (a gang that wears red) wearing a blue outfit. (Blue is the color the Crip gang wear, and the Crips are their rivals)

As for the stabber, once Gapdong got in jail, the stabber became his subordinate. Gapdong gave him the stab order since he knew the stabber was getting released. I have no idea who the second guy was though.

[imprisoned27.livejournal.com]

aah thank you ^^

[nekohae.livejournal.com]

I have 3 episodes left and I was not going to watch them in nearest future cause I got bored with this drama...buuuut OP's spoilers got me interested again :) Gotta finish this show for Joonnie...and only for him tbh.

[shintotchi.livejournal.com]

So I'm celebrating, because I no longer have to force myself to watch this anymore. The end was fitting. I knew Tae Oh was going to die. That was all they could do for his character, after drumming up that sympathy. Joon, I hope you get so many awards or acting jobs after this. you were the best here.

I was cracking up so much when a monk of all characters started mentioning Crips and Bloods. Like wtf? XD

I'm really concerned though. Does Korea really not have life imprisonment? And do they hang the inmates who get the death penalty? We do lethal injection over here, and I kind of figured most technologically advanced cultures used that method now. If they don't, that's pretty messed up. Then again, maybe they don't want to spend the money? Who knows.

edit: I totally missed Joon was working in the coffee shop in the end. That would've been a wtf moment. By the last episode, I started skipping around because they were so repetitive with the dialogue. Also I had zero interest in Mu Yeon and Maria's zero-chemistry relationship. Bleh

[imprisoned27.livejournal.com]

I looked it up the last person to be sentenced to death in SK was hung but that was in the 90s, but firing squad is an option. Then I found out that in the USA we do mostly injections but hanging, firing squad and some other things are currently legal in different states.

[shintotchi.livejournal.com]

Oh wow, that's crazy. Interesting. O_o Thanks!

[atopworld.livejournal.com]

Lol, that first sentence was EXACTLY how I felt.

I have Triangle, so I won't feel the pangs of missing show the show. However, I'll miss Joonie.

[shintotchi.livejournal.com]

LOL I find this hilarious, cuz I'm omw right now to see if Triangle has been updated. Add to that the little jump of joy I did when I found out it goes for 24 episodes instead of 16. I just..I'm beside myself. (Though yes, I will miss Joon. At least he's not going into the army this year, so there's time for more projects!)

[atopworld.livejournal.com]

It has been, and omg I can't wait for more. It always feels like an episode is never enough. I was debating making a post for it, but it's already on EP 16...lol.

[shintotchi.livejournal.com]

You and me both. Every week I wonder if I should make a post, just so I can have more people to spazz with. Then I get lazy and just decide to ask about it in FFA. XD