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Recap: The Heirs Episode 19

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Written before live recap

Where do I even begin? It’s difficult even for this episode; I don’t know what I am going to say tomorrow.

It’s the penultimate episode, so with just two hours left in the story, what will happen to the characters that we have grown to love (or hate)? When I get deeply involved in a drama, I call it a journey I take with the characters as they experience the trials and happiness that life throws them. I’m nearing the end of the journey, and it makes me sad that I won’t be able to see these characters anymore. But so many memories have been created, both within the drama and outside. I have been able to watch a story form and grow, as well as the characters. I have watched a community gather to rant or rave and share their passion for K-dramas. I’ve received so much support, and really, because of all your well wishes, I felt much better today than yesterday. Thank you, everyone. It’s not goodbye yet, but I want to be able to thank you as much as I can.

The order will go like this. I can’t post updates while the drama is airing, unless the episode is moving slowly. I will be trying to capture as much as possible while I am watching the episode.  When the episode is over, I will go back to my notes, fix them up a bit and update part by part on each recap post while waiting for the torrents. If you can leave a link here, that would be great. When the full episode is available, I will fill in more blanks and screencaps, and continue to update. Finally, I will leave my comments.

Episode 19

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At the party, JS and Chairman Kim greet their guests together. When out of earshot, JS comments on all the people still lining up behind Chairman Kim, and he bemoans that fact that his one sons are not. JS then comments that KA must still think she is dating Chairman Kim, seeing how see left the house.  Dad compares KA to JS, saying JS is quiet and obedient, thinking about taking his wealth

Tan’s relatives (his dad’s siblings and nephew) come to greet JS and Chairman Kim with all the pleasantries they can fake, commenting about Tan and about the Chairman’s health.

The girl that Won had that “date” with as his potential marriage partner also comes to greet JS and Chairman Kim with her father. I’m going to call her Yang as that is what her last name seems to be.

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MS is fooling around with the camera, taking selfies of his aegyo, but when his eyes meet Chairman Kim, and MS nervously puts down his camera. If looks can kill…

BN and CY are also here at the party, and all of sudden BN exclaims, “Oh my god, oppa?!” She runs over to a man and links arms, which causes CY to frown and get jealous.  BN brings in the man over to CY, and CY starts chiding her about linking arms with a strange man. When BN informs him that this guys is her brother, who had been studying in New York, CY immediately puts his claws down, and stands nervously with his hands clasped together in front of him. HS, MS, and BN have a laugh at the expense of CY’s discomfort as BN’s brother puts his arms around him.

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Won walks into the party, and he sees that Yang woman. They talk separately, and when Won asks if she didn’t bring her boyfriend today, she replies that her boyfriend can’t come to a place like this because he is poor. Instead she brought her rich father. She asks if Won has a girlfriend, and he replies yes. At that, Yang comments that maybe that is why they look good together. Her dad told her to get married to him. Won replies, “We don’t look good together” (in the same way that Tan said to YD before that he and ES look good together in another episode. Brothers, indeed). The woman says it doesn’t matter to her.

Tan and ES arrive at the party’s red carpet. Tan leaves the car first. Then ES follows. They stand face to face as the reporters take pictures. Tan asks ES if she is nervous. ES replies, “Yes, a bit.” Tan: “It’s an honor because you are here with me by my side right now, Cha Eun Sang.” They hold hands and walk into the party together.

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They enter the party room, and everyone is shocked to see Tan and ES. Everyone stares, and BN hits CY so he can stop looking at ES. Heh, ever the jealous BN.

Tan brings ES over to his dad, JS, and the rest of his family. Dad’s eyes look like they are going to pop out of his head as he glares at the hands Tan and ES are holding. JS reminds Dad that there are reporters, and he puts his eyes back into his skull. Tan greets his other relatives. They ask who ES is. Tan introduces her as his girlfriend. His cousin comments, “Ah, this is the girl who caused the engagement to be called off?”

Reporters start asking for a statement so Dad has them sent away. Privately in another room, he yells at ES and Tan, “How can you appear in front of the cameras like that?” Tan replies he wanted to show off ES to the world; he is no longer afraid of what the world will think of him or his father’s anger. Dad continues to yell, questioning what is great about their feelings for each other when he is trying to give Tan a bigger world. Tan declares he doesn’t want the world that dad is promising him more than ES. He asks for Dad to give them his consent. Dad lets out a big hmph of disbelief. Calming down, dad tells them to go ahead and date. He clarifies says he is not giving his consent- “I believe that you will end up regretting your decision.” Dad also says the same to Eun Sang.

Dad also makes it known that he knows that KA is here living in this hotel. He warns Tan to never think that he won against him; he is only overlooking it this time. Dad leaves the room.

ES asks Tan if they got consent or were threatened. Tan replies, “Consent that can turn into a threat anytime?” He asks ES to understand his father’s harsh words since it was just his last bit of pride. ES nods and asks hesitantly, “Then we…” Tan confirm- “Yes, we have crossed over one threshold.” ES smiles and she bursts out, “Happy birthday, Kim Tan.” Tan smiles back and pulls her in for a hug. They both let out a sigh of relief in each other’s arms.

Breaking from the hug, Tan says, “Let’s go have the real birthday party.” He informs ES that his mom is staying at this hotel, still locked up even though she left the house, unable to go to her son’s birthday party. “Let us go to her.”

KA is looking sad and lonely in her room, but she doesn’t have to for long as Tan shows up at KA’s door with a birthday cake. She looks thrilled to see him, as well as Eun Sang. A little worried, though, about the two going to the party downstairs together.

Inside the room, KA wishes her son a happy birthday- “I’m really thankful that you were born as my son.” Tan replies, “Me too.” Tan blows out the candles quickly, and informs his mom he already made a wish, but it’s a secret. He then hangs a key necklace on his mother’s neck. He says, “Thank you for giving birth to me, mom. I hope that the time you lived as Kim Tan’s mom was happy.” KA replies with hot tears in her eyes, “Of course. I was very happy. And I am happy now too.”

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KA asks how Tan and ES came back from the party alive. Tan replies that dad overlooked it. KA thinks the opposite- dad lost. She vows  not to lose to him too. Tan remarks that he thinks dad is also cutting his mom some slack, since he knows she is living here and hasn’t done anything. Worried that Chairman Kim might come find her, KA asks ES where she and her mom are living now. It looks like she wants to stay with ES and her mom.

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Next day, KA reunites with ES’s mom with a tight embrace and lots of expression of how much they missed each other. KA and ES’s mom walk arm-in-arm to ES’s house, and following behind, ES calls Tan, asking, “Where is my boyfriend?” On the other side of the line, Tan smiles happily and tells her he has come to see YD.

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YD and Tan sit across from each other in YD’s room- both uncomfortable, Tan trying to find the right words, and YD dreading to hear those words. YD finally breaks the silence, asking what it is that Tan wants to say. As soon as Tan replies that it is his about his mom, YD demands that he doesn’t. “Let’s not be thankful or sorry to each other.” Tan looks straight at YD- “Thank you. And sorry.” YD throws a little tantrum because Tan saying this to him makes him look bad for being angry at Tan. Tan says that YD doesn’t have to do anything; he is just stating how he feels. As Tan starts to leave, YD calls out, “My mom…I didn’t lose her because of you. She just left first. But I needed you to be angry at.”  Tan, understanding this as YD’s apology, replies simply that he knows and leaves.

YD at MS’s studio, and he sees the pictures of Tan and ES at the party on the table. His eyes are drawn to ES, and clearly, it still hurts. MS comes out of the bathroom(?), and see YD near the pictures. He quickly tries to hide them- aww, what a sweetie- but YD informs him that he already saw them. But MS has something prepared to cheer YD up! He’s made a “Do Not Enter” sign that forbids Tan, ES, and dogs from coming into the studio. When YD tells him to take the dog off the poster- “what crime did the dog commit”- MS agrees and draws in another line to the word dog. This changes the word from “dog” to “that person,” effectively taking ES off the forbidden list. YD slaps MS on the leg- “I’m going to kill you.”

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YD practices judo hard. His teacher asks him why he is practicing so hard all of a sudden, and YD replies it because he has to beat his dad without cheating. When the teacher says YD can’t win with the skills he has now, YD replies, “I will work harder.” Don’t make me swoon, Young Do!

KA and ES’s mom drink together at a restaurant. ES’s mom chides KA for leaving her home when she doesn’t a skill, nor is she young. It’s not going to be easy for KA to make a living by herself. KA, drunk, gets a little angry at that, but she knows what kind of situation she is in very well. She says she is receiving the punishment now for desiring another woman’s house, bag, and husband. She hasn’t been able to be one man’s husband or her son’s mother. Suddenly, KA gets up, saying she is going to the bathroom, and she leaves ES’s mom.

Later, ES’s mom finds KA crying her heart out at the beach. She just sits silently next to KA and lets her cry.

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ES walks into the cafe that Tan is at just as he is about to call her, but their meeting is just a coincidence. ES says she is supposed to meet another man here, and at that, Tan, the green-eyed monster of jealousy, jumps out of his seat. Right then, Won, the brother of this monster, walks in.

We cut right into the middle of ES and Tan arguing about where ES is going to live. She is planning to move back to her old neighborhood, but both Won and Tan want her to move to the apartment they had prepared for her before. ES explains that she can’t move in to the apartment because who knows what will happen to them in the future- what if they break up? Right now she is seeing him because she can’t live without him, but nobody knows the future. Hahahaha! How could this be sweet, funny, and so cynical at the same time! Tan replies that he too can’t live without her- THAT is their future.

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Won tries to jump in to stop this nauseatingly sweet argument, but Tan tells him that he’s got this. Tan turns back to ES and asks if she is really going to be like this. ES replies, “Where is the guarantee that we will be happy forever? I might kick you to the curb too.” Tan won’t have this anymore, so he grabs her hand and takes her out of the cafe in a rush. Won can only laugh at the young couple’s lovers quarrel at first, but his smile fades away as he sighs, perhaps thinking about Hyun Joo.

Tan has brought ES back to her house. They kneel in front of ES’s mom, and Tan apologizes for the worries he caused so far. He promises that things like that won’t happen in the future, and informs ES’s mom that he has gotten consent from his dad. Now he wants her permission so that he can formally date Eun Sang. When ES’s mom doesn’t respond, KA bursts in the room (and ES and Tan stare at her because they are surprised by what she is wearing). She’s indignant that ES’s mom seems to be against her son.

ES’s mom starts signing that she can’t give her consent because ES has been hurt so much. She doesn’t want to get involved with KA’s family anymore. KA angrily replies, “My son is handsome, tall, good, and risks his life on all things regarding Eun Sang. My son is more dear, but why are you saying no?” ES’s mom counters that Eun Sang is pretty, good, and smart on top of that. When Tan asks ES what her mom is saying, as mom continues to sign that ES has a curfew now, ES lies to him hat her mom only said ES needs to be brought home on time, and that only holding hands is okay.

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ES’s mom raises her hand to hit ES, but Tan throws his body in front of her, taking the blow. Obviously ES’s mom can’t hurt Tan much, but the two stare at each other surprised, not knowing what to do. ES urges Tan to do what he does best, and Tan dramatically falls to the floor, wailing. He pretends to be in a lot of pain and whimpers he will be fine if mom gives her consent. KA adds that he should file charges against ES’s mom if she doesn’t. Knowing what Tan is doing, ES’s mom hits Tan again and then silently goes back to folding laundry. ES thanks her mom, and Tan leaps back up off the floor and thanks her too. A small smile appears on mom’s face. KA smiles too and sits down to help ES’s mom with the laundry.

ES is moving to her old house, and she is surprised to see Tan coming out the building. His response- “Why, did you think I come out in fairytales?” Pfft!

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Tan leads ES into the house with her eyes covered. He’s prepared a sweet event for her, compiling a video of her and projecting it onto a screen he has set up. He hugs her from the back, and they watch it together as ES’s eyes get teary. Instead of talking about how moved she is by this surprise like Tan wants, ES just says she looks pretty on camera. She reminds him that she prefers horror over romance, “or something like this.” She gives him a peck on the cheek- “a thriller.” The two joke and play around as two people in love would do with no adult supervision. Or at least what young people in a k-drama would do without any adult supervision.

Inside the school cafeteria, R bumps into YS, but in usual style, she doesn’t apologize. The other girls jab at R, saying she has no manners because her family is like that- both mom and daughter had their engagements called off. When R gives them the death glare, the girls scoff, revealing that they backed down before because she was Kim Tan’s fiance, not because they were actually scared of her. At this, YD, who is at the next table, slams his spoon down and growls, “How about being Choi Young Do’s little sister?” Scared, the girls scurry off.

YD walks over to R and suggests that they leave the cafeteria since people are staring. He affectionately puts his arm around her shoulders, and R asks him if he has no plans to turn bad again…and put up his hair too. YD replies that he likes his hair the way it is now. R: “Think that over.”

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Outside, R points out that the kids are not as scared of YD as they used to be. Tan replies that he still is effective enough to be able to save his sister. R asks why she is still his sister. Y: “Because I’m going to be your brother. Lean on me sometimes.” R responds that YD must have a lot of time these days; did he end it with Cha Eun Sang? YD replies that there was nothing to end since he doesn’t need the other person’s approval or opinion. It over when he ends it.

R asks how YD’s company is doing, and YD says good for now. R hopes that nothing happens for which she has to comfort him about. She goes to class.

YD sees ES, but while ES is about to say hi to him, he just walks past her, like he said he they should.

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The final exams results are out! BN runs up to ES to tell her to stay away from her for now as she doesn’t know what she will do to her if CY’s rank dropped because he was worried about ES.

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However, nobody can see the ranking because Kim Tan is covering the whole poster with his body. When he sees ES, he tears it off, and tries away with it. But ES calls him back, yelling,”You said you would always be behind me!” Tan, one to keep his word, stops, and tell her to go in front of him. As Eun Sang walks past him, she steals the crumbled up poster from Tan’s hand. She dashes off with Tan chasing after her.

Tan and ES continue to bicker outside (Tan reveals he was scared to see his rank), and seeing that the results are folded inside ES’s wallet, he steals the wallet from her. ES doesn’t have time to get it back because of a text she receives. CY has uploaded the poster image to a chat room for the students to see. The other students are laughing their head off in the chat room because MS placed last. Kim Tan finds out that he placed 50th, finally finding some middle ground in his life. Ha! ES informs him that YD placed 27th, complimenting YD, and Tan gets jealous. She also compliments CY, and he gets even more jealous. He asks what place ES is in, but ES runs away. He chases.

YD and dad have a judo match. YD wins, without cheating, finally beating his dad. His dad, conceding to the defeat, asks Young Do, “What do you want?” YD replies, “Mom. Tell me where she is.” Dad says he can’t tell him because he doesn’t now. YD replies “That’s fortunate” because at least his dad hasn’t been hiding her from him.

YD is at the ddukbokki restaurant again, and the lady working there sees his name plate ,and gives him a business card left for him by some woman. YD recognizes the name on the business card as his mother’s. And the brunch cafe she is working at is called “Secret Garden.” Haha. We also see that Young Do has actually written down his response to his mom’s question on the wall.

At school Tan stops BN in the hallway. He asks if BN knows what style of things ES likes.

In the broadcast room, BN, ES, and HS have a meeting. They are planning something with another school. BN and ES agree to meet up with the kids from the other school, with BN pointing out how good looking they are. After they leave, HS immediately calls Tan and CY, giggling over the ruckus he is going to cause.

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ES and BN are meeting with two male students from the other school at the café. The other boys are flirting with ES and BN, who seem to be enjoying it, when Tan and CY show up. Tan calls out “yeobo” (meaning “dear” and also between a married couple). He tells the boys that Eun Sang is married, and CY tells them to never contact BN.

What an adorable sight. BN, CY, ES, and Tan would be having a double date except it’s not. Insults, blame, and compliments go back and forth among the four as each one is angry with the other’s partner. Somehow, though, the conversation ends with everyone making fun of Tan. Oh, my poor Tan! Hehehehehe.

Now off by themselves, Tan and ES continue to bicker- Tan jealous of other boys even thinking about ES, and Tan claiming his affection for her is pure, as well as his heart. Pouting, Tan walks away and ES yells out to him, asking him when he will give her back her wallet. He replies now and throws her a bag. He declares that he is so happy because they are fighting because of things like this, not because of the circumstances surrounding them. “Let’s fight like this everyday.” Tan waves goodbye and leaves. ES opens the bag he gave her and finds a new wallet inside. Ha! It has Tan’s picture in it, always there for her to see and be reminded of his watchful eyes.

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Yoon walks into a old looking café. He is surprised to see Esther there, having come by herself too. They sit down and talk together about E calling off her announcement with Zeus and Yoon becoming vice president. Yoon asks if R is okay. E says R cried- she liked Tan a lot but she didn’t know how to like him. Esther couldn’t teach her because she herself didn’t know how. Esther confesses that when looking at Rachel, she questioned why she was living like this. Yoon asks, “How are you living?” Esther: “I live life earning a lot of money. I live life as a rich person. I live life without Yoon Jae Ho.”

KA and Tan share a drink, with Tan saying KA is now his dad too. Tan asks when KA will move into the place Won offered. KA says she doesn’t want to live there- she has no desire for a nice house anymore. She just wants to travel everywhere on her own two feet, seeing the sky from all over the world. Starting off, she will walk Gangnam tomorrow.  Tan offers to walk with her tomorrow, holding hands. KA accepts, but add that after then, he should go back to his dad. His dad is all alone in the house. Tan refuses.

Daddy Kim is alone in his house, and he has a dizzy spell. He then sees an image of high-schooler Won walking into the house, cold and unresponsive to kid Tan who is chasing after him. Kid Tan runs to his dad for a hug, but Chairman Kim can’t hug Tan because Won is looking. The memories fade and  the dizziness returns. Dad collapses.

Chairman Kim has been rushed to the hospital, and all three- Tan, Won, and KA- rush over.

The doctor tells everyone that Chairman Kim suffered from a cerebral hemorrhage, and they can’t do surgery unless he wakes up from the coma. All they can do is hope he wakes up for now. KA holds anxiously onto Daddy Kim’s hand. Won and Tan look worried and teary eyed.

JS is in her office, looking conflicted. Her brother comes in urging JS to move now to remove Daddy Kim and Won from Jeguk. He reminds her of what she suffered for all those years, and that is time for her to get her compensation. JS is well aware of that.

Yoon talks Won and Tan. He points out the if Chairman Kim continues to be in a coma, his voting rights (as a stockholder in Jeguk) will be passed out to JS. Won already knows. He predicts that JS will also open a stockholders’ meeting to put Chairman Kim’s dismissal up for voting.

KA sits by Chairman Kim’s side. Tan comes in and tells her to go home. He informs her that something might be up with JS, and he doesn’t want her to meet with JS here. KA understands and leaves. Tan sighs.

JS is talking to Tan’s relatives, saying she doesn’t trust that Won and Tan will be able to take care of the company. She reminds them that the company could have belonged to them too; Tan’s father won the company after a war with them. But no winner lasts forever, and the war can be started again by the person who can win. She tells them to line up behind her.

YD sits on his room with his mom’s business card in front of him, thinking. Still undecided, he goes to the hotel kitchen to wash the dishes.  Suddenly, the other employees begin to whisper about something. YD, overhearing the word “investigation,” runs to his dad’s office. He finds a bunch of men packing up the files from his dad’s office. YD tries to stop them, wanting to know what is happening. But his dad tells him to stop and leave, not wanting his son to see him like this.

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In another part of Seoul, Tan sits in a dark hospital room, watching over his comatose father. Hesitant at first, he slowly takes his dad’s hand.

JS enters the hospital room. When Tan points out that JS is late,  she explains that she had a lot of things to take care since it is unlikely that Chairman Kim will wake up. Tan declares that he will.

JS speaks to Chairman Kim, pointing out that she has become Tan’s legal proxy now that he is like this. Tan warns JS to leave his stocks alone; he will be changing the legal proxy for his stocks to his brother. JS tells him to go ahead; she thinks she will be satisfied to see KA and Tan chased out into the streets penniless. She welcomes him to the world full of ambition, where people steal and lose, step and are stepped on.”

Won comes in. JS looks at Won and Tan- “Seeing you guys now, you two are very similar.” She leaves. Won tells Tan not to worry about whatever JS said; he is not at that age yet. He tells him to go home and rest for today.

Tan’s back at Zeus hotel to go see his mom, but while on the elevator, he thinks about what JS said to him. Needing some air, Tan heads to the rooftop of the hotel. He looks out onto the flickering lights of the city below. He then notices that YD is there on the roof too. YD notices Tan also. They look at each other for awhile, silent.  No words need to be spoken for them to understand why each one is here. They break their gaze with each other and look out into the city once again. Each is lost in their own world, burdened by the continuing trials of growing up and learning that their parents are just as fragile as they are.

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Preview for Episode 20

CY: It seems he has to obtain the power of attorney from the overseas stockholders one by one.

ES: Did something happen to the company?

Tan: You worried a lot, right?

Tan: I’ll will overcome this.

YD’s Dad: I’m going to voluntarily go in.

YD: Then what happens? Will you be arrested?

Won: Will you come to the stockholders’ meeting?

Woman: Will you be okay marrying me?

HJ: Let’s break up. That is my wish.

HS: Thank you, Cha Eun Sang, for being a heartwarming cut (note: like a cut from a movie) in my brutal high school life.

ES: Why are you saying that like person who is leaving for somewhere?

Won’s: Father’s dismissal has been selected for the stockholder’s meeting (note: as a topic to vote on?)

YD: Mothers are a issue whether we/I have one or not.

Tan: Help me.

Comment:

This episode was strangely anti-climatic for a penultimate episode, lacking the final burst of steam to push the story to its exciting conclusion. With Tan and ES reuniting in episode 18, and  his father’s opposition lacking that real sense of threat and hindrance to the couple, his consent to their relationship didn’t have the impact it could have had. There was no doubt that Eun Sang and Tan were going to stay together this time, no matter what Dad said, because their separation was more of a battle with themselves, not with Tan’s dad. He has been full of threats, but nothing actually came from them. So when he said he didn’t lose to Tan, only that he is overlooking their relationship for now, I found his declaration a little sad and pathetic.

JS has finally revealed her claws, but this too, lacks a real sense of conflict. We’ve seen bit and pieces of JS’s spite and anger here and there in the drama, but the tension wasn’t developed and carried throughout the drama for her betrayal to feel dangerous right now. JS’s obstacle for the Tan family feels tacked on to the end of the drama to create conflict for the sake of conflict. When the drama centered so much on Tan and Eun Sang’s romantic conflict, bringing in a larger business/family conflict in the end makes the drama feel disjointed.

I see what Kim Eun Sook is doing. She wants the drama to also be about families healing, as well as a romantic story. We were given characters who were so lonely, never properly loved by their parents. With Eun Sang entering Tan and YD’s lives, they found comfort, love, and friendship in her and with each other. What’s interesting about the character of Eun Sang is Tan and YD found friendship with each other (once again) not because she actively brought them together but because of the situation they were put in because they both loved Eun Sang. The same goes for Tan’s relationship with his mom and Won. Tan’s relationships with his mom and Won changed because Tan himself actively sought to change them, due to reasons concerning Eun Sang, but not because Eun Sang actively tried to bring Tan’s family together. It’s interesting to see how all the relationships around Eun Sang changed without her directly doing anything to changed those relationships. And because of the way Eun Sang is in the background of all these changes, when Zeus and Jeguk troubles arises for Young Do and Tan, respectively, they feel disjointed from the center of the story which the writer has built up so far as Tan and Eun Sang’s love story. It would be great to see Eun Sang take more of an active role in these final conflicts for Young Do and Tan, and but with only one episode left, I don’t know if there is time for her to do so. What we have then, is an 18-episode romantic story with two episodes of family healing tacked on. I cared about Tan’s relationship with KA and Won, but not with JS and Dad since they have shown themselves to be horrible to the very end. I felt a little sorry for Tan’s dad in that strange hallucination scene, but not enough to care that Tan finds resolution with his dad. His could regret his alienation of Tan all he wants and say it was because of Won, but Dad did what he did because he cared about his company more than anything else.

Yet, when I think of these new conflicts for Tan and YD as part of their personal growth, and not just business conflicts, my heart goes out to these two young boys who are continuing to experience the trials of growing up and also learning that their parents are just as fragile as they are. Tan and YD are now watching the powerful father-figures in their lives fall. The realization that those looming towers also standing in front of them were nothing but shadows that disappear with the setting sun must be hard difficult to take in. And in the last scene of this episode, Tan and YD share that growing pain. No words need to be said for them to understand what the other one is going through. Like the way ES’s mom just sat next to KA and let her cry, or like the way Eun Sang simply hugged Tan when he came to her in tears, YD and Tan stand far apart but close together, sharing an unspoken understanding of the emotions that have brought each one to the roof.

As for Young Do’s mother issue, my heart once again went out to Young Do when he sat at his desk, staring at his mother’s business card. He can’t call her or go see her yet; his emotions are still too jumbled up. It’s not easy running to go see a mom you think abandoned you, a mom you longed for, a mom who has suddenly reentered your life through a piece of paper. What will he say to her? What will she say to him? Should he be mad? Sad? Happy? What if he disappoints her?  A million questions hold him back, but perhaps only one question is important for him to take the first step- how much does he miss her?

Tomorrow. It’s tomorrow. The final episode. I still can’t believe that the end has already come. I want to end with a smile on my face, but I already know I am going to cry. I’m preparing a box of tissues. How about you?

308 Comments Post a comment
  1. atina #

    gomawo for the story ounnie ….

    December 11, 2013
  2. saaj #

    Thank you very much joonni….. Its almost end of the drama but i still can’t overcome will all those emotions which i felt in these last nine weeks. Buhhhh i m going to miss this drama and well miss waiting Wednesday. I am feeling Lil suspicious with Hyo Sin’s words. Hope he is not thinking about suicide. I don’t want any sad portion in this drama.finger crossed 🙂

    December 11, 2013
  3. Hello from the Philippines!

    Thank you for your insightful recap. You clearly like the show and your comments help me understand and appreciate the show more. On top of that, you are an objective and gifted critic because you are able to look at the story from the characters’, writer’s and viewers’ point of view. You have a great sense of humor, too. I enjoy watching the episodes, and enjoy it some more after reading your blog. Indeed, I appreciate you for sharing your writing skills, and thoughts with me. See you on the final episode.

    December 11, 2013
  4. don’t End 😥

    December 11, 2013
  5. Ramy #

    Lee Hyo Shin . . . as one of my favorite characters, I was hoping that he would have taken more action against his parents domination over his future and career . . . he should have been more rebellious like Kim Tan. Since we are reaching the last stretch of this story, I doubt that the writer will have the time to further Lee Hyo Shin’s story. Throughout the story, I was waiting to see the character Lee Hyo Shin grow into a person who was not afraid to challenge his parents and become a person in full control of his life. But I was disappointed that I never get to see that. Through the many attempts that Lee Hyo Shin tried to disappoint his parent, and tried to get his message across to them, so far, he didn’t achieved that goal. From my perspective, Lee Hyo Shin never officially stood up to his parent . . . in all of his attempts to disappoint, it was always indirectly . . . always trying to face his problems by escaping, avoiding, and ignoring.

    I hope that the writer doesn’t resolve or end Lee Hyo Shin story by replicating the ending of a similar character in the drama “School 2013.” The character Min-Ki in School 2013 attempted suicide by standing on the edge of the school building rooftop. While looking down, he dropped his backpack off the building to witness and/or experience what it would look like or what would happen for such a heavy weight to fall off of a building from that height and land on the hard concrete. After seeing how long it took before his backpack crashed into the hard concrete floor and shattered with all his belonging all over the place, feared rushed over him . . . and he decided not to take that action . . . not to jump off of the building and leave everything behind. When his parents found out that he attempted suicide, his parents finally received his message . . . that he didn’t wanted to fulfill his parents goals/dreams . . . he wanted to be independent and accomplish his own goals/dreams in life.

    Some of you who commented said that Lee Hyo Shin is probably thanking Cha Eung San because he is leaving to attend a university majoring in film overseas. However, I like to let my imagination go dark. As much as many of you dislike a tragic ending, I actually prefer Lee Hyo Shin’s story to end tragically. Even after his first suicide attempt, his parents still didn’t fear of losing him, and continued to suffocate him and pushed him further into the dark and potentially towards self-destruction. With parents like his, they won’t regret and realized their mistakes until Lee Hyo Shin is gone forever. Or on the bright side, Lee Hyo Shin could have gone overseas to major in film at a famous university by receiving a scholarship and never returning home. But with parents like his, they could easily prevent any universities from accepting Lee Hyo Shin into their film program by with the amount of connections and people that they know. By the way, his parents are lawyers . . . pretty much anything is possible when you are a lawyer . . . if his parents are evil enough, they would probably create false criminal records just to prevent him from being accepted to a film university.

    In short, it would be very difficult for Lee Hyo Shin to escape his parents’ mighty claw; therefore, it would just be more logical for him to self-destroy himself and leave his parents with a life-time of regret and miseries. I apologize for my dark imagination . . . but I can’t wait to find out how this story ends and what would happen to Lee Hyo Shin. Your thoughts?

    December 11, 2013
    • Macoy #

      I would like to think the HS is stronger than that. The writer has not focused on his story enough to fully understand. After he missed the test, the parents sat him down and told him to enjoy the rest of this year and then he can take the test again next year, but then it was never really revisited since then and they haven’t shown him to be depressed or down. If anything he has been happier, kissing Rachel and helping out KT, being playful with Rachel and playfully calling KT and CY just to set up the girls. They have hinted at the possibility of suicide the whole season however infrequently when the focus on his character. I don’t see any reason to have him commit suicide in the last episode other than just shock value, his story was not elaborate on and it sadden the whole episode no matter how the KT and ES and the rest of them end up. It is very possible but I don’t see it happen and it is unnecessary at this point

      December 11, 2013
      • Ramy #

        I can’t agree more . . . the writer didn’t elaborate enough on Lee Hyo Shin’s character . . . a lot is left to our imagination. After watching episode 19, I feel that Lee Hyo Shin will finally have the courage to face his parents and his problems . . . and that is the reason why he thank Cha Eung San. Because of Cha Eung San’s existence in Kim Tan’s life, Kim Tan had the bravery and courage to face all his problems . . . being illegitimate, his brother’s hatred, his hidden biological mother, and his father disapproval of his relationship with Cha Eung San . . . and somehow overcame them. From Cha Eung San and Kim Tan’s relationship hardships, Lee Hyo Shin finally realized that facing your problems is the solution to your problem, and not avoiding, ignoring, and/or escaping them. Therefore, I feel that he would face his problems by leaving to major in film in a university overseas and never return home . . . to restart, renew, revive life. Either way, to restart life or to self-destruct . . . I am still sadden that is drama has to end.

        December 11, 2013
        • Eraetia #

          I really do think that the writer is trying to hint at ‘suicide’. After what HS said to ES, the scene cuts to ES looking at the chalk outline which has always been on the ground. Although I really don’t want this to happen as HS is really one of my favourites, since he manages to continue to be positive (at least until his parents crush his dreams again), joking with RS and all..

          December 12, 2013
  6. Ree #

    YD is crying.. next ep.. 😦

    December 11, 2013
  7. Ng Hoon #

    Thanks joonni. No matter. How many times i have watched the drama i still look forward to your recap.

    December 11, 2013
  8. I love the recaps and only recently discovered them, but they were quickly a must Must read! I’m sad to see Heirs end and only hope for a happy ending, which will help fuel me on to the next K drama!

    December 11, 2013
  9. Lily #

    Dear jooni,

    You deliver your thought toward this great drama esp 19th episode in a very smart way, two thumbs up 🙂

    December 11, 2013
  10. syareeza #

    really like your review. i really do.
    thanks for the reviews so far. you are really good at it. i can visualized all scene you have written before i see it on tv. the heirs (the inheritors) in malaysia just reach episode 10 or 11 (not so sure) but i’m satisfied with your writing. appreciate it very much.

    December 11, 2013
  11. Ja #

    Joonni dear, once again, thank you for another excellent recap. Bless you

    December 11, 2013
  12. Carra #

    Heirs is a disappointment…the real heart of the story is light weight, so much time was spent in HS fight , intrique that the story was weight so much by garbage. The issue of E. Sang disappearing and Kim Tan going bonkers with out her all of the sudden got resolved by no earth shaking resolution but by simply …oh well…I’ll just do it attitude. What the heck? Did the great writer run out of idea? This is written by an amateur….DISAPPOINTMENT. And in Heirs, for me LMH have lost his magic.

    December 11, 2013
    • Alina #

      We really don’t need you to spoil our mood Carra.all the past comments that you made here were full of negativity and this one is not an exception,so I wonder WHY do you still pay atention to Heirs ,when you dislike it so much?

      December 12, 2013
      • mels #

        yeah right, that you don’t like the heirs story, but you still keep watching. i think you have ambiguity in your life. it’s very strange..

        December 12, 2013
    • Carra dear, we are at the last episode of the drama and alot of us are sad and not 100% thrilled about it, therefore please do not say or write anything at this present moment. Appreciate it very much and hope you have a happy life!

      December 12, 2013
      • Lmphil #

        No need for a negative comments carra. We all love HEIRS!!!! Thanks joonni for the RECAP!!!!

        December 12, 2013
    • OUAFA #

      Dear Carra , if you aren’t enjoying the drama as we all does then don’t watch it , and spare your time and energy for something that you like , and keep your negatives thoughts for yourself .

      December 12, 2013
  13. Eva #

    You elaborated and closed up so beautifully! I was trying to put all my thoughts to paper a minute ago, but my brain was so scattered but you mentioned every single thing I was trying to say at the end there alone! I really hope one hour is enough time to close up all of these family ties… I’m also starting to hear Young-Do’s theme in my head and it’s already making me tear up! Oh, my goodness, it’s here… Cannot wait to read what you have say about episode 20! 🙂

    December 11, 2013
  14. sowjanya #

    thankyou jooni for your recap its like a clean picture

    December 11, 2013
  15. thank you so much joonni i always read your review fr ep 16 and still waiting for your review until last episode. your review was so detail and plus all of your thought make me feel i’m not alone enjoying this drama 🙂
    me too, think i’m gonna miss them (the character on this drama) but still confuse about the ending. i hope it will be the happy ending. hope that kim daddy will relize that KA, Tan, and Won are the people who love him purely as family. and maybe after his dismisal relize too that money is not everything. but still hope that won and tan can save their share.
    i wish there will be an additional episode xixixixi
    surely thanks joony. keep up the good work (thumbs)

    December 11, 2013
  16. I still can’t believe that the end has already come. I want to end with a smile on my face, but I already know I am going to cry. I’m preparing a box of tissues. How about you?

    Already frightening now. Reading your recaps 3 times. Re-watching ep. 17 to 19 all over again. Feels like an atmosphere when a doctor claimed your life just about 24 hours left.

    December 11, 2013
  17. Cherry Mae #

    OMG,cant wait for the next episode.. tnx to jonni.. u are very great! two thumbs up! 🙂 KAMSAHAMNIDA!

    December 11, 2013
  18. Adela_Romania #

    Guys, I feel really sad today. I know it will be a great ending but still it will be over 😦
    Nice meeting you all and Thank you Joonni, once again, for your wonderful blog!

    December 12, 2013
  19. From the beginning I was following the recaps before watching episodes and it reveals my excitement. Thanks Joonni……….

    December 12, 2013
  20. Xtina185 #

    Hoping for Heirs season 2 with 50 episodes…..👍👍👍with same cast…☺️☺️☺️

    December 12, 2013
  21. jessicakhoe_ #

    gonna die with curiosity. i saw BTS pictures that taken in wintery-snowy outdoor place, something like a party in Tan’s house, many else … oh gosh, i can’t wait any longer to watch ep 20 finaleeee, but i’m not ready to not see KT, ES, YD, R, MY, BN, CY, etc etc etc again in the heirs at the day after today 😥 so saaadddddd~~ TToTT” we need moree

    December 12, 2013
  22. jessicakhoe_ #

    btw, somehow i wish there will be season 2 with a new plot, but same casts, KT still with ES :p and YD be friends with ES! hmm, maybe we need time gap, around 4 years later (22 y.o.) ! so we can make KT and ES have a happy life-moment, such as engagement? or marriage? ^^,v i think, this season 2 will enough with just less-than 20 eps ;;)

    December 12, 2013
  23. specialist #

    jooni… you are amazing… thank you for detialed recap… when I read your recap, ı feel that I’m watvhing the drama right at that moment. you are really amazing. ı will miss your recaps since the drama ends today. ı am sorry for Young Do, I wont be able to see his character which is the main reason for me to watch heirs.. Also HS, he has strong character for me… I really liked both men and gonna miss them… so many good characters but the drama ends in just 20 episodes. ı thibk this drama needs 4 more episodes (at least) ı really would like to see more Won, Young do, HS and alsona BN-CY interactions… ı really love this couple BN you are so sweet…

    December 12, 2013
  24. ejc #

    Last episode tonight and i cant help but feel sad… ill miss the thrill and excitement of waiting for the live streaming episode every wed and thurs and rushing home from work.

    December 12, 2013
  25. mahoor #

    when ep 20 will start ??

    December 12, 2013
  26. ejc #

    I hope kim tan and eun sang will give us one big looong and passionate kiss before saying goodbye to us! ♥♥♥

    December 12, 2013
  27. Abby #

    Waiting anxiously for you to update us the last episode, Joonni..
    I believe the best person to write a book titled The Heirs would be you Joonni.
    Oh how I wish you will do it – become an author ! I will definitely be one of the avid readers.

    December 12, 2013
  28. dharini #

    i feel lyk im in a shocked haze…i mean clearly ep 19 is a disappointment… i hate kim eun sook or watevr d writers name is for briefing up d story & making it so compact…i understand its not the writers fault… d producers probably restricted it to only 20 episodes and so she had no choice…but still in d beginning d storyline just had so much amazing potential…if only it could have been elaborated in all direction including d cute side characters…

    i also feel dat d main couple’s story could have been elaborated too…i mean it was all just sooo fast right from d begining…KT was just begining to have feeling for her when d mysterious fiancee came into picture…& then ES had leave america so fast…& then in korea too…they found eachother so fast & …then before u know it she leaves the house ….& then he leaves & then she goes back & then d evil father makes her runaway…& KT becomes a mess, gets into fights, is trying to destroy himself….& then before u know it SHES BACK!!! just lyk dat…..i mean couldnt they have made all this more dramatic and slow….i mean the whole point of a “DRAMA’ is to “SLOW AND DRAMATIC”…..a more fitting title for this drama would be “FAST & FURIOUS”!!

    December 12, 2013
  29. Ow ! I feel sad .. Next will be the last episode .. I’ll miss all of them !

    December 12, 2013
  30. ILUVPARKSHINHYE #

    Jooni you should surely write a script one day.
    The way you are thinking is very dramatic and creative.

    December 12, 2013

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