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[HanCinema's Drama Review] "Masked Prosecutor" Episode 13

"Masked Prosecutor" has taken a darker twist than I had anticipated. While jarring, it hurtles forward with such conviction that I've almost forgotten that it doesn't quite fit. Most of this next direction rests heavily on Hyun-woong's shoulders and therefore on the very capable Eom Ki-joon's shoulders.

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His character has stepped forward from the shadows only to be doused in a darkness of his own making. His choices have changed the entire landscape of the drama. He has always been a precarious character, hurt by his parents' bad decisions and suffering under the pressures of their expectations and those imposed upon him by status. While his move towards the dark side isn't completely unexpected, it has been ill-prepared. The focus of the drama has been much more on Dae-cheol, MIn-hee and Sang-taek in terms of character development. Hyun-woong has seen little personal growth until recently. He has been an island unto himself and while that mystery was, at first, intriguing, a little less of it would've been better for this newest deadly development. Adding murder to a rapsheet is quite different than working beneath the law to keep one's father rolling in cash.

The way Hyun-woong has dealt with the murder on his conscience was initially inclusive of a gamut of emotions that would be expected after taking a life. However, "Masked Prosecutor" quickly veers away from his emotional compensation to show how he compensates for it in his life and career. He hardens, which is one way of coping, sure, but we don't see much of what's behind it. That hardened mask he sports makes him another, although less obvious, masked prosecutor - living a secondary life that few know about. There is one scene that stood out: Hyun-woong sits alone in his office as he comes to terms with his newly acquired evil side and smiles unless the moment before the scene cuts. Then he frowns. I hope that sentiment returns. It was so powerful that it stuck with me the rest of the episode. This character needs emotional depth like that because he's been lacking for the last twelve episodes. Perhaps finding out he has a half-brother will continue his newly begun development.

Dae-cheol has been put through the emotional wringer because of his selfish mother. His relationship with her is a big like tug-o-war. He seems to be making headway with her, and then she hurts him again. The emotional instability keeps him from resolving his issues with her, and also affects the quality of his work, which has always been dubious. Perhaps his emotional journey would be more compelling if his career was portrayed less haphazardly and the his romantic interactions with Min-hee were more natural and less forgotten. He has many conversations at his office, but it doesn't feel like he's at work. He flirts with Min-hee, but the relationship stagnates because of writing flaws rather than because both of them are busy in their work and complicated personal lives.

Min-hee is still quite underdeveloped. The appearance of a half-sister has been good for her character and has opened her much as much as her romance with Dae-cheol has done. Her strained relationship with Sang-taek is one of my favorite relationships in the show, mostly because Sang-taek's struggle to cope with his bad decisions is one that I wish to see happening with Hyun-woong, Dae-cheol, and Min-hee.

Written by: Raine from 'Raine's Dichotomy'

"Masked Prosecutor" is directed by Jeon San, written by Choi Jin-won, and features Joo Sang-wook, Kim Sun-a, Uhm Ki-joon, and Jun Kwang-ryul.

 

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