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[HanCinema's Drama Review] "Missing 9" Episode 10

More dead ends and bitter developments take place in episode ten of "Missing 9" as everyone's favorite idol psychopath somehow becomes the most powerful person in Korea and China. The survivors are being hunted and Bong-hee's allies keep dramatically shrinking in numbers. Unfortunately the episode completely drops the ball in some aspects, making its otherwise tense plot unsatisfying.

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The lesser of two failures here is the hospital segment. For one, the fact that Tae-ho (Choi Tae-joon), a famous idol, can walk alongside gangsters in a public space in China without being recognized and having rumors surface is just silly. Silly turns to offensively ridiculous when our good guys speak about a bribed hospital staff while surrounded by hundreds of patients who can and would testify. There is only so much insult to the viewers' intelligence a work can get away with and "Missing 9" is pushing it.

Bong-hee and Tae-yeong cannot believe the liesGi-joon comforting Joon-oh

I call this the lesser of two failures, because it does not significantly harm the story's development or its characters. Gi-joon (Oh Jung-se) and Ji-ah's (Lee Sun-bin) betrayal on the other hand is just a sad moment for this series. Their motivations are solid and Gi-joon clearly feels that he has no choice, but with abundant choices around him, the creators' painting of him as a bromantic victim falls flat. Between the committee, prosecutors, the media, there are options to at least try. This grave decision is just very poorly written and rushed through.

Bong-hee's (Baek Jin-hee) character shows them how it is done and the more admirable and sensible she becomes, the worse their betrayal feels. Bong-hee tries her best until there are no options, rather than giving up before seeking those out. She has also known Joon-oh (Jung Kyung-ho) for a much shorter time than his supposed friends, yet she uses her brain and does not sacrifice her ethics without effort. This is great, but it also emphasizes the creators' flawed logic for their other characters.

Bong-hee escaping after beating Tae-hoJoon-oh and Bong-hee reunite

The episode is not entirely without merit, of course. I highly enjoy Bong-hee and Ji-ah's womanhandling of the comedic failures in the form of Chinese goons. Seeing Tae-ho getting his behind handed to him in a gift basket by Bong-hee is the highlight of this segment. The lack of allies for her might have been poorly designed, but it also gives us material for obstacles and conflicts in the remaining episodes.

As soon as Bong-hee can have her revenge on Joon-oh for his amnesia "prank", the two can finally lead us to the final part of the series. If Tae-yeong (Yang Dong-geun) can pick up his dwindling intelligence back up, the three of them have some justice to deliver. I hope the latest glaring problems will stay away and let me enjoy.

"Missing 9" is directed by Choi Byeong-gil, written by Son Hwang-won and features Jung Kyung-ho, Baek Jin-hee, Oh Jung-se and Choi Tae-joon.

Written by: Orion from 'Orion's Ramblings'

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