Voice Episode 16 (Final) Recap

Voice Episode 16 (Final)

Chapter 8: For the Last Golden Time, Part 2

“Hope sees the invisible, feels the intangible, and achieves the impossible.” Helen Keller

Kang Kwon Joo (Lee Ha Na) and Moo Jin Hyuk (Jang Hyuk) arrive at the villa. Kwon Joo sees a car and realizes it is the car that Mo Tae Gu drives. She tells Jin Hyuk it is Mo Tae Gu’s car. They draw their weapons and approach the front door. The surveillance camera watches. Jin Hyuk and Kwon Joo go through the courtyard front door. They spy the trail of blood going into the house. Jin Hyuk says the blood is fresh. Jin Hyuk believes Mo Tae Gu brought someone to the villa. They stare at the door into the villa.

In the basement, Dae Sik kneels horrified when Mo Tae Gu turns on the lights and reveals blood stained walls and a table of instruments of death (including the kettlebell). OMG!!! It is a vast array of kettlebells!!! Dae Sik stares in horror. Mo Tae Gu calls him a rat. He picks up a kettlebell. He turns and stares at Dae Sik. Mo Tae Gu clicks! He asks Dae Sik how he wants to die. Dae Sik can only beg for his life. Mo Tae Gu smiles.

Kwon Joo says her conversation with Hyun Ho reveals what happened at the villa 25 years ago.

Flashback…a woman who lived at the villa (the woman is Mo Tae Gu’s mother) reported to the police that her husband murdered someone. Her husband came to the police station and dismissed his wife’s statement stating her sleeping pills had messed with her head.

Hyun Ho tells Kwon Joo that he checked all the records. Transportation CEO Park Jung Nam was found 3 days later in coastal waters. The case was closed after the death was ruled accidental.

Jin Hyuk states the villa is the murder location. Kwon Joo believes Mo Tae Gu and his mother saw the murder of Transportation CEO Park Jung Nam. After that CEO Mo’s transportation company merged with CEO Park’s transportation company to become the biggest in Korea. That’s what you call a hostile takeover! Kwon Joo states CEO Park fought again the merger. He died at the villa on the day Mo Tae Gu and his mother arrived for their vacation.

Flashback…a young Mo Tae Gu and his mother arrive at the villa. Mother is surprised to see a jacket on the couch. The villa isn’t empty. Mo Tae Gu hears sounds emanating from the basement. In the room, CEO Mo watches while his henchman beats CEO Park. Mo Tae Gu creeps down the stair to see what is going on. CEO Mo yells at CEO Park that he won’t tolerate his infringement of his territory. The henchman beats CEO Park more. Mo Tae Gu creeps towards the room. CEO Park tells CEO Mo that he’ll be accountable for this and even his children will be cursed. Love the karma (what goes around comes around) of that statement! Livid, CEO rants and raves and stabs CEO Park with his knife. Mother comes down the stairs calling to Mo Tae Gu. CEO Mo realizes he killed CEO Park. He looks at the doorway into the room. Mo Tae Gu is standing there, stunned at what he just witnessed. Blood splattered on his face, CEO Mo yells at his son. Why is he here? He screams to get lost. Mother appears in the door way, putting her arms around Mo Tae Gu and takes in the scene in the room. She covers Mo Tae Gu’s eyes. Too late for that! Mo Tae Gu can still see the carnage through his mother’s fingers.

Kwon Joo states she believes Mo Tae Gu suffered a psychotic breakdown on that day. Kwon Joo says the person that turned Mo Tae Gu in a murderer was his father.

Mo Tae Gu picks up a small kettlebell (with blood on it) and strides to Dae Sik stating that secrets should remain secrets. Dae Sik tries to get away but his hands are tied behind his back and he can only scoot away. Mo Tae Gu states the truth is draining. He crouches near a whimpering Dae Sik. He asks “how do humans become complete”? He drops the kettlebell and pulls out a curved knife. He cuts his own hand with the knife. He answers his own question “through pain”. Mo Tae Gu’s pleasure in the cut and subsequent blood makes me squirm. Mo Tae Gu drops the knife, picks up the kettlebell, and swings it striking Dae Sik in the face. Can I watch this? Mo Tae Gu walks towards Dae Sik who lies on the ground blood spewing from his mouth.

Jin Hyuk states that Father Mo covered up the murder and felt guilty about what his son witnessed. Jin Hyuk tells Kwon Joo it’s time to go into the house. The front door is locked through a security system. Jin Hyuk applies a plier and the door opens. They enter the house.

Mo Tae Gu goes through Dae Sik’s pockets retrieving a card. Dae Sik asks if Mo Tae Gu killed everyone in this room. Mo Tae Gu is surprised by that question at this point in Dae Sik’s life. He says Dae Sik will be punished in the afterlife. He swings the kettlebell again and again. I can see why the Korea standard board rated this 19+, this is gratuitous violence which is exactly what Mo Tae Gu does (he enjoys this) but it is difficult to watch.

Kwon Joo and Jin Hyuk ease down the hallway upstairs. Jin Hyuk turns on the lights. Smart, how many times do you wonder, why don’t they turn on the lights? They split up to search separately. The security camera watch.

Mo Tae Gu pokes Dae Sik’s belly to rouse him but he gets no response. He drops the kettlebell and walks towards the table. He sees the security camera feed in the computer screens. Stunned, he grips the tables. “How did they find me?” When he sees Kwon Joo he laughs in pleasure. He declares he was going to invite her to play.

Jin Hyuk and Kwon Joo reconnect. Neither of them have found anything. Jin Hyuk is sure that Mo Tae Gu is watching them and wants to play with them. Mo Tae Gu turns the lights off via the computer. Jin Hyuk murmurs he knew they were being watched. Kwon Joo goes to call for backup but there isn’t a cell signal. Jin Hyuk finds his radio doesn’t work. He states a jammer must be block the signal.

Now Mo Tae Gu locks the doors via the computer. Jin Hyuk and Kwon Joo run to the doors and find they are locked. Mo Tae Gu is giddy with glee. Kwon Joo wonders where the basement is. Mo Tae Gu makes sounds come from upstairs. Jin Hyuk and Kwon Joo rush upstairs. Kwon Joo starts to say the voices sound strange but Jin Hyuk hold a hand up to silence her. The sounds are behind a door. Jin Hyuk opens the door. A covered body is inside. Jin Hyuk believes that Dae Sik could be under the sheet and hesitates pulling the sheet away. Kwon Joo spares Jin Hyuk the burden and pulls the sheet down herself. It is a body wrapped in plastic. Most likely the proprietress of the club. Kwon Joo crouches down and declares it is the proprietress of the club. Kwon Joo spots the source of the sounds, a phone playing recorded sounds from movies. Jin Hyuk declares Mo Tae Gu is playing with them.

Mo Tae Gu laughs with glee as the security cameras watch Kwon Joo and Jin Hyuk. He wonders if he should invite them to play. He strides to Dae Sik’s body. He picks up the kettlebell. Dae Sik moans.

Kwon Joo hears the kettlebell! She declares she heard a kettlebell and that Mo Tae Gu is near. Jin Hyuk asks where the sound came from. She says it is lower than their location, likely in the basement. Jin Hyuk knows Dae Sik is likely there.

Hyun Ho is frustrated. Eun Soo asks if the signals from Kwon Joo and Jin Hyuk’s phone are still blocked. Hyun Ho confirms this.

Kwon Joo and Jin Hyuk find the entrance to the stairwell to the basement (hidden behind a door that looked like part of the wall). They rapidly descend the stairs. Jin Hyuk sees the blood stains on the floor. He spies an open door. He states that Mo Tae Gu left the door open to lure them inside. Jin Hyuk opens the door further. He sees Dae Sik lying on the floor. Jin Hyuk rushes to Dae Sik. Kwon Joo yells that this is a trap. Mo Tae Gu comes up behind her with a rifle in his hand. He strikes Kwon Joo down. Jin Hyuk stands up. Mo Tae Gu aims the rifle at Jin Hyuk who aims his gun at Mo Tae Gu. Kwon Joo’s gun is kicked out of the way. Jin Hyuk calls to her and asks if she’s okay. Mo Tae Gu points the rifle at Kwon Joo. Then he points the rifle at Jin Hyuk. He asks if Jin Hyuk got the gift he sent. Kwon Joo calls him a psycho. Mo Tae Gu points the rifle at Kwon Joo. Mo Tae Gu tells Kwon Joo that they are special not like common scums like Jin Hyuk. Mo Tae Gu points the rifle at Jin Hyuk. Kwon Joo denies his claim calling him mental. She states that Mo Tae Gu only lives because his father facilitated. She promises he’ll get what is due him. Mo Tae Gu asks why Kwon Joo doesn’t understand. He states he’ll switch the order and kill Jin Hyuk first.

Jin Hyuk rolls as Mo Tae Gu fires. Jin Hyuk fires back at Mo Tae Gu (hitting him in the arm) who in turns fires at the rolling and firing Jin Hyuk. He charges the door. Mo Tae Gu runs. Jin Hyuk asks Kwon Joo if she is okay. Jin Hyuk tells her to tend to Dae Sik and takes off. Kwon Joo runs to Dae Sik and asks if he’s okay. A groan is all Dae Sik can manage.

Now the chase in the house begins. Up the stairs Jin Hyuk trials Mo Tae Gu who fires a shot to buy from time.

Kwon Joo rushes to the computer (smart girl!) and disables the jamming (which conveniently is a large red button (turning brain off at that plot point)). She calls Hyun Ho informing him they caught Mo Tae Gu in the act. She demands backup. She states Dae Sik is badly injured and Jin Hyuk is fighting with Mo Tae Gu. Hyun Ho goes to code zero and calls for backup and medical to the villa’s address.

Jin Hyuk and Mo Tae Gu fire at each other at opposite ends of the hallway. Mo Tae Gu smiles with joy. Jin Hyuk asks if this villa is his playground. Jin Hyuk states that Mo Tae Gu concealed the truth by murdering his wife. Jin Hyuk vows that Mo Tae Gu will die today. Mo Tae Gu smiles in ecstasy. Mo Tae Gu tells Jin Hyuk not to resent him. She was Jin Hyuk’s wife. He states the truth was concealed by his friend, Dae Sik, not him. He giggles in glee. Jin Hyuk calls Mo Tae Gu a monster and warns him not to say Dae Sik’s name again. Being dissed angers Mo Tae Gu. They exchange more shots. Mo Tae Gu leaves through a door.

Mo Tae Gu walks purposefully ratcheting his rifle as he goes. Jin Hyuk pursues until they face each other through the front door. It’s a stand-off. Jin Hyuk walks towards Mo Tae Gu. With encouragement Mo Tae Gu tells Jin Hyuk to dig down and find his demon. He says Jin Hyuk isn’t any different from him. Jin Hyuk asks if he’s scared and covering it up with idle chatter. He tells him to fire. The police arrive and burst into the courtyard behind Mo Tae Gu. Jin Hyuk fires at Mo Tae Gu’s feet. The police surround Mo Tae Gu. Mo Tae Gu starts to lower his rifle. This angers Jin Hyuk. He calls him a coward and afraid of death. But Mo Tae Gu enjoys the moment and raises his hands in surrender. As Jin Hyuk yells to raise the rifle, Mo Tae Gu puts it on the ground. The police handcuff Mo Tae Gu. He smiles at Jin Hyuk. This is not the ending Jin Hyuk wanted. Kyung Hak steps forward. Jin Hyuk tells him to get out of the way. Jin Hyuk vows to give up his badge for the satisfaction of killing his wife’s murderer. Mo Tae Gu smiles and practically blows kisses to Jin Hyuk infuriating him. Kyung Hak tells Jin Hyuk to lower his gun but Jin Hyuk is locked in rage and desire to end the life the murdering man who now mocks him with his smile. Gently Kyung Hak puts his hand on Jin Hyuk’s hand and lowers the weapon. The police take Mo Tae Gu away. He stares and smiles at Jin Hyuk while he’s lead away. Jin Hyuk can’t tear his gaze from Mo Tae Gu.

Wow, let me take a breather. This isn’t what I expected. We are 20 minutes in and Mo Tae Gu is captured. I have no doubt that the next 40 minutes won’t be a victory lap. I feel the same lack of closure that Jin Hyuk does. Mo Tae Gu must die. There is no other option. Writer Ma, don’t disappoint me.

They take Dae Sik out on a stretcher. Kwon Joo tells Jin Hyuk that Dae Sik’s head and face have serious injuries. They will send to him a hospital where a neurosurgeon will attend Dae Sik. Dr. Lee from Beautiful Mind (who Jang Hyuk portrayed) comes to mind. With tears in his eyes, Jin Hyuk tells the EMTs to take Dae Sik to the hospital.

Jin Hyuk reports that Mo Tae Gu has been captured and Dae Sik is on his way to the hospital. He tells Kwon Joo to come with him to the hospital.

Kyung Hak watches Mo Tae Gu getting treatment in the ambulance. He tells the police that Mo Tae Gu only needs minor medical care. He orders Mo Tae Gu brought to the station after that. Two police officers get into the ambulance with Mo Tae Gu. He smiles the smile of a man that isn’t done playing the game. He chuckles too.

Father Mo gets the news that his son was arrested at the villa. The assistant tells Father Mo is son was shot in the arm. Father Mo orders his assistant to send me and get his son moved to another hospital.

Father Mo calls the director of the hospital and tells him he’s calling in the favor he owes him. The director states he’ll buy Father Mo time but he’ll have to handle the details of extracting his son. Father Mo promises he if brings his son, the hospital will be completely in his power.

The news outlets report that Mo Tae Gu is under arrest for multiple murders committed in his lair. The reporter outside the villa states perhaps 30 murders were committed there.

The police commissioner ends a phone call. He is told Mo Tae Gu is a time bomb that could explode at any minute. The police officer saying this states he must disassociate himself with the Mo family. He wants option. The officer says there aren’t any. The bus accident and the murder spree cannot be ignored. The police commissioner waves the man away. Alone in his office he mutters that all his hard work to achieve this level was destroyed in a moment. He says he should have listened to Jin Hyuk. If only Jin Hyuk could have heard those words!

Mo Tae Gu seems to be in distress. The EMT in the ambulance tells Mo Tae Gu that his father sent him. The two other officers look on unaware.

Jin Hyuk isn’t happy to learn that Mo Tae Gu is being transferred to the nearest hospital due to his pressing medical condition of seizures. Is it the hospital Jin Hyuk’s son is at? Jin Hyuk calls the serious crime unit and states that Mo Tae Gu is faking a seizure to be transferred to a different hospital. Jin Hyuk states he’s going to that hospital. Kyung Hak replies his team will make further arrests. Kyung Hak states that Father Mo try and get his son released and they must not make mistakes.

At the hospital, Mo Tae Gu is rolled into the emergency room. The doctor his father called rushes up and tells the EMTs to follow him. The police wait outside the treatment room. They report that Mo Tae Gu is being treated. Jin Hyuk responds that he is near the hospital.

In the treatment room the doctor tells Mo Tae Gu that his father called. He tells Mo Tae Gu told to the cheesecloth with safflower seeds in his mouth. The doctor states it will appear the Mo Tae Gu committed suicide. He will smell like cyanide. He tells his team to prepare for the surgery and the switch. Mo Tae Gu flatlines.

Now at the hospital Jin Hyuk asks for status. The officers report Mo Tae Gu is still in the treatment room. Then they state the doctor is coming out of the treatment room. The doctor claims Mo Tae Gu took cyanide and has died. He tells the officers to follow him to the treatment room. They find Mo Tae Gu “dead”. The doctor says the body must be moved to the morgue and his family contacted. Upset, the police officers leave the treatment room. They report that Mo Tae Gu has committed suicide. When has that statement ever been true in this series? Jin Hyuk can’t believe what he’s hearing. The officer states Mo Tae Gu took cyanide. The officer states he checked and Mo Tae Gu was no longer breathing. He says the body is being moved to the morgue. The officer states Mo Tae Gu smelled like someone that took cyanide. Kwon Joo doesn’t believe it. She tells Jin Hyuk something is wrong. Jin Hyuk agrees. Mo Tae Gu would not have committed suicide. Jin Hyuk orders Hyun Ho to find out about the hospital’s director. Hyun Ho lets his quick fingers fly and determine the basic details of the doctor. Jin Hyuk tells him to find a connection to the family Mo.

The doctor directs his team to move Mo Tae Gu’s body quickly.

Eun Soo learns that the doctor owes his medical degree due to a scholarship from the Mo family. Jin Hyuk tells Kwon Joo that these pawns of the family Mo are helping Mo Tae Gu escape. Kwon Joo hears something. She alerts Jin Hyuk and listens again. It’s not a stretcher moving the body. She hears an elevator going underground. She realizes that Mo Tae Gu is being transported to the underground parking lot. They run to the stairs.

In the elevator, the doctor ascertains that Mo Tae Gu is okay. They help Mo Tae Gu into a car. The assistant drives away with Mo Tae Gu in the back seat. Jin Hyuk and Kwon Joo arrive at the empty parking lot. Kwon Joo is sure this was a setup to transfer Mo Tae Gu. Jin Hyuk asks for the CCTV footage of vehicles exiting the parking lot to be reviewed.

The assistant tells a still groggy Mo Tae Gu that his father has a fake passport and a ticket on a boat to Japan waiting. Love the irony that Mo Tae Gu gets the same bon voyage package harbor boss received. Mo Tae Gu stares at the new passport and the ticket.

Father Mo tells his son that he’ll take care of everything while he hides in Japan. Mo Tae Gu questions the plan. His father states the situation is dire. Mo Tae Gu reminds his father that he’s one of a kind. He states his father pretended not to know he had a mental disorder. He demands to know if this is funny. Father Mo pledges to do whatever it takes, bribe whoever he needs to, to keep him safe. He urges his son to go into hiding. Mo Tae Gu tells his father to shut up. He screams that he doesn’t need his father’s help. He loses it as he screams Kwon Joo’s name, then Jin Hyuk’s name. Good screams! The psycho label fits!

Jin Hyuk tells Kwon Joo that Father Mo saved his son by faking his death. Kwon Joo states that Mo Tae Gu must flee Korea before the borders close. Hyun Ho calls stating that Father Mo’s secretary paid for a boat ticket. Hyun Ho states the name it was booked under was a loner Japanese tourist that came to Korea but went missing. Kwon Joo asks if Mo Tae Gu will travel under this name. Hyun Ho confirms this stating the ship leaves at 7pm. Jin Hyuk calls Kyung Hak and tells him that Mo Tae Gu will flee via a 7pm boat to Japan. He states he and Kwon Joo will be there and invites Kyung Hak and his team to be there too. Kyung Hak agrees.

Father Mo meets with Prosecutor Park and asks him to close the investigation into the Golden Time team. He claims it is a drain and coupled with his son’s difficulties it’s too much. He asks Prosecutor Park to help him cover the mess up. He promises Prosecutor Park whatever he wants. Prosecutor Park warns that he and his son are in serious trouble. He recommends Father Mo turn himself in. Desperate, Father Mo asks could the investigation be cancelled if his son died. Father Mo says two dead bodies could be switched and his son could be declared dead. He implores Prosecutor Park to certify the death and he’ll make it happen. As Prosecutor Park walks away from the meeting he calls someone and says that cleaning of the rich’s messes made his career but the Mo family mess is too big. He won’t sink his career by helping them anymore. Rats always know when to jump off a sinking ship.

It’s broad daylight now…

Father Mo’s assistant drives Mo Tae Gu to the harbor. As they enter the area they see police and Jin Hyuk/Kwon Joo descend upon a car. Mo Tae Gu tells the assistant to back away. Jin Hyuk sees the car reverse its course. He runs after it. The serious crimes unit van comes into the area their sirens blaring. Mo Tae Gu and the assistant get out of the car and make a run for it. Jin Hyuk calls Kwon Joo on the walkie talkie and tells her Mo Tae Gu is running for his life among the shipping containers. She runs to join the chase.

Mo Tae Gu and his assistant run down the railroad tracks. Kwon Joo hears this and reports it to Jin Hyuk. The police pursue them. Mo Tae Gu and the assistant enter a small harbor. The police arrive and search for him. Kwon Joo arrives. They can’t find him. Mo Tae Gu and the assistant watch from the dock or a boat near the dock. Mo Tae Gu eyes the assistant and forms a plan. He whacks the repeatedly with a metal pipe. He tells the assistant he’ll go to the afterlife knowing he sacrificed his life for him. Mo Tae Gu pushes the body into the ocean. Kwon Joo hears this. She calls Jin Hyuk about the noises near the boats. Jin Hyuk and the team run there. As they run past, Mo Tae Gu takes off in the opposite direction. They see a body in the ocean. They wonder if it’s Mo Tae Gu. Not wanting a delay Jin Hyuk jumps into the water and dives after the sinking body. He can’t find it and must wait for the harbor police to secure the body. They learn the body wasn’t Mo Tae Gu, it was the assistant. The serious crimes unit leaves.

Standing by the dock Kwon Joo calls Jin Hyuk. She has a plan.

Jin Hyuk’s white car barrels down the road. Kwon Joo appears on TV stating that Mo Tae Gu is the murderer of her father and Jin Hyuk’s wife. Mo Tae Gu staggers down the street, stops and watches her interview. Kwon Joo explains that psychopath doesn’t mean murderer. She stares into the TV and offers an example. There’s a man that as a child witnessed his father kill someone. His condition worsened and he turned into a murderer. Kwon Joo says that society doesn’t want to believe murderer are created at a young age. She stares into the camera and smiles. Mo Tae Gu watches her mesmerized.

The reports flood the airways about the Mo Transportation bus scandal, CEO Mo’s murderer status, and the Mo family’s connection to gangster organizations. Father Mo puts his head on his desk, reeling at the aftershocks of being fully exposed to the public.

Kwon Joo returns to her apartment. Mo Tae Gu waits for her with a knife. As she turns, he runs at her, posed to stab.

Father Mo tells himself (again) that Mo Tae Gu’s problem is his fault. He wishes that he had “fixed” Mo Tae Gu when he was young. He says it’s his fault his son is a monster. He considers suicide. He blows his brains out just as Kyung Hak and his team arrive to arrest him. Father Mo’s last thought (after he blows his brains out, turn your brain off to accept this) is “my son, see you in the underworld.”

Mo Tae Gu flings Kwon Joo down on the rooftop. He asks if she came back hoping he’d be there. She tells him he doesn’t get it. Mo Tae Gu snaps that he’s let her live time after time. Kwon Joo scoffs that he thinks he’s great. She counters that he’s small and fragile. She declares he doesn’t have the right to judge and punish others. He moves towards her and she scrambles away. Mo Tae Gu asks what’s wrong with killing the useless? He yells that dominated slave-like people don’t understand life. He grabs Kwon Joo. He screams that it was like this 1000, no 2000 years ago. Mo Tae Gu stares down at the prone Kwon Joo and declares he gave her chance after change but she blew it. He tells her it’s time for her punishment. Kwon Joo says that he asked earlier why she came back. She states she came back to catch him. She’s willing to do anything to catch him. Mo Tae Gu smiles. But then when she learned at 12 years of age, he lost his mother and lived with his murderer father, his transformation to hideous monster murderer escalated. She admits she wanted to become a monster like him and kill him with her own hands. But she changed her mind when someone taught her that the police are there to catch the bad guys. She states in Mo Tae Gu’s next life, instead of choosing to become a murderer, he should choose love as his weapon. Kwon Joo hopes he’ll give himself a better life next time. Mo Tae Gu stares at her. He’s affected. But he shakes that off and asks if she’s done. He raises the knife. Kwon Joo chuckles?? What?? Mo Tae Gu asks is she’s laughing.

The camera pulls back and reveals Jin Hyuk walking onto the roof. Mo Tae Gu turns and stares at him. Jin Hyuk raises his weapon and fires. Mo Tae Gu falls away from Kwon Joo onto the rooftop. Kwon Joo scrambles to her feet. Jin Hyuk draws even with her. They look at each other.

Flashback to the phone call earlier…Kwon Joo tells Jin Hyuk she has a plan to lure Mo Tae Gu to them. She says she has an interview shortly. Jin Hyuk asks if she’ll be okay. He knows that Mo Tae Gu will react. Sweet! Jin Hyuk smiles the smile of a man with a plan to end Mo Tae Gu’s reign of terror.

Back on the rooftop, Mo Tae Gu struggles to his feet and greets Jin Hyuk. Without warning, Jin Hyuk shoots Mo Tae Gu again. He falls down. That’s what I’m talking about! Mo Tae Gu struggles to sit up. He declares when he killed Jin Hyuk’s wife, it was thrilling to hear the sound of her skull cracking.  Jin Hyuk shoots Mo Tae Gu again. Mo Tae Gu deserves this. But I’m betting that Jin Hyuk and Kwon Joo do not kill him. After Kwon Joo’s speech to Mo Tae Gu, I’m guessing they will let him live. Once again Mo Tae Gu tries to pull himself up. He tells Jin Hyuk that hearing his wife’s cries for her life made him feel good.  Jin Hyuk shoots Mo Tae Gu again. Exalted Mo Tae Gu yells this is what he wanted. Jin Hyuk stands over Mo Tae Gu. He looks up at and says the law they respect is easy subverted. He tells Jin Hyuk to do as he wishes.

Jin Hyuk crouches and puts his gun to Mo Tae Gu’s head. Kwon Joo yells “don’t do it”! Mo Tae Gu tells Jin Hyuk to do it. Kwon Joo cries and implores Jin Hyuk that he need not become a monster to catch one. Jin Hyuk stares into Mo Tae Gu’s eyes. He closes his eyes to prepare for death. Jin Hyuk pulls the trigger. He’s out of bullet and we only hear the click. How poetic, the clicker murderer only heard the click. But wait there’s more. Jin Hyuk tosses the gun aside. He picks up Mo Tae Gu’s knife. He holds it against Mo Tae Gu’s throat. Then he pulls the knife away. He asks Mo Tae Gu if that was what he wanted. He’s sorry but he cannot meet his expectations. Jin Hyuk says “I’ve thought about you frequently Mo Tae Gu. I’ve killed you many times in my head. I thought about ways to kill you, with pain and brutality. I thought about ripping your flesh, breaking your joints, and grinding you to dust. But I realized yesterday that is was hopeless. It would be better to abandon you in a place where there is no one to torture.” He runs his hand through Mo Tae Gu’s hair. He calls him a poor soul. Mo Tae Gu reacts. Mo Tae Gu smiles and says that’s what he wanted. He holds the knife to his own neck. He tells Mo Tae Gu not to forget him, ever. He tells him to think of him every day. Jin Hyuk puts the knife in Mo Tae Gu’s hand. He puts Mo Tae Gu under arrest. He calls the other officers to come and get Mo Tae Gu. Unable to believe this turn of events, Mo Tae Gu yells Jin Hyuk’s name.

At the hospital…Jin Hyuk visits his son. He strokes his head. He tells him that he kept his promise. He stares at his sleeping son, lays his head next to him, and settle down for quiet time with the most important person in his life.

The haunting second song “Voice” plays…

Jin Hyuk puts a flower at his wife’s memorial marker. He recalls her positive words to him. He tells her he brought what she likes. He tells her it took him a long time to visit her. He admits he was silly and cowardly not to.

Kwon Joo puts a flower at her father’s memorial marker. She tells her father that they caught him. She reminds him he was worried when she admitted she heard all the sounds. She says she caught the guy using that ability. She smiles.

Jin Hyuk looks at his wife’s picture and says it’s good to see her smile. He tells her he won’t look back anymore. He’s going to move forward. He says their son needs to move forward too. He laughs, smiles, and apologizes for holding on to her for too long. He says it’s embarrassing. Awk! Tears!

With tears in Jin Hyuk’s eyes he says she can go now. He struggles through his tears to say goodbye my love. That was beautiful and moving.

Kwon Joo tells her father to take a good rest. She promises to live her life with a smile. She tells her father there’s one more thing to say…I love you. Awk! Tears! She cries and smiles at her father’s picture.

Kwon Joo and Jin Hyuk go the hospital and watch Dae Sik sleeping on the operating room table. His finger twitches. The doctor says he’s unconscious but breathing on his own. He advises they hope and wait.

Jin Hyuk thinks to Dae Sik “How dare you sleeping when I’m visiting. I’ll let you off today. But tomorrow you’ll need to be up and talking.” He hits the glass, then puts his hand against the glass and smiles at his friend. Lovely!

In the hospital, Mo Tae Gu is prescribed medicine to lower his violence. The orderly mention his jaw makes noise. The doctor notices the stains on Mo Tae Gu’s shirt. He tells the orderly to make sure Mo Tae Gu takes his medicine. He tells him to get him freshened up. The orderly wheels Mo Tae Gu down the hall. In Mo Tae Gu’s mind, he’s put back into the basement where he killed so many. As he sits under the spotlight, he hears their voices (appropriate considering the title of this series). He imagines that the dead surround him. The classical music underscore the crazy. The doctor walks into the light. The murder victims surround him and stab him repeatedly. Mo Tae Gu falls out of his wheel chair. They continue to surround him and stab him. They are giddy with glee. Bloodied and quivering Mo Tae Gu lays on the floor. The doctor approaches with a meal tenderizer mallet in his hand. He stares at Mo Tae Gu. He smiles. As the choral song ends with “Amen”, the doctor raises the mallet and strikes.

Kwon Joo’s voiceover “Later, I learned Mo Tae Gu was killed by a patient in the same hospital. Most of the officer in the police squad were replaced. The police commissioner is being investigated for taking bribes. Golden Time team has been reinstated permanently. My ears used to be a curse. Now I appreciate that my ears help people. I dream of a world where there is no crime. There’s light and shadow. Correcting our mistakes may be what we need to do. So I listen to the people that call me in their desperation.

We see the Emergency Call Center running efficiently. Hyun Ho, Eun Soo, Officer Cheon, and Kwon Joo at its center. The next case comes up. Kwon Joo calls code zero. She directs the officer to the location.

The end. The closing credits thank us for watching. There is hope that the healing can begin and the shame can end. We get some outtakes that show all the actors smiling and enjoying each other. The credits transition to still images of the actors. It ends with Jin Hyuk, Dae Sik, and the serious crimes unit smiling at the camera.

My Thoughts

This final episode was satisfying. It wasn’t epic like the previous episode, which was the pinnacle of the series for me. What this episode did was quell the blood lust for vengeance yet metered out enough that you didn’t feel short changed.

The pacing of the episode and the plot was anti-climactic at times. When they caught Mo Tae Gu at the 20-minute mark, there wasn’t much left to do. I felt the Writer Ma could have beefed up the confrontation at the house. After Jin Hyuk and Kwon Joo found Dae Sik in the basement and Mo Tae Gu fled, it ended up being a chase and not a riveting one at that.

Then Mo Tae Gu’s escape from the hospital, the chase, and the second time he eluded the law felt a bit like filter.

When Mo Tae Gu confronted Kwon Joo at her apartment, you knew finally it would resolve one way or the other.

On the rooftop, my bloodlust was quelled. I’d wanted Mo Tae Gu to die. I’m not sorry he died in the hospital. But Kwon Joo was right, Jin Hyuk didn’t have to become a murderer himself. Jin Hyuk’s stroking Mo Tae Gu hair and telling him not to forget him was effective.

The scenes at the memorial markers were touching and offered closure for both our leads. They were ready to move on.

I found it odd but not terrible that the series ended in the Emergency Call Center where the Golden Time team worked in harmony to save the victims. I was glad that Kwon Joo recognized her hearing as a gift. I was a bit surprised that when Kwon Joo went to code zero we didn’t see officers scrambling to respond. Yes, I wanted to see Jin Hyuk one more time but that didn’t happen. We ended VOICE with the character that heard all the sounds and used her voice to help the victims. Justice was achieved.

Kang Kwon Joo (Lee Ha Na) kept her promise to catch her father’s killer. I am unabashed in my respect for this character. She was wonderful.

Moo Jin Hyuk (Jang Hyuk) completed his quest to avenge his wife. What mattered was Jin Hyuk got the closure he needed to move on with his life. His memorial scene was stellar. With few words Jang Hyuk provided closure to the woman he loved and opened the door to his own future. Jin Hyuk came to life in the final quarter of this series. He caught the tiger by the tail.

Mo Tae Gu was caught and sentenced to his own thoughts forever. The ending scene in the hospital satisfied me. He was at the mercy of his own thoughts and the voices of those he had killed. Kim Jae Wook brought Mo Tae Gu to life. I enjoyed his performance.

How did I do on my wish list for the final episode?
* I’m not sure it’s possible that Dae Sik can live, but I want him to. Granted. Dae Sik did not have much to do but he survived and I was pleased that he did.
* Murderer Mo must die. Granted. He died off camera killed by another patient. I’m a bit surprised to say that if Mo Tae Gu hadn’t died, I was satisfied with the endless torture of the voices of his victims.
* Kwon Joo must live and get the satisfaction of vengeance for his father’s death. Granted. She found her own voice this series and I loved watching it happen.
* Jin Hyuk must live and get the satisfaction of vengeance for his wife’s death. Granted. His half a life ended and he closed the chapter of grief that kept him stuck. It was fitting that he ended the series visiting his wife and son.
* I’d like Kwon Joo and Jin Hyuk have a drink at Grandma’s eatery after they wrap this case up. Denied. So be it. Their implicit trust on the rooftop (and throughout the final episode) was their best example of how far they had come.

I enjoyed this series more than I expected. Police dramas typically don’t interest me because of the “case of the week” aspect. But Writer Ma improved that formula. The 8 chapters of this series had villains shocked and repulsed me with victims who were survivors. Each chapter built upon the former, finding the path to solve the origin murders of episode 1. Writer Ma had issues with the “devil is in the details” parts of the plot as well as nonexistent character growth for most of the series. Our lead characters were limited emotionally until the final 4 episodes when their voices rang out.

Recaps/Reviews:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | Series

About KJT (aka kjtamuser)

Asian drama fan. I watch and blog dramas on https://kjtamusings.wordpress.com/.

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Tagged with: ep 16, episode 16, Jang Hyuk, Voice
Posted in Recaps, Voice