Lawless Lawyer Episode 12 Recap

Lawless Lawyer Episode 12 Recap

Sang Pil (Lee Joon Gi) and Ha Jae Yi (Seo Ye Ji) lay exhausted on the mat. Jae Yi asks why he’s teaching her to fight on her own. Sang Pil doesn’t answer. Tae Gwang Soo (Kim Byung Hee) bursts in to inform them about Judge Cha’s press conference. They turn on the TV to see Judge Cha promise to accept the nomination for supreme court justice. The man who was sentenced to death throws a glass bottle at Judge Cha.

An O Joo (Choi Min Soo) watches the TV showing Judge Cha taken to the hospital. He wonders if she paid the man to create the incident. Yeon Hee’s mother / Judge Cha’s assistant calls O Joo and orders him to come to the hospital. He grouses he was coming anyway.

Sang Pil, Jae Yi and the rest of the team watch the news reports. Only Sang Pil believe that Judge Cha planned the event to garner sympathy. Gwang Soo starts looking for alternative angle footage to provide more insight.

At the hospital Judge Cha Moon Sook (Cha Moon Sook) orders O Joo to tell everyone she’s in a coma. She tells Yeon Hee’s mother who she wants to see at the hospital tomorrow morning. She sends O Joo away with a wave of her hand.

I do enjoy the interchanges between O Joo and Yeon Hee’s mother.

O Joo knows this is a critical time in his relationship with Judge Cha. He muses they both hide their true selves behind their masks.

O Joo slips on his mask as tells the press that Judge Cha is in a coma. He can’t believe this happened in “his” city.

The alternate footage proves Judge Cha knew that man would attack her. Sang Pil declares that Judge Cha’s plan to turn herself from villain to victim is working perfectly. Sang Pil ignores Jae Yi and tells Gwang Soo they need to investigate further. They split. She sighs.

Judge Cha tells the chief prosecutor she won’t press charges against her attacker. She decides to make a statement to the press.

With the sobbing attacker next to her, Judge Cha declares she can understand a parent’s loss of reason as the result of her verdict. She forgives the man. The crowd applauds as she hugs the man. Sang Pil asks Judge Cha if she allowed the attack to happen to eliminate the scrutiny about the photo from 18 years ago. Judge Cha glares at Sang Pil and declares that photo was fabricated as previously stated. She leaves. Jae Yi tells Sang Pil his supposition is correct. Sang Pil tells Jae Yi to head home. He leaves.

She feels his cold shoulder.

Jae Yi watches her father’s support of Judge Cha on TV. She sighs when she thinks about Sang Pil pulling away from her. Geum Gang’s sister shares a bite and advises that her father will found out the truth about Judge Cha soon enough and to give Sang Pil space. She tells Sang Pil they are a darling couple.

Sang Pil struggles with Jae Yi’s mother’s request to leave her daughter alone. He knows Jae Yi digs him as much as he digs her. Sang Pil shocks Gwang Soo with the news that Jae Yi’s mother is alive. He warns him to say nothing until Jae Yi’s mother agrees.

Sang Pil meets with Jae Yi’s mother and agrees to her request that he break up with Jae Yi. She’s pleased. But she doesn’t recognize the notebook of information Sang Pil was sent. He can’t believe it. He was sure Jae Yi’s mother was the silent supporter.

Sang Pil, you are an idiot for agreeing to break up. When you break up with Jae Yi I’ll repeat this opinion.

Jae Yi is pleased that her strategy has erased the negativity.

Things go her way too often for my taste.

O Joo is livid when he learns the Golden City development is on hold. Then he learns Judge Cha isn’t backing the development anymore. He storms out of his office.

Judge Cha and the lawyer aren’t sympathetic to O Joo’s anger. Judge Cha says the Golden City was put on hold because it might become a problem later. O Joo points out he promised voters the development would happen. Judge Cha and the lawyer can’t help but chuckle. O Joo didn’t get elected on his merit, they helped put him there. O Joo sees that his lawyer is really Judge Cha’s lawyer. The lawyer slaps O Joo’s face and tells him he’s serves the one with the power and that isn’t O Joo anymore. O Joo tells Judge Cha that she only used him to get control of his company. She doesn’t deny it. O Joo declares he’s no longer her loyal servant. He promises he’s going to look out for himself from now on.

The scales fell from O Joo’s eyes. What will he do?

When O Joo’s assistant asks him for a favor, O Joo loses it and works him over. He yells that he’s the one in charge. He stops short of beating him with a brick. He warns his assistant he won’t get another chance.

Gwang Soo and Sang Pil wonder who gave him the notebook. When Geum Gang and the rest of the gang arrive for work, Sang Pil declares its time for payback for his uncle’s murder. He declares O Joo’s assistant must pay. And this time, they won’t play by the rules, blood will be spilled.

Sang Pil and Gwang Soo arrive at a bar where they find O Joo’s assistant drowning his sorrows. Sang Pil tells him his day won’t be getting any better. Geum Gang et all arrive and take O Joo’s assistant with them.

They hang a blindfolded O Joo’s assistant by the hands in a warehouse. Sang Pil promises today he’ll suffer just like his uncle did.

O Joo wonders where his assistant is.

O Joo’s assistant says he only followed O Joo’s orders. He swears he has evidence that O Joo ordered his uncle murdered. Sang Pil pretends O Joo’s assistant will fall to his death. But he only falls one story. Sang Pil warns him that O Joo won’t be as kind. Sang Pil and his men stride away with the assistant’s phone and smiles on their faces.

Sang Pil practiced restraint, did O Joo’s assistant deserve it?

Yeon Hee’s mother is not happy to learn her investment in Golden City is on hold. She demands to know what O Joo plans to do about it. He asks if she’ll help him. She promises that as long as he can get her money back, she’ll do anything.

Sang Pil arrives at O Joo’s office. He tells Yeon Hee’s mother that she’s well known for being Judge Cha’s dog. She doesn’t like the description. Sang Pil finds it fascinating that they are together. Sang Pil promises O Joo that tomorrow he’ll get a special present. He promises to tell Judge Cha about their relationship. O Joo aims a pistol at Sang Pil. He walks straight to O Joo’s gun. O Joo pulls the trigger but there isn’t any bullet. Sang Pil makes a gun with his hand and pretends to pull the trigger. He swaggers away.

Bold move, Sang Pil, bold move.

Sang Pil returns to the office to find a gleeful Gwang Soo and Geum Gang. They show him the video of O Joo ordering his uncle dealt with from O Joo’s assistant’s phone. He tells Gwang Soo before he sends the video to the prosecutor, to post it for the public to see. Sang Pil tells him they must determine who gave him the notebook before they try O Joo in a court of law.

O Joo has his former assistant search for his assistant. He’s shocked to see the video of him ordering Sang Pil’s uncle’s murder online and reported on the news.

Jae Yi arrives at work not happy with Sang Pil taking steps without keeping her in the loop. She says they need to talk.

At the beach, Jae Yi demands to know why he’s acting distant and why he’s not sharing all. Sang Pil says there are things he can’t share with her right now. She strides away.

The chief prosecutor meets with Judge Cha and her lawyer. Judge Cha order him to bury O Joo in court. She gives him evidence of campaign finance fraud. He’s not sorry to get the assignment.

Livid that Sang Pil posted the video, he demands that his assistant be found…now.

Jae Yi’s mother calls her for lunch (Jae Yi doesn’t know this is her mother). Jae Yi agrees.

The lunch goes well until Jae Yi unknowingly eats fried shrimp. She has an allergic reaction. Her mother realizes what has happened and orders an ambulance. Jae Yi asks how she knows that she’s allergic to shrimp. Yeon Hee’s mother calls. Jae Yi’s mother runs out to answer the call. Jae Yi realizes the woman is her mother. She calls her. Her mother apologizes for leaving. Jae Yi says only her mother knows she’s allergic to shrimp. Her mother hangs up. Both women cry. Jae Yi is determined to find where her mother went.

Jae Yi’s mother texts Sang Pil that she’s at Judge Cha’s house. He leaves the office. Gwang Soo and Geum Gang wonder where he’s going and why he didn’t tell them.

Jae Yi’s mother slips a white powder in Judge Cha’s tea. She notices and won’t drink it. She spins and reveals she knows who her masseuse is.  Judge Cha yells that she should have stayed away. She calls for Yeon Hee’s mother who drags her out of the room. Judge Cha falls to the ground.

Judge Cha flops more than most soccer players.

Jae Yi searches for where her mother is staying.

Sang Pil searches Jae Yi’s mother room. He recalls telling her that Judge Cha probably knew her identity. But Jae Yi’s mother refused to back down, insisting that she help nail Judge Cha.

Jae Yi is shocked when she finds Sang Pil staring at her family photo. She asks if he knows her mother is alive. Tears fill her eyes and she demands to know why he hid the truth from her. She rushes out room. She calls her mother but gets no answer. Sang Pil grabs her wrist. Jae Yi says her mother’s phone has been off for a period of time. She’s worried something has happened.

Jae Yi goes to Judge Cha and demands to know where her mother is. Judge Cha scoffs that family only makes you weak. She calls security. Sang Pil arrives and tells the guards to unhand her. Judge Cha tells the guards to back off. Sang Pil drags Jae Yi out of the judge’s chambers.

Jae Yi demands to know if Sang Pil is using her mother for his revenge. Sang Pil says she’s too upset to hear the truth. Jae Yi declares that Sang Pil has been driven by revenge. He stalked her with revenge in mind. He returned to town with revenge in mind. With tears in her eyes, Jae Yi declares she can no longer trust him.

She asked him the right question.

Yeon Hee’s mother meets O Joo with the news that the Chief Prosecutor is taking his campaign cash as payback. O Joo counters that he needs her support. He warns her Sang Pil has something special planned for her.

These two are a bright spot in this series.

Gwang Soo tells Sang Pil they can’t find Jae Yi’s mother.

Jae Yi searches the streets for her mother. The panic rises.

Prosecutor Chun arrives at Sang Pil’s office with the news O Joo will be investigated for murder soon. He puts the evidence of campaign finance fraud on the table and asks if Sang Pil provided it. Sang Pil eyes widen at the documentation. He realizes Judge Cha is going after O Joo.

Judge Cha enters the empty courtroom.

Sang Pil and Gwang Soo stare at the wall of evidence. He tells Gwang Soo that Judge Cha is going after O Joo.

Judge Cha recalls sending the notebook of information to Sang Pil.

Sang Pil says Judge Cha supplied the notebook of information so he could eliminate her enemies for her.

The chief prosecutor tells Judge Cha that O Joo will be finished with all the evidence against him. She smiles.

Sang Pil says that Judge Cha used his revenge to her advantage. Gwang Soo points out that Sang Pil’s ultimate take down goal is Judge Cha. Sang Pil says that was a calculated risk Judge Cha took so she could use him to wipe out her enemies.

My Thoughts

Who is using who? The reveal that Judge Cha set everything in motion makes perfect sense. She IS the chess master of this series. Sang Pil realized she lured him to town to extract revenge for her. Can he ever hope to extract revenge against her?

Bong Sang Pil (Lee Joon Gi) realized that Judge Cha is using him. Writer Yoon allowed Sang Pil to see that he was another tool in Judge Cha’s toolbox. It must chafe knowing unwittingly he’s been doing her dirty work. How can he turn things around? What can he do destroy Judge Cha? Sang Pil honored his word to Jae Yi’s mother and pulled back. But when Jae Yi realized her mother was alive, she naturally accused Sang Pil of betrayal. And is she wrong to question Sang Pil using her for his own revenge?

Ha Jae Yi (Seo Ye Ji) learned her mother was alive. The quiet woman that told her call her mama is her mother. Just as Jae Yi realized this, Judge Cha revealed she knew who her masseuse was and had her taken away. Like a wounded animal Jae Yi went to Judge Cha’s office but of course the chess master revealed nothing. Sang Pil arrived and dragged her away. She realized he used her for his revenge. Accordingly Jae Yi declared she couldn’t trust Sang Pil. She searches alone for her mother. Will she realize she must go to Sang Pil for help? Jae Yi’s passion is a double-edged sword.

I rank this episode (on a scale from 1-10) as almost terrific. My episode ranking chart is below.

The fourth song of the OST is “Livin’ in the City” by Pullik is the theme song of the series:

About KJT (aka kjtamuser)

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

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Tagged with: episode 12, Lawless Lawyer, Lee Joon Gi
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