The Decide from Hell: Episodes 9-10
by DaebakGrits
Our drama lastly deviates from its beforehand established method to concentrate on a few of the main plot strains, particularly the mysterious serial killer from our detective’s previous. These episodes aren’t with out their fair proportion of violence, after all, however it’s extra of the demon-versus-demon selection.
EPISODES 9-10
Da-on’s grief over shedding his adopted mom is on full show on this week’s opening scene, as he and his fellow law enforcement officials maintain a particularly formal outside funeral for So-young. For apparent causes, the ambiance is extraordinarily somber, however Ah-rong, who crashed the funeral to pester Bit-na, talks by means of the entire ceremony whereas dressed like somebody who dug by means of a pile of soiled laundry for an outfit to put on on her midnight soju run on the nook comfort retailer. Ah-rong has all the time been a bit of additional demented, even by demon requirements, however what was beforehand an amusing character quirk has now been amplified in such a method that makes her more and more obnoxious. She’s extra obsessed than ever with getting Bit-na again to hell and away from the human who has made her delicate and emotional, and as Da-on breaks down mid-eulogy, with rain pouring for added dramatic impact, her all the time watchful eyes spy the tears trailing down Bit-na’s cheeks.
I do know Da-on’s character goes by means of some main shit proper now, however I rolled my eyes over the theatrics of his public — and completely inappropriately timed — declaration that he would personally seek out and kill So-young’s assassin. As soon as once more, I discover his conduct incongruent together with his earlier characterization. I get it, he’s grieving, and So-young was the arrow in his ethical compass. With out her, he’s untethered — besides… what about his adoptive father and sister? Given how little display time they’ve gotten since So-young’s demise, it’s just like the drama desires us to conveniently overlook that Da-on nonetheless has two different morally righteous adoptive relations who would hate to look at him lose himself on his quest for revenge. To not point out, strategy to disrespect So-young’s reminiscence, and make her funeral about you, Do-an.
However possibly there’s nonetheless hope for our (former) lawfully good hero as a result of even Bit-na is regretting her settlement with Da-on — not that she’s able to acknowledge her new feelings but. She’s again to being comically in denial, and tries to brush off her physician’s suggestion that the reason for her leaky eyes are resulting from her being in — *gags* — love.
And but, regardless of the unbelievable prognosis, Bit-na’s actions bely her emotions. She takes care to make sure Da-on is consuming and involves his protection when he aggressively confronts a person graphically speculating over the small print of So-young’s homicide. Unintentionally, Bit-na steps as much as be Da-on’s guardian demon, and it’s a superb factor, too, as a result of his guardian angel can now not fill the position as his protector.
Yeah, that’s proper. Basement Halmoni is definitely the angel Gabriel in disguise, and due to Da-on’s dying mom’s final prayer, Gabriel has been watching over Da-on and guaranteeing he discovered a brand new household in So-young. Nonetheless, as a result of heavenly legislation dictates that Gabriel can solely defend those that are “good and poor,” he can now not watch over Da-on. Apparently, simply considering about homicide will get you assigned to the naughty listing, so Gabriel tells Bit-na it’s as much as her to guard Da-on. Oh, and by the best way, Gabriel provides, I’ve had this prophecy that states that solely you or Da-on can reside, so in case you save him, you then…*slices hand throughout neck*
And right here we believed demon logic was convoluted, however it doesn’t maintain a candle to legal guidelines ruling the Good Place. For starters, if Gabriel is on earth to guard the “good and poor,” then the place the heaven was he when So-young was preventing for her life? Even when we chalk So-young’s homicide as a fated occasion and that it was “her time” to go, what within the Minority Report is that this BS stating the mere thought of killing somebody is sufficient to revoke your guardian angel privileges? How loosey goosey are the angels with this legislation? As a result of whether it is as black and white as Gabriel paints it, then hell should be overflowing with individuals who’ve been reduce off in site visitors or fantasized about killing their boss.
Then once more, Da-on is doing a bit of greater than fantasizing at this level. He’s gone from attempting to show Bit-na dedicated the brow branding murders to actively hiding proof that ties her to the killings. Since our detectives are with out a murder-of-the-week case to unravel, they and their new crew chief are given Bit-na’s string of killings their full consideration, which suggests Da-on has his work reduce out from him if he desires to maintain his new associate (Choi Dae-hoon) from determining he’s masking up Bit-na’s crimes.
Da-on’s new associate, nonetheless, is suspicious in additional methods than one. Not solely does he see Da-on delete the CCTV footage of Bit-na’s automobile driving previous one of many homicide scenes — and is, subsequently, suspicious of Da-on’s motives — the person himself is completely sus. From the second he transferred to their crew, he solely had eyes for Da-on, and it seems his creepy obsession with our main man is as a result of he’s the demon Paimon in disguise.
Let’s rewind a wee bit as a result of Paimon’s introduction to our plot is all because of Ah-rong, who idolizes Justitia and is equally invested in guaranteeing Justitia completes her project and returns to hell. So when Bit-na places the brakes on her plans to kill J, Ah-rong assumes Bit-na’s emotions for Da-on are guilty. Extraordinarily disenchanted in her idol and hoping she will remind her of her true goal, Ah-rong summons Bael with a pentagram and tattles on Bit-na, however she’s not given the distinction of killing Da-on. As a substitute, Bael has Paimon possess the physique of a lately deceased detective and assigns him the fantastic activity of eliminating Da-on and — unbeknownst to Ah-rong — Bit-na. Given Paimon is Justitia’s greatest rival, he’s extraordinarily wanting to smash her plans and ship her lover boy to hell.
As a lot as I’ve grown to dislike Ah-rong’s erratic and obsessive conduct over the course of those episodes, I suppose some grace should be given to her manipulative and backstabbing conduct as a result of she is a demon, however she is simply partially right in assuming Da-on is the explanation Bit-na isn’t shifting ahead along with her plans. Sure, Bit-na is hesitating as a result of she’s finished the mathematics and doesn’t need Da-on to be the ultimate kill that helps her meet her quota of unrepentant murders, however her emotions for Da-on aren’t the one cause she’s hesitating.
You see, after So-young died, Bit-na and Da-on visited the morgue so Bit-na might use her demon powers to see So-young’s recollections, and the face Bit-na noticed standing over So-young in her last moments belonged to Tae-gyu’s youthful, deadbeat brother. With out human Bit-na’s recollections, although, she doesn’t establish Deadbeat Brother till he seems in his courtroom. Name it demon instinct, however Bit-na doubts Deadbeat Brother is able to committing the serial murders. Simply because he was current on the scene of the crime, it doesn’t imply he’s the killer, so till she will verify (or disprove) he’s J, she provides him a light-weight sentence and sends him on his merry method like the remainder of her “victims.”
Given Bit-na’s connection to Deadbeat Brother’s household, her newest verdict causes sufficient of a stir — thanks to at least one unbiased reporter who can’t be purchased off by Tae-gyu and Deadbeat Brother’s father — that her boss is pressured to present her a one-month suspension. Not that Bit-na cares. She views the suspension as an prolonged trip, giving her the liberty to analyze J’s identification and interview the surviving relations of all his victims to make sure none of them have forgiven the unidentified serial killer.
Unsurprisingly, the cold-blooded serial killer stays unforgiven by the 13 victims’ households — together with Bit-na and Da-on’s overly non secular landlady. Though Non secular Landlady misplaced after which rediscovered her religion following the homicide of her center school-aged son, she has not discovered it inside her to observe her faith and forgive her son’s killer. As a substitute, she desires solutions — why her son? So whereas she isn’t precisely wishing the killer would burn in hell, like Da-on, she does need him caught and dropped at justice.
Bit-na nonetheless plans on serving up her personal model of justice, however she’s modified her thoughts with reference to Da-on. She doesn’t wish to stab him along with her demon knife and sentence him to an eternity in hell — not when her cleansing crew confirmed on her behalf that his entire household is in heaven. As a substitute, she’s going to guard him in Gabriel’s absence and make sure that Da-on is the one who survives Gabriel’s morbid prophecy. Bit-na believes the loophole to stated prophecy is for her to finish her mission and return to hell. If she (Justitia) returns to hell, then human Bit-na will die and Da-on ought to, theoretically, reside. After all, Basement Halmoni/Gabriel refuses to verify that this plan will work, which infuriates Bit-na and causes a random good samaritan to step in earlier than she’s arrested for elder abuse. (Say what you’ll concerning the absolute randomness of The Decide from Hell’s theology, however watching Park Shin-hye and Kim Younger-ok bicker as a demon and angel is fairly dang hilarious.)
Preserving Da-on out of hell is perhaps a activity simpler stated than finished, although, because of Paimon and Ah-rong’s interference. Collectively, they blackmail Man-do into utilizing his voice mimicking demon energy to lure Da-on to a secluded location, and dealing underneath the false pretext that Bit-na is at risk, he unexpectedly involves her rescuing — driving off in such a rush that leaves his campfire burning and triggers each forest park ranger who’s preached wildfire prevention business.
Man-do, the little demon that turned adequate to obtain support from Gabriel, might have reluctantly assisted with Paimon and Ah-rong’s plan, however on the first likelihood, he escapes Ah-rong and warns Bit-na that Da-on is in hassle. Fortunately, Man-do had the forethought to carry Bit-na her fight boots, as a result of when she reaches Da-on’s facet, she proceeds handy Paimon an epic beatdown filled with CGI, glowing demon weapons, and wall smashing.
It was a pleasant change of tempo from the weekly gore porn, and on this occasion, Bit-na finds herself on the opposite finish of Paimon’s mindfuckery when he casts an phantasm that makes her consider Da-on is attacking her. The true Da-on yells her identify and helps her break the phantasm and skewer Paimon together with his personal weapon. He seems defeated, however one doesn’t merely kill a demon. As quickly as Bit-na turns her again on her foe to test on Da-on, he unpins himself from the wall, yanks his weapon from his chest, and sends it hurling in Bit-na’s course. Annnnnd, that’s when Da-on steps in and heroically shields her together with his physique.
Whew, discuss a cliffhanger! However the final seconds of Episode 10 aren’t the one factor making me look ahead to subsequent week. Total, I’d say these have been my favourite episodes of the collection up to now, and quite a lot of it may be attributed to the truth that our drama is lastly delving into the meat of our story and the thriller behind the elusive serial killer J. Our characters have begun to suspect — as viewers have for a number of weeks now — that the killer might be Devil, given the ritualistic nature of the murders.
As for the identification of Devil, I’m with Bit-na on this one in believing it’s not Deadbeat Brother, however given he was on the scene of the homicide and was later proven accessing the killer’s knife, Devil is probably going a member of his household. Age-wise, the assemblyman appears extra applicable, given how way back the preliminary murders occurred, however I think that Devil dedicated these murders in a special physique and has since taken up residence in Tae-gyu’s physique. For starters, if he jumped into a baby’s physique, that might partially clarify his twenty-five yr hiatus. Secondly, I think about Devil is the useless sort, so if he’s on the hunt for everlasting life, he’ll wish to spend eternity in a younger, engaging meat sack. And at last, Tae-gyu accused Bit-na of not being the actual Bit-na — and never in an oh-you-haven’t-been-the-same-since-you-almost-died form of method. As a substitute, his assertion was very accusatory, as if he was conscious she was demon possessed.
And talking of the actual Bit-na, the drama retains dropping breadcrumbs about her that makes me extraordinarily interested in her character — and equally apprehensive that the drama won’t ever circle again to her in a passable method. We’ve been instructed that she was despatched to hell by mistake, suggesting she was a superb individual, so I’ve been working with the idea that she referred to as off her marriage with Tae-gyu — and was subsequently murdered — when she realized he and his household have been corrupt. Nonetheless, Tae-young advised human Bit-na was too bougie to affiliate with poor individuals — a trait that’s often reserved for Ok-drama antagonists, or the lead’s love curiosity. (However we’re not going to go down the rabbit gap of what that might suggest for our ending if Justitia returns to hell and the actual Bit-na resumes residing in her physique.)
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