The thread is now open for spoilers, rants and raves, expectations for the next season, and discussions of the show’s high and low points.
Let’s see whether the director is going to leave us in a limbo so we’ll have something to discuss while we’re waiting for Season 2. I just hope that by ending in a cliffhanger, the director has the original LEADING cast members already signed on to do the next season. It’ll be a crying shame if loose ends can’t be properly wrapped up because a cast member (or two) isn’t coming back to the production.
Let’s enjoy the show!
Thanks @pkml3 and I like the gif. Such bright and pretty colours! I’ll be watching Start Up instead of The Uncanny Counter tonight, so I’ll catch it with subs tomorrow. 🙂
So this is how Mun levels up as a counter! 2 Yung spirits now reside in him and he should have healing powers, too. As Wigen said, Mun is a gateway of the world and Yung and all of them. It’s possible then that multiple the Yung spirits can reside in him and “volt-in” as one, increasing Mun’s power if the case arises. Hmmm 🤔 This may be a good counteraction to the evil spirit moving from one body to another (mayor and son) without killing the other person.
The preview to Ep16 shows Mun meeting with parents so I hope we get the closure in that aspect.
Having said the above power of Mun, I’m bracing for the heartbreak that not all of the counters make it. Ms Cho kind of foreshadowed that. I do still hope none of the counters die and the cast return to season 2.
So Mun really looked like a supernatural superhero in this episodes.
I’m really worried for Ms. Choo when someone asked you if you’re okay it’s never a good sign.
Son Ho-jun cameo was fun and sad at the same time. He made me care even in his short appearance.
@Ella and @Janey
I watched Ep 15 at 1.5x or practically double speed as I knew I’d be out of time.
I was kind of hoping that Son Ho Jun would be able to hang around and help the team, especially since we know that Mae Ok is not likely to last the next (and final?) battle. But too bad we lost Jeong Gu. Yes, Son Ho Jun gave Jeong Gu a personable character, and I got attached to him immediately.
I guess since So Mun can host more than one Yung Spirit, the Yung spirit, Su Ho, will have some place to go if his mum does not survive.
I’m sorry for repeating myself but I just find it so unfair, that for reasons unknown to us, Yung Spirits cannot just finish a term and then enjoy their afterlife. They seem to almost be punished to have to remain in Yung indefinitely, be always at the mercy of a host who may die, and then face the danger of dissipating to nothing if they get no new host. Why don’t they get their ‘reward’ of eternal life after all they go through? What made them Yung spirits? Obviously this show is not going to tell us, and so I remain frustrated.
@Ella, Yes to So Mun looking like a superhero. He’s grown in stature. His crystal blue eyes and smoky blue aura when Jeong Gu (Son Ho Jun)’s Yung spirit, Dong Pal, joined with him was pretty impressive.
The word ‘Mun’ sounds like door in Korean… so it’s so appropriate (and definitely it was a planned choice of name). He’s the little door or I’d say the gateway between Yung and our world.
This episode we also see more of Hyeok U (his evil spirit has really disappeared without explanation), once the ‘to-be-forgotten’ side character, who’s actually become quite a notable side character. I wonder how his role will play out in the last episode and into Season 2.
Ah one more thing it’s funny when Ms. Choo said to Son Ho-jun “you hear so mun (rumor) about So-mun” lol
Hey Ladies,
Kalimera from my part of the world!
@Ella that line made me smile! Thanks Goodness for BOD and the lovely fellow commentantors who pointed what So Mun means in Korean.
@GB and @Janey you said it all!
I am glad that Episode 15 was consistent and we got to see a very memorable new character! I really liked Jeong-Gu and So Ho Jun did a great job!
What I liked the best was that in this episode we didn’t have any incosistencies. It was pretty solid and it had a climax.
@GB I agree with you that So Mun hosting another Yung Spirit was an awesome scene and the revelation that So Mun is a bridge, it totally made sense. So as viewers, we were okay with that information.
I am really anxious about Ms. Chu and Go MoTak. The first one is not well physically and the second one is on a suicide mission!
I have seen episode 16’s preview. At least we know that the Mayor would go down. The scene were So Mun’s parents didn’t recognize him was hard to watch. 🙁
I do hope someone interferes and they found out who he really is and what he did to retrieve their souls…!
I will watch Episode 16 tomorrow in the evening, so I will write something when I have concluded the series!
P.S. We are also going to finish watching CLOY. The last episodes 13 + 14 are pretty emotional. I have read that Huyn Bin won the Daesang Award for CLOY yesterday. Still, I have to say that I feel the second part in S.K is a bit out of tune from the first part in N.K. It has some memorable moments that emotionally touched me, but at others I cannot relate.
Spoiler
Spoiler (but it’s a happy one)
Spoiler
Spoiler
They’re still together as a group in the end. 👍👍 That’s all I know.
Spoiler!!!
I’m Very happy with ep16. The beginning reminded me of the Start Up finale walk. Hahaha!
I think everything was tied up well, very emotional with Mun and his parents, the grandparents. The real world villains were put to justice. Even the side stories (Motak’s GF’s death, Hana’s feelings about her family, the date of Ms Chu 😊) had some closure. The only thing missing is what happened to the cartoon drawing contest?
I do hope the road trip across SK chasing demons was happening during school break so that Mun can still continue to be a student.
I really love the TUC team. This series does not have a big hallyu star or romance (a bit of teasing but cute) but the team brings so much power and presence together as the good guys. The bad guys acted well, too. Shirtless Shin was looking so buff in the end. LOL! The actor who played Mun is someone to watch out for – very charismatic, he connects well with his character and audience, and he is super cute!
Shirtless Shin was the best part of the very emotionally satisfying episode and a great parting gift. I’m very disappointed that dramas (at least the ones I watched so far) do not utilize shirtless men enough. You can see that many are so nicely ripped under their clothes so gratuitous shirtlessness would not hurt. Heck it would be welcome. I literally paused Shirtless Shin to admire the goods. Shirtless Villain >>>> Shirtless Hero but dramas are low on both. We should demand a revolution. 🙂
I’m glad that the finale wrapped everything nicely with a bow instead of opting for a cliffhanger or other built-in-sequel nonsense. I know that the show is approved for Season 2 but this finale really gave a full closure to all dangling threads so Season 1 is self contained.
Jo Byung-gyu(So Mun) is the cutest actor alive. Curly bowl cut helps. It took me a while to get used to bowl cuts which I now consider the must-have of dramas, but curly bowl cut is absolutely adorable and the actor sports it so well. I want to pinch his cheeks so badly. :heart: Yes totally agree he’s going to be a major star. So charismatic, likable with great range and fighting moves.
I think that change of writer was felt. I still don’t understand why they introduced Shin’s more sympathetic background since it had no impact on anything. I also remember, like others here, that mayor’s son was identified as carrying an evil spirit within him but that was dropped. Also, what happened to the Yung spirit that survived in Ep 15? I thought he and Wi-gen were now Mun’s co-spirits but nope, he’s MIA.
Overall, I liked the show better at the start when politics didn’t get much screen time (I’m a sucker for highschool drama), was struggling in the middle but 10-16 were pretty strong finish overall. Not particularly in a rush for S2 given the satisfying closure of S1. But love the characters so I’ll check it out. Just no politics this time please. I didn’t think that evil spirits gelled with that part of the story well. It seems that they are just on the run but don’t have bigger designs which is why those 2 storylines never felt organic.
MORE SHIRTLESSNESS NEXT TIME!!!! 🙂
I’m going to re-watch with subs soon, but yes, I agree with @Janey and @Anonymous that the ending was much better than expected.
On top of the plotholes listed above … The other scene that I had hoped I’d see but which was ‘forgotten’ (although we had time for some filler) was to have the drawings of So Mun’s parents completed. It was great that Ha Na came to terms with herself and her family, but I wanted to see a completed or new drawing of So Mun’s parents with their faces drawn in.
I’m so happy with the closure for Grandpa and Grandma and even for Hyeok U. His demon has inexplicably gone away, and I hope it does not return for Season 2!!!
The ultimate stress in the battle against evil… the threat to So Mun’s grandparents took place outside of the Territory so that Mo Tak and Ha Na had to cope with just their own level of power. That was a good call in increasing suspense by the PD.
So it’s more uplifting that So Mun chose to trust in Mo Tak, regardless, and even when being shown the face of his mother. It was team spirit and trust that overcame the tricks of evil.
LOL that Jang Mul says it was not for himself and Ha Na who outdid the psychokinetic powers, they’d be in deep trouble. I don’t know where he popped in from, but he did help Ha Na against the unmovable car. It was amazing that while being ‘summoned’, Ji Cheong Sin’s spirit could still move the Truck of Doom while making the car stick to the ground. That was some power!!!
My hope for S2 is to integrate evil spirit hunting better to overall story. It was not integrated well with the political thriller part at all cause the bad guys just randomly ran into evil spirits who then proceeded to do their own thing (kill people to achieve higher levels without any real contribution to the political side of the story). Unlike, lets say, Kingdom, where zombie plot is at the very center of the political intrigue.
I also hope they fix the genre mix better. I noticed that dramas that try to be many things at once (fantasy, horror, comedy, romance, etc) lose their way and become a mess. While UC didn’t become a trainwreck like TOTNT, it didn’t live to its early potential either. It was saved by immensely likable main cast and interesting world building. But gotta say, switch from hot Shin, who was such a striking villain, to mayor didn’t do it favors. I’ll miss Shin especially after that shirtless eye candy. 🙂 P.S. I shipped Shin and the crazy lady and at one point it seemed as if they would be the evil couple but…sigh. Oh well.
Grandpa and Grandma closure was really the best. I liked all closures. I knew there would be Mun + mom and dad (dad will always be Beom-Pal from Kingdom to me) closure but grandparents + mom closure was such a nice surprise and also unexpectedly touching Hyeok U one. I’m glad he didn’t remain the bad guy.
I’m also glad that Mrs Chu lives despite ominous foreshadowing that, for once, didn’t come true. The episode where she was in the hospital and we found out what really happened with her son Su Ho (ep 11 or 12 I think) had me in tears.
I also give it points for not trying to force Mun/Ha Na romance. If it happens in S2 happens but there was really no time or foundation in S1 where Mun was focused on saving his parents souls while Ha Na was coming in terms with her own family grief. So good decision to postpone it if that’s where they are going eventually.
So yeah I enjoyed it overall but could have been better. It certainly promised more than it delivered due to 2 plots (evil spirit hunting/Yung and politics) that didn’t gel and felt like 2 different shows forcibly stitched together.
I do so enjoy our discussion threads, and this one on the finale of The Uncanny Counter first series is no exception.
I am particularly pleased that Hyeok U receives some last-minute character development, and his continued resistance of Mun’s offer of friendship bodes well for an on-going storyline.
The appearance of Song Ho-jun (whom I first saw and admired in Was it Love?) was a moment of sheer enjoyment. I do hope it was the creation of a character for Series 2 and not just a cameo. It’s very nice to learn that they’re doing their best to establish a season 2 for this kdrama.
By the way, I came across an article by Tom Llewellyn on HITC (under ‘Korean Drama’) which has helped to explain the attraction which this cinematographic genre holds for my Western mind.
I suppose a magnetic season 2 would depend on whether the right screenwriter can be found for the project. I wish the production company all the best, and keep my fingers crossed.
‘Shirtless Shin’ made me laugh. Thank you, @Janey and @Anonymous.
I have a question for everyone who watched Uncanny Counter and Tale of the Nine Tailed. I noticed that both Yung and Afterlife Immigration Office had a rosette window. What’s the meaning of that?
Moreover, what’s the difference between Yung and Samdocheon? I kinda figured that hell with mud water where evil spirits are sent is Samdo river although they didn’t name it. But I have to be sure.
Obviously both shows dealt with afterlife in different ways but I guess there is mythological/religious connection. If someone can explain I’ll appreciate it.
I’m writing this comment after watching E15 and won’t read anyone’s comment until watch E16, lol I don’t want indirect spoilers. Sorry if I repeat things people have said.
Ep15 was great comedic relief, it was great seeing Son Ho Jun!I feel like if Jeong Gu had been around for longer his death would been more impactful. I did wish he was staying around for S2.
Dong Pal asked a good question I still don’t know the answer to; what happens to the Yung spirits if they don’t find a host? Why do they have to stay as spirits? Doesn’t seem like they have any sins to atone for, wish the series will explain this more in S2.
Honestly, what did they do about the evil spirit in Shin Hyeok U? Lol this director doesn’t think we remember?
I hope Mae Ok gets to retire and we get someone else on the team for season 2. I want the team to grow without losing too many people 😭
Another interesting play on So Mun’s name, Mun means door/gate in Korean! So he’s a gateway to Yung, I believe someone mentioned this possibility when they were in the warehouse and the spirit entered So Mun.
How fitting. The battle ground is the demolition site, I remember packmule3 saying that the redevelopment site at the beginning of the show was important for the story.
Not sure when I’ll have time for ep16 but I’ll be back to discuss with you all!
I’m so glad the Healer Grandma is fine. I don’t think I’ll be able to watch the next season if something happens to her. Btw, does So Mun stop going to school? It seems like he doesn’t continue his study anymore..?
Thought I wouldn’t have time till later this week but my evening freed up and so I watched ep 16! Honestly I’m actually very pleased about this episode. Things tied up better than I expected after hearing the original screenwriter left. A few plot holes and questions we’ve all brought up but it isn’t the worst. I’m so happy it isn’t a cliffhanger and S2 isn’t a must. I’ll be happy if they end it here, I only want S2 if the full cast will be back and it’s going to answer our questions 😂 I still cannot believe it’s only 4 counters for a whole country, that makes no sense!
I thought it was cool that they flashbacked to some earlier scenes because even whilst watching this episode I felt like everything was coming full circle.
Yes to a shirtless Cheong Shin! I’ll be on the lookout for him from now on. Loved the whole cast, everyone was great.
@Idungkulitayam not sure whether So Mun quits school, he said to his friends he’s going to study art and sports so maybe he will continue but just won’t take it as seriously as the average Korean student is rumoured to.
Hey Everyone!
I also watched Episode 16 and I am thrilled as well! It is the second ending, after Start-Up, that was so so good and I enjoyed it so very much.
As everyone said before me, there were not loose ends except they missed to explain how the evil spirit in Shin Hyeok-U disappeared or what happened with the comic contest.
Justice prevailed, So Mun met his parents and had a proper goodbye.
His grandparents found peace through Ha-Na.
And the ending was pretty pretty cool!
I really cannot understand what was the reason for writer-nim to leave the Serie. Especially after the conclusion we all saw!
Basically they followed what she had planned from the beginning!
So, it doesn’t make sense.
As for shirtless Cheong Shin! I gave a shoutout earlier about the Series to the gr_forum and I said to pay attention to Lee Hong-Nae!
Although, he was the evil one, the visuals were pretty good.
Yeah for his portrayal and I wish him for the best in his next projects!
Lastly, dear @Anonymous,
If you can wait a little bit, I will write something on the question you asked!
Yes absolutely, Cleo. Take your time! You always have good insights about that topic so it will be worth the wait. 🙂
In reply to @Anonymous regarding the window: all I can think of are the rose windows which were built into European cathedrals from the 1100’s, both for aesthetic effect through the use of stained glass and also for the symbolism of the circle. Rose windows were made of different but equally repeated geometric shapes forming a whole and representing the perfection of God and the heavenly order.
Just a thought.
@Juriel,
What you said is right! You made me look again in my History of Art module archive, and I found out in one of my essays, regarding the Medieval times until the Renaissance, that I have included the symbolism of the circle “as a definition of the Cosmos and the Divine Reality, as it was seen in Humanism, and how this aspect was adopted in Renaissance.”
The photo I chose to include as an example is the following: https://www.instagram.com/p/BL_vj6lA8bO/
Saint Chapelle in France (circa 1248)
Check the usage of vitraeux and the effect it conveys!
I’ll echo everyone’s happiness that the show ended very nicely. The happy ending was so fitting especially for Mun with his parents and Grandparents. I shed a few tears during those scenes. 😭
I’m so happy that everyone was ok and that the red uniforms have been replaced. They look like the Ladies and Men In Black without the sunnies. 😆
I’m looking forward to S2 and I hope we’ll have the same family unit that we have here. Thanks for TUC threads Queen. 🙇🏻♀️
You’re welcome. @ agdr03.
🙂 Let me guess. You cried when So Mun’s mom turned around and recognized him, didn’t you?
Men in Black! You’re spot on! I couldn’t remember why the Counters looked familiar till you mentioned MiB.
Juriel and Cleo, that’s a great explanation for the window! Thanks a lot! I’m now curious how that Christian element found its way into mythology that obviously isn’t.
I gotta say they really made the parents reunion suspenseful. Until mom turned around, it really seemed that parents would go to heaven without realizing they spoke to grown up Mun. I was, like, this can’t be, c’mon! So good job cause recognition packed bigger emotional punch after such a tease.
Yes! I couldn’t help it, it’s right after the Mom said So-Mun’s name. 😭 That recognition meant so much.
It made me wish we can say goodbye too to our loved ones like in the drama.
@Anonymous and @agdr03
That’s interesting information on the window. I’ve never thought of the significance of their shape before.
I was one who was crying happy and copious tears at all the reunion scenes. That’s what was so cathartic and which makes the finale so satisfying.
I was so heartbroken, thinking that So Mun was going to be unrecognised. He seems to have been prepared to let them enter the Afterlife without enlightening them.
If it had been me, I’d have called out to them and identified myself as their child. I’d have too much regret otherwise, and the parents too would have regretted it, that they could have said their goodbyes but didn’t, because they didn’t recognise their child.
I may be wrong but they played it like it was important that parents remembered on their own rather than that Mun and/or Wi-gen interfered by stating who Mun was. Otherwise it wouldn’t make sense that they would just let the parents go without realizing their son saved them. They weren’t clear on it but it seems that they couldn’t just say who Mun was, parents had to figure it out. Or not in which case they would have gone clueless.
A question comes to mind that when we die and meet the souls of our loved ones, will they recognize us? I like the thought that they would somehow. Or something like in the movie Coco (which I really love) where the spirits return to their families who pray and prepare an altar for them.
I think the parents remembering Mun is important closure in the storyline. It’s like a reversal of the blank faces of the parents in Mun’s drawing (made the parents sad hence they were pleading to be included). It will be heartbreaking to have a “blank” face of Mun if the parents can’t remember him. And I’m happy they took time to make it happen naturally. They even offer tea in Yung!
Dear Anonymous and all,
The Academic in my me has to clarify the following:
Humanism was a cultural movement in Renaissance. It has nothing to do with the Roman Catholic Church or the Christians as you said in your comment.
Humanism was the return to cultural studies in education, i.e. revisiting Greek and Roman studies.
So, basically what happened was some things either in education, philosophy or tropes in Art that were used in ancient Greece and later on in Rome, were also used in Christianity.
Written material do exist from the Orthodox Christian Church, but also from Roman Catholic Church. We have several known Fathers and / or Monks that had started back in the 4-6th Century A.D. were debating with older philosophical manuscripts and philosophical issues in order to empower the Christian dogma.
I can tell you with certainty that in 3rd century A.D., (I have seen the photograph of the sculpture in my history books and I have written an essay about it), that the Roman Emperor Constantine the Great, that enstablished Constantinople as the capital of Byzantium was holding a sphere ( σφαίρα / Sphaira) in his hand.
What was the meaning on that?
He was holding the world (οικουμένη / ecumene = where ecumenical derives from) in his hand.
Let us combine that information with the mathematical knowledge that in geometry the cycle and the sphere are perfect geometrical objects. You are beginning to realize what Euclid knew all along when he wrote his thesis: synthetic geometry.
So, what I wanted to say is some things were known in the past, but they were forgotten during the Dark Ages in Europe. When the Italians scholars and patrons found the monuments and the lost Greek and Roman manuscripts they tried to overcome the dark ages, hence the Renaissance happened.
Please check here more about Humanism: https://www.britannica.com/topic/humanism
P.S. I am trying to simplify things. Also, I know all the terms in Greek and I have to find the international equivalent for you to comprehend what I am saying.
P.S.2 I have things to write about what you asked ! I am just collecting information.
This is so great! Thanks a lot! I love learning new things so this explanation and link are very enlightening. :claps:
Thanks @Cleopatra! May the inner academic make many happy appearances!!
❀.(*´◡`*)❀.
Thank you @GB,
I have been in academic mode for so many years. I have written essays for so long that I want to be fully understood.
I guess I kinda missed it. It is the first 4 months of my hiatus.
I will write some more… It is in my writing style. :-*