Pinocchio Episode 9 Review (and run, run, run from hyung!)

Wowee Pinocchio! You’ve outdone yourself again. Now that the relationship drama is finally behind us, we begin to focus more and more on hyung, who is honestly the central part of this episode. There’s less action than there is interaction, and honestly I’m perfectly fine with that, seeing how awesome these characters are.

It’s an enormous relief to see DP finally confide in someone regarding his suspicions about his brother. I was honestly worried that the poor guy was going to crumble emotionally at this rate. He’s honestly been through so much, that I’m surprised he can get up every morning what with the crushing weight of all that worry and fear. And who better to confide in than someone involved in the issue, who’s both level-headed and rational, aka YGN’s Cap! Is it just me or did Cap seem ever so slightly miffed at the start of their conversation (you really wanted that hug, eh?) until DP’s words hurriedly brought him down to earth.

I love that DP was absolutely direct with him.

(Talk about a sharp-shooter)

and that Cap didn’t try to pry or find out more but gave some very good advice without judging and jumping down DP’s throat. It’s an interesting dynamic in that I feel like DP seems to gain people who care about him no matter where he goes. His relationship with Cap is almost on hyung-dongsaeng level and will definitely be cemented there once we get some of those hugs. Though, those appear to be a long way coming what with KJM on the loose.

Hyung is good. Very, very good. At first, I honestly thought that he’d be a killer with conscience, that is, he’d stop after those three men directly involved in his father’s death. But I think it’s a given that he’s walking the dark side, after those VERY dark looks he was shooting In Ha.



I’m loving the fairytale/fable/literary work styled episode titles, and their very real connection to each episode. There’s definitely no question now that he’s going to be going after In Ha. And his newfound fame is certainly going to help him in that arena.
Just as In Ha mentioned when DP dragged her away, it just does seem likely that a man who’d go to those lengths to save someone would ever be capable of cold-blooded murder.
The show almost satirizes his newfound fame and that people that suddenly begin to fawn over him, showing just how scary the news is, and how quickly it makes and breaks people.

It’s interesting to see that hyung has achieved the second of DP’s goals that he mentioned in episode 5 and in doing so has left DP extremely conflicted on what do next. That conversation, or cross-examination rather that DP pulled on his hyung at the funeral home was nerve-wracking, as I felt like hyung would snap any second. I was super glad to see him recording that extremely eerie conversation as well as the fact that YGN Cap is in on this, but honestly felt like banging my head against a wall when JM saw and took the phone.
But we’ve two recordings, right? So it’s all good? Yes? Please? Even though hyung has all but confirmed that he was behind the murders, I honestly don’t blame DP for deciding to remain silent for now. DP has lived in the past for a great deal just as hyung has, and to find just how scary a road his brother has chosen to take is pretty darn frightening. This is world-crumbling stuff, and it’s going to get a while to get used to.
  
He wants his hyung to remain a hero, and is worried that his father’s name will also be tainted, should JM’s crimes come to light. He loves and fears hyung, as evidenced by his mad dash through hospitals to find JM then dragging In Ha away from him when he does. Family is family, so I don’t blame DP for temporarily succumbing to weakness. But I say temporarily because hyung is going after In Ha and DP is aware that deep down, he’s going to have to act soon. He’s simply postponing it for now. So long as hyung doesn’t go any further, I honestly believe that DP’s prepared to hide the truth. Too bad it doesn’t seem like things are going to work out that way.
Honestly, so long as DP isn’t indicted for the murders himself, I’m all good. I’m worried that this show may go there seeing how IHYV pulling a few nerve-wracking episodes on those lines and how YYR and Ahn Chan Soo already have wind of JM and him possibly being suspicious. (Please don’t! There’s only so much tension by poor heart can take, and it’s honestly been SEVERELY weakened from Liar Game already!)

It’s also great to see someone else making the connection between JM and danger so quickly. In the fast-thinking, cut-throat world of reporting, it’s nice to see that our leads are not the only ones with brains (*ahemBirthofaBeauty*). Reporter Lee Joo Ho’s discomfort was palpable and hyung was loving it. JM does appear to be acting rather obvious about the fact that he’s going after Cha Ok, or perhaps its that way because we know he’s going to do so. Either way, LJH’s warnings fall on deaf ears as SCO honestly doesn’t seem to give a crap. It’s weird as she certainly didn’t think she was invincible all those years ago when JM attacked her with that trophy, but she’s cool as a cucumber how, in the face of a threat that would leave most rational people freaking out. Then again, this is CO we’re talking about, heartless as she is…wait a second that isn’t true anymore.
Slowly but surely, CO is being won over by In Ha. From that “good job” to the shoes (which means that she cared at least a little from the start?), there’s no doubt that the Ice Queen’s exterior is cracking.

Now I’ve seen elevators used in bringing about hugs between our leads (Angel Eyes <3) and kiss venues and more, but mother-daughter fuzzies? BRING IT ON! Go BumJoo! I still sort of despise, CO, but In Ha’s happiness is just adorable to see, that honestly, whatever, I’m rooting for this ship.

Speaking of the funnies, SBJ and In Ha’s high-five moments were pure gold throughout this episode! I love he steels himself for the first one and outright tries to switch hands for the second one. The peeved expressions of pain that follow are honestly just gold.

Likewise for YYR’s reaction to poor DP, who continues to be the butt of the joke, and stoicly puts up with YR’s constant reminders that she doesn’t feel the same way. It’s going to be EPIC to see the look on her face when she finds out about DP-In Ha’s relationship!

SBJ’s Mother continues to be fantabulous into the few minutes (seconds?) of screentime she has this episode. I love how much she clearly dotes on her son, her joy at seeing him on TV is hilarious to see.

Bum Joo won me over completely with that super warm-hearted gesture he pulled for In Ha’s sake. Honestly, this scene was actually pretty hilarious at the start, seeing just how much it mirrored a scene from Book of the House of Gu, where the same actress played Suzy’s seamstress instructor and was corned by the beautiful Sung Joon aka Gon, in an attempt to distract her. But SBJ finally managed to get past the mild ew factor of that stalking, and show just how much he cared for In Ha. And boy was he right, it’s hard for even Ice Mom not be won over but just how honest, open and real In Ha is (Please don’t ever change!). Their subsequent interactions, and In Ha’s joy is awesome to see!

I mean LOOK AT THAT! She’s so super happy it’s adorable! And honestly props to Ice Mom for taking what she read to heart and at least trying to be nice to In Ha (though she’s still an awful creature for what she did to JM!)

Speaking of which, In Ha’s joy sure does come crashing down fast, I was expecting a bit more of a wait, until perhaps ep 10 before she found out (especially after that fakeout earlier during the interview with JM) but hoo boy is this going to have repercussions. She was utterly heartbroken. It was honestly quite the crash seeing how high she’d been riding, what with the shoes and the food and hug earlier. Pretty sad seeing her begin to hiccup (so they doesn’t just come when she lies but when she feels like she’s going something contrary to what her nature dictates).
Honestly PSH was stellar this episode, from the love in her eyes when she looked at DP, to the childlike joy on her face around Ice Mom, to the anguish here. Oh and the utter devastation when she realizes who DP is, of course. Why does this show torture its character sooo?? And in such a good way? I don’t even know what to say, honestly. I wasn’t expecting the reveal to come this quickly (we do have 11 episodes left!) But the way she kept clutching her chest and saying “Dal Po” had me tearing up as well. Aww, these two!

Onto our beautiful OTP’s interactions! Love, love, love, love that conversation after DP dragged her away. It’s so refreshing not to see throw a fit, or storm off in a hug, but simply trust in him. What is with K-Dramas these days? There’s such an outpouring of trust and affection between the leads, as opposed to dramas circa 2010 and older where even the slightly word was enough for an episode of angst. Gosh this is so beautiful to see! LJS effortlessly makes your heart bleed for him (look at those tormented eyes!) and the gentle way she assures him that she trusts him gave me shades of HWJ-NDJ (and may or may not have had me hugging my laptop).
They go from heartwarming to cute, to heartbreaking so fluidly, it leaves me spinning (and a bit pissed that I can’t seem to find a guy like that).
How is the realization that DP is Ki Ha Myung going to change things between them? Can it just not change things between them?
   And what’s going to happen once it’s outed that they’re a couple?

(*officiallydead*)

Honestly just give me more of these moments and I’m a happy camper. Okay, show? (Or you’ll have to take care of your health *twistsring*)

Some day, I shall get over my obsession with filling these reviews with far too many screencaps. But it is not this day.