Remember : Son’s War Ep 11 Recap (and like father like son)

(I know I said I didn’t have time, and frankly I’m not sure I do, but I couldn’t resist checking out the episode and the first few minutes convinced me to recap.  The wonderful hard-working subbers at Viki are still subbing One More Happy Ending and I’ll be getting out a recap as soon as they’re done! Because my Korean gets my through variety shows and ~40% of drama dialogue but I usually need help with first episodes :P]

Jinwoo stands in front of the urn containing his father’s ashes and vows that he will prove Jaehyuk’s innocence, asking him to watch over him.

1 month later. Jinwoo, with a new sleek hairdo, visits Doctor Lee Junghoon (the one he’d brought in as a witness in the retrial and whose name he forgot) who’s now in prison serving a 2 year sentence for perjury. The doctor mutters that Jinwoo’s father’s death is a shame but Jinwoo sardonically says that Gyuman will soon be in the same position the doctor is in. The doctor realizes that Jinwoo’s thinking of revenge and warns him away from something so futile, as one man can’t go against the 1%. But that’s not what Jinwoo’s here for. The doctor has served his purpose as a witness for the retrial. Jinwoo no longer needs him. So he dug up a list of his past crimes, all of which are enough to extend the man’s sentence to 30 years. Mockery twists Jinwoo’s lips as he tells the a frantic Junghoon this and he smiles in a way that’s eerily reminiscent of Gyuman.

Back at the office, he checks off one person in his web and turns his attention to the next: the doctor who ignored his father’s pleas for help.

That same doctor is dragged away in handcuffs the next day. Jinwoo’s there to witness it and the doctor rages knowing that Jinwoo had to have provided the information that led to his arrest. A flashback shows this was the case, with Jinwoo and Lawyer Song (yay, he’s not going lone wolf and working alone!) snapping pictures of the doctor with that chairmain who got out of jail for supposedly being ill. Jinwoo handed his information over to Judge Kang Seokgyu, playing on his desire for justice and to advance higher in rank. He thanks the judge for having reopened his father’s trial despite how it turned out. Looks like Judge Kang made good on the information. That night, Jinwoo crosses the doctor off his list. Next is Detective Kwak, whom Jinwoo begins to spy on.

Meanwhile, Dongho and Prosecutor Hong Moosuk argue loudly in court as to the illegality of the prosecution’s evidence, their reputations and whatnot, causing the judge to ask both of them to behave or be kicked out. However, they’re all smiles when meeting afterwards in the parking lot, having staged the whole thing. Dongho is especially cheery as they wish each other well on future collaborations. Gyuman’s made a name for himself as a kindly boss and is being interviewed on how he does it. He blathers on nonsense about how the company, and consumers are one big family and feigns embarrassment when taking about his entrepreneurial insight, saying that he doesn’t want to come off as arrogant. It’s all the more amusing when Secretary Ahn makes gagging faces behind his back. Gyuman’s fake smile fades once the interview’s over and he asks Soobum to ensure that they have a drink with Seokgyu soon.

Dongho passes by a group of union workers, that appear related to his present case. The camera lingers on one worker who looks like he’s going to be important. He goes on his way to Gyuman’s office.

Gyuman treats him sardonically, praising the good work he’s doing before suddenly asking him about Jinwoo.

Dongho laughs and talks about the amount of trials he’d had to deal with. How would he have the time? Gyuman dismisses him as Secretary Ahn marvels at how much Dongho’s changed. Gyuman doesn’t buy it.

Soobum offers his two cents saying that Dongho did it for his sake (so that’s the story Dongho’s going with?) but Gyuman finds that hard to believe.

Onto In Ah’s father who’s wondering how long her mother’s going to do without seeing In Ah. She’s still pissed at her quitting her job for what she views as pointless reasons. As far as she’s considered, In Ah’s wrong and that’s that, but she does look a bit worried. Gyuman waits for his father outside the Il Ho Group building and sighs at the ‘pathetic’ sight of the workers standing outside. His father drives up then and the worker the camera lingered on before runs over, empties a basket of lightbulbs and begs the Chairman to rescind the lawsuit, saying that it’s ruining their company. Turns out that’s the president of the lightbulb company, CEO Seo. The Chairman kicks the basket in his face before leaving, and reprimands Gyuman for his handling for the situation.

In Ah’s mother waits outside Jinwoo’s lawfirm. He arrives then and asks her to come in but she simply hands him a kimchi container.

That night, Jinwoo prepares ramen for In Ah who wolfs it down.

She realizes that it is her mother’s kimchi from Jinwoo’s expression. He tells her that she really is worried. In Ah does plan on going back but wants to hand her business card to her mother proudly, as a respected member of the law community once again.

Dongho leaves the Il Ho building to find CEO Seo’s (the lightbulb factory president) son holding a lone protest outside. Despite his lackey’s pleas not to, he goes to the kid and hands him Jinwoo’s card, saying that only this lawyer would be able to help him.

Prosecutor Tak Youngjin shows up at Moosuk’s office asking him why he should cover up the rape case he’s working on but Moosuk tells him to do as told or risk losing everything like In Ah. Meanwhile Dongho meets Bae Joonshik, the cop who gave him information on his father’s case who tells him that it’s strange to see Dongho working with Il Ho group when his father had confided that he was suspicious of Nam Il Ho before his accident. Dongho looks stunned.

CEO Seo’s son comes in search of Jinwoo (and I know I’ve seen the kid elsewhere but I can’t put my finger on it) and insists that it has to be him who takes over his father’s case.

Jinwoo’s over staling Detective Kwak but he makes his presence known this time, wondering if Kwak’s starting a new business. The detective tsks that Jinwoo still hasn’t learnt his lesson. Jinwoo, he says, can’t even step on Gyuman’s shadow. Jinwoo warns him that the knife he embedded in someone else’s back could be plunged into his, and leaves with an eerie smile.

The detective scoffs at Jinwoo’s ‘idiocy’ with his business partner, unaware that they’re being watched.

In Ah gets a visit from Tak Youngjin who’s had enough and is here to help. Prosecutor Hong, he’s discovered, was involved in the suicide case of Jungah’s father. In Ah rushes off to the police station to go over case reports and discovers that there was a written testament from Junah’s father, spelling out that this was a suicidde. She asks for a look at it. Kwak is in the middle of presenting his results on some case he was working on for the police: to spy on a criminal and check his activities out (but was clearly working with the criminal) when Jinwoo bursts in.

The police chief intervenes, wanting to see what Jinwoo has. The results are damning, showing just how deeply in league the criminal and detective Kwak are. Kwak even reveals that he’s on Gyuman’s side. The criminal’s heard of Gyuman’s famous temper but Kwak dismisses it derisively.

HAHA. The police chiefs leave in disgust. Jinwoo mocks that Kwak’s sins have found him just as the cop gets a call. Jinwoo’s taken his revenge a step further.

In desperation, Kwak calls Gyuman. Meanwhile, In Ah places flowers by Jungah’s father’s ashes before taking the suicide letter with the urn. She runs handwriting analysis on it only to discover that the writing on Junah’s father’s last will and that in this letter don’t match. She recalls Prosecutor Hong ending his closing statement with Junah’s father’s supposed last words and look pissed as hell. Kwak burst into Gyuman’s office while he’s making seriously mental faces.

Kwak pleads with Gyuman to help him but it’s too late. Gyuman’s seen the video.

HAHA. Kwak tries to plead drunkness but it doesn’t work. Gyuman forces his head to the floor before warning him against spilling the beans on his ‘secret’.

Jinwoo and In Ah are pleased at karma biting Kwak in the ass. He asks her abuot the investigation on Hong Moosuk. She informs him of the forgery of the suicide note, and thinks it might be enough to catch him. the object of their conversation is having dinner with Judge Kang who brings up Jaehyuk’s trial and probes into his case. Moosuk tells him to drop it now that Jaehyuk’s dead but Seokgyu has no qualms with saying that Jaehyuk could be innocent. Moosuk looks alarmed. Meanwhile, Jinwoo notices the request sent in by Miso Lightbulb Company case for him to represent them but doesn’t have the time. The CEO’s son comes in at that point but Jinwoo refuses the case, saying that he’s taking a break from practice.

The boy pleads knowing his father is innocent and that only Jinwoo can help. The similarity of the boy’s predicament to his own isn’t lost on Jinwoo but he leaves anyway. Yet, he mulls it over while driving and calls back in a few minutes to ask for more details on the case. Gyuman chooses that moment to tell Moosuk to go after the company with everything he’s got. He asks Joo Ik for a new minion now that he has no use for Detective Kwak. CEO Seo’s son (Why doesn’t the show just reveal his name) is handing out leaflets in front of the Il Ho building though people just ignore his presence or throw them away. He poor fellow looks depressed as hell and stares at his flyers on the ground when a hand picks one up.

(I love him). Jinwoo meets with CEO Seo (in a manner that’s quite similar ot his first meeting with his father). He assures father and and son that, despite how young he looks, he will do what it takes to win. Gyuman’s discovered that Jinwoo’s on the opposing side and heads to Dongho’s office where he charges him with winning his as proof of loyalty. Dongho feigns innocence at Jinwoo’s involvement and is jokesy about everything, wondering if he’s won so many trials that Gyuman’s started to think it’s easy. Should he lose one on purpose? A trial is little more than a bet, even he doesn’t know how his life is going to change. Gyuman plays along but his eyes harden.

He tells his newest minion (the one newly sent by Joo Ik) to report Dongho’s every move. Jinwoo learns that the lightbulb company has been a subcontractor of Il Ho group for the past twelve years without incident yet are suddenly being blamed for an explosion that occurred in one of the Il Ho microwaves (the ones they sell). He heads back to the office and meets In Ah along the way who’s gleeful at so many clients flocking to her because of her past experience as a prosecutor.

He tries to play it off but In Ah appears to note that something’s off.

He takes medication that night and stares darkly at the Il Ho group web. Dongho’s minion goes over the case with him and sighs that one bad lightbulb has destroyed the entire company. Dongho doesn’t think that’s the case noting the metals involved. He lists them off, asking his minion why there’s only a specific amount of these metals used in microwaves (due to their flammability). The minion agrees, thoughtfully. The next day, CEO Seo arrives to find an inspection taking place in the factory with machinery being shut down and prohibited from usage. Joo Ik’s also on his way with his ‘kids’ preparing to give the workers a ‘scare’. Joo Ik tells his minion to tell him first if Dongho makes any suspicious moves. Jinwoo has breakfast with CEO Seo and his sonand gently tells him to eat before they start to fight. Gyuman scoffs at the lightbulb company’s downfall in front of Seokgyu who finds it disgusting and tells Gyuman that he may not suffer but the smaller companies do by having to do up against him. The atmosphere between the two gets even more strained when Secretary Ahn acts too familiar to Gyuman’s taste when calming him down. Lawyer Song and In Ah investigate the cause of the explosion and discover that it could also have been due to customer misuse. Joo Ik’s minions arrive at the factory much to CEO Seo and his son’s shock. They claim that CEO Seo borrowed money from them for the purchase for the factory and failed to pay it back, so they now plan to occupy it. Father and son try to stop them but get beaten for their efforts.

Jinwoo gets a call from the son (who now has a name! Seo Minsoo) and rushes over to find Minsoo’s father standing on the roof of the factory, planning on jumping down. Gangsters block Jinwoo’s path but he orders them to get lost, the police are on their way.  JInwoo rushes to the roof with Minsoo and tries to talk CEO Seo out of jumping. CEO Seo thanks him for taking their side when no one else did. But Jinwoo yells at him to stop.

CEO Seo steps forward but collapses due to the stress of it all and is taken to the hospital. Jinwoo watches Minsoo by his father’s side and remembers him weeping by Jaehyuk’s bed. Minsoo wonders if they should just give up on the lawsuit, after having seen how cruel the law is to the poor. But that’s precisely why Jinwoo’s going to fight, because he’s already lost someone to the law. He tells Minsoo to be strong and makes to leave when he runs into Dongho and gets pissed as hell.

Dongho’s all pleased at having predicted they’d meet in court one day and asks for a fair fight according to the law.
Jinwoo: It’s funny to hear ‘according to the law’ from your lips.You know how offtrack the law really is. It’s bitterly cruel to powerless people like me and my client, yet is a laughing matter to Nam Gyuman who owns you. 
Dongho: Jin Woo. I understand your distrust of the law, but it’s the only thing you can depend on.
The next day it’s Jinwoo and In Ah versus Dongoh and Gyuman, who taunts the other pair before court, though his barbs have little effect. Rather it’s Gyuman who gets irritated at how chummy everyone seems (including Dongho) except for him.

Dongho’s side submits their investigator’s report who assures that the defective lightbulbs were the reason for the microwave’s explosion. However, In Ah’s cross-examination reveals that other parts could have been the issue though the technician is quick to place the blame entirely on the lightbulbs due to his experience and investigation. In Ah gets to her point quickly, having discovered that said technician has worked for Il Ho the past 20 years. That’s enough to discredit his ‘investigation’. Dongho tries to defend the practice but gets overrule by Jinwoo, who says that Il Ho group has pushed all responsibility towards their subcontractor without looking for an explanation together, which has resulted in a company of 30 years being bankrupted and jobs lost. He mockingly cites Nam Gyuman’s interview on how all the workers, consumers and subcontractors are family and even In Ah smirks.

Jinwoo continues sardonically, saying that they’ll soon come to discover that the Il Ho groups cares about nothing but themselves. The trial ends on a dismal note for Gyuman who relieves his anger by punching Dongho in the face the moment he exits the courtroom. A horrified In Ah and Jinwoo watch and Gyuman feigns surprise as his hand “moving on its own”. We end on Dongho’s impassive features.