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(OCN Drama) "DUEL" Jung Jae-Young, Kim Jung-Eun & Yang Se-Jong. *The End*


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[HanCinema's Drama Review] "Duel" Episode 13


 

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I have been feeling uncomfortable with the amount of twists thrown around in "Duel" lately, but even I could not have expected this dive into a sea of crazy that episode thirteen takes. Mi-rae's origins are revealed as far more complicated than expected and things are leading us to a showdown with Sanyeong. At the center lies Jo-hye, who makes a bold decision to end things.


 


Oh "Duel", why? Mi-rae (Seo Eun-su) is predictably right in birth secret central and the only good thing I can see coming out of this is the cure inside of her saving the day. Sadly, things have otherwise become too soapy for comfort. Seong-joon (Yang Se-jong) being a clone of his mother's husband is weird enough, as both characters experience, but I cannot imagine how awkward family get-togethers will be after this latest revelation.


 


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I cannot tell if "Duel" has been a sci-fi soap originally masked as a chase thriller or if a chase thriller's creators have become desperate enough to create all manner of outrageous twists to keep things going, but "Duel" has turned into the ultimate makjang drama. Some of the recent changes, such as the more personal approach to the characters, are good. On the other hand, these latest developments of everyone and their dog being biologically related make things too ridiculous to take seriously anymore.


 


This makes Jo-hye's (Kim Jung-eun) recent character development bittersweet, since it has now become the one exciting thing in this mess. Her frustration and horror over Ahn Jeong-dong's (Joo Suk-tae) lack of humanity and love for his child are palpable. This is the first time Jo-hye's facade completely breaks and the person under it is clearly a sensitive one, so I wonder if there is a secret about her that we do not know. Just what is her past and why does she act ruthless for power?


 


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These are questions I do not expect to be answered, however. I thought that Deuk-cheon (Jeong Jae-yeong) and Jo-hye's past would play a bigger part in this story, but I also know the tendency of dramas to gravitate towards the more dramatic. I am not surprised to see the two characters kept as secondary, but I still mourn the potential of their involvement, especially now that things have turned a bit too silly.


 


Since everything has been neatly tied together by the motorcycle of doom complete with violent victim shaking, I can see where the drama is going for the remainder of its duration and so there is little suspense to be felt. I do not know how and when these ideas came to fruition, but "Duel" has sadly become a tiring, messy web I cannot wait to get out of.


 


 


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[HanCinema's Drama Review] "Duel" Episode 14


 


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Tears and emotions are abundant in episode fourteen of "Duel" as our characters find themselves in relations that are confusing and hard to approach. Seong-joon's identity finally gets to him, but things are more dire for Seong-hoon, who is becoming increasingly unstable. Mi-rae's unique abilities surface, but time is not on anyone's side and some tough decisions may have to be taken.


 


It is no surprise that everyone would be emotional right now. A lot has happened to these people and as overly dramatic as I find Yoo-ra's (Uhm Soo-jung) momma-drama over someone she essentially just met, this is Dramaland and blood goes a long way. Even so, I find Seong-joon's (Yang Se-jong) minor breakdown far more convincing, since his very existence is being challenged. His nature is to care for others, but he is human and we have breaking points.


 


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I mean, think about it. He and his brother are clones and their mother is their original's wife. Now his only lady friend turns out to be his biological daughter as well as his mother's daughter and his cure. I am surprised anyone is keeping it together at this point. While Seong-joon's existential crisis is short, it provides some nice bonding with Deuk-cheon (Jeong Jae-yeong), something I wish "Duel' had done more of. Their connection is the most believable here, because we have seen it develop.


 


Yoo-ra is a late addition and so her death carries little weight in emotions and plot for me. Seong-joon has his original's memories and he could therefore make the cure. I do wonder if he will remember in time, however. If not, would Deuk-cheon turn against the clones to save Soo-yeon? I believe he definitely would and with little resistance, since Seong-joon is the self-sacrificing type. I do expect more overblown drama, however, since the series is clearly relying on that to drag itself to the end.


 


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Yoo-ra's death does make me wonder whether Jo-hye (Kim Jung-eun) can now become useful, however. Even if Seong-joon gets Yong-seob's memories back in order to reconstruct the cure, would he not need Sanyeong's resources? The whole team may need to play along with Park San-yeong (Park Ji-il) and Jo-hye will be the only one in there who can protect them. I just wonder if two episodes can fit all of this.


 


Whatever the case, "Duel" has been threatening everyone's well-being for far too long and so the only real risk of death I see here is for Seong-hoon. That one might as well be wearing an "End My Suffering" sign on his forehead by now. Perhaps Deuk-cheon will join him, but I see no reason for it at this point. Then again, what reason has Dramaland ever needed for being overly dramatic?


 


 


cr: hancinema


Edited by FranCella
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binge watched

 

i love it lmao. yang sejong has bright future ahead his acting is pretty solid. i also like his chemistry with mi rae though things gonna be awkward now since he is her dad's clone rkrjfjfjkf but i liked what chief said, you are sung joon and that's it. i don't care about that doc i'm <333 i like how relationships developed slow in this fast paced drama, nothing felt unnatural. i didn't know writer was also writer of queen in hyun's man and nine, but now i get it seeing the twists in this one. My heart goes out to Sung Hoon, knowing what he has been through no wonder he became like this, the angst is too real. Also omg can Sooyeon get a break! The amount of relief I felt when she and Chief FINALLY reunited.. No rainbows and unicorns tho I should've expected after all those cute scenes :rlytearpls: I can't wait for last two episodes, Idk how this was received but it's really great so i hope show got some great ratings!

 

Edited by tang
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  • love changed the title to (OCN Drama) "DUEL" Jung Jae-Young, Kim Jung-Eun & Yang Se-Jong. *The End*

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