TRIANGLE EPISODE 12

Recap:
Yang Ha tries to make time with Jin Hee at his country estate, but is called back to the casino.  He is later confronted by Dong Soo, who floors the chaebol with a punch and ends up in the same prison yard as Young Dal.  Young Dal meets with Man Bong and pledges to pay back the money in a year's time. A free man again, Young Dal watches with envy as Jung Hee climbs into Yang Ha's car. Chairman Go is now dealing with Lady Kim instead of Boss Min, which leaves Min incensed that Go would switch sides like this. Young Dal makes plans with Boss Min to help get her back on top and help Dong Soo. 

Dong Soo figures he needs to know everything about casinos and gambling, and goes to Young Dal to get this information. Chairman Go plots to gobble up Daejung Casino shares, but Dong Soo has a plan to keep this from happening by getting players who suffered huge losses to file a lawsuit. The lawsuit will help devalue the shares.  Jung Hee hurries to catch up to Young Dal, and they share a moment with their glances. Angry that his plans have been deflated, Yang Ha meets with Dong Soo; Dong Soo's grin indicates he is amused by the new turn of events...   


Dong Soo threatens Yang Ha

My take:
Young Dal's elderly cellmate, Ahn Chang Bong, becomes important in this episode as I knew he must. He owes our young thug, which he mentions as they talk on a park bench. Young Dal insists the old man doesn't owe him a thing. Chang Bong must be rich -- he is approached by Chairman Yoon to help save Daejung Casino. At first I wondered how much help he could render. After all, he was just some convict like our Young Dal. Then as the episode unfolded, I realized he must have some kind of influence or at least the ability to fool chaebols into thinking he does.

Jung Hee is now our conflicted girl in a love triangle. Not only is she spending time with Yang Ha, but she also still carries a torch for Young Dal. I would ordinarily be offended at such behavior, but for two things: 1) this is a K-Drama, and 2) Young Dal did push her away. What is she supposed to do? Pine for him forever? She's not only discovering the sensitive side to Yang Ha (and doubtless the privileges that money brings), but knows that Young Dal is the guy who has her heart, I think. Jung Hee definitely fuels the rivalry between the two brothers.

Chang Bong: "I owe you my life, so I need to repay you."

It almost seems like Dong Soo is in over his head and always will be. Challenging Chairman Go got him beaten practically to death and challenging Daejung in this episode ends him up in jail. He is the essence of a K-Drama hero -- every triumph brings an equally crushing defeat. He appears to be on top for the moment, but I don't think it can last. We've got half the show left to go. Although... it might be interesting to have him win small victories here and there and take down Daejung one brick at a time.

The fights between the bosses in 'Triangle' are actually sheer gold. It appears these guys will change alliances the same way someone in a hurry will change lanes on the freeway. Each apparently has benefits that can outweigh the dangers. Boss Min bankrolled Young Dal at Chairman Go's whim until is was not to Go's benefit to continue this. Now, the high stakes customers are attracted to the casino and Madame Jung and Lady Kim are raking in the cash. Boss Min and Madame Jung have always been catty rivals and now Lady Kim has been thrown into the fray as well. Chairman Go continues his schemes to try and get shares in Daejung Group's projects, and Young Dal now has to figure out how to rebuild and avoid undue attention until he can become strong enough to take over.  

This show was slow before, but it quickly picked up steam. I find myself getting sucked into their schemes, on the edge of my seat to see if they will succeed. Skunkhead Go still grates on my nerves, but that's simply because he seemed a bit too much like a cardboard character. The more plots he's involved in the more interesting he becomes to me. I kept wanting him to rise above the petty thug and start doing something that I can at least care about; if I can't root for him, at least make him a rival worth the trouble. Stay tuned, guys, we're halfway in and I'm eagerly awaiting the next installment.

SEE ALSO: Kim Jaejoong applauds a sasaeng for creating a 'fake dating scandal' using a body double, but points out the mistakes that made the scandal 'unbelievable'