[HanCinema's Drama Review] "Duel" Episode 15

The penultimate episode of "Duel" is filled with suspense, regret and hopelessness as Mi-rae's and therefore the twins' and Soo-yeon's lives are in danger. Seong-hoon is having a breakdown and is therefore unpredictable whilePark San-yeong will stop at nothing to succeed. Sadly for him, his rivals are equally tenacious and the time has come for the most risky move from Deuk-cheon and Jo-hye yet.

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Things are not looking well for Soo-yeon (Lee Na-yoon), but I do I wish the drama had made her fate a bit bigger a source of suspense, because the science is unclear. Logically, her body is beyond repair and although we know physical injury can be miraculously healed through Mi-rae (Seo Eun-soo), we have not been given enough information for Soo-yeon. Then again, I do not believe the drama would kill a child during its conclusion.

I also do not believe Deuk-cheon (Jung Jae-young) will die, at least not at this point. Dramaland has taught me well that no body or grandiose funeral and tears means no death. Even if Soo-yeon could be raised just fine by her new friends, I have a feeling that a Korean drama would not encourage not only adoption, but the adoption of a child by a couple made up of a biological father and daughter. I can hear the Korea Communications Standards Commission fidgeting in their seats already.

Dramaland realities and clone jokes aside, the episode is quite an emotional one. Even if we as viewers know things will likely turn out okay for all major players aside from the tormented Seong-hoon (Yang Se-jong) and the villains, the characters do not and I feel that the series has done enough in terms of their development to encourage at least some attachment to them. The actors have helped "Duel" a lot, however, that has to be said.

On another note, I enjoy the unwilling bonding between Deuk-cheon and Jo-hye (Kim Jung-eun), but it makes me wonder what their trajectory would have been if her character were given more focus. It seems as if Jo-hye was originally more of an antagonist, but the series seemed to have struggled with finding a use for her. I therefore welcome her current "selfish heroism", even if late in the game.

Now is the time to see who will be left standing, because we know that Sanyeong will fail in their own goals. I do wonder how "Duel" will prepare for the future, however. Will we be left with a world which has discovered a universal cure or will Mi-rae be kept a secret, either by choice or by death? That is one final thing I am curious about.

"Duel" is directed by Lee Jong-jae, written by Kim Yoon-joo and features Jung Jae-young, Kim Jung-eun, Yang Se-jong and Seo Eun-soo.

Written by: Orion from 'Orion's Ramblings'

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