Criminal Minds Episode 12: The Last Laugh

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THE LAST LAUGH

BAD TO THE CORE

A final health check was conducted on Jo Young Hoon in his prison cell.

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A furious and indignant Kim Hyun Joon rushed in and questioned him. ‘The victim you mentioned is not your son,  Si On!’

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‘Oh, it wasn’t? Then, who was it again?’ Jo Young Hoon feigned surprise. His flippant manner was contemptible; he was bereft of humanity.

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‘She just barely graduated from high school,’ Kim Hyun Joon berated him, his voice filled with animosity. ‘Seol Ah’,’ Jo Young Hoon stared into the profiler’s blazing eyes. The man was bad to the core.

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The profiler seemed serious and grim and he could not stem his rising anger. But, if he did not control his urge, he would have smashed the crazy man’s face. Jo Young Hoon neither showed remorse nor guilt, the traits of a psychopath. ‘I’ll ask you one last time. How many more girls have you buried? Kim Hyun Joon demanded.

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‘I don’t have much time left. Why don’t you just stop asking such questions and pray for me instead?’ he complained.

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‘Don’t kid yourself! It’s not over yet!’ Kim Hyun Joon pointed out.  With that, he walked off. Curious, he looked over his shoulder for the prisoner’s reaction after the steel cell gate was closed.

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THE LAST LAUGH

The hour was near. It was the time of Jo Young Hoon‘s execution. But the evil man was unconcerned. In fact, he welcomed it. ‘Finally, the grand show’s about to start,’ the criminal proclaimed before he was led to the execution chamber. Following protocol, the priest asked Jo Young Hoon one last time, ‘Do you want to find peace in the name of the Lord?’

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‘I’ve achieved my own peace 19 times!’ he sneered. The big reveal. He had finally revealed the truth. Kim Hyun Joon must have been startled to hear the arrogant disclosure. 19 murders! The man had finally made public that he had killed 19 women!

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Kim Hyun Joon was tired of the antics of the psychopath and was losing patience with his endless charade. ‘Jo Young Hoon,’ Kim Hyun Joon stared coldly at him, ‘Why do you want to bring your secrets to your grave?’

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The murderous convict was devoid of humanity. He was evil through and through. It was useless to reason with him.  Jo Young Hoon’s ginormous ego prevented him from being dragged into the execution chamber. He wanted to ‘walk confidently on his two feet’ to his death.

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Kim Hyun Joon stared into the eyes of the Prison Director. ‘He’d just confessed that he had killed six more people.’  The 19 murders also included the fourteenth victim. The murder case had been a long drawn-out affair. Finally, the monster Jo Young Hoon was getting his punishment but Kim Hyun Joon was not going to let the evil man have his last laugh. 

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The Prison Director asked the prisoner, ‘Do you have any last words?’

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At that point, Kim Hyun Joon rushed into the observation room with the picture of Jo Si On, presumed dead by Jo Young Hoon.

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THE STUFF OF NIGHTMARES Jo Young Hoon growled and hissed, ‘I’ve won!’ Kim Hyun Joon stared with eyes that were frozen like the Arctic ice. Try as he might, he couldn’t shake off the fury that clouded his head. There were many ways to punish a monster.

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‘Do you see this? It’s your son, Si On whom you thought was dead.  Your delusion is over. You lost completely!’  The news about his son precipitated Jo Young Hoon’s rage. Did Kim Hyun Joon feel a wicked twinge of satisfaction?

‘Stop joking. He’s dead! Yeo Jin is coming with me! Yeo Jin belongs to me for good!’ the insane man thundered with false joviality.

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Then, a hood was placed over Jo Young Hoon's head. That moment was filled with nervous tension. The witnesses in the observation room must have tried to steady themselves. Did the evil man die with peace in his heart?

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Kim Hyun Joon stood stony-faced. A coldness emanated from his piercing eyes. He stared for a few moments into emptiness.

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The pertinent question is, ‘Has the psychopath’s fate already been decided from the womb to the tomb?’

LEE JOON GI ACTING PERFORMANCE

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The story which starts in Episode 12 and ends in Episode 13 must be one of the most moving stories in the drama. It touches what is close to most of the audience’s hearts, a mother’s love for her child. The beginning for the child is the ending for the parents. ‘The Beginning is the End is the Beginning.’ The writer has glossed over the family history of the two perpetrators, Jo Young Hoon and Ahn Yeo Jin. In fact, the crimes of their parents and the cycle of violence seemed rather vague. Perhaps, the writer’s aim is to give the audience food for thought. Episode 12 has a positive message. Instead of stressing on the sins of parents, the story emphasizes the positive aspects - the love and sacrifice of parents, specifically, a mother’s love for her child.

📷 📷 The lead character of Criminal Minds, Lee Joon Gi, as usual, outshines the others with his amazing and impressive portrayal and interpretation of Kim Hyun Joon, particularly in the interview with Jo Young Hoon. That interview is the most exciting and interesting segment of Episode 12. The performance of Kong Jung Hwan, who makes a cameo appearance as Jo Young Hoon, is quite memorable.

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Lee Joon Gi’s awesome performance, which is well-supported by the beautiful actress, Lee Sun Bin, is interesting and entertaining. The unexpected hilarity in the seemingly serious interview is bound to afflict the audience. It would not be surprising to hear sniggers or ripples of laughter among the viewers. Lee Joon Gi’s expressions with its interesting nuances are a sheer delight to watch: smug smiles, twinkling eyes, mocking or bemused expressions, angry looks, cold or blank stares, tautened jaws etc. He seems to be able to ease himself seamlessly from one expression to another. Lee Joon Gi has an extraordinary gift of showing his acting talent and energy, particularly, his sense of humour in the drama. His acting skills never cease to amaze the audience.

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But then, the audience not only rave about his amazing acting prowess, but also his other positive qualities - his awesome looks, his brains, his brand of humour, his athleticism and his iconic style.  The viewers see most of them showcased in Episode 12. It is no wonder that Lee Joon Gi is at the top of the South Korean acting hierarchy.