Vagabond Episode 12: Can You Survive The Dangerous Game Of Exposing And Fighting Against Government Corruption?

Yesterday's episode was already an intense one involving smuggling people literally from Morocco to South Korea. Chief Min himself is still unaware of his hated rival Director Kang to be still very much alive. At this point, the government is, in default, under the control of John & Mark as a result of the actions of Chief Min and Secretary of Affairs Shadow. Speaking of Shadow, I really think he looks like Nariaki Utsumi (a henchman from Namba Enterprises) from Kamen Rider Build. This really makes it intense when you've got the good guys who seem to be Kamen Rider Agito's Hojo Toru (Tae Woong), Akibaranger's Hiroyo Hakase (Hae Ri), and Solbrain's Jun Masuda (Dal Gun) all the while they're facing their own version of Super Science Network (a villain faction in Janperson) under the control of Reiko Ayanokouji (Jessica).

The situation looks pretty dire for the heroes. Both the president and his prime minister at the Blue House still don't know what's going on. Shadow himself deserves his nickname for this reason - he's a very good liar and he knows how to play his cards. It's now a game of blackmail with both Shadow and Chief Min. Shadow himself also dares to lie that Michael the deceased vice president of John & Mark was the sole perpetrator. Wait, what? Didn't Sang Mi just lie to everyone under Jessica's command that it was Dynamic Systems who ordered the plane crash? I do like it though that the president is starting to suspect something is wrong with Shadow. Shadow though remains calm instead of defensive - a really good trait of any good villain!

The escape in the pier is really one difficult scene. Chief Min and Shadow have the police under their control too. I love the intense gunfights here especially when Chief Min proves that he can still, at least, fire a freaking gun at people. Director Kang is from afar firing shots as a sniper. I can't wait to see Chief Min and Director Kang see each other face to face. When all else fails - any good villain with a back-up plan does what they have to do. Shadow makes up a story that the other four are terrorists. What do you expect? You can't have Captain Garoa, I mean, Woo Gi testify in court, right? 

Can you always trust the mainstream media to tell you the truth all the time? Sadly, you can't and this show somehow communicates that fact through fiction. The runaway scene has a helicopter following it. However, Shadow phones the mainstream news and warns the CEO with blackmail. It's amazing how the villains here play dirty. They don't want the mainstream media involved because Chief Min is ordered to make sure Woo Gi doesn't testify. While I personally still hate Chief Min as a villain but I'd admit, Shadow is probably my favorite villain in the show. Shadow is very subtle in his dirty dealings with Jessica. Jessica pretty much also somehow mirrors Atsuko Takahata's role as Reiko in Janperson with her cold demeanor. Jessica orders her assassin Lily to try and take them out. However, I do feel Lily is just wasted working as a shadow agent. Hopefully, she will get a good fight scene. Moon Jung Hae perfectly nails the role of a good villain. 

The trial begins and it's with fabrication from John & Mark. What makes Shadow a really good villain is that he remains calm even when the truth surfaces. A fake transaction between Woo Gi and Dynamic Systems is presented to the judge. What's amazing is how Jessica plans to wrap it up as soon as possible. If you can't get both sides of the story then this is all but trial by publicity! One of the bereaved still tries to get the truth out no matter how hopeless. It takes a lot of guts, especially when in this story - the mainstream media has betrayed the people. Ko Kyu Pil one of the bereaved is determined to expose the dirt. People just tend to believe everything that the mainstream media tells them. However, the Vagabond group of small-time nobodies start to get everything exposed. Boy, it's really a tough fight when the enemy is much bigger than you are, right? 

The next situation is just plain hopeless. Chief Min though proves himself to be what he is - as a run-on-the-mill henchman like Zulten in Turboranger. Jessica has disposed of her valuable assassin Jerome but why in the world does she keep Chief Min around? Chief Min has a big mouth and he might blurt out everything sooner or later. That guy can't do anything if it wasn't for Shadow! Chief Min is ordered to have the heroes and Woo Gi shot down to avoid them from showing up during the trial. Chief Min though gets what's coming to him in part when people finally assault him. Woo Gi finally shows up which would turn the tide of things. But this is where things get rough! You know any good villains like Jessica and Shadow aren't going to let the heroes slide so easily. I love how these two really know how to tighten up the game. But first, I wish we'd see Chief Min shot by Lily since he's practically just there to be there. Or better, I'd love to see Chief Min getting thrown off the top floor of John & Mark by Jessica herself. 

Based on a preview, we see John & Mark trying to play innocent, the bereaved trying to expose it, and Hae Ri gets hospitalized after what may be a gun wound. A scene has her under the intensive care unit and later she's seen sleeping. I wonder how this will play. I really hate it whenever a female protagonist gets into this kind of situation! Wait, didn't we see Suzy Bae's character gets shot in Gu Family Book in the final episode? It seems Dal Gun can be seen kneeling in prayer in the preview - something he should've done episodes ago if you ask me! I can't wait to see how it'll end. Granted, we've got four episodes left and maybe I'll either watch My Country or maybe backtrack with My Sassy Girl, My Golden Life, or Yong Pal which are all finished. So, I won't be doing episode reviews for anything that's already done airing in contrast to occasional posts.