LAWLESS LAWYER
THE MASTERPIECE
LEE JOON GI
AS
BONG SANG PIL
BONG SANG PIL
THE ICONIC CHARACTER
AND
HIS ICONIC SCENES
HIS ICONIC SCENES
LAWLESS LAWYER
THE MASTERPIECE
LEE JOON GI
AS BONG SANG PIL
THE ICONIC CHARACTER
AND
HIS ICONIC SCENES
It is
not every day that one hears of drama masterpieces. But, one would agree that
Lawless Lawyer, an extraordinary story of daring and courage, is an exquisite
masterpiece. It must be emphasized that it is the actors, together with the
production director, the scriptwriter, action director and the
production staff, who have made the drama into a masterpiece - a work of art
and an iconic drama. But, it goes without saying that Lee Joon Gi, the lead
actor, plays a significant role in this as he is iconic as Bong Sang Pil in
his iconic scenes in the iconic legal action drama.
The
story, Lawless Lawyer, speaks of Bong Sang Pil, the eponymous lawyer, who
rounds up a squad of merry men to weed out corruption and injustice in the
fictional world of Ki Seong. It is an insanely risky and dangerous task and
Bong Sang Pil does not escape from being singed in the process. His beloved
uncle, Choi Dae Woong, is murdered by the gaggle of lowlifes headed by Ahn Oh
Ju.
Bong is extremely
lucky to have the assistance of Ha Jae Yi, the love of his life, who ramps up
her efforts and sharpens her claws to battle the supposed pillars of Ki Seong
who are in cahoots with Judge Cha Moon Sook. The gritty couple and their team
of dedicated jokers share many interesting moments of pulse-pounding excitement,
heart-stopping danger and entertaining comedy.
One
twist that no one expects is, in the end, Bong Sang Pil gets rather chummy
with Ahn Oh Ju, his nemesis, and together they bring down Justice Cha Moon
Sook, the female mastermind who has an iron-like grip over the nexus of corruption
and injustice in Ki Seong.
One
would never look at legal dramas the same way again after watching Bong Sang
Pil in Lawless Lawyer.
The
drama, Lawless Lawyer, boasts of a star-studded cast. The list consists of
the ‘Who’s Who’ drama heavyweights of the South Korean drama industry - Lee
Joon Gi, Ha Jae Yi, Choi Min Soo and Lee Hye Young, who play their roles to
perfection. But, don’t you even for one moment think that the supporting
actors and kelefes are inferior. In fact, they
are also very cool actors who live up to expectations – Yeom Hye Ran (Nam
Soon Ja), Choi Dae Hoo (Seok Gwang Dong), Lee Han Wi (Ha Ki Ho) and Park Ho
San (Cheon Seung Beom) to name a few.
As Bong
Sang Pil, the lead character, Lee Joon Gi is Numero Uno Lead Actor in 2018.
The passionate and diligent actor should be reaping awards, such as: 1. The
Best Actor Award. 2. The Martial Arts or Action Award 3. The Hallyu Superstar
Award 4. The Most Stylish Actor Award. 5. The Most Popular Male Star Award 6.
The Most Romantic Couple Award (with Seo Yea Ji).
  
Must one
hammer home the point that he should get The Daesang or The Grand Daesang?
Grand Daesang? Why not? If the Goryeo Dynasty can have a Grand General, why
can’t South Korea have a Grand Daesang?
The
acting of the other main actors is superlative and they should also receive their
dues – large rewards. The two top villains are: Ahn Oh Joo, Numero Uno Male
Villian, played by Choi Min Soo and Judge Cha Moon Sook, Numero Uno Female
Villian portrayed by Lee Hye Young. Seo Ye Ji would be Numero Uno Romantic
Partner and Numero Uno Rising Star.
The South
Korean drama has attracted the global attention of both men and women, but if
you are intellectually snobbish, don’t worry. The sterling intellectual
genius in you would most likely be stimulated by the serious and provocative contemporary
issues examined in the drama. Who knows, you might even be enamoured of Lee
Joon Gi, the handsome, sexy, witty, athletic and humorous Asian superstar who
cannot resist leaping and flying across your screen!
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THE
PRELUDE
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Lawless Lawyer has many
iconic scenes and the opening scene is one of the most iconic scenes in the
drama. It features the interaction between Bong Sang Pil and a traffic
policeman. If one is helpless in dealing with corruption in the usual way,
one must fight it using unusual methods. In this scene, Bong uses technology
to trap the corrupt policeman.
One must draw attention to
the fact that it is one of the scenes that Lee Joon Gi does not look like Lee
Joon Gi. One is stunned. Mouths must have gaped open. Lee Joon Gi has morphed
into Bong Sang Pil!
ASTONISHING. AMUSING. SO
COMEDIC. Lee Joon Gi seems to be having fun playing the character. The
audience can feel it and they are amused. They side him even though they know
he is wrong in using unethical means to trap the corrupt traffic policeman.
The viewers love his
interpretation of the character. He is absolutely amusing. Funny. One can
sense the actor’s sense of humour and laugh with him. He has pulled off this
powerful and subtle scene. It is mind-blowing. The character is very
appealing and the viewers are truly entertained. Lee Joon Gi has nailed the
scene in his spectacular style. His acting makes a lot of difference to the
scene.
Lee Joon Gi never fails to
surprise and astonish his viewers. He is quite capable of morphing so deeply
into his on-screen character that viewers cannot recognize any trace of
the actor whom they are familiar with.
He transforms into his comedic
screen role quite easily. The subtleties in his expressions are interesting.
The viewers do not expect
the surprises that he is going to spring on them.
SOPHISTICATED AND WEALTHY. Bong understands
the intentions of the officer. He wants to tease the officer a little by
showing that he is rolling in money. A supercar would not do. A person who
owns such a car has to be rolling in liquid money - cash.
He mischievously flaunts his wealth by
drawing the officer’s attention to the rolls of paper money in the centre
console storage of his car, from where he pulls out a wallet bulging with
cash.
Bong drags out some notes. On his
knuckles is a frivolous-looking tattoo which spells SPERA, meaning ‘to hope’.
It is impossible for the officer not to see
dollar signs as Bong rifles through his wallet.
Is Bong trying to bribe him? The officer
seems indignant. He instructs the driver to get out of his car.
Bong complains that the policeman is just
too uptight. He is summoned to walk away from his car so that they would be
under the radar of the highway surveillance camera.
HANDSOME, STYLISH AND MASCULINE. When Bong
Sang Pil emerges from his supercar and walks away from it, he does so with a
swagger. Bong Sang Pil and his attractive supercar are a perfect match; they
are intelligent, handsome and stylish.
A masculine aura hangs over the lawyer. Dressed fashionably in a grey suit teamed with a white shirt and a pair of stylish sunglasses, he is the epitome of style and masculinity. 
He looks around and stares knowingly at the
surveillance camera.
COOL. Officer Park Moon Seong, the grinning
officer comments that Bong has offered him a bribe just a while ago. The cool
and calm Bong denies having committed such an immoral and dishonest act.
Corruption on the highway. No way. The lawyer smiles.
WITTY. Bong Sang Pil’s sense of humour has almost
made the policeman lose his nerve. Bong takes pain to explain that it is
difficult for him to fold his wallet because it is bulging with money. He has
been trying to pull out some of his money to remove the bulkiness. He knows
that the officer is accustomed to taking bribes from motorists for traffic violations.
Bong’s smirk never leaves his face.
A WACKY SENSE OF HUMOUR. The Jaws of a
Crocodile. In one comical act, the talented and humorous Bong Sang Pil uses
his fingers to flip open and close his wallet repeatedly. The action
resembles a crocodile opening and snapping shut its jaws. One could almost
hear the clacking of castanets.
The action speaks for itself; it symbolises
the powerful bite of corruption and injustice.
The hilarious scene makes one want to laugh out loud.
It is painfully obvious that no money would change hands. The officer demands to see his licence and threatens to issue
him a ticket with a heavier penalty since Bong has been reluctant to bribe
him.
CALM. Smiling at the officer, he snaps his
fingers to indicate that he has understood what is expected of him. Bong is
unflappable; he is not easily intimidated by anyone, much less a wayward traffic
officer. Moreover, the crooked officer is the very prey that he is determined
to trap.
He pretends to extract some cash from his
wallet. Instead, he draws out two cards; his driving licence and his business
card. The latter is used to flaunt his legal profession and to act as a
warning.
But, the officer is unimpressed by his
lawyer status.
SMART. INTELLIGENT. Bong Sang Pil has the
element of surprise on his side. To the officer’s shock, Bong Sang Pil whips
out his smart Samsung S9 phone to show Officer Park Moon Seong the evidence
of his crime.
The corrupt officer has been caught on the car dash cam. The supercar is equipped with the state-of-the-art technology. His smart mobile phone, which is linked to the sophisticated camera technology of the supercar, could capture crystal clear images. Technology has won the day.
BOLD. COURAGEOUS. INCORRUPTIBLE. Bong has
used new technology to effectively catch the corrupt officer red-handed.
Court evidence.
But there is a dark side to this technology.
Some evil-minded people could use this for malevolent purposes.
Fighting against corruption requires courage and an understanding of the law. Bong breaks the law to fight the law. He traps and admonishes the law officer for demanding bribes from other drivers. One shouldn’t mess with a brainy and wily lawyer who understands his game.
CHARMING. The corrupt officer has met his
match; the brainy and witty lawyer has shamed him. Bong asks cheekily for his
traffic summons but knows that he would not be getting one.
Smiling charmingly, he quickly removes his identification card from the officer’s hand, winks at him and drives off triumphantly. Every viewer is charmed by Lee Joon Gi’s interpretation of the cheeky and witty Bong Sang Pil. 
One notices that this confrontation happens
under the flyover that crosses over another road. The ‘intersection’ of the
two roads creates an image of conflict. The lawyer and the traffic policeman
are at cross purposes.
It’s time to say hello to
the extraordinary actor who plays one of the most iconic characters in drama
history. Bong Sang Pil, the iconic character, is portrayed by Lee Joon Gi. Lee Joon Gi is in top form in this utterly humorous and entertaining opening scene. His
performance is intriguing and layered. It is one of the most entertaining,
distinctive and unforgettable scenes in the drama and every time you re-watch
the scene, you shriek with laughter.
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EPISODE 2
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LEE JOON GI
THE ACTION CHOREOGRAPHER
THE FLYING KNEE ATTACK
WITH A DIFFERENCE
POWERFUL. SWIFT. ELEGANT. FLUID. MASCULINE. SEXY.
Another iconic scene is
Bong Sang Pil’s fight in an elegant nightclub in Episode 2 of Lawless Lawyer.
Are we surprised to learn
on JTBC Knowing Bros (Episode 151)
that Lee Joon Gi is, in fact, the Action Choreographer who has created that
particular iconic fighting sequence? Nope.
To his fan’s knowledge, Lee Joon Gi has been a martial arts practitioner
since his teenage years.
Spellbound. One is swept
away by the plethora of unforgettable swift martial arts moves and action
which have been crafted by the amazing actor himself. The martial arts
choreography brings to light Lee Joon Gi’s powerful physicality and creative
talents never seen before in that visual way. Fascinating. Nerve-shredding
excitement. But one should also note the camera movement, the colour and the
tempo of the scene. Fantastic.
What is most surprising,
in that scene, is the gorgeous and sexy Lee Joon Gi accomplishes his mission of
rescuing his beloved Ha Jae Yi in a stylish designer suit while executing all
his superb stunts: The Taekkyeon Side Kick. The Taekwondo Spinning
Kick. The Flying Knee Attack. Stupendous. An interesting observation is all
of Bong Sang Pil’s movements are powerful, swift , elegant, fluid, masculine and sexy.
THE GRAND ENTRANCE
First impressions. The spectacular
nightclub fight is preceded by Bong Sang Pil’s sexy grand entrance down a
flight of steps which leads to the dance floor and stage. One is blown away
by his easy confidence and dazzling wit.
THE TAEKKYEON SIDE KICK
 
Bong starts unexpectedly
with his Taekkyeon Side Kick. A can flies into the air and hits the target –
the DJ of the nightclub.
THE TAEKWONDO SPINNING KICK
 
Then, he leaps onto the
stage and sweeps away some gangsters with his 360° tornado-like Taekwondo Spinning Kick
around the stripper’s pole.
Finally, Bong Sang Pil
executes the powerful, swift, elegant, fluid, masculine and sexy Ong Bak-like Flying Knee Attack - the highlight of the spectacular
nightclub show.
But, it has to be driven
home that Lee Joon Gi executes this move with a stunning difference; it is a
martial arts style that Lee Joon Gi has made his very own. Lee Joon Gi’s
signature style.
Unlike the fearsome, chilling ferocity of the original version, Lee Joon Gi’s creation is an
iconic powerful and swift yet elegant, fluid and sexy martial arts style.
The viewers can feel the animalistic sensuousness of the leaping and flying action. First, Lee Joon Gi leaps like a puma.
Next, he lifts his legs and then, spreads his hands like the wings of an eagle
and flies. Finally, he lands with his knees on his opponent’s shoulders.
Awesome. Spectacular and
Breath-taking. Sexy and Seductive. Swift and Powerful. Athletic and
Masculine. Fluid and Elegant. Unforgettable.
A genuinely electrifying
performance. Lee Joon Gi is, indeed, 'The King of Action Scenes.'
THE LEE JOON GI TAEKKYEON SIDE KICK-TAEKWONDO SPINNING
KICK-FLYING KNEE ATTACK
What shall we call Lee Joon
Gi’s signature series of stunts in the nightclub scene?
The Lee Joon Gi Taekkyeon Side Kick-Taekwondo Spinning Kick-Flying Knee Attack.
THE LEE JOON GI PUMA-EAGLE FLYING KNEE ATTACK
The last stunt should be
called The Lee Joon Gi Puma-Eagle Flying
Knee Attack.
KNOWING BROS
EPISODE 151
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EPISODE 4
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LEE JOON GI
AND
HIS PUMA-EAGLE FLYING LEAP
Another example of Lee Joon
Gi’s iconic martial art leap is shot in a subway train station. He also wears
his usual smart and elegant suit.
Lee Joon Gi is not your
garden variety martial artist.
When Lee Joon Gi makes the
powerful leap, one thinks immediately of the formidable leaping puma.
Before we realise it, Lee
has elegantly lifted his legs, spreading out his arms and flying like an
eagle before landing.
Not unlike the nightclub
scene, Lee exhibits an animalistic sensuousness in the leaping and flying action. The
difference is that he lands, not on the shoulders of his opponent but on the
ground.
Awesome. Spectacular and
Breath-taking. Sexy and Seductive. Swift and Powerful. Athletic and
Masculine. Fluid and Elegant. Unforgettable.
     
NJUNKI VIDEOS
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EPISODE 8
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Yet another iconic scene is the tragic death scene of Bong Sang
Pil’s uncle, Choi Dae Woong, who plunges to his death from a tall building.
Lee Joon Gi is sexy and handsome in real life. And, Bong Sang
Pil, the lawless lawyer, is nothing less than truly gorgeous. The sexy,
witty, flirty and humorous Bong is always fashionably dressed in his suits.
But, in this death scene, how does Bong Sang Pil look? Pretty Ugly.
Lee Joon Gi doesn’t mind looking ugly for the scene. It is a symbol of his
passionate acting.
ICONIC SCENE. Bong Sang Pil is leaning precariously over the
edge of the rooftop reaching out to his uncle. He is horrified that his
uncle, Choi Dae Woong is dangerously dangling from the rope which is crazily
moving over the edge of the roof. The impending doom looms.
Imagine the depths of his desperation as he tries to pull his
beloved uncle to safety. His horror and grief are immediately apparent.
Bong, clawing in vain at the rope, screams with all his might. The
entire weight of the teary scene is carried in his mournful eyes and
expressions. The anguish. The desperation. The pain.
Bong’s dignity has been blown away. He feels the terror in his
heart as he tries to prevent his uncle from plunging to his death. He screams
as if his uncle’s life depended on his frantic screams. We watch with bated
breath as his uncle wrestles his hand free from Bong’s grasp.
Bong Sang Pil crumbles in anguish. Lee Joon Gi’s vulnerability
is clearly seen. His handsomeness is gone. In its place is a horrified face. Lee
Joon Gi makes us think that he is going through what the character is going
through. The horror of his screams is firmly implanted in the viewer’s mind.
Cinematography. The scene is stupendous. The diagonal line that
cuts across the shot creates restlessness, tension and excitement. Action and
motion is also conveyed. Uncontrolled energy. Fear. The vertiginous dizzy
feeling makes one shudder. Choi Dae Woong hang precariously over the edge of
the rooftop. Danger and death is implied. The green colour does not alleviate
the horror that is about to begin.
This scene is really a work of art. It outclasses other
dramatic death scenes in other dramas. Lee Joon Gi looks like someone in a
painting, not unlike the character in The Scream by Edvard Munch. His Heart-breaking
and horrifying scream proves that his acting is nothing short of brilliant.
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EPISODE 9
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Choi Dae Woong, Bong Sang Pil’s uncle, is dead. The funeral
scene in Episode 9 is full of contrasts. THE CHURCH Versus THE UNDERWORLD. The
church, a place of worship, has been overrun by a swarm of shadowy baddies
who are there to mourn the death of their boss, Choi Dae Woong.
The black colour of the cars of the gangsters is similar to the
colour of their suits. Black is the colour for evil, secrecy and aggression.
Black is also for grief and mourning.
The black is contrasted with the white colour of the church.
White symbolises purity. The good guys are juxtaposed with the bad guys.
SYMMETRY. The image of Bong Sang Pil entering the church is startling.
A picture of stunning symmetry. There is balance and harmony in the picture.
The symmetry of the picture evokes a sense of calmness and
orderliness. At first, Bong Sang Pil seems calm enough. On the surface, he is
remarkably restrained.
The lawyer is, in fact, angry with himself for being so hell-bent
on revenge. He has taken revenge a step too far and his uncle is the sacrificial
lamb in his quarrel with Anh Oh Ju.
Bong’s walk from the back of the church to the front of the
church displays the pain which
is communicated through Lee Joon Gi’s body language and eyes.
Watching Lee Joon Gi in anguish and in tears is like feeling
the hurricane tearing into your heart. You are pummelled with bullet-like
rain and devastating winds.
Bong Sang Pil seems calm on the surface at first but turbulent
emotions surge underneath his voiceless pain.
When he could no longer restrain his sorrowful feelings, the tears
race down his cheeks. His emotional nakedness is clearly visible.
This scene is slightly different from the crying scenes in the
historical drama, Moon Lovers- Scarlet Heart: Ryeo. It is closer to reality
because it is set in the modern era, and is too real for comfort.
Would it be insensitive to say that this is the scene that many
of the viewers, particularly his fans, are particularly curious about?
In Lawless Lawyer, they feel that he is experiencing some personal
pain all over again. His very vulnerable self is exposed to the world. It is
Lee Joon Gi’s emotional naked self that viewers are watching but it feels
like one is intruding into his privacy and invading his private space.
The subtlety of the scene speaks for itself. The deeply embedded pain rises to the surface as tears roll down his face. And without
much make-up, it is a truly realistic scene. He is hurting. They can feel him
hurting and the depth of his feelings makes the viewers feel sad as well.
This scene shows Lee Joon Gi's nuanced command of the acting craft.
Haunting and unforgettable.
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EPISODE 16
THE FINAL COURT TRIAL
BONG SANG PIL VERSUS JUDGE CHA MOON SOOK |
The final court scene in Lawless Lawyer involves Bong Sang Pil
as the Defence Lawyer.
The scene is remarkable because the important characters in the
trial from Judge Cha Moon Sook; Bong Sang Pil, the revolutionary lawyer; Ha
Jae Yi, the Defence Lawyer and Noh Hyun Joo, the victim, are all standing in
a straight line in the court. The linear position of the four people along
the narrow aisle brings to mind the image of the Forbidden City where the
main buildings are aligned along a straight axis from South to North.
The line is straight and orderly. It is a reminder that we
should keep strictly to ‘the straight and narrow’ path in life. Moral integrity.
It also serves as a reflection of the principle of justice which is stern,
unbending and unrelenting.
The court is at war. Bong Sang Pil versus Judge Cha Moon Sook. It
is difficult to silence the lawless lawyer. The viewers have not expected Bong
Sang Pil to wreak havoc in the court trial.
The final court scene is remarkably potent. Bong Sang Pil seems
like a real threat to the almighty judge. David and Goliath. The lawyer is
well-prepared and knows his game. And luck is also on his side.
The drama serves up a truly exciting scene. What follows is one
of the most unthinkable sequences ever seen in legal dramas. One marvels at
the lawyer who publicly rebukes and humiliates a judge.
Ahn Oh Ju has finally decided to be a defense witness to point
an accusing finger at his former partner in crime, Judge Cha Moon Sook. He had
formerly been drawn into her murky world of devious manoeuvres and evil plots
but has ended up unexpectedly as one of her hapless victims in an appalling
double-cross.
The time has finally arrived for him to extricate himself from
the web of corruption and injustice that she has woven over Ki Seong.
Bong Sang Pil’s mother had hoped her son would grow up to be
The King of Lawyers but he has moved beyond her wildest imagination; he is
The Revolutionary Lawyer. Eloquent and articulate. The Ki Seong court trial
has received a good dollop of national and international publicity and Bong
is finally able to reform the judicial world of Ki Seong.
It is perhaps unsurprising that Lee Joon Gi has made a great
impression on the viewers in his showdown with Judge Cha Moon Sook. His
stylish suit helps him to project the image of a confident and passionate
lawyer.
Lee Joon Gi uses his voice and body to express himself. He is
physically expressive. The way he moves his body is sexy; he strides around
the room with a confident air. There is nothing more thrilling than nailing
the most powerful personality of Ki Seong.
Lee Joon Gi owns his lines. Bong Sang Pil fires questions and
accusations and argues his case potently. At first, he is calm but his wrath
gets the better of him. He not only jabs his finger belligerently in Judge Cha’s direction but also boldly accuses her of trying to kill Noh Hyun Joo, Ha Jae Yi’s mother several times. Bong’s
trump cards are Ahn Oh Ju and Noh Hyun Joo.
When Judge Cha instinctively springs to her feet to defend
herself, Bong Sang Pil imperiously orders her to sit down. Judge Cha Moon
Sook is caught off guard.
One admires Bong Sang Pil’s spunk, nerve and coutroom savvy as
he cuts the formerly untouchable judge down to size and reduces her to
emotional rubble.
The kingpin in the whole setup of corruption and injustice
knows the end is near. Forced to listen to Bong Sang Pil, her mind suddenly
becomes numb. The solemn and serious scene is mildly amusing because the
judge is suddenly robbed off her voice.
One can’t help but admire Lee Joon Gi who is enormously
impressive in this memorable final court scene.
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EPISODE 16
THE FINAL SHOWDOWN
BONG SANG PIL
AND
AHN
OH JU
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Lee Joon Gi’s nail-biting final scene with Choi Min Soo is also
iconic.
All the villains are finally rounded up and locked up in prison. The rather aggressive and uncouth Nam Soon Ja is a senior in the
prison while the classy Judge Cha is a vulnerable freshie who might fall victim to her former assistant's bullying.
Ahn Oh Ju has escaped from police custody but they caught up
with him at the wharf, the place where he was born.
The guns are trained on the escaped convict.
There is wrenching suspense and feverish excitement as the
lawyer unleashes his demons, grabs the criminal’s hair and snarls at him.
Bong’s barrage of sharp words wind the already depressed Ahn Oh Ju.
  
Bong Sang Pil cries. The closure he needs is at hand. Does he
cry for himself or his dead relatives now that he knows that his ghosts would
finally be laid to rest? He knows that Ahn Oh Ju would die on his own terms
and not allow others to lord over him in life and in death.
The criminal shoots himself but there is no satisfying ring to
it.
Hollow victory. In his faceoff with Ahn Oh Ju, his mother and
maternal uncle’s murderer, Bong Sang Pil triumphs over the criminal but he
knows, personally, it is a hollow victory. Much to his regret, he is unable
to turn back the clock. But, he is finally able to find closure when the
former mayor is punished.
One gets the distinct impression that the message of Lawless
Lawyer is corruption and injustice is tragic and the path to undiluted power
is certainly not paved with gold.
One would wholeheartedly agree that Lee Joon Gi’s character in
Lawless Lawyer is iconic and is by far, the most entertaining and unforgettable drama character of 2018.
And, many of his iconic scenes are engrossing. His undeniably impressive versatility, his many talents and his multi-layered acting have endeared him to
many global viewers. His performance in Lawless Lawyer is certainly no small feat. Lee
Joon Gi connects with his viewers; he makes them laugh, cry and drives them to distraction.
It is abundantly clear that Lee Joon Gi is the best actor of 2018. He should be richly rewarded for his talents and efforts.
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