"Mad Dog" Episode 13 recap

It is a time for bonding and retaliation from the "Mad Dog" team as the group of villains become too greedy and hasty for their own good. Hyeon-gi experiences betrayal and rejection while Hong-joo is about to get a taste of her own medicine. Team Good is reunited, but they need to be extra smart and extra sneaky as they go in for one final blow to take everyone down.
Although we have not seen as much bonding between the members of "Mad Dog" as I would have liked, the actors and their chemistry really sell these connections. I feel genuinely happy to see Soon-jeong (Jo Jae-yoon) bringing his "boys" along and holding Noo-ri's (Kim Hye-seong) hand like a papa dog protecting his puppy. The drama might not always nail the relationship building, but it does so well with such moments.

Then we have the reverse-bonding going on between Hyeon-gi (Choi Won-young) and Hong-joo (Hong Soo-hyun). Goodness, what a dysfunctional pairing and one I feel sad over, because it could have been glorious. I wish the drama had developed their twisted bond better along with Hong-joo's character. I can see where they were going with her, but she never really finds a clear trajectory or consistent morality and goals. Her character is frankly all over the place.
Her not-gentleman caller may be an obnoxious stereotype, but his consistency is clear opposite her erratic development. His goals have been clear and so have his cynicism, his fixation with his success and with acquiring what he wants at all costs. There is also the sadly common gender bias here. Choi Won-young is being given someone unhinged to work with and the freedom to do so. Hong-joo's biggest problem is that she is boring. There is little Hong Soo-hyun can do with someone as confusingly written, despite her best efforts.

Lamenting the could-have-beens of the series, we are now making the final approach towards putting Flight 801 to rest and we have new characters to work with. I am still not clear on exactly what the plan is, but this is a "Mad Dog" specialty. I cannot get excited over whatever hackneyed emergency scheme the team comes up with every time. Their plans are as inconsistent as the drama's writing.
It is too late for "Mad Dog" to gain my love, but seeing the Dog Team and its allies come together for one last battle would be a nice way to close this. Bring Moo-sin (Jang Hyuk-jin) and Han-woo (Lee Jun-hyeok) back and let Professor Byeon (Park In-hwan) make everyone a PPL coffee as they crush the baddies and fix Hyeon-gi's tie. Please fix the tie. I beg you.
"Mad Dog" is directed by Hwang Ee-kyeong, written by Kim Soo-jin-V and features Yoo Ji-tae, Woo Do-hwan, Ryu Hwa-young, Kim Hye-seong and Jo Jae-yoon.
Written by: Orion from 'Orion's Ramblings'

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