Recap and Review: Penthouse Season 3, Episode 12 – “After all those beatings, you still didn’t get it.”

Penthouse Season 3 Episode 12 Recap and Review

Ma Ri screams for help as she comes across the horrific scene in the common room.

Penthouse Season 3 Episode 12 Recap and Review

Over at the police station Su Ryeon and Seok Hoon are speechless as Seok Kyung turns herself in for supposedly helping Dan Tae escape to Japan. She says she has no relation to Su Ryeon and Seok Hoon and tells the detective to throw her in jail. To save her daughter, Su Ryeon reveals Dan Tae’s whereabouts to the detective.

Seok Kyung tells her mother and brother that she will willingly go to jail. And only went to Japan to ensure Dan Tae’s suffering. She won’t get punished harshly anyway since he is her father.

Su Ryeon suggests they go get some food. At the restaurant, as Seok Kyung begrudgingly eats so they can leave her alone, Su Ryeon continues to insist that she always considered Seok Kyung her daughter.

Penthouse Season 3 Episode 12 Recap and Review

Su Ryeon says none of this is Seok Kyung’s fault. But Seok Kyung says it is as she almost killed Seol A when she locked her in the van and set it on fire. Plus, she is also responsible for Yoon Hee’s death. Seok Kyung adds that someone like her doesn’t deserve to be Su Ryeon’s daughter and that she hates herself so much.

Su Ryeon says Seok Kyung shouldn’t run away, but face her past head on. Seok Kyung understands and apologizes. They hug.

Just then, Ma Ri calls Seok Hoon to tell him what’s happened. They hurry to the hospital where Ma Ri and Logan update them.

Penthouse Season 3 Episode 12 Recap and Review

Later, Eun Byeol arrives at the hospital. Su Ryeon violently shakes Seo Jin to wake up.

Eun Byeol tells her to leave, but Su Ryeon splashes water on Seo Jin who finally awakens. Su Ryeon insists that Seo Jin is putting on an act. But Eun Byeol says her mother is truly sick and that she will not let anyone hurt her.

Secretary Do comes in and Eun Byeol tells him to remove Su Ryeon from the room.

Penthouse Season 3 Episode 12 Recap and Review

Eun Byeol asks Seo Jin if she’s okay. But Seo Jin does not know who Eun Byeol is. Eun Byeol tearfully hugs her mother, begging her to recognize her.

As she walks way, Su Ryeon smiles at the loan sharks who head into the room to terrorize the mother and daughter. Eun Byeol tells them to leave and threatens to call the police. But the big boss throws dumplings at Eun Byeol’s face and shoves her aside.




Secretary Do steps up and warns them not to touch Eun Byeol. He reminds them that Dan Tae has two legitimate children they can hound. But the boss reminds him that Seo Jin, as Dan Tae’s wife, is the guarantor. And if Dan Tae does not pay up, it will be Seo Jin and Eun Byeol that do.

Penthouse Season 3 Episode 12 Recap and Review

The goons proceed to beat Secretary Do up. One of them caresses Eun Byeol’s hair, saying she’s a pretty little thing that would be worth a lot. This triggers something in Seo Jin who gets up and tries to bite the creep’s ear off.

The loan sharks leave, but vow to return.

Penthouse Season 3 Episode 12 Recap and Review

Over in Japan, Dan Tae is being taken to his psychological treatment. He tries to escape, but instead gets hot soup poured all over his face as he falls down the stairs. The nurses try to get him back to his cell, but Dan Tae is able knock them both unconscious. He takes one of their lab coats and walks out of the facility.

Penthouse Season 3 Episode 12 Recap and Review

Back at Hera, Ma Ri and Jenny take care of Rona. Seok Kyung comes in with medicine for her and the mother and daughter tell her to leave as she is not welcome here. They refuse to accept her apology. Seok Kyung calls Jenny a spoiled brat.

Seok Kyung turns to leave, but Rona tells Seok Kyung to apologize anyway. It is up to Rona whether or not she accepts the apology. But Seok Kyung should do it until she does.

Penthouse Season 3 Episode 12 Recap and Review

Seok Kyung remembers all the horrible things she did to Rona and Yoon Hee.

Rona asks Ma Ri and Jenny to accompany her to the hospital to do what she can to help Yoon Cheol wake up. As Rona gets up from the bed, Seok Kyung falls to her knees. But they leave her there.

Penthouse Season 3 Episode 12 Recap and Review

At the hospital, the doctor tells Su Ryeon and Logan that Yoon Cheol’s condition is worse than they thought. Su Ryeon and Logan are upset that Seo Jin is being protected when she should be punished.

Just then, Secretary Hong informs them of Dan Tae’s escape. They immediately make plans for his return.

Dan Tae calls Seok Hoon for help. Seok Hoon says Su Ryeon is planning to go to the US with Logan. Dan Tae tells Seok Hoon that it was Seo Jin who killed Yoon Hee and asks him to help facilitate his return to Korea. Seok Hoon says he’ll take care of it.

Dan Tae asks Seok Hoon if he can trust him and Seok Hoon says of course.

Penthouse Season 3 Episode 12 Recap and Review

Su Ryeon apologizes to Seok Hoon for having to do this. But Seok Hoon says he has zero compassion for Dan Tae and would kill him himself if he had the chance.

Su Ryeon, Logan and Seok Hoon make sure to go to Busan to meet Dan Tae before the police are able to get him. Seok Hoon meets the fishing trawler who give him a large crate. But when Seok Hoon opens it, it is full of fish.

Penthouse Season 3 Episode 12 Recap and Review

Seok Hoon signals Su Ryeon and Logan and they order their men to search the area. Dan Tae secretly swims ashore, having known not to trust Seok Hoon.

Su Ryeon decides they must blanket the airwaves to ensure the world knows of Dan Tae’s crimes, thus not giving him any safe places to hide. Dan Tae has to run from a motel when the owner recognizes him.

Penthouse Season 3 Episode 12 Recap and Review

As Dan Tae walks around with only a hat to cover his face, he come across a poor, homeless boy on the street. That brings him back to his own childhood on the street trying to sell gum for 25 cents, getting tossed aside by people and getting harassed by bullies.

Dan Tae evades capture from two cops, steals a chicken to cook over a fire and vows to get revenge on all who’ve wronged him.

Penthouse Season 3 Episode 12 Recap and Review

Dan Tae cuts the side of his face with a broken bottle.

Penthouse Season 3 Episode 12 Recap and Review

Back in Seoul, Rona begs for Yoon Cheol to wake up by calling him her father for the first time.

Penthouse Season 3 Episode 12 Recap and Review

Meanwhile, Ma Ri visits Kyu Jin and Sang A in jail to deliver a message from Min Hyuk. On his enlistment letter, Min Hyuk writes that he could never decide which of his parents he hated more. But now, “I hate myself more than anyone else.” And he wants to become a better man.

Back at the hospital, Seo Jin continues to not recognize Eun Byeol and asks for her neurosurgeon husband. The doctor tells the prosecutor that Seo Jin is in late-stage Alzheimer’s.

Penthouse Season 3 Episode 12 Recap and Review

Su Ryeon gives Rona a plane ticket for New York as she’s been enrolled in Julliard. Rona wants to stay until Yoon Cheol wakes up, but Su Ryeon says they have no idea when that will be. Rona asks Su Ryeon to let her know as soon as he does.

Su Ryeon meets with Ma Ri about all the units they are purchasing. Ma Ri asks why she’s doing this and Su Ryeon says she is afraid Dan Tae might do something drastic to his beloved Hera Palace if he’s backed into a wall.

Su Ryeon says she will lure Dan Tae to Hera Palace by having an engagement party with Logan next week. Su Ryeon meets with Logan to tell him her plan. By next week, Hera Palace should be practically empty.

Logan wants Su Ryeon to stay safe and stand back, but Su Ryeon wants to make sure Dan Tae is brought to justice herself.

Logan updates Su Ryeon on Seo Jin’s deteriorating condition. But they will keep an eye on her in the meantime.

Penthouse Season 3 Episode 12 Recap and Review

Meanwhile, Dan Tae visits Secretary Jo who is taking care of his mother in a nursing home. But he has to hide, not knowing there is a detective in the bathroom. When he comes out, the detective warns Secretary Jo to not do anything stupid and to call as soon as Dan Tae comes in contact with him.

Secretary Jo brings Dan Tae some food in the chapel and assures Dan Tae that he’ll stick with him to the end. He gives Dan Tae the key to his parents’ home and tells him about Logan and Su Ryeon’s engagement.

Dan Tae orders Secretary Jo gather explosives so he can kill Su Ryeon and Logan for good.

Penthouse Season 3 Episode 12 Recap and Review

It’s the day of the engagement party and preparations are being made at Hera Palace. Secretary Jo brings the items to Dan Tae and asks if this is really the best option. Dan Tae says of course it is.

After Dan Tae leaves, Secretary Jo calls 112 to report Dan Tae’s plan. But Dan Tae whacks him in the head with a brick and steps on his neck before throwing him over the side of the under-construction building.

“After all those beatings, you still didn’t get it.”

Penthouse Season 3 Episode 12 Recap and Review

Over at Hera Palace, Ma Ri congratulates Logan on the engagement and says today is also a farewell party for Rona and Min Hyuk. Ma Ri comments that few people were invited to the event. Logan asks Ma Ri to take care of everything today.

They turn to look at the Hera statue and Ma Ri comments that it looks beautiful today and would’ve been loved forever had it not gotten blood on it.

Logan leaves and notices Dan Tae disguised as a custodian roaming about. He places explosive devices all over the area with no one noticing him.

Penthouse Season 3 Episode 12 Recap and Review

Logan finds Su Ryeon at the penthouse and helps with her necklace. Before they leave for the ceremony, they passionately kiss.

Meanwhile, Dan Tae walks through his secret room to get into the penthouse. He watches as Logan and Su Ryeon leave.

Penthouse Season 3 Episode 12 Recap and Review

Logan and Su Ryeon ride down in the penthouse elevator and make their way to the party. They are applauded as they walk in. But Dan Tae calls and Su Ryeon puts him on speaker.

Dan Tae tells Su Ryeon to come to the penthouse alone or he just might blow the whole place up.

Penthouse Season 3 Episode 12 Recap and Review

Logan hurries to the security office to have them signal an emergency and to evacuate everyone out of the building.

Jenny, Rona, Min Hyuk and the twins arrive, surprising Ma Ri who thought they were on their trip. The kids knew something would happen today and help safely evacuate the hordes of people spilling out of the upper floors.

Penthouse Season 3 Episode 12 Recap and Review

Su Ryeon meets with Dan Tae in the penthouse. He shows her the button he will use to detonate the bombs, but Su Ryeon whips out a gun from her thigh and points it at him.

Penthouse Season 3 Episode 12 Recap and Review

Dan Tae reminds Su Ryeon that it was her father who killed his mother and sister. But Su Ryeon says the land rightly belonged to her father and that it was Baek Jun Ki’s father who was responsible for the accident.

Dan Tae says he built Hera Palace and only he can destroy it. He is happy he will not die alone today.

Su Ryeon shoots at the window, breaking it open. She demands Dan Tae drop the button, but he remains defiant. He brags about all the people he’s killed and Su Ryeon shoots his arm.

Penthouse Season 3 Episode 12 Recap and Review

Dan Tae says how dare she shoot at him. Su Ryeon comments that he continues to be obsessed with that name and she shoots his other arm.

Dan Tae falls to the floor. Su Ryeon looks over him and he seemingly falls unconscious. She turns her back to him to pick up the button. But Dan Tae wakes up and stabs her in the leg.

They struggle across the living room. Dan Tae reaches for the button while Su Ryeon reaches for the gun.

Penthouse Season 3 Episode 12 Recap and Review Penthouse Season 3 Episode 12 Recap and Review

Dan Tae stands in front of the window and Su Ryeon shoots him right in the head. Before he falls out of the window, Dan Tae presses the button and activates the bombs.

Penthouse Season 3 Episode 12 Recap and Review

Dan Tae crashes through the atrium and lands in the fountain.

Penthouse Season 3 Episode 12 Recap and Review

Su Ryeon processes in the moment, but the timer reaches zero and the explosions rock through Hera Palace.

Korea’s tallest skyscraper is engulfed in flames as it collapses.

Penthouse Season 3 Episode 12 Recap and Review




Episode Thoughts

Well, well! So, let me just say, I love a good soap opera disaster. Or seeing the command center get trashed in the finales of tokusatsu shows? It’s always fun and sets the tone for what should be exciting final episodes.

During the course of the episode, I was feeling a little bored. It was definitely not as exciting as last week. But that final sequence was fun to watch. Of course, this is just a television drama. But I think they did a great job with both the CGI and practical effects. Did I wish it was bigger? Sure. But knowing the limitations, it was still a great sequence.

I don’t know if they should’ve saved it for the penultimate episode though. There’s still two whole episodes left. So they better come up with equally explosive moments to fill them.

Is Dan Tae dead? Never can be too sure. Never say never! Lol

Speaking of dead, I think I love the way they just brushed off Seo Jin getting impaled by the chandelier. Heck, she was doing perfectly fine after lol It’s funny, but it’s not a surprise. Also, can’t really compare her condition to Yoon Cheol who injured his head.

I must admit, I did feel some sympathy for Seo Jin and Eun Byeol in the hospital. They do deserve this suffering, but for just a moment, it was sad to see the mother and daughter like that. Especially Eun Byeol realizing her worst fear come true. That is, Seo Jin not remembering who she is.

Su Ryeon smiling when the loan sharks stormed the hospital room was probably the only moment I ever felt kind of grossed out by her. Especially when one of the goons implied something sexual with Eun Byeol later on. Su Ryeon was a total bitch in those few seconds, but again, she’s justified. No mercy for a murderer.

Now about Su Ryeon’s fate. She’s obviously not dead either. But when she shot the window and then whipped out the gun from under her dress, I seriously thought that was to allow her to escape the exploding building by jumping out. Perhaps she has a parachute under her dress as well. Or a helicopter is there waiting to catch her as she jumps. Logan was nowhere to be seen in the stampede. So I assume he was making preparations to catch her, literally! once she escapes from the building.

I did wonder though how much they planned for this moment. Su Ryeon bought up most of Hera to limit the number of people in the building. I assume to lessen the number of people needed to evacuate. But did you see that horde of people stampeding out?! And that’s just from the upper floors. Seems like there were still hundreds if not thousands of people left in the building. That seems like a HUGE gamble on Su Ryeon and Logan’s part. Plus, why didn’t they start evacuating people before Su Ryeon went to the penthouse?

BUT! Again, there’s no room for logic when watching a show like Penthouse! lol I was just wondering out loud.

The scene of chaos was also exciting to watch. Especially since it was Ma Ri and the kids, sort of, taking the lead.

Min Hyuk returned for that scene. But unceremoniously getting sent to the military reminds me of the original plan for Min Hyuk to harbor feelings for Seok Hoon. It would’ve been a great story, especially if they made Min Hyuk bisexual to also pair him with Jenny after he, assumedly, gets rejected by Seok Hoon.

Probably one of the biggest missed opportunities was to build up the kids’ own stories in seasons 2 and 3. They definitely moved on from the school setting, but that also removed some opportunity for their own conflicts and more mature stories. Oh well.

I did like the scene of Seok Kyung falling to her knees once she remembered all the horrible things she did. And I did like Rona not forgiving her and Ma Ri and Jenny scolding her. It’s what she deserves and it’s what Seo Kyung needs to truly repent for her sins.

Secretary Jo finally turning his back on Dan Tae. But I honestly thought Su Ryeon had been in contact with him too. Kind of shortsighted on Su Ryeon and Logan’s part not to approach him knowing Dan Tae would contact him.

Of course, they could double back and show that they were indeed in contact. But I’m not so sure. Secretary Jo called the police when Dan Tae smashed his head open. If that’s his end, that’s kinda sad. I would’ve liked to have seen Secretary Jo play a bigger part in Dan Tae’s downfall. But again, we don’t know what twists the should will pull out next. Perhaps he did play a big part.

Back to Dan Tae, I have to repeat, there is no redemption for him just because he had a horrible, horrific childhood. I sympathize with young Jun Ki for losing his mother and sister to heartless, greedy rich people. But becoming a greedy rich person and becoming WORSE than the people who hurt him is not justified, no matter what.

Get revenge on those who killed your family, sure. But pay the price and face the consequences as well.

Overall, other than the final few minutes, this episode was kind of underwhelming. I have high expectations for the final two episodes.





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