[Drama 2023] Brain Works / Brain Cooperation, 두뇌공조 - Jung Yong Hwa, Cha Tae Hyun

[partyon]

Finished ep 4. Agree with @Idylla Kaizoku that ep 3 and 4 have taken more serious tones, which is totally fine. But I do miss the comedic reliefs from time to time.

 

What made me laugh out loud was the brain remodeling of Team Captain who now is the polar opposite of before. Amazing acting once again by the actress! I don't know if anyone noticed, but her way of speaking changed to how Shin Ha Ru speaks. Short staccato sentences with nasal undertones. She remodeled her brain after him.

 

Me thinks it's only temporary though, so it will be interesting to see when she goes back to her old self. I hope she will have learnt from this stint, though, and she'll find a more balanced personality where she learns how to stand up for herself.

 

I also agree that there is more to the mystery of Ha Ru's parents. 

[Idylla Kaizoku]

38 minutes ago, partyon said:

Short staccato sentences with nasal undertones. She remodeled her brain after him.

Are you suggesting something here? 

 

Also SHR seemed a little too interested in that change. That smile when he witnessed the spectacle... 

 

40 minutes ago, partyon said:

I hope she will have learnt from this stint, though,

And the Chief would never know when the change might happen, so he'd start acting with caution. Win-win for her. 

 

[nohamahamoud2002]

 

 

Soon on KBSWORLD 

[rocher22]

 

On 1/13/2023 at 10:04 PM, partyon said:

  I don't know if anyone noticed, but her way of speaking changed to how Shin Ha Ru speaks. Short staccato sentences with nasal undertones. She remodeled her brain after him.

 

 

I also noticed that...I love the small details...  

 

 

 

[backstreetboysfan]

Here are the ratings for Episode 5! .

 

 

“Trolley,” “Brain Works,” And “Missing: The Other Side 2” Are Neck-And-Neck In Close Ratings Battle

“Trolley” and “Brain Works” have enjoyed boosts in viewership ratings, shuffling the rankings among the Monday-Tuesday dramas!

 

KBS2’s “Brain Works” is following close on the heels of “Trolley” with an average nationwide rating of 4.3 percent. This is also a 1.0 percent increase from its previous week’s rating of 3.3 percent.

 

https://www.soompi.com/article/1563226wpp/trolley-brain-works-and-missing-the-other-side-2-are-neck-and-neck-in-close-ratings-battle

 

 

[partyon]

Am watching ep 5 now. Just wanted to come here quickly to say that the little girl in ep 5 is doing a PHENOMENAL JOB acting wise

[Idylla Kaizoku]

20 minutes ago, partyon said:

the little girl in ep 5 is doing a PHENOMENAL JOB acting wise

She does. That interrogation scene was amazing. Can't wait to see bts, if they're release it. 

 

Just finished ep5, and wow. It gives food for thoughts about SHR's past and possible implications of what's the subject of this episode, with an addition of the other things we learned from the last episode. 

 

Also, the wife makes a pole dance as a stress relief, okay, can buy it, but why on the street? Honestly, a wife is falling for a man she thinks her ex-husband is falling, too. What a woman. 

 

The thing that makes me curious is: how could a girl with her physical characteristic stab a grown man (through clothes and muscles), on the heigh around the tip of her head. And, why nobody questions why the father would be escaping to the roof from his daughter instead of stopping her? All evidence are against the girl? Hardly, but I get it's designed to be a dramatic and plot-wise element. 

 

Hm, was it explained in the first episode what it means that the brain is pure (for psychopaths like HDW? Because I think I've missed it...).

 

I'll wait for the next episode when it comes to SHR and HDW thoughts I've got.

 

Spoiler

Just a quick observation, though. He's probably a psychopath himself, but a high functioning. Yet, he actually wants to help the girl because she's going through what he did, which is against the general sentiment.

 

Also, he is a narcissist, self-confident, manipulative, charming, quick to anger when something isn't going like he wanted, antisocial. 

 

Also: he unwillingly works with GMS, who might be a positive influence, and willingly cooperate with HDW, who will most likely have a negative, destructive maybe, influence on him.

 

From other things. The change in dynamics between the Chief and the Team Captain is great. I like how he become so cautious around her. And she's using it against him. I think they wait until the Chief finally accept than the Tam Captain is capable and stop calling her a psychopath and also when she actually starts showing some emotional responses (a case that would "awake her"). 

 

One more thing: they change clothes to show the time pass which is great, but how Team Captain come to have such a wardrobe in such a short time? 

[partyon]

I finished ep 5. Some thoughts:

 

• Like @Idylla Kaizoku mentioned, why is the ex-wife always pole dancing on a traffic sign on the street?
  And I mean she looks great for her age - but why such short shorts / skirts in every scene? Like 50 year olds would normally not really be dressed like that. Maybe I'm too conservative
• For a woman who just lost her husband, Ji Eun's mom doesn't really seem to be grieving much...
• The thigh massage got a bit raunchy there....

[backstreetboysfan]

Here are the ratings for Episode 6! .

 

 

“Missing: The Other Side 2” And “Brain Works” Enjoy Boosts In Viewership While “Trolley” Sees Dip

“Brain Works,” “Trolley,” and “Missing: The Other Side 2” have switched places in terms of viewership ratings!

 

KBS2’s “Brain Works” also earned itself a small increase in viewership with a rating of 4.4 percent.

 

https://www.soompi.com/article/1563371wpp/missing-the-other-side-2-and-brain-works-enjoy-boosts-in-viewership-while-trolley-sees-dip

 

[Idylla Kaizoku]

I'm after raw ep6 and must say that the ending actually proves me that SHR has a one-tracked mind. He decides something, and even if there are things that might change that perception, he's too stubborn to recognize it (or too afraid to be wrong in one area, because this means he can be in others too, and how will he determine which are which, hasn't the right "equipment" build/developed (or doesn't possess it due to the nature of his brain...) - irrational, but he might think lik that, especially for a man who gained such proficiency in a single science field and ignored other (social/personal) matters, it's more than possible). 

 

In short I'm a bit disappointed in him, expected some more from they cooperation so far, but also - objectively - it was coming. And I honestly hope this time GMS react accordingly, and confront SHR properly. Ruining his big day - one of a few, I suspect, just because SHR was jealous. Nah, hope it serves as a major point in character development (mid-season next week, after all ;)).

 

Probably say something more when I understand more of this episode... (More than the ameba comment when he broke into the tablet and found the video).

[nohamahamoud2002]

 

 

[sweetroad]

I just finished episode 4. I really like how smart this drama is; the writers don’t talk down to us but present interesting concepts pretty clearly and use them creatively, like the husband not recognizing faces. This story had twists I didn’t see coming. 
 

Sometimes it was a little hard to follow what actually happened with the crime itself, but in the end the right criminal was caught. 
 

We’re led to believe the Dr Hwang in jail is perhaps Ha Ru’s dad, and that dude is creepy. 

 

And Team Captain’s transformation is hilarious! And Geum’s daughter showing her mom a picture of Ha Ru and saying she thinks Dad has a crush on Ha Ru. 

[Idylla Kaizoku]

2 hours ago, the_sweetroad said:

We’re led to believe the Dr Hwang in jail is perhaps Ha Ru’s dad, and that dude is creepy. 

Hm, might be too old for a dad, more likely a grandfather, of they're related, I think. That professor is his aunt age, and the doctor was his mentor, so the grandfather is more fitting.

 

2 hours ago, the_sweetroad said:

And Geum’s daughter showing her mom a picture of Ha Ru and saying she thinks Dad has a crush on Ha Ru. 

Oh, yes, that one is a brilliant, in tune with the bromance they're on the way to form in the future. 

[sweetroad]

8 hours ago, Idylla Kaizoku said:

Hm, might be too old for a dad, more likely a grandfather, of they're related, I think. That professor is his aunt age, and the doctor was his mentor, so the grandfather is more fitting.

 

Good points! I hadn't made the connection that Dr Hwang was the professor's mentor, and it does seem like the professor acts as a father figure to Ha Ru. Thanks.

 

I like the aunt. She really loves and cares for Ha Ru, even though he doesn't always appreciate her.

 

 

[Idylla Kaizoku]

Watched ep6 with subtitles and it was generally a closure to the previous episode's case. Nothing too exciting (aside the beginning, possible romance in work place clues, and the ending), but a solid work worth watching. 

 

What interests me are two thing: the dichotomy in relationship between SHR/HDW and SHR/GMS.

 

Spoiler

I've got an impression that SHR's brain will be a playground for this sort of showdown (GMS will be an unwilling, unaware player, though) and SHR's actions will be a direct result of who from the other two has got the stronger influence. 

 

(Probably not that complicated and dramatic, but he will definitely struggle to act more human-like, out of the shell he's in now). 

 

For now HDW showed himself from the good side, advice SHR why he was in the wrong, and his conclusion turned out to be true, so SHR is more willing to listen to him later, open to the suggestion, and one, two more advices with positive result, and SHR might fall in the trap, and listen to the man even if it'll be against his better judgement, because he was wrong two, three times, and HDW seemed more... acknowledge in the area of human behavior (outside of the brain functions). He's also an authority (in a way, definitely for SHR of sort) in the field, where as GMS is a fool in a field SHR feels superior (like, detectives aren't that smart, not like scientists, though both their work resolve around investigations). 

 

On the other hand GMS has the worst beginning he could have. For SHR he become the worst enemy, and no matter what he do or say, there always be a grudge blinding SHR from seeing the positive influence GMS's character is giving the world (his good deeds, a salt to the wound, in a long run discovering how psychopaths brain works benefits humanity more than a simple dept taken in a criminals name, or dealing with stupid people commiting crimes). If we confront this with the relationship that is forming between SHR and HDW, we have a two fighting forces: good and evil (to simplify). 

 

Now, we need an event that SHR confront his subjective view, the grudge against GMS. Yes, the man ruined his plans and career with a thoughtless act, and definitely isn't sorry enough for it (does GMS do it to stop an immoral doctor or just to pay back for SHR's act - for us probably the former, for SHR probably the latter, so now he needs to see it the other way around, and that will turn the table, I think). 

 

I'm wondering if SHR is aware of HDW being a part of his past, if he remembers him (he can't recollect the memories of the accident, but from HDW's memories and his words in ep 5-6 we can see they met before, and yet SHR after exiting the prison said vague "He truly is a psychopath" which means he might see him only as a test subject. Interesting matter). 

[nohamahamoud2002]

Yonghwa is so provocative  I can't stop laughing

 

 

end of shooting

 

 

[partyon]

Finished ep 6. Another solid episode.

 

Well, I think at this point in time we should already be past Shin Ha Ru's petty exposés. If he truly is trying to get Geum Myung Se to take the fall (and this isn't some kind of fake scene) then I have to say that it's time for Shin Ha Ru to move on.

 

We pretty much got confirmation that Geum Myung Se and Team Captain are end game.

 

Am interested to see when Shin Ha Ru's transformation will begin. Let's "pali" please with that part of the story.

[Idylla Kaizoku]

12 minutes ago, partyon said:

he truly is trying to get Geum Myung Se to take the fall (and this isn't some kind of fake scene)

I think it's not fake, because even if it didn't make GMS angry for ruining his big day, it might endanger the other person on the video (it's most likely a staged action, so this is either the part involved and helping to take down someone, or it's an officer and can also be endangered - the background it's actually not very... climatic for that kind of business, especially outside of the car). And it's the line that GMS won't let SHR to step over - citizen/fellow police officer are GMS limit, I think and the only way to actually make him angry and serious without the goofy undertone. 

 

It's mid-season, so it will definitely be more serious (GMS might be angered, and HDW might be the one to offer the consolation). Or I hope so...

 

4 hours ago, nohamahamoud2002 said:

Yonghwa is so provocative  I can't stop laughing

That serious look on the first photo caught me off guard for the next one below it. Those outfit, yeah.

[partyon]

40 minutes ago, Idylla Kaizoku said:

(it's most likely a staged action, so this is either the part involved and helping to take down someone, or it's an officer and can also be endangered - the background it's actually not very... climatic for that kind of business, especially outside of the car)

 

For sure this is again Shin Ha Ru believing what his mind comes up with, instead of sticking to the facts. He's done it before when he believed that Geum Myung Se was being bribed. Am 100% sure that GMS is on some undercover mission in the video or there is another explanation for it - he's not taking a hooker to the hotel.

 

When will Shin Ha Ru learn...

[Idylla Kaizoku]

3 minutes ago, partyon said:

He's done it before when he believed that Geum Myung Se was being bribed.

I like to believe that it's writers intention to show us that the man of science like SHR (who believes in evidence and proved facts) is so far out of his comfort zone that he actually acts stupidly. 

 

He was in the center of attention until now (first his aunt, then as  university's golden child, then as a genius specialist), and now he needs to steal attention from the subdivision chief and rob a police officer from his only (probably) award in his career. Like I'd said, it's most likely intentional that is brought up in the episode where he was for a moment a savior and a deity for someone (again). And it's the last time because they finally resolve it in the next week's episodes. 

 

Fingers crossing and all.