SBS‘s Friday-Saturday drama ‘The Fiery Priest 2’ captured attention until the very end, completing a heartwarming finale with a ‘Passionate Human’ ending that announced the exhilarating triumph of good over evil and the continued defense of justice.

The final episode of SBS’s Friday-Saturday drama ‘The Fiery Priest 2’ (written by Park Jae-beom, directed by Park Bo-ram, produced by Studio S, Big Ocean ENM, Red Nine Pictures, and Gilstory ENT) that aired on the 27th (Friday) recorded a peak of 12.6% according to Nielsen Korea, ranking first in weekly miniseries viewership ratings for five consecutive weeks. It achieved a beautiful ending by ranking first in its time slot with 10.9% nationwide, 10.5% in the metropolitan area, and 2.8% in the 2049 demographic. It raised expectations for season 3 with an open ending that presented infinite possibilities for the series.

In the broadcast that day, Kim Hae-il (Kim Nam-gil), Park Kyung-sun (Lee Ha-nui), and Goo Dae-young (Kim Sung-kyun) punished villains Nam Du-heon (Seo Hyun-woo) and Kim Hong-sik (Sung Joon) through a ‘Honey Pot Gate’ hearing. Kim Hae-il, Park Kyung-sun, and Goo Dae-young experienced difficulties due to Nam Du-heon‘s fake tearful performance and witnesses’ changing their positions under threat, but Goo Ja-young (Kim Hyung-seo), Manager Kim (Hwang Jung-min), and Detective Bing (Yeol Bing-eo) dramatically discovered Nam Du-heon‘s storage device in the house next door connected to the wall of Park Kyung-sun’s house, and revealed all of the honey pot data containing Nam Du-heon‘s evil deeds at the hearing. And when Kim Hong-sik failed to infiltrate Nam Du-heon with a gun to get revenge, Kim Hae-il engaged in a bloody fight with Kim Hong-sik, ending the situation by stabbing him in the eye. In the end, the three received a standing ovation, and Kim Hong-sik and Nam Du-heon were dragged away by the police.

Afterwards, as peace came to the Uma Cathedral and Busan Theological Seminary, Chae Do-woo (Seo Beom-joon) received a photo taken with Father Kim Hae-il and his fighting spirit was ignited, and Gu Dae-young and Gu Ja-young, dressed in their uniforms, headed to the family home with gifts and created a warm atmosphere. Then, Gu Dam-ju received a token of friendship as a token of gratitude from an Italian priest who was the Pope’s special envoy and smiled happily. However, Park Kyung-sun and Gu Dae-young resigned from the prosecution and police due to pressure from their superiors, and when Park Kyung-sun was worried about the future, Kim Hae-il and Gu Dae-young suggested that Park Kyung-sun run for the National Assembly. Park Kyung-sun, who had strongly refused, ran as a candidate for the National Assembly four years later without any news, and Kim Hae-il, who was inside the cathedral, said, “It was not a miracle that made the impossible possible. When injustice becomes law, justice becomes a duty. He left a heavy soliloquy saying, “It was a miracle that people who were living ordinary lives did not remain silent in the face of injustice but willingly did their duty.”

On the other hand, in the next scene, Kim Hae-il appeared in front of a group trying to film the T room video from a car and said, “I should prepare to issue a Hi-pass to hell,” before throwing a fiery fist, marking the ending. The epilogue of Kim Hae-il receiving an offer to go to the Vatican further raised expectations for season 3. In this regard, we have summarized three things that ‘The Fiery Priest 2’, which gave birth to the ‘The Fiery Priest’ genre and was loved throughout its airing, left behind.

● What ‘The Fiery Priest 2’ left behind 1. A refreshing punch behind the cheerful laughter! The essence of black comedy

‘The Fiery Priest 2’, written by Park Jae-beom, presented the motto of the original cider drama ‘The Fiery Priest’ season, ‘Rapid development’, and delivered a heart-pounding thrill in the midst of a suffocating current situation. The story of ordinary people coming together to destroy a huge drug cartel always fulfilled the long-awaited romance of implementing justice and brought catharsis. Furthermore, in the final hearing scene, Kim Hae-il said, “Killing people is not the only genocide. The Republic of Korea is currently being slaughtered by truth, justice, and history. Innocent citizens are paying the price! Do you understand?” The line, ”Are you sure?“ is a sharp and blunt line that fits the current situation, and it showcases the essence of black comedy that allows for various reflections after laughter.



● What ‘The Fiery Priest’ Left Behind 2. Breaking Through Limitations with Various Attempts, Unique and Experimental Satire

Director Park Bo-ram, who was in charge of directing ‘The Fiery Priest 2’, completed a unique satire that breaks through the limitations of dramas with various attempts. Director Park Bo-ram portrayed the season 2 villains who completely disregard human dignity for their desires as more ruthless and vile, and the good guys who have to deal with these devilish villains as hot-blooded characters full of irresistible courage and excitement, creating a strong-minded atmosphere. In addition, the action scenes that exploded with the charm of ‘The Fiery Priest’ were emphasized more dynamically, while at the same time, musical scenes that were not often used in Korean dramas were used appropriately, and the challenge of breaking the limits of expression did not stop.

● What ‘The Fiery Priest 2’ left behind 3. The butterfly effect of fun given by the power of trustworthy actors and great acting

The third thing ‘The Fiery Priest 2’ left behind is the great acting of the trustworthy actors. Kim Nam-gil, who plays Kim Hae-il, the ‘Fiery Priest’ itself, freely moves between action, comedy, and seriousness, taking center stage in the drama, and Lee Ha-nui, who plays Kim Hae-il‘s reliable assistant Park Kyung-sun, added vitality to the drama by showing both a comical sidekick that is both ruined without hesitation and a strong appearance. Kim Sung-kyun, who plays Kim Hae-il’s best friend Gu Dae-young, brought comfortable laughter with even more intense tiki-taka and action scenes. Seong Joon, who plays the role of the strongest villain Kim Hong-sik, who newly joined in Season 2, exuded contrasting charms from his cold-bloodedness to his timid appearance in front of Park Kyung-sun, who he fell in love with at first sight. Seo Hyun-woo, who joined Season 2 as the brain villain Nam Du-heon, enriched the drama by expressing the coolness of a character with desire and hidden eccentricity. Lastly, Kim Hyung-seo, who plays Goo Ja-young, the only good character among the new members of Season 2, naturally digested the role of the strong-willed Goo Ja-young and earned a life character with his candid appearance. The fantastic combination of actors who swept up 9 awards at the SBS ‘Drama Awards’ and proved themselves to be a famous ‘acting restaurant’ presented a butterfly effect of fun.

The production team said, “We would like to express our sincere gratitude for your interest until the end”, and added, “We would be more than happy if this drama could be an opportunity to awaken the passionate human being who was sleeping inside the viewers”.”

Choi Yun-na, Donga.com reporter yyynnn@donga.com