Recap Korean Drama "One Dollar Lawyer 2022" Episode 11

One Dollar Lawyer episode 11 starts with Ji-hun following Min-chul and coming across Hyun-mu meeting the latter. It’s a revelation that can leave many shocked and Ji-hun looks more interested than ever in the shocking turn of events.

He follows Min-chul further down pristine hallways and eventually loses him after he goes inside a room with a guard outside. Mu-jang comes in handy at that moment and proceeds to break into enemy territory in order to get the inside scoop and get some recordings. There’s some shady auction going on inside – or, well, it’s a way to launder money.

After the shady chairman leaves, Ji-hun again follows Min-chul out in the open, now carrying a knife, fully intending to stab him in front of everyone. However, just before that, he stops himself from making a horrible mistake, and Min-chul is safe for now.

Afterwards, JI-hun comes outside to face the person who was behind his father’s death – JQ Group’s chairman, Choi Ki-seok. After a rather shocking decision to participate in the auction, Ji-hun goes to have a “talk” with Min-chul and this time, he almost does stab him, only stopping when he remembers Ju-yeong and that she probably wouldn’t be happy with his behaviour.

Back at home, Ji-hun adds the new players on his murder board from that night, all the while thinking about Ju-yeong.

The next morning, Ma-ri and Mu-jang wonder how to help Ji-hun with the huge bet he placed the other night. When Ji-hun comes to the law office, he asks Ma-ri what he would do if the person she admired the most did something despicable. Her answer, it seems, makes Ji-hun feel somewhat satisfied. Ji-hun, afterwards, goes to Ju-yeong’s grave looking wistful.

Weirdly enough, the next morning, Ji-hun disappears without a word, only leaving a text for Mu-jang and a letter for Ma-ri. She’s unable to believe him at first but looks heartbroken when the realisation sets in.

A year later, Ma-ri is doing the absolute opposite work that she had done with Ji-hun. Her hard work takes her to great places, but it seems like she’s not happy where she is. After a court case, she goes to Ji-hun’s old office to feed the fish and finds Mu-jang there as well.

It’s clear that both of them are waiting for Ji-hun to come back one day, although Ma-ri does feel just a little betrayed by Ji-hun up and leaving. At the office, Ma-ri’s dissatisfaction with her work and her missing her old team is apparent at every moment. Meanwhile, Ji-hun seems to be having a swell time in the North Han Riven French Village, where he has started to provide free legal counselling to the villagers.

Even though all of them try to move on with their lives, it’s pretty clear that things aren’t that great for anyone in the situation. Both Ma-ri and Ji-hun miss their previous lives, Ma-ri more so than the others. She cries thinking about him and can’t forget the things that they did together.

Anyway, Ji-hun gets pulled into the JQ Pharmaceutical mess once more thanks to one of the villager’s letters. As he dons his old persona and pays a visit to Baek Law Firm, Ma-ri spots him and gives him chase through the building. Ji-hun refuses to acknowledge that he’s Cheon Ji-hun but gets caught in the end.

Ma-ri promises to kill him if he tries to pull something similar again. Mu-jang, it seems, agrees with her sentiment. Funnily enough, Ma-ri hits him over the head with a bouquet of flowers, and Mu-jang straight-up punches him in the nose.

Anyway, that night, he explains his reasoning to them about why he left and the two of seeming to understand his prospect and accept his apology. Ma-ri confesses her feelings to him as well and mentions that she was heartbroken after he left them alone without thinking about them. Ji-hun seems to understand the bonds that he has created with his colleagues.

Meanwhile, Ma-ri finds the actual letter that Ji-hun had written for her, softening her harsh edges and helping her process her feelings.

Ji-hun is back in the office the next morning and after paying all of his back rent, he mentions to Ma-ri and Mu-jang the reason behind their 1000 won fees and proposes getting back together as a team to live an honest life and continue to provide legal counselling for 1000 won.

Although Ma-ri refuses to give in to his crazy plans at first, she relents after Ji-hun makes a very interesting point and apologises for leaving on a whim.

One Dollar Lawyer Episode 11 Ending
It’s all fun and games in the law office, and the three hugs it out and immediately jump into a case – Ji-hun and Ma-ri visit Min-chul, who is taken by surprise while counting a wad of cash by the surprise guest. If you remember, the last time these two met, Ji-hun almost stabbed Min-chul with a knife!

One Dollar Lawyer Episode 11 Review
Another delightful and extremely emotional episode out of the way, and we have reached the final episode of this rather sweet series. Although I must admit, I found it unnecessary for them to include the part where Ji-hun lived in the Han River village – that whole bit was just so over-the-top, just to show that letter and bring him back. I don’t understand, and neither was it funny.

Either way, ignoring (and skipping through probably) that part, One Dollar Lawyer episode 11 gives Ma-ri a chance to shine – when her voice breaks as she confesses her heartbreak at Ji-hun abandoning them, I could feel her sadness and confusion through the screen. Kim Ji-eun does a fantastic job with the nuanced emotions in this scene.

Anyway, Ji-hun’s character, although complex, takes his time to open up to those around him and to us. It’s delightful and keeps the show running. You feel a certain type of way for the show because of Ji-hun’s character and how he goes through these moral dilemmas of revenge, anger and heartbreak.

Apart from that chunk in the middle, this episode portrays the relationship between the three characters of the law office so well. Although, I must say that the series loses a little steam surrounding the central mystery and focuses on Ji-hun and Ma-ri’s personal life a bit more. Which, you know, is fine, but with just one episode left, it feels like we’re in for a rushed ending.

But A+ brownie points for that smacking with the bouquet of flowers. Wins this episode for me.