ENA’s Monday–Tuesday drama climax, which sparked countless buzzworthy moments, dropped its 10th and final episode on the 14th, bringing the saga to a close.
According to Nielsen Korea on the 15th, climax hit 3.9% nationwide among paid households, marking a new personal best. In the finale, Bang Tae-seop (played by Joo Ji Hoon) and Chu Sang-ah (Ha Ji Won) shook up the tangled power web connecting politics and chaebol conglomerates.
Chu Sang-ah weaponized a trove of past records documenting illegal acts by chaebol and political figures, directly pressuring them to secure funds and laying the groundwork to weaken Lee Yang-mi’s (Cha Joo Young) grip. Ultimately, the duo urged Son Guk-won (Joo Jin Mo) to abandon Lee Yang-mi and side with them, then aired decisive evidence on the 9 p.m. news—triggering Lee Yang-mi’s downfall.
Lee Yang-mi’s crimes were exposed to the world, leading to her arrest, while Bang Tae-seop and Chu Sang-ah—who had been strung along by the corruption cartel binding politics and capital—finally landed a crushing blow. But in the last scene, the imprisoned Lee Yang-mi called just before a special pardon, throwing Chu Sang-ah into turmoil. Even with their revenge seemingly achieved, the ominous call hinted at an uneasy future, leaving viewers with a lingering chill.
Viewers were split over the justice-served yet brutally realistic ending, reacting with comments like "Refreshing yet unsettling" and "What am I supposed to watch on Mondays now?"
Meanwhile, climax will be followed by scarecrow, starring Park Hae Soo, Lee Hee Joon, and Kwak Sun Young.