Then it’s 24 hours earlier and Mom has come to visit. So Soo Sun brings the boys up to her house/tent and explains her situation. Dae Goo, being Dae Goo, is sitting in her one lawn chair, like he’s above being concerned about it all. Do I see the roommate hijinks coming? Please? She’s begging them to help her by acting like she lives at their place for one night. I find it interesting that living in a tent is more scandalous that cohabitating with men… Gook and Tae Il are, as Tae Il puts it, “Cool” with it but Dae Goo says no. Soo Sun tries her ‘Oppa’ whine but when he stands firm, she threatens to throw herself from the roof. He tells her to go ahead; it’s not high enough to kill her (only 3 stories) but she’ll break every bone in her body. She asks again and Dae Goo still refuses and then… she asks his forgiveness, because Mom’s already at the apartment. Dae Goo is not happy.
Switch to the apartment, where they are grilling meat with a Korean Foreman grill. Or I should say that Dae Goo is the one grilling the meat. Mom *really* likes him, as illustrated by her feeding him the eel tail and slapping him on the rear. Dae Goo is not used to this physical contact. He glares over at Soo Sun, who knows that she’s in the dog house with him already without her adding to things. She nags at Mom to stop feeding Dae Goo. She answers saying that sons love when their mothers feed them.
Gook gushes over Mom’s cooking and reaches for another piece of meat, only to be stopped by Mom’s chopsticks. She smiles and, without taking her eyes off of her new ‘son,’ Dae Goo, tells Gook that there are only six pieces for each of them. Gook smiles and withdraws his chopsticks. Tae Il offers Mom some red wine, which she chugs. He offers her some more and she’s amazed at his beautiful complexion (complete with facial carress). Tae Il’s a little uncomfortable. Mom tells them that they remind her of an old adage: “A breath of fresh air.” Then she laughs which tells me that Mom holds her liquor as well as I do. Mom wonders how they allow co-ed housing. Gook goes for more meat, only to be stopped by the chopsticks. Mom picks up the piece of meat, blows on it, and then offers it to Dae Goo, who has to eat it to be polite.
Everyone’s cleaning up after dinner. Dae Goo exits his room with some blankets. Mom exits the bathroom with a facial mask, which completely shocks Gook. She asks her ‘son’ where Soo Sun’s room is. Dae Goo gestures to his room and tells Mom that Soo Sun only just moved in so she hasn't unpacked yet. Aw, Dae Goo is such a good son. Like Soo Sun, Mom gushes over how cozy their place is. Then she retires for the night. Aw, so the blankets are for him… definitely a good son. You can change your name and act like someone totally different, but you can’t really change who you are. Soo Sun smiles at Dae Goo gratefully. He doesn’t know how to take that smile.
The group retires to the roof. Soo Sun loves all the lights. She thanks them for helping her and Tae Il throws in some more English, “My pleasure.” Soo Sun remarks that she thought she'd feel like she saved the world if they caught Kim Shin Myung, but now, not so much. Gook replies that it made him, for the first time, glad he became a detective. Seeing Min Joon alive on the video made him want to go to the ends of hell to catch the guy, and the fact that they did… it made him cry he was so happy. The look on Dae Goo’s face shows that he understands that feeling and we know that he’s thinking about Oma. Tae Il soft-punches his partner and remarks that Gook is back. Gook scoffs and asks where he went. Soo Sun reminds him that he said, “What's the point? …That won't change anything.” Gook doesn’t remember saying that. And Dae Goo is getting more somber by the moment. Soo Sun’s voiceover says that Gook's words may have been right. It won't change the world. But for today, they found something lost/forgotten in their old drawers. I like that expression.
Sa Kyung is slowly walking towards her apartment, deep in thought. Pan Suk’s there waiting for her. She asks if he was waiting for her. He softly laughs and answers, of course. She looks away and reminds him that she doesn’t like that. It’s late so they should talk later. She tries to go but Pan Suk replies that in the past he would have agreed but he’s not going to just wait until next time. He’s not going to do that anymore. Doing that makes them, makes him feel like too much has been lost. Wow, that’s deep. He asks her if she remembers the reason she joined the Gangnam Station and became a detective, a job that she so hated, does she remember him asking her about it? All that isn’t important. What’s important is that the moment she walked into the station, his heart started to race, tremble. He wasn’t sure how she’d take it… She looks at him cautiously. He asks her if she wants to start over. Wow, Pan Suk.
Soo Sun’s voiceover, while we look at Pan Suk and Sa Kyung looking at each other, says that some find love. We switch to Tae Il and the picture of the guy that he keeps in his drawer. Her voice says that others find pain. He looks at it and puts it out on his desk. Soo Sun is back in her tent and she’s looking in her stuff. She pulls out THE PENDANT and sighs and her voiceover says, “And some find old memories.” And in Korean that sounded really ominous. I knew that Ji Yong was the reason that she became a cop! She went into the science lab and found the pendant. My prediction: Pan Suk’s going to flip when he finds out about the pendant. But I’m getting ahead of myself.
Then we switch to where we left off in the last episode: Dae Goo with the glasses on, doing inventory. Soo Sun, thinking about Ji Yong because of the pendant, comes in and notices the resemblance. She asks if he’s Kim Ji Yong. He looks over at her, startled, and she realizes that it *is* him. He quickly takes off the glasses and tries to bolt with the box from the room. She blocks his path and asks him again if he’s Ji Yong. Dae Goo sees Pan Suk coming so he plants that kiss on her. I laugh again at Pan Suk’s horrified reaction. No one’s eyes are closed during the kiss. Pan Suk clears his throat, uncomfortable and breaks right away from the conference room.
After several seconds, Soo Sun pushes Dae Goo off. She puts a hand over her mouth. Dae Goo is totally awkward as he stands there, not saying anything freaking out – probably from not only just missing getting busted but from how he feels about that kiss – and hurries out of the room. Lee Seung Gi did nice job of looking really vulnerable right there. Dae Goo practically runs by Pan Suk, who is sitting and pretending to be reading the newspaper and mutters that Dae Goo’s early. Soo Sun leaves the conference room and heads in the opposite direction, still holding her hand over mouth. Pan Suk stands up and mutters that he just needs to act like nothing happened, like it happens all the time. He sighs and asks himself, “What is this?”
Now in her tent, Soo Sun is wondering if Dae Goo likes her. But he calls her a bird brain all the time. Is he a weirdo? When did he start liking her? She sighs and mutters that this really bothers her. She flops down on her bed and wonders if he was playing hard to get. She can’t believe what this means.
Dae Goo’s in the bathroom, brushing his teeth. And he’s actually using toothpaste. He pauses as he replays the kiss in his head. He blinks furiously and then scrubs his mouth with the toothbrush, almost like he’s trying to wash the sensation away, but then he stops and looks at himself in the mirror, almost like he’s horrified at himself. He shakes his head to banish his thoughts and starts scrubbing more urgently, trying to get rid of it all.
Soo Sun’s escorting Mom to the train and asks whether Mom feels better about things, now that she’s seen how she lives. Mom replies that seeing Soo Sun work two days straight on-call makes her worried not that she might get sick. Soo Sun tries to reassure Mom that it isn’t always like that. Mom scolds Soo Sun, telling her that she’s still going to worry about the girl’s impulsive nature, how she jumps in first without thinking. Soo Sun shifts uncomfortably and rushes off to work. Mom sighs and goes on to the train.
Dae Goo’s sitting on a bench in the hallway of what looks like a hospital. He goes in to see the doctor, who mentions that it’s been awhile – so this is someone that Dae Goo knows. Dae Goo asks for a sleeping pill prescription, since he can't sleep again lately.
Police station. Dae Goo heads for the elevator when he sees Soo Sun heading for it, so he turns around to hide but then stops and asks himself, “Why should I avoid her?” After all he ‘doesn’t’ like her. She spots him walking – confidently, I might add – toward the elevator. She quickly dives out of view and starts furiously pounding on the door close button. But, he gets there in time to open it. He barely glances at her as he steps on the elevator and then shows elevator etiquette by staring straight ahead. There’s a voice – Gook’s – yelling for them to hold the elevator. The doors almost close as Gook careens into them, but then they open and he’s able to get on the elevator, too. It’s Gook barrier.
Gook asks about Soo Sun’s mom leaving and then about Soo Sun’s plans, since they’re demolishing her old apartment building today. She says that she’ll be fine; she’s sure she’ll find some place to pitch her tent. Dae Goo says that she can always pitch is in the wide open area nearby. And I laugh because he is a big butthead dork. Gook immediately clucks that that place is dangerous! Soo Sun tells that she just needs to last for two months. Then she’ll be able to afford a place then. And Dae Goo obviously feels bad but isn’t going to let himself feel bad for his partner. Gook tells her that if she ends up with no other option, she should come to their apartment. Roommate hijinks here we come! Soo Sun smiles gratefully. Dae Goo gives Gook the hard stare of death. And this is the longest elevator ride ever.
They reach their floor and Dae Goo swiftly leaves the elevator. Gook rushes after him, muttering that Dae Goo needs to tell him before he leaves home. I guess the implication being that they were ‘supposed’ to leave together – but, of course, Dae Goo had that doctor’s appointment. And following behind them is Boots, with that scar behind his ear. How the heck did Boots find him there? And why is he *still* dressing the same? And how do no police officers *see* him or think that he’s sketchy, particularly because he’s wearing a ball cap? Unless… could Boots be some sort of law enforcement official? It would explain how he would have access to the station… Maybe he’s a corrupt officer at the Korean FBI level… Hmmm…. Boots wonders out loud why Ji Yong’s become a policeman at the Gangnam Station.
Detectives Meeting with the Chief. She doesn’t look happy. Pan Suk starts off the meeting by apologizing for inconveniencing the Chief Captain and the other Team Leaders because of his inappropriate behavior. Chief responds that he inconvenienced them greatly but then tells him to take a seat. She does remark that she’s glad to see him, though. Aw, Chief has a soft spot for him. She mentions that now, more than ever, it's a critical time for the independent investigation rights issue, so she’s stressing again not to clash with the prosecution again. She ends with a special admonishment to Pan Suk regarding Frog, adding that if it happens again, she’ll be the one getting rid of him. Although I don’t think that’s gonna be a problem, due to that receipt from the whore house. Who keeps a receipt from a whore house? She reminds them about a previous Chief who was demoted because of a senseless clash. And Toad looks pensive. Is he angling for Chief’s job?
Tae Il gets a phone call, so he leaves Gook at the coffee machine to take it. The guy that was with them takes the moment to warn Gook not to be too nice to Tae Il, or else he’ll misunderstand. Gook’s confused. The guy can’t believe that Gook doesn’t know that Tae Il’s gay. And there it is. The guy can’t believe that Gook hasn’t heard the rumor *that’s all over Gangnam Station.* Someone even saw him come out of a gay bar with a guy. When did that have time to happen? I bet his brother is the guy he dragged out of a bar. Gook sputters with denial but now he’s starting to freak out, especially when the guy asks him what he’s going to do if Tae Il confesses his love? Gook basically tells the guy to shut up, that he’s not gay, and storms off. And the seed has been planted. Poor Tae Il. Gook is going to start acting weird now, especially since they *room* together.
Toad comes down the steps and, after checking out one of the plants, discovers Soo Sun’s camping equipment. So she packs and unpacks it all every night? It doesn’t seem feasible. Toad investigates and finds a bra. Soo Sun spots him waving her lacy bra around and rushes up to stuff it back in the bag. Toad orders her to get rid of it immediately! Since it looks bad. Not that anyone but him happened to see it and that was only because you paused at the plant, which most people are not going to do. Pan Suk arrives, asking what’s going on. Toad tells him to asks Soo Sun why she has all her belongings at work. He doesn’t care about the answer. She just needs to get rid of it. Then Toad spouts a proverb: Roses don't grow where weeds are planted and stomps off.
Pan Suk asks what’s going on and Soo Sun admits to living in a tent on the roof because she was defrauded at her dorm. She was kicked out after paying for three months rent in advance. Pan Suk can’t believe that happened, when she’s a detective. Aw, he’s thinking of them as detectives now. She starts begging, asking him to let it slide for 2 moths. And Pan Suk is cool. He tells her to move her stuff somewhere it isn't seen and to be careful or Toad will catch her on the roof. She bows gratefully. He tells her to hurry up since they’re doing a police lineup. People involved in the drunken brawl at the Hansung cart bar which resulted in a stabbing. Pan Suk explains that only the victims are able to see the suspects.
Re-enactment of the brawl and stabbing. The attacker grabbed a kitchen knife and stabbed the drunk guy. Pan Suk states that the only witness is the owner of the cart bar. The drunk guy is in a coma, so the investigation was difficult, but the witness has recently returned from China and agreed to view a lineup. Victim twitching on the floor, blood flowing from his chest and mouth. Yuck. Back to Pan Suk, who says that the investigation will proceed quickly if the suspect is identified today. Fingers crossed.
Owner looks a little nervous. Pan Suk are in the room with her. And I don’t see the suspect’s lawyer in there, nor the prosecuting attorney. I guess they do things differently in Korea. Pan Suk explains that 5 people are going to come in and if she recognizes any of them to point them out. He reassures her that they can’t see her. And he calls her Mother twice. Eung Do leaves to have the suspects enter. He numbers them. Witness doesn’t see any of them in the group. Next group. She doesn’t see anyone. Third group. She recognizes number 3, but doesn’t say anything. Witness wrings her handkerchief. Pan Suk asks if she sees any of them but she won’t look him in the eye as she says that she doesn’t recognize him. Dae Goo squirms a little.
After the lineup men leave, Pan Suk asks Mother if she really didn’t recognize anyone. She claims that her memory is fading now. He asks if she’s afraid. She admits that when she told people what she was doing, they worried about how she was going to protect herself later, since they’re scary thugs who even stab people! And Dae Goo is having uncomfortable flashbacks. As Pan Suk tries to assure Mother that they won't ever know was even there or identified them, Dae Goo is really starting to get upset. Since it worked out so well for Oma. Pan Suk asks her to think it over since the victim is fighting for his life and she’s the only witness. She starts to waiver and Pan Suk promises Mother that they’ll keep it a secret.
Mother’s about to crack but Dae Goo can’t take it anymore. He tells Pan Suk to cut it out, since she doesn’t want to do it. Pan Suk can’t believe what Dae Goo’s saying. Dae Goo says that Pan Suk has no right to force her to be a witness and then he tells Mother that she doesn’t have to do it. And everyone else is wondering what the heck Dae Goo is doing. Pan Suk and Eung Do try to recover the situation but Mother can’t run out of the station fast enough.
Wrath of Pan Suk! Pan Suk bursts into the room and grabs a chair to hit Dae Goo with. Eung Do stops him. Pan Suk throws it down. Dae Goo doesn’t look at him, but stares straight ahead, like he always does when Pan Suk lays into him. I definitely think now that this is Dae Goo’s coping mechanism, how he keeps on his mask. The one time he didn’t, he jumped Pan Suk and tried to kill him. Pan Suk calls Dae Goo an arrogant bastard and tells him to get out. He doesn’t need someone like Dae Goo on his team. Pan Suk orders him to turn in his resignation notice and get out.
Dae Goo makes eye contact and Pan Suk can’t believe his boldness. Dae Goo says that in 1994, there was a murder in a Soowon family home. In 2012, the murder case in Daegu. In 2013, a female restaurant owner assault case. Does Pan Suk know what these incidents have in common? Pan Suk still can’t believe that Dae Goo’s still talking. Dae Goo continues that in 2008 there were 87 cases. 139 cases in 2009. 122 cases in 2011. 233 cases in 2012. And what are they all? Revenge crimes. Dang, Dae Goo really is on a mission. In over 70% of the cases, they occurred in the beginning of the investigation when witness information was leaked. He asks Pan Suk how he’s going to guarantee Mother’s safety. Isn't protecting victims more important than work performance? Pan Suk huffs and asks if Dae Goo is saying that he’s blinded by work performance and so creating more victims. Dae Goo retorts that Pan Suk can't know for sure.
Pan Suk responds by saying that what's as important as the preventing further victims is relieving the injustice and pain of the current victims. What about the victim in this case? What about his injustice and the pain of his family? He’s using his hand to emphasis what he’s saying, so he’s really ticked. Can’t Dae Goo see that? Dae Goo yells back that the cart bar owner isn't responsible for that! Pan Suk yells at him to get lost! No matter what Dae Goo says, he (Pan Suk) must catch the criminal. Even if he gets stabbed himself, because that’s the job. And then Dae Goo does something I didn’t expect and I don’t think he was planning on doing, but he’s ticked off and venting 11 years worth of rage over this very point. He mentions Oma’s case. Dae Goo retorts that in 2003, a school nurse was killed in Masan as a result of being a witness. And Pan Suk is visibly shaken by that one. Eung Do admonishes Dae Goo by saying his name. He can't believe that Dae Goo mentioned something that is a sore spot for Pan Suk. Dae Goo angrily, defiantly stares back at Pan Suk as his chin quivers.
Pan Suk can’t believe it. He calls Dae Goo a bastard again and asks if Dae Goo did a background check on him. Dae Goo spits back that the legendary Seo Pan Suk needs no background check. With the slightest effort you can find out all about those cases. Dae Goo doesn’t know why he’s being forced to resign. He screams – his eyes are now glossy – that he can’t comprehend how Pan Suk can keep pressuring witnesses after going though such a painful experience! Pan Suk responds that Dae Goo doesn’t need to understand, just resign. And then they just stare at each other as Dae Goo pants, lip quivering. And there’s just a hint of what Pan Suk’s feeling on the inside; that he’s shaken to the core.
Dae Goo bursts out of the station onto the exercise ground. He puts his hands over his face as he walks in absolute frustration, and then starts beating on a punching bag. He picks up one of the fighting sticks and starts wailing on everything, yelling angrily. Then he throws the stick down and grabs the punching bag, pressing his head into it. As he pounds the bag, he yells at himself, that he’s waited eleven years for this moment (and he screwed it up).
Pan Suk’s at his desk. He pulls out Dae Goo’s file and after glancing at it, throws it down open on the desk. He tells Eung Do to take Dae Goo off duty and he’s going to transfer (the jerk). Eung Do offers Pan Suk some water, which Pan Suk takes and chugs. Eung Do delicately points out that Dae Goo’s involved in a lot of cases... Another glare from Pan Suk and Eung Do agrees to take him off duty. Eung Do glances down at the file and can’t believe that Dae Goo came from an orphanage. Pan Suk tells Eung Do to also look into Dae Goo’s background, starting with the orphanage. What does this jerk have against him? He needs to know.
Then Pan Suk tells Eung Do to release the thug that Mother recognized and to take the kids and tail him. The DNA found on the weapon wasn't Noh Jin Suk's so it's likely the other suspect's DNA. He’s bound to meet up with the other suspect when he gets out and it’s their only lead. Pan Suk looks at Dae Goo’s file again.
Dae Goo’s sitting in front of the coffee machine, trying to regain his composure. The gang comes upon him as they were about to eat lunch. Soo Sun immediately starts to sit by him but then remembers the kiss-situation, so she scoots so there’s some distance between them. They glance at each other awkwardly. Gook wonders why Dae Goo didn’t answer his phone and then decides he’s going to put a talisman in the audio recording room, since that’s always where Dae Goo seems to get in fights with Pan Suk. As Gook starts to eat his ramen, Eung Do arrives and tells him and Tae Il to come with him. Pan Suk stands, looking like he’s going to apologize, but Eung Do walks off without even an acknowledgement. Tae Il and Gook take off, leaving the lovebirds to sit there awkwardly. She quickly scurries after them, leaving Dae Goo alone.
Thug catches a taxi and the van is tailing them with Gook driving again. Thug reaches his destination: home, so they settle in to stake him out.
Station Room. Sa Kyung walks by Pan Suk and shoves something into his hand without saying anything and then just keeps walking, leaving the room. Pan Suk looks at his hand and it’s a note – shaped like a heart – with the message to meet at 7 pm where they first met. Let’s hope that Pan Suk remembers that one. He tries really hard to contain his smile but can’t. This makes me feel happy. His phone rings. He steps outside to take the call. Pan Suk has his back to where Dae Goo is standing. Boots announces that they have to meet and asks when Pan Suk has time. Pan Suk suggests now, since he doesn't want to keep putting it off. They agree on a meeting place and the scar is much less noticeable. Pan Suk hangs up the phone and looks pensive. He gets in his car and goes, with Dae Goo in pursuit. And even though he’s a highly-trained, veteran police officer, Pan Suk doesn’t notice that he’s being tailed.
Back to the van where Eung Do and the three are chowing down on some messy black bean noodles. Tae Il wonders if they’re going to get to go home and Eung Do doesn’t know, since their schedule’s set by the criminals. And wow, Soo Sun is a messy eater. What are they going to do when the criminal comes out now, with all the messy noodles they are holding? Eung Do asks them if they knew that Dae Goo came from an orphanage. They’re shocked. Gook and Tae Il thought that because of his face and personality that he was the only son of a rich family. Soo Sun remembers that Dae Goo mentioned his mother dying during the hostage situation, when he was 15. Which was 11 years ago. Hmmm… Eung Do asks about the dad and they don’t know. Gook can’t believe it. Soo Sun feels especially bad because she’s his partner. Tae Il says that it reminds him of a poem, that someone coming into your life is a big thing because his whole life comes with him. That’s deep.
Pan Suk arrives at his destination. Dae Goo’s got his black ball cap of invisibility on. It’s a mall. Smart. Pan Suk’s walking with intent when he suddenly dives out of the sight of… Thug. He immediately calls Eung Do and asks if they’re staking out Thug’s house. When Eung Do answers that they are, Pan Suk wonders why he’s *there* at Wangshimri right now. Eung Do can’t believe it. They didn’t see him leave. Pan Suk decides to tail him, with Dae Goo on his heels. Pan Suk loses him for a moment, but then spots him hiding. Thug is running hard, down into the subway. Pan Suk frantically hunts through a couple of cars trying to find him, but misses him. Thug waves goodbye. Pan Suk yells in frustration several times and Dae Goo curses his bad luck.
Back at the station, Pan Suk yells at Eung Do (and Soo Sun) and then controls his temper and tells them to find Thug's location no matter what it takes. We see Eung Do talking to Soo Sun *and Dae Goo,* telling them to head to Thug’s hometown and camp out at a guesthouse in Nanjungdo. (Thug’s name is Noh Jin Suk, by the way.)
Dae Goo and Soo Sun take the ferry there, not talking to each other. It’s awkward with Dae Goo trying his best to seem aloof. Soo Sun has a market lady called his house for her. When Dae Goo looks at her, thinking bird brain, she retorts that she didn't arouse suspicion. Then she mentions that they were on the last ferry, so they won’t have to start the stakeout until the next morning. So a little time for romance… They head to the guesthouse, the only one in the area.
Gook and Tae Il are staking out Thug’s apartment again. With Tae Il driving. They’ve been thinking about what Eung Do said about Dae Goo being an orphan and decide to be good to him, since that could explain why he’s so closed off and unfriendly. Then Gook ‘smoothly’ tries to work the conversation towards finding out if the rumor is true about Tae Il being gay. Gook mentions how they know everything about each other even without having to say everything and to commemorate becoming best friends, they should tell each other a secret no one else knows. Tae Il agrees to that. Gook starts by declaring that no one knows this secret: that he likes someone. And even before he can get the words out Tae Il asks if it’s Soo Sun. Gook mutters about how Tae Il can tell and Tae Il says that you can tell. Tae Il’s turn. Before Tae Il can say anything, Gook assures Tae Il that he can understand anything… whatever he does, whoever he likes, Gook will understand. And I can’t tell from Tae Il’s expression what he’s thinking when he asks Gook, “Really?” Gook insist that it’s their special secret. Tae Il leans in and whispers his secret in Gook’s ear. Gook’s expression is practically unreadable – to me it says this is not what I was asking for! Tae Il smiles and goes back to his burger. Gook blinks some more and looks awkward.
Dang it! We switch back to Dae Goo and Soo Sun at the guest house. The guesthouse’s one room doesn’t have a door. Ajumma doesn’t think it will be a big deal since it’s not that cold. And she scratches her back with a fly swatter. Gross. Soo Sun asks if there’s really only one room and ajumma doesn’t understand. Aren't they lovers? Soo Sun awkwardly laughs. Ajumma tells them to make good memories and goes inside, singing. Not making it at all awkward. Dae Goo camps out on the outside pallet. Soo Sun approaches him and pokes him to get his attention. She suggests they go out and talk, so they go out to the bench right outside the fence.
Soo Sun tells Dae Goo that she thought she needed to broach the subject. It was really hard for her to pass the government test. Dae Goo doesn’t see how this is news, since she told them it took her 7 tries. She goes on, that she really wants to work hard since she’s beginning to enjoy the work more and more. She wants to become a really great detective. She’s not looking at him, but he’s looking at her. There’s a change. He asks her what her point is. Really uncomfortable, she turns to him and asks if he likes her. He’s a little surprised by her question. Not that you didn’t plant a kiss on her out of nowhere, or anything. Soo Sun adds that if this is the case, she has no desire to go out with him. She’s so sweet and emphatic about the whole thing. I love her. Dae Goo stops her by asking if this is because he kissed her. She looks down. What else would it be, Dae Goo? He declares that this is what they call "dumbstruck." She looks at him like I would. What? Dumbstruck? Typical Dae Goo, he declares that she doesn’t have to worry. He doesn’t like her. Liar.
Soo Sun asks him why he kissed her, then, if he doesn’t like her. He declares that he had a good reason. She shouldn’t ask why because he can't tell her. Her response: What? I love that she’s not a meek pushover. Dae Goo snarkily asks if she isn’t glad, since she doesn’t want to get involved with him anyway. She starts to answer that this is true, but… And then I have to laugh because… Dae Goo tells her that if she thinks it’s unfair, then she can kiss him back. What’s he going to do when she takes him up on that offer? I think he secretly hopes that she'll do it. She just blinks at him. He says that he’s going and goes back inside. Soo Sun can’t believe it. I would be reacting the same way.
Later, Soo Sun brings some bedding outside. Dae Goo’s lying down, with his phone playing a cartoon. She thinks about what Eung Do said about Dae Goo being an orphan. It makes her be nice. She dumps the bedding on him and tells him that it'll get cold. He glances/glares at her and then curls back up again. She almost lets it go but then asks him if he’s going to really sleep out there. No answer until his phone dies. He mutters to himself that he can't sleep now. Soo Sun hears it and gets sarcastic. Does she make him nervous? Oh, that's right. He doesn't like her. She’s hysterical as she pats her head like she’s a stupid as she reminds herself that he doesn't like her. He asks her what she’s doing. She tells him that she worried what would happen if he really liked her since she didn't want to hurt him. He sighs. She smiles and holds out her hand declaring that they should forget everything and move forward. Not that Dae Goo’s been fired basically or anything. He slaps her hand away. Just like usual. She declares that she feels much better now (because he's his normal cranky self) and he should call if he needs anything. Dae Goo doesn’t say anything. Just looks at her like she’s crazy and like he likes her but is in denial.
Later, Dae Goo’s walking though the forest out to the outhouse. It’s really creepy looking, so he decides to hold it. Not that he’s a guy and can go behind one of the tress that are in the woods that he’s in… Maybe that’s an American thing to do, go in the woods when you’re really desperate. But he can’t hold it. So he has to go ask Soo Sun to come with him to the creepy outhouse. I am laughing.
From inside the outhouse, Dae Goo asks Soo Sun where she is. She flashes the light from the flashlight back and forth on the outhouse to assure him that she’s there. Aw, when he lets his guard down, he really is still like that little boy from all those years ago. So sweet and vulnerable. She declares that she’s bored and asks if he wants her to sing him a song. He doesn’t want her to, but she does anyway, along with intricate dance moves.
Dae Goo’s done but he can’t help but watch through a break in the shutters as she sings and dances, or rather, awkwardly twitches because she can’t remember some of the moves. He can’t help but break into a really huge smile as he watches her. He remembers back to her in the broadcast booth and there’s a definitely soft look on his face. She stops and asks him if he’s done. He replies that he isn’t done yet. Heh. Just a little longer. He smiles, one of those smiles I don’t think he’s worn since he first smiled it all those years ago, which makes me sad for him. Laughing to tears in two seconds flat. Soo Sun’s voiceover repeats what Tae Il said earlier: that someone coming into your life is a big thing, because his whole life comes with him. Soo Sun dancing and Dae Goo laughing with real affection in his eyes. And the episode ends.
Flashback to the past with Ji Yong staring awestruck at Seoul Girl (Hye Ji). K-pop song by Rain – which I have on my phone – plays on the television in the café as Dae Goo dreamily declares that this must be science fiction. If she's human, she can't possibly be that beautiful. A boy approaches with a gift and she barely acknowledges him and chin motions for one of her friends to take it and put it with the rest of the presents she's gotten. If I didn't like her before, I really don't like S.G. now. Ugh. Ji Yong’s buddy just doesn’t get it. Ji Yong declares that you can't escape the sun. Rain has been singing his heart out all this time about it.
Soo Sun enters with her girls, one of them stealing some of Ji Yong’s food. Song changes to one I don’t recognize, but it rocks. Dramabeans identified it as “Ten Minutes” by Lee Hyori, the song that Soo Sun was singing all those years later. Her entrance is epic, by the way and makes me love her even more. He looks from Soo Sun to the food and back at her. At the music video and back at her. She is just awesome. Really eclectic style that she wears so confidently. Soo Sun spots Seoul Girl and goes over to her, holding up a magazine by her head, comparing her to the picture. Soo Sun concludes they’re the same person because of the hairpin. She tells S.G. to step outside and when S.G. hesitates, she threatens to dump S.G.'s meal on her head. Heh.
Thoughts
Dang! This show keeps me sucked in, because now I want to see what happens next and I have to go to bed. But first, my reactions to the episode…
- I can’t believe that Soo Sun completely forgot about recognizing Ji Yong because Dae Goo kissed her.
- We’re getting closer to Pan Suk discovering Dae Goo’s secret.
- We’re getting closer to the reveal that Pan Suk was never dirty. Why else would he abandon meeting Boots to chase the criminal he’s trying to put away. I really believe that this meeting between them is going to be one where Boots gloats and Pan Suk declares that he’s going to put Boots away for good this time. Boots might even hint at knowing Ji Yong’s identity.
- Gook heard the rumor, which I don’t believe is true, and is now trying to figure out whether it is true. I totally don’t believe that Tae Il’s secret had anything to do with that, hence Gook’s expression.
- I predict – even more so since I saw the preview for next episode – that roommate hijinks will be starting next episode. I also predict that Dae Goo’s going to be able to sleep without anything on because Soo Sun’s there.
- What does his reaction to her dancing mean? Is she his real first love, rather than S.G.? Aw, are they each other’s first loves. I love that even back then, they got on each other’s nerves.
- Is Dae Goo going to find out that they know he’s an orphan next episode, because people are going to be nicer and more tolerant of his abrasive façade?
- Interesting that, despite Pan Suk’s order, Eung Do assigned the two of them to stake out Thug’s hometown. I hypothesize that Eung Do’s is hoping that they are able to catch Thug, so that Dae Goo will get back in Pan Suk’s graces and not have to be transferred.
- I felt really bad for Dae Goo when he was practically weeping with frustration at himself for getting himself fired.
- And I cried again, thinking about how lonely his life must have been.
- Yay, Pan Suk and Sa Kyung look like they’re going to make another go of it. I think the reveal that Dae Goo is Ji Yong is going to help that along, too, because I definitely believe that their son’s death and Oma’s death are intertwined. Even though they don’t actually make their rendezvous because of the case.
- I love Soo Sun and how Go Ara plays her. I love that the girl is kind and was trying to let Dae Goo down easy by addressing the kiss. Boy, both of them are going to regret what they said during that conversation.
- Love that Soo Sun’s Mom has already picked out Dae Goo for her son-in-law.
- Dae Goo is really starting to struggle with wearing his mask. Soo Sun’s plight bothers him, despite himself, and I think the more time he spends with her, the more it’s going to be impossible to keep it up around her.
- It’s already becoming really obvious to me that he cares about her, despite all his protests. Her plight bothers him, even though he tries to ignore that. He covered for her with Mom so that she wouldn’t look bad. He puts up with her, even when she’s inconvenient. Patting his heart and furiously brushing his teeth. And that smile that could melt a million hearts as he thought about her in the past…. Sigh.
- Soo Sun has the pendant! Major ramifications for the case!
- Which leads me to what I predict will be a crying scene for both Soo Sun and Dae Goo as they emotionally discuss what happened to him all those years ago.
- Wonder if Boots is going to put together that Dae Goo is at the Gangnam station because of Pan Suk and possibly realize that Dae Goo thinks Pan Suk is dirty. He could really play Dae Goo if he realizes that, so I hope it doesn’t happen.
- Props again to the acting principals. I love how they have nuances to what they're doing, especially Cha Seung Won. I know I keep raving about him, but he's fantastic in staying in character and not overacting anything. It's those little emotional beats that he takes, that's what makes him fabulous.
- Wanted to also mention again my question as to why Boots can just wander around a police station unnoticed. It really makes me wonder if he's some sort of intelligence agent who moonlights as an assassin.
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