44

Spy: Episode 5

While being a spy comes with its own set of responsibilities and dangers, it’s a whole other thing when an entire operation rides on our young secret agent’s shoulders. In all of his experience in the field, Sun-woo learns that keeping secrets is nothing compared to the difficulties of keeping a promise. Thank goodness then that there’s at least one person who’s got his back and whom he can rely on, because the guy could use a few people on his side who don’t have it out for him.

SONG OF THE DAY

Buzz – “Hero” for the OST [ Download ]

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

EPISODE 5 RECAP

At the National Intelligence Service headquarters, Sun-woo is questioned about the failed operation while the rest of the analytics team looks on from the other side of the two-way mirror. Interestingly, there’s a report in Chief Song’s hands listing all the IT companies that failed in their contract bids of a codebreaking program for the Ministry of National Defense. Hmm, is Dad’s company listed among them?

Sun-woo is then ordered to explain his whereabouts to after their informant Soo-yeon’s death, reminded that he abandoned his post. Yikes. But Sun-woo is still choked up by the entire situation, his eyes on the verge of tears.

We rewind back to that fateful day, as Sun-woo is left in a daze recalling Soo-yeon’s final moments followed by her passing. Eun-ah offers him a towel to wipe off the blood, but that’s when Chief Song comes storming in, demanding to know where the suspect is.

Chief Song couldn’t care less about a casualty in the face of losing their suspect. He has to be dragged out by Hyun-tae before tearing into Sun-woo further about their failure. Sun-woo rises from his seat, not answering when Eun-ah asks where he’s going. He walks outside in his benumbed state of mind.

Aha, so Dad’s company Hedge Technet is one of the companies listed on that Ministry of National Defense report we saw earlier. He’s still very much worried about Mom, whom we see go looking for Ki-chul.

Her explanation that she’d meant to report back to Ki-chul afterwards is met with a hard slap to the face, as well as her follow-up excuse that she thought it had nothing to do with him. His eyes unflinching, Ki-chul demands to know the real reason for her presence at the drop-off today.

“I was worried about Sun-woo,” Mom concedes. “Worried that he’d run into you. Because he could be hurt if something went wrong.” She says Ki-chul is smart enough to make a getaway, but Ki-chul throws back that she likely would’ve wanted him to die by the hands of the NIS.

There’s a hint of scorn as he adds that she’d probably hope to return to that lovely family life she’d been living if he were out of the picture. At Mom’s defense that Ki-chul can’t afford to let Sun-woo die, Ki-chul explains that it isn’t Sun-woo whom he needs, but an instrument to infiltrate the NIS. A mere tool… just like she once was.

Sun-woo belongs to him now, words that has Mom fall to her knees. She pleads with him for another chance, willing to do anything. Ki-chul smirks, amused, then tosses a pocket knife to the ground. He’s willing to test her obedience and asks if she’d die at his command.

She asks if Ki-chul will leave Sun-woo alone if she dies. Ki-chul agrees, so Mom grabs the knife and aims for the jugular, but Ki-chul grabs her wrist, stopping the knife just in time. A tense moment passes, then Ki-chul takes the knife from her hand. He seems both amused and impressed and hands her a photo of Chief Song, encouraging her not to forget how she feels right now.

Sun-woo wanders the streets alone, barely aware of his bloodied appearance until a small girl points it out. His futile attempt to rub off the dried blood on his hand is sad to watch. He does his best to sound unaffected when Yoon-jin calls, lying that everything went well and that they caught the bad guy.

Yoon-jin is relieved to hear it, and Sun-woo insists that he’s fine. He heads over to her house to clean the blood from his hand and clothes in an almost furious manner.

Meanwhile Ki-chul speaks with his superior in the North, asking for more time because he knows that neither torture nor threats are methods that work on Mom. We don’t get to hear who’s on the other end, but Ki-chul’s expressions are enough for us to fathom that whoever it is isn’t happy. Watching Mom leave, Ki-chul assures them that he’ll take responsibility if their plans go south.

Dad rushes over to meet Mom at an overpass, drawing her into his arms. Aw. Handing over Chief Song’s photo, Mom believes that this is Ki-chul’s true target and wanted to use Sun-woo to get access to his boss. Dad wonders how they’ll be able to plant a bug on an NIS employee’s phone, but Mom says they must.

Speaking of bugs, Mom also starts searching the rented car for a planted bug, convinced that’s how Ki-chul knew that they were trying to trick him. Er, maybe he’s (rightly) distrustful like that? You are his target’s mother, after all.

But nothing turns up, and Dad offers that perhaps Ki-chul had an informant of his own. If that were true, then Ki-chul would never have approached Sun-woo nor been desperate enough to enlist them to do his bidding, Mom argues. And then it occurs to her that there’s one other place that their enemy could’ve bugged.

That place is Yoon-jin’s apartment, where Sun-woo speaks with Hyun-tae, who tells him that it’s better to turn up sooner than later since all responsibility will fall upon Sun-woo anyway. Hyun-tae tells him to tune into the news, since they need to know how the higher-ups are handling the situation.

So Sun-woo turns on the TV, which glosses over Soo-yeon’s death as a young woman who was caught up in a financial conflict. Seeing that has Sun-woo wrestle with himself about his promise to save Soo-yeon’s family should their mission go awry.

He’s surprised when Yoon-jin comes home early from work, but slaps on a smile so not to worry her. Just as he’s about to head out, Yoon-jin holds onto him, telling him not to do anything dangerous. Sun-woo assures her that he won’t do anything of the sort—he’s just heading back into the office.

Little does Sun-woo know that his parents catch him leaving Yoon-jin’s place. Mom looks like she’s on the verge of tears while Dad tightly holds her hand. Determined to keep his promise, Sun-woo gets on the phone with a contact, asking him how much it’ll cost to smuggle three people out of North Korea.

Back at the cafe, Chief Song tries to mollify his superiors on the phone while Eun-ah examines the CCTV footage. Hyun-tae covers up for Sun-woo’s absence, saying that he sent him away to recuperate from his shock. That is NOT the answer Chief Song wants to hear, and demands that Sun-woo be called back right now.

With that, Chief Song calls Hyun-tae aside for a chat, though the latter narrows his eyes in suspicion. Still, Hyun-tae follows him to the stairwell, where Chief Song tries to justify his anger—it’s not because he hates Sun-woo, but someone has to assume responsibility for what happened today.

Hyun-tae knows the protocol well enough, but no one could have foreseen that their enemy would kill an unarmed woman in broad daylight. He thinks shifting all the blame on the young agent is going too far, but Chief Song says their superiors will look for someone to blame. If Sun-woo doesn’t, who will it be—Hyun-tae? Or him then?

Helping him will ultimately help Sun-woo, Chief Song argues. He tasks Hyun-tae to track down the baddies and only report to him. If that wasn’t suspicious enough, Chief Song is asking this of Hyun-tae as an old friend. Hyun-tae nods in agreement, though he can’t shake off the feeling that something’s off.

Sun-woo’s contact is a middleman when it comes to smuggling people out the North. Sneaking out a family whose daughter was on the news makes the job highly more difficult—who knows, perhaps the family members are already detained in prison camps as they speak.

But Sun-woo knows that his contact’s reach extends to those prison camps too, which calls for an even higher price. Sun-woo writes down an amount, telling him it’s his entire life’s savings. Can’t they figure something out?

Unfortunately, that amount can barely rescue two out of the three people Sun-woo’s looking to smuggle out. His contact is disappointed to see that the once razor-sharp agent has gone soft now, wondering if his fellow agent’s death has something to do with it.

That’s where Sun-woo’s patience ends, tossing the food to the window. He doesn’t have the time to be playing games anymore and dangles the threatening carrot that he’ll expose his contact’s illegal practice of employing North Korean refugees to sell used cars and trucks. His contact scoffs in disbelief that Sun-woo has that much power, but Sun-woo doesn’t back down. He stares down his contact, who reluctantly agrees to the task.

Over at the National Intelligence Service headquarters, Chief Song approaches a code-breaker who’s been unable to crack a code that automatically shuts him out after five attempts. Neither we nor the hacker are privy to know why this is important since it’s classified information.

Bringing up the subject of how the Ministry of National Defense put out a government contract bid looking for IT companies that could crack the code they put out, the hacker mentions that only one of those organizations came pretty close with their unfinished product.

He suggests that they enlist that company’s help, and Chief Song agrees to consider it. Uh oh, so is Dad going to get involved in other kinds of suspicious activities, too?

Chief Song is approached by Sun-woo soon afterwards, and gives Sun-woo the heads-up that he’ll be questioned. Sun-woo mentions that he made a promise to save Soo-yeon’s family, but Chief Song is hardly fazed.

Sun-woo is prepared to accept the consequences and entreats his boss for some financial support. When Chief Song is told that Soo-yeon’s family will surely die if they do nothing, Chief Song matter-of-factly tosses back: “Everyone dies.”

He doesn’t see the point of wasting hard-working taxpayers’ dollars on an operation like that, but Sun-woo presses that Soo-yeon died on their watch. Chief Song tells him to worry about himself with the added reminder to turn a blind eye to this idea.

Mom waits outside to greet a weary Sun-woo when he finally comes home. She takes a moment to lovingly gaze at her son’s face before sending him to his room to rest. Sun-woo sits in the darkness, finally taking a moment from his very long day.

Mom, on the other hand, scrubs out the blood still on Sun-woo’s shirt. She rushes over towards Sun-woo’s room when she hears him yell in his sleep. She places a hand on the handle, but doesn’t go inside, where Sun-woo wakes in a cold sweat.

Dad is still stuck at work when Mom calls, still trying to figure out that software program he’s working on. She asks about a wiretapping device that his company has made, adding this is the only way they can protect Sun-woo.

Sun-woo runs into Hyun-tae when he shows up for work the next morning. Hyun-tae advises him to keep his head down when being questioned and he’ll do his best to take care of the rest.

So that brings us back to the cold open, as Sun-woo is questioned from an agent in the Inspection Division. Sun-woo acknowledges that the chances of success in this mission were low, and when asked why he left on his own afterwards, Sun-woo answers that there was nothing left for him to do.

Asked what other business he had to attend to then, Sun-woo replies, “I… had a promise to keep.” Chief Song chuckles at that response knowingly, then looks down at the report listing Hedge Technet as the top candidate. He recalls that Sun-woo’s father works as an IT executive there.

Elsewhere, Mom heads out and sneaks into Yoon-jin’s apartment while she’s away. Using the device from Dad’s company, Mom searches the place top to bottom trying to sniff out a bug. Back in the interrogation room, Hyun-tae scoffs when he hears that Sun-woo will likely face a suspension or worse, fired.

He mutters that this entire thing was a set-up to have Sun-woo take the fall and then dismisses the inspection agents for never stepping out to the field before. Hyun-tae isn’t fazed by the scornful remark that he’s still with the analytics team, telling the inspector that he remembers his face, too.

Chief Song pulls the inspector aside, trying to act like the diplomat and saying there’s no need to make this a big deal. The sudden change of heart leaves Eun-ah confused and Hyun-tae more suspicious. On the other side of the mirror, Sun-woo gets an urgent call—the contact, perhaps?

Back at Yoon-jin’s place, Mom notes that Yoon-jin has few personal possessions for a girl who lives alone. But then she discovers a cell phone hidden in a drawer with one listed contact: “Mom.” Recalling how Yoon-jin had told her that both of her parents were deceased, Mo tries calling the number. It rings a few times, but then Mom hears footsteps approaching.

We cut away to Sun-woo again, who’s told that smuggling that family out will be harder than expected, meaning more money. He’s given a last chance to bail out, but Sun-woo gives the green light to proceed.

Spotting Yoon-jin just outside, Mom quickly deletes the call history and puts the phone back. Mom looks for a place to hide, as the sound of footsteps grows louder.

 
COMMENTS

As we begin to see more of the overarching mystery in Spy, I love that this show continues to keep us grounded in our family unit. The love, support, and the extent to which they’ll protect one another is what drives these characters, and while they might not have the peaceful and happy family life they’ve worked so hard to build anymore (although right now, Mom, Dad, and Sun-woo are doing their best to pretend that it still is) you can tell that they’ll make damn well sure to make sure no harm comes to one another.

It’s unspoken in the way that Mom looks lovingly at her son, the way that Dad worries about Mom, and how Sun-woo is a loving son to his parents. There is of course, the whole lying by omission going on between them, and although the things left unsaid are sure to come back to bite them later, there’s so much danger looming over them that another day of happiness seems like a small price to pay.

Speaking of costs, it was sad to see Soo-yeon go, and I appreciated that we could see how much Sun-woo was affected by her death. Even if he weren’t made out to be the scapegoat for this failed operation, he has a sense of responsibility that I find admirable (although Hyun-tae will yell at him when that nobility makes him sound like a righteous fool, ha). Up to this point, Sun-woo’s character has been more like a ragdoll being thrown around by others and targeted by, well, everyone, so I’m glad that we could spend some time to see him process this outcome. Additionally, I wanted to see more of an emotional range in Jaejoong’s acting with Sun-woo and loved seeing the subtlety of his grief in his expressive eyes. Bravo.

But what I love more is how Hyun-tae is slowly warming up to the young agent. He’s sharp enough to notice when a young’un is being thrown under the bus to cover up a mess, and I can’t wait to see how he’ll react when he figures out that his old buddy Chief Song had a hand in that. Chief Song’s intentions has always been a bit suspicious when it came to Sun-woo, as I didn’t understand why he’d want Sun-woo to join his team and then throw him out the first chance he could get.

I suppose the key to figuring him out lies in that super-secret classified code he’s having that hacker look into. I don’t like the idea that Dad will get wrangled into this mess, since I sort of like him being Mom’s spy partner and assuring her that everything will be okay. But if putting him behind a desk to crack a code that’s somehow related to a greater political conspiracy lowers his chances of death, then I’m all for it. The first reason being that we’ve seen so many good fathers die early in dramaland, and the second because then Dad could maybe bring down the whole conspiracy with a few keystrokes and come out as the hero in all this. Super Dad: IT exec by day, super hacker by night. Has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it?

RELATED POSTS

Tags: , , , ,

44

Required fields are marked *

thank you. I just started watching this drama and first drama from Kim Jaejoong that I have watched. frankly speaking, I was quite surprised with his gaze and eye acting which is good. also he can control his eyes that looks like half cry, half sad very naturally. I was not a fan of bae jong ok in her prev drama but she made me watch this drama from the trailer. And I guess I made a right choice , her acting was superb.
back to this episode, "But what I love more is how Hyun-tae is slowly warming up to the young agent". probably coz he has the same past experience as sun woo , both were a field agent, dropped to a desk agent, both baddies die during the field mission. similar or coincidence?

0
2
reply

Required fields are marked *

I'm really glad this drama is one that gives all the older actors their spotlight/time to shine instead of being all about the young leads like most dramas - Bae Jung-ok's acting is really good, but I think all the senior actors are really well cast even if I don't totally understand the plot.

And I guess Jaejoong fans can be proud again after Triangle, he's really convincing in the role of Sun-woo - can't find any fault with him as an actor.

0
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

In my opinion, one of the greatest strengths SPY has going for it is the family centric aspect & this...
"this drama is one that gives all the older actors their spotlight/time to shine instead of being all about the young leads like most dramas..."

I don't know if I would like Spy as much as I do if not for the senior actors Bae Jong-Ok & Jung Won-Joong. Week in, week out Mom & Dad carry their weight and more than make up for some of the show's loose ends.

At the end of the day - when push comes to shove - Mom & Dad always find a way to communicate with one other. Despite being faced with constant dilemmas; regardless of how intense the situation is; or how circumstances pan out; both parents try to the best of their ability to put family first & to protect it.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

thank you dramabeans.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

This show started on a high but how low is it on the ratings now?

0
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

eps.5 dropped around 4,.. and picked up again around 5,3. i think since in episode 6 one by one everyone show they true color lol [spoiler]

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Do we know how Sun-woo get into the spy business? Mom seems like a spy on a whole different level although we aren't sure yet just how deep her spy life was in the past- I wouldn't go up against her I don't think.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Thanks for the speedy recap! I´m also waiting for Hyun-tae to actively come back to life, dig a little deeper around that Chief and teach Sun-woo a thing or two. The bromance potential is just lying there and nobody´s using it. He´s a bit generic character at the moment, though his outburst in Sunwoo´s defense added some color to him.
The grief and guilt on Sun-woo´s part were nicely played out, I was especially touched that he couldn´t say anything to Yoon-jin. She seems like a safe port for him, a little less prone to excessive worry and care as his mother. Too bad that she has a very suspicious looking phone in her drawer.
This show is quite nice, but for a spy thriller I would actually wish for some more thrills. Most of the major turning points can be seen from a mile away.

0
5
reply

Required fields are marked *

i expect a more thrills too but i think they will start this when all the ..who is the real enemy, who is the spy show up. Chief Song look suspicious for me.

0
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

Oh that Chief stinks big time. One minute all ready to feed Sun-woo to the dogs and the next stepping up to save him, after learning some useful information.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

as BJO said on the KBSworld interview of casts after Prescon its a family drama
34:06-39:46
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=td0w_JdiWX8

0
2
reply

Required fields are marked *

Yeah, I gathered that much by now and they´re doing a good job on that front. The family ties and the importance of having one and valuing it are brought forward every episode. Still, having the spy-thing all going on, I can´t help, but get a little greedy:)

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I hope it stays a family-centred drama because the family is my favourite part.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

love jaejoong eye acting here, he always good with this just like in dr.jin and triangle.

and i love the mom, she is such a busy mom with all the spy work lol, i love the scene when mom heard SW yell in his sleep and mom really want to comfort SW but she can't and its good when she just be quite when she wash SW shirt from blood, i can't wait when finally they know about this spy things.

anyway, today is jaejoong birthday so happy birthday ^^

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Thanks for the recap Gummimochi.

I'm enjoying Spy so much so that I just couldn't wait...so I gave in and watched episode 5 subbed @ 98% and episode 6 subbed @ 97% on Viki.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

First Time Around the Block!

Original: The Gordin Cell was a drama/thriller series airing on Israeli television in 2012.
Israeli Air Force Officer vs. Russian Intelligence
______________________________________________

The Second Time Around!

South Korean Version
Spy (2015) - tailored to the North-South Korean political conflict.
National Intelligence Service (NIS) Spy/Analyst vs. North Korean Spies
______________________________________________

Third time's the charm?

American Version
Allegiance (2015) - premieres February 5th
CIA Analyst vs. SVR (Russian Intelligence) / Russian sleeper cell

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Sorry, Out of topic:
Who is the actor in the new Banner? He is wearing a white down jacket, black gloves, and trying to put the hood over his head.
Why make a banner with sb whose face you can see or identify?

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Hey, just wanted to ask, is this show worth a watch ?

0
7
reply

Required fields are marked *

give it a try and watch ep1.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Hi, for me the story is fast pace. No boring part. You will not notice the time went by. But if you njoy more romantic musshy kind of drama, this drama is not for you. This drama more of family bond. But overall its really worth to watch. Just try 1st episode.

0
5
reply

Required fields are marked *

To expand on the No Mushy part, viewers are:

1) Hoping SunWoo breaks up with his girlfriend.
2) Adamant that Perfect Dad doesn't die.
3) Adoring Mom and Dad's relationship.

which is so the opposite of chaebol-driven rom-coms. Go figure.

0
4
reply

Required fields are marked *

hehehe this is so accurate, at least for dramabeans anyway. Don't know about Korean netizen reactions though I've heard Korean viewers were also sad over the death of Soo-yeon.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Hahaa, good one!

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Lol ! So true!

0
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

Haha alright I'll check it out :) thanks everyone !

0

I just love to see the strong loving bond between Mom and Dad and Sun Woo.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I like how this drama is more about family than romance. But I want more action.

0
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

I agree with you. I feel like the drama is starting to get a little boring. I need some action or something!

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Thanks for the recap!!

I hope Sunwoo breaks up with his gf and ends up with the female coworker who's harboring a crush on him. Honestly he should end up with ANYONE who's not that gf because there is just no chemistry there whatsoever, imo lol

0
3
reply

Required fields are marked *

Another thing I would love to see is mom confessing the truth to SunWoo and then they team up to defeat all the baddies. How awesome would that be?

0
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

Mom confessing the truth to Sun-Woo is what I hope happens soon too.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Many viewers would like for Sun-Woo to end up with someone else other than Yoon-Jin. But he keeps poking a hole in Mom's heart by declaring that Yoon-Jin is just like her.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Comment was deleted

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

What if actually Sunwoo knows everything and he's just pretending being a slow and clueless agent at this moment? I just think that we don't see his true color yet because they focus more to mom and dad

0
2
reply

Required fields are marked *

Like you, I've been wondering if Sun-Woo knows that his Mother was a spy for North Korea and took a preemptive strike by joining NIS & dating/ hooking up with Yoon-Jin.

0
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

no he's just completely clueless about people around him

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Guess 1 -Team Leader is the Supervisor and wants himself tagged as a test, because the real target is the new security software

Guess 2 - Or wishful thinking is the girlfriend is a spy and mom and dad have to get rid of her, lol

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

There's definitely something suspicious about sun woo's girlfriend. Can't wait for the next recap. Thanks for the recap! :D

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I feel the storyline is too slow for a spy series. Need to pump it, need to get the heart racing.

0
2
reply

Required fields are marked *

I don't think the pace of the show needs to increase, but I agree that it needs to get the heart racing. There are Spy shows like the Americans and Homeland that are fast paced, but they're always really intense. There are constant OMG moments every episode.

0
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

*these American dramas aren't fast paced

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I'm the biggest Jaejoong fan out there who has watched all of his dramas (except the Japanese one!) but I just wish he had better luck with his projects. This week's episodes were not bad but didn't give the thrill I had hoped for from the premise or trailer. I haven't completely give up on Spy yet but even if it doesn't dissolve into crap like Triangle did it's not the project that I feel like he deserves, either on a popularity level or critical level.

It's the third time now from Dr Jin, Triangle to this that the writing has failed the show. His acting has only improved and I'm sure he learnt a lot because of these choices, but it's just a shame he most likely won't get more recognition for it before enlisting.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

thank you for the recaps. waiting for ep 6 recaps. i can pretty much be confident enough to say that the story is better than "triangle". i hope the drama production team also firm and have enough amount of confidence in themselves. fighting spy team!

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Does anyone know the name of the song played "earth mother" and the artiste?

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *