Wanted: Episode 6

by TeriYaki

It’s becoming a full-on war as the production and police teams match wits with the kidnapper and, as so often happens, it’s bringing out the worst in some and hopefully the best in others. As things get personal, it’s important that both teams remain strategic if they hope to meet their objectives. The renewed focus on the tragedies from their pasts pushes Hye-in and Seung-in to discover how they might be linked. As usual, the secrets keep coming out as it seems everyone has something to hide.

 
EPISODE 6 RECAP

The episode rewinds just a bit as Hye-in unlocks a door to enter a bedroom that she proceeds to search. She discovers a dresser drawer with a false bottom that hides a stash of DVD recordings labeled “Sleeping Hye-in” and “Shower” along with some of her intimate wear.

Just then someone asks, “What are you doing in here?” She turns to see Manager Kwon standing just inside the door of what turns out to be his room. Realizing her manager is a perverted stalker, Hye-in suggests they leave his room to talk, but instead he locks the door.

Sitting next to her on his bed, Manager Kwon explains that he loves her and spent the previous day questioning all of her stalkers. Suddenly, Hye-in doubles over in pain, complaining that her stomach hurts from the surprise, asking for her medicine. Manager Kwon falls for her act, leaving Hye-in alone to make her escape.

It was after this encounter with Manager Kwon that Hye-in entered her car to call Seung-in, not knowing about the accident. After being drugged by the unknown man in her backseat, Hye-in wakes with a gasp to find her hands and feet tied, the knots clearly the handiwork of Jo Nam-cheol. She manages to sit up and tries to focus on her surroundings. Hye-in finds herself in a makeshift office and sees a digital clock/calendar on the wall that reads 3:00 p.m.

Sporting a bandage on his forehead, Seung-in also awakens. Recalling the accident, he sits up and realizes he’s in the hospital. Mi-ok runs to his side and lets him know that Young-gwan is all right. She then has to admit that Jo Nam-cheol escaped custody, causing Seung-in to pull out his IV and exit the hospital. He goes straight to the police station where he bombards Captain Jung with questions.

Seung-in sits at his desk to check his phone and, after plugging it in, sees the missed calls from Hye-in. He tries calling her but there is no answer. Seung-in calls Manager Kwon, and when that doesn’t work, he calls Dong-wook who tells him that he can’t reach Hye-in either. Jung-ho never went home so no one has seen or spoken with her since the night before. Just then, Bo-yeon walks in and a shake of her head lets Dong-wook know she can’t reach Hye-in either.

Seung-in tries Hye-in’s house, but when no one answers, he lets himself in. He remembers an earlier interview with Hye-in when she told him and Mi-ok about the hidden camera she found in her home that matched the one in her car. When Seung-in asked if she suspected her husband, she said she did at first, but then her manager came to mind. Seung-in runs upstairs and opens the door to Manager Kwon’s room, which is actually in Hye-in’s home. Seung-in finds the intrusive recordings Manager Kwon made of Hye-in strewn all over the floor.

Writer Yeon walks into the production team’s conference room as Dong-wook yells at Bo-yeon for losing track of Hye-in, again. Writer Yeon makes a dig at Dong-wook that he can’t seem to manage Hye-in. Bo-yeon then checks Hye-in’s email account for the next mission, but finds nothing. Seung-in has joined the production team to fill them in on Manager Kwon’s stalker activities, leading Dong-wook to think that Manager Kwon may have kidnapped Hye-in. Seung-in cautions them that they can’t be sure of anything yet. Seung-in thinks that if the kidnapper didn’t take Hye-in, they will receive the next mission soon.

With the search for Hye-in in full swing, Detective Park and fellow detective Dong-joon call Captain Jung to report that Manager Kwon left after getting some belongings from his room, but the CCTV shows he didn’t use Hye-in’s car.

Continuing to avoid detection, Manager Kwon sits in a computer cafe, and writes an email to Hye-in promising to find Hyun-woo so she will realize she needs him more than anyone.

Captain Jung updates Seung-in that it looks as if Manager Kwon is on the run. A detective interrupts with news that Hye-in’s car has been located. Seung-in investigates the car’s location and sees a parked car with a camera close by. Upon viewing the black box recording, he has proof that Jo Nam-cheol removed an unconscious Hye-in from her car.

While at the UCN studio preparing for an announcement about Hye-in’s disappearance, Dong-wook gets a mysterious call from Hye-in’s number. We next see him drive to an outside meeting place and pull up next to Jo Nam-cheol. Inside Jo Nam-cheol’s car, the criminal tells Dong-wook that he wants to go on the air to explain that he was hired to commit murder seven years earlier.

Jo Nam-cheol tells Dong-wook that the people who hired him are so powerful, his murder-for-hire was covered up. Jo Nam-cheol believes they are now trying to kill him and were behind the accident that allowed him to escape. Jo Nam-cheol argues that going on television to expose what he knows is his best chance to stay alive.

Dong-wook agrees to Jo Nam-cheol’s request if he can prove Hye-in is all right. Jo Nam-cheol refuses, but Dong-wook reminds him that the police are looking for her. Jo Nam-cheol has the upper hand when he tells Dong-wook that Hye-in is well hidden and with someone who will make sure she is dead before the police can find her. We then see KIM YANG-HEE, Jo Nam-cheol’s girlfriend, put on a ball cap and mask before she walks away.

Seung-in calls the prison to ask about the inmate who was closest to Jo Nam-cheol. The guard gives him the name of a gangster, PARK GWANG-YEONG. Seung-in muscles his way into a private room at a club where Park Gwang-yeong is partying. The gangster sends his friends away to answer Seung-in’s questions. Seung-in learns that Park Gwang-yeong hasn’t heard from Jo Nam-cheol recently, but did speak to him before he left prison. Jo Nam-cheol asked for Im Hyung-soon’s number, which Park Gwang-yeong provided, not knowing he planned to kill the man.

As the interview continues, Seung-in discovers that Jo Nam-cheol and Park Gwang-yeong entered prison at the same time seven years earlier. Back then, Jo Nam-cheol gave Park Gwang-yeong a large amount of prison money in exchange for a favor: the disposal of a body hidden at the Incheon waste plant. Jo Nam-cheol went to prison before he could finish the job and feared the person who had hired him.

Later, Seung-in and Mi-ok meet to review the cases. Mi-ok stresses that finding Hye-in is the top priority to protect Hyun-woo. She suggests the other cases should wait, but Seung-in thinks they might all be related. Mi-ok then agrees to look into Detective Kim’s case so Seung-in can focus on finding Hye-in.

Dong-wook escorts Jo Nam-cheol into a UCN dressing room for a meeting with Jung-ho, Joon-gu and Writer Yeon. Jung-ho promises to help Jo Nam-cheol get a reduced sentence if he will divulge Hye-in’s whereabouts. Jo Nam-cheol refuses to do so until after Jung-ho delivers on his promises. Jung-ho gets the attention of Dong-wook and Joon-gu as he makes a menacing vow to Jo Nam-cheol, “Do you know what I hate the most? When someone damages what’s mine. When someone steals what’s mine. Even if you succeed in the show, if Hye-in returns hurt, I will kill you myself.”

Jung-ho cancels a news broadcast to give Jo Nam-cheol the 7:00 p.m. slot. Jo Nam-cheol then insists that everyone stay with him until air time but Dong-wook explains they need to leave to prepare his show. Jo Nam-cheol relents as long as Writer Yeon remains but Dong-wook insists that he needs her. Joon-gu volunteers to remain as a hostage, tasking the team to save Hye-in.

While getting coffee for the team, Bo-yeon moves to leave after receiving a message and bumps into a cafe employee who has been in the background until now. He reminds her to take her order with her and then, grabbing her wrist, inquires if Bo-yeon is all right. Unsettled, she stammers a reply, finding his demeanor strange.

Dong-wook notices Writer Yeon is about to call Seung-in so he grabs her phone. Even though he just saved her from being held hostage again, Dong-wook has clearly gotten on Writer Yeon’s nerves. They argue and Writer Yeon accuses Dong-wook of using people’s lives to set record ratings. The anchor of the cancelled news broadcast also chimes in that they are no different from criminals. Bo-yeon interrupts the party to announce the latest mission was just sent to Hye-in’s email account. The fourth mission reads: Your former husband did not die in a car accident. Find out how he died.

As she dozes, Hye-in experiences a nightmare about Hyun-woo’s kidnapping. It wakes her and she thinks of Hyun-woo, when suddenly there is a knock on the door and a woman’s voice calls out her name. Hye-in asks who it is and pleads for help but the woman leaves, satisfied that the captive is alive.

Seung-in tries to make sense of the various clues jotted in his notebook when Young-gwan brings news that Kim Yang-hee, Jo Nam-cheol’s girlfriend, has disappeared. Seung-in orders her phone and credit card logs. Dong-joon calls Detective Park from cyber investigations to report nothing was found on Jo Nam-cheol’s computer or emails that suggests a hiding place.

Seung-in discovers there is no record of any calls or emails between Kim Yang-hee and Jo Nam-cheol, meaning they made their plans during her visits to the prison. Seung-in notices a cluster of recent charges on Kim Yang-hee’s credit card in Incheon, and Young-gwan volunteers to go there to check on Kim Yang-hee’s movements. In a move that echoes his mentor, Seung-in urges Young-gwan to stay behind and take it easy due to his injuries, but like his partner, Young-gwan insists he’s fine.

As Bo-yeon searches the internet, she prays to find one suspicious item about the accident that killed Hye-in’s first husband, Ham Tae-young. The time for Jo Nam-cheol’s show nears, so Dong-wook takes his seat in the control room next to Writer Yeon. She’s definitely giving him the cold shoulder and they have another testy exchange. Dong-wook tries to call Joon-gu but when there is no answer, he leaves to get Jo Nam-cheol.

Dong-wook enters the dressing room and is hit by the smell of blood. He slowly enters the room, noticing blood on the floor, and recoils when he discovers a dead Jo Nam-cheol. In a panic, Dong-wook scans the room, calling for Joon-gu. He approaches a partially open door with apprehension to find his friend on the floor with his eyes closed. We then see a man walking down a hallway dressed in black and wearing gloves. It’s the cafe employee that Bo-yeon bumped into earlier.

Trying to free her hands, a disheveled and parched looking Hye-in hears another knock on the door. It is Kim Yang-hee, asking Hye-in if she is all right. Hye-in claims to be bleeding badly, raising Kim Yang-hee’s concern. Hye-in learns she was kidnapped to force UCN to allow Kim Yang-hee’s boyfriend a chance to tell his story on television. Kim Yang-hee tells Hye-in that the plan was to set her free once her boyfriend appeared on TV, but she fears something has gone wrong. It’s past 7:00 p.m. and her boyfriend hasn’t gone on the air.

Hye-in convinces Kim Yang-hee to enter the office so they can talk. Holding a knife, Kim Yang-hee walks towards Hye-in, who promises to help. Kim Yang-hee insists her boyfriend was framed seven years earlier and sent to prison. He said he was framed again and was desperate because no one believed him seven years ago. Hye-in asks if the boyfriend is Jo Nam-cheol, and the girl nods.

Kim Yang-hee keeps talking, mentioning a secret place only the two of them knew about, where Jo Nam-cheol left her a letter. As she speculates the station must not have agreed to help him, Hye-in reaches back and picks up a shard of glass. Hye-in keeps Kim Yang-hee talking while she cuts through her ropes, her hand dripping with blood. Hye-in asks to make one phone call to help Jo Nam-cheol.

Hye-in’s pleading works because Kim Yang-hee pulls out her phone. Hye-in recites a number and soon she is speaking with Seung-in. Hye-in asks about Jo Nam-cheol’s show, but Seung-in tells her to keep talking and informs her he is in Incheon. While asking if Hye-in knows where she is, a ship’s horn sounds in the background.

Seung-in asks if her location is where they found the abused boy Han-sol, and when Hye-in answers, “Yes, it is,” Kim Yang-hee pulls the phone away. Seung-in calls for back up as he and Young-gwan drive to the spot where Han-sol was discovered.

Hye-in has managed to free her hands and throws something at Kim Yang-hee, causing her to drop the knife. Hye-in unties her feet and rushes for the door, but is pulled back by Kim Yang-hee. The young woman retrieves her knife and approaches Hye-in menacingly just as Seung-in bursts through the door, gun drawn. Hye-in asks if they have proof that Hyun-woo is alive, but Seung-in shakes his head.

Seung-in and Hye-in search the contents of what turned out to be a shipping container. Noting that the missions are linked to Jo Nam-cheol’s container, Hye-in looks for evidence. She finds a bag filled with clothing, personal effects that Seung-in believes belonged to Jo Nam-cheol’s murder victims, kept as trophies, or perhaps as insurance.

As the detective sorts through the personal items, an engraved ring falls to the ground. Seung-in then finds a similarly engraved bracelet. Meanwhile, Hye-in discovers a pair of airline tickets, dated 2009, bearing the names of her and her first husband. As Hye-in struggles to comprehend how her husband may have been killed by Jo Nam-cheol, she recalls Mi-ok’s earlier observation that the kidnapper targeted specific people well before the show started.

Back at UCN, Bo-yeon is feeling the pressure as she notes the time. She places a call to a Detective Lee Myung-chul, the lead investigator on the Ham Tae-young car accident investigation seven years earlier.

On set, Writer Yeon asks Dong-wook about Joon-gu’s condition. Joon-gu wasn’t severely injured but remains in shock and still isn’t awake. Writer Yeon and Dong-wook then discuss their problems with solving the fourth mission. Writer Yeon’s research hasn’t turned up even a single rumor about the accident that killed Hye-in’s husband, and Bo-yeon’s talk with the detective was a dead end as well. Dong-wook thinks Hye-in must know something that could explain her husband’s death.

The show goes on the air with a ragged looking Hye-in. Jung-ho watches alone at home and leans in as Hye-in promises to explain her alarming appearance. First, she shares that she has not received the promised proof that Hyun-woo is alive and refuses to continue with the show until that proof is provided.

Elsewhere, someone watches the reality show from a battered TV. In the control room, Writer Yeon explains that this strategy has to work, otherwise there is no point continuing the show. Dong-wook is confident the kidnapper will make a move.

Still on camera, Hye-in is handed her phone that plays a video of Hyun-woo. Upon prompting, the boy sings a song for his mother in a halting voice. The kidnapper then tells Hye-in he kept his promise and instructs her to show Hyun-woo to the audience. Crying, she turns her phone to the camera as Hyun-woo continues his sad song.

As Seung-in, Young-gwan and Mi-ok watch the broadcast at the police station, Mi-ok observes the kidnapper did not alter his voice. Unable to watch any longer, Seung-in moves to inspect Jo Nam-cheol’s crime scene. Mi-ok stops him, asking him to rest. She is concerned for him and compares his behavior to their late friend, Detective Kim. Seung-in kindly agrees to stay.

Now that Hye-in has proof Hyun-woo is alive, the broadcast continues. The mission appears on screen as Hye-in explains that her first husband died in a car accident in their first year of marriage. Soon after, she married again. The latest mission requires Hye-in to reveal that her husband’s death was not the result of the accident.

Hye-in’s brother-in-law watches the show in his company office. He picks up his phone and makes a call ordering a meeting of SG Group’s PR and legal teams within the hour.

Hye-in details her kidnapping at the hands of Jo Nam-cheol. She explains his request for a special live show to acknowledge that he was hired seven years ago to murder a detective. The circumstances were covered up by prosecutors, even though Lee Myung-soon said he was hired by the same person, proving Jo Nam-cheol’s claims. The show brought new attention to that old case and Jo Nam-cheol, fearing for his life, decided to reveal the identity of the real person behind the murder.

Dong-wook airs shocking footage of Jo Nam-cheol’s body against Writer Yeon’s objections. She is concerned they won’t be able to sustain the viewers’ interest with future episodes after showing something so shocking, but Dong-wook argues he can only worry about one day at a time. He reminds her he thinks of three things: complete each mission, get twenty percent in ratings, and aim for a happy ending. Writer Yeon accuses him of not having concern for the danger she and Joon-gu have experienced, as long as he gets good footage. Dong-wook looks genuinely bothered, but gets back to work.

Again, someone watches the show on a battered TV as Hye-in breaks the news of Jo Nam-cheols’ murder. A photo of the container’s interior is posted, showing where Hye-in was held hostage. She divulges that she discovered an important clue: the airline tickets. Holding them up, she reveals that no one knew of their existence except for her husband and herself.

Hesitantly, Hye-in then reveals that she was five weeks pregnant at that time. Her husband wanted to leave his life behind so they could raise their child in France. Ham Tae-young had grown up lonely and empty and wanted to spare his child from a similar fate. Noting that the tickets were never found after the accident, Hye-in wonders why they were found in Jo Nam-cheol’s storage unit.

Continuing to watch the show, Mi-ok observes, “First mission’s location, Jo Nam-cheol, and Hye-in are all connected. Leaving that body in a similar position as Sunbae Detective Kim was planned too. What’s the one thing that connects all of that?” Mi-ok thinks they should next look into the unknown body that the gangster Park Gwang-yeong took care of.

Hye-in admits that her husband’s death was no accident and promises to discover the truth, but is honest that she needs more time. Behind Hye-in, a photo appears of the engraved ring and bracelet found in the storage unit as she asks the audience for information.

Mi-ok visits Ji-eun in prison. Facing the girl, Mi-ok tells her she believes Ji-eun was truly kidnapped at the hands of Park Se-young. She asks about the person who hired Park Se-young but Ji-eun maintains her silence. Concerned, Mi-ok asks how Ji-eun is managing in prison and if her mother has visited. Ji-eun finally speaks to answer that it doesn’t matter.

Mi-ok continues on that topic to ask about Ji-eun’s family life, as her father was treated for depression and alcoholism before he died. Mi-ok wonders if Ji-eun and her mother were abused and the girl begins to cry. Mi-ok tries to make a connection between Ji-eun and the abused Han-sol, but the girl insists her father was nothing like that, insisting that he was the only one who believed her. Mi-ok invites Ji-eun to tell her what happened.

A man sleeps on a cot, and as he turns over we see that it’s the shady cafe employee. Meanwhile, Seung-in shows a photo of Jo Nam-cheol’s suspected murderer to Bo-yeon who gasps when she recognizes the employee from the cafe across the street. Young-gwan shows the photo to the cafe owner who gives over the employee’s resume. The man is listed as NA SOO-HYUN.

A door slides open as Reporter Jang lets himself into Joon-gu’s hospital room, bearing a case of juice. Joon-gu is still unconscious, so Reporter Jang helps himself to Joon-gu’s phone and takes the juice back when he leaves. He sits close by with an earbud in one ear to listen to Joon-gu’s messages, disturbed by something he hears.

With the show over, Dong-wook finds Hye-in in her dressing room and sits to ask how she is feeling. She assures him she is fine. Dong-wook wants Hye-in to check in with him hourly, no matter what, and she agrees. As Dong-wook stands to leave, Hye-in asks him if he thinks they succeeded with the show, telling herself they had to do what they did for Hyun-woo’s sake. Dong-wook reminds her they weren’t tasked with finding evidence, so revealing that Hye-in’s husband was murdered might be enough.

Looking beaten, Hye-in tells Dong-wook, “When I was trying to stop Ha Dong-min’s lawyer – I agreed to give him up to SG Group. If I knew I was going to expose it today, I wouldn’t have made that agreement. I would have protected him until the very end.” Dong-wook reminds her that saving Hyun-woo’s life was the priority and she did what she had to do. Hye-in looks up in gratitude and Dong-wook leaves her alone.

We find Hyun-woo running through a dark building, a phone clutched in his hand. He hides in a metal locker as Na Soo-hyun searches for him. He holds his breath until Na Soo-hyun passes and then comes out of hiding to continue his escape. He then runs up some stairs and finds a set of glass doors, but they’re locked. He ducks inside a room to make a call.

Hye-in sits in the dressing room, eyes closed, when her phone rings with a call from an unknown number. She accepts the call and hears Hyun-woo’s voice.

 
COMMENTS

We finally learn the reason for Manager Kwon’s sketchy behavior which begs the question: how does Hye-in find herself surrounded by such questionable people? First it was Park Se-young, who kidnapped Hyun-woo, and now Manager Kwon, who has proven himself the worst of all her stalkers. I can’t say I was surprised he was discovered to be so disturbed, but it was icky to imagine how he used his access to feed his obsession. With him still on the loose, I’m sure we haven’t seen the last of him.

Clearly, both teams are showing signs of stress as they near the midpoint of the show, and finding themselves in harm’s way has only accelerated that process. Writer Yeon is especially suffering from the aftereffects of being Jo Nam-cheol’s hostage and is directing her angst at Dong-wook. Dong-wook is keeping the production team on track because he remains focused on his three objectives: the missions, the ratings, and getting Hyun-woo back alive. He doesn’t get too far ahead of himself and deals with each crisis as it comes. His only outlet seems to be losing his cool when Bo-yeon can’t find Hye-in, which happens so frequently that he gets to let off steam on a regular basis.

In an interesting twist, Bo-yeon and Writer Yeon have switched places, with Bo-yeon proving she can be cool under pressure and Writer Yeon furious with Dong-wook’s levelheadedness. In spite of Writer Yeon’s accusations, Dong-wook proved his humanity in his exchange with Hye-in, when she revealed she agreed to give Hyun-woo to SG Group to stop Dr. Ha from revealing the secret about his paternity. Dong-wook knows better than anyone that she made the best decision she could at the time. Looking back and second guessing herself is a waste of energy, especially when Hyun-woo is still at risk.

Hye-in’s agreement with SG Group reminds me of the biblical story of the Judgment of Solomon. Her love for her son is so great that she is willing to lose him in order to save him. Let’s hope that in the end, Hyun-woo will be saved and reunited with his mother because he will need her love and support to recover from such a traumatic experience. I’m wondering if Jung-ho will continue to have a presence in Hyun-woo’s life. He was uncharacteristically focused on Hye-in’s well being when he threatened Jo Nam-cheol. Is the pressure of the case causing cracks that show he really cares for Hye-in? Time will tell, because I am sure things will get worse before they get better.

Mi-ok, Seung-in and Young-gwan are becoming the family unit that mirrors the one she and Seung-in had with Detective Kim. Mi-ok really cares for Seung-in and she’s not afraid to use her influence to keep him from running himself into the ground, but she has respect for him and trusts his instincts. She also uses her warmth to reach out to Ji-eun, who she believes is being used in a sick game. It’s the same warmth we see in Seung-in as he deals with his cases. It’s comforting to know they have each other’s backs, because it brings out the best in all of them.

 
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