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Mystery Queen: Episode 7

It’s Wan-seung’s turn to follow Seol-ok, who wants nothing more than for him to leave her alone so that she can investigate Ho-soon’s disappearance in peace. But he’s determined to help whether she wants him to or not—and while he tells himself that it’s only because he needs her to do him a favor in return, something tells me he’s having more fun with Seol-ok than he’s had in years. As for me, these two are quickly becoming one of my favorite comedic duos ever.

 
EPISODE 7 RECAP

Just as Seol-ok declares that her sister-in-law is about to be kidnapped, her phone rings. It’s Ho-soon, and Wan-seung asks the other detective to trace the call. He races to the phone’s location, a ladies’ bathroom at the airport. Dodging shrieking women as he enters, he asks a janitor whether she saw anyone make a call. She says the call came from her after she found Ho-soon’s phone abandoned in a stall.

When they look at Ho-soon’s message history, Seol-ok and Wan-seung find transaction records from different airport stores. Seol-ok retraces Ho-soon’s steps and figures out what she bought based on the amounts.

They first go to a cafe, where Seol-ok says Ho-soon ordered cake and two coffees and waited for someone to join her; she probably got change for the payphone here too, since she never carries coins. They confirm it with the cashier, and Seol-ok further deduces that the person Ho-soon was waiting for never showed up.

Seol-ok posits that Ho-soon is close to this person, since she had their number memorized; if it had been written down somewhere, she’d have made her note on that paper rather than on the pamphlet. When Wan-seung wonders why Ho-soon never went back for her cell phone, Seol-ok says that she didn’t lose it, but threw it away—and now she’s in grave danger.

We see Ho-soon walking alone by the river again with that eerie music playing in the background, but this time, she turns around and smiles at the man following her, and he smiles back.

At the engagement venue, Ji-won wonders how Wan-seung managed to escape and asks a passing staff member about the meaning of the flowers she’s holding, recognizing them from the bouquet Wan-seung carried earlier. The staff member tells Ji-won that the flowers are proteas and represent gratitude, but they can also convey the giver’s sweet love. Ha.

At the airport, Wan-seung tries to convince Seol-ok that Ho-soon simply took off with the money she swindled, meeting up with her accomplice and ditching her phone so she couldn’t be traced. Seol-ok asks why they didn’t just leave for the U.S. as planned then, and points out that Ho-soon actually cancelled her ticket, which doesn’t align with Wan-seung’s hypothesis that she simply pretended to leave.

No, says Seol-ok, she went all the way through immigration and to the gate, which means she was intending to get on the plane. “She changed her mind after buying lipstick,” says Seol-ok.

Wan-seung asks what she means, and Seol-ok tells him that since Ho-soon had money, she went to the duty-free shop before her flight, but she bought only one lipstick—unheard of for a shopping addict like Ho-soon, especially since everything is on sale right now. She received a call when she was paying, says Seol-ok, and she shows Wan-seung the last entry on Ho-soon’s call log.

It’s an Incheon number (near the airport), and Wan-seung calls, but there’s no answer. Seol-ok says that it was a pay phone—we see Ho-soon’s mysterious friend calling from a phone booth near the water—and that only one thing could stop her from shopping. “A threat?” asks Wan-seung. Seol-ok gives him a look. “No, of course not. That’s what I thought too,” Wan-seung awkwardly. Hee.

Ji-won watches guests arrive for the engagement, looking displeased, when a coworker, Lawyer Jung, joins her. He says that marrying Wan-seung won’t guarantee her control over Ha & Jung, because half of the firm belongs to the males of the Jung family, and once he takes over, Ji-won will be gone. She mockingly tells him that if she takes over, he can stay, since no one else would hire him.

She starts to leave, but Lawyer Jung calls after her that Wan-seung is still searching for “that woman.” Ji-won coolly tells him it doesn’t bother her since they’re not marrying for love anyway, but her facial expression tells another story.

Seol-ok tells Wan-seung that only a man could have caused Ho-soon to abandon everything like this; she’s being manipulated, and by a pro, because Ho-soon on her own is too clumsy to fool Seol-ok. She says it’s a common dating scam: single women disappear from airports after gathering a large amount of money from those around them, having been persuaded by these con men. In this case, she says, the fact that he called her to another location means that he plans to murder Ho-soon to cover his tracks.

Despite his doubts, Wan-seung is willing to help her find Ho-soon, but Seol-ok says that she doesn’t need him—right now she needs an expert profiler named Inspector Woo. Wan-seung blinks, and she points to a TV screen on the wall, where Inspector Woo is featured in a perfume ad, holding the bottle like a gun.

Mocking Inspector Woo’s stance, Wan-seung says that he studied profiling at the academy too, and dismisses the man as a charlatan who’s humiliated the police force. But Seol-ok says he’s on another level and has cracked lots of cases, so she thanks Wan-seung for his help, but says that she has to go find Inspector Woo now. Wan-seung tells her not to be ridiculous and goes off on his spiel about catching criminals with blood, sweat, and legwork, only to turn around and find that she’s run away.

Kwang-tae and Dong-ki call Wan-seung and tell him that Jang Do-jang has been released. Wan-seung curses Ho-chul and tells them to arrest Jang again for attempted murder. He promises them that Seol-ok will testify and tells them to make sure Ho-chul doesn’t find out that she was the victim.

Wan-seung finds Seol-ok by tracing her location, and she gets into his car immediately and tells him to go to a recycling plant so that she can retrieve the VHS tapes she threw away a few days ago. He tries to tell her it’s already too late, but she doesn’t listen and ends up disappointed when he turns out to be right. Watching her with exasperation, he wonders how he’s going to convince her to testify while forcing a smile and a wave as she approaches.

A coldly disapproving CEO Ha leaves the engagement venue, and Ji-won changes out of her dress and orders a car so she can follow Wan-seung, whose approximate location she’s had traced. (Is everyone a stalker in this drama?)

Seol-ok goes back to Kyung-mi’s shop and wails that she’d be able to find the culprit if only she had her old tapes and berates her friend for not stopping her. Kyung-mi points out that she tried, but Seol-ok always does what she wants. Kyung-mi says she did what she wanted this time too, and points under the counter, where she’s saved all of Seol-ok’s detective paraphernalia. Seol-ok squeals and tells Kyung-mi that she loves her.

Having been relegated to waiting outside, Wan-seung tells himself that now is no time to think about his pride while he tries to wait patiently. He spots Earnest Cop’s cruiser passing by and almost calls out to him before turning away in embarrassment over his outfit, not realizing that Earnest Cop saw him too.

Ji-won soon arrives at the substation, and when she asks if they know where Wan-seung is, Earnest Cop tells her that he just saw him at the lunchbox shop nearby. He says Wan-seung is close with “Teacher Yoo,” whom he describes as a beautiful woman, cute and sweet. Aww.

After watching an old episode of Inspector Woo’s true crime show, Seol-ok rushes out of Kyung-mi’s shop, headed to where she thinks the kidnapping will take place. Following her in his car, Wan-seung offers to give her a ride, calling her Madam, and she gets in. Ji-won just misses them when she arrives at the shop, and spotting Kyung-mi through the window, she wonders if she’s the “cute and sweet” Teacher Yoo.

Wan-seung asks Seol-ok what the videotape had to do with Ho-soon and asks if he can help, adding that he might need her help someday too. Seol-ok tells him to be quiet, so he sighs and turns on some music, singing along with a water bottle as his mic. (It’s a beautiful song, but oh my God, why is this so funny?)

Seol-ok finds a “Min-woo” in Ho-soon’s contacts, but as she calls the number, the phone dies. She turns off the radio, snapping at Wan-seung for distracting her, and he loses his conciliatory manner too as he calls her mean. He says she’s overreacting to what is clearly an elopement, but at her insistence, he asks where she thinks Ho-soon might have gone.

Seol-ok shows him the pamphlet that Ho-soon left behind with one corner of the front page ripped off, but he doesn’t understand what she means until she uses eyeliner to color the paper behind it. She shows him the impression of the word Ho-soon had written on the front page: Oido Island, the place where she will be kidnapped.

Kwang-tae and Dong-ki find out that their chief revealed to Ho-chul that Seol-ok was Jang Do-jang’s victim, and they bicker over who will tell Wan-seung; maknae Dong-ki loses that argument and reluctantly makes the call. Wan-seung sees Seol-ok’s phone ringing with a call from Ho-chul, and panicking, he opens the car windows fully, yelling at the top of his lungs that he loves the ocean.

Seol-ok asks how he can be happy when Ho-soon is in danger, but Wan-seung says that they’ve practically solved the case before telling her to enjoy the cherry blossoms. He carefully slips her phone from her pocket and drops it beside her seat while she looks out the window and comments that soon, dead bodies will be discovered one by one as the weather warms up. Wan-seung enthusiastically agrees that there’s no place like the sea to hide corpses—it’s the best! Hahaha. These two are a match made in heaven.

Ho-chul wonders what’s going on with Seol-ok lately, as it’s unusual for her to ignore his calls. Wondering why she’s gotten involved with Wan-seung too, he calls Kyung-suk to say that he can’t reach Seol-ok, and she assures him that she’ll find out where she is.

Seol-ok and Wan-seung find a place at Oido Island where lovers often leave padlocks hanging to symbolize eternal love, and they find one with Ho-soon and Min-woo’s names on it. They find another by a famous lighthouse, and Seol-ok says that Ho-soon must be completely smitten and unaware of the danger she’s in. True to her hunch, we see Ho-soon walking happily along the boardwalk with Min-woo.

A couple near them considers a romantic boat ride or a bike ride on the seawall, and our crime-solving duo loudly point out to each other how many bodies have been found in each place, shuddering at how often corpses get dumped in the sea. The couple stares at them. (I’m dying.)

Ji-won shows up on Wan-seung’s porch, noting the sign on his front door that still says “Wan-seung ♥ Hyun-soo” and the clearly empty home. Her secretary sends her a picture of Wan-seung and Seol-ok at the lighthouse as well as their exact location, and she heads over there next.

Seol-ok and Wan-seung finally spot Ho-soon and Min-woo on a boardwalk, but seeing them about to get into a car and drive away, Seol-ok urgently tells Wan-seung to sing that song from earlier in the car—it’s Ho-soon’s favorite, and she’ll stop to listen, which will give Seol-ok a chance to catch her.

Wan-seung finds this ridiculous, but Seol-ok begs, promising that she’ll do anything he wants. He agrees, and the band (who already think he’s the singer they were waiting for) strike up Lee Juck’s “Lie Lie Lie.”

Wan-seung begins to sing, and Seol-ok darts off in pursuit of Ho-soon, who has turned to listen. As he sings the chorus, Wan-sung becomes emotional and a tear falls down his cheek. He stops singing, and Ho-soon turns around and gets in Min-woo’s car. Seol-ok is left grasping desperately at the air as they drive away.

The music continues but Wan-seung is silent as he remembers Hyun-soo battered and bloody on the floor. He also remembers picking her up and walking through the night with her broken body in his arms. The chorus rings in his ears:

I waited for you endlessly,
I trusted all your words.
The cold wind froze the streets,
I have frozen over too.

In the car afterward, Seol-ok is upset at Wan-seung for stopping, thinking he forgot the lyrics. He says that he’ll find Ho-soon, but she asks why he didn’t just hum if he couldn’t remember the words—is he that dumb? He tells her to stop it since he’s put up with a lot already, but she calls him an idiot. Wan-seung pulls over and tells her to get out.

She refuses and locks her door when he tries to forcibly remove her, saying there are no taxis or buses here, and if she hitches a ride she might end up becoming the victim of a serial killer. He tells her to take this car then, and he’ll take his chances with a serial killer, but she grabs his jacket and says that she can’t drive. He says smugly that she needs him desperately, but this offends her enough for her to say that she’ll just call a cab after all.

Wan-seung reminds her urgently of a taxi serial killer case and apologizes, hurrying back to the driver’s seat (although he doesn’t forget to point out that she’s in his debt). As they drive off, he gently teases her for being unable to drive, and Seol-ok flashes back to her father, collapsed unconscious on his steering wheel. Oh man, did she find him dead in his car? She looks away from Wan-seung and says that it’s because she’s a prosecutor’s wife.

Ji-won calls Wan-seung, and he answers irritably, giving her a cursory apology for today. She tells him she’s nearby and that she’s reported her car stolen, but at that moment, Seol-ok spots Min-woo’s car ahead, and Wan-seung hangs up on Ji-won to give chase. He leaves the road when he sees a police checkpoint up ahead and tells Seol-ok to get out and run; this is a stolen—er, borrowed—car, and they have to leave it behind. He drags a protesting Seol-ok away.

Seol-ok complains that he’s lost their quarry despite all his bragging and blames herself for trusting the word of an idiot like him. To Wan-seung’s annoyance, she begins to ask random passersby for a ride. They still have a distance to go and end up on a tandem bike (which Wan-seung wrested from a disgruntled couple, ha), bickering as they go.

Next we see them, they’re on the side of the road trying to hail a ride, each blaming the other for the bike breaking down. Seol-ok asks him why he kept following her when she told him repeatedly that she didn’t need his help, and he bows his head. She says she never should have trusted him about the bike, but he assures her that he can fix it.

Kyung-suk shows up at Kyung-mi’s shop to look for Seol-ok, but Kyung-mi cleverly turns the situation around, complaining to Seol-ok’s mother-in-law that her friend is always taking off without notice to take care of her family—even today, Seol-ok disappeared after a phone call from Ho-soon. Kyung-suk apologizes.

Seol-ok and Wan-seung are able to find a pickup truck to take them the rest of the way, and she thanks him before quickly changing the subject to him being a good singer. Wan-seung says that his dream was originally to be a musical actor, and he thinks back to playing his guitar for a smiling Hyun-soo. She asks why he became a cop instead, and he replies, “It seemed cool.”

Finally finding her abandoned car, Ji-won discovers Seol-ok’s phone ringing inside, and answers a call from Ho-chul.

Seol-ok and Wan-seung reach the harbor Ho-soon and Min-woo were headed for, but the couple is nowhere to be found. Wan-seung suggests going to a passenger boat terminal, since there are lots of small islands nearby. This reminds Seol-ok of something Inspector Woo said on the tape she watched earlier, and she says that she knows who the culprit is. An eerie whistling starts as she says, “The kidnapper is No Doo-gil.”

Somewhere near the ocean, a man turns on a radio, which plays an upbeat swing tune. He walks past a makeshift shelter and works at digging a hole with a pickax. Ho-soon lies near him, unconscious.

 
COMMENTS

I wasn’t sure where the show was going with Ho-soon’s kidnapping storyline, but I absolutely loved the structure of this episode, with Seol-ok charging ahead in her investigation, always one step behind Ho-soon, and our Drug Sniffing Dog loyally (if reluctantly) following at her heels. Seol-ok and Wan-seung have settled into a comfortable, playfully antagonistic partnership at this point, at it gives me endless enjoyment to watch them play off each other even when nothing significant is happening. It’s clear that they drive each other nuts, like when Seol-ok presents each of her discoveries bit by bit to Wan-seung as if giving him puzzles to solve when all he wants is to hear her conclusions. Or her exasperation with his single-minded, forceful approach to his goals, which is so different from her method of following where each clue leads her, even if it ends up taking her on a meandering path.

Despite their differences, however, it’s clear that they trust and respect each other, and even though Seol-ok was baffled by Wan-seung’s insistent “help” during this episode, she ultimately relied on him and took a lot of his input into consideration. I was cracking up so hard when they were riding the tandem bike together, him barking “Left foot! Left foot!” like a military captain, and her doing her best to pedal along despite her irritated comments. I was annoyed with the way he constantly manhandled her in earlier episodes, but it seems she’s decided to do the same to him, and they’re starting to give me the vibe of old friends who constantly bicker but hold a lot of affection for each other, belying their short acquaintance.

They also really listen to each other even when they seem dismissive of each other; an example is when Seol-ok told Wan-seung to sing “Lie, Lie, Lie,” showing that she noticed his skill at singing despite having told him to be quiet earlier. It was an apt and moving use of music that wonderfully underscored the climax of the episode, with Seol-ok desperately trying to save a family member from danger and Wan-seung remembering his inability to save the girl he loved years ago. (Lee Juck originally wrote the song from the perspective of a child abandoned by his mother at an amusement park, faithfully waiting for her promised return. It’s a gorgeous lament about the realization that one’s awaited loved one is never coming back.) It was a heartbreaking moment, and I’m looking forward to the point in their relationship when they become true friends and confide their painful pasts to each other and discover how much they truly have in common. For now, although they have come to trust each other professionally, they’re understandably reluctant to expose such vulnerable secrets about themselves.

I found a lot of amusement in the fact that Seol-ok and Wan-seung spent the entire episode going from one romantic location to another doing all the things couples normally do, all while being constantly irritated with each other and talking about dead bodies and serial killers. They perfectly encapsulate one of the things I love most about every successful Sherlock Holmes adaptation: the comically begrudging yet exactly complimentary dynamic of two partners that fill in what the other lacks to create a single crime-solving unit. The fact that their escapades are clearly being interpreted as dates by Ji-won (and likely soon by Ho-chul, once Ji-won spills the beans) is hilarious, but it also creates a new obstacle for Seol-ok’s crime-solving career.

I hope that the misunderstanding continues to be humorous and doesn’t turn melodramatic, however, and that if Seol-ok does break up with Ho-chul at some point, it’s because she’s no longer happy with who he is and how he treats her and not due to an imagined affair. The latter would be an unfortunate return to tired tropes that this show has done so well at avoiding or subverting so far; what I want the most for Seol-ok during the course of this drama is for her to spread her wings and find a place to be herself, whether that’s in her marriage or after it—as buddies with Wan-seung, or something more.

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I stopped watching at episode four, but this recap just may tempt me to pick it up again! Thank you for recapping the series, Laica.

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You should definitely watch! I can't begin to do justice to Seol-ok and Wan-seung's hilarious dynamic with words. It must be seen to be fully appreciated. :)

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I didn't start but now I'm tempted to! @laica, this recap really made me do a 180 in my thinking, so I agree, thank you! Also, I now have 'Lie, Lie, Lie' on repeat and am howling out the tune and the last three lines of the lyrics. Thank you for the link (I don't think my neighbours are so grateful though....>.<)

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I LOVED that song! Is the ost out yet? Didn't know ksw is such a great singer!

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He is indeed a good singer. I didn't realize he could sing that well too.

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After the fourth episode I wasn't quite sure about this show and felt like something was missing, but the following episodes have added that depth and now I love it. I find it very entertaining and don't mind the cases being drawn out, because their backstories and the development of their relationship are a big part of the show and are very intriguing.

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"After the fourth episode I wasn't quite sure about this show and felt like something was missing..."

Yes, I think this was it. I too felt something amiss with episode four, hence why I stopped watching; but since I'm getting some positive vibes from some of you beanies and @laica, I'll definitely pick it up again. Many thanks for the recommendation, guys!

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Yes! Please give it another try, it is quickly becoming one of the shows I look forward to most each week. This episode was especially golden :)

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Yes, this episode is very different from the vibes given off in the previous episodes, and is more engaging too.

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The song is one of my favorites. I can never listen to it only once!

Thanks for the kind words about the recap, guys, and thanks for reading!

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I'd certainly pick it up again if I had dropped this show earlier, only I haven't. ?

Ep 8 is even better, IMO.

Thanks for the recap, Laica. ?

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You should watch this episode. I can't put a finger to it, but this episode is very different from the other cases the writer has touched on. We follow SO as she moves from clue to clue, searching for HS, and it's a engaging ride as we do that. Watch it!

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I love the two leads. The cases are dragged way too long but thankfully we have these two because they totally make the show.
Their relationship is adorable and I like that it's not clear whether they'll get together or not. This thing along makes the whole drama less cliché.
They could just end up as buddies and I'd be 100% cool with it. As long as Seol Ok gets to become a detective and do what she loves most and Wan Seung gets to discover the truth behind his girlfriend's death (disappearance?) and find peace for his soul, I'd be on board with SO making it work with her husband (only if he's not the a** they set him up to be) and I'd be even ok with WS getting with JW (I totally changed my mind about her in these episodes. I don't think she is THAT bad).
Anyway, personally I believe that if the intention is indeed the one to put the two leads together (and I really can't tell), it won't be blatant but more likely just hinted at. This also would be less cliché.
So yeah they make the drama but I must say the other police officers, her friend (I love her!) and the mother in law add a nice feeling to it. I don't see annoying character, even the mother in law is enjoyable and not the typical k drama crazy mother in law, straight out of the Cinderella fairytale.

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I kind of wonder at the drama making the chemistry of the two leads stronger than the chemistry of the lead female with her husband who she supposedly married because of "her need for family". I just wish I knew where it was leading. I'm fine with it, if she ends up close friends with the detective, and he finds closure on his first love's death or disappearance.

Her husband might be shady, but he doesn't appear to treat her badly and her in laws are quite fond of her. So unless she falls madly in love with this new guy, there's no reason for her to quit her marriage.

In any case, I hope the drama focuses on her becoming a recognized professional in her field a la Hercule Poirot or Ms. Maple and loses the romantic stuff.

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I think the married actors tend to not get romance on drama. Chief Kim actors suggested no romance. I think this one is the same. The show still well without romance, its not the main focus of the drama.

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@KateLauren....

You speak my mind. I agree with almost evry points.

But I still cant decide whether I want these 2 to stay as detective buddies or not, their chemistry and interactions are too sweet to be ignored. There're so many romantic vibes (hilariuosly) hinted in recent episode, eg. the flower's hidden meaning or the way he ditches his engagement party to pursue her. I'd love it if they can end up together without the cliche makjang settings.

In the end, however, the ultimate satisfaction would be for Seol-Ok to be able to to what she's capable of and for Wan-Seung to be able to sing that song until the end without crying.

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DB ate up my words again! Anyway I was saying I loove this drama. This is a bottomless pit and I keep falling and there is no going back lol. I don't know whether it's the chemistry or the quirkiness of the drama which resonates so much with what I tend to like in shows. Like don't want to spoil anything but I love how sul ok never appreciates openly how wan seung saves her every time, and when he deserves the praise i mean every bit of it, but she won't sa y it on is face , rather would buy tonics or meds for him and leave it in his coat pocket, that's how she is right? She never admits that wan seung is handsome, or we never got to know till now what she feels inside, outside she is resilient, and strong and wants to stick to her family because they saved her from staying an orphan. And the fact that she never questions her husband's aloofness, that even when she is so much invested in her hobby [drive for life], she is happy in her little world. Her being an oddball changes the total equation of her relationship with wan seung, and I love how the show never shows or screams about it, explicitly. We have to keep looking to see the depth in her character, and the discovery has been pretty amazing so far. Yes the mysteries so far have been cliche and mediocre, but given how tight the script is, and how there is backstory to wan seung and sul ok, I am satisfied with where the show is at right now. Anyway just wanted to say, in the context of the conventional kdrama standard, this drama totally stands out as an odd one and I love that it's different. ^^

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*say it on his face

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It is shown that she isn't exactly a happy person. She has her own big regrets of life. And we heard her views about Love in this episode. So, I don't think she is living a fulfilling life at all. There many compromises she made won't let he live a good life. Seol Ok demands much progression.

Romance factor is another issue here - Married women who loves having a family. Loner Guy still looking for his Noona.
They pain runs deep for both of them and i just can't see anything romantic in it. Buddy at best is answer from Writer.

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I'm loving where this show is heading - though at times it seems like there is too much ground to cover and not enough time (Wan Seung's past, Seol Ok's past, the fake engagement, the crumbling marriage, Jang-Do Jung). There are just so many things that need to be brought to light and solved that I honestly doubt that Wan Seung and Seol Ok will become something more unless it's in the very last minute of the very last episode. Especially now that we're just about at the half way mark - there just isn't any time for romance. Though I'd like the two to end up together, I think the show's setting them up to be really great friends.

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Or, I'd be ok with it if they become "something more" in season 2.

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Will there be a second season? I know the ratings are high but I thought this was a single-run series.

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Considering this is a Korean Drama there's like 99.9 percent chance there won't be a season 2. Unless there's something I dont know.

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I don't expect a season 2 -- but I would watch it if one comes along. This show is different enough from the run-of-the-mill that even a repeat would still seem fresh and original.

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Is it just me that thinks that the implied romance between the two leads is still kind of canonical? :D

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Well, sometimes it certainly feels like it. The whole conversation on how you cannot help who you fall in love with just screamed "by the way, we are the ones falling in love here". But again, it's really not that obvious, mostly because there doesn't seem to be enough time to develop a proper romance.

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That's my thing, there's just no time. If you think about it, half the series has gone by and Wan Seung and Seol Ok are not even officially crime solving partners yet. Plus we've barely scratched the surface of all the other plot lines. As much as I would love it, squeezing in a romance would seem a bit sloppy - at least a proper one. If a romance is supposed to develop, we'll probably just get a final episode where the two lock eyes and a romance is heavily implied.

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I think the same as you. There isn't time to develop the romance. There are too many pot lines in the drama to resolve, and there isn't any time to insert one more.

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*plot

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I think it's standard fare for a Watson-Sherlock show to tease a romance between them but it never really is going to happen.

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I don't mind if the leads end up to be friends at the end of the show. They don't have to be romantically together. I love the vibes they give now. It's so endearing and sweet.

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I guess this drama is slowly becoming the highlight of my week. I love the chemistry between the two leads and from what I saw in ep 9 and the preview of ep 10, there is sth romantic going on there. Or perhaps that's me and my wishful thinking. Since divorce seems to be a touchy subject in Korea hopefully it will be part of the plot (I'm totally in love with WS and the way SO lights up when with him). Thank you for the recaps. I can't wait for next one

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So I really like the show but the pacing is so slow! I love watching Seol-ok and Wan Seung bicker because it is hilarous but so much of the episodes are full of filler. We are 7 episodes in and there is so much we DON'T know. And there seems like a lot that needs to unraveled. My fear is that they will waste too much time and the end will be rushed. I like this show too much and I would hate to have a disappointing end.

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Exactly! Seol-ok's SIL's story is interesting but i don't understand why they are spending THREE episodes on it. They could've wrapped up this one in an episode and moved on to the more interesting things like her parent's apparent suicide and his girlfriend's murder..

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I feel the same way, I am waiting for them to kick the plot into high gear because they haven't solved a "real" case with both of them really being into it yet. The first one Seol-ok annoyed Wan-seung, and now Wan-seung is annoying Seol-ok, but we are still waiting for them to work on something more amicably.

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I agree, I feel like this show's gonna cave in on itself if it continues this pace. I love the filler and I love the fact that the show is not quite episodic and the cases are more drawn out, but I felt like this episode took 45 minutes to divulge what most shows do in 10. There's just so much left to find out and so much character development that needs to happen and I feel like times been wasting.

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I don't like the pacing for the previous episodes, but I like the pacing for this particular episode because the method of investigation and case is different from the previous ones. I wish the writer had written this episode first. I think too much time was wasted on the previous case, with all the unnecessary twists and turns, which was pretty anticlimatic.

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Their chemistry is crazy good..it's a waste this isn't a romantic drama.

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I don't know, just because the characters meld together well doesn't mean they have to fall in love. I sure hope not.

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When I saw KSW sneaking out of the engagement hall with his tux and getting the car, he reminded me so much of James Bond...

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KSW looks so good in the tux!

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I love this show. This episode was hilarious, and heart-wrenching at the same time. I am getting tired of Ji-won though, and hope she gets a clue soon that Wan-seung doesn't want anything to do with her. Is that too much to ask, Show?

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I like JW now. She really likes WS. I feel for her when she runs all over the place, trying to find WS.

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i'm just super happy to see Kwon Sang Woo in a role that totally suits him -- he does comedy so well!! his old works are all so terribly miserable, well, his characters' lives were so miserable...

i just love seeing his darling mischievous smile!

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Yes! I think this role suits him well too. He does have subtle comedic timing, and that's what makes it even funnier. It's not exaggerated or anything. I love his interactions with SO. That's where his character really shines through. I watched him in a few shows, but they are all melodramas, which are so miserable.

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The case spent more than 2 episodes again to be solved. Yup it takes patience to watch it for those who like fast development, but myself don't mind it, I assume it as reading a detective novel. The case closing in the next episode is worth the wait, I think.
Interaction between maknae and head detective in headquarters office is fun too. Especially when their facial expressions try to imitate dog. LOL.
Seol Ok is so lucky have a reliable friend. Her character is likable, the best! I'm happy every time she shows up on screen.
And I like the appearance of Shin Hyun Bin (Jeong Ji Won) here. She is so charming and her voice is very attractive too.
But unfortunately their appearances is so limited. Hopefully they appear more in the second half of drama.

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This actual biggest mystery so far in this drama is what is the actual relationship of Seol Ok and her prosecutor hubby. At this point it still seems like it could go in any of several directions.

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All the relationships have complex sides and more interesting than all these violence cases. The only end i can think of is Open end and that is also a friendship end.

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My God! The show's okay, it's starting to get repetitive but the women's clothing is horrific. Some of the worst outfits I've ever seen on TV.

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Yeaa... Her outfits are a horror....

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instead of the "ahjumma pants", the urban version is the "ahjumma skirt and shoes"...

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Dang, I actually like her outfits. Age appropriate. Colorful, not frumpy.

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I think the dress was frumpy. I liked the jacket, and if the dress had been a blouse worn with trousers, the whole outfit would have worked better, including the shoes. As it was, it looked like she threw a coat on over her house dress and ran out the door. Half the time her trainers looked like house shoes. Seen from the waist up, she looked nice.

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I'm thinking the clothes are a representation of the character's quirkiness.

Seol-ok may not have a wardrobe comprised of impeccably tailored outfits, but what she wears certainly fits her personality.

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The skirt is a good match for the funny way she runs. I don't think pants could give the same effect.

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She did wear pants in episode 2. I remember she looked like someone much younger when she was hiding at the crime scene.

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I think it's meant to be representative of someone who lives at home with a small social circle and not much money for high-fashion. Ho-soon obviously splurges money she doesn't have for clothes, but it seems like after getting married Seol-ok's wardrobe choices went way downhill.

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You must haven't watched Lucky Romance. Now that's a disaster.

I find Seol Ok's clothing to be quirky.

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Yup.... Lucky romance costume was also a horror... This drama is better relatively...

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The relationship between Seol Ok and Wan Seung is beautifully progressing.... I don't mind whether they remain friends or decide to take it further.... But their bickering and casual skinship is so nice... He doesn't hesitate to touch her, holds her as if they have known each other all along.... It's a kind of comfortable skinship.... This couple is really funny.... The tandem bike scene was hilarious when she jumped out and ran and again got on.... It was so funny.....

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@laica You do a really great job of capturing the plot and the humor of the series! I always want to go back and relive the episode after reading your recaps! I have to say, Seol-ok makes the cutest faces, like when she pats Wan-seung on the shoulder after seeing some of Ji-won's things in the car, or the okay symbol she makes when he asks for a favor. They also put in fun sound effects, to boot. That part always makes me laugh. Also the pinky moment, too! There's so many great moments in this episode. Like when Jang do-Jang, smiling, asks Dong-ki if they can have a meal together before noticing the handcuffs. I'm going roughly backwards here, but all the times Seol-ok stubbornly refuses to get in Wan-seung's car and then hops in and stares at him expectantly? When she beats her chest in frustration at how slow Wan-seung is? What's with showing him the brochure WHILE HE WAS DRIVING, anyways? Does she have no common sense? Then when Seol-ok jumps off a moving bike and runs in front of it? Then when she subtly thanks him and looks away? These two have really great on-screen chemistry.

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Aw, thank you! I just enjoy these two so much.

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If she is married then there is no chance of any romance.... So there must be a plot twist waiting for us

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I could watch this pair for hours. ❤️❤️❤️ I adore their chemistry and bickering. I didn't mind the case being dragged out a little longer this time since Wan Seung and Seol Ok are not officially a crime-fighting duo yet.

But I'm a little worried that there are still so many mysteries to solve and this drama is only 16 episodes. :(

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Yes, I love their bickering too. I love the faces that WS makes when he's talking to SO. It's hilarious! Maybe I watched too many of his melodramas, I didn't know he can be so expressive too.

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I haven't seen him in anything before so I'm glad I got to see him here. He does comedy well~ :)

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The dynamics and character personalities are nicely developing and the show is finally hitting a nice stride.

I am sincerely hoping that there isn't going to be any romantic line between Seol-Ok and Wan-Seung. My guess is that there is a sincere link between Ho-Chul and Seol-Ok although perhaps one sided on Ho-Chul's side for the time being. Perhaps one resolution is how Seol-Ok also recognizes this over time and how Ho-Chul finally decides to come over to the "good side". I find Ho-Chul enigmatic for now.

The Ji-Won and Wan-Seung dynamic has the possibility of mirroring the SO-HC story. An ultimate happy ending would be the main twosome developing into a fantastic foursome!

Unfortunately, this might leave the puppy dog station Chief with the short end of the drama stick.

One nit I have is the nearly complete disregard for police and criminal procedure so far. While this isn't a police procedural, releasing JDJ would be somewhat ridiculous since he not only attacked SO but also WS. While prosecutor-police antagonism is a familiar trope, most prosecutors protect their police associates as a matter of course.

It would have been a bit more satisfying if the drama would explain why SO concluded that this was a kidnapping/murder attempt well before any clues were shown. It would make a bit more sense if she said that after the phone was discovered but, for now, she was SURE this was a kidnap attempt well before our intrepid duo made it to the airport.

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I'm a little confused. Before they got to the airport she was just wondering where she could have gone with the money. It was only AFTER they got to the airport that she said she had to file a missing person report and claimed it was a kidnapping. I agree that we should have gotten a better hint, because it does look like Wan-seung is right and she just watched too much TV by extrapolating like that.

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I believe they only charge Jang for drug trafficking or possession, but didn't charge him for assault or attempted murder because they wanted to leave SO out of the picture.

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When I watched this episode the first time, I was left unsatisfied and kind of angry with the Seol Ok character. But reading this recap makes me want to go back and rewatch it with a new perspective. Is there really a respect between the two characters? I didn't see it the first time. Was Wan Seung seriously agreeing with Seok Ok about an ocean full of bodies, or was he just humoring her to get her to move on?

I guess I got too caught up with Seol Ok's impatience to see the humor in some of the situations, and then when she called him an idiot over and over again, I had had it with her.

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I think with the ocean example, Wan-seung was just humoring her. Considering in that scene he was just trying to make loud dialogue. Seol-ok did make me a little mad with her antics in the car, like she doesn't realize you need to see the road to drive. But you must admit it was funny when they were talking about body parts and freaked out that other couple.

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I live for every Seolok and Wanseung bickering moment. They're such wonderful partners. I'm super torn. I want Seolok to be happy and fulfilled in her love life, and even though her family and marriage aren't terrible, there's definitely something missing. On the other hand I wouldn't want her to lose the only family she has right now. She wouldn't just be breaking up with a husband, but the closest thing she has to a mother and sister.

One thing I'm not a fan of about this drama is the length of time they're spending on each case.

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This case they are working on currently seems a bit long, but I like the trajectory the writer is taking with this case. It's refreshing and different from the other cases they have worked on. It's a crime that is happening right at the same time they are running in pursuit of the criminal. Everything hinges on whether they can catch up to the perp in time to thwart his attempts at an abduction. Every other case in the previous episode already saw the crime committed, then the leads investigated it while looking for the perp.

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Yeah that's true it does work better in this case than in previous ones. I reckon 2 eps per case (or 2 eps + a cliffhanger) is ideal.

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After watching Do-Bong Soon, any case that's resolved in less than ten episodes and a lot of police incompetence is a relief!

This is my favorite kdrama couple, with or without romance. I'd be happy if it turned into something more, but it doesn't need to. What I really want is everyone else to think the Two Stooges are dating.

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Oh my God!!! Another cliffhanger?! why?! I mean I know why, but still, why?!!! the previous cliffhanger which had me on the edge of my seat was when SO said,"someone was murdered here." And now this. I'm so bad with cliffhangers, now I've to wait till next week... >.< I'll try to find spoilers online! (this weird creature doesn't mind spoilers at all).
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On the another note, the dynamic between our crime-solving duo is amazing, if these goes on, watching the show will be relaxing; crimes and cliffhangers aside.

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I think the cliffhanger is done very well. I am on the edge of my seat, wondering what is going to happen next, especially when we have no inkling who the perp is, and why he is doing this. I am amazed SO can link the case back to an episode of Inspector Woo's tv show. I, for one, can't do that.

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I love this episode. The car and bike rides are hilarious ! And, yes, the best part of the drama is the dynamic between the leads.

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The dynamic between the two leads is very interesting and refreshing for some reason. I love how they rely on each other and help each other along the way to get from one destination to the next. However, the episode also feels like they are giving a tour of Korea's wonderful landmarks. I like it.

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The worse thing is I started to ship this ahjumma with Mr hottie policeman and this is sooooo wrong since ahjumma is a wife of someone. My point is the chemistry between Seol-ok and Wan-seung bring some sparkling when they tried to solve a case by together.

But never say never... Freud said happiness is composed of love and work.

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Great to know the details behind that song, thanks Laica.

Love the dynamics of this show and for me not necessary to become romantic, it can just be two people finding new friendship to build. And he somehow helps Seolok build her career perhaps if not a policewoman then a private detective.

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