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Hundred Million Stars From the Sky: Episode 3

Moo-young is a complicated man who seems to effortlessly create turmoil wherever he goes. For once, the tables are turned because Moo-young has met someone who has an undeniable pull on him. There’s something about Jin-kang that makes it impossible for Moo-young to keep his distance and as he lets his guard down, their connection deepens.

 
EPISODE 3: “The trophy”

The episode opens with a flashback that reminds us that Moo-young has a scar on his shoulder similar to Jin-kang’s. A montage of Jin-kook’s encounters with Moo-young accompanies his admission that something about the young man makes his heart pound. At the police station, Moo-young stares at the group photo on the evidence board, but grins at his reflection when he talks about the killer.

Jin-kang is pleasantly surprised by Cho-rong’s appearance on a news report about the boyfriend’s arrest, that is until she remembers Moo-young’s doubts that she’s seriously interested in him. When Jin-kook gets home she announces that Cho-rong caught a killer so he has to explain that the entire squad was behind the arrest, only to be sassed that he’s never been on the news.

Annoyed, Jin-kook dumps Jin-kang’s clothes on her head. The sight of Moo-young’s hoodie sets her off, “Do you go to movies with a girl even though you have a girlfriend?” Jin-kook is about to go after Cho-rong until Jin-kang explains that she’s talking about a jerk that he doesn’t know.

Moo-young approaches his front door and pauses in front of an old cooler. He kicks it at the same time that the victim’s boyfriend is interrogated about the missing murder weapon. From behind a mirror, Jin-kook watches the boyfriend beg the detective to find the real killer.

When Cho-rong joins him, they take a break and Jin-kook learns that the boyfriend cried for hours after he was told about his girlfriend’s murder. He explained the DNA evidence found on her hands as the result of a fight they had that night when his girlfriend hit him. As Cho-rong describes the fight, a flashback makes it appear that someone witnessed their argument.

The couple was scheduled to take trip together but after the fight, the boyfriend went alone. Cho-rong confirms that their tickets were reserved two months ago. As they part ways, Jin-kook mentions that Jin-kang saw him on television and in his excitement Cho-rong just barely remembers to tell Jin-kook that So-jung is looking for him.

The CEO of the brewery formally introduces the new design team to his staff. The design team includes President Hwang, Jin-kang, and assistant Im So-yeon. Moo-young joins the brewery team just in time for introductions and Jin-kang is careful to avoid his gaze.

Jin-kook finds So-jung, who wants to go out for brunch but when he balks, she calls him cheap. In his defense, Jin-kook points out that So-jung doesn’t have a family that needs her money and she obviously doesn’t buy extravagant things for herself. Ouch.

So-jung thanks Jin-kook for the reminder that her husband divorced her because she can’t have children. Jin-kook tries to smooth things over with the claim that his comment was meant as a compliment — he admires someone who doesn’t bother with luxury goods or botox.

Jin-kook gasps when So-jung details how much her outfit costs. She claws at him with her expensive manicure and announces that he’s behind the times, “People don’t get botox anymore. They get fillers now, you old man.” Jin-kook looks genuinely frightened when So-jung gives him a (well-deserved) beat down before she stomps off angrily.

Jin-kang takes a call from Cho-rong and he has to stifle a happy giggle when she tells him that she saw him on the news. After the call, she runs into Moo-young and follows him with a warning, “If I catch you doing something suspicious one more time, I’m going to tell Seung-ah.” He nonchalantly answers, “I don’t care,” and she can’t decide if he’s shameless or confident.

Moo-young admits, “I’m just sure of myself,” and then laughs when he sees the look on her face. He says that Jin-kang looks as if she’s determined not to lose while he prefers to think that they’ve never fought. Jin-kang isn’t moved, “You think you can talk your way out of anything…right?”

Jin-kang explains that there’s someone like Moo-young in her family, so she knows that it’s best to ignore him. She announces that this is their last private conversation and Moo-young smiles amusedly as she walks away.

Moo-young gets back to work but when he screams, Jin-kang races back. She tries to pull his hand out of a piece of equipment but becomes furious when she realizes that his emergency was a joke. Moo-young smiles and points his non-mangled hand at Jin-kang to remind her, “You talked to me first.” He’s not smiling after she hisses, “Don’t ever talk to me again.”

Team Leader Lee orders his detectives to either get a confession out of the boyfriend or find new evidence by the next day. Jin-kook overhears Cho-rong ask Detective Hwang to interview “Tattoo” (Yoo-ri) and is curious about the suspect’s identity. Cho-rong explains that she’s the rude girl in the last row of the victim’s party photo.

An irritated Yoo-ri walks outside to meet Cho-rong, who admits that he doesn’t want to be there either. He tosses out a photo of the dance trophy and asks if she knows the whereabouts of the murder weapon but she cooly tells him, “I don’t know.”

Once she’s safely inside, Yoo-ri paces around and in a flashback we see that she almost stepped on the top of the trophy at her place. Immediately, she puts in a call to Moo-young.

Seung-ah thinks about Woo-sang’s marriage proposal as she sits alone by the river, surprised when Moo-young joins her.

Hee-jun doesn’t look pleased when Yoo-ri shows up at his bar and he makes sure she knows that Moo-young is with a pretty, rich girl. He warns her not to confess her feelings to Moo-young but Yoo-ri insists that she doesn’t like him. Angry, she knocks over her beer and stomps out, leaving Hee-jun to deal with her mess.

Seung-ah ignores her mother’s call while Moo-young walks her home. She asks him about his parents at the same time that Woo-sang receives a background report on Moo-young and learns that he entered a Catholic orphanage at the age of six.

Woo-sang stares at a group photo from the orphanage while Moo-young explains to Seung-ah that he had a strict mother. He also had many aunts and they all wore the same clothes (the nuns in habits). Moo-young describes his father as a passionate detective while Woo-sang is told that no record exists of Kim Moo-young before he entered the orphanage.

Woo-sang’s investigator completes his report — Moo-young has a reputation as a hard worker, Hee-jun lived with him at the orphanage until he was adopted, he’s always surrounded by women but doesn’t date anyone for long and none of them ever visit his place.

Moo-young asks Seung-ah about her parents but she shrugs that they’re ordinary. She mentions that Jin-kang’s brother is a detective and that he raised his sister alone after their parents died. Seung-ah calls Jin-kang the most pitiful person that she knows, unaware that she’s with someone whose past is even more pitiable.

Unable to reach her daughter, Seung-ah’s mother checks the security cameras and sees her with Moo-young. When they hug, she’s about to run outside but she stops and laughs when she realizes why Woo-sang finally decided to marry Seung-ah.

Jin-kook and So-jung are at a coffee shop where he urges her to order whatever she wants. So-jung is still mad and assumes that Jin-kook came by on his day off because of other business at the station. She finally perks up when Jin-kook swears that he came by just for her but she makes it clear that a cup of coffee doesn’t make them even.

At the brewery, Hee-jun overhears So-yeon mention that she hasn’t seen the handsome man. Jin-kang smiles when he answers, “I’m here,” because So-yeon wasn’t talking about Hee-jun.

So-jung admires a tall, young man who enters the coffee shop but she’s flustered when Jin-kook calls him over. Moo-young pulls up a chair to join them and Jin-kook and So-jung laugh when he asks if they’re a couple. They insist that they’re just colleagues and Moo-young scores points with So-jung when he announces that she’s way out of Jin-kook’s league.

When he gets up to pick up his order, So-jung is surprised to learn that she just met the Kim Moo-young that makes Jin-kook’s heart pound. Now that she’s met him, So-jung shares that he has the same effect on her. Jin-kook reminds So-jung that she needs to get back to the station but on the way out, So-jung and Yoo-ri bump into each other.

The girl doesn’t apologize which makes So-jung wonder, “Why are kids these days so rude?” Jin-kook embarrasses So-jung when he tries to talk to Yoo-ri and she chastises him over his immature behavior in front of the cafe.

So-jung sees that Yoo-ri sat down with Moo-young and is disappointed with his bad taste in women. When So-jung points out the tattoo on Yoo-ri’s neck, Jin-kook races to the station ahead of her. He stares at the party photo on the evidence board and realizes that the girl in the cafe is “Tattoo.”

Yoo-ri tells Moo-young that on the morning that Jung Mi-yeon died, she found the top of the trophy at her place and threw it away, unaware of its significance. Moo-young stays silent, so Yoo-ri adds that the boyfriend must have left it at her place but then she wonders why she didn’t hear anything. Moo-young finally speaks and asks if Yoo-ri can sleep without medication but she confesses that she hasn’t needed anything since they met.

At the station, Cho-rong explains to Jin-kook that Yoo-ri and the murder victim went to school together in the U.S and describes them as best friends. Yoo-ri currently lives in a band practice room and supports herself with part-time jobs.

Moo-young sits in the parked brewery truck as he recalls an apartment number, 1502. He stood on a balcony in the rain and looked down to the street as someone with a black umbrella, marked with a Beer Festival logo, walked away.

Jin-kang and So-yeon are back at the brewery and see Moo-young at work in a sleeveless top. Jin-kang is shaken by the sight of Moo-young’s scar and recalls that she bared her own scar in front of him and bragged that she didn’t care what he thought of it.

Moo-young catches Jin-kang’s reflection in a mirror and asks, “What are you looking at?” Hee-jun rescues her when he invites the women to test some of the beers.

Jin-kook exits the station and figures out that Moo-young was on the phone with Yoo-ri the night that he stared at the evidence board. Jin-kook is lost in thought until he’s hit by huge raindrops.

Jin-kang rushes past Moo-young on her way out but he reminds her that she was interested in the stout beer. She can’t help but look at his scar while he pours a sample and after she praises the master brewer’s recipe, Moo-young thanks her since it’s his recipe.

Moo-young points out that they’re the only ones left at the brewery so Jin-kang makes her exit until she’s stopped by the rainstorm. When Moo-young can’t locate any umbrellas, he offers to give Jin-kang a ride but she braves the rain with some cardboard as cover. Moo-young stops her and looks angry as he tosses the cardboard aside.

Moo-young pulls up in the truck and urges Jin-kang to get in with the promise that he won’t talk to her. They ride in silence but when Moo-young reaches over to wipe her wet window, Jin-kang can’t avoid his scar.

Seung-ah comes downstairs to explain to her mother that she has no intention of marrying Woo-sang and is surprised when her mother asks about the man that she’s seeing. Seung-ah’s mother compliments her daughter since it was her dalliance that prompted Woo-sang to finally propose marriage. Now that he’s ready, she orders Seung-ah to cut ties with Moo-young. Seung-ah repeats that she doesn’t want to marry Woo-sang but her mother explains that he’s not the kind of man that she can break up with.

When Moo-young stops for gas, Jin-kang buys an umbrella for herself. Moo-young adds one for himself and chides her, “You’re so inconsiderate. How could you only buy one umbrella when it’s pouring like this?”

Outside, Jin-kang calls Moo-young fickle — one minute he teases her like an elementary student, the next he’s angry for no reason. She wonders why he bothered to give her a ride if he was going to make her so uncomfortable. Moo-young accuses Jin-kang of being the fickle one and tells her to drop the honorifics and speak to him informally like she did before.

Jin-kang agrees and when she sits down, Moo-young confesses that he uses his scar to get women to feel sorry for him, but that doesn’t work on her. Jin-kang accepts that injuries like that happen in life and gives Moo-young the impression that she’s never been hurt. Jin-kang agrees, “Yes, I haven’t been hurt,” but Moo-young can’t help but remember how much Seung-ah pities her.

Seung-ah calls but Moo-young ignores it with the explanation, “I’m with another woman now.” Jin-kang calls his reason ridiculous and when she asks for the real reason, Moo-young confesses, “I always go one more step…When I’m with you, I miss the timing to stop. Things accelerate.” Moo-young admits that there’s something about Jin-kang’s eyes that bothers him and when he tries to look at her, he gathers ups his things and confesses, “I’m about to get irritated again.”

Jin-kook is outside when Moo-young drops Jin-kang at home. Jin-kook asks his sister why they were together and she explains that she’s on the design team for Arts Brewery, which is where Moo-young works.

Jin-kook warns Jin-kang not to get involved with Moo-young so she assures him that there’s nothing to worry about since he’s dating Seung-ah. When Jin-kook reacts with alarm, Jin-kang regrets that she told him and retreats to her room.

The next day, Moo-young’s CEO calls him into a meeting with Woo-sang, who wants a new beer to serve at his wedding. The CEO explains that Woo-sang’s fiancee loves their beer and suggests including her in the process. Moo-young agrees and leaves after Woo-sang promises to schedule a visit.

Jin-kook finds Cho-rong staring at a slide show of evidence photos and laughs to hear that he’s working on a psychological profile of the boyfriend. A photo of the boyfriend’s suitcase catches Jin-kook’s attention when he sees that it contains a gift box. Jin-kook locates the suitcase in the evidence room and takes that box with him.

Jin-kook visits the boyfriend’s cell and opens the gift to reveal a snow globe with a carousel horse. He wants to know where his girlfriend would have placed the snow globe, next to the sailboat or the angel. Jin-kook looks uneasy when his question makes no sense to the boyfriend.

Moo-young calls Seung-ah from in front of her house but her mother answers the phone. He stares into the security camera as she explains that Seung-ah is about to meet with her future in-laws. She tells him to delete Seung-ah’s number and then deletes his in front of her daughter. Moo-young stares at Seung-ah’s house while she looks at him through the security monitor.

Jin-kook approaches Team Leader Lee with his concerns about the murder case and suggests, “I think it’s better for our team to hand him over after a little more investigation.” Team Leader Lee reminds Jin-kook him that he’s not on the team; ignoring his reminder that circumstantial evidence isn’t sufficient proof.

Seung-ah’s mother supervises her daughter’s preparations to meet Woo-sang’s family. She reminds Seung-ah to smile as she’s driven away in a sedan but the girl doesn’t look the least bit happy.

Jin-kook is at the traffic center to review CCTV footage in the stolen scooter case but all he finds is evidence of a man with a black umbrella that bears a logo.

Moo-young sits outside of the brewery and stares at the lowering sun while Seung-ah is driven to her meeting. Her bracelet from Moo-young has been replaced with one of diamonds and it sparkles as she remembers Woo-sang’s words, “When do you think you’re the cutest in my eyes? When you think, ‘I don’t need any of this…I’m not a snob like you people.'”

When the driver stops at a light, Seung-ah imagines Moo-young asking her, “You really don’t want to get married? If you hate it that much, just don’t do it. It’s nothing hard.” The driver is shocked when Seung-ah jumps out of the car and runs through traffic to get away.

Jin-kook gets home and finds Jin-kang hard at work on a new logo for Arts Brewery that’s due the next day. He sees all of the brewery’s graphics near her desk and recognizes the logo that he saw on the CCTV footage.

Jin-kang explains that Arts Brewery used that logo on gifts such as umbrellas and cups for the summer beer festival. He turns at the mention of umbrellas and knocks a stack of color chips from Jin-kang’s hand.

Frustrated, Jin-kang consults a chart to return the cards to their proper order. Jin-kook tries to help and uses the opportunity to confirm that Moo-young works for the brewery. The mention of his name reminds Jin-kang that Moo-young could organize the color cards in no time because according to Seung-ah, he has perfect recall.

The news causes Jin-kook to run to his car and when he reaches the station, he takes the party photo from the evidence board. Yoo-ri has a glass in her hand that has the same logo as the umbrella in the CCTV video. Jin-kook remembers that when Moo-young spoke about the killer, he assumed that he meant the boyfriend.

Woo-sang is at the family dinner when the driver discreetly informs him that Seung-ah ran away and his sister picks up that something’s amiss.

Moo-young finds Seung-ah outside of the brewery and when she tells him that she never agreed to get married, he pulls her into a hug. Inside, Moo-young and Seung-ah kiss and he smiles as he unbuttons her dress. She removes his shirt and leans back as the scene fades.

In the morning, Moo-young returns home to find Jin-kook waiting for him. The detective faces Moo-young and explains his visit, “You asked me the other day how it felt to have someone die because of you. Let me ask you this time. How did it feel when you killed someone?”

 
COMMENTS

Hundred Million Stars From the Sky has covered lots of ground in just the first few episodes. It’s exhilarating and even though I don’t know what to anticipate going forward, I’m just enjoying the ride. The performances of this cast have been really impressive, I feel like I’m intruding on real people. The camera work captures the subtlest of expressions in scene after scene and heightens the performances. The veteran actors bring so much to the drama and I’m particularly impressed with Park Sung-woong as Jin-kook, whom I’ve never seen before, and Jang Young-nam as So-jung, a regular scene-stealer. That scene between Jin-kook, So-jung and Moo-young was electric; Moo-young wasn’t afraid to turn on the charm with So-jung in front of Jin-kook and she loved the attention after her colleague’s missteps.

I wouldn’t be surprised if Jin-kook and So-jung end up as a real couple because I think they protested just a little too much that they’re just colleagues, and of course Moo-young picked up on that right away. Moo-young has a sixth sense and I’m hopeful that ability will come in handy if it turns out that he’s not the killer and has to fight to prove it.

Seo In-gook is positively hypnotic as Moo-young and even though his character is a scoundrel, I’m desperately hoping that he’s not a murderer. Moo-young may be many things, and he certainly enjoys toying with people, but there’s something tragically broken about him that triggers my sympathies. I want him to conquer whatever trauma he experienced as a child and overcome his broken life. His revolving door of women proves that he purposely keeps his distance and and his solitude breaks my heart.

It looks as if there’s a strong possibility that Moo-young didn’t kill Jung Mi-yeon, but he knows who did. His flashback suggests that he was in the apartment and saw the man with the black umbrella walk away. If Moo-young knows the identity of the killer, it must be someone significant in his life for him to risk cleaning the crime scene and getting rid of the trophy. Someone he knows from the orphanage, like Hee-jun? What isn’t clear is who pushed Jung Mi-yeon off of the balcony because the fall is what finished her off.

Moo-young is in a terrible spot now that Jin-kook believes he’s the killer and with Woo-sang determined to take Seung-ah away from him. He’s become Seung-ah’s declaration of independence, not only from Woo-sang, but from her mother. I think that part of the reason that she’s drawn to Moo-young is that he doesn’t expect anything from her, unlike her mother and Woo-sang. She’s using Moo-young to cut ties with them and to transition from an imprisoned girl to an independent woman. Eventually, what makes Moo-young so appealing will spell doom for his relationship with Seung-ah—he really doesn’t want anything from her, or any other woman for that matter. At least not until he met Jin-kang, and that makes Jin-kook even more of a threat going forward.

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Moo Young might have not got his hands bloody but if he manipulated people to do horrible things he might as well as killed them.

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That's true but till now we just have hints that he is a manipulative yet charming man. We don't really know what his deal is. He clearly has negative shades but I feel like the beauty of the show likes in us possibly understanding eventually if not liking his character. Like, I already dislike him cuz he is a liar at best at least (and a co-worker conspirator or killer at worse) but I also am really enjoying watching his character.

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This*

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I feel guilty because am so drawn towards him. But again, I have no reason to completely hate him other than his fooling around with Seung-ha. We are all speculating he could be killer. He is innocent until proven guilty :))

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This is interesting. On the other hand, I'm starting to actively dislike Moo Young. haha

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I thought it rather manipulative how he was showing his scar of to JK, no? I mean he kept carrying around his long shirt and only after they talked about it at the reststop did he put it on. It almost felt like he was screaming at her to acknoledge that they had something unmistakeble in common.

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He was totally rubbing that scar in her face 😅

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He acknowledges it too. Which I found surprising.

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Agreed. He IS clearly being manipulative in showing his scar to Jin-kang. But the way he casually acknowledged to her afterwards that he was actually being manipulative though didn't get the result he wanted is what surprised me. Could it be that knowing how Jin-kang is, it's actually the seemingly casual acknowledgment that's his goal all along? Because knowing him as a well-aware manipulative guy who does everything in "good fun" is what feed on Jin-kang's curiosity about him. And it's highly probable that he is counting on that from the beginning.

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In just 4 episodes this show has managed to do this to us!! That shows how well written and directed this show is.

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but if he manipulated people to do horrible things he might as well as killed them.

He sure has all the signs of a psychopath. Manipulative, emotionally-disconnected, lack of empathy, lack of guilt, and a cultivated air of charm to top it all of.

One thing I'm really curious about is if he's operating from a sense of illusion (likely stemming from his childhood experience?)... I'm probably not the only one who realized that he exclusively likes to surround himself with young vulnerable women (with the exception of Jin-kang who is rather fierce) and I wonder why...

And is it just me or does it seem that Moo-young's actions are purposeful and that he's working towards a certain goal?

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I also think that Moo Young is up to something - and it either came from or points too Jin Kang.

I first thought that he knew very well the end of these 'game'
but now, I'm thinking that he is also searching for an answer while keeping things under his control.
But Jin Kang is unexpectedly, slowly stirring things up.

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I couldn't help but think that Moo-young's comment about how Jin-kang's eyes and expression annoyed him is the one straighforward thing he said to her. Her unpredictable or lack of response seemed to bother him more than it should be. Or maybe he just wanted her (and us viewers) to think about him that way. One can never be sure with people like him.

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I agree with you. I felt like that whole exchange was probably the only time he was being genuine.

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Thanks for the recap TeriYaki!

Random thoughts while watching the show:

-That cop is cute! It’s a pity that his crush on Jin Kang won’t work.

-Did anyone pick up on how Jin Kang said that she has someone who is good with words in her family too and how the only way to deal with them is to ignore? But this can’t be a description for Jin Kook! So who is she talking abt?

-He is such a lil shit for faking that hand thing!

-Seung Ah pitues JinKang. It makes me irritated for some reason. And clearly MY found sth irritating abt it too.

-“What do young ppl eat to be this tall?” Hahhahha
And the: “I think I am taller than him”. This whole scene is so hilarious!

-omg such undertones in the convo between MY and crazy tattoo girl.

-I love literally every scene when Moo Young and Jin Kang are together! He winds her up. She surprises him. Its like a chase and I dont even know who is chasing whom. He shares things that he wouldn't normally and her replies always make him ponder. Gosh! I love them together when I know I shouldn't! This show is doing a great job making me feel and think all kinda things!

-Ziggie's arms. His eyes. His smiles. I am a puddle on the floor.

-The rich boyfriend annoys me. His teeth annoy me even more.

-Its interesting how MY gets to everyone. Like he wiggles his way inside their mind. I can see it in Seung Ah but I bet thats the case with the tattoo girl, the rich bf, Jin Kang , Jin Kook... just everyone.

-That kiss. Its interesting how I both didnt feel it cuz it was not very true on MY's part and stilll felt it cuz the girl was completely into it. The latter might also be cuz it is SIG doing what he does best and I am a fangirl 😂
But it also could be that the director somehow wanted us to feel a lil uncomfortable abt it.

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Cop is way too cute. So adorable.

Ah, I thought she was talking about her brother. They both have a way with words. Don’t you think!?

I thought she was going to punch his face. I would have. A##h###

Yes, why is Seung Ah feeling sorry for JK. Because she has no parents? Or the scar? How close are these two? It all depends on how long they have known each other.
Because something happened to JK that she suddenly decided to not remove the scar. I think she grew up and decided not to take shit from others anymore. She matured.

Curious - why is he called Ziggie???

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Jin Kook does have a way with words but I doubt she ignores him? But well it could be that too..

Yeah I would like to know how Jin Kang and Seung Ah became friends.

Yeah JK is a strong woman and I like that about her. She is also somehow very relatable.

Ah... Seo In-Gook doesn't like being called Gukkie and so we end up with no cute name for him. I like SIG enough but when i prefer having sth informal. @kaybee came up with it as far as I know and since then she, me and @sicarius call him that.

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Ah!! Thanks. It’s got a nice ring to it. But somehow it feels too sweet for the character he is playing now :) He was more of a Ziggie in R97!! Now it will stick to SIG :)

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Hahahaha true that!
He was a complete Ziggie in Shopping King Louis, King of High School and AM97, not so much in I Remember You and Squad38

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And how would we classify him for Master's Son and The King's Face? Not Ziggy in either of those and somehow I always forget that was actually him in those two dramas. Guess we have to go with SIG

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I really like the cute cop. He is so open and giddy in his interest in Jin-kang.

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IKR! Very simple everyday crush, nothing complicated!

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He's totally adorable and like a child. Therefore absolutely undateble from my persepctive though.

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“Did anyone pick up on how Jin Kang said that she has someone who is good with words in her family too and how the only way to deal with them is to ignore? But this can’t be a description for Jin Kook! So who is she talking abt? “

She was talking about Jin Kook. Remember how he was “rapping” about her dessert dry love life?

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*desert

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Oh that was it? I thought she wouldn't compare her bro to Moo Young seeing as how much she thinks she detests him.

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'He is such a lil shit for faking that hand thing!' - Totally agree. And then he was all pleased with himself that she came to his rescue. Well, at least she cut that crap off right away... He might have even regretted doing it a little...

'Seung Ah pitues JinKang. It makes me irritated for some reason. And clearly MY found sth irritating abt it too.' - I think on some level he thinks that he and JK are very similar and so when she says she pities JK he thought that that would be the same reaction she would have to his past if she ever learned about that. He clearly doesn't want to be pittied so that I believe that statement definetly didn't endear her to him.

I also thought that it is kinda strange among (best?) friends for one party to pity the other. That clearly indicates that she thinks herself better than JK. But at least JK is an independent woman whereas she is kinda imprisioned.

'Its interesting how MY gets to everyone.' - Don't forget the psychiatrist dude from the opening.

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Hahahahaha - "His teeth annoy me more" . That's like me and gums for another character in a different show, ya know? 😂 now I'll be staring at his teeth more than his hair. Thanks Muchie.

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“-Seung Ah pitues JinKang. It makes me irritated for some reason. And clearly MY found sth irritating abt it too.”

There’s always a dilemma of whether pity is appropriate. The unfortunate one will feel bad being pitied. The fortunate one will feel bad ignoring the other’s misfortune. I didn’t resent SeungAh saying so because if she really looked down on JinKang they wouldn’t be friends. I didn’t think it irritated MooYoung either because he didn’t care how she feels and his feelings won’t hurt for her. Rather I believe the conversation just sparked even greater interest into JinKang.

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Continue... Ep 4 spoilers

He lied that he didn’t find out from SeungAh that JinKang is an orphan — cuz he did. I think his fascination heightened because JinKang is too bright and warm for an orphan. SeungAh also hinted to him that JinKang claiming to be unscarred (emotionally) is a lie.

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oh oh oh oh......PC police have arrived!!
I'm an orphan and I'm bright and warm. Can't orphans be smart and friendly? ;-)

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Hey, chill, not my POV. Just that cold and dark orphan protagonist is written so, as many synopses of the original did state Ryo is attracted by her warmth.

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Was just teasing you anyway....

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... as long as you’re not really offended 😉

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Nope, not at all. Not really an orphan either.

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You troll 😏

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I read the recap and watched the scene again where Seung Ah said that she pity Jin Kang but she didn't say that Jin Kang is from orphange, she said that both her parents passed when she was little and Jin Kook raised her alone.

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I didn’t say SeungAh said JinKang came from an orphanage, she said she’s an orphan (both parents died)

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Rich boyfriend annoys me, but his eyebrows annoy me the most. I'm surprised he didn't get surgery yet to have them permanently be half raised so he can look like an ass forever.
Also MY's kiss scene with SA made me really uncomfortable. He wasn't genuine at all, and although I don't like SA's character, I know it will bother me when he's with Jin-kang.

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I usually don't really watch melos. But it's Seo In Guk, so I had to watch this. And I am all in. It has such a different vibe than the usual kdramas. It's beautfilly filmed and every episode looks like a movie.

I don't know what to think, but I am very much looking forward to find out what's going to happen.

About Jung So-Min, I couldn't help but think the entire time, who she reminds me of. And recently having watched Venom it hit me. More than any korean actress she might resemble, she reminds me a lot of Michelle Williams.

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I also am not a melo type. But it's SIG... I'm trying deperatly to stay away from the japanese original by rewaching some of his older dramas...

I also think that the original being japanese has a big impact on the mood of the drama. I've watched a couple japanese dramas and they tend to be more realistic in the everyday (no chaebols in like every drama ever like the korean ones). But one that same note I also drop them more often than not because they just lack something... unlike a good kdrama which can be like crack... like this one here.

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@teriyaki loved reading your comments. Couldn’t have said it better.

Moo Young is such an enigma to everyone and it perplexes him that JK sees right through him. Or at least makes an effort to see his real self. She is also unnerved by his actions.

Jin siblings love is my favorite. So sweet and so endearing. They both are the entire family to each other. They play the role of father, mother sibling to the other. And they keep it so refreshing.

I will talk more after episode 4 recap.

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Also, how electric was that rain scene. Before going to buy the umbrella and after.
I like how rain is being used in this drama. It’s almost like a character.
And it’s so real, not the rain you see in other dramas. Where it’s forced to couple can share an umbrella or kiss or get under a tree. The rain here is plain rain. It’s inconvenient, it’s messy etc. LOVE it.

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Oh yes! That entire scene with rain was well done! I loved every moment of it! And you are right, they are not romanticizing rain, at least not now.

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It's the rawness and the earthiness of the whole scene. I felt that the scene was very sensual: the wetness, the rain lashing, their proximity to each other, the droplets rolling off his scar, and the fury in his eyes...because he was so angry with her, the way he snatched the cardboard and just threw it, and she has no shelter left, and he just lets her stand there in the rain, punishing her, it showed how mad he was with her, and how he wanted to get back at her, for refusing his offer. It shows hiw dangerous he is, with a volatile temper that erupts, maybe it erupted before and he pushed the girl off the ledge, or persuaded her to jump?

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I think his temper or emotions flare up when it comes to her. He even confessed to it.
I think this is new to him as well. And he is getting pissed at himself.

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I really dislike Seung-ah's mom. She gives me some chills. I like Seung-ah, but the last ep gave me some pause about her. Maybe because she is just finding her independence she seemed really young all of a sudden.

I am so curious about MY's interest in Jin-kang. How much is real and how much was pre planned? Did he know the siblings from before was the meet up at the party pure coincidence?

Anyway I'm enjoying this one ,just have to be careful on the fan wall.

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The mom and the boyfriend are the most irritating characters in this show.

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Cannot stand her mom. Reminds me a lot of the mom in "Let me introduce her", who I also hated more than any other character in the drama - willingly feeding daughters to sharks.

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I had very strong negative feelings about Seung-ah at the beginning, and then I was starting to warm up to her. But this week's episodes ruined my perception of her again. I hope MY can realize his feelings? for JK soon so he can drop SA.

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It seems like I change my views on this show about every 10 minutes, especially as to who are the good/bad guys. I don't think Moo Young is the killer, but for sure knows something he is not telling. For now placing him in the 50/50 good/bad category. As for Jin-kook, I cannot help but think that he has been a terrible cop for years - just paper pushing until he can retire. He seems to spend more time drinking and BS'ing than actual cop things. But the rest of the cops don't impress me much either.

So unlike most k-dramas even after the 3rd episode I still cannot place any of the characters into any convenient slots. Maybe there are none.

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Maybe that's the point. Maybe humans just can't be categorized into good and bad and grey is the way to be. And maybe the show is trying to depict that. I really wouldn't put anyone in the "good" category in this show.

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Thank you for the recap @teriyaki

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This is turning out so much better than I expected. Looking back at the scenes that have passed versus the original version, I like this writer’s script a lot more. I see clearer logic in the characters, as characters AND as humans. Yes the Japanese version had a very interesting script but some smaller things just didn’t make sense to me, even after I finished and rewatch it again. Maybe it’s a cultural difference?

Like, I couldn’t understand why the rich girl forgave Ryo for lying about his friend’s need for money. Ryo admitted lying to her, jumped into the river to pickup the money, then suddenly they are cuttling in towels and the girl believes he won’t lie again. I’m like 🤯. First, where did the towels come from? Second, is this girl really that gullible? In the Korean version MooYoung continued lying, stopped her from proving anything by distracting her, made the girl second guess herself, made her feel guilty for suspecting his intentions, thus deeps her trust in him. I feel this writer made everything more reasonable from the viewer’s perspective.

There’s also the elimination of Ryo’s sexual fixation. MooYoung is still cold and manipulative, but they took away his perviness. He did not instigate SeungAh. She clearly wanted to give herself away to free herself from the fiancé. MooYoung plays a more passive but welcoming role in this sexual relationship. Right now he doesn’t seem to have sexual relations with the crazy tattoo girl, which deviates from the original completely.

I think the changes not only makes MooYoung more palatable, it also makes the women more sensible (a bit), because I really hated how the women were completely blinded by looks in the original — yes we can be, but not to that degree. MooYoung shows his fake, good, considerate side to appeal women. One can say he’s less of a monster but he is arguably more dangerous because he makes them comfortably attached.

I really liked the detective and his colleague in the original and I’m liking is here. This cast is so compatible I’m begging to see them in another drama already.

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ooh I've been wondering how similar or different this version is from the original, so thanks for sharing that!

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Yes, that was very interesting. Keep sharing the comparisons as we go along. I haven't watched the Japanese version but am very curious about it.

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That scene at the car where Seung Ah caught Moo Young lying about his friend's tuition fee problem is brilliantly written.
Showing us his cleverness and how it effectively aid to his manipulation.
Seung Ah falls completely under his spell right after that moment.

After that, I see Moo Young's every words and actions as all part of his game. But interestingly, everytime he is with Jin Kang, I can feel part of his wall is slowly breaking down. (Seo. In Guk is soo good at this)

Thanks btw for the interesting and spoiler free comparisons.
The difference on how the women are written intrigues me the most- I wanted to know more in the upcoming eps..

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I wrote a bit more comparison on SeungAh and the original... then my phone died🤦🏻‍♀️. Save it for next recap. Not going to write much comparing the lead female because I acknowledge I’m firmly biased against the original and I like JinKang and Somin far too much more to give an objective opinion.

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One can say he’s less of a monster but he is arguably more dangerous because he makes them comfortably attached.

Agreed with this. That sense of false security that he so effortlessly exudes is what makes him so dangerous. He can so easily make other people (especially women) drop their guard around him.

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I feel that they should have kept the sexual dimension of the original because that is what made it so dark..that these people were all toys to Ryo and his manipulations of them were all calculated (i.e. how he subtly convinced Miwa to sleep with him because her idiot fiance had tried to push his dignity etc).

I am loving the show but I am underwhelmed by the actress who plays Yuki. Yuki is such an essential, dark and sad character in the original - so mysterious. IDK if its the character or teh actress itself that the darkness and pathos of Yuki is not coming forward.

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If you say Yuki is dark and sad then I REALLY don’t know what to think of that character anymore. I didn’t find her dark at all, just a little introverted. Frankly that actress kept me from liking the original. I’m happy with JinKang and the way she contrasts MooYoung despite both orphaned at a very young age. With such a caring older brother don’t see why the girl must grow up dark and broken.

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I think @Slvr is talking about the Yoo Ri character, who was Yuki in the Japanese version. Jin Kang character was named Yuko in Japanese version. It was confusing in J version because of the similar names.

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Oh~ that makes a lot more sense. I didn’t watch with English subs so the romanized names are all confusing to me. 😅

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Thanks @teriyaki for the insightful review.

She’s using Moo-young to cut ties with them and to transition from an imprisoned girl to an independent woman. Eventually, what makes Moo-young so appealing will spell doom for his relationship with Seung-ah—he really doesn’t want anything from her, or any other woman for that matter. At least not until he met Jin-kang, and that makes Jin-kook even more of a threat going forward.

I agree with you. Seung Ah is using Moo Young. Although she really does have a crush on him, she is still treating him as a means to escape, to 'grow up' and prove herself.

I hated how her mother is totally controlling, to the point of choosing the pink dress (to enhance the sweet, little girl look) and determining her make-up and hair at the salon. Seung Ah's rebellion was to be expected, however it was childish and short-sighted. Without properly knowing Moo Young, she's thrown herself into his arms and under his power, and he could be a killer or an accomplice to one, for all she knows.

It's intriguing that Jin Kang, Jin Gook and Moo Young must have been together sometime in the distant past to have the vibes of familiarity and unease passing through them in each other's presence, - not to mention similar burn scars - but the siblings can't remember. Getting to the root of that past encounter would explain quite a bit about Moo Young's interest in both Jin Kang and Jin Gook, and why he baited Jin Gook about having killed a person.

I face palm at Jin Gook's faux pas with the long suffering So Jung. A woman who puts up with his stinginess and verbal missteps must like him very much!

Deliciously chilling and funny by turns, and quite compelling.

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Seung-ah's actions show that she really isn't mature or different enough to have true meaning behind her rebellion against the rich life. At the core of it, she just doesn't want to be controlled anymore, which I agree is understandable, but it also makes her a terrible match for Moo-young.

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I love how Moo Young is very honest and manipulative in the same time. But I don't think he's someone who is happy by making people hurt. But he could be different with Jin Kook, who made something in the past that hurt Moo Young.

I love the scene of the shop because he clearly showed that Ji Kang had a impact on him. He's flustered by her. It's new for him.

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I’ve uploaded 5 chapters of my fanfic, A Hundred Million Stars Falling From The Sky, told from Jin kang’s pov. Chapter 6 is coming up soon.

Check it out here.

https://www.asianfanfics.com/story/view/1371103/a-hundred-million-stars-falling-from-the-sky-mystery-romance-thriller

The best scenes of this episode:

1. The white tanktop scene: It reveals the biceps in all their glory. Oh, yeah the scar. That, too. The suds-and scar scene took my breath away last week, the white tanktop made my jaw drop. What’s next, I wonder?

2. Moo young sleeps with Seung ah...shocker!! I get this guy, he’s doing it to help her. I think he started a relationship with her to help her find the strength to end the coming marriage to Woo sang, and he sleeps with her to make it impossible for the marriage to take place. I’m not sure how he knows that Woo sang wants her to stay a virgin bride, though.

3. He doesn’t seem to be interested in Seung ah at all, the kisses are so meh, he is interested in Jin kang, though. He doesn’t have that bored look in his eyes when he looks at her.

4. I think that he moved to the neighbourhood to get revenge on Jin kook, to haunt him for the sins of the past, and I think that he knows who Jin kang is, and he’s known from the start. Maybe he started a relationship with Seung ah to get close to Jin kang, but starts falling for her.

5. Was Jin kang an orphan, too and raised in the same orphanage as Moo young? It’s significant that Hee jun was an orphan too, and grew up with Moo young in the same orphanage.

6. Does Jin kang know that Jin kook is not her real brother? Is she keeping secrets of her own? Why did she keep the scar in middle school? Did she overhear Jin kook saying something, maybe that he’s not her real brother, at the clinic? Does she remember her past, but has pretended to forget it?

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I just uploaded Chapter 6 The White Tanktop. Enjoy. 😊

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I just so think that the whole rainy scene let them be closer. They talked intensely with so much underneath the meanings. I love it.

This episode is really complex. So much things are going on but they handled it so well.

I really want my kdrama friends watch this but I don't want them to experiemce the agony of waiting (they're more on binge watchers). The agony might be sweet for me but most of my friends will just drop the drama because they cannot binge watch this. Might as well recommend this wonderful drama after all the episodes are aired.

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Thank you for the nice recap, TeriYaki ^^

Finally I find another crack after My Ahjusshi. By crack I mean one that I actually watch for every single precious scene and wait painfully for the next ep to come.

SIG is delightful in this. Charming, devilish, enigmatic, and cold. Not to mention unpredictable. And yes, all of his scenes with JSM/Yoo Jin Kang are electric. Soo good.

Still waiting and enjoying where the story is bringing us viewers tho, the show keeps bringing new dynamic and elements in every ep, yet retaining the core of its puzzle namely KMY and his relations with ppl around him, YJK in particular.

In addition, Park Sung Woong/Yoo Jin Koo is hilarious yet showing many facades already in this!

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I only hope that this kdrama will be less dark than the JD one.. love to see In Gook and So Min's chemistry..

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Honestly, this drama is so intriguing! You don't know what to expect. And I like that. It is not predictable. Except maybe for those who watched the original version in Japanese. Please no spoilers.

I may watch it because although it is heavy, it is somehow easy to watch (maybe because I am not that invested yet). And it is funny because it is dark, but not so dark. And it makes me curious but not crazily curious, at least not yet.
What I feel kind of sorry is that it doesn't have so much good humour, but I suppose it doesn't have to, this is not a comedy. But anyways...

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It feels like the evidence is pointing towards the tattoo girl (Yoo-ri) as the murderer, and as others have suggested, MY as the one who cleaned/covered up. The emphasis on MY saying "I'm looking at you" to YR while in the police station and then saying that he was looking at the killer... the way that their conversation in the cafe sounded like YR asking MY to help her figure out her alibi... Seems to fit with the fact that YR apparently used to be friends with the girl, and is clearly unstable.

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Seo In Gook in a tank top....I died and came back..

That is all. Uhm, I guess I should add a substantial contribution, so....yeah, the show is mysterious...and important...and...yeah...I'll see myself out.

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Seo In Gook as Moo Young is such an enigma, just like Kimura Takuya as Katase Ryo was. His despicable charm is irresistible.

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