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Kairos: Episodes 9-10 Open Thread

This show is so good, y’all. Once again, it takes us on a rollercoaster of emotions as our protagonists face new challenges in each timeline, cut off from their nightly communication. Meanwhile, the villains are beginning to get a clue, not only about Seo-jin and Ae-ri’s hidden connection, but about each other—and it’s too early to tell if that spells disaster or defeat for our heroes.

 
EPISODES 9-10 WEECAP

Turns out Seo-jin dropped charges against Ae-ri on Chairman Yoo’s orders. He wants Seo-jin to lead a new project on the site of the collapse nineteen years ago. It’s clear that Chairman Yoo is using Seo-jin’s status as a victim of that tragedy to shield the company from criticism.

Seo-jin and Ae-ri each find out from a survivor who was close to both their fathers that this wasn’t a simple accident, and Yoojoong Construction definitely covered that up and deflected the blame to their partner company. Let’s hope the insurance Ae-ri’s mom left with Kim Jin-ho is enough to protect her from the chairman now that he’s found her.

But the real nail-biting development in these episodes is Future Do-kyun figuring out the truth behind Ae-ri’s connection with Seo-jin, and trying to use it to manipulate Ae-ri into prevent the accident that will kill Hyun-chae and Da-bin and put Seo-jin into a coma.

It’s pretty thrilling to see how Ae-ri and Best Sidekick Gun-wook deduce that Do-kyun’s on the other end of the phone, and make him reveal himself by feeding him false information in the present. (I was disappointed with Ae-ri’s decisions last week, but this week she had me cheering, because we got both cleverness and character development, without losing the essence of who she is.)

Meanwhile, Future Do-kyun realizes that Hyun-chae engineered the accident that killed her in order to kill Seo-jin, bribing Taek-kyu away from Chairman Yoo. After losing Hyun-chae and realizing that she was hiding a whole side murder plot from him, Do-kyun is losing his cool and beginning to slip.

Even in the present, with Seo-jin’s change in behavior, Kim Jin-ho backing out of the deal as a result, and the connection he hasn’t quite figured out between Ae-ri and Seo-jin, Do-kyun’s becoming flustered and revealing information that he shouldn’t. It’s satisfying to see that cool facade finally crack a little. It’s about time our heroes gained a new advantage instead of constantly reacting to things that have already happened (…are already going to happen? You know what I’m saying).

Now that Future Seo-jin’s awake, I’m excited to see him working with Ae-ri again. Their partnership was glaringly absent this week. The show is as excellent as ever, but the lack of that rapport only underlined how important it is to both of them, and how much it adds to the drama. Knowing the fathers they both lost to Yoojoong Construction’s malevolent greed were friends will only strengthen their partnership.

I’m glad to see that Present Seo-jin has also been shaken enough by the experience of nearly losing his daughter to have reevaluated his life a bit, although understandably not as much as he would have if the kidnapping plot had been successful. I was worried when he assumed that his double memories were an exacerbation of his PTSD, and increased his intake of psychotropic drugs, but I’m glad he’s finally realized that he’s not experiencing delusions after all—although it’s given Hyun-chae an additional weapon to use against him.

It was pretty heartbreaking to see Seo-jin using this as the “fresh start” with his family he’d so earnestly promised Ae-ri in that alternate version of events where he’d thought them lost forever. He’s going to have to realize, again, that he can’t salvage this little domestic unit after all, and it’s probably going to be just as painful to watch each time. But given the trauma he still carries due to his father’s death while he was under the rubble—which now looks a lot like murder—I’m hoping that he won’t have to experience any more bereavements, fake or real.

Kairos keeps managing to throw just enough of a wrench into things that every week the protagonists are left on the edge of a cliff, and it’s exhilarating each time. It’s an interesting choice to go from showing us the same day one month apart, to now having an additional day’s gap, heightening the tension and making the story move more quickly. And now that each of the villains and their motivations have become clear to us and to each other, it should be highly entertaining to see how they each try to take out Ae-ri and Seo-jin while trying to trip each other up and not be stymied in return. I don’t know that I’ve seen a show before with this many satisfying villains, executed this seamlessly. I’ll just be waiting here, breathless, until next Monday.

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if only my brain would stop spinning i'd be able to follow this show in one take.... *brain still swirling*

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Rollercoaster. Perfect definition! After episode 9 finished I thought DoKyun may be AeRi new sidekick, that he would openly ask her to help him prevent the accident, but then he proved to me he doesn’t deserve that kind of redemption arch when he asked met to kill Taek Guy. Hey, we all know SeoJin would NEVER had asked AeRi such a thing. Boh to you, Do kyun.

Also, for a minute I thought HyunChae was actually moved by SeoJin change of behaviour. She cares her way for her daughter, and seeing sweet DaBin spending time with her dad may have softened her. She was even happy to go on a family trip. I was buying her change of mind until she asked to plan their new family trip and I realised it was her happy to have found the perfect day to kill her husband. Ooopppps!

So CEO is our main baddie. The one who is behind mum being on the run, the one who profited from the collapse by blaming others, the one who has fooled SeoJin and probably the one behind his dad’s death. Wow. That’s much more evilness that I had thought. The reveal that Seojin’s dad may have not committed suicide it’s the one thing that will trigger SeoJin into looking into the investigation of the collapse and learn the truth.

I love SeoJin changing into the version we already knew and happy that he has DaBin by his side this time.

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I totally agree with you, surprise, lol. That being said I think she may end up caring about him by the day of the accident, hence why she is still in the car. Unless, unless she managed to fake her death again.

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We’ve already seen her dead body 😱

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I know, that is why why I put unless twice, because we have seen her dead body, maybe. Lol. That one is a reach, but who knows.

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At this point I think she could have bribed the forensics to make her look she's dead. It sounds so much like her!

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I too thought Hyun-chae seemed moved when Seo-jin brought home the porridge and when he was taking selfies with Da-bin but apparently not moved enough to stop planning his murder.

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Yeah, she definitely had a moment when she seemed to soften during the camping trip - I wondered if she was comparing Seo-jin to her own father and if she might be moved to change her plan. I do have a hunch that may be why she ended up staying in the car during the accident. Maybe she had a change of heart at the last minute and tried to prevent it, but couldn't.

I just love how complex all the character motivations are in this drama, and how they keep changing to keep up with events. So good.

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I kept rewatching episodes 8-14 to find the reason why she stayed in the car. Thank you for your input! I feel much more at ease. I was so happy how SJ was showing so much affection to HC and Dan Bin. I hate how it was short-lived. What if SeoJin has done this from the start. I think things would have been different. :(

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I think there is a serious misunderstanding here. She didn't stay in the car. TG didn't give her the time to get out. Her plan was to suggest to SJ to park the car beside the road and take a nap, then get out of the car after he is asleep. But the CEO wanted both of them dead so on his order TG didn't wait for her to get out and just hit them while moving.

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> It’s an interesting choice to go from showing us the same day one month apart, to now having an additional day’s gap

The additional day in October is because September only has 30 days unlike August which has 31 days. I applaud the attention to detail in the drama and appreciate the time stamps + sound effects when the time change happens + the different colours for each timeline 👏🏻.

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Oh wow, I didn't even realize this! So it's still happening a month apart. Thanks for pointing this out, @katakwasabi!

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Hehe. Thanks to someone on twitter for pointing it out. I didn't realize it at first too 😊.

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I had hard time to follow the timeline in these episodes with SeoJin.

Sometimes, I found him pretty naive. Like the past accident, he knows the world of construction and he never doubted about the CEO? He stayed 31 days under and he never talked about it with other people? He was angry against his father but the people who let the accident happened?

Like his wife, she showed him a part of her real personality and he didn't wonder if she lied about other things than her diploma.

I'm happy that AeRi didn't jump on the chance to kill Taek Kyu :p

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I’m willing to look aside, but one of the biggest plot holes to me is SeoJin surviving 31 days is not even possible, even if he had water. I’be read somewhere that a victim was found on a collapse after 17 days, but he had access to water and some food.
And yes, I was also really shocked to learn that HyunChae doesn’t know about the PSTD desorden her husband had, although a part of me can understand. In a world where mental health is not a priority and mental issues are hidden as something bad, I get SeoJin just hid his problems specially considering he didn’t have any family to support him.
We lived a certain situation like this in my family, in which someone had a bipolar disorder and was receive in treatment for it and her husband didn’t know anything until she was pregnant, and it was like 8 years after they were together..:

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I find it understandable that he doesn't talk about the incident or didn't dig deep about it because he was still young when it happened. Grandpa was behind him from that point, supported his education, luckily Seojin was a smart kid even before the collapse, he got his Uni offer letter while he was under the rubble. He entered the company under special admission (this is shown in the drama, GW googled Seojin and this is one of the results that came out. Eagle eye knetz noticed this 😂). My bet is grandpa saw potential in Seojin, he's the perfect candidate that is smart and has a victim background. Grandpa nutured him for this exact moment: to redo the Taejung Project.

About dad-Seojin....He was a teen when the incident happened. He fought for 31 days under the rubble, miraculously survived...and then he learns that his dad 'killed' himself instead of waiting or fighting for him? This is what I picked up from Seojin's conversation with JinHo: He said all this time he was angry dad left him alone, but as he grew older and has his own child...he can slightly understand how his dad felt at that time. The pain is unbearable...and he see's dad from a different perspective, instead of viewing dad as a son, he see's dad from the eyes of a dad too. The conversation with Jinho was one of my favourite moments of ep 9, it was understated but meaningful.

I found it weird when HC said Seojin was embarassed with his dad during their fight because SJ-dad were so happy and warm before going to work that day. I don't think he's embarassed or hated dad because of his background...it was his dad 'giving up' that made Seojin resent him.

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I understand why he resented his dad but personaly, I would be more angry against the fact the building collapsed in the first place.

When he said his father commited suicide, I was sure it wasn't a suicide. The father would have waited for the corpse at least. A fall from a building is convenient.

It would be interesting to see how the CEO took SJ under his protection to bury any rebellion from him.

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We’ve already known this, corporate chairmans are never this nice, oh dramaland.

Hyun chae is more psycho than I thought, I’d have loved for her to be gone forever but poor Da bin did nothing wrong to be killed cruelly like that. I’ve said and I’ll keep saying it, I really want to know what is driving her to be this cruel to Seo Jin, he just can never satisfy/please her in any way.

Ae ri did well this week and I miss her conversations with future Seo Jin.

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I would like to see more backstory on Hyun chae - I suspect there is a lot more there than what we have seen. Maybe she was in a mental hospital??

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Another nail biting week :) Big applause to the creative team! It is easy to understand the time difference which makes it believable . Cinematography, music , actors everything is almost perfect ! Plus I also like that every single actor has a important piece in the darama . I could only complain about How Seo-jin has changed so much, so quick in episode 9 :) I honestly didn't believe at first. I was expecting something underneath but it was all for good indeed :)

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Anyone get Twilight vibes on the ending scene.. Lol.. he opened his eyes like Bella. Anywho, although there are some plot holes, I am LOVING this drama. I knew the wife was " OFF" from episode 1. She is so twisted.. ugghhh moving on. Yes, I want present and future Seo Jin and Ae Ri to team up and I CANNOT WAIT until Seo Jin rediscovers the truth about his wife. Am I the only one hoping for a romantic plotline with Ae Ri and Seo Jin? Is it just me?

Startup, Revenge, and Kairos are my must watch right now

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Aeri and Seojin is my ship!!! Hahaha

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I didn't want a romance at first, but I'm kinda shipping them now too!

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Hehe. Same here. I didn't want romance between them at first, I was hoping Seojin-HC family was happy....but after all that happened, I can't help but ship Aeri-Seojin. Plus they look good in one frame. Can't wait to see them meet up with memories intact~~

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I shipped them since episode 1.. lol

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I am not decided what I think about Hyun Chae. Her Lady Macbeth Act is executed to the dot, it is fitting how she uses and manipulates everyone around her to gain... her freedom? Money? Revenge on all the "men" aka her father who used and abused her? I think I would like to know more about her past to better understand her "evilness" at this point. Otherwise from a woman's point of view her characterization has too many outdates, cliché "evil woman" trades to me. I don't know if you get what I mean by this. I feel uncomfortable with this depiction at this point.

Seo Jin changing for his "latter self" is giving the show back what it lacked for the last 1 1/2 episodes, I missed him... it feels a bit "out of the blue" though, as mentioned by other commenters.

It would be refreshing to see Ae Ri catch a break from being a nervewreck all the time, too, but of course that is the result of her living in the past. Her two friends seem to be reduced to being the supporting sidekicks at this point, I am curious if their characters and backstories will become meaningful again in the future.

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Her two friends are not reduced to be supporting sidekicks only. They help her and are important to the plot. Considering they are supporting characters, they have lots of screentime and also have a developed storyline within the plot. I like them a lot. MBC shares lots of pictures for the 3 Musketeers and it gives depth to their characters. Some pics are also in the drama as props..Aeri's birthday celebration, their school pics, Geunwook army pic etc2.

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Yes, well, to me they feel a little bit like ducklings at this point, who follow Ae Ri around. Considering that she almost killed Gun Wook/ was thrown under the bus by Gun Wook in one of the early stages, that is quite a change. But that is just the feeling I get, of course, open to interpretation of all kinds :)

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I'm glad Ae Ri has realized how ridiculous she was being and calmed down. I am also glad Seo Jin seems to be learning from his flashbacks even if he doesn't understand them. As for Hyn Chae, why she doesn't just have her father murdered is a mystery. Why she doesn't just manipulate DoKyun into getting rid of him is baffling. Her father is her easiest obstacles to overcome, but they have made him her hardest, maybe some psychological issues. Hmmmm

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I think dad is an illusion. He's probably really dead and it's just in Hyunchae's head, especially after he entered the female toilet at a big venue. Seojin 'seeing' dad at the house could be a red herring.

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You can be right. It's SeoJin the only one who has interactions with him, we haven't seen any other character talking to him or even noticing him. It could be. I will pay special attention next week.

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Ooooooh you are right. We saw Seo Jin staring at something and assumed it was him, but maybe it was something else. Good theory.

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@kafiyah-bello I just saw your comment. We're on the same page!

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I missed Ae-ri and Seo-jin's phone calls this week.

I was so relieved Ae-ri realized that Seo-jin would not ask her to kill someone and came up with a smart plan to prove Do Kyun had the phone.

I knew Chairman Yoo was evil; He was just too nice. It was really chilling when he called the loss of Seo-jin's wife and daughter trivial.

This drama does such a good job flipping between the past and the present.

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Similar shows in the past have been so full of plot holes that it ruined the timelines. This show seems to keep track of all the twists and turns very well.

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What was Aeri’s mom ‘lifeline’? Did Seojin’s dad really committed suicide? The plot thickens...

Can’t wait for next week’s episodes!

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I'm excited to see emo Seojin10! Hahahaha

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I read an interesting comment after watching the latest episodes. The person who posted the comment had an interesting theory regarding Hyun-chae's father. This person suggests that he may be a figment of her imagination because he shows up at the oddest moments/places. This made me think that it may indeed be a possibility. Hyun-chae is not afraid to eliminate any person who threatens her plans so why is the father any different?

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Haha. Yes. I think dad is in her head. No one else interacted with dad except for HC.

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I agree with that, too.

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I'm so glad Do-kyun has ditched the glasses, his little move to show he means serious business was starting to get on my nerves.
I'm intrigued by Do-kyun what makes him so devoted/obsessive towards Hyunchae and whether this incident will make him turn on her.
I definitely missed seojin on screen this week, the episodes are hard to watch without his and Ae-ri's communication! Thank goodness he is awake!

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