2. Eun Ho: I’m still holding out hope that he’s not dead yet. The EMT people got there fast and I doubt JH aimed for his vitals so it’s possible he could have been saved. Plus, we’ve got 3 whole episodes left to fill so I’m getting the feeling that maybe the writer is intending to tackle the question of “can a murderer be redeemed?” which would bring us back full circle with Ji Hye’s story that set the stage for this whole series.

Also, EH’s “death” reminded me of the autopsy guy’s words in the beginning of the series that a person’s method of suicide reflects who they are as a person. Yong Tae killed himself in a messy and painful way because he was disgusted with himself for becoming a murderer, but EH chose to die by being killed by someone he trusted and loved like family. Just an episode before, when JH and EH resolved their misunderstanding about Boy A, JH made a point to give him advice as a hyung and not simply someone who’s been living longer than him, which is likely the first time EH had ever been treated like a real brother to someone. Then mere days later EH tells JH that he must catch the real culprit before all but turning himself in by providing the evidence that would incriminate him.

The one thing that abused children want the most and that EH had lost hope believing actually existed is love. I thought it was aptly symbolic that EH orchestrated his death so that his final moments would be where his mother abandoned him with his makeshift family crying out of genuine love for him despite knowing the extent of his terrible crimes. I think it was a really powerful image that after suffering the ultimate disappointment/shame by having the woman that is in some ways his replacement mother telling him point-blank he was a murderer, his last image was clearly seeing that she was nonetheless devastated about him being shot. Even at his worst, she still put the innocent and hurt child inside him first, as if he was her own son.