I was yelling at my TV the entire time because I was right about everything. In addition to the nightmares and insomnia, Ah Jin is now having violent outbursts and lapses in memory. Do Hyuk is also messing with her film by throwing his weight around as an investor. He instructs the director to include a scene where she murders a man in a rooftop apartment with a…bat. Yikes! Ah Jin unravels, and for once not even Jun Seo or Jae Oh can save her.
YES to Ah Jin catching on to the fact that Do Hyuk sabotaging her life
He’s scarier than Ah Jin! The drama hasn’t specified that he’s drugging her tea, but he definitely is, so she’s not even safe in her own home. There’s one incident when Ah Jin splashes a housekeeper with scalding tea, then sweeps the food they were putting out onto the floor. She also breaks into the forbidden study and sees pictures of Do Hyuk’s ex-wife. The fragmented scenes are filmed at wonky angles to make you feel what Ah Jin is feeling, but I’m not sure I trust them. I wonder if the head housekeeper made the mess and just planted the story in Ah Jin’s mind. Although, we do know Ah Jin actually smashes a mirror with her own hand later on.
Fortunately, Ah Jin calls Jae Oh in one of her drug-induced stupors saying Do Hyuk is doing something to her. Jae Oh finds her on set, reminds her of the call since she forgot, and tells her everything. He tells her Do Hyuk’s ex-wife is in a psyche unit at Haemil Hospital, which Do Hyuk recently acquired. And Shim Sung Hee was sent there too after bragging to people she met Do Hyuk and would be coming into some money before she attacked Ah Jin.
Oh man, it’s darker than I thought. Do Hyuk totally paid Sung Hee to stab Ah Jin. I was wondering why security was so lax around the house. Ah Jin has a mini meltdown after hearing everything because she knows if she divorces him, she’ll lose everything.
YES to Do Hyuk revealing his true nature
Once Ah Jin finds out it was Do Hyuk’s company who pressured the director of her film to add a rooftop murder scene with a baseball bat, she confronts him at his favorite swimming pool. He admits everything, including trying to “break” his ex-wife, and threatens Ah Jin with everything she’s worked for if she doesn’t behave. He pushes her in the pool, and calls Jun Seo to come and get her (diabolical).
Ah Jin freaks out because she’s caught in Do Hyuk’s web. It’s understandable, but I’ve been a little frustrated because I don’t think the writing for Ah Jin’s character has been consistent these past few episodes. Her marriage to Do Hyuk was rushed and she didn’t properly question what he’d want in return for helping her. I mean, when she asked he basically said he didn’t like seeing people like her (the less fortunate) struggle. I have a hard time believing that answer would’ve been enough for her to marry him. Ah Jin usually has contingency plans like Batman, and she researched In Gang through his grandmother’s journal before proceeding with dating him. It’s really strange she’d go into a marriage with a man she doesn’t know with no information. That’s the only problem with the writing I have so far.
YES to Ah Jin putting those acting skills to work and manipulating Do Hyuk back
Finally, after waiting for two episodes, Ah Jin’s manipulative streak is back. She has dinner with Do Hyuk the day after their confrontation, but pretends she doesn’t remember it. Do Hyuk is confused and doesn’t know if she’s playing him, and even orders one of his henchmen to get rid of Jae Oh over the phone to get a rise out of Ah Jin. But she plays dumb and enjoys her food.
I’m glad she’s back. If there’s any guy Ah Jin should be manipulating, it’s Do Hyuk. I’m ready for the sociopath vs sociopath Battle Royale.
NO to Jae Oh getting thrown off that building
This dude has had too many near-death experiences in the past two episodes. First having to jump out of an exploding building then being thrown off a roof? Do Hyuk’s thugs are certainly busy. But I think Jae Oh set up a camera to catch everything, which is why he lured them to that building. I don’t know how he’s going to link the men to Do Hyuk, but I hope it works!
Oh, and he better not actually be dead.
Final Thoughts
This was a thrilling episode, but I’m sad another one of my predictions came true. Twelve episodes was indeed too short for Dear X. And this is coming from someone who usually prefers the ten or twelve-episode drama format. If Dear X had sixteen episodes, Ah Jin and Do Hyuk’s relationship wouldn’t have felt so rushed, and we could better explore their dynamic since neither are neurotypical. I also think it would have been interesting for the show to actually have Jae Oh try and speak to his brother. I understand that his whole world basically revolves around Ah Jin, but because he doesn’t have anything going on outside of her—not even a hobby—he ended up feeling like a supporting character instead of a main character. In Gang felt more like a main character than him because we got to know his ex (Re Na) and his grandmother. We even got a peek into the world of the ex-idol group member he felt guilt toward. From a writing standpoint, it’s advantageous to show a character’s relationship with multiple people, even if the relationships aren’t good. I just wish we got more of that with Jae Oh.
Also, with one episode left, I don’t think Jun Seo’s character arc will get a satisfying conclusion. It’s kind of been stagnant for a while with the most notable thing being his unlikely friendship with Re Na. I thought him finding out he was an illegitimate heir would spark something substantial, but he just goes back to his mom. I’m interested in seeing how the drama will end, but I’m afraid it won’t stick the landing. All I can say is: I hope I’m wrong.
More Dear X Posts
- REVIEW: DEAR X EPISODE 10
- REVIEW: DEAR X EPISODE 9
- REVIEW: DEAR X EPISODE 8
- REVIEW: DEAR X EPISODE 7
- REVIEW: DEAR X EPISODE 6
- REVIEW: DEAR X EPISODE 5
- REVIEW: DEAR X EPISODE 4
- REVIEW: DEAR X EPISODE 3
- REVIEW: DEAR X EPISODE 1 & 2
