Idol I: Episode 8 {Watch Party Wednesday #6-KD}
Hello, Internet, and good mornight to you all!
My name is Taffryne, shoppekeeper of Midnight on Memory Lane, and it is my absolute delight to welcome you to the KD-type post for this week's gathering of Watch Party Wednesday!
'Tis a pleasure, 'tis a pleasure indeed.
As the title of this post says, we're going to be talking about the eigth episode of the K-drama, Idol I.
I humbly present my thoughts for your enjoyment and consideration. Accordingly, please mind that there will be spoilers ahead!
MyDramaList Link: click here!
Disclaimer: I apologize if there are any crucial cultural notes or nuances that I misunderstand or fail to recognize. I, unfortunately, must trust the accuracy of the translated subtitles to accurately represent the story and characters.
Trigger Warnings: Discussions of Suicide, Implications of Suicidal Intentions, Emotional Conversations, Judicial Corruption, Discussions of Trauma
Episode 8
Recollection
- Jae-hee's condition could put his brain and functions at risk if it doesn't kill him
- A suicide note was found in Jae-hee's car confessing to the murder, but it's suspicious because he tried to call Se-na and left her a message saying he needed help before it cuts off
- Jae-hee's message says that he heard Woo-seong's phone from the garden the night of the murder
- Flashback to Se-na and Mr. Informant where Se-na tells Mr. Informant he should stop stealing and live a better life for the sake of his loved ones
- Mr. Informant thinks Se-na should stop investigating the case because she's not La-ik's lawyer and needs to let go of the past (calling back to what she told him)
- Mr. Corruption is upset that his son didn't force the case to benefit his father's personal interests (I hate this man so much)
- La-ik ends up back in Se-na's house after crying himself to passing out in the rain outside (Se-n a fell asleep while taking care that he didn't get sick)
- La-ik and Se-na don't think that Jae-hee is the killer, so they're now investigating together and find many-a suspicious things (car wasn't going fast enough, him staying at a hotel by the music festival they first debuted at...)
- Mr. Prosecutor is dealing with the professional and reputational fallout of his biased investigation being exposed for being a biased investigation
- Mr. CEO thinks that this is now the perfect opportunity for La-ik to have a musical comeback (???)
- La-ik shows Se-na their secret wishing place from when they first debuted (Jae-hee went back before his car was found)
- Toxicology shows that Jae-hee after the crash and La-ik in the morning had the same knock-out drug in their systems which would have slowly impaired their movement and tranquilized them
- La-ik tells Se-na he found the red hat from way long before and he confides in her about that day (I still hate his mom)
- Se-na confides in La-ik about the context of her parents death and how the song La-ik sang to her that day helped her get through it
- Apparently Jae-hee and the CEO had many phone call fights while Jae-hee was laying low in the hotel (thank you, lovely hotel staff person)
- Se-na gets La-ik up to speed about Woo-seong being the one to betray the company over La-ik getting an external solo contract
- Apparently, again, the CEO has some secret about Woo-seong that will really hurt La-ik and that's why he's being so shady
AND THEN THE EPISODE JUST ENDS THERE!!! RIGHT THERE!!! THE BIG WHOLE "are you sure you want to know" AND THEN THEY MAKE US WAIT! Or, well, okay, technically, I am the one making us wait because the whole series has already aired, but you know what I mean! What the hell was up with Woo-seong??? What is this secret? Were he and Hye-joo having an affair? Did he want to leave the Gold Boys? Does he have a secret kid somewhere? Was he dying already? AAAAGGHHHH.
Mr. CEO...I HAD FAITH IN YOU?!?! WHAT DO YOU MEAN THIS IS THE PERFECT TIME FOR A COMEBACK!?!? THE MAN HAS SO MUCH SHIT ON HIS PLATE AND WANTS NOTHING TO DO WITH YOU!!! Disrespectfully, go away. You don't get to be nostalgic over the Gold Boys and act like you care about La-ik when any true affection you have for him is corrupted by your greed for his talent and popularity. ALSO WHY NOW ARE WE BACK TO YOU BEING A CARING PERSON??? Mr. CEO, I get that real-life humans are complicated, fickle beasts, but...can you PLEASE pick a side??? I keep getting whiplash and I just want to know what your deal isssss...
Speaking of awful people, I wish I knew how to play goh so I could understand the symbolism when Mr. Prosecutor is talking to Mr. Corruption. I still hate that man so much so. What a vile human being. "You didn't force your hand and give me a political connection because you dared to have a hint of morality" Ugh. I feel no pity towards Mr. Prosecutor because you reap what you sow. Start your redemption arc. Quickly.
Jae-hee...look, you're a bit of an asshole, but I respect a sentimental person. It was really sweet of you to go back and write a new wish on the old one. I hope you pull through. I think you and La-ik deserve a chance to repair your relationship. Young-bin too. Has anyone checked on Young-bin in the midst of all of this???
Further, I humbly admit that I cried during La-ik and Se-na's heart-to-heart at the park/festival/venue place. It vulnerable and honest and just...so, so sweet. They haven't explicitly clarified that they've forgiven each other and Se-na hasn't explicitly apologized, but I think those two have an understanding if nothing else. They're working together. They're rebuilding that trust. I mean, they got pretty dang close before the reveal, so it's not unrealistic to show them bouncing back into their prior dynamic. If anything, the confiding here was probably their apology and reinstatement of trust in each other. They realized they both played massive parts in how they got to now and are honest about it. That's good!
I do kinda hope that they address things properly, though. At least just to clear the air and fully set the record straight. But I'll live if they don't.
As for the murder and now attempted-murder (I suppose), I STILL HAVE TOO MANY QUESTIONS??? How did they get drugged? Did Jae-hee knowingly get drugged? Who the heck was he afraid of? Was it Hye-joo? Did Hye-joo do this to try and force La-ik back to her? Is that what the twist is? I don't think it's the CEO. It doesn't make monetary sense for him to pull this stunt. WHY DID WOO-SEONG NEED TO DIE??? WHO DECIDED THAT HE DID???
Episode 9 Preview
AAAAA!?!?! WHAT's THE SECRET? ARE LA-IK AND MR. INFORMANT GONNA START FIGHTING OVER SE-NA? HYE-JOO, OH. MY. GOD. WHY CAN'T YOU STOP???
Thanks for Reading!
I hope you've been able to watch and enjoy the story for yourself! If you haven't, that's okay too! My thoughts are here to keep you updated and entertained in the meantime.
This caps off this week's gathering for Watch Party Wednesday, so off into the nighttime we go in preparation for tomorrow!
I hope you'll come back for tomorrow's Tokusatsu Thursday! We'll be talking about the premier episode of Kamen Rider MY-TH!!!
May we meet again at Midnight!