Summary
Memories of the Alhambra episode 11 provides multiple breakthroughs in the story and is the strongest instalment in the series so far.
This recap of Memories of the Alhambra Season 1, Episode 11, contains spoilers. You can check out our thoughts on the previous episode by clicking these words.
After weeks of game playing, business problems, and flirting with a potential relationship, Yoo Jin-woo (Hyun Bin) has hit a crossroad where everything has fallen beside him. Memories of the Alhambra episode 11 represented a broken man beaten, with his circle of influence diminishing as his circumstances worsen. His secretary is dead after playing the game with him in Granada, and everyone is highly suspicious that his death was linked with him.
Remember the light in the last episode? Well, that was the dungeon security men shining lights to find the businessman. They were called by Jung Hee-joo (Shin-Hye Park) as she was worried he might die in the game (and in real life). The shining lights for some reason paused the game, meaning he managed to prevent death.
Memories of the Alhambra episode 11 sees Yoo Jin-woo’s company finally losing their patience, with his closest acquaintance demanding the developers turn off the servers. Yoo Jin-woo is dismayed at this decision, returns to Korea and demands that they turn the server back on so he can complete the quest and find Jung Se-joo (Chan-Yeol Park). His orders fail because his power of CEO is now redundant, with everyone in the company feeling that he is delusional.
Mr Cha, the father of Cha Hyung-seok (Park Hoon) and the chairperson of the board slaps Yoo Jin-woo, claiming that he did this to himself and that he will no longer be CEO. The pivotal moment of episode 11 occurred, with the board of the company all voting to remove Yoo Jin-woo as CEO.
Memories of the Alhambra episode 11 provides a breakthrough with Jung Hee-joo, who has loyally chased Yoo Jin-woo since the earlier episodes. She decided to find her somewhat depressed love interest on her birthday and persisted that she joins him for a meal.
The more I think about Yoo Jin-woo as a character, he is incredibly narcissistic and emotionally abusive. Every time Jung Hee-joo tries to deepen her connection with him, he psychologically manipulates the situation to make her feel removed from the conversation. It doesn’t work in this episode though, as Jung Hee-joo’s persistence pays off, and they go out on an unofficial date.
The “couple” then make their way home, but then Yoo Jin-woo gets a damning call from his friend and now CEO of the company, explaining that he should leave Japan because Mr. Cha has reopened the investigation on the death of his son. At that moment, he confesses to Jung Hee-joo that his entire family and friends have abandoned him and nobody believes him. He asks her if she believes him and says there is a way she can prove it, thus proving further his emotionally abusive behavior by encouraging her to kiss him to show her trust.
Memories of the Alhambra episode 11 sees the pair kiss, making us wonder if they will now make a team to figure out the video game’s issue and find the elusive game programmer after all. This was an incredibly well-written episode, with some moments to savor, especially between Yoo Jin-woo and Jung Hee-joo.
