Mad for Each Other episode 2 recap – “People Who Make You Angry”

This recap of the Netflix k-drama series Mad for Each Other season 1, episode 2, “People Who Make You Angry,” contains major spoilers. 

Read the recap of the previous episode.

After the last episode, we learn that this will not be the simplest of romances — both characters have a lot of baggage!

Mad for Each Other episode 2 opens up with Noh Hwi-oh and Lee Min-kyung in the police station after their recent scuffle in the parking lot under their apartment building. Noh Hwi-oh wants charges against Min-kyung because she hit him with an umbrella. He keeps on reading out criminal acts against her. Min-kyung accuses Hwi-o of stalking her — she tries to tell the detective that he’s a sex offender and that he has an ankle monitor. Hwi-oh laughs and says the bracelet on his ankle is a key for the bathhouse. The detective tells them that they live next to each other, and they must apologize for the misunderstanding. Neither of them wants to apologize.

Noh Hwi-oh used to work for the police force

Suddenly, one of the cops recognizes Noh Hwi-oh — he wonders why he never returns their calls; they think he should visit U-jin. He isn’t meant to be at the police station until he is reinstated, so another colleague berates him. Noh Hwi-oh tells his colleagues that he has no purpose anymore since taking leave from the force, and he wonders what the point of living is. Around the corner, Min-kyung listens to their conversation. He’s told not to get into any further trouble until he’s reinstated.

Min-kyung tells Noh Hwi-oh that he has anger issues 

Outside the police station, Noh Hwi-oh offers Min-kyung his phone number and wonders how paranoid she is. He calls her completely crazy and states he wants her number so they can agree on the settlement money. Min-kyung tells Noh Hwi-oh that he only seems to have anger issues against women and animals, and she knows his fiance dumped him. Noh Hwi-oh gets angry, but his colleagues calm him down. As both characters make it home, they are at each other’s throats.

That fatal day for Noh Hwi-oh

When Noh Hwi-oh meets his psychiatrist, he admits he still gets angry. She tells him that anger is a natural emotion, but how it is expressed is important. Then, she asks him to talk about the significant day. Noh Hwi-oh recalls a rainy day; he was on an operation with the police. However, they didn’t get a warrant, so it is aborted; Noh Hwi-oh is frustrated, stating the criminal Yang will be delivering to his VIP customers. But Noh Hwi-oh and his team head into the bar anyway.

Noh Hwi-oh manages to find evidence after chasing the criminals, but then he’s hit over the head with a beer bottle. His colleague U-jin is then stabbed. Hwi-oh repeatedly punches the man that stabbed U-jin — he’s absolutely furious. As a result, he was arrested for beating a civilian. He was dismissed soon after. Noh Hwi-oh tells the psychiatrist that he felt he was unfairly treated, and his disciplinary was pre-determined.  The psychiatrist tells Noh Hwi-oh that he should avoid things that trigger his anger.

Same psychiatrist 

As he leaves the psychiatrist’s office, he sees Min-kyung, and he tries to avoid her so his anger is not triggered. After he books his appointment, Min-kyung asks him why he comes here. The pair bicker again. When Noh Hwi-oh returns to the apartment, he doesn’t want to share the elevator with Min-kyung, but does so reluctantly.

From here, Noh Hwi-oh tries to avoid Min-kyung. Then, in the middle of the night, Noh Hwi-oh eats a McDonald’s outside. Min-kyung asks him why he’s outside eating. Noh Hwi-oh tells her that she owes him a lot of money for the damage to his car, including psychological damages. He tells her he will give her a discount if she sees a different psychiatrist as he needs to avoid things that trigger his anger.

The ending 

It descends into arguments again, and Min-kyung calls him a crazy jerk — she’s clearly upset by his words. Noh Hwi-oh gets increasingly angry, but she shows him that she’s recording the conversation.

Mad for Each Other episode 2 continues giving background to the lead characters as the writers slowly try to bring them both together. It’s going to be a long ride.