Summary
A slower episode that reveals more about the characters, as opposed to driving the plot forward.
This recap of Our Blues season 1, episode 9, “Deong-seok and Seon-a 2”, contains spoilers. Check out our thoughts on the previous episode by clicking these words.
We begin with a worn-down In-gwon slowly strolling up towards his house, where he meets a waiting Ho-sik. He doesn’t wish to fight, though, so sends his former friend away. However, it doesn’t deter the ex-gambler, and he enters In-gwon’s home so he can get on his knees in apology. Thus, the two drink together, making up over the shared resentment at those who pointed fingers at their children (which includes themselves), while also accepting their shared fate as in-laws. With that in mind, it does look like Hyun and Young-joo will be allowed to have their baby free of any more confrontation.
Our Blues season 1, episode 9 recap
After selling his goods to the elders, Dong-seok drives along the empty roads in cheerful song. There is some time for reflection as well, when he finds himself recalling the time he stuck up for Seon-a in an Internet cafe, in addition to the brutal beating he took before trading milk for chocolate with his future love interest, and their bike ride in the rain. It’s a sweet collection of moments, one which punctuates their formerly sweet relationship entirely different from the one they have in the present day.
At the motel, Dong-seok becomes privy to the strange acts of Seon-a, thanks to the talkative owner who consistently worries about having the suicidal woman stay at his place. It startles the salesman, who checks for any signs of another attempt at dying, before he rushes to look for her in the pouring rain. While searching, we get a flashback to the abusive home Seon-a used to live in, and see how Dong-seok was a source of comfort to the youngster who grew up in torment. In addition, it’s clear that the fighter received his own share of comfort too, as he is completely ignored by his family, and is happy to receive beatings in the hope it garners attention, so genuine connections are valued.
In the present, Seon-a returns Dong-seok’s phone call, sharing her location with the man who is already there. So they meet, again with a flashback playing in between (this time with Dong-seok fighting back against his tormentors, and a man who he believes slept with his love interest, with an onlooking Seon-a calling the police), until the salesman leaves abruptly, happy to search for answers over his recollections via telephone instead. Quickly, things escalate, with Dong-seok telling the person he cares so deeply for to kill herself quietly if she plans on doing so, while wondering why Seon-a had to come back to Jeju in the first place.
Armed with the answer to the questions Dong-seok asked, he returns to Seon-a’s old home, ready to hear them. Firstly, we find out she wanted to sleep with someone else because she didn’t want to ask him to ruin her, as she loved Dong-seok too. So, knowing he would’ve declined the offer, Seon-a made moves on a different suitor. Elsewhere, Young-ok and Jung-joon talk about whether she lies, her offer of going on a trip as a couple, and the testing of waters to see whether trust can be gained. That is until they’re interrupted by a mini flash mob, who are ready to dance and congratulate the new couple.
Back to Dong-seok, he finds out that Seon-a didn’t sleep with his friend, as there was an element of fear about doing the act. We also discover that she didn’t call the police when he was involved in the brutal fight the following day, and that the whole thing was just to scare him into stopping his acts of violence. Of course, there’s more intrigue, with Dong-seok wondering why Seon-a would want to ruin her life at the age of 14. The answer was because she wanted to scare her dad into coming to his senses, and as the two continue to talk, the affection the salesman has towards his old friend is clear.
As the pair walk along the coastline, watching the sunrise, they talk about Seon-a’s depression candidly, along with her dad’s suicide which took place in front of her eyes. She is surprised at her comfort level in talking about such things, but accepts that it might be because she is discussing it with Dong-seok. The salesman isn’t the most understanding, but is happy to share the story of when he left Jeju determined to never return.
Cursing his friend’s ex-husband for not being able to deal with her depression, Dong-seok makes Seon-a laugh in his visceral comments made about the divorce, before giving her a lesson in how to swear insultingly. It works, as Seon-a vehemently screams into the air for her son to be given back as the salesman walks off to leave her be.
In the meantime, Dong-seok’s mother finds herself coughing up blood, as Jung-joon pleas with one of the elders about Young-ok’s job status. Elsewhere, a happy Hyun and Young-joo discuss their joy in being able to have their baby, their pseudo-marriage, and the fact that the father-to-be now has a full time job.
The Ending
As they share manual labour in Seon-a’s old house, Dong-seok ponders her old love for him, in addition to her convenience in how she treats people. She begins to ponder Dong-seok’s love too, in due time, wondering whether she was the only woman for him in his life. There’s a nugget here, that Seon-a plans to live in this house with her child after the custody trial next week. She’s adamant that she won’t lose the battle, outright refusing to accept any potential for defeat. Watching on in wonder, Dong-seok admits that Seon-a is driving him crazy as the episode ends.
You can stream Our Blues season 1, episode 9, “Deong-seok and Seon-a 2”, exclusively on Netflix.
*Rating 4/5 – A slower episode that reveals more about the characters, as opposed to driving the plot forward.*
