Summary
Wow, a lot happens in this episode, and while it is similar to the original material, there’s a slight deviation behind Berlin’s story that makes for excellent viewing.
We recap the Netflix K-Drama series Money Heist: Korea – Joint Economic Area season 1, episode 8, which contains spoilers.
I was wondering when this Korean remake of Money Heist was going to make a deviation. While it’s not a strong slant to the original, episode 8 proves that remakes can thrive if delivered properly. Money Heist: Korea – Joint Economic Area part 2 ramps up the story with plenty of fire in the belly. Let’s recap.
Money Heist: Korea – Joint Economic Area season 1, episode 8 recap
Episode 8 opens with a flashback; The Professor wants to celebrate; the day of the heist is arriving. The heist team party into the night, alcohol running through their veins. They are merry. These were simpler times. Nairobi is looking to get laid, but she’s rejected by The Professor. She decides to get wasted with Oslo and Helsinki instead. Helsinki is emotional, thinking of his mother. He’s never found her. Nairobi sobs and reveals she has a son. Sobs turn to laughs.
In the present day, the electricity goes off in the Mint. Oslo lies on the floor, blood everywhere; he’s been badly hurt by the hostages. With the power out, Woojin believes this is where the real negotiations begin.
The hostages get ready for their escape, but Yun Misun is doubtful of their plan. Helsinki checks on the hostages, but he is soon attacked. Meanwhile, Rio, Berlin, and Tokyo put plans in motion to put the backup power on. Oslo lets off gunfire, alerting the others of the ambush before he is choked out unconscious.
The lights come back on after the backup power is switched on. The heist team finds Helsinki unconscious. The Professor rings the team and tells them he knows where the hostages are heading.
The hostages head to the loading dock exit door. Denver steps in the hostages’ way, and the heist team arrives. The situation is resolved, and the heist team does not escape.
Meanwhile, Rio ends up in a violent altercation with one of the hostages, Park Chulwoo — the mole amongst the hostages. Chulwoo rings Woojin and tells her the whereabouts of the hostages. Chulwoo uses his gun to destroy all the communication devices. Chulwoo leaves the room, leaving Rio shaken. The Professor can no longer get in touch with the heist team.
At the loading dock, the police breach the exit door with explosive charges; the heist team ends up in a firefight with the authorities. Tokyo uses a machine gun on them, forcing them back. While they are forced back, the heist team blocks the hole in the wall. Chulwoo directs the hostages to the roof for an alternative escape plan while a soft landing pad is placed outside so they can jump.
The heist team suddenly realizes the hostages are gone and head to the roof to stop their escape. Denver tells Yun Misun to escape, his feelings for her not waning. Cho Youngmin tries to escape first as the heist team gets closer, but he ends up stuck on the rope and asks to be pulled back up. Some of the hostages jump off the roof, landing on the pad to escape.
Half of the hostages escape, but the heist team breaks through, and Berlin manages to grab Anne as the escape plan ends. On the news, Woojin assures the public they will make sure that the rest of the hostages are freed, claiming she knows the weaknesses of the robbers. She sends a warning to the heist team, telling them to surrender.
Episode 8 shows no sign of slowing down as the heist team finds Oslo dead. Helsinki is heartbroken, demanding that his team save him, but there are no answers. He is gone. The team holds a funeral for Olso in one of the vaults. Helsinki talks about how Olso wanted to find his mother and buy her a house. How upsetting.
However, there’s no rest for the wicked, and Tokyo orders the hostages to get back to work. The hostages start clapping in unison, and Berlin grows impatient, but Denver tells him to allow them to clap. The hostages are making a statement that they will not obey the heist team anymore.
The heist team is unsure what to do. They were not prepared for this scenario. However, Berlin is getting irritated; his terminal illness getting the better of him. He demands that the traitor reveals themselves. He blames Oslo’s death on the traitor and then starts having a seizure. Flashbacks reveal that Nairobi is the traitor; she is compromised — the authorities have her child. She’s stricken with guilt, but she knows she cannot reveal the truth to the heist team.
Meanwhile, Park Chulwoo gives Woojin some vital evidence — medicine for Huntington’s disease; she knows one of the members of the heist team is dying. Meanwhile, Rio remembers Berlin telling him that he’s dying. Tokyo decides that they should isolate Berlin until he is feeling better.
Woojin wonders if there’s more behind the heist than just money; she questions why one of them would need money if they are dying and suggests the real agenda is to sabotage the inter-Korean economic cooperation. And then, she is shown more information; the director (Jeon Yongsu) of the detention camp where Berlin was tortured will be attending the summit, representing North Korea. Woojin doesn’t believe turning off the power in the Mint is enough; they need to find out the real agenda.
Berlin wakes up and accuses Tokyo of being the traitor. Rio tells Berlin to calm down and threatens to shoot him. Helsinki arrives, and Berlin tells him that she killed Oslo. Helsinki takes Berlin’s side and knocks Rio unconscious.
Money Heist: Korea – Joint Economic Area season 1, episode 8 ending
Woojin learns of a resort that was getting bulk orders of prescription drugs for Huntington’s disease. She believes this may be the hideout where The Professor was before the heist. The Professor is warned, and it’s revealed that Woojin’s car is tracked. Woojin checks out the hideout, and The Professor looks on from afar with binoculars.
Meanwhile, Berlin ties Tokyo and Rio to tables and gathers the team. The front door of the Mint opens — Berlin wants to give them to the police. And then, Berlin concludes that Tokyo is the traitor and pushes her outside — Tokyo is surrounded and arrested. But then, Berlin comes out with Anne with a gun pointed at her head. Anne asks for the former warden of the detention camp, Jeong Yongsu, and states that he committed abusive and inhumane acts. Berlin shows that he’s out for personal revenge and states that if Jeong Yongsu does not come, he’ll kill Anne.
Meanwhile, The Professor considers blowing up the hideout. A flashback shows him and Berlin singing together. Berlin promises The Professor to follow his orders until the very end.
Wow, a lot happens in this episode, and while it is similar to the original material, there’s a slight deviation behind Berlin’s story that makes for excellent viewing.
What did you think of Money Heist: Korea – Joint Economic Area season 1, episode 8? Comment below.
