Summary
A strong episode with plenty to unpack.
We recap the Netflix K-Drama series Crash Course in Romance Season 1 Episode 10, “Emotion, the Variable That Alters Relationships,” which contains spoilers.
After a steady start to the season, Crash Course in Romance really picked up the pace here with an excellent tenth installment. The plot about the killer – who may not be Hui-jae now – has advanced, Chi-yeol (Jung Kyung-ho) is starting to make major decisions, and the ending shows there’s hope for the star tutor’s love life too. Add to that the generally breezy charm that makes this series appealing in the first place, and there seems to be an exciting formula in place now for the remaining six episodes.
Crash Course in Romance Season 1 Episode 10 Recap
The repercussions of Chi-yeol’s talk show appearance
In the wake of what happened at the talk show, Haeng-seon discusses the situation with Chi-yeol, wondering if he only said what he did through pity. “I like you” is the star tutor’s snappy response, but he does sadly add that he’ll put an end to the feelings he believes he shouldn’t be harboring. This, unfortunately, leaves Haeng-seon too stunned to speak or follow Chi-yeol upon his exit.
The next day, the whole academic world seems to be upset with Chi-yeol. Dong-hui gives him the cold shoulder in the car, parents try to cancel his classes, and students protest outside of The Pride Academy, claiming they were “abandoned” by the star tutor. With the youngsters going as far as to burn Chi-yeol’s books, it seems his talk show confession carries severe repercussions.
As Su-hui’s group gossip about Chi-yeol, and the ring leader suggests Song Jun-ho as a substitute for the star tutor their children had previously gleaned from, Seo-jin wants to know if this “good replacement” can actually be confirmed. Mi-ok, however, has different priorities, asking in vain if her friend will apologize to Haeng-seon so she can shop for side dishes again without feeling awkward. Concurrently, Yeong-ju attempts to convince the side dish shop owner it’d be ok to tell Chi-yeol the truth about Hae-e and that she should admit she has feelings for him too.
READ: Will there be a Crash Course in Romance Season 2?
While people start to return to Nation’s Best Banchan, giving Haeng-seon food for thought on whether she really is “too different” from Chi-yeol, Seo-jin is unable to get through to Hui-jae, who has remained locked in his room for a number of days. Elsewhere, The Pride Academy Director Jun-sang sends his star tutor on a two-week break, cynically so he can discreetly set the wheels in motion for a meeting with potential replacement Song Jun-ho.
Chi-yeol struggles with his feelings and life
Soon, news begins to filter through about Yi-sang’s death when his abandoned body is found in a river. Especially intrigued by this passing is Detective Jung-soo, who believes the metal ball discovered in the teacher’s pocket was a message from the alleged murder culprit. Meanwhile, Geon-hu diffuses school gossip over Chi-yeol’s love for Haeng-seon, Jae-woo is made to stop calling the star tutor, and Hae-e ponders her aunt’s love life.
In the midst of his loneliness, Chi-yeol awkwardly drinks with Jong-ryeol, with the former admitting he’s an “idiot” for not being aware of the truth from 12 years ago and seemingly ruing the success afforded to him. Still, such candidness doesn’t go unnoticed, with the school teacher finally easing the animosity he has towards his former close friend.
At the culmination of Chi-yeol’s night of drinking, Jae-woo is tasked with helping get the star tutor into bed, which he happily does. Interestingly, the academy instructor here has a drunken dream of kissing Haeng-seon, who he is obviously still deeply attached to, to the point he continues to use the “cripes” catchphrase. As an aside, Dong-hui spends his day getting increasingly frustrated at not being able to get hold of Chi-yeol to discuss an article calling him a “star adulterer,” eventually causing him to throw his phone to the floor.
With an upset Dong-hui even more deflated by the knowledge Chi-yeol hasn’t been in touch with Haeng-seon either, the side dish shop owner fruitlessly tries to reach out to the “off the radar” star tutor. Luckily though, there’s nothing actually wrong. It’s just the academy instructor has chosen to enjoy some private time alone fishing in Gimpo.
Realizing the emotions she’s feeling, Haeng-seon tracks Chi-yeol down and admits she was worried about him. So the star tutor requests he’s “treated to a meal,” one at Su-ja’s Chueotang. Here, Chi-yeol is open about his “savior” being Haeng-seon’s mother, a revelation which allows him to hear he was considered to be “like a son” to the now deceased restauranteur. “I owe so much to her,” the star tutor later adds, reminiscing on how he wanted to show Yeong-seon his successes but never got the chance.
Unfortunately, Chi-yeol then tells Haeng-seon he believes he was just “confused,” mixing his gratitude towards her mother (and his shock at the coincidence) with what he thought could be romantic feelings. Thus, the subsequent car ride home is extremely awkward, and the side dish shop owner is clearly dejected, wanting to go as far as to pay full rent on his property from this point forward.
Now, both Chi-yeol and Haeng-seon are left teary-eyed. The former is because he lied about his feelings, and the latter is because she trusts the mistruth. “My heart is ripped into shreds,” Haeng-seon tells Yeong-ju, weeping into her friend’s shirt with Hae-e watching on from inside.
The resignation and police investigations
Returning from his break, Chi-yeol finds himself left with barely any staff (they got jobs elsewhere) but a renewed energy nonetheless. The star tutor even opts to memorize his remaining two colleagues’ names, yet such vigor is soon stunted when the academy instructor finds he has been relegated to a small room thanks to the arrival of upstart Song Jun-ho.
While police look for evidence that could link Yi-sang’s death to Young-min’s, worrying the onlooking Mr. Lee, Chi-yeol decides he’ll depart from The Pride Academy, unbothered by justifications of Song Jun-ho being appointed to appease upset mothers. Intriguingly, in this scene, Detective Song notes that Dong-hui looks familiar to him.
Upon hearing news of Chi-yeol’s resignation, Hae-e looks determined, chasing down his car when he tries to act as if he’d only coincidentally appeared in front of Nation’s Best Banchan. Elsewhere, Seo-jin is quizzed by her husband on whether The Pride Academy is safe for Sun-jae given a student and teacher from there have been killed by metal balls. Panicked, the lawyer instantly tries to get in touch with Hui-jae to get answers from him, though has no luck.
Crash Course in Romance Season 1 Episode 10 Ending Explained
As Mr. Popular barges into the academy to grill Chi-yeol on his private life (and resignation), Hae-e intervenes, telling the streamer’s audience there’s no “scandal” between the star tutor and Haeng-seon. “She’s my aunt, and she’s single,” the student says, clearing up confusion about the academy instructor’s alleged affair with a married woman by simply stating it’s a “romance.” With that in mind, the episode ends by focusing on the tempered reactions of Chi-yeol as well as Haeng-seon, who is watching the stream.
Nevertheless, there is a quick epilogue, which shows the star tutor’s passionate kiss with Haeng-seon wasn’t actually a dream at all.
What did you think of Crash Course in Romance Season 1 Episode 10? Comment below.
