Summary
The chemistry between the leads provides a solid core to My Demon as it blends murder-mystery with fantastical romantic drama.
In my coverage of My Demon thus far, I’ve made a few snarky remarks about how good-looking the leads are. This, though, is quite integral to the show’s success, at least if Episode 3 and now Episode 4 are anything to go by. Of course, actors don’t have to be beautiful to have chemistry with one another, but when they are, that chemistry tends to create a more compelling reaction. Season 1 of the show is shaping up into a murder mystery as much as a fantasy and a comedy, but at its very core it’s a romance, and romances live and die on chemistry.
In other words, that chemistry is very obvious in this episode, which balances Do-hee and Gu-won’s burgeoning relationship and some of its sillier elements with the quite serious matter of trying to figure out who killed Madam Ju. And it works.
My Demon Season 1 Episode 4 Recap
Do-hee and Gu-won are bound by not just fate but circumstance. She controls his powers, he needs to make deals, and she needs a bodyguard. It’s a quid pro quo arrangement. However, marriage isn’t at the top of Gu-won’s priority list, so he rejects Do-hee’s proposal in public, obviously embarrassing her.
Again, though, circumstances dictate they continue their working arrangement. Do-hee has a giant target on her back. Madam Ju’s children, including Suk-min, are determined that she not become Chairperson by any means necessary.
Marriage story
Madam Ju’s death has affected Do-hee not just because it’s the loss of a loved one but because she also feels responsible for it, given it came right after she confessed to Ju about Tae-jun. This is why Do-hee has doubled down on her intention to find the killer so much, despite people like Seok-hoon warning her of the dangers.
But this stress makes the Gu-won issue a bit more problematic. His public rejection of her is picked up by the media, only embarrassing her further, and Gu-won’s thoughts on love in general – that it’s a foolish weakness he has no interest in – mean that he considers his arrangement with Do-hee more temporary than might be prudent given her circumstances. As soon as he can get his tattoo back, he plans to part ways with her.
Madam Ju, it turns out, had a different perspective on marriage. She wanted Do-hee to have some companionship so that, as Chairperson, she wasn’t consigned to the same lonely fate as her.
How did Madam Ju die?
As was quite obvious, Madam Ju was poisoned by having her medication switched. This was carried out by the same person who killed Tae-jun. (S)he met Madam Ju before her death, being confronted about the misappropriation of funds, switched the pills, and then deleted all CCTV and digital evidence. The killer’s fondness for masks renders Gu-won’s demonic powers ineffective at identifying them.
Naturally, the police want to investigate, but Madam Ju’s kids throw up roadblocks at every turn trying to make the matter go away.
What was Gu-won’s human name?
It was mentioned in the previous episode that Gu-won used to be a human. In Episode 3, we learn his name was Yi-sun. He’s beginning to recall snippets of his human life since he doesn’t have his powers, and his attempts to regain them – holding Do-hee’s hand in public, etc. – are some of the more entertaining ways in which My Demon toys with the conventions of a romantic story by intertwining them with supernatural elements.
How does My Demon Season 1 Episode 4 end?
Gu-won is still being pursued by the henchmen of Deok-ho, the man whom Gu-won condemned following the expiry of his demonic contract. The goons are out for revenge, and with the help of a tip-off from Do-hee’s attacker, they almost get it.
In what is also a slight subversion of the typical way of such things, Do-hee comes to Gu-won’s rescue. He’s able to use his powers to fight back, though the fight is recorded unbeknown to Gu-won and Do-hee.
What did you think of My Demon Season 1 Episode 4? Let us know in the comments.
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