Summary
Soundtrack #2 continues to be light and breezy in its second episode while adding some more depth and context to the central relationship.
In Episode 2, Soundtrack #2 continues to present complicated feelings in a refreshingly uncomplicated way. After the premiere, this follow-up is more about digging into the lives of the two leads, both past and present, and exploring how their differences led to their separation in the first place but also how where they are now might be a little more conducive to a future together.
A clear structure seems to be emerging, with each installment shuffling between past and present to add additional depth and context. But it remains a relaxed show all told, something that it’s easy to follow along with and become invested in without having to fret about major plot turns, characters being killed off, or sensationalized twists and turns to keep viewers tuning in. With a spot of luck, the characters will do that all on their own.
Soundtrack #2 Episode 2 Recap
Any relationship is difficult to look back on in hindsight. The terrible moments tend to outweigh the good ones, even if there were more of the latter overall. There’s a lasting sting to heartbreak, and Soo-ho is still feeling it, having been jilted at the time.
Hurt people hurt people, or so the saying goes, and Soo-ho wanted Hyeon-seo to feel the same pain he did, which is understandable. When you think like that, the happy memories fall by the wayside. They’re still there somewhere, but they have to be coaxed out and nurtured. Whatever could prompt such a thing? Prolonged contact via piano lessons, maybe?
Anyway, neither Soo-ho nor Hyeon-seo necessarily know what to make of their latest encounter, nor are they quite able to figure out what the other wants from it. Hyeon-seo needs the tutoring money, obviously, and Soo-ho would rather not have tinnitus, but these are surface-level justifications. They don’t explain why, for instance, Soo-ho puts all of his various accolades up around his house for Hyeon-seo to notice.
Why did Hyeon-seo break up with Soo-ho?
A thing that Soundtrack #2 gets right is highlighting how people cling to objects as though they’re talismans, imbuing them with power they don’t necessarily deserve. In this case, it’s a book that Soo-ho used to write encouraging annotations in. It prompts happy memories for Hyeon-seo, but, like everything else, it’s not the same in the present day as it once was. Things, and people, change endlessly.
The episode also uses a lot of shorthand to explain the characters’ present-day status differences. After their first lesson, which is defined by Soo-ho making the same mistakes that he always used to, Hyeon-seo can’t open her bicycle lock, so Soo-ho takes her home in his flash car. It’s a materialistic thing, but it gets the point across, especially given their past.
It’s revealed that Soo-ho’s professional circumstances were a big part of Hyeon-seo’s decision to break up with him. She considered him a dreamer, floating through life and taking it entirely unseriously while she struggled to make ends meet. How the worm has turned.
Who is K?
Through chance again, Soo-ho and Hyeon-seo make the same friend. His name is K and he’s a content creator Soo-ho agrees to hire him for a project and allows him to work in his house. Hyeon-seo and K become friends when they bond over music, so while working on the project, K, not knowing anything about the relationship between the two, he asks if he can invite his friend over to be a part of it.
This is a similar climax to the episode as we saw in the premiere, only now with an additional complication. Are we looking at a potential love triangle?
Soundtrack #2 Episode 2 Bonus Track
In the second episode’s bonus track, we see that Soo-ho had visited Hyeon-seo’s house and met two of her young pupils. They informed him that the piano academy would have to be shut down, leaving Soo-ho confused and thoughtful about their present circumstances.
What did you think of Soundtrack #2 Episode 2? Let us know in the comments.
