The Water Monster
Sang-Un and Hwal agree to an uneasy alliance. She’s desperate to save Si-Ho, while he wants to stop this other Bulgasal before it’s too late. Si-Ho is thankfully still alive, but she’s taken hostage by one of the monsters working for Dark Hole. Or Eul-Tae, as he’s actually known as.
The Sergeant at the police station tells Hwal that all the victims had a dislocated leg before they died, almost as if they were puled underwater by something. This sounds like our monster!
Detective Kwon tells Hwal and Sang-Un that all of the attacks that have occurred at Dalmyeong Reservoir have been perpetrated by a monster. Hwal and Sang-Un use their monster-sensing skills to break into the swimming pool and find the monster responsible.
Sang-Un and Hwal burst into the room and find the monster working for Eul-Tae. He immediately drops into the pool and begins swimming at a frightening speed back and forth.
Detective Kwon arrives to find the monster ripping his arm clean off. This throwback to the Joseon period is played over as Kwon discusses how touching this monster has brought back painful memories of the past when he lost his arm in a previous life. However, this is all fake. The monster is gone and Kwon is absolutely fine.
Sang-un and Si-Ho escape from the monster while it is still attacking. Sang-Un saves Si-Ho’s life by undoing her bindings.
Sang-Un saves Hwal from being pulled under by the monster and drives him home. ..
With Hwal kept with Do-Yun for now, Sang-Un decides to give delayed CPR, determined to bring him back. Of course, given Hwal is immortal, it doesn’t take long for Hwal to awaken. He’s safe, as are Si-Ho and Sang-Un as well. Hwal sports a broken leg for his efforts though, until he twists it back into place. As they talk, Hwal reveals the name of Dark Hole, the man whom she wants revenge against.
Kwon is brought into questioning, given he’s the only witness to Kang Cheol-Yong (the water monster and Si-Ho’s kidnapper) being killed. Eventually news comes in from the autopsy, confirming that his death is being chalked up as a suicide.
Eul-Tae, the mysterious figure behind the Bulgasal case, is pulling the strings from the shadows. He wants Hwal on his side and that involves manipulating the case so he gets in Bulgasal’s good books.
Hwal recovers from his injuries and ends up at an impromptu dinner party. Hye-Suk brings a bag of meat, while Sang-Un, Si-Ho and Do-Yun eat together. The latter three all talk, with Do-Yun pointing out that he’s not 30 (shocker!) but that he’s also a lot older for his age. ..
Detective Kwon shows up soon after the murder of Dan Hwal, wanting to talk to a fully recovered Hwal in private. He wants to help catch Bulgasal (unaware that Hwal is Bulgasal), but wants to find out exactly who he is. Remembering Ho-yeol’s words in the past, he clings to the Dan Hwal name, embracing it as an old relic from the past. ..
Hye-Suk, who claims to be Hwal’s mother, barges into the interrogation and pleads with Hwal to give her some money so she can buy meat. ..
Eul-Tae breaks into Sang-Un’s place and finds her journal. Specifically, he finds the references she’s made to finding the sword and stopping Bulgasal.
Sang-Un is surprised to learn that she’s been living multiple lives before. Hwal points out that she’s been through many battles and has experienced a lot of pain, but Sang-Un is still not able to walk. She was badly hurt in a fight with the water monster and her ankle and foot are covered in bruising.
After helping to patch her up, Sang-Un understands how Hwal feels and agrees to lock herself up in the well once all this is over and he’s transferred the Bulgasal soul. In order to prove she used to be Bulgasal, Hwal confirms she should have a scar on her shoulder. Only… she doesn’t. Sang-Yeon did though. So it appears that Sang-Un is not actually the one Hwal was hunting after all, leaving plenty of question marks over exactly who Sang-Un actually is.
The Episode Review
The end reveal that Sang-Un is not the previous Bulgasal throws the rest of this series completely up in the air. Hwal’s plan looks set to come crashing down now, while Sang-Un’s strange monster-sensing powers seem to hint that there’s more going on, especially if she’s not actually the one he’s after. ..
In the latest episode of “Stranger Things,” the focus shifts to the supporting characters. Detective Kwon gets a lot of development in this chapter, with comedic and dramatic moments mixed in. Likewise, Do-Yun comes into his own here while Si-Ho continues to remain on the periphery of this series, seemingly destined to be more important in the episodes ahead. ..
The water monster fight is a welcome addition; it’s a light burst of much-needed action in what’s otherwise a dramatic, character-driven ride. ..
Bulgasal: Immortal Souls is a great watch and the ending hints that the story is about to take some seriously unexpected turns in the future. Look forward to next week’s follow-up! ..
