The Final Dinner

Ji-Ho is conflicted over his choice to divorce Sang-Eun. He’s worried about the future of their relationship, but he can’t help but be drawn in by her passion and her need for him to take care of her. He’s also conflicted over whether or not he should tell Sang-Eun the truth about his feelings.

Ji-Ho turns on the news and Hae-Jin is there giving an interview. He discusses his upcoming movie and he’s immediately thrown into hot water, especially as his new movie puts Hae-Jin’s  family in a negative light. He’s part of the Kangjin group and noting that this independent movie is going to be shown worldwide, it’s not a great look.

Meanwhile, Ji-Ho and Sang-Eun continue to interact despite their differences. Ji-Ho is still trying to understand Sang-Eun’s motives, but she seems to be doing her best to keep things professional. However, Sang-Eun can’t help but think about Ji-Ho and becomes flustered again. ..

That night, she ends up cooking a big meal with Gwang-nam but he immediately brings up how she’s a pushover and needs to get her act together. She’s obviously still hung up over Ji-ho… but he’s hung up over her too. In fact, he sits at his desk and rips up the divorce settlement. ..

Sang-Eun and Ji-Ho had a brief encounter while eating dinner together. Sang-Eun recalls that there was no love there, but she decides to get drunk and have a good time with Ji-Ho. Gwang-Nam eventually has enough and carries her to bed. Sang-Eun needs to sober up before she can have another chance with Ji-Ho.

Ji-Ho is awoken early by the sound of a delivery truck. He mistakes Hae-Jin, who is driving the truck, for the delivery man. Ji-Ho gets out of bed to open the door when he realizes he left his knife at home.

Ji-Ho takes the cat to his place, where Hae-Jin claims he hates people. Despite this, he seems happy and content with Ji-Ho. He hisses at Hae-Jin, prompting him to ask Ji-Ho to take the cat back. ..

Sang-Eun is in the elevator with Hae-Jin and Ji-Ho. She sees that Hae-Jin is with Ji-Ho and it looks like she might remember him from when they were together before. But then she seems to forget about him and goes on with her day. ..

The two had a connection in the past, especially as he’s even named his cat after her. What happened between them I wonder. Is this another case of amnesia?

Ji-Hio drops off the cleaning supplies he bought at the store and heads back to his apartment. He has a lot of bleach, bleaches, and other cleaning products, which appears to be a red herring for him being a killer. Anyway, he and Sang-Eun have dinner together, with Sang-Eun rustling something up from Ji-Ho’s lack of ingredients. ..

When Sang-Eun leaves Ji-Ho’s place, she bumps into Hae-Jin in the elevator, who’s on his way to recycling his clothes. He notices that Sang-Eun doesn’t have her ring anymore and contemplates what this may mean. He flakes out on his photoshoot and is more interested in what’s happening with Ji-Ho.

Kangjin Group is a company that has been in the news recently for various reasons. One of which is that they have been inviting Madam Yoo, a woman who has been accused of murder, to join their ranks. Meanwhile, reports are circulating on TV about a killer outside who is targeting people. It seems as though everything is connected. ..

Hae-Jin goes downstairs to find a loud noise and wonders if it is Ji-Ho who is stabbing a picture. This only exacerbates his anxiety and he decides to report Ji-Ho to the authorities. However, Sang-Eun shows up and starts to talk with him. Hae-Jin realizes that he knows her and they start talking, eventually getting close enough for him to kiss her.

Hae-Jin can’t find the right words, eventually calling Ji-Ho abnormal. Sang-Eun tries to broach the subject of his work to Ji-Ho but he isn’t particularly open about it. And as their meal comes to an end, Sang-Eun decides their next, final meeting should be in silence, just like old times. Before Sang-Eun leaves, she calls Ji-Ho her best client.

Hae-Jin throws a curveball her way outside in the hallway, claiming that she’s seen something suspicious. Just before she mentions the true nature of their ties, Ji-Ho opens the door and calls her “honey”, inviting her in for something to eat. ..

The Episode Review

The show is trying to build up Ji-Ho as a serial killer, but I don’t think that’s the case. I think he’s working as a crime scene profiler or something of its nature, and could well be working in an unconventional way to track down who the killer actually is. ..

Meanwhile, we get a little more of Hae-Jin this time around but it’s clear he has issues too, especially as he hasn’t gotten over Sang-Eun since their time in the past. It’s the classic hopeless romantic trope and while the show is attempting to build up this love triangle, I genuinely can’t see Hae-Jin and Sang-Eun together at the end. ..

Despite some similarities to the show Do Do Sol Sol La La Sol, “The Crown” is still an intriguing show with comedic beats that help lighten the mood. There are many plot points set up that suggest a mysterious past, but we’ll have to wait and see what the future holds. Hopefully this one ends better than “Do Do Sol Sol La La Sol”! ..