Possessed: Episode 15

by Sunny

Seemingly left with no other options, our heroes have fled to a secluded island. But when you’re being pursued by a vengeful spirit hellbent on doomsday who also has an unhealthy obsession with your misery, is there anywhere far enough?

 
EPISODE 15

Seo-jung wakes up in the middle of the night and steps outside. Looking up at the sky, she wonders why Hell’s energy is faint on the island. Back in Seoul, Detective Choi pays respects to Detective Yoo and Seung-hee at the columbarium.

On the docks the next morning, Pil-sung excitedly runs over to Seo-jung to show her the fish he caught. As they walk home, he wonders how they should eat it but trails off when they spot a little girl leap off their swing and dart around the side of the house.

The child peeks out at them, eyeing Pil-sung warily. Seo-jung assures her Pil-sung is a good man — although Pil-sung gives Seo-jung the stink-eye when she adds, “despite his looks.” The girl admits she lives on the island with her grandfather, but cowers when Pil-sung asks her name.

Seo-jung suggests he tell the girl a funny story to ease her fear. Pil-sung cheerfully says, “Last year, a man was walking down the street and got stabbed. Why do you think he got stabbed?” Seo-jung elbows him for his lack of a kid-friendly topic and announces she’ll be cooking dinner so he should take the girl out to play.

Pil-sung worries about the way the child is glaring at him, but soon they’re running along the beach with a kite. Turns out her name is Yeong-mi and she warns up to Pil-sung pretty quick as they stick their tongues out at each other over dinner. The fun ends abruptly when Yeong-mi starts coughing and chokes out that she’s forgotten her medicine.

Scooping her up, Pil-seung and Seo-jung race over to Yeong-mi’s house, screaming for help. The grandfather finds them in his yard and curses the child for forgetting her medication. As Seo-jung watches over the resting child, Grandpa informs Pil-sung that Yeong-mi has asthma along with other ailments and often forgets to take her medicine when she goes to play, despite Grandpa’s continual warnings.

Pil-sung asks about Yeong-mi’s parents, but Grandpa says they’re running a restaurant in Seoul and don’t have time to care for her.Grandpa took her in, but to make ends meet, he has to go out to sea everyday to work, leaving Yeong-mi alone at home.

So naturally, Seo-jung and Pil-sung take her in and become their own adorable family unit. As the holiday season draws near, Pil-sung strings lights up on the house and that night he lies awake listening as Seo-jung sings Yeong-mi to sleep. Meanwhile, Dae-doo breaks into Pil-sung’s house, sending the spirits fleeing in fear. Finding Pil-sung’s notebook, Dae-doo chuckles that he’s done his research.

Newlywed Do-ryung sits down to dinner at home with Soon-kyung, but just as he’s about to eat, Dae-doo’s voice rings in his ears. Dae-doo demands Do-ryung come immediately or Soon-kyung will die. Lying that his stomach hurts, Do-ryung says he’s running to the pharmacy but promises to return home soon.

Outside, Do-ryung pops his trunk to reveal his Ghostbusters suit and sobs. Meanwhile, Soon-kyung turns on some music to dance off her frustration. She accidentally shatters a glass, however, and starer at it with her brow furrowed.

Do-ryung arrives at Pil-sungs apartment in his gear. Dae-doo praises Do-ryung’s abilities since he came right away. Pulling a talisman from pocket, Do-ryung lets out a battle cry and charge at Dae-doo. He doesn’t make it far before the talisman flies out of his hand.

Dae-doo tuts that it’s unfortunate that Do-ryung can’t love freely as a servant of God. He suggests Do-ryung join his side instead, promising to be more lenient. With a bitter laugh, Do-ryung wonders if Dae-doo truly thinks he can rule the world once it’s gone to hell.

“Don’t kid yourself,” Do-ryung says, “Flowers bloom even on cold, lifeless asphalt.” Incensed, Dae-doo asks if that’s what he really thinks. Tearfully, Do-ryung says he’s positive. He closes his eyes as Dae-doo descends upon him, while back at home Soon-kyung waits anxiously for him to return.

Back on the island, Seo-jung and Yeong-mi play in the sand. Pil-sung runs over and messes up their work, goading them to chase him. Seo-jung shouts for Yeong-mi to get him and they run after him with Teddy Bear (the adorable pup) joining the race. On their way home from the beach, the villager that rented the house to Pil-sung stops them.

He looks anxiously at Yeong-mi and asks to speak with Pil-sung. Turns out Grandpa just left the island because Yeong-mi’s father was shot last night during an altercation at his restaurant. He’s now in critical condition and the villager asks Pil-sung to take care of Yeong-mi in the meantime.

That night Pil-sung watches Seo-jung sleep and flashes back to the day they left Seoul. At the bus station, he’d called Detective Choi to say he was going “far away” but would call when he returned in a week. He’d rejoined Seo-jung and tossed his phone in the trash before boarding the bus.

In the present, Pil-sung holds back tears and reaches out, but can’t bring himself to caress Seo-jung’s face. Seo-jung wakes up the next morning to find Pil-sung gone. The note he left reads that while he’s been so happy with her on the island, he can’t stand aside while people die. He vows to go back and solve it on his own, and begs Seo-jung to stay on the island and look after Yeong-mi.

He adds that even though the past few months have been the most painful time of his life, being with Seo-jung also made it his happiest. “I promise you that I’ll come back,” he finishes, “You have my word.”

Detective Jung reports to Detective Choi that Pil-sung escaped to an island with a woman. He pleads with Detective Choi to tell their superiors about Pil-sung’s connection to the murders, but Detective Choi is adamant that they wait a little longer. Their debate is interrupted by another officer with news that a new murder victim has been found at Pil-sung’s apartment.

The victim is Do-ryung. Detective Jung tells Detective Choi that they have no choice now, and that he plans to report everything to their superiors upon returning to the station. He walks away and Detective Choi answers a call from an unknown number.

It’s Pil-sung and Detective Choi immediately goes to meet him. Pil-sung weakly asks if everything is okay and Detective Choi snaps that the station is in chaos and a body was found in his apartment. “It wasn’t you right?” Detective Choi begs, “That’s all I need to know, so answer my question.”

Pil-sung nods and Detective Choi suggests they head down to the station and clear it all up. To his disappointment, Pil-sung refuses. Instead, Pil-sung wants to know if Detective Choi still doesn’t believe his story about Dae-doo. He understands it sounds crazy, but implores his friend to trust him.

Back at the station, Detective Choi researches Dae-doo as well as the men Dae-doo has possessed. Pil-sung had warned him that Dae-doo is currently possessing Chun-seob and will likely come after Detective Choi. Although he still doesn’t believe the supernatural side, Detective Choi agrees to catch Chun-seob.

Detective Choi pulls up to TF Group (the company run by Dae-doo’s previous host, Oh Soo-hyuk) and adjusts the gun hidden in his waistband, ignoring Pil-sung’s urgent plea that he not act alone. In Soo-hyuk’s office, Detective Choi stiffens when Chun-seob appears behind him, muttering that Pil-sung was right after-all.

That night, Pil-sung calls Detective Choi as planned and learns the other detective is at deceased arms dealer (and previous host to Dae-doo’s minion) Hwang Yeong-gil’s office. Detective Choi’s voice claims he found some leads to finding Chun-seob and urgers Pil-sung to meet him. Pil-sung agrees, but we see it’s not Detective Choi on the other line — it’s Dae-doo using his voice mimic ability. Aww no….

A flashback shows that after Dae-doo appeared, Detective Choi had demanded if he was responsible for the deaths of all his friends. Dae-doo only asked where Pil-sung was. Detective Choi admitted Pil-sung told him Chun-seob was Dae-doo. Aiming his gun, he growled that he still didn’t believe it.

Flicking his finger, Dae-doo had sent the gun flying and forced Detective Choi to his knees. Dae-doo asked again for Pil-sung’s whereabouts, promising to let Detective Choi live if he answered. Detective Choi had refused, and spat that Dae-doo could never understand the feeling of trusting someone unconditionally (as he did Pil-sung).

Dae-doo had then absorbed Detective Choi’s soul and learned where Pil-sung had been and that he’s in Seoul now. In the present, Pil-sung arrives at the specified location to find Detective Choi’s corpse. Rushing to his friend, Pil-sung begs Detective Choi to wake up, sobbing apologies as he cradles the body.

The office phone rings and Pil-sung answers to hear Detective Choi’s voice greet him. Pil-sung’s expression darkens and Dae-doo cackles. Dae-doo says they’re entering their final game and warns Pil-sung to wait where he is for the next call. Pil-sung barks into the phone, but Dae-doo hangs up as he looks out from a boat at the island where Seo-jung is.

At home, Seo-jung lies awake and Yeong-mi guesses she’s waiting for Pil-sung. She tells Seo-jung that her mom always waits up for her dad. Yeong-mi says her father is the nicest person in the world and recalls a time he’d carried her to the hospital after a seizure, crying that she couldn’t pass out on him.

The village head steps outside to yell at his barking dog and sees Dae-doo standing at his gate. He calls out and Dae-doo approaches him menacingly. Seo-jung jolts awake, sensing Dae-doo’s energy. Meanwhile, Dae-doo saunters down the street, whistling “Silent Night.”

Seo-jung scoops Yeong-mi up and bursts out of the house, running to the back to hide Yeong-mi in a large fermenting pot. When she places Yeong-mi inside, however, the girl whines that she’s cold and wants to go back to bed. Seo-jung warns her a bad man is coming and makes Yeong-mi pinky promise not to come out or make a sound, no matter what she hears.

Yeong-mi links her pinky with Seo-jung’s and Seo-jung embraces her, tearfully promising to keep her safe. Seo-jung closes the lid and then grabs a knife before heading out to face Dae-doo. She doesn’t get far before Dae-doo appears from the shadows.

He smirks at Seo-jung’s bare feet and then asks if she really thought he wouldn’t find her. Seo-jung takes the chance to strike with the knife, but Dae-doo catches it and snaps the blade. As Pil-sung anxiously awaits Dae-doo’s call, Dae-doo drags Seo-jung back to their house.

He sneers that they were playing house, but then his eye snap to Yeong-mi’s shoes at the door. Dae-doo saunters around the property, looking for the child. Yeong-mi does as she’s told and holds her breath as Dae-doo walks past. He leaves without checking the pot, but freezes when Yeong-mi is forced to cough and goes back to grab her.

The phone finally rings and Pil-sung answers. Dae-doo cheekily apologizes for the wait, saying he was traveling somewhere. Pil-sung immediately realizes where he is and Dae-doo confirms it. He wonders where Yeong-mi came from and Pil-sung growls at him not to touch them. Dae-doo says their final game is about to begin.

After hanging up, Dae-doo walks around to his trunk where Seo-jung and Yeong-mi lie unconscious. Meanwhile, Pil-sung bids Detective Choi goodbye and takes his car keys. He then furiously speeds off to meet Dae-doo for their final showdown.

Pil-sung parks next to Dae-doo’s car outside a warehouse and draws his gun. He cautiously steps inside, but as soon as he turns the light on, he sees Yeong-mi and Seo-jung on the floor across the room and rushes towards them. He doesn’t get far before he’s launched into the air.

Pil-sung’s gun clatters to the ground and he struggles midair as Dae-doo emerges from the darkness with a slow clap. “It’s finally time to put an end to our disgustingly entwined fate,” Dae-doo announces. He promises not to do anything to Pil-sung, Seo-jung, or Yeong-mi, saying it’s Pil-sung’s show.

Dae-doo adds that one of them won’t be leaving alive, however. He says the death of one, will save the other two and it’s Pil-sung’s decision. Dae-doo removes all the bullets but one from Pil-sung’s gun and sets it back on the ground. He gives Pil-sung a five minute time limit to decide, declaring this will be their final game.

Dae-doo adds that if Pil-sung tries to trick him or exceeds the deadline, he’ll kill both Seo-jung and Yeong-mi in front of him. Dae-doo leaves and Pil-sung drops to the ground. Safely in another room, Dae-doo sits down to watch the events unfold on a monitor.

Tears pouring from her eyes, Seo-jung weakly calls out to Pil-sung. He crawls over to her and starts to untie her wrists. Dae-doo watches with distaste and sends a forklift barreling towards them, only stopping when Pil-sung leaps in front of it.

Seo-jung implores Pil-sung to look at her and assures him that she’s alright… but Yeong-mi needs to see a doctor immediately. Pil-sung thinks it’s too late for Yeong-mi but Seo-jung says she’s alive. “I won’t give up on you,” Pil-sung tells her firmly, “I can’t lose you!” She sobs that she’s already made peace with it and Pil-sung bellows that he hasn’t.

Pil-sung picks up the gun and Seo-jung frantically says that Dae-doo expects Pil-sung to shoot Yeong-mi and that doing so allows Dae-doo to win. Pil-sung says it doesn’t matter, but Seo-jung argues that it does. “Once you shoot her, the last hope of this world… will perish.”

Pil-sung says this world is already done for and Seo-jung stares in horror as he aims the gun at Yeong-mi. His hand wavers, but his expression is stone. Seo-jung falls to the floor as she screams out his name.

Epilogue

Young Pil-sung stands in a church with a suitcase, tears streaming down his face as he stares out the glass door. A nun greets him cheerfully, and wipes his tears. She promises his mother will return soon and says in the meantime, she’ll be his mom.

 
COMMENTS

Y’all, I’m having trouble drumming up enough emotions to care anymore. This show started out so fantastic and then in the final stretch took a sharp turn. Last episode was so raw and awful it completely drained me and now that Dae-doo has added Detective Choi to his collection of dead detectives, I just can’t. It helps me understand Pil-sung’s mental state when he pulled the gun on Yeong-mi, however. Everyone he’s ever cared about has been brutally ripped from this earth. Seo-jung is all he has left and his adamant refusal to kill her up until now was a direct contributor to the loss of so many lives. To give in now would render everything pointless. Why did he struggle so long and at such cost to only follow through later, when there’s no one left?

It’s unfair, as all Dae-doo’s games are. He wins regardless of your choice. For a moment, I thought Pil-sung would take the third option and kill himself to save Seo-jung and Yeong-mi… but knowing Dae-doo, he’d call foul and kill them anyway. The problem is, I can’t find Dae-doo scary anymore. Perhaps it’s in part due to his change in host (because man did Yeon Jung-hoon give me nightmares) but I’m not blaming the actor so much as the writing. Dae-doo only cares about Pil-sung and it’s just… tiring. Lollypip mentioned it last episode, and I have to agree: the characters are exhausted and now that the world has almost completely gone to hell and all their friends are dead, it’s hard to see a reason to keep fighting. Every altercation with Dae-doo has resulted in devastating losses. At this point, what’s one more death tallied on the score?

The only hope is that Seo-jung senses something vital about Yeong-mi. It’d be interesting if Dae-doo had sensed it too and specifically chose this game in order to eliminate her… but I doubt it. He just really wants to justify his own choices by forcing Pil-sung to follow that same path. I can only hope that the final episode provides some answers, because I’m finally accepting that a happy ending likely isn’t in our future.

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