The Midnight Studio: Episodes 14-15
by mistyisles
Time is running out, and our leads are learning new meanings of the saying, “Be careful what you wish for.” See, the problem with evil spirits and other supernatural forces is that they’re very hard to kill, so sometimes what seems like a victory… isn’t. But there’s another cliché that’s applicable here, and it’s both a blessing and a curse: It ain’t over ’til it’s over.
EPISODE 14-15
Before confirming whether Ki-joo has survived to see his 35th birthday, The Midnight Studio wrings more tears out of us by finally serving up the reunion we’ve all been waiting for. After vanishing from Bom’s arms, Ki-joo materializes at Ki-won’s old studio, where both the camera and Ki-won himself are waiting. It’s a painfully brief reunion, though: all they have time to do is exchange apologies and wishes for better luck in the next life, and then Ki-joo takes Ki-won’s final photo.
Ki-joo returns to his body in the hospital, and the story’s various threads start to tie up like we’ve already entered an epilogue. Detective Lee survives the fall from the hospital roof, but this time he’s gone too far for even his father to bail him out from legal consequences. He’s sentenced to prison, where he gets tormented by other spirits and cellmates alike, and Prosecutor Lee (currently Minister of Justice) focuses on saving his own skin — or trying to, anyway. Between Detective Lee’s confessions and Ki-joo releasing the recording of Minister Lee admitting he covered up his son’s crimes, the public quickly realizes Bom was right about him all along.
Bom and the ghosts throw Ki-joo his first-ever birthday party. His scar is actively fading, Midnight Studio guests stop coming, and even the Safe Zone no longer activates — not that there’s any need for it now, with no sign of The Evil Spirit lingering after being expelled from Detective Lee’s body. The curse, it seems, has been lifted, which means the Midnight Studio will soon close forever. While Bom and Ki-joo make up for the time they spent being unable to touch (let alone kiss!), Nam-gu prepares to depart for the afterlife. He’s been edging dangerously close to becoming an evil spirit, and he wants to leave as quickly and quietly as possible while he still can.
To that end, he asks Ki-joo for a private photo session — no alerting Na-rae or anyone else, not even Sung-ho or Bom. He does, however, ask Ki-joo to help him 1) relay a parting message to the florist not to make the same mistake he did and 2) deliver signed divorce papers and tell Na-rae he signed them before he died. He wants to free her from any lingering guilt so she can move on and live happily.
Ki-joo reluctantly agrees. But when he goes to take Nam-gu’s final photo, all the camera produces is a tiny, unsatisfying click instead of the loud sound and flash we’re used to. And then The Evil Spirit barges straight through the door. A tremendous struggle ensues, and Nam-gu loses. He turns into an evil spirit himself and melds with The Spirit into a single, malicious entity. What’s left of Nam-gu stops The Spirit from killing Ki-joo just long enough to beg Ki-joo to kill him. Since he originally died via a stabbing, stabbing him again will destroy him — permanently — and The Spirit along with him.
Ki-joo has no choice but to comply. The Spirit is finally, definitively destroyed; Nam-gu’s soul vanishes from existence; and the Midnight Studio throws Ki-joo out and disappears: doors, camera, Ki-joo’s scar, and all. He can still see ghosts, but they no longer pay him any mind. After mourning Nam-gu and fulfilling his final requests, Ki-joo sets up a normal photography studio to support his new, normal life.
Thus far, Ki-joo has brushed off niggling doubts about how little sense all these events make, preferring to write it off as a miracle. But the problem is that it doesn’t make sense, and his ordeal isn’t actually over. But it’s also no longer his. Bom still has her scar, and now she’s the one ghosts are hounding about settling unpaid debts and opening the Midnight Studio doors. Which, by the way, now open from her closet.
Soon, a grim reaper shows up to set the record straight. The ancestor who stole the camera in the first place wished in desperation that his son would live to see the age of 35, so the petty, vindictive reaper granted his wish quite literally… and extended it to all future descendants. What’s more, he granted Ki-joo’s desperate wish to save Bom when Detective Lee jumped off the roof with her — so now it’s Bom’s turn to “pay the price” for Ki-joo’s wish.
Ki-joo, of course, isn’t about to let that happen. So he follows Ki-won’s trail in search of a passage into the netherworld. It’s located near the tunnel where the fatal crash occurred (hence Ki-won happening upon the scene when he did), and Ki-won’s notes indicate that it only appears every three years. The reaper warns that even attempting to find the passage is a deadly endeavor, but Ki-joo simply stresses that he’s prepared to do whatever it takes to ensure Bom lives a long, happy life — well beyond the age of 36.
Thankfully, Ki-joo doesn’t just up and disappear. He tells Bom exactly where he’s going and why. And he promises, much like Ki-won did, that he’ll return safely. Though, judging by the glimpse of his journey that we get at the very end of Episode 15, that’s going to be a tough promise to keep.
But what about our other ghost? After Ki-joo loses his connection to The Midnight Studio, Sung-ho decides he’d rather risk the dangers of staying in the living world anyway, so he doesn’t have to part with Ji-won again. He can only “talk” to her through text messages, but they make it work as best as they can. He keeps her company when her terrible boss makes her stay late, and they even manage a kiss of sorts (she has to guess where his lips might be and just go for it, but hey, they seem satisfied with the result).
To everyone’s frustration, the boss decides to keep Ji-won on as an intern and hire his (alleged) daughter full-time in her place. When Sung-ho’s petty revenge backfires, the daughter blames Ji-won for her own mistake, and Ji-won stays up all night trying to fix it. The next morning, she collapses from exhaustion, and Sung-ho — the only person around — drops his phone in his panic, leaving him no way to call for help.
I’m still working out how I feel about Nam-gu’s end. All the elements were foreshadowed, and it felt true to character, but maybe his and Na-rae’s story just doesn’t make for a satisfying conclusion no matter how you slice it. There was too much hurt dealt on both sides, and they missed the chance to either reconcile or part amicably. Likewise, I’m bracing for a sad ending for Ji-won and Sung-ho next week, because the only options for their relationship to continue involve at least one of them still being dead.
But, with so much going wrong this week, I’m hopeful there might at least be a happier ending in store for our leading couple (knocking on ALL of the wood!). Finding out that your desperate wish to save the person you love was the very thing that doomed them to a shortened, haunted existence is an exceptionally cruel blow — but these two have certainly proven that they aren’t the type to give up in the face of overwhelming cruelty.
RELATED POSTS
- Premiere Watch: The Midnight Studio
- Snapshots for spirits at the Midnight Photo Studio
- The Midnight Photo Studio is open for business
- News bites: February 14, 2024
- News bites: February 6, 2024
- News bites: January 18, 2024
- News bites: April 6, 2023
- Stealer: The Treasure Keeper: Episodes 1-2
- Bulgasal: Immortal Souls: Episodes 1-2 (Review)
Tags: Eum Moon-seok, Joo-won, Kwon Nara, The Midnight Studio, Yoo In-soo
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1 Kurama
May 2, 2024 at 12:39 AM
Hum... a lot of things were quite disapointing :
- His uncle : his comeback was quite dull. His death was an "accident" and he came back just like this and then left definitely.
- The villain spirit : he was obsessed with the camera and Ki-joo and again, a fight, he disappeared.
- Both Nam-Goo and Sung-Ho are hurting their loved ones by resting. I'm sorry for Sung-Ho but Ji-Won deserves better than a ghost who can't really be there for her. And his plan failed and he hurt her more. Nam-Goo's lie about the divorce was a bad idea for me and didn't make sense at all. His death was sad and I liked how they explaines how it was possible with a past case.
- Bom not talking to Ki-Joo was a little stupid. He looked sick since the beginning the story and she thought she could do it alone?
Why the Grim Reaper doesn't take back the camera? Was Ki-Joo opposite to it? Why a human needs to do it if it wasn't the original purpose?
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2 Britney
May 2, 2024 at 1:52 AM
Honestly this thought crossed my mind: "did they not know what to do with the uncle?"
That resolution was SO weird to me. It didn't seem to even to make sense to the world building already established. How can temporary ghost take a picture of a ghost at a previous studio? Why did the safe zone no longer work? Even if Ki Joo was no longer the photographer, Bom was so wouldn't she need protection?
And it made little sense that Bom didn't tell Ki Joo about what she was going through given that he IS an expert at dealing with that life. Even if she didn't want to worry him, it made no sense to leave him in the dark.
The part timer ghost annoyed me. They could've literally waited until Bom was done with her trial yet they demanded to be dealt with first and the aftermath is they didn't even get what they wanted cause how would Bom even keep the money.
I thought companies or korean corporate life had anonymous company messages boards or something. How could no one complain about Chief Kim's blatant mistreatment and nepotism? Are you telling me there's no one above Chief Kim. How can he force employess to do his kids' homework or hire them for a full time position?
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vienibenmio
May 2, 2024 at 7:32 AM
Oh good, I'm not the only one who was confused then?
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Britney
May 2, 2024 at 5:36 PM
I was *so* confused haha
Even though I watched the series from the beginning, I apparently didn't understand how possession worked because the evil spirit ended up destroyed because the host was destroyed and that confused me haha. I thought the evil spirit would be expelled from the host, not destroyed (since he apparently wasn't killed by stabbing like the host)
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Vladdles
May 2, 2024 at 10:27 PM
I agree that the brief return of the uncle seems a little underwhelming however it did serve the purpose of leaving information for Ki-Joo to finally return the camera to it's rightful place in the underworld.
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🌸 Seeker 🌸
May 7, 2024 at 1:03 PM
I think that since Ki-joo was the one who originally created the protection circle around Bom and himself when she was a temporary / coma ghost, the circle lost its efficacy alongwith the loss of Ki-joo's power / scar connected to the camera.
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3 geminirat
May 2, 2024 at 2:00 AM
Thank you, @mistyisles, for the weecap. I was thinking if Kijoo just let the evil spirit take the camera, what would have happened to him? Methinks, he would be free.
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🌸 Seeker 🌸
May 7, 2024 at 12:58 PM
For one we won't have had the drama. 🤣
But using in-drama logic it seemed that the camera needed to be returned from where it was taken.
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4 Bunny Sonaki
May 2, 2024 at 3:10 AM
I have mixed feelings here. Partly, I think things are dragged out to make 16 eps when a tight 12 eps might have been better. And part of me trying to hold out on hope for a clear resolution.
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🌸 Seeker 🌸
May 7, 2024 at 12:56 PM
Beautifully expressed. Some points connect really well - reunion with samchon for example. But it does seem stretched.
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5 Kafiyah Bello
May 2, 2024 at 5:35 AM
This drama does one thing really well and it is their romance. Everything else is too much and/or nonsense. Their relationship seems lived in to me, there are my favorite forehead kisses, pecks, and proper kisses. Welp one episode left to go.
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vienibenmio
May 2, 2024 at 7:31 AM
It seems like we even got a bed scene? Granted, it was ambiguous
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Kafiyah Bello
May 2, 2024 at 8:09 AM
Yuppers!!!
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DancingEmma
May 2, 2024 at 10:43 AM
Totes agree and yuppers as you said!
I feel petty in saying this but I still hate that godawful hair colour. It made this pale dude look sickly throughout even though I kinda understand why it was chosen. Still, I kept hoping we will see him get rid of it and go back to his becoming black colour but no such luck so far.
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Kafiyah Bello
May 2, 2024 at 11:25 AM
Yeah, the color washes him out. Smh
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🌸 Seeker 🌸
May 7, 2024 at 12:55 PM
The romance is not your usual K-drama candy floss but a "real" relationship in drama world. It's amazing how quickly and well Ki-joo picked up the "technique" after that first fish eyed kiss. 😂
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6 vienibenmio
May 2, 2024 at 9:00 AM
Originally I thought that Bom was going to have to die because she is only alive due to the camera in the first place. That would have made more sense to me
I fully admit that I've been paying less attention to these past few eps, so it's possible I missed something. I'm really only hanging in for the romance. I love how sweet and affectionate these two are
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7 Sniptoit
May 3, 2024 at 6:27 AM
Even though I agree with most of the comments about the storylines I just wanted to say I have been pleasantly surprised with this drama and really wanted to say the head make up person is amazing but the "filler" ghosts make up is sometimes like bad a Halloween costume!
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8 kdramakat
May 6, 2024 at 10:22 AM
I was angry and frustrated with the conclusion of Nam-gu's story line. I know that he was a work-obsessed, neglectful husband, but throughout all the flashbacks I never once saw Na-rae express her loneliness and dissatisfaction to him. Never once did she tell him that their marriage was in trouble, and he would have been just as blindsided by the divorce papers had he lived. Instead, she tried to make him think of her via flowers? What? I feel that she was just as much at fault for the break down of their marriage: instead of saying anything she went ahead and had an affair. After his death she allowed the stalkerish boyfriend and her mother to vilify him, and he spent a great deal of time wallowing in regret and self-recrimination. Who knows if anything in their marriage would have changed if she tried to communicate her unhappiness, but at least there would have been some closure just by him having the chance to change when he was alive.
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9 Dylan [Suffering from Judge from Hell brainrot]
May 6, 2024 at 6:57 PM
I was honestly checked out these last two episodes, this drama could easily have been 12 episodes long and it shows. It was just an illogical, grim slog. Thankfully, just one more to go… and I, for one, am happy I (hopefully) don’t have to see Na-Rae. What a cruel ending for Baek tho.
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10 🌸 Seeker 🌸
May 7, 2024 at 12:50 PM
Thank you for another insightful recap. Also I was so happy to see the header photo because that happy-faced Seo Ki-joo is exactly what I posted on my Fanwall after watching the episode. 😊
The first five minutes and the long awaited reunion brought so much joy.
The birthday party was such sweet fun. While Seo Ki-joo knows how to throw a birthday party (for the twins) this is the first time anyone has even wished him for his birthday. He took it rather well. Also the flirting coz now he can cozy up with Bom without having the ghostly assistants fly away from the safe zone. 😂 His having her sleep on his arm while she indulged in "imagination" was ... just too K-drama. 🤣
While I didn't expect Nam Goo's photo session to go as planned, this is not what I had bargained for. 😅 I was both saddened and impressed by Nam Goo's presence of mind. It was a good way to get rid of the Spirit.
I understand that the "plot" requires Seo Ki-joo and not Bom to return the camera. I appreciated that while doing his research and preparing for the trip he discussed it upfront with Bom without indulging in needless noble idiocy.
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11 Unaspirated
May 8, 2024 at 2:33 PM
I like these episodes more after reading your recap, @mistyisles so thank you!
They weren't necessarily bad or disappointing, but episode 15 was the first one that dragged a bit for me, which was such a bummer after a really enjoyable run. Some of it was the odd way things were sort of wrapping up before the characters realized it wasn't all over yet, which I get was the whole point, but it made that episode feel quite slow to me.
On the other hand, it was kind of interesting how the drama subverted the expectations I had from early on - that our corrupt prosecutor was the big bad and that the evil spirit who really wanted the camera was connected to the "curse" and one of the biggest obstacles.
I wonder what would have happened if Ki-joo had discovered that he just needed to give the camera back earlier. He really only decided to go against his fate recently, when he met Bom. But maybe if he had known it was possible he still would have taken the risk? Or do you think it had to be someone else he loved for him to undertake that journey?
I don't mind Nam-gu's end. It's certainly not what I would have chosen, and in some ways it feels like he's hurting his wife a little in return before freeing her of those regrets, but I think it was effective. I wish that Ki-joo had gone off script slightly and told her Nam-gu wanted a divorce because he realized he wasn't able to keep his promises to her - that is near enough to the truth and would have been easier to understand. But I respect his strategy and his ending was tragic and heroic, just like his life had been.
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