Full Sun: Episode 5

by gummimochi

It’s an episode of important realizations for our hero that threaten to overturn nearly everything he’s let himself believe thus far. Heck, I wouldn’t blame Se-ro if he thought that the world had pulled a fast one on him with the truth, especially when it comes from the one person he never expected.

And while the truth can set you free, there are plenty of other characters in this world who would rather live their lives built upon lies instead. They’d tell you to ix nay on the uthtray ellingtay, if you please.

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EPISODE 5 RECAP

Rattled by Young-won’s empathy, Se-ro deflects her kind words with denial, insisting that he’s not hurt at all. But Young-won calls him on his bluff, noting that his tears are betraying his words.

Se-ro turns away, unable to face her with his rising emotions. He can barely keep it together until Young-won leaves before finally giving into his tears.

Next thing we know, Se-ro staggers into Kang-jae’s place drunk and slams an envelope (containing the original accounting ledgers) on the table before sprawling out on the floor. He angrily yells that he doesn’t want to forgive his enemies, claiming that Young-won is a two-faced, disgusting, and scary woman.

Kang-jae isn’t in the mood to entertain a rowdy drunk, but he returns to tuck Se-ro to sleep on the floor. And while I still can’t a good read on Kang-jae yet, he’s a good hyung, aw. Se-ro says Kang-jae can keep the documents and do what he wants with them, and then lets out an ironic laugh, mumbling that Young-won is really strange over and over again.

Manager Min and Young-won reviews the security tapes of the exhibition opening the next day at work. Although a clip of Se-ro conversing while in possession of a similar brown envelope troubles them, they can’t draw any solid conclusions with so little to go off of.

However, it’s reason enough for Young-won to be cautious, especially when she runs into Se-ro and Hong, the latter of whom is introduced as a new employee. Recognizing the newbie’s face from the video, she greets them both with indifference, something that Se-ro doesn’t miss.

Meanwhile, Madam Baek isn’t at all worried that Young-won has caught on to her evil stepmother ways (the candlelit rose petal bath helps, I’m sure). Her concern still remains with her son, determined to establish a place for him before Daddy Han catches a whiff of anything suspicious.

Manager Min confronts Se-ro about the video anyway, asking him about the envelope’s contents. Ah, so it seems Young-won didn’t confide in her assistant about the documents, and though Se-ro neither confirms nor denies it, he suggests that she can ask Young-won herself if she’s that curious.

Young-won’s latest product pitch is met with some opposition at their next meeting. Disagreeing with the notion that tucking a diamond beneath another gemstone is a waste, she puts on the pink sapphire ring to show it off.

The issue is that their customers want large cut gemstones and Se-ro’s confidence in acquiring a rose-cut pink sapphire is met with general disbelief— just because he’s an international dealer doesn’t mean he can always get his way. But Young-won is willing to put his skills to the test and gives him a week.

They wrap up their meeting on that note, and once they’re alone, Se-ro asks what she’d like for him to hunt down first: the sapphire or Jung Se-ro? Can’t blame him for being direct.

More like sort of direct as Se-ro explains that he couldn’t ignore her earnest request. Amused by Young-won’s eager response to learn any information on her number one enemy, he asks if his coincidental meeting caught on tape has anything to do with the envelope she received.

As she ponders over that question, he urges her in his thoughts to admit that she had a hand in the money laundering. But she doesn’t and hones in on tracking down her enemy instead.

She’s astounded that he would try to strike a deal with her, so Se-ro backs off, though he adds that she should be thanking him for helping her at all. Unfortunately their one lead is a dead end and Se-ro pretends to be disappointed about the matter.

Once outside, Se-ro talks about himself in the third person, saying that his sources say he led an honest life despite his father’s criminal track record. Se-ro tenses at Young-won’s insinuation that he must have learned a thing or two from Dad, and asks if it’s fair to judge someone based on their parents’ actions—for all she knows, he could have been an innocent boy who had hopes and dreams.

But when Young-won sticks to her criticism, Se-ro says that those same kids could grow up to be crooks because of self-righteous people like her. Offended, she asks if he wants her to be sympathetic to her enemy.

Se-ro counters no, but: “Aren’t you curious? Who [Jung Se-ro] might be, why he sought you out? It’s not like you framed him for murder or threw him in jail, but why would he seek you, the victim? Even I find it strange, don’t you?” Oh, helllllooo mind games. But also questions I think you should ask yourself too, Se-ro.

Se-ro’s stare lingers on her face as if waiting for a reaction, but then he walks away when he doesn’t get one.

Back at Scammers HQ, Hama literally eats up the order for pink sapphires, furious that he has to act as Se-ro’s shadow. He doesn’t buy the argument that his job is to build Se-ro’s credibility by pulling off the virtually impossible and would rather clock Hong in the jaw.

It’s apparent that Daddy Han loves to dote on his wife as they enjoy a fancy lunch date together… that is, until Madam Baek makes it plain that she’d like to have Belle la Fair.

She masks her greed as thinly veiled concern that it’s only a matter of time until Young-won knowing the truth about the company’s affairs will strain their loving father-daughter relationship.

But Daddy Han is sharp enough to identify her true intentions: to have Young-joon run the company instead. Perhaps he’s aware of her voracious appetite for power as well, because he asks how old his wife (whom he notably addresses by name this time, to accentuate some distance) is now.

He notes that his relatively young wife must be upset that she couldn’t fulfill most of her ambitions in the twenty five years they’ve known each other. However, he feels that he’s done his part for her in that time (Translation: “Don’t be greedy and overstep your boundaries”).

And as if to drill the point home, he tosses a rose in her direction, adding with a smirk that she’s better off asking for frivolous things instead. Boy, aren’t you two a manipulative match made in heaven. Or hell. That’s the same thing with them, isn’t it?

At the same time, Young-won and Se-ro have their own meeting with Kang-jae and Jae-in (who are in character as representatives from their hack jewelry supplier company) over acquiring first picks of colored diamonds—a request they’re willing to accommodate if Belle la Fair chooses them as their exclusive gemstone suppliers for the next year.

Young-won gapes at the high price for those rights, but she’s skeptical when she’s shown a set of supposedly real blue diamonds that would exponentially increase the company’s gross profit sales.

She finds the promise of a steady supply of such rare gemstones hard to believe, but Kang-jae considers this offer a win-win for both parties. To her surprise, Se-ro declines. And then Se-ro pulls out the reverse psychology tactic, arguing against their terms with facts and that he finds the deal too burdensome.

He essentially puts a stop to this (fake) deal, and Young-won is still perplexed by his decision even after it’s over. The four run into Daddy Han and his wife on their way out and exchange pleasantries before Young-won leaves with her family.

The con artists remark on the Han family in the car and they guess that the chaebols aren’t easily persuaded. Jae-in asks what Young-won is like but Se-ro doesn’t answer.

Secretary Ahn manages to lure Grandma away with the promise that she can see her prodigal grandson in Seoul. Good thing Third Wheel Lackey has been keeping tabs on her and immediately calls it in, and is promptly instructed to go to Grandma’s house.

Thing is, Secretary Ahn is one step ahead of them, as his own minion is already busy searching the house for evidence of Se-ro. He discovers a photo album and flips through its pages until he finds a picture of adult Se-ro. But that’s when the police come storming in and he’s forced to flee without it. Phew, for now.

Se-ro is called in to see Daddy Han, who says he doesn’t want his precious little girl getting her hands dirty, so iSecretary Ahn will be in charge of Belle la Fair’s finances and Se-ro’s job to fall in line with those changes. Oh, and he’d like it if Se-ro gave him regular reports on his daughter.

The desire to recruit him as a spy isn’t lost on Se-ro, who replies that he’ll go and ask Young-won for permission to spy on her per her father’s orders. His answer floors the chairman, but before they can discuss it further, Daddy Han receives a call from—who else?—Jung Se-ro.

We see that it’s really Kang-jae on the other line and Se-ro’s eyes widen at the sound of his own name. Se-ro is promptly dismissed but he listens in outside the office to eavesdrop on the conversation.

Remember those original copies of the incriminating Hong Kong accounting ledgers? That’s what Kang-jae is bargaining with now, offering a straightforward exchange to hand over the documents for a sum. Se-ro winces in regret, only now recalling his drunken mistake.

Daddy Han warns that he could have (who he thinks is) Se-ro killed, but Kang-jae explains that he intends to take that money and run, so there’s no point coming after him afterwards. At the remark that he better not come back to beg for more, Kang-jae tells the old man to get it straight—he’s stealing that money, not begging for it.

They agree to arrange the details of the trade later, and Kang-jae issues one last warning that they better leave Grandma unharmed. Damn, I have to admit that protective Kang-jae is mighty appealing. Might not make up for taking care of Grandma for the last five years, but it’s a start.

Young-won spots Se-ro standing outside of her father’s office and follows him out to the hallway, asking what business he had here. His answer that it had to do with her only confuses her more, so Se-ro turns around to spell out the half-truth that he overheard her father strike a deal with her sworn enemy.

I’m not sure whether Se-ro is jumping to misunderstandings again or trying to evoke a response out of Young-won, but maybe it’s both because Se-ro then adds that he believes her father’s actions makes him no better than a swindler. That remark earns him a slap across the face.

Young-won asks Se-ro why he’s insulting her father and what it is that makes him so angry. Ooh, that’s a valid question. Se-ro parrots that question back at her and then answers that it frustrates him to know things about her own father that she clearly doesn’t.

His cryptic responses frustrates her though, and Se-ro leans in and advises that if she wants some answers, she can go ask Daddy Han herself.

That’s exactly what Young-won does and she’s furious to learn that her father bought off her late fiance’s murderer with money. Daddy Han raises his voice to silence her, then says he doesn’t want to hear either of those names ever again.

Kang-jae confides in Jae-in about his hypothesis: he’s virtually positive that Daddy Han was behind Woo-jin’s murder. I know that’s the way we see the scenario now, but gah, I cannot get a read on you, Kang-jae. Why do your arguments on this murder case sound so unconvincing?

Before they can dwell on it further, however, Se-ro marches up to them, infuriated that he’s been made into a greedy fool in the eyes of his foes. Kang-jae is letting the rich get off from their sins with spare pocket change, Se-ro argues, and he doesn’t need their money.

Kang-jae tells him to accept the money anyway and close the door on his personal revenge so that Se-ro can focus his attention to the bigger picture. Se-ro gets the full story from Hama later, who agrees that Se-ro should stop tormenting that family with the past.

He’s in Kang-jae’s debt, Hama explains, and Se-ro asks where his grandmother is now.

We catch up with Young-won, who swings by Grandma’s home, only to find the place ransacked. She starts to clean up and unknowingly covers Se-ro’s photo with a blanket, but then stops to see Grandma’s small jewelry collection.

That’s how Grandma finds her and Young-won puts on her icy bravado, letting the old woman believe she was the one who created this mess. Either Grandma doesn’t believe her or isn’t surprised that Young-won might have, but she isn’t angry and tells Young-won to fetch a good price for those pieces in her hands.

Young-won stalks off, but then bends down to clean up another mess on her way out and asks, “Why are you poor? Why are you so weak and poor that I can’t take out my anger on you?”

Grandma starts singing as she cleans, and when asked why, she says it’s not like she can explain everything to Young-won. So Young-won returns to sleep in her confessional stall* Woo-jin’s old office, and we see Se-ro sit in his apartment, throwing the sum of money into the air in frustration.

Jae-in is still in disbelief at the possibility that Daddy Han would be cruel enough to murder his daughter’s lover. She suggests that they shouldn’t tell Se-ro even if it’s true, and if it is, “Let’s destroy that family.”

I’m more interested in Kang-jae’s nervous/uncertain(?) reactions though, as he readily agrees to that plan. Elsewhere, Daddy Han finally fills that empty drawer sighing that it took five long years to get these files back. He hopes that this means the end to his troubles.

Se-ro is informed that Madam Baek would like to arrange a secret meeting without letting Young-won know about it.

Speaking of whom, turns out that Young-won has taken Grandma’s jewels—to clean, not to sell. She doesn’t join in on Manager Min’s happiness that Se-ro managed to acquire the pink sapphires she wanted after all, and gets annoyed at the comparisons to Woo-jin.

But Se-ro comes to collect her just then, citing that it involves her family. So they both sit in a private room at a restaurant, listening to Kang-jae’s meeting with Madam Baek and her son taking place next door.

Suffice to say Young-won is shocked by her stepmother’s intentions to strike a business deal with Kang-jae. Se-ro encourages her to listen to the rest, and Madam Baek makes it perfectly plain that she wants Young-joon to take over Belle la Fair.

Having heard enough, Young-won walks out of the restaurant and Se-ro follows her out, asking why she’s avoiding the situation. He can’t understand why Young-won would hold back after hearing everything that was said back there. What is she so scared of?

Putting on a brave face, Young-won asks that he keeps this a secret, noting that he always finds her in her most vulnerable moments when she knows nothing about him. She’d rather let herself believe that they fell prey to greed now and ask why later.

They’re family, Young-won notes, “and I can’t lose my family. I don’t have the confidence to trust in people all over again.”

Se-ro pulls her back, still unable to process that Young-won knew nothing of her father’s corruption. He’s floored by her confession that she doesn’t really know what goes on in her family.

Frustrated, Se-ro asks if she’s proud of her ignorance—not knowing, pretending not to know, and not wanting to know can all be sins, too. Young-won replies, “I can’t say anything even if I knew.” Se-ro: “Why?!”

“Because like you said!” Young-won cries, “I’m a swindler’s daughter.”

With that, Se-ro concludes that Young-won is truly innocent because her eyes weren’t lying. He wonders why those incriminating files in Woo-jin’s drawer in the first place, then realizes that Woo-jin was keeping tabs on the chairman, who can issue death threats… and the pieces fall in place: Daddy Han.

At this realization, Se-ro walks out without a word, prompting Jae-in’s concern that he’s figured it out. He heads straight to the Han family residence, only to find her not at home.

That’s because Young-won is at the workplace, finally packing up Woo-jin’s things. She lets out an exasperated sigh, wondering what else he has left to say, and he starts, “Your… your father…”

But then he recalls Young-won’s words about her trust issues, and he finishes, “That your father is a bad man.”

Young-won sees right past those words and explains that she’s cleaning this room to be used for Se-ro’s use. She intends to become stronger and endure in order to protect her family and her company, so if there’s something else that she needs to know…

…and Se-ro cuts her off: “No.” Gasp, are you starting to see her in a new light and… do I sense belated guilt?

That only provokes her and she throws his earlier words back at him, and when Se-ro tries again, she cries in exasperation, “What about my father?!”

Se-ro can barely hold back his tears as Young-won asks if he thinks it’s easy for her to accept him and let him take Woo-jin’s place in this office. Even though Se-ro’s presence agonizes her, she’s not letting him in here because she trusts him, “but because I can’t be without someone like you right now!”

Crying now, she demands to know the truth that Se-ro is hiding that would explain why he would come looking for her at this hour. Just then, her legs collapse right from under her and Se-ro catches her.

As she weakly calls out Woo-jin’s name, Se-ro urges her, “Wait… just for a bit… just a little bit.”

 
COMMENTS

Despite being a slower episode than the ones in preceding weeks (which might explain the dip in the ratings with a 3.3%), Full Sun continues to chug along at full power with its characters’ charged emotions—mostly it’s just Se-ro and Young-won, but then again they’re the ones harboring the biggest misunderstandings and tragedy in this show, so it’s to be expected.

That may be why I didn’t mind the focus on the existing misunderstandings in our characters’ budding relationships and its aftereffects in this episode. For instance, I find Grandma and Young-won’s interactions truly heartbreaking as they both let the other believe what they want about Se-ro. And yet, Young-won struggles with her desire to extend her anger for her love’s murderer onto the family. Then we see that Young-won would rather choose to believe in the misunderstanding even when the truth is right in front of her, as was the case with her stepmother, for fear of losing the only family she has and the tiring process of rebuilding trust later on.

Dismantling Se-ro’s misguided anger was a key turning point for our hero, not only for his own revenge, but his perspective towards Young-won as well. I love how we could see the sea of emotions of disbelief, bewilderment, and confusion in that crucial moment of realization of her noninvolvement plainly written on his face. We’ve seen Se-ro attack Young-won’s pain with harsh remarks about her father all episode long, but then at the chance to torment her by exposing the worst of Daddy Han’s evil deeds, he chooses to preserve her tiny shred of hope in her father.

On the revenge and heist front, I’m left wanting with how Se-ro’s revenge was handled, though I’m not giving up since our hero now knows to whom to take revenge on. Or does he? It’s this question that keeps coming back to me because while we can guess that Daddy Han made the assassination order (unless there’s some grand twist later), it’s Kang-jae who’s still a cipher. I can’t get a read on his shifty eyes whenever the topic of Se-ro being framed comes up in conversation, and while I agree that Se-ro’s emotional health will benefit from letting go of this crazy revenge scheme, I can’t help but think his urging is deliberately pushy. Gah, what are you trying to hide aside from your indirect involvement in Dad’s accident?

Still, I’m a little happy we can put those damned accounting ledgers to rest (for now), and it makes me wonder what Se-ro will do next without a dangling carrot in front of Daddy Han’s eyes. I suppose there’s always the innocent lamb that is Young-won, but funny how those initial vengeful intentions magically disappear when the one you hate most becomes the one you most want to protect.

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