Episode 3 of Fifties Professionals takes the story into much more dangerous territory, as long-buried connections start to surface. In this chapter, loyalty, betrayal and the criminal forces behind the scenes come to the fore, though the mystery of the missing parcel is still there.
The episode begins with a flashback. Gong-bok is at the mercy of a group of thugs fifteen years earlier, until Beom-ryung shows up and turns the tables with ease. The flashback is a reminder of the bond between the two men and why Beom-ryung keeps risking everything for his friend.
We are in the present and the brutal showdown from last episode continues. Beom-ryung intervenes once again to save Gong-bok, fighting against impossible odds, while Je-sun and Nam-il can only look on in horror. Things take a turn for the worse when In-goo refuses to show mercy. His preferred weapon is humiliation, and he forces Beom-ryung and Gong-bok to humiliate themselves as his gang laughs at them.
Violence is broken, suddenly, by a police report, and the victims get a brief respite. The gang dump them on the side of the road with a chilling warning: go to the house in three days or suffer the consequences. In-goo is already pondering how to eliminate Beom-ryung altogether even after the confrontation has ended.
Simultaneously, another menace starts to surface. The conflict is partially visible to Ho-myeong and he quickly recognizes several familiar faces. Immediately he is intrigued and begins to assemble a puzzle he has been working on for ten years.
One of the more humorous scenes in the episode is when Beom-ryung gets unexpected attention from the police officer he has a secret crush on. She bandages his wounds, anxious about his injuries, and gives him a way to contact her if he ever needs help. The exchange is so distracting for Beom-ryung that we get a small break from the tension that dominates the rest of the hour.
Beom-ryung enjoys this small moment of happiness, but Gong-bok makes a significant decision. He feels partially responsible for his friend getting into trouble and makes a vow to turn his back on revenge. But he can’t quite leave the past behind, it soon becomes clear.
Elsewhere, Young-ae finds herself in a scary situation of her own. She returns home to find her house has been searched and vandalized. A knife left as a warning makes it clear that someone wants to scare her. She is far from backing down, more determined than ever to get to the bottom of an old murder case.
Her search eventually leads her to a prison encounter with Mr. Hwang. From their conversation we learn that the man thinks he was framed and that he knows who the real killer is. But he won’t play ball unless Young-ae delivers the culprit.
The political aspect of the story also becomes much larger. Han meets with the influential representatives of the Japanese and Chinese criminal organizations to talk about plans for Yeongseon Island. The summit demonstrates that international crime syndicates have financial stakes in the region and the conflict is far larger than it initially seemed.
Han aims high, and really needs to win the mayoral election. But the moment you question his chances of victory he goes straight to work thinking of ways to hurt his opponent’s reputation. The conversation highlights how much he is prepared to manipulate politics and public perception to get what he wants.
Ho-myeong’s investigation provides the biggest revelation of the episode. He captures Gong-bok and finally learns the truth behind the Hwasan faction and the ferry incident that happened ten years ago. Gong-bok reveals that he and Beom-ryung have been searching for years for evidence that could redeem their organization’s name, and make known those who destroyed it.
Ho-myeong remains skeptical but agrees to use Gong-bok as an informant. The uneasy partnership between them creates a new dynamic that could dramatically shift the course of the investigation. Gong-bok is tasked with monitoring Je-sun, while Ho-myeong turns his attention to In-goo and his criminal activities.
Then the surveillance kicks in and disturbing truths are revealed. In-goo seems to be involved with a wide-ranging conspiracy to grab property and develop it. What makes the operation even more suspicious is evidence of drug trafficking connected to his business activities.
The tension builds steadily to the final act. In-goo is surely hiding something important, and Ho-myeong confronts him directly. He’s got the gangster in a mask cornered and he wants to know about the land deals around Yeongseon Island.
The interrogation quickly gets violent. Repeated attacks don’t make in-goo give anything away. And just when Ho-myeong appears to be in control, In-goo manages to signal his men. Within seconds the situation is reversed and Ho-myeong is caught in a trap set by a gang of armed criminals.
The episode ends on a cliffhanger that leaves the viewer wondering if Ho-myeong will escape and what other secrets In-goo is hiding.
Review
Episode 3 is a major turning point for Fifties Professionals. The story starts to pull its various characters and plot threads together, replacing mystery with something more substantial. This is a big turning point in the story and things are now progressing with Ho-myeong having narrowed down the key suspects in the case.
The presence of international criminal organizations also raises the stakes considerably. What seemed to be a local dispute is now shown to be part of a much larger network involving political corruption, organized crime, and financial interests.
The series still has some great character moments and mysteries to keep us on our toes, but it can sometimes struggle with pacing. There are multiple subplots vying for attention, and some cliffhangers seem to be stretched longer than they need to be. But the episode does do well in world-building, raising the stakes in the main conflict and laying the groundwork for some thrilling showdowns in the chapters to come.