TRIANGLE EPISODE 3

Last episode, we saw how much of a jerk Yang Ha was. This episode, we're treated to a bit less of everything. They tuned some things down as if to kind of ram it into our heads that "Yes, this is what's going on in detail." I would prefer a more breakneck pace, personally.

Young Dal is having some severe guilt issues. In a dream, he is attacked by Gi Chan, the now-dead original owner of the $5 million that he stole. He tells Dong Soo that he no longer wishes to be an informant and goes off to buy a house. Instead he ends up renting a house adjacent to Jung Hee's, owned by her grandmother. He pays a year rent in advance. Young Dal and his faithful friend freak out when they hear news that the thugs from the Philippines may have killed Gi Chan�because that means they will be looking for the money. He goes to Madame Jang's casino to calm his nerves, and ends up running out with Jung Hee in tow when the police show up.



Young Dal is unfortunately the character whose story I enjoy the most. The Detective seems to be chasing leads rather slowly, and doesn't have much to characterize him other than the rage issues, which now seem to be working for him. Yang Ha acts like a first class turkey, and doesn't have much to recommend him. Young Dal, a thug that strikes it rich but is in terrible danger, seems the most compelling character. He seems to run into Jin Hee a lot and those two might end up together.

Detective Dong Soo is investigating Gi Chan, victim of the murder that was made to look like a suicide. A member of his squad, Kang Jin (played by Park Hyo Joo), comes over to his house, cooks and cleans for him. When Shin Hye comes by, Kang Jin asks what their relationship is. The answer she receives, that they "used to live together," is hardly comforting to her. Later, he finally seeks therapy from Shin Hye.



Really, Dong Soo treats Kang Jin rather rudely. She acts like she likes him, but very little is said one way or the other about it. Here's a woman who comes over, spends time with you, cooks for you, cleans for you, does the dishes, and all you have to say to her basically amounts to "shut up." I think Dong Soo has issues beyond merely losing his parents. That may be where the rage comes from: holding onto his pain, being the oldest, and spreading his dad's ashes.

Yang Ha acts like your typical chaebol jerk again. He insults Young Dal when challenged to a rematch, he blackmails Jung Hee into having a drink with him where he trounces her in a game similar to strip poker, and we find out where some of his issues come from - the President of the empire whence his money flows screams at him and almost strikes him when he fouls up some report. Yang Ha is "sentenced" to learn about the casino business from the ground up. I'm assuming this is his father, and it's understandable to be afraid if you get harangued constantly by the one who raised you.



The main issue I have with this drama is that there's no one to root for, no main good guy that we clearly want to win. It's probably that the brothers subplot is so deeply buried that we don't get an idea of what the thing is about, really. We have three different main characters with a host of other mostly female characters. And while there are a few points where their lives intersect, we don't know how they all meet or find out they are brothers. I keep hoping for some romances, some "triangles", if you will, to heat up, but we only get lukewarm reactions.

The first episode was pretty good, but it went a bit downhill from there. I'm hoping this picks up a bit more. It's got some action, no romance, and the reveal is really slow. The main story arc is what happens when these brothers' lives intersect, and we haven't really gotten there. We really have the makings of three separate dramas as what mainly links these brothers together right now are the other characters, and even then, it's pretty thin. It is only the third episode, so maybe I'm judging it too quickly.