Mr. Plankton – K-drama Episode 5 Recap & Review

Episode 5

Episode 5 of Mr. Plankton begins with Jae-mi’s story about her failed attempts to get adopted. This lack of a family made her long to become a mother—something she was first denied when Hae-jo refused to have children and then again when she discovered her medical condition.

In the present, Heung and John end up at a motel, where Heung obtains Gi-ho’s contact information. Meanwhile, Hae-jo wakes up in the middle of the night searching for his medicine.

The man offers him the medicine and takes him outside to a fish market, affectionately referring to Hae-jo as his son. This warms Hae-jo’s heart, and they share a touching moment as the man expresses concern for Hae-jo. While they’re out, Jae-mi tries to run away after finding the house empty but ultimately decides to return.

Elsewhere, Heung contacts Gi-ho, clarifying that his bride was kidnapped rather than running away voluntarily. Gi-ho relays this information to the gang leader, but the leader remains determined to capture Hae-jo. Gi-ho later shares Hae-jo’s location with Heung.

The following morning, the man leaves for work, telling Jae-mi he considers Hae-jo his son regardless of the paternity test results and asks her to convince Hae-jo to stay with him for a while. Later, as Hae-jo sleeps, Jae-mi picks vegetables in the forest, where she encounters the gangsters and runs.

Heung, who happens to be nearby, also crosses paths with the gangsters. Meanwhile, Hae-jo and Jae-mi discover that the man has stolen their money, and they rush to leave before the gangsters arrive. They manage to get away just before Heung and the gangsters reach the now-empty cabin.

On their journey, Hae-jo receives the results of the paternity test, though the verdict remains unknown. They follow clues from the man’s calendar, which lead them to a gambling den at the port. There, the man reveals his true colors, attempting to manipulate Hae-jo. Jae-mi intervenes, keeping Hae-jo from killing him.

When she questions whether the man is truly his father, Hae-jo responds with a no. He then tells Jae-mi to go back, as he no longer finds their wandering enjoyable. This triggers an emotional outburst from Jae-mi, leading Hae-jo to kiss her.

Unfortunately, Heung arrives just in time to witness the kiss, with John attempting to block Heung’s view to prevent him from getting hurt.

The Episode Review

The episode’s opening sheds light on Jae-mi’s background, providing context for her struggles and adding perspective to her grief. Wanting children was deeply important to her, so her current sadness is understandable.

On the other hand, Hae-jo’s story takes a sad, melodramatic turn. While it’s unclear if the man is truly Hae-jo’s father, it seems likely based on Hae-jo’s reaction to the paternity test and his decision to stop searching.

Hae-jo’s kindness and obvious affection for Jae-mi seem to be impacting her deeply. Unaware of Heung’s pursuit and Hae-jo’s illness, Jae-mi’s world may be shaken further in the finale, which promises to be an emotional episode filled with tears and heartache.