Namib – K-drama Episode 2 Recap & Review

Episode 2

Episode 2 of Namib begins with Soo-hyun consulting someone at a major entertainment firm. She realizes that if Jin-woo wins the contest, she can transfer his contract to a bigger agency for a profit—the 1 billion won she needs to buy Shim Jin-woo a factory.

In a flashback, we see Soo-hyun getting irked when Jin-woo uses her son as leverage. Meanwhile, at the club, Chris advises Jin-woo to work there during the nights and reiterates that he shouldn’t trust anybody.

Back at home, Soo-hyun finds that her husband and son are staying at their mutual friend’s café. They’ve left because they can no longer tolerate Soo-hyun’s insistence on buying the factory and hiring bodyguards for Shim Jin-woo at school.

The next day at the office, Soo-hyun discovers that Jin-woo was on the verge of debuting but was disqualified after disappearing. Meanwhile, Smile Investments’ CEO visits Soo-hyun, revealing his motive for revenge—she had rejected him in favor of marrying Jun-seok.

Later, Soo-hyun meets Yoo Jin-woo to discuss why he disappeared and insists on meeting his mother. Jin-woo, who has no idea where his parents are, agrees to search for them. During their search, Jin-woo recalls painful memories of his parents exploiting his talents, such as making him perform at a restaurant when he was only eight years old.

While resting in a park, Jin-woo calms a lost child by singing, which leaves Soo-hyun impressed by his talent. During this moment, Soo-hyun reveals that her father had thrown her, her mother, and her sister out of their home to live with his mistress.

They eventually find Jin-woo’s mother, who lashes out at him for being ousted by the company. Seeing this, Soo-hyun realizes Jin-woo’s kindness and decides to sign a contract with him, offering him food and housing. She takes him to her house, leaving her family bewildered.

However, just as she drops Jin-woo at home, Soo-hyun rushes to the nursing home to stop her father from taking her mother, who has dementia, back home with him. When Soo-hyun returns, she finds Jun-seok furious, serving her divorce papers. The episode ends with Shin Jin-woo overhearing his parents’ argument.

The Episode Review

This episode showcases an interesting parallel between Yoo Jin-woo and Soo-hyun, providing deeper insight into their backstories and motivations that would ultimately lead to the emotional exhilaration by the end of the series – Jin-woo winning the Star Rise. Jin-woo’s abandonment by his parents at a young age adds emotional weight to his journey but the fundamental elements of the show scream a predictable plot.

The narrative continues to focus on the entertainment industry, with the struggles and challenges faced by trainees at its core. Namib is shaping up to be another K-drama centered on the uphill battle of underdog characters striving for success. With troubles brewing in both of our lead characters’ lives, the question remains whether Namib will do justice to its genre and deliver a satisfying tale of personal and professional growth without giving in to monotony.