Episode 9
Episode 9 of Namib begins with Soo-hyun and Jun-seok signing the contract to transfer Jin-woo to a new entertainment company. Later, Jin-woo pleads with Soo-hyun not to abandon him, only to discover that she had used him to fund Shim Jin-woo’s factory. Their parting is bitter and strained.
Meanwhile, Ha-na advances to the finale of Star Rise, edging closer to fulfilling the dream she once shared with her late friend.
Elsewhere, it is revealed that the VIP involved in the car accident is one of Pandora’s investors, who had brought along an unidentified druggie. This druggie is the person Hyun-cheol suspects to be responsible for his sister’s death. Hyun-cheol confronts the man and coerces him into arranging a meeting with the druggie, taking him to an undisclosed location for an ominous encounter.
At the same time, Jin-woo is warmly welcomed by his new company’s team and earns a spot in their upcoming debut group. Shim Jin-woo officially starts working at the factory as well.
Despite resolving these matters, Soo-hyun is plagued by insomnia and guilt over “bartering” Jin-woo for her own gain.
Jin-woo, now busy shooting commercials, goes as far as blocking his mother’s number. Later, he learns that Yi-jun, his former partner from Star Rise, has joined his new group. Yi-jun had lied about withdrawing from the competition, and Jin-woo angrily warns him not to cause trouble again.
Meanwhile, an Xpatch reporter confronts the Star Rise PD about his ties to Pandora. Just as Ha-na prepares for the finale, explosive news breaks about Pandora’s involvement in manipulating the competition’s results.
One reporter questions Soo-hyun, who defends Jin-woo, stating that he had not been a Pandora trainee during the show. However, suspicion shifts to Ha-na, as she appears to have benefited the most from the rigged results.
The Star Rise PD confides in Hyun-cheol, revealing plans to eliminate Ha-na in the next round. This prompts Hyun-cheol to investigate CCTV footage from the club where the PD was involved in drug use. During his investigation, he also discovers footage of Jin-woo at the club and offers the reporter a sensational new story to pursue.
Soon after, the media erupts with reports about Jin-woo’s alleged presence at the club and accusations of him being a bully. Despite Jin-woo’s denial, his manager remains skeptical. Jin-woo returns to his dorm, unaware that Shim Jin-woo has been trying to reach him and is now close behind.
When Shim Jin-woo arrives, he finds Jin-woo in the bathroom with his wrists slit. Panicked, Shim Jin-woo tries to conceal the incident, but Soo-hyun overhears about it during a call. Distraught, she gets into a car accident just as Jin-woo’s manager discovers him.
The Episode Review
This episode raises the stakes with heightened tensions and character developments. Jin-woo and Soo-hyun’s parallel descents into darkness are juxaposed, with Jin-woo reverting to self-harm and Soo-hyun drowning in guilt and sleeplessness, ending in her tragic car accident.The subplot surrounding Hyun-cheol adds another layer of intrigue as he uncovers the man responsible for his sister’s death. What will he do now? Did he kill the man?
However, the episode’s beginning is one of its major issues. In the previous episode, Jin-woo’s emotional request for Soo-hyun to become his manager added a dramatic touch and left viewers with a compelling cliffhanger. Yet, this episode completely disregards that moment, opting instead to open from Jin-woo’s entirely different perspective. This abrupt shift feels disjointed, undermining the continuity and emotional weight built up in the previous episode.
The episode ends on a suspenseful note, leaving viewers wondering about Jin-woo’s fate and whether his secrets will become public knowledge. With so many unresolved questions, the next episode promises to be pivotal in unraveling these questions.
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Episode Rating
I do like this drama, and sometimes I just want to like it. As you mentioned the beginning of episode 9 is a mess. The manager plot is ignored. And then the conversation between both leads has maybe one of the worst acting i have seen lately. The tone of the acting of each actor is so disjointed it is painful to watch. The male lead is dramatic and expressive, while the female lead is so stiff with no expression. My opinion is that is not the actors fault but it is a direction issue. There are a lot of “bad directing” moments in this episode. When the female lead wakes up at night because of insomnia, when the villain is in the hospital… anyways, i am still interested in this drama