Tomorrow and I – Season 1 Episode 4 “Octopus Girl” Recap & Review

Episode 4

Episode 4 of Tomorrow and I begins in the near future. It has been raining all over the world for 2 years and there have been all kinds of natural disasters. The rich claim that the rain is a blessing while the poor berate them as they constantly live in half-submerged areas, wearing raincoats.

The Neo Khlong Toei district is on its last legs and the rich people have evacuated. The poor make do with constant water. Students are given off days when their uniforms are too wet to wear so they can dry them. Elementary school girls, Pang and Mook are bubbly and playful as they run over planks and tunnels to reach their alley. It is a small, tight-knit community and everyone knows everyone. 

There is a new outbreak in the world which is a strain of the dengue virus. Children under the age of 10 are at the highest risk. A mosquito is about to sting Mook but she smacks it. She doesn’t have a family either and mostly hangs around Pang’s which consists of the girl, her brother, granny, mom and dad. They aren’t very well off and Pang’s mom, a trash collector has just been fired since robot collectors have been introduced. 

During dinner, there is a global announcement – scientists have come up with the AquaVac vaccine for all diseases and possible outcomes by combining squid genetics and an organism that can survive in space and hence tolerate UV radiation. But there is one minor side effect – chin tentacles!

The people of Thailand freak out while Prime Minister Tang assures them that they will come up with a better solution. However, the district people don’t care as they know that even if the vaccine is signed off, the rich will get it first and they will die waiting.

That night, Pang laments and blames grown-ups for destroying the world instead of taking care of it for the children. Mook tries to cheer her up but Pang wants to do something to fix things. There is a singing competition in the rain with a prize of 1 million. 

While Pang has a sweet voice, she is nervous and Mook encourages her to sing. Her performance at the competition is fantastic and everyone tunes in. When asked what she would do if she won, Pang shares she would buy a house for her family since the district is going underwater. She would also buy the vaccine for everyone in the district including Mook. 

Pang goes viral as everyone is touched by her words and wants to help her. Prime Minister Tang announces that the district will get the first glass dome. But as expected, he blames the public for the rain apocalypse. He also plans to come to the district and plant some innovative trees. 

Mook and Pang are excited with the latter thanking her friend for being by her side. Mook jokes that they should get a statue for bringing awareness to the district’s status. As they banter, Pang notices that Mook’s skin is red and patchy. They are distracted when a piranha cat jumps into the water. 

That night the house gets flooded due to extreme rain. It is chaos at Pang’s, as rats, insects and the piranha cat create havoc and attack Mook and Pang’s brother. Once the rain is under control, the district’s people hole up at a community centre. Suddenly, some government employees try to kidnap Pang.

However, Mook starts crying and causes a scene. Prime Minister Tang shows up in a mask and hugs her, assuring her that they are safe. The reporters are touched while Pang rolls her eyes at Mook’s antics. Confusion arises when Tang notices Mook’s red skin and tries to push her. She accidentally pulls off his mask and his chin tentacles are exposed!

Turns out the government couldn’t afford to disseminate the vaccine and so, took it for themselves. The current parliament is dissolved. Pang and Mook get their statue and are awarded for their contribution to their district. After a while, the whole world gets the vaccine and the district is rebuilt.

Pang is giving a presentation on the current status of the world and we see that everyone has chin tentacles including Pang and Mook. The rain suddenly stops and the sun comes out. Everyone runs out and celebrates.

At the end of Tomorrow and I Episode 4, the sun suddenly gets too hot and everything catches fire. People try to run inside or jump into the water. Pang and Mook’s statue melts. The whole Earth is set on fire. Pang wonders why humans destroyed the world. As everyone dies, Pang and Mook look at the camera. 

The Episode Review

Tomorrow and I Episode 4 takes the comedic approach that most Thai drama viewers are used to. We get the whole shebang with comic sound effects, musical numbers and hammy, over-the-top acting.

This comedic tone works for the finale of this Thai Netflix show since it is more of an obvious satire than the previous chapters. It constantly breaks the fourth wall with the characters of Tang and Mook till in the end, the kids literally look at the screen, and at the world, warning us of what could very much become a reality.

It can feel a little too on the nose with that ending, but hey, at least the chapter is not pretending to be something it is not. But there are certain choices that do feel like the chapter is pushing its luck with Mook’s fake breakdown at the community centre. We don’t get the complete purpose, is she crying because her friend is being taken?

And why is Pang even being taken? Or does Mook want the attention which has been the case for her from the beginning? But these loose ends also make us wish for a Season 2 should the writers want to continue the story of each Season 1 protagonist.