Episode 8

Episode 8 is built around one major question: how much does Kang Shin-jin actually trust Han-young? Han-young has successfully moved deeper into Shin-jin’s circle, but the more useful he becomes, the more closely Shin-jin watches him.

Han-young uses the exposure of Choo Yong-jin to strengthen his influence over evidence networks and people inside the judiciary. At the same time, Yoo Seon-cheol becomes an important source of political leverage.

Kim Jin-ah also begins questioning Baek Yi-seok’s intentions. Her suspicions add another layer of tension because Han-young cannot afford to have his allies fighting among themselves while he is still trying to maintain his cover.

Meanwhile, Gwak Sun-won returns under Shin-jin’s orders. His appearance is especially dangerous because it suggests that Han-young’s movements may no longer be as secret as he believed.

The episode works because the audience knows that Han-young is pretending to be loyal, while Shin-jin is beginning to test exactly how loyal he really is. Every conversation between the two men therefore carries an extra level of tension.

By the end of Episode 8, Han-young’s infiltration is starting to become exposed. The game has changed, and he now has to move much more carefully.