Recap: Devilish Joy Episode 4

In our fourth episode of Devilish Joy, fate does its best to throw our leads back together.  But as Ma Sung tries his best to remember her, Gi Bbeum has to face her own struggles and fears.  Will fate be enough when life is against them?  Join us as we continue recapping Choi Jin Hyuk’s “Devilish Joy.”

Devilish Joy Episode 4 Recap:

We open only moments after Ma Sung discovered Gi Bbeum’s shoes.  As Ma Sung stares at the shoes, Ki Joon arrives on his doorstep and demands to be let in.

Once inside Ki Joon dashes from room to room as he laments, “It’s true! You really do live here! Why do you live here!?”  Ma Sung is baffled by his cousin and asks what is wrong.

Apparently, Ki Joon had purchased the house three years ago as a gift for Gi Bbeum.  He had even used the company’s name so he wouldn’t be caught by his mother.

Ma Sung scolds him for using company money so flippantly and declares that he is lucky that Ma Sung bought the house instead.  Ki Joon tearfully begs Ma Sung to sell or give him the house.  At the sight of his cousin’s agony, Ma Sung asks if he has some connection to the house.

“Of course!  It’s Joo Gi Bbeum’s house!”  He wails.  Astonished, Ma Sung looks down at the red shoes and tape player still on the table.  But no matter how much Ki Joon begs, Ma Sung still refuses to give him the house.

After Ki Joon leaves, Ma Sung looks around his quiet house wonderingly.  If this was Gi Bbeum’s house, then the shoes and tape player must be hers too, right?

The next morning Ma Sung rises, showers, and sits down to read his newest memory journal: his book of Gi Bbeum.

Meanwhile, Gi Bbeum’s Dad hunts through their recycling pile for a poem he had written last night that went missing.  He finds it, written on the back of the contract Gi Bbeum had recycled, and stuffs it into an envelope to mail.  After addressing the envelope, he goes inside to join his family for breakfast.

While doing her makeup, Sa Rang, Gi Bbeum’s younger sister, asks what happened to their picture of Mom.  She wants to see it because she thinks she was the only one in the family who got Mom’s “ugly eyes.”  At this all three of her family members announce that they have ugly eyes too and squint at her.  Adorably, Sa Rang is encouraged by this.  (Their family is so adorable.  I love these little moments where we get to see how supportive and loving they are to each other.)

While they eat, Gi Bbeum’s phone rings with a call from “Gonggalbbang,” that is, Ma Sung.  (Translation: Gonggalbbang is a type of bread in Korea which is crusty on the outside and hollow on the inside.  The word literally means “fake.”)  However, Gi Bbeum announces that she doesn’t need to answer it.

On the other side of the line, Ma Sung sits in the backseat of his car listening to the phone endlessly ring.  At last a voice answers, but it is Sa Rang.  She tells him that her sister doesn’t want to talk with him.  Ma Sung asks if her sister could call him back since he has something belonging to her.

But Sa Rang startles him by abruptly asking, “Mr. Gonggalbbang, do you like my sister?”  Before he can answer Gi Bbeum discovers Sa Rang on her phone, and Ma Sung hears the two sisters fight before the line goes dead.

Across town, Lee Ha Im scrolls through her phone before her next shoot.  She exclaims in shock as she discovers an article about an actress she knows who reconnected with her past love and got married.  Just then two variety show writers arrive to meet her.  The two women greet her politely, but Ha Im just growls at her assistant that he must have a death wish if he brought them to her.

The writers go on to explain that they are working on a variety show which helps stars find their lost first loves.  Ha Im rudely interrupts them to say that she is a top actress so she doesn’t do variety shows.  The women leave mumbling about “that evil woman.”

Meanwhile, Nan Joo has been trying to sneak the faux fur necklace Gi Bbeum made away from Ha Im.  But it is no use.  As she reaches for it, Lee Ha Im picks up the necklace and fondles it loving.

Moments later, Ha Im, proudly wearing her fake necklace, sits across from an interviewer.  As her final question the reporter asks about Ha Im’s “Eco-fashion choices,” such as the fake fur necklace she is wearing.  Ha Im is stunned, but recovers quickly to tell the interviewer about her environmentally friendly choice.  As she does her eyes cut over to Nan Joo, who watches in horror.

Just then Ma Sung pulls up to Joo Gi Bbeum’s house.  He finds her hanging clothes outside and asks her why it is that she isn’t answering his phone calls.   Instead of answering, she taunts him that he must be able to waste a lot of time coming to see her since he is rich.  Ma Sung retorts that he is using his very precious time to visit her and again asks why she isn’t answering.

“What could we possibly need to talk about since we had a fleeting connection?”  She replies sharply.  Ma Sung extends a shoe box to her.   He tells her that he isn’t giving it to her, he is just showing her and opens the lid to reveal one perfect red shoe.

Gi Bbeum’s expression shifts only subtly, but Ma Sung notices and watches puzzled.  He tells her that he found them in his house, the house she used to live in, and asks if they could really only have a fleeting connection.

But Gi Bbeum steels herself and tells him to throw the shoes away.  He is shocked and tells her that there were other things hidden with the shoes.  Without hesitation, she snaps at him to throw them all away and promises she will have no regrets.  Suddenly, Nan Joo calls.  Frantically she tells Gi Bbeum the horrible news that Ha Im has discovered their fake necklace.  In a panic, Gi Bbeum rushes out, leaving Ma Sung behind.

At the film site, Ha Im rages at Nan Joo and threatens to call her manager — Nan Joo’s employer.  Just then, Gi Bbeum arrives to everyone’s amazement.  Ha Im greets her with a prickly “long time no see, Gi Bbeum.”

Apparently, the women did a shoot together 3 years ago, although Gi Bbeum has no remembrance of it, during which Gi Bbeum told Ha Im that “That’s not how acting’s done.”  Ha Im puts up an icy exterior, but she is obviously still wounded by the old words.  As they talk, Ma Sung lumbers up to watch from a distance .

Gi Bbeum apologizes for what happened back them and admits to having made the fake necklace now.  Ha Im rages that because of her from now she will only be able to wear fake fur to match her new “vegan” image.  She yells for Gi Bbeum to get down on her knees in penance.  (This girl is just way too petty.)  Nan Joo tries to get down on her knees instead, but Gi Bbeum insists on taking the bullet for her friend and kneels.

The crowd that has gathered watches in amusement and a cameraman begins to film the “huge news.”  Finally, Ma Sung can’t take it anymore, turns the camera away, and borrows a pair of sunglasses from the camera assistant.  (So we’re going with the Clark Kent method of disguise?)  Bursting with masculinity, he strides over to Gi Bbeum and picks up the fake necklace off the ground.

“I’d like to buy this,” he announces and asks Ha Im how much it would cost for her not to be angry anymore.  Amused, she responds that it is really hard to appease her anger, so Ma Sung tries a different approach and offers to let her into an Honor’s Society for the benefit of her publicity.  Ha Im considers this.  Seeing that he has won, Ma Sung pulls Gi Bbeum to her feet and drags her away.

After he leaves Ha Im reads the business card he left with her:  “Neuroscientist at Sunwoo Hospital, Gong Ma Sung.”  Her eyes light as she wonders whether this is the same Gong Ma Sung she knew in elementary school.

Back at Star Entertainment, Ki Joon’s manager (Manager Jang) happens to pass jerk manager on the street.  Jerk Manager feigns concern for Manager Jang about his signing an old lady like Joo Gi Bbeum.

However, Manager Jang angrily retorts, “I’m angry enough that you stole Lee Ha Im.  Are you plotting something else to destroy me?”  (So jerk manager has an unreasonable grudge against him too?  Ugh.)  The two men nearly come to blows when they are interrupted by the arrival of a delivery for Manager Jang — it’s the contract Gi Bbeum’s dad accidentally mailed.

Meanwhile, not far from set, Gi Bbeum and Ma Sung peacefully walk together.  She scolds him for paying so much for the worthless necklace, but he responds that it was worth that much; she saved her friend, and he could save the brave woman who rescued her friend.  (swoons.)

“There is nothing more worthwhile than saving others,” he tells her.

Just then Ki Joon rushes up to them.  He is surprised to see them together and asks how they are together.  Gi Bbeum says they just “happened to run into each other” — which annoys Ma Sung.

The boys begin to banter about not talking to each other, and Gi Bbeum wonders aloud whether they had a fight, but receives no comment from the boys.  Remembering the reason he is there, Ki Joon asks Gi Bbeum to follow him (back to the company), since she signed their contract.  As one Ma Sung and Gi Bbeum exclaim in confusion.

Back at Star Entertainment, Ma Sung, Ki Joon, Gi Bbeum, and Manager Jang stare at the sauce smeared contract, and Gi Bbeum wonders aloud repeatedly how the contract came to be here.  Manager Jang explains that someone named “Joo Man Shik” submitted it with his poem.

“That’s my dad.”  Gi Bbeum says and then realizes with horror what happened.  She and Manager Jang agree that they should pretend the contract was never signed since it wasn’t signed officially after all.  But Ki Joon has what he wanted and tell her if she wants out she will have to pay the termination fee — knowing of course that she won’t.

After Ki Joon happily strides away, Gi Bbeum repeats his words, “termination fee,” and then turns to bat her eyes at Ma Sung.  Just then he gets a call from his Secretary reminding him of a meeting, and he happily flees.

At the hospital, Ma Sung gives a presentation about his project, “The Healing Village.”  He explains how it will be a place where dementia patients can live happy, ordinary lives safely.  The board questions how he plans to fund his village, but to their amusement he announces that the village will be run free of cost to the patients and will rely on donations.

After the meeting, Evil Auntie expresses interest in the project to Ma Sung and encourages him — even to telling a board member to “just trust him.”  But when her back is turned her eyes harden and grow fierce.

After she is gone, Ma Sung’s secretary turns to him and asks if he is scared of his aunt.  But Ma Sung is unconcerned and asks if he should be.  Afterall she raised him like a parent since he was 8 years old and always supports and cheers for him.  (If only Ma Sung knew how much she is “caring” for him.)  His expression knowing and sad, the secretary hands Ma Sung a USB drive.  “When you feel depressed, lonely, and alone watch this.”  He tells him.

Later that day Ma Sung visits his physician.  The physician questions whether he is rushing the development of the Healing Village, but Ma Sung tells him it is because he must work quickly before his condition worsens.  At this, the doctor asks if he is having new symptoms like having holes in his memory or a hard time seeing.  Thankfully, he tells him he has not.  However, he has discovered that the woman he remembers was a person he met the day of the accident.  (Nooo!  Don’t tell him anything.  He’s spying on you, Ma Sung!!!)

Outside at their favorite drinking spot, Gi Bbeum tells Nan Joo that she has signed the contract.  Gi Bbeum looks forlorn and depressed, but Nan Joo rejoices that this is a divine opportunity.  After pouring another round, Nan Joo slyly asks who that tall handsome man from today was.  But her face changes to one of shock when Gi Bbeum tells her it was the guy who abandoned her three years ago.

However, it changes back to delight when Gi Bbeum adds that he is the heir to Sunwoo Group.  “Break up with him.”  She says suddenly, her face shifting back to disgust.  “Joo Gi Bbeum, the one with a million anti-fans and a chaebol?  How would you overcome that?… There’s more than love in this world,”  Nan Joo tells her.

At the word “love” Gi Bbeum lashes out that it isn’t love, and at that exact moment the shop lights go out.  (Ah, the fate is strong with this one.)

When Gi Bbeum arrives back home she discovers her whole family rummaging through the house in search of their only picture of their mom.  Dad says that he thinks they forgot it when they moved, which makes Gi Bbeum wonder if…

At that exact moment at his house, Ma Sung puts the USB drive into his laptop.  Clips of Gi Bbeum in a recording studio play on his screen.  As her voice drifts gently from his speakers, Ma Sung becomes entranced.  Another clip of Gi Bbeum smiling in a lacy white dress makes him laugh.  He wonders how this could be the same Joo Gi Bbeum he knows.  He continues to laugh and smile about her beauty until he remembers that she still hasn’t called him.

Just then the phone rings.  Giddily happy, he picks up the phone but forces his voice to be serious when he answers.  On the other end of the line, Gi Bbeum nervously asks if maybe he found a photo among the things he found, and she is ecstatic when he tells her he found one.  But the schoolboy in Ma Sung can’t resist, and he teases her that he is about to throw it away with his trash.  Desperately, Gi Bbeum tells him to save it for her until she can come to get it tomorrow.  Still having more fun than he should, Ma Sung pretends that the connection on the phone is lost.

Gi Bbeum frantically rushes over to his house to catch him before he takes out the trash, but he meets her at the door expectantly.  To himself, he wonders if this unkempt woman with two different pairs of shoes on could be the same woman in those clips.

Gi Bbeum asks for him to give her the photo, but he insists that she sit down first.  He offers to get her a drink and heads to the kitchen.  As she sits down Gi Bbeum notices her big toe sticking out through a hole in her sock.  Mortified, she tries to cover the hole with her other foot — all of which Ma Sung notices.

When he comes back with a bottle of water for her she scoots to the opposite end of the couch.  He playfully scolds her for moving so far from him and jokes that he must have thrown the photo away already.  This agitates her as he had hoped, and she leaps to her feet, revealing her naked toe.  Ma Sung laughs and chivalrously offers her his house shoes, which she hurriedly slips into.

Trying to increase their time together, Ma Sung tells her he will need time to think about where he put the photo and, since she knows the house so well anyhow, for her to clean the house as his reward for finding it.  Gi Bbeum is at first disgusted, but eventually agrees when he brings up throwing out the photo again.

Gi Bbeum wanders about the house doing simple chores: make the bed, do the dishes, etc. all the while trying to secretly search for her photo.  But when she comes to his memory room, Ma Sung stops her saying it is off-limits.  She peeks through the wooden slats into the room and remarks that it looks like a nice study.  In that moment she sees his sketch of their meeting on the day when she told him to forget her.  She immediately recognizes it, but before she can say anything he rushes her off to “cut the grass.”

Outside Gi Bbeum kicks the push mower and wonders whether he is intentionally trying to make her suffer.  (You are just so fun to pick on, Gi Bbeum.)  She looks around the yard and spots an old patio table and chairs.  As she sees them, her memory drifts back to a celebration party her family had at that same table three years ago.

After finishing the lawn, Gi Bbeum slips back into the house and starts her search again for the photo.  But Ma Sung quickly catches her.  Dripping masculine charm, he stands closely over her.  Gi Bbeum nervously waves her hands insisting that she wasn’t looking for the photo and accidentally knocks her hand into a cactus.

The couple moves to the living room couch, where Ma Sung goes into doctor/concerned lover mode as he gently plucks the cactus from her fingers.  As she watches him work, Gi Bbeum softly asks if it would be possible for him to get her out of the contract with Star Entertainment.  Afterall, she’d only signed it as a joke when she was drunk.

But Ma Sung cautions her not to ask him, but to ask herself.  Perhaps, her drunken brain was telling her what it is that she really wants to do.  His words obviously touch a nerve, because Gi Bbeum shifts uncomfortably.  As he dabs ointment on her wounds, she notices that he has written something on top of the tattoo on his hand.  She asks what he wrote, and he shyly tells her it is a name he doesn’t want to forget.

Apparently, Ma Sung has run out of ideas to delay her, because next they move to the front entrance and he hands her an envelope.  He asks when she will come back for the rest of her things, but she again tells him to throw them away.  But this time he doesn’t really believe her since she told him the same thing earlier and still came back for the photo.  Jokingly, he tells her there were many strange things that she left.  This gets her attention and she demands what he means by that.  But she quickly realizes she fell for his trap and rushes out the door.

Later that night, Gi Bbeum lies in her bed as Ma Sung’s words swirl over and over through her thoughts.  She looks at the old pictures of herself hidden above her in the bed frame and wonders what her true feelings really are.

At the same time, Ma Sung is also remembering.  In his mind’s eye he sees Gi Bbeum bustle about his home cleaning, and this makes him chuckle happily.

The next morning at breakfast Gi Bbeum announces to her family that she signed the contract.  Her brother and sister are scared and disgusted respectively, but Dad’s eyes fill with tears.

On her way out later that morning, Gi Bbeum discovers her father sitting by himself outside.  She snuggles up next to him and teases him about secretly listening to her old song on the cassette player.    He admits that he listened to it in secret because he was scared she’d be mad at him — she did get her mother’s fiery temper after all.  Clearing her throat, Gi Bbeum earnestly promises him she will work hard to make her comeback.

But Papa asks her tenderly if she knows why they named her Gi Bbeum(happiness.)  “It is so the sadness in this world wouldn’t even dare talk to you…it is so you would be joyful and happy every day.”    Tearfully, Gi Bbeum notes that she hasn’t really lived up to her name since she only ever cries.

Meanwhile, Ki Joon has just finished getting dressed in his room at Star Entertainment.  (Wait, so has he been living there this whole time or is he only staying there because his cards are frozen?)  Manager Jang and his assistant arrive and Ki Joon bounces over happily to greet them.  Now that they have signed Gi Bbeum, he announces that he wants to start working on dramas again too.  But Manager Jang reminds him that in the real world you have to wait for offers to come before you can star in dramas.  However, Ki Joon is in too good a mood to be dismissed and declares that he should be in a variety show then.

But Manager Jang is incredulous and asks whether Ki Joon has any special talent.  To that Ki Joon declares he does…dancing! and proceeds to demonstrate with a horrifying display of “moves.”  (He looks like a pogo stick.)  Manager Jang looks as though he is going to cry and leans on his assistant for support.  But he rallies himself and declares that they should do it.  They will get him on the “Brain Q Show.”

Excitedly, Ki Joon asks what the “Brain Q Show” is.  The assistant explains that it is a show where a celebrity and their friend work together to answer questions ranging from easy to Mensa level.  Ki Joon’s excitement deflates, which seems to make Manager Jang happy.  But that quickly changes when he declares that he will do it.  (I see what tried to do there, Manager Jang.  You thought he wouldn’t do it because it would be too brainy.  Clearly, you don’t know our boy’s determination yet.)

But Ki Joon has a plan.  Since it is done in pairs, he will go on with a genius.  And he just so happens to know one.  It is then, however, that he remembers that he cut Ma Sung out of his life.

Meanwhile, Ma Sung is having tests done at the hospital.  His physician explains that the stress he has had since he was a child has begun to manifest physically, such as his hypersensitivity to light.

In flashback, we see Ma Sung as a boy having a family picture taken with his parents.  The photographer snaps their photo — flash of light.

We see Ma Sung still as a boy riding in the backseat of the car with his mother.  Ma Sung accidentally drops a toy firetruck on the floor of the front seat, and his dad reaches down to pick it up, accidentally turning the steering wheel and veering the car into oncoming traffic.  A massive truck barrels towards them headlights blazing — flash of light.

Their car spins wildly as his dad tries to regain control.  He hears a crash and sees the overturned car.  Ma Sung lays sobbing on the ground, while the rain pours around him and his toy firetruck’s lights blink on and off — flashes of light.

Ma Sung looks over and sees his injured parents still inside the car.  Car after car passes their accident.

Flash.

Flash.

Back in the present, the tests are over.  Ma Sung tells his physician that he is alright, as long as he is careful to avoid bright lights.  The physician makes some notes.

After Ma Sung leaves, his doctor immediately dials Evil Auntie to give her an update.

Meanwhile out in the hallway, Ki Joon bribes a child to deliver a message to Ma Sung.  Ma Sung happily takes the note at first but trashes it once he realizes it is from his cousin.  Ki Joon rushes towards him and asks why he trashed a handwritten attempt at making amends.  But Ma Sung sets he jaw firm and again tells him he won’t sell the house — he needs a comfortable place he is used to.  Ki Joon whines that he could just move to a more comfortable new house, but Ma Sung mutters that he won’t since it would just cause him stress.

“I need a place that I know so well that I know where everything is with my eyes closed,” he snaps.  Ki Joon scoffs and asks if he is some kind of dementia patient that he is so obsessed with living in that house.  (Wait, so Ki Joon doesn’t even know about Ma Sung’s condition?  Why wouldn’t he at least let his close family know so they could be supportive?  This family just gets weirder.)

Ma Sung hesitates, but brushes him off, telling him to ask for a different favor instead.  This is just the chance Ki Joon had hoped for, and he asks him to go on the quiz show with him.  But Ma Sung just shakes his head in disgust and walks away.

On the other side of town, Gi Bbeum sits down to talk with Manager Jang and his assistant.  She promises to do well and make a comeback, but Manager Jang is dismayed.  He tries every possible angle to explain why what she is asking them to do is impossible.  Understanding, Gi Bbeum starts to leave, but then sits back down.  Mustering every ounce of her courage, she firmly promises that, if they will let her, she will work hard to do the impossible.  Manager Jang collapses into his seat.

Back at his home, Ma Sung tends to his lettuce garden.  Wondering why his babies look so droopy today, he lifts up Gi Bbeum’s cassette player so they can get energy from her singing.  (Aw my gawsh.)  But just then disaster strikes and the cassette tape stops working.  Distressed, Ma Sung bangs on the player for a minute.  (Really?  That’s his solution?  How many college degrees does he have?)  When he opens the player he discovers that the tape has become tangled inside it.

Ma Sung wonders if this is some kind of bad omen and quickly dials Ki Joon.  When he answers, he asks how signing up for the quiz show went.  Ki Joon responds that it is fine: he is asking Gi Bbeum right now to be his partner.

Ma Sung immediately dials Gi Bbeum to ask if she is going to take Ki Joon’s offer.  When it seems like she might agree, he blurts out “What is the capital of Madagascar?”  and then adds a few more countries for good measure.  Taken aback, Gi Bbeum admits she doesn’t know, and Ma Sung declares this to be absolute proof that she shouldn’t participate and risk a million more anti-fans by humiliating herself.  Gi Bbeum hangs up on him.

A little while later, Ki Joon, Gi Bbeum, Manager Jang, and his assistant all gather at Star Entertainment to discuss the quiz show.  Manager Jang is uncertain that this will work out, since usually one of the participants is very smart.  Annoyed, Ki Joon interrupts him to say that Gi Bbeum is smart.  (I find it hilarious that even he knows he isn’t the brightest lightbulb.)  But Gi Bbeum admits that she isn’t confident in her brains so much as her physical abilities — which Ki Joon considers to be further proof that they are a match made.

Just then Ma Sung walks in and hears them cheering themselves on.  He rolls his eyes and makes a snide remark about them needing brains not brawn for a quiz show, then plops himself down on the couch next to Gi Bbeum.

The assistant begins listing off quiz show practice questions, “What is the capital of Madagascar?” He asks first.  (Bwahaha!)  Swiftly, Gi Bbeum raises her hand and answers.  Everyone is impressed, but Ma Sung chides her for cheating off him.

However, the next question stumps the duo and Ma Sung gives the correct answer in disgust.  The same thing happens again with the next question.

By now Manager Jang and the assistant realize how badly the duo need Ma Sung to participate.  But Ma Sung is non-committal.  Finally, Gi Bbeum turns with a pitiful expression and says that she thinks it would be better if he participated too.  That does it.  Ma Sung feigns self-sacrifice for the general good, but even Ki Joon thinks he’s acting strangely today.

Later on, Gi Bbeum and Ki Joon pull up to the building where the quiz show will be held.  A group of teenage fangirls stand outside the entrance, which sends Ki Joon into a frenzy of delight.

Ma Sung and his secretary pull up to the building right after.  Ma Sung is astonished to discover that the quiz is being held at a broadcasting station.  He had understood that it would be an intimate town gathering, not a TV show.

Just then Ki Joon steps outside his car and walks up to the group of rowdy fangirls only to have them all run off in the other direction.  They weren’t there for him at all.  For a moment he pouts alone, but a handful of girls soon come running to greet their “beautiful Ki Joon” — that is until Ma Sung steps out of his car.  The girls look over at his lanky gorgeousness and run en masse towards their new obsession.  However, Ma Sung is stunned and overwhelmed by the screaming girls and flees into the building.  Left alone, Ki Joon chases after his fangirls.

In the confusion everyone has forgotten Gi Bbeum who now sneaks into the building dressed like an old woman.

Inside, Ma Sung has finally escaped his fangirls.  Adjusting his clothes back into place, he tells his secretary to bring the car up.  He is leaving.  Just then Ki Joon calls angrily for his cousin, which sends Ma Sung dashing into a nearby studio to avoid him.

Gi Bbeum and Ki Joon come around the corner in search of Ma Sung.  Stomping his foot, Ki Joon wails that if his cousin isn’t there he can’t participate either.  But Gi Bbeum soothingly holds his arm and tells him that she will take Ma Sung’s place if he doesn’t come.  (Ki Joon may have been hoping for a dating relationship with Gi Bbeum, but he has definitely got the mother hen relationship.)  Rotten toddler, Ki Joon is effectively soothed and suggests that they split up to look for Ma Sung.

As it happens, Gi Bbeum starts her search in the very studio Ma Sung is hiding in.  Of course, she still doesn’t find him.  But before she leaves, jerk manager happens to spot her and approaches her.  (It’s a coincidence pile-up.  Only in a KDrama.) He starts to ask what she is doing there, but Gi Bbeum nervously interrupts him to say that she has signed a contract with Star Entertainment.  Jerk manager scoffs at her bravery in making a comeback, and she admits that she has always felt sorry for what happened to his agency because of her.

But jerk manager isn’t interested in giving forgiveness, his voice grows more intense as he recalls what happened and his losses.  Slimily he asks if maybe she was even dating Hyung Joon behind his back.  Gi Bbeum yells that he knows she didn’t.

“How would I know what happened between you two that night?” He asks her sharply.  Enraged, Gi Bbeum shouts his name, and at this jerk manager smacks her viciously across the face.  As Gi Bbeum nurses her cheek, jerk manager shouts for her to “know her place” when she speaks to him.  After he leaves, Gi Bbeum stands for a moment and pushes away the tears from her cheeks.  From a dark corner, Ma Sung has watched everything.

As Ma Sung wanders about the building he overhears jerk manager tell the show host to ask Gi Bbeum a new question.  “Ask her what happened between her and Min Hyung Joon that night,” he suggests encouraging the host that it will increase his ratings.  As he listens, Ma Sung’s face grows stern with resolve.

A few moments later Ma Sung’s secretary brings him a pair of thick sunglasses which he promises will block out any light.

Meanwhile, the contestants, including Ki Joon and Gi Bbeum, have lined up for the quiz show roll call.  Gi Bbeum is very pale, but determined to do her best.  When the set manager reaches their name on the list, Ki Joon starts to inform him of the change in his partner, but in that instance Ma Sung strides in like Gi Bbeum’s personal knight in shining armour.  The damsel breathes a shaky sigh of relief.

After that everyone takes their places and the “Brain Q Show” begins.  Excitedly, the contestants and crew clap, but Ma Sung stands like an impassive statue in his shades.

The show begins with the contestants introducing their teams.  Signaling for Ma Sung to stay silent, Ki Joon excitedly introduces himself as “Star Entertainment’s rising star, Sung Ki Joon.”  The crowd again cheers.  It is Ma Sung’s turn to speak, but instead he gives Ki Joon a head shake and a growl.  “And this is my older cousin,” Ki Joon finally tells the announcer.  Intrigued by his shades, the announcer asks if there is a special reason for him wearing them.  Again Ma Sung doesn’t respond, so Ki Joon simply tells them he is “doing it to seem cool.”

With the attention finally off of them, Ki Joon whispers to Ma Sung asking if he is going to be like this the whole time.  Ma Sung clicks his tongue in response, but he is obviously uncomfortable.  “Do we have to get first place?” He asks.  Ki Joon responds that they must since that is how they can get the most screen time.  Ma Sung breathes deeply to himself.  (Methinks Ma Sung might prefer less screen time.)

The questions start, and not surprisingly Ma Sung answers them correctly and quickly every time — some even before the announcer can finish reading them.  As the points pile up, Ki Joon and Gi Bbeum dance happily from their respective places on and off camera.

But a problem arises when the next question requires the participants to read the screen.  We see from Ma Sung’s perspective the lights blaring around the corners of his lenses.  He struggles to read the words, but can not look at the screen without also seeing the lights.  He recoils in discomfort.  But the announcer begins to read the question, and Ma Sung quickly clicks in for the correct answer.  But the announcer tells him that even though his answer is correct, he can’t accept it without the correct number from the board.  Thankfully, Ki Joon clicks in ahead of the other team and yells out the correct number for Ma Sung’s answer.

But their luck runs out for the next question.  Like the last one, it requires the contestants to read the screen, but this time it is a math question so the announcer does not read it.  Ma Sung whispers to Ki Joon that he can’t answer this one, and they lose the point.

The rounds continue.  The questions which are read Ma Sung continues to get right, and the questions on the board they continue to lose.  At the final question their team stands tied with another at 950 points.

But in a stroke of tremendous bad luck, the last question is a puzzle which must be read to be solved.  Ma Sung leans forward on the podium, but it is no use.  The lights are just too intense.  Resignedly, he tells his cousin he is going to pass this time.  But Ki Joon can’t accept this for the winning question and begs his cousin.  The other team clicks in, but their answer is wrong.  More desperate than ever, Ki Joon turns to his cousin and pleads with him.  Under his breath, Ma Sung admits to him that he can’t see the board.

“Then just take those off!”  Ki Joon yells at his cousin and rips the sunglasses from his face.

The lights hit Ma Sung in wave after crippling wave.  Gasping for air, he crumples in increasing agony while in voice over we hear Evil Aunt read aloud the physician’s report from that morning.

“Shame death,” she says.  And we see Ma Sung gasp again as his thoughts flash back to his parents’ car accident.

“He’ll feel as much pain,” the physician tells Evil Aunt, “as if he is really dying.  If he looks at a bright light, he’ll have difficulty breathing and experience immense pain.  As if he is experiencing a false death.”

“Almost like death,” she repeats, “so that means he could actually die.”  And we see Ma Sung shake from the pain, his breath coming in short, hard-fought gasps.  From across the studio, a concerned Gi Bbeum watches him.

My Thoughts:

Okay, this drama has officially become a trope fest.  We have the jerk, genius male lead with a penchant for showers and who thinks that hitting on a girl means bullying her; the plucky poor girl who constantly has to be rescued regardless of how capable she appears to be; amnesia; a lead who occasionally passes out; and a tragic backstory.  At this point, I’m thinking of turning this drama into a drinking game.

All that said, I’m still enjoying “Devilish Joy” for the makjang mess it is.  The leads continue to be adorable and have great chemistry together.  Gi Bbeum’s friends and family are still both wonderfully supportive and quirky.  And we’ve had a shower scene in every episode so far…so no serious complaints here.

But one character is starting to bother me: Ki Joon.  At first he was an adorable puppy we all could love, but lately he has been more like an entitled brat.  His only saving grace is that his bromance with Ma Sung is one of the highlights of the show.  It is just so much fun to watch Ma Sung tease his cousin.

But my feelings are more mixed about Gi Bbeum.  Ever since Ma Sung appeared in her life she has been the quintessential fairy tale “damsel in distress.”  Watching her fall into problem after problem, it is easy to forget that before he arrived she had capably, albeit naively, provided everything for her family.  She made herself a new life as a seamstress after falling into disgrace and learned to do everything else that a plucky poor girl should.  You have to know this was a huge culture shock for her after her luxurious celebrity lifestyle.  But she did it.  Without Ma Sung, Gi Bbeum had to be her own hero.

So are you enjoying Devilish Joy so far?  What did you think of episode 4?  Shall we start a “Devilish Joy” drinking game?

Read More:

• Last Episode: Recap: Devilish Joy Episode 3
• Next Episode: Coming Soon!