On the episode aired on the 27th at 9:50 PM, the 12th episode of SBS's Friday-Saturday drama 'Taxi Driver 3' (directed by Kang Bo-seung, written by Oh Sang-ho) revealed the identity of the mastermind behind a second-hand goods scam, known as 'General' (played by Park Si-yoon). The 'Rainbow Dark Heroes,' led by Kim Do-gi (played by Lee Je-hoon), exposed the mastermind and discovered a larger conspiracy behind the commercialization of second-hand fraud, keeping viewers on the edge of their seats.
According to Nielsen Korea, the 12th episode of 'Taxi Driver 3' achieved a peak rating of 19.1%, with 15.2% in the metropolitan area and 14% nationwide, breaking its own record and accelerating towards the 20% mark. Notably, the 2049 demographic rating peaked at 5.57%, with an average of 4.9%, setting a new personal best and ranking first among all broadcasts since October, proving its status as the most talked-about drama of the second half of the year.
The 'Rainbow Dark Heroes' team, including Kim Do-gi, Jang Representative (played by Kim Eui-sung), Ahn Go-eun (played by Pyo Ye-jin), Choi Assistant (played by Jang Hyuk-jin), and Park Assistant (played by Bae Yu-ram), were enraged by a new crime syndicate treating crime as mere business. They launched a customized 'eye for an eye' revenge against the mastermind of the second-hand scam. The biggest challenge was to drag the mastermind, who committed various atrocities under the guise of anonymity, out into the open.
The 'Rainbow Dark Heroes' switched roles, with Kim Do-gi taking charge of the call van and Ahn Go-eun stepping in as a sub-character player, heightening the intrigue. Ahn Go-eun infiltrated the second-hand scam organization as a part-timer and won the mastermind's favor with her natural acting skills. She deliberately became a target by embezzling profits and infecting all the organization's laptops with ransomware. The mastermind retaliated with malicious cyberbullying and delivery attacks, but Ahn Go-eun remained unfazed, delivering a satisfying counterattack that shattered the mastermind's composure. Her precise provocations and the mastermind's pathetic reality added to the humor and satisfaction.
Ultimately, the mastermind appeared offline to capture Ahn Go-eun. The 'Rainbow Dark Heroes' revealed the mastermind's identity and hideout, began their retribution, recovered all the scammed goods, and successfully rescued an abused puppy. However, the mastermind, instead of showing remorse, offered to introduce Kim Do-gi to professionals who could set up any crime with seed money. When a service package arrived, the mastermind confidently opened it in front of Kim Do-gi, only to reveal a small bomb intended to eliminate him, shocking everyone. The mastermind died on the spot, and Kim Do-gi chased the delivery person, witnessing a live fish truck speeding away but was unable to pursue further due to the explosion's impact.
The revelation of heinous individuals selling services to aspiring criminals emerged. After a pursuit, it was discovered that they were linked to the island 'Samheungdo,' prompting Kim Do-gi and Jang Representative to visit the problematic island, raising tension.
Upon arriving at Samheungdo, Kim Do-gi and Jang Representative sensed a suspicious atmosphere enveloping the entire island. The islanders, including the female boss (played by Lee Chae-won), Kim Inspector (played by Ji Dae-han), Go Writer (played by Kim Sung-kyu), and Choi Boss (played by Yoo Ji-wang), excessively monitored their every move, subtly revealing rejection and wariness, heightening anxiety. Most notably, Kim Do-gi noticed that the lanterns inside Samheung Temple resembled accounting ledgers. While descending from the temple, he spotted the live fish truck seen at the explosion site, solidifying his suspicions about Samheungdo.
Towards the end of the episode, Kim Do-gi discovered traces of professional criminals inside Samheung Temple, escalating the tension to its peak. Seizing the opportunity when the islanders left for the mainland, Kim Do-gi explored Samheung Temple alone, uncovering numerous forged passports, burner phones, and CCTV monitoring the entire island. The discovery of a pen engraved with the Judicial Training Institute Prosecutors' Association raised questions about the extent of their criminal activities and the involvement of public authorities, heightening anticipation for future developments.
Meanwhile, SBS's Friday-Saturday drama 'Taxi Driver 3' is a private revenge drama where the mysterious taxi company Rainbow Transport and taxi driver Kim Do-gi complete revenge on behalf of unjust victims. It airs every Friday and Saturday at 9:50 PM.
Reporter Chaeryeong Lim, TENASIA syjj426@tenasia.co.kr