In the fourth episode of ENA's Monday-Tuesday drama 'Scarecrow', aired on the 29th, the dynamics between Kang Tae-joo (played by Park Hae-soo) and Cha Si-young (played by Lee Hee-jun) shifted once again. Faced with the death of Kim Min-ji (played by Kim Hwan-hee), the sixth victim of a brutal serial killer, Kang Tae-joo reached out to Cha Si-young for the first time.
The episode achieved its highest ratings yet, with a nationwide viewership of 5.2% and 5.5% in the metropolitan area. It peaked at 6.2% in the metropolitan area, maintaining its position as the top Monday-Tuesday drama for four consecutive weeks. Among the 20-49 demographic, it also topped all channels with a peak rating of 2.1%. (Nielsen Korea, based on paid households) Previously, the first episode of 'Scarecrow' recorded a 2.9% viewership.
The killer's crimes grew increasingly brutal. Shocked by Kim Min-ji's autopsy results, Kang Tae-joo was determined to catch the perpetrator and proposed a collaboration to Cha Si-young, whom he had previously despised and denied. Cha Si-young, with the help of his brother and police commissioner Cha Jun-young (played by Heo Jeong-do), assisted in Kang Tae-joo's reinstatement. To the youngest detective Park Dae-ho (played by Ryu Hae-jun), who was disappointed by his easy resignation, Kang Tae-joo replied, "I quit with great difficulty. And I returned with even more difficulty. You have no idea what I gave up to come back," hinting at the weight of his decision to team up with Cha Si-young.
However, there was no time to waste. Kang Tae-joo immediately resumed the investigation, focusing on a familiar handkerchief covering the suspect's face in a photo taken by Seo Ji-won (played by Kwak Sun-young). The scarecrow drawing found in Kim Min-ji's art case near the sixth crime scene was also suspicious. Remembering meeting Kim Min-ji in front of a bookstore, Kang Tae-joo headed there first. Lee Ki-hwan (played by Jung Moon-sung) recalled Kim Min-ji coming to retrieve her art case the previous night. He also mentioned that as soon as Kim Min-ji left the bookstore, a sudden downpour occurred, and Lee Ki-beom (played by Song Geon-hee) followed her with an umbrella.
Meanwhile, Lee Ki-beom was wanted as a suspect for assaulting Jeon Kyung-ho (played by Kang Jung-woo). Jeon Kyung-ho, who harbored resentment after seeing Kang Sun-young (played by Seo Ji-hye) with Cha Si-young, was assaulted by Lee Ki-beom and fell into a coma. Upon hearing this, Kang Tae-joo approached Cha Si-young, requesting his help in resolving the Jeon Kyung-ho case to obtain Lee Ki-beom's testimony for the Kim Min-ji investigation. Although Cha Si-young suspected Lee Ki-beom might be more of a suspect than a witness, he resolved the Jeon Kyung-ho case.
There was another twist. Kang Sun-young was hiding Lee Ki-beom and planning to escape with him. Meanwhile, Seo Ji-won recalled that the suspect's handkerchief was similar to Kang Sun-young's, increasing suspicion towards Lee Ki-beom. Towards the end of the episode, Cha Si-young confronted the suspect in the bushes while pursuing Kang Sun-young. Kang Tae-joo arrived at the scene to find Cha Si-young carrying a bleeding Kang Sun-young, heightening the tension with another unexpected twist.
The episode also unveiled the past story of Kang Tae-joo and Cha Si-young, intensifying curiosity about their future narrative and relationship. Cha Si-young had misunderstood Kang Tae-joo after witnessing his father having an affair with Kang Tae-joo's mother, leading to shared wounds. However, Kang Tae-joo discovered that Cha Si-young was the one who exposed his family secrets to Jeon Kyung-ho, deepening his anger and sense of betrayal. Amidst these tangled emotions, the outcome of their dangerous collaboration remains to be seen.
Reporter: Jung Se-yoon, TenAsia yoon@tenasia.co.kr