[HanCinema's Drama Review] "Black" Episode 4

For every question answered "Black" has five new ones, but episode four manages to clear some things up, at least enough to get me excited over the future of what is still a very chaotic, but nicely packed story. Following the threads of our characters' past reveals complicated and deep connections, while Black has flashbacks of a mysterious character who may play a key role.

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We finally get explanations to a lot of things and most of them are satisfying. We know why the assassin needed Moo-gang's (Song Seung-heon) eyes, we know why Reapers use bathrooms and we know why Black (Kim Tae-woo) remembered Ha-ram (Go Ara) from the restaurant. However, I hope the inadequate explanation of Ha-ram's "Black blindness" is a mystery, not an error. Black was in Moo-gang in a white hospital gown and she still did not see him.

The mysterious past events everyone seems connected to look very grim, to use an appropriate term, and now we have the soon-to-be late Commissioner and Man-soo's (Kim Dong-jun) father involved. Detective Na Gwang-gyeon (Kim Won-hae) and the man with the scar link directly to Ha-ram as well. The one I am most curious about, however, is the other boy in young Moo-gang's life. Did he become the dead trans woman, is it Man-soo or is it someone else and why did Black see him in his dreams?

Black was clearly assigned to this case for a reason. Was he a person once? His "retired" partner recognized Detective Na, after all and the show's introduction is possibly Black mourning his body at the bottom of the ocean. Everything seems to have a mystery behind it. Even Man-soo's "brother", the ever so perceptive Sib-gyeon seems suspicious, considering Reapers who fail are turned into death-sniffing dogs. "Black" makes me see connections everywhere and I hope it can deliver on that delicious curiosity.

Some things do seem certain by now, however. Moo-gang's mother is definitely involved in something he had to carry the burden of and Ha-ram's father is probably the Reaper who "saw" and then tricked the injured bride. I can see why her mother would be angry if a creature used her beloved as a skin suit. Consent goes out the window and coping with what is essentially rape and the supernaturally altered child born from it is not easy.

This makes me wonder whether the series will go for romance at all. I always laugh at overplayed, mundane romantic obstacles, but a romance between an entity and a soul they must collect through the proxy of that soul's now dead first love is above any relationship counselor's paygrade. Regardless, I look forward to anything "Black" has to give after this whirlwind of an introduction.

"Black" is directed by Kim Hong-seon-I, written by Choi Ran-I and features Song Seung-heon, Go Ara, Lee El and Kim Dong-jun.

Written by: Orion from 'Orion's Ramblings'