Scarecrow recorded first place despite a slight drop in ratings.
In episode 7 of the ENA Monday-Tuesday drama Scarecrow (directed by Park Jun-woo, written by Lee Ji-hyun), which aired on the 11th, unpredictable developments and a shocking ending were portrayed, from the death of Lee Ki-beom (played by Song Geon-hee), who was cleared of false charges, to the unmasking of the true identity of "Lee Yong-woo." Accordingly, episode 7 scored a nationwide rating of 6.5% and a metropolitan rating of 6.1%, maintaining first place nationwide in households in the same time slot and first place among Monday-Tuesday dramas. (Nielsen Korea, paid households basis)
Kang Tae-Ju (played by Park Hae-soo), while suspecting Im Seok-man (played by Baek Seung-hwan) as a new suspect, first obtained testimony witnessing an illegal arrest to prove Lee Ki-beom's (played by Song Geon-hee) innocence before investigating him. Based on Im Seok-man's statement, he demanded an internal investigation into detective Jang Myung-do (played by Jeon Jae-hong) and Detective Do Hyung-gu (played by Kim Eun-woo), but the answer he received from Cha Joon-young (played by Heo Jeong-do) was unexpected. Cha Si-young (played by Lee Hee-joon) transferred Lee Ki-beom to a detention center and prohibited visits, making it impossible to even question the victim.
Then Kang Tae-Ju had Seo Ji-won (played by Kwak Sun-young) arrange for an article saying, "the special investigation headquarters has found another strong suspect." As issues arose over the illegal arrests, coercive investigations, and forced confessions by detectives that occurred during the process of apprehending Lee Ki-beom, Cha Si-young's situation became difficult. After confirming that Im Seok-man's blood type matched the perpetrator's as type B and that the radioactive isotope analysis test results also matched, Kang Tae-Ju forced Cha Si-young to change the direction of the investigation.
Meanwhile, Im Seok-man went to see Kang Soon-young (played by Seo Ji-hye) to return Lee Ki-beom's handkerchief. Kang Soon-young, angry that Im Seok-man had seen Lee Ki-beom being taken by detectives and said nothing, began to question when the handkerchief had been in his house, and suddenly started to suspect that he might not be the real perpetrator. Above all, realizing that both Im Seok-man and the perpetrator were lame filled her with sudden fear and anxiety.
In the end, Im Seok-man was arrested as a serial murder suspect, and Lee Ki-beom was released from detention. But while returning home, welcomed by his brother Lee Ki-hwan (played by Jung Moon-sung), Lee Ki-beom died. His home turned from a place of celebration to a house of mourning, and the bereaved family and visitors accused Kang Tae-Ju of killing Lee Ki-beom. The cause of death was sepsis due to organ damage. It was the act of those who forced a confession through confinement, assault, and torture.
Meanwhile, another funeral was being held for Cha Si-young's mother. In stark contrast to Lee Ki-beom's funeral, the atmosphere was festive and convivial, which made Kang Tae-Ju recall childhood trauma. Then, in front of Cha Si-young, who was the chief mourner and was laughing and talking with people as before, he fainted and collapsed. Kang Tae-Ju's final words, "Ki-beom, this place is a festival. Laughing and talking with no guilt and no sorrow. You have already been forgotten by those who killed you. So do not forgive anyone. Even I, who knelt helplessly before them..." were filled with regret and anger beyond sorrow.
Before the aftertaste of the ending scene had even faded, the epilogue revealed the identity of the serial killer caught after 30 years, "Lee Yong-woo," drawing attention. When Kang Tae-Ju asked, "Have you ever been found out to be the killer? Didn't Ki-beom know you were the killer?" and the camera showed the face of "Lee Yong-woo" answering, an elderly Lee Ki-hwan appeared, throwing viewers into panic. At the same time, just before Lee Ki-hwan died, he realized that he was the killer and pleaded, "Brother, Soon-young must not...," adding to the poignancy. The conversation between the two, facing each other as not "Lee Yong-woo" but as Lee Ki-hwan and Kang Tae-Ju, raised curiosity about what other truths it might reveal in the next episode.
[Photo] ENA Scarecrow broadcast capture
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