[HanCinema's Drama Review] "Missing 9" Episode 4

Our "Missing 9" may no longer be entirely missing, but episode four reveals that they were not nine to begin with. So-hee may be unreliable, but at least part of her experiences may be true, as a certain someone starts plotting something wicked. The big revelation about So-hee's death takes place, although if there is anything "Missing 9" has taught me it is that truth is subjective.

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There are no free meals in this world and our island group discovers this when their blessing of a camp is invaded by the new survivor. Our group of nine is already unrealistic enough, given the severity of the crash and the lack of seat belts would have smeared everyone onto the fuselage walls, but now I am wondering just how many more made it. The bigger question is, do we want more to have made it? Our newest is not exactly lovable.

His existence does push Tae-ho's (Choi Tae-joon) true nature out, however and sets up the conflict we all sense coming. I do not know if Tae-ho really committed murder, but he is clearly not the poster boy for mental stability either. For all his intelligence, he does not consider what floating around on a glorified rubber ducky in the middle of the ocean entails. It is just a shame that the creators are rushing him into villain territory for the sake of plot progression.

As for the confirmed death in Bong-hee's (Baek Jin-hee) memories, I am not ready to believe that this is all there is to it, given the show's love for different versions of the truth. I would love a leading woman overcoming guilt, as I am all for nuanced, flawed characters. I just know that Dramaland has trouble letting go of its morally sparkly clean leads of Bong-hee's type. I hope what we see is true, but there may be more to it in order to absolve our heroine of even accidental guilt.

Of course whether or not Bong-hee's memory is reliable does not matter at this point, since others will believe it. This includes Tae-yeong (Yang Dong-geun), who will be angry and might not pause to consider the circumstances. I was hoping Bong-hee would have an ally, but if Tae-yeong turns on her and unless the second survivor can help, she only has limited support by investigator Oh (Min Sung-wook).

I am still not sure what is a memory, a false memory, a visualized assumption of knowledge, hallucination or other and so I will not take guesses for now. There is enough material for survival drama and also drama in the presented relationships, so the truth can take its sweet time to form. Episode four thankfully delivers a smooth tone and enough new information to get the main part of the series going.

"Missing 9" is directed by Choi Byeong-gil, written by Son Hwang-won and features Jung Kyung-ho, Baek Jin-hee, Oh Jung-se and Choi Tae-joon.

Written by: Orion from 'Orion's Ramblings'

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