Mary Kills People: Episodes 3-4

by solstices

This week, we bear firsthand witness to a painful goodbye, reiterating the peace and dignity that our titular heroine grants through her mercy killing. But in the eyes of the law, murder is murder, no matter how one spins it.

 
EPISODES 3-4

As it turns out, the “Jo Hyun-woo” whom we’ve come to know is actually BAN JI-HOON, a detective who transferred to the traffic police after an undercover operation ended with the culprit jumping to his death right in front of Ji-hoon. Carrying the guilt of betrayal on his shoulders, Ji-hoon is reluctant to engage in such deception once more, but his team sunbae urges him into returning to the field. After all, they have the powerful backing of Assemblyman Baek this time.

Back in the present, a tear falls from So-jung’s eye as Ji-hoon kisses her. Okay, admittedly I’m not entirely sold on why our drama became Mary Kisses People all of a sudden, but either way it’s clear Ji-hoon is wavering as a human despite his mission as a cop. Quietly apologizing for being unable to find a cure, So-jung promises to send Ji-hoon off as he wishes.

With that, the police launch into action. After Ji-hoon purchases a house in what he claims was his old neighborhood, the police outfit the place with hidden cameras to catch So-jung red-handed. As for our heroine, since all the drug bottles were smashed in the hospice altercation save for one, she decides to send Hyun-woo off alone. Right as she’s setting up her supplies, though, So-jung receives a call from Father Yang — Hyun-woo was found dead.

So-jung looks up to see Hyun-woo standing next to her, very much alive. A dreadful realization dawning on her, So-jung checks the kitchen cabinet. It seems that in their haste to apprehend her, the police wound up being careless – not only does the cabinet contain painkillers that Hyun-woo’s allergic to, but there’s also a cup with the $2 price tag still stuck on. Maintaining her composure, So-jung lulls Ji-hoon into a fakeout, making up an excuse to go to her car. Then she immediately disposes of the drug bottle and flees, to the police’s chagrin.

Meanwhile, our favorite comic relief sidekick is back on his Help Soo-young Confess mission. Having heard from Dad that he doesn’t want Soo-young to be hurt by the knowledge that Mom has a new family in the States and can’t come visit, Dae-hyun takes it upon himself to divert Soo-young’s attention. One makeover later, Soo-young “coincidentally” runs into his crush HYE-JUNG (Lee Seo-young) and asks her out… in the middle of a convenience store. LOL.

Thankfully Hye-jung takes it fairly well, and they meet up the next day. Aww, she’s known about his crush all along — Soo-young has been going the extra mile for her since elementary school. That’s adorable. Hye-jung admits that she cried after hearing the news, then kisses a wide-eyed Soo-young on the cheek. Awww! In the background, wingman extraordinaire Dae-hyun does a little celebratory dance, ha.

But right then, Soo-young coughs up blood. While Dae-hyun quickly ushers him away, Hye-jung asks him to meet her here again tomorrow, and Soo-young musters up all his strength for a smile. Once he’s safely in the car, though, his strong front wavers. Breaking down into tears, Soo-young cries that he’d like to die today — he’s completed his final wish. Waaaah. *sobs*

With Soo-young coughing and retching up blood, his condition having taken an abrupt turn for the worse, there’s no postponing it any longer. So-jung goes straight from evading the police to walking into the drug dealers’ den, where she passes by GU HYE-RIM (cameo by Kwak Sun-young!) in the hallway. Steeling herself through a bout of sexual harassment by the drug boss GU KWANG-CHEOL (Baek Hyun-jin), So-jung eventually procures one valuable bottle of the drug.

Back at home, Soo-young pulls his father in for one last hug, and I’m sobbing my eyes out. Asking Dad to gently break the news to Hye-jung, Soo-young smiles brightly: “If I meet her tomorrow, she’ll definitely fall for me.” Aww, this kid. Dad apologizes for being tough on him for his own good, reassuring Soo-young that he loves him to bits. Drinking from his childhood cup with their family photo printed on it, Soo-young passes away peacefully in his father’s arms.

As for Dad, he chokes back his tears until So-jung confirms that Soo-young’s gone: “It’s alright to cry now.” Only then does Dad finally crack, breaking down in heaving sobs. Outside, in the playground, an empty swing rocks gently. *cries*

This arc absolutely wrecked me — I cried so hard I could barely see my screen — not least because of Park Won-sang‘s anguished grief and Lee Won-jung‘s palpable agony, but also because of how meaningful their father-son story is. It drives the drama’s central message home, questioning if euthanasia can really be affixed with the black-and-white label of murder. Is it not mercy, to end a patient’s suffering rather than prolong it? Is it not kindness, to grant a dying person the dignity of a final goodbye on their own terms?

The next day, Dae-hyun conveys Soo-young’s phone to Dad, who watches his final video message. In it, Soo-young admits that he found Mom’s contact information, then thanks Dad for lying to protect him. Putting on a brave face and a sincere smile, Soo-young declares that he’s content with having a great dad. Awww.

With the lingering sorrow of having to send off a young boy far too soon, it’s no wonder that when Ji-hoon next approaches So-jung, she delivers a tight slap for his betrayal. Despite his entreaties to stop her operation, So-jung won’t compromise her morals just because they run counter to society’s ethics.

Alas, the police continue to close in on our crew, which means a temporary hiatus is inevitable. In the meantime, our pair of doctors need an excuse to justify why they meet up so often. Dae-hyun: “Let’s date.” Dae-hyun, immediately backpedaling: “I mean, let’s say we’re dating!” LOL. The actual solution is much simpler, with Dae-hyun and Ye-na starting volunteer work at the church hospice.

At the same time, the chase is on for our diva drug dealer. Not only are the police hot on Shi-hyun’s heels, but Boss Gu is also sick and tired of his underling acting up. That’s how Shi-hyun gets shot in a dingy back alley and winds up whining like a baby in So-jung’s emergency room. Noticing the distinctive Saint Mary tattoo on his forearm, So-jung immediately realizes he’s the wanted drug dealer — and so do the police.

Boss Gu threatens So-jung into buying time, but So-jung is no coward, and she fires back that he won’t be off the hook if she gets caught. If Boss Gu wants to extricate Shi-hyun, he can do it himself. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what Boss Gu does, by setting off explosions in the hospital pantry. Distraught by the potential casualties, So-jung caves. Slipping Shi-hyun a pair of scissors, she whispers that she’ll play bait, and Shi-hyun immediately takes her hostage. The police rush to the scene, but the pair escape just in time — though not without Ji-hoon catching a glimpse of So-jung in the getaway vehicle.

What a double whammy of a tearjerker and a nail-biting thriller this week! Ji-hoon’s heart seems to be warring with his head — rationally, he knows So-jung must be stopped because ending people’s lives is still killing no matter how you repackage it, but witnessing her empathy firsthand is only reiterating how she’s driven by altruistic motives. Ji-hoon insists that So-jung’s displays of kindness won’t erase the murders she’s committed, but it sounds like he might be trying to convince himself, too.

As for So-jung, who prioritizes the wishes and wellbeing of her patients above all, the lives she’s touched serve as further affirmation that she’s doing the right thing. Contrary to expectations (and to Tae-sung’s meddling), Kang-yoon’s widow approaches So-jung to thank her for helping her husband leave peacefully, promising to keep our doctor’s secret. It’s a deeply meaningful gesture to So-jung, who undoubtedly contends with apologetic guilt towards the bereaved families.

And of course, that glimpse of Kwak Sun-young inadvertently terrorizing her meek husband Lee Yi-kyung with a kitchen knife has me cracking up already. I can’t wait for the next episode to learn more about their characters!

 
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