In Episode 3 of Dong Jae: The Good or the Bastard, we begin with a flashback six months prior, where Wan-sung orders the elimination of a critical witness in his case, leading to the case being dismissed due to the witness’s sudden disappearance.
The story then shifts to the present day, with Dong-jae attempting to sell a plot of land registered in his name. However, the real estate agent dismisses him, prompting Dong-jae to reconsider selling. Realizing he can’t keep the land and continue his role as a prosecutor, Dong-jae approaches a senior attorney at a law firm and feigns needing assistance, which leads to a job offer.
Meanwhile, the police are reviewing CCTV footage related to the bar attack from the previous episode and spot Dong-jae. They also discover he had a brief meeting with Wan-sung, heightening suspicions of Dong-jae’s potential involvement. The lead officer heads to the prosecutor’s office to question Dong-jae.
Simultaneously, the true arrangement between Chan-hyeok—related to the infamous drug lord through his sister—and prosecutor Byung-gun is revealed. Byung-gun and senior prosecutor Mi-ran are eager to catch drug lord Choi Geum-ho in possession of incoming drugs, aiming for recognition upon his arrest. Chan-hyeok explains he’s turning on his brother-in-law to help his sister, aligning with the police to get Geum-ho apprehended.
Back at his office, Dong-jae learns he’s to be honored as the “Model Prosecutor” and will be interviewed at the upcoming award ceremony. His excitement is interrupted when the police officer arrives, relaying to Byung-gun that Dong-jae was captured on surveillance footage. Byung Jun, Dong Jae’s rival is ever so ready to prosecute him but Dong-jae’s junior steps in, clarifying that Dong-jae met Wan-sung to return a bribe the CEO attempted to give him. While the misunderstanding is resolved, Mi-ran becomes irritated with Byung-gun for involving the officer, given her own history of taking bribes from Wan-sung.
Later, Dong-jae attempts to meet Wan-sung but encounters his son, Gyeo-re, who is revealed to be the same person the girl he met at the hospital Yoo-ri was hiding from. Gyeo-re is also entangled in stealing Geum-ho’s drugs and barely escapes after Chan-hyeok tails him.
In the final moments, Choi Geum-ho waits in a dimly lit alley with his men, anticipating a meeting. Mi-ran dispatches Dong-jae to investigate a gunshot incident, and upon arrival, Dong-jae discovers that the deceased is none other than Yoo-ri, leaving the episode on a shocking note.
Episode 4 of Dong Jae: The Good or the Bastard opens with a haunting flashback revealing the moments leading up to Yoo-ri’s tragic murder. In this tense scene, we witness the assailant shooting Yoo-ri while her father searches desperately for her at their home. Meanwhile, the police discover a suspicious figure lurking nearby and subsequently arrest Gyeo-re.
The news of Gyeo-re’s arrest reaches Nam Wan-sung, who immediately contacts Mi-ran, urging her to be present at the crime scene. However, to avoid raising suspicions, Mi-ran sends Dong-jae in her stead at Wan-sung’s request. Upon arriving at the crime scene, Dong-jae learns about the shocking murder of Yoo-ri and recalls an unsettling detail: he saw Gyeo-re leaving his house with a shotgun concealed in a tennis bag.
At the police station, Wan-sung desperately implores Dong-jae to exonerate Gyeo-re, hinting that he could erase all records concerning the land and bribes linked to him. Dong-jae, however, remains uninterested. Meanwhile, a team of police officers accompanies Wan-sung to locate the missing shotgun, only to discover it has vanished, leaving Wan-sung in a precarious position for possessing an illegal firearm. Gyeo-re, on the other hand, stays silent while in custody.
The following day, during an official meeting, the case is officially transferred to Dong-jae, who quickly deduces that the land owned by Wan-sung was intended to be leverage for Gyeo-re’s release. The police inform Dong-jae they can confirm that Gyeo-re had handed the shotgun to Yoo-ri, but many crucial details remain concealed. Dong-jae visits the bowling alley owner in hopes of gathering more information, but comes away with little.
Simultaneously, Park Chan-hyeok alerts Byung-jun that Choi Geum-ho is poised to receive a fresh shipment of drugs. Elsewhere, Wan-sung confronts Gyeo-re, who adamantly maintains his innocence regarding Yoo-ri’s murder.
During the interrogation, Gyeo-re initially remains mute until Dong-jae starts accusing him of killing Yoo-ri, referencing evidence obtained from the hospital. Gyeo-re eventually recalls the incident and reveals that Yoo-ri had merely fallen in the hospital. The plot thickens as we learn that the two teenagers stumbled upon drugs at the train station while en route to a new restaurant. They had been trafficking these drugs through an anonymous application. When Yoo-ri insisted on selling the leftover drugs to an unknown buyer, Geum-ho supplied her with the shotgun for protection, fearing that the situation had escalated to a dangerous level.
The narrative takes a twist as it appears that Park Chan-hyeok had pilfered a significant amount of drugs from Choi Geum-ho, explaining Geum-ho’s frantic search for the thief. In a poignant moment, Yoo-ri’s father discovers cash hidden in her cabinet. Dong-jae recalls a previous conversation about a new ecstasy variant called “Purple,” which had mysteriously vanished from the market, correlating with Gyeo-re and Yoo-ri’s drug operation. To uncover more, Dong-jae scrutinizes the CCTV footage from the terminal and spots Park Chan-hyeok colliding with the two teenagers, setting the stage for further intrigue in this gripping drama.
In Episodes 3 and 4 of Dong Jae: The Good or the Bastard, the narrative deepens with complex character dynamics and escalating tensions. Episode 3 effectively uses flashbacks to reveal Wan-sung’s morally questionable actions that jeopardize a critical witness, setting the stage for present-day conflicts. Dong-jae’s struggles with his dual identity as a prosecutor and landowner create a compelling internal conflict, especially when he’s falsely implicated in criminal activities.
The introduction of Chan-hyeok’s connection to the drug trade adds layers of intrigue, highlighting the intertwining fates of the characters. The episode culminates in a gripping cliffhanger as Dong-jae discovers Yoo-ri’s murder, enhancing the stakes for all involved.
In Episode 4, the haunting flashback of Yoo-ri’s murder is particularly impactful, showcasing the series’ ability to blend suspense with emotional weight. Dong-jae’s investigation into Gyeo-re’s involvement raises questions about loyalty and innocence, while the revelation of a drug trafficking operation complicates matters further. The pacing is tight, with multiple threads converging as Dong-jae pieces together the mystery surrounding the drug trade and its connection to Yoo-ri’s tragic fate.
Overall, these episodes maintain a tense atmosphere and skillfully develop the characters’ moral dilemmas, leaving viewers eager for the next twist in this intricate plot.