THE GIRL WHO CAN SEE SMELLS - EPISODE 13

Moo Gak's gun, pointed at Kwon's head.

This episode was a lot tighter than most. I don't know if I'm just getting used to it, or if they've picked up the pace. As they're winding up for the end, the writers have started tying up all the plot threads they've left hanging.

Cho Rim is at Chef Kwon's house, looking for her lost purse. Kwon is there, but does nothing other than insist she has coffee with him. Moo Gak frantically pounds on the door, but Kwon calmly lets him in, and our hero leaves with Cho Rim in tow. Outside, she tells him that Chef Kwon has the same unidentifiable scent as the late Dr. Chun, so they figure that something at the house must be the key to figuring that out. Our sensory couple reveal what they know to the cops, as well as Cho Rim's powers. The cops then stage a raid on Kwon's home, but nothing is found.  Kwon steps up his game to find Choi Eun Seol, contacting her alma mater and hosting a class reunion. He is stunned to find that Cho Rim is Eun Seol. He tries to kidnap Cho Rim after the reunion but ends up with a similarly dressed Lt. Yeom, who disguised herself to trap Kwon. Moo Gak breaks into Kwon's digs, and once again draws a gun on a helpless Kwon, looking for all the world like he's ready to kill him...

Totally the wrong way to protest library fines

I thought Kwon's reaction was odd. Maybe I'm conflating viewer knowledge with character knowledge, but I understood that Kwon knew Cho Rim and Eun Seol were one and the same. At least, I thought so. Why would it be so ominous for him to be around Cho Rim, then? Why the hungry shark music every time they're together, the hint of danger? And the scene with the coffee cup. Really? I know that he's drugged the coffee sometimes, but it was almost laughable. It was like turning the volume down on Folger's commercial and playing the Saw soundtrack (I hope that's not a thing) along with it.

And we see more of Cho Rim using her powers again. Some episodes have left this completely out, apparently forgetting what this show is actually called. It's a neat effect, even thought she doesn't use them at the beginning or at the end, which is where they'd be actually useful. Concentrate on the coffee to see if there's something amiss. Looking for Lt. Yeom? The trail leads to this room, then stops. Voila! Secret room! And, of course, looking for Lt. Yeom's scent would make the perfume scene more significant. Maybe next episode?

If he climbs a lamppost and starts singing, I'm out of here...

It seems like they're trying to make things more dynamic. Like the forced scene with the coffee and Moo Gak's cocked gun pointed at Chef Kwon's head. The problem is, we know there are at least 3 episodes left. They're not going to kill Kwon. Just like Moo Gak wasn't going to kill Chef Kwon the last time he had a gun pointed at him. If he's dead, then the show's over. Although they could kill him, and then, bizarrely, the murders do not stop. Or even better, Lt. Yeom is held hostage, and given six days where we get more Chef Kwon character revelations, as well as some for her. Although I've rarely seen so skillful a twist in this show. Probably Moo Gak will all of a sudden snap out of his murderous rage (or Cho Rim will coax him out of it), Kwon will recover, and the cops will stumble over themselves trying to nab Kwon over and over until the last episode. Part of my disappointment is in knowing where this is going. 

Why is Kwon laughing? Because he'll knows he'll be alive next episode.

Speaking of Lt. Yeom, anyone realize that she's an actual anti-trope? She's been in multiple scenes containing men, and there's no romance subplot for her. I've always had a soft spot for her; she's the sharpest cop on the investigation team, not at all bad looking, and she and Cho Rim seem to genuinely like each other. She doesn't need a standard trope to keep her going, like jealousy or a romance. She's even the damsel in distress, and she doesn't seem at all distressed. I've said it before and I'll say it again: she's nominated for my award for best second lead. 

Disappointed? Still loving it? Let me know!

SEE ALSO: Park Yoochun's legal battle with former manager continues despite court ruling