EPISODE RECAPS
EPISODE 52 – Mokhwa locks Nakwon in the flower shop while he goes to investigate the scene where Nakwon was stabbed. While Nakwon waits, he broods over the last time he waited for Mokhwa alone in the flower shop. Their relationship is quite different from what it was then. At the cafe parking lot, Mokhwa walks the scene, following the possible events of the stabbing. He realizes how odd it is that the perpetrator didn’t stab Nakwon twice when he had the chance. Mokhwa heads back to the flower shop, and the two head home. The next morning, Mokhwa makes breakfast, but Nakwon isn’t happy with the selection, deeming it too simple. Mokhwa, exasperated, can’t believe that Nakwon would risk his life for a “better” meal. He suggests that Nakwon get his head checked.
EPISODE 53 – Mokhwa suddenly gets up to clear the dishes, signaling that their argument is over. To clear the air, Nakwon asks Mokhwa for help getting dressed. As the flower shop owner buttons up his own shirt on Nakwon, his fingers fumble many times. Nakwon relishes the closeness, realizing that such an intimate moment is giving him butterflies. Later at the station, Lieutenant Seo reports to Nakwon that his attacker is someone from a gang based in China called Seven Stars. Elsewhere, Mokhwa is thinking back to the events of this morning. He can’t believe how patient he’s been with the chatterbox copster and comes to the realization that he must have subconsciously decided that Nakwon was someone he needed to watch over. Nakwon appears with a box of mandu and the two sit down for dinner.
EPISODE 54 – During the train ride home, Nakwon reaches out and carefully takes Mokhwa’s hand in his. To his surprise, Mokhwa doesn’t pull away and the two hold hands. The next morning, while Mokhwa and Nakwon are having breakfast, Nakwon receives a reminder call from the hospital telling him it’s time to remove his stitches. He decides to visit the doctor who helped him the day of his attack, the cafe owner’s friend. Nakwon and the doctor go to a cafe after his appointment for an interview about the crime. During their conversation, the doctor reveals that he had gotten himself involved in some shady business overseas. At the mention of China, Nakwon presses the physician for more information. When Nakwon returns to the station, he reveals to the other officers what he learned from the doctor, coming to the conclusion that his attack was a case of mistaken identity. Some time later, Mokhwa is headed home from work with a bag of groceries. He bought a bunch of meat in hopes of placating any complaints from Nakwon. At home, he sees how happy his purchase has made Nakwon, and Mokhwa tells himself that he definitely made the right decision.
MY TAKEAWAYS
From the comments of other readers, I’ve realized that people are divided into two camps: those who withhold any kind of forgiveness to Nakwon for his prior actions and those who have begrudgingly begun to extend some understanding to Nakwon. I’ve been wavering in between the two groups for a while now, but after this episode, I’m firmly in the latter group.
I don’t forgive Nakwon for assaulting Mokhwa… but I do recognize that Nakwon has been on quite a self-reflective journey for forgiveness. I think these two thoughts can be mutually exclusive.
Has Nakwon’s journey so far been enough to proverbially “wipe the slate clean”? Absolutely not. I’m reminded of that metaphorical analogy of fixing a torn piece of paper: no matter what you do to repair it, the damage will always be evident. Nakwon can muse over and regret his past actions as much as he wants, but it doesn’t undo what he did. He knows that himself. I admire how he recognizes that if he were to bring up the past, that it would re-open old wounds for Mokhwa. However, I don’t think that should stop him from apologizing. An apology would help Mokhwa heal too, and he deserves that much.
From other webtoons, or actually in a lot of fictional media I read, whenever a character does something heinous or is just a terrible person overall but then they turn over a new leaf, the reader doesn’t normally get to see the journey to that change. It’s just a flip of a switch for most characters. That’s what’s so refreshing about this story and why I wish more readers would give it a chance past the first season. Nakwon is showing remorse, regret, and understanding of what he did and why it was wrong. The way Nakwon has grown in this season deserves recognition.
Yes, it’s hard. Really hard to like Nakwon… especially in season one. For multiple reasons. Even in the second to the last episode of the first season, when he’s been sequestered after killing Heeyoung, and it’s clear Nakwon’s in complete anguish over not knowing Mokhwa’s fate. Seeing him curled up on the couch, I was still like, “nah, bro. You can suffer. You’re not getting any sympathy out of me.” Then, when he straight up yells at Mokhwa in the hospital the next episode, I thought, “See! This is why!”
Is my line of thinking hypocritical? Perhaps. But I really would like to see a conversation between these two characters about their past eventually.
And I know this is a weird thing to be nitpicky about, but in the scene where Mokhwa is clumsily buttoning up his shirt, Nakwon says that Mokhwa is “all thumbs.” But in the Korean version, the literal translation of that scene is Nakwon tells Mokhwa that he has “bear hands.” Since my knowledge of the Korean language is still very limited, I don’t know if that’s an actual Korean idiom or not, but personally, I feel like the phrase “all thumbs” doesn’t have the same… je ne sais quoi as “bear hands.” Again, stupid thing to be bothered by but there it is.
Anyway, I loved episode 53. This might be in my top three favorite episodes for the series. For one, we get Mokhwa’s internal monologue, and I love whenever we get insight into how Mokhwa is feeling. Two, Nakwon’s not being an asshole, even to his subordinates. It’s a little jarring to see, but it’s a nice change.
Lastly, the train scene in episode 54. I keep wondering how Nakwon is able to maintain his balance. His right arm is in a sling, so all he has is his left arm to hold on while the train is in motion. Since he’s holding Mokhwa’s hand though… how does he stay balanced?! Anyone who has taken public transportation knows how difficult it is not to hang onto something. So as sweet as I think that scene is, I can’t help but obsess over Nakwon’s no-hold stance.
Read Beware the Ides of March on Lezhin
SERIES DETAILS
Original Title: 3월의 보름을 조심하라
Alternate Titles: Beware the Full Moon in March
Author: Stan
Artist: Choi Song
Publisher: Lezhin
Audience: NSFW
