“Encounter” has continued to be the talk of the town this past week, especially considering that epic moment at the end of episode 8 that a lot of us were anticipating. There was a lot of wondering in terms of when the big moment would happen, and after several dramatic events throughout the episodes, it finally came. And we’re still not over it! Here’s a look at six dramatic moments from episodes 7 and 8!
Warning: spoilers for Episodes 7 and 8 of “Encounter” below.
1. When the director tells Jin Hyeok he’s getting sent to Sokcho
As a result of Soo Hyun revealing that she’s in a “some” relationship with Jin Hyeok, he gets transferred out of Seoul to Sokcho. In this particular scene, Director Choi is telling Jin Hyeok that this is the least he can do to protect Soo Hyun from further harm. Jin Hyeok, being the sweet guy that he is, complies and decides that it’s best not to tell Soo Hyun and to just follow orders.
Director Choi being a puppet to Taegyeong was pretty annoying. So when he meets with Jin Hyeok to tell him that he has to move to Sokcho, we’re not only devastated but totally upset that Jin Hyeok agrees to do it! It’s pretty unpredictable from this point on as we don’t know if he’s going to get sent away or if Soo Hyun is going to find out and rescue him. Regardless, the drama is getting more and more dramatic.
2. Soo Hyun coming back to the hotel after hearing news about Jin Hyeok
Soo Hyun’s short responses to Jo Hye In when she tells her over the phone that Jin Hyeok is being transferred to Sokcho is boss. Her nonchalant demeanor and calmness shows just how much control she has over her feelings. She doesn’t lose her cool. It’s a dramatic moment that is totally owned by Soo Hyun and the confidence in which she responds to this news is powerful.
And when she goes back to the company, the charisma she exudes is so respectable. We can feel the anger that she feels for Director Choi and are anticipating her confrontation with him. Can we just mention how cool she looked when she walked back into her company?
Like, such a BOSS.
During her confrontation with Director Choi, we feel the tension in the air, but she totally owns the conversation and room, making Director Choi second guess his decision to go behind Soo Hyun’s back and betray her. Her passive aggressive threat to him totally had us cheering. She’s scary, but she’s not going down without a fight.
3. Jung Woo Seok telling Soo Hyun that he likes her
This is a messy relationship. Woo Seok is married to Soo Hyun, fakes having an affair to get a divorce, and is now trying to win Soo Hyun’s heart again. I don’t know about you, but this guy’s thinking has me totally confused. I’m not sure why he had to go so far as to fake an affair to divorce Soo Hyun, but alright. One things for sure is that Woo Seok oozes royalty, wealth, and he’s owning this part. So when he drops his pride and tells Soo Hyun how he feels, it’s pretty intense. We’re loving how this is officially developing into a love triangle. The more drama the better, I say!
I’m not sure how to feel about Woo Seok yet and we’re not sure if he’s technically the antagonist in this series. He does love Soo Hyun and doesn’t seem to like Jin Hyeok (obviously), but he hasn’t done anything to sabotage their relationship… yet. But the part where he tells Soo Hyun that he loves her is obviously a step into the direction of there being some intense drama in the episodes to come. I’m curious to see if he’s going to be a bad ex-husband who gets in the way of Soo Hyun and Jin Hyeok, or if he’s going to be a good ex-husband who just loves his ex-wife from a distance. Let’s hope for the latter!
4. Manager Nam showing up in Sokcho
After Jin Hyeok gets shipped off to Sokcho, he ends up with a job at the front desk, a position in which he was obviously demoted to. We’re upset that he won’t be at the masquerade event that he planned and even more upset that he’s so far from his family and Soo Hyun. So when Manager Nam comes to the rescue, I was high key cheering and fist-pumping away.
This particular scene felt very Cinderella-y, which I loved. The fairy godmother, aka Manager Nam, comes and rescues Jin Hyeok to bring him to the ball. He even brings him a full suit and a mask! It’s a total fairy tale and so romantic! I had a huge grin on my face during this entire time knowing that he could go to the event that he planned, and more importantly, see Soo Hyun. I loved every aspect of this part, especially Manager Nam. Where would their relationship be without him?!
5. Jin Hyeok grabbing Soo Hyun’s hand
Once Jin Hyeok and Woo Seok are at the masquerade, we know that both of them are looking for Soo Hyun. So when somebody grabs her hand, we’re left wondering who it is until the very last minute. It’s an intense moment for this love triangle and although we kind of feel sorry for the ex-husband, we’re rooting for Jin Hyeok to take off his mask and sweep Soo Hyun off her feet.
6. The kiss
After Jin Hyeok takes Soo Hyun aside and reveals his face, she’s touched and surprised that he’s standing in front of her. They’re both smiling at each other and we can sense what’s coming. I don’t know about you, but all I could think about was Song Joong Ki glaring at the screen from a distance.
Despite this, it wasn’t as awkward or cringe-worthy as it could have been.
It did set up for some dramatic moments that we know are going to come in the next episode. It raises various questions about whether anyone saw the two kissing or if there’s going to be more scandalous news that exposes the two being at the party. Regardless, we know there’s going to be some more obstacles ahead that we have to brace ourselves for. Oh, the drama!