Recap Korean Drama "Once Upon a Small Town" Episode 4

Sep 12, 2022

Once Upon a Small Town episode 4 starts with Ja-young running around with Nurungji, the dog that they had rescued a while ago. Ja-young mentions that she wants to adopt him since keeping him locked in a cage isn’t healthy for it. Ji-yul has no other option but to agree, as Ja-young’s cuteness is infectious, and she’s too nice about it.

It turns out that Ji-yul had given her another dog that she had named Cloud when they had briefly met as kids. She thinks back to her now passed away dog while Ji-yul wonders how she all of a sudden became an animal person. However, it seems like he’s become quite fond of Ja-young as he wishes to see her whenever he sees a police officer and then walks her to Mr Jang’s place when she gets a call.

However, they come across Sang-hyeon on the way, who passive-aggressively tells Ji-yul that he’s encroaching on his love life. It’s an awkward moment for the three of them, and Sang-hyeon doesn’t do himself any favours by acting like a spoilt teenager. But, there are bigger things to worry about – Nurungji goes missing, and a scared and concerned Ja-young comes to Ji-yul to ask for his help to search for him.

After a rather long chase sequence, Ji-yul finds the dog running at the speed of light down a path into the woods, wherein he finds his little pups and, well, the pups’ mother. The mother isn’t happy with the guest and attacks him after he tries to pet the puppies. Either way, they go back home to look at the scratch and while on the way, they talk about family and dogs’ love lives!

Still From Once Upon a Small Town Episode 4

Either way, the work doesn’t end with the two as Ji-yul, now without contacts, gets called to help a cow who is unable to push its calf out. The two of them go to its rescue, and after putting in some elbow grease, they are able to pull the baby out.

That night, there’s a celebration at Se-ryeon’s house wherein everyone bullies Ji-yul for not eating meat. It’s so weird because Sang-hyeon continues to bully him there, although he has never really done anything to him. Anyway, they get into a drinking war and after two or three glasses, both the men stare lovingly at Ja-young, who is singing rather beautifully.

After she is done singing, Ji-yul looks uncomfortable after coming out of his trance and gets up to leave. However, Ja-young agrees to go with him since she’s working that night anyway. On the way back, she asks him to join her get the puppies to the hospital. However, he makes up an excuse to get out of it, and on the way, she causes his bicycle to fall into the rice paddy.

Once Upon a Small Town Episode 4 Ending

As they look at the bicycle now covered in mud, Sang-hyeon gets there and starts accusing Ji-yul of being too drunk (and possibly inappropriate?). Annoyed by the disrespect, Ji-yul decides to leave, and Sang-hyeon confesses to Ja-young that he is just like other men and that he likes her. Ja-young looks at her friend with confusion as Ji-yul also looks at them both.

Once Upon a Small Town Episode 4 Review

Still From Once Upon a Small Town Episode 4

What an awkward and weird episode with the storyline going in such odd directions. I think this Sang-hyeon storyline is rather out of place – I don’t understand the unnecessary aggression, especially when Sang-hyeon hasn’t even shown his childhood friend his feelings.

I don’t understand why Ji-yul has to be bullied because of this, and Sang-hyeon is constantly rather rude. There are some scenes among the three of them that want you to take this as a joke, but it’s just so stark that it feels out of place. Sure, when you see your crush flirting with others, you do feel angry. But they want us to think of Sang-hyeon as a good person, so I don’t really understand.

Also, what is going on with Ja-young? Why isn’t she mentioning this to her bestie? I don’t believe a person wouldn’t be able to realise it when someone else is so desperately in love with them, so much so that they intentionally bully another person to such an extent. I mean, wouldn’t you ask this person to stop? I think I’d be really annoyed if someone encroached on my privacy and life and tried to play the white knight when it wasn’t needed! I understand that her character is really nice and rather naive, but she’s a cop – how is she this clueless?

Either way, I like the small snippets of village life, and I think the leads play with each other well. It’s just Sang-hyeon’s characters that feel extremely unnecessary and out of place. The drama would have benefited from a simple storyline rather than adding this unnecessary complication.