Recap Korean Drama "One Dollar Lawyer 2022" Episode 10

Finally, with only three episodes to go, our drama decides to take the story they’ve built (zany comedy world) and the one they’ve shown us (Ji-hoon’s dark and tragic backstory) and bring them together into one package. I’m glad they’re doing it, I’m just not sure yet if the melding of the tones is a genius hybrid maneuver, or the most dissonant thing ever. (Also, if they were going to cut two episodes off the drama, they should have killed last week’s car dealership side story in favor of the main storyline with the emotional meat. But they didn’t ask me.)

But back to our present-day Ji-hoon, who we last left carefully hiding his recognition of the new fancy-suited man visiting their office. It’s a funny scene — with super creepy undertones. The man wants a lawyer to clean up his messes, and money is no matter. He sees the 1,000 won fee and enquires, and Ji-hoon says, “Yes, we only charge 1,000 won… per second.” Moo-jang does the math – and a victory dance later on — but the guy and his legit-looking ID card were all a scam.

So what’s up? We see in flashback that Ji-hoon – after being stone-walled in his investigations for three years — told Prosecutor Na that instead of trying to find them, he would make them come to him. Which, indeed, seems like it’s happening.

Mari knows something is afoot, though, and follows Ji-hoon around. The two engage in their usual antics, but in the end she admits she knows he’s looking for someone and she wants to help him. He’s not pleased, and everything about his demeanor shifts.

The next day in the office, though, the vibe is the same — but now Moo-jang is in on it too. Ji-hoon doesn’t want them involved, but eventually they win him over by saying how they don’t want to see him sad, and that he’s helped so many people, now it’s time they helped him. I want to get more behind this partnership, because I love the three of them being weird and getting sh!t done, but because the dialogue was all of ten lines and the show is taking such a light-handed approach, there isn’t much depth to grab onto. I’m beginning to be grateful for the solid episodes of backstory we got, because at least it adds some gravity here.

From here, our three crazies do what they’re good at — following leads and being extra. The moments of comedy are fun (I particularly loved the composite sketch showdown), but it’s hard to laugh as hard at the show now that I know it’s doing two things at once: trying to be silly and madcap, and trying to resolve the evil corruption/murder backstory. Can both these things exist at the same time?

The man who is in prison for Joo-young’s murder is their first lead — he was bought off to take the fall by none other than Ji-hoon’s mysterious visitor. This is confirmed via Mari’s excellent composite sketch and Moo-jang’s ~red sun~ hypnosis (my favorite moment of this week, no lie).

This admission leads them to a gambling ring, which leads them back to Fire Chicken — err, Bear — and then to a veritable gambling theme park called Neverland.

When in Rome, right? Ji-hoon gives Mari and Moo-jang their precious 1,000 won bills, but they lose most of them while gambling. It’s Ji-hoon that creates a ruckus — he has some sort of magic happening at the water beetle table. It’s so weird and funny, and really just there for the laughs, because the clues wind up bringing them full circle back to Fire Bear.

If it sounds like a wild goose chase that’s because it feels like one, too. But they finally get something good: their mysterious visitor was heading to a fancy VIP event hosted by none other than… JQ Group.

Ji-hoon and team use a rogue invite to get into the event, and after a whole lot of reprimanding from Ji-hoon about how they’ll all just go comfortably as themselves, we have the pleasure of watching our men arrive in tuxes, and Mari in a gorgeous fuchsia gown.

Mari meets her mother there and gets roped into a blind date meeting, and Moo-jang gets mistaken for a waiter (WHOMP WHOMP), but Ji-hoon is right on the money. He finds the mystery baddie and follows him inside where he’s greeted with a pat on the shoulder by… Mari’s grandpa. Nooooo.

It’s unclear at this point (at least to me), how deep Baek Law Firm is involved in the Evil Badness behind JQ group, but it’s not looking good. And Ji-hoon, also, seems to be suddenly acting very out of character. A fireworks display lures everyone outside and gives off an eerie red light. Ji-hoon grabs a steak knife from the buffet – as one does — and proceeds menacingly in the baddie’s direction.

Do I expect Ji-hoon to murder someone in broad fireworks-light? No, surely something or someone will stop this from occurring. Or, the ominous moment will be undercut entirely when Ji-hoon grabs a nearby steak instead.

But just in case, there’s backup on hand. Min-hyuk and Prosecutor Na have been doing their own investigations (due to more mysterious “suicides” around the JQ slush fund) and their leads have led them to the same exact party. They arrive in a flourish, and I admit after this episode I’m liking these characters more and more. Is Prosecutor Na a single mom? Because these two might be a better match than Min-hyuk and Mari.

Anyway, though the wild goose chase felt a little pointless, I’m glad to see all our players on the scene at this party. It feels like a culminating moment for the plot, and that’s good since the drama has lots of unraveling and tying together to do in its final two episodes — which, unlike previously reported, will be delivered one per week. Let the suspense commence!