[Mar 12] “The Midnight Studio” Ep 2: Rating, Recap, Review

ENA's “The Midnight Studio” is gaining more viewers gradually. The show’s second episode received a 2.5% viewership rate across the country, which is a small increase from the first episode’s 2.1%.

This drama tells the story of a photo studio that takes pictures of people who have passed away. The main character, Seo Ki-ju, played by Ju Won, is a grumpy photographer who owns the studio. Kwon Nara portrays Han Bom, an enthusiastic lawyer who ends up giving legal help to the spirits that come to the studio.

“The Midnight Studio” episode 2: Recap, review

The cursed life of Ju Won, filled only with misfortunes, is transformed with the arrival of "Safe Zone" Nara. It was a moment when a seed of hope called "spring" was planted in his life, which had been chased by ghosts and lived in solitude.

In the second episode, the fateful salvation narrative of Seo Ki-ju and Han Bom fired its starting shot. The "Safe Zone" Bom appeared in Ki-ju’s life, who was tormented by ghosts and faced the time of death approaching in about 100 days, neutralizing the power of the ghosts. Although Ki-ju’s life was full of misfortunes, there was no need to be discouraged because sometimes the tables could turn.

Ki-ju’s ancestors didn't live past 35 years for various reasons, including accidental death, unexplained death, heart attack, compression death, and penetrating injury. Above all, the most severe curse was having to endure a very short life in deep loneliness. 

But then, into the lonely territory of the 7th-generation photographer Ki-ju, "spring" arrived. It was her, a living person, who opened the door to this world that only Ki-ju could open. 

Moreover, after being chased out by the landlady grandmother So Geum-soon (Kim Young-ok) for being 3 months behind on rent, she even sent a lawsuit as a housewarming gift to the newly moved-in Ki-ju. To top it off, Bom even pitched a tent in front of the rooftop room and staged a protest(?). She was truly a woman of a strange and unknown kind.

The strangeness didn’t end there. Bom was with the child ghost Lim Yoon-hae (Seo Woo-jin), who had lost his life in a drunk driving accident. It meant she could see ghosts? 

Moreover, from Bom’s words, “Don’t keep shaking the child who has to go because of the accident, he has to leave within 3 days,” it seemed she knew that the ghost guest had to ascend before the door of the dead closed in 3 days. 

Because of Bom, a "human" like himself, Ki-ju was shaken. He had long eaten cold ritual food alone, but now, hope blossomed as he shared a warm meal and laughter with her.

However, it didn’t take long to realize that all this was a misunderstanding. The child with Bom was actually Lim Yoon-dal (Seo Woo-jin), Yoon-hae’s twin brother who was soon to be adopted in the U.S. Bom hadn't seen Yoon-hae, who had accompanied Ki-ju. 

Thus, Ki-ju’s expectations were shattered. And he drew a firm line with her, reporting the tent in front of the rooftop room as illegal occupancy to the police. Bom thought they had eaten together and were on good terms, so couldn’t hide her bewilderment.

But that night, an event occurred that would turn Ki-ju’s life upside down. As Ki-ju was being attacked by a fierce evil spirit, at the dangerous moment when a signboard was about to fall on his head, Bom appeared and pulled him down with her. 

At that moment, a blue circle formed around the two, repelling all the evil spirits. It was the manifestation of the "Safe Zone," a ray of hope that sprouted in Ki-ju’s life, which had been nothing but misfortunes. The ending, which raised curiosity about what changes "spring" would bring to Ki-ju’s life, which he had resigned to die soon, was intriguing.

Meanwhile, the story of the twin brothers Yoon-hae and Yoon-dal brought tears to us. Ki-ju, along with the photo studio staff Ko Dae-ri (Yoo In-soo) and Baek Nam-gu (Eum Moon-suk), were troubled by the child ghost Yoon-hae, who was said to be scarier than the full moon ghost and the virgin ghost.

But throwing tantrums for a sold-out toy sword, Yoon-hae had desperately returned from the afterlife to meet his brother Yoon-dal. The twin brothers were abandoned in front of an orphanage on the same day and time, and the older brother Yoon-hae dearly loved his younger brother Yoon-dal. That day, he had gone out to buy the toy sword his brother liked as a birthday present and met with an accident.

At the photo studio, the last birthday party for the twin brothers was held. Yoon-hae consoled his younger brother Yoon-dal, who was sadly crying because he thought his brother had died because of him, saying, “I’m not really dead. I’m on a mission after receiving a secret call from the heavens.” It was because of Ki-ju’s sincere advice, like his "Superman" uncle Seo Ki-won (Park Ki-woong), who had protected Ki-ju from scary ghosts and the loss of his father when he was young, that a Superman would also come for Yoon-dal. So “send him off in a way befitting an older brother.”

Hence, in front of the birthday cake candles, Yoon-hae and Yoon-dal prayed with their hands together, “Please don’t scare Yoon-dal,” “Please let my brother complete his mission and come back quickly.” The farewell scene, where Yoon-hae entered the door of the dead with the second shutter, ended the brief time of their miraculous meeting. It colored this episode with a poignant sadness and a heartwarming touch. 

My take: Episode 2 strikes the ideal balance of fantasy, comedy, and heartfelt scenes. I’ve found myself in tears during both episodes already. The child’s acting is remarkable; it’s truly impressive.

“The Midnight Studio” airs every Monday and Tuesday at 10 PM on Genie TV, Genie TV Mobile, and ENA.

(Source: Nielsen Korea, Polinews)