[Mar 19] "The Midnight Studio" Ep 4: Rating, Recap, Review

The 4th episode of ENA’s “The Midnight Studio” reached a 2.48% viewership, a small increase from the 2.35% of its previous episode, almost matching its highest rating from the second episode.

"The Midnight Studio" episode 4: Recap & review

Kwon Nara experiences a side effect from visiting the photo studio, which leads her to finally see ghosts. The unique relationship between the world’s only photographer, Joo Won, and the world’s only mutant, Kwon Nara, begins in earnest, causing a surge in anticipation.

In the 4th episode, the guest who visited Joo Won (Seo Ki-joo)’s photo studio was none other than Han Bom (Kwon Nara)'s grandmother, So Geum-soon (Kim Young-ok). Although she had lived a full life and had no regrets, there was one thing that prevented her from leaving this world: checking the list of donations from her own funeral! 

Geum-soon, who was expected to want to meet her granddaughter Bom, instead asked to keep her visit to the photo studio a secret, causing confusion. Prioritizing the guest’s request, Ki-joo consoled the devastated Bom, saying, “Grandmother lived without regrets, so there was no need for her to visit the photo studio.”

Faced with her grandmother’s sudden death, Bom was filled with regret. She had thought spring would always follow winter and regretted not being able to enjoy flower viewing with her grandmother, who loved it. Geum-soon, who had tirelessly raised Bom, was heartbroken by the fact that she couldn’t see the flowers she loved within the 3 days before the spirit’s door closed. 

When Bom learned that her grandmother had come to the photo studio as a guest, she tearfully suggested, “Let’s go see the flowers,” even though Geum-soon wasn't visible. However, Geum-soon didn't budge and instead angrily insisted on collecting the funeral donations, saying, “Get my blood-like money.”

During her lifetime, Geum-soon meticulously recorded all the condolence money from acquaintances in a ledger. With the help of photo studio employees Ko Dae-ri (Yoo In-soo) and Baek Nam-goo (Eum Moon-suk), she obtained the list of funeral donations and compared it. It was unclear why the money was so important to Geum-soon, but it turned out to be her love for Bom, her "precious child worth more than gold."

After losing her parents in an accident and becoming alone, Bom was dearly raised by Geum-soon. Thus, Geum-soon wanted Bom, who had many days ahead, not to be left alone during times of celebration or sorrow and attended every condolence event without fail. Even after Geum-soon’s passing, she hoped that those who remembered her would also remember Bom. 

There was a reason she refused a final meeting with her granddaughter. Bom, who had survived the accident alone and witnessed her parents’ death, was still trapped in that nightmare. Geum-soon couldn't appear to her in death and give her another nightmare. It was a moment that filled us with a deep emotion that was hard to fathom.

Ki-joo, who had suddenly lost his only family member, his uncle Seo Ki-won (Park Ki-woong), knew all too well the pain of those left behind without a chance to say goodbye. That’s why he broke the photographer’s principle for the first time. 

He tried to persuade Geum-soon to change her mind. Moreover, he took the risk of outdoor photography, despite the threat of ghosts, to hold "Bom’s Night Cherry Blossom Festival" for Geum-soon. 

Together with Dae-ri and Nam-goo, they laid a path of flowers in front of the snack truck where Geum-soon had worked all her life and set up a large screen with blooming flowers. The neighborhood ghosts, lured with chicken, even scattered flower petals in the air, creating a convincing flower outing.

As Ki-joo pressed the shutter for the first time, Geum-soon and Bom, dressed in a fancy floral dress, met. Geum-soon’s only concern was for her granddaughter until the end. She encouraged Bom, who thought lowly of herself, saying, “You are my pride, the best, and number one. Live confidently because I acknowledge you,” and left a desperate plea, “Don’t remember me for too long, don’t long for me, don’t be sad.” 

Finally, Bom was able to let go of Geum-soon, saying, “Grandmother is the spring of my life.” The touching final farewell of the two filled the comment section with viewers’ posts saying, “I also cried endlessly with them.” (same here~)

Returning to her daily life, Bom greeted the last photo with her grandmother, saying, “I’ll be back,” and left the house for a meeting. But an unexpected twist hit her hard. Encountering Dae-ri, who had been following her, she asked Ki-joo, “How long will I be able to see these ghosts?” 

Although minor side effects had occurred to those who visited the photo studio, even Ki-joo hadn't anticipated such a tremendous aftermath. Lacking the "safe zone" ability to repel ghosts, Bom had now become a mutant human who could see ghosts. The intriguing and ghostly story between Joo Won and Bom grew more interesting. 

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

(Source: etnews.com)