[Apr 8-9] “The Midnight Studio” Ep 8-9: Ratings, Recap, Review

ENA’s “The Midnight Studio” saw its viewership rise to 2.2%, up by 0.4% from its last episode’s 1.8%. It reached a 2.1% rating as it also ended the first half of its season.

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“The Midnight Studio” ep 8-9: Recap, review

I like you today, tomorrow, and the days after... until there is a tomorrow. (Ki-joo to Bom)

Supernatural struggles & unseen bonds

Ki-joo was tricked into going to a bridge because Hoon, a bad ghost, took over Bom’s body and threatened to hurt her. Hoon bragged about how he liked being the only one who could save people. He also made Hyun-joo’s boyfriend think she was unfaithful, causing them to break up.

Ki-joo managed to save Bom by creating a safe area that forced Hoon out of her. Nam-gu fought Hoon and threw him back into the river, while Ki-joo made sure Bom was okay. Bom couldn’t remember the scary things that happened while she was controlled by Hoon, and she was happy to learn she didn’t harm anyone.

Ki-joo got hurt during the fight, but he cared more about Bom’s safety. They thought getting rid of Hoon the same way he died before would stop him for good. The team also helped Hyun-joo fix her reputation and find happiness again. Still worried, Ki-joo stayed close to Bom to protect her from other ghosts.

When Ji-won had to work late, Ki-joo promised to watch over her all night. But when Bom noticed Ki-joo was sick, she took care of him instead. They didn’t know that Hoon had come back and was taken by an even worse spirit that was getting closer to Ki-joo and their workplace, the Midnight Studio.

Love, loss & lingering spirits

The photographer at Midnight Studio usually takes a special photo before his birthday. When it was time, Ki-joo asked Bom to take his picture but didn’t say why. They ended up taking a photo together after Ki-joo told Bom how he felt about her.

As Hoon’s case ended, Nam-gu’s enemy was seen again. Nam-gu helped catch him, then found out his wife wanted to leave him, which made him very angry. Ki-joo stopped Nam-gu from doing something he’d regret and told him to think about what he really wanted.

At the same time, Ji-won found out she was the online friend of Sung-ho, who had become a ghost. Sung-ho tried to make things right by secretly helping her.

Bom and Ki-joo, now a couple, went on a surprise camping trip. It was Ki-joo’s first time driving, so they got lost and ran out of gas. They ended up camping under the stars, making the best of their adventure.

After talking that night, Ki-joo realized that Bom was the young ghost who vanished years ago. She had been in a deep sleep for 2 months after her parents died, and during that time, her spirit stayed at the Midnight Studio. The safe area they were in was because Ki-joo had made a circle with salt to protect them. Now, Ki-joo hugs Bom and thanks her for helping him so many times. They both feel like they were meant to meet at just the right moment.

While Ki-joo and Bom argue about how to make noodles and kiss in the rain, Sung-ho faces trouble from a mean spirit that hurts cats. The spirit messes up the outside of the studio, but can’t get inside the main studio, so Sung-ho is scared but okay.

When Ki-joo gets back from his trip, a police officer named Lee Seon-ho, who he met before, asks him questions. Officer Lee thinks it’s strange that Ki-joo is often around when odd things happen and that he works at odd hours. He even thinks Ki-joo might be pretending to run a real business. But since there’s no proof, he doesn’t do anything about it.

A man named Kim Yoon-chul comes to the studio that night. He says he was killed right after getting out of jail and that the same person who killed him also got him put in jail. But this man is the one involved in the case that caused Bom to lose her job. He didn’t die recently; he’s been a ghost since 2019 and even met Ki-joo’s uncle.

Bom takes Ki-joo’s photo to put up in the studio, but Sung-ho tells her the real reason for the photo. She’s very upset and goes to Ki-joo to find out the truth. It’s hard for her to learn this just when Ki-joo has started to hope for a long life. But they’re good at solving problems together, so they hope to find a way to break the curse.

Thank you for always saving me in dangerous moments. I want to live a very long time now. A very long time."

(Source: Nielsen Korea)