Channel A‘s weekend drama ’The Witch‘ has once again brought the ’Law of Death‘ upon Park Jin-young. His desperate fight, in which he stakes his life on the last variable, has further increased curiosity about how it will end. The viewership ratings broke its own record with 3.1% nationwide and 3.2% in the metropolitan area. The peak viewership ratings at one point even reached 3.7%. (Provided by Nielsen Korea, based on paid households)

Episode 8 of Channel A’s weekend drama ‘The Witch’, which aired on the 9th, opened with a look at the high school days of Mi-jung (played by Noh Jung-eui). At that time, Dong-jin (Park Jin-young) was also in Mi-jung‘s sight. When Jeong-hwan (played by Bae Yoon-gyu), who confessed his feelings to Mi-jung, died from a lightning strike, no one was truly sad, but everyone gathered around to chat. At that time, Mijung saw Dongjin silently praying for him, and was relieved that there was at least one person mourning.

Thinking back, she had no contact with Dongjin during those days, but it felt like their eyes met often. Even when she was eating lunch alone on a bench in the corner of the school, or when she was spending time alone on a field trip, she briefly caught sight of Dongjin looking at her, even though he was far away and her face was hard to see. Mijung learned who he was from the name of the donor of the bench sunshade, and she ate her lunchbox looking at that name every day. She wanted to talk to him at least once before graduating, because he was always bright and smiling among his friends, and he was fun to watch like watching TV.

But that was the last time. Mijung left school because another male student died because of her. On a snowy day, when Mijung left the playground alone, she felt like someone was looking at her through the class window. The last time she saw Dongjin’s face properly, which she had only seen from afar, was in the Midong High School graduation album that Da-eun (Kwon Han-sol) had left behind. The feelings of each moment, as if we had locked eyes for a long time, were sculpted into that face. Then, ten years later, I saw Dong-jin again, who had thrown himself from the Han River Bridge.

Dong-jin, who jumped from the bridge to avoid the ‘Law of Death’, was obsessed with solving the last puzzle. Everyone who had loved Mi-jung even a little bit had gotten hurt or died, but on the contrary, he wondered what kind of people Mi-jung had loved. In the process of digging into this, he discovered that ‘Mi-jung’s heart’ was the variable.

The evidence was none other than her first love, Ik-jong (played by Joo Jong-hyuk). He had been with Mi-jung for more than ten minutes within 10m, exchanged more than ten words, and even confessed to her. He had met all the conditions of the ‘Law of Death’, but he had survived until now without any accidents. The past wasp sting accident was actually a lie covered up by Mi-jung for him who considered epilepsy a complex. Mi-jung‘s feelings were the decisive variable that could break the ‘Law of Death’.

Dong-jin doesn’t even remember confessing to Mi-jung, and was even angry at Ik-jong, who spread the rumor that Mi-jung was a ‘witch’ in college, saying, “You are not qualified to have Park Mi-jung‘s variable”. However, his heart sank at his counter question, “Do you think you are qualified?”. After much thought, he realized reality by calling himself a ‘stalker’, and while shedding tears, he decided that if he stopped here, he would be no different from the people who made Mi-jung suffer. Since only the person Mi-jung loves can break the law, there is only one way. For Mi-jung to love Dong-jin.

Dong-jin, who had bet everything on that one possibility, prepared to leave somewhere. Before that, he went to Mijung’s rooftop, took off his helmet, and stood in front of her for the first time as ‘Lee Dong-jin’. And he said, “It wasn‘t your fault. Now do what you want to do. It’s okay”, and he conveyed his true feelings that he had kept in his heart for a long time. It was useless to count with his fingers to not exceed ten words, but it was something he really wanted to say to Mijung, even if the ‘Law of Death’ were to come upon him again.

Dong-jin, who had exceeded ten words once again, was quickly faced with a crisis. The pattern was simple and expected - a transformer with sparks flying, cars passing by threateningly. Dong-jin avoided them one by one and moved forward. But at that very moment, a car appeared and rushed toward him. Dong-jin, who left his fate to the last variable, had an ending that was full of tension as to whether he would be able to safely overcome the ‘Law of Death’ this time as well.

Channel A‘s Saturday-Sunday drama ‘The Witch’ airs every Saturday and Sunday at 9:10 p.m.

Jeon Hyo-jin, Donga.com reporter jhj@donga.com

This article is automatically translated using Google AI. If you notice any inaccuracies, please let us know at allkstar@donga.com.