Itaewon Class - episode 7
Spoiler under the cut
It’s been a while since I watched the last episode, so I’m not sure if it’s because of the break or if I’m just not enjoying the series as much, but I struggled to pay attention with this episode
We started where the last episode finished, where Dae-hee, Soo-ah, and Geun-won entered DanBam. Dae-hee, having heard about Sae-ro-yi’s investment in Jangga Group, is on edge. Which is exactly where Sae-ro-yi wants Dae-hee to be. Sae-ro-yi has had time to plot his revenge and he means business. We also find out that the boy who was being bullied by Geun-won in the first episode (and the reason all of the kicked off) is now an investment manager and has been helping Sae-ro-yi with his investments. They’ve also managed to sway Jangga Group’s executive director, Min-jung, in their favour (although none of them know that Dae-hee is aware of this).
With Sae-ro-yi’s plans starting to manifest in the real world, he doesn’t spend an awful lot of time in DanBam in this episode. In fact, he ends up taking a trip to his home town (at least, that’s what I assume they have gone) to see the, now retired, police officer in charge of his dad’s investigation. He’s still trying to persuade him to come forward and reveal the truth of what happened - that Geun-won murdered his father.
Of course, Yi-seo has figured out that Sae-ro-yi is up to something and has made it her life’s mission to find out what it is in a bid to grow closer to him. And yet, I don’t think Yi-seo is plotting in the same way she has been. I think Sae-ro-yi admitting the truth about his plans has made her realise that he is no fool. He may dream big but this is a man who has every intention of making it come true. I’m still not sure whether she has real feelings for Sae-ro-yi or if it’s the appeal of an older man who has his shit somewhat together. Either way, I don’t think there will ever be a moment where I will consider these two a compatible romantic match - partially because of the age difference, but also because I just don’t think he sees her that way. It reminds me far too much of a sibling relationship.
On the other hand, I’m warming to Soo-ah. She finally admitted to Sae-ro-yi that she’s torn about everything. How she partially wants him to stop fighting Jangga Group, but also how she was excited when he said he would make her quit (which sounds like a weird thing to say, but I kind of get what she meant. I think it was a translation issue rather than actual dialogue, but I took it as she was excited when he said he would make her quit in that he would look after her and not that he would make her quit because he was going to force her to... if that makes sense). I think my previous assessment about her was right: she just wants some stability. And I think Sae-ro-yi is starting to prove that he might be it for her. I’m not saying that I support them getting together, if that is end goal. I still feel like she needs to prove herself to him, to show that she cares about him as much as he cares about her. I think, if that moment is to come, it will be Soo-ah picking Danbam over Jangga Group.
The end of the episode proved to be the most exciting moment of the hour. Sae-ro-yi is informed that the building DanBam is in has been sold to a new owner who is increasing the rent, but also has stipulated that at the end of the contract DanBam will have to move as the owner plans to open their own business in that location. Soo-ah provides some legalese as she looks through the contract, to which I believe is nothing malicious. In that moment, she was helping her friend and nothing else. Because I highly doubt she’s aware of the plot twist: that the building was bought by none other than Dae-hee.
Going by Sae-ro-yi’s face, I doubt he had planned for this to happen. And I know that DanBam will have to relocate. The issue now being that they might not be in Itaewon, and, if they are, they might not find as good of a location. But I think Dae-hee has underestimated Sae-ro-yi once again. Sae-ro-yi has a good group around him, including Dae-hee’s youngest son. I think the move will end up working in their favour in the long run, but short term it’s going to be a nightmare.
Speaking of Geun-soo - I feel like he is everything Geun-won could have been without their father’s intervention. He has a kind heart and is very attentive. He’s clearly infatuated with Yi-seo, but, unlike his brother, it doesn’t seem like he has any intention to pursue her as a romantic interest right now. He’s trying to be her friend, even when he disagree’s with her actions. I also feel like he’s going to eventually be swayed back into his father’s ranks - causing more trouble for Geun-won (who already feels like his younger brother is a threat to his status in the family as the heir to Jangga Group). But, if Dae-hee does make Geun-soo the new heir to the throne, I don’t think it’s going to work out in Dae-hee’s favour. Geun-soo likes Sae-ro-yi, but more importantly - Danbam is important to Yi-seo. Right now, I believe that if he’s put in that position of power, he’s going to use it to help Sae-ro-yi and not be his enemy.
As I said at the beginning, this episode was slow paced. But it was made up by this new revelation. The stakes are higher, and now I can’t wait to see how the rest of the story unfolds.














