Tae-joo visits Yong-woo in prison in episode three of The Scarecrow. Their conversation is entirely about Tae-joo’s resolve to solve the Kangseng Serial Killer case. His life’s mission, he calls it, to which Yong-woo replies that he’s never had a mission of his own.
The story then reverts to 1988. Tae-joo learns that Si-young has taken over the investigation from Jae-hoo. Tae-joo refuses to cooperate with the prosecutor and is a liability despite threats. The Police Chief tries to get him released and Si-young agrees but first demands Tae-joo to resign. When Man-chun reminds them of Tae-joo’s heroism in saving a woman from a violent crime, Si-young backs down but removes him from the case.
Tae-joo is released from prison and goes to the hospital where Sun-young is at Ji-won’s side. Ji-won is still out cold. Sun-young explains that her fight with Kyung-ho started when he brought up their mother’s past. Tae-joo is relieved she is safe but blames their mother for all their problems and they argue.
Tae-joo, haunted by the memory of seeing his mother with another man as a child, meets Jae-hoo, who reveals that he was blackmailed into handing over the case because his son was being used to pressure him.
That night, Si-young goes to Sae-beom’s club, Modako, with Kyung-ho. Tae-joo secretly follows them and arranges for a waiter to record their conversation. Inside, Si-young tells Kyung-ho to have an affair with Sun-young to lessen the assault case against him.
The next day, tensions rise when Kyung-ho’s wife publicly accuses Sun-young of the alleged affair at the hospital. Sun-young denies the allegations, but Gi-beom’s family pressures her to break up with him, even questioning her character based on her mother’s past. Unaware of this, Gi-beom continues to think about marriage.
Meanwhile, Kyung-ho abuses his VIP status at Modako, much to Sae-beom’s dismay. Si-young reacts violently to the discovery of a hidden recorder, believing he has been betrayed. Sae-beom denies it and promises to find out the truth.
Ji-won eventually comes to and mentions a hidden camera. Her brother Un-hui and a friend search for it, but in vain. Meanwhile, Sae-beom recognizes the waiter who planted the recorder and tells Si-young that Tae-joo was behind it.
Tae-joo, unable to work on the case officially, uses Dae-ho to question the first victim, Kim Mi-yeon. She tells him that her attacker claimed to have killed five women, and Tae-joo suspects that there is an undiscovered victim.
Tae-joo goes through the missing persons reports and finds a possible fifth victim. Si-young offers him a deal that he will reinstate Tae-joo if Sun-young drops the charges of assault. Tae-joo refuses, but puts forward an alternative. If they carry on with the search and don’t find a fifth body, he will resign. The Police Chief is on board with the arrangement, and Si-young agrees.
Tae-joo pegs Choi In-sook as the probable victim. Her mother says she just ran away after an argument when they visit her home. Si-young agrees to a search operation, though Tae-joo’s uncertainties remain.
Sun-young finds out about Tae-joo’s arrest at the hospital and is shocked. Ji-won tries to soothe her by saying that Tae-joo really cares about her, he just has a hard time showing it. Later Sun-young asks Tae-joo to come see her more often, but he keeps his distance, focusing on Ji-won. She let a suspect get away and she’s pissed. She also has a photo she took.
One night Ji-won gets a mysterious cassette tape addressed to “Tae-joo’s friend.” The next morning, Tae-joo and Si-young arrive at the scene to find reporters and politicians, among them Kyung-ho and his powerful uncle, making a public fuss over the search and calling Tae-joo a criminal.
Ji-won shows up, plays the cassette tape for everyone and reveals Kyung-ho’s record tampering and wrongdoings. Humiliated, Kyung-ho lashes out. Si-young prevents Tae-joo from losing his temper on hearing some suggestive remarks about Sun-young.
The search continues and the team finds In-sook’s belongings. Tae-joo returns them to her mother who dies shortly thereafter. He pays his respects, a solemn moment in the investigation.
Back at the newsroom, Ji-won posts a blurry picture of the suspect to put pressure on him.
Meanwhile, Sun-young is interrogated by Gi-beom about the assault case and her secrecy. He is torn by a sense of betrayal and the truth forces Sun-young to end their relationship.
Tae-joo, true to his word, leaves the force. He meets Min-ji at the library, who tells him not to give up on the case. Later that night, Min-ji comes across the killer on her way home in the rain. She cannot get away.
The next morning Tae-joo arrives at the scene of the crime and finds that Min-ji has been murdered. He is overwhelmed with shock and grief and faints.
The episode closes in 2019, where Tae-joo confronts Yong-woo and asks if it was he who spoiled his mission.
Episode 3 Summary
This episode adds emotional depth to the story, and also moves the investigation forward in a meaningful way. The central mystery remains compelling, especially as the revelation of a possible fifth victim adds both urgency and tension.
Gi-beom is a frustrating character. Considering how much the events are discussed in the story, it is unlikely that he would not know about the serial killer case or the assault allegations. His reactions make it hard to feel for him.
But Sun-young and Tae-joo are both burdened by the emotional baggage of their family history. They have a difficult relationship and feelings for their mother that are hard to let go complicate their characters. Sun-young’s decision to break away from Gi-beom is a sign of her growing independence, and Tae-joo’s internal struggle continues to be an important part of the story.
Si-young is still morally ambiguous, but there are faint signs of growth. His actions indicate he might be attempting to transform, but his history complicates the ability to completely believe his intentions.
On the technical side, the drama continues to deliver. The flashbacks are well done , merging the past and present to add depth to the story . Whether it is returning to Tae-joo’s childhood memories or the final moments of In-sook, these scenes are well-placed and help the narrative move along. The atmosphere is great throughout and the cinematography and the editing make the viewing all the more enjoyable.
Episode 3 does a good job of balancing the character development, emotional stakes and investigative tension, making it one of the more engaging chapters in the series to date.