Doubt kdrama – Episode 3 Recap and Spoilers.
Thanks to Han Seok-kyu’s breathtaking performance, Doubt has broken its own record for viewership ratings.
The third episode of MBC’s Friday-Saturday drama Doubt, which aired on October 18, depicted Jang Tae-soo (Han Seok-kyu) in despair over the possibility that his daughter Ha-bin (Chae Won-bin) was involved in two murder cases. This episode was filled with shocking developments as the truth unfolded, and the psychological warfare between father and daughter created tension that rivaled any action scene. The third episode recorded a nationwide viewership rating of 5.8%, surpassing its previous record. The highest rating occurred during the moment when Tae-soo discovered newly added evidence: skeletal DNA found on Ha-bin’s bag keychain, which peaked at 6%. Han Seok-kyu captivated viewers by portraying Tae-soo’s complex emotions in an ending filled with unexpected shock (based on Nielsen Korea).
The episode began with Ha-bin calmly explaining her alibi to the detectives who came to her house. She claimed that she had never been to the murder scene and that Song Min-ah (Han Soo-ah) had stolen her cell phone. She also asserted that she was with her boyfriend on the day of the incident. However, Tae-soo remained skeptical and pressed her with questions. Ha-bin responded, “You believe what others say—that I stole it—but my words seem like a lie? I doubt it every time someone I know dies. What kind of person does Dad think I am?” This provoked a sense of self-reproach in Tae-soo.
Determined to confirm his daughter’s alibi, Tae-soo visited her school, met her boyfriend Lee Soo-hyun, and reviewed the CCTV footage. Weighing the solid alibi against the suspicious circumstances, he eventually chose to trust Ha-bin. At that moment, she suggested moving away from the house where she had lived with her deceased mother, prompting Tae-soo to withdraw from the investigation for her sake, fearing he might have compromised it due to his doubts.
However, it soon became clear that Ha-bin’s alibi was false. It was revealed that, in addition to her boyfriend, there was another friend named Lee Soo-hyun from her freshman year. This woman had dropped out of school and run away from home, reigniting Tae-soo’s suspicions. Tae-soo had secretly switched the keychain from Ha-bin’s bag—an item he believed she had destroyed—and submitted it to the forensics team. Ha-bin smiled meaningfully at his declaration that he would catch the real culprit.
Behind Ha-bin’s smile lay a chilling plan to obstruct her father’s investigation. Tae-soo found himself under scrutiny from an audit team due to his previous report on corruption related to Choi Young-min (Kim Jung-jin), a suspect. A mysterious bundle of cash was discovered in Tae-soo’s car trunk, forcing him to withdraw from the case. He recalled Ha-bin sitting in the passenger seat when he had asked her to drive that morning, which raised his suspicions about her honesty.
As Tae-soo struggled with his predicament, he faced another shock: two pieces of evidence were found on Ha-bin’s bag keychain. One matched evidence from the murder scene of Song Min-ah, who had been revealed as a victim. New evidence suggested a possible connection between the two murders, hinting at serial killings. Tae-soo was left reeling from this startling revelation. The episode concluded with Tae-soo, overwhelmed by despair, and Oh Jung-hwan’s (Yoon Kyung-ho) question about the origin of the bag keychain, leaving viewers breathless.
Above all, Ha-bin’s suspicious behavior heightened the intrigue. She retrieved a money bag that Young-min had been seeking, which Song Min-ah had taken when she fled, and smiled as if she had been anticipating Young-min’s arrival after escaping from the police station.
This deepened the suspicion surrounding Ha-bin’s relationship with Young-min and raised questions about her true intentions. Ha-bin’s actions exceeded Tae-soo’s expectations, sending chills down viewers’ spines. The narrative that made them question everything propelled forward, leaving no time for hesitation and increasing excitement for the next episode. Episode 4 of MBC’s Friday-Saturday drama Doubt will air on October 19 at 9:50 PM.
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