"Black" Episode 2 recap

When "Black" started releasing its promotional materials, I was almost positive that I knew what the show would be like. Weeks later I find myself faced with copious amounts of Song Seung-heon's pixelated crotch in a series which may not quite make sense yet, but which is definitely doing new things and having fun unleashing them on us. You are weird, "Black". I kind of like that.
Confidence goes a long way and while I am still confused by the barrage of information the drama hurls at us, I am starting to trust it a little more. From manhole related visual puns to the head-first dive into our characters' past, it looks like our creators have a lot to share. Episode two introduces a clear villain, if I have ever seen one, and his proximity to Moo-gang's (Song Seung-heon) mother is clearly no coincidence.

Aside from new information, several things clear up. For one, Ha-ram's (Go Ara) father may have been a Reaper or known about them. I already had my suspicions when he presented Ha-ram with a solution for the shadows. Her mother's behavior clearly has a reason aside from bad parenting behind it. It is probably connected to the case Moo-gang had been secretly investigating, which will of course have a crooked cop involved, explaining Moo-gang's bumbling fool act for his team.
But let us talk about the elephant (trunk) in the room now. Exhibitionist Reapers is definitely not what I signed up for, but I still giggle every time the clearly obtuse and very much conceited Black flashes random passersby and unfortunate folks he interacts with. The humor does get repetitive, but it also tears down whatever cool image a tall, dark and deadly deity could have had. This is a good thing given how obnoxious this character is supposed to be.

I am also appreciating Ha-ram's development. She has terrible mood swings and a heap of behavioral and other issues but she is also clearly someone who has forcefully kept herself sheltered. I get a kick out of her persistence with her concept of a first love and it is nice to see a female lead who does not wither and sulk when her beau disappoints her and her romantic notions are shattered.
I am not sure where the supernatural element of this is going, but it looks like we have several Reapers around and the hook of bad things happening when one observes a person in love is promising. Do Reapers fall from grace when they see this? Do they begin to feel? Most importantly, will this concept develop alongside the crime mystery? I have a lot of questions and I now look forward to the answers.
"Black" is directed by Kim Hong-seon-I, written by Choi Ran-I and features Song Seung-heon, Go Ara, Lee El and Kim Dong-jun.
Written by: Orion from 'Orion's Ramblings'

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