Beautiful Mind Episode 9 Recap

Does Young O have a break through moment?

Beautiful Mind Episode 9 Recap 

Flashback…

Dr. Lee (Young O’s father) is in the emergency room and sees a child on a man’s back, the child’s head is clearly causing him pain. The man begs Dr. Lee to help the child. The child’s name? Lee Young O, the 205^th child at the local orphanage. Dr. Lee and the other doctor look at the MRI. The other doctor says this child has the exact same condition that Dr. Lee’s son, Hyun, has. Dr. Lee sees the opportunity to do surgery on the child in hopes that he will learn something to save his own son. His colleague advises him not to do the surgery but he proceeds. When he exits the surgery he sees his wife waiting for him at the end of the hall. He begins to tell her that the surgery will help their child, but she slaps him and tells the stunned surgeon that their son, Hyun, died while he was doing surgery on another child. He can’t believe it. His livid wife tells him to stay in the operating room for the rest of his life, he never needed a family anyhow. Dr. Lee walks in the hall dazed and distraught. His colleague spots him and tells him he’s made a mistake he cannot undo. During the surgery he touched he touched the frontal lobe of the child creating a permanent disability. The doctor tells him the child will not be able to feel any emotions. As Dr. Lee stares at the back of the child, his colleague tells him this is a malpractice situation. Dr. Lee tells his colleague that he will be the guardian of the child from this day forward. He says he traded his son’s life for this child. He vows to help this child live like a normal person. Dr. Lee promises devote his life to this. What an interesting opening sequence. So now we know how Young O came into his father’s life. Dr. Lee had a dreadful day. He thought this surgery would give him knowledge to help his son but instead it took the remaining time he could have had with his son. His wife’s cold words tells us that Dr. Lee is work obsessed (as Young O is). We also learned that Dr. Lee was willing to use Young O to help his son. In fact he probably didn’t do the surgery to save Young O but rather to save his son, Hyun. This goes hand-in-hand with the present day situation of secret research on unsuspecting patients to help further medical science. Lastly you felt Dr. Lee’s elation after the surgery get crushed with the news of his son’s death then the double punch that he removed emotion from Young O because of a surgery slip, causing him to take responsibility for Young O.

Present Day…

At the press conference Dr. Hyun Suk Joo (Yoon Hyun Min) announces the regenerative research is successful. A reporter asks if stem cell regeneration is what he’s referencing. He stares at Dr. Chae.

Flashback, Dr. Kim’s daughter has just died and Dr. Hyun, the guardian, is distraught he could not save her. He walks the hall dazed and distraught (just like Dr. Lee in the flashback sequence). Dr. Chae sidles up to him and says he needs to decide whether or not he’s for team research or against team research. Dr. Chae says a transplant that the research could provide would have saved the girl. Dr. Chae pushes Dr. Hyun’s emotional buttons and asks is it better to be a good person or a good doctor that saves patients like your ward?

Back at the press conference, Dr. Hyun lies to the press that the research was successful and all federal standards were followed. Dr. Chae smiles, he knows Dr. Hyun is loyal to team research. But before the press conference Dr. Hyun demanded Dr. Chae promise that the research will be a success and other parents won’t suffer the loss he suffered today. Dr. Hyun asks Dr. Chae to tell him he’s made the right choice, and he’ll never regret it. Dr. Hyun is asking the wrong man for absolution. The writer made a more compelling case for why Dr. Hyun jettisoned his ethics to join team research. Dr. Chae’s timing was perfect. Dr. Hyun was completely vulnerable after the girl’s death.

Dr. Lee Young O (Jang Hyuk) interrupts the surgeons discussing the day’s events. Young O wants to know when his first patient is scheduled for. A nurse invites Young O to join the surgeons, who do not want to socialize with Young O, but Young O declines and leaves. Young O unexpectedly returns to the room, and tells the assembled surgeons he knew they would welcome him back. Is that sarcasm from Young O? The surgeons wonder who will be the next director of the hospital. Will it be Dr. Chae or Dr. Lee?

Dr. Lee tells Dr. Chae that his timing of the press conference was suspicious. Dr. Chae tells Dr. Lee that he should concentrate on surgery while he concentrates on hospital administration (as the new director). Dr. Lee says that he and the former director started the regenerative research to eliminate the need for surgeons not for fame and fortune (like Dr. Chae). Dr. Lee notes that the ex-director was secretive of his diabetes. He asks Dr. Chae if he knew about the diabetes. Dr. Chae answers that question with another question, wasn’t it proven that Dr. Kim caused the ex-director’s death? Dr. Lee smiles and says I just wanted to confirm whether or not you knew about the diabetes. Dr. Chae smiles and says the results of the vote for next director should be out.

The Chairman shakes Dr. Chae’s hand and asks him to continue to support the hospital and the new director…Dr. Lee. The Chairman rubs salt in Dr. Chae’s wound when he says the vote was unanimous. The Chairman asked Dr. Lee to help commercialize the regenerative research. Dr. Lee promises to help all he can.

The Chairman tells Dr. Chae that Dr. Lee will not let Young O ruin the hospital’s reputation. The Chairman says that Dr. Lee is stiff and he wants him working for him not against him. Dr. Chae states one day everyone will know that Young O is a psychopath; this cannot be hidden forever.

Young O stares at a placard that says “an empathetic word is the beginning of treatment”. LOL, he has a behavior cue card. Young O listens to a patient described his symptoms. He sees in the man’s medical records that he has a drinking problem. Young O asked the man if he still drinks. The man gets offended and denies it. Young O takes a step back schools himself to be sensitive to the man. He smiles, asked the man if coming to the hospital was a pain, then asks again if the man is still drinking. The man still denies drinking. The man asked for prescription. Young O is frozen with his listening hand near his ear, and says there’s no need to continue. He pulls away, slaps the man’s medical folder on his desk and declares the man must not realize that alcohol is detrimental after brain hemorrhage surgery. Young O declares he won’t just numbly smile at the man, or offer a shoulder to cry on. He’s a doctor. He will decide what’s best for the patient. He tells the man firmly to come to the hospital every week. He tells the man if you quit drinking you can lengthen that to once every two weeks. Young O is blunt and tells the man if he doesn’t follow his recommendations, the only doctor the man will see is a mortician. The man appears chastised and agrees to follow Young O’s recommendations. The nurse sarcastically states that Young O seems like himself now. Ha! Young O removes the placard.

Officer Gye Jin Sung (Park So Dam) rejoins the violent crimes team. Not everyone is excited but the boss feels that she can contribute. Jin Sung promises to work hard, that only makes her coworkers more nervous. The boss tells her that she has to focus on becoming a good detective first, then she can reopen the hospital serial killer case. A call comes in about a robbery in a jewelry store. The boss tells Jin Sung she’s got her first case.

When Jin Sung and her boss arrive at the jewelry store they go face-to-face with the suspect and tell him to drop the weapon. The man looks up and Jin Sung recognizes him as a patient from the hospital. The man collapses.

In the emergency room they see the man has tried to commit suicide previously and recognize that he is a patient. Young O approaches the patient. They recognize each other. Young O says the patient’s medical condition must have gotten worse, so he couldn’t help but hurt himself. Young O tells the man there are painkillers that are not addictive. The man gets upset and says I wanted to leave the hospital I had to get out of here. The other doctor tells Young O that the violent crimes team brought the man in from the scene of a crime. Jin Sung enters the room and says they need to process the patient. The man refuses to be treated at the hospital. Young O exits the patient’s room and tells Jin Sung that the man has stage IV cancer that is gone to his brain. Couple that with his resistance to opiates and Young O claims to matter what he does it won’t help the man. Young O says the doctor and the patient have come to the same conclusion, treatment won’t help, therefore there is no problem. Jin Sung tells Young O he sounds logical but when you think about it is wrong so many times. Jin Sung says every patient wants treatment, at least she did. She leaves.

The man’s family demands an explanation why he tried to hold up the jewelry store. He yells at them to stop. He tells them not to sell their business just to get money for his medical bills. He tells them it’s fruitless. He won’t live. His mother cries she can’t let him go. The man tells Jin Sung to take him to jail.

A VIP patient is unkind to the nurse, and when the doctor comes in to discuss her case she’s more interested in where he went to school than discussing her condition. When the doctor won’t reveal his school, the VIP patient says she wants a new doctor. Insulted, the doctor apologizes from coming from a poor background and leaves the room. The woman grabs her head and falls over. The nurse calls neurosurgery.

The surgeons joke with and comfort the dismissed doctor. They wonder who the lucky next doctor for the VIP patient will be.

Dr. Hyun asks Young O to examine the VIP patient and explains her history. Dr. Hyun enumerates his treatment plan. Young O disagrees with the treatment plan.

Young O, Dr. Hyun, the two other doctors discuss the VIP case. It does look like there’s no treatment available. Young O comments there is no legal treatment available. Dr. Hyun asks what he’s talking about. Young O says you know exactly what I’m talking about. Dr. Hyun knows that Young O is referencing an experimental cancer drug. Dr. Hyun tells Young O he won’t use an experimental drug on his patient. Young O says the experimental drug is expensive. Dr. Hyun says yes it so expensive that not every patient can afford it. Dr. Hyun says they have to treat rich and poor the same. Young O counters why do we strive for equal treatment only in a hospital? Young O says the drug will be effective but it’s illegal due to costs. He asks why he has to behave as everyone would expect in this scenario. Dr. Hyun says he’s the attending physician. Because Young O will not listen he’s going to switch in a new neurosurgeon. Dr. Oh says the experimental drug is the best choice. Dr. Hyun counters their legal options for treatment. Dr. Oh says the biopsy is a dangerous option.

Jin Sung asked Young O what happens when a patient wants treatment. She says a patient gives lip service to not wanting treatment really wants treatment. She shows Young O lottery tickets the man has purchased as proof he wants to live. Young O is not impressed. Jin Sung states if Young O won’t treat the man, he has no chance. Young O tells her he never said the treatment was impossible. Awkwardly he puts his hand on her shoulder and tells her treatment option is illegal and expensive. He pulls her to a more private location and tells her that she will need to meet the doctor in charge often he asks if she knows what he needs? I know what he means. Young O has his flirt on for the second episode in a row. Unbeknownst to Young O and Jin Sung, Kim Min Jae (Park Se Young) overhears their conversation.

Jin Sung tells the burglary patient that if he asks for help someone will help them.

Young O stares at the films and muses he must consider the hope of ordinary people.

Young O enters the VIP patient’s room. Young O bluntly tells her that the tumor in her brain will help her sleep for a long time (because she’ll be dead), surgery won’t work, drugs won’t work either. That gets her attention. She asks what can he do to cure her tumor. Young O tells her his plan is dangerous and illegal because it requires a lot of money. The woman asks if she has to break the law. Young O tells her the hospital will take responsibility.

The surgeon that the woman dismissed earlier is now back on the case. He can hardly wait to performer biopsy. When the surgeon arrives in the woman’s room he finds Young O not his patient. Young O tells him the biopsy is too dangerous. The doctor disagrees and declares he’s going to do the surgery. Young O in the doctor stare at each other.

The doctor wheels the patient into surgery. When he enters the OR with the patient, Young O is there to assist. The doctor tells Young O that his wife was in a similar situation. He had to make the hard choice to have the biopsy, to give his wife the chance to live. Young O comments it is interesting that the doctor’s regret is saving this woman’s life. The surgery is successful.

The Chairman is upset and calls Young O to his office.

Burglary patient has issues. Jin Sung calls Young O and asks if the expensive option is still available.

The Chairman bans Young O from treating patients. The Chairman barks that he needs money more than he needs patients to be saved. The VIP patient comes into the office and says Young O is surgeon this hospital needs. She tells the Chairman to allow Young O to treat patients. She says that Young O can make this hospital tons of cash. She says she’s going to make a large donation in Young O’s name. Young O says to the Chairman I guess you have to allow me to treat patients right? Ah, the chess game between Young O and the Chairman continues. Flashback to Young O telling the VIP patient that she will get acclaim if she chooses the path he is suggesting. He notes that her rudeness is not getting her what she wants. He says it will be an expensive undertaking. The woman shrugs and says the more money it costs, the more valuable it must be. She’s on board with his plan.

Young O asked the burglary patient if he’ll regret refusing treatment. Young O tells him he doesn’t have a pain tolerance. Young O asks again if he really wants to refuse treatment. The man says nothing. Young O starts to leave the room. The man says he wants to live. He begins to cry. He demands to know why Young O asked him in a manner that would make him get emotional. The man says he’s never been able to afford the treatment. But even so he wants to live no matter what it costs. Young O puts his hand on the man’s shoulder and tells the man there’s a benefactor. He leaves the room. Ah, Young O plays a chess game to help both patients. Nice!

The burglary patient is wheeled into surgery.

Jin Sung stops by Young O’s office and says she’s here to report to the doctor in charge. Young O tells her to come into the office and report to him properly. She tells him the man was the first time offender. No prison time. She thinks Young O for his help. She offers Young O one of the man’s lottery tickets. She tells Young O that the man said that meeting Young O was like winning the lottery. Nice! Jin Sung says this is a winning lottery ticket though have to split it evenly. Young O starts to put the lottery ticket in his desk drawer which has his other Jin Sung memorabilia, a handkerchief and the bottlecap ring. I don’t recall the handkerchief memorabilia moment. Young O holds up the lottery ticket and asks Jin Sung if she really thinks this can give people hope. Jin Sung says anticipating tomorrow could be different is the definition of hope for her. I like that! Jin Sung says Young O is the most hopeful person she knows, by that measuring standard. She tells Young O he offers a different side of himself every time they meet. As she leaves the office she turns and tells him to be sure and call if that’s a winning lottery ticket. She smiles and leaves. Young O stares at her. Did someone he cares about just complement him? He recalls Jin Sung telling him to call her if he wins the lottery. He gets a smile on his face. I love those little smiles. I’m a sucker for smiles. He recalls Jin Sung telling him he is the most hopeful person she knows.

Young O finally buys the clue and starts after her. He sees her in the lobby. He rushes down the escalator to catch up with her. He slips and falls on the slick lobby floor. He grabs her and spins her around. He stares at her and says wait. She looks at his hand on her arm. He hugs her! OMG! Wonderful, the face that Jang Hyuk has in the scene, it says it all, one person’s faith has totally impacted Young O. She’s a bit taken aback. Young O pulls away from her. H touches his heart, checks his pulse, and says “I can’t feel anything. You were wrong just as I thought, I can’t change”. He says “I’ll call you if I win the lottery.” Bummer!

Dr. Chae and another man watch Young O come up the escalator. The man says that Young O has turned out better than he expected. This guy must be the colleague from the opening background scene. Dr. Chae says the guy seems dangerous. The man says if Young O ever finds out what his father did to him, it could send him over the edge. Undoubtedly that’s music to Dr. Chae’s ears.

 

My Thoughts 

Two steps forward, one step back. I really thought the writer was going to have that moment between Young O and Jin Sung where he feels emotion. By the way I’ve completely given up the empathy versus emotion murkiness this writer has given us during this series. I am over it, Young O cannot feel emotions. But back to Young O and Jin Sung, I thought that was going to be the emotional moment for Young O. The way that he reacted lead me to think that that’s what he was experiencing. The hug seemed based in emotion. Certainly Jin Sung was taken aback at his bold move in hugging her.

The powers that be want Young O gone. The Chairman thought he had an opportunity to ban Young O from treating patients, but Young O is also good at the chess games and had a counter move with the VIP patient’s donation. Dr. Chae looks like he was just given another way to hurt Young O when the former colleagues said that the truth could hurt Young O. Hurting and annihilating Young O is something that Dr. Chae wants.

Jang Hyuk’s portrayal of Young O made me think he felt emotion when he hugged Jin Sung. Even if you take him at his word, that he did not feel emotion, it was still a great moment. Am I simply imprinting my desire for him to have a motion on top of that moment? Especially when we saw in the opening scene that medically his father messed with his brain so that he can’t have emotions. Yes, I want him to feel. Maybe I have to give that up and just accept that Young O is the smartest guy in the room, has the potential to develop a real relationship/friendship (like with Jin Sung), and that may be the improvement that this series will give this character. I am fond of banter. And while I wouldn’t call the exchanges between Jin Sung and Young O snappy, they are cute and the words they say are only part of what they’re actually saying. I especially like the way she flirted with him today. Color me a Young O fan. I think he’s one of the nicer characters in this series. He tells it like he sees it, and more often than not he’s right. Is hee right because his judgment is not clouded with emotions? Is the hospital the perfect setting for someone that cannot feel emotions?

Park So Dam as Jin Sung got flirty with Young O. The moment when she said all those positive words to Young O was my favorite moment for this character. She has an authentic simple kindness that when she states basics, like Young O is the most hopeful person she knows, there is power in her statements. She was taken aback by his hug. That’s understandable. Did she really flirt with him? Is she feeling anything more than friendship for him? Or do I just read more into the situation than there is? Is she only interested in helping him as a friend grow and evolve?

Yoon Hyun Min as Doctor Hyun Suk wanted to believe his ethical shift would matter. His confrontation with Dr. Chae showed that he was manipulated by Dr. Chae when Dr. Chae suggested the little girl would not have died if a heart that could have been grown from their research was available to save her. The timing of that statement was particularly impactful, as the little girl had just died right in front of him. I understand Dr. Hyun wanting to know that turning back his back on his ethics would yield research that could save her, but he’s a fool to hope for guarantees. It’s research, it’s not perfect, and he knows that, no matter what he told the press.

Heo Jun Ho’s portrayal of Young O’s father, Lee Gun Myung, explained how Young O came into his life. The big reveal was his surgery malpractice ended up putting Young O in a state of no emotions. To his credit he offered to make amends by becoming Young O’s Guardian and teaching him how to succeed in the world. If you think about it this is probably the least that he could do considering he made the mistake, but in actuality he could’ve just easily set money to the orphanage and called it a day. I’m not exactly sure how impactful the reveal will be when Young O learns his father was the surgeon that took away his ability to feel. Jun Ho’s acting in the opening flashback scene was good.

Recaps/Reviews:
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About KJT (aka kjtamuser)

Asian drama fan. I watch and blog dramas on https://kjtamusings.wordpress.com/.

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Tagged with: 2016, Beautiful Mind, Byutipul Maindeu, Dr. Frankenstein, Drama, Episode 9, 뷰티풀 마인드, Jang Hyuk, Korean, Park Se Young, Park So Dam, recap, summary, Yoon Hyun Min
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