A bit overshadowed in the fantastic episode 5 of Pinocchio where Dal Po and his hyung Jae Myung’s resolve towards vindicating their family tragedy took radically different turns, In Ha’s big confession to Dal Po was really a major game changer though it didn’t play off that way. Sure Dal Po never let slip that he also liked her back, and beyond that, even hint that he loves her so much he would basically die for her other than the whole “her mom had a hand in his family misery” thing.

It changes the dynamic by making In Ha suddenly the one who struggles with her feelings while Dal Pa gets to put on a cold act. I enjoyed upending expectations and having feelings out in the open especially since it doesn’t change anything. They are still family in name and she’s still someone that he’s going to have to get over her motherly connection to love without reservation. Yet they remain synergistic in ways a lot of drama OTPs never even achieve even by the end of a story. I hope Dal Po’s cold shoulder treatment ends soon because it hurts him as badly as it’s painful for me to watch.

Preview for episode 6:

Written preview for episode 6:

Dal Po learns that In Ha accepted her mom’s job offer and is now a reporter at MSC. He grows even colder towards her. In Ha doesn’t understand Dal Po’s real feelings and thinks it better off that they are competitors working at rival networks and continues to work hard to work through her feelings for him. Dal Po, In Ha, Bum Jo, and Yoo Rae are all aligned in the same goal and arrive at the police station. None of them have any time to rest or eat as they are busy 24 hours a day experiencing the relentless grind of being a rookie reporter looking for a story.