PremiumLike Flowers in Sand Episode 2 recap and review - Baek-do attempts to learn more about mysterious Yoo Kyung
Kim Jin Woo’s sports drama on Netflix, follows the male protagonist Kim Baek-do trying to navigate his future as a Ssireum player – a traditional Korean style of wrestling.
Like Flowers in Sand trailer still
Last Updated: 10.20 AM, Dec 23, 2023
Netflix is becoming the hub of Korean dramas with several new dramas added to the streaming platform’s kitty like Welcome to Samdal-ri, My Demon, Gyeongseoung Creature, and Like Flowers in Sand. Starring Jang Dong Yoon, Lee Joo Myung, Lee Joo Seung, Yoon Jong Seok, Lee Jae Joon, and Kim Bo Ra in pivotal roles.
Kim Jin Woo’s sports drama follows the male protagonist Kim Baek-do trying to navigate his future as a Ssireum player – a traditional Korean style of wrestling. The series premiered on Netflix on December 20 with two episodes already aired on the streaming giant.
Here’s a quick recap of the second episode with the ending
Episode 2 recap
Kim Baek-do, who hails from a stoic family of pro wrestlers, is facing a dilemma after announcing his early retirement due to constant failures and humiliation from fellow teammates. The previous episode ended with a cliffhanger ending about Baek-do's childhood friend, Oh Do-sik and a mysterious woman he met with So-sik's uncanny resemblance.
The second episode revolves around Baek-do coming to terms with his defeat and retirement dilemma and has a chance encounter with a new woman in town, called Yoo-kyung. Despite numerous denials by Kyung that she isn’t Do-shik and nor is she related to her, Baek-do tries to follow her and makes a silly attempt to learn more about her mysterious identity in a neighborhood meeting. She reveals that she came to Geosan County for ‘civil service.’ The episode also marked a disturbing discovery in the murder case. The small town of Geosan turns more mysterious with new twists in the murder investigation after a weird autopsy report.
Meanwhile, a series of childhood flashbacks reveal that Do-shik was a fearless child prodigy with impressive Ssireum techniques inherited from sports coach mother, Juno. The present shows Yoo-Kyung appointed as the new team manager for the wrestlers.
Later, Baek-do's veteran wrestler father Tae-Baek makes a confrontation in the wrestling ring when he asks the real reason for Baek’s retirement decision. He reveals emotionally that he wasn’t sure about quitting earlier but his staggering decision became solid when he realized that nobody considers him a good Ssireum player and he is just wasting time and effort. This conversation is eavesdropped by Kyung, who tries to change Baek’s mind, only to elevate the suspicions of Do-sik's identity. Just as she reveals the truth, a charismatic man appears from behind and calls him ‘honey.’ The second episode concludes with another cliffhanger ending about the new character.
Episode 2 Review
‘Like Flowers on Sand’ is a breathy watch of inspirational sports drama with a mysterious murder trope. The weight transformation of Jang Dong Yoon for his titular role as a wrestler is commendable. His chemistry with Lee Joo Myung also looks natural and effective. With flashbacks and an alternate storyline, Like Flowers in Sand seems good so far. However, the 65-minute episode might be tiresome for viewers if they don’t get immersed in the story.
In the upcoming episodes, it is anticipated that the story will follow the metamorphosis of a defeated Ssireum player to an optimistic winning streak.
The next episode will be aired on December 27 on Netflix.