Bait

Uncle Samsik Episode 8 lands us back in 1927 Busan where a six-year-old Taemin meets a 16-year-old Samsik who gives him a treat, telling him to call on his uncle before ever going hungry.

For income, Samsik cleans rooms for a woman who’s entertaining Kang Ilsik, Kang Seongmin’s father. Samsik acknowledges that he’ll do anything to ensure he’s got three meals a day, already calling himself Samsik. Later, Samsik and Taemin sleep under a bridge with other kids, Samisk covertly passing him bread.

In the present, Taemin has the news photo of San getting punched by Kang in the name of democracy while separately, Samsik enjoys a bite of his signature bread.

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Zip to the secret bunker in 1960, where San is asked about the Local Government Act – had Samsik orchestrated the whole thing? The fullness of Samsik’s plan for day of the vote on the Local Government Act is revealed. In the present, San checks one more time with Samsik – is he really done with Kang and will he help in the same way? For San, Samsik can do much more.  

In Seoul 1960, Jina is asked to deliver a mending job to her Mom, not knowing she takes in extra work. Jina meets San on the way, noting how all the neighborhood is talking about and supporting him. On the street, San runs in to Rachael who comments on his newspaper appearance, inviting him to dinner.

Sick in the hospital, Yosub receives a visits from Samsik, asking him to look after his youngest son as he’s not like his brothers. And he’d like to try red bean bread from Samsik’s bakery.

At Samsik’s, they dress up gang leader Han-soo to look like Kwangmin as a sting for Jiwook. Taking the bait, he advocates a deal where Sanae receives 5-fold profits. But in exchange, they’ll build the bridge in Jiwook’s district. Jiwook works on the other assemblymen, making deals with them to get the agreement passed.

Afterwards, Han-soon confirms the order for the bridge and delivers a thank you, with Samsik’s man getting a photo of the evidence. While placing the box in the trunk, Han-soo spots another box, taking a quick peek he sees Kang’s Sineui Alliance document. San realizes it means Jiwook plans to stab Kang before long.

Meeting with San, Samsik tells him things will get more complicated and if he wants to be Prime Minister, he must not be swayed by those who would approach him. San assures that nothing can waver him.

In hiding, Taemin recalls Samsik telling his six-year-old self that he would go to Osaka and return once he’s rich and their more recent conversations about ending Kang. Samsik remembers telling San he’d only kill Taemin if he had to.

At the hotel, San meets Rachael and her brother Michael to discuss foreign companies who are interested in his plan – as long as the Korean Government guarantees payment. However, none of them believes the plan is quite ready.

Back in the Bunker in 1960, a blindfolded Captain Min is taken to General Jang who’d turned traitor on Samsik.

In the hotel, the siblings encourage San to meet General Choi Hanrim, who’d make a perfect partner. When they meet, Choi tells him he’s planning a coup and could use his support within the Democrats. He calls him the only competent man in the party, saying he’d have a key role.  San immediately reports it all to Samsik who sees everything falling into place – because Choi’s weakness is San himself.

The Episode Review

So, Samsik has more than a soft spot for Taemin – they go way back too, both trying to survive as kids and Samsik already taking him under his wing. This too explains why Taemin trusts him even when the stakes are so high. Separately, when a hospitalized Yosub asks for Samsik’s bread, is he reinforcing that he’d like Samsik to do more than just ‘look out’ for his youngest? Is he asking him to find him a place? That’s another candidate available for pawnship in the big picture, right alongside the disposable Taemin.

On the fly, Samsik takes information about a coup and molds his plan around it, seeing where he can take advantage of something already in play. Samsik spends time explaining why San is Choi’s weakness – how as a competent and admired General, Choi can’t possibly see the atrocities of which others are capable. That he won’t even see them coming as they hijack his plan for their own benefit – if they’re using San’s face. And our once idealistic San is in.

Who’s your favorite pawn in Uncle Samsik? So many from which to choose. Let us know in the comments below. 

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