SKY Castle Ep 2 Recaps

WARNING! This recaps contain spoiler and full synopsis of the story.

The second episode starts with mourning scenes in cemetery area where Young Jae’s mom will be buried. Everyone looked sad, Ye Seo’s mom cried. When everyone was going back home, Young Jae just came from his backpacking trip and paid respects to his mother. Ye Seo’s mom who saw Young Jae greeted him but was ignored. Young Jae cried in front of his mother grave.

Cap 1 Young Jae’s mom was buried

After the accident, Young Jae family moved out of SKY Castle. Everyone was wondering why Young Jae’s mom committed suicide and left Young Jae behind. They felt bad for Young Jae. Young Jae’s dad also resigned from his director position at the hospital.

Cap 2 Young Jae’s dad said sorry because he can’t help Ye Seo’s dad to climb up the director position

Meanwhile, Soo Han’s dad was calling her wife while riding escalator. They gossiped about how Young Jae’s dad always wanted to be the president of the hospital but ended up resigning and how Ye Seo’s dad will not likely be picked by the old president as the new director. It turned out that the president of the hospital was behind his back listening to the conversation. Soo Han’s dad was embarrassed. He greeted to the president but was ignored.

Cap 3 Soo Han’s dad calling her wife

In Ye Seo family house, Ye Seo’s mom and Soo Han’s mom was gossiping. Ye Seo’s mom suddenly remember the time when she went to Young Jae family house before the accident. That time she eavesdropped Young Jae’s mom bickering with her mother over the phone. Ye Seo’s mom also accidently found a medicine from hospital dated by December 19. The strange thing is that Young Jae’s mom left for the cruise trip on December 18. Presumably, Young Jae’s mom had never gone to the trip in the truth. 

Cap 4 Ye Seo’s mom thinks that Young Jae’s mom is not a person to left her son behind

At the same time, Ye Seo’s dad was going for a drink with Young Jae’s dad. Young Jae’s dad is so mad towards his son. He said that he should have taken Young Jae out of the family registry. Young Jae’s dad said that it was Young Jae who made his wife committed suicide. Ye Seo’s dad was confused and wondered what happened.

Cap 5 Young Jae’s dad was drunk

Meanwhile, at Cha family house, Mrs Cha was looking at the present Young Jae’s mom gave before her suicide. She suddenly remembered the snowy night on the day Young Jae’s mom committed suicide. That time she was going out and playing with her twin sons. Trough a window in Young Jae family house, she accidently saw Young Jae’s mom was slapped by someone.

Cap 6 Mrs Cha was looking at the present Young Jae’s mom gave to her

Cap 7 The shadows Mrs Cha saw

Inside Ye Seo’s family house, Ye Seo’s dad who got confused after hearing to Young Jae’s dad statement asked his wife if Young Jae and his mom relationship was not good. However, Ye Seo’s mom said that their relationship was looked just good as Young Jae was really a good student and a very kind son.

On the other day, Coach Kim visited Ye Seo’s house. She introduced Teacher Jo who will pick up Ye Seo everyday. She also checked Ye Seo’s room, making sure it fulfills requirements for a good study environment.  That included desk location, what to hang in the wall, ideal room humidity, what kind of desk lamp to use, etc. They even prepared list of dishes that are good for high school students. LOL.

Cap 8 Coach Kim desk lamp recommendation that can radiate blue light at 8000K for science and math studies, white light at 4000K for subjects that require memorizing, and red light at 2200 K for music and art subjects.

After that, Ye Seo’s mom and Coach Kim went for a meal. Ye Seo’s mom asked if Coach Kim knows that Young Jae’s mom committed suicide. However, Young Jae’s mom said that her relationship with clients ends as soon as they get accepted to universities. Then, Coach Kim suddenly got a phone call from Young Jae. But, she declined the call.

Cap 9 Coach Kim didn’t answer Young Jae’s phone call

Meanwhile, a news spreads in the hospital. It was said that the president of the hospital has hired someone as the new executive director. This new director also got to reside in SKY Castle. What was suprising is that he graduated from Bujin University in the suburbs, a university whose name had never been heard before. The new director also had no connections with the president. Everyone is wondering why did the director hire someone like him. 

Cap 10 Soo Han’s dad is spreading the news to Ye Seo’s dad, who previously aimed to be the new director of the hospital

In the SKY Castle, group of trucks suddenly came in, carrying stuffs of the new director family. They reside in the house previously used by Young Jae family. However, it turned out that the new director family is Woo Joo family, who was previously introduced in episode one to be a first place student in joint with Ye Seo in Shinhwa school.

Cap 11 Woo Joo and his mom admiring their new luxury house

When reading “The Republic” by Plato for their Omparos book report, the ladies (Ye Seo’s mom, Soo Han’s mom, Mrs Cha) noticed the new family moving in. That family owns so many potted plants. It turned out that Woo Joo’s mom likes plants so much. Their family looked so beautiful and modest. They seemed to love each other heartily, so different comparing to the other families in SKY Castle who loves to bicker. While organizing, Woo Joo found a tablet computer left by the previous family—Young Jae family—inside the house. He handed it to his mom.

Cap 12 Woo Joo’s dad offered his wife a coffee

Cap 13 Woo Joo found a tablet computer

In the hospital, Ye Seo’s dad noticed a worker setting up a name figure for the new director room, replacing Young Jae’s dad. Reminiscing his old times with Young Jae’s dad, Ye Seo’s dad came into the room and found Young Jae family photo throwed out into the trash can. He also found the room so messy, with messy alcoholic bottles and dead plants.

Cap 14 A worker is setting up a new sign for the new director, Hwang Chi Young aka Woo Joo’s dad

Suddenly, Woo Joo’s dad went into the room. Ye Seo’s dad was surprised and apologized for barging in. Woo Joo’s dad was so friendly and said that Ye Seo’s dad can visit him whenever he wants. He is even more polite than Ye Seo’s dad as he shook Ye Seo’s dad hands with his both hands.

Cap 15 Ye Seo’s dad felt strange as someone with a higher position than him acted so politely

On the appointment ceremony, Woo Joo’s dad introduced himself. Everyone present was astonished that he graduated from a university whose name had never been heard before. The president of the hospital also explained how he first met him. He said that they met by a pure coincidence when hiking in Himalayas. The president saw Woo Joo’s dad sincerely treating a fallen porter and was touched and impressed. The president also later found out that Woo Joo’s dad had been doing medical service in Kathmandu and Marpha.

Cap 16 The president of the hospital (left), Woo Joo’s dad (right)

Afterwards, the president asked if anyone had questions. He said that anyone who had should frankly ask. The president gazed to Soo Han’s dad whom he heard of him gossiping behind his back, calling the president a 1000 years old tortoise. Soo Han’s dad was embarrassed.

Cap 17 Soo Han’s dad was speechless

Meanwhile in SKY Castle, Woo Joo’s mom was going around, visiting and giving rice cakes to neighborhood. When she visited Ye Seo family house, Ye Seo’s mom was astonished to see the new neighbor lady dressed so modest, friendly handing out rice cake with her filthy hands. However, Ye Seo’s mom looked so familiar for Woo Joo’s mom. She then remember her childhood friend Kwak Mi Hyang. Ye Seo’s mom said that she mistook her and that she’s Han Seo Jin, not Kwak Mi Hyang. Woo Joo’s mom apologized. Then, Soo Han’s mom and Mrs Cha who were inside Ye Seo family house went outside to see who’s coming. Woo Joo’s mom invited them to visit her house for a lunch tomorrow.

Cap 18 Woo Joo’s mom visited the ladies

After Woo Joo’s mom left, Ye Seo’s mom got inside the house. She looked shocked. She remember her old times when she was Kwak Mi Hyang. Her father was a rude alcohol fanatic and she was bullied at school. The old times that reappeared made her traumatized. However, she then reminded herself that she’s now a successful Han Seo Jin and tried to forget the past.

Cap 19 Ye Seo’s mom was Mi Hyang

In Shinhwa High School, Ye Bin and Soo Han was looking at Ye Seo’s photo in Hall of Honor, attached there as the first top student beside the second Kim Hye Na.

Cap 20 Ye Bin (left) and Soo Han (right)

Suddenly, Kim Hye Na whose photo is attached came. She asked why Ye Seo is no longer going to the academy. Soo Han accidently said that Ye Seo now has a coach. Ye Bin kicked him as it was supposed to be a secret.  

Cap 21 Kim Hye Na found out that the coach Soo Han referred to is not an ordinary coach

Ye Seo’s mom and Soo Han’s mom was going from a coffee shop to pick up Ye Bin and Soo Han from their school. While waiting for the kids, they again gossiped about Woo Joo’s mom inside the car. Soo Han’s mom said that she will find out what kind of family Woo Joo’s mom is from and see if she qualifies to join the community. Soo Han’s mom mentioned that Mrs Cha’s dad is the Army Chief of Staff, Ye Seo’s mom’s dad is the president of a bank, while his own dad owns building in Gangnam. Ye Seo’s mom then looked sorry for lying, as we know previously that her dad was only an alcohol fanatic who sells tripes, ox bloods, and bones in market. 

Cap 22 Soo Han’s mom (left) and Ye Seo’s mom (right)

The next day, the ladies went into Woo Joo family house for a lunch. Both Ye Seo’s mom and Soo Han’s mom looked so disgusted when they found out that Woo Joo’s mom grew vegetables herself. They also rejected to eat ox blood soup prepared. On the other side, Mrs Cha was very welcoming and friendly. She was happy to be given a pack of organic vegetables Woo Joo’s mom grew herself.

 

Cap 23 Woo Joo’s mom was serving the ox blood soup

They were surprised when Woo Joo’s mom said that she grew up together with her husband in an orphanage and got married. Woo Joo’s mom apologized again for mistaking Ye Seo’s mom as her childhood friend Kwak Mi Hyang. Soo Han’s mom laughed humiliating the cheesy name.

Woo Joo’s mom then told the ladies about his son Woo Joo. Ye Seo’s mom was surprised when she heard the name. Soo Han’s mom told Woo Joo’s mom that Ye Seo’s mom texted her but never get replied. Woo Joo’s mom apologized. She said that she usually blocks all the calls from other students’ mothers as she feels anxious if she spends too much time with them, they make her feels like having to burden Woo Joo with too much studies and extra classes. Woo Joo’s mom told them that Woo Joo had never got any private lessons other than math.  Listening to that, Ye Seo’s mom frankly said that she is so naïve and left. Soo Han’s mom and Mrs Cha followed along and left.

Cap 24 The ladies left after listening to Woo Joo’s mom

On their way out, Woo Joo’s mom stopped them. She handed out pack of organic vegetables Mrs Cha left behind and show the tablet computer Woo Joo accidently found. Ye Seo’s mom then reached out to it, saying that the tablet is hers and that she lent it to the previous house owner. 

Cap 25 Ye Seo’s mom took the tablet computer and left

After knowing that Ye Seo’s strong competitor had never got any private lessons other than math, Ye Seo’s mom was worried and meet Coach Kim. Coach Kim said that on the assessment test, Ye Seo got an A’s for all subjects while Woo Joo got B’s on math and sociology. Coach Kim asserted that she needs to fully entrust her with Ye Seo’s grade while all that Ye Seo’s mom have to do is take good care of Ye Seo’s health.

Cap 26 Coach Kim

While preparing for private lesson, Ye Seo told her mom that she texted Young Jae, asking if she could see his notes as he was good at taking notes. However, his phone was turned off and he got rid all of his social media accounts.

Cap 27 Ye Seo complained as she couldn’t take a look at Young Jae’s notes

In her free time, Ye Seo’s mom decided to watch a movie. She turned on the tablet computer and found the tablet looked different. She opened up a document. That’s what it was written:

June 10. I want to die. They should just kill me instead. 

June 13. Ga Eul is the only decent person in SKY Castle.

June 17. Today, I looked up ways to commit suicide on the web. How should I die in order to make the people left behind suffer? I wonder why my mom gave birth to me. She shouldn’t have had me if she was going to curse at and beat me. She said I’m a failure for not winning an award at KMO. Why did I have to be born in such a terrible family? All they ever talk about is getting perfect scores. I wonder if they’ll feel relieved if I die. I really just want to cut myself with a knife. I’m going to get out of this house for sure. Let’s study hard until then. Let’s study. Let’s get it done. Let’s get them what they want. That way, I’ll be able to get my revenge. They say they love me, but they should be honest and say they need something to brag about. Three generations of doctors? They treat Ga Eul like a pest because she’s not a well-educated. How could my dad still call himself a doctor? I feel terrible that I have parents like them.

Cap 28 The tablet computer turned out to be Young Jae’s, not Ye Seo’s mom’s 

The time flashbacks the night before Young Jae’s mom committed suicide. She readed the document and was surprised. Young Jae’s dad then came in. She blamed her husband for not being a good dad, that it had been 10 days since Young Jae left for backpacking trip but he had never called his son. She then showed the tablet computer. Young Jae’s dad got mad. They blamed each other and bickered. Young Jae’s dad call his men to get rid of Young Jae but was cutted off by Young Jae’s mom. She said that she can’t give up on her son. 

Cap 29 Young Jae’s parents bickered

The drama flashbacked to the time when Young Jae’s mom was supposed to go for a cruise trip. It turned out that she met a few people, asking help to find his son. She said that she couldn’t reach him, that Young Jae said he was going to Europe that morning but there was not any reservation. After investigation, the men said that before Young Jae’s phone was turned off, the last location showed up was Sinan, South Jeolla Island. Young Jae’s mom remember that Ga Eul was from Sinan. She asked the men to find out Ga Eul’s home address and went look for her house. 

Cap 30 Young Jae’s mom didn’t go on cruise trip because she was trying to find Young Jae

In Sinan, Young Jae’s mom got to find Ga Eul’s home address and went inside. She found his son and Ga Eul were kissing. Young Jae’s mom got mad and slapped Ga Eul. She said that they took Ga Eul in when she was homeless and ended up seducing Young Jae in middle school instead.

Cap 31 Young Jae’s mom was immensely shocked

Young Jae, too, was full of rage. With anger he said, “I studied every single day without a day off. Even if I got sick, hurt, or passed out, you sent me to class until 2 am. Didn’t you say I didn’t deserve to eat unless I came first? Didn’t you tell me to leave home and die if my grades dropped? My life was miserable! I couldn’t have survived if it weren’t for Ga Eul. So I’d succeed? You did that for my sake? You must haven’t read it. I left it unlocked so you would read it. Go home and read it. I wrote it all down on the tablet in my desk drawer.” Young Jae insisted that he will live as he wishes from now on and he doesn’t wish to be his parents’ son anymore.

 

Cap 32 Young Jae bursted out of rage

Young Jae’s mom was immensely shocked and passed out. When she woke up, she was at hospital in Sinan. Ga Eul was in front of her. She said that she didn’t know Young Jae remembered that she grew up in Sinan and she won’t stop him if Young Jae wants to leave.

Cap 33 Ga Eul whose forehead was hurt as slapped by Young Jae’s mom

Getting up from the hospital bed, Young Jae’s mom went out to find his son. She imagined chasing Young Jae in the beach but then realized it was her illusion. She was deeply hurt, cried, then go back to SKY Castle in Seoul, acting as if she had really gone for a cruise trip, as we previously saw in episode one.

Cap 34 Young Jae’s mom fall on her knees

Flashback ends, the drama goes back to the present time when Young Jae’s parents were bickering. Young Jae’s mom called to the place where she found Young Jae and Ga Eul previously but the place owner said they both had left the island. Giving up on living, Young Jae’s mom then went out on that snowy night and committed suicide.

Cap 35 Young Jae’s mom committed suicide

Continue to SKY Castle Ep 3 Recaps

Personal Comments

Wow yeah, when I first saw the first episode, I wondered if the kids in SKY Castle really feel okay with all the pressures loaded by their overambitious parents, increased by the social-institutionalized attitude in such a first class homogeneous neighborhood. As I previously saw in school-related dramas, for example the KBS School series, kids with perfect grade-pressuring parents eventually ended up hating their parents, committing suicide, and so on. However, meeting Young Jae and Ye Seo characters in the first episode made me think that such docile kids who followed along their parents’ ambition happily and heartily with feeling no burden may really exists; beside those who doesn’t, with an example of Ye Bin and Soo Han. But, after watching this second episode, I acknowledged that I was wrong about Young Jae. What about Ye Seo then? Well, we can only answer it after watching later episodes.

And by the way, who exactly is Ga Eul?