“Backstreet Rookie” Episode 2 Recap

Backstreet Rookie completes its character introductions on its second episode while also presenting the world of convenience store.

That’s another reeling point for this series which has been mounting its setting to something even me has not paid attention for, considering there has been ample amount of workplace drama over the years.

So far, I am in to cheer for Saet Byul’s one-sided romance being fulfilled especially since I want to shield Dae Hyun from his self-centered girlfriend.

Episode Recaps:  01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | Mid-Series | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Finale Week Feature | REVIEW

abbyinhallyuland watches Backstreet Rookie on iQIYI

Episode 2: Part-Timer Saet Byul

“You’re no use for anything except for being an eye candy.”

Hurriedly leaving his girlfriend, Dae Hyun arrives at the convenience store and sees Saet Byul and her friends on a drinking binge. Attempting to chide his part-timer for drinking while on shift, Saet Byul escapes the situation as she reached her alcohol limit.

Instead, Saet Byul’s friends reverse the situation and chides him for his uncalled for suspicion. Taunting him to prove he’s more than just a pretty face through alcohol tolerance, Dae Hyun finds himself joining the drinking session.

Later, Saet Byul sobers up and learns that her friends told Dae Hyun the reason why she is working in the store. However, they did not get his reaction because he fell asleep. Unbeknownst to them, Dae Hyun’s girlfriend, Yoo Yeon Joo (Han Sun Hwa) has been watching from afar.

Saet Byul drags her boss to the couch. Staring at him, she confesses that she decided to work in the store for her to see him everyday. She promises to work hard so she can become a regular employee. Just as she is about to leave, Dae Hyun reaches for her hand, mumbling for her not to leave.

Beaming, Saet Byul’s smile fades when Dae Hyun continues to mumble words of gratitude, not to her, but to his girlfriend. Throwing some punches, she leaves the break room.

“Why did she delete the message?”

Waking up from a bad dream, Dae Hyun felt beaten up, not knowing that Saet Byul really threw some punches at him. Surprised to see his part-timer, he coaxes her to leave as she already extended her working hours.

Memories from the previous night finally came rushing to him, as he checks on all the alcohol and food charges not yet paid as reflected on the cash register. He also sees a “deleted message’ from Yeon Joo, and freaks out about it.

Over at Yeon Joo’s office, she also thinks of her boyfriend’s unusual behavior remembering his smiling face as he chatted with Saet Byul the night before. She receives messages from Dae Hyun and replies for them to have dinner together.

“Why would I drink with those young girls?”

Saet Byul wakes up to hug Dae Hyun’s stuffed toy. Remembering him mistaking her for his girlfriend she quelled her rage on the poor stuffed toy.

Yeon Joo and Dae Hyun go for an Italian dinner as she tries to make her boyfriend confess of his activities last night. After dinner, Dae Hyun opens up about their next move as a couple, and suggests meeting both their parents should be done even when they are busy with work. But Yeon Joo responds that she will ponder on it.

Dae Hyun casually blurts out how he is going to fire his new part time worker for drinking with her friends last night. Yeon Joo, who knows her boyfriend joined the fun, pretends not knowing it and listens to him blab the opposite of what he really did with the girls.

“Why did she kiss me?”

Weighing the booming effect of Saet Byul on spiking up the customers in the store, it finally dawned on Dae Hyun the secrets he shared last night with the girls.

Saet Byul’s friends shared how the fleeting kiss he shared with her three years ago is their friend’s first and last kiss, that cob webs have been settling inside her mouth. They even replied “yes” when he asked if the reason why she kissed him if because she likes him.

Dae Hyun enters the store and sees Saet Byul happily chatting with a customer who just moved in the neighborhood. But, when the dog of the customer accidentally kissed him, he cursed at the dog disappointing the customer.

Upset of the thought that he might not have been Saet Byul’s last kiss since she freely gave a kiss to the dog he hated kissing, he speaks with her about the ruckus last night. Striking back, Saet Byul tells him how her friends brought in sales last night and he even had a great time with them, which Dae Hyun’s drunk self already forget.

“You little jerk, come here!”

Debating how he can fire Saet Byul, a problem arises when Dae Hyun got invited by the police for selling cigarette packs to a minor. He digs on the CCTV footage to obtain a proof that he checked his ID to avoid a looming two-month suspension. He also asks Saet Byul not to tell his family as it will just worry his parents.

After pulling off an all-nighter, Dal Shik offers help so Dae Hyun can refresh himself. But, he ends up dozing and waking up to the sight of Saet Byul’s friends who were amazed to see a picture of primitive man in a convenience store’s break room.

The awe turns rage as they exchange unfriendly words leading to Dal Shik getting beaten up. Dae Hyun and Saet Byul rush to set things in order. Just then, Dae Hyun receives a call from Yeon Joo who needs help with her car. He rushes to take care of his girlfriend’s mess making Saet Byul angry because he has more pressing concerns to take care of.

“I guess you don’t care because you don’t get punished.”

Dae Hyun spots the young man who caused his current problem entering a convenience store with the intention to buy cigarette pack again. Showing no remorse, Dae Hyun grabs his collar and chides him of how he is so heartless not to think of other people. He asks for when he first visited the store, the young man refused to respond.

Running down the reasons why the convenience store is important to his family, the uncaring youth replies his fury is baseless because his store will only be suspended selling cigarettes, and they can still sell other goods. Enraged, Dae Hyun halts to physically giving the youngster a lesson, when he received a call from Saet Byul, intentionally luring him away from trouble.

“Here. I’m sure this can save you from administrative measure.”

Saet Byul confronts the youngster and successfully gets the information they need. Solving the problem, Dae Hyun notices a small scratch on her hand so he tends on it.

She faintly lectures him of choosing Yeon Joo’s problem than his own, but assures that she does not care because she only wants to solve the problem so she can be an official part-timer.

Dae Hyun cuts her celebration right away, replying he does not remember agreeing to it. She tries to grab the USB stick she just gave, but he is quick to evade her. Time stops, as they stare at each other. When Dae Hyun wakes up from the trance, he tries to ask her about the kiss they shared three years ago, but ends up swerving it to a different topic.

“I’m not going to fire the part-timer.”

Dae Hyun surmises on his memory as he stares on his perky part-timer. He makes up his mind as he does not want her to be a victim of prejudice just like what happened to him in the past, when he used to work in a big company, but often look down upon his not so illustrious education.

He calls Yeon Joo to inform her of his decision which the latter is obviously not happy about. She asserts how they should make the decision together, but Dae Hyun remains firm about how he is the one in charge of his business.

Peak Points

Saet Byul’s one-sided romance was revealed thanks to her friends this episode. Whether it will be reciprocated, we know it will be a work in progress since Dae Hyun seems so enamored of his girlfriend, whose affection seems not as great as what Dae Hyun has been giving. Probably, she is worried about the wealth disparity between their families.

The writing has so far led us to see what Saet Byul lacks, Dae Hyun has and vice versa. Ergo, Backstreet Rookie mixes healing mood and impressions of optimism so far.

Musings

Backstreet Rookie is shaping up to the rom-com vibe it initially promised. Introducing the characters in its premiere week, we can now associate the roles of the presented characters.

I love how Saet Byul’s friends quip real and adorable thoughts and I anticipate more quirky moments from them and Dal Shik. I also look forward to the day when Saet Byul’s self-love flows to Dae Hyun, so he can love himself a little more. Because he deserves it.

Admittedly, the series does not give you that spectacular feeling since it follows the Korean rom-com drama prototype. It is light, spirited, but might have to work more to induce the addicting drive.

Backstreet Rookie airs every Friday and Saturday on SBS.

Photos: Screencaps from iQIYI

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