Johan goes through an emotional turmoil after meeting his brother whom he dearly missed in the third week of Island.
Learning about the reason why lust demons are after her from Van, Mi-ho listens to Grandma Geum’s advice to discover her innate power.
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Episode Recaps: 01 & 02 | 03 & 04 | 05 & 06 | 07 & 08 | 09 & 10 | 11 & 12 + Series Review |
Island Episodes 5 and 6 Highlights
Pushing Van to his monster state, Mi-ho intervenes and Johan was put down as Van’s focus shifts to stabbing her. Fortunately, he regains focus and stabs his arm instead.
“It is not the promise that is weak. It is your own will.”
Johan rushes to Mi-ho’s side who fainted out of scare. Later he converses with Butler Jang who acknowledged that Van won’t hurt Mi-ho at all, and the person who can protect her as well. However, Johan is still bent on not trusting him.
When Mi-ho wakes up, she immediately looks for Van by using the tracker on his phone. Pushing her away, Van refuses to have his wound mended. But she insists on doing so showing she’s not afraid even if he tried to kill her because he’s protected her multiple times.
Relenting to his wish to leave him alone, Mi-ho acquiesces but tells him how the promise they made can’t be blamed but his own determination is feeble.
Back at home, Butler Jang greets Mi-ho and she listens to Johan’s proud declaration of being her personal bodyguard since Van left. At school, Miho and Johan rescue Suryeon who is being bullied. Meeting her savior as introduced by Yeong-ji, she thanks them accordingly.
Grandma Geum tends to Van’s wound and learns about how he almost killed Mi-ho so he decided to just watch her from afar.
He is reminded of how reincarnation teaches people to redeem and wash away sins. To that, Van responds his agonizing fate can only end if he dies.
“Don’t worry about anything. You have me.”
Johan receives a phone call about his older brother Chan-hee (Choi Tae Joon) whom he has been looking for since they got separated when they were adopted.
Feeling despondent, Mi-ho drags Johan to the orphanage where he and his brother stayed. Rekindling his old memories, he thanks Mi-ho for the kind gesture. He also sets forth to look for his brother.
Mi-ho’s one and only best friend is getting married. Elated for her sealing her dream marriage, she shares her friend’s happiness genuinely.
But when her special corsage for the wedding was forgotten by her best friend to be given to her when she visited, the groom goes to the mansion where she stays.
Unfortunately, the groom is killed by a monster familiar to Van, his fellow half-monster-half-human former brother, Gungtan. Engaging in a scuffle, Gungtan expressed his intention of not wanting to harm Van. He thinks Van protecting someone who betrayed them makes him look like a fool.
At that same moment, Johan also meets his brother. He apologizes for leaving him and promises to stay together.
In a flashback, it is revealed how the parents who adopted them did so to save their child by getting their kidneys. But Johan not being a match was discarded and was later found by a priest.
Johan brings Chan-hee to the mansion so they can start anew.
“Find Won-jeong. Then your pain will be gone forever.”
Unknown to Johan, his brother has become a monster and has been killing people with the intention of finding the kidney taken from him. Chan-hee was also brainwashed by Gungtan that killing Won-jeong would relieve his pain.
Taking the opportunity when Johan fell asleep, Chan-hee goes to Mi-ho’s room but is unable to open the bathroom where she was taking a bath. Van, who commits to his promise of protecting from afar, tells him that his intention can’t be done.
Waking up without his brother, Johan sees him in a brawl with Van. Gungtan comes to Chan-hee’s aid and mocks how Van’s desire to become more human has made his abilities as a monster dull. He asserts how the more Van protects Mi-ho, the more he is getting weak.
Still giving him a chance, Gungtan tells him to give his answer if he wants to die by his hands or help him. Later, a unicorn appears in front of Van while Johan sets forth to find his brother.
“I’ll remember it. The promise you are waiting for.”
Seeing the damage inside the house, Mi-ho seeks Van first thing in the morning. Pleading to answer her questions, Van finally obliged and explains that she is the reincarnation of Won-jeong. Lust demons keep hunting her because she cannot be awakened.
Unable to tell that his fate is to be freed of the burden after killing her in her past life, Van remarks his fate is to wait for a promise. To that, Mi-ho promised to remember things so she can fulfill that promise. But he has to stay by her side until then. She asserts that she trusts him and doesn’t care if he’s a lust demon or if she will die.
Adamant to accept her thoughts, Mi-ho goes for deeper delving into Wonjeong. She learns from Grandma Geum of Wonjeong’s ability to fix the Barrier Stone which is broken once she is awakened. It will stop the monsters from freely flowing and will also fix Van who has been weakening from the guilt and pain he’s been carrying.
Coached to remember what she did to defeat Benjulle, Grandma Geum gives her the assignment to figure out how she can awaken her powers.
Meanwhile, Johan finds his brother who admitted to having changed strangely. Chan-hee pleads to be killed by him. However, Johan remains hopeful they can find a fix.
“My brother looked at me with a smile, then in tears. You are both the same. A lust demon, but also like a human.”
Johan tried to exorcise Chan-hee but it was futile so he seeks Van’s help. Reasoning that his brother has still human qualities and emotions just like him, still, Van bluntly rejects his idea. Van made him see the reality that there’s no hope for Chan-hee but to be killed.
In tears, Johan requests Mi-ho to help with his brother’s case. His emotional words about how he just got reunited with Chan-hee win her heart. He appeals earnestly to do what she did to defeat Benjulle.
They go to where Johan settles his brother and Mi-ho proceeds to their plan. Holding Chan-hee’s hand, he suddenly transforms into a lust demon and moves to attack Mi-ho but Jo-han shields his body to protect her.
On the cusp of being attacked, Mi-ho is saved by Van. However, Chan-hee has taken advantage of Van’s weakening body and easily subdued him. Motioning to strangle and kill Mi-ho, a sword pierces through Chan-hee’s body. Agonizingly, Jo-han wields his sword at Chan-hee before Van obliterates him for good. Van urges Mi-ho to leave with him so Johan can properly grieve.
Island Episodes 5 and 6 Musings
The last two episodes of the first part of Island put Johan’s story in the spotlight. We have to give two thumbs up to Choi Tae Joon’s compelling special appearance. Likewise, it was nice to see a lot of heart-rending faces from Cha Eun Woo in these chapters.
Asserting the unique richness of Korean folklore on Jeju Island, the third week introduces more dynamic movement to the story. Through Grandma Geum’s story, she acquainted us with crucial details about the prophecy entwining Van, Mi-ho and Johan.
By introducing new characters that brought out the innermost sides of Johan and Van; the story underlines their vulnerabilities.
In particular, viewers were acquainted with Gungtan who appears to be sending lust demons because he cannot directly kill Mi-ho. This theory strengthens his animosity to Van who seems to have that ability. Now we are also aware of why lust demons want to kill Mi-ho because once she is awakened, she will seal the barrier and vanquish them for good.
As Van was given an ultimatum by his former brother, we can also look forward to his decision. His depleting power is raising concern especially when Gungtan is seemingly way more powerful than him.
Surprising us with a quick peek at Gungtan’s cult following and Yeomji calling him her uncle, Island signals a new beginning to a more amplified thrill.
Concluding the first season, theories and questions are raised accordingly.
Can Mi-ho rekindle her divine powers? Can Van find a way to revamp his fading power?
Cheer for Van, Mi-ho and Priest Johan as they battle monsters meant to wreak havoc in Island on Prime Video.
Photos: TVING
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