Pop Corner: The Manipulated Episode 1 Recap

The much-anticipated thriller drama, The Manipulated, is finally here, and it has already taken unexpected turns in its first episode.

The Manipulated premiered last November 5 with its first four episodes. In episode 1, we are introduced to the character of Tae Joong, a deliveryman who lives his life like any ordinary person.

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After the thrilling intro of the series, a short chase scene is shown, with Tae Joong escaping on his motorbike while a yellow sports car follows him. This is believed to be a foreshadowing or teaser of what’s about to unfold later on.

The Manipulated Episode 1 Recap: Park Tae Joong gets caught in an incident that changed the trajectory of his life

The first few acts of Episode 1 introduce us to Park Tae Joong (Ji Chang Wook), a deliveryman who works day and night to support the education of his loving brother, Tae Jin. He plans to open a small garden café, with help from his friends and his girlfriend, Su Ji (Pyo Ye Jin).

Tae Joong appears to be helpful and kind, and everyone seems to adore him. As a hardworking deliveryman, he follows a daily routine and continues to hustle. Beyond that, he also fights for what he believes is right and holds people accountable when necessary.

The Chaos Begins

While taking a break from delivering packages, Tae Joong eats food he bought from a convenience store when he hears a phone ringing from the bushes behind his seat. It turns out to be a lost phone, and its owner is calling. Tae Joong answers, and the woman asks if he can return the phone to her. At first, Tae Joong hesitates, worried it will disrupt his delivery time, but he changes his mind when the woman offers him ₩300,000 in return. He agrees, thinking he could use the money for his brother’s education.

Tae Joong delivers the phone to the address given by the woman, which turns out to be a tunnel. She explains that she can’t meet him because she’s caring for a relative, and instructs him to leave the phone in the emergency phone box and take the money. Tae Joong complies, even though he finds the situation strange.

What Tae Joong thought was just a bizarre night soon turns into a nightmare. A few days later, police barge into his garden café and arrest him. “Park Taejoong, you are under arrest on suspicion of rape and murder. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law.” Tae Joong is confused and insists he did nothing wrong.

A woman in her 20s was found unalive and dismembered near a tunnel by the Han River, and Tae Joong is believed to be the prime suspect. During interrogation, he claims he never knew or saw the victim. He swears he didn’t do it and believes there must be a mistake on the police’s end.

The detectives clearly don’t believe him and insist he’s lying. Forensic tests are conducted. The news breaks out, shocking everyone, including his girlfriend. What Tae Joong doesn’t know is that his personal information has been leaked online, and his garden café is vandalized, forcing it to temporarily close.

Su Ji later visits him and is relieved when she hears him say he didn’t commit the crime. She hires a lawyer and does her best to help him.

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Even though he’s being forced to go to trial for something he didn’t do, Tae Joong is determined to prove his innocence. His brother, friends, and girlfriend rally behind him. He informs them of his whereabouts in the days leading up to the crime, including his movements on the day it occurred. They gather photos, evidence, witnesses, and CCTV footage to support his claims, and everything aligns with Tae Joong’s statement. They are determined to win the case.

The First Trial

The day of the first trial arrives, and Tae Joong and his team are confident. Tae Joong’s claim of innocence aligns with the evidence he present, that he lives a normal life as a deliveryman, making it unlikely for him to commit such a crime.

As the prosecution presents their evidence, Tae Joong is asked to take the witness stand. Like the defense, the prosecution also tracks his movements on the day of the incident, but they find loopholes.

He once delivered a package to the victim and stayed in her building for approximately seven minutes, which is unusually long for a contactless delivery. The prosecution suspects him. However, as the flashback shows, he had a mishap with the elevator and took the stairs. He also noticed a plant that shouldn’t be exposed to sunlight and left a note, which took extra time.

Then, another footage shows him carrying luggage. As the flashback reveals, he was helping an elderly person carry it uphill. However, the same suitcase was found near the location where the body was discovered, and forensic analysis confirms it was used to transport the dismembered body. These confuse Tae Joong even more. The prosecution asks why he had possession of the victim’s phone, which he denies. It turns out to be the same phone he found in the bushes during his delivery break.

Taejoong is telling the truth, but the prosecution is convinced he killed the woman and is lying.

Furthermore, another piece of evidence is found. The victim was discovered in the bathroom of a vacant unit on another floor. Bodily fluids belonging to Tae Joong were found on her body, and his bracelet was also discovered at the crime scene. This further fuels the accusations, suggesting that whoever is behind this meticulously planned everything to frame him.

Tae Joong continues to insist on his innocence until he is taken away from the courtroom. A few days later, Su Ji visits him and informs him that his lawyer has quit. She begins to doubt him again after learning that his bracelet was found at the scene.

The pilot episode of The Manipulated concludes with Tae Joong being taken to prison.

How did the prosecution’s evidence seem to make sense and contradict Tae Joong’s proof of innocence? Who is really behind this? Was Tae Joong the manipulated?

Catch the episodes of The Manipulated on Disney+, now streaming.

Source: @DisneyPlusKR (Official X Account), Disney+