In this episode of Four Hands, Two Sonatas, Jeongyo lights the fire that keeps Pio going, and Seungwoon decides it’s time to move on.
As they get ready to debut Jeongyo’s concerto, our main pair’s relationship evolves from competitors turned friends into reluctant collaborators in Episode 9 of Four Hands, Two Sonatas. The ball is in Pio’s court, now that he knows the truth about his mother’s part in Jeongyo’s disappearance. However, Jeongyo is taking his role as conductor to heart, as he seems to be the one pulling the strings.
Disclaimer: The following article contains spoilers for Episode 9 of Four Hands, Two Sonatas.
Confrontation in Four Hands, Two Sonatas Episode 9
When Jihye comes home after her celebratory dinner with Jaein’s mom, Pio immediately confronts her. Jihye is immediately defensive, saying she couldn’t bear to see Pio losing confidence to the point of quitting and that she’d do anything for his dream. When Pio insists that they come clean, Jihye threatens to take her own life.
Despite this, Pio still goes ahead to confess everything to Jeongyo. However, he decides to leave his mother out of it and only talks about how he won the Harmonie Competition because of Jeongyo’s sheet music. Jeongyo acts like it’s not a big deal, saying that he only provided the interpretation and that Pio won on his own merits.
Debuting “Nemesis”
Jeongyo later shows up at Pio’s house with a piano concerto that he’d been working on for five years called “Nemesis.” He asks Pio to play it when he releases it to the world for the first time. Pio considers and eventually agrees, thinking of it as a way to make it up to Jeongyo for taking his place in the competition.
Jeongyo shows the piece to Seungwoon, who agrees to let him play it at the orchestra’s 80th anniversary festival. He also shows it to Jaein and her mom. Jaein suggests that he release an album at the festival to drum up publicity, as well as to establish him and Pio as a brand.
Jihye does not approve of any of this, saying that Pio should distance himself from Jeongyo now that he knows the truth. Pio retorts that she’s only concerned about getting caught and that she doesn’t feel bad about what she did to Jeongyo at all.
Passing the baton in Four Hands, Two Sonatas Episode 9
Seungwoon and Seonju talk about the upcoming festival, and Seonju asks why Seungwoon is so hard on Pio despite everything he’s achieved. Seungwoon says that his grandson reminds him of himself, in the way that he lets his passion drive him to his limits. He also tells Seonju that he plans to retire as artistic director and appoint Jeongyo as his successor.
Seonju is alarmed and later tells Jihye about her father’s decision. Jihye is more upset that Seungwoon is choosing Jeongyo again, but he tells her to be kind and reflect on why she hates Jeongyo so much.
The correct tempo
Pio has Jaein decline all his invitations to perform so he can practice Jeongyo’s concerto. When he performs for Jeongyo for the first time, it’s not up to Jeongyo’s standard and he even leaves before giving any feedback. While Pio is understandably upset by this, it drives him to practice even harder. He consults Hyunsoo and Jaein, who both help him along.
When Pio plays it again, Jeongyo actually gets angry that Pio is not performing at the right tempo, despite him actually following the piece perfectly. Jeongyo says that Pio hasn’t changed and that he doesn’t know how to play to the rhythm of his own heart. He asks Pio how he can expect to fight off the orchestra members and win, which are the same words Pio told him nine years ago.
The past returns
Jeongyo gets word from Hyuncheol that his dad wandered off from the hospital, so they go looking for him. Jihye follows Jeongyo to the alcohol rehab center, but Jeongyo heads her off before she can catch him and says he’s just there for some volunteer work. Eventually, they find his dad drinking at a restaurant, but Jeongyo doesn’t show himself.
Jihye tells Pio that she’s suspicious of Jeongyo’s amnesia, as he’s so involved in their lives for someone who claims to not remember anything prior to nine years ago. She tells him about the encounter at the hospital, as well as the time she caught Jeongyo in the practice room at the art center. Pio remembers that as the place where they first met and finds the spot where they wrote the hopeful bets on the future: “Choi Jeongyo’s going to win! No, Kang Pio will!”
Thoughts and What To Expect Next on Four Hands, Two Sonatas
This episode gives us an interesting look into how the show characterizes Seungwoon. At his core, he is an artist who believes in the sanctity of art above all. In his speech to the orchestra, he is passionate in his pursuit to express the true meaning of a musical piece to the audience. However, Seungwoon’s staunch beliefs have also led him to be elitist and cruel to the people around him.
Then there’s Jihye, who also believes in passionately pursuing something to the end – her son’s potential – and this has also led to her committing heinous things. Put in contrast with Seungwoon, Jihye’s inner life has not (yet) been explored as deeply, so we see her as more of a villain with a selfish motivation. Despite this, she and her father are actually very similar.
In the next episode, the truth about Jeongyo’s alleged amnesia comes out. Despite this lie, it seems like Pio still wants to do well in the performance and is willing to let Jeongyo drive him to be the best. With this, Four Hands, Two Sonatas returns to its core themes: how art fuels us and what it means to be great.
Source: tvN Drama
