The first episode of Dynamite Kiss sees Jang Kiyong and Ahn Eunjin fall into each other, literally and figuratively, turning chemicals into dynamite.
On November 12, SBS’s new Wednesday-Thursday drama, Dynamite Kiss, aired its first episode titled “Nitric Acid and Sulfuric Acid Make Dynamite.” The episode lays the groundwork for the two main characters, Go Darim (Ahn Eunjin) and Gong Jihyeok (Jang Kiyong). It builds their chemistry with every interaction, mixes in a healthy dose of K-drama tropes, and sets the stage for that explosive kiss.
The first track on the OST, “Don’t Give Up” by BBGirls, was also released alongside the episode. Songs by Wendy and Melomance’s Kim Minseok are expected to drop in the following days.
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Noryangjin zombie and loveless chaebol
On her way to cram school in Noryangjin, Go Darim wakes up from her dream of being a rich CEO accepting a marriage proposal. She has been attending the same cram school for five years to study for the civil service exam, which she turned to as a result of failing job interview after job interview. The teacher calls her a Noryangjin zombie.
When she comes home, she puts on a happy face for her mother and sister, proclaiming that she bought clothes for her sister’s wedding. Her sister responds by giving Darim tickets to Jeju, admitting that she told her future in-laws that her older sister was studying abroad. Darim hides her hurt feelings and tries to see it as a free holiday. She shares her feelings the next day with her upstairs neighbor, single dad Seonu.
Meanwhile, Gong Jihyeok celebrates a successful deal with his business associate Gyeongmin. An Arab investor promised to give him ten times his asking price as long as he nabs top AI programmer Kim Jeonggwon. Gyeongmin tries to encourage Jihyeok to mingle and find love, but Jihyeok shuts him down, saying he has never really had a mind-blowing love affair and believes that people are better off alone.
The next day, Yoo Hayeong, the daughter of another rich businessman, arrives at Jihyeok’s apartment to tell him that their parents have decided that they’re gettinf married. She tries to kiss him, but was shut down, again.
Shenanigans in Jeju
Darim goes to Jeju to try to have a good time, while Jihyeok is there to chase down Kim Jeonggwon, who is a guest lecturer at an AI conference. It is revealed that Jeonggwon is Darim’s ex-boyfriend, who cruelly broke up with her after calling her “a limp piece of over-blanched spinach.”
Darim runs into her high school classmate Sujin while walking around the island. Sujin introduces Darim to her boyfriend, who is none other than Jeonggwon. Jeonggwon pretends not to know her, and Darim flees the scene, pretending she received a call from her non-existent boyfriend.
Trigger warning meet cute
Darim’s unfortunate encounter with Jeonggwon and Sujin sends her moping through the cliffs of Jeju after drinking alone. She begins to remember all the times she was rejected by a company, because the interviewers looked down on her and judged her for coming from a no-name university and a single parent household. She was so depressed that she almost ended her life.
Nearby on the cliff, with the ocean surging far below, Jihyeok is psyching himself up by screaming into the air. A drunk Darim sees him and flashes back to her old self about to jump off into the dark waters below the bridge. She grabs him and pulls him from the edge, yelling that life is still worth living.
In a very K-drama manner, the two of them end up falling over each other, literally. Darim almost hits her head on a sharp rock, but Jihyeok was able to block it, injuring his hand in the process. Their tiff sends them both to the hospital, where Jihyeok leaves Darim to recover from her hangover. Darim, already broke to begin with, pays the bill for both of them.
Hatching a plan
The next day, Darim sees Jihyeok having breakfast at the same hotel she’s staying at. She confronts him about the money she lost for “saving his life,” but their conversation is interrupted by Jeonggwon and Sujin’s appearance. Panicking, Darim pretends that Jihyeok is her boyfriend. Jihyeok quickly sees this as his opportunity to get Jeonggwon onto his team and plays along.
The four of them end up trapped in an awkward meal together. Jihyeok’s charm surprises Darim and impresses Sujin. He invites Jeonggwon to a party that night where he plans to sell him on the idea of joining his company.
To avoid suspicion, Darim follows Jihyeok to his room on the same floor as Sujin and Jeonggwon’s. In his hotel room, Jihyeok kabedons Darim and tells her that he’ll pay her ten times the hospital bill if she’ll continue the charade of being his girlfriend at the party to gain Jeonggwon’s attention and envy. Darim, no longer wanting to disappoint her family, agrees.
Makeover time
Jihyeok brings Darim to an expensive dress shop, which she promptly leaves after seeing the prices. As she tries to reason with him, he makes an off-hand comment insulting her clothing. Darim is offended, as she remembers all the times someone judged her based on her clothes. She demands that he apologize.
A pregnant woman with her child drops her tangerines in the middle of the street. Darim immediately drops everything to help her pick them up, while continuing to argue with Jihyeok. Jihyeok finds himself enthralled by this serial do-gooder and gives an earnest apology.
Darim lets herself be made over and has her very own princess moment walking down the stairs to meet her “fairy godfather.”
Cinderella and her fella
On the way to the party, Jihyeok and Darim rehearse the story of their fake relationship. Darim is clearly overcome with nerves, but Jihyeok silently reassures her. He genuinely seems to be having fun playing pretend with her. Jihyeok tries to convince Jeonggwon to join his company, but the latter is unimpressed. Wanting to help Jihyeok, Darim mentions the enterprise value of the company to reel Jeonggwon back in.
Afterwards, Jeonggwon confronts Darim, telling her that he sees through their ruse as many other recruiters had tried similar tricks before. Darim vehemently denies this, saying Jihyeok is the man she loves. Jeonggwon tries to get Jihyeok to slip by asking him personal questions about Darim, but Jihyeok skillfully dodges each one.
Eventually, Darim pulls Jihyeok out to tell him that Jeonggwon is onto them. While the two regroup and discuss their next plan of action, Darim spots Jeonggwon heading towards them. In another state of panic, she kisses Jihyeok. She pulls away in shock, but Jihyeok surprises her by asking if they could kiss again.
Episode 1 of Dynamite Kiss ends with them sharing the titular kiss, and Jihyeok narrating that they were the nitric acid and sulfuric acid that made dynamite.
Also Read: What To Know About Dynamite Kiss: Plot, Cast, and Release Date
Dynamite Kiss Episode 1 Reaction and What To Expect Next
Dynamite Kiss has a perfect cast. Ahn Eunjin is a natural actress who is sure to get more lead roles in the future. She sells every emotion with subtle facial expressions, while not making a caricature out of Darim’s emotions and struggles. Jang Kiyong can get away with anything with his good looks and natural charm, though he seems to be right in his wheelhouse as Jihyeok, playing him as funny and genuine without being a typical mean chaebol.
K-drama kisses are usually drawn out to the point that they become their own cliche, but with Jihyeok’s completely lovestruck reaction, this episode truly earned that final scene. It’s sad to think that the leads’ natural chemistry will eventually sour because of the inevitable conflict coming in the next episode. It would have been fun to watch them fake dating for a little while longer.
In the next episode of Dynamite Kiss, viewers will get a little more of Jihyeok and Darim’s happy relationship, before Darim has to leave Jeju abruptly to attend to her mother. She’ll also be applying for a position that requires her to pretend to be a wife and a mom, much to Jihyeok’s shock.
What’s your favorite moment in Dynamite Kiss episode 1?
Source: SBS YouTube, SBSNow Twitter/X
