Do Ra-ik admits performing became too big and overwhelming until he met Woo-seong, and Maeng Se-na promised to stay by his side until the end.
In IDOL I episode 3, which aired on December 29, Ra-ik stays at Se-na’s place and opens up about his childhood and his journey to performing on stage, revealing the pressures he faced and the support he received from his friend Woo-seong. Se-na also chooses to stay by his side, determined to help him prove his innocence.
Disclaimer: This article includes spoilers for the drama. Continue reading at your own discretion.
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IDOL I Episode 3 Recap: Maeng Se-na Brings Do Ra-ik into Her Home
Maeng Se-na and Chung-jae search for Do Ra-ik, who has been off their grid. A police station eventually calls Se-na, informing her that Ra-ik is there—drunk and refusing to go home. In the end, they bring him to Se-na’s place.
After dropping him off, Chung-jae asks Se-na if she’s afraid of having a murder suspect in her home. Se-na admits that she is, in a way. She wonders, “What if all the support I gave him helped turn him into a monster?” Still, she draws a clear line: this is different. As his lawyer, she is determined to protect her client to the end.
The next morning, Ra-ik wakes up and leaves, despite Se-na explaining the situation and insisting that he stay in contact for the investigation.
Meanwhile, the prosecution consults a forensic doctor. The autopsy reveals that the victim died from massive blood loss caused by a stab wound. There are no defensive wounds, suggesting the victim was completely unguarded. The doctor also notes that the stab was precise and struck a fatal area, adding that someone who was drunk and taking medication or sedatives would find it difficult to carry out such an exact attack.
Maeng Se-na Stands by Do Ra-ik in IDOL I Episode 3
Se-na visits Goldi Entertainment and meets Ra-ik’s manager, CEO Geum Bo-sang, and his groupmates. There, she learns about Ra-ik’s violent behavior toward others and realizes that no one truly believes he is innocent. Disheartened, she leaves, knowing everyone has already labeled him as the murderer.
Later, Ra-ik confronts the CEO, who bluntly tells him that only Ra-ik knows what really happened that night—and that the company can no longer help him.
When Se-na and Chung-jae lose track of Ra-ik, they search for him. They eventually find him on the street, overwhelmed by the ringing in his ears. He mutters that the noise won’t stop and repeats, “It should’ve been me who died. I should end everything now.”
Se-na understands that Ra-ik wants to give up everything. However, for the sake of Woo-seong, the person they lost, she insists that they must uncover the truth about that night. She promises not to give up and vows to stay by Ra-ik’s side until he gets all the answers.
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Do Ra-ik Shares His Past with Maeng Se-na in IDOL I Episode 3
Later that night, Ra-ik stays at Se-na’s place and opens up about his childhood and how he ended up performing on stage. Seeing his mom perform as a child, he recalls, “It felt like there was no place anywhere in the world for me. Maybe things will change if I stand up there? So I tried standing there once. Only then did people finally look at me.” Eventually, CEO Geum Bo-sang notices his performance and recruits him.
Ra-ik admits, “The place I had wanted so badly suddenly grew too big for me. It slowly started to swallow me whole.” He lost the joy in performing and realizes that everything he had is gone. In middle school, he met Woo-seong, the friend who always stood by him and helped him endure both failures and successes. He believes he didn’t kill him and vows to remember what really happened that night.
The next day, he goes to Woo-seong’s wake. Afterwards, Ra-ik tells reporters, “Woo-seong was my one and only friend,” and promises he will do everything he can to uncover the real killer. He also affirms that he will fully cooperate with the investigation.
Do Ra-ik’s Alibi
The prosecution investigates Ra-ik’s movements on the night of the incident. They find that he went to a convenience store for drinks but left empty-handed. Instead of going straight home, he took a longer route to a hiking trail with no streetlights or CCTV. Ra-ik explains, “They didn’t have what I needed, so I left and took the longer walk to exercise,” which Maeng Se-na is not aware of.
Later, after Ra-ik and Se-na leave, the investigators discover that Ra-ik met someone that night—Hong Hye-joo. They believe this person holds a serious grudge against him. Meanwhile, Maeng Se-na seeks the truth from Do Ra-ik and asks him not to hide anything from her.
IDOL I Episode 3 Thoughts and What To Expect Next
I really appreciate the dynamic between Ra-ik and Maeng Se-na. In the past, Ra-ik unknowingly supported Se-na through her hard times. Now, as he faces his own struggles, Se-na stays by his side, doing her best to support him through this difficult period. She truly embodies what it means to be a fan—always standing by your idol, no matter what.
Meanwhile, the investigation in IDOL I continues to move forward, but so far, there’s still no clear answer about who the real murderer is. At this point, I don’t find anyone particularly suspicious. Looking ahead to episode 4, we’ll finally uncover more about Ra-ik and Hye-joo’s past, as well as the truth behind why they met that night.
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Catch Maeng Se-Na as she works to prove her idol Do Ra-Ik’s innocence in IDOL I, airing every Monday and Tuesday on Netflix and Rakuten Viki.
Source: Studio Genie, ASTORY
