In We Are All Trying Here episode 4, Dong-man and Eun-a finally stand up for themselves and speak in front of the people who always humiliate them.
On April 25, We Are All Trying Here episode 4 premiered on Netflix. This episode centers on Dong-man and Eun-a choosing to speak for themselves. They have had enough of people trying to humiliate them and make them see themselves as failures.
This time, they stand up for themselves. Dong-man says that he is not as miserable as they think he is. Meanwhile, Eun-a says that she may be quiet, but she is not weak.
Disclaimer: This article contains major spoilers and key details from the series. Read at your own risk.
New Signals Between Dong-man and Eun-a in We Are All Trying Here Episode 4
We Are All Trying Here episode 4 opens at Hyowon Mansion, the worn-down apartment where Dong-man lives with his brother.
Dong-man wakes up in a better mood. Moreover, Eun-a’s kind words and his realization that he is not purely destructive lift his spirits. He sleeps well for the first time in a while.
Meanwhile, Eun-a contacts Director Lee. She tells him his screenplay is “pretty good,” which immediately eases his worries. However, she declines his invitation to dinner because she has another meeting at Ximfit.
Later, reality takes a different turn. Director Choi reviews the same screenplay and criticizes it harshly. He calls the dialogue sloppy and dismisses its quality.
At Ximfit, Eun-a receives unexpected information. Staff members show her data indicating another person matches the same emotional state she experiences during her nosebleeds. The system has only detected this once so far. However, the framing strongly suggests the match may be Dong-man. Still, the connection remains uncertain for now.
Dong-man Opens Up to Eun-a
On the train ride home, Dong-man and Eun-a strike up a conversation. Moreover, Dong-man talks about his brother Jin-man, who once wrote poetry and chased truth through words. Dong-man avoids direct answers about his own situation. Instead, he tells Eun-a that he is still searching for his truth.
Later, their conversation shifts to emotions. They playfully assign dominant emotions to people they know. When Eun-a describes Dong-man, she chooses one word: anxious. Dong-man then opens up further. He admits he fears silence. In those moments, he imagines a Gollum-like figure whispering that he is worthless. This reveals the depth of his insecurity.
Meanwhile, Director Choi regains confidence. Earlier, he worried about weak pre-sale numbers. However, recent press coverage boosts the film’s momentum. As a result, advance ticket sales jump by 65.8%. Choi grows optimistic about the movie’s success. In addition, Hye-jin apologizes for underestimating the numbers and predicts the film could reach 10 million viewers.
Elsewhere in We Are All Trying Here episode 4, Gyeong-se struggles alone at the office. He remains shaken by the negative reviews. Moreover, he paces restlessly and rewrites a long message to Dong-man in the group chat. After a sleepless night filled with anger, he decides to finally express everything he held back.
We Are All Trying Here Episode 4 Recap: A Scandal Spreads
News of Dong-man’s public message spreads quickly to Choi Film. Moreover, the controversy distracts him at work and affects his focus.
Elsewhere, Gyeong-se mocks Dong-man at a restaurant. He gloats after seeing Dong-man ignore him with headphones on. However, a stone suddenly shatters the window. Gyeong-se assumes Dong-man did it. In reality, Eun-a throws it and hides nearby.
At home, Hye-jin confronts Gyeong-se. She criticizes his behavior and reminds him that she banned Dong-man for a reason. She explains that Dong-man easily triggers his anger. Furthermore, she warns Gyeong-se that she may ban him too if he continues acting out.
Meanwhile, chaos unfolds at Choi Film. A major scandal breaks online. The lead actress from My Mother, Oh Jeong-hui, pretends that Mi-ran is her daughter. However, the truth surfaces quickly—there is no relation between them.
The online post grows more damaging. It reveals that Jeong-hui neglected her real daughter. The child grew up alone without parents. The post appears to come from someone in their area. As a result, the story connects back to Eun-a’s past. She lived alone as a child and hid her abandonment from others.
Eun-a refuses to show her pain. She bottles her emotions and keeps her distance. However, the scandal escalates, and Jeong-hui’s career begins to collapse. The company prepares an official statement. Moreover, Choi demands they locate the daughter and control the situation.
He also brings Eun-a in. He questions her about Jun-hwan’s screenplay. She responds calmly and hides her frustration. However, she reacts sharply when her coworkers insult Dong-man. When she defends herself, one colleague snaps back. He tells her to leave the industry before wasting 20 years of her life.
Dong-man and Eun-a Stand Up for Themselves
That night, Eun-a suffers a severe nosebleed. Moreover, she calls Dong-man and asks him to tell her a funny story to distract her.
Dong-man responds with his own experience. He talks about his sleep paralysis after reading Gyeong-se’s message. He describes feeling trapped and unable to move. At one point, he even believes he will die. However, when he gives up resisting, the episode ends. This experience teaches him something important. Some situations require resistance, while others require letting go.
Eun-a begins to cry. Dong-man follows, sharing how he also struggled to hold back tears during his final interview. The emotional exchange affects her deeply. Interestingly, her nosebleed stops after the conversation.
The next day, Eun-a wears her Emotion Watch at work. She speaks with Director Choi. Moreover, she admits she often avoids people. However, she declares she will no longer do that. She states clearly that she is quiet, but not weak. She then leaves early. Furthermore, she challenges the environment at work, questioning whether others can truly endure it. Director Choi reacts in shock as she walks out.
Meanwhile, Dong-man arrives at a bar. He tells others that his own message triggered his sleep paralysis. He also jokes that Gyeong-se’s writing inspired him. In fact, he claims it is the best thing Gyeong-se has ever written.
Dong-man argues that he shares the same emotional extremes as them. He says he can be both happy and miserable. Moreover, he believes Gyeong-se cannot understand his perspective at all. Tensions rise when Jin-man arrives. He suddenly hits Dong-man. A fight breaks out, and Gyeong-se watches in shock.
Later, at the police station, Dong-man is asked about his profession. He hesitates and cannot answer. However, Eun-a arrives and confidently states that he is a film director and that she is his producer.
Episode 4 of We Are All Trying Here may be the most outstanding episode so far. Eun-a and Dong-man often receive humiliation and remain silent afterward. Although they carry emotional heaviness, they do not talk back. However, in this episode, they find the courage to speak for themselves. It is a declaration that people around them cannot always step on them.
Catch the next episode of the series on May 2 on Netflix. It airs every Saturday and Sunday at 10:40 PM KST or 9:40 PM PHT.
Sources: JTBC Drama, JTBC (Instagram)
