Now that Pio knows the truth, Jeongyo drops all pretenses in this emotionally intense episode of Four Hands, Two Sonatas.
Episode 10 of Four Hands, Two Sonatas brings us to the show’s emotional climax as Jeongyo’s true motivation is uncovered, the polar opposite from where he started. While Pio pushes past his limits, Jaein remains by his side and Seungwoon finally shows some much awaited compassion.
Disclaimer: The following article contains spoilers for Episode 9 of Four Hands, Two Sonatas.
Dropping the lie in Four Hands, Two Sonatas Episode 10
Pio confronts Jeongyo about all the odd connections – the practice room, the familiar words he used, “Nemesis” being similar to Jeongyo’s draft from high school. Jeongyo initially pretends he doesn’t know anything, but drops the act soon enough.
It turns out that Jeongyo believes it was Pio who tried to have him killed. When Pio was paying the kidnapper for information on Jeongyo’s whereabouts, Jeongyo believed it was hush money to keep him quiet. He also reveals that he did lose his memory for five years, until the reappearance of Pio triggered their return.
Pio takes all the blame, not wanting his mother’s involvement to be exposed. However, Jeongyo says he has no plans of letting Pio off easy and plans to give him hell for the trauma he caused.
Jeongyo unleashes his anger
Jihye goes poking around the music arcade in search of Jeongyo’s dad. The loan shark Mr. Kim overhears and introduces himself to Jihye. He knows all about Pio’s history and that Jihye is his mother, and tells her to call him if she ever needs his help.
Jeongyo and Pio are set to record an album before debuting the concerto at the festival. Pio’s contract is full of toxic clauses, but he signs it anyway, determined to see this through to the end.
Jeongyo increases Pio’s individual practice time and uses their sessions to destroy Pio, mentally and physically. Jeongyo describes how he wrote the terror he felt from his kidnapping into the cadenza and demands that Pio play with the same emotion, wanting Pio to experience the same trauma. He insists that he wants “Nemesis” to be a masterpiece and even messages Pio after the sessions to express his displeasure at his playing.
Driven by his own guilt as well as his own desire to prove himself, Pio practices until his fingers bleed.
Breaking point in Four Hands, Two Sonatas Episode 10
Jaein finds out from Seonju that Jeongyo has been rehearsing with Pio separately from the orchestra. Walking past the practice room, she overhears Jeongyo verbally abusing Pio. Horrified at Pio’s ruined fingers, she tells him to drop out of the performance, but he tells her to stay out of it. The next day, Jaein is ready to support and comfort Pio, but he tells her she keeps crossing the line and they break up.
On the day of the recording session for the album, Jeongyo is still dissatisfied with Pio’s performance. He yells at him in front of everyone and blames him for delaying the recording. He even uses Pio’s words against him, telling him to face his emotions head on and stop running away. Pio’s stress overwhelms him. He is unable to keep playing, halting the recording.
When Pio angrily tells Jeongyo to stop playing games, Jeongyo says Pio is a mediocre pianist, and that even if he did die, Pio could never beat him.
Disbelief
Jaein is still on Pio’s side, having seen how tortured he was. She goes to Hyunsoo to consult with him about what’s going on between the two men. Hyunsoo remembers a drunk Jihye mumbling about getting Jeongyo away from Pio, and how scared she was to be found out.
Just as she’s on the verge of calling Mr. Kim, Hyunsoo calls Jihye to his apartment, demanding she tell him the truth. Eventually, Jihye breaks down and tells him that Pio is innocent; it was all her fault,
Seungwoon’s redemption
Jeongyo apologizes to Seungwoon for wrongfully choosing Pio to play the concerto, but Seungwoon can sense that Jeongyo had other intentions for his decisions. Back at their home, Seungwoon overhears Pio breaking down in the practice room.
In the morning, Seungwoon asks Pio whether he still wants to play the piano despite the pain it brought him. Pio says that even if he only had one day left to live, he’d still play the piano, as that’s the only time he truly feels happy. At this, Seungwoon throws the metronome out the window and encourages Pio to find his own rhythm. Seungwon assures him that he can control the conductor, the orchestra, and the stage once he finds his own energy.
Even though he tries to hide it, Jeongyo remains dissatisfied by Pio’s replacement. It turns out that he recorded Pio’s “confession” and is planning to expose him and his mother as criminals with the help of Hyuncheol. But when he comes home, Pio is waiting for him. Pio asks for another chance to play the concerto because he knows no one can play it better than him.
Thoughts and What To Expect Next on Four Hands, Two Sonatas
A quote famously attributed to the writer Charles Bukowski goes, “Find what you love and let it kill you.” Nothing seems more appropriate for both our leads in this episode of Four Hands, Two Sonatas.
Jeongyo is now a completely different person from the teenager who played music so freely. Now driven by revenge and hatred, he is consumed by the thought that his genius can attract only jealousy and hostility from others. On the other hand, Pio has always been spurred by his perfectionism, but there’s now guilt involved as well. He destroys his fingers and mental health to play for Jeongyo even though he doesn’t have to. And yet, he still believes his happiness comes when he plays the piano.
Will our boys return to the carefree days of playing music for the love of it? The next episode seems to hint at a sort of return to equilibrium as Pio has gained some of his confidence back and Jeongyo prevents anyone, including Mr. Kim, from stopping his vision from coming to life.
Source: tvN Drama
