‘Crime Scene Returns’ Episode 10: The finale is here and the truly everything does get tied into it

IATFB 04/23/2024 K-Entertainment Leave A Comment

Hello and welcome back to the recaps for Crime Scene Returns, and we’ll be picking up where we left off on Episode 9. We get to see what is behind the false wall in the bookcase in Episode 10, and it’s something that connects every case from this season together.

Unfortunately, this will be the conclusion to the show, but at least it’s a fitting one.

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In the previous recap, I did a breakdown of the information the viewers have about the victim and the suspects, but this time I think I have to change it up a bit because so much of the investigation revolved around reveals about the victim more than anything. Also, this case kinda requires knowledge of every case prior for it to have full impact.

Victim – Kwak Gokdu

Okay, so like some speculated in the comments of the last episode’s recap, the secret room was indeed related to the cult from the last case. In fact, the room was effectively a shrine to the last victim (supposed, at least) in Shin Gyoju. While it’s initially thought of to be some kind of tribute to him, it’s revealed that Shin Gyoju is likely alive because he was tipped off that the independence army was going to try to kill him at the cult ceremony in that case, so he made Shin Dongsaeng (lol) take his place and he was the one who ended up being murdered.

In order to retain his power while hidden, Gyoju made a deal with the victim where the victim would get to use all of the cult’s resources in exchange for loyalty to do his bidding. Further intertwining the cases, cult property bought by Fungmu (formed with President Key’s father) was donated to the government, upon which they built the dorm from the second case and the district court from the third case (also, under Son Jang’s body they found mass graves from the Sunsun cult).

Eventually though, the victim was planning on holding a press conference, having written a speech exposing that Gyoju was still alive, that he was planning to initiate chemtrails to infect the world with JV-45, and that he would then have Fungmu sell the cure to take over the world. So, of course, Gyoju decided he had to go. Furthermore, it’s revealed that the research into anti-aging has paid dividends and had successfully reversed aging, while Gyoju had undergone extensive plastic surgery to his body and face.

Essentially, the point of all this backstory is that whoever is de-aged and refigured Shin Gyoju is the murderer.

Madam Jang (Jang Dong Min) & Secretary Jang (Jang Jin)

They were basically ruled out in perhaps the most messed up possible way, lmao.

It makes sense, though.

Madam Jang had essentially no evidence against her and no real motive, while Secretary Jang had all the ammo he needed to get real revenge without murder.

President Key (SHINee’s Key)

This was a bit interesting, though maybe not for suspect reasons. His father coincidentally retired in 1990, the same year that the anti-aging formula was found, and it’s inferred that he is actually his father after the anti-aging treatment. That’s presumably how he was promoted so quickly within the company and why he was writing on newspapers angry about the company’s downfall … because it’s his. Unfortunately, that also would mean he isn’t Gyoju, which seemingly rules him out as well.

Researcher Joo (Joo Hyun Young)

Okay, so her USB was found in Gyoju’s room and it contained a research diary with fellow scientist Kim Dongryo’s work in it. That was taken by the victim after Gyoju’s CCTV setup revealed that she stole the JV-45 cure, and she admits she was waiting around in the lab for the victim to leave so she could go retrieve the USB. Thus, she was on the premises.

Amusingly, perhaps the most suspicious thing to me was her going into turbo speech mode while trying to explain it all.

Assuming she was actually Gyoju, it would make sense that everybody who knows about her research successes would be dead. And meeting regularly with the victim would make sense, as it could be a time to give him instructions, with the USB and all that being a cover story.

Yujin Kwak (IVE’s Yujin)

A lot of circumstantial evidence that doesn’t seem significant, but would allow him to best represent Gyoju. The victim wrote in his diary that god was trying to rule over Fungmu again when Yujin Kwak returned to South Korea, his supposed mother doesn’t look pregnant in the picture with his supposed father, and his supposed mother didn’t have any diary entries about her child despite transcribing so many deeply personal thoughts.

Furthermore, it’s revealed that Gyoju’s plastic surgery happened in America, which is obviously where Yujin Kwak says he was exiled to at the time.

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Opinion

In terms of backstory and characterization, this episode was amazing in tying up all the loose ends. However, they spent a ton of time just unraveling that, and thus the actual deduction part of this case is rather simplistic in terms of clues … which ironically made it pretty difficult.

Based on the clues, it seemed certain to be either Researcher Joo or Yujin Kwak, but between those two candidates there wasn’t anything definitive. There was a lot of circumstantial evidence for their motive and means, but I was mostly left to guess.

Other that what I already mentioned, the thing about Researcher Joo is that for her to be Gyoju, the backstory has a lot more ways it can go wrong due to her expertise in science. That never seems debated, and Gyoju is unlikely to have that knowledge. Also, the story Yujin Kwak tells simply has no evidence behind it, and the narcissistic trait with the room full of mirrors would match with Gyoju.

Perhaps more important are the meta reasons on this one when choosing between those two. It seems like Researcher Joo was clearly edited and played up to be the perpetrator, and Yujin Kwak’s lack of title (like “Researcher”) is suspicious in itself since it’s unique throughout the season, really. Furthermore, the potential social mess of the producers making a person change sex just to hide being a cult leader and then making her a murderer on top of that would be a bit risky, while Yujin has been accused before but has yet to be the perp. Thus, Yujin Kwak is my pick.

Votes

  • Yujin Kwak: 4 (Detective Park, Researcher Joo, Madam Jang, Secretary Jang)
  • Researcher Joo: 2 (Yujin Kwak, President Park)
  • President Key: 1 (Detective Park)
  • Secretary Jang: 0
  • Madam Jang: 0

Makes sense, and indeed the meta guessing shit actually paid off, though I think a lot of the cast simply seemed to measure the credibility of the backstories correctly more than anything.

Unsurprisingly, there was definitive evidence they missed, as if they found the family registry hidden under the seal, they would’ve found the smoking gun to Yujin Kwak.

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Other Stuff

  • Wasn’t disappointed with much this season, but it was a let down that Jang Jin was never a detective nor a criminal. I love his deductions, but I really wanted to see him play on the opposite side.
  • Speaking of, here’s Jang Jin being too engrossed in thinking about the case to realize he was being shit on.
  • One reason I was glad Researcher Joo wasn’t Shin Gyoju is that it’s extremely funny that they spent so much time trying to figure out why she went to Thailand when it was as simple as being a vacation and getting hit by a tuk tuk.
  • Putting your two idol cast members into the plastic surgery blender. Nobody is safe!
  • Jang Dong Min’s character had basically no suspicion, but at least it was well used for comedic relief.

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Well … that was a hell of a run, huh? My overall thoughts on the season won’t surprise anybody who has been reading along: Crime Scene Returns rivaled the show’s best work. Not only was it effective at appealing to previous Crime Scene fans like me, but people have also told me they’ve recently gotten into the show because of the intrigue of this season, so it seems almost criminal to not continue that momentum going forward. Kudos to the cast for winning me over to the side of letting them develop chemistry among themselves to find entertaining moments rather than having guests every case like I wanted.

Most importantly though, I’ve enjoyed conversing with all of you here in the comment section of the recaps. The show’s fun by itself, sure, but more than most shows it’s really made to be discussed and argued over by people. From exchanging deductions and theories about the case to pondering the implications of the show’s meta to just discussing the best shitposting moments from the producers, it was a blast to experience it with everybody.

Until next time … and there better be a next time.

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