Like Flowers in Sand 2023 K Drama Episode 4

Episode 4 of Like Flowers In Sand begins with the young Baek-du and Du-sik excitedly watching Mi-suk giving a news interview about a pick-pocketing investigation.

The scene shifts back to the present where Baek-du is coming back from the arena. It’s only a brief moment though because in a flashback scene, Yu-gyeong tries to make Baek-du return to the team.

Baek-du hilariously misunderstands it as an indirect confession to which he appropriately receives a smack on his forehead from Yu-gyeong. Yu-gyeong leaves the arena flustered and muttering in disbelief. Baek-du is left wondering, “If it’s not what it is, why does she need me?”. Simultaneously, Yu-gyeong is adorably embarrassed and feels humiliated.  

Yu-gyeong arrives home to find Mi-suk waiting for her. She is now a captain in the police force. She reveals that Choi argued with someone on the day he died and a CCTV in town has captured this exchange. Baek-du discusses the ethical dilemma of joining as a coach without having won a single championship with his brothers.

At Yu-gyeong’s, the three – Mi-suk, Hyeon-wook and Yu-gyeong, deliberate on whether to publicise the information. Yu-gyeong is against it and says that she will be able to uncover the reason for Choi’s death.

Meanwhile, as always, Baek-du is grumbling about Du-sik while he is on his way to meet Yu-gyeong. He sees the three outside the house and wonders about the unknown woman. He proceeds to eavesdrop on the company.

Jin-su is in a pickle while this is happening. The head coach relays that Yu-gyeong was appointed by the governor so her opinion matters. Jin-su and Baek-du’s teaching techniques come into conflict when Jin-su tries to correct Kim Beom-Su’s technique which was taught to him by Baek-du. Yu-gyeong pretends to not know Jin-su.

At the seaside, Baek-du and Du-dik catch up. He mistakes Mi-suk for Yu-gyeong’s mother-in-law and is upset about how Yu-gyeong is treated. He promises her that he will think about coming back to the team.

Meanwhile, the entire town debates about who would be a better coach. Once very good friends, Jin-su and Baek-du’s mothers have become rivals. The neighbourhood people are upset over having to change their opinions in every shop otherwise the shop owners supporting one of the two refuse to render their services. They are on their way to fixing a match between the two so that their problems are solved. 

Jin-su challenges Baek-du in front of everybody to a duel. Baek-du is not interested but seeing Yu-gyeong standing behind, he agrees to the match amidst superficial display of confidence, and nervously walks away as people rejoice over the new development and the thrill of an upcoming match. In person, Baek-du regrets his decision. 

At the arena, almost everybody expects Jin-su to win. Jin-su and Baek-du have been rivals and Jin-su was never able to beat Baek-du in their childhood. Yu-gyeong on the other hand is excited about Baek-du being back in the arena.

Amidst heightened tension and much display of muscle strength, Jin-su hurls Baek-du on the ground bagging the first win. The whistle signals the beginning of the second round. After an intense struggle, Baek-du manages to throw Jin-su on the ground, winning the second round to much applause.

Nervousness is at its peak as the third round almost begins but is interrupted by two police officers. The officers take Baek-du with them for an interrogation. 

During Baek-du’s exchange with the detective, it comes to light that the bruise he had, on the day he got drunk, was due to a scuffle he had with Choi that was recorded on the CCTV.

However, Baek-du doesn’t remember anything. Mi-suk discloses that Baek-du is a suspect of  murdering Choi Chil-Seong, a match-fixer involved in a gambling scheme worth billions of won involving politicians. He was wanted by the police for a long time. 

Mi-ran visits the police station claiming that she saw Baek-du and Choi on the fateful night. According to her, she was doing yoga when she heard someone screaming “Du-shik” at night. It was Baek-du and it was evident that he was drunk. Baek-du almost got hit by Choi’s car and had a minor scuffle.

Baek-do was trying to give the man 40,000 won and he confesses that he did a crime. He kept the change that Choi gave him and it was weighing on him! The officers are hilariously baffled by the turn of events.

Once the news of Baek-du’s release reaches the townsfolk, the debate about the coach is reignited as everybody leaves for their homes. Baek-du and Jin-su’s mothers smoothen their trivial rivalry over soju. 

After being released, Baek-du watches Mi-suk with a police official and learns her name. He remembers Mi-suk from his childhood and is confused over her mother-in-law’s status. He rushes back home and checks the tape of Mi-suk’s interview from the past.

Baek-du meets Yu-gyeong near her house. Hyeon-wook relays to Mi-suk his suspicion that Baek-du and Yu-gyeong know each other and it might jeopardise their operation. Meanwhile, Baek-du has put two and two together and asks Yu-gyeong if she’s a police officer. He further asks Yu-gyeong, “You’re not married, right?”. With this question, the episode ends. 

The Episode Review

As expected, episode 4 was way better than yesterday’s monotony. The excitement around Jin-su and Baek-du’s match was the highlight although it was sadly interrupted. In this episode, we find more information about the murder mystery although all the clues until now were quite predictable. 

The murder mystery and match-fixing arc of the show is quite weak and has only worked to shield Du-shik’s identity uptil now. So, now that it is revealed, we can expect the narrative to build on it. However, the show could’ve done without this arc as well. The nest episode seems promising as Baek-du returns to team.