Recap Korean Drama "One Dollar Lawyer 2022" Episode 3

One Dollar Lawyer Episode 3 picks up right where we left off with Ji-hun crashing a cart against Cheon Yeongbae’s car and switching the case’s target from the old watchman, Manbok, to himself. As teased in the previous episode, Ji-hun appoints Ma-ri as his defense lawyer for this job and puts up this challenge to test her abilities.

In a conversation with Sa Mu-jang, she asks him all about Ji-hun and his eccentric ways. He reveals that he has a part-time job that helps them pay the rent and merely requires him to offer “an audience with the emperor”. The “emperor” in this case is Chairman Chaemyong, who leads the same company as Yeongbae, but this is revealed much later.

Ji-hun and Chaemyong clash against each other every time with a game of bingo when the former visits the latter at the detention centre and the latter always urges him to represent his case in court. Ji-hun belives himself to be “a good judge of character”, as has been proven in the earlier episodes as well and keeps declining the offer despite the high fee the Chairman is willing to pay.

Mu-jang also reveals that Ji-hun lives by the motto “a lawyer fights in their client’s stead”, which explains the heights he’s willing to touch for his clients. All of this is enough to persuade her and bring her back to the team.

Meanwhile, Minhyeok has his own plans of proposing to Ma-ri but holds back as all Ma-ri seems to be interested in is Ji-hun’s case. The recent U.S. return lawyer tells her that he used to work with Ji-hun during his prosecution years and that she should beware of his character. Soon enough, a new case drops by their door and ends up linking them to the same Mr. Cheon Yeongbae. Mr. Taegon discerns that he favors his job a lot but his boss’ behavioral attitude leaves a sour taste in his mouth.

Ma-ri decides to take it up with the man himself, while Ji-hun also joins them. Yeongbae brazenly admits that he had no proof holding up the allegation that the old man scratched his car but he enjoyed watching him squirm whenever he raised his voice. Thus, further illustrating his leech of a personality. Ma-ri dramatically exits from the room after pulling the school alumnae card, standing up to Ji-hun’s test.

Later, she visits the old guard, Manbok ,and meets his grandson, Gunwoo as well. They have a heart exchange of thoughts, with Ma-ri leaving the boy with some presents and realizing that things aren’t handed out on a silver platter to everyone. She meets up with Ji-hun again, who then starts behaving like the experienced senior he is in the field for the first time and shares a word of advice with her.

Ma-ri channels his words and plays the unconventional trick to compel Yeongbae to mend his ways. With Mu-jang’s help, they tip off a leading news channel and turn Yeongbae into a “noble” hit among the people. Ji-hun’s tutelage works out for the time being and helps Ma-ri establish her humble foundings as his probationary officer.

As Yeongbae then rushes over to the Chairman’s trial, it’s finally unveiled that Ji-hun did in fact take up his case and won it as expected. On the way back, all three men ride in the same car to reach the office. The employees are all out to plead their case of mental harassment at the hands of Yeongbae and are ready to sue the Chairman again. Ji-hun strikes up a deal that he’d let go of these demands for a lawsuit if he loses to Yeongbae in a game of bingo, but if he wins it, then he would be fired from his position and everyone earns their deserved dues.

It’s during this game of bingo that the players must choose their partners who would call out the numbers. Ji-hun has a brilliant solution and calls out Ma-ri’s name, little does she know it’s also another test for her. However, as we all expected and desired, she rises to the occasion and she and Ji-hun are finally on the same page as the latter wins the game, pushing Yeongbae out of the equation for the greater good.

One Dollar Lawyer Episode 3 Ending

With the game of bingo and Cheon Yeongbae out of their way, the One Dollar trio rejoices in their win. Ma-ri is officially a member of their team, after an exchange of banter of course. While Mu-jang is away for a call with his wife, Ma-ri, who’s had one too many drinks by this time, raises the question we’ve all been meaning to ask – “Why 1,000 Won?”

To which Ji-hun replies that he doesn’t know why and that “it must’ve been a dream”. Although he doesn’t give a clear answer and acts as if he’s oblivious, we can see him drift away already. He’s hiding something and his expressions do nothing to support his case. Ma-ri on the other hand is not able to pick these cues up because she’s already way too drunk to notice these details.

Yet again, leaving us with our curiosity unsatiated, Ji-hun walks out on them while his two compadres call out his name, barely keeping themselves together owing to their drunken disposition.

One Dollar Lawyer Episode 3 Review

Keeping up the comic content, One Dollar Lawyer is taking it slow in terms of letting out what makes Ji-hun tick. Due to its episodic approach, each time our lawyers have a new case up their sleeves, while gradually building up the tension in Ji-hun and Ma-ri’s relationship. With this particular episode, we finally see them come together as a fiery duo, igniting what may soon give into romance.

Despite the inevitable end, the show is doing a fairly great job at keeping our spirits high and doesn’t demand much of us. Nevertheless, the eventual budding romance is not at all taking up a new course. It follows the same steps of the male lead holding his own and riding up a farcical visage to keep his unsaid storms at bay, while the female lead cozies up to him only after downing no less than 2-3 shots of soju.

With all that said and done, Namkoong Min’s unusual avatar of Ji-hun is the soul of the k-drama. Every episode has us asking for more. You never know which card he’s going to play next, making this run all the more interesting with each take.