Cafe Minamdang (미남당) is a mystery-drama-comedy TV series directed by Ko Jae-hyun and written by Park Hye-jin, the series is based on the book Minamdang: Sagun Soochub written by Jung Jae-han. Cafe Minamdang episode 3 has a runtime of 63 minutes.
The series, created by Park Hye-jin, Ko Jae-hyun and Yun Ra-young, takes over KBS2’s Monday-Tuesday 9.30 PM KST slot previously occupied by Bloody Heart. The series stars Seo In-guk, Oh Yeon-seo, Kwak Si-yang, Kang Mi-na, Kwon Soo-hyun and Baek Seo-hoo, alongside other cast members.
Netflix describes the series as:
A SUSPICIOUS BUSINESS THAT OFFERS THE SERVICES OF A PURPORTEDLY ALL-KNOWING SHAMAN CATCHES THE ATTENTION OF A TENACIOUS POLICE INSPECTOR.
– Cafe Minamdang Episode 3 Recap Contains Major Spoilers –
Cafe Minamdang episode 3 starts with Jae-hui at the cafe snooping around and eventually getting caught by Han-jun. Meanwhile, Han-jun and the gang try to nab Jung Cheong-gi. As they copy all important data, Gyeong-go’s men take pictures of Cheong-gi taking money from the former’s wife.
After a successful bust, Han-jun comes back home and in a redoing from the last episode, Han-jun opens the closet door, Jae-hui puts a shirt over his head and attempts to run after headbutting him but not before he grabs a piece of her keychain and then just falls over unconscious.
At home, Jae-hui gets a call from Do-won, who assures her that if she’s determined to take revenge against Gyeong-go, then he will support her 100%. After assuring each other of seeing each other soon, Jae-hui goes on a deep dive into Gyeong-go’s relationship with her brother.
The next day, Jae-hui visits the cafe with Gwang-tae to get some answers and invariably ends up in his arms until he drops her on the floor. He gets a flashback about his connection with Jae-hui and immediately recognizes her as his martial arts buddy from the past.
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Giving Gwang-tae some sad and shocking predictions, Jae-hui accuses him of cheating his customers since he’s a profiler and not a shaman – he’s using his skills to decode his clients’ lives and doesn’t have any heavenly powers. She further asks whether he got his powers from prison, where he was in for tampering with evidence.
A flashback in Cafe Minamdang episode 3 takes us 2 years ago when Han-jun got released from prison and was picked up by his sister, whom he doesn’t recognize and tries to flirt with. It’s hilarious and so embarrassing! Anyway, it is here that Minamdang is formed with Hye-jul and Su-cheol, an original story which is, honestly, unlike no other.
A Gopuri knot reminds Han-jun of Jae-jeong and his death at the hands of someone holding a gopura – the culprit, either a shaman or someone fascinated with the concept, with a burn scar, murdered the prosecutor using a gopura. They all recruit themselves and form the cafe so that Han-jun’s mother doesn’t give him a hard time for running a shaman business!
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Back in the present, Jae-hui isn’t interested in Han-jun’s stories and only wants him to accept his role in helping Choi Yeong-seop run away and ask for forgiveness. Jae-hui asks her who she is based on whose words he should ask for forgiveness. In that case, she shouldn’t be a detective at all because detectives need to have an open mind which she seems to be severely lacking.
When he brings are qualifications to question, however, she brings up that it’s actually him who is not qualified since it’s because of him that Jae-jeong died. According to her, he should ask for forgiveness from the victim’s family. Han-jun, however, clarifies that although he is wracked with guilt every night, he never made any mistake.
Ticked off by his responses, Jae-hui threatens him to be careful from now on since she will be watching him and will eventually catch him. Back at home, Jae-hui promises to catch the culprit and prove Han-jun’s crime. Meanwhile, Han-jun wonders what could be the missing link in it all, and he, too, promises to catch Gopuri at any cost.
The next day, Jae-hui and Do-won keep watch outside Minamdang, the latter thoroughly excited to have found Han-jun. She fills him in about his connection to Gyeong-go and adds that this has got something to do with her brother. On the other hand, Gyeong-go, having seen the pictures between his wife and Cheong-gi, accuses the latter of trying to seduce his wife, much to everyone’s surprise.
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As the team goes out to face Cheong-gi, Jae-hui gives chase with Do-won. When they reach the meeting place, however, they realise that they haven’t brought the correct equipment for the mission, but before they can find a solution, they are caught by security.
At Gyeong-go’s home, Cheong-gi is getting brutally beaten. Meanwhile, Han-jun throws Su-cheol out to fight with the security team, resulting in a hilarious fight sequence. On the other hand, Jae-hui, sitting outside the house, gets a phone call from the office letting her know that Yu-seon has come forward with the truth.
After retelling everything that they already know, she gives them a piece of interesting information – Gyeong-go is doing drugs at his villa, the same villa he’s sitting in front of. Meanwhile, Han-jun follows Cheong-gi, who is apparently getting buried alive in Gyeong-go’s backyard.
Cafe Minamdang Episode 3 Ending
As Jae-hui gets a warrant thanks to Do-won, she starts to hear a strange sound. Following it, she comes across an absolutely shocking scene – a ritual is taking place in the middle of the forest, and he’s just wearing the wildest attire!
In the epilogue, we go 3 years into the past – a shadowy figure plants evidence pertaining to Yeong-seop in Han-jun’s drawer, much to his shock. More shocking still is when Cheong-gi tells him that Jae-jeong died thanks to his profiling.
Cafe Minamdang Episode 3 Review
I think Cafe Minamdang does a fantastic job at playing with In-guk’s immense charm, charisma and good looks. Also, the way that he portrays this somewhat narcissistic but warm character is spot-on. I totally believe that there is someone out there who might just be exactly like Han-jun and always being this extra.
On the other hand, I have feelings about Jae-hui. I wonder why it is always necessary to have one of the leads be this insufferable, and then they slowly become somewhat sweet. I don’t get Jae-hui’s hangup. Sure, something happened – but Han-jun served his time and got out in accordance with the law. What seems to be her problem – why does she think to be of some higher-order?
And yes, I am aware that this might be sadness at unfairly losing her brother – totally valid. But she’s a detective, she should know better. Also, her snobby attitude is insufferable. I agree with Han-jun that if you have your head so far up where the sun doesn’t shine, then you’re going to cause some serious damage, especially if you work in law enforcement.
Now, coming to the episode – Cafe Minamdang episode 3 is delightful. The serious stuff aside (which has its merit even sitting in the back seat), the over-the-top nature of the comedy is hilarious and, for some damn reason, works. Han-jun is just so overdramatic all the time, but it shockingly works for him! I honestly love it.
However, the mystery is yet to unfold and seems a bit uncertain right now. And after 3 episodes, I guess I expected a clearer path down the road. I think the mystery, although interested, is left as somewhat of an afterthought in the series. Regardless, I enjoyed it, and Cafe Minamdang episode 3 continues to give us a great time.
Cafe Minamdang is streaming on Netflix.
Check out our Cafe Minamdang reviews here.