Tomorrow (내일) is a Korean drama-fantasy series directed by Kim Tae-yoon and Sung Chi-wook and stars Rowoon, Kim Hee-seon, Lee Soo-hyuk, and Yun Ji-on, alongside other cast members. The series has 16 episodes and is based on the webtoon of the same name by Ra Ma. Tomorrow episode 3 is titled Forest of Time 1 and has a runtime of 57 minutes.
Netflix describes the series as:
MADE HALF-HUMAN AND HALF-SPIRIT BY ACCIDENT, A YOUNG MAN IS EMPLOYED BY A COMPANY OF GRIM REAPERS IN THE UNDERWORLD TO CARRY OUT SPECIAL MISSIONS.
– Tomorrow Episode 3 recap contains major spoilers –
– TW: Suicide –
Starting off from the last episode, Ryeon makes the choice to take Jun-woong back into her team with an ulterior motive – to use him how she pleases. Although Jun-woong was speaking up at first regarding how he, too, is compatible with the team, when he hears Ryeon say that, he hilariously shuts up and furthermore, looks at his colleagues doubtfully!
Of course, the Risk Management Team’s office is in quite a sad state and the disappointment is evident on his face. Regardless, Ryung-gu goes over the rules that he must abide by as a reaper and he gets a swanky suit because, well, what else will you spend money on? Plus, he’s also going to get a new face and new name – no one from his old life will be able to recognise him after this.
The first thing that Jun-woong does, obviously, is going back home. He converses with his father’s photo and tells him that this is what it took for him to finally land a job. But, regardless of the circumstances, this is the biggest company there is. However, he rushes off when his family comes in and his heart becomes heavy as he listens in on their conversation.
And, as if his day couldn’t have gone worse, the team gets to know that the next person in line at the risk of ending their lives is Jun-woong’s best friend Namgung Jae-soo. We get to know the sweet story of how they became such good friends and the backstory makes the result even worse. Jun-woong rushes to his house and we hilariously come to learn what Ryung-gu meant about him getting a completely new identity.
Jae-soo seems to be suffering from horrible depression after failing the Police Academy exam thrice. As they try to come up with ways to save him, Jun-woong suggests fried chicken while the other two shoots down the suggestion and try to get him out by appealing to his religious side. The plan fails badly and Jun-woong comes up with the idea of sending him a text with a line his father used to tell him. Jae-soo rushes out and the three follow suit but only Jun-woong is able to find him standing outside his own hospital bed.
However, before he can react, he starts to faint and his real body starts to go into shock. Joong-gil saves him in the nick of time and that’s when he gets to know that if he gets too close to his physical body, he might suffer random memory losses which might end up in him forgetting his own face and not being able to return to his own body. Ryung-gu is annoyed that he hasn’t read the contract thoroughly while Jun-woong is annoyed at the notion of thoroughly reading the contract.
Anyway, Jun-woong goes over to share a drink with his already drunk friend. In a heartbreaking scene, we see Jae-soo crying about how much he tried to crack the exams. Now that his friend is also gone, he has mostly given up. It’s a reality with a lot of people, sadly. Watching this segment really hit deep, personally. So many people fall victims to society’s unreal expectations. It’s heartbreaking! Jun-woong tries to cheer his friend, but he passes out after telling him that he wants fried chicken.
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To find a way, Ryeong goes to ask the King for the key who gives her permission to take it. Of course, remember that there is a 12-hour window to return – miss it, and you’re going to be stuck there. As the two travel to the past, it’s absolutely fascinating to watch because everything is backwards at first! It goes back to normal after that and the two go off to behind a tiny Jae-soo and his father.
The father-son duo are really struggling to make ends meet since, well, the IMF has really hit hard at that time. Jae-soo’s father isn’t able to pay for his wife’s hospital bill, nor can he pay for his son’s school. Honestly, regardless of how much Jun-woong tries to be all fun and games, this portion is absolutely heartbreaking to watch – especially when they are forced to watch everything that they have been repossessed.
As everything goes to shit, Jae-soo remembers exactly what happened on his sixth birthday as Jun-woong and Ryeong try to stop a hopeless father from killing himself to get the insurance payout. Just as Jae-soo’s father is about to hit an oncoming truck, Ryeong intervenes and the episode ends before we know the outcome.
In the epilogue, Jun-woong gets conned by a cult member but not before he finds Joong-gil there as well. The latter isn’t amused one bit and as Jun-woong tries to tiptoe an escape, he hears the women inside the Buddist temple cry out.
Final Thoughts: Tomorrow Episode 3
I am sorry, but is anyone else finding the shift of mood from jokes to a family’s total financial ruin odd? Although I am weirdly enjoying both parts of the story, it feels a bit difficult to jump from one to the other as fast as the series is taking us. Like, we laugh at the Director exclaiming “fried chicken” over and over again and then immediately jump to Rowoon almost kissing a car and then not even 5 minutes later, a little Jae-soo isn’t able to get to kindergarten because his family has literally no money. It’s a bit tiresome to be a part of this odd whiplash.
Apart from this, I really enjoyed the episode. I liked how they addressed how difficult it can be to live this life with the expectations society and we set for ourselves. Plus, the fact that people selectively remember the good parts of their childhoods to be able to move on with their lives is such a huge truth and one that is especially hurtful to wonder in the context of the episode. I think these two episodes are going to be quite painful. I like the way the series is set up and we focus on a particular storyline each week while also looking at Jun-woong’s progress. His character is a bit too quirky for my taste, but we’re at just 3 episodes.
Whatever I have seen till now is quite interesting… well, except the giving tough love to someone on the verge of killing themselves part. I am not too sure about that.
Tomorrow is streaming on Netflix.
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