The third episode of "Beyond the Bar" kicks off with a nostalgic glimpse into Hyo-min's past, where he muses on the profound transformation one undergoes in life, likening it to a caterpillar's emergence from its cocoon. However, this inspiring metaphor takes a somber turn when Hyo-min is diagnosed with psychogenic dyslexia.
Shifting to the present, we encounter a new legal dilemma. Meet Deok-ho, a delivery driver who, after indulging in Irish coffees—a heady blend of coffee and whiskey—ventures out onto the road. As he passes a park, Deok-ho slams on his brakes upon seeing Min-guk, a child sitting on the ground clutching his leg in tears. The police soon arrive, and Deok-ho fails the breathalyzer test, leading to his arrest. Meanwhile, Min-guk is rushed to the hospital accompanied by his distraught mother, Lee Sang-mi.
Initial medical examinations reveal that Min-guk wasn't physically hit, yet his symptoms mimic those of a collision. Security footage corroborates Deok-ho's innocence, but the child's inability to use his legs hints at a deeper issue. Lee and Seo, representing the plaintiff Min-guk, find themselves entangled in this seemingly minor case. However, given the family's affluence, one wonders if they're merely seeking a swift resolution for financial gain.
Seok-hoon decides to take on the challenge, defending Deok-ho, and enlists Hyo-min to accompany him to a psychiatric consultation. It transpires that Min-guk believes he was hit, a manifestation of the nocebo effect. This complicates matters considerably, as while there's no tangible damage, the mental aspect is evident, profoundly impacting Min-guk. The stage is set for a legal battle intricately woven with the delicate threads of belief and psychology.
Certain eyewitness accounts from that period cast a clearer light on the scenario, particularly as Hyo-min catches wind of Min-guk's mother wailing inconsolably in the streets, overwhelmed by shock. Over at the law firm, the rookies are running late for their department's pivotal meeting, arriving disheveled. Hyo-min's cheek bears smudges of ink, remnants of her slumber interrupted by a newspaper's inky embrace. Seok-hoon's disappointment is palpable, especially after discovering they'd been relegated to mundane paperwork throughout the night.
Now, Seok-hoon grapples with his own dramatic twist. Anticipating a tongue-lashing from Mr. Ko over the events of the previous episode, he's taken aback when instead, Ko offers him a promotion—specifically, to fill Ko's shoes as he prepares for retirement. Ko intends to stay on as an advisor temporarily but yearns for Seok-hoon to become Yullim's managing partner. Seok-hoon declines, sensing it's a poisoned opportunity. He foresees the looming challenges and believes that without the financial muscle of CEOs and other established elite, Yullim may not endure among its burgeoning law firm competitors.
To secure the firm's survival, Seok-hoon recognizes the need to excise the parasitic partners who thrive on schmoozing and bring in low-value cases devoid of genuine expertise. He sees through Ko's transparent attempt to wield him as an executioner and refuses to be manipulated in such a manner.
When Hyo-min and Seok-hoon arrive at Lee & Seo for their case discussion, they find themselves at a disadvantage. Seong-chan has deliberately misled them with the wrong meeting time, advancing it by a half-hour. This underhanded maneuver is a clear attempt to put them on the defensive from the outset.
During the meeting, Seong-chan demanded an exorbitant sum of 200 million won, while Deok-ho hovered on the brink of a severe punishment, his fate complicated by the insurance's refusal to cover the incident due to his intoxication. With few viable options left, Deok-ho found himself compelled to capitulate. Fortunately, the timely arrival of Hyo-min and Seok-hoon swung the pendulum in their favor, catching Seong-chan off guard. He attempted to brush off their accusation as a matter of obvious common sense, but to no avail.
As the plaintiffs struggled to regain their footing, Seok-hoon entrusted Hyo-min with additional responsibilities, allowing her to spearhead their defense during the pretrial proceedings. In her statement, Hyo-min proposed a psychiatric evaluation of Min-guk's mental state, hinting at its potential role in the unfolding events. Seok-hoon, impressed by her performance, commended her afterward.
Hyo-min, known for her meticulous attention to detail as evidenced in past cases, immediately sprang into action. Upon discovering that Min-guk had visited the hospital five or six times a week without any prescription records, she suspected Munchausen Syndrome might be at play, involving Lee Sang-mi. This theory suggested that Sang-mi's extreme anxiety had manifested in an obsessive concern for Min-guk's well-being. Seok-hoon seized upon this revelation, determined to pin the blame squarely on Sang-mi.
Though Hyo-min harbored reservations about this approach, the pressure to win left her little room for hesitation. However, her concerns were exacerbated by domestic troubles. She was displeased to learn that her mother had meddled in her affairs, intruding upon her apartment and discarding a chipped plate as if it were a symbol of her daughter's imperfections.
Beneath the surface of a mere dishware dispute lies a profounder conflict, colored by the complexities surrounding her disabled daughter. Hyo-min, unafraid to voice her thoughts, confronts her mother candidly, further revealing the bombshell news of her breakup with Seong-chan, which leaves her mother utterly astounded.
The courthouse scene takes an unexpected turn, unveiling a startling revelation: Sang-mi still nurses Min-guk, despite his being well past the toddler years, at over four. This deep-seated dependency, coupled with his scant week-long exposure to kindergarten, hinders Min-guk's journey towards independence from his mother's side.
Seok-hoon's verbal lashing is particularly incisive, casting a pessimistic gloom over the proceedings. He harbors a cynical view of humanity, believing people are inherently selfish. "In this world," he remarks, "there are those who shun motherhood and those who should never embrace it."
Following their tense exchange at the courthouse, the frost between Seok-hoon and Hyo-min thickens at Yullim HQ. She extends an apology for their minor spat and shares intimate details about her twin sister and mother. She narrates how her mother's selflessness bordered on sacrificing her own career to support Hyo-min. In the courtroom, Hyo-min felt personally targeted by Seok-hoon's words, as if he were lambasting her family too.
Seok-hoon's narrative, however, is starkly contrasting. Five years prior, he returned home to stumble upon a positive pregnancy test discarded in the trash. Overjoyed, he approached his partner, only to be met with indifference and deception. She feigned non-pregnancy, reminding him of their pact to have a child only within the sanctity of marriage.
This encounter reinforces Seok-hoon's resentment and fuels his belief in mothers' potential selfishness. As he retreats to wash away the day's sorrow, his thoughts linger on these bitter truths. Amidst his introspective stroll, the episode draws to a close, leaving viewers on a poignant cliffhanger.
