Episode 1 of Season 1 of "Butterfly" kicks off with an intriguing scene: a man making a phone call, his voice tinged with urgency as he announces his discovery of the woman he has been relentlessly searching for. He reveals that she is en route to Seoul for a fleeting visit, necessitating an immediate meeting.
The scene seamlessly transitions to a bustling karaoke bar in the heart of Seoul, where a group of men are belting out tunes with fervor. Among them stands a mysterious figure, an enigmatic presence whose identity remains a mystery to all yet undisturbed by their ignorance. After a few minutes of camaraderie, he excuses himself, citing the need to fetch more soju. However, instead of heading to the bar, he sneaks into an adjacent room, his ears perked to eavesdrop on a crucial conversation.
In the adjacent room, a man is engaged in a tense phone call with a pregnant woman who is making her way to the Conrad hotel. The revelation unfolds that this woman is not who she seems; she is an assassin tasked with eliminating Russia's ambassador to South Korea. With deft precision, she swaps the ambassador's phone and administers a lethal poison, claiming the life of Karpov, the ambassador. His security team swiftly springs into action, securing the premises and initiating an investigation.
Meanwhile, the pregnant assassin is swiftly identified within the confines of an elevator, where a security guard attempts to apprehend her. Her combat skills prove too formidable, as she overpowers the guard with ease. The ensuing struggle forces her to backtrack to the floor where she committed her grim deed.
Gunfire erupts, filling the air with chaos and adrenaline. Despite the onslaught, she manages to find refuge in a room, where she contacts her colleague for an escape route. With expert efficiency, she transforms her appearance as she descends the stairs. By the time she reaches the ground floor, all traces of her pregnancy and blonde hair are gone, replaced by a disguise that allows her to blend into the crowd. She makes a daring dash towards the exfiltration point, her every move calculated and precise.
Back at the karaoke bar, the mysterious eavesdropper storms through the door, leaving his unsuspecting companion unconscious on the floor. Seizing the moment, he intercepts the exfiltration vehicle and neutralizes the agents with ruthless efficiency. However, the assassin senses something amiss and bolts, her instincts honed by years of training. She opens fire, drawing the attention of the police. In a final act of defiance, the mysterious man speeds off, the chase now on in earnest.
The episode ends on a cliffhanger, with the assassin's fate hanging in the balance and the mysterious man's motivations shrouded in secrecy, leaving viewers eager for more.
Back in the United States, we encounter Manny, a man held captive by Juno, a woman driven by mysterious motives. For reasons unknown, Juno subjects Manny to torment, and he expresses disdain for her betrayal of the United States, facilitated through her intelligence agency. Upon Manny's revelation of his collaborators, Juno issues a brutal command: terminate them. She dispatches a team north to Canada, tasked with locating the individual with whom Manny was aligned.
Just as the grim order is given, Juno's son, Oliver, bursts in with dire news: the Seoul operation has taken a turn for the worse, and contact with their female operative, Rebecca, has been lost. Juno's anxiety spikes, fearing that Langley will uncover Caddis' involvement in the Karpov assassination, which could spell doom for her agency. Her utmost concern now is to locate Rebecca, their invaluable asset, and unravel the mystery behind the sabotage.
Elsewhere, a shrouded figure abandons the extraction van after meticulously sanitizing it. He swaps his SIM card and makes haste towards the train station, where he places a call to Eun-ju. It transpires that this enigmatic man is David, a father determined to rescue his daughter from the clutches of Caddis. He and his wife had agreed to attempt the mission just once, yet David's resolve remains unshaken. He urges Eun-ju to proceed to the safe house, pledging to join her within a couple of days.
In swift response, Oliver and Juno board a plane bound for Seoul. Meanwhile, Rebecca reaches out to Juno, vowing to uncover the informant and rectify the situation. Hurt by Juno's lack of trust, Rebecca's feelings are further complicated by Oliver's jealousy towards his mother's favorable treatment of her. Unbeknownst to Rebecca, Juno had covertly plotted to frame her should the Karpov mission falter. As the aircraft soars through the skies, the team relentlessly pursues identifying David.
This narrative now pulses with a heightened sense of urgency and emotional depth, painting a vivid picture of intrigue, betrayal, and parental love amidst a web of espionage.
David returns to the van, slipping a card bearing GPS coordinates under its windshield before hailing a taxi to his old friend Choi's restaurant. There, he hastily fills Choi in on his plan to rescue his daughter. The revelation unfolds that David feigned his demise nine years prior, a daring escape from the clutches of Caddis—a company he co-founded but grew increasingly dissatisfied with its management. Choi, while pledging to secure the passports David desperately needs, expresses concern over the pressing timeline.
Meanwhile, Rebecca and her team track down the van, discovering the GPS coordinates. They bide their time until nightfall, during which Rebecca indulges in an intimate encounter with Atwood, one of her operatives. Following their liaison, she calls Juno, updating her on their mission to apprehend the saboteur. Juno expresses relief that Rebecca is taking the assignment seriously.
As night descends, David arrives at the GPS-designated location, meticulously preparing a meal. By the time Rebecca and her team arrive, David is poised and ready. With clever maneuvers, he disables several of their adversaries before engaging in a harrowing knife-and-gun duel with Atwood. Eventually, he leads Rebecca to a secluded room outside, where he displays a photo of them together, leaving her bewildered.
David's sudden appearance before her, urging her to accompany him with promises of explanations later, only deepens Rebecca's skepticism. Trusting him not, she strikes him unconscious and alerts Juno. Juno, astounded to learn of David's survival, hastily reassures Rebecca of her ignorance.
Rebecca repeatedly quizzes Juno, suspecting she was deliberately sent to terminate her father. Juno steadfastly denies it, reassuring her that all will be well while surreptitiously texting Atwood with a cold command: terminate David. Regaining consciousness, David apologizes to Rebecca for abandoning her years ago.
Their conversation is abruptly interrupted by Atwood's arrival, gun aimed at David. In a split-second decision, Rebecca shoots Atwood, discovering his phone and the incriminating messages from Juno. David, sensing an opening, persuades Rebecca to join him if she seeks answers.
Just as they reconcile, Atwood's fallen form is discovered, and Rebecca reads Juno's treacherous texts. David, sensing the urgency, urges her once more to come with him. On the brink of uncovering the truth, their fate hangs in the balance.
