Episode 1 of "Jack & Joker: U Steal My Heart" kicks off with an enthralling flashforward to a chaotic scene. The host, Aran, stands bewildered as his priceless jewelry vanishes, triggering a frenzy among security personnel. Amid the melee, Joke weaves through the chaos, only to find himself cornered in an abandoned room. His pursuers are thwarted by none other than Jack, who exasperatedly inquires, "Why does it always have to be you?"
The narrative shifts gears, rewinding to a few years earlier. In a cramped cram school, Joke, under the watchful eye of a teacher doubling as an examination committee member, orchestrates a cunning distraction. As the room falls into a collective trance, he slyly swipes the entrance exam's coveted answers.
Meanwhile, Jack, a budding athlete with aspirations to clinch a spot on the national youth taekwondo team, trains relentlessly. It's his final eligible year, and he dreams of both monetary success and putting his skills to noble use. His days are consumed by rigorous training, and nights find him toiling at a bustling bar.
At home, Joke occupies the role of the proverbial black sheep, his brilliant brother Top casting a long shadow. Failed medical entrance exams pile up, and his short-fused father's disapproval weighs heavily. Yet, Joke finds solace in the headlines detailing the exploits of the elusive Joker, a Robin Hood-like figure plundering shady establishments. Little does anyone suspect that the mischievous smile creeping across Joke's face betrays his secret identity.
Turning back to Jack, his path crosses with Carbon, a formidable new trainee who towers above the rest, physically and metaphorically. In a showdown, Jack dares to challenge him, but struggles to keep pace. Despite breaking the rules, it's Carbon who emerges unscathed, almost choking Jack to the brink of defeat until the coach intervenes. Surprisingly, the coach apologizes to Carbon, shielding him from reprimand due to his politically influential father's support for the gym.
Heartbroken but resilient, Jack returns to his doting grandmother, whose modest street stall struggles to keep pace with his aspirations. He vows to make them proud, erasing his parents' debts and ensuring her comfort.
Days pass, and Joke receives another devastating blow – another failed entrance exam. Swiftly, he manipulates the results, deceiving his parents with a false sense of triumph. His father beams with pride, while Top, all too aware of the forgery, wears a mask of disapproval. Simultaneously, Jack's dreams of joining the national team are dashed as his coach reluctantly informs him that Carbon's influence sealed his fate.
The national team is reveling in celebration at the very spot where Jack toils, drawing the scornful gaze of Carbon, who mocks him relentlessly. Jack, unfazed, turns a deaf ear and makes his way back to the bar, where Joke sits sullenly, doodling faces of discontent. As the two commiserate over their misfortunes, an unlikely friendship blossoms. Despite being underage, Jack keeps Joke's spirits afloat, and they indulge in a game of truth and dare, finding solace in each other's company.
As Jack is summoned to settle the team's tab, Joke seizes an opportunity, stealing Carbon's wallet and paying the bill with his ill-gotten funds, leaving the evidence behind. Outside, fate intervenes as Rose, a damsel in distress, flees from three menacing men. Joke, initially hesitant, finds himself playing the hero, posing as Jack and a member of the esteemed national team. His bravado falters, however, when he unwittingly reveals a taekwondo factoid that doesn't quite fit the situation, inviting a brutal beatdown from the amused leader, while Rose remains in peril.
Enter Jack, who swiftly dispatches the thugs, earning Rose's undivided admiration. Yet, his concern for Joke overshadows all else. Tenderly, he cleans Joke's wounds and mistakenly hands him Carbon's wallet, believing it to be his own. Rose, a runaway heiress seeking adventure before being kidnapped for ransom, charms Jack with tales of her wealth, even coaxing him into exchanging numbers amidst the chaos. Amidst the distraction, Joke slips away unnoticed.
Back home, Grandma nurtures Jack's wounds while he regales her with tales of heroism. Inspired, he dreams of opening a taekwondo school. Joke's reception, however, is vastly different; his father, unconvinced by his tale of chivalry, assumes he's been in a bar brawl and grounds him. Undeterred, Joke plots his next move—targeting a corrupt bank.
Disguising himself as the new bank manager, Joke charms a stressed novice into leaving him unsupervised with her computer. Coincidentally, fate brings Jack to the same bank, seeking a loan to fund his vision of a community learning center. As their paths cross once more, Jack reveals his backstory—school dropout due to familial debt, yet he honed his skills at the taekwondo club, thanks to his coach. Touched by Jack's story, Joke not only approves the loan but also steals from the bank's safe, generously funding Jack's endeavor.
Jack's joy is short-lived as cops arrive at his doorstep, accusing him of the bank theft. Realizing Joke's hand in the matter, Jack's anger boils over as he's arrested. Meanwhile, Joke confesses to his parents, taking full responsibility for his actions and turning himself in to spare others.
As Jack is freed, his fury towards Joke knows no bounds, vowing never to cross paths again. However, their fates remain intertwined as Boss, the loanshark, appears to collect the unpaid debt. Unable to comply, Jack is conscripted as a debt collector, offering his ring as collateral and praying to never encounter the Joker again. Thus, the first episode of Jack & Joker concludes on a cliffhanger, leaving their future intertwined in a web of debt, deception, and an unlikely bond forged amidst adversity.
