Episode 8 of "My Stand-In" dives deep into Joe's psyche, revealing that despite Ming's heartfelt embrace, he remains a mere substitute in someone else's life narrative. His existence has recycling its pattern, placing him in a perilous position between two influential individuals once more. Tong subjects Joe to a grueling stunt, leaving him battered and bruised.
Back in his hotel sanctum, Ming appears, offering a lift, but Joe prefers the team van's anonymity. Ming, however, persists, intent on meeting Joe's mother, whom he claims to have invested in the movie due to her reported ill health. Joe's mother confides that her son has transformed since his coma, prompting Joe to usher her away hastily.
Undeterred by Joe's evident discomfort, Ming observes peculiar coincidences: Joe's familiarity with Tong's sword-fighting scene, their identical physique, shared profession, and the timing of Joe's disappearance aligning with the accident. Joe, annoyed, bluntly asks if Ming thinks they are one and the same, prompting Ming to depart, interpreting Joe's question as a hint to leave.
At Wut's office, the detective presents CCTV footage, suspecting the perpetrator to be someone close to Joe. Sol, astounded by Ming's absence, scans the video, catching a glimpse of a familiar figure but swiftly glancing over it.
Elsewhere, Ming consults his seer, seeking clarification on whether this Joe is indeed the same individual as before. The seer, repeating the cryptic mantra that Joe is neither alive nor dead, offers only vague guidance. Yet, Ming remains steadfast in his determination to uncover the truth.
At the hospital, Wut visits Joe's mother but seeks a private conversation with Joe, disappointed that he's with Ming solely for monetary reasons, albeit to support his mother. Wut probes into the burglary and the apparition of a 'ghostly Joe' haunting the household. Joe seizes the moment of a nurse's call to slip away. Subsequently, Wut confronts Sol, having a revelation about the break-in—concluding that the perpetrator must be the new Joe.
Arriving at Ming's abode, Joe finds himself tasked with preparing a dish that echoes the culinary prowess of his former self, a gesture meant to evoke cherished memories. As evening sets in and Joe seeks solace in a bath, Ming cannot resist joining him, peppering him with inquisitive questions. Joe poses a poignant query to Ming – would he believe Joe if he claimed to be the Joe of old? Ming's prompt denial prompts Joe to urge him to accept the reality of his demise.
With unwavering determination, Ming returns to the seer with a fierce resolve, yearning for deeper insights and clarification. In parallel, Joe journeys to the serene yet solemn graves of his deceased foster parents, his mind tumultuous with the enigmatic question of his continued existence. At this sanctified resting place, where whispers of the past linger, Wut and Sol find themselves eavesdropping on Joe's heartfelt outpouring, a confession fraught with emotion.
This eavesdropping triggers a torrent of punches from Wut, each one a stormy expression of unspoken grievances – grievances stemming from concealed truths and the untimely fate that Joe had suffered, tied inextricably to a perilous undertaking. However, amidst the tumult, a poignant embrace intercedes, weaving a tapestry of reconciliation between them, mended by shared sorrows and mutual understanding.
Over drinks, Wut ponders the whys of his silence, while Joe feels a profound relief at finally unburdening his secret. He theorizes that his unfulfilled karmic ties with Tong and Ming might be preventing his true demise. But, having once been an orphan, Joe vows to embrace the role of a son in this new life, caring for the mother fate has bestowed upon him. Despite this, Joe harbors a secret hope of returning to his original body.
Sol, elated to have Joe back among the living, visits Joe's mother, posing for selfies and sharing an unreleased video featuring Joe. He generously offers to settle Joe's debts, paving the way for Joe to escape Ming's shadow. Joe confirms that his romantic feelings for Ming have faded with his old body.
Mike, Ming's brother, expresses a desire to meet the man who inspired Ming's meditation journey, secretly seeking reassurance that Joe's tenure in Ming's life is temporary. Instead, he learns that Ming himself needs to release his grip. Ming, surprised to find Joe with Mike, impulsively whisks Joe away to their old apartment.
Ascending the stairs, the duo is enveloped by waves of nostalgia, leading to an intimate encounter where Joe turns away modestly. Amidst the climax, Joe sneezes, leaving him unsure whether his emotions stem from his past or present life.
Post-coital, Ming grills Joe about a recent break-in, noting that the spare key was known to only a few. Ming, steadfast in his conviction that Joe is still alive within this new shell, cites the sneeze as evidence. However, just as Ming intensifies his questioning, a phone call interrupts, confirming the discovery of Joe's original body.
