Episode 2 of "The Frog" unfolds with a drenched Si-hyeon venturing out into the relentless rain, his steps leading him to play with his toy dog amidst a disquieting aura surrounding Sung-a. She watches over her son with a distant gaze, her demeanor rife with unease, as if a dark secret weighed heavily on her mind. Recall the gruesome vinyl stained with blood? The scene abruptly shifts post-dinner, revealing a blood-soaked Sung-a, who enigmatically plays a Bobby Bland record before stepping out, leaving viewers to ponder: Did she silence Si-hyeon's laughter forever?
The mystery deepens as Bo-min, the town's new police captain with a reputation that precedes her, nicknamed "It" for her unparalleled prowess, stumbles upon Yeong-ha, his fingers still tinged with crimson. Yeong-ha hesitates, torn between revealing the truth about Sung-a and her bloodied encounter, ultimately choosing silence. His secretive ways continue as he visits Yong-chae, concealing even the tissue Bo-min had given him, deepening the web of deceit.
Bo-min, a seasoned detective renowned for cracking numerous murder cases, finds herself intricately tied to the infamous 2001 Motel Serial Killer investigation. Flashbacks reveal Eun-gyeong's heart-wrenching collapse outside, witnessed by a guilt-ridden Sang-jun, who inadvertently facilitated the killer's stay. Swiftly, Hyang-cheol, the serial killer, is apprehended, with Sang-jun rushing to bear witness as the perpetrator rehearses his heinous act with a mannequin, watched closely by the police.
Returning to the present, Yeong-ha's suspicions are ignited as he delves into Sung-a's immaculately cleaned room, redolent with bleach and adorned with a fresh toilet brush. It's evident that she's left no stone unturned in erasing her presence. Determined to uncover the truth, Yeong-ha retrieves Yong-chae's dashcam footage, only to be met with a harrowing revelation that contorts his face into a mask of anguish. Yet, he chooses to suppress his doubts, pretending all is well.
But fate intervenes when Yeong-ha discovers missing towels, left dangling on the balcony outside Sung-a's chamber. As he retrieves them, Bo-min's arrival at the vacation rental forces him to weigh his options. Torn between revealing the truth and maintaining his facade, he ultimately remains silent. Bo-min, ever perceptive, senses his discomposure, wondering if he harbors secrets. Her curiosity, however, remains unfulfilled as she departs. Yeong-ha, in a bid to cover his tracks, incinerates the towels, scrubs the vinyl clean, and locks the basement door once more, sealing away the secrets for now.
Yeong-ha perseveres in his labor, yet his mind wanders, clinging desperately to a faint glimmer of hope. The depths of his psychological state remain shrouded in mystery, with whispers hinting at a connection to the fateful year of 2001.
In the distant past, Eun-gyeong's world was disrupted by a prank call, a sinister omen amidst rumors that Lake View Motel had earned a sinister reputation—dubbed the "Murder Motel" by whispers in the wind. Business dwindled, and after a grueling six months, Sang-jun reluctantly suggested selling the property to Eun-gyeong, who was already stretched thin financially, supporting Gi-ho's education amidst mounting expenses. Her resolve shattered, she stormed off, leaving Sang-jun's pleas echoing in the emptiness.
With Eun-gyeong's departure, Sang-jun's despair erupted, shattering the tranquility of the motel with a fury born of grief. He retreated to the chamber of horrors, scrubbing away at the stains of the past with a ferocity that mirrored his inner turmoil. Jong-du, a beacon of solace, arrived to enfold his friend in a embrace as Sang-jun's cries of anguish rent the air, a catharsis long overdue.
The narrative abruptly shifts to the present, where a newspaper clipping in Bo-min's possession reveals that a year has passed since the tragedy, yet her fascination with the vacation rental persists, its image a constant presence on her desk, mirroring the photo that graced the top of her box in the series' maiden episode.
Meanwhile, Sang-jun toils as a logger, while Eun-gyeong finds solace in a restaurant job, yet the specter of the motel haunts her every step. Gi-ho, her son, battles not only academic pressures but also the cruel hands of bullies who exploit him, tasking him with procuring alcohol for their nefarious purposes.
In the present tense, Yeong-ha readies himself to embrace his daughter's arrival at the Vacation Rental. As a red car crosses Bo-min's path, the driver's identity is unveiled—none other than Sung-a, her presence adding another layer of intrigue to this already intricate narrative.
