Starring Jang Dong-Yoon as Kim Baek-Du and Lee Joo-Myoung as Oh Yoo-Kyung, Like Flowers in Sand episode 1 premiered on Wednesday, December 20, 2023, on Netflix and ENA. It is a sports romance K-drama about a wrestler who wants to retire, but a girl turns his life upside down.
The K-drama‘s premiere episode began with Baek-Du’s introduction. He is a wrestler and the youngest son of a well-known Ssireum family. The wrestling prodigy used to be a sensation in his youth, but as an adult, he could not flourish in competitions.
The first scene gives the idea that he has hit a rough patch in his wrestling career. Meanwhile, he misses his childhood friend, Oh Du-Sik. When the latter’s references are made in the episode, Lee Joo-Myoung enters the storyline.
Like Flowers in Sand episode 1 ending: Jang Dong-Yoo’s Baek-Du thinks Lee Joo-Myoung is Du-Sik
Like Flowers in Sand episode 1 features Baek-Du (Jang Dong-Yoo) struggling in his wrestling career. One day, he gets drunk with his friends and walks on a secluded road shouting “Du-Sik.”
A car speedily passes by, and he falls on the ground. He then dreams of lying on a beach, and a kid keeps asking him whether or not he is fine. The kid seems to be his childhood friend. Towards the end of Like Flowers in Sand episode 1, Du-Sik’s name appears again. This time, a mysterious Lee Joo-Myoung arrives in the town.
As she roams the streets in a white dress and umbrella, townspeople find her suspicious. Simultaneously, Kwak Jin-Su (Lee Jae-Joon) opens up about his and Baek-Du’s childhood friend, Du-Sik. He tells Joo Mi-Ran (Kim Bo-Ra) that Baek-Du used to be closer to Du-Sik than he was. Due to the latter’s family issue, Du-Sik left town long ago. Jin-Su then reveals that Du-Sik was a girl.
Meanwhile, Baek-Du is sad and visits Du-Sik’s old house. He discovers that someone is inside the property. When he goes into the house and looks for the person, Oh Yoo-Kyung (Lee Joo-Myoung) throws him on the ground. When she asks him whether he is fine, Baek-Du has a déjà vu moment from his dream. He asks her if she is Du-Sik, leaving Yoo-Kyung slightly surprised.
Like Flowers in Sand episode 1 spoilers: Did wrestler Baek-Du win the match?
Like Flowers in Sand episode 1 focuses on Baek-Du’s career. He used to be a wrestling prodigy of the Ssireum wrestling team, but now he fails to win competitions. In the first episode, he has a wrestling match with his junior. Baek-Du drunk dials his coach and says, “I’ll retire! If I don’t earn the Jangsa title again this time, I’ll retire.” Although his friends think he said it as a joke, he realizes it is the right thing to do.
On D-Day, he is nervous and is on the verge of having a panic attack. He loses the first round but wins in the second. During the final round, Baek-Du tries his best but loses. This means he may retire.
Aside from Baek-Du’s struggles, Like Flowers in Sand episode 1 also adds a suspenseful subplot in the narrative. The town discovers a car that drowned at midnight, and since the driver is dead, the detectives grow suspicious. Meanwhile, the entry of Lee Joo-Myoung’s Oh Yoo-Kyung in a mysterious way likely links to the recent mishap.
Like Flowers in Sand airs on Wednesdays and Thursdays on Netflix and ENA.
