REVIEW: ‘Love Scout’ Episodes 5-6

Love Scout Episodes 5-6 successfully spotlight the blossoming crush between Kang Ji-yun (Han Ji-min) and her new assistant,  Yu Eun-ho (Lee Joon-hyuk). With how closely the two work together and Eun-ho’s natural attentiveness, a crush was sure to follow. It is when the professional turns personal and they meet outside of the workplace that endearing hilarity ensues. By the end of Episode 6, if you weren’t already all-in on this romance, you will be.

At the end of the previous episode, it looked like Ji-yun, in a drunken state, was going to lean into kiss Eun-ho. Instead, she passes out and is left in the morning with the awkward self-consciousness that comes with such a situation. The awkwardness isn’t overplayed in Episode 5, but there are some cute scenes of Han Ji-min tapping into an almost girlish charm as her Ji-yun mulls over whether or not she imagined the encounter or if it happened. Thankfully, the two are adults and have the conversation that buries the hatchet regarding that situation.

That doesn’t mean the awkwardness between the two ends. Whether or not Ji-yun realizes it, a crush is taking hold of her heart, and Eun-ho starts to match her energy. That imbues the air between the CEO and assistant with a different kind of tension that carries throughout Love Scout Episodes 5-6. The two manage to keep a sense of calm and professionalism when dealing with the client case of the week, but outside of the office, things are shifting. This becomes most obvious at the end of Episode 5 when Ji-yun comes over to Eun-ho’s house for dinner.

It is the first time Eun-ho’s daughter, Byul (Ki So-yu), is not home. Seo Mi-ae (Lee Sang-hee) suggests a leadership dinner, and Eun-ho offers up his place and his cooking services for the night. In the most predictable adorable development, Eun-ho and Ji-yun are left to have dinner alone together, and it is time well spent. Their chemistry is natural, with both at ease with each other, at least until the next morning.

Adorably awkward moments lead to rom-com gold

Ji-yun, who hasn’t yet realized that she can only sleep comfortably around Eun-ho, wakes up on his couch. Because both of them are incredibly socially awkward beings, the two panic and then Eun-ho remembers his daughter is coming home that morning. Their reactions here are so hilariously over the top. Even Ji-yun remarks in the elevator that they didn’t do anything.

But that doesn’t stop the frenzy of emotions. Despite how smooth Eun-ho is, it doesn’t stop the inevitable meeting with Byul, and Ji-yun realizing that the little girl she’s been interacting with at a local bookstore is Eun-ho’s daughter. Despite the circumstances of the meeting, Ji-yun has little problem in Episode 6, stepping in to take care of the child who reminds her so much of herself. This action wins her brownie points with Eun-ho, even if he doesn’t wholly express it immediately.

While much of the show focuses on Ji-yun and Eun-ho, writer Kim Ji-eun also took time in each episode to try to focus the spotlight on individual members of the Peoplez time. In Love Scout Episodes 5-6, the employee spotlight centers on Lee Kwang-hee (Ko Gun-han), a materialistic, chipper guy who has, based on impressions, a decent track record for finding candidates. However, he is met with a challenge when Career Way poaches a prime candidate and makes Peoplez lose face with their latest client, Deluxe Line.

In a twist of fate, it is revealed that the person responsible for the lost client is a former employee of Peoplez, who has now considered it his mission to take out the company. However, this employee’s actions in Love Scout Episodes 5-6 only further flesh out the lack of ethics Career Way subscribes to. Career Way even goes so far as to orchestrate a smear campaign against Deluxe Line, doing everything they can to slander the authenticity of their products. It makes for a perfect opportunity for Peoplez to come on top, and they do.

Lee Kwang-hee steps into the spotlight in Love Scout Episodes 5-6

Ji-yun assigns Eun-ho to help the less experienced Kwang-hee, who is overwhelmed with worry about losing his job. The combination of the capable Eun-ho and the earnest Kwang-hee proves to be successful as they take the advice given by Ji-yun and run with it. They find an experienced bag repair specialist, Cho Young-sook (Kim Jung-young), who proves to have the best skills to work for Deluxe Line. However, she has to endure a devaluation and dismissal of her skills due to a lack of formal education background until her analysis is proven correct.

It is frustrating to watch how cruelly dismissive people are toward Young-sook for her background, but Love Scout Episodes 5-6 uses her to demonstrate how going to the best school and being from a specific background doesn’t mean that a person is knowledgable. As Ji-yun and Eun-ho remind the older woman, a school can’t replicate her years of hard work. The elitism found in the Korean job hiring system is nothing new (and frankly, the country is not the only one with this issue). Prime talent gets lost in the process because of how inflexible hiring managers and work cultures are. Young-sook is one such talent.

Speaking of talent, Love Scout Episodes 5-6 also spend a little bit of time on the secondary characters, Jung Su-hyeon (Kim Yoon-hye) and Woo Jeong-hoon (Kim Do-hoon). Despite her clear artistic and storytelling talent, a scene between Su-hyeon and Jeong-hoon tells us how unsuccessful the single mother has been as an author. Her books don’t sell despite how unique her ideas are.

On paper, that would make her a hard person to invest in. But Jeong-hoon is impressed by her ideas, and he tries to encourage her in his silly, heartfelt way. It doesn’t quite land, with Su-hyeon more embarrassed than not. But it’s a cute moment that hints at what may come if Su-hyeon gives up her crush on Eun-ho. Which, after her run-in with Eun-ho and Ji-yun at the hospital in Episode 6, maybe soon. It depends on how stubborn she is.

Ji-yun enters a new era of vulnerability at the end of Episode 6, but how long will that last?

That said, six episodes in, and it’s difficult to pin down who entirely Jeong-hoon is. There have been brief scenes with him interacting with characters, but he’s still underdeveloped compared to the rest of the characters in Love Scout. With the reveal that his father, Oh Chul-young (Jo Seung-yeon), is in league with Kim Hye-jin (Park Bo-kyung) of Career Way, that may push some much-need extra development. But, for now, Jeong-hoon is an underwhelming addition to the character line-up.

After all the awkwardness and tension in Love Scout Episodes 5-6, as well as the significant development of Ji-yun and all of her insecurities surrounding abandonment throughout the season thus far, an opportunity for a first date arises. It is the moment we’ve all been waiting for, and due to how thoroughly Ji-yun’s issues have been cultivated, the stakes feel even higher.

If Eun-ho doesn’t show up, there’s a whole can of worms of what it can reinforce. Thankfully, by the end of Episode 6, Eun-ho proves he won’t let her down just yet. And lowkey is a strange healing balm for those of us with daddy issues.

Love Scout Episodes 5-6 lean into the natural awkwardness of our two future lovebirds, with hilariously endearing scenes stealing our hearts. While the threat of Career Way is still there, it takes more of a backseat, giving us more time with Ji-yun and Eun-ho to plant the seeds of their romantic relationship. Even though Ji-yun and Eun-ho will likely face bumps ahead, it is clear that both are heading in the right direction. Not just to heal but to feel safe and vulnerable enough to love.

Love Scout Episodes 1-6 are streaming on Netflix in select regions and on Viki, and new episodes are released weekly.