Chills, Thrills, and a Battle of Skills in "The Girl Who Sees Smells" Eps 11 and 12

HUH?! That was, probably and unfortunately, my reaction half the time during this week’s airing of “The Girl Who Sees Smells.” The small smattering of plot and directing errors in previous episodes pretty much exploded into a chaotic mess this time and I even wondered, albeit briefly, just how much flaws one can (and should) handle for a drama that is otherwise a pure joy to watch.

That isn’t to say that there weren’t any exciting, suspenseful, and downright thrilling moments amongst all the things that went oh-so-horribly-wrong, because there was. I’m just saying that those errors I was once able to overlook is no longer quite so easy to ignore now… but in spite of that, the recent developments in “The Girl Who Sees Smells” is still pretty fun and entertaining… for the most part.

1. The Sense of Danger

One of the things I loved most about what occurred this week was that tension was aplenty! I felt so smug and satisfied watching Chef Kwon Jae Hee (Namgoong Min) lose his cool for the first time when our detective duo suddenly showed up at his house in search of Oh Jae Pyo (Jung In Gi). Although he was quick on his feet in terms of trying to stash away any potential evidence of his foul play, it was still gratifying to watch that brief moment of panic cross his face at the thought of getting caught red-handed.

I also loved how gutsy Choi Moo Gak (Park Yoochun) was in calling him out indirectly using the Spyapp. It was obvious that Chef Kwon was startled, but he should have expected it after their deliciously tense battle of wits on the bridge. Just thinking about that powerful scene still sends shivers down my spine!

2. The Sense of… Common Sense!

So often, in the climax of a drama, common sense is completely thrown out the window in favor of events that don’t quite make sense or with situations that gets haphazardly thrown together at the last minute. Although “The Girl Who Sees Smells” is guilty of that, at least it also remembered one very important aspect: Chef Kwon has Prosopagnosia. And Oh Cho Rim (Shin Se Kyung) knows it.

To be honest, I half expected for Cho Rim to forget about that fact and blurt her own identity out for the sake of convenience, so I shouted with glee when her mouth was clamped firmly shut of her own freewill. I also considered the notion that Cho Rim would keep that helpful information to herself, which only meant I was doubly ecstatic when she filled Moo Gak in about Chef Kwon’s disease.

What didn’t quite make sense to me was why Cho Rim was so expressionless and nonchalant when Lieutenant Yeom (Yoon Jin Seo) first told her about Chef Kwon being their prime suspect for the barcode murderer case. Having already been told that while remaining entirely unaffected, why, then, would Cho Rim get such a shock at seeing Kwon Jae Hee (in his own house, no less) that she faints? Furthermore, why didn’t Cho Rim recognize the house she was entering after having been there so many times?

… Just thinking about this is making my head spin.

3. The Sense of Painful Realizations

I always mentally prepare myself for the abrupt change in personality, the flowing waterworks, the temper tantrums, and the shout of angry words to intentionally hurt someone when secrets get revealed, so I was pleasantly surprised when Oh Cho Rim remained perfectly consistent with her warm heart. She was calm and rational. She was understanding of the situation. She was more than accepting of her father’s love. All in all, I’d say she took the news pretty well and for that, I was glad!

Although I do find the former detective to be a little dim-witted in certain aspects. Perhaps his skills are a bit rusty from lack of use? If he had truly been fed information about the case from an insider and intentionally tracks Chef Kwon down, then how could Jae Pyo have so blindly trusted him by offering up his personal information, drinking his coffee, going to Jae Hee’s hose, and so forth without taking any precautions?

4. The Sense of Frustration

Okay, Oh Cho Rim. I’m looking at you right now. How could you break our sweet Moo Gak’s heart like that? And so shortly after his birthday? Tsk tsk. This contrived breakup scene in “The Girl Who Sees Smells” definitely takes the cake in terms of lame and unreasonable. Whatever happened to communication? To figuring things out together? How about letting the boy eat his cake and the monstrous amount of food he cooked before kicking him out of the house?!

I was not a happy viewer, especially when it’s so clear to everyone, even Moo Gak, that Cho Rim has a ton of feelings for him. His persistence is admirable – and candy sweet to boot. “I’ll love. You just receive it.” Can anyone say “awww”?!

5. The Sense of Terror

Undoubtedly, Chef Kwon gives me the creeps. There were so many close calls between him and Cho Rim, it’s not even funny. It’s actually just plain addicting to feel that pump of adrenaline as my heart leaps to my throat each time she flirts with danger, especially when she was planting the camera in the library. What a nail biting experience just waiting with baited breath for everything to blow up in people’s faces!

Still, the pantyhose fix in the elevator was coincidentally lucky and Cho Rim’s suave excuse about script practicing was flawlessly smooth, but I can’t wait to see how she gets out of her current predicament. Will Moo Gak be able to rescue her in time again? Does this most recent face-to-face meeting mean that Jae Hee has figured out that Cho Rim is Choi Eun Seol? Or does he simply think that she’s working with the detectives and can no longer be trusted?

I’m filled with anxious curiosity on how this cliffhanger will pan out next week. Soompiers, what do you think? Did you figure out why Cho Rim couldn’t just visualize the scent in her house to figure out if it was Chef Kwon or a random robber? Do you think the detectives should have been allowed to talk about their classified case out in the open at the precinct like that? How silly was it of Cho Rim to leave her phone on the table instead of sticking it back in her pocket? Don’t you think our MooRim couple is still completely adorable even if they’ve “broken up”? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!

Catch the battle of wits between Choi Moo Gak and Kwon Jae Hee in the eleventh episode of “The Girl Who Sees Smells” here:

Watch Oh Cho Rim leap into field investigative action in episode twelve here:

For all “The Girl Who Sees Smells” recaps, please click here.