The Emotional Rollercoaster of 'Carry On': Episode 5 Captivates Viewers with Heart-Fluttering Confession

## The Aftermath of the Reservoir Rescue: A New Beginning

Episode 5 of 'Carry On' (선재 업고 튀어) opens with Sol and Seonrae in a taxi returning from the reservoir where Seonrae had just rescued her. This pivotal moment marks a turning point in their relationship as Sol begins to piece together fragments of her past. She realizes that Seonrae was the one who called her name and ran to her during her accident, prompting her to question whether he had known her before. Seonrae explains that he moved into the neighborhood in spring and recalls their first encounter when Sol mistook him for a delivery person.

This revelation adds another layer to Seonrae's narrative that Sol had been missing. Their conversation deepens when Sol mentions she has placed an incredible gift inside a time capsule, suggesting they meet at midnight on January 1, 2023, on the Han River bridge to open it together. Sol's urgency stems from her belief that this meeting is crucial to prevent Seonrae's death and change their fate. Her earnest plea, asking him to show up even if they lose touch, highlights the gravity of her mission to save him.

The episode beautifully captures the gradual warming of their previously strained relationship, with Sol determined to alter Seonrae's future while Seonrae finds himself increasingly drawn to her despite his attempts to maintain distance.

## A Triangle of Tension: Seonrae, Sol, and Taeseong

The school becomes a battleground for the growing rivalry between Seonrae and Taeseong, with Sol unwittingly at the center. When the student disciplinary committee conducts a uniform inspection and Sol forgets her tie, Seonrae immediately offers his own without hesitation. This tender moment is witnessed by Taeseong, whose displeasure is evident.

Rather than avoiding the inspection as they could have by climbing over the wall, Taeseong deliberately gets caught to engage in a childish competition with Seonrae. Their rivalry escalates into a running contest, which the athlete Seonrae easily wins. Taeseong, unable to match Seonrae's athletic prowess, attempts to splash water on his face after washing hands, leading to an intense exchange of fiery glares between the two men.

The tension between these characters adds a compelling dynamic to the storyline, with both men vying for Sol's attention in their own ways. Seonrae's genuine concern and Taeseong's jealousy create a palpable atmosphere of competition that drives the narrative forward while revealing more about each character's personality and motivations.

## The Olympic Swimming Match: A Bittersweet Moment

Against the backdrop of the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics, the entire nation is buzzing with excitement, particularly about swimmer Park Tae-hwan's performance. Sol, however, is anxious about Seonrae watching the swimming competition, knowing the emotional impact it might have on him given his future as a swimmer is cut short at nineteen.

In an attempt to prevent Seonrae from watching the match, Sol invites him to see a movie together. Seonrae, thrilled at the prospect of a date with Sol, agrees enthusiastically. Their movie outing turns into a series of cinematic moments themselves, with Sol going to great lengths to distract Seonrae from radio broadcasts about the swimming competition, even placing headphones over his ears on the bus.

After arriving at the theater, a fire alarm malfunction forces everyone to evacuate, and during the momentary distraction, Seonrae manages to see Park Tae-hwan win the gold medal. Contrary to Sol's fears, Seonrae watches the victory with tears of joy rather than sorrow. When confronted by Sol, Seonrae admits he had already figured out her intentions but reassures her that even if he had known at nineteen that he would lose his ability to swim, he would have continued swimming because it brought him happiness. This poignant scene showcases Seonrae's resilience and acceptance of his fate, bringing a new dimension to his character.

## A Sinister Subplot Emerges

The episode takes a darker turn when Sol visits the police station to retrieve her lost wallet from the reservoir area but fails to recover her phone. She is shocked to learn that a body has been discovered under the Juyang Reservoir bridge. More disturbing is the brief flashback triggered by the sound of a bell keyring belonging to someone nearby, which connects to her past accident.

The scene shifts to reveal that the culprit, a taxi driver, is examining Sol's phone. This ominous development suggests that Sol's accident was not random but potentially a premeditated crime, and the perpetrator is still at large with Sol in their sights. The implication that Sol might still be in danger adds a thrilling subplot to the romantic narrative.

This mysterious element introduces a sense of urgency and danger that contrasts with the developing romance between Sol and Seonrae. It raises questions about how Seonrae might protect Sol from this unknown threat and how Sol might escape this seemingly predetermined fate, adding depth and complexity to the storyline.

## Bicycle Lessons and Blossoming Feelings

In a lighter moment, Seonrae encounters Sol's brother Imgeum at the neighborhood supermarket. Later, he finds Sol struggling alone to learn how to ride a bicycle in the local park. Seonrae steps in to teach her, mentioning that even her late father had failed at this task.

Sol expresses concern that Seonrae might scold her harshly for not being able to ride, but he assures her that his greatest strength as an athlete was his 'equanimity' and asks her to judge his qualifications as a physical education teacher. However, the lesson quickly demonstrates that Seonrae lacks the patience he claimed to have, while Sol shows limited athletic ability and endurance. Despite these challenges, the bicycle teaching mission ultimately succeeds, allowing the pair to share a precious moment together.

This sequence provides a welcome respite from the tension of the main plot while further developing the connection between Sol and Seonrae. Their interactions during the bicycle lesson reveal more about their personalities and strengthen their bond, setting the stage for deeper emotional development.

## The Eclipse Performance: Seonrae's Hidden Talent

The episode reaches its climax when Seonrae unexpectedly takes the stage as the vocalist for the band Eclipse. The regular vocalist, described as a 'mama's boy,' couldn't perform because his mother prevented him from attending, leaving Seonrae to step in as a replacement. To everyone's surprise, especially Sol's, Seonrae delivers an outstanding performance, showcasing his exceptional vocal talents.

Sol, a devoted fan, is moved to tears by his performance. After the show, Sol notices a talent agency representative approaching Seonrae, which alarms her. Suffering from a sudden headache, Sol momentarily loses sight of Seonrae and frantically searches for him, even rejecting Taeseong's offer of support.

When Sol finally finds Seonrae waiting outside her home, she immediately questions him about the talent scout. Seonrae reassures her that he didn't give his contact information to the representative. He then presents Sol with a new phone, explaining that he received it as a prize for his performance. Sol becomes upset at the thought that Seonrae performed in front of so many people just to get her a gift, insisting that she wants him to think only of himself and not worry about others.

## The Heart-Stopping Confession

The episode concludes with a powerful scene at a crosswalk near the school the following day. Sol, distracted by listening to the MP3 recording from the swimming pool, nearly puts herself in danger again. Seonrae rushes to protect her, creating a parallel to their past encounters where he saves her from harm.

'You told me to only think about myself, right?' Seonrae says, referencing their conversation from the previous night. As Sol removes one earbud and reaches for the other, Seonrae, seemingly emboldened by her words, continues with a question that catches her completely off guard: 'Do you want to break up?'

Shocked, Sol asks if that's what he wants. At that moment, through her remaining earbud, she hears Seonrae's recorded voice saying, 'I like you.' Simultaneously, the real Seonrae standing before her says, 'Then break up with Kim Taeseong.' The recorded voice continues, 'I'm saying I like you.' This stereo confession-hearing Seonrae's feelings both in person and through the recording-leaves Sol speechless, creating a perfect cliffhanger ending that has viewers eagerly anticipating the next episode.

This brilliantly crafted final scene encapsulates the show's ability to create emotionally charged moments that resonate with the audience. The dual confession technique adds a unique and memorable touch to what might otherwise have been a conventional romantic declaration.

## Viewer Reactions: A Growing Phenomenon

Although 'Carry On' started with modest ratings of 3.1% for its first episode, it has steadily built a devoted following, particularly among female viewers in the 20-49 age demographic. By episode 7, ratings had jumped to 4.5%, eventually reaching 5% by episode 15, and concluding with 5.8% for the finale.

While these numbers might seem modest, the show's cultural impact has been significant. According to Good Data Corporation's FUNdex platform, 'Carry On' topped the TV-OTT drama buzz rankings for three consecutive weeks in May, and maintained first place in its time slot among the target 20-49 demographic across all channels, including public broadcasters, for seven consecutive weeks.

The drama has also gained international attention, becoming a hot topic not only in Asia but also in France, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Brazil. In Japan, it ranked first in U-NEXT's Korean/Asian drama rankings for April 2024 upon its debut. Japanese viewers have expressed their admiration for Woo-seok Byeon's performance, with comments like 'I can't imagine anyone else as Seonrae!' and 'I'm completely captivated by both the drama and Woo-seok.'

## Why Episode 5 Marks a Turning Point

Episode 5 represents a crucial juncture in 'Carry On's narrative. It balances multiple storylines-the developing romance between Sol and Seonrae, the rivalry with Taeseong, the mysterious threat to Sol's safety, and Seonrae's unexpected musical talent-while advancing the overall plot in significant ways.

The episode successfully juggles lighthearted moments like the bicycle lesson with more serious elements such as the ominous subplot involving Sol's potential stalker. This tonal variety keeps viewers engaged while allowing for character development across multiple dimensions.

Most importantly, the episode ends with Seonrae's confession, a moment that viewers had been anticipating since the beginning. This emotional payoff, delivered in an innovative and touching manner, rewards audience investment in the relationship while setting up new questions: Will Sol accept Seonrae's feelings? How will this affect her mission to save his life? Can their relationship alter the seemingly predetermined fate that awaits them?

These questions, along with the mysterious threat lurking in the background, create a compelling reason for viewers to return for episode 6, demonstrating why 'Carry On' has become such a beloved series despite its modest initial ratings. The show's ability to blend romance, mystery, and character-driven storytelling has clearly resonated with audiences both in Korea and internationally, cementing its status as a standout drama of 2024.