The Nice Guy – K-drama Episode 1 Recap & Review

The Review Geek

2 days ago

Episode 1
Episode 1 of The Nice Guy begins with our protagonist, Seok-cheol, returning from a fight to meet Mi-young at the bus station, only to get stabbed.
The scene shifts to Seok-cheol reflecting on how he once wanted to become a poet or a novelist, as we see him attending a poetry workshop where people discover he's a gangster.
Meanwhile, Seok-cheol learns that his police officer friend is bringing two rival gangs, one of which he belongs to, for a mediation led by his father, a former gangster.
When he gets home, we find out his eldest sister, Seok-kyung, lost the deed to their family home in a gambling incident and has gone into hiding, leaving her son in the care of their grandparents. We also learn that his youngest sister, Seok-hee, works as a nurse and is dating one of Seok-cheol's school friends, now a doctor.
On his way to deliver kimchi to Seok-hee at her workplace, Seok-cheol stops by his 'workplace' to inform his boss that he's quitting the gangster life. They agree on his release… after he completes one last job: reclaiming land from protestors resisting a redevelopment project.
Seok-cheol then waits for his sister when he runs into Mi-young, a musician with a YouTube channel where she shares her compositions. She recently turned down a performance offer because of her stage fright. It becomes clear they have history, and they soon discover that Mi-young is friends with Seok-hee.
Later, we learn that Seok-cheol and Mi-young had feelings for each other in school until Mi-young suddenly disappeared. Through Seok-hee, we also learn that Mi-young has been struggling financially, which is why she reached out to Seok-hee for help.
The next day, Mi-young shows up for an audition she had been preparing for but freezes when more people arrive. Unable to sing in front of an audience, she loses her chance.
Meanwhile, Mi-young and Seok-cheol reconnect and decide to meet again. Mi-young opens up about her stage fright, and Seok-cheol gives her space to express herself. They visit Mi-young's mother at a nursing home, where Seok-cheol encourages her to sing for the elderly residents.
Despite her hesitation and memories of being bullied, she manages a short performance. Seok-cheol then drops her home.
That evening, Seok-hee calls Seok-cheol to tell him she's found Seok-kyung. One of Seok-kyung's best friends had come to her hospital for a herniated disc, and through her, Seok-hee found out where Seok-kyung had been staying.
The siblings then head to a gambling den where Seok-kyung has been working. Chaos erupts as the den's owner and her henchmen attack Seok-cheol and Seok-hee when they try to bring Seok-kyung home. In the midst of it all, Seok-kyung sees the owner attacking Seok-hee and, in a burst of rage, headbutts her, as the episode ends.
The Episode Review
The debut episode of The Nice Guy lays the foundation for the characters and plot. We are introduced to the Park family—three generations entangled in the gangster world. But the episode also hints at how this family has been forced into this life, especially Seok-cheol, who never wanted to be a part of it.
We also get strong introductions to Seok-cheol and Mi-young. Seok-cheol is a man trapped in a life he never chose, while Mi-young is fighting an internal battle that threatens her dream of becoming a singer.
Then there's Seok-hee, the youngest sibling who's managed to leave behind the family's legacy and build a life of her own as a nurse. She's energetic, grounded, and brings some lightness to the show.
It'll be interesting to see how these characters navigate their lineage, their financial burdens, and the emotional weight that ties them all—especially Seok-cheol, who is trying so hard to step away from a path he never wanted.
Next Episode
Expect A Full Season Write-Up When This Season Concludes!