Detective Chinatown Episode 2 Recap
> Detective Chinatown Recap
The episode opens with Lin Mo's voiceover, identifying himself as a former chemistry teacher, now a detective at the Tang Ren Detective Agency in Bangkok's Chinatown. He recalls a childhood memory where his mother, holding a younger "Xiaowen," makes him promise not to make a sound, no matter what he sees. She reassures him that his parents will always love him. Later, Lin Mo and Officer Sasha arrive at Dinan's modest apartment.
Sasha remarks on the stark difference in living conditions among the classmates. Dinan, finding them there, offers them drinks and laments her bad luck, stating she wants to move out of the "shithole." She initially expresses frustration with the police for dismissing her previous report, but Sasha apologizes on behalf of incompetent officers and introduces Lin Mo as "the No.1 detective in Thailand." Dinan, intrigued, questions if she needs a detective or a Buddhist master.
Dinan leads them to a handprint on her ceiling, which she discovered about a week prior. She explains that it matches her own hand size and that she couldn't have placed it there without a ladder. She recounts being lifted while asleep, accompanied by chanting sounds. Lin Mo notes the absence of incense smell, deducing the handprint was made from joss stick ashes, a type only found in temples.
When Lin Mo asks if she dreamt of Brahma, Dinan questions why, and he reveals that their high school classmates, A Wen and Shui, also experienced strange incidents. Dinan, worried, exclaims that Zha Ya is in trouble, and the three immediately rush to the hospital. At the hospital, A Wen is already with Zha Ya. A Wen warns them that Zha Ya is fragile due to her eye condition and asks them not to mention Shui's death.
Lin Mo and Sasha are shocked to learn that Shui is dead. Inside the room, Zha Ya recounts hearing marble-like sounds from upstairs, which she initially attributed to structural vibrations. This escalated to encountering prayer beads appearing in her home, even bursting from the plumbing. She was terrified as countless hands from behind her wrapped around her. Her landlord investigated the plumbing but found no source for the beads.
A Wen reveals that Zha Ya's ex-husband was abusive, and she now considers the hospital safer than her home. A Wen has been paying for Zha Ya's hospital stay, as Zha Ya has no other family. When asked about the last time they saw Shui, Dinan and A Wen recall their ten-year class reunion a few months prior, a normal, happy gathering where everyone, including Shui, got drunk. Sasha then directly asks about their connection to Brahma.
Zha Ya, overwhelmed, says she's tired, and A Wen asks Lin Mo and Sasha to leave. Sasha stresses the importance of them revealing the truth for their own safety. Lin Mo observes the four women's deep bond despite their vastly different lives, searching for a common thread. Outside the hospital, Dinan and A Wen head to a bar for drinks. Sasha, feeling competitive, comments on Dinan's flirtatious behavior toward Lin Mo.
She suggests the Brahma might be responsible and jokes that they deserve it. Lin Mo responds with the proverb, "Although I did not kill Boren, Boren died because of me," emphasizing that understanding the underlying causes is more crucial than just the supernatural occurrences. He dismisses Sasha's confusion about "Boren." Later, as Dinan drives A Wen home, the car radio suddenly plays unsettling Buddhist chants. The car accelerates uncontrollably, and the brakes fail.
Dinan frantically tries to stop the car, but it plunges into a river. Dinan claims she saw a golden Brahma statue underwater. The next day, Dinan is interrogated. Sasha reminds them that only the truth can protect them. A Wen agrees, and Dinan starts to reveal their secret. They explain that they were best friends in high school, and facing their college entrance exams, they decided to all apply to Bangkok University to stay together.
They visited a Brahma altar, wishing for success and vowing to perform a "wish dance" after the exams. However, weeks later, all four fell severely ill with typhoid fever, missing their exams. They believe Shui was the first to get sick. One day after recovering, angry and frustrated at their missed opportunity, they confronted the Brahma statue, accusing it of betrayal. Heavy rain then began to fall.
Ten years later, they came to believe these incidents were punishment for disrespecting Brahma. Dinan expresses fear, believing she will be the next victim after Shui. After the interrogation, Dinan demands police protection. However, the police officers, including the chief, are dismissive of their claims, finding them "too complicated" and beyond their capabilities.
Influenced by officers speculating about ghosts and demons, the chief decides to immediately fund a religious ceremony for the women to appease the spirits and close the case, advising them to seek help from a Buddhist master and call 1691 for an ambulance if further incidents occur. Disheartened, A Wen leaves the police station, only to be narrowly missed by a large billboard falling from above.
Lin Mo rushes to the rooftop but finds no one, though he detects a strange, familiar odor on the broken wood. The religious ceremony proceeds with media coverage and public attendance. While the women pray, Lin Mo again catches the faint, familiar scent from the broken wood. This recurring detail gives him a crucial lead, and he decides to continue his investigation at Luming High School.
Sasha questions his persistent belief that a human is behind it, but Lin Mo asserts that "Gods don't harm people; only people do." He notes that Shui's husband, Qin Jun, is absent from the ceremony, and they plan to attend Shui's funeral the next day.
