Buried Hearts Episode 11 Review: Dong-ju Learns Who Killed His Parents

Buried Hearts Episode 11 Review | Leisurebyte

Director:
Jin Chang-gyu

Date Created:
2025-03-28 18:30

Editor’s Rating:

4

In Buried Hearts Episode 10, Dong-ju strategically tightens his grip on Daesan, promoting Gi-hyeon to Vice Chairman and exposing cracks in Yeom’s control. Meanwhile, Deok-hui desperately tries to protect her family’s legacy, while Seo-nu learns the shocking truth about his lineage. Dong-ju’s investigation leads him to the mysterious Dandelion files, a secret project that could bring Yeom down.

As he pieces together his past, a photograph surfaces, hinting at a deeper connection between him and Il-do. The episode ends with a jaw-dropping twist—Dong-ju realizes that Eun-nam’s father might also be his own, potentially making them siblings.

– Contains Spoilers –

Buried Hearts Episode 11 Recap

The episode kicks off with Yeom furiously berating Hui-cheol for initiating the divorce, fearing the financial repercussions. When Hui-cheol argues that he should have played fair in his battle with Dong-ju, Yeom loses his temper and strikes him. Meanwhile, in the car, Eunnam discusses the photograph with Dong-ju, revealing that the man in the picture is her father. She then asks about the child in the photo, but Dong-ju, hiding the truth, remains silent. Just as Eunnam is about to share something significant about the child, she gets an urgent call from her grandfather and rushes off to meet him.

Also read: When Life Gives You Tangerines Finale Review: Slice of Life Masterpiece That’s Worthy of Being Kdrama of the Year

At home, her family pleads with her to return to Yeom’s household, but Eunnam firmly refuses. She declares that she will repay every penny they’ve given her so she can marry Dong-ju on her own terms. Meanwhile, Dong-ju meets with Secretary Gong, showing her the photograph and demanding answers. When he reveals that he is, in fact, Seong-hyeon, she is visibly shaken. She then gives him a gift—a book that the late Sun-ho had prepared for him. As Dong-ju flips through its pages, he finds a small drawing of baby Seong-hyeon. Overcome with emotion, he breaks down in tears but quickly wipes them away when Eunnam arrives, not wanting her to see his vulnerability.

Eunnam then shares her decision to divorce Hui-cheol and her desire to marry Dong-ju. She also tells him about the supposed death of the child in the photo, unaware that she is speaking to Seong-hyeon himself. From her, Dong-ju learns that there are no official accident records—she had searched for them, knowing that Il-do was involved in her father’s fatal crash along with the child and his mother. Determined to uncover the truth, Dong-ju enlists his friends to investigate, only to discover that all records have been deliberately erased.

For more answers, he visits Madame Pi, triggering a series of flashbacks. He remembers wandering along a railroad as a child, stumbling upon a little girl, Agnes, and asking her for food. It is then revealed that Seong-hyeon was given the name “Dong-ju” after he came to believe that Agnes’s mother, Yong-ju, was his own. Meanwhile, Il-do is summoned to Yeom’s house, where he is startled to see Yeon-su already there. Elsewhere, Dong-ju cunningly lures Guk-hui into his trap, using her fingerprints on dollar bills as leverage to force her into his plan.

Later that week, the Chairman gathers everyone in the main hall for a major announcement—he publicly acknowledges his son, Seo-nu, and expresses his wish for him to marry Yeong-su so that Ji Seo-nu can take the family name Cha Seo-nu. Duk-hui is outraged and opposes the plan, but to her shock, Guk-hui sides with their father, having been cornered by Dong-ju’s threats. Furious, Duk-hui turns to alcohol, but when Secretary Gong arrives to console her, she calms down almost immediately, hinting at an intriguing, unexplained bond between them.

Seo-nu and his mother later visit Daesan, inspecting the company with satisfied expressions, pleased that their plan is falling into place. However, the Chairman throws an unexpected curveball—he suggests that Dong-ju marry Eunnam and take over the company until Seo-nu is ready to succeed him. At the same time, a new betrayal is unfolding—Yeong-su has secretly allied herself with Yeom, but her true motives remain unclear.

Amidst all the chaos, Dong-ju manages to retrieve partial data about the accident, but is still missing the full picture. Determined to unlock the truth buried deep in his subconscious, he turns to Dr. Kang for hypnotherapy. During his first session, his panic attacks intensify, but Dr. Kang encourages him to immerse himself in the mind of baby Seong-hyeon. As he journeys into his past, the horrifying truth unfolds—he recalls a truck crashing into the car carrying Sun-ho, his mother, and himself. Il-do was right behind them and had every opportunity to help. But instead of saving them, he deliberately rammed his own car into theirs, sending them plunging off a cliff—all under someone’s orders.

The episode ends with Dong-ju reeling from the devastating revelation: Il-do was the one who killed his mother and Sun-ho. But the lingering questions remain—why? Who was pulling the strings behind Il-do? And, most crucially, who is Dong-ju’s real father?

Buried Hearts Episode 11 Review

The evolving dynamics within Daesan, particularly the Chairman’s unexpected proposal for Dong-ju to take temporary control, add another layer of intrigue. Meanwhile, the unfolding mystery surrounding Dong-ju’s true identity deepens as he pieces together his fragmented past, culminating in a shocking realization about Il-do’s involvement in his mother’s death. The show’s ability to weave multiple storylines seamlessly while maintaining a steady pace is commendable.

What sets this episode apart is its emotional weight—whether it’s Dong-ju breaking down over Sun-ho’s gift, Duk-hui’s drunken despair, or the quiet but powerful moment between Secretary Gong and Duk-hui. The performances elevate the storytelling, making each revelation feel impactful. The hypnotherapy scene, in particular, is executed brilliantly, pulling viewers into Dong-ju’s traumatic memories and leaving them just as shaken as he is.

With Il-do’s dark secret now exposed, the stakes have never been higher. But the biggest questions remain: Who ordered the hit? And how will Dong-ju use this knowledge to his advantage? Or did Il-do actually save Dong-ju, aka Seong-hyeon? We’re yet to know.

Buried Hearts is streaming on JioHotstar.

Also read: All Reviews for Buried Hearts

– Advertisement –