Good Boy Episode 3 Review: Dong-ju and Joo-young’s Fiery Battle Commences

In Good Boy Episode 2, Dong-ju’s heroics earn media praise after he takes down the Bunny Ring gang, though his cocky attitude irks his team. As tensions grow, Han-na fends off both reporters and her emotions, while Gyeong-il’s mysterious behaviour hints at deeper trouble. A new special investigation unit forms but quickly gets sidelined, leading to Han-na’s dramatic protest during a press event—and her resignation.

Meanwhile, Dong-ju’s feelings for Han-na become more visible, and Gyeong-il falsely confesses to a hit-and-run after a brutal beating. Dong-ju, convinced of his friend’s innocence, ends the episode by locking eyes with the true culprit, setting up a tense confrontation ahead.

Good Boy Episode 3 has a runtime of around 60 minutes.

This new Korean drama has 16 episodes and will be released every Saturday and Sunday.

Good Boy Episode 3 Recap

Episode 3 of Good Boy opens with a flashback of Han-na at the height of her athletic career, once celebrated as the pride of South Korea. But her glory was short-lived, as one fateful moment flipped everything, casting a long shadow over her life. In the present, Dong-ju confronts Joo-young about the hit-and-run case, but before he can get any real answers, the police arrive and drag him away for causing a public disturbance.

At the station, Man-shik reviews the CCTV footage of the altercation and notices Dong-ju revealing the scar on his back. As the two argue over Dong-ju’s impulsive behaviour, he firmly insists that Joo-young is the real culprit—his certainty fueled by the unmistakable gold watch on Joo-young’s wrist.

Tensions rise further when Dong-ju and Jong-hyeon get into a heated spat, eventually challenging each other to a fight, with the loser agreeing to use honorifics. Unaware that Jong-hyeon is a skilled Taekwondo athlete, Dong-ju gets thoroughly beaten, just as Han-na walks in to witness the humiliating scene. At a sparse team dinner later, Man-shik questions why Dong-ju didn’t use his infamous right punch. A flashback hints at a previous punch he landed on Gyeong-il, the aftermath of which remains a mystery. It’s clear Dong-ju held back during the fight for a reason.

Meanwhile, Han-na, still contemplating her resignation, hears about Dong-ju being downcast after his defeat and checks on him. But when she finds him and Man-shik play-fighting in the restaurant, she rolls her eyes and walks away. The next morning, Dong-ju visits Gyeong-il’s mother and reveals the truth about his false confession. Calmly, she says if her son is truly innocent, the truth will prevail.

Dong-ju then visits Gyeong-il in detention and pleads with him to come clean, but Gyeong-il remains silent. Unknown to them, a prison guard secretly reports the meeting to Joo-young, who gives a subtle order to eliminate Gyeong-il. Meanwhile, Dong-ju tracks down the hit-and-run vehicle’s number and starts visiting junkyards in search of more clues. When Man-shik updates Jong-hyeon about Dong-ju’s solo investigation, he casually mentions that the case has been transferred to another department, led by none other than Jong-hyeon’s older brother.

Jong-hyeon pays a visit to his brother to ask for case data, but is quickly shut down. Their exchange reveals a deeper sibling rivalry—Jong-hyeon has long lived in the shadow of his overachieving brother, never able to earn their father’s approval.

Back in the field, Man-shik joins Dong-ju at a junkyard when devastating news breaks: Gyeong-il has died in custody. Dong-ju rushes to the detention centre to find Gyeong-il’s lifeless body, with officials claiming he died by suicide—his “apology” scrawled in blood on the cell wall. Dong-ju is shattered, refusing to believe Gyeong-il would take his own life. When he’s handed Gyeong-il’s belongings, the sight of the gold watch confirms his worst fears—Joo-young was behind this.

Furious, Dong-ju confronts Joo-young again, landing a brutal punch and demanding answers. But once again, he’s dragged back to the station for misconduct. Meanwhile, Han-na starts investigating the watch herself, realising it’s identical to the one her father once wore. She visits a local pawn shop and learns from the owner that the custom watch design was made exclusively for twelve people. Elsewhere, Joo-young eliminates the prison guard who’d lost the incriminating watch during the earlier assault, tying up his loose ends.

Dong-ju, drowning in guilt, visits Gyeong-il’s mother to apologise. But she tells him not to return, as it would only deepen her grief. Back at the police station, Dong-ju breaks down inside the dormitory. Han-na, standing outside the door holding one of his medals, hears his sobs.

The next day, Han-na receives news that her family home is up for sale. Outraged, she confronts her mother, who causes a scene at the station. Han-na lashes out, accusing her of disrespecting her late father’s memory. Dong-ju overhears the argument but remains quiet, respecting Han-na’s privacy. As she walks away, memories flood her mind—the day she lost her championship. Overwhelmed by stress, she had collapsed mid-match, and all her sponsors immediately cut ties. In frustration, she’d chopped off her hair.

Back in the present, Han-na collapses from similar symptoms, and Dong-ju catches her just in time—just as he had done years ago. As she lies in his arms, Han-na realises how much emotional weight Dong-ju carries while still looking out for others. Later, they talk, and she returns his medal, encouraging him to stay steady and follow his passion. Her words renew his resolve.

Armed with new evidence, Dong-ju confronts Joo-young once more. When provoked, Dong-ju unleashes his iconic punch—not on Joo-young, but on a glass window. As he walks away, the glass shatters behind him, proving the terrifying strength of his blow. It’s then revealed that Gyeong-il’s injury came from Dong-ju’s punch during a past fight, the guilt of which made Dong-ju vow never to use it again—except on someone truly deserving, like Joo-young.

Good Boy Episode 3 Review

The episode also delivers on dynamics—whether it’s the sibling rivalry between Jong-hyeon and his elite brother, or Han-na’s heartbreaking confrontation with her past. The scene where Dong-ju holds Han-na as she faints, echoing a similar moment from their past, adds a tender layer to their growing bond. The pacing is sharp, and the flashbacks are used meaningfully, never dragging the present timeline.

Joo-young emerges as a chillingly calm villain, always one step ahead, yet increasingly aware of Dong-ju’s rising threat. With an emotional cliffhanger and the glass-punch scene marking a dramatic turning point, Episode 3 proves Good Boy is not just about brawn—it’s about the heavy emotional cost of being good in a world that doesn’t always reward it.

Good Boy is streaming on Prime Video.

Also read: All Recaps and Reviews of Good Boy Kdrama

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