The Potato Lab Episode 10 Review: Roots of Loathsome Betrayal

In The Potato Lab Episode 9, Mi-kyung is forced to confront her painful past when she realizes that Hee-jin, the woman she’s been interacting with, is the same person Ki-se left her for six years ago. Meanwhile, Ki-se and Hee-jin finally have a heated confrontation, revealing the cracks in their failed marriage. As Mi-kyung processes the emotional turmoil, Baek-ho offers quiet support, leading to a tender moment between them.

Elsewhere, lab antics bring comic relief as Seung-hoon’s carelessness causes chaos, and Ong-ju’s unexpected departure leads to shocking revelations about her history with Mi-kyung’s brother. As the episode takes a somber turn with the death of Ki-se’s father, he’s forced to acknowledge his mistakes and lingering regrets. In a final, emotional moment, he breaks down in front of Mi-kyung—just as Baek-ho discovers the truth about their past relationship, setting the stage for even more drama ahead.

– Contains Spoilers –

The Potato Lab Episode 10 Recap

Episode 10 of The Potato Lab opens with a sombre moment outside the funeral hall, where Ki-se and Mi-kyung stand together, the weight of grief pressing heavily upon them. Mi-kyung, ever perceptive, recognizes that Ki-se’s sorrow is spilling over into his actions, affecting those around him. After offering him a kerchief as a small gesture of comfort, she chooses to leave, giving him space to process his emotions. Unbeknownst to them, Baek-ho happens to be sitting in his car nearby, witnessing this exchange. Though clearly affected by what he sees, Baek-ho refuses to discuss it with Mi-kyung, instead keeping his thoughts to himself.

Baek-ho’s silence is rooted in guilt, a burden he has carried for six years. A flashback reveals that CEO Yoon had once tasked him with handling a delicate issue—Mi-kyung and Ki-se’s relationship troubles—quietly and efficiently. Unraveling the threads of the past, Baek-ho comes to a painful realization: he was the catalyst for Mi-kyung’s early struggles at Wonhan.

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Both she and Ki-se had started working at the company on the same day, yet unbeknownst to them, forces were already at play that would dictate their futures. As the pieces fall into place, Baek-ho is consumed with guilt, understanding that he was the root cause of Mi-kyung’s misery all those years ago. Overcome with emotion, he seeks her out at the Guesthouse and pulls her into a tight embrace. He longs to tell her the truth but wrestles with the right moment to do so, knowing it could change everything between them.

Back at the funeral hall, CEO Yoon arrives to check on Ki-se, noting his haggard appearance and suggesting he take additional time off to recover before returning to work. Her words are less about genuine concern and more about ensuring he presents himself well in the professional sphere. As their conversation unfolds, Yoon reveals that Baek-ho recently came to see her, probing into the past. She had laid everything bare to him, including the extent to which their family had gone to keep Mi-kyung quiet. Baek-ho, upon learning the truth, is deeply disturbed, realizing he has been complicit in a system that hurt someone he now holds dear.

Still grappling with his emotions, Baek-ho turns to Ms. Hong for guidance. The two share a quiet conversation, their bond strengthened by a previous encounter in which he saved a cow’s calf. Though he doesn’t directly state his troubles, he alludes to his internal conflict—his growing fear of losing something precious. Ms. Hong, wise in her years, speaks about grief, the difficulty of letting go, and the ways in which people carry the weight of their past.

Her words linger in Baek-ho’s mind as he later joins Mi-kyung for a walk, still struggling to articulate his thoughts. However, they are repeatedly interrupted—by phone calls, passing fireflies, and the simple distractions of life. Eventually, he decides to postpone his confession, instead opting to accompany Mi-kyung to the upcoming Potato Lab picnic the next day.

The picnic itself is far from glamorous. The site they arrive at is run-down and dilapidated, a far cry from what they had envisioned. Yet, Mi-kyung, ever the optimist, makes the best of the situation, rallying the others to join her in a friendly game of ball. However, their joy is short-lived when an unexpected group arrives—the researchers from Kim Jungmi Food’s Sweet Potato Lab.

For years, an unspoken rivalry has existed between potatoes and sweet potatoes, with tensions running high in the agricultural industry. Their presence sparks old wounds, as the Potato Lab team recalls the numerous times they have been forcibly removed from markets and outlets. The rivalry, it seems, is as raw now as it was in the past.

Sensing the brewing conflict, Baek-ho steps in, using his quick wit to de-escalate the situation. By cheekily referring to them as mere “dessert researchers,” he undermines their authority, making it clear that the Potato Lab is here to stay. As a final power move, he decides to fund a more lavish space for Wonhan’s potato researchers, ensuring they no longer have to settle for subpar conditions.

Later that night, Baek-ho and Mi-kyung find themselves alone, lying on a bed together, sharing a rare quiet moment. They inch closer, the atmosphere thick with anticipation, and just as they are about to kiss, little Su-jin, Jung-hae’s daughter, bursts into the room. Startled, they immediately pull away. Su-jin has been searching for Baek-ho for some time, eager to rope him into a game of “princess.” Ever the good sport, he gets into character, much to the amusement of those watching.

However, the lighthearted mood takes a dramatic turn when Su-jin unwittingly reveals a piece of critical information—Baek-ho has fired Mi-kyung from the lab. Until this moment, none of the others had been aware of this decision, and an awkward silence blankets the group. Though Baek-ho doesn’t attempt to hide the truth, the revelation leaves an undeniable heaviness in the air. The other researchers are deeply saddened, while Baek-ho himself is left grappling with an overwhelming sense of guilt.

Seeking solace, Mi-kyung takes Baek-ho to a hidden greenhouse, one even Ong-ju doesn’t know about. Here, she confesses that she has no plans to give up her research, regardless of where she ends up. Her passion for potatoes remains steadfast, and she assures him that her dreams will not change, especially since she has found happiness with him. Her words are meant to reassure him, but for Baek-ho, they only amplify his guilt. Unable to bear it any longer, he rushes off, needing space to process everything.

Elsewhere, Ki-se finally musters the courage to talk to Mi-kyung. He acknowledges his past mistakes, admitting that he regrets how they parted ways. He has been trying to adopt a more positive outlook, just as she once encouraged him to do. However, as Mi-kyung prepares to walk away, he stops her, warning her not to place too much trust in Baek-ho. His words are laced with implication, hinting at the secrets Baek-ho has been keeping from her.

Later, Mi-kyung learns another harsh truth. Seung-hoon, who had been working at the Potato Lab, was never truly there for research—he had been sent as a spy to watch over her and Baek-ho. Now that his mission is complete, he is packing up and returning to headquarters. Before leaving, he reveals the full extent of what he knows, including Baek-ho’s involvement in “what happened to her.”

That night, as Mi-kyung reflects on everything, she hears a rumour about Baek-ho crying at Ms. Hong’s place. Intrigued and concerned, she decides to wait outside his house, hoping for an explanation. However, before she can confront him, Baek-ho arrives, already prepared to tell her the truth.

In a moment of raw honesty, he admits everything. He confesses that he was instructed to push her out of the company and that he did so in a way that avoided legal trouble. He had been ordered to isolate her, to make her feel unwelcome, to break her spirit until she left on her own. At the time, she was just another name on his list—he had no idea who she truly was or how important she would become in his life. Now, standing before her, he acknowledges that she endured unimaginable hardships because of him. While his superiors were the architects of her suffering, he was the tool they used to make it happen.

Mi-kyung is left reeling. Just as she had begun to find stability, the foundation of her past is shaken once more. The weight of this revelation threatens to undo all the progress she has made. The episode ends on this gut-wrenching note, leaving the future of their relationship uncertain.

The Potato Lab Episode 10 Review

From Baek-ho’s silent torment to Mi-kyung’s resilience, every moment is charged with tension, keeping us on the edge of our seats. And just when things get too heavy, we get a ridiculous yet oddly satisfying face-off between the Potato Lab and their arch-nemesis, the Sweet Potato Lab—because, of course, the battle between root vegetables must be taken seriously!

But the real gut-punch comes in the final moments when Baek-ho drops the truth bomb that could shatter everything he’s built with Mi-kyung. After episodes of slow-burn romance, unexpected tenderness, and one hilariously interrupted almost-kiss (thanks, Su-jin!), the weight of his past choices finally crashes down on them.

Will Mi-kyung ever forgive him? Will Baek-ho ever forgive himself? With secrets unraveling and emotions at an all-time high, this episode proves that The Potato Lab isn’t just about research—it’s about survival, love, and, apparently, some very serious potato politics.

The Potato Lab is streaming on Netflix.

Also read: All The Potato Lab Reviews!

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