The First Responders Season 2 Episode 3 premiered on August 11, 2023, with a total runtime of 60 minutes. It is a new thriller K-drama series directed by Shin Kyung-soo and written by Min Ji-eun. The series (소방서 옆 경찰서) stars Kim Rae-won as Jin Ho-gae, Son Ho-jun as Bong Do-jin, and Gong Seung-yeon as Song Seol. The supporting and recurring cast includes Jung Jin-woo, Lee Jung-hu, Ji Woo, Jung Sang-hoon, Kang Gi-doong, Son Ji-yoon, Woo Mi-hwa, Seo Hyun-chul, Lee Hwa-jung, Jo Seung-yeon, Seo Jae-kyu, Lee Do-yub, Jo Hee-bong, Jeon Kuk-Hwan and more.

The second season premiered on SBS TV on August 4, 2023, and airs every Friday and Saturday at 10 pm KST, while the first season premiered on November 12, 2022, with a total of 12 episodes. The First Responders Season 2 takes over SBS’s Friday-Saturday 10 PM KST timeslot previously occupied by Revenant.

-The First Responders Season 2 Episode 3 Recap Contains Spoilers-

The third episode picks up from where the last one ended. Do-jin sits beside Song Seol and hands over the ring that he planned to propose to her with. In a montage of flashbacks, it is shown how he took the measurements for a ring and so on. However, eventually it turns out that Do-jin was not sitting beside Song Seol, and it was just an imagination. The doctors perform procedures to save Song Seol’s life repeatedly.

On the other hand, Ho-gae walks over to check out to whom the dead body belonged to. He noticed that the person was wearing a fire department uniform, and it was most likely a fireman. As he removes the covers, it is revealed that the body belongs to none other than Do-jin. The entire fire department breaks down as they are shocked to find him dead.

The doctors are eventually able to rescue Song Seol. Ho-gae informs her of the news as soon as she wakes up. The fire department and the police department both pay respects to Do-jin’s dead body and attend his cremation. A veil of sadness covers both the departments and the lives of the employees. However, before the cremation, the doctors perform an autopsy in which they find fragments of candles inside Do-jin’s stomach.

Meanwhile, Tae-hwa gets out of prison to pay respects to his dead father in the grave. However, his lawyer tells him to stop at the restroom on the way because he kept pills which cause his kidneys to stop working temporarily. Tae-hwa pretends to have a stomach ache and enters the washroom. He ingests the pills and soon after is hospitalised as he has kidney failure.

The fire department starts to investigate the cause of the second fire and the candle fragments found inside Do-jin’s stomach. After conducting experiments, they concluded that candles were used to cause another fire, and Do-jin saw it before dying. Minutes before, he ate the candle in order to preserve the evidence for the police.

The police department also finds a lead. There was a person who was near the crime scene minutes before the fire broke out. After tracing the number, they realised that it belongs to the head of the fire department, and the police start to interrogate her. However, Song Seol comes in time and reveals that the fire was caused by the candles and planned by one person.

Ho-gae finds out that the candles are manufactured only in one place and heads out to find out where. The picture and address of an old man appear, and they figure out that he is the victim of the first fire. Song Seol goes to Do-jin’s house and finds a photo of the same man. When she is at the elevator, she comes to face to face with the man. When the elevator stops, the man tries to attack Song Seol and the episode ends on that note.

Also Read: 2023 World Scout Jamboree Kpop Super Live Performances: NCT Dream, NewJeans, ZEROBASEONE and More Take the Stage

The First Responders Season 2 Episode 3 Review: Final Thoughts

The third episode of the series is an emotional one as a major character’s death rattles everyone. Do-jin was an important part of the core story, and although his demise is sad, the character receives a respectful farewell. Suspense and thrill continue to elevate the storyline and keep the audience on edge. Moreover, the twists and turns are so unpredictable that it makes it impossible for one to figure out the plot ahead. The actors have done an incredible job, and a special mention goes to Son Ho-jun for portraying Do-jin’s character beautifully and leaving behind a void which cannot be filled by anyone else.

The First Responders Season 2 Episode 3 is now streaming on Disney+ Hotstar.

Did you watch The First Responders Season 2 Episode 3? Let us know in the comments below!

Also Read: 7 Best K-drama Frenemies We Love: Goblin and Grim Reaper, Jang Uk and Go Won, and More!