Episode 3 of the K-Drama The Witch dives into the mysterious origin behind Park Mi-jeong (Roh Jeong-eui) and the seemingly insatiable need of Lee Dong-jin (Park Jin-young) to discover the truth. This episode is key as it explains the mysterious reason Mi-jeong left their hometown 10 years ago and the events that have tormented both women.The episode begins with a flashback to Mi-jeong's high school years, highlighting the growing ostracism she experienced because of the superstitions that had her marked as a "witch."To the male students who had the courage to ask her, she revealed a twist of fate marked by a series of unfortunate events. This led to the death of a classmate who was struck by lightning while climbing her roof in an act of kindness. The incident deepened the town's obsession with the curse, which resulted in Mi-jeong's social ostracism.Episode 3 shifts back to Dong-jin's (Park Jin-young) narration as he chronicles going to college, meeting Jung-hyuk, and how he befriended the lonesome boy. The episode ends with Dong-jin's mother saying that she was the reason Mi-jeong was kicked out of the town years ago. As she lies on her deathbed, she asks Dong-jin to prove Mi-jeong's innocence to the world.The Witch episode 3: Dong-jin's quest to prove Mi-jeong's innocence beginsIn episode 3 of The Witch, Dong-jin learns why Mi-jeong left the town through a series of conversations and investigative efforts. He discovers that she did that not because of society's ostracism but rather for an even more personal and traumatic reason.Viewers learn that Mi-jeong's father, driven to desperation by the community's unrelenting attacks on his daughter, fights with a fellow town resident to protect her. This decision was influenced by a tragic event in which Mi-jeong, overwhelmed by her suffering, quit her school and stayed locked up in her room for months.After her father dies in The Witch episode 2, in an attempt to protect Mi-jeong from a snake bite, the village people have a meeting to kick her out. Meanwhile, it is Dong-jin's mother who leads the rally at Mi-jeong's house, who has just lost her father a few days ago. They ask her to leave the town, never to return.Dong-jin's mother, who has been suffering from cancer, tells him the truth as she takes her last breaths. She tells him that she feels guilty of making Mi-jeong leave her home. Dong-jin learns that his mother also bought Mi-jeong's house and her father's potato field so that she can hand it over to Mi-jeong someday.Dong-jin's realization of this truth marks a pivotal moment in the series. It not only enhances his understanding of Mi-jeong's struggles but also ignites his resolve to confront the baseless superstitions that have haunted her.He starts to reflect on the past coincidences, proposing that the so-called "curse" might actually be a string of unfortunate events magnified by collective panic and confirmation bias in the community.Dong-jin's mother requests Dong-jin to prove Mi-jeong's innocence that she is not a "witch" so that she can rest in peace after she dies. In The Witch episode 3, his mother succumbs to her illness, leaving Dong-jin all alone in the world. As his mother's bier is carried to the burial site, he vows to reveal the truth behind Mi-jeong's alleged curse.In The Witch, Park Jin-young plays Lee Dong-jin, a character caught between guilt and resolve. His subtle acting captures the inner conflict of a man striving for redemption for not being there for his friend when she needed him most.Roh Jeong-eui represents the delicate balance of fragility and strength in Park Mi-jeong, expressing the emotional struggle of someone weighed down by societal bias. Their chemistry on-screen enriches the story, making their journey both relatable and captivating.Also read: Channel A reveals preview of Jin Sun-kyu's cameo for The WitchThe Witch episode 4 will be aired on February 23, 2025, on TVING and Viki.