Trigger Episode 1 recap: The inner demon is finally unleashed 

Netflix's latest dystopian K-drama, Trigger, starring Kim Nam-gil, premiered this week with a blast, and so far, the response looks quite promising. With a unique plotline, star-studded cast, and impeccable creative direction, Trigger has been successful in building tension from the very first episode.

Kwon Oh-seung's original series opens on a rather gray tone with South Korea suffering from an increased number of cases of violence, suicides of young students, and the use of illegal arms. For a nation with strict laws in place to regulate gun ownership, Trigger Episode 1 presents a contrasting scenario.

Our protagonist is a police officer named Lee Do (played by Nam-gil) who finds himself amidst a state of anarchy. What happens when someone loses his calm? What happens when the inner demons are unleashed? Do they pull the trigger? Let's find out how the drama unfolds.

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Trigger Episode 1 starts off on a rather chaotic note

Trigger Episode 1 keeps its focus on a young civil servant aspirant named Yoo Jung-tae (Woo Ji-hyeon), who is portrayed as a young man struggling with his inner demons. The society indulges in unjustified things that seem to bother him the most.

As witnessed in the first episode, Jung-tae is seen taking the subway, where he engages in a confrontation with a man who refuses to allow a pregnant woman to take the seat designated for her. On the other hand, an apparent lunatic is witnessed selling gun-shaped lighters inside the train.

Thanks to adept direction and solid acting, Jung-tae's exact expressions accurately define his inner state of mind - a tumult that is being harnessed by a 'Trigger'. As the scene shifts, we see Jung-tae arriving at his English Academy, where his teacher's harsh words provoke him to the brim.

Jung-tae takes out a rifle from his bag and starts randomly shooting at people inside the classroom - the good thing is that it's only going on in his mind. But for how long? That remains to be seen.

Jung-tae is portrayed as a chaotic character whose heart is constantly at odds with his head. Even with his therapist helping him out with treatment and medication, Jung-tae seems to be struggling. And this is where the plot finds an orifice.

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Trigger Episode 1 opens with a harrowing case of suicide and mysterious bullets

As we move to the next scene in Trigger Episode 1, detective Lee Do is seen investigating a case of suicide, and upon further digging, the police discover multiple bullets from the victim's pockets. When Lee Do arrives at the scene (thanks to his expertise in homicide), he spots something in the ceiling of the room.

As he punches his way through, we see multiple rounds of bullets (stacked inside) start falling - something which takes the Korean police quite aback. According to Lee Do's expertise, the bullets found at the scene are only used by a small percentage of the military - something that is not easily accessible.

Trigger Episode 1 once again brings the spotlight back on Jung-tae, who is seen studying in his rented room. However, the noise from a probable s*xual encounter next door seems to be bothering him a lot, affecting his preparation - the pressure is mounting and the threshold appears to be close.

As the cameras shift, we see Lee Do eating at a restaurant with one of his friends (probably from back in his days in the military). The conversation reveals that Lee is an expert in the type of case he is handling, and his friend warns against getting 'too involved'. It is also learnt that Lee Do is still struggling with his war trauma as intense flashbacks from the field reveal an unknown soldier calling his name for help.

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Officer Gu Jeong-man comes on board to assist and learn from Lee Do

Trigger Episode 1 reveals a young, bright-faced officer, Gu Jeong-man (portrayed by Park Hoon), and Lee Do is assigned as his training officer. Seeing Lee at the station doing a desk job, Jeong-man questions him, to which his senior replies that being in the police involves a lot of paperwork.

Young, ambitious officer Jeong-man expresses his desire to catch every last criminal and rise through the ranks at an early age. However, Lee Do guides him, saying that there is a lot more to the job they have been assigned.

As they go on a patrol run, they come across an old female protester (protesting against her son's death while on duty) who already seems to have an acquaintance with the Lee Do. He further comforts her, saying that she is within her legal rights to protest as long as it does not lead to a mass gathering or a rally. A kind Lee Do also offers her some food to eat, since the old lady seems to be in bad shape.

Later in Trigger Episode 1, Lee Do is also seen saving Jeong-man from the attack of a s*x offender whose house they visit to check his monitor. Not only that, but Lee also arrives at the right time to rescue a young woman who is seen trapped in the clutches of the criminal, as mentioned earlier. It also demonstrates his presence of mind and the ability to remain aware in every situation.

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Jung-tae keeps losing his calm and seems to be not far from pulling the "Trigger"

Although Jung-tae appears to be in a supporting role so far, his chaotic arc is pivotal to the plot's unraveling. He is a young guy who suffers from anger issues and borderline clinical depression.

Jung-tae is also seen attending sessions with his therapist to calm things down, but everything around him always seems to go wrong. He lives in a rented room that is part of a large building, which he shares with other students and working professionals.

Despite sticking notes to his food kept in the standard refrigerator, it gets stolen every day. Jung-tae does not like it all because his mom cooks all of it herself and sends it to him. Even the floor manager/caretaker seems to be reluctant about his food going missing. On top of that, the building appears to be full of bullies and reckless young adults whose encounters with Jung-tae bother him to the brim.

In one of the sequences in Trigger Episode 1, Jung-tae is seen pulling out a machine gun from his bag and pointing at the wall connecting to the room next to him (where a couple's loud se*ual activities have made it really difficult for him to concentrate on his studies). He is almost on the verge of pulling the "Trigger," but his brain somehow resists.

Here comes the main question. Where did he get the guns? And where did the dozens of bullets (at the scene of the suicide) come from? It appears that South Korea is no longer a safe state, and the ordinary people have easy access to ammunition. However, the mystery remains to be untangled.

As the plot progresses, we see Jung-tae taking up a colder outlook. He seems to be tired of people stealing his food, bullying him, and not listening to what he says - to what is the right thing to do. Now the only remaining option is to take matters into his own hands and pull the "Trigger".

The next evening at Yeongseong Gosiwon (where Jung-tae lives) comes with a massacre. Not able to control himself anymore and triggered to the brim by people, Jung-tae takes out his gun once again. He points it at the couple next door and randomly starts shooting - leaving the thin wall wide open.

The boy (on the other side) is seen sustaining major injuries from the bullets, while the girl was lucky enough. This time, we see the inner psychopath of Jung-tae as he walks into their room, blames the boy for turning him into a monster, and shoots him to death from point-blank range.

As Trigger Episode 1 nears its conclusion, Jung-tae goes around the building and targets another guy who has been bullying him and stealing his food for a long time. This time, our young antagonist shows no mercy.

On the other hand, Lee Do receives a message on his walkie-talkie about the shootings and immediately rushes to the spot. But Jung-tae has already locked the building from inside and, with a gun in his hand, holds every single person hostage.

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Stay tuned to Soap Central for more updates on Trigger.

Also Read: Hooked to Netflix's Trigger already? Watch these 5 K-thrillers next, and you won't regret it