The premiere episode of "Black Out," also known as "Snow White Must Die," plunges us into the dark and twisted tale of Ko Jung-woo, a young man whose life takes a nightmarish turn when he's accused of a heinous crime he doesn't remember committing. The episode opens with a grim discovery in 2013: the brutal murder of two young girls, Bo-yeong and Da-eun, at an abandoned warehouse. The police investigation quickly focuses on Jung-woo, who is found with the victims' blood on his car and no recollection of the night in question.
The narrative unfolds with a series of flashbacks that provide glimpses into Jung-woo's life before the murders. We see him as a high school student, celebrating the end of his CSAT Exam with plans to attend a prestigious medical school. His life seems charmed, but it's clear that something is amiss. His parents are away, and he's left to his own devices, which leads him to invite friends over for a drink. When Da-eun, one of his friends, doesn't answer his call, Jung-woo goes to her house, setting off a chain of events that will alter his destiny.
In a tragic twist, Jung-woo finds Bo-yeong crying in his father's car and argues with her over Da-eun. The night takes a darker turn as he drinks alone, eventually passing out. The next morning, his world comes crashing down as he's arrested and charged with the murder of his friends.
The police investigation is fraught with tension and suspicion. Detective Kim Hee-do is assigned to the case, and he's faced with a challenging puzzle. Jung-woo's friends provide statements that implicate him, and the evidence seems to stack up against the young man. However, Jung-woo's mother stands by her son, and his uncle, Chief Hyun Gu-tak, is torn between his duty as a police officer and his loyalty to his family.
As the trial progresses, Jung-woo's alibi is weak, and the physical evidence is damning. He's subjected to a lie detector test, and the police find his shoes stained with the victims' blood. The theory that Jung-woo was suffering from a blackout during the murders gains traction, and he's eventually sentenced to a decade in prison.
The episode delves into Jung-woo's harrowing experience in prison, where he's met with hostility and violence. His only visitor, Deok-mi, provides a glimmer of hope amidst the despair. She's unwavering in her support, even as Jung-woo becomes more and more distant, consumed by his quest to remember the night of the murders.
Upon his release, Jung-woo is a changed man, hardened by his time behind bars. Deok-mi, now known as Na-kyeom, has risen to fame as an international model. She's still there for him, picking him up from prison and taking him to his father's grave. The episode is punctuated with moments of reflection and regret, as Jung-woo grapples with the loss of his father and the estrangement from his mother.
The tension builds as Jung-woo confronts his past and the people who were once close to him. He's met with hostility and suspicion, particularly from Bo-young's father, who refuses to let the past rest. Meanwhile, Jung-woo's mother, Geum-hee, has built a wall around herself, unable to forgive her son for the crimes he's accused of.
The episode concludes with a shocking twist: Geum-hee falls to her death from a rooftop, just as Jung-woo is about to reconcile with her. The painting left by Su-oh, a sketch of the warehouse from the night of the murder, suggests that there's more to the story than meets the eye.
"Black Out" sets the stage for a gripping mystery that will keep viewers on the edge of their seats. The first episode is a masterclass in suspense, laying the groundwork for a complex narrative that explores themes of guilt, memory, and the consequences of our actions. With a compelling cast of characters and a plot that's as intricate as a spider's web, this drama promises to be a thrilling ride.