Rebel X Detective 2 Debuts with a Chilling 6.1% Rating Amid Bomb Threats

The premiere of Rebel X Detective 2 on SBS delivered a gripping start filled with suspense and action. Broadcast on the 7th, the show featured protagonist Jin Yi-soo, played by Ahn Bo-hyun, becoming the target of a bomb threat while investigating a string of bombings alongside police counter-terrorism unit leader Joo Hye-ra (Jung Eun-chae) and the Strong Crime Team.

The initial ratings reached 6.1% nationwide, peaking at 6.9%, surpassing the first episode of season one, which had garnered 5.8%. However, it couldn't claim the top spot in the weekend mini-series ranking as MBC’s Married Killer scored an impressive 8.3%.

The episode kicked off dramatically, showcasing Jin Yi-soo aboard a luxurious private jet heading to Mexico. There, he and his team, including Park Jun-young (Kang Sang-jun) and Choi Kyung-jin (Kim Shin-bi), aimed to apprehend a multi-level scammer they had tracked from Korea.

“Because of you, I’ve rented this entire jet and flown us here,” Jin Yi-soo declared, before the team executed a thrilling apprehension of the suspects. Yet, the plot thickens as Jin Yi-soo’s narcissistic tendencies were highlighted when he was cast as the subject of a documentary series called “The Specialist,” which focused on influential figures in society.

Out of the blue, he received a disturbing message from an anonymous tipster: "I have a gift for you." Motivated to show off in front of the filming crew, Jin Yi-soo led his team to a department store at the tipster’s direction, only to find the anticipated “gift” was a bomb. In a critical error, he accidentally activated the detonator, placing himself in imminent danger.

The police’s counter-terrorism unit arrived just in time to diffuse the bomb, but not without Jin Yi-soo becoming a public spectacle as he scrambled to safety in front of the crew. To make matters worse, Joo Hye-ra, who had previously been a strict trainer at the police academy, was called in to lead the investigation into the bomb threat. The world soon learned about Jin Yi-soo's embarrassing debacle as news outlets reported on the incident, essentially immortalizing his mishap.

The situation escalated further when Joo Hye-ra was dispatched to assist in the ongoing investigation. Meanwhile, Jin Yi-soo attended a promotional event for his self-developed whiskey brand, dismissing the gravity of the bomb threat as mere antics. Joo Hye-ra, concerned for his safety, chose to accompany him.

Just as the event seemed to proceed without incident, Jin Yi-soo received another menacing message from the perpetrator, challenging him with, "Chief Jin, did you think the game was over? ROUND 2." Moments later, an explosion erupted amid whiskey barrels, putting Jin Yi-soo, Joo Hye-ra, Park Jun-young, and Choi Kyung-jin in immediate danger, marking Jin Yi-soo as a target in a series of linked bomb threats.

Unsure of who was after him, Jin Yi-soo was prompted by Joo Hye-ra to reflect on his past, leading him to think of his imprisoned brother, Jin Seung-joo (Kwak Si-yang). As the investigation unfolded, no strong suspects emerged from those he questioned, complicating matters further.

Faced with the uncertainty, Joo Hye-ra decided to relocate Jin Yi-soo to a safe house herself. However, during the drive, they discovered a timed bomb in their vehicle, one that could cause catastrophic damage within a 100-meter radius, with less than five minutes remaining before detonation.

In a desperate bid for safety, Jin Yi-soo shrewdly declared, “I know where to go,” and took control of the car, steering it toward the Han River yacht dock. Thus, Jin Yi-soo, Joo Hye-ra, and a ticking time bomb were racing toward the water in a high-stakes finale.