ChaO Episode 1: Episode 1

The episode begins with an animated storybook, unfurling a tale of a blue-skinned prince and a sleeping princess. After rousing her with a magical apple, their love blossoms, witnessed by a young man who loves the sea. This romantic interlude quickly turns perilous when the young man battles a sea monster and is gravely wounded, sinking to the ocean floor. A beautiful mermaid rescues him, and they too fall in love, overcoming societal prejudice to celebrate a grand wedding. The storybook closes, its final text proclaiming a new chapter in human-mermaid friendship.

We are thrust into a futuristic Shanghai as Stephen, a young man with dark hair, anxiously converses on his smartphone in a transport pod. He frets about missing an idol group interview, his urgency palpable. To save time, Stephen leaps from the moving pod into a transparent, water-filled mermaid pathway, ignoring the alarms of a control worker. He races through the vibrant aquatic tunnel, jostling with sea creatures, before bursting out onto a dock, gasping for air.

Stephen scrambles towards a departing ship, only to be mocked by Juno, a rival journalist, who has secured the exclusive interview Stephen so desperately wanted. Defeated, Stephen watches Juno sail away, then retrieves a worn red book from his pocket. The book features an illustration of a man with long black hair, suggesting a historical figure. Stephen clutches the book, clearly disheartened by his failure and drawn to the tales of old.

Stephen barely makes it onto the ship, navigating its cramped, cold interior filled with hanging fish. He eventually finds the man from his book, the legendary Elder Stephan, who is on the deck, looking contemplative. Stephen attempts to ask if he is 'the famous Stephan', but the older man dismisses him. Later, in a cozy room, Stephen, now wrapped in a blanket, explains to Elder Stephan that he has admired his story since childhood and wants to know the truth. Elder Stephan takes the book, initially skeptical of being a hero, but intrigued by the boy's passion.

The narrative shifts abruptly to Elder Stephan's messy apartment, where he is rudely awakened by a self-made robot alarm clock that violently jostles him out of bed. His morning routine is a comical rush, as he runs through bustling streets, greets a woman brushing her teeth, gives a bottle to a child pulling a cart, and skillfully navigates traffic on a motorcycle. This chaotic journey culminates in him arriving at work, just in time to witness a news report on a subway screen.

On the subway screen, the news reports on a meeting between Mermaid King Neptunus and Mr. Sea, president of Ship Holdings. The Mermaid King angrily condemns human ships' propellers, which harm merfolk. He dramatically transforms into a penguin-like creature, denouncing human hypocrisy and demanding resolution. He defiantly opposes the production of 'dangerous iron machines,' leaving the subway commuters, and a visibly concerned Elder Stephan, to ponder his powerful protest.

Stephen arrives at the grand Ship Holdings building, rushing through the opulent interior to face his Boss. He is immediately scolded for being late, then ushered into the President's minimalist, luxurious office. The imposing President questions Stephen's commitment to the company, particularly his airjet project, which is designed to prevent harm to sea creatures. Despite the President's furious skepticism, Stephen firmly declares he believes people would invest in such technology, even if he cannot afford a ship himself. The President, surprisingly, then boasts of his new yacht and invites Stephen to ride it, which turns into Stephen scrubbing its deck.

As Stephen scrubs the yacht's deck, a giant whale emerges, startling him and sending massive waves over the vessel. Stephen is thrown into the water, finding himself face-to-face with the drenched Mermaid King Neptunus, who then drags him to shore in his penguin form. Stephen wakes in a hospital bed, where the President greets him with surprising warmth, calling himself Stephen's 'older brother' and embracing his airjet idea. A misinterpretation leads Mermaid King Neptunus to congratulate Stephen on his 'girlfriend', prompting Stephen to impulsively propose marriage to the Mermaid King to save face, much to everyone's shock.

News of the 'mermaid princess' marrying an 'ordinary citizen' flashes across a market screen, much to the delight of an Elderly Woman and Elderly Man in Elder Stephan's cluttered shop. They celebrate the fated human-mermaid union, hoping for friendship between the species and a child for the couple. Elder Stephan, however, remains steadfast, pouring himself a drink and declaring, 'I won't marry a fish.' The Elderly Woman expresses concern for him since his parents passed away and tries to convince him, emphasizing inner beauty over species, but Elder Stephan insists, 'She is a mermaid.'

Elder Stephan walks out of his dimly lit shop, and a blue-skinned Mermaid emerges from the water, looking sad. She confronts him, asking why he doesn't want to be with her. Elder Stephan regretfully states they are from different worlds, but the Mermaid defiantly declares she doesn't care. Despite her desperate pleas, Elder Stephan turns his back and walks away, leaving her heartbroken and alone, tears falling into the dark water.

Following his daughter's despair, Mermaid King Neptunus bursts from the water, transformed into an enraged, muscular figure with glowing red eyes. He confronts Elder Stephan, who is now depicted as a frightened, fish-like creature with green skin. The Mermaid King shouts at Elder Stephan, accusing him of lying and making his daughter cry. He menacingly warns Elder Stephan that he will regret his actions, his voice booming with fury in the ominous darkness.