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Wish I could kick their husbands myself
It was a good story with decent enacting. Overall a fun watch with a bit of anger issues towards the husbands.I liked the friendship, I think that’s what made this worthwhile. Seeing them going so far to protect each other was very satisfying.
However, had she not been lucky to meet the CEO of the marketplace, this whole story would have failed sadly. To be honest, I did like his role in the story, but at some point it’s obvious that without him, they would have failed and probably ended up dead because of Jin young.
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Strong female leads but at what cost?
The first 4 episodes of the drama are by far the best. They introduce us to our main characters excellently and I felt they managed to show not tell us a lot within a short span of time. I truly enjoyed the cinematic shots and the main leads, particularly Hui-su, were so evocative I need to see more recognition for her range. That being said, I felt the drop off towards the end, particularly with Kang Jang's character.The concept of a lookalike alone was very interesting since it involves making people think the murder victim is still alive. I dislike how they had Kang Jang come back to blackmail the two main leads. It just contradicts his previous characterisation and uses the cheap clichè of a poor man being swayed by greed. Additionally, despite such a strong presence in the first episode, the Mahjong guy (sorry his name eludes me since I am writing this a few days after watching), could have been involved more earlier without placing the main leads as damsel in distress.
Anyway, there is rewatch potential but seeing Hui-su get beat up and dragged by the hair by Jin-pyo had me on the verge of tears, and I will most certainly be skipping the blackmail scenes when I do come back to rewatch this.
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Woah.
Everything about this from start to finish was amazing. The cinematography, the acting, the story. You can really tell that every little detail was carefully crafted, the amount of symbolic messaging that I picked up on was crazy! Maybe it's because I haven't watched a lot of kdramas but I seriously have never seen one that pays so much to detail. The topic of abuse is so heavy and sensitive that I was terrified that they'd misrepresent it somehow but they really went above and beyond my expectations. 10/10, would recommend.Was this review helpful to you?
Eyes Filled with Pain and Determination
This is a dark, tense, and truly harrowing story—about the price of silence, about trauma, and about how far a person is willing to go to protect those they love.The plot never lets you relax and can be quite brutal at times. Neither skills nor truth can save you when the other side has more power, money, and influence. If it weren’t for the "safety net" in the form of Mr. Jang, the ending for the heroines would have been far more tragic. Yet it’s precisely within this sense of hopelessness that the theme of female friendship truly unfolds: the women hold on to each other, showing resilience, resourcefulness, and a willingness to sacrifice themselves.
The acting is a standout strength. The lead actress doesn’t just play her role—she lives it. You can see pain, fear, and resolve all at once in her eyes, making you believe in her until the very end. The antagonists are also remarkably well-developed, their hypocrisy is so vivid it triggers an almost physical revulsion.
But there are some pretty questionable moments: the plotline with the double feels like something out of a sci-fi movie and sticks out from the overall realistic tone. In real life, something like that wouldn’t work. In situations like these, the fewer people "in the know," the lower the chances of getting caught. And some plot details, especially those related to the consequences and punishment, raise questions. I still don’t understand how long they served? In South Korea, crimes like these usually carry sentences of at least five years, yet it seems the heroines served much less time.
Even so, the series leaves a strong impression—thanks to its emotional depth, tension, and that harsh truth you simply can’t ignore.
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Wouldn’t rewatch it
The plot is great.In my opinion this subject about domestic violence/abuse should be mentioned more in dramas. It’s a situation that’s silent to often, like s€ual assault.
During watching the serie it was Hard to maintain my attention. It’s a good story, but it somehow it missed something to catch my full attention.
What I also didn’t understand is why the in-laws were so delusional and supportive of the abuse.
It made my skin crawl.
The actors and actresses did a good job. Nothing wrong with their acting.
Wouldn’t watch a second time.
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EVERY STORY DESERVES TO BE TOLD!!!
Every story deserves to be told. Every problem deserves to be seen and understood because that’s how we enlighten people about what’s really happening. Yes, domestic abuse is a serious issue, but that doesn’t mean we should stop sharing these stories. Too many people still feel like they’re suffering alone. The more we speak up, the more we remind them: you’re not the only one, and you’re not invisible.Drama review:
Everyone delivered seriously, I loved every bit of it!! That scene where the officer snatched the cap off that clueless detective head so the press could get a clear shot of her face? Iconic. We need more stories like this. Domestic violence survivors deserve to know they’re not alone. Sometimes, all it takes is one brave person or one decisive moment to change everything. Keep speaking up. Keep walking forward.
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Got me at the beginning
Sometimes narrative like this mirrors someone’s personal experience. It’s raw and very difficult to unsee it because women do go through this. Painful memories are relived and although family members can see through the pain, they look the other way. I just wished everyone has someone who’s willing to help. There’s light at the end of the tunnel.Was this review helpful to you?
A tough watch but too powerful to look away
This drama was really hard to watch, not because it wasn’t good, but because it hit every nerve. I found myself getting angry at almost every scene, which just shows how powerfully it was written and acted. The emotions felt raw and painfully real.The cast delivered incredible performances, bringing out every bit of frustration, guilt, and tension the story demanded. It’s not an easy watch, but it’s one of those dramas that stays with you long after it’s over.
Beautifully acted, emotionally heavy, and deeply human. I wouldn’t call it enjoyable, but I’d definitely call it unforgettable.
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Gripping Thriller
This was an extreme case of domestic abuse. Two women, best friends. who, in spite of being close, carried deep secrets from each other. One harboured guilt for looking away from her mother's abuse perpetrated by her father and the other, enduring years of domestic violence from her husband. It is very concerning when two supposed to be best friends can't share their innermost secrets because together they could have educated themselves, found ways and legal means to stop the perpetrators instead of resorting to crime. Korea has laws to prevent domestic violence but sadly for the victims, patriarchal attitudes are still very strong and considered as just a "family matter," Families would rather keep silent for fear of the stigma it carries in society where they are shunned and blamed.At the end of the drama, it would have been a great service if the two actresses did a public service announcement providing information to domestic abuse victims on how to stop the violence committed against them. Most victims are probably not aware that there are ways they could take to protect themselves.
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A harrowing but ultimately hopeful tale about domestic violence and its ripple effects
I've been eagerly anticipating this for a while now and it did not disappoint. Lee Yoo-Mi is incredible in this - her portrayal of Hui-Su's pain and resilience is one I will remember for a long time. Jeon So Nee also delivers an incredibly grounded performance and her character is an important reminder of the effects that domestic violence can have on an entire family. Jang Seung Jo really shows his range here as both the abusive husband and the undocumented worker and as Jin-Pyo, he is absolutely terrifying the way he turns from violent to caring on a dime. Lee Moo-Saeng rounds out the core cast as the enigmatic bystander who becomes increasingly drawn into the lives of the two women and like Jeon So Nee, his performance is similarly grounded and empathetic.The story itself has twists and turns but what is most memorable about this show is the way it treats the topic of domestic violence with so much care and empathy. While there are scenes of violence in the show, it never feels gratuitous and I really appreciate that we are shown enough to truly understand the brutality of Hui-Su's life without focusing solely on the violence. There's an important scene early on that really sets the stage for the tone of this show where Eun-Su asks Hui-Su why she never tried to leave and Hui-Su asks Eun-Su how she knows that she never tried, and I love the choice to include this scene because this is so often the first question survivors of domestic violence are asked. Hui-Su's response is so important because we see that she did try - multiple times, in fact - to leave. She tried to flee the country but was forced to return home when Jin-Pyo threatened her mother and she tried to file a police report but was scared off by his sister. I really love that the show reminded us that it's not always as simple as just leaving, and that even when people do try to leave, they're not always successful. Above all else, this show centers its focus on the survivors - not just Hui-Su, but also Eun-Su's mother and even Eun-Su herself as a survivor who grew up in an abusive household even if she herself was not physically abused.
The show also highlights that survivors of domestic violence have to endure not just the violence itself but the complicity of others who see what is happening but stay silent, and thus, allow it to keep happening. Even in this aspect, the show makes an effort to show the different levels of complicity. On one end of the spectrum, there is Eun-Su's complicity as a means of survival - she stays silent about her mother's abuse in an effort to protect her brother and keep her family together, and she initially stays silent about her wealthy customer's abuse in order to maintain her job. On the other end, there is Jin-Young and her mother's complicity as a means of maintaining appearances - they are not just complicit, they are also hypocrites who are aware of Jin-Pyo's abuse of Hui-Su but choose to ignore it for the sake of promotions and appearances while outwardly proclaiming to care about survivors. While I do like the message that silence is complicity, I don't particularly love the way the show kind of glosses over Jin-Pyo's crimes as the actual perpetrator to focus on his sister and mother in law as the villains in the second half. I get what the show was trying to do, but I do think it undercuts its own message a little bit by making Jin-Pyo die before he could face any legal consequences or serve prison time while his sister and mother had the very public fall from grace. Don't get me wrong, they got what was coming to them and I'm glad for it, but I just think it was kind of a weird choice to make a show about a man abusing his wife and then have the main villains be women. In this respect, the show is almost too realistic because we do see this a lot in our society as well, where a man commits a crime or behaves badly and then the news will oftentimes focus on the women in his life and ask them to explain his behavior or question why they didn't stop him.
As a American, I am typically immune to most copaganda but I have to give a special shoutout to Detective Choi Gyeong-Gu. I was cheering when he was leading Jin-Young into the police station and then purposefully ripped off her hat so that the angry mob could see her face clearly. KING SHIT!! The only good cop! Choi Gyong-Gu, you will always be famous!!!!
Ultimately, this is a show in two parts - the first 5 episodes focus on the direct survivors of abuse while the remaining 3 episodes focus on the bystanders who witness what is happening but choose to ignore it. While the last 3 episodes are a bit heavy on the makjang side for my personal taste, the ending more than makes up for it. The courtroom scene is especially moving because we are reminded that the law does not always deliver justice, that what is legal is not always what is right, but that there can be healing and growth in taking responsibility for your actions and atoning for them. I like that the show never makes light of the women's actions in murdering Jin-Pyo but also clearly demonstrates how everything lead them to the point where that was the only possible action for them to take. And that final shot of Hui-Su and Eun-Su standing side by side was just perfect. While there were many who stood by and did nothing, it was these two women who stood by each other's side through it all, and it was because they had each other that they were both able to survive and break the cycle of abuse.
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sad but mid
first few episodes were excellent. the portayal of domestic abuse is pretty explicit and shocking, but it was necessary for the plot. i enjoyed the planning of his murder and his actual death very much. just what he deserved.but, the rest of the story is literal hot garbage lol wdym this random doppelganger is a psychopath??? actually, why did we even go the doppelganger path??? i thought he was like a long lost brother or something but he's genuinely a complete stranger and that's just ridiculous. his character made no sense. the sister in law character is despicable and had absolutely no redeeming qualities but i guess it just runs in the family. i think i might have actually enjoyed this more if this was a story of overcoming the fear and escaping him to then serve revenge rather than a murder plot because people can't just murder their abusers and find doppelgangers to try and get away with it... so. they literally had the random rich gangster character right there. they could have used him to form that plotline. but, murder!!! wow!!!
also holy shit the scene where his dead body appears in the rain with his eyes wide open is pure nightmare fuel, actually got a scare out of me
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