Dark Money, Darker Roots
Little Women may borrow its title from the classic novel, but this 2022 Korean drama spins an entirely original tale—a suspenseful, high-stakes thriller built around three sisters entangled in a conspiracy far beyond their station.
The story begins with Oh In-Joo, Oh In-Kyung, and Oh In-Hye—three sisters raised in poverty, bound by hardship, and fiercely protective of one another. The eldest, In-Joo, is a soft-hearted bookkeeper who dreams not of success but of security—preferably via a wealthy husband. Easily manipulated and prone to panic, she often acts without thinking. At one point, she literally hauls a giant bag of cash through the city like a sitting duck, with no foresight to split or hide the money. At first, you might dismiss her as naive or even dimwitted—but as the drama unfolds, her loyalty to her sisters and only friend becomes her quiet strength.
In contrast, second sister In-Kyung is a firebrand journalist, fearless but reckless. She plunges into investigations with raw conviction, unafraid to call out the powerful, even at great personal cost. Her moral compass is unwavering, but her impulsiveness gets her fired from her job and lands her in peril more than once.
Youngest sister In-Hye is the most composed of the three, but also the most distant. An aspiring artist, she resents the suffocating love of her older sisters and gravitates toward her wealthy classmate’s opulent world—a world that promises beauty, freedom, and escape. Yet, as the glitter begins to crack, she too is forced to confront the price of power.
What starts as a tale of sisterhood spirals into a dark labyrinth of secrets, betrayal, and a shadowy organisation that launders money and eliminates obstacles—permanently. The stakes keep rising, as the sisters find themselves at odds with political figures aiming for the country’s highest office. Layer by layer, the story peels back truths hidden beneath sleek veneers of wealth and influence.
The plot is full of sharp twists and simmering tension. Just when you think you know who is pulling the strings, the story flips again. The mysterious blue orchid—eerie, elegant, and ever-present—acts as a chilling calling card for a string of deaths. Its significance is gradually revealed, leading to the unmasking of a true psychopath with ambitions to lead the clandestine society behind it all.
As if the domestic chaos were not enough, the drama takes an international turn with a gripping roller-coaster in Singapore—complete with stolen identity, an mysterious doppelgänger, hide and seek, clandestine meetings, the opulent high-life and a fresh layer of intrigue.
What truly elevates Little Women is the emotional evolution of the sisters. Each one grows—not just braver, but wiser. In-Joo finds her own voice. In-Kyung learns restraint without compromising her integrity. In-Hye discovers what love truly means beyond admiration and envy. By the final episode, they are no longer victims or pawns, but women who have stared down power, survived it, and reclaimed their lives.
Verdict:
Little Women is not just a thriller—it is a psychological drama about sisterhood, identity, and the cost of ambition in a corrupt world. Unpredictable, stylish, and emotionally gripping, it is a must-watch that lingers long after the final reveal. Highly recommended.
The story begins with Oh In-Joo, Oh In-Kyung, and Oh In-Hye—three sisters raised in poverty, bound by hardship, and fiercely protective of one another. The eldest, In-Joo, is a soft-hearted bookkeeper who dreams not of success but of security—preferably via a wealthy husband. Easily manipulated and prone to panic, she often acts without thinking. At one point, she literally hauls a giant bag of cash through the city like a sitting duck, with no foresight to split or hide the money. At first, you might dismiss her as naive or even dimwitted—but as the drama unfolds, her loyalty to her sisters and only friend becomes her quiet strength.
In contrast, second sister In-Kyung is a firebrand journalist, fearless but reckless. She plunges into investigations with raw conviction, unafraid to call out the powerful, even at great personal cost. Her moral compass is unwavering, but her impulsiveness gets her fired from her job and lands her in peril more than once.
Youngest sister In-Hye is the most composed of the three, but also the most distant. An aspiring artist, she resents the suffocating love of her older sisters and gravitates toward her wealthy classmate’s opulent world—a world that promises beauty, freedom, and escape. Yet, as the glitter begins to crack, she too is forced to confront the price of power.
What starts as a tale of sisterhood spirals into a dark labyrinth of secrets, betrayal, and a shadowy organisation that launders money and eliminates obstacles—permanently. The stakes keep rising, as the sisters find themselves at odds with political figures aiming for the country’s highest office. Layer by layer, the story peels back truths hidden beneath sleek veneers of wealth and influence.
The plot is full of sharp twists and simmering tension. Just when you think you know who is pulling the strings, the story flips again. The mysterious blue orchid—eerie, elegant, and ever-present—acts as a chilling calling card for a string of deaths. Its significance is gradually revealed, leading to the unmasking of a true psychopath with ambitions to lead the clandestine society behind it all.
As if the domestic chaos were not enough, the drama takes an international turn with a gripping roller-coaster in Singapore—complete with stolen identity, an mysterious doppelgänger, hide and seek, clandestine meetings, the opulent high-life and a fresh layer of intrigue.
What truly elevates Little Women is the emotional evolution of the sisters. Each one grows—not just braver, but wiser. In-Joo finds her own voice. In-Kyung learns restraint without compromising her integrity. In-Hye discovers what love truly means beyond admiration and envy. By the final episode, they are no longer victims or pawns, but women who have stared down power, survived it, and reclaimed their lives.
Verdict:
Little Women is not just a thriller—it is a psychological drama about sisterhood, identity, and the cost of ambition in a corrupt world. Unpredictable, stylish, and emotionally gripping, it is a must-watch that lingers long after the final reveal. Highly recommended.
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