This review may contain spoilers
This is what happens when a girlboss lawyer refuses to stay down, no matter who tries to bury her.
Why Her? follows Oh Soo Jae — a brilliant lawyer turned professor — as she fights corruption, old secrets, and questionable romance.
Disclaimer: This review is 100% my opinion — I’m not here to hate, just to share my thoughts! Also, SPOILERS AHEAD, so proceed with caution if you haven’t watched yet. Watch it, come back and let’s see if you agree. Let’s keep the discussion respectful and fun! 💕
The Good
A Plot That Actually Held Up in Court
For a 16-episode legal drama with revenge, corruption, murder, and romance, it never lost momentum. The pacing had purpose, and every episode gave just enough to keep you hooked without tipping its hand too soon. When a drama leans into its own complexity and still keeps the viewer locked in? That’s not just good writing, it’s a rare achievement.
Oh Soo Jae Was That Girl
From the very first scene, Soo Jae walked in like the building owed her rent. Calculated, sharp, emotionally armored and yet still deeply human. Whether she was wiping blood off her face, shutting down political pawns, or casually threatening billionaires, she never lost control.
Every Thread Wove the Same Tapestry
You have to respect a writer who remembers their own plot. The fact that Jin Ki’s daughter, Chan’s sister, the three spoiled sons, Se Pil, Hansu Bio — literally everything — tied back into the main plot was so satisfying. Every loose end got resolved, every puzzle piece snapped into place. And let’s be honest, the only unanswered question was what we’re supposed to do with ourselves now that it’s over. And honestly? I’m okay with that.
The Bad
Oh Soo Jae: Girlboss… or Loyal Employee #457?
Let’s talk about that ending. After years of enduring Tae Kook’s manipulation, betrayal, and literal criminal coverups, Oh Soo Jae’s “final form” was a small firm and a university classroom? Sure, peace over power is valid, but it felt like she settled more than she triumphed. She walked straight into the lion’s den, vowed revenge, and then quietly filed paperwork for ten years instead. She spent years doing every vile thing he ordered her to do, only for it to amount to… basically nothing.
What made it worse was the irony: she called Jin Ki out for his decade of silence while doing the exact same thing. Like he literally faked her child’s death. Hello?
Chan: Boundary Issues in a Cinnamon Roll Wrapper
There’s persistent, and then there’s Gong Chan. Every time he showed up uninvited, declared he was sleeping at her house, or forced his “support” during trauma cooldown moments, I couldn’t help but cringe. Soo Jae repeatedly told him he was crossing the line, yet he kept vaulting over it like it wasn’t even painted. It gave strong “I know what’s best for you even though you said no” energy.
He didn’t respect her boundaries, and while Soo Jae eventually let him in, it doesn’t erase the manipulative undertone and the fact that he took advantage of every crisis. I just couldn’t stand how persistent and boundary-stomping he was and how the show expected us to swoon over it.
How Was Everyone Okay With The Teacher-Student Thing?
Let’s be blunt: it’s not just about age. It’s about power dynamics. Soo Jae was his professor. He called her “Ms. Oh.” She graded his papers. And she kissed him before midterms. That alone should have been enough for HR intervention or, at the very least, a serious conversation.
Jae Yi’s Death Felt Emotionally Manipulative
Why did Jae Yi have to die? I’m still irritated about it. That plot twist did nothing except slap Soo Jae with extra pain for shock value. Either the baby should’ve stayed dead at birth, or Jae Yi should’ve stayed alive. Pick one.
Having her survive just so she could get hit by a truck out of nowhere was so unnecessary; especially since the accident itself made no sense. She looked both ways. It was a quiet road. The truck should’ve seen her from a mile away. Why did no one see it until the last second? The whole thing was tragic for no good reason, and it honestly knocked the show down to an 8/10 for me. Sometimes sad for the sake of sad just feels cheap and this was one of those times.
Chan’s Cellmates: Friendship by Vibes Only
Let’s break this down: Chan was in prison for allegedly murdering his own sister. So when two older cellmates decided to befriend him and help him build a new life… how did they just know he didn’t do it? I mean we know he didn’t do it, but without knowing, how would you know? The evidence was mounting and he even said he did it during the prison tussle he got into. So what made them stop and think “I know he said he did it and all the evidence points to him, but I just know he didn’t do it”..? We got no backstory, no heart-to-heart, no “we’ve seen injustice before” bonding moment, just instant loyalty.
Money Is a Real Villain and That’s the Scariest Part
Honestly? The show felt almost too real in its depiction of elite corruption. What’s wild is that if you swapped out the names for real-life companies and politicians, you wouldn’t even blink. Coverups, false trials, bribery, buried evidence—it’s horrifying how plausible all of it is. The only thing that broke realism? That the rich people actually got exposed. Because in real life, they don’t always get courtroom monologues and public shame. They get settlements, NDAs, promotions, and vacations.
Justice Had Great Lighting, But No Teeth
I think what disappointed me most about the ending, besides Soo Jae’s half-baked “happy” ending, was that justice didn’t even feel properly served. When Tae Kook died, it wasn’t satisfying. It wasn’t earned. It was a sudden exit-stage-left that robbed the audience of watching him feel the consequences.
And what happened to the rest of the villains? Chairman Seong Beom? Hansu Bio? Assemblyman In Soo? The show hinted they’d face fallout but never showed it. So yeah, the ending didn’t hit nearly as hard as it could have, and it felt like it skipped the final chapter just to give Gong Chan and Soo Jae their umbrella moment. Cute. But not enough for a show this good.
Final Thoughts
This show was a near masterpiece, in my opinion. I was hooked from the second I hit play. With Oh Soo Jae being an absolute icon and the crime twist keeping every episode tense, what wasn’t to love? Even when I reached the end, the parts that annoyed me didn’t ruin the experience.
And honestly? If a drama can keep me glued to the screen, not drag things out just to hit 16 episodes, and give me a female lawyer lead who chews men up and spits them out, then I’m not complaining. Well, not too much.
Next time, just keep the student crushes out of the syllabus and we’re good.
~~~
What did you think of this show? It’s still one of my favourites despite its issues. If I choose to watch a show more than once, you know it’s a fav!
Did you like the relationship between Oh Soo Jae and Gong Chan or are you normal? Joking, you’re great 😉
Disclaimer: This review is 100% my opinion — I’m not here to hate, just to share my thoughts! Also, SPOILERS AHEAD, so proceed with caution if you haven’t watched yet. Watch it, come back and let’s see if you agree. Let’s keep the discussion respectful and fun! 💕
The Good
A Plot That Actually Held Up in Court
For a 16-episode legal drama with revenge, corruption, murder, and romance, it never lost momentum. The pacing had purpose, and every episode gave just enough to keep you hooked without tipping its hand too soon. When a drama leans into its own complexity and still keeps the viewer locked in? That’s not just good writing, it’s a rare achievement.
Oh Soo Jae Was That Girl
From the very first scene, Soo Jae walked in like the building owed her rent. Calculated, sharp, emotionally armored and yet still deeply human. Whether she was wiping blood off her face, shutting down political pawns, or casually threatening billionaires, she never lost control.
Every Thread Wove the Same Tapestry
You have to respect a writer who remembers their own plot. The fact that Jin Ki’s daughter, Chan’s sister, the three spoiled sons, Se Pil, Hansu Bio — literally everything — tied back into the main plot was so satisfying. Every loose end got resolved, every puzzle piece snapped into place. And let’s be honest, the only unanswered question was what we’re supposed to do with ourselves now that it’s over. And honestly? I’m okay with that.
The Bad
Oh Soo Jae: Girlboss… or Loyal Employee #457?
Let’s talk about that ending. After years of enduring Tae Kook’s manipulation, betrayal, and literal criminal coverups, Oh Soo Jae’s “final form” was a small firm and a university classroom? Sure, peace over power is valid, but it felt like she settled more than she triumphed. She walked straight into the lion’s den, vowed revenge, and then quietly filed paperwork for ten years instead. She spent years doing every vile thing he ordered her to do, only for it to amount to… basically nothing.
What made it worse was the irony: she called Jin Ki out for his decade of silence while doing the exact same thing. Like he literally faked her child’s death. Hello?
Chan: Boundary Issues in a Cinnamon Roll Wrapper
There’s persistent, and then there’s Gong Chan. Every time he showed up uninvited, declared he was sleeping at her house, or forced his “support” during trauma cooldown moments, I couldn’t help but cringe. Soo Jae repeatedly told him he was crossing the line, yet he kept vaulting over it like it wasn’t even painted. It gave strong “I know what’s best for you even though you said no” energy.
He didn’t respect her boundaries, and while Soo Jae eventually let him in, it doesn’t erase the manipulative undertone and the fact that he took advantage of every crisis. I just couldn’t stand how persistent and boundary-stomping he was and how the show expected us to swoon over it.
How Was Everyone Okay With The Teacher-Student Thing?
Let’s be blunt: it’s not just about age. It’s about power dynamics. Soo Jae was his professor. He called her “Ms. Oh.” She graded his papers. And she kissed him before midterms. That alone should have been enough for HR intervention or, at the very least, a serious conversation.
Jae Yi’s Death Felt Emotionally Manipulative
Why did Jae Yi have to die? I’m still irritated about it. That plot twist did nothing except slap Soo Jae with extra pain for shock value. Either the baby should’ve stayed dead at birth, or Jae Yi should’ve stayed alive. Pick one.
Having her survive just so she could get hit by a truck out of nowhere was so unnecessary; especially since the accident itself made no sense. She looked both ways. It was a quiet road. The truck should’ve seen her from a mile away. Why did no one see it until the last second? The whole thing was tragic for no good reason, and it honestly knocked the show down to an 8/10 for me. Sometimes sad for the sake of sad just feels cheap and this was one of those times.
Chan’s Cellmates: Friendship by Vibes Only
Let’s break this down: Chan was in prison for allegedly murdering his own sister. So when two older cellmates decided to befriend him and help him build a new life… how did they just know he didn’t do it? I mean we know he didn’t do it, but without knowing, how would you know? The evidence was mounting and he even said he did it during the prison tussle he got into. So what made them stop and think “I know he said he did it and all the evidence points to him, but I just know he didn’t do it”..? We got no backstory, no heart-to-heart, no “we’ve seen injustice before” bonding moment, just instant loyalty.
Money Is a Real Villain and That’s the Scariest Part
Honestly? The show felt almost too real in its depiction of elite corruption. What’s wild is that if you swapped out the names for real-life companies and politicians, you wouldn’t even blink. Coverups, false trials, bribery, buried evidence—it’s horrifying how plausible all of it is. The only thing that broke realism? That the rich people actually got exposed. Because in real life, they don’t always get courtroom monologues and public shame. They get settlements, NDAs, promotions, and vacations.
Justice Had Great Lighting, But No Teeth
I think what disappointed me most about the ending, besides Soo Jae’s half-baked “happy” ending, was that justice didn’t even feel properly served. When Tae Kook died, it wasn’t satisfying. It wasn’t earned. It was a sudden exit-stage-left that robbed the audience of watching him feel the consequences.
And what happened to the rest of the villains? Chairman Seong Beom? Hansu Bio? Assemblyman In Soo? The show hinted they’d face fallout but never showed it. So yeah, the ending didn’t hit nearly as hard as it could have, and it felt like it skipped the final chapter just to give Gong Chan and Soo Jae their umbrella moment. Cute. But not enough for a show this good.
Final Thoughts
This show was a near masterpiece, in my opinion. I was hooked from the second I hit play. With Oh Soo Jae being an absolute icon and the crime twist keeping every episode tense, what wasn’t to love? Even when I reached the end, the parts that annoyed me didn’t ruin the experience.
And honestly? If a drama can keep me glued to the screen, not drag things out just to hit 16 episodes, and give me a female lawyer lead who chews men up and spits them out, then I’m not complaining. Well, not too much.
Next time, just keep the student crushes out of the syllabus and we’re good.
~~~
What did you think of this show? It’s still one of my favourites despite its issues. If I choose to watch a show more than once, you know it’s a fav!
Did you like the relationship between Oh Soo Jae and Gong Chan or are you normal? Joking, you’re great 😉
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