This review may contain spoilers
A wonderfully complex drama about, first and foremost, the camaraderie of two women, and second a legal drama about divorce lawyers. Jang Nara and Nam Jihyun have a real sense of chemistry that really makes the last few episodes of this feel more bitter than sweet. I wouldn't go and recommend against watching it, but I hope others at least know what I mean.
Divorce/adultery arc is fantastic, and provides a lot more nuance and emotion than other more simplistic portrayals in movies and TV often do. The social commentary is constantly there, with feminist themes that feel like they're genuine instead of cashing in on a social zeitgeist or hot news stories like some other dramas can at times. It feels honest, and that's nice. I adored how Han Yu-ri was portrayed as not wanting to be in a relationship without the show condemning her for it.
And then the last few episodes. Boy. They aren't bad enough to invalidate the rest of the show's quality but they are enough to drop it a few places down in my mental ranking. First, we get shoved into a really overwrought tonal shift that takes the nuance and empathy for victims and turns it into your typical "evil chaebol heir tries to get away with literal murder" shit that works in a makjang but definitely not something subtle and grounded in real world issues like this. It could've been done well, but I also feel dirty. And then in two episodes it's all settled and we may as well have never seen that happen.
And then they ruin the other thing I loved, which was Han Yuri. To be blunt, I despise her and Eunho. As friends they can be tolerable, but he's so pushy and irritating that it feels like he always has a chip on his shoulder about the time he was told no, like he's investigating Yuri for lying to him about not wanting a relationship. Dating app episode being a prime example. Just can't stand the fucking guy.
So, of course, we have them actually get together because Han Yuri the misguided lost young woman has to end up in a relationship with a male coworker because this is how things have to go. You put the pop idol in your show, he has to get with the female lead. Honestly, as someone who can't really give a shit about Korean pop music post Uhm Junghwa, it made a lot of sense when I learned where his origins are. I try to be rude as little as possible but I just really don't like that character and I hope since Nam Jihyun isn't returning and their arc is "complete" we can see a better, less irritating side of him. Please don't mention anything about their marriage, I don't think I could handle thinking of Han Yuri in a relationship.
Embarrassing as hell, but I honestly got the same feeling seeing a ring on her finger as I did when I learned at 19 that a rather close (church, naturally) friend I'd grown up with since I was a very small child was getting married to some guy I had never met. Just endless things swirling around my head, like, is this really what you want, or is this just religious and societal pressure? Maybe airing things out too much, but I just get this weird feeling about their dynamic.
Worse part is, we have Cha Eunkyung right there, with a man she has genuine chemistry with where building a relationship would make sense. I get her character is focusing on divorce and family first, but if you absolutely need to have a heterosexual relationship, why not Woojin? It wouldn't make me feel like I'm falling through my own legs in confusion. And of course he isn't returning for S2 either, so that's a plot thread left permanently unresolved. I'd also suggest a third relationship option involving Eunkyung, Yuri, and neither male lead, and I'm perhaps considering it canon no matter the story... but I digress. I'm beginning to realise that I've always been a sucker for "older, professional, level headed woman who's a little too rigid" and "younger firebrand who's a little too willing to piss people off" ships. Anything that reminds me of Halt and Catch Fire or Queenmaker's main lesbian ships, I'm there.
Anyways, I'm glad I got this introduction to Jang Nara (and Nam Jihyun!), consider me a new fan. I was disappointed to see that Jihyun isn't returning, as she's half the lifeblood of the show, but despite her relationship I like the way her character arc was resolved. I can think of millions of worse actors to compliment Jang Nara than Kim Hyeyoon, and I'm excited for later this year when we see them together. I'm sure Hyeyoon is tired at this point of that one role following her around but I would like to see a little bit of "Yehsuh as a lawyer" with season 2. It just feels right that she would end up choosing that path.
Divorce/adultery arc is fantastic, and provides a lot more nuance and emotion than other more simplistic portrayals in movies and TV often do. The social commentary is constantly there, with feminist themes that feel like they're genuine instead of cashing in on a social zeitgeist or hot news stories like some other dramas can at times. It feels honest, and that's nice. I adored how Han Yu-ri was portrayed as not wanting to be in a relationship without the show condemning her for it.
And then the last few episodes. Boy. They aren't bad enough to invalidate the rest of the show's quality but they are enough to drop it a few places down in my mental ranking. First, we get shoved into a really overwrought tonal shift that takes the nuance and empathy for victims and turns it into your typical "evil chaebol heir tries to get away with literal murder" shit that works in a makjang but definitely not something subtle and grounded in real world issues like this. It could've been done well, but I also feel dirty. And then in two episodes it's all settled and we may as well have never seen that happen.
And then they ruin the other thing I loved, which was Han Yuri. To be blunt, I despise her and Eunho. As friends they can be tolerable, but he's so pushy and irritating that it feels like he always has a chip on his shoulder about the time he was told no, like he's investigating Yuri for lying to him about not wanting a relationship. Dating app episode being a prime example. Just can't stand the fucking guy.
So, of course, we have them actually get together because Han Yuri the misguided lost young woman has to end up in a relationship with a male coworker because this is how things have to go. You put the pop idol in your show, he has to get with the female lead. Honestly, as someone who can't really give a shit about Korean pop music post Uhm Junghwa, it made a lot of sense when I learned where his origins are. I try to be rude as little as possible but I just really don't like that character and I hope since Nam Jihyun isn't returning and their arc is "complete" we can see a better, less irritating side of him. Please don't mention anything about their marriage, I don't think I could handle thinking of Han Yuri in a relationship.
Embarrassing as hell, but I honestly got the same feeling seeing a ring on her finger as I did when I learned at 19 that a rather close (church, naturally) friend I'd grown up with since I was a very small child was getting married to some guy I had never met. Just endless things swirling around my head, like, is this really what you want, or is this just religious and societal pressure? Maybe airing things out too much, but I just get this weird feeling about their dynamic.
Worse part is, we have Cha Eunkyung right there, with a man she has genuine chemistry with where building a relationship would make sense. I get her character is focusing on divorce and family first, but if you absolutely need to have a heterosexual relationship, why not Woojin? It wouldn't make me feel like I'm falling through my own legs in confusion. And of course he isn't returning for S2 either, so that's a plot thread left permanently unresolved. I'd also suggest a third relationship option involving Eunkyung, Yuri, and neither male lead, and I'm perhaps considering it canon no matter the story... but I digress. I'm beginning to realise that I've always been a sucker for "older, professional, level headed woman who's a little too rigid" and "younger firebrand who's a little too willing to piss people off" ships. Anything that reminds me of Halt and Catch Fire or Queenmaker's main lesbian ships, I'm there.
Anyways, I'm glad I got this introduction to Jang Nara (and Nam Jihyun!), consider me a new fan. I was disappointed to see that Jihyun isn't returning, as she's half the lifeblood of the show, but despite her relationship I like the way her character arc was resolved. I can think of millions of worse actors to compliment Jang Nara than Kim Hyeyoon, and I'm excited for later this year when we see them together. I'm sure Hyeyoon is tired at this point of that one role following her around but I would like to see a little bit of "Yehsuh as a lawyer" with season 2. It just feels right that she would end up choosing that path.
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