Sarann55
UK
Well worth watching, and watching again!
I'm reviewing this now only because I've just re-watched it and enjoyed it as much as the first time. I VERY SELDOM rewatch KDramas.
But don't get me wrong. The first time I tried it, I abandoned it, because I hated the male lead - I found him deeply unattractive both physically, with a face always set in a sneer, and as a person - unwaveringly arrogant and dismissive of everyone except his senior in his firm.
I have no idea what made me return to it, but at my second run up to it I allowed him more time. It became clear that he was not what he seemed at all, simply hurt and still struggling with his feelings for the FL.
That said, other reviews here have noted just about everything I want to say. The ML and FL are unconventional, but adorable - once you et beyond her aggressive pursuit of success and money, and his apparent arrogance both in the courtroom and outside. They each have warm relationships with colleagues, but apparently no real life outside of work. Both are more generous than they seem, and more supportive than you might expect. And loyal - and loyalty and betrayal are recurring themes.
Other characters are engaging - one reviewer felt they are not well developed, but - while I agree to an extent - this did not work against the drama for me. In most cases, every character is shown as multi-dimensional, even the incredibly annoying "old friend" of the ML redeems herself when she tells her boyfriend to choose loyalty over betraying his friend for his career. I found them all, even quite minor characters, engaging
There is a strong thread of feminism and domestic abuse running through this drama. If you dislike the idea of that, this is not for you. There is some violence, but none of it gratuitous or graphic.
Similarly, if you want a conventional pretty FL, this is not for you. Kim Hee Su, who plays FL, was 49 when she made this - 10 years older than her ML. She doesn't look it, is absolutely beautiful. However, her role has a weird personality, both flirtatious and sexually assertive, but also very daunting at times. She is also incredibly brave, and refuses to be intimidated by authority or physical threat.
I felt throughout the drama that the story as really all about her, and the ML eventually comes to accept her for what she is, and to respect her sometimes "underhanded" (but are they?) tactics. They break some of the ethical rules for lawyers, but cut through lots of constraints that actually protect wrong-doers or those in authority, and are effective in getting her clients what they want. But sometimes she is well over the line - though increasingly as the series goes on, this is rare.
It interesting - given the feminist content f the drama - that the ML heads the cast list. Why, for goodness sake? His character is great, but the story would be nothing if Kim Hee Su as Jung GeumJa were not there. She is the real star.
But don't get me wrong. The first time I tried it, I abandoned it, because I hated the male lead - I found him deeply unattractive both physically, with a face always set in a sneer, and as a person - unwaveringly arrogant and dismissive of everyone except his senior in his firm.
I have no idea what made me return to it, but at my second run up to it I allowed him more time. It became clear that he was not what he seemed at all, simply hurt and still struggling with his feelings for the FL.
That said, other reviews here have noted just about everything I want to say. The ML and FL are unconventional, but adorable - once you et beyond her aggressive pursuit of success and money, and his apparent arrogance both in the courtroom and outside. They each have warm relationships with colleagues, but apparently no real life outside of work. Both are more generous than they seem, and more supportive than you might expect. And loyal - and loyalty and betrayal are recurring themes.
Other characters are engaging - one reviewer felt they are not well developed, but - while I agree to an extent - this did not work against the drama for me. In most cases, every character is shown as multi-dimensional, even the incredibly annoying "old friend" of the ML redeems herself when she tells her boyfriend to choose loyalty over betraying his friend for his career. I found them all, even quite minor characters, engaging
There is a strong thread of feminism and domestic abuse running through this drama. If you dislike the idea of that, this is not for you. There is some violence, but none of it gratuitous or graphic.
Similarly, if you want a conventional pretty FL, this is not for you. Kim Hee Su, who plays FL, was 49 when she made this - 10 years older than her ML. She doesn't look it, is absolutely beautiful. However, her role has a weird personality, both flirtatious and sexually assertive, but also very daunting at times. She is also incredibly brave, and refuses to be intimidated by authority or physical threat.
I felt throughout the drama that the story as really all about her, and the ML eventually comes to accept her for what she is, and to respect her sometimes "underhanded" (but are they?) tactics. They break some of the ethical rules for lawyers, but cut through lots of constraints that actually protect wrong-doers or those in authority, and are effective in getting her clients what they want. But sometimes she is well over the line - though increasingly as the series goes on, this is rare.
It interesting - given the feminist content f the drama - that the ML heads the cast list. Why, for goodness sake? His character is great, but the story would be nothing if Kim Hee Su as Jung GeumJa were not there. She is the real star.
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