Good Associate: Episodes 1-2

by quirkycase

Jang Nara and Nam Ji-hyun butt heads as divorce lawyer colleagues with very totally different beliefs on this authorized office drama. Whereas I wouldn’t name it recent or distinctive when it comes to authorized dramas, it was a stable premiere that hints at extra attention-grabbing issues to come back from our main girls and their dynamic.

 
EPISODES 1-2

Going into this drama, I used to be most enthusiastic about seeing Jang Nara and Nam Ji-hyun collectively, and they don’t disappoint. We get the anticipated jaded sunbae and idealistic hoobae dynamic, however because of our charismatic main girls, they really feel like actual folks fairly than simply stereotypes.

CHA EUN-KYUNG (Jang Nara<) is the ace lawyer at main legislation agency Daejeong and has dealt with excessive profile instances which have made her a family identify. She’s powerful, laser centered, and unforgiving. She’s so exacting that the group is hemorrhaging new hires. Enter HAN YURI (Nam Ji-hyun), the newest fresh-faced beginner lawyer who will get caught on the divorce group. It’s not precisely her dream place as she’s by no means thought extremely of divorce legislation, which Eun-kyung is aware of since Yuri voiced that opinion in Eun-kyung’s legislation seminar a yr in the past. Not precisely a profitable first impression on both aspect. Now, to encourage Yuri, Eun-kyung stipulates she will switch to the company legislation group if she wins ten divorce instances.

It’s trial by fireplace for Yuri from day one. Her first shopper is PARK JONG-SHIK whose spouse accused him of dishonest and needs a divorce. He claims she’s at all times been excessively jealous, which his grownup son corroborates, however he gained’t comply with a divorce. Yuri believes him instantly and is decided to get the divorce denied, which Eun-kyung scoffs at as naïve.

Naturally, Yuri is naïve as that is her first place out of legislation faculty. She’s not ready when the plaintiff springs textual content messages corroborating the affair in court docket or for the vitriol she receives from the plaintiff and her household. She’s additionally not ready for having to make ridiculous, clearly unfaithful arguments on behalf of shoppers to win a case.

Whereas Eun-kyung disagrees with Yuri’s strategy to the case, she doesn’t step in or override Yuri. One factor I like is that regardless of Eun-kyung being harsh, she’s not imply. She doesn’t deride Yuri or make her life troublesome for no purpose – she simply has excessive expectations. However you get the thought Eun-kyung needs her hoobaes to succeed, even when few make the lower. She looks as if the sort who normally can’t be bothered to coach a child lawyer, however she could possibly be an important mentor if she determined to be.

Yuri seems to be a quick learner and thinks nicely on her ft, profitable her first case and impressing Eun-kyung (not that she reveals it). The difficulty is Yuri isn’t certain she needs to be good at this. She appears like she’s ruining lives by defending cheaters and coldly specializing in incomes cash whatever the people who find themselves damage. And she or he has some expertise being on the opposite aspect: her father left her and her mom for his mistress.

Yuri’s idealism and lack of enthusiasm for the job fear her sunbaes who’re bored with shedding all their newbies, so younger lawyer JEON EUN-HO (Pyo Ji-hoon) works further exhausting to befriend her. In the meantime, lawyer JUNG WOO-JIN (Kim Joon-han) – the one particular person not afraid of Eun-kyung – encourages her to go simple on the Yuri. And rightfully so as a result of Yuri has already began typing up a resignation letter.

These first episodes focus much more on the instances {and professional} lives of the legal professionals, solely giving hints about their private lives. Yuri is an easy character, so we shortly get to know her. However Eun-kyung is so skilled, it’s troublesome to get a way for who she is exterior of labor. We do be taught she’s married and has a daughter, however we solely get a few glimpses of the household. Nonetheless, a significant reveal throws Eun-kyung’s dwelling life into query.

One evening, Yuri stays late at work and spies Eun-kyung’s husband KIM JI-SANG (Ji Seung-hyun) in flagrante with Eun-kyung’s authorized assistant. Ji-sang is a health care provider, however he serves as a guide for Daejeong when wanted, so he’s frequently on the workplace (and clearly providing a plethora of providers.)

Yuri spends the subsequent few days tormented, not sure whether or not to inform her scary new boss that her husband is dishonest on her. Issues worsen when she and Eun-kyung work a joint case collectively representing two associates whose spouses are dishonest with one another.

Their very reverse opinions and approaches to the case reveal quite a bit about each Yuri and Eun-kyung. It’s clear that Yuri can’t but separate her private beliefs from her work, and she or he makes plenty of worth judgements which she tries to push onto her shoppers. Whereas her intent is sweet, she’s a contact self-righteous and struggles to just accept shoppers’ selections after they differ from her personal.

Conversely, Eun-kyung is calculating and (maybe overly) sensible, understanding you can’t take a state of affairs or particular person’s phrase at face worth. Simply because one mum or dad is granted custody at a listening to doesn’t imply that the state of affairs can’t change down the road. There’s no single proper reply in a divorce – it’s the shopper’s needs, not the lawyer’s, that issues ultimately. Her purpose is to get the most effective end result for her shopper inside their parameters.

We finish the primary week with Yuri lastly working up her braveness and revealing to Eun-kyung that her husband is having an affair. “And?” Eun-kyung asks as blasé as if Yuri simply advised her it’s going to rain tomorrow. Yuri will get her second shock: Eun-kyung already is aware of concerning the affair, together with that her assistant is the mistress.

I had a sense Eun-kyung already knew. She’s too sharp and attuned to habits to overlook the indicators. The query is whether or not she’s selecting to disregard it for causes or if she’s ready to get stable proof like she encourages her shoppers to do. Eun-kyung’s stoicism might simply really feel stiff, however Jang Nara’s appeal shines by way of sufficient to make me wish to know extra about her. I’m interested in her motivations, dwelling life, and what sort of mom she is.

Dishonest was the secret this week, which isn’t any shock in a present about divorce. Nonetheless, that’s not the one purpose two folks get divorced, and I hope we get to discover different aspects of marital strife and relationship dynamics. I’m undecided what number of iterations of dishonest it’ll take earlier than the instances really feel stale. Selection, as they are saying, is the spice of life.

 
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