Presentation
Korean Title: 작은 아씨들
Aired in: 2022 (12 episodes)
Channel: tvN
Grade: 10/10
Actors: Kim Go Eun, Nam Ji Hyun, Park Ji Hu, Wi Ha Joon, Uhm Ki Joon, Uhm Ji Won and Kim Mi Sook
For More…
Kim Go Eun:
– Cheese in the Trap
– Goblin
– The King: The Eternal Monarch
– Yumi’s Cells 1&2
Nam Ji Hyun:
– Shopaholic King Louie
– Suspicious Partner
– 100 Days My Prince
– 365: Repeat the Year
Park Ji Hu:
– All of Us are Dead
Wi Ha Joon:
– Romance is a Bonus Book
– 18 Again
– Squid Game
– Bad and Crazy
Analysis
Synopsis
Oh In Joo, Oh In Kyung and Oh In Hye are 3 sisters. They have always been poor. One day, they get involved in a case that leads them to confront the wealthiest and most powerful family in South Korea.
My Opinion (No Spoiler)
An excellent drama to say the least. The plot is brilliantly written, giving enough depth, complexity and importance to each and every character (good or bad). The intrigue is well-knitted, involving each sister one after the other, and in different ways. Kim Hee Won’s direction is flawless as usual. Honestly, if you haven’t watched this drama, you should definitely do it now!
Analysis (Spoiler Alert)
3 sisters, 3 journeys:
Oh In Joo, devouring greed; sacrificing spirit: Oh In Joo (Kim Go Eun) is the oldest of the 3 sisters. All her life she’s only known poverty. She was raised by immature parents, so she had to endorse the role of the adult quite early on. In a way, she sacrificed her life and gave herself a mission: To protect her younger siblings and to provide for them, so they wouldn’t have to go through the same struggles she suffered from, while growing up. That’s why, she started working after high school and spent her time saving money. Now an accountant, she tries hard to offer her youngest sister a blissful adolescence, in which money is not a problem.
To me, In Joo embodies resilience. She’s aware of the stigma associated with poor people, as well as the challenges there are to overcome poverty. She is also quite determined and brave. She’s not afraid of risking her life, if there’s a chance for a better future for her and her family. However, In Joo also proves to be greedy sometimes; a vice she eventually lets go of at the end of the drama, upon realizing that family (and her life) is more important than billions of won.
Her transformation is like that of a butterfly. At first, In Joo is shy and not self-confident due to her finances. Yet, she gradually changes and turns into a powerful woman, who knows what she wants and what she’s capable of. She discovers her strengths, but never loses herself in the process. Instead, she becomes wiser on subjects like family, life, or even money. Somehow, Oh In Joo even fulfills her dream of owning an apartment to call a home. A well-deserved reward after all she’s put up with and sacrificed.
Link with the main intrigue: Oh In Joo’s journey starts with the death of her dear colleague Jin Hwa Young (Choo Ja Hyun), she considered a sister. One day, she finds her hung in her closet. In Joo is completely under shock and doesn’t understand Hwa Young’s motivation to kill herself (or to be murdered, as it is revealed later on). But the story is only beginning. Indeed, In Joo finds out that Hwa Young left her with billions of won, supposedly stolen from one of South Korea’s most influential family. As if this were not enough, the young accountant discovers that Hwa Young’s death may have something to do with a secret society that uses an orchid as its main symbol.
Determined to uncover the truth, In Joo embarks on a long quest, trying at the same time to protect her money, while solving the many mysteries behind Hwa Young’s suicide.
Oh In Kyung, justice at all costs: Compared to her sisters, Oh In Kyung (Nam Ji Hyun) was raised by her rich great-aunt. The latter provided her with a good education, though her attitude has always been deprived of affection (or so it seems) and cold. In reality, Oh Hye Seok (Kim Mi Sook) has spotted early on the potential of her niece, especially when it comes to investments. That’s why, she always pushed her to join her company. In Kyung also reminded her of herself, which drew a specific connection between both women.
Yet, In Kyung felt guilty of this individual privilege. She refused to take her aunt’s money and chose to pursue her own dreams instead. She became a journalist, driven by a strong sense of justice, and determined to uncover the truth behind every case. Despite the hardships, and her colleagues’ efforts to make her quit, she never gave up.
That being said, Oh In Kyung’s main qualities are her stubbornness, her drive and her courage, even if these attributes put her most of the time in tricky and dangerous situations. As for her weaknesses, In Kyung has a major one: Her strong empathy. She feels the pain of the victims, and is overwhelmed by emotions when she covers cases on deaths, accidents, catastrophes… To overcome this heavy burden, she resolves to drinking at the very beginning of the drama. Indeed, she convinced herself that alcohol would give her enough courage to confront these horrible situations. Unfortunately for In Kyung, her OBN rival Jang Ma Ri (Gong Min Jung) finds out the truth about it and denounces her to the higher-ups. After that, In Kyung gets suspended, as she starts investigating the Orchid Case.
Link with the main intrigue: Before getting involved in the Orchid Case, Oh In Kyung was working on the BoBae Bank Case, in which victims lost all their money after the bank suddenly went bankrupt. She could sense something was off and immediately suspected corruption, though she couldn’t prove it. Little by little though, she starts connecting the dots. She realizes that politician Park Jae Sang (Uhm Ki Joon) could potentially be responsible for the damages caused to innocent people. On top of that, her sister In Hye is getting too close to Park Hyo Rin (Jeon Chae Eun), who happens to be Jae Sang’s only daughter.
Following her instincts, In Kyung decides to dig up more about Park Jae Sang’s affairs. That’s how she stumbles upon a mysterious orchid and the story of Jeongran Society, which connects all the cases from the deaths of well-known people to the BoBae Savings victims.
Oh In Hye, freedom with no strings attached: Oh In Hye (Park Ji Hu) is the youngest of the family. She is currently in high school, whereas her sisters are already working and saving money. This situation puts In Hye is a constant dilemma: On the one hand, she is grateful towards her sisters who are trying hard to provide her with everything they lacked in their adolescence; on the other hand, In Hye feels guilty and remorseful, as she has the impression she is a burden to them and needs to make up for her sisters’ sacrifices. This constant tension pushes In Hye to distance herself from her family. She gets closer to Park Hyo Rin and together they form a wonderful duo. They support each other, while never betraying their mutual trust.
Moreover, In Hye dreams of becoming an artist. She is a gifted painter, aware of her talents. Yet, she’s unable to fully explore her potential due to her financial struggles. But more than that, In Hye has dreamed about one thing all her life: Freedom. For herself and for her sisters. She achieves it at the end of the drama by running away with Hyo Rin. Abroad, there are no strings attached; she can pursue her dreams; let her sisters live their lives as well; and enjoy her youth.
Oh In Hye is actully quite an ambivalent character. She is silent and only speaks her mind when need be. But, she’s always sincere and open about her intentions. On top of that, she is fearless. Even when Won Sang Ah (Uhm Ji Won) locks her up in her secret room, she doesn’t flinch. These qualities contrast with her sometimes cruel behavior towards her sisters, which could pass for ungratefulness or scorn. In Hye is a free soul who’s not been corrupted by the vices of the world yet. Even though she knows they exist, she doesn’t let herself nor her mind be tainted by them.
Link with the intrigue: Oh In Hye’s red thread in the plot is her genuine friendship with Park Hyo Rin. This relationship gets In Kyung indirectly involved in Park Jae Sang’s business; and In Joo in Won Sang Ah’s.
The synergy of the trio: The 3 sisters form a solid trio in the story, though they begin their respective journey on different paths: In Joo investigates the death of her friend, In Kyung works on a fishy case, and In Hye strikes a friendship with Hyo Rin. Moreover, they don’t discover the orchid at the same time in the story. It starts with In Joo, who then mentions it to In Kyung allowing a connection between both cases to form. Meanwhile, In Hye discovers the orchid tree in Hyo Rin’s house, without realizing right away its importance to the story.
Gradually, the sisters team up to defeat Jae Sang and Sang Ah. They help each other and share crucial information. Together, they create a beautiful synergy. Indeed, each sister brings her unique qualities and knowledge, compensating each other.
At the end of the drama, each of them has freed herself from the past, and can start anew. Though they are not physically together, their connection transcends frontiers.
Who’s the real villain?
Choi Do Il, can he be trusted? I am not going to lie, I suspected Choi Do Il (Wi Ha Joon) from the beginning until the end of the drama. Yet, he proved to be probably the most important character of the drama.
Long story short, his father used to be a member of Jeongran Society. However, he went into hiding years ago, as some of his fellow soldiers were getting killed one after the other. Do Il was left alone with his mother, who died prematurely. Ever since, Choi Do Il has trusted one thing: Money. He became a successful investor, and a clever chess player (metaphorically speaking). Though he started working for Jae Sang, he eventually teamed up with Hwa Young, and later on with In Joo, to steal billions of wons to the family and make up for the victims of BoBae Bank.
That being said, he is literally THE game savior. No matter the situation, he can assess his options very rapidly, and make life-or-death decisions in a split second. Without him, In Joo would’ve probably fallen into Sang Ah’s trap and/or died.
I was really impressed by this character to be honest. All along, he’s been quite direct and open about his view on life and money. He repeatedly asked In Joo to trust him, ever since she chose to get involved in this dangerous matter. Although it’s impossible to truly know what he’s thinking, Choi Do Il proves to be a worthy partner, as well as a brilliant solution-maker.
Oh Hye Seok, the cunning businesswoman: Oh Hye Seok, the sisters’ great-aunt, used to be part of Jeongran Society. She worked in Vietnam as a nurse, but never spoke a work about what happened there. That’s the reason why she managed to stay alive so long and build her business without issues.
As mentioned by In Kyung in the drama, Hye Seok’s company is her baby. She spent her entire life building it, trying hard to make it grow. She would rather die than lose it. In Kyung has understood that. That’s why she takes over her aunt’s business at some point; out of respect and love for the woman who sheltered her as a child.
Jin Hwa Young, the treacherous friend: Jin Hwa Young is a discreet, but charismatic accountant. She works in the same company as In Joo and is her only friend at work. Both get along very well, but Hwa Young is full of secrets. First, she lost her mother because of the BoBae Bank’s scam. After losing all of her savings, her parent committed suicide. Since then, Hwa Young has wished for only one thing: Revenge. That’s when she’s started getting involved with Won Sang Ah, laundering money for her.
Though Hwa Young is a good person and In Joo’s close friend, her revenge is more important than the rest. So, she uses In Joo’s identity, makes her sign papers to be able to live in Singapore, and fakes her death. Even if In Joo forgives her, the violence and cruelty of her actions, as well their impact on In Joo’s life can’t be totally overlooked.
Park Jae Sang, the evil politician: At first glance, Park Jae Sang seems to be the most evil character of the drama. He is cunning, cruel, and overly manipulative. Yet, the more we learn about his background and is relationship with his wife, the more human he becomes. Indeed, Jae Sang is the son of the driver, who used to work for Won Sang Ah’s family. He grew up poor and despised by Sang Ah’s family, but eventually climbed the ladder. However, this rise to the top came with a lot of sacrifices. He became the family’s hitman, chosen by Sang Ah to fulfill her own ambitions and games. Even if Park Jae Sang looks like a violent husband and a horrible father, he is profoundly dedicated to his duty as the head of the house and of the secret society. He would never lay a finger on Sang Ah, and even commits suicide to her demand to protect her.
Park Jae Sang is yet another ambivalent character full of contradictions. On the outside, he appears to be clean of sins and kind, while he’s got some darkness in him. He also gives off the impression that he’s got the power in his relationship, when he’s in reality totally submissive and obedient towards Sang Ah.
Won Sang Ah, the crazy puppeteer: Wong Sang Ah’s true face is the biggest twist of the drama. At first, she appears to be a kind woman, who is being abused by her husband. But, she’s actually a crazy puppeteer who plays a game (or several) behind the scene. Ever since the loss of her mother (who was locked up in a secret room, abused by her father, and accidentally killed by her), Sang Ah has lived her entire life as if it were a play. As an artist, she feels the need to recreate her arts in real life, not caring one bit about the consequences of her whims on others.
Won Sang Ah gradually turns into a spoiled and bored woman, who needs to create action in her life to enjoy it. Once she has finished playing with her toys, she gets rid of them and looks for new ones.
Sang Ah is the sisters’ final opponent. The last root representing Jeongran Society. She dies when her plan of killing Hwa Young with the orchid backfires on her, getting her killed instead.
Jeongran Society in a nutshell: During the Vietnam war, a platoon of soldiers was abandoned by its own army. Though it was not made up of many people, these patriots resented their country for leaving them for dead in a war they had bravely fought.
Whilst crossing the dangerous forests of this unknown country, they ended up taking refuge on an orchid tree. They rested there and waited for their deaths. But life decided otherwise for the group of soldiers. Against all odds, they survived.
Driven by the visions of the future General Won (Sang Ah’s father) had because of the hallucinogen effect of the orchid, he decided to create the Jeongran Society upon their return to Korea. All members kept a blue orchid with them, as a symbol of their resentment towards their home country. In a nutshell, the goal of the society is to support its members in the fulfillment of their selfish desires. The higher you rank, the higher you are on the orchid tree. Finally, once the leader dies, another one must follow. So, when General Won got sick, Jae Sang took his place. Yet, the latter failed to achieve his purpose (becoming the future president), so he had to die. Sang Ah took his place after that, but her greed led to her death and the end of Jeongran Society embodied by the burning of the orchid tree.
Alliances and dynamics of the plot:
Oh In Joo & Jin Hwa Young, blood sisters: In Joo and Hwa Young may have been sisters in another life. Though they only know each other from work, these two are very close. Hwa Young wants to help In Joo fulfill her dream to get out of poverty; while In Joo is willing to do anything to solve Hwa Young’s case.
I have to admit that Hwa Young’s methods are definitely not the right ones, but they turn out to be necessary evils to avenge herself and support In Joo. She uses In Joo as her main pawn to get her revenge on the Park family. Nevertheless, Hwa Young has a lot of affection towards her. So, she refuses to make a victim out of her. She blows her cover and comes to her rescue several times, taking her (rightful) place in prison in In Joo’s stead at the end.
In Joo could’ve felt mad or upset towards Hwa Young for lying to her and deceiving her, but she chooses another stand. She is clever and empathetic enough to see that Hwa Young is just another victim, like her. The same way Hwa Young risked her life to save In Joo, the latter confronts Won Sang Ah in her house. While Hwa Young is tied up and about to receive a burning poison shower, In Joo jumps towards her and runs for cover with her friend.
At the end, Jin Hwa Young and Oh In Joo confirm one more time their deep bond. In Joo goes to prison to see Hwa Young, who reassures her that she feels free now and is doing alright. A heart-warming moment that is full of meaning and emotion.
Choi Do Il & Oh In Joo, partners in crime: There’s no doubt that Do Il and In Joo form a wonderful duo. Do Il is smart, always one step ahead and rational; In Joo is reckless, brave and impulsive. They somehow compensate each other’s flaws. But, the best part of their relationship is the trust that bonds them. Though In Joo should doubt Do Il’s intentions, she chooses to follow him and to put her faith in him. And for the best, as Do Il proves to be a formidable opponent and knight in shining armor.
On top of that, both characters seem to be on the same wavelength when it comes to money and their view on life. They’ve both been through a lot and know what it feels like to be poor. Hence, their special connection. Even if they don’t officially end up together, I want to believe there is hope for a future reunion (and love story) between these two.
Ha Jong Ho & Oh In Kyung, partners for life: Ha Jong Ho (Kang Hoon) has been in love with Oh In Kyung ever since he met her as a child. Indeed, In Kyung was living at her great-aunt’s house, and Jong Ho happened to be her neighbor. Though everyone though they would date at some point, In Kyung ignored Jong Ho’s feelings, while the latter left for the US heartbroken.
The Orchid Case forces their reunion. Together, they start investigate the past and Jeongran Society. All along, Jong Ho doesn’t hide his profound feelings for In Kyung, who pretends not to know. At the end, In Kyung eventually comes around, realizing that Jong Ho’s love, patience and devotion is everything she needs. She shouldn’t push him away anymore. To our (or at least my) greatest pleasure, they finally share a well-deserved kiss. To add to the romantic atmosphere, both confess they can’t live without the other. Hence, their decision to stick together.
This duo has an excellent synergy, as In Kyung’s determination is compensated by Jong Ho’s calm, avoiding unnecessary risks and dangerous situations.
Park Hyo Rin & Oh In Hye, travel partners: These two teenagers prove that friendship can bloom even in the harshest circumstances. Park Hyo Rin is a young girl, who suffers from her parents’ craziness. She developed anxiety issues that pop out every time she hears her parents argue. As if it were not enough, the poor child is constantly pressured and traumatized by her parents’ unstable behavior. She resolved to hurting herself in order to survive, but feels rather alone and left aside.
Thankfully, she meets Oh In Hye. The adolescent is a great listener full of wisdom. She’d rather confront Hyo Rin’s parents than let her friend stand up against them on her own. Throughout the drama, both girls showcase a deep and strong friendship, that goes beyond the current familial drama and lives out in the world.
Once the plot comes to an end, these young artists choose to escape the madness. They elope and start traveling around the world. By doing so, they succeed in freeing themselves from their respective chains: Poverty for In Hye; a golden cage for Hyo Rin.
Park Jae Sang & Won Sang Ah, partners of crime: After our favorite partners in crime Do Il and In Joo, come our (favorite?) partners of crime. Though both evil, Park Jae Sang and Won Sang Ah form an incredible and very dynamic duo. It’s hard sometimes to define who has the upper hand, as well as whose craziness is pushing the other to the edge. Park Jae Sang displays violence towards Sang Ah, yet his wife turns out to be worse by mentally manipulating everyone, husband included.
In the end, their greed precipitates their tragic deaths. Nonetheless, I couldn’t help but feel a little empathy towards these two. Even if their actions were cruel and brutal, they still had a human side. They were both scarred by the wounds of childhood, whether it’d be despise, abandonment or even ill-treatment. Considering their traumas and what they went through, no wonder they ended up being so disturbed.
Power of money, damages of poverty: Little Women is full of insightful quotes on money and the impact its presence or lack of it can have on our existence. What should you value more: Life or money? What can one do without money? Can money really bring happiness, or does it only bring about chaos and destruction? How can you live a worthy life if you are poor? How can you protect the ones you love, if you can’t even afford to eat? Does money change you? And if yes, how so? In what ways? Does it control your life? Is there an end to greed?
All of these questions are somehow tackled in the drama offering a deeper and broader spectrum of life lessons. To me, the most traumatic impact of money in the drama remains the death of the little sister, still a baby at the time, because she was sick and the Oh family couldn’t afford to go to the hospital. She eventually died, leaving a deep scar in everyone’s memories.
The beautiful direction: I couldn’t write a review about that amazing drama without mentioning the beautiful direction. Once again, Kim Hee Won wowed me with her incredible cuts, her magnificent use of colors, light and space on screen.
The director of Vincenzo or The Crowned Clown, simply beautified the plot and gave depth to the story through her outstanding visuals. If you like great cinematography, Little Women is definitely something you should be watching.
And don’t get me started on the scenes focusing on orchids: Simply extraordinary!
The ending: Although sisters don’t end up physically together, the ending of the drama is more than satisfying. The tragic events allowed every character to start anew, whether it’d be by fulfilling their dreams or getting their revenge.
Apart from Jae Sang and Sang Ah (who die), everyone else manages to get closure.
Oh In Joo inherits her great-aunt’s apartment. She has now a house she can call a home, in which her soul can live.
Oh In Kyung found true love and decides to leave with Jong Ho to start on a clean slate. She can now study whatever subject she wants instead of sacrificing herself for her family.
Oh In Hye is traveling the world with Hyo Rin after having divided the leftover money equally with her sisters. Indeed, In Hye had opened a bank account under her name to secure the billions of won In Joo and Do Il were trying hard to protect.
Choi Do Il leaves for a remote place where he can live free of worries, but gives us a glimpse of hope by saying he’ll see In Joo again.
Jin Hwa Young is in prison paying for her crimes, but she’s free. She got her revenge.
You see, all is well, that ends well!
Once Upon a Drama 