[HanCinema's Drama Review] "Unkind Women" Episode 8

Relationships that are too intertwined in dramas can be annoying. They are too convenient and make a world rather insular. However, when an anticipated revelation or meeting occurs, that insular world magnifies the effect - that is what "Unkind Women" has done.

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We've been waiting for Doo-jin to find out what sort of woman his beloved stepmother and for the worlds of the women in Soon-ok's household to collide with Hyeon-ae's. The first realization has come as a huge shock to Doo-jin after a wonderful character buildup on Hyeon-sook's part. It wasn't Hyeon-sook specifically who received development, but her sister, Hyeon-jeong. Hyeon-jeong has worked hard to care for their mother when Hyeon-sook couldn't cut it. That pressure of not measuring up has always weighed on Hyeon-sook and is part of the reason she wants to be exonerated, to free herself of the shackles Hyeon-ae put on her and start anew - to help the family that helped her.

Shifting to Hyeon-jeong, we finally get to see inside her. She feels as alone and useless as Hyeon-sook. The camera work in this episode really highlighted that. It looked down at her like she looks down on herself. A poignant scene ended with her alone in the dark, which said more than words ever would.

Soon-ok and Mo-ran are like fussing sisters, a bit like Hyeon-sook and Hyeon-jeong. They hurt each other and then makeup, hesitant to admit they care. After a fuss this episode, they can see how deeply the other has been wounded and there is a makeup of sorts. Although the interactions this episode made this relationship a bit clearer, its still too convoluted for me to get behind their growth. I'd rather see Roo-oh flirt with Ma-ri or Hyeon-jeong deal with her feelings of inadequacy or Hyeon-ae get closer and closer to receiving punishment.

The romances are coming along splendidly and are entertaining not only in that they are adorable, but in that Roo-oh likes Ma-ri for being an upright woman with a mind of her own. I can always get behind that.

Written by: Raine from 'Raine's Dichotomy'

Follow @ raine0211

"Unkind Women" is directed by Yoo Hyeon-gi, written by Kim In-yeong, and features Kim Hye-ja, Chae Shi-ra, Do Ji-won, and Lee Ha-na.

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