Divorce Attorney Shin - thoughts
an easy-to-watch, pleasant series that focuses on family standards and the good of children. however for me personally, in the end, it falls a bit flat.
★ 3/5
thoughts in detail:
i really liked the beginning. it had tension, high stakes, and conflict - things were happening. but just as quickly as they began, they ended. and only then the real plot unravelled. which confused me and I wasn't too sure about the series anymore, its goal and what it is aiming for... i kept thinking about the first conflict and how good it was. it also didn't help that they kept referring to it, turning what seemed to be the secondary character into the main character.
the series also tried to introduce different cases, which focused on family relations and the issues. which was a nice touch and a good, solid focal point. but at the same time, it kept on going about the first case, and the main case, which, for me, was introduced too late. and so it seemed like they tried to fit too many eggs in one basket. doing too much yet not enough for each case. personally, I wanted to know more about the secondary characters. wanted to see their story. instead of an introduction, build-up and then a simple "Oh we solved it!" I felt, if this was the way they wanted to plan the series, they should've tried it more like in Extraordinary Attorney Woo. Or kept the other cases altogether in the background, so we can focus on the main plot of the series.
in relation to the romance, i felt it was not exactly existent. they tried to have it in with the secondary characters but there was no chemistry and it felt awkward, odd and unnecessary at times. i will not lie though I loved, loved, loved the main character with the character from the first case, which later joined the team. They had a nice chemistry. They understood each other, supported one another and were both kind-hearted. But then again, it actually made sense they didn't develop a romantic relationship, because of the female character's backstory.
On the other hand, the bromance was absolutely perfect! The three main characters were brilliant. So well matched together with their personalities and so I felt a bit of a shame the series didn't focus more on them and their relationship. How they came to be, why their bond was so strong, and what kept them together like this. In fact, I would've been happy if the drama wouldn't have any romantic relationships at all, but focused more on the family bond - whether a real family or a chosen one.
But in relation to the characters, especially the main ones, I didn't actually feel any development or growth - except for the female character. In fact, I feel she was more of a main character than any other one. her story, the challenges she faced, and the emotional growth and change by the end. it was all very evident there. what made me a little bit sad, is that there was definitely potential for other characters to grow too. but it appears it was simply missed.
I think I could talk much more about it! But overall, I felt there were a lot of things that could be better. However, it is not the worst. it's still a nice watch, especially since it is 12 episodes. And Cho Seungwoo is brilliant in it. If you are looking for something easy enough, that is also funny and touching, give it a watch for sure!