Good Associate: Episodes 6-7
by quirkycase
What does it imply to be a guardian and to do proper by your youngsters? A number of custody circumstances this week provide perception into the complexities of being a guardian and the way youngsters can change into collateral injury in a divorce. Now that our ace lawyer faces her personal custody battle, she finds herself within the unenviable place of seeing all of it firsthand. Nevertheless, being compelled to look at her personal parenting provides her a brand new perspective and provides an opportunity for a stronger relationship together with her daughter if she’s prepared to place within the effort.
EPISODES 6-7
We begin off the week with two custody circumstances on reverse ends of the spectrum. Whereas Eun-kyung and Ji-sang battle to be the first guardian with custody, one other set of oldsters battle to foist custody on the opposite. Yuri, and the choose, are aghast at these two dad and mom enumerating their very own faults to free themselves from elevating their youngsters. However when Eun-kyung and Yuri take the mom on as a consumer, we see it’s not that straightforward.
This case presents a nuanced have a look at motherhood, and parenthood on the whole, and the problem of getting your particular person identification changed with that of “guardian.” Now we have an unsupported, depressed mom with no household and a husband who barely appears to acknowledge he has youngsters – she’s not unloving, however motherhood is an undesirable burden she’s unequipped to hold.
Surprisingly, we do get a happyish ending to the case with the dad and mom each stepping up as soon as they’re divorced. As the daddy will get custody and cares for his youngsters for the primary time, he learns to be an actual father. In the meantime, the mom has the time and area to prioritize her psychological well being and reclaim her sense of self, which makes her a greater mom.
One factor I admire about this present is that it doesn’t take the straightforward route of building villains and heroes in each relationship. Folks and relationships are messy, and whereas in some circumstances there are villains, more often than not, nobody’s palms are clear. It’s all a matter of levels.
Yuri nonetheless struggles with all the anomaly, presumably because of how clear-cut her personal dad and mom’ divorce case was. Her father cheated and later married a grasping lady with out scruples, unabashedly abandoning Yuri and her mom. Yuri sees the world in black and white, and he or she holds a grudge. She even obtained her father and mistress fired by protesting at their work about their affair. Now, her grasping stepmom is coming to gather.
She exhibits up at Yuri’s work to fulfill with Eun-kyung… who was her and Yuri’s father’s lawyer all these years in the past. The girl brings a doc, claiming it’s her late husband’s will bequeathing the home to her – she desires Yuri and her mom ousted. She then makes the error of making an attempt to threaten Eun-kyung into firing Yuri.
As a substitute, Eun-kyung secretly visits Yuri’s mother and helps her push again towards the stepmom who has been blackmailing Yuri’s mother. She and Yuri’s mother might by no means be capable to totally perceive one another, however Eun-kyung now is aware of what it’s wish to be cheated on and wish to shield her daughter amid a messy divorce.
When Eun-kyung does a authorized takedown of the stepmom and tells her to get misplaced, she calls Yuri in as a witness. Yuri is touched by the present of loyalty – and thrilled to see her stepmom thrown out – and surprises Eun-kyung by thanking her for getting her dad to divorce her mother. She by no means needed her mother to be caught in a wedding that made her sad.
I like that we get a gender flip in Jae-hee’s custody case with Eun-kyung within the stereotypical father place as a breadwinner who thought offering for her baby financially was sufficient. Now, she’s not so certain, and he or she may pay a excessive worth for her absence at house. Jae-hee is sufficiently old to have a say in who she desires to reside with, so custody rides on what she tells the courtroom investigators. Eun-kyung is aware of Jae-hee has a more in-depth relationship together with her father – it wouldn’t be shocking for Jae-hee to choose him.
Jae-hee is nearly too mature and self-sufficient for her age, holding her ache inside whereas showing stoic. What really breaks Eun-kyung’s coronary heart is when she sees how a lot her absence has damage Jae-hee who feels deserted. She assumes Eun-kyung doesn’t need custody of her since she’s by no means been round anyway or been serious about being mother. Oof.
Fortunately, Jae-hee does divulge heart’s contents to somebody: Yuri. Jae-hee is observant sufficient to place collectively that her father cheated with Sara (who she’s near and treats like an aunt), leaving her conflicted. Yuri shares her personal historical past with a dishonest father and divorced dad and mom, encouraging Jae-hee to suppose solely of herself proper now somewhat than fearing hurting one in every of her dad and mom by selecting the opposite.
The silver lining is that, like within the earlier custody case, all this has made Eun-kyung step up and be extra current for Jae-hee. She makes her breakfast each morning, sends her classmates snacks, and comes house a bit earlier to speak together with her. It’s wonderful how simply exhibiting up makes such a distinction to Jae-hee who lights up round her mother for the primary time. It may be late, however they’re lastly constructing a relationship.
I’m conflicted in regards to the custody scenario as a result of whereas Ji-sang is clearly within the unsuitable as a husband and has proven lower than stellar private character, even Eun-kyung doesn’t deny he’s been the first guardian for Jae-hee. From what we’ve seen, Jae-hee is extra comfy with him, depends on him extra, and feels extra liked by him. The truth that Jae-hee assumed her mom wouldn’t even need her speaks volumes. If Eun-kyung desires to begin being the first guardian, she must earn Jae-hee’s belief and present this newfound curiosity in her daughter’s life is right here to remain.
I’d even be involved about Sara’s function in Jae-hee’s life, nevertheless it’s clear that received’t be an issue. Sara’s goals come crumbling down round her when she will get fired for violating the corporate’s insurance policies because of her relationship with Ji-sang. Then, she’s surprised when Ji-sang has no plans to let her reside with him and Jae-hee if he will get custody. When she cries and berates him for under caring about Jae-hee, he breaks up together with her on the spot. The chilly approach he treats her, even telling her to “know her place,” is sufficient to virtually make you are feeling sorry for Sara.
I’d like to say that’s the final we’ll see of her, however we finish the week on a dramatic revelation: Sara is pregnant. I think about there’s no eliminating her now. That is going to be so messy. She looks as if the kind to suppose she will be able to use a child to persuade Ji-sang into staying, as if he’s not at present divorcing the mom of his first baby. He’s proven his true colours and made it clear he doesn’t view Sara as a real accomplice, so why she would even need him nonetheless is a thriller to me.
If she certainly does attempt to maintain onto him, I feel it’ll be much less about him and extra about profitable, particularly if it means one upping Eun-kyung. Sara surprisingly appears to view Eun-kyung as competitors, regardless of not even being a lawyer. She’s clearly jealous of Eun-kyung’s success, ability, and the extent of respect she’s earned. I wouldn’t be stunned if that’s why she concerned herself with Ji-sang within the first place. Perhaps she’ll shock me and select to not use her future baby as a weapon, however primarily based on her actions up to now, I’m not holding my breath.
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