Louisa May Alcott’s 1868 coming-of-age novel, Little Women is an evergreen classic. It tells the story of the impoverished March sisters and how they deal with life. The recent K-drama adaptation (it takes only very vague points from the original novel) of the same is with a far more sinister take, incorporating modern-class struggles. With a riveting script and brilliant acting, Little Women is Korean television at its best, a delightful makjang drama that moves at breakneck speed, bringing emotion and excitement in a neat package.

Plot Pot

The Oh sisters, Oh In-joo (Kim Go-eun), Oh In-kyung (Nam Ji-hyun), and Oh In-hye (Park Ji-hu) are not in the best of conditions, whether it is financially, personally or professionally. At the beginning of the series, In-kyung gets suspended from her job as a journalist due to her drinking problem just as she was about to begin her investigation on a prime mayoral candidate, Park Jae-sang.

The youngest, In-hye, is an art genius, a scholarship student at a prestigious art institution with a bright future ahead. The quiet and stoic In-hye hates being a burden to her sisters or have them worry about her and so, ventures out to work on her own. But her sisters would have none of it. She forms a budding relationship with her classmate Park Hyo-rin (Jae-sang’s daughter), whose portrait she had been commissioned to paint.

The eldest, In-joo, charged with taking care of her sisters, gets embroiled in the workings of a slush fund. A loner at her office, In-joo’s only friend at work is Jin Hwa-young, who has also been ostracised by her co-workers in a similar manner. However, Hwa-young soon dies and leaves two million won to In-joo with clues to find a slush fund worth almost 70 million won. In-joo is torn between helping her employers find the money or staying on her friend’s side to uncover the truth behind her death. It is during this that she teams up with Choi Do-il (Wi Ha-jun), a slush fund expert. At the back of her mind, the abject poverty of her family is also a concern and the money is undoubtedly tempting. At the same time, all three sisters get involved with the Park family and in particular, Park Jae-sang and the web of lies, deceit and corruption surrounding him.

Little Women narrates many threads of plot at the same time and although they are connected at a singular point, what makes it work is the brilliant writing and the pacing of the show. The ensemble cast also does a good job of embodying the characters with the newcomer Park Ji-hu demanding praise. Moreover, the drama is also a visual treat with its rich colour palette and pertinent frames. There are vivid colours in every scene but there is a singular pall of darkness that perhaps notifies audience of the gloom settling over the sisters. There are many recurring motifs as well, like a pair of red heels, that helps keep the suspense going. Also keep an eye out on the grand Park house.

Social inequality is a common theme in K-dramas but Chung Seo-kyung, the writer for the show, portrays a more realistic depiction of poverty and social mobility. There is no romantic idealisation or any illusion of free will. Money does control people and the drama does not shy away from showing this harsh reality. And there are twists aplenty, to the point that you almost give up any hope for the characters. It is almost jarring but it ends with a satisfactory conclusion which brings closure. Although K-dramas have had strong female lead characters before, this drama features three of the most well-developed ones ever, adding to why this K-drama is a must-watch.

Genre: Thriller, Suspense

Where to Watch: Netflix

You Will Love It If You Love:

• Strong female characters
• Sisters banding together
• Tales of corruption
• Social commentary
• Multiple plot threads

The Telegraph Rating: 5/5

Characters We Treasured

Kim Go-eun as Oh In-joo: Although she might seem easy to manipulate, In-joo has a quiet resilience about her that is incredibly admirable. She is also calculative, but not in a way that can harm people but rather, helps her loved ones. She is fiercely loyal as well, almost to a fault.

We also loved her in: Goblin, Yumi's Cells

Nam Ji-hyun as Oh In-kyung: In-kyung is like the Jo March of this adaptation. Determined and passionate about her profession, In-kyung struggles with her own demons as much as she does with the ones around her.

We also loved her in: Suspicious Partner

Park Ji-hu as Oh In-hye: A genius and a quiet fighter, In-hye is the cute youngest one that her sisters like to dote on. But she understands their struggle, and is more perceptive than perhaps any of them. Her colour palette is also mysterious and stunning, drawing the audience in.

We also loved her in: All of Us Are Dead

Wi Ha-jun as Choi Do-il: Do-il carries a gravitas about him that not only makes him interesting but also charming. He seems to toe the line between being the good guy and the bad one, keeping the audience as well as In-joo, intrigued. But he is also sure of his values and intentions, which makes him admirable.

We also loved him in: Bad and Crazy, Squid Game