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Divorce Attorney Shin: Episodes 5-6

A messy divorce case lands in our attorney’s lap this week, and though he will try his best to win, the entire situation leaves a bitter taste in his mouth. As he witnesses his clients’ self-serving fight that harms everyone around them, will our attorney learn from their mistake or will he fall prey to the same temptations?

 
EPISODES 5-6

 Divorce Attorney Shin Episodes 5-6

The main divorce case this week depicts a messy love triangle between three selfish people: a professor with cancer who cheated on his wife and is willing to accept his girlfriend’s liver, a homemaker blinded by rage who would rather become a widow than a divorcee, and a hairdresser lacking shame who envies and steals for her own gain. In the end, everyone is consumed by their desires and rushes headlong into the fire, unaware of the damage caused by their actions.

Unlike the previous cases, the story of the cheating professor, his wife, and his mistress acts as a juxtaposition to highlight other strands in the drama. The unsavory end of the divorce may be a message in and of itself — the folly of humans, perhaps — but the greater impact comes from its effect on others.

 Divorce Attorney Shin Episodes 5-6

One, in particular, is Seo-jin who continues to struggle with anxiety and possibly PTSD after her public divorce case. In some ways, she sees herself reflected in the professor and mistress since she, too, had an affair, and it makes her wonder why Sung-han finds their situation more unpleasant than her own.

Showing his true character as the tenderhearted pianist, Sung-han approaches Seo-jin gently and answers her questions with compassion. Even when she admonishes herself for overreacting after an incident with flowers, he helps her be kinder to herself and let the healing process take its time.

As someone who carries his own grief, Sung-han understands that matters of the heart do not fix themselves overnight, but this also means that someday things do get better. It is a message Seo-jin needs at the moment, and gradually, she makes progress towards recovery.

 Divorce Attorney Shin Episodes 5-6

The other character affected by the divorce case is Hyung-geun. At work, he plays the role of mediator, especially when it comes to their new recruit Jun and Sung-han. However, in his personal life, he flounders, not knowing what to do about his wife. Whether it stems from stubbornness or love, he hopelessly holds onto an empty relationship at the cost of his own heart, until one fateful evening.

In the midst of another pity party, Hyung-geun receives a call from his wife, and with the help of the ramyun shop owner KIM SO-YEON (Kang Mal-geum), he takes her to the hospital where he meets the other man for the first time. Forced to face reality, Hyung-geun realizes that his wife found someone new who cares for her deeply, and unlike Sung-han’s nasty divorce case, the cheater hangs his head in shame.

 Divorce Attorney Shin Episodes 5-6

Despite Hyung-geun’s efforts to keep this incident private, one call with Sung-han unravels his poorly hidden secret. Without a fuss, the three friends meet up to comfort Hyung-geun, and this scene wonderfully captures their friendship. They understand each other implicitly, and because of their shared history, they feel no need to keep up pretenses. Thus, even at their lowest moments, they can joke around and take profile pictures if the angle is right.

In the end, Hyung-geun recognizes the selfishness in his attempts at reconciliation and learns that continuing down this road will only turn him into the bitter wife who prefers her husband dead instead of divorced. Despite the ache, Hyung-geun decides to let go and wishes his wife be happy from now on.

Though he sends her off with a smile, he dissolves into tears as soon as she leaves, but when he looks up again, he spots his friends sitting at a nearby table. They offer to buy him drinks, and between sobs, Hyung-geun says that he wants to open the hidden bottle of whiskey under Sung-han’s kitchen sink. Ha!

 Divorce Attorney Shin Episodes 5-6

Outside of the main divorce case, the plot also thickens for Sung-han and his goal to uncover the truth behind his sister’s death. In a series of flashbacks, we learn that she died in a hit-and-run accident, and the last call she made was to a “friend” with a phone number ending in 1225.

To complicate matters, a new figure joins the fray: Ju-hwa’s ex-mother-in-law MA GEUM-HEE (Cha Hwa-yeon). An enigmatic woman, Lady Ma’s motto is “being kind brings trouble” yet something about her seems genuine unlike her current daughter-in-law JIN YOUNG-JU (Noh Susanna) who embodies the evil stepmother trope.

Recently arriving to Korea after living abroad for years, Lady Ma pays a surprise visit to Sung-han’s office and asks about Ju-hwa’s gravesite. Sung-han declines to answer and tells her to leave before he regrets his next words.

 Divorce Attorney Shin Episodes 5-6  Divorce Attorney Shin Episodes 5-6

While Lady Ma’s meeting with Sung-han was tense, it is nothing compared to the hostile interaction between her and Young-ju. Lady Ma asks her daughter-in-law if she can sleep after letting Ju-hwa pass like that, and then she laughs in her face when Young-ju insists that this is her family. Lady Ma tells her that it was her grandson’s family first, but Ju-hwa rejects that claim since this life would have been hers from the start if Lady Ma did not interfere. So many secrets!

Young-ju enlists the help of her partner-in-crime Attorney Park, and he cunningly tells her that he planted a spy at Sung-han’s office. Unbeknownst to our nefarious duo, Jun is the worst spy ever. In fact, as soon as Attorney Park blackmailed him to comply, Jun went to Hyung-geun for advice and revealed everything to Sung-han who then made him a double agent. Heh.

Despite Jun’s enthusiasm, the rest of the office ignores him for the most part, making his role as spy essentially null. However, they do invite him out to camp, but alas, the three ahjussis stifle his attempts to set the mood and play with their phones the entire time. (Definitely not the glamorous life Jun was probably imagining.)

 Divorce Attorney Shin Episodes 5-6

Though Sung-han won his latest divorce case, he hesitates to fill in his final grape. As he wrestles with doubts and confusion, a call from a strange number ending in 1225 brings a sudden wave of clarity to his mind. The caller is Young-ju, and that sliver of connection is enough for Sung-han to move forward.

While Sung-han contemplates his next action, an odd client drops by his firm. The man is from a different city, and when Sung-han asks him how he found his place, he shows him Young-ju’s business card. That becomes the final push he needed, and Sung-han tears the grapes off his wall. Time for the real battle to begin.

 Divorce Attorney Shin Episodes 5-6

Compared to the previous cases, I thought this week’s divorce case was the weakest, yet these two episodes were my favorite so far. The biggest draw of the show for me has been the characters from day one, and I think the professor’s divorce case, while not engaging on its own, was fascinating in light of the overarching themes and relationships developed in the show. It served more as a reflection of Seo-jin and Hyung-geun’s situation with each character learning from their “counterpart.” The professor’s case was almost like a warning, and while it was clearly meant for those two characters, I also think it works as an analogy for Sung-han’s current dilemma. Sung-han describes the professor’s case as moths flying toward a flame, but as the episode reached its climactic end, I couldn’t help but see our protagonist as a moth as well. His goal has become a flame — a trap that threatens to engulf him and bring about his demise — yet like a moth, Sung-han cannot turn away.

The three friends continue to be the highlight of the show, and they seem to get better with each passing episode. I absolutely adored the scene where Sung-han calls Hyung-geun about marinated crabs, and the effortless switch from comedy to drama was amazing. The show does an excellent job portraying the strength of their bond through subtle details such as the way they understand each other’s pauses as a sign that something is wrong. The silences between them speak volume, and while the writing deserves some credit, it really is the acting that sells it for me.

Even Jung-shik who is more of a comedic character is not shoehorned into a cardboard cutout (though he does act like a fool most of the time) and actually displays some depth, especially when it comes to his friends. His teasing and random comments are meant to lighten the mood because he uses humor as a defense, but just like the other two, he notices when they are down and has an uncanny sixth sense about these things. He’s also the first one willing to jump into a fight if his friends need him, and despite his tomfoolery, he is fiercely loyal. I hope the show gives him a story, too, because there is a lot of potential with his character, and it would be a waste to not let Jung Moon-sung step into the spotlight as well.

 Divorce Attorney Shin Episodes 5-6

 
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I can’t tell what the mother- in-law’s intentions are yet, but new wife (to Shin’s brother-in-law) is a pill. For no good reason.

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As long as Mother-in-law is going to cause a great hindrance to Yeong-ju, I'll put up with anything. For now, if I have to pick one of either, it'll be the MIL for me.

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That’s two of us.

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I don't know what MIL is upto. But it was satisfying to watch her face off the new wife.

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At least we know they’re not on the same side.

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Amen!

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The MIL's first question to her chauffeur upon arriving from the US was to inquire about her grandson, so that's also a point in the 'plus' column for me.

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Thanks @lovepark for the weecap you pulled out the on point elements of these episodes for the humour both in the words 👉
’Thus, even at their lowest moments, they can joke around and take profile pictures if the angle is right.’ and the screenshot of the friend’s caught at the neighbouring table🤣 I loved this episode for the friendship move from sad to funny and back again as needed. I felt for the newbie as he was trying too hard to be ‘one of the boys’.

I really felt for the son in the divorce case it was so clear that no one was thinking about him even when he said he was suffering from panic attacks he got nothing from either parent.

I find the Sunghan’s sister’s backstory really intriguing; watching a married mum eating ramyeon on her own in a local store is a sad sight to behold in itself and to have that as part of her last moments before she died was just tragic. I am glad the mother in law who looks like a real nightmare might also be the much needed advocate for her grandson. That step mum is absolutely awful. I was surprised that the mother in law turned up on Sunghan’s sister’s the birthday but didn’t say that she had kept that date in her memory despite the number of years since her death. I think he would have been more understanding if he had known why she was requesting the location.

I continue to enjoy this drama which is just as well as I don’t have any other K drama live watch at the moment.

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I was thinking the same about the 16 year old of the parents from hell

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So selfish, the parents and mistress!

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I enjoy every moment the three friends are together!
I laugh cried during the photo/profile picture scene....
Their scenes just feel so natural. And their friendship is weirdly comforting.

Also, I like that that 2 females are forming their own bond. It was nice to see Seo Jin be comfortable with the noodle shop lady.

ok, I don't know what to make of the MIL yet. I dont like MIL's going on a power trip, but here is one instance I really enjoyed it. If she is going to get the boy out of that house, I am all for it. That boy needs some love and a safe home.

Can't wait for the drama to reveal what really happened. Did his sister get a divorce due to false claims by husband/current wife? did she lose custody of her son and hence was driven to depression? Lot of questions as to what caused him to leave everything and study law?

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I'm really curious to know more about what happened with his sister. for now, I even feel that, in a really weird way of showing it, the MIL actually liked his sister back then. the kindness being a weakness basically sounded like a piece of advice more than criticism, threat or anything like that. I feel like she had a reason we will soon find out to not paid her respects all these years and maybe she will help to take that little boy from the new wife's hands.

this show keeps being a showcase of amazing acting. any scene with our 3 friends and the chemistry, great timing between them is a joy to watch. I imagine they had so many NGs but the director just keep them going lol

I still don't know if seojin is going to become some romantic interest to our lawyer pianist or not, but their scenes together started to have some tension that was not there before. and more than just colleagues. I also love seeing her slowly mending her relationship with her son and the scene with them eating ramyun was super cute. the two kid actors are as amazing and charismatic as our adult cast.

started to regret starting this drama while is airing because I can't wait until next weekend but at the same time, it's good to be able to come here every week and see the recap comments.

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I picked up Sacred Divorce for Jo Seung-woo and Jung Moon-song. But I must say for a fact that Kim Sung-kyun has me in utter awe, respect, and a big fat nod at his performance here. How have I not taken cognisance of him all this while? This is the first time I'm watching him right front and center and I know this won't be the last time I'm tuning in for his pieces. I'll be taking a seat for many of his pieces to come.

Hyeong-geon is a character that's warmed up to me, like basically crept into my head that I now look forward to his solo scenes. Kim Sung-kyun evokes and emotes all the emotions to the point that whether or not his ex-wife came back to him, we see that it'll hurt him nonetheless but he'll lod through. I like unmovable steadfast characters on a regular day to day, more so in a marriage setting. Hyeong-geon is a dream come true, and happiness is all I wish.

I don't know if it was just me, but I was screaming 'It is ex-wife. Not wife, but ex-wife' when he explained the connection he shared with Ji-eun to Kim So-yeon. I know it's too soon but that isn't the chaffeur I was expecting to be placed in between them both.

The scene with the trio is just 👌. They.simply.deliver,...without fail. The camera pose ✅. The scene where one of them says 'Back off'✅✅ screams friendship goals. Malt whiskey 😋✅👌.

To see Yeong-ju get rattled like that was one of my guilty pleasure this week. The lady has been on a high horse that I am willing to get behind anyone who'll ruffle her feathers.

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Kim Sung-kyun is getting the notice he fully deserves. I gather the audience of this drama all root for his character. He’s stealing our heart quietly with his exquisite acting.

I can’t wait to see his encounter with the noodle shop owner blossom to something else.

But then I wish no romance between our attorney and Seojin. It’s totally fine for him to be her life coach.

CSW is doing a mighty fine job here for this complex character.

There are so many things I like here but the friendship is THE best. The malt whiskey LOL

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I love Ramyeon Turtle Lady and her beautiful smile and the young actor playing the nephew is fantastic. So many intriguing characters whose motivations aren’t clear, this is my kind of suspense 👍🏼

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Both the kid actors are really doing a great job here! I hope we get to see them all go camping together some day.

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Yes, that’s what I meant to say!

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Correction, I mean the young actor playing FL’s son, 🤦🏼‍♀️

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When someone walks out on you, lives with another man, is pregnant with his baby while still not divorced from you, maybe you need a complete break. I never understand these scenes where they nobly help the person who so badly wronged them. But then I am the “wrong me once, you’re dead to me” kind of person.
I loved when the client cut him off with “I am too exhausted to listen while you beat around the bush” haha. That should be true for all tv dramas. Get to the damn point.
Every episode I like the ramyeon girl (Kang Mal-geum ?)more and more.

I was hoping we wouldn’t have evil step parents but it looks like we have unhinged ones. That step mom is a piece of work

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Thank you for reminding me of this point I loved it too 👉’ I loved when the client cut him off with “I am too exhausted to listen while you beat around the bush” haha. That should be true for all tv dramas. Get to the damn point.’

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We all have the FF button to get us to the main point ;)

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Not when you’re too lazy to use it 😉

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A former boss used to tell us: "I don't need to know your life story" to remind us to get to the point. lolol

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I love the casting of the children so far, especially the teenager.

He looks like a actual stressed teen going through puberty and not a 25 year old we are suppose to believe is a 16 year old college student.

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All the young actors have been terrific.
Yes, isn’t it refreshing seeing an age appropriate teen actor playing a teen role. The 16 year old son was played by young actor Cha Sung-je (rl 15 almost 16) who according to MDL has appeared in 19 dramas since 2018. Maybe we are looking at a Nam Da-reum successor.

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I believe we also saw him briefly in Reborn Rich as young Jin Hyeong-Jun—the older brother of Jin Do-Jun (the male lead played by Song Joong-Ki).

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Based on this recap and the step mom's previous comments & actions, I'm thinking she was interested in her husband (for whatever reasons) and because she's some type of privileged, she felt entitled to him. He got involved with the lead's sister and she learned of this and plotted to get him back by getting the sister out of the way.

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The mother-in-law is like Queen Elizabeth. Ju-wha was like Diana and Young-Ju is Camilla Parker-Bowles, if Camilla were more evil and less horsey. My guess is that the mother-in-law didn't like either of the wives, but she distrusts Young-Ju more.

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One of the things I noticed in these episodes is the use of religious (Christian and Catholic) iconography.
When Jun-hwa is struck by the TOD one of the last images is of the illuminated crosses on the church in the background. It looks like Sung-han visited the family graves at a Catholic cemetery because there were statues of the Virgin Mary in the back of many of the graves. Behind step mom Young-ju’s desk is a large religious painting almost Ruebenesque. Perhaps someone will identify it at some point.

Seeing these sort of images in kdramas us not new for me. I have been noticing them since my first kdrama HEALER back in 2016.

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Follow up thought. When Sung-han was going all ‘woe is me’ at the cemetery and said something along the lines about now having to live alone, I said, “No you won’t (have to live alone). Get married and have a bunch of kids”!
(Maybe I should have been a bit more sympathetic.)

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'Woe is me' indeed. With Moonlight Sonata as background music for that extra mournful mood. 🎵

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reading this is comforting in a sense, because there is a strong "life goes on!" message in it. Life does go on, even after heartbreak, failure, disappointment. if you get trapped in regret, you can´t move on.

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Jin Yeong-Ju is very suspicious. She was expecting to be the first wife but Seo Jeong-Guk's mother stopped it. Now, Shin Sung-Han's sister is dead and she's the wife.

I wonder how a husband can't know where his wife is buried. How could he care so less about his wife's death? They have a son together. How long did he wait before his remarriage?

The 3 friends are so chaotic and funny. But they really care for each other.

The instrumental music reminds me Forest of Secret's one.

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There were so many layers to Lady Ma's visits. The strong suggestion was made that she had a part, not in Jun-wha's death but rather in her marrying her son to begin with. Her desire to visit Jun-wha's grave- with her grandson- seems to say that, despite her words about kindness being a weakness, which she really means, that she truly valued Jun-wha, though it is not clear why as of yet.

But Young-ju's description of the past may give us a clue. She says that actually it was Jun-wha that was the interloper in the already existing relationship between herself and her husband- and we see that Lady Ma definitely did not approve of that relationship and still does not to this day, despite having provided Lady Ma with a second grandchild.

The irony is that if anyone is living by Lady Ma's precept about kindness being a weakness it is surely Young-ju.

In fact, if this were simply about Young-ju then Lady Ma would be a solid ally to our Attorney Chin, but because her son has to be involved, she cannot be. Instead, she has become an interesting third player who is looking to steer a separate course from either side.

What an interesting situation we have here.

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When I started this drama I wasn't sure if I was gonna see it till the end; but the more episodes I see, the more I am curious about the stories, the characters and how everything will turn out. It has a really cozy kind of vibe, and it really shows the awkwardness that people do have irl. I like how the relationships are portrayed in this drama. Guess I'll just keep watching~

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Yes, I am becoming more invested in the characters as the show progresses.

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