A fabulous feminist ode to the classic

Where do I begin? This drama held my attention from the minute it was announced. I quite like Kim Gu-Eun, so was pretty darn sure this was going to be a good one. What I was most curious about though was how they would adapt an English classic to modern times and that too set it in a culture far removed from the original work. Having watched the show, I must say, I was not disappointed in the least.

First things first - parallels between the novel and the series. Like the book. there's an absent father and sisters living in poverty. Meg March's introduction in the novel begins with her proclaiming how terrible it is to be poor. An attitude Oh In-Joo embodies. She's the eldest sister (Meg March), naive, not the brightest bulb in the room, and a hopeless optimist. She's obsessed with bettering their (hers and her sisters lives). While her naivety and stupidity annoyed me in the first couple of episodes, I came to root for her by the 8th episode. Oh In-Kyung is the middle sister and the Jo March of the show. Like Jo, In-Kyung is fiercely independent, reckless, impetuous, a hothead and definitely has a Laurie. She's a journalist who's righteousness oft got on my nerves. Oh In-Hye is the youngest sister and like Amy March in the novel is an artist and is given the opportunity to live a better life. I won't talk about Beth March because anything I say is a spoiler. But I absolutely LOVED how they dealt with that character (and if you've read the book, you know what happens to her)

Now where the show departs from the novel is the whole thriller element - there's a death, there;'s embezzlement, a political conspiracy, intrigue, and psychopathic characters.

NGL, the initial episodes were slow and sort of annoying. Especially because of how dumb In-Joo is portrayed to be and how impetuous In-Kyung is. But I must say the last 5 episodes really bring the show home. If I could ever use edge-of-the-seat to describe a drama, it'll have to be for this one. What I loved the most about this drama is that it places women at the centre of all things good, bad, and ugly. It's just women against women. Women portrayed in every shade - grey, black, sunshine. What a treat that is !! The men are just scaffolds and are treated as such. Never has a show's treatment of female characters left me so satisfied.

Is the drama perfect? Hell, no. There are a lot of loopholes, circumstances that demand suspension of belief, and face-palm moments. But these don;t deter from the tight narrative, brilliant acting, haunting music all of which come together to leave you with a satisfactory experience.

Little Women is not a drama for everyone. But if you love a women-centric thriller, this one's the one for you.

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