In "A Comprehensive Look at Good Partner 2024", join us as we dive deep into the dramatic world of 'Good Partner', exploring its plot, character arcs, and unforgettable moments.  If you haven't seen 'Good Partner' yet and would prefer a spoiler-free summary of the story, please click on the link below.

This review contains significant spoilers for 'Good Partner'. If you haven't watched the series yet, we recommend you do so before reading further to avoid any plot revelations.

A rookie lawyer is disappointed when she shows up at her first job to find out she has been placed on the Divorce Team, rather than the Corporate Law Division, as she had requested.  And she is even more disappointed to learn that her new boss is a 17 year veteran with a reputation for chasing away every new employee that shows up. 

But as she begins to get involved with her clients, she finds that divorce cases are not the depressing open and shut events she had feared.  And when her new boss finds herself at the center of a high-profile divorce and custody battle, her boss turns to her to fight at her side.

Cha Eun Gyeong is a divorce lawyer who has spent the last 17 years climbing the professional ranks by winning cases and making public and televistion appearances.  Now she is one of the most recognizable faces in divorce law.  But all of that time spent working has come at a cost.  Her relationship with her husband and daughter has become almost non-existent.  So she shouldn't be surprised when she ends up at the center of her own, high-profile, divorce and custody battle.

At first, she hopes to use her husband's infidelity to force him to stay.  But when he counters with her own neglect of her family, she soon realizes that their marriage is truly over.  But keeping her daughter with her is her number one priority.  And as she begins to rebuild their relationship, she learns a valuable lesson about the importance of love, family, and work-life balance.

Cha Eun Gyoeng is successful and determined.  She began her quest to become the best lawyer possible with good intentions.  She wanted to provide for her family.  But somewhere along the way, she lost her focus on the why.  And as she fights to restore what is left of her family, she realizes her need for prestige has become her motivating force.  And more importantly, she realizes that is going to have to change.  I love seeing the way Jang Na Ra has stepped into these tougher, more mature roles.  She played this character with a steely strength that fit perfectly.

Han Yu Ri is a rookie lawyer, fresh off the bar, when she gets a job with Daejung Law Firm.  After being scarred by her own parent's painful divorce, she requests to work in any department BUT the Divorce Team.  So, she is shocked to find out that is exactly where she ended up.  Not only that, but the strict lawyer who is in charge of the team is the same one who represented her cheating father through that painful time.  Desperate to get out, she strikes a bargain with Eun Gyoeng that if she puts in her time, Eun Gyeong will consider tranferring her to the Corporate Law Office.

Luckily, Yu RI finds an ally in fellow lawyer, Jeon Eun Ho, who has only been with Daejung 6 months himself.  With him as a friend and mentor, Yu Ri begins trying cases, and learning the ropes.  She soon finds that divorce is seldom the black and white affair she had expected and that mediation and reconciliation play a much more dominant role than she ever imagined.  And when Eun Gyeong comes to her to represent Eun Gyeong in her upcoming divorce case, Yu Ri is shocked but flattered.  As she commits herself to this very personal case, Yu Ri begins to understand that her boss is not the iron-maiden she once believed.

Han Yu Ri is young and idealistic.  Her firm insistence in seeing the human element in her cases is both frustrating and inspiring for her co-workers.  But she also takes some hard knocks along the way, as she learns that her mentors more strict, no-nonsense approach is not always wrong either.  And as Yu Ri and Eun Gyeong work side by side, they learn to respect each other's strengths and perspectives in a way that makes them the perfect partners, even when they eventually serve on opposite sides of the table. Nam Ji Hyun was great in this role.  Her starry-eyed optimism and big smile conveyed a naive confidence that made Yu Ri very likable.

Characters

This drama is built around some great characters.  The female leads are strong and independent.  And watching their friendship grow felt realistic and worthwhile.  Even the weekly case guests did a wonderful job of creating characters who were relatable and well-developed.  And a special shout-out to the very talented, up-and-coming young Yuna.  She has been brilliant in everything I have seen her in.  Her portrayal of Jae Hui was gut-wrenching and honest.  

Complex Cases

So many divorce shows tell the same story over and over with slightly different circumstances.  Basically two people come to hate each other and fight over all their assets.  This drama goes beyond that to deal with the very human emotions and struggles that often lead to divorce.  And I loved that not all cases actually end in divorce.  The outcomes are never guaranteed and that kept me invested all the way through.  

Yu Ri and Eun Ho

The romance between Yu Ri and Eun Ho was very sweet. I loved them together. And although their relationship was never center stage, their building friendship is integral to Yu Ri's character and growth.  I loved how transparent and mature Eun Ho was about his feelings.  And he never pressures Yu Ri to make any decision until she is ready.  Through it all, he never withdraws his friendship or support.

2. Kim Ji Sang:

I know this is really a drama about our two leading women.  But I would liked to have seen more of Ji Sang after the divorce.  It seemed like he was once a loving husband and Eun Gyeong really did love him.  For that, I felt like he deserved a bit of redemption.  Not reconciliation, mind you.  He definitely didn't deserve that.  But I would have liked to see how he grew from the experience and that he learned his lessons.

3.  Main Plot Ending:

For me, the main story of this drama was Eun Gyeong's divorce and custody battle.  So I expected that case to go all the way to the final episode.  And I was a bit confused when the case wrapped up, Ji Sang and the nightmare mistress disappeared, and we started a whole new story with Eun Gyeong's new business.  Of course, I loved seeing Eun Gyeong finally learning to balance her life, but it seemed like that was more fitting as an end scene than the last several episodes.  I think they could have wrapped everything up at episode 12 or 14 and still done everything they wanted.

'Good Partner' gives us some good, happy endings.  U Jin moves into the position of Chairman.  And Eun Gyeong strikes out on her own.  But she doesn't go alone.  She recruits both Eun Ho and her favorite office manager to accompany her on her journey.  Yu Ri is gives the opportunity she had always hoped for to transfer to the Corporate Team.  But she decides she has found her place after all.  And to fill in the gaps, they hire her a new lawyer who makes her as crazy as she made Eun Gyeong.  Now that's karma.  

Jae Hui has become an official middle schooler.  But her relationship with her father is still in limbo.  Eun Gyeong realizes that although Jae Hui is still angry with her dad, she also misses him terribly.  So she makes the first move, by going to Ji Sang and asking him to reach out.  With that little push, Jae Hui and her dad are able to meet, and even if it's still a little awkward, it seems like restoration will be possible some day.

As for Yu Ri's romance, she finally admits that she likes Eun Ho too.  The pair start dating and he eventually proposes.  Conflicted about what she wants, Yu Ri goes to Eun Gyeong, who assures her that there is never a perfect time for marriage.  She just needs to decide what she wants.  And lucky for Eun Ho, what she wants is a life with him.  

The drama ends with Eun Gyeong and Yu Ri, once again meeting in court as opponents.  But their mutual respect and admiration shine through above anything else, as they both vow to do what's best for their clients while still maintaining their friendship outside of the courtroom.  

Divorce in itself can be a difficult topic, and this drama does cover some other sensitive themes like abuse and marital infidelity.  Things do drag a bit toward the end and may have been better as a 12 episode drama.  But all in all, I thoroughly enjoyed this one.   I give 'Good Partner' a 9 out of 10.

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