If you’re looking for a great enemies-to-lovers romance that meets the exs-to-lovers trope, look no further than “Strangers Again.” The story follows the story of two divorce lawyers, Oh Ha Ra (Kang Sora) and Goo Eun Beom (Jang Seung Jo), who were once married after dating for 10 years but recently divorced. Although they haven’t seen each other for several years, Goo Eun Beom comes to work at the same law firm as Oh Ha Ra. Here are a few things we loved and one thing we hated about the first two episodes!
Warning: spoilers ahead!
LOVED: Chemistry between leads
While every great K-drama needs chemistry between the leads to entice viewers, the tension that builds between the characters in the enemy-lovers-ex-lovers tropes requires the lead pair to have a spark. Fortunately, Kang Sora and Jang Seung Jo deliver it to the audience. They have the intense bickering scenes that are prime for enemies to lovers, but they also have the great camaraderie in their characters that you need for lovers between exes. There is not only hatred between them; there is also friendship and acquaintance between them for ten years. It’s tempting to watch and you keep wanting more – how will Oh Ha Ra and Goo Eun Beom grow up again? Can Oh Ha Ra forgive Goo Eun Beom for turning his back on their marriage? Only time will tell.
LOVED: Strong female relationships
In K-dramas, small things are more enjoyable to watch than strong female relationships. When it comes to romantic dramas, female characters can often be pitted against each other. Fortunately, “Strangers Again” gives us not one, but two strong relationships between women in the first two episodes. Oh Ha Ra has fun but crucial conversations with her co-worker and close friend Kang Bi Chwi (Jo Eun Ji), as well as a serious and meaningful conversation with her boss Hong Yeo Rae (Gil Hae Yeon). With their close friendships already established, it will be interesting to see how they react and support each other as the rest of the story unfolds.
LOVED: Oh Ha Ra, when she puts herself out there
It’s no secret that there is a stigma surrounding divorced women, especially when it comes to finding love again after a marriage ends. Although it started off under uncertain circumstances, the first two episodes introduce a new love interest for Oh Ha Ra. Although she is not open to dating Min Jae Gye (Moo Jin Sung) because he is involved with her ex-husband, she allows herself to open up to him. Their scenes are sweet, especially when he lets her know that he doesn’t care that she’s divorced. Even though it might not last, considering the drama is about her and Goo Eun Beom, it’s wonderful to see her open her heart and allow herself to have a little fun.
HATED: Oh Ha Ra doesn’t shine as ‘Goddess of Litigation’
Going into the premiere episodes of “Strangers Again,” almost every description of the drama names Oh Ha Ra as the “goddess of lawsuits.” And while she had several scenes where she completely owned the courtroom, it was hard not to notice that many of the winning scenes seemed to be supporting Goo Eun Beom instead. For example, in the show’s first divorce case, Oh Ha Ra tries to frame her client’s extreme jealousy as something that didn’t cause the couple’s divorce. Instead of finding the loophole herself—as one would think since she is the show’s “lawsuit goddess”—Goo Eun Beom finds it instead. And in the second divorce case, she comments how she could sue the opposing counsel for being inappropriate during their meetings, but again Goo Eun Beom does it for her.
While that’s not to say that Goo Eun Beom doesn’t deserve to shine—after all, the drama’s descriptions also suggest that she’s a great lawyer—these moments cheapened the “litigation goddess” title that Oh Ha Ra is supposed to be known for. for. She’s a famous and confident lawyer within the confines of the show, so shouldn’t she have had these moments to win and save herself? Luckily, it’s only the first two episodes, so hopefully he gets his big moment (or moments) to shine and show off all his legal wit and intelligence in the upcoming episodes.