Why Her (2022)

April 16, 2023

Our Take: A testament to the strength and resilience of women in the face of adversity. 

The Premise

Oh Soo Jae (Seo Hyun Jin) is the youngest partner at TK Law Firm, one of South Korea's most prestigious law firms. She is a top-notch lawyer who came from nothing to become one of the office's top attorneys. Driven by her grand ambitions, Soo Jae has sacrificed her happiness over the years to claw her way up. 

But, right when Soo Jae is about to make history, one of her cases takes an unexpected turn. Wrapped up in the scandal, she gets demoted and forced to accept an offer to work as an adjunct professor at Seojung University Law School. As she attempts to regain her former position at the firm, she crosses paths with Gong Chan (Hwang In Youp), a university student with a painful past. He harbors a deep love for Soo Jae and protects her as she struggles to reclaim her place at TK Law Firm.

In the process, they make shocking discoveries of betrayal and corruption. That leads them down a slippery path of revenge and redemption as they search for the truth within the cutthroat world of politics and corporate power. Meanwhile, TK Law Firm Chairman Choi Tae Gook (Heo Joon Ho) is bent on maintaining his power and crushing those who oppose him by whatever means possible. His relentless drive pits him directly against Oh Soo Jae as they engage in a power struggle.

But, Why Her?

From our first encounter with Oh Soo Jae, it's evident that she's a difficult person to be around —  dubbed "Oh Annoying" by some of her peers. Coming from humble beginnings, every day in the office has been a fight against her company's sexist and patriarchal system, frequent sexual harassment, and discriminatory class divides. Her years of struggles have made her closed off from everyone as she wields a sharp tongue and iron fist over her subordinates to protect herself and her hard work. 

However, in the process, her success and power have made her jaded and unsympathetic. She's arrogant and isn't above using dirty tricks to win her cases. In one incident, she mercilessly berates a sexual assault victim, which leads to her downfall and the start of the drama. We witness glimpses of Soo Jae's life and what caused her to turn out the way she is today.

When she started working at TK Law Firm, she was highly naïve and constantly let people walk all over her. Her experiences are reminiscent of real life, where most of us become different people as we step into the cruel reality of the workforce. Through our experiences, we learn to fight back and persevere. We learn how to set boundaries and pick the right fights. 

Through it all, we see the real Oh Soo Jae. Underneath her cold exterior, she's vulnerable and unhappy, living with painful demons that force her to hide her kindness and compassion. We see her cry and mourn over her losses. We see her attempt suicide and endure countless traumatic experiences as she fends for herself. But we also see that she had the power to overcome her circumstances all along. There is no stronger force than a woman determined to rise no matter what.

Corruption Poisons All

Why Her focuses on important societal issues, including corporate greed, corruption, revenge, and workforce discrimination. Although TK Law Firm is one of the most prestigious firms in the nation, it's also highly corrupt and toxic. The work environment corrodes people's morals and turns them into cruel, heartless lawyers.

Women, in particular, are subjected to unfair treatment and discrimination. No matter how much they achieve, their abilities and talents get disregarded. In that sense, Oh Soo Jae empowers women to stand up for their rights and persevere despite the obstacles they face.  

At the top is Chairman Choi Tae Gook, who is spearheading the firm's brutal culture of winning at all costs. He's a convincing villain who has committed countless evil deeds to assert dominance. His portrayal of the worst of humanity is excellent and represents the lengths people will go to stay in power. 

A Mismatched Romance

From the very first moment they meet, Gong Chan becomes enamored by Oh Soo Jae. As an established lawyer at the height of her career, she exudes confidence, class, and charisma. Though she has faults, she's headstrong and independent with an indomitable spirit. 

On the other hand, Gong Chan is a university student whose career has yet to begin. With Soo Jae entangled in a life-or-death battle with Chairman Choi Tae Gook, Gong Chan's presence felt almost out of place. It's not so much the age disparity or the fact that he is her student but rather his emotional maturity and actual influence in the world. 

It's hard to believe that someone with absolutely no power or money can provide much support to Soo Jae, who is going against much more powerful forces. It also doesn't help that Gong Chan's character was severely underdeveloped, and his obsessive love for her felt one-sided. Even as Gong Chan and Soo Jae's relationship grew deeper, it lacked excitement and chemistry. 

The presence of Choi Yoon Sang (Bae In Hyuk), Chairman Choi's son, also felt underwhelming. Yet another one of Soo Jae's students, he spends his time unsuccessfully vying for her attention. When he finds out about Soo Jae and Gong Chan, he attempts to ruin their relationship and flip-flops between joining hands with his father and betraying him, which was quite jarring to watch. 

The entire romance arc had potential but was ultimately poorly executed. Given how strong Oh Soo Jae is, she would have been better off getting paired with a partner who was her equal in the workforce. 

Final Thoughts

Initially, Why Her gives the impression that it will center around the story of a strong woman in a ruthless, male-dominated field. However, the series goes deeper by exploring what you are willing to sacrifice to rise to the top. Oh Soo Jae is a complicated and sometimes unlikeable female lead who gets pitted against Choi Tae Gook, who is equally ruthless. As we watch Soo Jae's journey to find herself, we simultaneously witness Tae Gook's impending reckoning. 

If you are a fan of Seo Hyun Jin, Why Her is worth watching just for her stellar performance. But, at times, her love story and the corruption plot bog down the drama and may feel lengthy. Still, there's enough to keep you entertained until the end.