REVIEW: ‘Little Women’ Is A Web Of Corporate Conspiracy

Little Women is a Korean thriller series streaming on Netflix. When three lower-class sisters are drawn into the orbit of a wealthy family, they quickly find there is more to them than what the public sees. But as the myriad of conspiracies, thefts, and murders unravel the only certain thing is that nothing will ever be the same for any of them.

The most interesting thing about how this series approaches its narrative is how it draws each of the three sisters into its web from different directions. Each of its main characters has its motivations and goals, which in the early chapters of the series never align with each other. This creates a fascinating set of perspectives that the show utilizes brilliantly to unfold the truth behind this family’s affluence and power.

As Little Women slowly unravels its secrets, the show does an excellent job of keeping some of its secondary personalities’ ultimate goals hidden from the viewer. Whether or not they are genuinely trying to help the main characters, or would finally be revealed to be out for themselves is handled with the deftest skill I’ve ever seen such secrets managed in a tv show. Every final reveal felt believable and wonderfully handled.

The element of the show I think will be the most divisive is just how layered the plot comes to be. While I never felt that the numerous plotlines grew to the point of being convoluted, it gets pretty close at times. Keeping track of everything can be tricky at times, though the show is generous with thorough flashbacks to early moments in case the viewer needs a refresher.

All of these stories and secrets build up to an ending that, while satisfying, does wear out its welcome a bit. While it’s nice that the series wants to wrap up every plot line or shady secret, some are given a bit more time than I feel is necessary. This makes the final episode a bit drawn out, even though every individual aspect is crafted well. A rare moment where the culmination of things comes out to be less than the sum of its parts.

Helping to keep the viewer’s attention throughout Little Women‘s 12, one-hour or longer episodes, is a set of amazingly strong performances. Hinged on by performances of Kim Go-Eun and Nam Ji-Hyun as the older two sisters, the show’s cast delivers acting that constantly builds up the low-key tension of the series till they finally have the chance to let go in the series’ biggest confrontations.

Little Women delivers a gripping tale that draws the viewer in and doesn’t let go till the very end. While the pacing and number of plot threads may be too much for some, if you are willing to take the journey with this excellent cast, the show rewards you with startling reveals and excellent moments.

Little Women is streaming now on Netflix.