REVIEW: ‘Divorce Attorney Shin,’ Episodes 7-8

It’s time to suit up. In Divorce Attorney Shin Episodes 7-8, we see Shin’s (Cho Seung-woo) attire shift and more focus surrounding the main conflict of the series, Jin Yeong-Ju (Noh Susanna) and Keum Hwa Law Firm. By the end of episode 6, Shin receives a vital lead regarding his sister’s passing, prompting him to finally color in the last grape on his wall. A signal of the end and beginning of something more.

From what the audience has seen of Shin in prior episodes, he doesn’t suit up like most other attorneys. His mentality and approach have always been slightly different, which might be from his quick, sudden shift from a professional pianist to a lawyer. Following up on the end of the previous episode, episode 7 opens with Shin getting properly suited up. A shift that even his colleagues at the firm and Jang Hyeong-Geun (Kim Sung-Kyun) were immediately aware of. This isn’t permanent and only serves a purpose that directly ties to Keum Hwa Law Firm.

As a result, newly suited with composed intention, Shin immediately approaches Keum Hwa Law Firm and Attorney Park Yu-Seok (Jeon Bae-Su). The interaction placed here lays a foundation where Shin establishes he is ready to engage and is armed with information. While Attorney Park plays a role, Shin’s biggest aim is actually Jin Yeong-Ju. Throughout these latest episodes, the two become more entangled as Yeong-Ju tries to ruin Shin through a divorce case where the two firms go to court defending their clients.

When Jo Jeong-Sik (Moon-Sung Jung) hears that Shin will be facing Attorney Park, we get a flashback to Jeong-Sik seeking out Park to help Ju-Hwa (Kong Hyun-Ji) file for divorce. Seeping with simmering guilt and anger, Jeong-Sik becomes motivated in helping Shin and Hyeong-Geun with their case against Attorney Park. Park’s character seemed to have changed and been influenced by Keum Hwa Law Firm, which Shin hints at knowing why in an earlier episode.

In the age of social media where information spreads rapidly without all viewpoints being expressed properly, Divorce Attorney Shin revisits this social dilemma in an accused domestic violence case battle between Shin and Keum Hwa Law Firm. Kuem Hwa Law Firm tries to peg itself as the “good guy” by utilizing social media in smearing Shin’s client. By proxy, also aim to tarnish Shin’s character and reputation as a lawyer. This heightened revisit to the social dependency on one-sided media news expresses how quick we are to react and assume without being presented with all the facts of a matter. This presents a question of: how do we combat opposing false opinions and restore reputation? Also, how do we determine what is factual and what isn’t?

Divorce Attorney Shin Episodes 7-8 are a little messier than the other episodes prior. A mixture of the main story and subplots starts to weigh on the audience as we grow closer to the end of the series. The comedic breaks slow down slightly as the series begins to direct more attention toward the main plot. Will all the divorce cases we’ve seen up to this point actually shape into the bigger story of Shin’s revenge for his sister? If anything, the has show done well showcasing the complexities revolving around societal perceptions and bias regarding marriages.

Divorce Attorney Shin Episodes 7-8 are now available on Netflix, with new episodes airing on Saturdays and Sundays.