Three sisters struggle against poverty and power in tvN’s Little Women

by missvictrix

Blink and you’ll miss it! The new trailer for tvN’s Little Women actually pays homage to the Louisa May Alcott novel, as we meet the plight of the youngest of the three sisters, played by Park Ji-hoo (All of Us Are Dead). Her two older sisters — played by Kim Go-eun (Yumi’s Cells 2) and Nam Ji-hyun (The Witch’s Diner) (who I literally can’t wait to see as co-heroines!) — have a simple but sweet birthday celebration for their maknae. They ask incredulously why she’s not going on the field trip, and she says she wouldn’t be able to anyway. In the next cut our maknae is in an art class, looking frustrated over her canvas (I see you, Amy March).

The drama makes it obvious that the family is impoverished, and after we see our youngest sister struggle under the weight of it, we see Nam Ji-hyun’s character at work. Here, someone asks pointedly if she grew up poor — it shows in her perspective and behavior. Next we see cuts of our sisters living their difficult life, wondering what it would be like to have money, and dreaming of living together in a nice apartment with windows.

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We then cut to some more familiar scenes from the drama, where Kim Go-eun’s character finds 70 billion won… and then finds herself in the big leagues, up against a powerful family led by Eom Ji-won (Birthcare Center) and her politician husband Eom Ki-joon (Penthouse 3). The text screens and quick cuts give a sharp contrast to the humble kitchen scenes we saw at the beginning of the trailer. We then see Kim Go-eun’s character meeting a lot of action, and bargaining with consultant Choi Do-il, who is played by Wie Ha-joon (Bad and Crazy).

The setup is nothing new, but give me an underdog story about siblings, and I’m in! The drama’s tone seems sharp and fast-paced, and though I was originally hoping for a slice-of-life drama, this exciting mystery-thriller is also looking pretty fine. As are Wie Ha-joon and Kang Hoon (The Red Sleeve Cuff). Because three fierce sisters need partners in crime – and love interests.

Directed by PD Kim Hee-won (Vincenzo) and written by Jung Seo-kyung (Mother), tvN’s Little Women premieres this weekend on September 3.