The Perseverance of Oh Sisters: Little Women K-Drama Review

The American Classic by Louisa May Alcott, Little Women was published in 1868. So, what would a 21st century retelling of this 19th century classic, in a different setting look like? The K-drama Little Women is very different and, of course in a good way, from the novel. The setting, the social scenario for women, everything is different. How are Oh sisters different and similar to March sisters? This K-drama Little women is all about the perseverance of Oh sisters.

Little Women – The Novel and the Drama

Alcott’s novel was more domestic because it was, obviously, set in 19th century. The March sisters were happy and content with the life they had. Their poverty was not that burdensome to them. But, the poverty of Oh sisters completely wear them down. Surprisingly, Little Women, the K-drama takes the shape of a mystery thriller all the while maintaining the essence of Alcott’s novel. The Oh sisters are independent and headstrong, but life has more in store for them.

Alcott’s novel was the story of four sisters. Here, in the drama, we have three sisters. The characterizations are a blend of the four March sisters. But Oh Sisters are more mature since they are all in a mature age group. March sisters did not see their poverty as a problem. But for Oh sisters, money is at the center of their unbelievable circumstances. Their poverty and lack of parental support (unlike March sisters who had very dear parents) weigh them down. They are seldom happy. Their poverty leads them to unpredictable life circumstances.

Little Women, the Series

Little Women, directed by Kim Hee Won and written by Jung Seo Kyung is tvN’s latest drama which takes the time slot previously occupied by Alchemy of Souls. Kim Hee Won was the director of the much popular K-dramas Vincenzo and Soundtrack#1. So, the expectations are really high here. Little Women also has a stellar cast including Kim Go Eun, Nam Ji Hyun, and Park Ji Hoo.

The Eldest Oh Sister

Kim Go-eun plays the role of Oh In-joo, the eldest sister. This is probably the most mature role that she has played till date. The actress is absolutely versatile and she breathes life into Alcott’s Meg. But she has the spirit of Jo and the ambition of Meg. Go-eun portrays Oh In-joo with a quirkiness and an unusual body language. She is absolutely brilliant even though Eun-tak (her character in Goblin) shows up here and there.

The Second Oh Sister

Nam Ji-hyun plays the role of Oh In-kyung, the second sister. She is a journalist with a drinking problem. She is a very complicated character and the actress plays the role convincingly. She is underconfident, yet persistent. She is kind and emotional yet headstrong. We do not know how she is really like since she seems to be hiding something. She reprises the role of Jo March but unlike the novel, she is not the central character.

The Youngest Oh Sister

Park Ji-hoo plays Oh In-hye, the youngest. She is an art student and a teenager. She has a mysterious quality to her and is always brooding. Her character is too mature for a teenager; she is serious and complicated. She reprises the role of Amy, but she does not mature like her. She is a kid here. Park Ji-hoo is phenomenal as In-hye. She puts forth a more mature performance than she did as Onjo (her character in All of Us are Dead) here. She is undeniably talented and is promising.

Little Women shows the close bond between the sisters but they are not without problems. The drama has a very serious atmosphere which explains the dull color grading in the first episode. But as the screen becomes bright with each passing episode there is this slow yet gradual shift to gothic horror. Little Women is a mystery thriller, but the central idea is still sisterhood.

The writing is the best I have seen in any Korean drama. Every moment is shocking and is filled with incredibly insane plot twists. The treatment of the story and the slow paced narration was on point. It is all about the perseverance of Oh sisters. It is definitely worth watching. Also tvN’s mystery thrillers are always incredible (A recent example being Adamas).

You can watch Little Women on Netflix.

Little Women [Episodes 1 & 2]
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