First Lady Episode 3 Review: Eugene Adds Depth to Overdramatic Episode About Nothing

Last week, Su-yeon is left shocked by her husband’s declaration of wanting a divorce and refused to give him one now that he’s the president of the country. With the media hot on their trail after getting the news, she tries to escape with Ji-yoo and gets into a messy situation.

First Lady Episode 3 has a runtime of 58 minutes.

First Lady Episode 3 Recap

Starting off right after the last episode, Su-yeon and Ji-yoo get into an accident, which results in them passing out in their cars, still swarmed by a ton of media personnel. Meanwhile, Min-cheol is left wondering where his family is after repeated calls go unanswered. Su-yeon suddenly arrives at the office to discuss their separation, and she puts forth the proposition of not divorcing and, instead, just living separately. It’s a pitiful moment, as Su-yeon begs Min-cheol to reconsider the divorce, but he seems adamant.

As she goes back home, she meets Hae-rin at the elevator, and it’s clear that she knows that this was all his secretary’s idea. Su-yeon warns her that it’s not over and she won’t go down without a fight. She does so by going on air to voice her side of the story and get public opinion back on her side. However, things spiral out of control when news comes in about Min-cheol filing criminal charges against Su-yeon for wiretapping him. Without a way to backtrack, she admits to it, but spins it around as her helping him from attacks from other politicians.

After a rather disastrous turn of events, she has to flee once more and gets into a random person’s car, who seems to have been waiting outside the news station for her. He turns out to be an attorney, Seon-ho, who desperately wants her to sign the document so that her separation goes over without a hitch. Elsewhere, Min-cheol reflects on his conversation with Hae-rin and is left devastated at his wife’s harassment in public.

As it turns out, Min-cheol did actually do this to save Su-yeon from being investigated, thanks to the Chairman Yoo scandal, and it was a way to push her away from the spotlight. However, things end up getting more complicated than he had ever expected. As the family faces the brunt of public scrutiny, Su-yeon grows resolved not to go down like her own mother, who was murdered for being an assemblyman’s mistress.

After spending a few days in bed wallowing, Su-yeon finally visits a law firm to check her options, demanding to get half of everything that Min-cheol has. In the end, the lawyer tells her that holding on to the post of First Lady would require her not to divorce her husband, and, for that, they need to prove her innocence and keep fighting. Unfortunately, after getting a call, the lawyer refuses to help her, and it’s clear that Min-cheol has blocked Su-yeon from getting legal representation.

Heartbroken, she decides to go back home and, on the way, receives a concerning call about Ji-yoo assaulting another student.

First Lady Episode 3 Review

It’s interesting how the third episode adds literally nothing to the story and is just a repetition of everything that we have already seen in the previous episode. However, there’s just something about Eugene running off carefully at every given opportunity that made me want to keep watching this overdramatic show. I have a nagging suspicion that there’s nothing more to the story other than the push and pull between Min-cheol and Su-yeon, and the latter desperately trying to hold on to her position in Min-cheol’s life.

You feel pity for her and, mostly, don’t feel like she’s the epitome of female empowerment. That being said, I like Su-yeon’s character. At least she has the strength to keep fighting. This is another show where open communication would’ve worked wonders and saved everyone a lot of headache, but, alas, that’s not how you incite drama.

Also Read: First Lady Season 1 Review