Little Women Episode 1 Recap and Review: What Kind of Parents Do You Want?

Little Women (작은 아씨들) is a Korean mystery thriller drama that revolves around the predicament faced by three sisters. The story follows their journey after they find themselves in the midst of a major incident that changes their lives forever. Directed by Kim Hee-won and written by Jung Seo-kyung, the drama stars Kim Go-eun, Nam Ji-hyun, Park Ji-hoo, Wo Ha-joon, alongside other cast members.

The 12 episodes show premiered on September 3, 2022, and releases new episodes every Saturday and Sunday at 9 PM KST on tvN taking over the timeslot previously occupied by Alchemy of Souls. Little Women episode 1 has a run time of 77 minutes.

Netflix’s synopsis of the series reads:

Three sisters, who only have each other and never enough money, get entangled in a conspiracy involving the rich and powerful.

-Little Women Episode 1 Recap contains Spoilers-

Little Women episode 1 opens up with the eldest sister Oh In-joo sharing the sad and disappointing birthday she would get during her childhood with her sister Oh In-kyung. The two then surprise their youngest sister Oh In-hye with a cake as soon as she enters the house.

The three sisters share their happiness with each other which comes to a stop as soon as their mother enters the house. The scene then moves to them having dinner when the two present their youngest with money for her school trip to Europe which doesn’t sit right with their mother.

She complains how it is useless to send the younger sister to Europe and should instead be used for her to go to the Philippines to visit their father who is the reason for all their debts. The sisters disagree and are dissatisfied with their mother’s behaviour.

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However, the next day they unexpectedly find out that the mother has abandoned them and has fled with the money that was meant to be for their younger sister. The two then decide to spilt the money needed for their sister’s trip and somehow make arrangements for it.

In-joo tries to ask her superior for advance payment but is refused on spot. She is the outcast on the 13th floor and later goes to the 14th floor to meet the outcast there- Jin Hwa-young.

She tells her that the people in her department look down on her as they are all graduates from affluent universities with a really good backgrounds unlike the two of them, which makes them the outcasts. Later, she offers her the money that she needs to pay her half of the trip fee.

On the other hand, In-kyung is having a hard time at work as she often tears up because of her emotional burst-outs during reporting. She gets another round of reprimanding from her senior who tries to make her better at her work.

Later, she is worried about the money that she has to arrange for her sister and almost applies for a high-interest loan for employees when she gets a call from her grand-aunt asking her for breakfast on the weekend.

She obviously does not have the best relationship with her grand-aunt and discusses this with In-joo who tells her that if she were her then she would have stuck to the aunt who is rich. Elsewhere, In-hye is drawing a portrait of a girl in her room.

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The next day, Hwa-young takes In-joo to a high-end restaurant where she asks her what she would do if she were to get a lot of money. In-joo shares her dream of living in an apartment with her sisters with enough food and no worries about money.

Later, Hwa-young makes In-joo sign some documents which are in English, and while the latter can’t read them, her trust in Hwa-young doesn’t let her doubt anything.

Elsewhere, In-kyung goes to her grand-aunt’s place for breakfast where she clearly asks her the amount she needs and for what purpose. The tension between the two is clear and after discussing the important topics the meeting ends. While leaving, In-kyung runs into Ha Jong-ho and the two seem to share some kind of history.

On the other hand, In-joo tries to give her youngest sister the money that they’ve arranged but In-hye refuses it while pointing at the burden that she feels because of their sacrifices for her. She then runs off, but when In-joo follows her she sees her entering a car.

Worried, she continues to follow her only to see her later accept some money from a seemingly wealthy woman which then makes her step into the conversation. She then returns the money and the two leave.

On the other hand, Jang Ma-ri who is another reporter at In-kyung’s company brings forth the news of Park Jae-sang who is a wealthy man who will probably be standing for the mayoral elections soon. While this is an interesting piece of news to cover, In-kyung steps in and wants to dig out the dirty secrets of this seemingly ideal candidate.

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Their supervisor then makes them work separately and see which side is better to pick up for the news. She is ready to show her skills and dig out whatever she can for the news.

The next day, In-joo finds a mail from Hwa-young who assigns her some tasks as well as the dirty secrets of her colleagues who usually outcast her. But In-joo doesn’t take it seriously and instead finds it funny.

Soon, Choi Do-il enters and sees her doing some yoga, but doesn’t say anything about it, instead, he talks about Hwa-young and asks her for her number so that he can ask about Hwa-young. He then asks her to leave soon as there are important people that are to come for a meeting.

Elsewhere, In-kyung impresses her senior with her work who then asks her to stick to this story and prove herself to him. Later, she goes to one of Park Jae-sang’s press conferences where she brings up the suicide case from four years back that involves him.

She then puts pressure on answers on this topic when he just asks her name. Later, while she is leaving the building, she is stopped by Jae-sang who asks her why she brought up this particular topic.

She then narrates the earlier years of her career but soon starts tearing up again which is noticed by him. Nearby, Ma-ri is recording this making sure to record this interaction.

Later, the video of their interaction is all over the internet and people are calling her the drunk reporter because of Jae-sang’s comments. Looking at this Ma-ri tries to test her breath but when she doesn’t let her do so, she rushes to check her desk and finds alcohol in her mouth freshener and bottles inside her desk.

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Little Women Episode 1 Ending

Little Women episode 1 ends with In-kyung getting suspended from her job for a month due to her alcohol abuse during work.

Elsewhere, during lunch, Do-il asks In-joo about the current whereabouts of Hwa-young. She then calls Hwa-young, but when she doesn’t pick up then she just brushes it off as no big deal. However, she later goes to visit her house on the pretence of feeding her fish.

But soon this visit turns into a nightmare when she finds Hwa-young’s body hanging in a cupboard filled with her clothes. The police soon arrive and the news makes its way everywhere, as so-called close colleagues come out to give their statement for her.

In-joo is angered by their behaviour towards the person they had always condemned and brings out the secrets of her colleagues that were given to her by Hwa-young.

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She is then called by director Shin and Do-il for a meeting where they reveal that Hwa-young had stolen money from the company which comes up to about 70 billion won. They are aware that In-joo was close to her and now want her help in acquiring her slush fund.

But In-joo does not agree with them and resigns from her job. Left hopeless and sad about the attitude of these people, she is about to leave for home when she gets a call from the yoga centre Hwa-young used to frequent. They tell her that her membership has been transferred to In-joo and that she should drop by to collect the necessities.

Upon going there, she opens Hwa-young’s locker and remembers the kind-hearted older sister that she was to her. There is a big bag in the locker and she finds her clothes and shoes, but that is not all that she finds.

Suddenly, her eyes fall on the money that fills the bag to the brink and is shocked but also saddened because, in a letter left by Hwa-young, she wishes for In-joo to be able to live a happy life with her sisters.

She starts crying for the kind-hearted Hwa-young and the episode comes to an end.

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Little Women Episode 1 Review

The story has begun and the first episode has laid the foundation for the drama that is soon going to shock us to the core. The mother of these girls has honestly made me so angry.

However, I do have to add that I feel like this whole getting drunk during work is a plan that In-kyung has made with her superior to be able to find out more dirt on Jae-sang easily. But let us wait and see what is the truth behind this scene.

The show is off to a good start and I want to know what takes place after this first step.

Let us know what you think about this episode in the comments below!

Watch Little Women on Netflix.

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