Good Partner – K-drama Episode 6 Recap & Review

Episode 6

Episode 6 of Good Partner begins with Eun-kyung and Yu-ri in the courtroom, where they discover that the real issue in the divorce battle isn’t the division of assets but the custody of Eun-kyung’s daughter. After the hearing, they encounter a couple also going through a divorce, and at Eun-kyung’s suggestion, Yu-ri offers a consultation to the woman.

Immediately afterwards, Eun-kyung panics when she realizes her daughter, Jae-hee, is missing. She searches everywhere until she finds Jae-hee with Choi Sa-ra.

It turns out that not only is Jae-hee aware of her parents’ impending divorce, but she’s also clever enough to have figured out that her father cheated on Eun-kyung with Choi Sa-ra.

Meanwhile, during the consultation, Yu-ri learns that the woman’s husband neglects his responsibilities at home, frequently drinking excessively. Surprisingly, the woman doesn’t want custody of her children. Unlike Eun-kyung and Ji-sang, who are fighting for custody, this couple is fighting because neither wants it.

Elsewhere, Sa-ra’s colleagues make her work life difficult after correctly guessing that she’s Ji-sang’s mistress. While snooping on Eun-kyung’s laptop, Sa-ra discovers that she is about to be promoted to the Chief Manager position—a role Sa-ra had wanted for the longest time.

Later, she asks Eun-kyung to settle the divorce case in exchange for Jae-hee’s custody, but Eun-kyung is obviously not in mood to humour her.

In another consultation, the woman shares with Yu-ri and Eun-kyung how challenging her life has become. She’s lost her sense of self and has developed depression, while her husband’s carefree lifestyle only adds to her struggles.

Despite Yu-ri’s difficulty in understanding how a mother could give up her children to an unworthy father, the show explores the harsh realities of the woman’s life, challenging the stereotype of the all-sacrificing mother. It portrays mothers as individuals who need time to care for themselves—physically, mentally, and emotionally.

Eun-kyung, who can relate to the woman’s difficulties, especially after being out of the job market for over a decade, comes up with a plan.

Meanwhile, as Eun-kyung’s divorce case becomes more complicated, with the possibility of a family investigator asking Jae-hee who she wants to live with. And so, Eun-kyung and Ji-sang try to win Jae-hee’s favour.

Jae-hee eventually asks to meet with Yu-ri, who advises her that her happiness and choice are more important than the custody battle. Jae-hee expresses to Eun-kyung that she wants the freedom to decide what she wants to do and who she wants to live with.

Later, in court, Eun-kyung and Yu-ri execute a plan where they falsely claim their client was in a car accident and is now hospitalized.

They also argue that due to the client’s depression, she is unable to care for her children, suggesting that the father’s parents, both educators, should take custody if the father cannot. The judge eventually rules for negotiation.

Later, the case is settled with the father gaining custody while the mother watches the children on the weekends. As they head back to the office, Eun-kyung remarks that it often takes a divorce for some people to start being responsible parents, as we see the father finally stepping up for his children.

The next day is a highlight in Choi Sa-ra’s life, as she’s promoted to Chief Manager and assigned to a new office. But her happiness is short-lived when Eun-kyung fires her as the episode comes to a dramatic end.

The Episode Review

The execution of this episode is underwhelming, with several events portrayed in a confusing manner, particularly those related to showcasing Eun-kyung’s complex role as a caring yet often absent parent.

The show explores multiple ideas, such as the stereotypical understanding of motherhood, where the mother assumes the burden of childcare and the moral conflict and guilt associated with being an absent parent.

While these themes are commendable, the execution often falters, leading to a messy portrayal of Eun-kyung’s character.

In contrast to Eun-kyung’s complexity, Yu-ri’s character is relatively simplistic. However, this contrast works well for the show, as “Good Partner” ultimately delves into the senior-junior dynamic between the protagonists.

Despite these minor issues, which the show will hopefully address in future episodes, “Good Partner” remains entertaining with its melodramatic court battles and cliffhangers. With that, we wrap up our “Good Partner” episode 6 recap and review, and we’ll see you in the next one!