Episode 9: Ju-ri’s YOLO attitude towards dating matches her personality. It is harmless exploration not a commitment. On second thought, Jeong-suk takes up exploring the Detective’s feelings with a date which has the tropey awkwardness of an amusement park (why do writers fall back to adults doing teenager dates instead of adults adulting?) I am not fond of either couple’s choices at this point. I did not expect Pharmacist Choi to be the victim of Du-Seok’s robbery getaway. Jong-sun is repentant about his role in the accident, and his police call saves Choi’s life. But it cannot save everyone from Geum-Hui’s regretful anger at the police station. Her trust with the group had been broken so she breaks off ties. I got the gut reaction that this situation will cause Young-Bok to have to move away from the town. (It also destroys my theory that Choi would hire Jong-sun at the pharmacy.) But I also thought Ju-ri will bring the group back together.

But episode 10 confirmed my theory about the kidnapped babies, but also it flipped the emotions in Young-Bok and Geum-Hui’s broken friendship. In a couple snaps of a finger, they are back together, laughing and teasing with the other ladies, especially when talking about “in-home dates.” I felt that was resolved too quickly. But Do-Hyeon’s story goes into overdrive with the Captain’s help as fast as his relationship with Jeong-suk. The reveal of the kidnapper was someone I did not suspect; the Fab 4 saving the day was a bit much. These episodes were not the best because a lot happens in a compressed fashion because there are only two episodes left. Left behind were the actual business sales for character side stories and potential redemption arcs set up by the final cliffhanger (which may or may not be true; and if the writer is consistent it will be not true but explained in a reasonable fashion.) The series is ramping up for an “everyone gets a happy ending” ending.

This drama’s strength is the womance between the 4 awesome ladies. Each woman is individually awesome in their own way.
This shows other strength is Jung-Sook’s journey in becoming a strong woman who can stand for herself.

With that said, this entire side quest of Jung-Sun’s crime and coincidentally running over Won-Bong felt completely unnecessary. It didn’t do anything to the plot and things went back to normal very suddenly between Young-Bok and Geum-Hee as if nothing happened. Plus Won-Bong felt completely out of character as he tries to convince his wife to reconnect and forgive Geum-Hee. He’s been a selfish dunce the entire time and now he’s suddenly a thoughtful guide?

Thank you for the recap, @quirkycase! I enjoyed these 2 episodes. They showed how deep the 4 women's friendship is. I understood how Geum-hee's anger at Jong-sun extended to Yeong-bok. But I also liked that the situation was resolved immediately since we can all see how repentant the couple were.
Ju-ri's lovelife is very 'physical' which is unlike the 'prim and proper' relationship of Jung-sook. Do-hyun's investigation is quickly getting some light and I would want a very nicely wrapped ending next week.

I’m going to go off on boring tangent on a song that was mentioned in earlier comments by @larus

My tears were flowing while Young-bok was sobbing, trying to apologize to Geum-hui to preserve the friendship that meant so much to her. This was the second time this show that I had water leaking from my eyes. The first waswhen Jeong-suk was sobbing at the bus stop after discovering her husband’ betrayal. I realized the common theme, besides both actresses doing a great job of crying, was the OST.

So I spent some time yesterday listening to versions of the song, “Like the Way You Sent Me Away With a Smile” on the song’s site on Namu wiki. It has 12 versions of the song, including the original sung by Eunha Lee in 1986. Eunha Lee actually wrote the lyrics after being forced by her father to break up with her boyfriend—there’s a kdrama right there!

But to me almost every version, including the original, of this much covered song undermines what is the song’s main strength —the poignant first section, moving from major to minor to major with the melody sliding chromatically down with each shift. Almost all arrangements muck up this section with a cheesy orchestral/guitar backing and a too heavy drumbeat, in typical 1980s pop rock style.

The only version that follows this show’s OST, with a solo voice and a simple piano backing, is one from 2015, by Luna, then of the group (f (x) She recorded it as a “thank you” for the support she got from fans when she appeared on Korea’s masked singer. (I have ever understood Korea’s affection— or the U.S.’s— for competition music shows!)

Anyway leejean’s version on this show follows Luna’s arrangement, but, (again my opinion) leejean, who is only 19!! has a much stronger voice than Luna, so she can handle the swelling emotional orchestration of the chorus much better than Luna, who tends to quaver.

SO, to bring this long discourse to a conclusion: My recommendation, if you like this song, as I do—stick with the show’s OST! Its the best version of the song by far!

Also, I hope the singer leejean begins to get more international attention outside of Korean competition music shows. She has a great, somewhat raw voice and not only that, is also able to sing in pretty much unaccented English.

P.S. One other thing I like about this arrangement—its final notes never resolve to a major chord. To get way too technical, a standard concluding progression is ii-V7-I with the “I” representing the major of the key. Its what we are used as a musical ending, because the 5 chord leads naturally to the root chord. But this arrangement ends ii-V7 —no “I” ! Its a musically “unsatisfying” conclusion that leaves us hanging harmonically, but it is perfect for a wistful song lamenting a breakup.

There was a lot in these episodes. However, as mentioned in the comments above, it is the womance that gives this drama greatness.

Jung-sook started off the series as the town beauty, but she is really the town superhero now!

It's a huge betrayal of trust for Young-bok's husband to take a risk that could/would put him in jail for the second time in his oldest kid's life. I thought he did time before he met his wife. Maybe it's a good thing I'm not married, since I can't be the loving, gracious partner who doesn't hold that over his head for the rest of his life. /rant.

This is mean and terrible of me, but I was disappointed that the miscarriage didn't happen. I know the COL is low in circa 1992 kdramaland small towns - but they already have 4 kids and the youngest is just a baby. The oldest daughter is a saintly teen for being so cool with living like that.

Yay! My suspicion was correct about Do-hyun's mom! I'm guessing she must have been a teen mom (before she met Won-bong) and the trauma of giving up her baby made her not want to have kids in the future.

More virtuous business stuff please in the finale week rather than these guys getting into side quests!

OK, here's my fan-fic version (which involves 16 eps instead of 14 for a start!). 😬Things being set-up and then resolved too quickly is a classic way to make a story feel contrived. 

1. The quick turnaround that happened with our OTP worked better because it has been apparent that Jung-sook liked Do-hyun from the outset. She just needed to give herself 'permission' to move forward with a potential relationship, without thinking that it would make her a bad mother.

(Also I suspect her initial shut down of Do-hyun was partly  a result of the terrible hug last week and the fact that he said that she was a 'good friend' or whatever it was. No wonder she was circumspect about his eventual confession! )🤣

2. The idea of creating a really dramatic event that risked breaking up the womance has merit and that is probably the intended purpose of the robbery and hit and run.

But the turnaround from 'I wish I'd never met you, and I'll never forgive you' to 'we're all besties again like nothing happened' was super clunky. Add in the weird character about-turn from our local 'what will other people think' Pharmacist and it didn't feel convincing.
 
I think it would have been better to draw the reconciliation story out across another ep and fill in the space with more of the Sales work plotting (because they did precious little of that, apart from their catalogue descriptions). I would have also liked to hear more of their catalogue writing- that had great potential to be funny and awkward! 

In my version the Pharmacist would also get Young-bok's husband to work for him as part of the settlement, and it would allow Ju-ri's new man to go back to Uni and get the qualifications he needs...

Minor aside but I had no idea why the robber turned himself in (I think I may have missed something there) And was he blaming Young-bok's husband for being the mastermind? 

More minor thoughts....

I do love how the writer takes us from deeply sad/scary moments to comic ones (this takes a lot of skill to pull off - props to the fabulous cast as well). 💖👏

My favourite this week was Geum-hee refusing to hear Young-bok's apology until she collapsed in pregnancy revealing pain. The shift to Geum-hee assailing that malingerer in a wheelchair and then cutting a swathe through the hospital as she rushed Young-bok to the ER was brilliantly done. 🤣

One other tiny thing that stood out to me was when Jung-sook was supposedly holding Geum-hee's baby in the hospital. As you can imagine filming with actual babies is notoriously difficult, so that extremely large blanket that it was supposedly swaddled in, would have almost certainly contained a doll! 👀

That's why they did the one close-up shot of the end of a real baby in there! Trying to cover their tracks...😬

I didnt expect that twist. I thought he is part of that kidnapper's victims. But i did suspect our pretty lead to be his birth mom. It will be an intense finale week when they both find out. There must be a big story there and I will get by box of tissues ready.

Seeing Young-Bok and Geum-Hui's relationship broken was really hard because this drama rests on the friendship of these women and how they carry each other when they need it.

So it was was nice and funny to see GH changing her mind the minute her friend was in pain and needed help.

I was happy for her her husband understood how her group is important for her now.

YB is a very brave woman. She will have a new baby when she has already a lot kids to take care of and her husband is in prison because he's stupid. At least, she has 3 friends who will help her.

I was happy with the development of the relationship between Jeong-Suk and Do-Hyeon. JS only had her husband in her life since she was young. Now, she discovers different facettes of her own life : single mother, job and love. So I understand she doesn't want to rush things.

Do-Hyeon's investigation was kinda sad. The woman lost her baby and her mind at the same time. It's awful she kidnapped those kids but in her disturbed mind, she thought she was giving them a better life.

I had a doubt about Geum-Hui when she gave him the handkerchief with the mousy rabbit, I was sure it will come back in the story later. There were some rabbit toys in the box.

I'm still curious how DH who was adopted by American so became American too speaks Korean and can be a cop in Korea...

I started this late and am really enjoying it. Its well acted and I like the issues they have to deal with with the business, I mean how they show the different attitudes and how to approach them as well as the towns peoples reactions. Of course, the actors are selling it well too so I am semi binging it to get up to the present episodes

I sobbed like a baby when Yeong Bok was trying to explain herself to Geum Hui. No wonder Kim Sun-young was a theater actress, they're always best of the best! To add to this, I think the acting is what's carrying this drama, the writing is unfortunately not up to par and feels wobbly.

Young Bok's crying had me in tears. 😭😭😭

The whole robber and hit-and-run incident could have been executed better. It was resolved too quickly. I guess a few days went by before the ladies' brochure writing meeting and they acted like their usual happy teasing, but it still wasn't enough time. Maybe it would have been better if Geum Hee and her husband hadn't been involved in this plot. Like we didn't even see the crappy acquaintance get punished or his reaction to being caught.

The conflict affecting Young Bok's and Jong Sun's life was a compelling part of their story. It could have stayed within their part of the story. Plus dealing with the dilemma about their new baby. Eh, I'm not totally satisfied with the ending of this plot. I'm ready to move on though.

Jung Sook and Do Hyun had some tropey yet pretty cute scenes like the theme park and how the guy's the one who's scared during the rides. I like how Jung Sook is so proactive, whether it's with her personal life or her career. I want to see more giddy reactions from her when it comes to their dating and attraction, but I'm keeping in mind that she has a quiet, demure personality.

Yooooo, I was surprised by the twist! I'm glad I didn't expect it. Honestly, Geum Hee looks young to be Do Hyun's mother so I never had any suspicions that the drama would go this route. I thought the past lingering looks on her when she talked about children with Young Bok was because she couldn't have any.

With only 2 episodes left, I hope the show wraps up the remaining story threads well and not be rushed.

I enjoyed the latest two episodes because the drama keeps deepening and developing the friendship between the four women.

Having said that, this drama appears to have the opposite issue from FAMILY BY CHOICE. In FAMILY BY CHOICE, all the female characters except for FL and her sidekick best friend are portrayed very negatively as figures of amplified stereotypes of "bad" women. In A VIRTUOUS BUSINESS, we get pretty much all the male characters behaving in TSTL (Too Stupid To Live) ways at one point or another (yes, even Mr Cinnamon Roll ML).

The one saving grace of the male characters in A VIRTUOUS BUSINESS are not aren't amplified negative male stereotypes so much as larger-than-life portrayals of how men who hurt and hinder women behave. The sexism and misogyny and rape culture are pretty real and the show hits hard on that score.

I did a binge watched the show and hooked more then I thought. Such an amazing casting but Seo Young-Bok and her husband stole my heart :) Although writing is quite weird! Luckily The actors make it up by their skills. The heir dresser lady and Chemist guy are very weird couple choice! It is a small town how come she did not know he was the Real Estate Ladie's son !!I only watched Yeon Woo-Jin 'Daily dose of Sunshine' but he perfectly fits the character here. Next week is the last week 🙁 They have already given us the hint who is the mother but who knows !