Strangers Again ~ Divorce Attorneys Divorce Each Other

“Strangers Again” was released in 2023, has 12 episodes, and is a Viki Original Korean drama series. It can be categorized as Rom-Com (Romantic-Comedy) and Legal Drama.

♦ We Don’t Live Together. Must We Work Together?

In “Strangers Again” a married couple gets divorced. They are both divorce attorneys and find themselves working together at the same law firm handling divorce cases.

Oh! The irony! In some instances, they can save the marriages of others, yet Oh Ha-Ra wonders why her marriage to Ku Eun-Beom ended in divorce. She also wonders:

• Can they patch things up and get back together? OR
• Can they become strangers again and live separate lives?

“Strangers Again” is fiction.  But if it was real and even if you were not a licensed marriage counselor or divorce attorney, it was easy to see that there was no need for these two people to get divorced.

Ku Eun-Beom initiated the divorce out of desperation to just break off the relationship with his wife. But his character seemed kind of immature. Yes, some things happened in his life when he was growing up.  But things happen in almost everybody’s life when they are growing up.

Often events during childhood sort of interfere with you having a stable loving marital relationship. But overall, the viewer might conclude that the married life between Eun-Beom and Ha-Ra was not complicated. They could have worked out their differences. Instead, Eun-Beom arranges a blind date for his ex-wife with one of his friends. What’s that about? (O.o)

♦ We Never Agree at Work. Should We Get Married?

In “Strangers Again” there is a subplot or secondary storyline.  It is an office romance and no doubt the scriptwriters inserted it for contrast. There is another couple at the office and they are not married. They constantly butt heads with each other at the office. But they are also attracted to each other. One thing leads to another and ultimately, the couple you might think would never marry, end up getting married.

By contrast, the two parties in this relationship are completely different from Ha-Ra and Eun-Beom. How are they different? They talk to each other about very serious issues that could destroy a relationship if the two can’t find common ground or reach a compromise.  Matters such as … abortion, the woman pursuing her career goals, the man becoming a stay-at-home dad, whether or not the child they decide to have will have the father’s last name, etc. This couple are both divorce attorneys as well.

Meanwhile, Ha-Ra is still struggling and trying to come to terms with being single. She still loves her ex-husband. One of the reasons, Eun-Beom wanted a divorce was because he did not want to have children. Consequently, Ha-Ra’s mother is against them getting back together again and tells her daughter that she needs to move on.

Ha-Ra needs to get married again and have kids.  But does she?

• Is it possible for her and her ex-husband to become strangers again?
• Does she really “need” to get married again and have kids?
• Why can’t she get back together with her ex and live happily ever after as a DINK (couples who are “Double Income No Kids”)? 
• Why can’t she just stay single? Why does she have to be married at all?

Main Characters:

• Oh Ha-Ra (played by Kang So-Ra)
• Ku Eun-Beom (Jang Seung-Jo, “Death’s Game”)

Where to Watch

Viewership and Rating:

• IMDb: 6.5 out of 10 stars
• My Drama List: 7.2 out of 10 stars
• Viki viewers rated this series 7.9 out of 10 stars

My personal rating is the same as the Viki viewers; 7.9 out of 10 stars. Lots of really good Korean dramas often slip under the radar. “Strangers Again” is one of those K-dramas that appeared on more than one list as being “underrated”.

There were other K-dramas mentioned on those lists that have reviews published here on PopGeeks: “My Perfect Stranger”; and “Delivery Man”. They were given high marks.  Since I enjoyed those K-dramas, out of curiosity “Strangers Again” was added to my watch list. It was only 12 episodes so it could be binge-watched quickly.

A wide range of relationship difficulties is addressed in “Strangers Again”. If not by way of the relationship between Ha-Ra and Eun-Beom or their co-workers who got married; then by way of the various divorce scenarios presented to the attorneys by their clients for resolution and settlement.

Some may think the ratings for this series should be higher for that reason, i.e. because it explored the complications of divorces. However, if that is the reason then I disagree. It’s not that this K-drama wasn’t interesting and entertaining. It’s just by the last episode, I felt a little bit “under-whelmed”.  

LINKS OF INTEREST:

• 4 Underrated K-dramas of 2023: ‘Work Later, Drink Now,’ ‘My Perfect Stranger,’ More! | KdramaStars
• Best Underrated Korean Dramas of 2023 | Korean Lovey
• 10 UNDERRATED K-DRAMAS OF 2023 | hindimaikhoj.com

TRAILERS/TEASERS:

Viki Global TV. “Strangers Again | MAIN TRAILER | Kang so Ra, Jang Seung Jo.” YouTube Video. YouTube, January 18, 2023. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrtwTQpmKh4.