Summary
A Virtuous Business really comes together in Episode 7 with strong scenes of personal and thematic development.
Well, isn’t this romantic? Following on from Jeong-suk being imperiled by Gyeong-sik, it seems the male and female leads are getting closer than ever in Episode 7 of A Virtuous Business. This isn’t unexpected, of course, but I think it’s better handled here after a slightly wavering previous chapter, and what’s more is that the empowerment themes, the push-pull of public perception, and the ultimate sense of solidarity among the town’s women, feel better realized here.
This, to me, feels like the show operating at a just-right rhythm, better justifying the ML/FL romance while also dotting in subplots revolving around the other women. It’s a nice mix of drama, comedy, short-term intrigue, and long-term growth. It works.
Anyway, as I said, the relationship between Jeong-suk and Da-hyun is developing more organically here. After her encounter with Gyeong-sik, Da-hyun arrests him and files a case, volunteering himself as the primary witness to keep Jeong-suk, who has already been the talk of the town, away from yet more scandal.
This altruistic gesture inadvertently results in Da-hyun being painted as a hero, and the women soon deduce that Jeong-suk was involved, but hey, it’s the thought that counts. But this is all part of Jeong-suk’s internal process. Just like how she is learning to be independent from her ex-husband, she’s similarly trying to work through this new trauma, learning to live with the scars and, on some level, even be proud of them.
I like this arc. It feels natural for Jeong-suk, especially supported by Da-hyun and her friends, to stiffen her resolve in the face of this latest obstacle and decide to take matters into her own hands. Flanked by Ju-ri, Geum-jui, and Young-bok, emboldened by a patina of striking makeup, the women head to the police station and demand to be taken seriously about the case. The local rumor mill shouldn’t speak for them – they can do that for themselves.
This leads to a nice revelation – the town has already all come out in support of Jeong-suk – but it also feels like all of the show’s underlying themes and ideas entwining together. The symbolism of the makeup – feminine, striking, attention-grabbing – is a nice visual and symbolic way to show where the ladies are emotionally. They’re no longer afraid of making a scene. They’re not keeping themselves quiet and hidden. They’re making a statement, literally and figuratively, in complete solidarity. This, I think, is the strongest moment of A Virtuous Business Episode 7.
This idea of the town’s women and Jeong-suk finally getting on the same page is obviously best exemplified by the support for Jeong-suk smacking Gyeong-sik, but it has been a long time coming in many respects. The strength of Jeong-suk and co. is also inadvertently lending a sense of legitimacy to their chosen vocation. If these proud women want to sell lingerie and sex toys, then why shouldn’t everyone else feel comfortable buying them? This is how cultural attitudes shift over time. It just takes someone leading by example.
Further emboldened, Jeong-suk volunteers to help Da-hyun find his birth mother. You can see here how the walls are being broken down in her personal life, too. Da-hyun has played the role of protector thus far, but Jeong-suk doesn’t need protecting. That’s what her personal journey is about. So, instead of fearing the possible implications of her being too deeply involved in his private crusade, Da-hyun relents and agrees.
After combing through clues together, Jeong-suk returns that evening to pick up a notepad she left behind and finds Da-hyun in the throes of a nightmare. In a very neat reversal of expectations, when he awakens with a start, at his most vulnerable, it’s Jeong-suk who’s there to comfort him, to act as his savior. Another strong moment for this episode.
There’s more going on elsewhere – is Young-bok pregnant? What’s going on with her husband’s past criminal life? – that one expects to be picked up in the next episode and beyond, but in the meantime, it’s just nice to see A Virtuous Business really beginning to come together – especially after a weaker episode.
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