5 Endearing Moments In The Finale Of "Law And The City" That Made Us Feel Optimistic
The weekend won’t be the same now that “Law and The City” has come to an end. Throughout 12 episodes, we were amazed by the marvelous group of attorneys that worked at Hyungmin Law Group. They not only showed us a more human and warm side of the law but also a realistic and approachable view of it. Despite the recent difficulties for our squad, they prevailed with their characteristic resilience and good spirits, giving us a heartwarming finale to stay optimistic even in the hardest days of life. Here is every endearing moment we loved!
Warning: spoilers from episodes 11-12 ahead!
1. Bae Mun Jeong getting her way as a working mother
Every character in this story had something to add, whether it was personal or work related. They had their own struggles. Nonetheless, Bae Mun Jeong (Ryu Hye Young) quickly became one of the best characters with her unique and strong personality. She embodies not only the spirit of union in her group of friends but also portrays every future working mother who finds herself struggling between what’s best for her family and her professional life. Being at a crossroads, she has to make a choice when the perfect chance to have a more stable work position appears right in front of her.
Although she has unconditional support from her husband Kim Ji Seok (Yoon Kyun Sang), it isn’t an easy choice for her. In the end, even when she decides to continue as a litigating attorney instead of an in-house counselor, she has to fight for her maternity leave. Being as clever as she is, she finds the perfect solution through other working mothers who have experienced the same struggle. Ultimately, she gets exactly what she wants, making us feel hopeful that, even in the midst of discrimination and injustice, a girl can have it all, both a loving family and a thriving career.
2. Ha Sang Gi choosing his dream over his job
Another person who finds himself struggling between his reality and his dreams is Ha Sang Gi (Im Seong Jae). Everything about him tells us that he wishes to become a professor, but giving up on his job isn’t as easy as it seems at first. It is only until he gets a case of a young man who gets scammed by a realtor and is about to get evicted from his rental house that he starts to reconsider his possibilities. He sees himself in this young man and remembers how he truly loved studying, which got him to the stable life he has now.
After helping him, Sang Gi gets the conviction to pursue his dreams once again, even more so after finding out that Kim Hyung Min (Yeom Hye Ran) helped him to go to law school through her foundation. Sadly, this means that he will leave his position as an attorney to focus on his studies. On the bright side, although unexpected, we get to see him and his former boss getting together, making a goofy yet sweet couple. In the end, by taking a leap of faith and going after his dreams, he not only finds his passion, but also a new and more fulfilling life which is the ultimately goal for anybody.
3. Cho Chang Won quitting and becoming a prosecutor
One of the most satisfying moments in these last episodes was seeing Cho Chang Won (Kang You Seok) finally standing up for himself and quitting his abusive job. And it isn’t exactly that he never had the strength to have a firm standing against his boss but rather that he didn’t have a reason to do so. Most of the time, his caring and soft side would make him hesitate and doubt himself, but once he sets his mind on becoming a prosecutor, there’s no turning back.
Even when his boss harasses him until the very end and his father doubts whatever he has in his plans, he never loses his focus. By the time he tells the squad about his decision, he is confident enough about his future, even to face their friendly teasing. Seeing Chang Won go from a shallow and unmotivated attorney to a more mature and determined prosecutor makes it feel like things really have come to a full circle. Furthermore, knowing that he can be the one with the upper hand in court while facing his former boss is the cherry on the top to wrap up his story perfectly.
4. Kang Hui Ji finding a new career as a public defender
Being a slice-of-life drama, it is only natural to see everyone moving forward in a new direction at a certain point. Kang Hui Ji (Mun Ka Young) isn’t the exception to this. While taking a case of a woman who murdered her bedridden younger brother, Hui Ji has to reassess not only her role as an attorney but also her values as a person. Once she gets to know the real motives behind her client’s actions, Hui Ji’s focus changes, and she ends up helping her to get a lighter sentence, giving her client a chance to pay for her crime while living in peace for the short time she has left as she has late stage cancer.
Apart from making us cry a river, this specific case inspires her idealistic character and suddenly makes her wish to become a public defender. However, she soon realizes that she might not always be in the service of good and defenseless people. But one thing that not even her own family might understand, but her boyfriend does, is that she is stronger than they think. Beneath her sweet and good-natured personality, there’s a resilient and firm person who wishes to become a helping hand for anyone in need. Perhaps one of the saddest things in this ending is that we won’t see her journey of becoming a pro and mature lawyer.
5. Ahn Ju Hyeong finally opening his own law firm
The last but not least to leave his firm is Ahn Ju Heyong (Lee Jong Suk). The once detached and cold attorney who resembled a robot more than a human has a full change of heart after taking a case for an old man who appears to be a scammer but ends up being a truly altruistic man. Sadly, this man dies even before finding the solution to his problem. But he leaves such a strong impression on Ju Hyeong that he takes the step to open up his own law firm where he can take on different cases no matter the difficulty or the economic profit.
Though it is disappointing we don’t get to see much more of this beautiful group of friends, it is completely heart-warming to see how they find their own path to happiness, even if that means going in different directions. No matter what, they will always have the chance to return to Seocho, the place where they first met and where they’ll always find a place to enjoy a delicious meal together. If there’s a time when you need to feel the comfort and warmth of an optimistic show, you can always go back and rewatch “Law and The City”!
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Andy zar is an avid drama watcher, from K-dramas to C-dramas, she believes any weekend is a good weekend to enjoy 12 hours of binge-watching dramas. She loves romance, web comics, and K-pop. Her favorite groups are EXO, TWICE, Red Velvet, and BOL4.
Currently watching: “Law and The City”
Plans to watch: “My Troublesome Star“