SPOILER SBS drama 'Good Partner' receiving harsh criticism for the 'tasteless' romance between Nam Ji Hyun and Pyo Ji Hoon

Last week, many viewers felt disappointment after the July 20 broadcast of the SBS Fri-Sat drama ‘Good Partner’.

On this episode, rookie divorce attorney Han Yu Ri (played by Nam Ji Hyun) went out for drinks with her sunbae colleague, Jeon Eun Ho (played by Pyo Ji Hoon). As the two colleagues gradually opened up to each other about themselves, Han Yu Ri told Jeon Eun Ho that she was against marriages, after being traumatized in her youth by her father’s affair.

[SPOILERS AHEAD]

Then, a few scenes later Han Yu Ri was seen waking up in a hotel bed the next morning. When she turned around, Jeon Eun Ho was asleep next to her. The woman, alarmed by the mistake that she had made in her drunkenness, hurriedly dressed and left the hotel.

Unfortunately, this “budding romance” scene between Han Yu Ri and Jeon Eun Ho was received poorly by the drama’s viewers.

Largely, the reason has to do with the fact that ‘Good Partner’ has been marketed as both a ‘womance’ genre drama, as well as a drama telling the stories of women facing hardships in their lives due to marital affairs and divorce.

Furthermore, as mentioned above, the character Han Yu Ri represents a modern woman who is against the idea of marriage due to her traumatic past experiences. As a divorce attorney, she frowns upon people who make bad choices based on their selfish desires.

And yet, a short flashback from the episode reveals that Han Yu Ri may have been coerced into the hook up by her male colleague. The flashback hinted that Han Yu Ri’s memory blacked out soon after Jeon Eun Ho suggested they go for another round, turning her into just another person who made a bad choice born from their desires.

Despite this disconcerting detail, the romance between Han Yu Ri and Jeon Eun Ho continued to bloom by the next episode.

Many netizens reacted with harsh criticism for the drama’s “tasteless” romance, commenting,

“I dropped this drama after that episode. It seriously made me go WTH.”

“How tasteless and old-fashioned.”

“A male colleague who takes a drunk female colleague to a hotel? And then confesses his love to her? She should be reporting him for sexual assault!”

“The random romance between these two is the most useless element in this entire drama.”

“I thought P.O would be a funny and comfortable side character but then he’s suddenly in bed with the female lead?”

“It just doesn’t work because she’s supposed to be against marriage and romance. How are the viewers supposed to like her if she makes a mistake like that?”

“There’s no chemistry between Nam Ji Hyun and P.O.”

“Even after last week’s episode, I thought there was some plot twist, like maybe they didn’t actually sleep together but watching this week’s episode made it clear… I don’t feel like watching this drama anymore.”