In Law and The City Episode 4, it left many viewers thinking harder than expected. There was no explosive twist. No screaming in court. Just people saying one thing, meaning another, and trying to survive their work without breaking down inside.
The episode focused on Ahn Joo-hyung (played by Lee Jong-suk), who is now handling a messy divorce case. He meets Cha Jung-ho (Nam Yoon-ho), the husband who is accused of abuse. The twist? Ahn’s ex-girlfriend Park Soo-jung (Lee Yoo-young) is the wife who filed the case.
That already feels like a tight space to breathe in. When Ahn Joo-hyung handed Cha Jung-ho a written claim stating the abuse, Jung-ho didn’t look surprised. In fact, he looked bored. He asked, “Where’s the evidence?” Then added, “There isn’t any? Then it didn’t happen.” That kind of answer? Not really helping his case.
Ahn tried to dig deeper. He asked directly, “Did you hit her?” Jung-ho’s answer: “It doesn’t matter if I did. There’s no proof.” He later added, “Not by my standards.” That’s a sentence that can mean anything and nothing at the same time. It’s interesting because you can see Ahn Joo-hyung struggling. Not because he believes Jung-ho or not. But because he has to do his job. And his job, at least for now, is to defend this man.
When he says, “Whether I believe you or not doesn’t matter,” Jung-ho gets upset. But Ahn stays calm. He simply says, “My job is to help you defend yourself. That’s it.” There’s something heavy in that, like a lawyer trying to separate his brain from his heart.
Unspoken Feelings in a Courtroom
Meanwhile, Kang Hee-ji (Moon Ga-young) is watching all this from the outside. She’s part of the firm, but she’s also a witness to Ahn Joo-hyung’s personal discomfort. She notices him avoiding her at the courthouse. When she confronts him later, he pretends not to know what she’s talking about.
That’s another quiet lie. Later, Hee-ji reflects, “He’s really so confident. Have you really not seen him?” It’s not about just that moment. It’s about how people pretend, even when something is burning inside. There’s no loud drama. But every scene feels like it’s hiding something under the surface.
Ahn eventually faces Park Soo-jung, his ex. But this is no reunion. When she asks how he’s been, he shuts it down: “Let’s not have a personal conversation.” He reminds her he’s there as a lawyer, not her past lover.
That’s when she breaks. She cries and says, “Why do you have to watch my miserable marriage?” He replies, “Then let’s end it here.” Cold words, but maybe they were his only way to protect himself. This moment worked, not because of the words, but because of the silence in between. That’s what the show is doing really well—letting silence say the things people can’t.
Viewers React: “This Feels Too Real”
A lot of viewers online are reacting in thoughtful ways. Some feel that the male lead’s conflict is dragging. Others say it feels too real because real life doesn’t wrap itself up in neat episodes.
One viewer said, “It’s exhausting to have moral conflicts every day. I’d go mad if I had to live like that.” That probably speaks for anyone who’s worked in law, hospitals, or any field where emotions are supposed to stay hidden. Others agree and think that the subplot is starting to fade in meaning.
But not everyone sees it the same. Another fan said, “I think the ex-girlfriend’s part is meant to grow the male lead. Not a long love triangle. She’s there for emotional depth, not for drama.”
There’s also love for Hee-ji. Viewers are starting to see her as the emotional balance. She doesn’t cry often. But she notices everything. She supports others without asking anything back. In a show full of tired adults, she’s the only one who still acts like people can change.
And yes, people are talking about the food scenes. Some thought it was filler. But others said those quiet meal times feel more real than anything else. As one fan put it, “It’s the only time people connect at work. During lunch. That’s when you see who they really are.”
A Quiet Show with Sharp Edges
What makes Law and the City stand out is how it says things without shouting. It shows people pretending to be okay when they’re not. It shows lawyers who are supposed to fight for someone, but don’t always agree with who they’re defending. It also asks a big question: Can you still do your job well when your heart isn’t in it?
So far, the drama isn’t rushing. It’s building slowly. Every episode adds small layers. A past relationship. A jealous glance. A badly worded lie. Nothing feels fake. Even when people lie, they do it in ways you’ve probably seen in real life. There’s no hero here. No perfect lead. Just regular people who are trying to do their job, make peace with the past, and not mess up someone else’s life.
Whether or not this divorce case moves fast doesn’t seem to matter. The story isn’t about the case. It’s about how each person reacts to being trapped inside it. Let’s just say: the court isn’t the only place where people are being judged.
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Kavita Mishra is a dynamic writer and passionate Korean entertainment enthusiast, combining her love for K-pop and K-drama with a flair for storytelling. With a keen eye for the latest trends, Kavita crafts articles that capture the pulse of K-pop idols, chart-topping hits, and the most buzz-worthy dramas taking over screens worldwide.