This week’s episodes are all about family, and the joys — and sorrows — that such bonds bring. Our girls navigate their present, reminisce on their past, and wash it all down with a good dose of alcohol.
EPISODES 5-6 WEECAP
Catching a cockroach is no big deal for our fearless Ji-goo, but her next errand throws her good day off-kilter. While she’s out walking someone else’s dog, she coincidentally runs into her mother, who is not at all pleased to see her. In fact, she’s ashamed of Ji-goo’s less-than-illustrious career (or lack thereof), and pretends she doesn’t know Ji-goo at all so she can save face in front of her superficial friends.
To her credit, Ji-goo doesn’t falter — instead, she calls out to her mother, forcing her to acknowledge her own daughter. Ji-goo isn’t the least bit abashed, matter-of-factly explaining her current jobs to her mother’s friends. Still, once she’s alone, she can’t help but wonder if she took it too far.
Mom’s soju expertise not only landed her on television, but also allowed her to keep her business going even when she had to move cities after several unwelcome run-ins with the disloyal man who ditched her. She struck gold in collecting outdated soju brands, which soon became obsolete and thus hotly in-demand.
Despite all that, she never once let Ji-yeon try soju — even fibbing that she doesn’t possess the genes required to break down alcohol, ha. Ji-yeon soon busts the lie when she accidentally drinks homemade wine at a university orientation party, but it’s clear that Mom just wanted to protect her precious daughter, raising her so that she could enjoy the sweetness of life no matter how bitter reality was.
That university party is also where we meet So-hee and Ji-goo in their younger days, and their first encounter with alcohol. So-hee is fiesty as usual, with the liquid courage fueling her righteous fury towards the sleazy seniors.
Meanwhile, model student Ji-goo is quiet and meek, but the pressure from her mom’s helicopter parenting eventually pushes her into trying alcohol and cigarettes for the first time. It’s a welcome relief for the stifled Ji-goo, who’s had enough of living according to her mother’s demands.
And so, the day is saved thanks to Ji-yeon’s mom. At the end of the day, our trio enjoy a prized bottle of rare soju from Mom’s collection — yet again, alcohol has come to the rescue (just a bit more literally this time).
This week’s episodes were a little mellower, and I have to give the drama credit for easing so seamlessly into a more contemplative tone. Work Later, Drink Now may be known for its laugh-out-loud antics, but this week exemplifies why it worked its way into the hearts of so many viewers. It’s sincere and heartfelt, allowing us to empathize with our main characters in a way that’s deeply relatable. And now I wanna go give my mom a big, warm hug!
