Here's a polished recap of "Good Partner" episode 1, painting a vivid picture of the intricate world of elite divorce attorneys. Meet Cha Eun-kyung, a renowned divorce lawyer who just secured a staggering $150 million victory for her client. Contrastingly, enter Han Yu-ri, a greenhorn attorney who, despite her stellar performance at Daejeong Law Firm—the pinnacle of legal prestige—finds herself marooned in the divorce department, a far cry from her aspirational corporate law dreams.
Through the exchanges between Jung Woo-jin, Eun-kyung's protégé and captain of Divorce Team 2, we uncover a tale of attrition among rookies, deterred by Eun-kyung's unvarnished candor. Yu-ri, unfazed by whispers, boldly voices her preference to Eun-kyung, who strikes a bargain: Ten wins, and she'll champion Yu-ri's transfer.
Yu-ri's maiden voyage is a whirlwind; she's thrust into her inaugural client meeting, plunging headfirst into a divorce battle where her client stands accused of infidelity. Eun-kyung, the seasoned judge, promptly brands him a cheater, tasking Yu-ri with securing a swift settlement. But Yu-ri's instincts, though raw, are resolute; her client denies the allegations, and Yu-ri, a naïve believer in innocence, challenges Eun-kyung's conclusion.
Fast-forward to Yu-ri's debut trial, where she stands firm for her client's plea of innocence. She weaves a narrative of paranoia, casting doubt on the plaintiff's accusations. Yet, her carefully crafted defense crumbles under the weight of damning evidence—text message screenshots—presented by the opposition. Yu-ri is left reeling, while Eun-kyung watches with a smug satisfaction, her "I knew it all along" attitude palpable.
Back at the sanctuary of their office, Yu-ri confronts her client's deceit, yet he persists in his innocence, spinning fantastical tales to explain away the incriminating messages. Eun-kyung, amused by the absurdity, sees potential gold in these fabrications, a twist that could turn the tables in court.
To salvage Yu-ri's spirits amidst Eun-kyung's unyielding demands, Jeon Eun-ho steps in, luring her away for a comforting dinner, orchestrated by Jung Woo-jin. Over plates, Yu-ri confesses her aversion to divorce cases and Eun-kyung, recalling the latter's unforgettable guest lecture at her law school—a memory that still lingers with a tinge of discontent.
During the subsequent hearing, Yu-ri triumphantly navigates the complexities of the case, exposing the plaintiff's paranoid delusions with a meticulously recorded audio evidence captured amidst the seclusion of the bathroom. Within the tape's confines, the plaintiff's voice echoes, falsely accusing Yu-ri of collusion with her husband and casting aspersions of an illicit relationship. Simultaneously, Yu-ri reinforces her stance with a handwritten note from her client's son, a testament to her client's innocence.
As the plaintiff's counsel attempts to sway the tide with fresh evidence—a substantial financial transfer to the son—Yu-ri deftly dismantles the accusation of bribery with a plausible narrative, suggesting the funds might have been an allowance for relocation amidst the tumultuous divorce proceedings.
Post-hearing, the woman's heartrending revelation surfaces: her husband's betrayal, a secret kept since her son's tender age of five, leading her to a desperate plea for divorce, which falls on deaf ears.
The verdict, however, favors Yu-ri, securing a victory for her client. But as she conveys the good news over the phone, a jarring twist unfolds—her client's mistress answers, unmasking his guilt and confirming the truth behind every accusation leveled against him.
This revelation weighs heavily on Yu-ri, casting a pall of disillusionment over her profession. Amidst the festivities of a celebratory dinner with Eun-kyung, Eun-ho, and Woo-jin, her thoughts wander towards an uncertain future. Barely days into her tenure, she finds herself contemplating resignation, the office becoming a haunting reminder of her moral dilemma.
Meanwhile, Eun-kyung's serendipitous arrival at the office, retrieving forgotten documents after a radio appearance where she painted a rosy picture of her marital bliss, sets the stage for an unexpected encounter.
Yu-ri's mind drifts back to Eun-ho's suggestion of the rejuvenating respite on the 16th floor, a sanctuary now tainted by a chance encounter. To her horror, she inadvertently stumbles upon a scene of betrayal—Kim Ji-sang, Eun-kyung's husband, embroiled in an intimate tryst with Choi Sa-ra, Eun-kyung's own secretary. The episode closes on a cliffhanger, as Eun-kyung ascends to the 16th floor, following Yu-ri's lead, unaware of the shattering revelation that awaits her.
