The harsh world these women navigate is one that doesn’t offer them much, and they do whatever they must to survive—often by deceiving and even killing men. I admired their strength, resilience, and intelligence. As someone who loves seeing women take charge in stories, this was a refreshing portrayal of two women who refuse to be passive victims. While their actions may seem morally ambiguous, they’re doing what they must in a system that doesn’t care about them. The complex morality made me root for them even more.
I also really liked Madam Ditchdok, another misunderstood woman. Her maternal care for Shim Chong was heartwarming, and I appreciated the subplot with her and her son, who could also see the future. It was heartbreaking when I learned that her husband left her after she gave birth, and that her house burned down because of a mistake she made, injuring her son in the process. All of this stemmed from her reading her fortune, something her mother had warned her against. She eventually misinterprets her fortune, believing she’s destined for a great life, only to find it’s not the case. This connects well with Madam Jang's daughter-in-law, who allows herself to be abused by her husband while also attempting to accuse other women, including Madam Jang, to escape her own problems.