Beyond the Bar Episode 6 recap: the complex case of love and consent

Beyond the Bar | Image Via: BA Entertainment
Beyond the Bar | Image Via: BA Entertainment

Beyond the Bar is out with yet another intriguing episode, which follows our rookie lawyer, Hyo-min, into a complex case. The show has a rating of 8.4 on IMDb. The sixth episode was released on 17th August and has already become the talk of the town.

The main aspect of intrigue of this episode is a new case that Hyo-min has to handle. This case is unique. The team faces a bit of difficulty in choosing the right method to handle to situation. As the case is based on an extremely sensitive issue, the team members need to tread with utmost care and sensitivity.

Hyo-min comes up with a unique idea to handle the situation. Though she is faced with some initial criticism from her team, her methods eventually work out for her. Let’s explore this complex case of love and consent in the sixth episode of Beyond the Bar.

Please be prepared for the spoilers ahead.


Details about Beyond the Bar episode 6

The sixth episode of the series begins in quite a dark and mysterious way. We see a woman arrive at the law firm where Hyo-min works and ask for her help. Hyo-min asks her about the case. The woman begins to tell her that she had a relationship, but the relationship ended.

She loved her ex-boyfriend immensely, but things did not turn out well. Now, she wishes to sue her ex-boyfriend. Quite the turn of events, right? Well, there's so much more. When Hyo-min tells her that she will not be able to help her, what the woman divulges completely shocks her and the viewers alike. The woman shows Hyo-min the gruesome marks that her ex-boyfriend had left on her body.

Beyond the Bar | Image Via: BA Entertainment
Beyond the Bar | Image Via: BA Entertainment

The scene cuts to a doctor’s appointment, where the doctor tells the woman that, as her skin is prone to keloids, the bruises have become this prominent and can further deteriorate. The woman works as a model, hence the marks will make her suffer significantly at her job. Hyo-min takes her case, and she begins to discuss with her team about the process of handling the case. It is revealed that the woman’s boyfriend had made her sign a form of consent.

This sign of consent negates her from having the case to retaliate. However, Hyo-min comes up with an idea. She suggests that to make the consent invalid and establish the case to be an assault, which it was, they could argue that the woman signed the consent form because she was in love. She says,

“she was in a state of diminished capacity. Can’t we say love is a form of diminished capacity too?”

Though her team members do not agree, her boss understands her argument and decides to take her route.

Consent plays a vital role in any relationship. How Beyond the Bar handles this sensitive issue is truly intriguing. There is a subtle manner in which the show focuses on the sensitivity of the issue. Hyo-min later discusses with the woman about how they are going to handle the case.

The woman tells them that initially she refused to give consent, but later she could not tolerate not being with him, which eventually led her to give her consent. Later, Hyo-min makes her client understand how her ex-boyfriend handled the situation.

She tells her that he has asked for an NDA and compensation. The woman accepts the NDA and the compensation, but only the amount that was the actual expenses for her treatment and legal fees.

Beyond the Bar | Image Via: BA Entertainment
Beyond the Bar | Image Via: BA Entertainment

This episode explores the complex layers of love, consent, and coercion in a way that leaves a powerful impression. Too often, victims are unfairly blamed for “allowing” manipulation to take place. In this story, the woman seemingly permits her ex-boyfriend to hurt her, but the narrative makes it clear that her emotional state plays a crucial role in understanding the validity of consent. Beyond the Bar captures this nuance brilliantly and is now streaming on Netflix.


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Edited by Tanisha Aggarwal