This show is NOT: A romance drama. And NOT: A baseball drama.
Why not a baseball drama? Well... It's about the time between seasons, so there can't be any games played. We actually see only bits of a game at the start and pieces of two practice games. That's all.This drama is more about the politics and management side of professional baseball in South Korea. If you are not a fan of strategic machinations and emotional development of characters, you might want to give this show a miss.
I liked that the drama does not insult its audience's intelligence. It does not spell out every little thing, it does not repeat the same information endlessly, and there are several times when little throwaway comments or actions make an impact in later episodes. This is not a drama to watch while doing other things.
I especially liked how realistic the actions of (almost) every character was. In systemic coaching (which I'm starting to learn for professional reasons), two of the main theses are: "Every person's actions make sense for that one person within the current situation, always." and "Every decision has a prize and a price."
Even if some things are only hinted at, or not fully explained, there's this feeling that every character has their own motivation for their decisions. There is no pure good or evil, just people.
The actors did a terrific job in bringing their characters to life.
I'm also glad that the writer did not try to force a romance into the plot. The dynamics between the two main characters were of the profesional sort, maybe with a hint of a possible friendship, but nothing more.
And one last thing I loved is the ending. This is not a 100% happy, team-spirit-has-overcome-everything ending, but an ending which rather shows that even though you might have grown, things will probably not work out like you would have wanted them to. For me, that was absolutely satisfying.
[this is an updated version of the review I posted on Viki]
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There’s a reason it won Baeksang best tv drama award
Talent is everywhere,winning attitude is not.This drama depicts this quote in 16 wholesome episodes.
So happy to see Park Euin Bin after age of youth.
Story- Initial episodes show how savage our new manager Baek is . It keeps getting interesting as every ep passes by . You will connect with each and every player of Dreams . With a good pace gives closure for every character by the end. No, you wont get bored at any point in the drama . I had zero knowledge about baseball and it didn’t make any difference in my experience for this ride.
Try 1 ep and you’ll get hooked to it.
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This review may contain spoilers
An unusual twist on sports genre
This show looks like an ordinary show about sports, but this is more than about a sport, its about teams and the behind the scenes of a successful sports club.The writers have done such a phenomenal job on every character. Each have thier time to shine, thier own story and have thier reasons for everything. By the end of the show you'll love each one of the characters. I'll miss all of them so much!
The whole show is very enjoyable with unexpected twists and turns never a dull moment. You wont be able to really take your mind off the storyline!
The actors have done a great job too! Namgoong min is one of my favourite actors, I love how he switches up alot of roles and does such unique dramas. I also loved watching park eun bin who was also there in age of youth that I very much enjoyed watching! All the actors were remarkable and I'd support all of them in the future :)
I also loved how so many problems in the society are highlighted be it psychological or even physical discrimination, in such a subtle way.
The way the team works and thier motivated and pumped up attitudes are so nice to see. It's so nice to see how the team builds up from the ground level of mess to one of the best teams.
Truly refreshing show that shows a whole new perspective on a sports teams.
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And we saw time and time again Nam stay persistent and determined not only to make the Dreams into a winning team but one that valued the person standing next to them as there is no “I” in “team”. I struggled to understand PF's analogy in not taking Nam on as the general manager (if you haven't watched this drama you will understand what I mean once you do) but took it for what it was – a negotiating compromise to a winning situation – a happy home for the Dreams. It was good to see the CEO despite their (his and Nam's) differences finally have the courage to stand up to his uncle and realize he is nothing without his ideals and in the process gained a friend. Love that the episode was light and fun mingled with a bit of sadness but goodbyes are always sad.
I loved this show, the writer, director, cast, Kang Du Ki (my hero) and Nam, always Nam for showing us week in and week out that patience and insistence have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish. That’s what dreams are made of, persistence and determination. With that in mind, I resolve to keep my dream of a season 2 alive, the ending surely left it open to interpretation.
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The plot is so unique and refreshing! From the beginning, knowing that Dreams has been a team that lost many times, it feels like it was hopeless for the team to rise up again, until, newly hired general manager Baek Seung Soo, came into the picture. I couldn't help but admire this man. He was calm, smart, and was very witty. I couldn't help but agree to him with every decision he has made because it was all backed up by facts and evidence. I would also like to applaud for his colleagues, Se Young and Jae Hee are the purest and lovable characters and they're the people who actually worked hard in order to achieve their dreams. I definitely loved how the characters and the plot blended so much. There was such a balance between, the pure and genuine characters, and the corrupt and money-hungry characters. I really loved the execution and the flow of how Dreams started as a team that seems disbanded until they were brought together as one.
I have no words for the acting. Honestly, I can't say anything about Namgoong Min because, from the beginning, I knew he'd deliver it well. He exceeded my expectations!! His character was very complex and mysterious from the beginning 'til the end of the drama and that's why he was very memorable and iconic. There were glimpses of Seung Soo's past, to give us an idea of why he has such a cold aura. I would also like to emphasize on Park Eun Bin. This is my first drama of her and I am so happy with her character and how she delivered Se Young. Se Young is someone bright, cheerful, smart, and very hard-working. I literally had no hard feelings for her character while watching and I loved how she blended with Seung Soo and didn't just treat him as her boss but as her friend as well. Jo Byeong Gu was very fun to watch! Seeing him in such a mature role made me root for him to do more roles like this because he can actually portray diverse roles! Let me mention the supporting cast. They were great! I really loved rooting for them to be better in every episode. Oh Jung Se as the CEO was great. I used to see him in dramas with comedic roles, but seeing him in such a serious role in this drama and executing it well, says a lot about how great his acting skills are.
The OST was great. I really love hearing Kim Dong Hyeok's "Full Power" in every end credits and it just gives off the vibe of how strong the drama is and because of the OST, you'll root for more when it comes to the next eps.
Overall, the storyline was very refreshing and the acting was brilliant. The OST was very empowering. The whole drama felt so warm and encouraging for each and every one of us to be better and reach our dreams. I've learned so much in this drama and one of them is that success wouldn't be achieved if you're alone. This drama will make you be part of something that you'll actually root for by seeing through their hardships and seeing the people who work behind the baseball team. This drama deserved everything to win the Best Drama for Baeksang Awards!
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I guess I understand why it became the best drama.
I got interested to this drama because I love baseball, and I never watched any baseball-related dramas. I tried to give it a try since it won an award. I tried to be chill while watching it but I just couldn't! haha. I love the acting (I'm not really familiar with the actors, I even thought the players were the real baseball players lol). I love how every character has their own story and their own reason to do such things, not only being overshadowed by the main character. I also like the story line, the character development, the conflicts, it always got me on nerve whenever the problems came, I mean, why it'd be so hard for the general manager to make the team win????? hahaha.I learned a lot from this drama. I guess I can take some lessons from every character in this drama lol. It really out of my expectation, so cheers to the final 9/10 ratings from me!
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This review may contain spoilers
An Epic Series About Political and Business Corruption In Korean Baseball!!!
When I first got into K-dramas about four years ago, my first series was “Descendants of the Sun.” For me, it was like finding a gem after some lackluster TV series in the West. But, I thought that I was only lucky once. Then another series came along, and then another. To this day, I’m still amazed at how finding one “gem” has led to an entire treasure trove!Hot Stove League is a brilliant series about the interworking of a Korean Professional Baseball team, the Dreams. In the first episode, we find out that this team is terrible in nearly every facet of the game, aside from having one of the top hitters in the league. We also find out that, despite the terrible years of being “cellar-dwellers” the team continues to have a genuine following with its fans. In other words, no bandwagon fans here!
It doesn’t take long for us to realize that there is corruption at the top and throughout the team, whose owners are hellbent on gutting the team from within with the hopes of either selling or disbanding the team. Teams in Korea are owned by corporations. There have been many instances of this type of corruption within American sports teams as well. Donald Sterling (previous owner of the Los Angeles Clippers) routinely traded away any good, viable players. Publicly, he stated, “I only care about making money.”
Enter Baek Seung Soo (beautifully played by Namkoong Min) as the team’s newest GM. He has no experience in baseball at all, but he’s put together championship wrestling teams, hockey teams, and handball teams which won Olympic medals. Clearly, one of the representing owners of the team, Kwon Kyung Min (played by one of the best Korean actors in Oh Jung Se) is hoping that Baek Seung Soo will be a puppet GM who has new clue about what to do. He’s quickly proven wrong, and to everyone’s wonder, Baek Seung Soo quickly begins to right the sinking ship!
Baek Seung Soo has to deal with corruption within his own people, a corrupt scouting manager, and a slugger in Im Dong Gyu, who believes himself to be untouchable and can treat everyone around him with violent disdain.
Baek Seung Soo’s first task is to gain the support of his staff, many of whom are already scratching their heads regarding his hiring. The most charming and hard-working of the group is Lee Se Young (played by the ineffable Eun Bin Park!) and her tenacious assistant, Han Jae Hee.
Baek Seung Soo is a man who cares very little about what people think about him, and yet, he shows off his brilliance like a grandmaster chess player. He also always seems to know exactly what is going on within the staff, the organization, and the players. He’s calm but incredibly efficient, despite his lack of personal tact. He doesn’t engage in pleasantries or anything at all that may seem superficial. In short, he’s confident enough in himself to simply be himself. From other people’s point of view, he comes across as rude and insufferable, which quite frankly, adds to his charm and appeal. We rarely ever see him lose control of his emotions. He reminded me a lot of Mr. Spock from Star Trek; a man displaying wisdom well beyond his years. He may be new to the sport of baseball, but when it comes to playing the political and business game, he’s more than a match of his adversaries.
As with so many K-dramas, the show presents a heartfelt message on the back of an engaging and provocative show. It’s about people who need to learn how to speak up and stand up for themselves, and not worry so much about the consequences of their actions. There is real strength in numbers, and in a culture that is highly competitive, and where “underlings” are expected to bow and obey every order without comment or complaint, the series demonstrates that this is not the way to behave or conduct business. It demonstrates that money isn’t everything and that those who have it are quite often the most miserable people around.
This series has a top-notch cast which cannot be showered with enough accolades! Oh Jung Se (whom I first saw in “It’s Okay to Not Be Okay”), plays the complex, villainous role of Kwon Kyung Min like a master of his craft. We get subtle hints, that despite his pettiness, there is something else going on, and of course, Eun Bin Park is a young woman who can easily do any role that is handed to her, even capturing the funniest line of the series! Namkoong Min, whom I’ve only seen once so far in “Awaken” is nothing short of sublime.
The series reminded me a little of “Misaeng” in which we are given a glimpse into the Korean corporate baseball world and perhaps see that, despite the culture, there isn’t that much difference between East and West when it comes to depraved depths that people will go for money. Indeed, in today’s world, money is threatening to bury all that we love and hold dear about professional sports and why fans love them.
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they made me want to dream
What a journey. It was amazing. It unexpectedly made me emotional and kind of teary-eyed. You know that feeling when something so amazing happens it feels like you could fly. Just like the name of the team "Dreams" it made me feel that again. Not just that, but the plot, execution, acting, writing, cinematography and OST were so well done. It was just perfect. You might think, "what a baseball drama??" and even without romance (damn there was no needed and I seriously did not wish for one), it was better than most of your "most popular" dramas. Even though this series is quite underrated in the international fanbase, it did quite well in korea, which I am so glad for. It deserves to be recognised. For anyone hesitating: DO NOT!First off I'd like to say that this is one of the very few (maybe even the only one) dramas that I started watching when it was still ongoing and I finished it. I knew even before I clicked on the first episode that I would love this. But this exceeded my expectations and I couldn't asked for more.
It is not you typical kdrama, you can figure that out from the synopsis anyways, but it was a lot more emotional and idealistic than I'd expected. It was a perfect mix between logical, business-minded plot, but then they serve you a feast of idealistic mindsets and emotional reasoning. Just like how Baek Seung Soo structured his last presentation. It was beautiful. They are not just people that sell, buy and trade players. I don't like serious dramas that much, especially the ones that are some dramatic that I don't know what to feel anymore. But even though this was kind of serious, it had just the right amount of humour and hype without making it loose it's "flare".
Seeing the whole managing team develop from being moody, tired, miserable and hopeless to inspired, motivated and friendly, was so satisfying. The way Baek Seung Soo won every single one of them over slowly but surely. But let's talk about Baek Seung Soo. What a man. Nam Goong Min perfectly portrayed him, or even made him (!). He is a genius of few words, someone who works hard, but never brags or talks about it. Someone who is responsible and knows how to analyse data and work with it. He just knows how people work. But he wasn't perfect, and he changed for the better just like he changed Dreams. The subtle savageness of him, I will never forget. I have to say, I enjoyed Mr. Kwon's character a lot. He showed a lot of character development and the chemistry between him and Baek Seung Soo was so nice. I loved their small quarrels! (It was so cool to see that he and BSS are still "friends" after he resigned). Also, damn was that satisfying seeing him putting his uncle and cousin back to their places.
I don't think they could've chosen a better name for the team "Dreams" it sounds so grand and beautiful. They definitely made me feel that way. They went from being a hopeless team, to be a team of "Dreams". Even the word "Team" and "Dreams" sound similar, but I think I am interpreting too much here.
Even though they left me with a bittersweet feeling, because Baek Seung Soo couldn't stay with them, I am so okay with the fact that his "image" of bringing a team to victory and leaves, stays. Even if this image is sad, I can imagine him conquering another sports team.
Lee Jae Hoon's cameo was such a hype moment and boy it lasted for long! I loved that he played a quite important role and ugh I loved it.
Damn I am left so empty but satisfied, I think I might just rewatch it right now!
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Damn I Sure Do Wish I Knew Stuff About Baseball
I know nothing about baseball. I'm pretty sure a lot of people you'll ask who've watched this also don't know anything about baseball.Yet Hot Stove League is so riveting. The baseball premise and terminology might scare you at first, but I mean it when I say the story and characters are enjoyable even if you know literally nothing about baseball. The baseball terms and game itself are kind of unimportant, dare I say, and you aren't losing out if you don't read up on the sport. It's the characters, their relationships, and the story that drives this show!
Baek Seung-Soo is incredibly pragmatic(frankly, to a fault) and his work is his number one priority. Despite his cold and seemingly unwelcoming personality and wit, he's surprisingly charming. Throughout the show, I found myself rooting for him - not that I disliked him, I was curious as to how the show would handle his character - and every time he solved an issue it didn't feel like a cheap one-solution-fixes-all kind of gimmick. Every time Baek Seung-Soo solved an issue(alone or with others), it was believable and it was so...him. He's not perfect, sometimes you can see him genuinely struggle and just like real life, his attitude is not necessarily well-received.
I think that's one selling point too, the fact that the other characters are actually human, responding to Baek Seung-Soo's attitude much like how any viewer would, especially without much knowledge or context regarding his demeanour. They have their own lives, beliefs, and reasons for doing what they do. Mr. Baek may be the focus out of all the characters, but the writing doesn't neglect the development and growth of the staff, main baseball players, and even the higher-ups uninvolved in the nitty-gritty of baseball and the Dreams.
And what does that mean? Why does that matter? Because it shows HSL is more about office politics, uncaring higher-ups, personal development of characters, and how these characters work to solve problems. It's got baseball,
I particularly appreciate the lack of romance in this kdrama as well. Don't get me wrong, I like relationships and comedic couples in shows, but sometimes I just want a kdrama without the need for driving the plot with romance. Sometimes I just don't care about the "chemistry", I want the life stories and the problem-solving. HSL pleases me in that sense, because the characters are work-driven and platonic, focusing on respect and lack thereof. Lee Se-Young is focused on her work and on protecting the people in her workplace, very much like Seung-Soo, and I appreciate that there's no room for romance in their relationship as Operations Manager and General Manager respectively.
ALL the actors have done well, and I loved all their performances throughout this show. The characters you're supposed to dislike, you dislike, the characters you're supposed to root for, you root for. Even the "good guys" do bad things, they're not one-dimensional and neither are the "antagonists". They're all doing their in-show job, they have their reasons, just like the Dreams do.
This is a minor detail, but one I admire just as much as I adore the rest of the aspects of this show - the sound design. Is that the right term? I'm not quite sure. What I'm talking about is the background music that plays during certain moments of note, like tense moments and high-stress situations. When these situations happen, the music kicks in and it makes me feel the emotion the scene is supposed to evoke even MORE strongly. I can't stress enough how the tense moments made me feel even more tense because of the music, or the heartwarming moments that made me feel so happy and almost drive me to tears because of the song choice and/or background music.
Overall, an enjoyable kdrama. It's up there on my list of favourites, and if I recall correctly, episode 1 started off strong with a problem that needed solving. It was what made me want to sit through this drama, and I'm glad I did! Give HSL a try, I think its episodes are compelling enough to keep your attention long enough.
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Hot Stove League proves that sports dramas can work!
Just like my headline, Hot Stove League really proves that sports dramas can work when done like this! Hot Stove League made me like baseball, a sport that I never liked until now! A really good story and sub-stories mixed in with a really good cast that seemed to have perfect chemistry with one another right from the start in the first episode until the last second. Hour long episodes rarely feel like 30 minute episodes and the story make it such perfect material. A few members of the cast, actually perhaps the majority, I had not been familiar with but now I need to watch more dramas with these actors/actresses in! Well done, Hot Stove League! Bravo! Lets go Dreams! Go Dreams Go! Go Dreams! Dreams Go!Was this review helpful to you?
my favorite thing was the fact that nor blatant villianziation occurred neither blatant redemption. it was not about redeeming the characters when it came to antagonists, everything had such a humane resolution by the end it makes u fall in love with the writing and the characters. i just LOVE good writing, personally it took me a good deal of months to finish it bc i kindaa got bored but it defo was not bc of the writing it was probably my own brain. by the end i defo cried a lil bit here and there, ah the writing was so good. i also reaaallyyy loved the logical resolution to the problems encountered by Baek Seung Soo. it's always impressive when a melodrama genre deals with its plot points with logic rather than depending on some bullshit.
so yeah. i am impressed. i love. i recommend. ^_^
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I regret not watching hot stove league any sooner
All in all, it was sooo good~~~ I watch it with high expectations as it garnered the best tv drama on baeksang but wow hot stove league exceeded my expectations. From the plot, the flow, acting, and the storytelling style, 10/10! I wouldn't ask for more. If I were asked to recommend a drama, this would be on the top of my list. No doubt they won a lot of awards at baeksang; from best tv drama to lead actor, to director, and tv script!I know nothing about baseball but, it does not hinder the comfortable watch. Yes, it is not mainly baseball-centered drama, instead, it was all about the people, business, politics, workplace, power-struggle, building a real team, underdogs climbing to the top drama. Hot stove league is off to the top-tier scripts in the drama world, and it was carried earnestly with the amazing casting and acting on it! It was quite draggy but I'm not complaining about it. Yes, I'm not. Because the flow was so fantastic. The dragging was turned into a very enjoyable watch.
I'm asking myself where I have been because I am missing out a lot about this gem here. I would have enjoyed watching this while it was ongoing... Overall Great Story! Great Acting! Great delivery! One of the Greatest, at least for me~
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