This review may contain spoilers
As a non sport lover, I truly enjoyed this drama to the point that I marathoned it till 4 A.M. Brilliant writing and acting. I love how every episode just makes me go wow and I couldn't help myself in clicking next.
Baek Seung Soo and his brother relationships really made me tear up. I feel pity for all the burdens he must have felt. Glad that finally they cleared up all of those misunderstandings.
The character developments of all the baseball players were so satisfying to follow too. This drama made me know that there's this kind of management behind sports club.
Totally deserve the award of 2020's Baeksang. Cmiiw
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More a sport-managing drama than a sports drama
And another drama that is hard to rate. I just finished it and I still feel conflicted. Nevertheless, I’m going to try to organize my thoughts and feelings about this drama.What I liked:
- A packed storyline and natural feeling plot progression
- The Baseball scenes. I knew nothing about baseball. And honestly, I still don’t really do. But this drama evoked my interest in it and I might check it out more often. Before watching this drama, I had no thoughts whatsoever about baseball. Maybe only that it’s dull. Now I don’t think like that anymore. I actually appreciate the sport more and think it’s interesting. I do like sport dramas because they show passionate characters that push themselves to be better. I do like to see some rivalry and competitiveness. Sport dramas often have determined characters who you start to root for and it’s always satisfying to see them get better. I don’t really play sports but it’s something I respect and do love to see in dramas. Be it ssireum (Like flowers in sand), fencing (twenty-five twenty-one), Love all Play (Badminton) etc… You can find this passion in Hot Stove league as well. But it’s just that they focus on the characters behind the players and not the players themselves.
- No romance. I do love romance. And I do love romance as a side plot as well. But it’s a good move that there was no romance in this specific drama. The characters had no romantic chemistry at all. More like colleague chemistry
- The actors!!! If I correctly remember Namkoong Min even won important awards for this show and it’s more than deserved. This man can act. I liked him before but after My Dearest he became one of my favorite actors. It was nice to see him in an introverted and reserved role this time. The other actors and actresses did a very good job as well. I really like Park Eun Bin. I especially liked her in Do you like Brahms? And in Age of Youth. Of course, I’ve seen her in Extraordinary attorney woo as well. She was outstanding. But after Castaway diva, a drama that wasn’t my taste --- Wait I just realized that Park Eun Bin and Chae Jong Hyeop reunited in Castaway diva after being in Hot stove league together, now it feels a bit weird --- anyway Castaway diva wasn’t my taste and could unsee Woo Young Woo in her new role. That’s why it was nice to see her in a different role again.
What I wished for:
I normally write “what I disliked” but this time it’s a bit different. This drama is good. I’m going to give it a 8/10 which is in my rating system a “Great”. Following point are crucial as to why I can’t give it a higher score. A 9/9.5/10 rating would automatically belong into the “my favorites” category. The acting, the quality and writing of this drama is the reason why I can’t give a lower score than 8 but the next points are the reasons why it’s higher:
- Not enough baseball. I expected more baseball. Now I know what a stove league is and that it’s always off-season. But in my opinion this drama would have benefitted from more baseball scenes.
- I know that they fleshed out the characters. But I still couldn’t really connect to them that much. I did like the players and would have liked to see more from them. The ML was intriguing but seemed a bit unapproachable. But that seemed intentionally. That, what we could see of his private life was very heartwarming. It’s just that I don’t really connect to any of the side characters.
- The villain and disbandment parts were not very intriguing.
I don’t feel strongly about this drama, nevertheless because of the quality of acting and writing I think it deserves and 8/10 in my rating system. And it’s refreshing to see a slower drama without romance receiving a 8.7 rating.
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AN UNDERRATED GEM, A MASTERPIECE.
I went into this without expecting that I'll finish the show in just one day, literally. I absolutely know nothing about baseball and I'm def not into sports. But not even once I was confused about the story because of my lack of knowledge about the sport. So if that is what's keeping you from watching this show, then rest assured bcs it's far more than just baseball.But this drama, wow. Solid writing from the first episode up until the last. Great storyline and brilliant acting. I believe there were no unnecessary scenes or fillers in the story. Each episode is like a piece of a puzzle that needs to be there in order to complete the whole puzzle.
This show is not your typical heartwarming sports drama/film where you see the worst team winning miraculously because of just one person. It's so much more. This show isn't actually about the sport (baseball), it's about the people. The people behind the sport, the management. It's a political and power-struggle drama. It is both a character and plot-driven show. It gives a deeper understanding of what goes on behind the scenes of a professional sports team. There is hardly any on-field action throughout the whole show which I was first worried about.
The cast did an amazing job of bringing the characters to life. Not just the main leads but all of the cast. They all have significance to the story and are well incorporated into the main plot. One thing I also enjoyed is the main villain's character. They had their fair share of character development. Which makes me love a character I hate at the beginning by the end of the show.
It was not a fast nor a slow-paced drama, it just flows naturally. without any boring scenes or episodes.
I honestly could watch another season of this show focusing on Mr. Baek and his next team. Though I'm attached ofc with the Dreams team but i can't help but be curious.
Now I understand why it won the 56th Baeksang Best Drama Awards 2020 for a reason, definitely deserved. It was not underrated in S.Korea but internationally it is and i wish many people would also watch it.
Overall, it was a great drama. An underrated masterpiece. I enjoyed every episode of it. It's been a while since I really fell inlove with a show. That's how much i love this show.
DREAMS! DREAMS! DREAMS!
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Love the Dreams
I have seen similar sports movies in India and Hollywood. But the acting in this takes the cream of the rest.1st of Oh Jung Se what a versatile actor. I saw Ok not to be ok 1st and I thought wow what dedication to the role of Moong Tae obviously it is not easy to perform that role. Then I saw him here and he made me hate his character. Now that is acting just briliant. Looking forward to seeing more of hi is work
Nam haha I got hooked to the series because of his 1st episode what cool headedness. His dialogue delivery was just briliant everything felt like a punch line. The director used him briliant
Nam and Oh Jung complimented each other perfectly. It was like 2 sides of the same coin.
Park Eun was the filter between these 2 strong deliveries she was dedicated to the role and did a complete justice to her role. I have not seen any of her other works but definitely check.
All in all an excellent watch don't miss it out
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It' a very smart drama, the plot has enough consistency to be interesting, and the twists are very well thought but explained clearly and simply enough to keep the viewer in the loop.
You dont need to even remotly like or know about baseball to like this drama, because the point is not how players throw a ball but how to keep a team together.
It wasn't too slow and even though the story could have gotten repetitive, it didn't.
The acting was absolutely amazing, i also particulary like the leads who are, in evey drama i've seen them in, talented and versatile.
I loved how the "bad guy" wasn't the embodiement of evil like usual, but more a career-driven buisnessman with a childhood trauma which screwed up his sense of priorities and who had to think about money first 'cause that was his job.
A very human, entertaining and well played drama !
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I seriously wished there were more episodes after episode 16. I was hoping since a new character was introduced in epi 16 (the new owner of Dreams).
I think there may be a second season brewing...fingers crossed!
Thank you! Thoroughly enjoyed each and every episode.
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Fast-paced political drama
I started watching Hot Stove League just last week from my friend's recommendation, largely because it just won Baeksang award of Best Drama in 2020. I was extremely impressed with My Mister, which won the very same award last year.And I'm not disappointed! I went through all 16 episodes in just four days!
This is not a romantic comedy that follows standard K-Drama patterns, it is a fast-paced political struggles with convincing plots and people interactions. There were some characters' decisions that, at first, I didn't think they made sense, but was OK once their true intention revealed.
I particularly love Oh Jung Se acting. He could express his internal conflicts through his eyes and voice. I was also impressed with his acting in "It's OK to Not Be OK."
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Great Story, Acting, and Refreshing
I believe this drama deserves a higher rating on MDL, every episode left me wanting to watch more. Note that there is no romance in this drama; I found that quite refreshing. The story was really well done, there were a lot of twists and turns. There were no characters that were frustrating, except for the antagonist, but in kdramas what antagonist isn't frustrating? There wasn't any unnecessary dragging, everything was pretty realistic to me, a person who knows absolotely nothing about baseball. Overall, I gave this drama a 10, but the rewatch score being low. I don't think this is a show you can rewatch. It isn't a light-hearted show that one usually would watch.Was this review helpful to you?
Good office drama in the world of sports
A breath of fresh air, Stove League is a good choice if you want a change of pace from romcoms, suspense crime thrillers, medical, and supernatural kdramas. Stove league is more about office politics in the world of baseball. It doesn't have a lot of the actual playing baseball scenes to be honest. It's about how a smart and competent manager, who may came off as rude and unfeeling turns around the Dreams team as last place in the stove league.
Payoff is satisfying as you feel as you've been with Manager Baek and his group go through every hurdle and surpass it. Nam Goong Min gave a more controlled but still solid performance as competent manager Baek Soo. What a solid cast, from very familiar faces we've all seen as amazing character actors from other dramas.
I've been wanting to watch Park Eun Bin for a long time, and she doesn't disappoint. Her aura is so endearing and earnest. I really need to see more of her dramas, and hope she will have more main roles in the future. What I'm surprised is Jo Byung Kyoo. He is so charming and entertaining as comical Jae Hee. I can't wait to see him as lead in Uncanny Encounter. He is just so animated on screen, and watching him banter with Park Eun Bin is a delight.
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It is soo goooood!
I love it. I was hooked from the first episode. I love the trio and specially Namkoong…he nailed his character as always. It was great to watch their journey and how they all come together as one.The story was great and I love the love/hate bromance between Seung Soo and Know Kyung specially towards the end.
You can definitely watch the drama even you know nothing about baseball as it is not really a sport drama. Its about build the team back to his glory and trying to beat all the obstacles that comes in a way. I love the ending….it would be interesting to see his next project.
To be honest I did not expected to be soo good. Not sure why I was surprised as again Namkoong slayed the role!!
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This review may contain spoilers
Inspiring story about hardwork, passion and leadership
Starting watching on Sunday, kept hitting "next episode" until i realized i was almost done with the show! If i didnt go out on Monday, i probably would have finished this in 2 days ?Likes
1. Amazing performance not just of Namgoong Min but from everyone - the management, the head office, and the players. Each episode focused one 1 to 2 persons' stories and how Baek was able to help and resolve the problem.
2. I only have basic knowledge of baseball so didn't really understand the stats, but it didn't really matter because the whole point is more on how a manager was able to successful transform a low performing team to a champion. It's not just how he worked, but how he influenced the people around him to become better versions of themselves.
3. You can pick up some tips on how to manage difficult people and how to deal with difficult negotiations, Baek Seung Soo is so good at it, i wonder why he is not a hot commodity. I guess they are uneasy with his unorthodox thinking.
4. I especially loved the episodes about Gil Chang Ju, Baek's brother and Lim Dong gyu's redemption. But i didnt like episode 15, i thought it was too much and episode 16 was too simple for a finale.
Dislikes
1. If the plan was to disband the team from the very start, it didn't really make sense to bring a new GM and approve of all his changes. It then feels like all his efforts will just be a waste of time and the best players will all end up team-less. I wish the objective was very clear frim episode 1 - if he can't fix the team before the season then they will disband.
2. I wish we saw more efforts from Seungsoo to look for a buyer all throughout the show. The ending was easily resolved with just 1 company agreeing to buy the team after just 2 meetings. To think Director spent years looking for a buyer.
Other than that, everything else was terrific.
Rating: 9/10
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Superb story, cast and performance.
Namkoong Min is a powerhouse and literally steals the show. Perhaps I am biased, but he stands head and shoulders above most other actors in the genre. He plays his role to absolute perfection and I can't think of anyone else who'd be a better cast for the role of Manager Baek Seung Soo. His ability to stay cool amidst great turmoil, manage great difficulties with delicate smoothness, and come out successful, this is just another level of performance. When he takes the stage, there's no line between the actor and the performance. He is one of those rare actors who *IS* the role, the character, the story and you can thoroughly feel the realness in his work.Park Eun Bin also plays her role perfectly, and I expected no less after watching her breathtaking performance in "Extraordinary Attorney Woo".
The story itself is nuanced with a lot of strong character development, with every episode showing us just a little more insight into the nature of the people in the drama. And yes, it's a drama about power struggles and politics, not just sports. It's also a tale of grit and determination in the face of repeated odds, about negotiation and compromise, making hard choices and doing the right thing. I thoroughly enjoyed this series.
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