I will explain now about what I enjoyed in the drama. Firstly the character development. Wow. Each character, was so well written and deep. I especially liked Loony, the druggie. He was hilarious, tragic and endearing all at the same time. There were characters who showed me that you should never judge a person until you know them really well personally and some who showed that positive transformation in behaviour and mind really is possible. This was of course helped by the largely talented cast, who all acted exceptionally. I ended up rooting for many characters, not just the leads.
Secondly the comic timing was great. It perfectly blended comedy and drama with a pinch of romance. The inclusion of a gay couple in normal light, was just so beautiful. There was just enough violence to reflect a genuine prison.
Each episode Is as long as an average feature length film. If this was another drama I would have complained. Fortunately each moment was justified. The writers have done a superb job.
The OST was amazing! It was very versatile and really complemented the excellent writing.
Overall this drama will make you feel some empathy for prisoners, prison guards and their families. The drama reinforced how important family support is as well showing how forgiveness and repentance can have positive consequences. I hope this review leads people to watch it. It will make you cry, laugh and think.
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A Story About Humanity…
‘ Prison Playbook’ easily has to be one of my personal favorite shows and for good reason.The series gave many opportunities to present humanity of its characters. No one in the drama felt like a stock character or particularly “ good” or “ bad” but instead human. The fact that the series presented many moments to see characters from all- sides which is a factor which can be hard for a lot of screenwriters.
Liked the acting front also. It was well- done by everyone in our main cast and helped to present an emotive and impactful storyline.
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Definitely worth the time.
I've always been a fan of romantic comedy dramas but this drama surprised me (in a good way). The story, characters and the acting together with witty and tasteful script, cinematography and music was PERFECT. You can learn and see humanity as its worst and finest through pivotal characters in this drama. If you want layers of story, emotions and life lessons about depression, discrimination and stereotypes then this is the right drama for you. If you're used to romantic comedies and predictable plots, then this will be one wild roller coaster for you. While there are some aspects of drama that can be too scripted or planned, their is a sense of reality and sincerity to the portrayal of the prison life. I'd say this is one of the best dramas I've watched throughout the decade as I've seen nothing like it before.Was this review helpful to you?
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This review may contain spoilers
Definitely Recommend
Where to start? I loved this drama. At first I wasn't sure about it but decided to give it a watch anyway since there was nothing else. I did hear that this was about friendships in prison and unlike other dramas this time it is based on older characters. I was not sure what to expect even knowing this. I was not disappointed. It was funny and very emotional. I found myself laughing more than I have while watching a drama in awhile and I also found myself getting all teary eyed and crying a little near the end.I will say that the ending for han yang and kaist kind of sucked. Although what happened with han yang is realistic it still sucks that he relapsed when he just got out of prison too. Getting over an addiction is never easy but he did his best and if he was able to do it once he can do it again. I will also say I felt bad for Kaist too because he did what he could and trued to be a good father to his son but his son did not want that. He just did not have a very good ending at all. I did love ki soos ending though because he spent the rest of his days in prison all happy which made me very happy.
As for the ost it was awesome. Not many times do I watch a drama that also has an amazing soundtrack. So if you are into that then I would recommend this drama even more.
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The biggest problem I have with this drama was that they introduced so many characters which also had a lot of screen time but I guess the writer got lazy to end and finish their stories well. There was no follow up whatsoever. The characters that really grew on me just disappeared mid season. There is nothing really exciting about the male lead, I preferred watching the supporting characters. Overall this was just a decent drama, it would have been better if only it had a more satisfying ending. I would recommend but don't expect much.
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This review may contain spoilers
Tbh, I was hesitant to watch it at first. I thought it's going to be serious and tedious since it's not like the usual KDramas that I watch. If you're a sucker for romcoms and you've never tried watching other genre of KDramas like "Prison Playbook", don't worry! Your time will definitely not be wasted! I thought 1 hour and 39 mins for 1 episode is too long, but it's not! Episode was not that great tbh but I got hooked at ep 2! I love each of the characters' story. The drama was heartwarming and funny. (SPOILER AHEAD)I love how the story of Kim Je Hyeok and his cellmates ended, except for Hanyang. I was hoping he would start a good life with his lover. He was able to fight his craving for drugs for months while he was in prison. I was so disappointed that not even an hour after he got released, he was doomed once again. But.. I guess what happened to him was kinda realistic.
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engaging story and superb acting
Absolutely! One of the things that makes Prison Playbook so exceptional is its engaging story and superb acting.The story of Prison Playbook follows the life of Kim Je-Hyeok, a famous baseball player who finds himself in prison after a series of unfortunate events. From the very beginning, the show establishes a compelling narrative that keeps viewers hooked. We see Je-Hyeok adapt to his new surroundings and navigate the complex social hierarchy of the prison.
As the show progresses, we get to know the other inmates as well. Each one has their own unique backstory and reasons for being in prison. The show explores their personal struggles, their relationships with each other, and their interactions with the guards. The story is both captivating and emotionally resonant, with plenty of twists and turns to keep you engaged.
The acting in Prison Playbook is also top-notch. The cast is made up of some of the most talented actors in the Korean entertainment industry, and they all deliver exceptional performances. Park Hae-Soo, who plays the lead role of Kim Je-Hyeok, is especially impressive. He brings a quiet strength and vulnerability to the character that makes him easy to root for. The supporting cast is equally excellent, with each actor bringing depth and nuance to their respective roles.
Overall, the story and acting in Prison Playbook are truly outstanding. The show manages to explore complex themes with grace and emotional depth, while the actors deliver performances that are nothing short of exceptional. It's no wonder that the show has received critical acclaim and a devoted fanbase. If you're a fan of Korean dramas or just looking for a compelling series to watch, I highly recommend giving Prison Playbook a try!
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This review may contain spoilers
Series with no exaggerated plot, just plain pure genuine emotions
Initially, I wasn't interested about this because who cares about an athlete who suddenly have to go to prison at the peak of his career? However I have seen a lot of blogs and reviews about this series which made me wonder what's with this series that almost everyone love it and I can proudly say, watching this series is one of the best decisions I have made this year. It's definitely worth it. Every episode is so worth it.What made me love this series so much is that it's not perfect. There were things I wished I've seen here but didn't and that's what made it better. Fangirl alert. Spoiler alert too. (I'm telling everything I feel about this drama from plot to characters and everything)
So these are the things that left a remarkable memory in my heart and brain that I would love to share to everyone:
- Lieutenant Paeng's character stood out the most for me. He was the most unexpected and well-written character in this series. I've seen Jung Woong-In in a lot of dramas and he's always the psychopath villain but in this series, his character is so much deeper than what he appears to be. (This series casted a lot of people who had strong first impression and mostly worked as villains which probably why the storyline worked well. From the start to end, this series reminded me that "It's not always what you imagined.")
- Most of the support characters are scene stealers. I know JeHyeok (Park HaeSoo) is the main lead. He had an interesting character and personality however a lot of characters really stole the spotlight. One of the scene stealer (which most would probably agree) is HanYang. He's the cute asshole whom you won't think or imagine would ruin his life for drugs. He really set the mood for most of the series. He made me laugh, hope, love, hate, cry and all sorts of emotions. Lee KyuHyung's versatility really helped in making HanYang's character come into life.
- There's a diverse relationship and connection among the characters. JeHyeok and JoonHo's unrivaled friendship that withstand even the strongest adversities. MinChul and Jean Valjean's father and son relationship with a pinch of betrayal and redemption. KAIST and HanYang's tease and punch relationship. JungWoo and HanYang, the preschool brothers. Lieutenant Paeng and Lee JoonHo's love-hate relationship. JeHyeok and Jailbird's brotherly love. JeHyeok and Crony's unbelievable shift of relationship from killing each other to caring for each other. The unexpected but cute HanYang and JiWon's relationship. And there's a lot more I probably couldn't mention. Just watch it and you'll see what I mean.
- The references made on Hospital Playlist. (I watched Hospital Playlist before I watched Prison Playbook and at the time when I was watching Hospital Playlist I didn't know the references. But now that I know. I can't help but feel so happy and ecstatic) There were lots of things that feels similar and also feels like a crossover in a parallel world or something. KyungHo dating his bestfriend's younger sister again in HP. KyuHyung's cameo as an owner of a Pharmacy (in relation to drug addiction from PP) and dating a college friend. Song JiWon from PP is Ahn ChiHong in HP. It was a great treat since I loved both series dearly.
There were definitely a lot more to expect and there were also a lot of things that I am curious about this series but I guess I'll leave it to my . I can't say enough about how much I enjoyed and loved this series. It's a really job well done for all the staff that made this series happen.
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Je-Hyeok is a famous baseball player adjusted well in his prison life with the help of his inmates and his bestfriend Joon-Ho who is also a prison officer. But my most favorite character is Han-Yang a.k.a LOONEY grabe na ang tawa ko basta xa nga mga trashtalk hahaha... sometimes his normal and sometimes his druggie which is I loved the most hahaha... If he made you cry in Hi Bye Mama, here you will cry in laughter ???. And Captain Yoo (Jung Hae In) is so hot and his acting here is different from his other dramas that Ive seen. And if you hear the tweeting bird you already know what it means hahaha ????.
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And as for Jung Hae In, this guy really just compliments all uniform he puts on. He looked damn good in a cop uniform in "while you were sleeping" and in here he looked damn good in a military uniform as well. Even the prison uniform, haha.
Overall: Great human show. Something different from the typical soap-opera kdrama.
Rewatch: yes.
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This review may contain spoilers
One of must-watch drama! This drama is unique in a way. A mix of satire, humor, and bromance. If you are looking for romantic like the usual K-drama, this is not for you. However, if you are looking for a drama with Humor, Bromance, reality, deep messages, great acting from a lot of experienced and talented actors, and great cinematography, you are looking at the right place.
SPOILER ALERTS:
The story is focused on the baseball player Kim Je Hyeok, who accidentally killed a man who tried to assault his sister. He was sent to the jail where he has a hard time to adjust. Luckily, he met his best friend, Joon Ho who was working as the Jail Guard. With Joon Ho helps, and the Jailbird (a jailmate who has a lot experience being in prison for so many times.), he started to get accustomed to prison life. During his stayed, he met with other jailmates and find other stories about where they are coming from and start to have a brotherhood relationship with them. Not all the jailmate are friendly. Some had tried to take advantages of him and some had assaulted him, to the point where his injury was so severe and his career as a baseball player may come to an end.
AGAIN SPOILER ALERT HIGH
The more eps come to an end, the more interesting the story is. All the characters are very interesting. It is very interesting at the beginning of the series, there was a scene where Je Hyeok was seating on the car and went through a tunnel on his way to his trial and when he came out, he was in the bus on his way to prison. Then at the end of the series, there is the going through tunnel scene again, but this time he went as a free man and on his way to his come back games. The cinematography is just so beautiful and memorable.
The songs are really good. The song Bravo My Life by Eric Nam was a perfect choice for portraying Je Hyeok's life. I also like the fact they are using the classic song, "Time to say Good Bye " in the beginning as a premonition for Je Hyeok new's beginning in prison.
All the characters are great, unique and loveable. It's hard not to love and sympathize with their situation. I also love the fact, that there is a character who is shrewd without any reason at all (Captain Na, I'm talking about you. You remind me of my high school teacher). Although if I can have a complaint, I would like to complain about Looney aka Han Yang ending. I really really want a happy end for him! I was soooo sad but then again. It was actually pretty realistic in a way and bitter. It is true that once you are a drug addict, it will be very very hard to stop your addiction. But I still with a happy ending for him. He is my fav after all.
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