LOVE
a great revenge drama, loveeee it. the prison setting and stay of execution was unique, breathe of fresh air, it makes me curious on how a doctor could take revenge to a high up person. the storyline is very interesting, especially with the characters keep changing side and the smart plan that was came up by the male lead. twist after twist I like a lot. I also like that they include psychological diagnosis too giving some in depth towards the medical part of the drama. As for the acting, it was great, Namkoong Min did a really great job in bringing his character to live. Anyways, love it.Was this review helpful to you?
Story: The writers knew what they were doing. The story was progressing at a good pace, not too slow but also didn't feel rushed either. One of things I don't usually see in a drama, that this drama showed, was the increasing strength of the leads, primarily the male lead. Na Yi Je script was written very well. He's seemed like a strong character in the beginning of the drama but becomes even stronger towards the end. This is a rarity in a drama because usually the leads have some kind of weakness. Na Yi Je may had some weaknesses but it didn't overtake him negatively like it does to other leads in other dramas. It's very suspenseful with lots of twists in the story and characters. A lot of characters, I'm like... "Really? He or she is liked this now?" It's very unpredictable which I enjoy. The only reason the story couldn't be a perfect 10 is because there was some comedy in this dark drama. Although I did like the few comedic scenes, it just didn't fit very well with the dark plot.
Character/Acting: This was perfect to me. From Nam Goong Min's revengeful voice to the villains acting that makes me just want to punch them, every actor & actress did it pretty well. It was convincing and I could just sense the hatred, the vengeance, & the fear each character showed. A lot of character development too which I like to see in a drama. I went from either not caring or disliking a character at the beginning of the drama to rooting for them at the end of the drama.
Music: Just the creepy hospital beep noise and 1 song played for the preview. Not much to say about the osts as it's barely played in this dark drama. This is why the overall rating is lower. Without this, the overall rating would be an 8 or 9.
Rewatch: I usually don't rewatch dramas that have a suspenseful and dark theme to it since I know what happens already but because the good guys have a good amount of power, I may consider it again.
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A Good Revenge Drama.
I just finished this drama and I have to say, the acting was top notch. But one thing I wanted was Dr.Nam to have a major drawback in his plan and for him to start from there , being more determined. I liked his character, but it was like he was a Shin ( God) , and he knew the future and planned according to this. I mean yes, he planned these for 3 years but still, as the future is always uncertain.The actor who played Lee Jae Jun did a great job and also the actor who played Director Seon. I don't remember if i have watched any drama of Kwon Na Ra but she did her character life and the guy who played her brother, I've seen him in Adult Trainy and I wanted him to have more screen time.
The one who made this drama lively was Ms.Oh. She's just ... I like that character so much. Her and the prosecutor's chemistry was great and the moments in last couple episodes were amusing to watch. I wanted the only couple of this drama to have more screen time as well.
I liked how the arrogant Lee Jae Hwan changed after his time in jail. And one more thing I liked was how the right hand man of Lee Jae Jun was so loyal to him, he was with him through thick and thin. Even if he was an employee on his playroll, it's good to have some people like that. The chemistry between most characters were so intense. And I liked the thing that there was no romance between the main leads. It would've made the drama less intense for me. This drama showed how people can change in just a moment and can do anything for themselves.
I'm excited for the 2nd season of this drama. Hope it will be these same actors playi6 the same characters.
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Always have a soft spot for plots where someone who was wronged returns to the scene as a formidable adversary. This one was more unique because while it falls under the vengeance theme, it's quite calming and doesn't have the usual overwhelming woes or anger that is sometimes thrown in your face excessively. The slight overacting actually works really well here because it creates that special layer of humor over the darker theme.
While some viewers might not enjoy how the plot can ping-pong a bit, it actually does make it more realistic. In the real world after all, you don't take down corruption down in one fell swoop and then life is all peachy. People who are corrupted will fight back and fight even harder in their desperation.
There isn't the most intricate weave of plot layering but as mentioned, it's pretty unique (at least from what I've come across) and overall enjoyable. There is almost no romance, didn't feel like skipping through any parts, Namkoong Min was very likeable as the main protagonist, and against all odds, I totally fell for the Kim Jung Nan character.
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The veracious Art of Revenge
"Doctor Prisoner", the intriguing title itself tells us a little about what we should expect, but this one administers shot by shot of Excitement till the end.One of the best written revenge drama that I've seen. When I'd stumbled upon his title, I wondered how they would drive the series with the 16 long episodes without reducing the essence of revenge and excitement. But never once did I get bored, and actually binged the entire episodes within 2 days.
The plot about a wronged doctor and his fight against those that far outclassed himself, using their own strength and weaknesses, worked really well. The Cinematography, Editing and OSTs were top notch.
The leads, Namkoong Min [Na Ji Yae] and Choi Won Young [Lee Jae Joon] weren't acting, infact they lived as their characters. That's how well they've performed.
Because for a storyline like this, if both the opposing forces aren't balanced enough, it would get uninteresting. But they were like tit -for-tat, an eye for an eye, kind of people. They carried the show basically.
The ex-prison director character [Sun Min Shik] was also handled by a capable actor Kim Byung Chul. I especially liked the character growth of the Lee Jae Hwan [Taegang Group's second son].
Well for a great show like this, it deserves a second season. Guess what! It does have a planned second season, though we could've guessed it with the cliff-hanger they gave us.
Eagerly awaits the second season, like an addict.
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This review may contain spoilers
Doctor Prisoner set the revenge drama standard for me
Doctor Prisoner is by far one of the best revenge dramas I've watched. Everything and everyone is so suspicious and you just want to continue watching after each episode. I think the actors play their respective roles really well. For example, Kim Byung Chul who plays Director Seon stays in character pretty well... a doctor who's not up to any good with his creepy and sinister smile. Or even, Park Eun Seok who plays Lee Jae-Hwan... a funny, idiotic yet somehow loveable character haha.I don't like to rewatch dramas, but if I feel nostalgic I may. This drama is incredibly fast-paced so it may no be everyone's taste. Regardless, I would recommend it. You don't have to binge, but I'm glad I did.
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This review may contain spoilers
His Resentful Revenge.
Nam Goong Min (Na Yi Je) plays his role beautifully with the sole purpose of revenge. He creates plot twists that leave us confused while also rooting for him to avenge his family.The difference I especially enjoy is that other dramas bring the bad ones to jail as an act of revenge. That's their revenge. While Prisoner Doctor focuses on the aftermath of getting them to prison. It humiliates them in public and private.
This drama is more than revenge.
The protagonist is inhumane in his process of revenge. He is not afraid to get his hands dirty, even as close to killing a prisoner to get his way. I mean, after all, he has nothing to lose.
He wants to take everyone down, even himself.
The drama also showcases how easily reputation and promises influence and persuade people to change sides. Na Yi Je does not have a solid group. His "group" is imperfect. They solely focus on themselves and how it benefits them. As Sun-Min Shik had said, "people need groups to succeed, who do you have in your group" (not the exact quote but somewhere along that line).
The actors and actresses all played their roles well. Especially their facial expressions, you can quickly feel their emotions and feelings. You can see it.
I give it to Lee Jae Joon; he played his role well. The way he slowly broke down and completely lost it was a frightening sight. You could clearly see his emotions and mental breakdown.
Everyone made you hate the character they displayed
I love this drama; now I'm off looking for other similar dramas while hoping it matches Prison Doctor's level.
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That beep beep part when it scenes are getting intense will forever be engraved in my mind. This drama is highly recommended.
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Very clever writing for sure and the actors did their role very well. So effective that I just hated each and every one of the bad characternin this drama hahah!
Thank you, Doctor prisoner was an enjoyable watch!
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This review may contain spoilers
I really really wanted to like this show. I was initially pretty invested because I just came off watching Namjoong Min in The Veil and thought he had a powerhouse performance. He transformed everything about himself: his voice, his physique, his expressions, and even his gait. I was mesmerized by his charismatic performance and yearned for more of his work since he easily carried The Veil on his gorgeous shoulders.
This series began pretty promisingly. I really liked the introduction of his character, Na Ji Ye, and his unwavering empathy toward those less fortunate. I was especially drawn to his character because, while he had the brains and the heart to care for his patients, he also had the balls to step up to those trying to use him as a pawn. He didn't flinch at adversity and I admired that about him. The issues began around the 7th or 8th episode when Sun Min Shik had much more prominent screen time.
I've had an issue with Kim Byung Chul in the past when I saw his character in Goblin. His character, Park Joong Hun, when he'd been found out in the later episodes as a bad spirit, was ultra campy in both appearance and behavior. I assumed it was due to poor writing (which came as a surprise, because I *loved* Goblin up until those last few episodes), but he struck me again as ultra campy in Dr. Prisoner. His cheesy behavior kept bringing up images of those villains in old-school cartoons twiddling their mustaches while the tied-up damsel cries for help. His body language was over the top and his conniving plans were always barely hidden in his facial expressions which really gave me Soap Opera vibes.
Speaking of soap operas, the OST was also a huge issue for me. One minute it swells with tension and over-the-top strings, the next I'm being beaten over the head with cacophonous drums and symbols crashing. I personally felt like it hindered the scenes because I'd catch myself drawn out of the scene and going, "WTF is up with this music." It also had the unfortunate ability to change an otherwise tense and well-performed scene into a comedy.
I was also running into issues with Na Ji Ye by episode 9. I didn't like that everything he did was somehow 10 steps ahead of everyone else. Like he's magically got enough foresight and street smarts through his comfortable IVY-league education to outsmart and outwit everyone, all the time. Even scenes of distress were fabricated for some type of gain. I wanted to see him more conflicted. More angst. More human. Less "I'm sad, but really I'm not because I knew this would happen way before you did and already formulated and perfected my counterattack before you had your morning breakfast."
I might come back to it again later, but for a 32-episode series where I found myself skipping through episodes before even hitting episode 10, it doesn't seem very promising. On the other hand, I'm reading reports that another season has been greenlit, and for a KDRAMA to have a season renewal, that's pretty rare, so maybe I'm totally wrong about the whole thing.
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Plot twist… revenge?
Everytime I think I’ve watched every genre of Korean revenge thriller, they make a new and more exciting one.. Namkoong Min is simply phenomenal in this title as the main character. Although I struggled with some of his decisions morally, it was an intriguing and excellently executed drama.There was never a dull moment with this show. Each character was grandiose, larger than life. It was akin to watching a chess match between two grandmasters, with each twist and turn outdoing the last.
One thing I love about Korean shows is the focus on the character development and plot. Namkoong min as Na I Je had a phenomenal run, going from a sweet doctor, to a cold and calculating morally grey man… but who somehow still made you root for him. Director Sun’s constant backstabbing was a treat.
If anything, one plot line I wish was better handled was Han so-geum and Han Bit’s.
Lee Jae-jun, the big bad was creepy, larger than life and wonderfully acted. He managed to make me feel a wispy sadness and regret for him, all while scaring me with his actions.
All in all, a phenomenal drama.
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