STORY:
Although I wouldn't hype it quite as much as other viewers on here, I still think this is a great drama that should definitely be on your watch list. Though the episodes are long, the journey is worth it, and I feel like the story gets better the further along you go.

I loved the different stories and backgrounds of the inmates and applaud it for showing that not everyone in prison is evil or incorrigible. I loved the variety of personalities among the corrections officers, from bureaucratic authoritarians to the ones who genuinely care about the success and rehabilitation of their wards. We see times where the justice system fails its citizens, and times where it redeems them. We get humor (there isn't a single episode where I didn't laugh out loud multiple time), sadness, and heartwarming moments. I also really liked that we weren't always told the whole story at one time; rather, the clever tricks our characters executed were revealed later in the episodes. Finally, I appreciated that not every character had a happy ending; some endings were sad, some were open, and overall it felt very true to the reality that is life in general and the penal system in particular.

I don't have too many complaints. One thing I could have done without was the story with the ex-girlfriend. I see where it fit into the drama, but for whatever reason I just could not get on board with the character. I didn't find her likable or empathetic, and the romance and chemistry felt very one-sided. Fortunately there weren't too many scenes with that story line, so it wasn't too obnoxious, but I was way more interested in what was going on in the prison and would have preferred staying there. The other "critique" I have is that I wish we got more backstory and exploration with Captain Yoo, his military comrades, and the victim in that crime, as I wanted to know more about the motivation behind what happened there.

ACTING/CAST:
The cast was fantastic. Everyone did so well in their roles. Park Hae Soo was such a good lead. His character was at times hilariously dumb and naive, like a child trapped in a grown man's body, but also so kind and caring to those close to him, possessing a solemn understanding of the more serious aspects of life when the time called for it. Another stand out for me (and I think a lot of people) was Lee Kyu Hung (aka Loony); he made me laugh and cry and was a great addition to the cell block.

MUSIC:
No complaints here. There's a good mix of hip-hop and ballads, and all worked really well in the show.

REWATCH VALUE:
I probably won't rewatch this, but I may be interested in a Season 2 if one comes out.

OVERALL:
Yes, watch this. If you find it a little slow in the beginning, just stick with it. Netflix did a really great job with this one.