By now, I've gotten used to tropes and forgettable writing in dramas. I actually even avoided this one because the premise sounds so hokey.

Fortunately, the Pinocchio gimmick is rarely used and isn't the focus of the show at all. Instead, you have the story of young journalists trying to make it in the industry, as well as a well-paced overarching plot. The story doesn't break down in shambles after the main couple get together like in other dramas because the main point isn't about the romance between them. Actually, I think this drama will still be as good (if not better) without the love story, which felt unnecessary. At times, you wanted the couple to get the twenty seconds of longing stares over with so you could get back to the investigation. That said, not all ships are a loss. I'm a fan of the pairing of the feisty and resourceful ex-sasaeng reporter Yoon Yoo-rae and the most unlikely character (I won't say any more apart from he's yummy).

For the most part, Pinocchio tells an aspirational story about reporters wanting to do their jobs and serve the people the right way. It's so unabashedly idealistic and hopeful it reminds me a lot of Aaron Sorkin shows like The West Wing and The Newsroom. Of course, as I'm only reading translated subtitles, most of the beauty of the language is lost on me. That said, the writing still managed to be moving and highly quotable (to the point of characters actually quoting each other, lol). Granted, it still employs most k-drama tropes, but it doesn't fail in leaving you with the desire to be a better person.

Can we get a Season 2 of more dramatic news stories and life in the press room?