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Bad Prosecutor korean drama review
Completed
Bad Prosecutor
1 people found this review helpful
by Stefania
Nov 6, 2022
12 of 12 episodes seen
Completed
Overall 7.5
Story 7.5
Acting/Cast 9.5
Music 10.0
Rewatch Value 3.5

Good Prosecutor

I have mixed feelings about this series. On one hand, it is the most fun that I have had with a Korean series. On the other hand, I had to skip many scenes in every episode. This story manages to be both entertaining and boring, so I cannot decide if I should praise it or criticize it. Let me tell you what I liked and what I disliked – you will decide for yourselves whether to watch it.

1. What I did not like:

The plot is consistently predictable.
South Korea produces a large number of procedural series. It is natural that at some point making up a unique story in the genre becomes challenging, and I did not expect much from the scriptwriters. However, this script did not live up even to my low expectations. I could see almost every plot twist and story development coming from miles away. I knew who the bad guys are immediately because they either look and behave obviously suspiciously or proclaim their evil plans out loud like Disney villains. I quickly started skipping their scenes.

The story underestimates the viewers' intelligence and memory.
The outcome of the investigation that it focuses on can be predicted by anyone who has watched a procedural series – or a romantic comedy, or any other genre in which Korean scriptwriters have included characters who solve crime, catch elusive criminals, and punish corrupt influential people. Every time new information was revealed, though, the script of Bad Prosecutor spoonfed it to me. Furthermore, the same flashbacks were shown three or four times – a waste of screen time.

2. What I liked:

Jin Jung is such an interesting main character. He is a brave, smart, principled person with a kind heart and a great deadpan sense of humor, who quickly endeared himself to me. The comedy in Korean series usually does not appeal to me, so I was surprised to realize that with the bad prosecutor the fun does not fizzle out. As the story progresses, he becomes increasingly more entertaining. If you, like me, prefer subtle humor, you will enjoy watching him a lot.
Doh Kyung Soo did a great job playing his unconventional character. The only time that his performance was a little unconvincing was when he had to portray shock and grief.

For me, Shin Ah Ra is one of the most likeable Korean female leads that I have seen. She is neither a damsel in distress nor rude, violent, and unreasonably stubborn. A kind person and a supportive, understanding partner, she makes up for her lack of physical strength with intelligence and observational skills. Aside from several scenes in the initial episodes, she is also free from the hysterics and screeching that characterize the behavior of many women in Korean series.

Jin Jung's friends are another highlight. Quirky and hilarious, they introduce an element of unpredictability as they stumble through the missions that Jin Jung assigns to them. For a second female lead, Baek Eun Ji is a surprisingly nice, cool person. I like that the scriptwriters did not go for the clichéd trope of making her toxic, manipulative, and evil. Go Joong Do and Park Jae Kyung are also memorable, each in his own way. They do not fall into the category of supporting characters whose scenes I skip.

The romance is cute, subtle, and unproblematic – just how I like it. Although there is no physical intimacy, it is obvious that Jin Jung and Shin Ah Ra are fond of each other. They made me root for their relationship – both as friends and co-workers and as a potential couple.

Overall, this series is worth the watch if you are looking for a light-hearted, funny story with likeable characters and heart-warming interactions between them, but not if you want an intriguing crime investigation. Although he likes to punish bad guys and defend good people, Jin Jung is not a morally gray, relentless vigilante, so do not expect anything intense. This story is more like a well-written, way funnier version of Café Minamdang.
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