Eleison

It definitely has undertones of sexual tension. I've watched friendship bromance, and more is definitely implied here than friendship (more on Yohan's side than Gaon's, though).

Agree with @ShortCircuit about it being disturbing at points, and not very hopeful about justice or society in general, I'd say.

It's true, some people do pick dramas that way.

That said, Korea doesn't cast ANY actors for lead roles that aren't beautiful. There might be degrees of prettiness and beauty preference among the drama actors/actresses, but one thing they all have in common is they're all VERY good-looking. 😉

And there are certainly pretty actors who can't act among this roster as well, but I personally don't think LJS and MGY are among them.

LJS's character totally messed up taking his ex-girlfriend's case. Did you see that part and where he admitted it was stupid? What about their frustrated argument in Episode 2 about the best way to handle a case and both later rethink their positions because of what the other person said? I'd say they're nuanced and their faults are subtle, rather than just saying their characters are too perfect and stiff.

They feel like actual people instead of caricatures of them, which dramas tend to do with characters. I think they're doing great, but that's just me. 🤷‍♀️

I would say people are going into this with the wrong expectations. They expect Beyond The Bar or Extraordinary Attorney Woo or While You Were Sleeping or Law School and this is not like any of those.

When I compare the writing and quality to other dramas that are well done (i.e. acting, writing, pacing, editing, etc.), it's comparable. So from what I've observed, it is just the genre which is not to everyone's taste. Very slow-paced (though not meandering), with basically a "lawyers food group" that meet frequently over meals near their lawyers firm. There are also cases sprinkled throughout for each lawyer and they take turns being featured, helping each other with quandaries, working through personal struggles, etc.

😅😅 Maybe I'll try that!

It's not in the tags yet, so... unlikely? The interactions between the ML and FL in this remind me of My Mister or Stranger (S1), in that they have a mutual respect and admiration for each other, and maybe ever so slightly the hint of something more (but you'd miss it if you weren't looking for it).

The leads in this also both recently broke up with someone: the FL with her fiance, and the ML with his wife, so, I think them getting together would be a bit of rebound anyway.😉

But I guess we'll see!

This is very helpful, thank you!

I watched the first two episodes (that was all Viki had available as of yesterday) and the pacing is lightning speed with funky editing that feels like they're skipping stuff. Does the pacing slow down and take its time in later episodes? It just feels kind of slipshod and slapped together so far...

Also, are we supposed to think the FL and ML have a strong friendship from the past/when they were younger? The opening sequence where the ML maintains she betrayed him and his father, seems to indicate the leads have this deep bond (from the academy?), but then when "He Ru Fei" shows up in court and denounces the ML, the ML doesn't even seem to notice the difference in build and voice of the man who is now posing as He Ru Fei. I just found these parts the hardest to swallow (there were other, smaller parts that were also fairly unconvincing, though). I can stomach a few of these moments where suspension of disbelief is required, but more than a couple of them is cringey.

(And I agree the FL... looks like a woman even dressed "as a man".)

I'm just coming off of just finishing Flourished Peony and In The Name of Blossom and they feel superior in every way to this as far as quality, which makes the faults scream at me in this one. 😅

So, if anyone resonates with what I'm noticing, I'd just like to know if the quality improves or not so I can decide if I want to keep watching.

*sigh*

True, though there's plenty of emperors becoming emperors because they overthrow brother or uncles, etc., so why not in this case? He just needs "justification" and supporters, which I feel like could have been easy for him to come up with. In the Cdramas it seems the emperors get to pick amongst their sons who gets to be crown prince, and it isn't always just the son of the empress.

I think the irony of a harem/multi-wife setup is still so interesting. Isn't one of the purposes of these kings/emperors having multiple partners is to allow for the opportunity to have many children/sons so that the king/emperor will for sure have someone to succeed him if many die in childbirth or through disease? But then, due to all these many, many children, they now have all these ambitious boys fighting for the throne which makes the job extremely perilous for anyone who lands it.

It just seems like a massive blindspot of the past; I guess I can think that, though, since the modern world puts almost no emphasis on the concept of preserving a bloodline anymore. Can't think of any other reason leaders of the past would think a harem was in any way a good idea. 😅 Too many people with a case to be made for why they should rule over their brothers...

Of course! That's what a page like this is all about. 😉

Though it seems the last thing a person with suicidal thoughts would need to hear is that they are being selfish by having no hope? I think that's why this drama triggers a lot of people.

I kind of have a hunch that the least helpful things for a hopeless person to hear are things like, "be grateful," "try harder," and "do better." And that's what this message of "suicide is selfish" will sound like to someone who's so miserable living they'd rather contemplate dying.

Maybe this drama would help certain types of hopelessness and certain types of hopeless people, but to some it probably sounds like another thing they have to do/know they should see/realize that they feel absolutely powerless to accomplish. No one wants to welcome death.

I actually think it's insane that a sageuk with 50 episodes from as far back as 2015 still has an 8.7 on MDL. That means it must be exceptional compared to other sageuks because they tend to be rated lower than other kdramas, especially older ones. It also says a lot about SFD that Nirvana In Fire (a fabulous drama with a 9 on MDL and also from 2015) is listed on this as a recommendation. I would just llove for it to come to Viki in the U.S. so I can finally see what all the fuss is about!

Yep, still waiting for it. Scarlet Heart with IU finally made it to Viki here, so maybe? Someday? *sigh*

And what is he supposedly cancelled for doing?

Whoa, trippy seeing Lee Min Ho so far down on the cast list and listed as a "Support" role. 😅

I agree! They made it sound way too difficult. And even if their parents were manipulative and controlling, if it was clear it was just a TRIP, I can't imagine them being super opposed to it. Ling Xiao's mom was a complete basket case, though. And her arc at the end was resolved way too quickly and easily.

I also love BOFs. I showed it to my sister and we both decided that we shouldn't like it, in theory, but we do. 😅 There's something so addictingly cozy about it. The wonderful old Kdrama OST, the tacky fashion and hair, the tropes and cliches galore--I don't know, but it's up there with some of my favorites of all time, too! Gu Jun Pyo just has one of the best, classic, jerk to sweet boyfriend chaebol arcs. (I also really liked the Thai version).

Princess Hours is a toxic mess, and I always skip all the boring adults talking, but I also absolutely love parts of it that I never get tired of rewatching. I have the same kind of relationship with BOFs. 😅 Those toxic oldies but goodies. 🥰 I can only watch and enjoy if I accept that the way these relationships work is fantasy, because they'd be a train wreck in real life.

Legal apps to watch dramas would be Rakuten Viki, Netflix, Prime, and Disney +. They mostly all require subscriptions, though.