I thoroughly enjoyed this drama. It was heartfelt, with a great balance between showing us the internal struggles and thoughts of each character, and throwing in some plot elements that keep the story moving.

At first, I wasn't super impressed with Je Hyuk and wondered whether the story would be more entertaining if it revolved around a different character. But after a few episodes it became clear that he was the glue that holds the ensemble together. I especially loved Jung Woong In as the experienced guard and Kang Gi Doong as a younger guard. Along with Jung Kyung Ho, they were simply fantastic.

The crew of prisoners was also impressive, especially Choi Moo Sung as Min Chul, the lifer with a heart, and of course Lee Kyu Hyung as Loony, who always kept us sympathetic to his plight. I also enjoyed Jung Min Sung as Doctor Go and wish his story had been fleshed out more.

The show isn't quite perfect though. For some reason, Kaist's story was dropped rather suddenly, leaving me to wonder if there was a budget reduction or last-minute scheduling conflict with Park Ho San. And the backrgound stories of the cellmates could have been expanded upon a bit more. A few more episodes would have fit the bill. And I know this show is about a male prison, but I feel there could have been some way to include more females in the cast, perhaps as the journalists, or as part of various flashbacks.

All in all, this would be a fantastic rewatch, full of stellar performances.