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bloomingtide

Currently In A Drama Hiatus

bloomingtide

Currently In A Drama Hiatus
The Law Cafe korean drama review
Completed
The Law Cafe
6 people found this review helpful
by bloomingtide
Oct 25, 2022
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed
Overall 8.5
Story 7.5
Acting/Cast 10.0
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 7.0
This review may contain spoilers

Consent Is Sexy

I have rarely seen, if ever, such a mature, openly communicative with consent and comfortableness for both partners at the forefront relationship portrayed in a kdrama. Conflicts, fears and issues between the leads never festered but were discussed and solved as quickly as possible (starting noble idiocy of ML aside.) They were affectionate, playful and compassionate with each other, as well as also challenging each other to become their better selves. They had an adult relationship that did not stop at holding hands and blushing which is still rare in kdramaland and openly discussed their needs/wishes regarding intimacy while always heeding the others boundaries.

The way the drama handled consent and how much importance it put on it... it is sadly the first time i have ever seen this in a kdrama to this extent. (Dali And The Cocky Prince comes to mind here too, but it wasn't as integral as it is in TLC) Which honestly, makes me sad as it should not be the exception but the rule and the way the drama subverted typical romcom tropes and viewers expectations regarding that was well-done. It was clear from the start that this is the story of the two leads and their journey of overcoming the demons of their past in order to find together above all else. Since the drama is obviously home in slice of life romance genre more than anything else don't expect a complex law drama nor plot. So go into watching with the correct expectations of it being very character driven instead of having a heavy plot. Slice of life, as said.

And yet the drama managed to address a wide range of social issues in the out of court cases that are still prevalent in today's society, Korea or elsewhere. (Especially the SA case was handled with the gravitas and framing it needed to be) Each of the cases were also mirrored with what the leads currently struggled with, to let them grow alongside in handling it. It never got too dark, no matter how heavy the social topics were because in between situational comedy gave much needed levity. And this without ever ridiculing the issue at hand. The main plot is the weakest link in it all and drawn out too much, but overall that took little away from the refreshingly modern take on the writing of the leads/their relationship for me. The side characters are lovely too and i enjoyed my time with them (minus uncle, however well acted)

I can only hope that other writers of romcom kdramas take note of this one here in regard of how it handled consent, because implicit clear consent is sexy and we direly need more of it in this medium/genre in the future.
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