But I like to make exceptions on some hidden gems like this one. (My only written review is about the family drama "Lee Soon Shin is the Best/You're the Best, Lee Soon Shin" with IU and Jo Jung Suk) I don't claim that these 2 dramas are the best or perfect, but they hold their own and has more to offer once you started watching it. Simply put, I'd like to promote this kind of dramas that were underrated or were overshadowed by more popular dramas.
The Flower in Prison may not be your typical epic historical saga, but It's beautiful and satisfying, nonetheless. For me, TFIP is about REVELATION!... so please bear with me while I explain my point through my simple understanding.
STORY:
First off, this is a sageuk (historical) and makjang (melodrama) type of drama, so you can't compare it's narrative and pacing to mini series with 16 - 20 episodes. But that said, It has few draggy moments but tolerable for a 51 episodes long show. The story is simple with all the usual ingredients of a historical show....but though it's a political drama, most of the events were focused on the life of the leads being ordinary people and their struggles to fight injustice and persecution. The main story focuses on our female lead, born and raised in the prison (Jeonokseo) and her journey from prison damo (tea server, translated as warden) to a spy, then merchant...and so on...and in the process, gained friends and uncovered secrets and tragedies of her birth that lead to vengeance and triumphs.
When I said a REVELATION, I was talking about the casts of this show. The cast is awesome, specially the support.... Most of the support are famous veteran actors, but the few new ones held their own against the veterans. You'll be amazed on how the support casts delivered their characters in such a natural yet memorable performances.
CASTS:
This is my first time watching Jin Se Yeon and Go Soo as leads in a drama. Although they both performed well in most parts, they were actually awkward as couples. They don't have enough chemistry to pull out the romance. But since the drama itself is about vengeance and struggles, you won't really need to focus on their romance to continue with the show. Go Soo for the male lead for me was just average.
My first revelation is Jin Se Yeon! OMG!!! I was so amazed on her fighting skills! You'd know that she really trained hard for this role. We've seen female actors do fight scenes, but never as swift, accurate and as cool as she does. (except maybe for Ha Ji Won)..... it's like watching a female Jason Bourne!!! Most of the main fights were really planned and executed well by the directors and actors. I've seen her short romcom drama, "High End Crush" and she's completely different in both dramas. I hope to see her career grow more and becomes the next Ha Ji Won that can do both romcoms and action dramas.
The other revelations are the main support, the actors playing the powerful villain couples Yoon Won Hyung (Jung Joon Ho) and Jung Nan Jung (Park Joo Mi).... and Seo Ha Joon as King MyeongJong.
Jung Joon Ho and Park Joo Mi are veteran actors so it's not surprising to see their good performances... but not every good actors (or veterans) can really fit well and do justice to their given roles/characters. Jung Joon Ho's portrayal of Yoon Won Hyung is scary yet funny at the same time. I don't know if the characterization is historically correct, but the actor's performance will leave you hating, fearing and loving YWH. I believe the actor earned acting awards in this role.
Same with Park Joo Mi... I can safely say that her performance as Jung Nan Jung is the core that keeps me glued in this drama. She's the the perfect villain that you'll love to hate, and the actress gave us a soul crashing performance. I haven't seen her drama "Ladies of the Palace" where same characters are portrayed in the same period as TFIP, but I guess it helped Park Joo Mi a lot in portraying Jung Nan Jung. I love watching great antagonists as much as the protagonists, because I believe they bring out more of the leads character if portrayed well.... just like Lady Mi Shil in "Queen Seon Duk".
And then, there is Seo Ha Joon as the King. This is my first time seeing the actor, and am really amazed with his range of acting! You can see him being awkward, goofy, confused...then serious, dignified and commanding!.... all in a natural and subtle way. You can't help but to love his character, and empathize with him, specially in the heartbreaking scenes. His "Best New Actor" award for this drama is really well deserved!! I hope he gets more great roles.
The rest of the support casts are also remarkable, even the goofy ones in the prison office. They all gave the drama the comic reliefs and plot continuations it needed.
Overall, this drama is a good one and I'm proud to recommend this to Historical Drama lovers. It may not be compared to other dramas from MBC like "Empress Ki" , "Horse Doctor", "Moon Embracing the Sun" and the likes... but definitely worth the watch. Not sure if others wold re-watch, but I've already seen this twice.
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The teaser cover depicts a lovestory but its more than the kind of love that most people are looking for --eros. But its not eros; the lovestory will be molded by inner beauty, respect, intelligence, perseverance, compassion and wittyness of female lead. She has depict of what a man really look for a woman - she does not have to extravagant, in make ups but its being with sense of helping others even when you were left with nothing; its being useful. The female lead is not just happy but joyful. She has lots of issues inside - where she came from, her family line, why her mother has to be stabbed and chased to death; yet it didn't stop her from growing maturely.
She makes use of the "useless" and encouraging them that there's life more than money and power. Saeguk setting but better than Robinhood. You don't have to study in best school but work your best to learn and make use properly of what you learn. Use it to help and not opressed the weak.
Love all the characters and I am drawn to the men who are link to the lead female. They each have their own story to share with this witty young lady (a) Tae Won - he owns her heart (b) The grandson of her mentor - he's drawn to her sense of justice and (c) the innocent king - drawn to her tactician and strategidt thinking and now her martial arts.
Even the ladies that hate her because the women are behind because they cannot cope with her compassion and wittyness.
I so like this drama. I'm hooked and encourage to be liked her - works hard, not slacking, helpful and strategist.
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Plot - The plot was very good. I swear! The twists, the flow, everything was perfect. Thankfully, they didn't rag it too much or else I would have dropped it.
I love how Ok Nyeo was able to fight for herself. She has the wits and strength which is what i've been looking for. And the slight romance.... I love it! They didn't really made the story cheesy at all! The action, the romance, Everything's balanced!
If you liked and dong yi, this drama is perfect for you.
Acting - The acting is superb!
I really have nothing bad to say about this drama at all. I don't even how i was able to finish this drama for only three days! Everytime I would say this is the last episode for this day the twist will just hold me back!
The only thing I was disappointed with is how the director did me dirty with ok nyeo and the king. I was rooting for them:<. But i also liked tae won tho.
Anyways, I would definitely rewatch this series . I don't think I will be able to let it go! I was regretting I only found about it now. It's better than never right?
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A sensational performance...though a bit old!
This was another drama that I put into my rewatch list. Though it was lengthy I found it entertaining and didn't find myself tired or bored with it. I was looking forward to watch what will happen next after every episode and loved every part of it.It did not have much romance but still had its own charm that just draws you into the story.
I found myself admiring the FL's intelligence and strength. The way she harbors all injustice she is faced with and stays strong protecting the ones around her who she considers as her own family. There were a few moments I couldn't stand the unfairness she was faced with and how she was treated, I felt like going in person and supporting her and having her back. But this shows that the acting of all side characters and supporting leads including the main leads did an amazing performance and brought out the best of their characters portraying us with a splendid show.
The FL starts her journey with a motive to find the truth behind her birth mother's death and to stop the rich from oppressing the poor and helpless.
Her brilliance and strength was all she was left with that she got from each of her teachers and she relied on that to make it a better world for all the underprivileged. All the antagonists had played their role well to the point you actually hate them and wish they fall into an abyss and get what they deserve and that all their actions would be paid.
I especially loved the parts involving the prison and the prisoners, their relationship with the FL was just as entertaining as all the other scenes and were more fun to watch.
I had enjoyed the show very much and I am sure ya'll will too! And don't worry it is a happy one!
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What a Great Piece of Korean Historical Drama
I am so madly in love with the this Drama - The Flower in Prison - plus i am into with the actors and actress - Go Soo my one of those fave actors he is so capable of doing action drama and more on Historical one - he is likely same and can be a good successor of Jumong and King Gwanggaeto :) These 2 kings I love the most... , Seo ha-jeon - played an important role as King... Choi Tae-joon - Though little spotlight in the drama but he is a good actor that can compete if given a chance.The most pretty lady in the Korean Historical Drama - none other than - Jin Se-yeon - she is very good and excellent in acting, I even watched her dramas - Historical - Grand Prince, Queen: Love and War and the likes.. she is stunning in her own way...
I know it is late for me to watch this drama aired in 2016 - it is because I checked this out late too.. :) When I saw her in the earlier drama's i mentioned, i became addicted to her...so without hesitation i watched right away the The Flower in Prison considering Jin Se-yeon is the lead role actress - I know it would be a great drama.
It was a little bit awkward when the King felt strange feelings for her and found out she was her sister... :) you know what I mean...
Go Soo as Yoon Tae Won - is my love :) I like him - he can be Jumong and King Gwanggaeto roles if given a chance... :) because of his manly looks and beauty :) ... i just came to know him in this drama, that is after watching it - i went through all his drama and movies where he was the lead role.
Overall - the drama is EXCELLENT!
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Lawless flower
It's safe to say I hit a wall around episode 9-10 of that drama. Everything felt like a lullaby—monotone and sleep-inducing. Later on, things didn't improve much, but I guess I sort of got used to the dreariness. However, that last episode was a total distaste. It crammed in so much last-minute chaos and then ended with an unsatisfying departure that seemed like an afterthought. There were two things I hated in particular about this drama that were too glaring to ignore and subsequently detracted a lot from the drama, not that it was gonna be something spectacular without them anyway. The gags/comedic-relief moments accompanied by the unpleasant comedy cue made going through the episodes just a tad bit tougher than it already was. The other reason was Sung Ji Hun in general, the man sucks on a cosmic level, both the character and the actor. It would have been infinitely better to completely strip the drama from this deplorable attempted romance. Any love triangle that involves Choi Tae Joon is usually an unquestionable bad time right out of the gate.Was this review helpful to you?
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Fickle
I’m glad oknyeo decided not to have a romantic relationship with Tae Won, because he doesn’t known how to establish definitive lines in his relationships. He kind of led Lee Soo Jung on the entire time in the series and even listen to her advise, knowing she liked him, if he really like Oknyeo he will have let Soo Jung know he wasn’t interested and only wanted to be friends. He did inform Oknyeo of his plans but listen to SooJungWas this review helpful to you?
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Typical
The plot flow and feel of the series is similar to those like Dong Yi, with similar strengths and flaws. The FL is overly idealistic and perfect without much character growth. Despite consistently being painted as a poor soul who was orphaned, she was raised with an abundance of love and support. Then continues to develop relationships with those are all always willing to risk life and death for her as she continues to get put into one predicament after another.There are a lot of familiar faces in this series with great acting abilities. The plot started off well with a unique take on a girl being born and raised in prison, and accumulating different skills from a variety of prisoners. She grew to be intelligent, strong, and capable of fighting. However, her character starts to falter with each predicament as it starts to focus more heavily on the various men in her life trying to desperately save her as she is placed again and again in the role of victim. The FL also wasn't the greatest cast for this role as she felt very one-note most of the time. It is also pretty hypocritical of her to want to find the murderer of her mother, when she seems to have no issues with murders of others (especially in the beginning when she just easily obeyed orders to kill when she didn't know the reason).
While the story line stays somewhat interesting and the flow is steady, there's also a significant amount of heightened drama that causes it to feel repetitive. I'm dropping the series mostly because the dramatics are just a tad too much and the FL is becoming less and less interesting. It's too bad because my favorite support character, Jong Geum, is likely to have significant development. She's an underrated actress.
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