Top Class Acting with Beautifully Written Script
I never imagine giving a TEN but this drama deserves it. Park Hae Soo gives stellar performance. Well, the casts alone is enough reason to watch this drama. Every casts bring the character into life, not too much, sometimes in subtle but engaging and believable way. Strong chemistry among casts. Such a pleasure to watch.I applaud the production, director and WRITER. This drama consists of a lot of characters, each with their own story and background. These characters come and go but they all make one solid narrative of the life of Kim Je Hyuk in the prison. Every story is counted and matter, even if it is a brief appearance in one episode. That's an art and it's not easy to do. The flashback is perfectly located, they are not confusing. In fact, every backstory come at the right time that help viewer to understand that character and how they grow throughout the drama. The variety of characters are linked to each other and make stronger message. This includes how story inside and outside prisoner is interlined. Kudos to the screenwiter Jung Bo Hoon, Lee Woo Jung and Shin Won Ho as director.
Some would argue this is too beautiful and rosy for a prison life. I disagree. Prison Playbook showed how raw and hard a prison life can be but not through blood and violent (although these appear, occasionally). This is life in prison look like: you are no longer consider a worthy human being, once you are being labelled as prisoner. For me, this is the cruel reality of being a prisoner.
In Prison Playbook, you will meet a prisoner wrongly accused for something he didn't do, a prisoner who do evil thing and continue to do so, a prisoner who try to redeem themselves and while some will success others failed and continue repeating the same mistakes. You will see how every person adjust and adapt to the life behind bars, some become bitter and other try hard to stay as human as they can. I am tempted to share about all these characters but I am sure other reviews mentioned them. I'd say this: you will easy get attached to the characters in this drama.
This is another drama where I like the soundtrack a lot and I am glad I got to know some new musicians. BewhY, GRAY OK is fresh and fit the mood of the drama. It's one of current fave. A ballad from Park Boram, Like A Dream is another current fave from this drama. I still have more names to this list. There's a broadcast station in the prison, occasionally, a song from the past would be played and it's always give the scene stronger emotions.
I cried but also laughed a lot watching this drama. Seriously, there are quite a lot of scene where you can have a hearty laugh and it feels so good. It's drama so beware with tear-jerking scenes too. That's life, right? You win some, you lose some. You work hard to achieve your dream but life happens. This is about persistence, love and believe that every human being deserves to be treated as a human being regardless of their mistakes.
Great for binge-watching but also a good choice to savour it one episode at one time. You can watch it alone (and then have a good cry alone, right) but also together (there some scenes that would please your eyes). For a drama that has been in the list for more than 1 year, I am happy I finally decided to watch it. It's so good.
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The reasons I picked this drama up: 1. all of the raving reviews/high ratings, and 2. Jung Kyung Ho is a main cast. I have to say I was a little disappointed that Jung Kyung Ho wasn't the main lead, but eventually I accepted that and warmed up to Park Hae Soo who played our star, Kim Je Hyuk. Kim Je Hyuk was a bit of an enigma at first. He seems quiet, reserved, faint-hearted, in fact, everything about his personality screams pushover! Seeing this, I was like I don't know if I can take 16 episodes of this guy. But come to find out, he's totally not! Rather he lets things play out, carefully analyzing the situation and the unforeseen dangers that lie therein and when the appropriate time comes, he strikes! Park Hae Soo's driving factors that makes him the lead we want to root for, is his thoughtful kindness and sacrificial nature. Being a star baseball player, Je Hyuk is not proud, but let's his fame motivate him to help others. He is humble but still knows his worth. No matter how hard I think about it, I can't compare his personality accurately to any other male lead I've seen in a drama before. Needless to say Park Hae Soo did a great job portraying the subtleties of our quiet and kind, yet brave and gutsy character Kim Je Hyuk.
Jung Kyung Ho I wasn't worried about and, as always, he delivers. His character, Lee Joon Ho, is really Kim Je Hyuk's savior in a lot of the early on conflicts so of course every time he showed up on screen it was not only, yay I get to see Jung Kyung Ho's face, but also a much needed relief for the story. There weren't as many opportunities for Jung Kyung Ho to showcase his acting range as his character, being a corrections officer, wasn't super involved in the daily conflicts that Park Hae Soo's character was as an inmate. Despite this, Lee Joon Ho has presence on screen, and Jung Kyung Ho made his character interesting and dynamic, and had great chemistry and bromance with Kim Je Hyuk. Lee Joon Ho always looks out for Kim Je Hyuk's best interests and holds him in high esteem, even when it would've been easy to blur the lines in their relationship with the extreme difference in power, i.e., their roles as correction officer and prisoner.
Lieutenant Paeng played by Jung Woong In was another character that the writers enjoyed playing with us a bit. He seems like a complete, insensitive jerk, but you soon come to find out that he genuinely cares for our beloved cellmates and all of the other inmates he oversees. He treats them all like humans and friends. Through his time as a corrections officer he has learned that everyone has a story to tell, and a circumstance that led them to prison, whether justly or unjustly. Lieutenant Paeng's personality is rough around the edges but a total softy! Literally an angel from heaven to our cellmates. Jung Woong In I had only ever seen as our infamous Min Joon Gook, but going forward I will remember him as this love-able, soft-hearted sweetheart.
Other favorite cast members would be all of the cellmates in cell 2, room 6, but special shout outs would be Looney/Yoo Han played by Lee Kyu Hyung and Kaist/Kang Chul Doo played by Park Ho San. Their characters really delivered in the comedy department and every scene they had together was shockingly hilarious. Looney because he carries himself in a way that makes him seem like a total whimp when he is actually the most brazen, gutsy character ever, who calls out Kaist (and any/all others) on their crap. It not only feels like sweet justice, but it is completely ridiculous and hilarious when he does. Partly because although he says the truth, he says it in the rudest way possible! His scenes with Kaist in particular but also with Jung Woo/Captain Yoo (Jung Hae In) were always my favorites!
As for the story, I think the pacing was kept really well. There was the overall storyline of Je Hyuk serving his time in prison, training diligently in hopes of returning to the mound as the star pitcher of the Nexens but each episode also had an obstacle to conquer and focused in on another cellmate. Each inmate from cell 2 had an individual story that transformed their characters from punishment deserving criminals, to flawed people who either made mistakes or were horribly unlucky. I loved each of the cellmates and I appreciated that we were given background as to who they were as people and why they arrived at Seobu Penitentiary, but at times it was hard for me to be emotionally invested in each one equally. I sympathized with each of them for sure, but I didn't become as attached to them and their struggles as I think I was meant to. With a lot of my favorite dramas I have become so attached to the characters that I cry or laugh at the drop of a hat, but I didn't experience quite that level of emotion with this one.
Prison Playbook is original and our main characters are smart, those two factors in and of itself make for a promising K-Drama. This was a very different watch for me than other dramas I've seen and I liked that. Even with hour and a half episodes, I didn't feel bored and that deserves recognition! Since so many people have watched and loved this drama I definitely think it deserves a watch.
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Genre : Sports, Slice of life, Comedy
Story : Baseball sensation Kim Je Hyeok get convicted for fatally injuring a criminal. The show starts with a bluesy note but turns extremely hilarious with a slow Kim Je Hyeok who takes time to process to deal with his situations in his own way. There are good people and bad people in this world and the situations that make this transitions are sometimes heart breaking and bitter sweet. This drama told us that "bad people" in the jail were only human beings who had gone astray that need help to realise it. This drama brought out well written characters with a beautiful realistic twist. A lot of characters were unexpected and the personal stories were absolutely beautiful. The humorous editing brings out those particular characters beautifully and making it more funny. I would advice you to jump into this drama right away if you're looking for a light but good drama. The chemistry between the main leads is another thing you need to look out for. It keeps you feeling fuzzy and wanting to see more. I really don't want to spoil it but there is another really sweet couple that i was rooting for :p.(Still not talking about his sister)
Acting : Park Hae Soo is an amazing actor and you can see his dedication to his work clearly in every second of the drama. While i do want to shout out to the director, the actors were almost flawless. Crystal was her absolute best in this drama. She was matured, sweet and worked the chemistry so well, she was almost perfect for the character. Seeing her act was an absolute delight.
Another actor that really stood out was Lee Kyu Hyung playing Han Yang. I was expecting him to be yet another comedic relief but his story turned to be another fight. Keep an eye on him till the end. Not only his acting was beautiful but his chemistry with each actor was really comfortable and bromance-worthy.
Will i watch it again? I might if i don't find a drama this worthy in the next few years.
Will i recommend it to anyone? Hell yeah. This drama deserves it.
Special mention to the OST ok by BeWhy that kept the energy up and Bravo My life by Eric Nam that was so perfectly ironic for the scenes and is now stuck in my head.
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OK I'm done. That's my review right there. Honestly, I should hit submit and then edit because this is my 2nd review. I accidentally loss the first one right at the end. It was good, too. * sigh * ANYWHO... Prison Playbook is an excellent black comedy. It literally became one my favorite Korean dramas while I was watching it. I can't recommend watching it enough. It's the first Korean drama I've seen that bromance is the main part of the story and isn't being used a beard for some sappy romance stories. The 2 or 3 romances are side stories and not really part of or the crux of the story. You can basically remove them without issue.
Prison Playbook's story is one that is well written, excellently portrayed, and masterfully presented. The writing/directing team of Jung Bo Hoon and Shin Won Ho made something special here. In this prison set where women are not allowed except as visitors, they created a testosterone heavy atmosphere that isn't quite what you might think it would be (aside from the cussing perhaps). The 2 also paired for the Replay dramas of which I've watched nada, but think maybe I should. This pair along with the editing made watching Prison Playbook fun. For the most part flashbacks are used to tell the story and move it along, not to sell whatever song is being played.
I got the impression that the staff had fun watching PP being filmed. That's solely because of it's fantastic cast. The cast led by Park Hae Soo as Kim Je Hyuk, a hard working professional baseball player that winds up in jail due to his rage issues, and Jung Kyung Ho as Lee Joon Ho, a correctional officer and ex-baseball player who has known Je Hyuk since grade school. Together these 2 corral an entourage of zany characters with befitting nicknames like Looney ( <3 ) and Headache. Watching the relationships develop and in some cases abruptly end is what made PP worthwhile. In the beginning you may think Je Hyuk is a simpleton, but you realize he's just a simple man. Things are as they are with him. I've got to say this is the first time I've ever seen someone look like a Romulan or Vulcan and not be on Star Trek. His blank stares are precious. In the beginning you think he's thinking 'wtf have I done' then you think he's thinking of how he's gonna get his way. That or he's thinking of using a Vulcan neck pinch. Je Hyuk spends most of his time with the cell members of 2-6: Min Chul, the lovable gangster and cell boss; KAIST, the con-man that thinks showering is optional and has a killer kick; Looney, "that bastard druggie" that says and does pretty much anything he choses and becomes the beneficiary of KAIST's kicks daily; the petition writing Dr. Ko that knows the regs of correctional facilities better than the employees; Capt. Yoo who may be an innocent man; and Crony a gangster that's best as a lackey. There are other inmates, of course, like Jailbird and the aforementioned Headache, who screams for hours on end. There's also the other correctional facility employees that impact Je Hyuk, most especially Lt. Paeng played by the incomparable Jung Woong In. I wasn't sure if he really wasn't Lt. Paeng in real life. He completely embodied the role. I adored every single last one of the crazy characters save 1. I did not like Ji Ho. If you watch anime or dramas based on animes/mangas, you have undoubtedly run into the girl next door/best friend type that never tells him how she feels and doesn't really know how badly she's screwed up until she loses out to the big boobied alien girl with superpowers. Ji Ho is the best friend. There was never an alien girl. Ji Ho won. Now, I now why the girl next door should never win. Why? Because she's annoying af. Ji Ho alone screen time equaled fast forward for me.
The music is pretty good. I RARELY like the music. PP ranges in it's music from Frank Sinatra standards to hip hop. That kept my eyes from rolling. The opening them called OK by Bewhy (produced by Gray) sets the tone for the entire show. I also adore The Door by Kang Seung Yoon (who plays Jean Val Jean in the show) and Mino is produced by Zico and is a great song. Of course there's the overly used little love song. It's not bad, but the Soul and Hip Hop songs kept it alive for me.
I usually preface this part by saying I rarely re-watch a drama because I don't have the time. I already rewatched an episode of Prison Playbook. I was going through withdrawal too fast. I needed a Looney fix.
Is Prison Playbook the best drama I've ever watched? No, but it's one of them. Is it the most entertaining? Right, now I'm going to have to say, it sure the hell is. My biggest issue is that they left us hanging. I'm sure we all understand that prisoners don't usually have long lasting relationships. They come and go, but when your made to fall in love with some of these guys you have the right to expect some kind of finale. Even a brief synopsis on each of them at the end would have been sufficient. Other than that Prison Playbook is utterly enjoyable. You'll love it unless you're some giant emo melo fan that can't deal with laughter, men being men without women, and a few tears every now and again.
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The main character was slightly bland but acceptable as that is part of his character. However, the prison guards and the prisoners which had the majority of screen time really made the drama worthwhile. There was a good blend of tearjerker moments and laugh out loud moments. There was a slight discomfort in the ending as I had hoped there would have been better follow-ups on the characters that grew on me, but wasn't bad enough to ruin the series as proven in many other series.
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Although I wouldn't hype it quite as much as other viewers on here, I still think this is a great drama that should definitely be on your watch list. Though the episodes are long, the journey is worth it, and I feel like the story gets better the further along you go.
I loved the different stories and backgrounds of the inmates and applaud it for showing that not everyone in prison is evil or incorrigible. I loved the variety of personalities among the corrections officers, from bureaucratic authoritarians to the ones who genuinely care about the success and rehabilitation of their wards. We see times where the justice system fails its citizens, and times where it redeems them. We get humor (there isn't a single episode where I didn't laugh out loud multiple time), sadness, and heartwarming moments. I also really liked that we weren't always told the whole story at one time; rather, the clever tricks our characters executed were revealed later in the episodes. Finally, I appreciated that not every character had a happy ending; some endings were sad, some were open, and overall it felt very true to the reality that is life in general and the penal system in particular.
I don't have too many complaints. One thing I could have done without was the story with the ex-girlfriend. I see where it fit into the drama, but for whatever reason I just could not get on board with the character. I didn't find her likable or empathetic, and the romance and chemistry felt very one-sided. Fortunately there weren't too many scenes with that story line, so it wasn't too obnoxious, but I was way more interested in what was going on in the prison and would have preferred staying there. The other "critique" I have is that I wish we got more backstory and exploration with Captain Yoo, his military comrades, and the victim in that crime, as I wanted to know more about the motivation behind what happened there.
ACTING/CAST:
The cast was fantastic. Everyone did so well in their roles. Park Hae Soo was such a good lead. His character was at times hilariously dumb and naive, like a child trapped in a grown man's body, but also so kind and caring to those close to him, possessing a solemn understanding of the more serious aspects of life when the time called for it. Another stand out for me (and I think a lot of people) was Lee Kyu Hung (aka Loony); he made me laugh and cry and was a great addition to the cell block.
MUSIC:
No complaints here. There's a good mix of hip-hop and ballads, and all worked really well in the show.
REWATCH VALUE:
I probably won't rewatch this, but I may be interested in a Season 2 if one comes out.
OVERALL:
Yes, watch this. If you find it a little slow in the beginning, just stick with it. Netflix did a really great job with this one.
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REDEMPTION AND RELATIONSHIPS
"Prison Playbook" isn't your typical prison drama. Instead of being dark and gritty, it's surprisingly funny and heartwarming. The story follows Kim Je-Hyeok, a baseball player who ends up behind bars. Despite seeming simple, Je-Hyeok makes the best of his situation and finds humour in everyday prison life.The show's real strength is its characters. From the silly yet endearing Lee Joon-Dol to the tough-but-soft Kim Min-Chul, each character is unique and adds something special to the story. The show also avoids portraying them as hardened criminals, instead focusing on their backstories and showing that they're more than just their mistakes.
This focus on humour and redemption makes "Prison Playbook" a truly enjoyable watch. You'll laugh along at the characters' antics, but you'll also feel touched by their friendships and personal journeys. The show isn't perfect, but its strengths far outweigh its weaknesses. If you're looking for a drama that's both funny and heartwarming, "Prison Playbook" is definitely worth checking out.
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This review may contain spoilers
I just finished this drama today and even though it took two months, I never got bored once. The only reason it took that long was partly because I was really busy and also partly because I did not want it to end.It's a really engaging drama from the get go with a very gripping and realistic storyline. I'm surprised this was Park Hae-soo's (Kim Jae-hyeok) first lead role as he did amazingly well. In fact every actor in this drama was superb. Lol I miss it already.
SPOILER AHEAD;
My only issue with the drama is the disappearance of Hanyang, Kaist & Ko Park-sa, they were some of my favourite characters but I guess the fact that they disappeared makes the reality of the prison system more realistic.
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This review may contain spoilers
Really interesting plot, I really liked it and the pace of the show. Balanced between humor and seriousness very well. I loved the character development even though I felt a bit disappointed about the druggie going back to prison and relapsing, I feel like thats a huge plothole in the show and I was really confused why they just made that happen without ever talking about it again. His development felt really wasted , for most of the show it was him getting better and then he just..chooses to relapse again? Really made me mad, but whatever, not that big of a deal. Its a pretty cool concept and I recommend it. Was this review helpful to you?
A modern day Korean masterpiece Drama
I've watched so many Hollywood TV shows and Korean Drama series. But Prison Playbook is something else. The main reason is all the casts were perfectly did a great job and the background score was so fantastic and emotional. I do appreciate the Director for a great screenplay, it was far better,unique and different from other K-Dramas. I'm a Bangladeshi🇧🇩 I had no intention to watch this one but I finally did it. It's 2022 Now and I'm realising that I was too late to watch it! I became emotional and I was touched well whenever I listened those Background musics and songs. They were perfectly perfect. Enjoyed this Drama a lot. Thank youWas this review helpful to you?
