Hesitation hit me first, thinking if what's so good in this drama to hit such a high rating.
But when i started first episode, man im hooked that i want to finish it in one go.
I love the story, the actors did every part amazingly... what happen to some characters are disappointing but it was near to reality.
Sadly it ended... TToTT but i still got hangover about Kim Je-Hyuk and Lee Joon Ho's bromance.
Love this oppa's cute acting as well as Ajussi's (warden's) role.
Ahhh... hoping for another glimpse of Kim Je-Hyuks life in the near future, haha.
Thank you Prison Playbook cast and staff, congratulation and good job.
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Goes without saying the story is very good as well. Except the fact everyone seems to be innocent, harmless, angels bitten by some disaster that lead them into jail, there's always the good contradiction that we never get to see the other side. And there's the hook that caught me to begin with: if the main lead is going to jail, then we're gonna get to see how it is in there - I thought. And I have my doubts everything runs as smoothly, neatly, peacefully in real life, of course, as K-dramas always try to give out. But, well, I certainly hope for a world in which people can really repent, grow, change, mature, recover and straighten up in prison. If we could have at least that, of course...
Anyways, the acting is major! First time seeing this male lead and I loved his character, everyone else (I do mean everyone) did awesome jobs, every single character is appealing and leaves that feeling of needing more screentime.
I liked the way it began. Liked how it developed and liked the ending although I dislike this one character's fate and how they didn't really... well. No mistakes were made, it's just me being pissy he didn't get what I wanted him to.
Now, if you really enjoy character building you should really go for this one. The comedy gets a bit old towards the end but this show is still gold. Get on it!
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Trying not to get so emotional
Its quite a good reflection of society with funny and cheesy ways to not make it as serious.But as the plot goes on you get used to every problem getting fixed by the end of the day. So much that when reality hits its really sad.
It is a story with happy endings and sad real ones too. But will always make you feel giddy.
The acting of each and every artist is so good. A trait that Kdramas deliver. Plus their chemistry with each other always makes me fond.
It's a series that i wished could go on even if the characters will have to stay in the prison way after their release be due.
If you don't know what to watch and want something light hearted and intense at the same time this may be your cake to eat.
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Just finished watching it, and I will definitely re-watch it once I am done with other shows. What a treat! The lead actor has so much potential. This show is not for light hearted people, this will take you for a long ride with individuals you believe you have the right to judge, only to prove you wrong. There are so many lessons one can take from this masterpiece. I am so very glad to have watched it and would definitely recommend others to give it a go.
I didn't want it to end, it was that good and that big having an impact on my heart. I laughed, cried, felt pain watching this show.
I look forward for shows similar to this one, or one with a ride I am unable to forget.
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The story makes me think how the world might be like if we have the mentality of a sinner who thinks he doesn't deserve anything so when somebody does him good - he feels humbled and grateful. It reminds me of how Jesus Christ died for our since while we were still sinners and how undeserving are we of his grace - but we received it anyway.
The story inspires me to be somebody who is capable and successful - Just as how KJH has means and fame, and knew exactly whom to share them with. How fulfilling is it to be able to help someone and eventually become family.
The story also makes me think how being in the unknown zone makes you discover things about yourself and how your character is built based on the responses you make with the help of people who believe in you.
*Spoiler*
And lastly - i think the reason why only the "DRUGIE" failed to learn his lesson - is a warning to viewers to never take drugs because it controls your brain - which prevents people and even yourself in helping you out.
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This review may contain spoilers
Brilliant characters in an interesting setting
I liked all the main characters in the cell, be it the complaints-writing Dr. Go, the complete weirdo Loony, the lisping dirtbag Kaist, the mellow big brother Min Chul, the wrongfully convicted Jung Woo and the simple-minded, gentle Je Hyuk.I especially liked Min Chul and Lieutenant Peang, both being thoughtful of others in their way. Paeng really surprised me because he was rather annoying with his constant cursing, but over time you can see his heart of gold.
The acting was great, the comedy especially of Loony with other characters was really funny and the emotional scenes conveyed all the feelings without being too heavy.
I liked the directing as well, especially the first 20 minutes were already such a pleasure. How Je Hyuk went in the tunnel and exited it in the same scene but in the opposite direction in another vehicle and in handcuffs, that was a really well-excuted idea. And Joon Ho's joy before meeting Je Hyuk after all this time - even with a spring in his steps -, but then receives another task, so every life is sucked right out of him. Atfer those scenes I was quite sure I would like this series, which proved itself true.
SPOILER
Episode 15 was such a rollercoaster ride:
There is Min Chul, this really nice person who committed a terrible crime. He really repented and displayed this with his spotless record. He is so warm and just a huge teddy bear. I really liked how he was so grateful for meeting his daughter and that he actually wanted his wife to be happy with another man. In the end he received the pardon and I was overjoyed.
Jung Woo's brother got to punch the bastard who was responsible for the incarceration of his brother. He really deserved that. And the meeting with Park's mother was something else. She is the one who suffers a lot; she lost her son and thought the perpetrator is behind bars and has to learn she cursed the wrong person. The guilt and suffering is visibly wearing her down tremendously.
To see how Han Yang (Loony) mess up his life again and to see the disappointement in Ji Won's face, was really hard. I know that many drugs alter the brain structure fundamentally, that addiction is a disease and that will power alone is not the solution. But I was so frustrated to see a character fail so hard and drag other people with him down. And it had to be the gay inmate. Why did the writers decide to give the drug storyline to a gay inmate? As far as I know, there are not many gay characters in Korean series intended for the general audience, so it is really annoying that they wrote him like that.
It is a magnificent episode, even if I have some qualms with it, and I'm really glad I watched Prison Playbook.
The one negative point is the ending of Han Yang, which was totally uncessary since they left him hanging in the air. He could have returned to his family and his boyfriend and be completely astonished that his mother actually came. Be thankful to his boyfriend to stick with him through all this. Or at least continue this storyline further, but this character did not deserve nothing after fighting so hard and than failing right at the end. To have just one cellmate be treated like this is quite unfair and of course it is the gay one.
SPOILER END
I want to end on a happy note: I enjoyed this show a lot, liked many characters and especially their comedic interactions were pure gold. I definitely recommend this series.
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Prison Playbook is an awesome drama with its well-written story and amazing cast.
The lead actors stole my heart!
Park Hae Soo portrayed Kim Je Hyuk perfectly. He seemed dumb most of the time but he had his moments of nasty temper. He survived prison with his dumb wit, and fame and it was superb!!
Jung Kyung Ho as Lee Joon Ho, is a dream guy for every girl just like Je He says. (My new crush!) He is really the best friend one would hope for. The way he handle every mishap in Kim Je Hyuk's life and take care of every one else makes you swoon over him.
Now all the other support roles who still played a significant role in the drama like Krystal, Min Chul, KAIST (superb acting of lisp), Dr. Ko, Loony (amazing display of character btw), Captain Yoo (handsome as ever), Lieutenant Song, Lieutenant Paeng and Jailbird!!! Jailbird was awesome!!
I would definitely advise you to watch this drama! It deserves 10/10!!
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This review may contain spoilers
Loved everything but the romance
It’s been a while since I’ve watched this but I realized that I haven’t reviewed this yet. I loved every character on the show. It made me cry so many times, especially Min Chul and Dr Ko’s backstory, even Kaist’s. Looney is also a favorite so it was heartbreaking for me to see how he ended up in the story.Lt. Paeng is my most fave of all jailguards. He has a cursing mouth but in reality a very warm-hearted man.
The only complaint I have on this show is the romance of the main lead and Ji-ho. For me, it was unnecessary since I am already filled with the bromance in the cell. I honestly skipped a lot of their romantic scenes, I am even more interested in the jail guard and the sister’s love story than the mains. Some of the characters that grew on me were suddenly dropped and never heard anything from them again.
Overall, I hope there’s a season 2 and I will surely watch it again.
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A slice-of-life gem that has much more to offer than it sounds
Although the show’s name and the initial synopsis didn’t catch my attention at first, it didn’t take long for me to get deeply immersed into the plot and the characters. The drama unexpectedly rose to my all-time favourite drama list.
While characters in other dramas are usually one-dimensional, they are either good or the opposite, this series has admirably challenged that cliché aspect. The flawlessly crafted grey characters with well-developed and thought-out layers to the stories of each character highlight the fact that no one is perfectly righteous or evil which undeniably made the characters sink deep into my heart. Nonstop waves of dramas surrounding the characters slowly unveil various aspects of each individual’s struggles, choices, regrets, hopes, relationships and character development, creating depth to the storyline, leaving the audience with both heart-wrenching moments and heart-warming messages.
Apart from the emotionally heavy parts that will leave you in emotional turmoil, the show also consists of humorous and uplifting moments, as well as some hints of romance as its sub-genre which is immaculately intertwined. Although some found the love story unnecessary, I personally believe it adds more depth to the plot with the aspect of hope in the gloomy situation protagonist found himself in. With these combinations, it’s probably not surprising if you’ll find yourself laughing out loud then start bawling your eyes out a minute later as that’s exactly what happened to me with every single episode!
A great plot surely cannot shine on its own without the actors giving justice to the storyline. Even though most of the actors from the show are not well-known leads in other popular dramas, the ensemble cast commendably executed their roles in the show and impeccably complemented each other throughout the whole series. The use of sounds and music were also close to perfection, further heightening the different emotions the drama tries to convey. However, some may find the sitcom-like sound effects repetitive and maybe annoying at times.
Another reason this series didn’t receive a perfect score from me is due to the abrupt open ending of some characters that have played a big part in the storyline, whom I’ve laughed and cried for throughout the show. While it was somewhat understandable as not everyone can have a ‘happy ever after’ conclusion, I still wished endings to their stories were revealed towards the end, so the audience won’t be left in the dark after already getting emotionally attached to the characters. Nonetheless, these little unsatisfactory details do not refute the fact that this drama is a must-watch masterpiece.
Don’t hesitate and give Prison Playbook a try so you won’t miss out on this gem!
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First episode and I almost drop this one. Thought maybe black comedy isn't my cup of tea. But I went back here and to my surprise, it surpassed Secret Forest rating, which topped my list last year. I couldn't believe it! So I decided to continue watching it because I couldn't accept the fact that this show went beyond SF ratings. Lol. Lo and behold, I fell in love with this series every episode onwards. So glad I continued watching it. It deserves its spot here. And did I mention I watched this twice already? Lol.
The things that I absolutely love about this show are:
1. Plot - It really intrigued me at first. Thought it's something like Miracle in Cell No. 7. Each character has a colorful background story that adds spice to the entire plot.
2. Cast - I love them soooo much! Super love the idea that the director chose fresh faces. You know, you wouldn't know what to expect. The usual people with villain roles esp lt. Paeng became the my oh-so-loved character here. While some actors who are usually the protaganists ended as the antagonists. The chemistry among the actors is superb!
And of course, who wouldn't love Looney?!! Oh my gosh. If it weren't for him, I wouldn't have continued watching this and I would have missed a lot! He played a major role in this show and I so love his banter with Kaist and Cap Yoo. He was excellent! Hope he gets more projects after this!
One more character that will be ingrained to my mind is Park Hae Soo. I've been with kdrama since 2003 and who?! Who was this actor that suddenly popped up and got that main role!? I love him! He's good when he acts dumb, but when he's angry or hurt, he has effectively delivered those emotions. Where have you been, PHS? Lol. So love his bromance with JKH. JKH is, of course, in no doubt owned his role.
Lots of love for this drama. I still have so much to say but you people just watch it for yourself! Lol!
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The best drama I've watched.
Whoa I knew this drama would make me write a review! I rarely watch long dramas, and this was a LOOOOOOOOONG drama, with only 16 episodes, but they were long. 1 hour and 30 minutes. Each episode felt like a movie. And I rarely re-watch dramas, but I cannot remember how many times I've re-watched this one. This is the type of drama which makes you wanna watch it over and over again. You just cannot get enough of it! I loved all the characters, couldn't chose a favorite one. Anyways this drama was a hidden gem and I'm glad I found it.Was this review helpful to you?
Grey is the new black!
While watching this show I realized…there are an awful lot of shows about prisons, aren’t there?! Anyway, Prison Playbook is one of the many prison shows out there but don’t get tricked by the ominous concept and poster, this show is not a violent, grimdark view of the place where the deviants go to rot. This is decidedly a comedy-drama about community, empathy, and self-betterment. The story is centered around friendship and hope and it’s full of quirky characters that will steal your heart.Yes, yes, I’ll admit it…I did start watching this show for Jung Hae In, guilty as charged (!), but he didn’t show up until episode five (really, six) and by then I was already invested in the show so that just goes to show how entertaining it is.
This show is way too famous for me to recommend it so I’ll just get to it. You should watch this show if you like :
1. Orange is the new black
2. Prison life stories
3. Ensemble shows
4. Comedy
5. Bromance
6. Slice of life
7. Barely-there romance plots
Plot: The plot is naturally very good. The story is interesting from the start…sort of. I didn’t love the first episode but it slowly gets better. While the main plot revolves around Je-Hyuk, the show is rather decentralized with side characters getting fleshed out subplots of their own. But all those plots would be nothing without the great character work in the show. The strength of this show lies in its ensemble cast and the idiosyncratic antiques of each character, their past, and their uncertain futures. The plots grip you because they rely on the viewer’s investment in the betterment of the characters and what happens to them. Thus, they only engage and entertain because viewers care to know about the characters. A lot of the subplots were meaty enough to be their own shows. For example Captain Yoo’s subplot, while a nightmare-fuel in its own right, could easily be a miniseries of its own. The other subplots may not be able to carry a whole show as easily as Captain Yoo’s plotline can but they too had the potential to be standalone. Yet as subplots, they do not feel overshadowed or underdeveloped. This is mainly due to the amazing character work that has been done. While each character is in focus for a short while, they are all so well developed that they managed to deliver the maximum impact while they can and when they are not in focus, fade perfectly into the supportive position while maintaining the personality and history that was developed for them in their central plot.
The show also has a bizarre flashback format that is a bit disorienting but you’ll get used to it. Romance is not central in the show but what little of it appears, is endearing enough to capture the heart. I would even say the show has one of the cutest romantic exchanges I have ever seen but I won’t spoil it for you!
Acting: Everyone did an amazing job. As I mentioned, the supportive cast is very well-written and engaging and thankfully each actor amazingly brought them all to life furthering their impact.
Music and production: Music was there. Nothing exceptional but not bad either. The production is also good. The show stays in small prison sets for the most part so there's not a lot of variety. I don't really know what prisons in South Korea look so I can't attest to its realism or anything but it looks real enough? The technicalities were all good to my unprofessional eyes too.
Rewatch: I don’t have time to rewatch shows but it’s a good show to go back to.
Negatives: There are a couple of things that bothered me in the show. One thing was how the sexual assault that triggers the plot was treated. I understand that the sister is not the main character and therefore her plot is not central but she had enough screen time that it would’ve made sense for them to at least deal with it a bit. However, the show never even verbally acknowledges the character’s trauma from the event. The thing is only mentioned in regards to how the main character, her brother, felt about it all. Even she is shown to be feeling guilty for causing him to go to jail but showing no sign of PTSD as a result of the event. Speaking from experience one would know that the trauma of sexual assault never just fades away without actively dealing with it. It festers and affects anything from relationships and intimacy to simple daily functions. A little reference to her struggles would’ve been nice. Secondly, this show is the first kdrama I have seen that has a gay character not as a joke but as a fleshed-out human while also not being a BL show. Yes, the character is funny and has some special antiques but he’s never made fun of for being gay so you can imagine my disappointment when he is the only character whose arc ends negatively. Moreover, the only other queer-coded character in the show just happens to be the only “villain” who stays evil throughout the show and is never redeemed. So yes, basically what I’m saying is that the show treats its not-straight characters very badly and I’m a bit bothered by that. That said, the show is still good and right up to the end, that character’s plot was very well-written and he is one of my favorite characters of the show. Thirdly, the romance of Je-Hyuk and Ji-Ho had me squint my eyes a bit...like being into someone you knew when they were a kid and you were grown up?! Sounds fake but okay...
Overall: A really good and heartwarming show. I really needed something that celebrates the better part of humanity while ironically dealing with the worst humanity has to offer. It’s a hopeful show that tugs at your heartstrings in a good way.
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