al2000
This review may contain spoilers
An enjoyable drama, if you can ignore the plot
This is a solid drama in many ways. The pacing is good, the cast is impressive and the romance is enjoyable. However, I did feel that this time around (my second time watching through, after several years of having not seen it) the actual mechanics of the plot became more frustrating to me. The depiction of the legal system is tenuous and lacking in realism, which made it hard to enjoy large portions of this drama.
I think part of the reason I enjoyed this drama so much (and still do) is due to the cast and the writing of the main characters. Lee Bo Young is excellent as the materialistic, brave and petty Jang Hye Sung. She is well-rounded, compelling and enjoyable to watch. Her emotional journey in the show feels organic and the ending is satisfying. She is wonderful in the more over-the-top comedic moments, as well as the more serious dramatic ones. Her chemistry with Lee Jong Suk also feels very natural. Lee Jong Suk is also very good as Park Soo Ha, who is a young and tortured soul. I am not much of a fan of Lee Jong Suk but I think this is one of his best roles. He plays all the facets of the character very well.
However, the more dramas I watch the more I enjoy intelligent plot, not just pretty faces and romance. That's what keeps me from ranking this drama higher. It has too many dumb court cases that don't make any logical sense from a legal standpoint and which in turn make it harder to care about what's actually going on. Although I like the villain and enjoy the tension from that standpoint, it gets tiring to watch him when everything else feels so idiotic.
Ultimately this is a drama that I WOULD recommend if you're looking for romance, some action, and some fun moments. If you're looking for a realistic legal thriller, look elsewhere. With the current popularity of legal dramas, there are plenty of excellent ones to choose from.
High point: Death of Jang Hye Sung's mother -- Hong Yeo Jin is the queen of my heart
Low point: Park Soo Ha being tried for MURDER when all they found was a guy's cut-off hand. Thanks, modern forensics.
I think part of the reason I enjoyed this drama so much (and still do) is due to the cast and the writing of the main characters. Lee Bo Young is excellent as the materialistic, brave and petty Jang Hye Sung. She is well-rounded, compelling and enjoyable to watch. Her emotional journey in the show feels organic and the ending is satisfying. She is wonderful in the more over-the-top comedic moments, as well as the more serious dramatic ones. Her chemistry with Lee Jong Suk also feels very natural. Lee Jong Suk is also very good as Park Soo Ha, who is a young and tortured soul. I am not much of a fan of Lee Jong Suk but I think this is one of his best roles. He plays all the facets of the character very well.
However, the more dramas I watch the more I enjoy intelligent plot, not just pretty faces and romance. That's what keeps me from ranking this drama higher. It has too many dumb court cases that don't make any logical sense from a legal standpoint and which in turn make it harder to care about what's actually going on. Although I like the villain and enjoy the tension from that standpoint, it gets tiring to watch him when everything else feels so idiotic.
Ultimately this is a drama that I WOULD recommend if you're looking for romance, some action, and some fun moments. If you're looking for a realistic legal thriller, look elsewhere. With the current popularity of legal dramas, there are plenty of excellent ones to choose from.
High point: Death of Jang Hye Sung's mother -- Hong Yeo Jin is the queen of my heart
Low point: Park Soo Ha being tried for MURDER when all they found was a guy's cut-off hand. Thanks, modern forensics.
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