I told myself I wouldn't be watching Hospital Playlist until it gets completed because so far that's how I have enjoyed some of Shin Won Ho's dramas such as Reply 1997 and Prison Playbook, but after seeing several clips about the show, the temptations grew harder to resist day by day.
This is your fault, Jung Kyung Ho. You too, BFF Band.
So far I like the drama. I like the same heartwarming experience I used to get with PD's previous shows. I like the lessons and realizations that go along with it, and I like the relationship there is between the five doctor friends.
And I like Chae Song Hwa. A lot, lot, lot.
So yeah. Hospital Playlist is a pretty good watch. At times though, I feel it isn't as strong as how Prison Playbook came off strong for me. I can't pinpoint exactly what's off or missing, but nevertheless, the show's a pretty good watch.
I think I can smell withdrawal symptoms on my end as early as now, too. Screw you, Kyung Ho.
PS. Hospital Playlist has a lot of really good OSTs. Plus the fact that the BFF Band covers most of these songs as a form of their "hobby" was amazing. I like In Front of City Hall Subway Station and Aloha the most, but Joy's Introduce Me A Good Person has been stuck in my mind for quite some time now. I'm pretty sure I already heard it in a drama somewhere... I was suspecting Marriage Not Dating but I haven't had any luck at finding proof for that. I've already whacked my brain too, but I still can't remember where the fudge have I heard it. I even tried googling, but still haven't found answers. Where oh where...
Anyway, here's the MV for the second OST sung by Joy, in case you might have an idea where the song had been used for apart from Hospital Playlist. Thanky! 😊
Once upon a time, there was an angel named Han Mi-mo, a sweet and bubbly girl who, together with four others, form the washed-out idol group called Angels. However, after her fall-out with one of the members, the group got disbanded. This led Mi-mo to thread on another path and being a divorcee herself, has decided to run a matchmaking agency for divorcees like her. Will her matchmaking prowess be effective enough though when her own chance at a brand new love finally begins to present itself?
One More Happy Ending may not be among the best romcoms that I have ever seen, but nonetheless, it delivers. It has just the right dose of comedy and heart, and serves as a great ice breaker from all the heavy melodramas, crimes, and mystery thrillers I've seen in a while.
❀ RAVES ❀»•»
1) Jung Kyung Ho. I was in a binge watch spree after seeing Jung Kyung Ho in Prison Playbook, and when I found out that Jang Nara starred alongside him in this drama, I became all the more interested to binge watch. Kyung Ho was charming as Song Soo-hyuk. He was able to bring out various facets of Soo-hyuk's character compellingly well. What I loved about Soo-hyuk was how thoughtful and selfless he was, a snark contrast to his best friend Hae Joon who was obnoxious, selfish and downright cold. Soo-hyuk's selflessness is evident in how he has always put Mi-mo's feelings and happiness first above anything else. It didn't help that he was also such a great father, despite being a widower and a single dad. I think this is what I loved best about Jung Kyung Ho playing Soo-hyuk-his realistic portrayal of an adorable man and at the same time a loving father to Min Woo.
One of my favorite Jung Kyung Ho moments in this show was how he was like Mi-mo's knight in shining armour during the egg throwing scene in Episode 10. When Mi-mo got tangled in Seul-ah's miscarriage issue and got attacked by the actress' fans, it was sooo endearing to see Soo-hyuk use his body to shield Mi-mo from the attack. He was evidently concerned about the effects of this incident in Mi-mo's emotional well-being that even after driving her home and advising her not to think about anything else, he angrily stormed at Mass Punch's office too, and then raged both at his boss and the reporter who was responsible for creating this whole mess.
And this:
In Episode 6, as Mi-mo was interviewing a client who happened to be a single father, we get a glimpse of how it had been like for Soo-hyuk to raise Min Woo alone. It sure wasn't easy, but I seeing those flashbacks of baby Min Woo and his dad was definitely moving. Jung Kyung Ho did great in portraying young Soo-hyuk's struggles as an inexperienced father, which just made me adore him even more.
2) The Funny.One More Happy Ending has a cute dose of funny (and silly) incorporated in it, adorably sprinkled here and there through half of its entire run (the latter episodes got a little bit of angsty, in a way). Its light-heartedness, combined with a few ridiculous yet endearingly hilarious comical scenes, were among the things that I loved most about the show. Plus, Jang Nara and Jung Kyung Ho not only has abso-fuxxing-lutely chemistry, they complement each other comedically well, too.
Mi-mo and Soo-hyuk's drunken marriage hijinks in Episode 1 was really ridiculous in all sense of the word, yet it was also amusingly hilarious. I love Kyung Ho and Nara's portrayal of the leads' hangover state, it was amusing to see them switch from being "happily married" to being suddenly horrified while screaming "Oh my God what did I do?" in panic.
And this:
I can't believe how silly this is but I sort of rolled on the floor laughing in Episode 5 when Soo-hyuk doused Mi-mo's face with water and then empties an entire pitcher over her head just as Mi-mo's hat unexpectedly caught fire after awkwardly testing a few magic tricks she has learned from Dong Mi at Soo-hyuk.
3) Geun Hak and Da Jung's Arc. Baek Da Jung was among the "fallen" angels, whose marriage was threatened by a divorce. She also seemed to have had a bit of inferiority after she had given birth, and because of this, felt a little less loved all throughout the years. This takes a toll in their relationship, and Geun Hak and Da Jung grew so far apart to the point where they no longer sleep in the same room nor in the same bed. In the end, it was so gratifying how Geun Hak and Da Jung has taken a shot into rebuilding their relationship. How they were able to overcome this phase in their relationship and at the same time find healing in Da Jung's severe health condition were among the best aspects of the show for me, and fits the title "One More Happy Ending" to a T.
4) Song Min Woo. This kid is a very good example of parenting done right. Even if he has been raised by a single father, I love how Min Woo was such a bright and mature child for his age. He was just as thoughtful as his father was, and I love how observant and perceptive he was of his father's well-being and emotional health. It's evident how well adjusted he is to his father's situation, and it was absolutely adorable to not see Min Woo complain the least bit about it.
❀ RANTS ❀»•»
1) Goo Hae Joon. Hae Joon has got to be one of the most annoying second lead characters to have sprung to K-Drama life. Nothing against Kwon Yool, though I don't find him as handsome as he is supposedly described. This is probaby why I do not get where the adoration for him of women in this show technically comes from. Rather than swoon-worthy, I find Hae Joon super obnoxious and selfish. He's self-centered and inconsiderate, and doesn't really take into account the feelings of those around him, as seen in how he has treated Mi-mo.
2) Han Mi-mo. Although Mi-mo was quite a fun character, there were times when she felt somewhat superficial for me. For one, I hated how she impulsively declares she has fallen in love like it's nothing serious. I also didn't like how she kept going 'round the bush in some parts of the show, thus repeatedly ignoring her own feelings in the process. She had this bad habit of not thinking about the repercussions of her actions and decisions prior to realizing it, making her not really naive in my eyes but just plain superficial.
Since Mi-mo was a divorcee and also had a fair share of failed relationships such as what was shown in Episode 1, I find it somehow ridiculous how she nonchalantly says she's in love and has found the one in Hae Joon's being, as portrayed in that hospital scene in Episode . For someone who had her heart broken for a number of times already, she sure jumps in the water feet first like it was nothing.
3) Less Screen Time for the Actual OTP. It was sort of glaring how the show spent quite more than half of its run with Mi-mo and Hae Joon's relationship as this led to Jung Kyung Ho's character getting a little less screen time with Nara when he's supposed to be the main OTP. I would have appreciated it more had the show shifted focus on Soo-hyuk earlier instead, because this means his feelings and his relationship with Mi-mo would have been highlighted even more.
❀ RULING ❀»•»
Save for the mid-series drag, angst, and quite a few flaws in writing, One More Happy Ending is a light-hearted watch that very well serves its purpose of delivering a romcom drama. Both Jung Kyung Ho and Jang Nara were great in this show, and there's also a lot of unexpected lessons you'd get to learn from it. It lives well with the title's promise of a happy ending, too, making it a show that's perfect to try when you're feeling down and in need of a sweet and uplifting boost.
A decade ago (my goodness, why does this term make me feel like I am already so old 😶) I did not find Jung Kyung Ho that much appealing, probably because I hated him a lot as Min in Time Between Dog and Wolf. But then Prison Playbook happened... Now, my impression of him has drastically changed and I find myself binge-watching every single drama that he's starred in, such as this. With that, I'm glad to say I've been a happy camper because I absolutely enjoyed watching Life on Mars.
A remake of the UK Television Series of the same title aired by BBC from 2006-2007, Life on Mars follows the story of Lieutenant Han Tae Joo, a leader of a crime investigation team who has risen up the ranks by relying more on data rather than people. While chasing after a serial murderer who was responsible for the disappearance of his ex-girlfriend, he meets an accident, and by the time he wakes up, he finds himself transported back to the year 1988. Now a detective for Violent Crimes Unit 3 at Insung Seobu station, Han Tae Joo must solve an eerily similar serial murder case so that he could go back to the present day.
❀ RAVES ❀»•»
1) Jung Kyung Ho. I know I've originally started this show because of my new found love for Jung Kyung Ho, but dang, I did not expect to be blown like that. Jung Kyung Ho was amazing as Han Tae Joo, probably even better than when he was Lee Joon Ho from Prison Playbook (at least for me). Han Tae Joo was sort of a difficult character to play because more often than not, he was an aloof, stoic and by the book grumpy pants who had a bad habit of closing himself off from others. This required Jung Kyung Ho to cut back on smiling a lot, and because Han Tae Joo was curt in his responses and mum in expressing his emotions, Jung Kyung Ho had to be more precise in his facial expressions and body language so as to deliver Tae Joo aptly to the audience. And I absolutely love him for that. ❤️
One of my favorite deliveries of Jung Kyung Ho was this scene in Episode 8 where Han Tae Joo had to witness his father's death. It was already a roller coaster of emotion for Tae Joo when he found out that the hero dad he looked up to was actually a scumbag, a shady liar, and even a murderer. But of course dad was still dad, so when Tae Joo had to witness his dad get murdered in front of him thrice, dang, that was traumatic. But wow, how I laud Jung Kyung Ho for playing that overly traumatic scene really really well. As the scene of his dad's death get rewinded for a second and a third time, Tae Joo's desperation for not getting to him before the gun went off was perfectly embodied by Jung Kyung Ho in his nuanced acting. That's basically acting out the same moment with varying degrees of emotion, and if that didn't wow you, well, I don't know. Plus, Tae Joo went through so dang much in this episode. It was both amazing and heartrending all at the same time, and really, I just can't thank Jung Kyung Ho enough for being sooooo impressive.
2) Bromance. Tae Joo and Dong Chul's relationship was among my favorite aspects of Life on Mars. I love how Dong Chul is like a mother hen to Tae Joo, and that from initially disliking each other, they have come to a point where respect and trust is mutual. I also love that no matter how different their personality is or how opposing their opinions are, over time they learned to compromise and take into consideration, even admire, what the other person has to say. Dong Chul is the kind of brother that Tae Joo never knew he needed. Even if Dong Chul was brass and annoying at times, I love his genuine concern for Tae Joo and his well-being. It didn't help that Park Sung Woong was such an adorable bear and that he had an undeniable chemistry with Jung Kyung Ho, too.
3) Camaraderie. Oh, this is something I absolutely love—not just in Life on Mars but in most OCN shows as a whole. I think OCN has quite a number of shows where the sense of camaraderie is absolutely gratifying (Bad Guys, Squad 38, Player), and Life on Mars is no less different. I so much enjoyed Tae Joo's interactions not only with Dong Chul and Na Young but also with Yong Gi and Nam Sik. There was evident chemistry among the whole gang, and really, there's just something nice in seeing them get along and get along well at that. Watching them bond and solve cases together gives off the same vibe as if you've known them or have been friends with them for so long. It felt warm and strangely familiar, and I just can't help but miss them by the time the show has reached its end.
In Episodes 13 and 14, Dong Chul found himself helplessly at a corner after all of the evidences for Kim Young Pil's death pointed to him as the murderer. It didn't help that Tae Joo, Na Young, Yong Gi and Nam Sik were all assigned at different posts at the time. But even if that's the case, it was so nice to see how the gang secretly investigated and worked together to help clear Dong Chul's name. I also love how at the end of Episode 14, despite of all the voices that Tae Joo kept on hearing and Chief Ahn's nudging that his teammates were just "delusions" that keep him in 1988, Tae Joo still chose to run towards his friends anyway. That says a lot about how much his team has grown on him since Day 1.
Tae Joo: "Who you really are doesn't matter to me. I will believe... what's happening before my very eyes."
4) Officer Yoon's Character Treatment. 1988 was a time when women were treated unequal to men, which was why it was so pleasing to see that despite being given petty tasks such as making coffee at the onset of the show, later on Yoon Na Young gets to be treated as a police officer of equal caliber. She was soft-spoken and feminine yet at the same time had guts and intelligence. She takes pride and joy at the things she does, and I love that as Life on Mars progressed, she was able to become more than just being the team's errand girl by being a lot more empowered. It was refreshing to see how, in a world dominated by men, she was given the chance to shine and do real police work even if it meant risking her safety. She was never afraid to break out of the box, and I loved that all along, her teammates have learned to acknowledge her and value her for her worth.
I love how Tae Joo has always treated Na Young with respect. To him, Na Young was more than just an office assistant, she was a police officer and thus treated her as an equal. This is evident in the way he addresses her as "Officer Yoon" instead of "Ms. Yoon", and how he never asks her to make coffee for him but offers her a coffee that he has made instead, as seen in Episode 9. Aw, my heart.
5) Storyline and Ending. Now this is something I love and hate at the same time, but the hate part, let me talk about that later. Life on Mars was such a head-scratcher. It had a pretty complicated story, but it was complicatedly good, to say the least. I love the show's twists and how they kept me engaged and intrigued up until the last episode. The time travel aspect and its mechanism was something I still do not get up to this point, and I'm still not entirely sure what 1988 actually was either. Was everything only an alternate reality? Did Tae Joo really travel back in time? Was he in a coma? Or was he actually dead? Yet in the end, it didn't really matter. Even though the ending was left open to interpretation, it somehow didn't leave a bad taste in my mouth. In fact, I was extremely satisfied with the story, more so with Tae Joo's journey.
6) Humor. Although Life on Mars is not a comedy, it has quite a number of comedic scenes sprinkled here and there which help lighten the mood and balance out the overall tone of the show as a crime drama. Some of my favorites are those involving Yoon Na Young, such as this:
There was this scene in Episode 3 where Na Young went undercover in order to catch the thieves who steal women's IDs so they could purchase world credit cards offered by a certain shopping mall. When Na Young's cover gets blown after Nam Sik suddenly squeaked for her safety, a chase ensues. As Tae Joo and Dong Chul runs after one of the suspects, Na Young gets hostaged... and then the unimaginable happened—she flipped and restrained the suspect, giving him a nice kick in the butt. I was as surprised as Tae Joo and Dong Chul were, and that flinch? That was gold.
And this:
In order to save Tae Joo from the threat of Oh Jung Man's henchmen in Episode 8, Na Young took Dong Chul's car and drove through the scuffle, ramming several boxes in the process. It took Dong Chul a while to notice what happened to his car, and by the time he went berserk, Tae Joo and Na Young already broke into a run... which was hilarious. What's even funnier was how Na Young's shoe came off in the alley, with Tae Joo waiting for her to go back and get it before running off again. Ha. My goodness, these two! 😂
❀ RANTS ❀»•»
1) Storyline and Ending. As mentioned, this was something I loved and hated all at the same time. The part that I hate was the confusion regarding Tae Joo's reality—whether everything was only an alternate reality, a time travel, an extremely realistic coma dream, or... whether he was actually dead.
Although I love that Life on Mars ended on a happy note and that Tae Joo finally reunited with his 1988 detective friends, the ending still left me kind of confused. I would like to think that Tae Joo, in reality, is dead. I'm pretty sure no one would be able to survive being ran over by a car after having been shot in the head. Which then makes Tae Joo's 1988 sort of a purgatory, and him going back to 2018 prior to jumping back to 1988 again the closure that he needed so that he could finally accept his death and move on to the afterlife. Or maybe... he really was in a coma but never got out of it at all, and that the 2018 timeline in Episode 16 was a dream within a dream, like him falling into a deeper coma? Because if he legit killed himself just so he could "go back" to 1988, the show would then be sending the wrong message regarding suicide and depression, and that would just be so wrong.
2) Repetitive Visual and Auditory Hallucinations. I get that this was needed to shake Tae Joo a little bit as well as add mystery regarding his reality, but does it really have to be shoved down our throats every single time? Because really... It does get a little bit cringey (and creepy) overtime I just... brrrrr
❀ RULING ❀»•»
Despite the minor gripes, Life on Mars had been a fun and engaging watch during its entire run. I enjoyed following it through from Episode 1 to 16, the same way Tae Joo has enjoyed being with his 1988 detective friends. Recommended watch.
I know I started this really really late, but seriously... what in the world is this? I'm not familiar with the source material so I don't know how it originally ended, but really, what is this???
Although I love that Life on Mars ended on a happy note and that Tae Joo finally reunited with his 1988 detective friends, I am still quite confused with the ending. Was everything only an alternate reality? Did Han Tae Joo really travel back in time? Was he in a coma? Or was he actually dead? I would like to think the latter: I'm pretty sure no one would be able to survive being ran over by a car after having been shot in the head... Which then makes Tae Joo's 1988 sort of a purgatory, and him going back to 2018 prior to jumping back to 1988 again the closure that he needed so that he could finally accept death and move on to the afterlife... Right?
That, or maybe... he really was in a coma but never got out of it at all, and that the 2018 timeline in the final episode was a dream within a dream, like him falling into a deeper coma? Because if he legit killed himself just so he could "go back" to 1988, the show would then be sending the wrong message regarding suicide and depression. 😕
Either way, Life on Mars was a great watch. I've never been this satisfied in a show that ended with more questions than answers. I enjoyed following it through as much as Tae Joo enjoyed being with his 1988 detective friends, and with the open-ended ending that the show has delivered, I do hope the producers would consider doing a second season for Tae Joo and his gang.
"It is only with the heart that one sees rightly, what is essential is invisible to the eye." - The Little Prince
Kim Je Hyeok has been living the time of his life as a hotshot baseball superstar that is loved and adored by many. However, due to some unforeseen situation, he finds himself thrown in the chaotic and constrained world of prison. Armed with nothing but baseball knowledge, will Je Hyeok be able to survive in this alien world and eventually come back to pitch in the mound?
Gold. If I had to summarize Prison Playbook in just one word, it would be gold. This 2017 South Korean television series penned by Lee Woo Jung and directed by Shin Won Ho has a lot more to it than what is being shown, and although it's a slow burn story that takes quite a time to set the tone, once it hits, it doesn't miss.
❀ RAVES ❀»•»
1) Heart. I thought this show would be quite dark, given it being set-up in prison. However I was truly glad this hasn't been the case. Prison Playbook turned out to be a very heartwarming drama, as expected from the producer of the Reply Series which continues to be a personal favorite up to this day. The show does an incredibly great job in breaking a lot of prison and prisoner stereotypes, and I never knew I would get vast emotional sucker-punches by watching random prisoners' daily activities while in jail. Prison Playbook's unique story about men who have done bad things in life but have genuinely good hearts was 100% a gratifying watch, and the lessons inserted in their daily life amidst the sea of serious issues sometimes cracked as a joke is one of the show's greatest strengths that I will never ever get tired of.
2) Undermined Expectations. This is something that Prison Playbook plays really really well. Not everything thrown at you is the truth, and I think it was really clever of the show to twist expectations like that. Among my favorites is this:
Lieutenant Paeng is one very good example of undermining viewer expectations. I initially thought he was bad—I mean he was lazy, looked like an arrogant prick and acted like an arrogant prick, especially with all those cursing. It didn't help that Jung Woong In played villainous roles in most of the dramas I've seen him in, such as I Hear Your Voice. That being said I was genuinely surprised at how thoughtful and understanding he was of the prisoners under his wing. It didn't matter if he'd get scolded, just like when he hastily pushed the button that unlocks the prisoners' cells after the fire alarm went off and smoke broke out in the penitentiary in Episode 12. What's important for him was the prisoners' well-being and that they are all safe, especially during his watch. I can't believe that from doubting him I'd turn 180 degrees backwards and love him to bits until the end.
And this:
When Captain Yoo Jung Woo was first introduced, he was described as a devil captain for allegedly killing a soldier under his supervision. This was even more emphasized when he went berserk and smashed that window in the CRPT Training Room in Episode 6. But as it turns out, Jung Woo was just helping out Officer Song who was having a heart attack at that time. Even if he looked like the real devil captain in the CCTV for breaking that window, he never cared. He never thought about what people might say about him first, he just went all the way and helped save Officer Song's life, and we later learn that he wasn't really a devil captain after all. He was kind and supportive and was just basically framed for something that he didn't do.
3) Fleshed-out Characters. I love how Prison Playbook has put heavy focus on its characters as well as their motivations and their behavior as a person. I love how the show emphasized that these characters were not inately bad. Sure they may be in prison due to some circumstances, but they were genuinely good people, or at least had the potential to change. They just needeed a good push and a great person to do that, and I love that with Je Hyeok in prison and Lieutenant Paeng around, they were able to do just that—change. I also love how us, as viewers, were given access to these prisoners' life, because by revealing the characters' own backstories and giving them their own time to shine, they became all the more relatable. With their stories comes our understanding and empathy for them, and maybe a little bit of admiration too, especially in terms of character growth.
Among my favorite character growths in this show was Jean Valjean's transformation as a changed man. He had a bad habit of stealing and was also a liar. Yet I love how his boss' testimony in Episode 5 regarding the wallet that he had stolen made him realize that there are still people who are genuinely good, and that made him reflect on himself and inspired him to become a welder. That scene really left a strong impression in me. I also love how he lived up to his promise of visiting his "dad" Min Chul (I actually thought they were related) and how he had literally been there for him when he got released. I never really expected Jean Valjean to do that, first because he never lived up to his word of eating budae jjigae at the restaurant near the penitentiary as soon as he got out, and second, it took him 10 long months to visit I thought he was never really going to pay a visit! But then it turned out that he took quite a while because he was saving money so he could buy goods to be given away to the prisoners under Min Chul's name. That says a lot about how much he'd grown, and at the same time touched me a lot, especially since Min Chul never had the luxury of getting any visitors in the 25 years he had been in prison. Awww.
4) Friendship. The friendship that Je Hyeok was able to form with other inmates while in jail was among the most wonderful things to have happened in this show. Je Hyeok might be short tempered, a tad slow and a bit of a dim-wit sometimes especially about things that isn't baseball, but his kindness was definitely out of this world. He has an eye for seeing the good in people, and his genuine concern for others, especially for his prisonmates, transcends in every possible way. Because of this, he gets to earn not just a number of friends but loyal ones at that. Even those whom he used to be enemies with end up becoming his ally, and it was such a wonderful thing to see Prison Playbook hit all the right notes about friendship and what it really means to have each other's back. Now that's what you call real squad goals.
One of my favorite displays of friendship in this show was how Je Hyeok was able to turn a prisonmate into a comrade through jailbird. I cried buckets when I found out that Je Hyeok donated money for the surgery of jailbird's mom. At first I thought he would be giving in to Chief Jo's absurd "request", but thank goodness he didn't. That part was very well played, and was exactly the turning point I needed to proclaim how good the show really was. It didn't help that jailbird was such a loyal guy, too. Je Hyeok's actions really touched jailbird so hard that when he returned to prison a couple of episodes after, he sticked to Je Hyeok like glue and helped him the best he can. And the best part? Jailbird got that big break towards change outside prison, with Je Hyeok helping him on with his life and giving him a proper job. Awww.
Yet the things I love does not only circle around Je Hyeok being Mr. Congeniality. This right here isn't about him befriending everybody else, but was a stealer nonetheless.
Even if Hanyang and Jung Woo fight and bicker a lot, I found it so touching how Jung Woo was able to easily sense that Hanyang was in danger even when he was in the middle of a meal in Episode 14. He even asked for Officer Song's help and requested the CRPT men to join them, too. And when Lieutenant Paeng came rushing to the infirmary to check on Hanyang after sensing too that something was wrong, it was absolutely cute how Jung Woo was just there, standing on the side with his chopsticks. Dang, that was really sweet. Turns out he does care, after all.
5) Bromance. The dynamics between Je Hyeok and his prisonmates were absolutely great, but his bromance with Joon Ho? It's on a different level of great. I love how these two go out of their way to take care and look after each other. Even if a long time has passed before they got to meet each other again, it was pretty evident that their friendship remained intact. Jung Kyung Ho and Park Hae Soo had amazing chemistry too, and I love more how adorable these two are and how they light up the screen so much whenever they are together.
It was very sweet of Joon Ho to go all out in taking care of Je Hyeok while he is in prison. Suffice it to say this is my favorite part in terms of Joon Ho and Je Hyeok's bromance. He was ready to ditch his day off, or even earn the ire of his bosses, just to be able to be there for Je Hyeok whenever he needed a friend. This was evident in how he silently cried for Je Hyeok in the car in Episode 4, as well as when Je Hyeok was trying to take his chance at pitching again in Episode 6. It was hard, but through these hardships, Joon Ho was there, comforting him with a hug, silently telling him that it's okay, that everything will be okay. If that isn't beautiful for you, I don't know what is. 🤷 I was also as touched as Joon Ho was when he recalled how Je Hyeok matter-of-factly told everyone that they were best friends in Episode 9, even if they haven't seen each other for so long. The look on Joon Ho's face and the suppressed feels that would've exploded right then and there was sooo me I just... couldn't help but go awww.
6) (Re) Discovering Jung Kyung Ho. The only drama I have watched Jung Kyung Ho in was Time Between Dog and Wolf, and that hasn't been a very pleasant experience as I have been really pissed with his character in that show. However, watching him as Lee Joon Ho in this drama felt like a breath of fresh air that finally freed him of the stigma that I had of him, especially since Joon Ho was such an adorable corrections officer, baseball fan and best friend all rolled into one. I absolutely enjoyed how Jung Kyung Ho played the reliable friend Lee Joon Ho. He was a stealer, and I love how he was able to bring Joon Ho's gruff yet ardent character so vividly alive. Jung Kyung Ho was the perfect actor for this role, although I still somehow feel that the show could have drawn a whole lot more from him and that his acting potential hasn't been fully realized.
❀ RANTS ❀»•»
1) Episode Length. The show probably has the longest stretch I've ever seen in a drama, with episodes panning to at least one and a half hour each. Honestly, this has been one of the reasons I've been putting Prison Playbook on hold for so long. I've heard a lot of great reviews and its rating on drama listings were even higher compared to Signal, which was a favorite. However, I was never sure if sitting through an hour and a half watching prisoners' mundane lives would be worth my time, especially since I don't have much time to spare. Thankfully I had been proven wrong, but thinking about how I could have missed this gem had I not given this a chance because of its episodes' length gives me shudders.
2) Uncomfortable Comedic Instances. I absolutely hated this, specifically this:
In Episode 1, after Je Hyeok had been tried guilty for assaulting a man who tried to rape his sister (it was self defense though), Je Hyeok had been sent to prison and thus had to undergo a couple of prisoner exams before he could finaly call it a day in his cell. During his rectal examination, a lot of people were very much interested to peek at his butthole, so much so that they'd ditch their posts just to eagerly take a look. It probably was there for comedy, but I didn't find that bit quite comedic at all. It was uncomfortably disturbing, I bet not just for me but for Je Hyeok too.
3) Hanyang aka Looney's Ending. Looney was such an amusing character, and I've had quite a good laugh in every scene that he's in. He had been struggling because of his addiction, but had also been eager in battling out the urge for drugs the best way he can. Which was why...
I hated how he didn't get to have a fresh start with his family unlike the rest of the characters.
In an intellectual sense, what happened to Hanyang was as realistic as it can get. However, I can't help being upset. Hanyang was such a poor, lonely soul and my heart ached so much for him. Sure he was annoying for his prisonmates most of the time, but there is something in him that you just can't help but adore. Even though his family took him for his word and not welcomed him outside prison when he got released (they were waiting for him at home complete with tofu), was it too much to not let him get swayed and turn into drugs once again? I mean, he kept hanging in there for so long already! I was really really sad about his character's fate, especially since the prisonmates he used to have, prisonmates who used to put up with him and understand him, wouldn't be there anymore when he comes back. Really, it's just so dang sad. 😢
4) Je Hyeok and Ji Hoo's Romance. Just to make things clear, nope, this isn't about Krystal, unlike everybody else's gripes. However I just couldn't enjoy Je Hyeok and Ji Hoo's romance completely given the age gap. I usually don't care much about age gaps, especially since most of the time it isn't that much noticeable anyway. However giving that backstory starting from basically when Je Hyeok and Ji Hoo were just kids made the age gap a lot more glaring for me. I mean, Je Hyeok was already in high school and Ji Hoo probably in pre-elementary during the flashbacks, and thinking about how Ji Hoo must have been groomed like that only to be Je Hyeok's love interest felt sort of creepy.
❀ RULING ❀»•»
Prison Playbook is indeed one dark horse, a gem you never would have expected from something that is set in prison. It's an inspiring and wonderful tale about redemption and second chances, a great reminder that no matter how much you've strayed, you can always find hope and come back into the light, especially if you are very much willing to commit to change. After all, hell is yourself. As Ezra Taft Benson puts it, "Some of the greatest battles are fought within the silent chambers of your own soul." Sure it may be tough, but personal battles are there to be won over. And only when you win will it be gratifying to say, "Bravo, my life!" 😉
I was so happy When you smiled at me With a smile that melts away everything Spring is yet far away And the earth is still cold Was waiting for the first sprout to come Although today is hard to bear Even when yesterday's scars remain If I work it out with a heart that wants to trust I can't be born again But I can change as I go on Let's stay together... Always.
