Prison Playbook: A K-drama review

Prison playbook is a 2017 drama that aired from November 2017 to January 2018. It stars Park Hae-soo, Jung Kyung-ho, Krystal Jung, Choi Moo-sung, Kang Chul-doo, Lee Kyu-hyung, Jung Hae-in, Jung Min-sung, Kim Sung-cheol, Kang Seung-yon, Ahn Chang-wan, and Jung Woong-in.

I honestly think that this was one of the best things I’ve watched. The way it follows Je-hyeok and his interactions with the people he meets on his journey was quite engrossing. Once he had settled in the state penitentiary, his cellmates felt like main characters whose stories I got really invested in. This drama did a good job showcasing how a situation is not always black and white, and that there is always more than what meets the eye. With Captain Yoo, his demeanor was very cold at first and it seemed like a given that he was guilty of the crime he was convicted of. But then more time passed and he started to open up slowly, I learned that he wasn’t being mean when he first arrived, it was a very frustrating and sad situation that he was in, and it’s understandable that he wouldn’t want to get close to anyone. With Min-chul, I don’t think he ever presented as mean but there was the scene where John-ho told Je-hyeok to steer clear of him because he had killed someone. As time went on it was apparent that he felt truly accountable for his crimes and had been reformed. I grew very attached to his character and I was glad that he went from having nobody to visit him for the 22 years of his sentence, to having a daughter that visits him every day, and a son that was working hard to buy a house for them to live in. With Kaist, he was mostly seen as the jokester, but then you realize that he had done really bad things in life, and his karma caught up to him. His story was provoking because, on one hand, he was a generally easy-going person, but then on the other hand he was a scam artist who had abandoned his child. I think he was a complex character because I could not hate or love him.

With looney, he seemed like a stereotypical drug addict, but then the layers were pulled back and he became my favorite character, it was pleasant to see that the writers didn’t just allude to his sexuality, and also gave a backstory. He really was just a man in love and in pain, and it seemed like the drugs were an escape. I had so much hope for his ending but it was painfully realistic. The sad truth is that for a lot of people, it isn’t a happy ending. Doctor Ko was another person with a heartbreaking story, someone so devoted to his work that he would take the fall for them and basically gives up his life for this work. It was especially sad to see him take those insults from people calling him a con artist and also being accused of feigning innocence.

I did not expect this drama to be both one of the saddest, and yet one of the funniest shows I’ve watched. There were so many tear-provoking moments in every single episode, and there were equally as many humorous scenes. It was a really nice balance. It also managed to add in romance, which to be honest, I was not really interested in, because there was so much going on that I was more interested in. The members of Je-hyeok’s cell block had such good chemistry with each other and the scenes with Captain Yoo and Looney/ Kaist and Looney were comedy gold.

A prevailing theme that was explored in this show was the one of treating people with kindness, throughout Je-hyeok’s journey, he always made sure to help out the people that helped him, and he reaped what he sowed. I especially loved the storyline with Crony. I went from disliking him to having so much love for him. Because Je-hyeok chose to give him a chance instead of having an endless battle with him, we come to realize that all he needed was to be treated like a human. It still was quite sad that he had this complex of always needing someone to order him around, but at least this time he found someone that would recognize and appreciate all that he does.

There was such good storytelling in this show and it managed to make me feel like I just followed Je-hyeok through his one year in prison through those 16 episodes. The changes in scenery, the gradual reduction in the number of his cellmates, and the changes in the nature of the relationships he had formed made it seem like so much time had passed by the end of the season, and it in no way felt rushed.

My MVP for this show was hands down looney. There was hardly a scene he was in where I wasn’t smiling. The actor’s performance was top-notch, and he showed so much range, especially during the times when he would switch from goofy to serious. I loved the relationship he had with Je-hyeok, and you could tell that Je-hyeok truly cared for him through how caring and intentional he was in his actions.

And now for Je-hyeok himself. He was a character that was really fleshed out by the writers. He wasn’t made to be some saint who just did things blindly. It was realized that with every move he made, there was a calculated reason for it. At first, I was taken aback by his personality, because I expected him to be the more serious type. I guess this is because, in everything that I have seen the actor Park Hae-soo star in, he has played the cold and calculating character. This drama showcased how much range he has. I also admired his perseverance despite all the hurdles he had due to the setbacks he experienced.

Couldn’t end this review without acknowledging the correctional officers. Were they a bit too involved with the main characters? Definitely. But they were also very lovable.

The only issue I would say I had with this drama is that the flashbacks were quite confusing. Mostly because I wouldn’t realize it was a flashback until the scene was repeated later on. I also felt like they were sometimes unnecessary, and the directors could have just placed the flashback before the scene and there would be no difference. Overall, I think this drama was splendid and honestly a hidden gem. So many characters to love.

Rating: 10/10