Prison Playbook (2017 - 2018) *Non-Spoiler Review*

[40somethingahjumma]

 

Those who know me well would know that I would get to this one eventually. I'm unashamedly a broken record on this. It ranks highly amongst my all-time favourites… as close to a perfect drama as they come. It is an exemplar in how to get the best out of an ensemble cast. Whatever it does, either in storytelling or eliciting viewer emotions, it does superbly. It’s hard to believe now that it wasn’t something that grabbed my attention straightaway when Netflix was promoting it.  To be frank, I wasn’t at all keen about watching a drama about prison life until I discovered that the wonderful Jung Kyung-ho was in it. I am forever grateful to him for bringing this gem to my attention. A gem that I have revisited several times since which is no mean feat considering each episode is 80-90 minutes each.

 

There is something inexplicably magical in this slice-of-life drama about the goings-on in detention centres and among their inhabitants. Perhaps it boils down to the crafting of the story. Props to PD Shin Won Ho and Writer Jung Bo-hoon for all their efforts in that regard.This prison backdrop seems to be an unlikely setting for a deeply moving and often hilarious story of male camaraderie. It isn’t all laughter and frolicking because the show doesn’t steer away from the darker side of prison life. The bleakness is undoubtedly felt but it is mitigated by a kind of gallows humour. Shin and Jung are indeed masters at playing with viewer expectations. The result being: I laughed a lot. I cried a lot. In fact I would often find myself on a rollercoaster ride of emotions from one moment to the next.

 

The show revolves around baseball sensation, Kim Je-hyeok, who on the eve of leaving for a career in Major League Baseball is charged with manslaughter for inadvertently killing his sister’s assailant. He is convicted and unhappily for him, lands in prison for a year. Much of the action sees Je-hyeok navigating life in two detention centres (pre and post trial) with the help of his longtime friend Jun-ho, now a prison guard. He is also aided and abetted by other fellow travellers playing the game of prison Survivor. As if things aren’t tough enough, there are villains in this. Genuinely nasty types whose mission in prison is to make life more of a nightmare for Je-hyeok than it already is. Fortunately for Je-hyeok, he gets a little help from his friends (even from unexpected quarters), making the trials and tribulations of prison life a tad more bearable.

 

The key to the show’s success, it seems to me, is the characters and the relationships. Long after we leave them (or when they leave us), we remember them. Their antics, highs and lows linger with us. Each story is told in flashbacks and we are privy to why those in Je-hyeok’s inner circle in particular end up in the slammer. There’s Min-chul, the cell boss who in his previous life was a gangster. During a nightclub brawl he ended up killing someone but escaped the hangman’s noose. In his early days in prison he finds God and in his spare moments, he reads his bible. Then there’s also Jean Valjean, his adopted prison “son” who stole a bread truck. Dr Ko, not an MD but a petition-writing former salaryman is a trusty colleague in the wood-working shop. Han-yang aka “Loony” is an immature but intelligent drug offender with Mummy issues that shakes the habit cold turkey in order to reconcile with his partner. Kaist the technical fix-it guy, and serial monogamist who is not exactly the nicest guy in the room has his story too. Some time later the former Captain Yoo Jung-woo, convicted of causing the death of a subordinate, joins them in that cell. Down the track, Je-hyeok is reunited with loyal fanboy Jailbird, completely living up to his nickname and the potentially dangerous Crony.

 

Even in a show like this there’s time to throw in a tiny bit of romance into the mix. Je-hyeok’s push-pull, on again, off again relationship with childhood friend turned girlfriend, Ji-ho which has been so much a part of his life is also given air-time in flashbacks. Love and baseball does mix. Even while she’s on the outside, she is no less important to his headspace as he bemoans the unfairness of life. It also explains why when Je-hyeok falls into a slump, it’s Ji-ho to the rescue. Nobody, not even Jun-ho knows Je-hyeok better than her. The show also chronicles Jun-ho's blossoming very low-key romance with Je-hyeok's sister, Je-hee. 

 

One of the highlights of the drama is the way Je-hyeok maintains his baseball training in prison. I’m no fan of the game… a complete ignoramus in fact but I loved every single moment of those practice sessions where the men interacted and showed their growing affection for the one figure who brings them all together.

 

It isn’t all about the inmates. The prison guards play a prominent role in this as well. Most seem to be kindly gents who do their bit to make life less onerous for those behind bars. Officers Pang, Song, Jun-ho become pally with those in Je-hyeok’s cell. Even the chief warden has a hilariously transactional relationship with his beloved celebrity prisoner which is looked on disapprovingly by the martinet 2IC. 

 

Considering the subject matter, I daresay this is undoubtedly one of the funniest and most heartwarming K dramas that I’ve ever seen. I consider this one of the best. It may start off slow for some but it’s not a bad way to waste 1300 minutes in any given week. I highly recommend it, my other half recommends it especially if you’re looking for something that doesn’t quite adhere to the usual K drama fare.

 

Plot/story: 10

Cast: 10

Production Values: 10

Rewatch Value: 10

 

 

[stroppyse]

Thanks for this review! I also loved this drama. In a way, because it's the only one of PD Shin's slice-of-life dramas that doesn't have a romantic partner question factor, there are no distractions from the central look at the relationships that happen within this enforced microcosm. I even appreciated the transient nature of a lot of these relationships as prisoners come in, are transferred, and then released, with little knowledge of what happened to get them into prison in the first place nor what may happen to them once they are away from this particular prison. The other inmates along with us viewers are left to wonder about it instead without any answers forthcoming. With some exceptions, such as Han Yang, for whom it was probably a tragedy waiting to happen.

 

To be honest, I haven't re-watched this drama even though I was engrossed in it during it's broadcast run. I know that I will at some point, and I would definitely recommend this drama to other people. It's just for the time being, it's too grim a life for me to want to go back in, even with its touching and light-hearted moments.

[abs-oluteM]

Number one drama on my list ! Thanks for the review @40somethingahjumma   . Might get bashed for saying this but even think this has an edge over Hospital Playlist ! 

[mademoiselle]

This is top for me too for Shin PD's drama that is not the Reply series. Even with Reply, only one fave too.

[abs-oluteM]

This was one of my favourite scenes from PP...Looney really annoyed the heck out of Captain. Interestingly, this drama somewhat propelled both to bigger roles. 

 

[mademoiselle]

LMAO. These two kindergarteners are HI-LA-RIOUS. But technically Haerongie annoying everyone or anyone in the cell are funny. I love his banter with Jung Woo and Kaist the most. 

 

[Chocolate]

This kept appearing on Netflix and after months, I finally gave in. On episode 14 now. He just drew a graph of his life and I 🤣🤣🤣 Is there a name for his “condition”? Or is he just slow but has moments of brilliance?

 

I don’t typically like this genre (is it considered a slice of life?) but parts of it is so funny and I love the parts where Je Hyeok strategically “manipulates” a situation or saves someone.

 

I am surprisingly enjoying Prison Playbook. It is not as depressing/heavy as I expected for a drama on the life of prisoners. Of course, it has its emotional moments where I cried too and there are moments where we see the helplessness. But on the whole, it has been fairly uplifting. Hope it is a happy ending.

 

[mademoiselle]

Hurray! You finally checked this out! Prison Playbook is black comedy. I kinda don't think it's slice of life... coz I think much worse happens in the prison in reality and this drama seems a little too cheery and comedic.

 

Who's your favourite? I love Lee Kyung Hyung's Haerongie. Je Hyuk of course I like too.

[Chocolate]

@mademoiselle Favourite is Je Hyeok. His portrayal of a “simple minded” person who grudgingly became more “savvy” to adapt to prison life was very endearing. Of course, his hairstyle helped lol. I read that this is Park Hae Soo’s first lead role. Mighty impressive. I’m going to watch his new drama Chimera.

 

Yes agree the actor playing the looney/drug addict was quite exceptional too. Sad that he succumbed but this was largely expected.

 

This drama had a great ensemble cast, which is rare even for good dramas. I am surprised it wasn’t nominated for best drama at Baeksang. This was the year that Stranger won. To me, Prison Playbook would have been a close second, losing out only because the script was not as tight - there were several parts that I fast forwarded, especially about the 2 romances. I would say this was comparable to Hot Stove League.

 

[mademoiselle]

@Chocolate Yes, all thanks to PD Shin Won Ho* is willing to give opportunity to actors who aren't usually the mainstream/popular ones.

 

I think it might be inaccurate to pick a favourite for Prison Playbook because I also liked the Jung Kyung Ho (prison guard) with his brother. Their interactions always make me laugh. And then there's Kaist and his short tongue and Haerongie always teasing him.

 

Baeksang isn't always accurate in judgement of good dramas. In some years I question the judges' choice too. Often they reward those which earn the bigger bucks.

 

*Famous for Reply series (97, 94, 88) and Hospital Playlist

 

Hahaha, I actually tagged you in K-Ent for Chimera coz I saw the first episode last night and thought it might be your cuppa.