A series that reveals why the best of KDrama is loved worldwide. The writing, direction, and acting are a joy in a clever, intelligent, compassionate, and often hilarious prison story that surprises at every turn. Strongly recommended.
55 Reviews
Great surprise find...
esthercolon-5380428 November 2018
I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this series! I'm watching it for a second time. I fell in love with each character even the guards. Their stories captivate you and help you see them in a different light than at first. I highly recommend it!
Thumbs up!!!
susannaleecho23 August 2018
A Must Watch
droche-4996630 April 2020
If you had told me five days ago that I would be this enthralled about a series revolving around a Korean professional baseball player on the brink of being signed by an American Major League team being sent to prison for assaulting a sexual predator, I would not have believed it. Yes, I am a Korean drama fan and knew this series was well received in Korea but had dragged my heels on watching it. Who knew that this series would be chockful of so many funny, heartbreaking, happy, sad and truly heart-tugging moments? Each of the main characters has a rich personality and you quickly find yourself emotionally wrapped up in their stories. Each episode is about an 1.5 hours long with 16 episodes so there was plenty of time to flesh out the stories and characters, whether the prisoners or their guards. Of course, we know it is far from what goes on in a real prison but the humanity and character depicted in this show leaves us with hope that we will look beyond the prison jumpsuit or the guard uniform to find the human inside. Watch it, you won't be disappointed!
a virtually unparalleled drama series
aminifatimaaa17 June 2019
Prison Playbook is a character-driven human comedy, warmly written and bolstered by stellar acting performances. The drama expertly navigates its audience through its spot on comedy as well as powerfully heartfelt moments. The drama succeeds in delving into the characters & the beautiful & melancholic storyline. Serene and hopeful, Prison Playbook is a magnificent drama.
FANTASTIC
mareestarr14 May 2018
Wow what a drama it's the best Korean drama I've watched so far, well I loved LIVE too so they are both worth a look see. The actor who plays the druggy in this show was my favorite and I am sorry I don't his name now but trust me when you watch it you will know who I'm talking about he is so funny and sad but mostly funny the way he interacts with the other actors it's just pure gold. Ohh wow all the actors are brilliant really. I just think it's a binge worthy drama and I know you will love love love it! And if you don't well I'm sorry lol but you will
Such an amazing drama
mykentsparks12 September 2018
It's on my top 5 Korean Drama all the time..
The story, characters, relationships, tense, love line all in perfect combination..
Everything just fall perfectly that you cannot even realise that 1.5hours already passed by..
Totally looking forward for the this drama team next project..
Truly enjoyed this drama
marieflorentino4 July 2018
The storyline is interesting - slice of life with dark humor. The characters are well developed and the actors do a good job making you empathize with their stories. -Lee Gyoo-hyeong, who plays the addict, is brilliant...and the bromance between the main actors makes you love them even more. :)
Quality television - very involving and well crafted series
phd_travel3 October 2020
Quite unexpectedly this series turned out to be a very involving and meaningful series. Funny one scene and scary the next it is thoughtfully written and makes the viewer think about the choices one makes in life. Each episode is 90 minutes long so it's longer than the usual 16 episode series but it is rewarding because he characters are so interesting and if you concentrate and give this a chance you will empathize with them. It really makes the viewer feel for the criminals both wrongfully imprisoned and those who have just made wrong choices, wardens and correctional officers and families. The ensemble cast is memorable. Park Hae Soo stars as the main character a baseball player who goes to prison for going overboard defending his sister from a sexual assault. Early breakout role for Jung Hae In as a army captain framed for murder.
Usually I don't like prison shows but there is a lot more depth to the story than you would get from a Hollywood series. Very moving series about friendship and loyalty.
Halfway through the show and I'm tapping out
wedmcdfcdjlbctenqn1 April 2022
Let me begin by saying this is not a bad show, as can be seen by all the rave reviews here.
Most all of the actors do an amazing job portraying their characters. I especially liked the performance of Lt. Paeng who made me forget he was playing a role every time I saw him, and I was more than pleasantly surprised by Krystal who played the (ex) girlfirend. And the premise sounds great on paper.
The show is dragging though. I see that somebody said "there is no dull moment" in this series...there are A LOT of dull moment in this show. There's so much over exposition in every movie length episode. When you just want the story of the baseball player's future to continue, you get another 10 minute flashback of a scene which doesn't really matter that much. I'd say this is the show with the most (unnecessary) flashbacks I have ever seen, and I've seen Lost.
While the acting by most is great. I wasn't really feeling the almost Forrest Gump like performance by the main character. I know he's written as somebody who's "not that smart", but it just becomes jarring to see him react inhuman like most all the time. Basically it feels like you're watching somebody who can't act, and wether that's intentional or not.... I wasn't feeling it.
Same with the 'humor'. Almost every episode you get what can't be called anything other than comedy sketches. Along with a weird sound effect to show you just witnessed something 'funny'. It falls flat every time. This along with the goofy prison director, and a prison mostly filled with honorable fanboys of the baseball player who either didn't do the crime or did it under 'just' pretenses, just throws out the realism from this show.
People with a lot more patience will probably still enjoy the excellent acting shown through to the end and all the extra scenes one gets in every hour and a half of episodes. I also want to find out what happens with the baseball player, but there's just way too much filler. After 8 episodes of his story progressing at a snail's pace, I'm out.
Most all of the actors do an amazing job portraying their characters. I especially liked the performance of Lt. Paeng who made me forget he was playing a role every time I saw him, and I was more than pleasantly surprised by Krystal who played the (ex) girlfirend. And the premise sounds great on paper.
The show is dragging though. I see that somebody said "there is no dull moment" in this series...there are A LOT of dull moment in this show. There's so much over exposition in every movie length episode. When you just want the story of the baseball player's future to continue, you get another 10 minute flashback of a scene which doesn't really matter that much. I'd say this is the show with the most (unnecessary) flashbacks I have ever seen, and I've seen Lost.
While the acting by most is great. I wasn't really feeling the almost Forrest Gump like performance by the main character. I know he's written as somebody who's "not that smart", but it just becomes jarring to see him react inhuman like most all the time. Basically it feels like you're watching somebody who can't act, and wether that's intentional or not.... I wasn't feeling it.
Same with the 'humor'. Almost every episode you get what can't be called anything other than comedy sketches. Along with a weird sound effect to show you just witnessed something 'funny'. It falls flat every time. This along with the goofy prison director, and a prison mostly filled with honorable fanboys of the baseball player who either didn't do the crime or did it under 'just' pretenses, just throws out the realism from this show.
People with a lot more patience will probably still enjoy the excellent acting shown through to the end and all the extra scenes one gets in every hour and a half of episodes. I also want to find out what happens with the baseball player, but there's just way too much filler. After 8 episodes of his story progressing at a snail's pace, I'm out.
Great show to binge watch.
sixxgunner-367-70908210 May 2018
Refreshing and well made.
afshan-9990210 June 2019
I was taken aback when i read the description and started watching this drama because the plot and script was so refreshing. It is actually kind of a comedy drama in itself. This drama touches the themes of friendship,love,guilt,suffering,perseverance,motivation and bad habits which destroy a person. This drama was able to achieve displaying the many perspectives of the people in jail.
It mildly reminded me of the shawshank redemption.
Prison K-drama
polsixe2 June 2020
Prison settings are a common milieu for stories as we see multiple characters and easy to put them in conflict. This is a look into a medium security pen in Korea, not that bad a place; only mild violence and the guards are generally softies at heart, the Warden a fool like an old sit-com. Antagonists are generally dealt with quickly to avoid the K-drama "drats, foiled again" plotting. The hero is a stoic good man doing his time; his cellmates have their own stories, most are in jail through bad luck or bad bosses, will they survive? Oh and the boy/girl romantic part has to play out and these side stories dig deep into K-Drama playbook.
Nah
redionstojani18 November 2021
Why is there only one review
shazada12 April 2018
I'm reviewing this cause there is only one review and this show needs more credit!
The best about the series is it's comedy, it's like watching an anime of madhouse like One Punch Man. At first I didn't think of the series that much, but you hooked pretty quickly and there no dull moments.
This is the one show you can put on after a hard day of work when you don't want to stress yourself that you've got to keep absolute attention in case you miss a line.
It's has a good story, some romance and enough laughter to get you through easily.
The best about the series is it's comedy, it's like watching an anime of madhouse like One Punch Man. At first I didn't think of the series that much, but you hooked pretty quickly and there no dull moments.
This is the one show you can put on after a hard day of work when you don't want to stress yourself that you've got to keep absolute attention in case you miss a line.
It's has a good story, some romance and enough laughter to get you through easily.
One of the best Korean drama ever
dasamantharaorohit23 November 2018
I fond this drama while looking for the best ones in korea, and after episode 10 i have forgotten that its a drama and mistaken as a personal story, and aigooo completely forgotten that its 1hr 40min episode each. I think i need to join the fan party who says that this is a best korean drama so far.
LAUGH AND CRY SERIES - ONE OF THE BEST
ronelioramos5 December 2020
DESERVING OF A PERFECT SCORE.
This series will make you laugh while crying vice-versa. It may not depict the real horrible situations in prison (since it's made for TV) but somehow an eye-opener of the hardships of our inmates innocent or not. I wish there would be a season 2 but it's already perfect the way it is.
Kudos to all the cast and crew! Well-recommended. Haven't laughed like this since FIERY PRIEST! 🤗
Great show 👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾
sadiqm90011 October 2019
This series is a DIAMOND!!!!
natassa-athens8 April 2021
The series is a DIAMOND, it's a MASTERPIECE!!!
It deserves more than 10 stars!!!
Oscar performances by all the actors (one was better than the other, I could not even say who was the best or better than the other)!!!
Great script with incredible messages!!!!
This is how you set the example to others, with your integrity, even in an evil world!!!
It belongs now to my personal TOP10 kdrama series!!!!
Definitely must watch!!!!
It deserves more than 10 stars!!!
Oscar performances by all the actors (one was better than the other, I could not even say who was the best or better than the other)!!!
Great script with incredible messages!!!!
This is how you set the example to others, with your integrity, even in an evil world!!!
It belongs now to my personal TOP10 kdrama series!!!!
Definitely must watch!!!!
One of the best and most beautiful dramas I've ever watched!
11ovz1123 August 2021
Brilliantly written, heartwarmingly executed, amazing drama! Simply fantastic! If someone asks me to mention a perfect kdrama, I will happily introduce them to Prison Playbook!
Each episode contained dark humour and great twists that I never predicted along with heartwarming messages. In each episode I laughed out loud and teared too. I loved all the characters. Every single one of them.
So thankful for the drama team for this wonderful gift to us. Thank you!
Each episode contained dark humour and great twists that I never predicted along with heartwarming messages. In each episode I laughed out loud and teared too. I loved all the characters. Every single one of them.
So thankful for the drama team for this wonderful gift to us. Thank you!
Good Enough
PennyReviews13 June 2018
I've picked up this drama because it was one of the popular ones and everyone had only praise to share about it. It did took me a while to finish it, mainly due to the episoded being more than one and a half hour long, when the standard length of a k drama episode is about forty minutes to an hour. The length, fortunately, didn't make it boring or tiring. Though the story was kind of odd at first, as I couldn't make sense of what was happening or why the lead character ended up in prison. Things got clearer after the first episode. The story itself is okay, without too many twists and just enough drama to keep it interesting. It doesn't surprise in containted but, if you love slice of life stories with the comedy element to lighten up the drama, this is a drama for you. Finally, the performances were really good by everyone and the soundtrack just perfect for this drama.
The warmth of Korean drama
yoggwork23 February 2019
The warmth of Korean drama. The plot is soothing but it can keep people from moving too fast. The male champion changed many people around him by being positive and upward. Several of the main characters are very vivid. Although the hero's aura is a little bigger in the plot, it is not too abusive, and the water flooding of love is also controlled in an acceptable range. But why is it that the whole character only eats instant noodles?
A fresh take on prison drama
ciecire24 July 2021
Warning: Spoilers
The series was enjoyable, and both funny and heartwarming in turn. The main character Kim Je-Hyuk (baseball player who ended up in prison) and his inmate 'friends' formed an entertaining ensemble, for the most part. Oddly enough, I personally found the character of Yoo Han-Yang irritating and overly done. I thought the idea of putting in the mix a drug addict battling his addiction and struggling through withdrawal symptoms a good idea, but ultimately, the premise was drawn out far too long - pretty much throughout the entire series! His quirkiness and the constant bickering eventually got tiresome. This was a shame. The comedic elements were hit and miss, though more often hit than miss. It failed when comedy veered into slapstick moments (often yet again involving Han-Yang's character), accompanied by her icky comedy sound effects ('boing' and such). The 'brotherhood' theme worked really well, and I like that it downplayed the prison yard clashes trope (although there was of course some of this) more in favour of prison friendships. The phased exit of key characters (as inmates were released from prison, or moved from one prison to another) worked really well to highlight the bonds formed between the characters, but also introduced a measure of realism in the show (people after all move in and out of each other's lives). It was unfortunate though that Dr Ko (portrayed excellently) was the first to leave, but I suppose this allowed Jailbird to move back in to the position of sidekick to the main character. Overall, a good k-drama with plenty of touching moments.
One of the worst shows ever
pmrd-1231810 March 2024
Each episode is 90 to 100 minutes and the writers are so dumb they can't make a single interesting scene with this much run time. It is full of cringe and soapy. There is no proper story, the comedy is so worse. There are no human moments.
Each episode is 90 to 100 minutes and the writers are so dumb they can't make a single interesting scene with this much run time. It is full of cringe and soapy. There is no proper story, the comedy is so worse. There are no human moments.
Each episode is 90 to 100 minutes and the writers are so dumb they can't make a single interesting scene with this much run time. It is full of cringe and soapy. There is no proper story, the comedy is so worse. There are no human moments.
Each episode is 90 to 100 minutes and the writers are so dumb they can't make a single interesting scene with this much run time. It is full of cringe and soapy. There is no proper story, the comedy is so worse. There are no human moments.
Each episode is 90 to 100 minutes and the writers are so dumb they can't make a single interesting scene with this much run time. It is full of cringe and soapy. There is no proper story, the comedy is so worse. There are no human moments.
Thoroughly enjoyed this drama/comedy
kslosangeles25 February 2018
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