Flowers of the Prison (2016)

I've been a C & K drama addict for almost 2 decades now, but I don't really give comments or reviews on dramas I've watched since everyone has his/her own taste and appreciation. Specially when it's already a famous one where anything and everything has already been said by the viewers.

But I like to make exceptions on some hidden gems like this one. (My only written review is about the family drama "Lee Soon Shin is the Best/You're the Best, Lee Soon Shin" with IU and Jo Jung Suk) I don't claim that these 2 dramas are the best or perfect, but they hold their own and has more to offer once you started watching it. Simply put, I'd like to promote this kind of dramas that were underrated or were overshadowed by more popular dramas.

The Flower in Prison may not be your typical epic historical saga, but It's beautiful and satisfying, nonetheless. For me, TFIP is about REVELATION!... so please bear with me while I explain my point through my simple understanding.

STORY:
First off, this is a sageuk (historical) and makjang (melodrama) type of drama, so you can't compare it's narrative and pacing to mini series with 16 - 20 episodes. But that said, It has few draggy moments but tolerable for a 51 episodes long show. The story is simple with all the usual ingredients of a historical show....but though it's a political drama, most of the events were focused on the life of the leads being ordinary people and their struggles to fight injustice and persecution. The main story focuses on our female lead, born and raised in the prison (Jeonokseo) and her journey from prison damo (tea server, translated as warden) to a spy, then merchant...and so on...and in the process, gained friends and uncovered secrets and tragedies of her birth that lead to vengeance and triumphs.

When I said a REVELATION, I was talking about the casts of this show. The cast  is awesome, specially the support.... Most of the support are famous veteran actors, but the few new ones held their own against the veterans. You'll be amazed on how the support casts delivered their characters in such a natural yet memorable performances.

CASTS:
This is my first time watching Jin Se Yeon and Go Soo as leads in a drama. Although they both performed well in most parts, they were actually awkward as couples. They don't have enough chemistry to pull out the romance. But since the drama itself is about vengeance and struggles, you won't really need to focus on their romance to continue with the show. Go Soo for the male lead for me was just average.

My first revelation is Jin Se Yeon! OMG!!! I was so amazed on her fighting skills! You'd know that she really trained hard for this role. We've seen female actors do fight scenes, but never as swift, accurate and as cool as she does. (except maybe for Ha Ji Won)..... it's like watching a female Jason Bourne!!! Most of the main fights were really planned and executed well by the directors and actors. I've seen her short romcom drama, "High End Crush" and she's completely different in both dramas. I hope to see her career grow more and becomes the next Ha Ji Won that can do both romcoms and action dramas.

The other revelations are the main support, the actors playing the powerful villain couples Yoon Won Hyung (Jung Joon Ho) and Jung Nan Jung (Park Joo Mi).... and Seo Ha Joon as King MyeongJong.

Jung Joon Ho and Park Joo Mi are veteran actors so it's not surprising to see their good performances... but not every good actors (or veterans) can really fit well and do justice to their given roles/characters. Jung Joon Ho's portrayal of Yoon Won Hyung is scary yet funny at the same time. I don't know if the characterization is historically correct, but the actor's performance will leave you hating, fearing and loving YWH. I believe the actor earned acting awards in this role.

Same with Park Joo Mi... I can safely say that her performance as Jung Nan Jung is the core that keeps me glued in this drama. She's the the perfect villain that you'll love to hate, and the actress gave us a soul crashing performance. I haven't seen her drama "Ladies of the Palace" where same characters are portrayed in the same period as TFIP, but I guess it helped Park Joo Mi a lot in portraying Jung Nan Jung. I love watching great antagonists as much as the protagonists, because I believe they bring out more of the leads character if portrayed well.... just like Lady Mi Shil in "Queen Seon Duk".

And then, there is Seo Ha Joon as the King. This is my first time seeing the actor, and am really amazed with his range of acting! You can see him being awkward, goofy, confused...then serious, dignified and commanding!.... all in a natural and subtle way. You can't help but to love his character, and empathize with him, specially in the heartbreaking scenes. His "Best New Actor" award for this drama is really well deserved!! I hope he gets more great roles.

The rest of the support casts are also remarkable, even the goofy ones in the prison office. They all gave the drama the comic reliefs and plot continuations it needed.

Overall, this drama is a good one and I'm proud to recommend this to Historical Drama lovers. It may not be compared to other dramas from MBC like "Empress Ki" , "Horse Doctor", "Moon Embracing the Sun" and the likes... but definitely worth the watch. Not sure if others wold re-watch, but I've already seen this twice.

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