Jung Gyuwoon's character, right from the start I knew this guy will give me some headache, but I guess this time I won't fall for the second male lead, I have a feeling that the main male lead will be the one I'll cheer for - that doesn't happen often and it has absolutely NOTHING to do with the fact that So Jisub had a "shower" scene right in the first episode... Nothing to do with that, none at all. Zero!
The appearance of Henry added some comedy and it was definitely a pleasant surprise.
I'm looking forward to this drama starting from here.
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That Winter, the Wind Blows Episode 1
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I can't believe how I liked this episode.
When I first heard of this drama I wanted to watch just because of Kim Bumssi but I started to watch because I was in the mood - and at that moment I just forgot about Kim Bumssi -, I assume that when Kim Bumssi first appeared in the screen I almost started to fangirl very him (Oh my God, he's so beautiful), but I should stop talking about him and talk about what really matter; the episode.
When it first started I was a little skeptical about it, but as I kept watching I just couldn't take my eyes out of the screen, the plot - so far - is great, the cast is amazing, everything fits almost perfectly. The way the story is being developed got me right away, I saw myself cheering for the character or hating that girl So Ra(I never hated a character before, but she deserves it ~ How could she have done that to Oh Soo?), my jaw literally dropped with that car crash scene it was great the camera position, everything. I can't wait to watch the second episode.
Oh, by the way.. I need to comment about the OST, so far is matching the drama perfectly and I'm definitely getting it.
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[[ SPOILER ALERT ]]
In this episode we find out that Young Ho is actually from a rich family who was sent to the US as a kid to undergo a surgery, but stayed there as the head of their US business, though secretly carrying on with his own business of being personal trainer and sponsor of a MMA champion - at least he thought it was secret. Once he's back in S. Korea he soon finds himself in a situation where he's found by his grandmother's secretary to obligate him to meet a young lady - which may or may not be a blind date. He manages to escape, but is found soon after, he finds out he's awful in hiding secrets and even though his secret is being kept by his grandmother and her secretary is not safe to keep wandering around like that, specially when they're not sure if a certain person called Director Kim is aware of that, later on we find out that Director Kim is actually Young Ho's father, Young Ho's grandmother declares him the new head of the company and his father goes to visit him more as a businessman since he feels threatened by his own son. We also find out that Woo Shik works at Young Ho's grandmother company and hears that the chairwoman's grandson will take over the business which he can't let it happen, so he's already making arrangements to not let that happen. Joo Eun accidentally finds out that Young Ho is John Kim - apparently.
This episode made this drama way too predictable, and no matter the choices everything will be just the same as some other plots, so even if there's Shin Min Ah and So Ji Sub I'm not that excited for this drama anymore, but that's my impression only on the second episode. I might be wrong and the plot be a little different, but I have low hopes for that. I was thinking in marathoning this drama today, but... Well, not so much in the mood anymore. But again, this is only the second episode, right? I shouldn't be like this.
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The second episode keeps on where the last one was left with the very well thought dark humor, this second episodes makes sure to add more personality to the Kim Jae Hyeok, making sure to not betray his calm and collected personality, often told as dense, but making sure to let the viewer know that he has his limits and how he manages to keep himself as it is, playing the role of a dense person just so the others won't look at him with neither pity nor hurt.
Something impressive they're keeping up with so far is the feeling of dubious moral conduct on characters. Dramas often make sure to manipulate the viewers judgement by being quite predictable sometimes (most of the times) by showing who's who in the drama, who to trust, who not to trust and so on, however, Prison Playbook, as far as this second episode, did something quite unexpected of what drama would usually do and always remember the viewer that's a prison facility, that people can be deceiving, that things happen unexpectedly and nothing should be blindly trusted.
Of course, there's the usual good and bad guys, but, so far, they're not all-powerful and though there are quite some amazing stunts played here and there with an amazing timing, I must say, it's subtle and quiete, without too much hassle.
The characters motives are well-set and, so far, well-developed, so their actions are not outrageous and unnecessary just to impress the viewer.
Though, so far, there isn't unnecessary drama playing out, this second episode does introduces a possible side-plot that might or might not be a supporting story and be treated as a filler in the future, or else, be treated a part of the main story and that is something to worry about or look forward to.
Something to be looked at is how, despite being set in a prison, the drama doesn't feel too claustrophobic, most probably because of the humor relief and the little amount of scenes that are actually played in the cells.
So far the OST didn't really caught my attention, so that's another downside to it, but the comedy works just fine, same goes for the directing. Shin Won Ho seems to know very well what he's doing, beautiful shots, very good camera work and the acting sync is on point. The cinematography is not superb but not average too.
There's something dangerous about the story, though, this second episode proved that it can end up being predictable with time, it also has the possibility to feel draggy at some point if Jung Bo Hoon doesn't take good care of where the story is going and loose himself in the same thing over and over, because, in the end, this is very simple. Bo Hoon should be able to see this story with many possibilities now and hopefully he'll take the right lead. This is only the second episode, there are fourteen left ahead and, in the end of the day, a prison is just a prison. There's no need to go berserk, but the story can't be accommodated either.
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Don't act as if you didn't know... There are really spoilers!
Read on your own responsibility.
Continuing from my last review I wrote for episode 2, I honestly still think that this drama is a little to predictable in certain points, a lot of them, maybe because I've watched a few dramas like this one, not the same main plot exactly, but with the one where a the main lead is the from of a reach family who handles a heavy burden for being obligated by his grandmother (the chairwoman) to take the family's company and being stimulated to accept an arranged marriage. Something is quite different here as for Young Ho accepts the marriage without a problem, but we all know how this will turn out along the way when he ends up falling for Joo Eun. Oh, Woo Sik finds out our Young Ho is the chairwoman's grandson and is torn between contacting Joo Eun about it, ends up not doing... For now, I believe. As I could see he feels guilty for leaving Joo Eun for Soo Jin, somehow, I guess... Anyhow, the screenwriters just want us to sympathize with the villains for now, they're trying to pull the right strings for this to happen, but, let's face it, Soo Jin assumed she's a freaking b**ch while Woo Sik assumed out loud he's a bastard, so why bother cursing them when they know themselves better?
Oh, I almost forgot about Joo Eun's stalker, I didn't mention before and that makes me kind of curious if they'll finish this soon or carry on with this stalker thing and for how long... I'm curious about this, let's not forget about Joo Sung and Henry's character, Ji Woong. Joo Sung is adorable, at least, I think so, he's definitely adorable, my attention goes towards him every time he appears and I hope I can get to see him often from now on, I get myself looking for him on the screen every now and then - when's he's on the scene; and Ji Woong... He makes me smile every time, I keep imagining what'd be if Ji Woong felt something forJoo Eun, my mind is twisted like that. I'm not a huge Henry fan, actually, if I make an SJ list of bias he'd come last every time, not that I dislike him, no way, it's just, I never got really interested in him, but watching this drama definitely made me get some interest on him, better saying, his character, I thought I wouldn't see him after the first two episodes, so I'm happy and relieved to see that he'd be around more, he's a good comic relief and, sometimes, makes me cringe a little, but I can't say that I don't like it.
Anyway, "Oh, my Venus!" is picking up the pace, finally relieved to see that, probably this episode being so laid back means that there's bullsh*t coming along the way... Soon. It's a drama after all, I must get my poor heart ready. (whispers: heeelp! Save me! Anyone? Joo Sung?! --- )
I know I'm not overreacting, that dinner scene with Choi Hye Ran that Young Ho couldn't go to proved that, another enemy who wants the YoungHo's place and attention, I'm having headaches just by thinking of it, really. Once again, this part of the plot is quite predictable, I hope I'm wrong at this. Let me have my hopes up a little. Seeing that Young Ho revealed so soon and easily that the alias John Kim is actually him, something that I didn't really expected kind of makes me have high hopes, but I don't wanna overdo it even though I'm hearing such amazing things about this drama. I have to cheer up and watch it.
One way or another, being it by the comic relief or whatever other facts, I'm really loving this drama, mostly by one thing Shin Min Ah got out from her comfort zone a bit with this drama and yet is doing an amazing job, I couldn't expect less, I can't believe that the person I'm seeing on the screen is actually Minah, I'm proud indeed, also Ji Sub, he's another one, his character, Young Ho, John Kim, or however you prefer to call it is also different from his usual characters in most ways, his antics are something I watch closely is interesting to see it, so I'll keep my eyes wide open from now on. Now, I finally call it as finished, this review, hoping that the next episodes will turn out not so much predictable as well as the story.
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All the dark humor and heavy settlements that are so normally expected in production the main theme revolves around crime and prison issues does appear in this first episode, but not with extreme commitment as the story delves into a more lighthearted approach. Lighthearted, but not trivialized.
The comedic part could be a worry, however, in this first episode, it was well put and not over-the-top.
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