For me, Prison Playbook was refreshing, emotionally driven and overall had a lot to offer in the constant world of legal/prosecutor/detective dramas that have overtaken the k-drama scene in the past year. It stands out from the crowd because the focus isn't really on a side romance line, but personal growth and understanding. The sense of family and redemption to many of the characters highlighted in this story captivated me enough to continue through the series. Admittedly it took me a while to get into the groove of this drama, but for the most part, I was hooked on watching.

That doesn't mean it's all amazing. I loved the fact that we got more than just Kim Jehyeok's story... and focussed a great deal on the other characters around him, to build him up, to contrast him, to empathise. My interest was solely on the other characters towards the middle and end of this drama, and was thankful they had impacting changes within their worlds.

However, characters were sacrificed so easily, with plot lines discarded to bring in new characters (Dr Ko and Kaist were prime examples of this). I found this to be detrimental to the storyline as a whole. Being left to give them an ending based on assumption didn't really sit well with me, but thankfully new characters would distract me and I would become immersed in their worlds. I LOVED the brotherly Tom and Jerry relationship with Captain Yoo and Looney. I loved the turnaround of Crony, and Jailbird's unconditional loyalty to Jehyeok. Minchul and Lieutenant Paeng were my favourite characters within the whole storyline, and their constant stability that gave emotional and physical support to the others in their close proximity really spoke of the familial bond that was shared in the jail.

The in-prison drama and "bad guys" really held little attention for me... they all had similar agendas and their formula was always the same, and so their presence in the drama held little impact... they attacked, but Jehyeok and his squad/correction officers would always prevail and it became a stalemate to the storyline.

Again, the romance between Jiho and Jehyeok and following their memories of how their relationship had been really held no value to me at all. I found Krystal's character to be irksome and very one dimensional, which made her behaviour frustrating at times. It also helped with decreasing my interest in Jehyeok as a whole on the outside of jail... inside he had so much more personality and change. I remember reading a review where out of all the criminals, Jehyeok's personality really suited jail and I have to completely agree, he was a boss, he had the authority on his side, he basically could say jump and they would say how high... he had the makings of a true prison boss down pat.

The saddest reaction I had was for Looney, Hanyang had worked so hard to abstain from drugs, but the cruel, harsh cycle of being an addict caught him immediately and it broke me to see him lose it all again... I feel some of the other criminals who had done far worse gained less punishment than he did because it was self inflicted. He was still one of my favourite characters for being so honest to who he was even in the end.

I'm glad for those who turned their lives around in the end, even if it's only mentioned of. I was hopeful for characters once out of jail, and apart from Hanyang/Looney, this seemed to be promising for them all.

I would recommend this drama to anyone who wants a break in the current formula and isn't sick of the legal dramas like I am slowly getting to be (though I admit there are a few on my list to still watch due to actors, haha).
8/10.