Doctor Prisoner

I really really wanted to like this show.

I was initially pretty invested because I just came off watching Namjoong Min in The Veil and thought he had a powerhouse performance. He transformed everything about himself: his voice, his physique, his expressions, and even his gait. I was mesmerized by his charismatic performance and yearned for more of his work since he easily carried The Veil on his gorgeous shoulders.

This series began pretty promisingly. I really liked the introduction of his character, Na Ji Ye, and his unwavering empathy toward those less fortunate. I was especially drawn to his character because, while he had the brains and the heart to care for his patients, he also had the balls to step up to those trying to use him as a pawn. He didn't flinch at adversity and I admired that about him. The issues began around the 7th or 8th episode when Sun Min Shik had much more prominent screen time.

I've had an issue with Kim Byung Chul in the past when I saw his character in Goblin. His character, Park Joong Hun, when he'd been found out in the later episodes as a bad spirit, was ultra campy in both appearance and behavior. I assumed it was due to poor writing (which came as a surprise, because I *loved* Goblin up until those last few episodes), but he struck me again as ultra campy in Dr. Prisoner. His cheesy behavior kept bringing up images of those villains in old-school cartoons twiddling their mustaches while the tied-up damsel cries for help. His body language was over the top and his conniving plans were always barely hidden in his facial expressions which really gave me Soap Opera vibes.

Speaking of soap operas, the OST was also a huge issue for me. One minute it swells with tension and over-the-top strings, the next I'm being beaten over the head with cacophonous drums and symbols crashing. I personally felt like it hindered the scenes because I'd catch myself drawn out of the scene and going, "WTF is up with this music." It also had the unfortunate ability to change an otherwise tense and well-performed scene into a comedy.

I was also running into issues with Na Ji Ye by episode 9. I didn't like that everything he did was somehow 10 steps ahead of everyone else. Like he's magically got enough foresight and street smarts through his comfortable IVY-league education to outsmart and outwit everyone, all the time. Even scenes of distress were fabricated for some type of gain. I wanted to see him more conflicted. More angst. More human. Less "I'm sad, but really I'm not because I knew this would happen way before you did and already formulated and perfected my counterattack before you had your morning breakfast."

I might come back to it again later, but for a 32-episode series where I found myself skipping through episodes before even hitting episode 10, it doesn't seem very promising. On the other hand, I'm reading reports that another season has been greenlit, and for a KDRAMA to have a season renewal, that's pretty rare, so maybe I'm totally wrong about the whole thing.

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Plot twist… revenge?

Everytime I think I’ve watched every genre of Korean revenge thriller, they make a new and more exciting one.. Namkoong Min is simply phenomenal in this title as the main character. Although I struggled with some of his decisions morally, it was an intriguing and excellently executed drama.

There was never a dull moment with this show. Each character was grandiose, larger than life. It was akin to watching a chess match between two grandmasters, with each twist and turn outdoing the last.

One thing I love about Korean shows is the focus on the character development and plot. Namkoong min as Na I Je had a phenomenal run, going from a sweet doctor, to a cold and calculating morally grey man… but who somehow still made you root for him. Director Sun’s constant backstabbing was a treat.
If anything, one plot line I wish was better handled was Han so-geum and Han Bit’s.

Lee Jae-jun, the big bad was creepy, larger than life and wonderfully acted. He managed to make me feel a wispy sadness and regret for him, all while scaring me with his actions.

All in all, a phenomenal drama.

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At first I thought that this drama was about a corrupt doctor being sent to prison and doing stuff but it turned out it was a revenge story of a doctor who unexpectedly got caught into a twisted plot and got sent to prison for a crime that he didn't commit. And while Na Ije strive to get his revenge he ended up unraveling the conspiracy between a big corporation involved in healthcare, the prison as well as the political scene.

Namgoong Min was really great at portraying the main character Na Ije, and Ilike the fact that there are scenes where he had to use sign language as Na's mother was deaf. And this was a very interesting twist in dramas involving doctors where the doctor was the one taking revenge.

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Doctor Prisoner - A Gripping Medical Thriller!

Doctor Prisoner is a captivating drama that kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. Namkoong Min's portrayal of Dr. Na Yi Je is nothing short of brilliant. His intense performance as a doctor seeking justice in a corrupt system was both compelling and emotional. Kwon Nara as Han So Geum added depth to the story with her strong and empathetic character, creating a perfect balance with Dr. Na's journey.

The OST was exceptional, enhancing the drama's atmosphere with its powerful tracks. The music complemented the intense scenes, making each moment more impactful. The supporting cast, including Kim Byung-chul and Choi Won-young, delivered outstanding performances, adding complexity to the narrative. The plot was fast-paced and filled with unexpected twists, keeping me hooked throughout. If you're a fan of medical thrillers with strong characters and a gripping storyline, Doctor Prisoner is a must-watch.

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Pour une bonne vengeance, il faut toujours un coup d'avance !

Ce drama est un des mieux écrit et construit que j’aie pu voir ! Le scénario est une vraie partie d’échec où Na Yi Je doit avoir toujours trois coups d’avance ! Son but, qui paraît évident, ne l’est pas du tout en fait, et une série de rideaux s’ouvrent les uns après les autres, dévoilant au fur et à mesure des épisodes les manœuvres du héros. Il n’a pas peur de se salir les mains, mais on découvre peu à peu ses vraies motivations, et qu’il n’a pas perdu son âme en dépit des méthodes peu orthodoxes qu’il emploie. Le drama est comme une poupée russe, les manipulations, pièges et coups de théâtres s’emboîtent magnifiquement les uns dans les autres ! Ce n’est que vers la fin que la vraie cible de Na Yi Je se découvre, et surtout pourquoi cette cible est en fait à l’origine de tout !

Les acteurs sont très bons, assumant parfaitement leur personnage, avec Namgung Min, c’est comme d’habitude, mais chapeau à Kim Byung Chul, le directeur du centre de santé, vraiment excellent, et à Jang Hyun Sung, qui pour une fois n’est pas l’ordure de service, mais joue un procureur (presque) tout à fait honnête et le couple improbable qu’il forme peu à peu avec la riche et très ambigüe Kim Jung Nan apporte une touche de gaîté dans un drama assez sombre au final.
En fait, il est sombre dans la première moitié, où vraiment on ne voit que corruption et complots, et où les personnages semblent tous plus noirs les uns que les autres. Cependant l’atmosphère s’allège au fur et à mesure que les fils entremêlés de l’histoire se dénouent, et si les personnages finissent par découvrir des côtés moins sombres, il n’en deviennent pas pour autant des anges repentants ! Le grand talent du scénariste est d’avoir écrit des personnages parfaitement crédibles, sans aucun manichéisme, et ce n’est pas si souvent dans les dramas pour qu’on manque l’occasion de s’en réjouir !
La musique est bien, mais tient la place qu’il faut : discrète, les chansons plutôt jolies, et heureusement très discrètes elles-aussi !
Donc à l’arrivée : très bon drama, très recommandable !

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La vendetta è un piatto che va servito freddo.

TRAMA: questo drama mi ha ricordato molto una serie americana, Revenge, a sua volta ispirata al celebre romanzo di Dumas, Il Conte di Montecristo. Che si parli di corruzione, brama di potere o giustizia, il fulcro della storia è la vendetta: la "giusta" vendetta, pianificata a lungo e con cura fin nei minimi dettagli da parte del protagonista, capro espiatorio in un passato che l'ha visto pagare - ingiustamente - un caro prezzo. La serie si concentra sulla messa in atto di tale piano di vendetta, e per lo spettatore è davvero intrigante seguire gli sviluppi, molti dei quali apparentemente imprevisti, mentre in realtà si va via via a svelare un disegno intricato e machiavellico architettato da tempo.
Curiosità e suspance non mancano, e ciò mantiene alta l'attenzione dello spettatore di episodio in episodio.
A livello di sceneggiatura, l'impronta legale e la sfera medica, nonché il contesto del penitenziario sono tutti ingredienti ben equilibrati tra loro, dove nessuno soverchia l'altro in modo predominante (il troppo stroppia, si sa). Unica nota dolente, che mi impedisce di dare un 10 e lode, è la totale mancanza di romance: va bene che non è una commedia romantica, ma i requisiti anche solo per un leggero accenno, tra il protagonista e la dr.ssa Han, c'erano tutti. Sarebbe stato un tocco apprezzabile e non avrebbe alterato minimamente la struttura principale della serie. Peccato.
Il finale lascia aperto uno spiraglio a un possibile sequel. Sono passati quattro anni, ma personalmente continuo a sperarci.

CAST: la scelta di guardare questa serie è stata in primis influenzata dalla presenza dell'attore protagonista, che apprezzo particolarmente. E, anche stavolta, non ne sono rimasta delusa: Doctor Prisoner ci mostra un Nam Goong Min davvero superbo, dove la sua grande capacità espressiva e il suo timbro di voce davvero unico ci regalano una recitazione di altissimo livello, vestendo perfettamente i panni dell'abilissimo stratega Na Yi Je. Una menzione anche per Kim Byung Chul, attore che non conoscevo e che ricopre il ruolo antagonistico di Sun Min Shik, precedente direttore del penitenziario nonché uomo avido di successo e potere. Un po' fiacca invece l'attrice Nara - alias Dr.ssa Han - che ho già avuto modo di incontrare in altre serie e che, ancora una volta, sembra sfumare in una recitazione che manca di incisività. Al contrario, un prezioso tocco di vivacità va attribuito al personaggio di Oh Jung Hee, interpretato da una effervescente Kim Jung Nan.

MUSICA: Niente che meriti di essere segnalato. A livello sonoro ho apprezzato la nota ricorrente, quasi un sibilo stordente, nei momenti in cui la scena raggiungeva il vertice della tensione.

Unico vero neo della serie: la mancanza di sottotitoli in italiano (confido che prima o poi si provveda, perchè merita più di molti altri Kdrama tradotti in svariate lingue).

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