A MUST WATCH
hyena is definitely one of the most underrated kdramas out there. It has one of the most interesting and engaging storylines in the courtroom genre. The lead characters are the strongest point of the drama. Both Jung Geum-ja and Yoon Hee-jae are competitive, selfish, money-minded and egoistic lawyers who will go to any lengths to win cases and establish themselves as competent lawyers. Jung Geum ja shines in the series with her intelligence, fearlessness and manipulative behaviour with immoral tendencies. Each case in the series is gripping and puts you on an edge. This is not your typical kdrama and is a must-watch for all the kdrama fans out there.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
When I first started watching the drama, I wasn’t hoping for too much comedy. I thought this would be more of the serious law type of drama with a bit of romance in it. I was so WRONG. This drama has not only make me laugh non stop, but also make me feel the tension like I was actually experiencing it live. I’ve never supported casts with big age gap, but this drama cast is just perfect! Kim Hye Soo and Ju Ji Hoon are the perfect match, and they’re just WOWED ME EVERY EPISODE.The story might be a bit predictable, but I’m sure no one would feel bored watching this. Not even slightly. The comedy was excellent, the romance isn’t too much and just perfect. The only thing missing is just the fact that Jang Geum Ja and Yoon Hee Jae didn’t get the chance to perform together at the court for the last time!! I was hoping for one, but the last scenes were enough though!! BEST COMEDY LAW DRAMA I’VE EVER SEEN. TOTALLY A MUCH WATCH. 100000000000/10 ⭐️
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If you love a woman who knows what she wants in life and refuses to let anyone tell her any different: you'll love this drama.
Her only match is the slick, smart and just as ruthless hotshot lawyer whose the typical well-brought up male lead. Except, not? He clearly wears his heart on his sleeve and I don't think it's much of a spoiler that he pines over the FL the entire run, but he isn't portrayed as any less vicious or clever because of it.
I think if you're more used to run of the mill type dramas where the leads are very straight-cut, unproblematic hero types, this one isn't for you. The cast has wonky morals and aren't very nice, but they still have a whole lot of heart too. If you don't mind your main leads coming with a bit of spice - I recommend! Not the most perfect of shows maybe, but definitely up there.
(and as a side note: has a surprisingly unexpected feminist thread lowkey running throughout about the way women in positions of power are dismissed, disrespected or cast aside in favour of their male counterparts just because they're women.)
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I like Legal Dramas - just did not find this one interesting
7.5/10 is my rating. This is a 2020 South Korean drama with 16, 70 minute episodes.Jung Geum-ja (Kim Geun-ja) is a lawyer who, like a Hyena, has no issue with scavenging off other‘s weakness to win a case. She crosses paths with Yoon Hee-jae (Ju Ji-hoon) who works for a distinguished law firm that caters to the wealthiest of the wealthy. Yoon Hee-jae is confident in his ability and has risen through the ranks of his law firm at an accelerated rate due to his exceptional legal skill that is until he goes against Geum-ja. Their first encounter is on a divorce case and Geum-ja seduces Hee-Jae in order to get close enough to him to steal information that is critical to winning the case.
In general I did not find the cases they worked on very compelling. It was mostly corporate level cases or rich chaebol and that type of law was not very interesting to me. I did not feel a lot of chemistry between the leads. I also did not like Geum-ja's underhanded way of doing law. It was okay a lot of times for the criminals she was pursuing but tricking someone by pretending to love them then stealing information to win a case was cruel and it made it so I did not like her very much. She is supposed to be very attractive but her short hair did not make her look very attractive to me. I have been watching this for many weeks and I usually watch things quickly but I find it very slow.
It took me a long time to finish this drama. I did not hate it but I certainly did not love it. Spoiler Alert* I found the way Geum-ja treated Hee-Jae in the beginning reprehensible. She seduced him to steal information to win a case. Hee-jae was a nice guy so I could not excuse the way she treated him as just being competitive or breaking some rules for a good outcome. If he had been a jerk then maybe I could have gotten past that but he was nice and what she damaged his career. I also did not find the cases they were working on very interesting. Corporate intrigue is just not much my thing. Since I was not pulling for the romance between the leads, I was not super invested in them getting together. It was also very slow in some parts. If you are someone who really likes legal drama, particularly corporate law, or likes one of these actors a lot - you might find it worth the watch. In general I would say there are far better legal dramas to watch and I would pass this one over.
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showcasing the people behind justice not being served :)
Hyena was a show that showed the other side of justice, the bad side of laws and how corrupt everything can be. The disregard for justice and how lawyers clean up behind rich kids was so hard for me to digest. This side is something I haven't seen a lot in tv shows and its both a pro and a con tbh! It was certainly an amusing watch from that point of view but made me uncomfortable the whole time due to the decisions each person was making. but id say the show wrapped up showing the consequence of bad decision so overall I'm satisfied.The actors did a good job, and the music was very apt for each scene! Many people either hate or love the female lead, but for me, she was just alright. Some of her actions were truly badass, and some were just super weak. The romance was truly unnecessary, and I do not like how they executed it at all! In the first few episodes, her scamming the guy was literally too much!! And the fact that hee jae never got over her no matter what the female lead said is kinda crazy to me.
I did like most characters on the show all gray and all doing selfish things. the cases and events in the drama was also quite enjoyable- though a little unrealistic. id say some slight adjustments on the romance and a little bit more justice fighting could have made this a 10 for me!
overall a decent watch that shows the corrupt side of the law world- be cautious if you love the justice to be served and people fighting for justice all the time- this is not for you! but id watch it for the dapper suits on ju ji hoon and some strong representation of women on screen :)
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Flashy legal drama with sizzling chemisty between the leads
Likes1. Explosive chemistry between the two leads. I loved their petty fights, legal battles when they were fighting againat each other and when they finally learned to work together, those moments when they became personal and emotional and opened up to eo. They may not have ended up together but the finale was still perfect because they are now partners in their own firm.
2. I believe that Geum Ja will get to buy her own building with Hee Jae's help and Law Firm Choong will be bigger than S&K.
3. Their team, the old smart guy, the funny talkative best friend, Geum Ja's secretary, Ms Boo, newbie lawyer and the detective. Each one has their own strengths and skills that they bring to the table.
4. Reminds me a lot of Suits with the flashy office, 2 representative lawyers fighting over the law firm, annoying lawyer at odds with Hee Jae, the witty lines and the amazing ost.
5. The cases were fun, a lit bit intriguing, well developed that you see the connection in the later episodes. At first i was team Song but ugh! So bad to betray Hee Jae. I still didnt like Kim though.
Dislikes:
1. That 16 episodes went by too fast. I want season 2 please!!
Rating: 9.5/10
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Delightful cast creates a wonderful viewing experience
Kim Hye Soo is stunning on screen, both visually and as an actress and I loved every bit of her turn as the driven Jung Geum Ja who has a somewhat selective but still very strong ethical morality about things and a unique way of accomplishing them. Yoon Hee Jae is the character you'd generally mark as the dashing and suave occasionally amoral male lead but who instead turns out to be a softer and a lot more fun interactive partner for Jung Geum Ja's complex and intense personality and isn't just a generic rich jerk with deeply hidden heart of gold you have to tolerate for 90% of the show, but is instead trying to find his own footing in life and with the woman he loves. I loved that there were multiple female characters interacting with each other, all with their own personalities so no one female character had to be the sole Strong one and it wasn't just a sausage fest. The plot was interesting but was more of a vehicle for the characters and I enjoyed it thoroughly.Was this review helpful to you?
These two work well together, not just at work. I felt the chemistry between the characters. I think it was mainly thanks to actress Kim Hye-Soo, who played fantastically. Her brave look and outstretched neck gave the impression of a proud, brave and fighting woman.
In such dramas the themes of murder and corruption are very often discussed - there is no shortage of them either. I have to admit that despite the lack of originality in the approach to the subject, the series was very well watched.
There was no shortage of funny scenes, obviously related to the relationship between the main characters. I liked that Jung Geum-Ja was not ashamed of herself, she knew that she was a good lawyer and that she was able to overcome the male dominated system.
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In a dog-eat-dog world, one must be a hyena
Story: I am quite biased towards legal dramas so I had high expectations going into this. It did not disappoint. Don't expect a lovey-dovey romantic comedy. Don't expect a cerebral thriller like "Stranger" or "Signal". This falls somewhere in between and juggles the best of both worlds led by acting powerhouses Kim Hye Soo (Signal / Juvenile Justice) and Ju Ji Hoon (Kingdom / Princess Hours). They play lawyers in the heart of Seoul, willing to do almost anything to win their battles amid corruption and scandal surrounding the country's top 1%. There is a constant back and forth between the two headstrong leads, and with their childish bickering, sparks are bound to fly. And before you know it, in the last few episodes, they become one of those "tell me you're married without telling me you're married" couples.Cast / Acting: The two leads are quite literally giants in this show. Talk about chemistry! OOF (see ep. 8). Their presence alone is so commanding that the supporting actors, while important and capable, can be easily overlooked when even just one of them is in the same scene. In opposites-attract type romances, one is often straight-faced while the other is outrageous. As this show progresses, you realize that neither of them is afraid to show all the points on the emotional spectrum but it never feels overdone. What we get are two well-fleshed out characters that have several relatable, or at the very least, understandable traits. That's all I ask for, really.
Music: Honestly, I don't remember much of the OST except for Baekhyun's "On the road (that leads to you)". But I don't think it ever felt inappropriate or misplaced.
Overall: Solid drama. Rewatch value above average. If you like a bit of comedy, legal / political thriller, a strong but quirky female lead, and a headstrong but secure male lead, this one's for you. 9/10.
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The Kdrama is so good that if you rewatch it, you might get too addicted too it, that’s the only reason I haven’t gave it a 10/10 score.
Everything from the twist and turns, casting, acting, music etc. Everyone needs to watch this Kdrama!
I’m just honestly hoping this isn’t the end of this amazing Kdrama, I could watch 20 seasons of this Kdrama if it continues this greatness, I’m honestly begging for another series asap please, that’s how good hyena is! You will love it!
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The story follows the two main characters, Yoon Hee Jae and Jung Geum Ja, who are lawyers striving to make a name for themeselves in a very competitive field of work, each having different backgrounds, ethics and aspirations.
What I loved most about this drama is its characters. Each and every one was a complete, distinctive persona and there was also natural and well-paced character development as the story progressed. After completing all episodes, I can definitely say that the director and the screenwriter wanted to make a drama that features strong, independent women with realistic behaviour and that is something I have to respect, really. There is no unnecessary drama, no women-pitting-against-women-for-no-logical-reason plot additions and nearly all the female characters are just as you would see them in the real world: striving for personal and professional success, while not being slaves to their feelings.
What was also incredibly fun to watch was the interactions between the two main characters, Yoon Hee Jae and Jung Geum Ja. Through this drama, you get to see what happens when two strong, competitive and self-centric personalities enter each others' worlds. It is mostly chaos, but the underlying passionate attraction between them makes for a very interesting relationship. The actors had amazing chemistry, but that is to be expected since they are both renowned and experienced professionals.
I have to also give a shout-out to the OST which was incredible. Giriboy's "Hyena" is now one of the most replayed songs in my playlist. The drama featured many tracks that are different from the classic drama ballads that you usually get, which was a refreshing change.
All in all, this was a very fun drama to watch, quite different from those I have watched lately, and one of the few out there that features female roles worthy of respect and admiration. I definitely recommend it!
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I love that this is an empowered female lead who takes no bull and needs no man to save her. Add to that a seemingly typical cocky and overconfident male lead that actually shatters toxic masculinity as he isn’t afraid to show his emotional and tender side often. I love this dynamic. The second lead woman who forms the love triangle appears like a typical bitchy, smart popular girl who will start a fight but shatters that appearance too.
Gosh this was such a badass series that I binged it unknowingly (and I dont do that anymore!). Praying it gets another chance and continues to a second season.
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