Underrated, This Deserves Better Than 7.3/10 (IMO)
First off, I haven't watched this "Beyond the Bar" (kdrama that some compare this to) or really any legal / courtroom dramas in general.The storyline really hooked me from the first episode into binging the whole show. I loved the use of the courtroom and "cherry picked" cases to show how human relationships / emotions mix with legal principles. They delve into the grey areas of the law, but lots of humour and romance narratives kept the story fresh. I really liked how the story shifts to give each character enough time to tell their story.
I don't usually write reviews, but seeing a 7.3/10 for this drama doesn't sit right with me. Although it might not be for everyone, I went into it with an open mind and I genuinely appreciated how they prioritized character development and moral dilemmas over social realism. The last 3-5 episodes did feel a bit dragged out but I think it was meant to reinforce the theme.
- 8.5/10 for story : (above)
- 8.5/10 for acting : I think all the actors/actresses fit they're role really well. Some scenes made me cringe a little, but I think that just made it more enjoyable.
- 7/10 for music : I always skip music
- 4/10 for rewatch : I just don't like rewatching shows in general
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This review may contain spoilers
Some great moments and aspects but not a typical legal drama...
PROS:- Interesting and capturing dynamic between the FL and ML. While the story focus is mainly on the FL and her growing as a person and a lawyer, the story does include a romance line for the FL & ML (explored later in the series).
- Great acting from FL (Xin Zhi Lei) in portraying a character whose motives and actions we can understand
- Some cases that really capture your attention (in the first 16 episodes) with the music making it suspenseful.
- Some really "enjoyable to watch" scenes, including the support of FL from PeiLin and Kang Jun's ex-wife (briefly).
CONS:
- Termed as a legal drama but barely any scenes from court, and I believe at least 3 "cases" involved divorce.
- A lot of "cases" are to do with friends of the FL and Xiao Yun (2nd FL). Even the 3rd FL (PeiLin) and 2nd ML (Xiao Yue) have cases they are personally involved in. This aspect is too far-fetched, and the reason I say it's not a typical legal drama.
- Too much screen time given to flash-backs of the clients, when sometimes completely unnecessary. In the later half, you forget you are even watching a series that has anything to do with the leads or the law because of this.
- Sometimes it becomes a bit "preachy" as to what lesson to take from each case, rather than it being a "natural" talk between the characters.
I watched this drama for Xin Zhi Lei and Lin Yu Shen, so my rating is accordingly higher than the average. Would I recommend the drama? If you are a fan of melodramas, then absolutely, as there are a lot of situations that are "unrealistically dramatic". If you are a fan of the main actors, then I'd say sure give it a try. But whether it meets the standard for what a legal drama should entail, I'd say don't expect too much, as the series explores far more relationship dynamics than it does the law.
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This review may contain spoilers
Excellent drama, fine acting, not a "legal drama' but not intended to be?
In reading some of the reviews, it seems that some viewers expected this drama to be more about case law than characters, and I think that was never intended. At least, in reading the synopses online from over six months ago, this series was exactly what I expected: the story of several lawyers and how they changed and gained more personal insight as they made their way through various legal challenges. The legalities were just the framework for the character growth, and to me, it didn't disappoint.The female lead, Tang Ying Ying, was played by an actress unfamiliar to me and she was excellent. For the first six episodes, I actively disliked her but the story kept me hooked and I wanted to see how she'd bring her character around to a point where I could root for her, and she did a terrific job. People who quit the series early missed a masterclass in acting. Lin Yu Shen, the male lead, was more familiar to me and it's easy to see why he's so highly regarded; he can carry a story on micro expressions alone. He's played the CEO type before, and here he manage to make it endearing as he fumbled his way into a romance with the FL. Although it's played out in the courtroom, not the boardroom, his portrayal of Kang Yun is similar to his Lu Jin in Dating in the Kitchen, without the comedic overtones. Professionally a shark, but far less adept in his personal life. The slowly developing romance between the ML and FL was enjoyable to watch as they began to understand and trust each other. And though Lin Yu Shen is now in his mid-forties, he's aging very, very well. I wish we saw more of him.
I'm not Asian, so the glimpses into the nuances of the Chinese legal system were interesting. My high rating on rewatch value would be to go back and see what I missed as the cases played out. (The sometimes-clunky English translations probably didn't help.) Some viewers have commented on the number of legal cases involving friends and family and how it seemed too coincidental; I think this was deliberate. Everyone interacts with the legal system at some point, and dealing with the law is one area where you can't always predict the outcome or control it, so I think the writers meant to show that the law can act as a catalyst for people to grow and adapt. Just my take.
As for the romance, the ending was a bit open-ended but all the major roadblocks had been removed and there was no reason to think the ML and FL wouldn't forge ahead together. I gave the soundtrack high marks because it was fittingly instrumental; no pop idol warbling a theme song over and over. It sounded right for the drama.
If you want a drama that is focused solely on the ins and outs of the legal system, you'll likely be dissatisfied with this one. If, however, you like more character-driven dramas, The Inner Eye is very high-quality and well worth watching.
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Pretty interesting law drama
In the first case, there is a scene where the perspective cuts back and forth between two separate conversations, our two lead lawyers are speaking to their respective clients. The use of that scene and their dialogues to confuse viewers really grabbed me. A lot of law dramas are pretty clear about who the victims are and who the viewers should condemn. It's refreshing to feel this torn over a case (especially one that would usually be dramatized). Otherwise, most of the other cases are pretty standard law drama stuff. The acting is good. I personally love Tang Ying Ying, and Lin Xiao Yun's character developed in an interesting way. I wasn't into the male lead, but the chemistry between the two leads was good.Was this review helpful to you?
An eye out of focus
I like legal dramas (vs. crime) so gave this a try and the first few episodes case was compelling--well laid out "who is really at fault" storyline but then the series dropped into silly tropes given the maturity of the leads, and cases that apparently were made to follow a theme of "women can prevail in a macho world " which I absolutely don't object to but it quickly became too preachy and the cases too predictable. I will likely drop this.For legal dramas, I've found the Korean ones better--just finished Beyond The Bar--and am actually considering re-watching it!
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Individual litigation stories
This series is a compilation of different litigation stories. Interesting that in a few episode we can see the development of each litigation case. The actors are well knows and wonderful to watch. I decided to take a break after episode 12 and to continue with another case series at a later date. If you enjoy lawyers stories this is very well done.Was this review helpful to you?
