Beyond the Bar

Beyond nonsense

Messy!
These days it feels like every time I decide to delve into a K-drama I am just left with regret. This drama was just another one to add to a list of the ever crumbling state of K-drama writing.

What on earth was up with the writing of this drama? It was so poor and the continuation of the plot lines were just non existent. The cases tried to be different and diverse, but each one was so easily handled with no real depth despite the subject matters that it brought up.

1. The case with the genius special needs artist
- Her mother refusing to register as a person with a disability was ridiculous. This should have been a commentary on how South Korea views disability and call awareness to it. Did they do that? Nope. Did they discuss how the girl's father left her and her mother but she still misses him even though we are left to understand that he never bothered to ever contact his daughter again? Nope. Did this make sense? NO!

2. The case with the contract marriage without love
- This one was had so much potential to explore marriage as something that has evolved as a concept and an actual contract that can work outside of the context of romantic love. Instead we are left with a judge on her high horse talking about how marriage can only exist in society if it's based on romantic love. It was so outdated and completely biased.

My issue is not that a drama can't stick to traditional values, my issue is that if you choose to do so then don't be daring enough to bring these topics up. You're bringing nothing but half-baked writing to your audiences and telling us that sure things can change and evolve but here in South Korea we remain in the dark ages happily.
Oh, and no K-drama is complete without violence right? You have the male lead lawyer assaulting anyone he wants, you have the managing partner of the law firm slapping a lawyer, and you have the rookie female lawyer conveniently forgetting that she witnessed school violence and walked away from it. Violence should never be the way forward, except in the case of the news anchor who was physically abused for over 10 years by her husband and then found a wonder drug combo that turned her into the hulk and she beat up her abuser. However, when she's divorcing him and he says "I'm sorry" like it was no big deal what he did and she just gives him a smirk smile? What was that??

The romance or lack of it between the main leads was a non issue for me. Of course they liked each other, I didn't need them to hold hands or kiss to know that. Their actions spoke more than those gestures ever could. The second couple was a nice touch, but again where is the continuity with the writing? Jin Woo clearly liked Min Jeong and I loved that she was 10 years older than him. However, I have questions...
1. After their "mistake" Min Jeong was avoiding Jin Woo, but suddenly by the next episode they are dating? Where was that conversation?
2. The fat suit?? Are we still here K-drama writers???? Must we always be thin to achieve our goals in life? What are you actually telling us in your most irresponsible messaging clunky way?
3. Has Min Jeong not seen her daughter in years? Why would she be ok with not seeing her own kid all this time?
4. Jin Woo's sister obviously would not be on board with him and an older woman and I'm assuming she speaks for the family, so where was this conversation or confrontation between Jin Woo and his large family before his proposal?

Kang Hyo Min's parents and their decision to give away their deaf child????? Okay first of all, what is with the twin/hearing impaired trend of K-dramas? Hyo Ju served zero purpose in this drama. I have questions...
1. How did Hyo Min's mother communicate with her own sister who is hearing impaired if she only learned sign language later so she could one day speak with Hyo Ju? Didn't you grow up with your sister? How did anyone in your family communicate with her if she was deaf?
2. If you gave your child away to your sister, why would you never visit that child? You didn't give her away to a stranger and she wasn't living outside of South Korea. So what is this??
3. The double acting of Jung Chae Yeon was also a waste and utterly ridiculous because Hyo Ju was born deaf so how could she know how words would sound to be able to speak out so clearly? Again, what gives? You could have just had her speak in sign language right? Why are you portraying disabilities like this?

So many aspects of the writing remain in the air, but let's circle the drain with Seok Hoon and his ex-wife and her petty ass new husband (why Lee Sang Yeob, why???) Your ex-wife was not for you, please move on. She did.
Lastly, the writing that was clearly written to either stay in the safe zone with Korean society or to fill the void of the nonsense plot. Seok Hoon's ex wife suddenly claiming she terminated her pregnancy because the ultrasound showed an abnormality? That's some rubbish convenient writing. Her then telling him that she'll only let him keep the dog if he gets a roommate or a wife? Say what now? This of course was to get him to sign up for that AI matchmaking service, but oh hang on do we ever find out why Hyo Min also signed up for it? Nope. So the point of this was to drive home the fact that they are suited for each other or that they are not? Wow the writers couldn't even decide on that.

K-dramas have been nothing but utter nonsense lately. It will take a lot for me to ever watch another one again.

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The Mature Legal Drama

I really enjoyed this drama — it managed to be both cute and mature at the same time. What I loved most was how it balanced the legal side of things with the characters’ personal struggles, making it feel grounded but still heartwarming.
The side stories were spot on, each adding something meaningful without feeling unnecessary. I actually thought the open ending was perfect — it wrapped up the journey in a way that felt true to the whole vibe of the show.
The cases stood out to me because they weren’t just about law; they highlighted different kinds of love and human connections, which felt really fresh. You could tell the writers had a real background in law — the cases felt natural, authentic, and never forced.
I’ve already recommended this to my friends, and they enjoyed it as much as I did. Honestly, I’m hoping for a second season because this one was totally worth it. Highly recommend!

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love is...

honestly this show is a good 9/10 for me.

it would've been a 10/10 if they made hyomin and seokhoon's relationship end better. since i started watching this drama i've always noticed the chemistry between hyomin and seokhoon, and might just be have one of the best chemistry in a non-romance drama if you ask me. i was so excited for the last episode cause i thought that they would end up together, but i guess we wont know unless we get a season 2.

그래서 프로듀서님, 시즌2 만들어주세요!!! 나는 그것을 기다리고 있을 것이다!

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Not all KDrama are RomCom

The way the story beautifully depicts all kind of love during each case that Hyo-Min explains in the last 2 mins of the last episode is the beauty of this drama. Not everything is about romance. Very mature and well put down story. One could say this is a proper law related series. They showed us various depictions, not too much drama just straight forward acts done and straightforward results.

It wasn't a KTrauma at all, it was a pure authentic series which showed the life of a growing lawyer and her mentor! Loves it to the bits

Ould say all of this happens in real life, we don't ahve that much distance, like where Yoon Seok Hoom thrashes the animal abuser, taht is not KDrama, that's how humans react to such violence. Drop down, the best so far :)

Worth a watch of you are here for the story and not just for Romance <3

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Love Starts with Passion, Goes with Reality, Ends in Solidarity

WHAT THE HELL IS THIS??? I was expecting a normal law show but damn, it's so heartwarming! This show contains different cases every episode, no, different life lessons every episode. Have you ever tought how a law genre could be mixed up with slice of life or how a law genre could bring a heartwarming feeling? This is the result! The story composition is somewhat outstanding. More importantly, they still able to put the forte of the show in the courtroom and lawfirm. Everything else such as the office politics, personal issues, etc, are just seasoning. The moment when they collage the previous cases near the ending, it's very beautiful how they can put together all of them!

Pace of the show is extremely fast. The case on Episode 4 is really great, and the case on Episode 10 is just magnificent. I can understand why there was a sudden hype after Episode 10 airing. Character development is somewhat very strong here. Both Yun Seok Hun and Kang Hyo Min looks very well-masked about their own personality. But as the story progressing, we begin to slowly (quick, to be honest, considering Seok Hun "suddenly" becomes very open to Hyo Min) peel the layer one by one.

Every episode, I was praying that Seok Hun shouldn't end up with Hyo Min. Why did they have to do that? Jin Wook and Chae Yeon are 16 years apart irl and 11 years in the show. They have more like uncle and niece vibe. Some non-recurring casts (only play in one case) look nervous and expressionless. Also in episode 4 when Seok Hun fights with Choi Cheol Min, Cheol Min's front door has a smart lock on it. However, Hyo Min is able to enter and separate the fight.

Too bad they don't provide us better story on Hyo Min's twin sister after her returns, but in the end the final scene is very very impressive. The soundtracks are good, I think they are all in English? Should I recommend this show? Absolutely! While all the cases seem heavy in this show, the slice of life side will give balance to it. My second 9.5 this year!

PS: I rarely ask for a sequel, but this show deserves a second season!

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What was that ending?

No doubt I loved this, but it is such a missed potential. I really wished they focused even slightly more on the fl's twin sister, like if you are including that in the plot add something to it, they just left it there.
The ending was so open like what was the point? I loved the cases, it was really interesting, the other couple was amazing too, but the ML and FL relationship was just touched upon, given the age gap and everything I get it, but they left it open without a proper closure. It could have developed a little or maybe not have started at all, since they started it I think q little progress couldn't have hurt.

Overall, the cast and plots I loved it.

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BEST LAW KDRAMA 2025

The first legal drama I'm truly passionate about

Beyond the Bar was on my list for its casting, but certainly not for its theme. So I was very surprised when, from the very first episode, I was drawn in by this very special first case to defend. The meticulous cinematography, an absolutely sublime cast with spot-on performances... I found myself devouring the episodes with great anticipation!

Under its lighthearted LOVE SCOUT feel—because love isn't the central theme—we discover a workaholic lead, marked by some past trauma, and a patient, attentive assistant, with whom a simple exchange of glances is enough to connect. I really liked the atmosphere and the obvious chemistry between the two.

Some, bothered by the age gap (even though it's absolutely nothing new in a kdrama, even a romantic one), will describe their bond as a "mentor/junior" relationship. For my part, I understood where the screenwriter was going: a slow-burn romance (a bit like Backstreet Rookie), where, to maintain a certain rigor and logic despite the age difference, the two characters gradually become intimate. But the story clearly leaves the door ajar for "more than just colleagues," hence the open ending. It suggests that with time, and a few more years, a real relationship could blossom, as if he were waiting for her to mature further.

Overall, it's flawless... I experienced a veritable whirlwind of emotions watching this drama, thanks to its increasingly intriguing and touching cases, as well as its main and secondary characters, all of whom possess real depth. The gentle and well-balanced soundtrack, the striking opening credits, and the carefully chosen camera shots make it an excellent legal drama, far from being boring, unlike its recent predecessor. I can only recommend it: you'll fly by and almost regret there aren't 16 of them, for once!

On the romance side, don't expect anything fully realized, but a lot of things come across through the looks—even if we would have liked more. On the other hand, the supporting characters delight us in this regard! In short, a must-see!

10/10

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