Easy Procedural - Contemplative on Marriage and Love
On the surface this is a legal/crime episodic procedural drama. However, oddly there are strong themes regarding love, marriage, and family relationships. I suspect that the lower than expected rating is due in part to people going in with episodic crime expectations and perhaps looking for a stronger romantic entanglement between the leads, and instead getting a healthy dose of almost at times meditative discussions on love and its evolution within a marriage.There are the promised court room cases per episode. These are entertaining with satisfying surprise twists. Of course there is a main story arc involving the two leads and this is interwoven skillfully with several plot arcs involving supporting characters, good and bad.
Symbolism is artfully placed without being too heavy handed. Also enjoyable are the contrasting relationships and character arcs that invite understanding.
A partial spoiler.....
The two 'supporting' main leads have a romantic connection. She is 10 years older than he, and they finally do get together i.e. things are consummated and we're left at the story end with marriage on the horizon. The two main leads have a similar age difference with a gender reversal but things are left open. The contrast between these two couples seems intentional with one hopefully foreshadowing the prospects for the other.
In general on one level an easy and entertaining courtroom procedural that with repeated watching reveals more subtle commentary waiting to be noticed.
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best scripted drama
my top 3 K drama 1-Something in the rain, 2-move, 3- worst of the evil.. now I dont know what rank I can give to beyond the bar.. but defitinetly it will share one of the rank in my first top 3 dramas. what I liked the most in this drama, scripts were sooo good. there were many scripts I re-watched again and again.my favourite script is in 12th episode, the judge said “Love is not perfect, and marriage is the process of enduring that imperfect love together”
and also I think it was in episode 7
"Love between a couple begins with passion, passes through reality, and matures into solidarity. Losing passion doesn't mean losing love. Solidarity, loyalty, belonging, they're all just different forms of love".
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I Got Suspicious...
I didn't know I was watching the final episode until after it was over. I typically jump ahead at the end and go straight to the "Next episode" button...only it wasn't there. Huh? Only then did I go back and notice that the credits scenes were showing the cast members and then the whole production team. Like an earlier reviewer said, I thought "That's it?" also. Candidly, I got bored during all the "love is this, love is that, what is love, marriage is that" etc etc. and jumped ahead 10 seconds at a time. Shoot, I've been married for 44 years and I wasn't too interested in what some writer thought on the subject. I did have an inkling that the long speeches about love etc seemed out of step with where I was thinking the series was heading. Then to realize that the entire series was basically building a soapbox to present said views on love and marriage? Fortunately the show was pretty entertaining even if it was a bait and switch final episode. Certainly the ending fail doesn't come close to Iris level ineptitude, but I feel cheated out of watching the ML/FL relationship grow. The secondary couple's courtship was so rushed and the proposal so lame that I wonder if it got thrown in as a nod to the romantics, knowing full well that we weren't going to be happy with the ending. Unless....unless...they were hoping for a Season 2 and didn't put a pretty bow on it for that reason. If that's the case, then all is forgiven. Otherwise, enjoy the series and stop the final episode at the hour mark and write your own ending. I'm sure you will like it better than this one.Was this review helpful to you?
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Persi in un bicchiere d’acqua
Ho guardato Beyond the bar per i casi che venivano presentati, tutti sempre molto interessanti. Ad un certo punto della serie però mi è iniziato a sembrare che tutto dovesse essere concluso nell’immediato, l’ultimo episodio ne è il perfetto esempio: la rincociliazione tra la madre di Hyo Min e la sorella, la proposta di matrimonio, l’appuntamento di Seok Hoon e Hyo Min con cui ci hanno illusi che potesse svilupparsi qualcosa di più. Senza considerare che molti personaggi erano superflui, considerando che non era dato loro spazio, o comunque, lo sono divenuti nel corso della serie(esempio? tutti i colleghi associati di Hyo Min). Inoltre, a volte Hyo Min sembrava del tutto inespressiva e un po’ troppo bambina per la sua età.
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Beyond the Bar: Guilty of Great Acting, Charged with Predictability
Overall, Beyond the Bar offers a compelling drama. It's fun to watch as new cases unfold in each episode that are engaging to watch. But more importantly, it makes the viewer think about moral and social issues that everyone hears and sees in their everyday lives. Regardless of whether one agrees or disagrees with the judgements and decisions, the point of the series is that law, ethics and morality are surrounded by grey areas that extend beyond a simplistic division of good and evil.What is probably the strongest element of the series are the actors. Charming, thoughtful, intelligent, but also serious and occasionally fuelled by anger and intensity. They give the main characters authenticity and a fresh perspective on their humanity as opposed to robotic lawyers playing by strict playbooks.
While the episodes are interesting in their own right, the second half of the series suffers from overlapping subplots that aren't as interesting , diverting attention to diverse plots happening at the same time. As a result, the drama plays catch-up towards the end, wrapping up plot points very quickly , just not as compelling as it could have been.
That raises an important issue. The good guys win, but at what cost? Beyond the Bar positions itself clearly on the question of how the cases are to be processed. Even though the stakes are high, the main characters ultimately have the upper hand and seem to overcome every obstacle. The main lead is portrayed from the outset as an adept who can immediately take on the more experienced lawyers. Although her character develops as a lawyer, her side seems too good and uncontested, which makes the cases predictable. Therefore, the drama suffers from a formulaic approach that missed the opportunity to raise the bar in the trials
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One of the best dramas I have ever seen
This is the best written, produced and acted drama I have ever seen. The entire quality of the production make most other dramas pale in comparison. There is so much this drama covers that it’s amazing the writer has put it all together in such a cohesive, flowing method of storytelling. There is not a dull moment anywhere and you are held captive by the stories told in each episode. It’s the perfect drama for binge watching. You end up to getting attached to several of the characters and don’t want to see the drama end. It’s truly a not to be missed gem!Was this review helpful to you?
Mature Romance That You Will Ever Need !!
This drama is an absolute 10/10 for me. No cringe and unnecessary scene and straight to the point with essence of mature developing romance.If you are looking for a drama where male lead is delinquent, mature, non chalant and tough yet professionally balanced this drama is perfect!!! On the other hand the female lead is a bit opposite of him but when it comes to defending in the court room ( as it is a law, courtroom based drama also) she is a genius.
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Memorable characters
It's been a while since I enjoyed a law drama. Most tend to start interesting t hen drops off after 3 episodes. This one I wish I didn't start until all the episodes came out because it feels like a LONG wait for every episode.Positives:
Strong characters setup from supporting characters to the leads.
ML: cold but not overly cold. This to me is hard to do as over doing it could cause the character to be bland
FL: Perfect mixture of Sassy, Honesty, Clumsy & Loveable. She's not overly perfect but definitely outstanding.
Supporting character: Heo Min Jeong. She's divorced, overcoming her low self-esteem ex fat self to this highly competent lawyer. I absolutely love this supporting character.
Supporting character: Lee Jin U, the younger male lawyer who likes the older Heo Min Jeong. This is a great pairing IMO. Compliments make a fun relationship in dramas.
Cases: Fast pacing for cases so you get the instant gratification of justice in every episode.
Acting: From minor characters to lead characters, the acting's great!
Slow burn building relationships: Mature relationships (maybe not for everyone)
Not for everyone:
Some may feel like the cases a bit too fast. If you like more unfolding every episode like onion layers then... yeah this is not it.
Romance lacking: 7 Episodes in, no kissing with only hint of romance with supporting characters. I personally like this because this is a law drama focused. Subtle romance is nice imo.
Hope the series finish strong!
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This drama has lot of lessons. Highly recommended!
More than 40 dramas I've already watched but this was my first time searching for the writer of a drama. Super talented! I've taken note of all the lessons I got from every episode. The characters who portrait, they play it well. Thank you Beautiful Writer and to All who Made This. Thank you. All of you deserve an award. Especially you Park Min-Hyeon. Plz continue to give us everything. We will wait for more of your work.😘 From the Philippines!Was this review helpful to you?
Esperava bem mais!!
Sinceramente? Não é uma série que eu odiei. A maioria dos atores são bons, menos o problemático que todos já sabemos quem é, me recuso a elaborar sobre esse homem, porque sei que isso só me traria dor de cabeça. A trilha sonora é impecável e ela aborda alguns temas interessantes. Mas, baseado no hype que foi colocado, não diria que é uma série espetacular, é uma farofa básica para passar o tempo. Mas enfim, não vou dizer que não vale a pena ver, porém não acho que valeria rever.Was this review helpful to you?
Beyond the Expectations
There is something quietly captivating about Beyond the Bar. Now that I have finished it, I can honestly say it is one of those rare dramas that understands exactly what it wants to be from beginning to end. It pulls you in gently, and before you know it, you care deeply about every character who walks through that small law office.Most of the story takes place in a quiet office hidden away from the busy streets of Seoul. The drama follows the legal team and the people who come to them for help. Each episode focuses on a different case or client, which makes every chapter feel like its own short story. Even so, all of them connect back to the main characters and the lives they are trying to rebuild.
One thing that stood out to me after finishing the whole series is the main theme. The heart of this drama is love in many forms. Every case is connected to love in some way. Sometimes it is romantic love. Sometimes it is family love, friendship, or the kind of love that grows out of guilt, forgiveness, or wanting to protect someone. These different forms of love tie the entire show together and give it a gentle emotional depth.
On the surface, the drama gives you touching, self-contained stories about grief, hope, and connection. Under that, it slowly reveals who the lawyers are, what they struggle with, and how they try to heal. The way these layers fit together is one of the strongest parts of the show.
By the time I reached the finale, I felt like everything came together in a very natural and heartfelt way. I really adored the ending. It felt warm and honest, and it matched the tone of the whole drama. Still, I finished the last episode wishing there were a few special episodes or maybe even a season two. I would love to see what happens to the main couple after everything they went through.
Beyond the Bar was only the second office drama I have ever watched and my first Korean one, but it has definitely raised my standards. The writing feels grounded, the pacing is calm and steady, and the actors make every character feel real and believable.
If you like character-driven dramas with slow, emotional storytelling, Beyond the Bar is definitely worth watching. It does not rely on big twists. It trusts its characters and its quiet message about love, and it delivers something truly beautiful.
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Show Falsely Promotes Unproven Wives' Tale of Freezer Death
Misinformation and conspiracy theories are wrecking havoc the world over and meanwhile this show is promoting a completely unproven wives' tale about a man freezing in a refrigerated container because he believed he was freezing when in the story's telling the freezer was not on and he shouldn't have died. They site the nocebo effect which is a real phenomena but does not prove this story true. This is actually an old wives tale with no basis in fact whatsoever, yet the story falsely promotes it as true and uses a trusted psychiatrist within the story to promote this lie, and goes on to have the characters themself remark that they can't believe this old wives' tale is actually true, when it in fact is not true at all. This is so irresponsible I can't see past it.Was this review helpful to you?
