6
21
1
1
This review may contain spoilers
My October 2025 recommendation
Watch this because of the Recommendation Challenge from 𝑴𝒊𝒔𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒕0_𝒐𝒅. So far this is the most challenging drama to finish. Not only because of the duration per episode, but also because of my daily activities that make me hardly have time to watch.
The story revolves around Kim Je-hyuk (JH) and his time in prison—the people he meets, the bonds he forms, and the events that unfold behind bars.
JH is a famous baseball player who gets arrested after using excessive force on a man trying to sexually assault his sister. Shockingly—to him and the whole nation—he’s sentenced to one year in prison.
Luckily, inside, JH reunites with his childhood friend and fellow baseball player, Lee Joon Ho (LJH), who gave up baseball after a car accident and now works as a prison guard.
In prison, JH meets many inmates who become his cellmates and comrades:
> Kim Min-chul – imprisoned for gang-related violence, acts as the leader of their cell.
> Kim Yeong-cheol (YC) – Known as "Jailbird". A repeat offender always getting caught for petty crimes like theft and pickpocketing. JH once helped pay YC mom’s hospital bills, and ever since, YC has been deeply loyal to JH.
> Kang Cheol-du, aka KAIST – a clever con artist who repeatedly scams people with fake engineering credentials. He’s smart but uses his intelligence for shady dealings. In prison, he’s the go-to guy if you need something built or fixed.
> Yoo Han-yang, aka Loony – in for drug use. Comes from a rich family and is actually intelligent. Throughout the drama, we see him struggle to overcome his addiction
> Go Park-sa aka Doctor Go – a former manager at a big company convicted of embezzling 10 billion won. In truth, he was forced to take the fall for higher-ups who orchestrated the real crime. Quiet, polite, and always well-mannered.
> Ahn Dong-ho, aka Crony – in for attempted murder and organized crime assault. Initially ordered to kill JH—but fails. After that, JH shows him compassion & protects him instead of hating him. Slowly, Crony starts changing. Becomes more human. And eventually, loyal to JH.
> Captain Yoo Jung-woo – accused of accidentally killing a soldier under his command. Starts off bitter, feeling wronged. But over time, support from his brother and cellmates helps him soften and grow.
Beyond his cellmates, JH also gets support from the guards—some of whom genuinely care about the prisoners. Not as criminals, but as people who made mistakes and can still change.
> Paeng Se-yoon – their block guard. Seems strict at first, but he’s a classic "durian man"—soft-hearted beneath the surface.
> Kim Yong-chul, the warden – is eccentric yet kind. Gives JH special treatment whenever he can. Looks weak when pressured by his vice, Na Hyung-soo, but stands firm when it matters.
> Na Hyung-soo – takes his job seriously, no nonsense. But deep down, he’s a good man.
As the story progresses, alongside JH’s journey, we also follow his cellmates’ personal stories and how they grow as people in prison. We witness their struggles, redemption, and how they form a small family inside the prison. But the show also exposes the darker side of the system through characters like Yeom Sang Jae, someone dangerous and manipulative.
Outside prison walls, we follow the lives of JH’s and LJH’s families, giving a fuller picture of their world.
That’s pretty much the story—without giving away any spoilers. Now, what I like and don’t:
What I like:
+ How they show prisoners as human. Not monsters, not jokes—just people with pasts, regrets, and the chance to change.
+ How slowly, naturally, JH and his cellmates turn into a little family. It doesn’t feel forced. It feels real.
What I don’t like:
The episode length feels a little torturous sometimes. Haha… a bit too long for my taste.
Overall, this drama does a good job showing how people adapt to their environment—and how even in the hardest place, humanity, growth, and connection can still happen.
The story revolves around Kim Je-hyuk (JH) and his time in prison—the people he meets, the bonds he forms, and the events that unfold behind bars.
JH is a famous baseball player who gets arrested after using excessive force on a man trying to sexually assault his sister. Shockingly—to him and the whole nation—he’s sentenced to one year in prison.
Luckily, inside, JH reunites with his childhood friend and fellow baseball player, Lee Joon Ho (LJH), who gave up baseball after a car accident and now works as a prison guard.
In prison, JH meets many inmates who become his cellmates and comrades:
> Kim Min-chul – imprisoned for gang-related violence, acts as the leader of their cell.
> Kim Yeong-cheol (YC) – Known as "Jailbird". A repeat offender always getting caught for petty crimes like theft and pickpocketing. JH once helped pay YC mom’s hospital bills, and ever since, YC has been deeply loyal to JH.
> Kang Cheol-du, aka KAIST – a clever con artist who repeatedly scams people with fake engineering credentials. He’s smart but uses his intelligence for shady dealings. In prison, he’s the go-to guy if you need something built or fixed.
> Yoo Han-yang, aka Loony – in for drug use. Comes from a rich family and is actually intelligent. Throughout the drama, we see him struggle to overcome his addiction
> Go Park-sa aka Doctor Go – a former manager at a big company convicted of embezzling 10 billion won. In truth, he was forced to take the fall for higher-ups who orchestrated the real crime. Quiet, polite, and always well-mannered.
> Ahn Dong-ho, aka Crony – in for attempted murder and organized crime assault. Initially ordered to kill JH—but fails. After that, JH shows him compassion & protects him instead of hating him. Slowly, Crony starts changing. Becomes more human. And eventually, loyal to JH.
> Captain Yoo Jung-woo – accused of accidentally killing a soldier under his command. Starts off bitter, feeling wronged. But over time, support from his brother and cellmates helps him soften and grow.
Beyond his cellmates, JH also gets support from the guards—some of whom genuinely care about the prisoners. Not as criminals, but as people who made mistakes and can still change.
> Paeng Se-yoon – their block guard. Seems strict at first, but he’s a classic "durian man"—soft-hearted beneath the surface.
> Kim Yong-chul, the warden – is eccentric yet kind. Gives JH special treatment whenever he can. Looks weak when pressured by his vice, Na Hyung-soo, but stands firm when it matters.
> Na Hyung-soo – takes his job seriously, no nonsense. But deep down, he’s a good man.
As the story progresses, alongside JH’s journey, we also follow his cellmates’ personal stories and how they grow as people in prison. We witness their struggles, redemption, and how they form a small family inside the prison. But the show also exposes the darker side of the system through characters like Yeom Sang Jae, someone dangerous and manipulative.
Outside prison walls, we follow the lives of JH’s and LJH’s families, giving a fuller picture of their world.
That’s pretty much the story—without giving away any spoilers. Now, what I like and don’t:
What I like:
+ How they show prisoners as human. Not monsters, not jokes—just people with pasts, regrets, and the chance to change.
+ How slowly, naturally, JH and his cellmates turn into a little family. It doesn’t feel forced. It feels real.
What I don’t like:
The episode length feels a little torturous sometimes. Haha… a bit too long for my taste.
Overall, this drama does a good job showing how people adapt to their environment—and how even in the hardest place, humanity, growth, and connection can still happen.
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