This review may contain spoilers
Insightful Take on Korean Law and Society Overshadowed by Public's Need for Romance
Beyond the Bar is one of those lighter legal dramas complete with comedic breaks, an interesting second lead romantic subplot, and supporting cast. While it's nothing original or out of the box, it is a solid drama that stands on its own amidst dime-a-dozen romantic comedies. It's a shame that people paid more attention to the romantic plot than the actual message of the drama.
Each episode is a new case, with the exception of filler episodes, and pushes the overall relationship of the cast. Topics discussed include IVF, child abuse/neglect, plagarism, assisted suicide, rape (of a child), medical ethics, animal abuse, etc. Through each case, the screenwriter seemingly highlights how incomplete and lacking Korean law can be when it comes to protecting vulnerable populations. As such, the resolutions of each case aren't always as satisfying as it would be in an ideal world. In fact, through the MC himself, we are told that he, as a lawyer, uses both the law and other methods to achieve what he perceives to be 'justice'. Though we as the audience understand that this only works because it's a drama and the MC is the MC, it acknowledges all the ways in which the law is not complete. My favorite backhanded comment from our MC is when he mentions how more broadreaching Anglo-American law is because we sue for everything.
The romance between the second leads was quite interesting and had a lot of potential. It was not the atypical romance as it was between a 40 year old divorcee (with a grown child) and her colleague who is 10 years younger. To me, this was the main romantic plot and could have served as such if the ending wasn't messed up/rushed. It was a mature relationship that acknowledges each obstacle between them and works through them. While I was a hardcore fan of this relationship, I didn't feel the same way about the subplot between the MC and FMC. While both age gaps were about 10 years, I think it didn't carry the same weight as the second leads were friends and colleagues before they were a couple. Furthermore, FMC is someone who just recently graduated law school while MC has been an lawyer for a lot longer. Aside from the age gap, there is definitely an issue of power as he is her boss and she is basically at the bottom of the heirarchy.
I don't think the decision to rewrite the romantic subplot between the MC and FMC was wrong. In every way, there was just a huge gap in age (both as characters and in real life), in experience (MC legit is her mentor), and in the workplace. Instead of a lukewarm confession and rejection, I do think that the time could have been spent fleshing out the relationship between the second leads which got axed and sped up. Regardless, it was still a solid, underrated drama that has a lot of social commentary on Korean law and society.
Each episode is a new case, with the exception of filler episodes, and pushes the overall relationship of the cast. Topics discussed include IVF, child abuse/neglect, plagarism, assisted suicide, rape (of a child), medical ethics, animal abuse, etc. Through each case, the screenwriter seemingly highlights how incomplete and lacking Korean law can be when it comes to protecting vulnerable populations. As such, the resolutions of each case aren't always as satisfying as it would be in an ideal world. In fact, through the MC himself, we are told that he, as a lawyer, uses both the law and other methods to achieve what he perceives to be 'justice'. Though we as the audience understand that this only works because it's a drama and the MC is the MC, it acknowledges all the ways in which the law is not complete. My favorite backhanded comment from our MC is when he mentions how more broadreaching Anglo-American law is because we sue for everything.
The romance between the second leads was quite interesting and had a lot of potential. It was not the atypical romance as it was between a 40 year old divorcee (with a grown child) and her colleague who is 10 years younger. To me, this was the main romantic plot and could have served as such if the ending wasn't messed up/rushed. It was a mature relationship that acknowledges each obstacle between them and works through them. While I was a hardcore fan of this relationship, I didn't feel the same way about the subplot between the MC and FMC. While both age gaps were about 10 years, I think it didn't carry the same weight as the second leads were friends and colleagues before they were a couple. Furthermore, FMC is someone who just recently graduated law school while MC has been an lawyer for a lot longer. Aside from the age gap, there is definitely an issue of power as he is her boss and she is basically at the bottom of the heirarchy.
I don't think the decision to rewrite the romantic subplot between the MC and FMC was wrong. In every way, there was just a huge gap in age (both as characters and in real life), in experience (MC legit is her mentor), and in the workplace. Instead of a lukewarm confession and rejection, I do think that the time could have been spent fleshing out the relationship between the second leads which got axed and sped up. Regardless, it was still a solid, underrated drama that has a lot of social commentary on Korean law and society.
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