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.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Wonderful romance beteen two unlikely lovers
I thoroughly enjoyed this series. Zhao Lusi and Lin Yushen did a stellar job bringing the characters to life. Lin Yushen's Lu Jin, a mid-30s CEO who is rich and successful on the outside but lonely and slightly bitter on the inside, is really the star of the show as he learns to navigate his unexpected feelings for Gu Shengnan, a pretty, talented young chef. Lu Jin is an expert in business but a novice in love, and his fumbling attempts to win Shengnan's made me smile over and over. The age gap of 15 years between them faded away as they discovered they were a perfect fit, filling in the empty holes in each other's life.There are a few familiar tropes here: disapproving mother, scheming secretary who is secretly infatuated with her boss, even a weaselly younger brother willing to use Shengnan for his own ends. The final few episodes were slightly frustrating as the conflict could have been cleared up with an honest conversation, but given Lu Jin's workaholic background and inexperience in opening up to someone, it made sense. This was one of the best C-dramas of the year for me. Highly recommended!
Was this review helpful to you?
