June 9, 2021
Yang Jong-hoon (Kim Myung-min) is a former prosecutor who was now a professor of criminal law at the prestigious Hankuk University Law School. He was very strict, used unorthodox methods in teaching law and made very difficult exams, earning him the nickname of "Yangcrates" from his students. One day, he became the prime suspect in the murder of a senior professor Seo Byung-ju (Ahn Nae-sang), who was found dead in the lounge.
There was a group of law students who were also in the vicinity of the crime scene, and were thus included in the investigation. Class topnotcher Han Joon-hwi (Kim Bum) was Prof. Seo's nephew, and the beneficiary of his will, which gave him a good motive for wanting Seo dead. Kang Sol A (Ryu Hye-young) was challenged both financially and scholastically as a law student, but was very active in social justice cases.
Kang Sol B (Lee Soo-kyung) was an A-student involved in a plagiarism case. Seo Ji-ho (Lee David) bore a grudge against a prosecutor because of his father's suicide. Yoo Seung-jae (Hyun Woo) was a medical doctor turned law student, involved in a hacking case. Jeon Ye-seul (Go Yoon-jung) was physically abused by her boyfriend. The other members of their study group were Min Bok-gi (Lee Kang-ji) and Jo Ye-beom (Kim Min-seok).
Being complex and heavy, this series would not be an easy one to binge. Even if we just watched two episodes a week, the legal manipulation twists and turns of the multilayered, multi-branched story involving numerous characters at a time were not always easy to understand fully at all times. This was specially true in the first 10 episodes, where the slow pace may be discouraging for some to follow through, or too fast to comprehend the issues. The earworm theme song "X (It's Driving Me Crazy)" can be so appropriate.
It seemed too ideal to be true that these law students were given so much access into police investigations and court proceedings, where they were actually able to express opinions during actual cases. Many scenes required suspension of disbelief given the boldness of the students' behavior when they were addressing their professors, prosecutors like Jin Hyeong-u (Park Hyuk-kwon), public defenders like Park Geun-tae (Lee Chun-hee) or even politicians like Assemblyman Ko Hyeong-su (Jung Won-joong).
Aside from Kim Myung-min, the other senior actors playing the teachers were all convincing as law professors, especially Kim Eun-sook (Lee Jung-eun, memorable as the housekeeper in Bong Joon-ho's "Parasite") a judge-turned-professor who teaches civil law. While Kim Bum, Lee David and Lee Soo-kyung actually looked like smart law students, Ryu Hye-young felt miscast -- both as the whiny Kang Sol A, and later as Sol's fierce twin sister Erica.
Upon reaching Episodes 14 and 15, the main culprit was basically already known. It was just a matter of how his guilt can be proven so he can face the music. The Episode 16 finale however, the wrap-up of the series felt rushed and anti-climactic. While the virtues symbolized by Lady Justice in the school lobby were generally upheld, this series seemed to have bitten off more than it can chew with its complex convolution of cases and advocacies. 6/10.
I liked how you described the other characters and actors but I just want to ask how you came up with Ryu Hyeyoung being a miscast? A lot of viewers fell for Kang Sol A the most because of how she is portrayed in the series. Ryu Hyeyoung clearly showed what it's like to be Sol A in the real life Not to mention how Kang Dan's appearance blew the audiences away.
ReplyDeleteI don't agree that she was a miscast. I do believe she's the only actress that would bring that type of justice to the Kang Twins’ characters in Law School.
Ryu Hyeyoung wasn't a miscast,I believe she portrayed Kang sol amazingly well.As a student myself I related to Kang sol's struggles as exams, assignments and deadlines can really be overwhelming at times.And I loved how even after episodes of self doubt,she didn't let anything deter her from her aim.The actress made me root for her character throughout the show and I'm waiting to see her in different roles.
ReplyDeleteKang Sol A wasn't "whiny" as she seems to be. She wanted to excel and she wanted to keep up with her peers even if she felt like she couldn't. She was driven and determined. And I think Ryu Hyeyoung was able to portray that really well.
ReplyDeleteNow I understand what you mean by the ending feeling fast and anti climatic but there wasn't much to tell after thay when Assemblyman Ko was revealed to be the root of everything. And the open ending also gives us viewers a chance to settle with how we want the characters to have done with their lives.
I think Ryu Hye-young did just fine portraying Kang Sol A/Erica Shin tho her duality is insane. Her Erica Shin appearance really blew me away, it even left a big impression in me. A lot of people too actually, so I don't get why you feel like she's a miscast. Can you elaborate it then tho? To he honest I dont have any names in my mind who can bring justice to the Kang Twins, I really love it to be her. Even in Reply 1988, her acting is very good that's why I felt very excited for her in this project.
ReplyDelete