Uni whodunit, with faculty and other adults who mostly shouldn’t be working in the jobs they’re in, and thankfully, a bunch of youngsters who represent some hope for the future.
Adults
The adults first, helmed by vets Kim Myung-min (Prof Yang), Lee Eung-eun (Prof Kim) and Ahn Nae-sang (the murdered Prof Seo).
Kim Myung-min was fine as Prof Yang but I hated his hairdo.
Lee Eung-eun delivered the part she was given but I hated how her character was written. She was supposed to be fun and funny but I didn’t find her so. Why make her somewhat bumbling, sometimes clueless and too emotional? This weird caricature was unnecessary and I think someone who is dignified (like the dean) yet really fun would have been better for the plot. Also, what was the point of her having a baby? It didn’t add anything to the story or character. A prof can be maternal without having a baby. An ex-judge can be anxious when facing an ex-criminal without nearly losing her baby. Plus, we don’t get to see the little one!
Have never been a fan of Ahn or his acting.
The unprincipled
Assemblyman Ko (Jung Won-joong) is so corrupt and evil that it is a joke he is possibly the next president and surely, he would, at some point, lose track of all the tracks he has to cover and all the people he has to pay off for covering those tracks? He and his contemptible, obnoxious son make the most hateful family.
Is Prosecutor Jin (Park Hyu-kwon) supposed to be unbelievably naïve? He can’t tell that Ko is manipulating him and everything/everyone else? Even when he directly tells him to lose evidence and that he’s using a burner phone and other such obviously wrong things? He only realises how terrible Ko is when they catch him red-handed orchestrating the online comments? Oh, come on! Worst of all, as prosecutor, he is never interested in the truth but decides who is guilty before looking deep into the case, then sets out to prove just what he wants to prove. To think he becomes Chief Prosecutor at the end of the show!
The plump policeman is equally annoying. Isn’t finding all the evidence the basic thing to do when investigating a crime? He, too, decides first who is guilty and selectively looks for evidence, and then he gets exasperated when someone points out other possibilities. The worst thing is that he doesn’t act on that – he just gets frustrated and tries even harder to prove that he is right!
The uni president is another incredibly blind person of authority, who believes that Ko is the best person in the world and with his students’ lives and reputation at stake, never wants to investigate accusations but makes his own lousy conclusions.
There are so many people trying to mess with the system (even our dead Prof’s wife tries her hand at it!) and yet the people who should at least mitigate all this wrongdoing perpetuate unfairness and injustice at every level. Thank goodness for the junior prosecutors and police, as well as the dean of the Law school – at least there are a handful of adults in positions who value truth and right.
Tiger mum of tiger mums
Sol B’s mum sure is unethical but she gets her own category because we can argue that she isn’t of sound mind. Who ever is obsessed with needing to have every member of the family a prosecutor? I thought she was way out of the roof and I hope such parents can get help.
The photocopying goblin with the crackers – I thought he was there just to spout bits of info to fill our gaps of knowledge.
Finally, good job, the actors playing Lee Man-ho (Jo Jae-ryeong) and the other prisoner/attacker. Lee Man-ho was extremely creepy, as he should be!
The youngsters
Well done, every single one of them! Their characters and acting made up for all the irritating adults.
Kim Bum (who was the son in Daring Sisters!) and Ryu Hye-young are fantastic!
Joon-hwi is very cleverly layered and very clever, expertly delivered by Kim Bum. Sol A is so smart and likeable, and of course Joon-hwi likes her! Just look at how he looks at her! I hope I get to see Hye-young in another role – she’s so cute!
Sol B is well played by Lee Soo-kyung but having them both named Kang Sol didn’t seem to serve much purpose. The other friends are great, too, with each character’s personality and motivations clearly differentiated. Seung-jae (played by Hyun Woo) is a bit of a wasted character, though. His cheating did very little for the plot, so they should have done something better for Yang’s alibi. However, I like how he is part of the spectrum of people grappling with the law. Sadly, the best he could do was to write those little notes to admit his guilt and set things right. That is still better than Sol B, who cannot make herself do what she knows she should. In contrast, Ji-ho (played by Lee David) is almost heroic in his fight for justice for his late father, while Ye-seul (played by Go Yoon-jung) becomes heroine of the show!
Plot points
The scriptwriter managed to create links between and among everything and everyone. Quite a feat! This was well executed and the show was generally exciting and fast-paced.
Legally, how much of it is accurate, I wonder?
How is it that the law students (= members of the public) can be given what should be restricted court/police documents and can help prepare the accused person’s defence?
Why do the profs seem to depend on the students to do such work? (also, Joon-hwi, Sol A and Ye-seul helping Prof Kim with the Legal Clinic cases)
How is it that law students and profs (= members of the public) can just raise their hands and speak during court sessions?
Why does Sol A need a twin? Yes, Erica has a hand in taking down Ko but it could have been done without her. She just pops up for a bit, then makes off without meeting with Sol A! On the other hand, bright and cute little sister Byeol fits in perfectly!
Scene stealers
Lee Chun-hee (married in real life to Hyun-a!), playing Park Geun-tae
Such an amusing character! I think he plays dumb and silly the whole time but is actually smart and just lazy. Loved all the times he suddenly jumps out of his seat and asks pertinent questions, AND, how he gets Sol A in as an intern and later as full-time staff! Was not sure what his shoulder/neck problem was, though.
Go Yoon-jung, playing Ye-seul
Wow, this was most unexpected. I found hers the most compelling of the cases, mainly because of how it goes under the radar for a long while and then jumps at us. Yoon-jung makes us empathise with Ye-seul and root for her as she stands up for herself, fighting her fears, the threats of the Ko duo and the court system that does nothing to help victims like her. Why do no family members attend her hearing? Is she an orphan like Joon-hwi, and is that why she is stuck with Ko’s son for so long?
With so many other cases going on, one almost ceases to care about the dead prof! Then again, his life and death are very much reflective of the idea that the law does not guarantee justice. Of course, we’re glad that the good prevailed and that we see justice by the end of the story!
16 episodes, JTBC
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