Lawless Attorney (2018)

Review WITHOUT SPOILERS (it was difficult). Detailed, so it will take time to read ;)
I already realized from the first few episodes (i watched all) that this is an IDEAL balanced show - here and comedy, and drama, and, mega cool and unpredictable action-story. Details are given below.


Okay. I'll start the review.
1) The plot: someone will say that this is a typical story and nothing new and interesting, and I'll say this - maybe the whole story is not new, but this is absolutely not important. As in any Korean drama, it is much more important not as a whole STORY, but EVENTS that are happening.

From the very beginning events happen unpredictably and it will keep you in the seat (or where you watch the show? =)) To the end of the episode, immediately begin, if briefly - chase and "fights". And if in more detail - it's better not to spoil some details :). All this is accompanied by an intense thriller that will keep you in suspense until the battery on the laptop discharged ... :) Besides this there is not just romance but RELATIONSHIPS between two characters, which gradually develop and move into a more serious direction ...

Comedy ... there are many so funny moments (even in the first episode) that I laughed even after rewatching this.
The same goes for all following episodes. All the events connected with each other, but you do not know what exactly will happen next. And exactly what events are happening, is also not unimportant - and here the script writer did a great job! The paths of the characters intersect and who knows how else they can be connected ... (I try not to spoil ... aaaa :) ).

And now a little about the plot itself - the main character is driven not only by revenge. Using the law, as well as his fists, he is trying to reach justice (to imprison violators of the law) (for example, bribe takers). Despite the fact that at first it seems that he sometimes violates the law himself, he does it for a reason, and for the purpose and I hope you will understand this.

Some moments (events) can make you cry, and some laugh, and some even laugh and cry at the same time. Like how they made me…

In sum, the plot and events uniquely impressed me and is very very well done, so not even 10, but 11 out of 10!


2) Acting (characters): (there were many moments where FEELINGS is most important (don’t miss it) and all the actors showed that stunningly good and ASLO who playing side-characters too)

1. Bong Sang Pil (Lee Joon Gi) - an event that occurred in his childhood, leaves him alone with his gang boss uncle. Driven by the desire to avenge his loss, he decides to become a lawyer, and along the way studying martial arts to reach justice, not only with the help of law, but also with the help of fists. Because he believes that justice cant be reached by just a law, sometimes it is required to use the power of body.

It seems that he is just a lawyer for the rich people who have troubles, but behind the expensive suit and sport cars there is something more. This type of "bad guy" (as it may seem, although personally I realized right away that he is not a simple guy and not “bad guy” for me), but at the same time who not going against serious law, and you will know his other sides (again I will not spoil, it's really hard not to spoil , while detailing everything).

The way the actor Lee Joon Gi played his character is unique - at first we see a cool and cheerful lawyer who knows how to joke and play around with his gang some time, and some time he using fists but also knows a law ... at the same time, you will see (I hope SEE) other sides of how he portrayed him that will say more about his character.

An interesting fact - Lee Joon Gi performed all the tricks himself (without actor for tricks), I think therefore the scenes of fights with him look incredibly realistic.

From the first minutes you will like him, I assure you :)

2. Ha Jae Yi (Seo Ye Ji) - a strong girl who tries to take care of others (and It is obvious from the beginning), but at the same time does not allow herself to be offended. She can punch someone who trying to avoid law, and probably not because she is angry, but simply, to do at least some punishment for those who go against the law, because she is sure that she is doing everything right. By the way, it is somewhat similar to the Bong Sang Pil.

An event that happened in childhood, radically changes her (do not spoil, do not spoil, do not spoil…), and these changes, are reflected in her. You will see other sides of her ...

Surprisingly, Seo Ye Ji showed the personality of her character very well - just like Lee Joon Gi you can see their feelings on their faces, different emotions, and sadness, and laughter, and disappointment, and joy. But especially they will be revealed in following episodes (after the first).

I think she will attract you like a magnet (a fairly powerful magnet, just like Lee Joon Gi)

3. I can not help mentioning minor roles, every actor here, again (like in most Korean dramas by the way) tried to better show his character, even if he\she appears only once or twice (in fact, I started watching this show because of Choi Min-Soo - of course, I did not expect such amazing impressions in everything else):

3.1. Ahn Oh Joo (Choi Min-Soo) - this actor can play ambiguous characters, that is, like a high position and behavior as a decent citizen of his country, but at the same time, you do not know what this citizen can hide and do not expect what exactly - he can play such characters. However, I did not say that this character is hiding something, you will find out for yourself.

3.2. Cha Moon Sook (Lee Hye Young) - a judge who thinks about the law and tries her hard and does not miss the details.

I cant not to write about the gang of Geum Gang (Im Ki Hong) - how these people, besides their leader Im Ki Hong, play "bandits" - I liked them from the beginning, they are quite funny, with them you will see very funny moments ;)

Also I will not forget about the mother of the main character - Choi Jin Ae (Shin Eun Jung) - I can see how naturally she showed both joy and sadness ... despite the fact that she had very few scenes with her character, she is definitely very good actress (like all the actors \ actresses here).

In sum, for me, such an actor's play was (and is) the very realistic, plausible and completely natural, all this can be seen by their faces, gestures and voices (as in general and in most Korean dramas by the way, which can not be said about American dramas, which is sad).

Definitely 10 out of 10. (do not forget which characters the actors play).


3) Directing (directed by Kim Jin Min with Yoon Hyun-Ho script):

I must say that the director has done a VERY great job. The way all events are shown, or more precisely every moment - in detail, from different angles, but he does not forget about the characters themselves. In addition, all this is done also with impressive special effects. Action scenes – both director and actor tried to show it more realistically. And, obviously, they succeeded, as it can be seen on the screen.

He managed to magnificently present the ATMOSPHERE of every event and every moment. Even looking without sound, I already feel whats happening at picture, especially in first episode - I have not seen such atmospherically directed show since While you were sleeping and Tunnel (this is very underrated shows by the way).

I guess you didnt notice this. Something I will say about the background - when something happens on the FIRST main image (for example, the conversation between characters), at the same time, there are actions on the BACKGROUND image (for example, in the distance or next to the main characters). And the director (and the actors) are just masterfully done all these scenes in the background - you can see what they do SIMULTANEOUSLY with the main action, how they say something, and all this can be recognized. You will see a lot of these moments.

You can write a lot about it, but to better understand, it is necessary to see for yourself – start :)

In one word it is just brilliantly done.

Of course, 11 out of 10.


And the last (are not you tired of reading? :) )

4) Music - I did not find the name of the composer, as in many other dramas this name is not known, unfortunately.

Anyway, he managed to magnificently present EVERY moment in the every episode with the MUSIC (just like director did with the image, but this time is music)
- touching and beautiful music, in sad and simply good moments (between main leads especially). (especially impressed by the main sad melody in serious moments)
- intense and thrilling music, in action scenes, as well as in various unpredictable moments.
- funny moments – there is somekind of funny music too (I especially liked "OH MYY GOOOOD!" - you'll understand what I mean (it's not a spoiler by the way).

At any moment, music is fitting the action on screen VERY well, including the songs of individual performers too.

Therefore, 10 out of 10.

In the end, you can talk a lot, but I'll say something for sure - for me (and I think for most) this is almost an ideal drama - there is an unpredictable and intense plot, a powerful emotional drama, a very funny comedy to the point that you can laugh and laugh, and also, perfectly selected (made) music for each moment (and that's not all!). And with all that - it's amazingly and impressively directed (fights, dialogues, other actions).
In general, HUGE thanks to the screenwriter, director, composer and every actor\actress for making such a masterpiece and showing it to our world (I hope they will read it somehow).

Simply and briefly - a MASTERPIECE that is beautifully and stunningly balanced! 11 out of 10 ! (I can tell the same thing about two other dramas by the way, of course its Korean).

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I'll make this review as quick as possible without giving away any plot at all.

Honestly when I was starting the drama, I had high expectations. The plot seemed like a unique take on law-crime based based drama (which is exactly my genre) but as I finished this drama now, nothing stood out. The concept of the story was good; it was something fresh and I personally had loads of ideas how it would've gone on. I didn't notice it while watching and I only noticed after the drama has ended that the execution wasn't really good. Nothing really stood out from the drama, story-wise. It was just like watching another legal drama to me (A decent legal drama like Suits, not a bad one like whisper). Legal dramas are my cup of tea, and while I've had my fair share of watching solid legal dramas, I'd like it more if people would start incorporating other themes (especially fantasy) to them. Just see two LJS masterpieces: While You Were Sleeping and I can hear your voice.

The cast was solid for most part. Everyone had good chemistry with one another. The music however is a downfall. I don't know, the music just didn't seem..... fitting, especially when he's out there throwing shots at the bad guy.

To sum up, The show had its good moments sure, but with a really intriguing plot and a solid cast, I expected to have a better, stronger lasting hangover upon finishing. I felt the same way about Pinocchio; a drama that started with a bang and really had loads of but just fizzled out towards the end. Give this drama a go, especially if you're a legal-drama lover like me since it's a solid drama overall. If you're expecting something innovating though, this drama is not it. This is just another series that will placed under my "definitely not bad, but also not great dramas"

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Recommended if you like action, good acting and good villains

To execute his revenge, Bong Sang Pil (Lee Joon Gi) becomes a lawyer. With the cunning and skills from his gangster upbringing, he arises to become one of the highest winning rate attorneys of the country. A disbarred attorney Ha Jae Yi joins him and together, they are involved in the dangerous game of trying to expose the corrupt people in power.

Lawless Lawyer has a lot of action, comedy, and a hint of romance that developed quite fast. The premise about underdog heroes who have tragic pasts caused by corrupt people in power is quite familiar and there was not much unpredictable plot twists. While the story may not be entirely new; the non-stop action scenes were very entertaining, sometimes very funny. It has enough suspenseful moments and sweet romantic moments to keep me watching.

Every cast did a really good job, Lee Joon Gi gave a boost to Bong Sang Pil not only through his amazing action but also the micro gestures, his acting is just brilliant. And although I think Seo Yea Ji's character was too exaggerated, she perfectly embodied Ha Jae Yi that she disappeared into her role. Choi Min Soo was another highlight, as the slimy-underworld-crime-boss-turned-politician, he brought Ahn Oh Joo character to life, whose actions you both love and hate. Overall, I enjoyed it, this one is not a disappointment.

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Ambitious plot, ambitious characters, poor execution.

The second half is bad and ruins the whole show. The last 3 episodes things get all mixed up together the characters are full of themselves and things get too unbelievable for me to suspend reality. The first 4 episodes were interesting. Yes, Sang-pil was fighting 20 people alone and winning but this was the only over-the-top thing happening.

The end felt rushed, characters were waiting to do things for the sake of the script. e.g Ahn Oh Jo, screaming he is going to kill himself then it looks like Sang-Pil stops him then doesn't actually take his gun away so he shoots himself anyway after their conversation. This is very bad writing and it happens multiple times in the second half. Also, the scene after Jae Yi gets kidnapped by Ahn O Jo and Sang-Pil goes to rescue doesn't make sense. Why give Jae Yi the gun? Why did O Joo try to kill Sang-Pil then suddenly not kill him and decide to fight him? If he had kidnapped Jae yi to force Sang Pil to do something why did he never make the demand, why keep Jae yi alive if he wanted to kill Sang-pil? Kill Sang-pil he is left alone with the kidnapped leverage (Jae yi)....This just makes no sense.

The acting wasn't very good either. The characters were all one-dimensional.

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this drama became my cure for k-drama slump/ Perfect Villain

Things I liked:
//
1. The Villain... No matter what others say I absolutely love a good antagonist in a drama. After all, an antagonist is what builds/makes a hero 'a hero' or else the hero would have been a mere common man.
The representation of the villain in this drama was very on point. I absolutely 'adored' the character and the motive the character had was relatable enough (just sayin).
A good villain can actually drive the story and that's what happened in this story.
/
2. The way this drama portrayed the 'reality' of the politics/politicians. (I hate politics/politicians in real life)
/
3. Right amount (maybe a little too much but...) of gas lighting (verb. manipulate (someone) by psychological means into doubting their own sanity) when and where ever necessary felt right.
/
4. Muuuaaaahhh... Fighting scenes
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Things I hated:
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1. The romance part... I would say the romance element in this drama ruined the beauty and rawness of this drama.
/
2. Destined lovers from childhood cliche... (Just whyyyyyy?) They could have worked much better as professional partners though.
/
3. The weird circumstance under which they fell in love. (like...wtf!)
/
4. The ending... it demanded to be more thrilling and a bit more...spicy?

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This drama started off with potential but started going down hill once all the vital characters involved in the story were established. some scenes bothered on ridiculous. It looked like the male lead was posing for shots, the female lead made decisions that were out of character for someone smart, the male villain's acting was exaggerated and the female villain's character wasn't memorable.
The attempts at comic relief(lawless law office crew) failed woefully and the end of the villains was really bland.
If you are in search of a satisfying revenge drama, this is not it.

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It's quite a nice drama, if you can call nice a gangster action series.
Who is the king of this drama?
Lee Joon Ki? - yeah, he is not bad. He fights well and he likes it, moreover everyone there likes to fight with fists. But his legal romance is not sweet and not convincing.
The evil judge Cha played by Lee Hye Young? She`s not bad, well, yes, she is bad: cold, calculating, manipulating, distinguished and cruel. However, she doesn't arouse profound disgust and she doesn't truly frighten us.
Seo Ye Ji as female lawyer? Unfortunately no. She was an amazing princess in Hwarang and acting in sagueks with long hair suits her better.
Then, who is the king? The bad guy.
Choi Min Soo gave a really good performance. His An O Joo is a gangster from a provincial town, a murderer, a parvenus who dreams about himself in a better future. He is cruel, threatening and terrifying, but on the other hand he is like a beggar or a dog who asks for praise and acceptance. He has my all attention and I wish he would be a hero in his town.

Drama has rather a light style. There are gang wars, some politics, some court hearings, some secrets, some plot twists and a bit of romance, but generally it's drama of action. The story is ok, but the cast is not very good for this story: the main character should be ugly and smart and female lead should be smart and beautiful. The cinematography is excellent. The music is ok. The young Bong Sang Pil (Lee Ro Woon) is cute.

If you are tired of long, boring romances, heartbreaking scenes, great tragedies - watch this drama. And if you love Lee Joon Ki and SeoYe Ji in any role – of course, watch this drama.

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Love, hate and respect

All crime shows follow a predictable plot: good guys go after bad guys, wins in the end. So the difference really lies in the characters (likeable heroines, and a villain you can respect) and the story telling.

You need just enough plot twists to keep you interested, but really what seals the deal is that you enjoy the way the writer reveals the information and sets up the characters so their decisions are believable. I have watched too many US/Asian shows where characters randomly did stupid things just to fill up an episode. In this show, characters still do stupid things, but it's aligned with their personality.

I never felt the writer lost control of the story. I KNEW the ending, I enjoyed how the show got us there. The characters had their own personalities, and the episodes had a good balance of humor, action, and sweet moments. I don't think I was ever bored in any episode. Frustrated, yes, but always intrigued.

Brilliant acting. I really can't imagine these roles played by anyone else -- from the leads to the loveable sidekicks that made the Lawless Lawyers agency the unlikely candidate for Best Co-Workers in KDrama Land.

All in all, it's a good watch.

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One of the best series out there. Don't break it by a stupid continuation, please.

A total masterpiece. Let me tell you why.

Both the ML and the FL are not stupid like in other dramas. They're not passive - they demand answers here and now, they understand the world around them, they do not make stupid decisions for the sake of the story - aka - stupid decisions without any reason of doing so. Here everything makes sense, everthing is justified. Even a theoretically stupid decision is just a distracting tactic and it is required for the sake of everyone. The FL understands it perfectly afterwards and she is even more thankful because the ML saved her mother by doing so when she thought she's lost her because of him.

Both ML & FL are strong. They do not bow to anyone, they do not lower their eyes because of some stupid hierarchy, rituals etc. - I know it is Korea, I know this society and I know why it's depicted like that in many other series but Lawless Lawyer as well as a couple of other series I love show it is not needed even in Korea. The strong character may be strong, may spill water in the face of the asshole even if this asshole is the most powerful being of the whole town while still paying respect to people who deserve it because of their actual deeds.

There's nothing I am able to criticize about this show. The intrigue - great, characters - great, actors - great.

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I found this to be a fun, generally easy watch even with the tone of murder, revenge and corruption. It has all those elements with a quirky, funky vibe as well as awesome (if totally unrealistic) action scenes and a dash of romance as well. I also am not generally a fan of legal dramas because I know too much about that area and the legal aspects are ridiculous and it is hard to suspend reality. Nonetheless, this show has the benefit of spending the absolute minimum amount of time in a courtroom.

Are there flaws? Sure, here's what bugged me though I have to keep it vague to avoid spoilers:

- Love the uncle and the scenario he was involved in would have made more sense with one or two conversations to set up the situation better.

-Some noble idiocy that doesn't last long and seems unnecessary and contrived and, with a little better writing, could easily have been avoided.

-I can't believe I'm saying this because sometimes dramas give too much build up to the bad guys, but I actually wanted a bit more about how these baddies came together.

- A bit too much of people having the, " I will take you down" talk which I took as just wanting two certain actors together to show their stuff. Once is fine but around the 3rd time, it's a bit much.

- There are a few things that happened throughout the drama that needed that one conversation that tied things together a little better. It doesn't take away much from my enjoyment, but I did notice and others did as well. Probably a victim of the live shoot. It's odd how when a drama really works, I notice the small things yet when a drama is just okay, I forgive huge gaps in logic. I guess I'm a bit contrary.

The things I liked:

-Strong female lead and not cookie cutter. The writer of this drama also wrote the melo, Remember: Son's War and I recall there were complaints that Park Min Young's character got sidelined. I'm not a huge melo person so I can't speak to that drama, but any concerns in this regard can be disregarded. Again there was a story arc in the second half that was meh but it was shortlived. Otherwise, I found the female lead to have depth. She's not the over the top sassy that might be assumed from her punching person after person early on. We really get to know her here and she gets to show her stuff both in and out of the courtroom. Someone commented BSP saved her a lot; well she saved him as well. AND she got to drive the muscle car.

-To have a drama like this work well, you have to have a great antagonist. We get 3 from the judge to her minion to her thug. These three actors elevated this drama and a special shout out to Choi Min Soo who has more charisma than any other actor of his generation that I've seen in k-drama. I believe another actor had to back out so he came in late, had to immerse himself in this character and learn the dialect as well. If anyone gets an award from this drama, it will be him.

-The music is fantastic. The opening right away lets you know the quirky vibe of the drama and the background music and OST songs are all fantastic. Also the setting; it's nice to hear a dialect and get out of Seoul.

-Direction is great. Was there a bit of the shaky camera here and there, yes, but he didn't go crazy. This PD knows how to shoot action (yes, totally unrealistic one man against 15). He also sets mood well with the foggy, ominous vibe of the early episodes especially effective.

- Romance. I wasn't really expecting much but it surprised me how well this worked and it wasn't the normal route to romance that we see in k-dramaland. I liked that. The writer is a dude so we don't get all the sweet talk and, as much as I love all that stuff, I can get it from a romance drama. This relationship has a mature -we're-adults- here tone that worked quite well for me to the point I wanted more.

-Lee Joon Gi & Seo Ye Ji. Alone and together, they work. They are both solid actors with a lovely chemistry that shines through even though romance isn't the main focus of this drama.

-I've dinged the writer a bit for not always having all his ducks in a row, but it's a gentle chiding because this story has a lot of moving parts and many actors. I respect that this isn't always easy to do and the story does generally work with some nice twists and turns as well as fun and romance along the way but there is no doubt in my mind that the actors, director and music elevated it. Also, I give the writer credit for advancing a romance story in a different way instead of a dot to dot love storyline that seems thrown in just to satisfy the romantics but nothing that's really satisfying. (Full disclosure: I loved it, some were a bit doubtful.)

So overall if you can suspend reality and sit back for a fun ride in a solid though imperfectly written, well executed and acted drama this might be for you.

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Lawless Attorney is a well thought out written and directed drama. The pacing of the twists and turns are no joke. I like a drama that keeps me guessing as to what is going to happen next. I'm not usually into trial dramas but this one isn't bad to watch. I think some of it is ridiculous, but dramas don't have to be perfect in court or in a hospital. They are just dramas after all. Plus, I lived in a town where the FBI came and arrested police, attorneys, and judges and I don't think it is that easy to get away with that level of corruption. Of course, the South Korean president was impeached for corruption. So, maybe it is easy to a certain extent until it is exposed. Who am I kidding? With the way the US government is run, there is no telling what they get away with in the US also. They probably busted the small town because they weren't giving big government their piece. But I digress. Lawless Attorney is a mix of murder, fighting, drama, comedy and a little romance. The characters are well developed and it is fun to hate the bad guys. Some of the dialog leaves something to be desired but it isn't horrible. I think that the outcome for some of the bad guys could have been better and equal to the suffering of the good guys. The female lead characters are strong, good or bad, and it is enjoyable.

The acting is good even if some of it is over the top. Lee Hye Young as Cha Moon Sook is so unbelievably well done. She stole the show. I have never seen Choi Min Soo act like that. The way he bows down as Ahn Oh Joo is really strange to watch. I like him as an actor, but this character was totally weird. The fight scenes with Lee Joon Gi and Choi Min Soo are awesome though. I thought the actors worked well together and all had great chemistry. Actually all the fighting is fun to watch. I wonder if some of them accidentally got hurt. Seo Ye Ji as Ha Jae Yi was strong and vulnerable at the right moments. She did her character proud.

The music is good.

i won't rewatch this.

If you like lawyer movies, then you will probably enjoy this one.

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