Hot Stove League (2019)

I went into this expecting it to be just a chill, casual watch. Predicted I'd end up rating it like an 8 - not bad, but not stellar. HAH. I was wrong.

This drama.. Where do I begin? Phenomenal acting aside (which, I mean, look at that cast, they did fantastic), the story was amazing. I saw so many people saying that they knew nothing about baseball but were still enjoying the show. Why is that? Because the show isn't actually about the sport, it's about the people. What made this drama so great was that it was heavily character driven. You don't have to understand the mechanics behind baseball management because you understand the basics: if the characters get what they want, you're happy for them, and if something bad happens, you hurt for them. Each one of these characters were so special, and the writers--round of applause to the writers, folks--were able to take characters that you didn't care about or that you actually disliked and made you root for them. That is skill right there. The bond between the staff and the bond between the baseball team were addicting. And the twists and turns, and watching them build up this team from nothing was so thrilling! And to top it all off, there were some really great messages woven throughout the drama.

I'm going to miss these characters so much. I know it's a hopeless dream (pun intended lol), but I would love for them to make a season two.

10/10 would recommend.

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This is not strictly a sports drama. It's a political and power-struggle drama that is happening in a baseball profession setting. I know nothing about baseball, but I was never, not even once, confused about the plot because of my lack of expertise. So, if the minimum interest you may have in sports is the reason you are on the fence whenever you should watch this show, rest assured, it’s far more than just baseball.

It has one of the best varieties of different characters representing different viewpoints. The supporting cast is not just a background for the main character to shine. They all have individual stories to tell that are well incorporated into the main plot. As much as they are shaped by Baek Seung Soo’s decisions and actions, he himself is also affected by people around him. It’s an amazing group dynamic that makes you care for every and each character.

For a drama focused on the sport, it deals with a lot of different, important topics like: women in positions of power and workplace, nepotism, disability, patriotism, family versus work. All in a really natural and not “in your face” manner. This way you can enjoy the depth of the story without feeling lectured and patronized.

The cast did an amazing job in bringing these characters to life. While I’m not the biggest fan of Nam Goong Min, I loved him in the role of Baek Seung Soo and I could not picture any other actor playing it. While at the beginning Seung Soo was a bit mysterious of a character, and it was not easy to figure out his motivation, as we progress more into the story, we can discover how gentle and simply good of a person he is.

I also truly enjoyed how much of a loser the main villain was. He was not this powerful, all knowing, smart and cunning mastermind. He was a power hungry man who was willing to give up his integrity to keep the social status he was able to achieve. Extremely scared, extremely cowardly, extremely desperate.

It had its fair share of character development, making me, by the end of the drama, love a character that I despised at the beginning. We see a truly natural and gradual change in our main character, as he slowly opens to people and is willing to let go of his fears and struggles.

Overall, I thought it would be a sure drop from me, and I gave it a chance only because I adore Park Eun Bi, and yet, I enjoyed every second of it. The strongest point of the drama is for sure the amazing cast and set of main and supporting characters. I fell for more than one character and will come back to at least rewatch some scenes from time to time.

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What else can I say about this drama? This drama was such a masterpiece. This was my first time watching a non-romance sports drama, which was probably my least-interested genre for a drama. I wasn’t that interested in watching this drama, but their achievement from winning the 56th Baeksang Awards as the ‘Best Drama’ made me more and more curious about what’s new and different from the rest of the nominated dramas. Most dramas I’ve finished watching has a rather boring first three until four episodes. But, Hot Stove League is different, the first three until four episodes were triggering, making us mlre and more interested in the upcoming episodes.

The casts were awesome, their acting were all excellent. This drama mainly focuses on friendships and the management strategy for a losing baseball team, and by watching this drama, we could always learn to always strive for something eventhough it may seem impossible.

Overall, a 10/10 wouldn’t be enough to rate this drama. I’ve been blown away by amazing scenes and amazing acting that was shown in this drama. We hope to see Yoo Min Ho and other baseball players (with those awesome visuals hehe) again if possible. THANK YOU WRITER-NIM AND ALSO ALL OF THE CASTS FOR DELIVERING SUCH A BEAUTIFUL DRAMA. ⭐️

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A simple yet addictive drama

I never believed that I would love this series so much. Just started to watch this only because of Nam Goong Min and the first two episodes were never my cup of tea. As I'm not a baseball fan I thought this series would be too much for me. But I was wrong. This gave me a complete insight of what I'm seeing and never felt confused in any episode. At the same time, this is not a simple sports story where we would get to see the worst team winning the league miraculously with a single guy's effort. It dealt with everything that a manager needs to handle in a sports team but in an interesting way. The side story of the players, workers and the General Manager blended very well with the story and I love how each and every character is unique.

After first few episodes, I doubted that this will deviate into what trauma that ML had and some office romance between ML and a colleague but this series never took that beaten track and gave a nail biting story in its own way. I love how it never felt episodic despite it has many side story lines.

The Main thing I loved in this series is how they explored most of the characters in this drama. They didn't simply explore the leads but also many side characters and I love each and every character development. Most importantly those character developments never felt preachy in any way. I began to understand the characters I hated at first and I loved the realistic choices that certain characters took.

Being a fan of Nam Goong Min, I will remember his role as Baek Manager for a long time. Though I started watching this for the sake of Nam Goong Min's acting, fell in love with the whole Dreams team. Seeing the entire Dreams team was surely a breeze.

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This is no overstatement when I say that this is my favorite drama to date (gotta change my profile now). There is little comedy or romance, but it is satisfying and the ending is like nothing another drama has ever done before. I don't like baseball but I still think that this is the most worth-your-while drama ever.
For those that prefer comedy to destress this may not be great but whenever the Dreams achieve a goal you feel like you have achieved one too. The greatest underdog story in a while.
Please give it a try Nam Goong Min never disappoints and this screenwriter is a gem (one to keep for the ages)! Lots of Love (just finished watching on V-Day).
DramamaRamama 35/35 on the MC scale.

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A hidden gem!

This drama hits all the right notes. Folks who trivialize saying 'this is Moneyball version of K-drama' are grossly downplaying the depth of this show. There is so much happening in each episode. The first episode instantly sets-up an intriguing plot and every episode unravels something interesting or tackles a deep rooted issue.

Although its set against a Sports (Baseball) backdrop it isn't simply a Sports story. Please don't turn away thinking its a Sports drama. Infact there is hardly any on-field action through its 16 episodes length. It focuses more on the management side of the team and the problems that pop-up after years of under-performance. Along the way you may even pick up few useful tips on topics such as negotiation, presentation skills and general management.

What I loved:
- Great storyline (unusual and unlike anything I have seen before)
- Fantastic acting (Namkoong Min is a Korean treasure, however he was aptly supported by Eun-bin Park and others)
- Good explanation of important Baseball stats (on Viki) and not dumping lot of numbers on our face (easy to follow for a novice like me)

It's a pity so few people have watched this drama. It deserves much more recognition and love.

Go Dreams!

P.S. There is no romance in this drama. Just so you know ;)
It also won the Baeksang Arts Awards for Best Drama for the year 2020.

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Hey Alexa, wait—I actually don’t have Alexa. Hey Google, play Nao’s Saturn because I need my emotional support album STAT. I can’t believe that this beautiful show has ended. I am in awe of how much I really enjoyed this. I don’t like Baseball—it is my most hated sport. I just find it so draggy and boring that I thought for sure I would despise watching a show centered on a baseball team. However, for a drama centered around Baseball there wasn’t many times that I felt lost in the narrative. Matter of fact, I may even go as far as to say that I have a new found appreciation for baseball.

At the surface the story seems very simple this failing baseball team gets a new manager that will help their performance, but it was so much more than that. We were introduced to a variety of topics that were dealt with in such a delicate and believable manner. All the adversities that this team went through, I felt so connected and like I was going through them as well. This story is told with a lot of small problems getting resolved with the overarching issue. This type of storytelling helped with the connection to the characters as the characters that I hated in the beginning I grew to love. There was a stretch of episodes that I cried for every time. I felt a strong connection with each character, while many dramas make it hard for you to even like the leads. The only thing that I would have liked to see more of in the story would be a deeper exploration of the women’s lenses in this drama. I do feel like we could’ve used a bit more cohesive development for our female lead.

The acting in this drama was very well done. Namgoong Min is a great actor. He does a really good job no matter the character. Pair that with a strong script and you really couldn’t go wrong. I decided to watch this drama initially for Park Eun Bin because she is someone who I enjoy a lot. I thought she did a good job with what she was given. Oh Jung Se was also quite believable with his character. I felt the range of the emotions that he gathered whether it be humiliation, shame or a bruised ego. The side characters all did their job very well, but naturally, my future baby daddy Chae Jong Hyeop, stole my heart with his dimples. I LOVE YOU BOO.

There is no romance in this drama. At least not in the traditional sense. So if you’re in the mood for something romantic, this is not the drama for you. Instead, if you want a truly heartwarming and diverse story that explores themes of nepotism, disability, loss of a child and more then give this a try.

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don't put Hot Stove League on the back burner

I seem to be on a Namkoong Min binge lately, as i just finished Chief Kim and watched his episode on I Live Alone not too long time ago. I can't help but to compare his character in Chief Kim and our GM Baek Seung Soo, who can't be anymore different but at the same time gives off those heartwarming vibes.

As a non baseball fan, i literally know nothing about baseball and simply put my trust in Namkoong Min and decided to give Hot Stove League a shot, which I am definitely glad I did. There is a lot of baseball terminology thrown around but you don't really need to pay too much detail into it (i did google some out of pure curiosity though). The story follows the ups and downs of the back office of the worst pro baseball team in Korea, ironically called Dreams. Our new GM BSS has a golden thumb, who is able to bring various sports teams to first place, just to fall to their demise and disband. For this peculiar skill, he is hired by the parent company of Dreams, who has been wanting to dismantle this failing investment of theirs. For his tragic past and his peculiar career record, BSS believes his actions or simply, he, himself is the reason for the demise of everything he touches, whether it be personal or work related.

Going from Chief Kim to BSS, I just want to give BSS a giant hug. He carries the responsibility for everyone and everything on his shoulders, all alone. His time at Dreams, our lonely GM learns the importance of forgiveness, letting go, and second chances, and of course, the importance of a team. In our stove league world, i only hope BSS would be able to smile more going forward.

At the beginning, our strong minded operations manager, Lee Se Young, seemed to be the sole survivor that continues to work at Dreams with a burning passion. I love how she does not take any smack from anyone who reminds her that she is a female in this male concentrated workplace. Her fond childhood memories of spending time with her father watching the Dreams play is what keeps her going. To me, this was no surprise at all but for some reason was unspoken until the very last episode in the last 15 mins. There were many mother daughter scenes that I actually thought did not hold any importance. To me LSY did not have much of a character arc or story because from the very beginning, she was always very well rounded.

I think the character that had it a little too easy was the Head Coach. He is a man of very little words and if i may dare say, a coward. His inability to lead his very divided team of coaches was a major reason for the team's downfall from their glory days. Deep down I know the Head Coach is wise and has very good intensions, which you can see from how he was willing to blow the practice game in order to help Minho get over his slump. However that time at the police station and the trade situation, he chooses to simply keep quiet time and time again. At the same time, I understand very well that in life, the path less traveled by is definitely easier said than done but I hope he learns that there are many people who care and are willing to listen with open ears. Of course explaining your situation does not excuse your actions but it gives someone the chance to understand and possibly even forgive.

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It’s a homerun!

That’s exactly what happened - this drama knocked it out of the park! I might be 2 years late but better late than never. Being a fan of Nam Goong Min while recently having developed an admiration for Park Eun Bin following her dazzling performance in The King’s Affection, and coupled with the immensely positive feedback, reviews as well as recommendations of how good this is, it’s a no-brainer. What better way to kick-start the new year than with a justifiably top-rated production.

In baseball terminology, the “hot stove” refers to the Major League Baseball offseason, particularly the time around the Winter Meetings when free-agent signings and trades are most prevalent. Hence the title Hot Stove League and the premise of the story, which takes viewers along an absorbing odyssey of redemption and glory with an underachieving South Korean pro-league basement team, the Dreams. Central to the narrative is the newly appointed General Manager, Baek Seung Soo, who has no prior playing or management experience in baseball. Assisting him in this capacity is the fiercely loyal and dedicated Operations Manager, Lee Se Young.

Directed by Jung Dong Yoon, who later garnered even wider acclaim for helming It’s Okay to Not Be Okay a year later, and based on an original screenplay by Lee Shin Hwa in what has been his only drama credit so far. Park Se Jun serves as music director. Principal photography took place in Incheon and Hawaii (for the California segment). The home stadium of real life pro-baseball team SK Wyverns, Munhak Baseball Stadium was used as the Dreamers homeground. Hot Stove League won best drama at the 56th Baeksang Arts Awards while Nam Goong Min won the Daesang at the 28th SBS Drama Awards, among a host of accolades achieved by the production team and cast in 2020, particularly for the categories of direction and screenplay.

What I Loved

Truth be told, for me the initial 20 minutes or so of the first episode feels a little dry and less than captivating. It looks like the typical SBS TV production with the depiction of an ongoing baseball match that appears somewhat confusing, perhaps attributed to too many characters being introduced along with the sudden exposure to the technicalities of the game being played. HOWEVER, the story progressively builds and eventually gains enough momentum that by the second episode, I become completely and hopelessly hooked. Although not possessing extensive knowledge about baseball - the rules, technicalities, terminology and the context of the South Korean league- I do have a general awareness of the team management and business aspects of sports clubs in general, having followed many other international sports in competitive leagues. This definitely helps to reduce the initial culture shock and in enhancing my appreciation for the plot.

Hot Stove League is one of those rare dramas that is both character and plot driven. The plot isn’t merely about a team of underdogs “being saved”, in the mould of typical sports-related stories. There are countless details and sub-texts imbued in the storytelling that involve what happens behind the scenes of running a professional club or the wheel-and-deal nature of player trading. In addition to the sport itself is the business context that features numerous boardroom battles. The multifaceted power as well as team dynamics feature conflicts and rivalries in various forms - among players and the management team; between players, coaching staff and back-end operations staff; even among the owners themselves and finally between competing clubs. There is literally so much going on with a myriad of intriguingly complicated characters who demonstrate an abundance of unpredictability in their trajectory to the final outcome of the story. This drama certainly isn’t lacking in curve balls being pitched into the plotlines as well, pun intended.

The most important ingredient of the drama and the key factor that holds all these elements together is the ML himself. Everything revolves around him where he is the true catalyst that sparks the entire drama to life. From the nuanced characterisation to the inner workings of his shrewd and strategic thought process in reviving a failing franchise and attempts at resolving neverending crises, while struggling with personal turmoil from the demons of the past that continue to torment him. The elaborate storytelling is utterly fascinating and riveting!

Nam Goong Min. What a sublime and exceptional actor he is and his performance here is nothing short of a tour de force of what we have come to expect of him yet incredibly never ceases to amaze me. I’ve always enjoyed his captivating roles over the years but his portrayal of the Dreams General Manager, Baek Seung Soo shall no doubt leave an everlasting impression on me. His qualities have always been a bit of a trademark that only he can project - that languid style of speech, the mannerisms and body language, the conviction of the acting, the artistry in his extensive range. All the hallmarks are apparent even in his recent transformation for the spy drama, The Veil. This is an extremely hardworking, intense and extraordinarily talented actor. Despite the entire cast doing well in their respective roles, Hot Stove League wouldn’t be the same without NGM at the forefront.

Park Eun Bin is my second reason for watching this and she doesn’t disappoint. Although no one can take away the plaudits for NGM’s leading role, she holds her own quite well as a supporting character that very much contrasts her take on a crossdressing monarch in The King’s Affection. Energetic and inspired as the first female Operations Manager in the baseball industry, Lee Se Young. This is a remarkably versatile actress who convinces every time in varied portrayals and settings. Also deserving of mention is Oh Jung Se who appears again on my watch list after last year’s Jirisan. His role as club chairman Kwon Gyung Min is compelling indeed and his approach for tackling one of the more complex characters in the drama is one aspect that I truly enjoy, in addition to the rather tempestuous nature of his interactions with NGM’s Baek Seung Soo.

The drama features countless familiar faces littered throughout either in minor supporting roles or guest appearances. The more impactful presence comprise Jo Han Sun as Im Dong Gyu, Ha Do Gwon as Kang Du Gi, Yoon Sun Woo as Baek Young Soo, and Lee Yong Woo as Robert Gil. There is even time for a surprising cameo from Lee Je Hoon in the last episode.

The production quality is quite decent where the camerawork and editing for the baseball games sequences are well executed. Hawaii provided more than a few breathtaking vistas during the California scouting arc, particularly through the use of aerial cinematography for a sweeping shot of the countryside. The soundtrack features five tracks ranging from the upbeat intro theme to melancholic vibes.

Lee Won Suk 이원석 - Cue Sign 큐사인
Kevin Oh 케빈오 - Mind
Oliver 올리버 - As the Cold Wind Passes 찬바람이 스쳐가며
Kim Tae Hyun 김태현 - Another Day is Passing 하루가 저물어 간다
Savina and Drones 사비나앤드론즈 - DOWN

Final Thoughts

There is much to love about Hot Stove League. Regardless of what I would consider as minor flaws in production quality which could have been better executed, there is no detracting from what has been truly justified plaudits for this drama. Now that I’ve seen it in its entirety for myself, I absolutely concur with the majority of the mainly positive reviews. It may not be a masterpiece, but it certainly is very close to being one. What a great start to the year with a fantastic drama!

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There is no such thing as a small task

For someone who is considered a foreigner to Korean culture and lifestyle, I have come to realize that baseball, considered as American’s favorite past time, has now become a big part of their lives. As they say in this drama, who in Korea can avoid baseball?

Despite the many terms and jargon on this drama, it is easily relatable and easy to understand. Yes, there might be a challenge in reading through the translation and at the same time concentrating on the analysis part to go with the whole flow of the story, still, Hot Stove League is a very good drama. Deserving of its 19.1% ratings.

I have come to appreciate our male lead Mr. Baek Seung Soo (Namgoong Kim) when he appeared on an award-winning Korean variety show, I Live Alone Episode 323. He had shown the clips where he needs to go to Hawaii to shoot for this drama. Then he had dinner with our supporting male actor Jo Byung Kyoo, who also has his life story of being alone featured on the same variety show. Byung Kyoo plays Han Jae Hee, assistant of the operations manager, Lee Se Young (Park Eun Bin).

This is somehow a refreshing change of genre for me and I wasn’t disappointed at all. Reading the long conversation has its perks as I watch the whole intriguing plans, all those strategizing and for everything to come in full-circle is just so worth your time. I recommend you shifting genres from time to time. I will always be the fangirl of rom-coms and love stories but I also need to hype up my brain once in a while.

I have to applaud the antagonists in this drama. I wonder how some of the characters could stir up vent-up emotions that you wouldn’t know you have all along. They are good actors in that sense. Witness Oh Jung Se (he played Sang Tae in It’s Okay Not To Be Okay) in a different role here, far from his role in IONTO.

POINTS TO PONDER. There are always two sides to a story. One should always listen to both.

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" Stove League " is the Chief Kim of sports.

Honestly, stove league was not for me. I didn't get entertained, and a few of the stories kept me interested. However, taken in consideration that maybe it wasn't my cup of tea, I'll review it without taking that factor in mind.

So, the story was interesting, as they presented the way the team was trying to get the Dreams, aka their baseball team. The stories were mostly humane, and the fact that they didn't add any unnecessary romance to it was a delight. The performances were really good too from all actors and actresses of the cast. The pace, presentation of the sports and training process, as well as the poster, were nailed to perfection.

So, seven out of ten.

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Before watching this drama I knew nothing about baseball and did not even understand the rules. After watching the drama, I still don't understand how it works. But, the fact that I enjoyed it regardless tells a lot about what kind of drama this is.

Hot Stove League is not the kind of drama I usually watch but I wanted something different, and it was !
I found the fact that there was no romance really refreshing, I think it makes the drama more realistic and keeps the focus on the working aspect, which the drama is all about. I especially liked the relationship between the main characters. I felt they portrayed the complexity of work relationships very well, from being reluctant to welcome someone new to feeling like a piece is missing when someone leaves... They build their relationship through their work and slowly become more than colleagues. The chemistry between the main trio was great but also with the secondary characters. The Dreams felt like a team from the top to the players.
I also liked how the drama focuses on different jobs, from management, to the coaches, to the players. It is not a world I know a lot of so it was interesting to learn more about what goes behind the scenes in sports.

But they were some things I didn't like. I could not feel any sympathy towards Kwon Kyung Min even though the drama tries to justify his actions. So I felt frustrated during his scenes and only wanted to fastforward. It was very different from Im Dong Kyu whom I hated at first but came to understand.
Also, I would have liked to see more of the relationship between the brothers. I felt the second part was lacking in this aspect (well, it was non-existent), when they should have shown its development.

All in all, a drama for those who want to learn more about this kind of workplace and enjoy watching a team trying to achieve their Dreams ;)

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