21
35
7
WandereR
Borneo
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!
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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