Joseon Attorney: A Morality (2023)

A good character played by Hwanie (^‿^) but an incoherent story

Mix of romance and Law-Revenge in the context of Joseon (Laws vary according to status, place of women MEHH).

A brilliant lawyer, without a lot of morals, meets a princess (incognito) who runs an inn to help the poor.
YEAH, it’s already improbable!!

But the rest of the story is not more coherent (ɵ̥̥ ˑ̫ ɵ̥̥)
- the princess who wanders and lives outside the palace almost on a daily basis.
- the king, powerless who fights against the abuse of power of his prime minister. OK. But this king reasons like a stupid person, making decisions that have no logic, no lucidity, no strategy,... Pathetic
- The princess who decides (twice) to marry a nobleman she doesn't love and who is the son of her mortal enemy. Even though that doesn't her bring him anything. Seriously ??
- The cheeky ML, reckless from the start, becomes a depressed moralist, who begs his enemy to save his sister...

Should I continue ?? No, there are too many inconsistencies : the screenwriter smoked something very strong (^‿^)

The OSTs are correct. The production is neat.
The description of the legal context of this era is interesting. And we can see that the road to equality (whatever the status and gender) and justice,.. is very long!!
But the characters have no depth. Everything is bland :( :(

In short, apart from the character played by Woo Do Hwan, sparkling at the start, and some funny scenes, I mainly found this series pathetic.

**********************************************************************************
Mix de romance et de Law-Revenge dans le contexte de Joseon (Lois variables selon le statut, place des femmes MEHH).
Un brillant avocat, sans beaucoup de morale, rencontre une princesse (incognito) qui tient une auberge pour aider les pauvres.
OUAIS, c'est déjà improbable !!

Mais le reste de la story n'est pas plus cohérente ( ɵ̥̥ ˑ̫ ɵ̥̥)
- la princesse qui se balade et vit hors du palais
- le roi, impuissant qui lutte contre les abus de pouvoir de son 1er ministre. OK. Mais ce roi raisonne comme une personne stupide, prenant des décisions qui n'ont aucune base, pas de lucidité, pas de stratégie, ... Pathétique
- La princesse qui décide (2 fois) d'épouser un noble qu'elle n'aime pas et qui est le fils de son ennemi mortel. Alors que cela ne lui apporte rien. Sérieux ??
- Le ML effronté, téméraire du début, devient un moraliste déprimé, qui supplie son ennemi de sauver sa sœur...
Je continue ?? Non, il y en a trop : le screenwriter a fumé quelque chose de très fort (^‿^)

Les OST sont correctes. La réalisation est soignée.
La description du contexte légal de l'époque est intéressante. Et on se dit que le chemin vers l'égalité (quelque soit le statut et le genre), la justice, .. est très long !!
Mais les personnages n'ont pas de profondeur. Tout est fade :( :(

Bref, à part le personnage de Woo Do Hwan, étincelant au départ, quelques scènes drôles, j'ai surtout trouvé cette série pathétique.

Read More

Could have been an exciting and compelling story about legal cases during the Josean era

8;10 is my rating. This is a 2023 South Korean historical legal romance drama with 16, 60 minute episodes. It is based on a webtoon of the same name. Also known as Josean Attorney: A morality. It has 16, 60 minute episodes.

First I provide a synopsis then review

Synopsis
Kang Han-soo (Woo Do-hwan) is an attorney with a strong sense of justice just as his father before him. It was that strong sense of justice that led to his father and mother’s early death as those that are powerful and corrupt wish to operate outside the law. Orphaned as a child and with his only sister married off just prior to the tragedy, Han-soo is now grown and determined to avenge his family. Along the way he encounters the Princess whi has disguised herself to avoid the same evil politicians. Josean Princess Lee Yeon-joo (Kim Ji-yeon or Bona) was wrapped up in the incident that occurred so many years before and feels responsible for the tragedy. In disguise she works with Han-soo enamored by his caring for the average Jisean people and united in their quest to bring down their common enemy. When Han-soo discovers her true identity nit inky is his devastated at her deception but also realizes how impossible their love is. Can the two overcome obstacles to pursue happiness and ontain revenge for themselves and others who were wronged by the corruption?

Review
It was good, worth watching but not great. I really expected the lawyer to be some super lawyer but that did not turn out to be the case. My hooe was that I would learn more aboit the laws in the Josean period through a bariety of interesting cases. There were a few, early in but then it quickly switched to the revenge arc and there was not a lot of interesting legal cases after that. If youlike either if these actors you would likely enjoy their performance as they did a great job acting their characters. The romance was okay but I am not a huge fan of romance where there isn‘t a slow build and clear events that draw the two together. Sice they were mostly at odds with a lot of the cases it is hard to see how that would have drawn them close.

Spoilers*

If you do not like sad shows there are some sad events in this one. Particularly when he finally finds his sister only for her to die as a result of the same corrupt elite that caused the death of his parents. Her death seemed unnecessary as there were so many ways she could have lived. She also had a side romance going on with 2nd guy that I thought would play out and would have been good.

I was disappointed he was not more successful as an attorney and that success did not lead to a position of position of power next to the king. He won some big cases but he also lost some important ones. And he was falsely accused and tortured. He did not get oit if that situatiin with his brilliant legal prowess , instead it was due to the pleas of the people he helped. I know they were trying to keep it real but I watch for good to win over evil so I did not like that part. He wound up just being the legal lackey.

I did not feel there was a believable romance between the Princess and the lawyer. Maybe their chemistry was just off for me. She spent so much time early on suspecting him of being unethical and disagreeing with his actions I did not see where there were enough events for her to have fallen for him.

I was very disappointed in the King. He started as a very likable character but then somehow changed so he had his finger poised on the kill switch. He basically killed lead guys sister (well drove her to suicide) because he was hurt Han-soo hadn’t recognized his power to stop her execution. He wanted him to come and implore him to save her. Because he did not do that he made Han-soo read the execution verdict. That was so psychologically cruel it was nit a redeemable action in my opinion. Then he simply says he will reflect in it for the rest of his life and Han soo seems to forgive him completely. That whole thing was just messed up and unnecessary. And where was the king’s bride? Where was the pressure on him to marry? That was a missed opportunity for the evil element to force a bride of their choosing on him. It was just odd that was missing because that is such a strong element in other Josean dramas.

So many flaws in and around the Princess character. As strict as the Regent Queen was with palace rules it never explained how the Princess was able to live as a commoner outside the palace. That is what allowed her to meet and fall in love with Han soo so it was odd not knowing why she was living outside. If the elites were able to get the rules changed so their sons could retain their positiin yet marry into the royal family how was it the only solution the Regent Queen could come up with was to fake her granddaughter’s death and exile her?

I like happy endings so I looked into this quite a bit and many say it was a happy, well wrapped up, ending. I do not agree as it was very sad and heavy in several episodes toward the end that it felt pretty sad, on balance, to me. thought it was silly and selfish for her to go off after being reported dead from poisoning and not let him know she was alive and well. He had horribly lost so many people and suffered so much yet she was okay with him suffering because if her. I thought, as much as he wanted kids, her being infertile was sad for him. He lost his entire immediate family and, being with her, he would not be able to build a family of his own. I mean I am sure they could adopt but they did not even discuss the issue or how they would resolve it.

#JoseanAttorney
#Bona
#KimJiYeon
#WooDoHwan

Read More

GOOD TO WATCH

Woo Do-Hwan is hot, steaming with his smiles and comical acting. He's good with his character portraying an attorney Kang Han Soo to help common Jeseon people seeking justice, money is always his motivation but he also had a soft spot for unfair treatment of rich/noble people to the poor. He has an assistant slash childhood friend Dong Chi whose been through up and down together reaching the goal to find justice of the death of Han Soo's parent. His sister, though, went for different route as misconception who's the killer of her parent's death or misconstrued the deeper reason of manipulator minister Yu as he used her as prostitute to get information from his rivals. At the end, she choose dead after being accused of multiple infidelity to her dead husband (apparently it's strict law during Joseon time), a way of minister Yu to get rid of her.

So-Won who's a princess Lee Yeon-Joo in disguise applied for the job to help him find clients, promoting his service in her restaurant, but she intentionally tried to recruit him to help her brother the King solving domestic injustices and get rid of corruption in the kingdom. They struck friendship, without knowing her real status, he proposed to her. Low and behold, the princess was involved with his parent's death, after the reveal of her status, he's heart broken because the woman he love was the person he's been despised. I got irritated with this actress, she's always vacantly open mouth, not cute. 'close your mouth off'...if I may.

Mayor Yu was Minister Yu's only son. He's kind and gentle, he loved Yeon-Joo and disagreed with his father's action and support Kang Han-Soo anger. He also hold dear Han Soo's sister who lived in his place to become his father's bait. Kang Soo solved cases brilliantly, his revenge against Minister Yu paid off, but Princess Lee Yeon-Joo died in pursue justice for him by taking poison. Good ending..

Read More

JUST WORTH TO WATCH !

I want to start with telling that my favorite character here is Yoo Ji Sun ! like man ! He is such a good man ! that he even turned against His father for the truth. I cried a lot of this drama surprisingly! I thought this is just some romantic comedy but things got serious on the later part.
When Ji Sun told the reason why he turned against His father by saying that It's becuase He loves him, I realized that it is indeed when you love someone, you will not consent their wrong doings but you will tell them that what they do is wrong when they do wrong, I really liked that.
Too bad that Ji Sun seems has lived in blaming himself for the death of Kang Han Soo's Sister Eun Soo.
Ji Sun even turned blind on his love for the Princess/So Won for the truth and for His Nation ! He is the most remarkable Character here for me ! like I thought I was gonna hate Him but He turned to be my favorite here. Ps. I am not His fan nor I just even knew Him in this drama so there is no bias here ?
It is my first time also watching the main lead Do Hwan, and I did'n know How good his acting is ! like I like how he demonstrated his character , it was a game changer here becuase we all know and used to a main lead that is skilled in fighting and someone who is great in everything they do, but here Kang Han Soo is just an attorney who seeks for revenge, not skillful in fighting, and only a person who wants peace and justice to his country.
There is even a part where he made mistake , that's when he consulted to the Executive Minister Yoo the father of Ji Sun to save his sister Eun Soo and instead of asking for his friend's help-- The King
The King is so handsome, I've been crushing Song Geon Hee even before and always hoping for Him to be a lead one day, in this drama he is not the main lead but He had enough exposure so it is enought for me , but I realized His acting here as a King could've been better like I mean something like more expressive, more emotional, I just thought he lacks emotion specially when the servants announced that the Princess was poisoned, there should've been more angst,
but all in all it is enough anyways .. maybe I am expecting too much more than the director requires for Him
This drama has a unique story, I love it, I am always been a fan of Historical Korean Drama from my roots , so I love it everything was just worth watching, I like the emotion and the vibe on the later part when everything got serious I love the sound effects and most of all the OST !
worth my time, worth watching !

Read More

Most unique saeguk drama!

If you looking for a unique and different saeguk drama, this drama is definitely for you. The storyline is good, every character is perfect especially the main lead character! So entertaining! The acting of the casts is really awesome (even the supporting role on every episode)! The chemistry between Woo Do Hwan and Bona is on another level ? Not forget to mention the cinematography too! It' so beautiful esp on every Kang Han Su and Yeonju scene. And for the music, as a musician I can say this is the best music scoring for saeguk drama. They combine with modern pattern music arrangement which make this drama more a live and has a soul! Last but not least, everything they put into this drama is totally another level. Thank you for all the hardwork! To me Joseon Attorney and Under the Queen's Umbrella will be the best saeguk drama in this year.

Read More

Such a good cast ~ you really can't go wrong watching Woo Do-hwan; plus the FL and everyone else included, really made for enjoyable viewing.
I so liked Song Geon-hee in this, playing the King/Princess's brother; I'd not watched him in anything since Missing: The Other Side (S1 ~ I've yet to watch S2) ~ he's Thomas.
The plot is quite fresh ~ a common man who's an attorney, motivated by money, also seeking vengeance, who 'finds himself', a conscience and love ~ though the latter creeps up on him and comes complete with several surprises and a fair bit of angst.
As with many historical dramas, there is, of course, plenty of corruption, power crazy officials, a puppet king struggling to regain the monarchy's power and intrigue by the bucket full.
Being something of a rom-com with a modern feel, kept it light, although there were more than a few scenes that were sad, tragic and with a touch of action thrown in.
The pace was pretty good overall and I was kept engaged. Occasionally, the story did ramble a little, with overly long pauses and the usual irritation of characters acting on their own, not divulging crucial info and thinking they know what's best for everyone. It's forgivable and doesn't spoil things too much. It gets a little cheesy at times though.
I found the ending one that succeeds in leaving the drama's audience satisfied, but after the build-up to it in the penultimate episode, it also felt like a means to that end.
One character's reasons for staying hidden, were never even remotely discussed with the main person affected by their decision ~ if that's not being included as part of the story, leave that kind of reasoning out, rather than have the issue ignored, because there isn't room to address it.
Honestly though, it's not a huge deal, but is something that poked at me!
The music was varied with some quite rocky pieces, but they fit OK for the most part. Even if I didn't think the choices were always appropriate, the music in itself was very good, with some nice ballads too.
A little bit of reality is also included, with the rewritten laws, protecting all, that's focussed on at the end.
Nice drama to welcome Woo Do-hwan back after his military service.

Read More

A showcase for the actors/characters

I mostly started watching this drama because “legal drama, but a sageuk” sounded like kind of an interesting concept. At the time I knew nothing about Wu Do-hwan or Bona at all.

But the thing about the whole concept of the drama is that, well, it’s actually “film noir, but a sageuk,” and it’s kind of serviceable but not really remarkable (although it’s not bad, either). The things that really make this drama worth watching are 1. Wu Do-hwan’s megawatt star charisma (and abs LOL) 2. Bona and Wu Do-hwan’s smoldering chemistry 3. Cha Hak-yeon’s intense but subtle performance as the second male lead.

I also have to give points to Chun Ho-jin who approaches the role of chief antagonist as a kind of casual, affable supervillain, nonchalantly manufacturing forbidden blue-and-white pottery in his own kiln for his bowing and scraping minions.

I’m also in the middle of rewatching this drama and it’s definitely worth seeing a second time: there are lots of details you’ll appreciate with a certain foreknowledge of the plot and characters.

Read More

Effervescent Historic RomCom turns serious at times. Great use of ancient Korean Law.

In the second half of the Korean Drama season of the year 2023, Woo Do Hwan starred in the hit Korean drama Bloodhounds and displayed his newly sculpted fighting body. His new look is also on full display in a Korean Drama season first half sleeper “Joseon Attorney: A Morality”. It stars Woo Do Hwan and K pop Idols Kim Ji-yeon (Bona) and Cha Hak-Yeon (N).

MY RAW NOTES ??

Hot brass-sounding music is smoking in a great modern OST, which in addition has super edgy beats and great songs.

The Joseon Attorney (Woo Do Hwan) has a photographic memory when it comes to the Law Codes and he is on a course of revenge.

The open courtroom law is presented like Extraordinary Attorney Woo, but Joseon style.

The LAW highlighted in Joseon Attorney: A Morality are ancient Korean laws. Although no longer applicable in Korean law annals, you get finely tuned applications of these ancient laws being used in creative ways in the storyline. This will remind some of how this was done in the modern day Korean Drama ‘Extraordinary Attorney Woo’. Production hired a great historian to pull this off.

There is some great cinematographic risk-taking in this K-drama, exploring black and white stills and shots and stop action.

The Joseon Attorney wins cases by hook or crook to get the bad guys for his revenge. The female lead falls in love at first sight.

Joseon Attorney: A Morality, heads into a whole other intense direction in/after episode 7.

The drama starts off very good and manages to get better over time.

Woo Do Hwan is such a good actor. It is the little reflexes, facial expressions, all these little things that he does to expand his acting range.

You will definitely see the goofy side of Woo Do Hwan in some episodes. It is cute and unexpected, as he interprets his comedic lines.

Quote: “Ultimately, the law must rule over the people, not the King (ruling over the people)”.
Quote: “Are you giving me the illness and the medicine at the same time?” (Are you causing the problem and giving me your cure or solution?).

Some had been calling me about Joseon Attorney: A Morality, but I had this drama on the shelf. I decided to check the ratings and saw that it was getting 4.5-5.0 out of five. OK, what is the hype? At least you can’t go wrong with Woo Do Hwan. Also, this drama stars K-pop Idols Bona (Kim Ji Yeon from Twenty five Twenty one) and N (Yoo Ji Sun from Bad and Crazy).

I am enjoying Joseon Attorney: A Morality. It is a go from me.

Read More

I finished watching this on 4/23/2023. Forgot to Review

For enthusiasts of historical Kdramas, this is an absolute gem. Woo Do Hwan, portraying Kang Han Su, an attorney, left me utterly impressed with his acting prowess. His performances, whether conveying emotions through subtle movements, captivating smiles, or portraying intense anger and fear, were truly overwhelming. There were moments when I felt like I wasn't merely watching a drama but witnessing real-life unfolds. My heartfelt applause goes to Woo Do Hwan for his incredible talent – truly amazing!

Bona, in the role of Lee Yeon Joo, delivered an outstanding performance. Her chemistry with Woo Do Hwan added another layer to the series, and she's fortunate to share the screen with such a talented co-star. While I wish to see more of her on-screen presence, it seems she opts for one drama per year, leaving audiences eagerly anticipating her next project.

Cha Hak Yeon, in his debut appearance for me, showcased a level of experience that caught my attention. The narrative's emphasis on attorneys striving to protect those falsely accused of crimes in an era where any offense could result in a death sentence was both intriguing and unsettling. I'm grateful not to have lived in Korea during that historical period. Additionally, the portrayal of Korea's historical clothing, especially the beautiful hats, added a captivating visual element to the series.

Thanks to Team Joseon Attorney: A Mortality (2020)

Read More

Best historical of 2023

This title certainly did not disappoint. Woo do hwan as Kang Han soo is phenomenal in his role. He is a great actor, playing both serious and emotional scenes and scenes of a funny and goofy nature in a charming and amazing way.. Some of the scenes where he is crying are done so so well, I can almost believe that it’s happening in real life. The relationship between the main leads is amazing as well.

I also somehow liked the female main lead as well, So Won. She was a strong character, even if she was naive at the beginning , comes into her strengths nicely.
The second male lead is phenomenal as well. Such a well written character.

The villain was also surprisingly good. He was menacing and well written, though I would have liked to see more of his backstory.
The flow and overall progression of the story was well thought out, there were several little cases that gradually crescendoed into a showdown with the big bad.

Good writing, stellar acting and honestly, for someone who doesn’t really notice background music, they did a good job with the score.

Read More

Moon Bin

I like the story of the series very much, the good acting of the actor has made it many times better ??
Douhovan's eyes are very beautiful when the scene is emotional, you can see and feel the sadness in his eyes. ? Even when he plays a clown, he is also great, he provided the humor of the series?
The tone of speaking and the voice of Ghazi Garami is also very good and it suits his role, his facial expressions are very good for the role of this model, I liked him very much.

Have you seen historical series, most of the time they are not balanced or they are all political or very sad and...
This character was balanced so far, whether it's sadness, politics, revenge, lovers or everything

See the summary is worth seeing
Only the actor who plays the role of the king looks a lot like Moon Bin, I think of him when I see him, my heart hurts ?

Read More