Random Cake: Prison Playbook : A Synopsis and Review

This is one of my favorite drama this year (up to April 2020. Wkwkwk). The conflict is not too intense but the story is beautifully made. I adore most of the characters. They are not superhuman who is good in anything (how come a prisoner is good in anything? haha) or villain that is so cruel. They are only ordinary human. How they perceive and enjoy life as a prisoner and the background who made them get into jail is so humane and realistic. I think it is that make this drama receive high  rating in Korea. I would rate this drama is 9.5 out of 10.0.

The drama itself categorized as black comedy. It is about life in prison which is place for criminals yet this drama try to portray that the criminals also has "kind heart" and there are some people who get jailed unfairly. Though there are also some real bad people there.

The director is Shim Won Ho who is famous for the Reply series. Actually I couldnt finish any Reply series because I got bored with the early episodes.  This drama is also boring in the beginning but become more interesting after 4th episodes. The final impression is "Waw, I should continue watching Reply". Hahaha. Let see how is my review for that famous Reply.

This drama is filled with many musical actors. Thus, no wonder the acting was too good to be criticized. One of the impressive actor is Lee Kyu Hyung as Yoo Han Yang, a druggie. I already watched him in Life and Stranger (or Forest of Secret). He played serious supporting role on those two drama but here he played an insane, childish, cute and smart person. BUT Wait! he played the GAY role guys!! The conclusion is he played the totally different character and it amazed me. :')

Okay.

Let the synopsis begin. Spoiler alert.

The story is about a very famous baseball player named Kim Je Hyuk, who got in jail because he attacked a person who rape his sister. Later the rapist died in hospital make Kim Je Hyuk have to spend 1 year in prison. There is saying that the big Kim Je Hyuk may look calm and innocent outside but he is the real crazy (and I agree). In prison, Kim Je Hyuk meet with the horrible roommate, Gundal (a gangster), Prof Myung (famous swindler), Ddolmani (Gundal follower), Beobja (person who in and out jail so often) and an Oldie (I forgot his name, a servant to Gundal). In prison also he meet with his childhood friend, Lee Joon Ho, who is a prison officer there. Shortly, because he could not stand Gundal action, he framed Gundal by cooperating with other prisoner and then got tranferred to other prison. This is when the more interesting story begin.

Let me review about Kim Je Hyuk character. First, he is super famous pitcher and I think he is like an idol in Korea. I dont really understand how famous he is because in my country baseball is not popular. Second, he loves others too much. He is too kind to be true. Not think too much about money and give a big portion to the one he cares about. That's why there are many good people around him, like his lawyer, his childhood friend, his girlfriend, his family (of course) etc. Because of his kindness he even able to change Ddolmani and Bbeobja into good people. The negative is he is kinda dumb. I really like his expression when he is dozing off when some trouble happened. I couldnt understand what he is thinking. Hahaha. Despite of his looks, Kim Je Hyuk  did some brilliant job in prison so people would wonder if he is really dumb or not. The other negative side is his super kindness. Sometimes it is illogical and sacrifice himself. But yeah, that makes him unique. 

In new prison, Kim Je Hyuk meet the some character as his roommates. Here they are :

1. Kim Min Cheol - an ex gangster who jailed because of killing another gangster. Kim Min Cheol is like the leader in the room and many people in jail have some respect for him. He is a big guy who loves flower too much. Kind of ironic. hahaha
2. Kang Chul Doo - Kaist  : a scammer and gambler but has a very good hand that’s why he called Kaist. He is married many times and has one son from his first wife. A nosy person and often has argument with Han Yang. His accent and pronunciation is funny because he has problem with his tongue. He got transferred somehow and it makes me sad. :(
3. Dr Go : a straight, very diligent and serious human being. I hate that type of person in the real life. Wkwkwk. But his life is a misery. He is imprisoned as sacrifice for his company and in return he got increasing in salary so he can take care of his sick daughter. He got courage to oppose the idea for second sacrifaction but did not end very well I think. Dr Go is also transferred in the middle of the story.
4. Lee Joon Young - Jean Valjean : Played by  Kang Seung Yoon of Winner. I hope he is a good person (I like Winner song and ever seen him in concert). He is imprisoned because of stealing a truck of bread. He always saying father to Kim Min Cheol but ended up stabbing him in order to get parole.
5. Yoo Han Yang : is a druggie who always think that his mother hates him. His character is very comical and funny. Always pick a fight either with Kaist or Capt Yoo. He has strong determination to live without drugs or flu pills but . . . (plot twist).
6. Yoo DaeWi (Capt Yoo) : a very handsome guy (Jung Hae In) come at last. Imprisoned because framed by his subordinate who has good connection, Capt Yoo is so cold to his roommate at first. But after adjusting, he becomes warmer and friendly. Thanks to Offcer Paeng.
7. Ddolmani : An antagonist character who always want to hurt Je Hyuk but Je Hyuk could handle him and became devoted to Je Hyuk.
8. Bbeobja : is another person who is impressed with Je Hyuk kindness. That’s why he get imprisoned again to meet Je hyuk. I don’t understand how come. Bbeobja is very chatty person but his information help Je Hyuk in many ways. 
   
   
   
   
   

Then there are also some prison guard who are important character to the story :

1. Lee Joon Ho; a childhood friend. Lee Joon Ho and Kim Je Hyuk is baseball friend. Even Joon Ho is better than him. But they got accident and Joon Ho give up the baseball. He enter the university and study to become civil servant. He had good grades and ever established the joint company with his friends but quit afterward. After he left the company has a good profit and become a big deal. I think, Joon Ho is rather sad about himself. Always quit in the middle. But, what Je Hee said soothe him. She said his fate is like that is because Joon Ho is good to everything. Thats why he has many option. Not like his brother who only good in baseball and has no choice except work hard in baseball no matter what happens. Uchaaa~ I like this advice you know. 

2. Officer Paeng; responsible officer for Je Hyuk block. He always says harsh and mean things to his prisoners. Though he always eager to help them. I dont really like his character because he always says no but does the opposite. He likes to argue with officer Na to get more flexible with his prisoners. Despite of his kindness,  Officer Paeng and Lee Joon Ho dislikes each other and I guess I am in Joon Ho side. Wkwkwk.

3. Prison Officer Na; a deputy governor; super straight and diligent human being. He has no room for flexibility. He hates Kim Je Hyuk who gets special treatment offering by Prison Governor or other officer. He is smart but kinda sly. I think his motto is no pain no gain because every time Je Hyuk ask something he would ask in return. His strict treatment sometimes useful but sometimes hurtful. But he is still a good person in this story.

4. Prison Governor; a person who care a lot about his prison publication. He is so happy when Kim Je Hyuk transferred there. He even offer Kim Je Hyuk some special treatment though Je Hyuk mostly refuses. He does not think much about daily problem in prison and always follow Officer Na decision. But one day he opposes Officer Na idea. (a plot twist again) :)

This drama is filled with moral message, warm friendship and funny scenes. Yet this drama has some important plot twist which enough to make my mood down. There are some love story here, between Je Hyuk and his girlfriend, Joon Ho and Je Hyuk sister and Yoo Han Yang with his lover. The love story is not too complicated like usual drama thus I like it. There are some time-jump in this story but I still found it nice. Overall this drama deserves its rating. :)