As a criminal justice major, I decided to check out this drama to see how the Korean justice system compared to the American justice system. I didn't see many other people talk about this show as it was coming out, so I went in with limited expectations and simply happy to see Kim Soo Hyun act in a slightly darker role than usually. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that this drama was a secret piece of art.
From the first episode, I became hooked on the plot of this show. Rather than just telling a story from the perspective of someone who was wrongfully arrested for a crime they didn't commit, this show goes into the intricacies of the criminal justice system, and the politics that affect the public's opinion. This show addresses so many social justice issues, such as classism within the criminal justice system, corruption within the police force, violence within prisons, and illegal drug usage. It's not a show for everyone, especially those that prefer cute romance dramas, but I still heavily recommend checking it out.
My main complaint for this show would be I wish there was more female representation. All the female characters were either not helpful towards the plot or died. It's understandable that all the main characters would be male because the primary location for this drama is in an all male prison, but I'm still always looking for more representation in kdramas.
Despite that, this show was stunning. It's fairly short, so anyone can get through it quite fast. I hope more people check it out and appreciate this underrated show!