OVERALL
If you want a show with mystery, some humor and ongoing intrigue, even if it comes with uninteresting characters, boring or confusing plot elements and a lacking love line, watch it. If you’d rather good relationships and character development, then skip.
THE STORY
I’m very torn about this drama. On the one side, the main leads suffer from a serious identity crisis. Dongchi starts out looking like pompous player, and ends up being devoid of any personality. Yeolmoo starts out being, let’s say it as it is, unbearable, then loses all character, then somehow ends up showing a cute side completely at odds with her initial portrait. I get turned off by shows with titles out of nowhere, and let me tell you that there is no pride in this drama; nor is there any prejudice, or any resemblance with Jane Austen’s novel. And the love story, although coherent, lacked fluidity and romance. We don’t know why Yeolmoo likes Dongchi (except that he’s dashing and confesses his interest for her every other day), and instead of gradually giving into her feelings, we just get the impression that her love is a switch and one second it’s off, the next it’s on.
On the other side, Pride and Prejudice is a good example of suspense and mystery gone right. Cases that the characters investigate are all connected, slowly weaving a huge, dark and complex spider web. There’s never-ending plot twists, breaking the assumption that dramas can’t escape some predictability, and the main conflicts that the characters face, namely corruption among the political and legal elite, are both daunting and realistic. The secondary couple is also cute and fun, even though the characters separately are not very likable. So the bottom line is? Although I wasn’t in love with this drama, it still peaked my interest enough to get me to watch it all the way to the end.
THE ACTING
Mmm…I hate to say it, but I feel the same way about Choi Jinhyuk as I did with his character, Dongchi. He’s handsome and might have some good acting skills, but he doesn’t know how to show them, because all the roles I’ve seen him in look similar, not to say identical, and lack some unique character. Baek Jinhee I know can act well, anyone who’s seen her in Empress Ki knows it. Why she would take on such a bland role, I don’t know. Well, I do. I would take it too, if I had to be with Choi Jinhyuk, but you know what I mean. The rest of the cast did quite well though, especially the older generation. And you can expect a Good kiss (notice the capital G) between the leads.
THE MUSIC
Nothing great, but alright in context.
REWATCHABLE VALUE
I’m going to say just average. The intrigues might be interesting, but the drama is not gripping. I wasn’t dying to watch each episode then, and I’m not dying to rewatch the show now.
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