[Ishani's Picks] The Genius Of "Prison Playbook" And Why Its Ending Might Not Be The One We Wanted But Definitely The One We Deserved

One of the most well-written K-Dramas of all time, "Prison Playbook" starring Park Hae-soo, Jung Hae-in, Jung Kyung-ho, Choi Moo-sung, Park Ho-san, Lee Kyu-hyung, Kim Sung-cheol, Jung Soo-jung, and a host of other incredible artists, is a masterpiece, to say the least, and here's why.

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On its surface, "Prison Playbook" is a guide to life in prison where we meet a range of colourful yet complex characters and pick up some memorable life lessons on the way. However, what is often overlooked is that the drama is a piece of cinematic genius with very specific and intentional instruments of storytelling, a uniform narrative structure, and a consistent, dependable, and unchanging perspective. The latter is key to understanding the raw essence of the story.

SPOILER ALERT!

Any discourse about the ending of "Prison Playbook" brings up one of two responses: it is either perceived as being disappointing and leaving quite a few loose ends and on the other hand as being open to interpretation. However, I'd argue that it is neither of those. "Prison Playbook" follows Kim Je-hyeok, a brilliant baseball player who nonetheless has to serve time in prison for assaulting the man who sexually harassed his sister. When I say followed, I mean every implication of the word because the drama religiously maintains Kim Je-hyeok as the centre of the story's universe. In other words, we see what he sees and when he's left in the dark, we are too.

This is one of the prime reasons why we're not given "closure" per se, when it comes to the majority of the characters. This is not to say, however, that his character holds prime importance in the bigger scheme of things. As a matter of fact, importance is distributed as per Je-hyeok's reactions to his environment. It is not surprising, therefore, that Joon-ho (Jung Kyung-ho) and Ji-ho (Jung Soo-jung) hold central significance in the narrative.

At the end of the day, we barely get to know whether KAIST (Park Ho-san) or Dr. Go (Jung Min-sung) fared well in their new penitentiaries, whether Han-yang (Lee Kyu-hyung) ever reconciled with Ji-won (Kim Jun-han), or if Min-cheol (Choi Moo-sung), his wife and daughter and Jean Valjean (Kang Seung-yoon) lived happily ever after. As painfully unfulfilling as it is, we don't even see Captain Yoo (Jung Hae-in) reclaim his rightful freedom and step out of prison. We do see Jailbird (Kim Sung-cheol) however, because Je-hyeok keeps him by his side. As such, "Prison Playbook" stays fundamentally true to its premise even if it isn't ideal, thereby making it that much more artful and brilliant. This isn't a story for the people but rather one of Kim Je-hyeok that doesn't exist to cater to an audience but rather to make them part of an experience.  

Another excellent narrative technique that "Prison Playbook" employs is directing the audience's feelings by giving us a linear storyline with significant gaps, thereby making the viewers feel exactly what the inmates of Seobu Penitentiary feel. Prisoners are often transferred without prior notice or put in different cells. Similarly, characters are suddenly taken out of the field of focus and brought back at random intervals or indefinitely done away with.

The uncertainty that is ever-present at a prison is mimicked in the world of "Prison Playbook". We never know when we will see a character for the last time and we're equally surprised when they return. In this way, viewers become a reflection of the art they consume. Needless to say, this is a masterful stroke of genius that speaks volumes of the drama's value, both to the K-Drama industry and to the world at large. So, if you haven't watched "Prison Playbook" yet, you're truly and sincerely missing out.

By Ishani Sarkar

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"Prison Playbook" is directed by Sin Won-ho, written by Jeong Bo-hoon-I, Lee Woo-jeong-I, and features Park Hae-soo, Sung Dong-il, Jung Jae-sung, Lee Ho-chul, Choi Moo-sung, Park Ho-san. Broadcasting information in Korea: 2017/11/22~2018/01/18, Wed, Thu 21:30 on tvN.