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Premiere Watch: Smart Prison Living, Nothing to Lose, Untouchable

There will be a steady stream of new shows premiering in late November and early December, and the first of them are coming later this week on SBS, JTBC, and tvN. I’m glad that the premieres are a little staggered this time around, because the last time that nine shows started up at once, I couldn’t keep up with the watching schedule. These three upcoming dramas are all very different in genre and tone, so let’s hope there’s something for everyone.

 

Smart Prison Living

Time slot: Wednesday & Thursday
Broadcaster: tvN
Genre: Black comedy
Episode count: 16

Reasons to watch: I think most people will be tuning into this show to see the latest project from PD Shin Won-ho, director of the Answer Me franchise. He’s finally branching out into a new dramaverse with a junior writer from the Answer Me series, about the everyday lives of prison inmates. It’s about a baseball superstar who suddenly ends up in prison and has to learn how to navigate a whole new social system to get by. I’m especially looking forward to the potential bromance between baseball star Park Hae-soo and baseball fanboy prison guard Jung Kyung-ho. The drama is described as a black comedy, which definitely piques my interest (even though more often than not, K-dramas that get called black comedies are not black comedies). This director has great comic sense and timing though, so I’m anticipating something fresh and darkly funny. Fingers crossed!

 

Nothing to Lose

Time slot: Wednesday & Thursday
Broadcaster: SBS
Genre: Legal drama, romance
Episode count: 32 (half-hour episodes, 16 hours in total)

Reasons to watch: SBS’s follow-up to While You Were Sleeping is another legal romance in the same time slot, which could either work to secure the same audience… or cause law fatigue. I love this cast though, so maybe the premise is secondary when most people will probably tune in to see Park Eun-bin and Yeon Woo-jin bicker and fall in love—I know I will. The setup seems closer to Witch’s Court actually, with a hot-headed heroine and a cool-headed hero thrown together as reluctant partners in the courtroom. Here, the characters will be judges, which is at least a new approach when we’re so often following prosecutors and lawyers around in dramaland. Honestly though, they could be doctors or firefighters or supermarket cashiers for all I care—I just like these two actors a whole lot, and want to see them being cute together.

 

Untouchable

Time slot: Friday & Saturday
Broadcaster: JTBC
Genre: Melodrama, revenge
Episode count: 16

Reasons to watch: Untouchable is the new drama from PD Jo Nam-gook of Last and Empire of Gold, and it’ll follow in the same vein of epic empire-building and power struggles, this time in a Godfather-esque story about two brothers from a mobster family who take very different paths in life. Jin Gu stars as the wayward son who rejects his family’s corruption and chooses to become an upright police detective, while Kim Sung-kyun is his older brother who follows in their father’s footsteps and takes over the family business, and they’ll end up at war with one another. If the drama isn’t afraid to go dark, I love a good mob empire story, though I really have to be in the right mood to start something like this. I have a feeling that the biggest draw here will be the villain, so maybe it’ll be worth checking out for Kim Sung-kyun’s performance alone.

 
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Smart prison living. This Wednesday. Finally.
I just can't stop fangirling about this. I'll watch the raw, and then the subbed. And probably the recaps too.

If I get disappointed, it'll probably take until episode 6 for that to sink in...
JKH oppa, just remember that whatever happens, it's not your fault 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

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So looking forward to see two of my favorite actors Park Eun-bin and Yeon Woo-jin being oddballs together in Nothing to Lose!

Is it possible to get a talisman to fend off all potential plot holes or logic fails which often accompany legal dramas?

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Also looking forward to see non-serial-murdery Dongha!

Side note: was at first autocorrected to “mom-serial-nursery” Dongha. Now I kind of want to watch that drama. Echoing Girlfriday’s sentiment, I will watch these three actors being and doing anything and everything.

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Take out a restraining order. The Show wouldn't dare risk contempt of court. ;-)

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Me: I want the cute!
Show: YOU CAN’T HANDLE THE CUTE!

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Go Back Couple ended this week so what would be the next drama? I checked on wiki but found nothing. Did KBS decide to drop that time slot?

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they moved The Unit to that timeslot on Saturdays. Might not be able to produce due to the ongoing strike.

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Is untouchable not being recapped? :(((

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Hmm nothing's really screaming "Watch me." I like Park Eun-bin and Yeon Woo-jin (and wow, he's on his third drama this year), but not sure I'm up for another legal romance from SBS.

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I'm definitely tuning into Smart Prison Living. The plot intrigues me and ofc we've got a great PD helming this. I'm interested in seeing the dynamics between the characters, and curious to see a non-haughty (and hopefully more expressive) Krystal.

Will check out Nothing to Lose too, and although I love and trust PEB and YWJ... I think what will make or break this drama for me lies in how they are convincing as judges. I'm a bit skeptical

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Am I a monster secretly hoping to see them not being genius judges but flailing and floundering at their job (but still delivering justice of course)?

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you are definitely not a monster. 100 percent with you

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No, because both actors are good at the flailing and floundering! LOL

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It would be fairly miraculous if they got anywhere close to portraying "real" judges. It would be pretty boring. Judges (in S Korea) are supposed to rule by evidence presented and not by personal knowledge of the case.

Something tells me that this would take most of the "drama" out of the drama.

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in other words, they sit and listen, then rule according to the law. They can question witnesses but cannot guide defense or prosecution on the direction or arguments to make. They may not be influenced by arguments made outside the trial.

How likely is that to be made into a drama?

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Okay, that sounds really boring and you do have a point
What I meant was more in the sense of how believable (given their relatively young age) they will be able to sell me whatever definition of a judge they've been given.

I really do want these two in a drama together, but not at the cost of indefinitely suspending my disbelief.

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I'm interested in all three and I know I won't have time to watch any. ><' Jung Kyung Ho, Yeon Woo Jin, Kim Sung Kyun...have to pass on some of my favourite actors. :(

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I'm really tired of legal dramas but I can't pass something with Yeon Woojin AND Park Eunbin in it. Please be good show

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I'm really curious about Smart Prison Living ! I love JKH since Heartless City. But if Krystal plays the sister of PHS, it means that she could be the love partner of JKH ? Since he dates Sooyoung, ex SM artist, it's weird to picture :P

I'm excited to see Nothing to Lose ! I love the both actors !

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Kim Sung-kyun was fantastic as the villain in Phantom Detective (I almost didn't recognize him), so I am intrigued by Untouchable. I just don't know if I have it in me to watch something dark right now. I may have to watch at least a few episodes. I definitely want to watch the other two because I love Park Eun-bin and because I love black comedies.

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Actually, I really wouldn't mind a drama with the main characters as firefighters. I don't think I've ever seen one other than Angel eyes? That definitely wasn't a good one but Love 911 (the movie) was pretty fantastic.

Anyway back to topic, I'm probably gonna check out Prison for Jung Hae-in. And for black comedy because if they can do what Black (the drama) is doing, then I'm in for life!

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Looking forward for smart prison living not only because of the director but I like Jung Kyung ho as an actor especially when it comes to comedy. Other than nothing interest me at all will stick to Because it's my first time now that Go Back couple is finished.

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Gonna check them all but i'm anticipating the Smart Prison Living the most and hope Untouchable script will be good and gripping...

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Definitely going to watch Smart Prison Living!! I hope it's good.

I like the leads in Nothing to Lose, but I'm a bit tired of legal dramas. And the story doesn't stand out. Planning on trying it anyway... xD I still need to watch old & current dramas though.

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I am sooooo glad none of these shows catch my attention, because I know after BTLIOF I just want to re-watch it and give me a drama break and start to learn French... 😂🤓. Maybe if ever, after BTLIOF, maybe something rather similar comes around than maybe I will watch a K- production again... let's see... LOL

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Well, I have nothing to lose so I might try Untouchable. I'm kind of in the mood for tragic, broken bromance ala Gaksital. But nothing really screams 'watch me!!!'
Or I'll wait for Junho's drama coming in December. 😍

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Is Smart Prison Living going to be shown anywhere that can be watched through Roku? I'm sad about missing so many good TvN dramas!

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Feels like I've been waiting for Wise Prison Life forever, can't believe it's finally here! It'll be the first time I live-watch a show from the beginning since May or smth and I can't wait to hopefully do some fangirling as well as serious analyzing in the recaps ;)

Nothing to Lose.... I feel like there's been way too many legal dramas lately. Maybe it'll do the trick that it's about judges rather than prosecutors (why is everyone in dramaland a prosecutor these days?? Is it due to all the rl corruption scandals that's been happening?), but I don't count on tuning into this one at least not now.

Untouchable somehow managed to fly under my radar completely, but it sounds like it might fun if I'm in the mood for something darker. I don't have a good track record with jTBC dramas though, so on the fence with this one.

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I'll definitely be tuning in to Smart Prison Living. So many familiar faces to see! And I like the idea of black comedy. Sounds fresh.

Nothing to Lose- same ol' prosecutors (or judges) and court cases. No, thank you.

Untouchable- I wish Eun Ji wasn't in this. I feel like I have to watch it just for her. Probably won't tune in straight away...

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i'm looking forward to Wise Prison Life the most.

Nothing To Lose - the casts are amazing but.. another legal drama.

Untoucheable - I'll be looking forward to see Kim Sung-kyun and Go Joon-hee the most.

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"Honestly though, they could be doctors or firefighters or supermarket cashiers for all I care—I just like these two actors a whole lot, and want to see them being cute together."

DITTO

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None of these dramas will be streaming on service that I use 😢😢. I want to check Smart Prison Living and Untouchable.

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It's funny how Jin-gu's character is a "black sheep" for choosing to be a good guy instead of a gangster. XD

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So... Many.... Dramas.... Can't.... breathe....

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Smart Prison Living! I'm very much thinking that I will live-watch this one (which I rarely do) 'cos I really can't wait for it. I saw a teaser from TVN that was actually a real teaser, not just pics and character intros and it looked so slice-of-lifey. It actually made me feel like its the Reply series: everyday life of a group of friends - just set in prison.

I was also happy to learn that the writer and some of the crew are also the same staff as in Na PD's current shows. I'm amazed at the talent pool that has extended from Na PD, I believe some of them are from the original 1N2D. Heck I'm always happy when I see glimpses of Daeju in any Na PD show ^^

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Yeon Woo Jin again! He's not in my top 100 fave actors. I only watched him in his last drama because he co-starred my fave Park Min Young. Alas he didn't grow on me as I was rooting for the second lead (the king in Queen For Seven Days, ha). Somehow, Yeo Woo-Jin gets to do tons of dramas a year which I find irksome since I'd rather someone else got the part so I can actually watch the drama.

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Hopefully this will be his last drama as lead for a long time because its going up against YSH and KRW so its totally going to bomb. Sick of watching him and his mediocre acting.

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Well, I have liked him ever since Arang and the Magistrate.

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As have I. He's a good, solid actor.

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I love Yeon Woo Jin in QUEEN FOR SEVEN DAYS, his acting there is top notch..... Simply bcoz, he is such a good actor... I (will) never like YSH, not an eye candy... he needs to trim his eye brows a bit... LOL...

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YWJ makes a good second lead, but doesn't do it for me as a protagonist. Something is just missing there. YSH however is leading man gold.

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Will look out for Smart Prison Living. If the story is anything like The Defendant minus the amnesia and melodrama, then absolutely count me in. :D I like watching inmate interactions with immenent prison break in the future..

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