Bracing myself with a lengthy period drama run, what hooked my loyalty to Flowers of the Prison is its balanced execution of political struggle, neat narrative, infuriating villains, and optimistic underdogs.
I journeyed with the heroine Ok Nyeo (Jin Se Yeon) in exploring the situation of state prison, merchant organization as well as the early days of defending crime convicted victims who can’t fend for themselves circa Joseon era.
It helped that the antagonists were established since day 1 and there are no alterations thereafter. It is an amusing historical series. Being immersed in the story of the female lead trying to unearth her birth secret is expected. Her tenacity ultimately served justice to the villains that have put her in a lot of rough situations.
- Main Cast: Jin Se Yeon | Go Soo | Choi Tae Joon
- Network & Episode Count: MBC | 51 Episodes
- Official Website: Flowers of the Prison MBC
Flowers of the Prison Quick Review
- Plot Trajectory: Consistently engrossing but some plot hiccups along the way
- Plot Pace: Slow but knows when to speed up
- Character Portrayal: Great main leads and supporting cast
- Writing: Remarkably penned with emotional seasoning
- Watch on a binge or intervals? Intervals
- Crowning Moments: Balanced Showdown Between The Heroes and Villains
- K-Dramas of Similar Vibe: The Royal Gambler | Rookie Historian Goo Hae Ryung |
- Addictive Meter:
- Overall Rating:
- Rewatch Value:
- K-Dramas of Similar Vibe: Dongyi | Rookie Historian Goo Hae Ryung | Dae Jang Geum |
Flowers of the Prison Peak Points + Series Afterthoughts
Flowers of the Prison is not an easy watch especially if you mostly lean on trendy dramas. There is a lot to absorb in a long sitting, but there will be so much to learn.
It has resonating characters and an encouraging plot that magically locked me on a weekend alarm to check how Ok Nyeo and the rest of the guys were doing.
I like that for a period drama, the main cast propelling the scenarios of the story did not reach a hundred in numbers. Also, I appreciate that the concentration of wickedness was centered to the married couple villains only.
It gets so draining when punches are thrown from every direction in period dramas. So, at least there’s a balanced conflict tackled by the opposing characters. There is a moment that I want to rage war with Ok Nyeo for delaying her birth secret revelation and accepting all the stomping they received from the villains.
Equal Engrossing Depictions of Heroes & Villains
But the charm of historical dramas has always been the battles played by the heroes and villains in outsmarting each other. As romance is not a major element in the series, the vengeance plot took a lot of swinging and swaying and painstaking binge before the goodness banner finally prevailed.
Kudos to the cast who played well in casting the dice and overturning situations to annoy each other. Strong villains are indispensable in sageuk dramas and I like that they did not go over the top because the production team made sure that they won’t be on a baseless rampage, but a worthwhile challenge to the optimistic protagonists.
The series flaunt a perfect blend of political intrigue, side plots of espionage and state prison situation, memorable characters, and an engrossing storyline. Owing to those reasons, Flowers of the Prison is a must-watch period drama.
While it was fundamental in its approach of combining the political background to the characters’ drive in creating their own moments, the story is easy to digest without losing a polished vibe and idyllic narrative.
It keeps the excitement and historical lesson of the plot at a level where you craved for more and notched a satiating closure befitting of its humble opening and unwavering heroine journey.
Quick Plot Recap *Spoiler Alert
Flowers of the Prison presents the story of Ok Nyeo (Jin Se Yeon) who was raised in Jeonokso, Joseon’s state prison. When Treasurer Ji of Jeonokso extended help to a pregnant woman chased to death by hired assassins, he decided to adopt the baby who later grew as a charming young errand woman assisting the prisoners.
She was taught face reading skills and Confucian classic ideas by a known scholar, Lee Ji Ham, who is an on-and-off captive in the jailhouse. Ok Nyeo discovers an underground cell and meets a man in solitude for 10 years.
She develops an affinity with him and the prisoner turns out to be famous spy Park Tae Su (Jun Kwang Ryul) who shared a history with the Queen Mother. He took her in as his last student and passes along his espionage skills to her. But she hides from her master about joining a spy group under Kang Sun Ho (Lim Ho) who gave her a mission involving a Chinese envoy.
Ok Nyeo became acquainted with Yoon Tae Won (Go Soo), a son of an evil nobleman Yoon Won Hyung. He harbors hatred to his stepmother Jung Nan Jung. Tae Won is taken by a merchant’s head under his wings and joins the expedition where Ok Nyeo, Sun Ho, and Tae Su are also heading.
Strong-willed Heroine
Unbeknownst to Tae Ha, Yoon Won Hyung ordered to have him be killed after their mission and was successful in doing so. It caused deep agony to Ok Nyeo who lost her master. Ok Nyeo earns the ire of the evil married couple villain Nan Jung and Won Hyung. Thus, they frame her to wrongdoing which sent her to another province as a slave.
Ok Nyeo’s bright mind saved her when she helped in a prayer ceremony. She is offered a post in the rites and prayer department and starts working in the palace. When the King goes outside the palace incognito, he chances upon a few encounters with Ok Nyeo. He is not aware that Ok Nyeo was sent to Haeju as a slave.
During her stay in Haeju, Ok Nyeo bonded with her old master’s grandson, Sung Ji Hoon (Choi Tae Joon), who broke his engagement with Nan Jung and Won Hyung’s daughter – causing his adopted father’s death. They followed a map given by Park Tae Su and Ji Hoon claimed an inheritance left by the grandfather he never met. They set off to the city and strategized a payback plan to stop Won Hyung and Nan Jung.
Ok Nyeo’s Real Identity
Ok Nyeo continues on finding clues about her birth mother and stumbles on the possibility that she could be a daughter of a former King. She joins the group of Sun Ho and her mother’s best friend who was a court lady in the King’s palace.
They confirmed Ok Nyeo’s royal blood after Sun Ho tracked a then palace officer who helped Ok Nyeo’s mother, fled off the palace. Back then, she was ordered to be killed by Queen Mother, Nan Jung and Won Hyung as they were setting in motion the plan to put the current King to his position.
The King, not knowing his family relationship with Ok Nyeo, offers her to become a court lady for her protection, but she refuses vehemently unable to cite the reason why. Meanwhile, the King’s health is not in good condition and he frequently loses consciousness.
The main villains take the opportunity and mark Ok Nyeo’s group for another crime. Fortunately, it backfires on them and the Queen Mother who has been protecting them also died.
Ok Nyeo opted to work outside the palace as a legal officer and asked for the King’s permission politely to fulfill what her heart wants. Together with Tae Won they form a legal team that helped the weak citizens in search of justice and protection of the law.
Photos Credit To: MBC
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