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Gavel of Justice
Based off of the same title Japanese novel, Solomon’s Perjury has one of the most gripping mystery storylines of the year. The story begins with a mysterious death at an elite high school that have all the students rattled. Frustrated with the situation and the adults who’re ignoring the facts, the students decide to hold their own school mock trial for this case. Each student has their own role to play, from the prosecutor to the defense attorney.
This is a drama brimming with youth, angst, and suspense. It’s a story with a strong message highlighting one of the major faults of the social constructs in the educational sector — lobbying — along with other serious topics like school bullying and child abuse. At the beginning, I could never have imagined that the drama would go as far as it did with its emotional rollercoaster, and deliver on its promise in every single way.
This is a drama brimming with youth, angst, and suspense.
At first sight, Solomon’s Perjury is your normal high school drama with all the torment that accompanies teenage years — growth, friendship, betrayal, and youth. But two episodes into the drama and you’re roped into an erratic frenzy of suspense, possible murders, and a whole lot of tears. The drama moves quickly with setting up the premise, and immediately draws the viewers into the same state of mind as the characters in the drama.
First things first, I have to commend the cast of this drama. Every single character was perfect in their own flawed ways, all thanks to the portrayal of the excellent cast. While a majority of the characters in the story initially made me skeptical about just how useful they’d be in helping move the story forward, the actors exceptional performances and the drama’s tight script soon alleviated my qualms.
Every single character was perfect in their own flawed ways.
Special mention goes to supporting actor Seo Young Joo who played the student Lee So Woo who died on Christmas Day that started the whole chain of events. While he had few scenes and even fewer lines, he portrayed his character with such a riveting style that I found myself trying to understand his psyche outside the confines of the drama. His depiction of the troubled kid with a searing gaze and powerful words definitely made an impression on most viewers.
As the story progresses, I find myself astounded by how admirable these ordinary students are more than anything else. Han Ji Hoon’s (Jang Dong Yoon) strength and confidence next to Ko Seo Yeon’s (Kim Hyun Soo) irresolute bravery in the face of all the opposition from the all-knowing adults are somewhat inspiring to watch. It’s indeed very stimulating to see them turn what is portrayed as life and happenstance into a matter of great importance and legal concern. I especially find their being on opposite sides for the same cause a good set up for the story.
Things become even more mysterious and convoluted when all the obvious evidences are pointing in one direction. The drama makes you doubt the innocence of many characters as it becomes apparent that every character has something to hide. At intensity increases, I also enjoyed how the drama found ways to infuse lighthearted moments through the course of the story naturally, to give viewers mental breaks.
It becomes clear that there is a whole lot more to Ji Hoon that no one knew, both to the students and viewers alike. Every new episode is like another layer of the onion being peeled off only to reveal more layers. Meanwhile, it’s also appalling to see just how corrupt the surrounding adults are. Everything from falsified records to actual perjury are fair game just so they can cover their tracks. I decide to trust that the drama will resolve everything properly.
The main cultural issue addressed by Solomon’s Perjury — the world is a survival game where the strong eats the weak — resonates ever more clearly at the climax of the drama, whether it’s through the stark contrast of the corrupt adults and the innocent kids, or through the status inequalities of the rich and the poor. But thankfully, there is hope: with action comes change. A few things take a turn for the better, and I find myself relieved to see the students figure out a way to solve the case.
Solomon’s Perjury regrettably comes to a satisfactory end after 12 thrilling episodes. The truth that stayed hidden is finally exposed and I’m able to breathe a huge sigh of relief. I can’t think of a better conclusion to such a great story. I am particularly glad about the new friendship that was formed by the team of intelligent high school legal practitioners. Their growth is evident after having had a glimpse of the real world and its challenges. But more than growth, they all find happiness and peace of mind again.
All in all, I’d like to give Solomon’s Perjury a score of ten out of ten. With a tightly woven story, it’s the perfect drama to binge watch. You won’t be able to sit through the thrill and adrenaline at each cliffhanger, not knowing what’s going to happen next, not to mention the drama’s detailed characters and fantastic acting performances to keep you firmly seated through its glorious stretch.
- 9.9KShares
- 9.9KShares