Every once in a while, and thankfully more and more often, a drama will come out which tries a progressive approach to the themes it handles and/or the very formula of Korean drama. In bigger or smaller ways, be it through their plot, their message, their characters or premise, they go for something new, even in the confines of a very limiting industry like the Korean drama one. 'The Prime Minister and I' went all out in being fresh, mature and endearing. Unfortunately and despite all its efforts and virtues, it eventually became a reminder that this industry rarely welcomes deviations and that drama writing is far from a polished art.
Nam Da-jeong (Yoona) is a determined and brave scandal news reporter trying to make a living and care for her father (played by Lee Han-wi), who suffers from Alzheimer's Disease. Kwon Yool (Lee Beom-soo) is the country's youngest Prime Minister candidate, who is good at his job, but struggles to raise his three children alone, after having lost his wife in a car accident 7 years ago. When Da Jeong tries to get a scoop about his life, a compromising photo of theirs is taken and twisted into a dating scandal. Eventually, the two agree to a contract marriage to save Yool's career and fulfill Da Jeong's dying father's last wish to walk her down the aisle.
Right off the bat, the premise of a new type of family being formed through a lie and the age gap between the characters, but also actors, were big topics to take on. Along with that, the political struggles of Yool and danger of their contract being exposed gave the series a very fast-paced and satisfyingly full progression. Even after certain twists later on and during its more melodramatic parts, it is not a work to keep one bored and for the most part, it delivered on the things it set out to do.
Full Article: [HanCinema's Drama Review] "The Prime Minister and I" Wrap-up.
