SBS 'Shin I-rang Law Office' this week revealed the rooftop meeting of Yoo Yeon-seok, Jun Suk-ho and Jung Seung-gil, announcing the full-scale debut of the 'Shin I-rangs' poised to continue the momentum of ranking first in both ratings and topicality.
In SBS's Friday-Saturday drama 'Shin I-rang Law Office' (directed by Shin Jung-hoon, written by Kim Ga-young·Kang Cheol-gyu), besides Yoo Yeon-seok's possessed acting in the role of 'Shin I-rang,' the harmless chemistry of the 'Shin I-rang family' played a solid part in winning viewers' hearts. Park Kyung-hwa (Kim Mi-kyung) is a scary but reliable mother who, when her son walks past an elderly woman selling vegetables on the street, grabs a butcher's knife and fires a blunt insult, calling him a worthless fool, yet when she sees even a little bit of him down, she sends boundless trust, saying, "Do whatever you want." Older sister Shin Sa-rang (Son Yeo-eun), who still takes care of her younger sibling lovingly, and brother-in-law Yoon Bong-su (Jun Suk-ho), who supports his brother-in-law in everything and amuses with performances built from various minor roles, also displayed deep family love. Moreover, the fuss of insisting on attending Shin I-rang's first trial in person and showing up at the courthouse to cheer added to the laughter. When Park Kyung-hwa learns that her son sees ghosts, a scene of a ritual for her deceased prosecutor husband from the past overlaps, tossing in a mystery bait.
Buoyed by such reactions, 'Shin I-rang Law Office' seized both ratings and topicality in just two episodes. It broke double-digit viewership with a peak minute rating of 11.3%, taking first place among Friday-Saturday dramas, and also ranked first on the global OTT Netflix 'Today's Korea TOP 10' series. (As of Mar. 17) In addition, according to the Good Data Corporation FUNdex released on the 17th, it ranked first in the TV drama sector, and Yoo Yeon-seok proved content power by placing third in cast topicality. Furthermore, various online communities poured out praise that the unique setup of a ghost-seeing lawyer and its humanism are harmonious.
In episode 3, airing on the 20th (Fri.), brother-in-law Yoon Bong-su is expected to be crowned Shin I-rang's 'official tagalong.' Because Shin I-rang suddenly starts talking to himself, amazingly finds clues to cases, and at times spits out rough dialect and acts like a gangster, showing a completely different side than before. In the released still, behind Yoon Bong-su praying in the cathedral, Park Kyung-hwa and Father Matteo (Jung Seung-gil) stand quietly. It's the scene where Park Kyung-hwa asks Yoon Bong-su to look after her son Shin I-rang, who sees ghosts. This becomes the occasion for the ghost-fearing but loving Yoon Bong-su to join 'Shin I-rang Law Office' as the office manager and begin tearful "brother-in-law care."
The final released still shows the rooftop meeting of Shin I-rang, Yoon Bong-su and Father Matteo at the Okcheon Building. In the previous broadcast, the rooftop was the place where Shin I-rang last saw off the departed Lee Kang-pung (Heo Sung-tae), whose resentment over an unjust death he resolved, and it is a space with important meaning in the 'Shin I-rang Law Office' universe. Thus, the ghost-seeing lawyer Shin I-rang, the ghost-fearing brother-in-law Yoon Bong-su, and former shaman-turned-priest Father Matteo are expected to join forces as the unlikely trio called the 'Shin I-rangs.'
The production team said, "In this week's broadcast, people who share Shin I-rang's secret begin to come together in their own ways to help him. After the warm family chemistry of the 'Shin I-rang family,' please look forward to the comic yet solid cooperative chemistry of the 'Shin I-rangs' that Shin I-rang, who sees ghosts, his brother-in-law Yoon Bong-su, who wants to protect him, and helper Father Matteo will show."
[Photo] Studio S, Mongjakso provided
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