Stove League (Hot Stove League on Netflix) is a drama that grips the viewer from the start. In part, this is because one knows the story already, it being a heavy lift from the Brad Pitt film, Moneyball.
Unknown, maverick manager is greeted by a wall of despondency and scepticism then makes matters work by throwing out some of the rotten eggs, but eventually gets people onside by revealing he knows his stats and he's got a plan that can work. Meanwhile, it doesn't need a spoiler alert to say, he's got the top brass against him, nor that he's in with a chance of winning, but at what cost.
Different from other dramas, for once there isn't a gangster element, other than the parent company, anyway, and not one single funeral scene. OMG! I know, we thought the funeral scene was compulsory in K-dramas.
Predictable, at times, but I was held in every episode. There are good sub-plots also with intriguing backstories.
The cast is tremendous and the use of real baseball stars adds an air of authenticity. Sure, they're hardly the most natural of actors but they're each right for their characters, so it works.
It gets over an 8 on IMDB and that's well deserved.
Ps. Of course, the product placement is as bad as ever. I suspect if I were to visit Korea I'd be surprised that everyone is not dressed like a supermodel with wardrobes for daily change of outfits.
Unknown, maverick manager is greeted by a wall of despondency and scepticism then makes matters work by throwing out some of the rotten eggs, but eventually gets people onside by revealing he knows his stats and he's got a plan that can work. Meanwhile, it doesn't need a spoiler alert to say, he's got the top brass against him, nor that he's in with a chance of winning, but at what cost.
Different from other dramas, for once there isn't a gangster element, other than the parent company, anyway, and not one single funeral scene. OMG! I know, we thought the funeral scene was compulsory in K-dramas.
Predictable, at times, but I was held in every episode. There are good sub-plots also with intriguing backstories.
The cast is tremendous and the use of real baseball stars adds an air of authenticity. Sure, they're hardly the most natural of actors but they're each right for their characters, so it works.
It gets over an 8 on IMDB and that's well deserved.
Ps. Of course, the product placement is as bad as ever. I suspect if I were to visit Korea I'd be surprised that everyone is not dressed like a supermodel with wardrobes for daily change of outfits.