Let’s break down the so-called “pros” .

A major pro is the character of Seo Dong Jae himself. He’s a true-to-life depiction of an average person, ambitious yet held back by his background—he’s not an SNU law graduate, and that fact alone stunts his career. So he claws his way up with questionable ethics and an impressive ability to brown-nose. He’s a bribe-taker and an all-around scoundrel who’s gotten high off his own scheming—because, let’s be real, it was working.

Eventually, he gets “caught” (but not really) and somehow keeps his job.

In this spin-off, we watch him grapple with the bitter reality of his past choices. He’s trying to leave his sketchy ways behind, but his past jumps back in just as he’s eyeing a big promotion. His struggles from season two get the spotlight, showing that no matter what he does, he’s not getting the payoff he expected. Nobody’s giving him the recognition he craves because of his old antics, and the show drives that point home.

Story-wise, this is more of a “mundane Monday with Prosecutor Seo Dong Jae” than any suspenseful saga. The cases are realistic but unremarkable—probably a 9/10 on the Real Life Scale for the procedural stuff.

Downside? You guessed it—there’s hardly any mystery or thrill here, despite what the promo suggests. It feels like a regular workday for Dong Jae, meaning the other characters don’t get much attention. Ironically, these other characters almost seem like the audience: they know Dong Jae is a sleazy jerk who’ll do anything to get ahead, yet they can’t fully hate him (just like us). Only those who don’t know him—or who are criminals—seem to actively dislike him.
"Dong Jae: Good or the Bastard" is so grounded in realism that it forgets it’s supposed to be a “mystery thriller.”

Viewers might find the spin-off underwhelming compared to the intense, suspenseful parent story. Did I enjoy it? Yes.
Was I disappointed because I had high expectations?Also yes, my bad! As a standalone, it’s basically a well-produced docu-drama on how being corrupt will ruin your life (I hope realism is true here too).

And hey, totally unrelated but still relevant... Lee Joon Hyuk is an absolute feast for the eyes! Seriously, that guy is an absolute eye candy, and trust me, that’s a major incentive to keep you glued to this drama!