Weak Hero Class 1 (2022)

amazing acting talents

Best as a binge. 2022, 8eps at 40mins ea. (=5hrs, 20 mins total runtime). A theatrical, violent and unforgettable piece on highschool bullying which showcases the remarkable talents of an astounding group of very young actors (at the time between 20 and 26 yrs old).

Set in a boys' school there are no leading female roles. No adults of either gender are actually actively present in any appreciable way except for one politician father who regularly beats his adopted son with a golf club.

All of which is to say, you cant stop watching, you constantly need to see what will happen next, but if you step away for a day, 50/50 chances you will not return, that is, if you are a sentimental optimist like me. But this is an important piece because it is so carefully constructed.

The ability to retain dramatic tension with this material and to use this sort of acting talent so successfully must lie with the director, Park Dhan Hee. He came up through directing micro-dramas, which must be excellent training for the ruthless precision that constructing these shorter kdramas at 6-8 eps. must need.

The composer (Primary) and the cinematographer unobtrusively and professionally support the script and plot. It is only in the looping choreography of the fights and their camerawork that the show cuts loose. I will never again look at a Korean classroom setting in a drama without a tiny bit of trepidation.

This is not my cup of tea; hopelessness and brutality may be facts of human existence but, to paraphrase Helen Keller, the world is full of suffering but it is also full of the overcoming of that suffering.. However, I cannot with integrity fault a show which delivers so magnificently on its premises with such elegance and economy.

In addition, most of these actors are delivering quality work as they move into their late 20s, many as richly enjoyable villains. I always follow Shin Seung Ho, Choi Hyun Wook and Park Ji Hoon, who all have that special innate onscreen magnetism which has already gained them major leading roles.

ps. I just went back to look at that amazing role Hong Kyung pulled off. He has done really solid work since and is coming up on a leading role soon.

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I don't know why this drama got so many ratings. Probably because of recency, but this drama is still lacking. This drama is pretty juvenile, and for me, it's my least favourite webtoon-adapted drama. If they want, they can avoid many kinds of troubles, but they didn't for some reason. The main lead was annoying, as were his friends. One was overly autistic, while the other was overly frank and friendly for no reason. I definitely felt like I was watching a drama that was written in a single day. No wonder later they paid the price for their idiocy. I will still watch another season just to finish this mess because I think these kind of dramas aren't my type.

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A let down for the Weak Hero Manhwa fans

This is coming from someone who is reading and REALLY enjoys the manhwa.

This show was just disappointing. When I heard of this adaptation I was really excited for it and it really did deliver with the acting, music and fight choreography. However, the main thing that makes or breaks everything is the story and it was completely changed from the manhwa. I can understand not wanting to copy directly from the comic but then why use the name of the comic in the first place? Most of the episodes felt like filler and the characters were not in character.

If you have not read the Manhwa and enjoyed this tv show then I definitely do recommend checking it out. I was immensely disappointed coming to this from the Manhwa.

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How does this have 9.1?

Alright, let me just start by saying—Weak Hero Class 1 is good. Like, genuinely good. But the way people hype it up like it’s THE best K-drama or the most groundbreaking psychological thriller ever—yeah, I’m not sold on that. It’s solid, it hits some really emotional beats, but it’s not flawless, and it’s definitely not something that left me breathless or wrecked once it ended.

My biggest gripe? The friendships. Like… was I supposed to feel something deep for this trio? Because, honestly, I didn’t. Not fully. There weren’t enough scenes of them bonding or actually getting to know each other. It felt like, “Oh yeah, we fought the same guys, so we’re friends now.” You cannot just throw trauma bonding at me and call it a day—especially when none of them knew the others’ backstories or pain points. It felt shallow, not in the acting, but in the writing. The potential was there, but the execution? Meh.

Now, Sieun? Easily the best character in the entire thing. Jihoon’s acting carried. The way he acted with his eyes, the subtle facial expressions—it was so painfully good. The constant look of suppressed rage or grief, like he’s just barely holding it together? Insane. And his transition—from this calculated, emotionless top student to someone who just breaks—felt so real. The way he snaps at the end, not thinking, just hurting... yeah, that was deserved. And honestly? Valid. He lost the only bit of comfort he clawed out for himself. Years of being isolated, finally finding solace, and then having it ripped away? I’d lose it too.

And then there’s Beomseok. The human embodiment of “I don’t want to be a hater but…” I don’t even care about his sob story because the way he moves through this drama made me wanna launch my phone. The jealousy, the insecurity, the absolute audacity of this boy—YOU’RE MAD ABOUT AN INSTAGRAM FOLLOW BACK?? And then you go and beat Suho half to death with the people you called in—then ask if he’s okay?? Be so for real. You paid someone to hurt him and now you’re suddenly worried? Bro. No. The parallel between him and Sieun was really incredible, just goes to show how different people turn out in different ways even after going through similiar conditions.

Speaking of Suho—literal cutie. No complaints. But let’s be honest—he had the least depth in the trio. He was there, he was sweet, he fought good, but character-wise? Weakest link. Still loved him though. That boy deserved a nap and a hug.

Now the "villains"… honestly? I don’t even care about their backstories. They’re just high schoolers being power-hungry and violent because that’s their only way of surviving or feeling strong. And that’s actually what made it hit a little harder—because that’s real. There are kids like that. Kids who don’t need deep evil motives—they’re just mean, insecure, and desperate. You can’t even call them “villains,” really. They’re just broken boys doing what they know to feel superior.

The fight scenes? Chef’s kiss. Every hit felt personal. Like they weren’t fighting to win, they were fighting because it was the only way they knew how to express themselves. Especially Sieun—when that boy let loose, it wasn’t just fists, it was everything he’d been bottling up for years.

Pacing was… fine. Not bad, not mind-blowing. I think if I wasn’t multitasking, it might’ve felt a bit draggy in places. It didn’t consume me like a thriller should. You know those dramas that have you panicking at 3AM needing to know what happens next? Yeah, this wasn’t that. The cliffhangers were good, they kept me going, but I wasn’t dying to click next.

And the ending? Satisfying. Not mind-breaking, not soul-crushing—but clean. It wrapped up, left room for Season 2, and didn’t piss me off. Which is rare for shows like this. Honestly, I’m tuning in for Season 2 just because Ryeoun’s in it. Priorities.

Overall? Weak Hero Class 1 is a solid 7.5/10. Good fights, great acting, especially from Jihoon. Emotional moments hit. But it lacks the depth to make it an all-time favorite. It’s like… I respect it, but I’m not obsessed.

Would I recommend? Yeah. Would I rewatch? Probably not.

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Dropped Halfway In

Dropped halfway in, I think another overrated show on the list.
I got a bit tired watching a protagonist that 24/7 looks like he wants to cry. I kid you not, watch it yourself, it always looks like he's about to cry. Couldn't care much more for his other buddies. The dialogues and many of the action sequences lack the usual urgent, thriller feel. I also watched this based on episode 1 which showed a calculating, butt kicking main character. However, after the first episode, his first big conflict was approached in such a goofy, foolish and naive manner that made me wonder "what happen to that guy we saw in the first episode?" After that, I just lost my drive to watch. I honestly thought I was going to see some nice, calculating, bad guy butt kicking but end up being bored and disappointed. And again, watching a main character that keeps walking around like he's about to cry or he's high on some kinda drugs all the time, no thanks.

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Not for me, but the acting is great.

I think the performances were great, but there wasn't enough story here for me.

I loved Suho! I thought his character was the saving grace in a series of characters that really weren't that likable, in my opinion. The ML is meant to have that quiet, brooding type of personality, so I can see arguing he wasn't meant to be likable. Doesn't change the fact that this series is 8 episodes asking me to follow a lead I just don't find interesting to watch.

It's mostly fight scenes - so I feel bad for the people in the comment section being told the series isn't that violent. What show did you watch?

This follows the common beats of stories about HS students being targeted by bullies/gang members, so you can predict what's going to happen. No real great writing for female characters (all 1 of them?) either. If it wasn't for Suho, I wouldn't have watched as many episodes as I did. The first 4 are pretty great, but the series fell off for me after that.

Considering Suho isn't in season 2, I'll be stopping here.

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This is way overrated imo. It felt like this drama was trying way too hard from start to finish. If just watching gloomy-looking people with no backstory or context makes you feel something and think that makes a good drama, then you'll love this, because everyone except 1 of the MLs just naturally looks miserable af in every scene. Lots of things were over the top and unrealistic, like bullies drugging someone with a fetanyl patch as a joke. I have a hard time believing something like that would actually happen, and we got no deeper reason except they were just supposed to be so evil that they'd get pleasure out of drugging someone, and we also get zero context as to why they start targeting him so much except he basically looks at them the wrong way. There is depth missing here, it's very lazy writing. And ML just gets a little woozy and then is completely fine and nothing else happens from the drug, but then just starts slapping himself? And cut scene, that's it? Speaking of weird actions, I didn't really like ML, his actions such as that were largely unexplained. He came across as more crazy than a sympathetic hero. He's supposed to be a pushover but then starts going around defending himself with a pen. Sorry I found it pretty cheesy.

I see this being compared to DP, which is a masterpiece...both these dramas are melodramas whose OSTs feature the same artist (Meego), but that's where the similarities end.

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A Masterpiece

Not only did they portray the friendship so well, but Ji-Hoon is an absolute legend. The way Si-Eun was always a very serious and lonely person but found a friend that made him actually smile. I relate to him too much.

Even though I'm sure everyone who watched this hates Beom-Seok by the end, I actually feel so bad for him. I hate what he did to Suho but the complexity of his character is something not every can get- but I do. The amount of things he had to go through and endure throughout his life is legit crazy. (It's no excuse to hurt your friends tho)

The scene of Si-Eun punching the window in episode 8 actually made me cry because I genuinely relate to him and love him so much. All he wanted to do was mind his business, but... people-

This is one of my favorite shows. It's a masterpiece.

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