Weak Hero Class 2

Don't Expect Much or You'll be Disappointed

I don't have much negative review about this drama but if critic who wish to compare the webtoon series with drama series, they aren't what you'll imagine it to be.
The drama had filtered plenty of things like reducing the number of crew the MC should have, merging personalities of different characters into core roles (you'll know what I'm talking about if you read the webtoon), different storyline but similar message is conveyed and the destination of the storytelling still reach to the same conclusion. It's a great overall show as they filtered many unnecessary scene that I would wish for from the webtoon.

However, as much as I would like to compare, the main antagonist doesn't have that intense aura, doesn't look as intimating as in the webtoon series.

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we need a new season

I felt that the lead actor, Park Ji-hoon, gave a decent performance this time around, though honestly, it didn’t quite hit the same highs as his breakout performance in the first season where he absolutely killed it

​Plot & Pacing:
The sequence of events was solid and kept me hooked throughout. As for the ending? It was a total rollercoaster
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I was hyped to see Geum Seong-je finally teaming up with the protagonist after Na Baek-jin’s death. And then, seeing An Su-ho reappear? That was the ultimate cliffhanger. It feels like they're clearly setting the stage for a third season, and I’m definitely crossing my fingers that we get one soon!

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A breather from the trauma that season 1 brought

Definitely not as good as the first season, but the chemistry between the group is really cute and I’m happy Sieun didn’t have to live in guilt over Suho’s coma and everything that happened. Also, the scenes where he “talks” with Beomseok hit harddd and really showed he felt guilty not only for Suho, but for Beomseok too (even though none of it was his fault).

However, I feel like there wasn’t much depth to the new characters and we don’t really get to really know them. Like Baekjin played such an important role and yet we don’t find out why he was in The Union or why even died at the end.

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And the story continues...

Recently I am not much into writing reviews for shows, especially if most of the already written reviews contain what I thought of the show anyway. This time I decided to write one, as a lot of people's opinions differ from mine.

A season 2 always has to contend with the masterpiece that season 1 might be. In this case a lot of people loved and adored Class 1, and Class 2 had to live up to the hype. Many say that if you liked season 1 you will not like season 2 as it is very different. I agree and disagree.

If you liked Class 1 for its characters (not just Si-eun) and the characters duplicity...well, don't hold your breath with Class 2. Class 2 is pretty straight forward with who is who, who can we trust and who will support our main character. There might be a few twists and turns to some characters but...nothing unexpected.

If you liked Class 1 for the character development of our main lead, you can definitely stay for Class 2. The story of Class 2 is like a continuation of season 1. The aftermath of everything that happened and how it affects Si-eun. Since I liked season 1 for the reasons of loving the main character, for the budding friendship and people worrying for each other, and also (and yes, I feel very guilty and very strange admitting this) the scenes were Si-eun just lost it. They were just addictingly good. If any of that is valid for you as well, season 2 will not disappoint.

Personally, I appreciated that for once a show actually incorporated the concept of trauma, a character basing decisions on said trauma, and standing by them. Si-eun tries to learn from what he experienced and works through everything that happened in Class 1. I further appreciate that it wasn't a "let's slowly forget everyone from season 1 and only focus on season 2" thing but that we actually got both of the season flowing into each other, connecting. I mean, Si-eun's new friends understanding how much Su-ho means to him, is just...heart-warming.

I also appreciated that this time there was a clearer difference between fighting styles. You could see that Hyeon-tak was a former athlete, that Baku was just pure strength, and that Si-eun was just...how to say this best? Desperate, calculating and mean? In the best way possible. I liked the differences, as it wasn't just suddenly someone getting great at fighting or someone strong suddenly being beaten up. With the fighting styles you could understand better why certain fights ended a certain way.
Oh and the soundtrack and background music? Absolutely stunning and perfectly placed.

Anyway, I won't go too deep into it, as it might produce spoilers but I just wanted to say: I enjoyed Weak Hero Class 2, it kept the elements of season 1 which I liked but started transporting Si-eun back into society and out of his little grey world which got even darker after how season 1 ended. Good show, will definitely rewatch some scenes.

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Good Enough

Korean Drama 'Weak Hero Class 2' is the second season of the school drama, and this time, the main character moves to a new school, but his demons are still there to haunt him.

The drama is as good as the first season, intense, deep, with loads of action, and great performances. The characters were interesting as well and supported the story well. The main character's arc was also strong, with a smooth character development. The fighting scenes were, in addition, well-choreographed and executed. The ending was sweet as well, but a bit rushed.

So, overall, eight out of ten.

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Every Action Has an Equal and Opposite Reaction.

This is the drama that made me realise that I prefer the Thriller genre.
Weak Hero 1 had much more emotional entanglements between the characters, particularly Si Eun, who was learning to thaw and accept friendships as a good influence; but also had to learn about the bitter truth about it.
In Class 2, he attemps to revert back to his original aloof self, having inadvertently made a name of himself as the lunatic transfer kid. But, when Jun Tae, a bullied classmate crosses paths with him, he realises that he can no longer return back to who he was and what his previous experiences had taught him.

I can see why this one might not seem disappointing, but for Si Eun, it is one step forward. Establishing his past self and traumas was the purpose of Class 1. In Class 2, he has to face the fact that he can no longer be a by stander and is forced to come to terms with his guilt, the traumas and changes he had gone through.

The High Lights?

☆ Cast: The entire cast did an absolutely fantastic job, delivering tasking emotional as well heart pounding action scenes. As usual Si Eun stands out due to his character, but his friends, particularly, Baku and Jun Tak shone as brightly as he did.
As for Baek Jin. He was a very interesting character -- I can guess some of his story, but his past remained shrouded. Maybe Baku would one day, tell the truth. (The first thing I did when certain charactets appeared on screen was check their ages was cause there was no way Baek Jin was close to 17.)

On the good side, I'm glad that this season had a lot of decent fighters who knew when to run and had friends for backup.


☆ Story: I think the sky high ratings of this series is solely based on the emotional aspect since it easily captures your heart and makes you root for leads as well punch the villains through the screen.

(I never wrote a review for Class 1 as I felt that some dramas just have to watched to understand them.)

As it is based on a Webtoon, I'll forgive them for not going too deep into the backstory of certain characters such as Baek Jin.

I highly doubt that an organisation equivalent to a student mafia exists, but hey, I come from a college where there is literal Drug Ring, so I'm not sure of I'm supposed to doubt them.
All in all, it an extremely thrilling ride that lives upto Class 1.

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The second season was fantastic as well. I enjoyed Si-eun's journey past the first season but it was destined to fall short of the 10/10 first season. This season takes place in an entirely different school, which allows the story to focus on the important parts of the fallout from S1 but removes a lot of the possible context/continuity that could have been built up if he remained at the same school. This season was much more action-oriented and sometimes felt like fights were forced simply to include more action rather than to move the plot forward, and Si-eun's fighting style, while originally designed around his desperation and his intellect, seemed to be switched out for an unrealistic amount of stamina. While I believe it's still worth watching, I believe this story is optional-- season one was the complete story in my mind.

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No copy paste, but also no Season 1

The story is not exactly the same, though there are some similarities. Because of the high school setting, it feels familiar. But they did a good job in writing a slyghtly different story. Sadly, it´s not as entertaining, as Season 1. Season 1 felt new and fresh. It´s always difficult to deliver a 2nd Season, as good as the first one.
Also the actors weren´t as good as in the first season. More actors also doesn´t make better scenes!
If there is a 3rd Season. I will watch it all over again, because I´m a fan! Overall the 2nd Season was not bad, only a little less entertaining than the first one. I liked it!

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A promising sequel turned into a plot race

Clarification: I did not read the webtoon. I saw snippets from it, but not too much to be an expert. Still, i would compare it to the show nevertheless.

Let's start from the positives.
- In the short span of 8 episodes, they managed to make almost every new appearing character interesting, or at least not boring. I would say that for the most part, it's thanks to their actors, but i would expand on it more in the negatives part.
- Scenery, color grading, you get it, the visuals. It's not as breathtaking just as first season was, but still beautiful in it's own way, portraying Sieun's melancholy with blue hues and warm tones when he's happier.
- The plot is complete. It really is. Everything they could've done, they did. You can tell that it's a finished story, without loose ends. However, only regarding major parts. In minor, well.....
- Acting. Not only Park Jihoon delivered amazing performance as always, but everyone else, too. Especially antagonists.
- Music. Primary did an excellent job, but for me, there were never any doubt about the music part. Energetic and catchy when it needs to be, melancholic, hopeful, you get it.

Negatives. Well, buckle up.
- As much as they tried to expand as much on each charater as they could, it still feels too little. I came to watch already knowing who everyone else is, but what about drama only watchers? They tried to make new relationships seem as meaningful as possible, but it still progressed too fast with minimal amount of scenes that's needed to say yeah, i guess they're friends.
- Which leads to my next point. Pacing. It feels as rushed as it could be. As everyone already said thousands of times, it's action packed. Not plot packed. It felt like race to an unknown destination. A destination wich at first seemed promising, but turned out to be disappointing.
- Hinting that Seongje is a main antagonist in possible season three. First of all, you put actual ending of a webtoon in the second season, and THEN you say wait, actually, i have more to say. Really?
- I really disliked how they tried to make the whole season about Humin and Baekjin, and then expanded on their relationship as little as possible. You just know that SOMETHING happened. What, exactly? Nevermind, decide for yourself! Not that it matters now.
- Showing off Seongje a whole lot in the promoting material just for him to disappear halfway. Nice move.

Overall, I can't say that it's bad, exactly. But who's this made for? Not for Webtoon fans, that's for sure. For them, this is a complete disappointment. Drama only fans? It's rushed and confusing. It's more of an action tale about...people, friendship? It doesn't portray societal problems as well as first season did. It's entertaining, don't get me wrong. But it falls short in front of both the webtoon and the first season. You cannot try to fit loads of chapters into eight episodes 40 mins each, and expect to come out successful. Should you watch it? If you are interested in Sieun's story, sure. But for every other character it feels too lacking.

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