Hierarchy

maybe just listen to the ost!!

i was extremely excited to start hierarchy. i was in korea when it was released, and i really enjoyed watching the first few episodes and uncovering the plot. sadly, this didn't last long, and i think the main reason is how long it feels.

the visuals are all very similar and the episodes just felt dragging. i do think this was part of the point of the show, as to explain the type of environment jooshin is, but it just made each minute feel like 10. there were times i was 15-20 minutes into an episode, but it felt like 40. this is honestly the sole reason it took me so long to finish the show. i started it at release, and it took me almost 5 full months to finish it. the scenes that felt the most refreshing were the scenes at jaei’s beach house and when the main cast was in the city together.

alongside that, the plot was handled poorly. they really did have EVERYTHING to make an amazing show: good music and actors, beautiful set, and a plot that could have been amazing. in a way, they focused too much on the aesthetics and less the actual plot. the relationships felt undeveloped and the absolute full plot explanation within the last hour of the show was extremely disappointing to see. even though all of kangha’s motivation stems from inhan, it felt like in half of the show he was an afterthought. for a show that spent so much time with all the characters, i feel like i know nothing about them and their relationships. while this could be intentional, it makes too big of an impact on the show to were i can’t think that. the only thing strongly revealed was the hierarchy of the school, which does make sense in the context of the show, but i would love more.

the characters also made me mad. i went from liking people to hating people to liking them again. i do like that everything was wrapped up, like kangha getting closure on his “relationship” with jaei, hera and jaei becoming friends again, and rian and jaei semi-fixing their relationship. woojin felt extremely underutilized, like his only point was to be dating a teacher and pining over hera (which felt like a reallyyyyy unnecessary arch). i really wish time was spent developing them more, instead of focusing on messy relationships and extravagant party life. i assume some of this was the point of the show, but it still is annoying.

onto the thing i actually love: the music. i don’t listen to osts often, unless someone i know is in it, but this is one of the best osts i’ve listened to. just from the intro with cocona’s ‘holler time’, i was already in love. next, junhyeon’s song ‘ruin life’ is amazing when it appears in the outro. aside from holler time, my favorite song is probably ‘paradise’ by xydo. if you haven’t listened to this entire ost yet, i would definitely recommend it! out of all the aspects of this show, this ost is the thing that fits along with the visuals. i felt much more emotion from this ost than the show, and if you don’t think you want to watch the show, listening to the ost will give you a similar feeling.

anyways, did i enjoy this show? yes. do i think it has a high rewatch value? no. now that i’ve seen it and i’m done with it, i’ll probably not revisit it. i’m happy i finished it though, and it’s clearly a labor of love from everyone involved.

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it’s okay, there’s worse tbh

I was unsure wether to actually watch this or not but I did anyway, trying to build my own opinion about it. lowkey expected to drop it after 2 episodes but didn’t, solely bc I wanted to know “why” things happened. personally, it wasn‘t that bad, it bugged me that they were all relatively young though and seemed to suddenly grow so mature in a span of one episode - which was also the end. yes the drama wrapped up really fast and ‘too easy’ imo - after nothing important to the ‘crime storyline‘ happened for most of the episodes.

Don‘t expect it to be like The Glory, it‘s full of romance and it’s a bit frustrating, it‘s set in a school full of rich hormonal teenagers that abuse the power they inherit with their family name. Since they’re teenagers, their problems are also believably for the rich and young. There’s not much brainwork to do here, all in all good enough to watch in the background while doing other stuff 🤷🏻‍♀️

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I'd give it a miss...

I wasted too many hours of my life watching up to episode 6 (although it took me MONTHS of dipping in and out) before I finally gave up for good. Please do not waste your time, the storyline is poor.
I thought it would be decent to start with, like a Revenge of Others vibe, but it was just a car crash.
Everybody was so stiff, there was no chemistry between any of the characters, and the most expressive character in the whole show was the principal's strange son. All the characters have something that makes you hate them.

And WHY, when they go outside to have conversations, do they stand 6ft apart every time?? They might as well shout it so the whole school can hear their secrets.

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Pretty but not much substance

I was sick and couch-rotting and this show was suggested by Netflix. The premise/vibes sounded intriguing (murder mystery and revenge plot?!) so I gave it a shot before seeing the negative reviews.

I loved the cinematography and overall darker/edgy vibe, but the plot ended up being a bit underwhelming. I suppose it was as spicy as it could get for a high school chaebol drama, and the suspense buildup was pretty good with some twists, but the main characters were really immature. Character development is slow and/or lacking in most, with an exception for He-ra. Kang Ha came in looking for revenge - and I guess he did get justice served eventually, but almost got derailed simping for Jae-i lol.

Honestly, if Jae-i had just communicated more with her bf and supposed bestie, things would've turned out way better from the start. Her stoic personality went from mysterious to boring pretty quick bc it turned out she was just anxious and avoidant. Glad she finally started standing up for herself against her dad and communicating with her friends at the end. Also the homeroom teacher really had the audacity to act all empathetic about In-han... SMH.

Overall, it was still an ok bingewatch while I was sick and vegging out on the couch lol - I could just turn off my brain and enjoy the cinematography and vibes. The finale was pretty satisfying in terms of closure, although they definitely left it open for a second season, which based on reviews might not happen lol.

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All style, little substance

TL;DR:
Visually stunning but emotionally hollow — Hierarchy sets up a juicy elite school revenge plot but fizzles out with weak payoffs, shallow romance, and forgettable characters.

The story kicks off with a dramatic moment: a student fleeing a party in fear, only to be hit by a car. That event sets the stage for a dark high school drama centered around Jooshin High School, a hyper-elite institution for Korea’s wealthiest and most powerful families. The school operates on an unforgiving social ladder — and if you’re not born rich, you’re barely even seen.

The main character is a scholarship student who enters this world with a hidden agenda: he’s investigating the death of his brother, who he believes was a victim of bullying and systemic cover-ups by the school’s elite. His mission is clear — expose the hierarchy, shake the system, and get revenge.

But along the way, things get complicated. He falls for Jung Jae-Yi, one of the elite girls — who also happens to be the girlfriend of the boy he believes is responsible for his brother’s death. To make things messier, Jae-Yi and her boyfriend actually did love each other, and their breakup happens over a flimsy, unconvincing reason. Even when she starts to develop feelings for the main lead, the shift feels rushed and emotionally shallow. Her romantic arc ends up feeling wishy-washy, which weakens the impact of both the romance and the revenge plot.

Despite the show’s attempts to explore class division, guilt, and justice, most of the characters feel more like pieces in a melodramatic chessboard than real people. The emotional core — especially around the love triangle and the main character’s grief — never quite hits the depth it promises.

That said, the production value is top-notch. From the luxurious sets and polished cinematography to the elite fashion and moody lighting, the drama looks incredible. It gives off serious “expensive Netflix drama” vibes. The heroine is visually striking and carries a strong presence, even if her character is inconsistently written.

Acting-wise, performances are okay but not particularly standout. Most actors deliver their lines competently, but there's a lack of nuance, especially when it comes to conveying emotional tension or trauma.

Hierarchy is the kind of drama that looks like it has something to say, but doesn’t commit to any of its themes. What starts as a promising revenge plot tangled with class politics becomes a muddled romance with unconvincing turns and a disappointing resolution. It’s worth a watch if you’re drawn to dramas set in elite schools with dark undertones — just don’t expect much substance beyond the aesthetics.

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a waste of time

I felt like this was completely influenced a lot by western teen dramas and honestly was not feeling it. I got pretty annoyed throughout the very first episode. As the scene of them playing spin the bottle or truth or dare. (Can’t remember because it just wasn’t anything remotely rememberable.) it just felt completely forced and like your cliche western talking about sex and hooking up and flaunting there wealth and being bullies. But I wanted to see it through as it could possibly turn around. Where it almost did once I found out who kang ha was. And thought “here we go it’s about to get juicy “ But let me down as it went on because a lot of it just was all over the place and didn’t really flow i felt.

There was just no plot and seemed like every other common western drama to a predictable murder mystery. A love triangle and family drama. Even though I expected someone completely different of being the person who killed kang ha twin brother. But even that still wasn’t enough to get me fully hooked on it.

I didn’t really understand the dynamic between kang ha and the female protagonist jae yi. It was pretty pointless and I felt there wasn’t much chemistry for him to be so intrigued with her.
He had a goal to expose the people envolved in his brother’s death. And felt like he lost sight of that because of his fascination with jae yi and wanting to protect her. Even tho she could honestly care less because she was trying to keep her secret hidden. Which she was just not likable. To be honest there were not one likable characters if I’m being honest. But this is just my personal opinion.

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A Bland Blend of High School Drama and Unfulfilled Revenge

"Hierarchy" initially promises an intriguing blend of mystery, high school drama, and intricate character dynamics but ultimately falls short of its potential. The series struggles with pacing issues, lackluster character development, and a revenge plot that never fully comes to fruition.

One of the most significant issues with this drama is its inability to establish a clear identity. It attempts to blend elements from popular series like "Elite" with traditional kdrama tropes, but the execution is inconsistent. The show's tone oscillates between dark, gritty drama and lighter, more conventional high school scenes, creating a jarring viewing experience.

The central revenge plot, which could have been the driving force of the series, takes a backseat to less compelling storylines. Kang Ha's quest to uncover the truth behind his brother In-han's death is diluted by subplots involving superficial high school romances and power struggles that lack depth. Instead of focusing on the core mystery and building tension around it, the series meanders through trivial conflicts and repetitive interactions.

Character development is another area where this drama falters. The main leads, particularly Kang Ha and Jae-i, fail to evoke empathy or investment from the audience. Kang Ha, despite being positioned as the protagonist, is bland and one dimensional. His motivations are unclear, and his actions often feel inconsistent with his character. Jae-i, who is supposed to be a complex, conflicted figure, comes across as cold and detached. Her chemistry with Kang Ha is almost nonexistent, making their romantic scenes awkward and unconvincing.

Ri-an, another central character, shows some growth over the series, but his arc is not enough to salvage the show. His character's transformation from a typical bad boy to someone seeking redemption is poorly executed, and the final episodes' attempt to humanize him feels rushed and unearned. He-ra, on the other hand, stands out slightly better due to her strong performance, but even her character suffers from inconsistent writing and a lack of clear direction.

The supporting characters, who could have added layers to the narrative, are underutilized and poorly fleshed out. They serve more as plot devices than as integral parts of the story. This lack of depth makes it difficult to care about their fates or understand their motivations.

The show's pacing is another major flaw. The episodes are often padded with unnecessary scenes that do little to advance the plot or develop the characters. Key revelations and twists are either shown too early or dropped without sufficient buildup, resulting in a lack of suspense and engagement.

Visually, this drama has some redeeming qualities. The cinematography and production design are polished, capturing the opulence of Jooshin High and its surroundings effectively. However, good visuals alone cannot compensate for the weak narrative and character flaws.

The final episode attempts to wrap up the numerous plot threads but ends up feeling anticlimactic. The revelation of the true events behind In-han's death is predictable and lacks impact. The post-credit scene, intended as a cliffhanger, feels more like a desperate attempt to hook viewers for a potential second season rather than a satisfying conclusion to the story.

Overall, "Hierarchy" is a disappointing series that fails to capitalize on its intriguing premise. The acting, especially from the main leads, is subpar, and the writing does not do justice to the complex themes it tries to explore. With unlikable characters, a sidelined revenge plot, and inconsistent pacing, the series does not offer enough to make viewers care about the outcome.

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Time wasted

This is my first time writing a review, so bear with me. I had heard a lot of bad reviews, but I still wanted to watch it. The 7 episodes started out good, but then the plot just didn't go anywhere. The main character focused so much on the girl that he totally forgot about his brother.

Why was it so short, and why did it go nowhere? I mean, I guess the teacher got arrested, but still.
They should've addressed the fact that the teacher was literally a pedo. She got arrested for the murder but not for her relationship with Lee U Jin. He Ra might as well have been the female lead because Jae i didn’t do much. He Ra was the best character. Did Kang Ha waste his time focusing on Jae i only to get rejected? It’s frustrating—they had so much potential but brought nothing to the table. Episodes one and two were good, but after that, it was pretty bland.

There were some scenes, like the car race, that weren’t needed. They spent so much money on that instead of developing the plot. The love triangle was pointless. Why mix a love triangle with a murder mystery? They combined two plots but still couldn’t make a good drama. The way they tried to imitate American football in Korea was so funny.

Since the actors are a bit older, it feels weird watching them try to act like teenagers—you can tell they’re not, not just by their looks but by their acting.

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simplesmente raso

no início parece que vai ser ótimo, mas no final é uma bagunça. um dos PIORES doramas que eu já vi. querem que você torça por um casal rico em que o par masculino é responsável consciemente de mais da metade dos problemas que acontecem e você não sente a menor empatia por ele. as amizades são falsas, as vinganças não são fortes, nada parece certo. só existem dois personagens (kang-ha e jae-i) que talvez mereçam alguma paz, mas ambos tem fortes falhas, principalmente a jae-i que decide proteger o ri-an que é desprezível. no final as relações são rasas e a história ainda mais sem profundidade. uma pena.

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