High School Return of a Gangster (2024)

Mental Health Awareness and Bullying Film, but with Supernatural Solutions

High School Return of a Gangster's story revolves around Song Yiheon, a high school student, who's being bullied by his classmates. Meanwhile, Kim Deokpal is the head of a gang. They met each other when Deokpal was standing under an overpass, while Yiheon jumped from it. When Deokpal woke up, he was shockingly in the body of Yiheon already. When he read Yiheon's letter, he took the opportunity of being in that body to fix Yiheon's life. He worked-out to get physically fit and fight the bullies. Basically, the story revolves around Deokpal fixing Yiheon's life while he is in that body.

Plot/Story - 9/10
First of all, I like the whole story. I liked where the story might lead you and the ending of it. But along the way, I felt like there is nothing new with the story. Yes, the main character's soul was changed and he is now in the body of a high schooler with the purpose of establishing a better life for the owner of his body, but what's more of it? What's something more to the story that viewers might get interested in? Yes, I am happy that the bullied main character is now getting his revenge on the bullies and that his life is now better but I felt uninterested at some point, because I was not intrigued already on what might happen in the next episodes. Nevertheless, the plot was concise and understandable, but I felt like the story is only going through a straight line instead of a line with zigzags of it.

The novel was considered as BL, but this series was tagged as bromance, yet I appreciate the fact that the script still gives hints of flirting in it and how the characters' actions and lines are to each other.

Characters - 10/10
Chanyoung did great in portraying a contrasting character; him as Yiheon and as Deokpal. The way he managed to give different emotions out of the two characters really did make me feel proud of him. His acting of Deokpal's mannerisms as an older age is really something that must be highlighted.

Yiheon's character is really the main plot of this story. I just can't imagine the battles that he needs to go through to the point that he needs to make that decision to himself. In the end, I believed that his decision was a good decision. As someone who experienced going through that state (Not bullied), I felt him when he said that he is tired already. I understand his decision and I always understand people who are experiencing that kind of mental health disorder.

Yiheon's Parents
I actually do not just understand the fact that he is a chairman of a company's son, yet he was not recognized by him. I mean, knowing the culture of South Korea, they value more if their child is a son. With her mother who has been an addict for her whole life, it is so funny to see that she is okay already that fast. I mean, addiction is not something that you can cure in just one day, it is a long process.

Choi Sekyung - I know that in the moment that he met the new Yiheon and he was surprised, there is something going on between the two of them. I felt emotional with his character because of how mentally pressured he was to abide by his abusive father, no children must experience that kind of maltreatment. On the other hand, I hate him for not helping the abused when Yiheon needed him. I always believe that if you are not doing anything against the oppressor, then you're also siding with the oppressor. Nevertheless, his character development gave him a redeeming moment.

Hong Jaemin - I actually thought that he is one of the main characters, but I understand how he is just a side character. I hate him, his way of thinking, and the actions he did. I will never forgive his character for that. But can I talk about how Joo Yoonchan portrayed this character? The anger that I feel towards this motherfucker bully suddenly becomes so cute in my eyes whenever he appears on my screen. His incorrect English words and cute actions made his character adorable. I still hate him as a bully, but once again a character with a development and redeeming moment in the end.

Lee Seojin - Even if he only appeared in one episode, he became remarkable. The way that his aura shifted from a student who is bad at Math, then suddenly showing his charismatic and manly aura when the gang opened the door. That scene was so funny to me.

Each and everyone of the casts did amazing on their respective roles. Some made me love them, some made me irritated, but that just means that they did great in portraying their characters.

In totality, High School Return of a Gangster did well and I loved watching it. This film used it platform to raise awareness about Mental Health Disorders and Bullying, but the solution used cannot be used in real life situations. The ending made me satisfied, the bullies going to jail and Kim Deokpal remains on Earth with Yiheon's body. I just wish an entirely and everlasting happiness for Yiheon in the afterlife.

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Time

What is the thing you want more but can’t have ?
And the thing you want to stop but it won’t ? …it’s TIME.

It was a great binge for me. Another great youthful drama.
I enjoyed the quick banter and the “konndae” nature of Song Ye Heon and the refreshing , funny moments .

I enjoyed watching Leo Seo Jin as an actor. Although after watching his variety shows , at times I can’t take him seriously and his character in this drama is a gangster? LoL i can’t … but he is after all an actor too.

This drama is another recommendation. Go watch it!

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Great acting to match a great story

Watching the very beginning, I wasn't sure I was going to stick with it. There are several scenes that are a bit difficult to watch with the school bullying early on, however, once you get into the heart of the story, the major transformation of the characters is unbelievable to watch. You can easily feel yourself go from anger to laughter to sadness in a short period of time.
Yoon Chan Young is so fantastic from start to finish in this role or actually duel roles that he plays. It's a very impressive acting performance. Bong Jae Hyun gives a great performance as well.
Without giving a spoiler, the ending can be taking either a positive or negative way, depending how you're feeling at the moment you watch it, but overall I think the ending worked really well.
This series definitely shows the meaning of true friendship and how important a role real friends play in life.
An absolute must watch feel good series!!

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I haven’t cried that hard in a while…

as the title suggests, I haven’t cried that hard watching a drama in a while (probably when i watched Weak Hero Class for the first time). The drama was phenomenal. The story was a good concept, there werent any holes in my opinion, and it felt like the perfect pace (not too rushed, not too slow). the acting was also *chef’s kiss.* the character arcs are also amazing. the themes of overcoming obstacles, facing challenges with friends, fighting for justice, and overall friendship/brotherhood were present. If you enjoy Weak Hero Class, you’ll probably love this too- I certainly did.
Also, the band LUCY contributed to the OST, so it was great to hear their song come on since ive been a fan of their’s for a while.
Overall, this drama is definitely worth your time, and remember to bring some tissues.

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Excellent drama that accomplishes what it set out to do

I am blown away by this drama. I give the most props to the young actor, Yoon Chan Young, who plays a VERY convincing middle aged gangster in a high schooler's body.

The drama do touch on sensitive topics, such as extreme bullying, suicide, domestic violence, and some drugs/alcoholism. While these topics are the main plot points, the focus is more on the characters, action to resolve issues, and some comedy. There is a good pace for progression, so I never felt bored. Even the side characters are entertaining to watch.

I had no idea it was from a BL story, and I didn't feel more than bromance/besties from the 2 MLs. Sometimes it felt like our ML can be a father/adult figure to the kids around him, which makes sense for this story.

Would highly reccomend!!

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OG & the SAT °7° °Good°

Deuk Pal is a gangster. That doesn't mean he can't get his GED and take the college entrance exams. He has a tutor and he's working hard. His boss wants him to quit school and take over the gang. Song I “Heon” is much younger, but he's already given up. He's jumping off the foot bridge to the highway below. Deuk Pal sees and rushes to stop him. They collide. Heon dies, and somehow, their souls switch. Deuk Pal's soul ends up in the kid's body. Deuk gets to attend his own funeral.

At first, he makes weak, ill-informed attempts to get back into his old body. That just isn't going to work. Next, a rude woman (Lee Mi Kyung played by Hwang Bo Ra of Vagabond-8 & What's Wrong with Secretary Kim-6.8) drops by and appears to be his stepmother? His father's aid? (He doesn't know anything or anybody in Heon’s life). She drops off some school books after complaining about what a pain he is and that he couldn't even kill himself “properly”. He pulls out the tablet and reads the diary of the kid whose body he's taken. This kid's been picked on his whole life. He decides he'll go to school and set the bullies straight.

Deuk quickly learns that he doesn't have the mentality, vocabulary or fashion sense that the other kids do. But he does have his strength-of-mind; gangsters aren't pushovers. He's also a credit card with no limit, since he's the illegitimate son of the CEO of one of Korea's top 3 construction companies.

Heon had worn his hair long and over his eyes in order to hide from the world. In Heon's body, Deuk immediately gets a haircut. It's truly shocking what a difference a hairdo makes. Like a coat of paint, a change in hairstyle is an instant makeover. His classmates don't even recognize him. Deuk-Heon is a middle-aged man in a kid's body, but he is very much a middle-aged man. He's constantly told he sounds like an old fogey. He also takes responsibility, as an adult, for what goes wrong and encourages the kids to be their best and do their best. It's played for laughs and warmth.

Yoon Chan Young (All of Us Are Dead) portrays ML, Heon, who gets possessed by Kim Deuk Pal. This kid is great. He has the middle-aged man walk, stance, expressions, & the standing-casual-with-hands-in-pockets. He's got that vague, ever present exasperation. Bong Jae Hyun (Crash! & Insignificant Roommates) plays Choi Se “Kyung”. They are friends, though their relationship isn't simple. Kyung knows enough to know that this dude ain't Heon. Lee Seo Jin (Marriage Contract) opens the show as the real OG, Kim Deuk Pal. Ko Dong Ok plays the rotund gangster, Jong Cheol. He's very amusing. This is the acting debut of singer, dancer, and model Joo Yoon Chan as Hong “Jae” Min, the school's worst bully, and the cause of Heon's ep1 suicide. Deuk Pal isn't much for bullying. He pulls his thug moves and soon Jae is more like his flunky and nothing like his oppressor. Jae ends up being pushed by two opposing sides and has a difficult choice to make.

I can't tell if this is a romance or a bromance between the 2 male leads. It's open-ended enough to read either way. They don't seem the least bit interested in girls until the last two episodes and it all felt tokenish or tossed in. The past friendship is vague, poorly defined and looks more like it was an attraction. With Deuk on the scene, the friendship is real and true, and it's the centerpiece of the show.

“Why do you try so hard?” “If we don't do anything, bad people will continue to get the upper hand, and everything will just get worse. That's how the world works.” The only thing Deuk Pal is afraid of is exams and teachers, whether he's in Heon's body or not. He feels for Jae and wants to clean up the mess that is Jae's life. Deuk-Heon has to deal with bullies, gangs, his dad's assistant (perhaps the most gangster character in the show), teachers, friend's parents, and his own sick mother. He doesn't have to deal with dad. Daddy's always been absent.

Toxic parents who push kids too hard or ignore kids for their own agenda are, once again, front and center. Kyung is pushed cruelly by a rigid father. Bullying and suicide are also in the mix. Those are the big 3 Kdrama themes along with hyper-competitiveness and gossip. It's obvious that their society runs on toxic pride. Every human society does, to a certain degree, but they keep it at a whole different level.

Can people change? Deuk thinks so, as long as they decide to. “Even if you give up on me, dad, I will never give up on you. I'm going to grow up to be an adult who is respectable, confident, and upright. So you just watch me.” Kyung finally stands up to his father. People can change once they face truth. Once truth hits you it's hard to continue to live in lies. Sadly, truth doesn't even brush by most people. Most people exist in lies. The first and biggest lie is telling ourselves we're doing pretty good. All of us need more improvement than we could accomplish in a lifetime, and it seems that none of us are humble enough.

HSROG is a 2024 release that is rated 90 on AWiki. It is 1 season consisting of only 8 55-minute episodes. The first sign that this is a lite piece and the creators weren't adverse to taking shortcuts is the fact that they give us no reason for the soul switch. Maybe I looked away for a moment and missed it, but I don't recall any basis. We just have to accept it. Nevertheless, I took to it fully rather quickly. I looked forward to each episode and was sad when I got beyond the halfway mark. The show is fun to watch.

It does lose steam and get goofier in the 2nd half. The villain is Heon's father's aid. She's much worse than the good-at-heart gangsters. It's alittle much, but not so far out of line. The show opted for simplicity not complexity. It is on the teen level, and for that level, it's good.

The heart-of-gold gangster is as easy to find as the heart-of-gold rich person. They are urban legends borne of our projection. Sure, some must exist, somewhere, but there's not many of them. I could never understand the appeal of gangsters and thugs in entertainment. Apparently, audiences love them because they do whatever they want to do. I still don't get the appeal of lowlife thugs, murderers, rapists, drug dealers and cruel pimps. I never will. It's different for someone truly apologetic. Bad guys who turn a new leaf are an inspiration. Jae has a genuine turnaround and experiences forgiveness and genuine human connections for the first time.

Despite the fact that this is less than half the length of a typical k-drama, they still have a wonderful last episode with a thorough and satisfying wrap-up. It's shocking how rare that's been, though they seem to be breaking that trend and improving lately.

As the show reinforces good values and is relatively clean and tame, it's perfect for teens who will relate to the pressures that these kids are grappling with. It reinforces personal responsibility, strength, and forgiveness. It's the opposite of gangsta.


QUOTES🗣

Play stupid games and win stupid prizes.

It's an adult's job to help kids avoid misery as much as possible.


IMHO〰🖍

📣7.4 📝6.5 🎭7.7 🎨6.5 🎵/🔊7.3 🔚6 🤗4.7 ▪ 🌞5⚡4.5 😅2.5 😭3.5 😱2 😯3 🤢2 🤔4.8 💤0

Shazams: GO by LUCY

Age 12+ Language: weak@$$, @$$holes, violence, bullying, Rated TV-15: Parents Strongly Cautioned. However, this show is on a teen level. It's more a kid's show than an adult piece.


Re-📺?
This one's in the good-to-pass-the-time category, but I may never pass this way again….


In order of ~lite&trite~ to ~heavy&serious~ you may also like:

Flex X Cop-8.5,
The Miracle-7.7,
Another Miss Oh-7.5,
Glitch-8,
Missing: The Other Side-8.3,
Alchemy of Souls-7.9
When the Camellia Blooms-8,
Uncanny counter season-1 only °S1-8.4 S2-4,
Vagabond-8,
Familiar Wife-8.5,
Law School -8,
Why Her?-8,
The Golden Spoon-8.1,
Revenge of Others-8.1,
SKY Castle-9,
Blood Free-8.5 ,
Sisyphus 8 (give it 2 episodes, ep1 is confusing),
Tunnel 8.5,
Anna-8.1,
Moving-8.5,
The Cursed 8.3,
Flower of Evil 8.9,
Squid Game-8.4,
Awaken-8.7,
The Man from Nowhere 8.9,
The Wailing-8.8,
Black 9,
Sweet Home 8.4

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Nice and easy watch...no stress!

What a nice surprise! I got hooked from the first episodes and was rooting for Yi Heon as he tried his best to put things right. It was refreshing to see someone teaching others the right way of life, and he was spreading his wisdom. I loved his friendship with Se Kyung and the positive influence he had on him. It is nice to have a friend you can rely on and who wants only the best for you. I liked the storyline, and the ending was satisfying for me as everyone was punished (that does not happen very often), and he could fulfill his dream of becoming a student.

It was a really nice easy watch, especially as it was refreshing to see the story in reverse, as we saw the worst happen at the beginning and after that things got better and better. No stress.

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When the bullied becomes a bully

Everyone like a revenge series or may be its just me and this is why I really enjoyed this comedy drama fantasy series. This series contains all the elements that I like; comedy, mystery, fantasy, bromance, friendship and an assortment of actors that can do justice to their characters. This series in retrospect is about the life of students constantly under pressure to excel, where losers are looked down upon and harassed.

The story as the name suggests, is about a gangster whose soul enters a down-on-his-luck, bullied and suicidal student. Making peace with the fact that he has practically dies, he sets out on a journey to improve t he life of the student before his inevitable return of his soul. What follows is a series of events, where our kind-hearted gangster learns more about the life of the student whose body he inhabits, tries to right the wrongs that he has faced all the while helping other people he judges going astray.

The beauty of the series lies in its simplicity and the mystery that hides behind the main characters. Why did Song Yi Heon commit suicide? What was the last conversation between him and Choi Se Kyung? How will Kim Deuk Pal, the gangster, help Yi Heon before his imminent demise? Will the bad guys learn a lesson and turn over a new leaf?

The series although with a simple story has complicated characters. Song Yi Heon has money but what he lacks is motherly care and a peaceful life in school. He is constantly bullied and beaten by the rapscallions at school, wants to befriend the popular guy, Choi Se Kyung but is termed a stalker, all in all a silent victim. Choi Se Kyung is pressured to perform by his successful father leading him to suffer from anxiety attacks. Kim Dong Soo, Kim Deuk Pal’s henchman wants to rebuild the gang after Duek Pal’s death only to be trapped and used by Lee Mi Kyung, our secondary antagonist.

In conclusion, this is a highly entertaining series that offers a unique blend of action, humor, and emotional depth. While the world-building could be tighter, the series excels with its strong performances and engaging premise. It's a perfect watch for those seeking a fun and thought-provoking escape.

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Can’t speak to the webtoon

I’ve read that they changed the romance aspect of the drama when adapting it from the webtoon. I haven’t read the webtoon, so I’m only reviewing the drama as it is.

I was surprised by how compelling I found this story. I hadn’t seen the actor playing the ML before and I was a bit worried by the opening episode because it seemed like his performance would be wooden. The more he plays Deuk Pal (as Yi Heon), the more I enjoyed his performance.

The relationship between Deuk Pal and Se Kyung is the real highlight of the series. It’s the most moving part, they’re mutually supportive of each other, and they sacrifice a lot to stay together. I liked how Deuk Pal never lost his heart and believed so much in redemption. I enjoyed watching Deuk Pal and Se Kyung keep each other hopeful.

I was also surprised by how interested I was in Deuk Pal’s attempts to give Jae Min a chance at a future. Obviously, he was worried about the kid going down the wrong path the way Deuk Pal did in his previous life. They had some pretty great moments story wise.

Really, my issues were that some of the acting (particularly the mother character and the female villain) was a bit melodramatic and cringey. I’m not sure what the direction was there. I also wish the female classmates mattered a bit more? Honestly, there were any well written, impactful female characters in this story in general. The housekeeper was very much just there to take orders. There were some aspects of the prosecution/legal battle that made no sense logistically. Also, i didn’t appreciate Deuk Pal telling Se Kyung to try to “understand” his abusive dad or asking the guy that stalked Se Kyung (and sold him out to that same abusive dad) to “take care of him”.

I’m guessing the BL aspect that was removed was between Se Kyung and Yi Heon?

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EXCITING and FUN that went downwards

I got super excited on the first 3 episodes, I was 100%ly entertained on how this drama started it was really fun regardless of what the makers of it censored of whatever stuff that was originally on this drama. School drama like this was so refreshing and I am so satisfied on how Yi Heon was finally able to get back against the bullies through Deuk Pal but the drama somewhat went downwards it got boring in the middle but not very much , it was still bingeable, It was somehiw sad that Yi Heon did not choose to live his life even it is great to Deuk Pal , it was actually a sad story but it was fun
I'd probably rewatch this again after a while.

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The ending was not it

The plot was good, honestly, but the ending didn't make sense at all. The gangster is nearly a 50-year-old man who lived 48 years, even if they were full of hardships and regrets. He still lived his life and even achieved his dreams when he got into the boy's body. At this point, he should have been the one to leave, not the young boy who didn't get to live a full 19 years.

The boy had a horrible life, so of course, he wouldn't know how valuable his life is and didn't hold on to it. In that scene, the gangster's duty was to let the boy stay and guide him. Instead, he accepted the fact that the boy didn't want to live and just let him go. That man DIDN'T EVEN RESIST! For me, that scene ruined the whole watching experience.

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