This review may contain spoilers
A very well done bullying and revenge drama
9.5/10 is my rating. This is a 2024 South Korean psychological thriller drama with 10, 49-64 minute episodes. It is based on a web toon of the same name.First I provide a unique synopsis then review.
Synopsis
Seong Soo-ji (Kim Ji-yeon) is a military child who has moved around her entire life and thinks she has the new student thing down. But that all changes when she enters an all girl school where the students in her class are playing a very dark game called the Pyramid Game. The “game” creates a stratified hieracrchy where those at the top of the pyramid can order and direct horrific acts of bullying and violence. As a new student, Soo-ji immediately finds herself at the bottom of the pyramid which means she is a target at the outset. Her father told her they would be moving on in about three months which seemed easy enough to survive until she became an unwilling participant of the game. To “win” and put an end to the “game” Seong Su-ji must figure out who started this game and why and among the girls around her, who all seem to be playing roles, who is actually good and who created and is perpetuation the evil “game”.
Review
This is a very well done bully and revenge theme drama. They mostly skip the romance although there are a few characters where something seems to develop. If you have read the web toon it sticks closely to that script with a variation at the ending. The actors they cast fit very well with the way the characters are depicted in the manga. I highly recommend this to anyone that likes this genre, is a fan of any of the actors, or are looking for something where there is little to no romance. I would watch it again as it has a lot of depth and complexity.
Spoilers
It ends happy with all major plot points resolved. Two aspects of the ending that I wasn’t as happy with are first, I though they could have easily made the relationship between Jo Seung Hwa (Jo Dong In), the convenience store worker and brother of the student severely bullied, and Seong Su Ji (Bona). And I seriously disliked they introduced two new characters, twins, whom the school was renamed after, who were suggesting they wanted to play the Pyramid Game. That was completely unnecessary. And stupid. First, you have Seong Su Ji in that class and she would never allow it to even start. And, the rest of the class has already seen how the game can be stopped. So, I think that the producers did that to open the door for a second season but a second season does not make sense with the same main characters in the mix.
I wish Soo Ji’s father, Sung Hee-Seok (Choi Dae-Chul) would have seen video of teacher Im Ju-Hyung (Choi Sung-won) smacking on his daughter. We saw him getting arrested, but we could assume that was for the cheating and bribery and perhaps allowing the bullying. But he should have been called out for the stuff he himself directly did to the students.
#PyramidGame #KimJiYeon. #JoDongIn #ChoiDaeChul.
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One of Best drama I ever watched
I usually never write reviews. Guess this is the first time. Guys, just go ahead and watch. It's one of the best dramas i ever watched. I really wish for a season 2. Sung soo ji as an adult. It will be a hit. Just a high schooler with her wits, guts and help from friends cleaned an entire school. She is really one of the best character. I admire her. Not like she's perfect. But she is strong, brave, dare to think, dare to do anything she can to solve the issue. She didn't just stay the same as she is in the first episode, she evolved, improved and got better. This teaches you a lot. The concept is just mind blowing. A pyramid.. You know the one who is in the bottom can be the one who gets to new heights as long you are brave enough to face everything. Just great. Ost is also good. Higher 🎶🎧.Was this review helpful to you?
might seem boring at first but u will not! regret watching
when i started watching this i almost dropped it because the first few episodes were soooo boring💔 but i didnt give up and HHHHOOOOOLLLLLYYY MMOOOOLLLLYYYYY plot twists are crazy!!! 100% worth watching!! would recommend this to anyone thats wondering if its worth it or not because it totally is!! amazing characters and story and had me exited for every episode… i also loved the intro… THE SONG?!?!!!!! AND THE INTRO ITSELF IS JUST SO COOL AND GOOD!!.. never skipped a single intro im still obsessed with the song!!Was this review helpful to you?
Thrilling,captivating and a good watch
If you are looking for some thrillers set in highschool then go and and watch it. I didn’t feel any drag anywhere. The drama is also written well and acted out very well too. I did not expect shin seul ki bro, she was one of my favourite in singles inferno i did not even recognise her here. I was so surprised to see her. Jang da ah also did so great considering it her debut. Overall a thrilling,great drama.Was this review helpful to you?
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fun but predictable
honestly i started this expecting a lot but it was kind of underwhelming in a way. it was easy to predict what was happening and stuff and i feel like this kdrama had a lot of potential but it had weak execution. no offense but i feel like this kdrama only got popular because the word spread that wonyoung's sister is starring in it (baek harin).i don't think i would watch it again, it was kinda repetitive and boring, i didn't feel much immersed in this kdrama but some scenes were nice, i liked how baek harin was portrayed, a true villian, she played her part well. bo-na and da-in gave shy wlw vibes , especially da-in around bona. i know it's not exactly similar but it lowkey reminded me of ‘night has come’ kdrama
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Pyramid Game : A chilling psychological thriller, despite some slow moments
Pyramid Game is a drama that, despite some slow moments, manages to captivate its audience with a tense atmosphere and excellent cinematography. While certain parts lack pace, the psychological tension and outstanding performances more than make up for these flaws.Strengths
An impressive cast: Every actress delivers a remarkable performance, making each scene feel authentic and intense. Their acting is precise and compelling, bringing the characters to life with undeniable skill.
An immersive sound design: The soundtrack and overall sound work play a key role in building the show’s unsettling atmosphere. Special mention to the sound designers, who manage to convey the brutality of certain scenes without explicitly showing them.
Carefully crafted cinematography: Well-framed shots, smooth editing, and strong aesthetic choices enhance the impact of the drama.
Weaknesses
An uneven pace: The story sometimes drags, with moments that feel unnecessarily slow or flat. Fortunately, the strong performances keep the audience engaged.
Late character development: Some key characters should have been introduced in more depth earlier in the series, instead of an overload of information towards the end.
Conclusion
Despite its pacing issues, Pyramid Game succeeds in delivering a gripping psychological thriller, elevated by talented actresses and a masterful sound design. While it struggles with some narrative inconsistencies, the tension remains strong, making it a memorable experience.
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High School Drama that shows Societal Complexities
I was hesitant to start this drama when it came out all because it might just be another high school drama. It was not. I finished this one in just 3 days whereas my usual was a week or two for short dramas, sometimes to a month for a full-length (16 episodes, 1 hr 15 min run time). I was shocked that it had several elements and not just youthful elements. It really showed that adults can influence their children and as these children learn from adults, in turn, that's how they are as they grow. Yet, these adults wonder how they could have raised such children. Well?It was fast-paced and just had the right amount of episodes to fit all the things I needed to see. It does not really offer a good ending but I believe that's just how it could have that "happy ending" in reflection to real-life happenings. Despite having the option to escape things, the powerful, the rich, and those who have more resources and connection ALWAYS find their way out.
I already know that the protagonist will overcome things but getting there, it was thrilling! Just when you think she gets it, she doesn't. The solution was easy to end it all but getting there, as life always is, is complicated, or rather, we always try to complicate things before stopping them. This is also one of the best dramas for me this 2024.
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Being a monster is infectious
WHAT. A. SHOW.Do you like 8-10 episode long mystery storylines with revenge plots, plot twists and a range of character storylines?
Did you like The Glory, Celebrity, Battle Royale and Squid Game?
Consider this somehow a decent mix of elements from each, combining to give you a twist-filled drama that also serves as a social commentary on bullying and the hierarchy world.
I thoroughly enjoyed each episode, rather appreciated the character development and the dynamics.
I do wish there was more to say on certain aspects, making it difficult for me to say it was 10/10.
a 9/10 from me!
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FROM SOMEONE WHO HAS READ THE WEBTOON - AMAZING
i watched this drama, as you can tell, because i was a daily reader of the completed webtoon series of the same name that this drama was based upon. as someone who reads both webtoon and watches kdramas frequently, i often get disappointed by crap adaptations that deviate entirely from the plot (true beauty does this, worst kdrama ive watched by far)so when i watched this adaptation, i was pleasantly surprised by how close this was to the webtoon! the castings were spot on, the plot was nicely reshaped into a ten-episode format, and the main events were the exact same. i enjoyed jang da-ah as ha-rin and bona as sung soo-ji, i think they have nice coordination as actors and suit their respective roles perfectly. the casting of eun-byeol was INCREDIBLE - how could one play out a characters role so perfectly! she looks exactly like drawn eunbyeol in the webtoon- i instantly knew it was her. whilst pyramid game deviates ever so slightly from the webtoon, it is a very very good watch, and i can imagine how good this must be for anyone who hasnt read it. this is a MUST WATCH for anyone who is a fan of school and psychological themes!!!! and obviously, as per the webtoon, the ending is immaculate- no loose ends over here, my friends!!
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Hierarchy
After finishing "Alice in Borderland," I decided to give this series a try, and I really like it! It brought me back to the series "SCHOOL 2015".Baek Ha Rin really got to me—she's such a difficult character! But honestly, if you dislike her, that just means the actress is doing a great job portraying her. Her acting is impressive! Every time I see her, I can't help but think of Wonyoung. 😅
Bona is on another level; I absolutely love her! From "Twenty-Five Twenty-One" to this show, the quality is amazing. The story, setting, soundtrack, characters, villains, and even the bystanders are all well portrayed!
I really appreciate how calm Su-ji is—she's a perfect example of a nonchalant person. I love her energy and her dedication to keep moving forward, despite the betrayals and lack of support from others. It's a great life lesson.
I adore the group she has created, and the paintball scenes are just fantastic! 😭
Overall, this drama is excellent! It has a vibe similar to "The Glory," and I love themes of revenge and getting back at those who deserve it.
I'm proud of the cast; you all did an amazing job! This series is definitely a must-watch!
1/20/25 925PM
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