Like the manhwa, but on 2x speed. Still a fun time if you don't overthink it
I just finished watching it, and what a ride. First off, the intro? Absolute banger, I love it so much lol. The drama blends action, comedy, and drama really well, it keeps you hooked the whole time. The casting is spot-on, every actor brought their character to life in a way that feels natural. Acting? Top-tier. Friendship chemistry? Chef’s kiss. Plus, cinematography goes hard during fight scenes. Speaking of fights—THE FIGHT CHOREOGRAPHY?! Easily my favorite part. The action scenes are brutal and well-executed, definitely lean more toward anime logic than real-life combat (which I don’t mind because it cracks me up every time). Characters take hits that should K.O. the opponent, but nope, they just get up like it’s nothing. If you like over-the-top fight scenes, you’ll love it. If you’re expecting realism... yeah, lower those expectations.
That said, there are a few downsides. The pacing and editing feel kinda rushed at times, with certain cuts making the story feel eh. My biggest disappointment is the zero mention of the Chinatown arc, literally one of the best arcs in the manhwa, and they just erased it like it never existed. And on a personal note, Sunchul’s screen time was straight-up criminal. As my bias, he deserves so much more love, even in live action mah bro got done dirty. Justice for Sunchul!
So…..
If you haven’t read the manhwa, you’ll probably enjoy Study Group for what it is. A solid action-packed drama with fun character dynamics. But if you’re a manhwa reader, I’d suggest setting your expectations to 0 so you don’t rage-quit over the changes. Compared to most live-action adaptations (where the bar is in hell) this is actually pretty solid. Even if the pacing is a little wack, the friendships, the ridiculously fun fights, and the acting make it worth watching.
That said, there are a few downsides. The pacing and editing feel kinda rushed at times, with certain cuts making the story feel eh. My biggest disappointment is the zero mention of the Chinatown arc, literally one of the best arcs in the manhwa, and they just erased it like it never existed. And on a personal note, Sunchul’s screen time was straight-up criminal. As my bias, he deserves so much more love, even in live action mah bro got done dirty. Justice for Sunchul!
So…..
If you haven’t read the manhwa, you’ll probably enjoy Study Group for what it is. A solid action-packed drama with fun character dynamics. But if you’re a manhwa reader, I’d suggest setting your expectations to 0 so you don’t rage-quit over the changes. Compared to most live-action adaptations (where the bar is in hell) this is actually pretty solid. Even if the pacing is a little wack, the friendships, the ridiculously fun fights, and the acting make it worth watching.
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