This review may contain spoilers
Built up a mastermind plot just to hand the wheel to romance and drive straight into mediocrity.
A story about power, corruption, and secrets—except the secrets weren’t that deep, and the power struggles weren’t that intense.
Disclaimer: This review is 100% my opinion — I’m not here to hate, just to share my thoughts! Also, SPOILERS AHEAD, so proceed with caution if you haven’t watched yet. Watch it, come back and let’s see if you agree. Let’s keep the discussion respectful and fun! 💕
The Good
It was short
I genuinely struggled to find anything I truly enjoyed about this show. In the end, the main reason I finished it was simply because it only had seven episodes. At least it didn’t force unnecessary filler just to stretch the runtime.
The Bad
Where do I even begin?
A Revenge Plan With No Plan
I went into this show thinking Kang Ha was going to be this genius transfer student—someone with a master plan to expose the privileged kids and uncover the truth behind his brother’s death.
Instead, none of that happened. Rather than executing a clever strategy, Kang Ha spent most of the show playing boyfriend and getting lost in pointless drama. To make it worse, he didn’t even discover anything himself. The only investigative move he made was getting the pills in Ri An’s locker checked, which led to zero follow-up. Everything he should have uncovered was handed to him by Joo Won, who actually did the work. And then, at the very end, he swoops in acting like he’s the mastermind who pieced everything together. Boy, bye.
Empty Threats and Plot Armour Galore
How were we supposed to feel intimidated when every threat in this show was completely hollow? They literally beat In Han to the ground over a stained shirt, but somehow, Kang Ha—who made out with Jae I, constantly provoked Ri An, and walked around being smug—never got attacked once. At the very least, they could have had Kang Ha fight back in an attempted attack to justify why they never tried anything again. Kang Ha was a nuisance, yet everyone seemed too afraid to put him in his place. Why?
Romantic Detour? Seriously?
His whole downfall started because Jae I smiled at a dog. That was it. From that moment on, his entire reason for coming to the school started fading into the background, and suddenly, she was off-limits in his revenge plan. He was supposed to see everyone as a suspect, but she pets a dog and suddenly she’s innocent? She rides his bike a few times and he’s in love? Please. He was willing to keep her name out of everything, despite knowing full well that she let things happen. I— please be serious.
Plot? What Plot?
This show felt aimless. Was it about Kang Ha’s dead brother? Jae I’s unresolved trauma? Ri An’s mommy issues? Woo Jin’s weird relationship with his teacher? He Ra’s financial struggles? It kept shifting focus so many times that the main plot got completely lost in the shuffle. Sure, it all sort of connected in the end, but the middle was a mess. Too much screen time was wasted on subplots that didn’t matter.
Overhyped Villainy That Wasn’t There
Let me start by saying, bullying is terrible, and In Han was treated horribly. But the show oversold how bad things actually were. I expected the main four to be actively hunting scholarship kids for sport, torturing them for fun, or at the very least, getting their hands dirty. Instead? They were mostly bystanders, never directly involved beyond standing around watching.
And then we find out In Han’s death was a total accident caused by a teacher trying to cover up her inappropriate relationship. Like… huh? His death felt rushed, random, and frankly lazy. Yes, it was still tragic, and yes, he suffered. But compared to how dark the show implied it would be, it just didn’t land. Honestly, it would’ve been way more compelling if scholarship students were mysteriously disappearing and Kang Ha was the only one trying to uncover the truth. But what we got was one accidental death and a bunch of kids who weren’t as evil as advertised.
The Dead Brother? Barely a Priority.
I really can’t stress this enough how much the show did not turn out like it implied. Kang Ha wasn’t the strategic avenger we were led to expect. The first few episodes set up the main four as untouchable villains, yet in reality, they were just bystanders like everyone else at the school.
What’s crazy is that In Han’s death plot took a backseat, even for Kang Ha, which was supposed to be his entire reason for being at the school. In hindsight, it makes sense that Jae I is the one front and centre on the poster while Kang Ha & Co are shoved in the back. This wasn’t his story. It was hers. And that bait-and-switch was a huge letdown.
Jae I Was Annoying
Did anyone else feel like Jae I was constantly playing the victim?
She acted like she deserved comfort over In Han’s death, as if she had no power to stop what happened. And when she finally confessed to killing In Han, it felt less like accountability and more like “tell me it’s not my fault”. Let’s be real, the only reason she spoke up was because she was being blackmailed. Where was this righteous energy when In Han was still alive? Had she never been exposed or blackmailed, she likely would have buried the truth just like everyone else and simply sworn to do better next time.
And don’t forget, Ri An’s lackeys were the ones actively bullying In Han, and Ri An was obsessed with Jae I. If she had told him to make them stop, he would have immediately listened. She had so much influence over him but never used it to help her own friend. She stood there, day after day, letting him get harassed, and then played the victim when it came back around.
Jae I wasn’t just a bad friend to In Han, she was also a horrible friend to He Ra. Jae I ghosted her for three months, never telling her where she went or what was going on. Then, after months of silence, she suddenly shows up and starts barking orders like she never left. And somehow, she never told He Ra about her pregnancy, but did tell a random guy who showed up a month ago. She really treated He Ra like a sidekick, only calling her a “friend” when it was convenient for her.
Jae I’s Emotional Plot Twist That Wasn’t
Let’s talk about Jae I’s sudden 180. For most of the show, Jae I treated Ri An like an annoying ex who couldn’t take a hint; constantly acting like she didn’t care and wanted nothing to do with him.And then suddenly, she’ll do anything for him?
For most of the drama, she stared at him with a deadpan expression, talked to him like he was a pest, and barely tolerated his presence. And the issue wasn’t just the inconsistency, but the fact that she showed little to no emotion throughout the show, making the sudden change hard to believe. If we saw her struggling more: visibly torn or emotionally conflicted, it would’ve added some weight. But because she delivered everything with that same blank face and emotionless voice, the twist didn’t land.
Kang Ha: The Walking Plot Device
Few things annoy me more than obvious main character energy, and Kang Ha was the prime example.
He was some random kid who showed up and single-handedly changed everything, despite having no real plan. He walked around like he owned the school, like he had everyone wrapped around his finger, but the reality? He had nothing but vibes and a vendetta.
The most convenient moment? Flirting a little, acting smug and then magically stumbling upon a hard drive with everything he needed to take down the elites. Like how did Kang Ha even figure out Joo Won was blackmailing Jae I? He just showed up at the party fully in the know. Like… what?
Then, we get a pointless after-credits scene where a guy is dead, and Kang Ha walks around smiling, acting like he just pulled off some brilliant victory like he didn’t do the bare minimum the entire time.
Please.
Kang Ha’s Nonexistent Outside Life
This might’ve flown under the radar, but it really bothered me: for a show that centres Kang Ha, we know absolutely nothing about him outside of school. He lives with his uncle, but where are his parents? What’s his home life like? Why would any guardian let him enroll in the same school where his brother literally died?
The only time we see him outside of school is when he’s working at the market and that scene was only included because Jae I happened to be there. Otherwise, he doesn’t exist beyond the gates of the school. For a character with so much supposed depth, we sure got served the shallowest version of him possible.
Final Thoughts
This was a huge letdown x1000000. This time, it wasn’t because I expected a good show going into this, but because the first two episodes set this show up for something huge. Especially with how Kang Ha carried himself. Him coming in like he was going to turn the school upside down was exciting. But seeing him be all about revenge for all of two episodes, then fall in love and switch up? Took me way off guard.
I usually avoid reading reviews before watching shows because I don’t like going in with bias, but for this one?
I really should have. The comments called it perfectly, and honestly? I should have trusted the collective suffering of previous viewers.
Lesson learned.
~~~
Did anyone actually enjoy this show? If you did, please help me to understand why? This didn’t even cover everything I had to say and yet has so many questions in it.
Disclaimer: This review is 100% my opinion — I’m not here to hate, just to share my thoughts! Also, SPOILERS AHEAD, so proceed with caution if you haven’t watched yet. Watch it, come back and let’s see if you agree. Let’s keep the discussion respectful and fun! 💕
The Good
It was short
I genuinely struggled to find anything I truly enjoyed about this show. In the end, the main reason I finished it was simply because it only had seven episodes. At least it didn’t force unnecessary filler just to stretch the runtime.
The Bad
Where do I even begin?
A Revenge Plan With No Plan
I went into this show thinking Kang Ha was going to be this genius transfer student—someone with a master plan to expose the privileged kids and uncover the truth behind his brother’s death.
Instead, none of that happened. Rather than executing a clever strategy, Kang Ha spent most of the show playing boyfriend and getting lost in pointless drama. To make it worse, he didn’t even discover anything himself. The only investigative move he made was getting the pills in Ri An’s locker checked, which led to zero follow-up. Everything he should have uncovered was handed to him by Joo Won, who actually did the work. And then, at the very end, he swoops in acting like he’s the mastermind who pieced everything together. Boy, bye.
Empty Threats and Plot Armour Galore
How were we supposed to feel intimidated when every threat in this show was completely hollow? They literally beat In Han to the ground over a stained shirt, but somehow, Kang Ha—who made out with Jae I, constantly provoked Ri An, and walked around being smug—never got attacked once. At the very least, they could have had Kang Ha fight back in an attempted attack to justify why they never tried anything again. Kang Ha was a nuisance, yet everyone seemed too afraid to put him in his place. Why?
Romantic Detour? Seriously?
His whole downfall started because Jae I smiled at a dog. That was it. From that moment on, his entire reason for coming to the school started fading into the background, and suddenly, she was off-limits in his revenge plan. He was supposed to see everyone as a suspect, but she pets a dog and suddenly she’s innocent? She rides his bike a few times and he’s in love? Please. He was willing to keep her name out of everything, despite knowing full well that she let things happen. I— please be serious.
Plot? What Plot?
This show felt aimless. Was it about Kang Ha’s dead brother? Jae I’s unresolved trauma? Ri An’s mommy issues? Woo Jin’s weird relationship with his teacher? He Ra’s financial struggles? It kept shifting focus so many times that the main plot got completely lost in the shuffle. Sure, it all sort of connected in the end, but the middle was a mess. Too much screen time was wasted on subplots that didn’t matter.
Overhyped Villainy That Wasn’t There
Let me start by saying, bullying is terrible, and In Han was treated horribly. But the show oversold how bad things actually were. I expected the main four to be actively hunting scholarship kids for sport, torturing them for fun, or at the very least, getting their hands dirty. Instead? They were mostly bystanders, never directly involved beyond standing around watching.
And then we find out In Han’s death was a total accident caused by a teacher trying to cover up her inappropriate relationship. Like… huh? His death felt rushed, random, and frankly lazy. Yes, it was still tragic, and yes, he suffered. But compared to how dark the show implied it would be, it just didn’t land. Honestly, it would’ve been way more compelling if scholarship students were mysteriously disappearing and Kang Ha was the only one trying to uncover the truth. But what we got was one accidental death and a bunch of kids who weren’t as evil as advertised.
The Dead Brother? Barely a Priority.
I really can’t stress this enough how much the show did not turn out like it implied. Kang Ha wasn’t the strategic avenger we were led to expect. The first few episodes set up the main four as untouchable villains, yet in reality, they were just bystanders like everyone else at the school.
What’s crazy is that In Han’s death plot took a backseat, even for Kang Ha, which was supposed to be his entire reason for being at the school. In hindsight, it makes sense that Jae I is the one front and centre on the poster while Kang Ha & Co are shoved in the back. This wasn’t his story. It was hers. And that bait-and-switch was a huge letdown.
Jae I Was Annoying
Did anyone else feel like Jae I was constantly playing the victim?
She acted like she deserved comfort over In Han’s death, as if she had no power to stop what happened. And when she finally confessed to killing In Han, it felt less like accountability and more like “tell me it’s not my fault”. Let’s be real, the only reason she spoke up was because she was being blackmailed. Where was this righteous energy when In Han was still alive? Had she never been exposed or blackmailed, she likely would have buried the truth just like everyone else and simply sworn to do better next time.
And don’t forget, Ri An’s lackeys were the ones actively bullying In Han, and Ri An was obsessed with Jae I. If she had told him to make them stop, he would have immediately listened. She had so much influence over him but never used it to help her own friend. She stood there, day after day, letting him get harassed, and then played the victim when it came back around.
Jae I wasn’t just a bad friend to In Han, she was also a horrible friend to He Ra. Jae I ghosted her for three months, never telling her where she went or what was going on. Then, after months of silence, she suddenly shows up and starts barking orders like she never left. And somehow, she never told He Ra about her pregnancy, but did tell a random guy who showed up a month ago. She really treated He Ra like a sidekick, only calling her a “friend” when it was convenient for her.
Jae I’s Emotional Plot Twist That Wasn’t
Let’s talk about Jae I’s sudden 180. For most of the show, Jae I treated Ri An like an annoying ex who couldn’t take a hint; constantly acting like she didn’t care and wanted nothing to do with him.And then suddenly, she’ll do anything for him?
For most of the drama, she stared at him with a deadpan expression, talked to him like he was a pest, and barely tolerated his presence. And the issue wasn’t just the inconsistency, but the fact that she showed little to no emotion throughout the show, making the sudden change hard to believe. If we saw her struggling more: visibly torn or emotionally conflicted, it would’ve added some weight. But because she delivered everything with that same blank face and emotionless voice, the twist didn’t land.
Kang Ha: The Walking Plot Device
Few things annoy me more than obvious main character energy, and Kang Ha was the prime example.
He was some random kid who showed up and single-handedly changed everything, despite having no real plan. He walked around like he owned the school, like he had everyone wrapped around his finger, but the reality? He had nothing but vibes and a vendetta.
The most convenient moment? Flirting a little, acting smug and then magically stumbling upon a hard drive with everything he needed to take down the elites. Like how did Kang Ha even figure out Joo Won was blackmailing Jae I? He just showed up at the party fully in the know. Like… what?
Then, we get a pointless after-credits scene where a guy is dead, and Kang Ha walks around smiling, acting like he just pulled off some brilliant victory like he didn’t do the bare minimum the entire time.
Please.
Kang Ha’s Nonexistent Outside Life
This might’ve flown under the radar, but it really bothered me: for a show that centres Kang Ha, we know absolutely nothing about him outside of school. He lives with his uncle, but where are his parents? What’s his home life like? Why would any guardian let him enroll in the same school where his brother literally died?
The only time we see him outside of school is when he’s working at the market and that scene was only included because Jae I happened to be there. Otherwise, he doesn’t exist beyond the gates of the school. For a character with so much supposed depth, we sure got served the shallowest version of him possible.
Final Thoughts
This was a huge letdown x1000000. This time, it wasn’t because I expected a good show going into this, but because the first two episodes set this show up for something huge. Especially with how Kang Ha carried himself. Him coming in like he was going to turn the school upside down was exciting. But seeing him be all about revenge for all of two episodes, then fall in love and switch up? Took me way off guard.
I usually avoid reading reviews before watching shows because I don’t like going in with bias, but for this one?
I really should have. The comments called it perfectly, and honestly? I should have trusted the collective suffering of previous viewers.
Lesson learned.
~~~
Did anyone actually enjoy this show? If you did, please help me to understand why? This didn’t even cover everything I had to say and yet has so many questions in it.
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