As suspected, the show did a big reset in the last episode. Very schmaltzy. Everyone holding hands singing kumbaya. Almost as if the last 15 episodes was just a really bad dream. No real consequences.
Got to give the cast their due. They made this work.
Regardless of how badly the drama was titled in English, it was absolutely clear from the first episode that the crime element of the show would be an integral part of this show because it was abundantly clear from the word "go" that the show had an underlying message about the education system in SK and the role of parents in it. The crime element is a key facet of that message which includes the sky castle mothers and their antics. The romance was never the main thing even from the first episode. Education brought the leads together and education is the bond that ties all the characters together. Even the English title has the phrase "crash course" which is a reference to learning in a short intensive programme.
As for the identity of the metal ball killer, it has to be said that there weren't that many candidates on offer. It had to be someone closely connected with Chi-yeol. Someone who cared about him. Someone who was in the know. Yes, it was predictable. But "dumb" wouldn't be the word I would use in how this plays out. What's far more important than anything else is that the reveal is logically consistent with all the facts. Viewers expecting a twist is not a writing problem because a well-written mystery has to make sense before it is surprising. A plot twist is not inherently a desirable thing if it's not executed well. In this case there's no need for one because who the culprit is less important than why said culprit is killing people.
It is also interesting to me that the reveal comes as a result of an escalation of several events at a time only when Chi-yeol is now dating Haeng-seon. This speaks to the mental state of the culprit and the progress of the police investigation. Various characters have various pieces of the puzzle while the audience has most of them. It also shows that Chi-yeol was in such a bad state of mind prior to meeting Haeng-seon that he didn't know what was going on around him. This was also used by the perp to his/her advantage. It is only now that he's in a better place mentally and physically that Chi-yeol can see the truth for what it is.
I don't blame Seon-jae in so far as he's been driven to the brink. But his mother is the reason why I don't want…
There's been very little progression in that regard so I am also of the opinion that there won't be much clarity on that front come the resolution. They're just kids dealing with far too much than they need to because the adults in their lives are obsessed with living vicariously through their children.
My view is that after all that has happened with the exams and Lawyer Jang's antics, I just think that Seon-jae would probably be wracked with so much guilt to even touch the subject. That entire family really needs to attend some kind of counselling at the end of this. At the very least. I'm all for second chances but Lawyer Jang's attitude towards Hae-yi needs to do a genuine 180 which should ordinarily take time. Her behaviour has been reprehensible and soul destroying. Luckily Seon-jae has friends to help him retain some semblance of sanity.
But I wouldn't put it past a K drama to hit the big red reset button if they want to.
Please let Hae-Yi end up with Seo Geon Hoo, SJ is way too depressing a character to even deserve her.He never…
I don't blame Seon-jae in so far as he's been driven to the brink. But his mother is the reason why I don't want Hae-yi tethered to him romantically. Friendship is fine.
But who knows what the show is going to do there? :D Maybe nothing. ;)
For me personally I'm thoroughly enjoying how the writer integrates the crime elements with the school drama and the romance. It's a finely tuned engine. Very sure-footed and it feels like it's all part of the plan. In my opinion the second half is the punchline -- and wow, what a sucker punch it is.
The first half which is really the set up hints that there's trouble in paradise. But the second half really delves into how deep the rot is -- the players, attitudes, the bad actors. The serial killer angle is really a metaphor for how the vicious cycle of family dysfunction and the narrowly defined parameters of educational success leads down the path of inevitable social disruption. There's certainly an argument being made here for a much more holistic view of success as seen in the figure of Geon-hu who is above the fray being the outsider. Human beings are moral creatures with a conscience so the whole "the ends justify the means" philosophy denigrates a core part of what makes people who they are.
Episode 4 really reminded me of Leverage. I think this show is doing a better of job of being Leverage than the K adaptation did (although I did enjoy that).
I must be in the minority in that I'm still enjoying this chaotic blend of romance and thriller. :D Clearly half the characters here live on Planet Crazy but I'm having loads of fun hurling invectives at my screen. I thought Soo-a's mother was bad but Lawyer Jang takes the cake. The identity of the metal ball killer was never that important. Everyone knew who it was practically from Day 2. He's just part of this pressure cooker landscape of people putting on masks. In public they wear a face of respectability and in private they're monsters of a kind.
Maybe it's just me but I could swear that Geon-ho gets better looking with every episode. The kid's face lights up like a Christmas tree when he smiles. It's very sweet and authentic.
Interesting point there about nature v nuture. If Shulin had had more time with his adopted Mum... Or if Shulin…
Shulin did go genocidal despite being raised by Zhang Ping's mother so I'd say that this show is on the "Nature" side of the debate in that example. Peizhi at least had a good foundation with a good dad.
Personally I found this a compelling watch and enjoyed every minute of it. I loved Jing Boran and even warmed up to Song Weilong after six episodes. The editing worked well for me because I didn't feel I was missing out on anything essential. So the pacing ended up being more my cup of tea.
I didn't mind the resolution. It was the logical ending for the show as it transpired. That said, it was negatively impacted by the Bad Guy plot at the end. The plot - a double-edged sword - which was about making a statement and being ridiculously spectacular diminished sympathy for the antagonist. It also forced the leads into a dilemma where they had to compromise with their original intentions. It might be realistic and possibly a coming of age moment for Zhang Ping but honestly the Bad Guy plot took away some of the sting from what the Empress Dowager did. It was undeniably genocide. Like Mother, like Son. I suppose someone had something they wanted to contribute to the Nature vs Nurture debate.
Overall I loved the male dominated cast -- the wonderful camaraderie and persevering loyalty all across the board from the high ranking types to the manservants.
What a great start. The first episode just flew by. Wonderful to hear the Rainbow Corporation and Model Taxi themes running in the background. (Although we play them in the car from time to time)
Thought I'd take a quick peek but ended up watching the whole thing.
I've been waiting for the last 8 episodes to drop since whenever the first 40 episodes finished airing. Glad to see that it's finally come. It should have been shown sooner because the lack of a resolution in 2021 did some damage to the cohesion of the show.
The show was decent and didn't really need the Ye Jiahui family drama. The melodrama just made the final product feel like a disconnect from the rest of the show.
4 
Bureaucrats duking it out with red tape. Depicts the public service quite accurately.
Got to give the cast their due. They made this work.
https://40somethingahjumma.substack.com/p/strangers-again-2023-final-thoughts
As for the identity of the metal ball killer, it has to be said that there weren't that many candidates on offer. It had to be someone closely connected with Chi-yeol. Someone who cared about him. Someone who was in the know. Yes, it was predictable. But "dumb" wouldn't be the word I would use in how this plays out. What's far more important than anything else is that the reveal is logically consistent with all the facts. Viewers expecting a twist is not a writing problem because a well-written mystery has to make sense before it is surprising. A plot twist is not inherently a desirable thing if it's not executed well. In this case there's no need for one because who the culprit is less important than why said culprit is killing people.
It is also interesting to me that the reveal comes as a result of an escalation of several events at a time only when Chi-yeol is now dating Haeng-seon. This speaks to the mental state of the culprit and the progress of the police investigation. Various characters have various pieces of the puzzle while the audience has most of them. It also shows that Chi-yeol was in such a bad state of mind prior to meeting Haeng-seon that he didn't know what was going on around him. This was also used by the perp to his/her advantage. It is only now that he's in a better place mentally and physically that Chi-yeol can see the truth for what it is.
My view is that after all that has happened with the exams and Lawyer Jang's antics, I just think that Seon-jae would probably be wracked with so much guilt to even touch the subject. That entire family really needs to attend some kind of counselling at the end of this. At the very least. I'm all for second chances but Lawyer Jang's attitude towards Hae-yi needs to do a genuine 180 which should ordinarily take time. Her behaviour has been reprehensible and soul destroying. Luckily Seon-jae has friends to help him retain some semblance of sanity.
But I wouldn't put it past a K drama to hit the big red reset button if they want to.
But who knows what the show is going to do there? :D Maybe nothing. ;)
The first half which is really the set up hints that there's trouble in paradise. But the second half really delves into how deep the rot is -- the players, attitudes, the bad actors. The serial killer angle is really a metaphor for how the vicious cycle of family dysfunction and the narrowly defined parameters of educational success leads down the path of inevitable social disruption. There's certainly an argument being made here for a much more holistic view of success as seen in the figure of Geon-hu who is above the fray being the outsider. Human beings are moral creatures with a conscience so the whole "the ends justify the means" philosophy denigrates a core part of what makes people who they are.
His performance in the K adaptation of Life on Mars is really one of his best.
I think this show is doing a better of job of being Leverage than the K adaptation did (although I did enjoy that).
Maybe it's just me but I could swear that Geon-ho gets better looking with every episode. The kid's face lights up like a Christmas tree when he smiles. It's very sweet and authentic.
I didn't mind the resolution. It was the logical ending for the show as it transpired. That said, it was negatively impacted by the Bad Guy plot at the end. The plot - a double-edged sword - which was about making a statement and being ridiculously spectacular diminished sympathy for the antagonist. It also forced the leads into a dilemma where they had to compromise with their original intentions. It might be realistic and possibly a coming of age moment for Zhang Ping but honestly the Bad Guy plot took away some of the sting from what the Empress Dowager did. It was undeniably genocide. Like Mother, like Son. I suppose someone had something they wanted to contribute to the Nature vs Nurture debate.
Overall I loved the male dominated cast -- the wonderful camaraderie and persevering loyalty all across the board from the high ranking types to the manservants.
Thought I'd take a quick peek but ended up watching the whole thing.
The show was decent and didn't really need the Ye Jiahui family drama. The melodrama just made the final product feel like a disconnect from the rest of the show.